บท 19: Chapter Nineteen.

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~~~Washington DC, White House~~~

~~~July 1942~~~

"Mr. President, what can you explain to us about the sale of the rights to the Panama Canal?"

"Mr. President, is it true that a new nation has entered the war on the side of the Allies!"

"What can you tell us about the destruction of the Japanese fleet in the Pacific?"

President Roosevelt was holding a press conference on the White House lawn, there were hundreds of reporters filming and taking note of what was going on, not wanting to miss anything that happened.

Because of the Panama Canal rights handover to Xandar in exchange for the latter's participation in the destruction of Japan, Roosevelt had to hold back-to-back press conferences, meet with generals, make extensive calls with Allied leaders, and retake decisions concerning the battlefield in the Pacific.

The scale of the workload had increased so much that Roosevelt already felt several years older due to the stress, but fortunately, it was not all bad news. Fortunately, it was not all bad news, since he had managed to recover the mobility of his legs, being able to walk again after years of not being able to do so.

All thanks to the potion, serum, or whatever it was that the Xandarian crown gave as a sign of good faith, so after knowing its effects, he did everything possible to get his hands on one of those things, the rest had passed into the hands of the Strategic Scientific Reserve, to help in the research of Dr. Erskine and Howard Stark. Who was leading Project Rebirth?

"It would be a lie to say that the sale of the Panama Canal rights did not happen," Roosevelt began to say, once he raised his right hand and got silence from the reporters who had the luxury of interviewing the president himself. "Nevertheless, I have to inform the homeland that the United States of America no longer has control over the Panama Canal, now, who has power over that important passage of the world, is a new nation, a nation with which the United States has created diplomatic, social and commercial ties, for the sake of a joint struggle over those powers that drive this war, and which only seek conquest and death, over freedom and peace".

Roosevelt's speech filled those gathered with confidence, implying that the possibility of the end of the war was near and that the sale of the Panama Canal was a sacrifice to achieve victory.

Roosevelt, who had remained seated in his wheelchair, surprised everyone, when on a confident impulse, he rose from the wheelchair, creating a loud murmur and a cacophony of muffled cries, as he evidenced a miracle.

"For years I suffered from Poliomyelitis!" Roosevelt proclaimed, raising his voice and standing strong before the nation, as he knew this lecture was being broadcast to the entire nation, which would change the country's course.

"For years I could not get out of this chair again! But now, I am back on the soles of my feet, this is due to Xandar, the name of the Empire to whom I owe this, they, have the technology to accomplish medical feats such as mine, and I am sure they can solve far more serious affectations, and America is allied with the Empire, and with this, the peace and tranquility that has been stolen from the American people will be returned."

The camera flashes kept going off, for the American people, watched the broadcast from their homes in the case of, while others stood in front of the TV stores, glued to the glass of the showcases as they took it all in, amazed by the new news that was circulating throughout the country.

"Xandar has entered World War II, all because of an attack that occurred on the shores of one of its city-states, and with this, it means that the end of Japanese tyranny and expansionism is about to come to an end, and that is why, in front of the homeland, I make to deliver the good news that many fathers, brothers and sons have long wanted to hear," Roosevelt spoke again, attracting the attention of all, anxious to know the future that awaited the country. "The United States is withdrawing from the conflict in the Pacific, our fleets will guard our sovereignty on the high seas, but will no longer advance into enemy territory, this is in the interest of protecting the safety of our forces since a war between Japan and Xandar is about to begin."

As salt applied to an open wound, the euphoric and joyful cries of viewers who had not left their TV screens could be heard throughout the country, anxious to be reunited with their beloved family members.

"A new era is coming," Roosevelt continued his speech, as he looked intently at those who would relay that amazing news to the rest of the country via newspaper, pads, and diaries, "and I am proud to say that America will go forward hand in hand into that era, that's all for today." Roosevelt ended the press conference, as he stepped down from the podium where he stood and was closely followed by members of the Secret Service, along with his friend and aide, Isaiah Bradley.

"Sir," Isaiah addressed Roosevelt after several seconds of starting to address the Oval Office, "are you sure about this? Not much is known about that Empire, they could pose a greater threat than even Japan."

"I know Isaiah, I think about that every day, you've seen the recordings, you know what their soldiers can do, their advances in human empowerment are years ahead of ours, they have those beings of darkness, hell, they even have dragons bigger than a freaking aircraft carrier," Roosevelt stopped and faced his trusted friend. Looking several years older.

"Sigh," Roosevelt sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose and seeking comfort in a few seconds to ease the constant headache he felt, "that Empire is dangerous, it's on a scale of danger a hundred times that of Hydra and Germany, at least those damn fascists can be sent to hell by bullets, on the other hand, those armored soldiers are immune to our weapons, all we can do is ally ourselves in their path, and not get in their way, at least not until we can find a way to confront them and not lose in the attempt."

"Now, the Renaissance Project has taken on a much higher level of importance, even higher than the Manhattan Project," Roosevelt said, though after thinking with a cool head, he looked down both sides of the aisle, knowing full well the level of secrecy of the subject and that it was not good to talk about it in the hallways.

So walking back to get to the Oval Office, Roosevelt arrived shortly, noting that there were already people gathered in the room.

"Gentlemen, lady," Roosevelt greeted those assembled, there being three men and one woman. "Forgive the fact that you had to travel on such short notice, but as you know, the war picture has changed."

"Well, if that means selling a major chip in this war, I'm afraid to say that change is the least of what we have to worry about," one of the men in the room, raised his voice, in a tone puzzled and full of reproach.

"I am well aware of your dissatisfaction with the Canal issue, Colonel Philips, but it is a sacrifice that must be made, for the sake of winning this war once and for all," Roosevelt replied, reaching to his chair and taking a seat. "Sacrifice? You call that sacrifice?" Philips said, becoming more and more euphoric, "With the sale of the canal, our coasts have been cut off, our fleets will have to go around the cone of Argentina, taking them longer travel time and a longer response, I don't see how this can help us win the war."

Roosevelt said nothing, instead, he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out several documents from it, passing one to each of those assembled, "the canal has not been disabled to our forces, while there is now a monetary payment to be made for our ships to pass, that also means that our aircraft carriers and larger ships will be able to cross the isthmus."

As Roosevelt spoke, everyone looked at the documents, showing faces of surprise and shock, "Xandar has the technology to expand the canal in a short time, in those photos are shown their cities, city-states the size of a country, giant buildings that exceed a thousand meters in height, ships with mechanisms that make them immune to torpedoes and cannons to a large extent, the sale of the canal was an appeaser of this newly awakening monster, and that is why doctor, your work now has the full disposition and commitment of the country for Project Rebirth to take effect."

Dr. Erskine, who was looking at images of soldiers in shining armor leaping meters above the ground, destroying the turrets of Japanese battleships with their hands, and those flying black creatures destroying everything they touched, looked up and asked, "What do you order Mr. President?"

"You will travel to Xandar, along with Mr. Howard Stark, and you will contribute to the Xandarian scientists, the king of Xandar has already agreed to this, and has committed to help in the drives of the creation of the supersoldiers, don't let us down doctor, on the success of your research, depends on the defeat of Hydra and Nazi Germany."