Salute To The General

Having learned that the President's condition had deteriorated to such a degree that an emergency trip to the hospital became necessary, Nathan grew anxious.

After a hasty farewell to his teacher, he rushed to the hospital, which was already heavily surrounded by the royal guard when he arrived. As the Chief Military Governor, he was granted unimpeded access. Nathan found the doors to the operation theater swarming with people upon being directed there.

In addition to the First Lady, Paisley, and close family members of the President, members of the Cabinet with Erwin in the lead, and the commander-in-chief of the Brimmopolis garrison, Will, and his men crowded the corridor with anxious faces to discuss the situation in hushed voices.

Paisley's face was streaked with tears. At Nathan's arrival, she fought down her grief and led her family to their feet. "The Chief Military Governor is here!" she announced.

"I came as soon as I learned that the President's condition had taken a turn for the worst," Nathan said solemnly.

"How is he, Mrs. Woods?"

"He was in good spirits this morning," Paisley reported. "His condition only deteriorated sharply after he got his jab. We don't know if he'll..."

choked up, unable to complete

Cabinet members and ministers flocked to comfort Paisley with

frowned at the impeccable

President has been on the new regiment developed by Cross Group for days without a hitch. Why did his condition

middle of the crowd. "The President's condition took a turn for the worst immediately after he was administered a dose of Cross Group's experimental drug. Could there be a problem with

he looked around the audience to locate the owner of the voice. "Whoever that was," he called coldly,

the Chief Military Governor of the military in command of the nation's sizable infantry, coupled with his experience on the battlefield, his cold anger seemed to have solidified the air around them. Not a single person dared make a

the silence. "Calm yourself, Chief Cross," he advised. "We are all similarly concerned about the President's health. I'm sure whoever it was meant no harm in their hasty

Chief Cross," Erwin agreed. "Since the question has been raised, I would be neglecting my duties if I failed to follow this line

at the sudden realization that Erwin and his cronies

only seemed to clear his head. By the time he decided how to approach Erwin's trap, he had already regained his

before turning to address Paisley and everybody at the scene. "As the President was being rushed to the operating theater," he began slowly, "I quickly learned about the situation through Seamus, the head of