TREATMENT: P.O.T.U.S.

P.O.T.U.S John Eble RTV 2102 Professor Rice 4/21/13 The United States of America must prove itself as the home of the brave to hold on to the very freedoms it holds dear. With an empire converging on the fifty states, the brave leader of the United States pays the greatest price for freedom. P.O.T.U.S. is a story of the newly elected president during the most turbulent time in U.S. history, as the Peoples Republic of China is on an imperialistic quest across the planet Earth. The story opens up with a sequence of in and out images of the president walking out to meet the crowd during his inauguration, with each image matching the pop of a camera. John L. Bridie is elected as the 50th president of the United States of America. After serving as the governor of Florida for eight years, his run for the presidency came at a time where many were too scared to run. Standing at six foot four with a strong build, John looked and acted like a born leader. He is as calm and collective as he is bold and brave and his relatable personality is what appealed to his constituents. Raised through a middle class upbringing with an average family, he was born and raised with the mentality that nothing comes easy and working hard gets you the results youre looking for. The Peoples Republic of China has become an imperialistic nation under its young and ambitious leader, Mao Zewong, who claimed power by means of aggression and fear. He was born into a wealthy family and used that wealth to make his way to the top of the political tower in China. His aggression made him reckless at times, but his obsession with fear is what made him the emperor he sought to be.

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The entire Asian, European, Australian and African continents have been claimed under the Chinese banner as it now prepares to move west. On the day of John Bridies inauguration, South America is added to the Chinese empire, meaning the North American continent is all that remains of the free world. President Bridies inauguration is the last calm day for not only the American people, but for John himself. On a day where the president is expected to be nervous, being it is the first day as the newly elected leader, he remains his usual calm but not because that is how he naturally is, but because he knows the trials and tribulations that await him. Joined by the Vice President, Alex S. Burgess, former governor of Arkansas and a childhood friend of President Bridies, the inauguration goes as smooth as anyone could hope for and the nation leaves with a feeling of optimism and hope that they had not felt for a long time. Just hours after the inauguration however, John Bridie is notified that the nations of Panama and Costa Rica had succumbed to China, which meant the PRC was making its way closer to the U.S. border. Five months after the inauguration, the warmth and optimism of the inauguration have faded away and a hovering cloud of fear now surrounds the United States. Central America is on the verge of being swept under the PRC banner, with the bordering countries of Guatemala and Belize hanging on by a thread as the only countries between the PRC and Mexico. With the PRC converging on the U.S., the nations citizens have become divided between accepting defeat versus fighting for sovereignty. This nationwide debate has reached the President and his cabinet as they deliberate between war or whether to negotiate for peace and likely fall under the Chinese flag. John Bridie has always been a heavy defender of what the United States stands for, which worries pro-negotiation people because they know he is likely leaning towards war. The deliberation continues on for two more months without coming to a definitive decision, until time had run out. Central America is completely captured and the PRC has now made its way

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into Mexico. Now only one country stands between the imperial PRC and the United States Southern border. This intensifies the talks in the White House, as now debate has become an argument as people demand answers as to how the U.S. will treat the now imminent threat. John Bridie is secretly prepared to go to war to defend his country, but nobody knows that is his definite decision. Only weeks before President Bridie finishes his first full year as the United States President, danger has now struck home. Vice President Burgess informs him that sources from the FBI and CIA have confirmed that an assassination plot against President Bridie is in effect, and the source of the attack is from inside Washington, D.C. The news of an assassination plot came at a very suspicious time since the Presidents news conference on whether or not to declare war or not was in the coming weeks. With just a week away from the press conference, new information surfaces from the Department of Homeland Security. Intel from the FBI said that a possible Chinese national will enter the press conference via the media. This is a worst case scenario for President John Bridie and his cabinet because they do not know how to control that. If they inspect every media member of Chinese descent, speculation of discrimination will certainly be a negative move towards the publics perception. The day has come for President Bridies most serious press conference and the tension is high. President Bridie goes over his speech and collects his thoughts as he knows that once he makes his decision, there is no going back. With the alleged assassination attempt looming, the security teams are on high alert, looking every which way for a possible foil in the assassins plan. When the media settles and the security teams are in position, President John Bridie walks out to address the media for the first time since the PRC entered Mexico. With two bodyguards behind him, the President remains his normal stature, reminding the public that they are aware of the situation and that the possible solutions have been discussed. As he begins to announce what the collective decision of

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his administration is, a member in the media with the look of Chinese features stands with his hand raised high, appearing to ask an immediate question. President Bridie is immediately stunned since he had not even announced what the decision was. How could there already by a question? Then he realizes the Intel report; Chinese national, infiltration through the mediashock strikes the President. The security teams immediately spring to defense but as the commotion begins, President Bridie hears a short click behind his right ear. The click was the familiar sound of a jammed gun. Pandemonium begins as the bodyguard on the left tackles the assassin, which turned out to be the bodyguard to President Bridies right. The President is rushed out of the room by members of the CIA and FBI as the media scatters in fear. Tension had hit an all-time high in the United States as its fears were slowly becoming a reality. A month has gone by since the nearly successful assassination attempt of President John Bridie and the PRC has moved to Central Mexico. The fact the PRC has continued to move North worries the president since there is clearly no sign of Mexico putting up much resistance and it only means that the clock has almost hit zero in the amount of time before the PRC in on the United States doorstep. The FBI and CIA identify the assassin as an American citizen who betrayed the U.S. for a large sum of money from the PRC and that the media member was an illegal Chinese immigrant that was an accomplice to the assassin and was meant to serve as a diversion by drawing all the security teams attention. Since both were involved with the PRC from an international stand-point, President John Bridie makes a historic move and closes the Northern and Southern borders of the United States with military defenses at each border. The failed assassination attempt inspires President Bridie to come out with his decision that he has held on to for so long. The president officially declares war against the PRC, noting that the direct involvement of Mao Zewong with the assassination attempt was an act of war and all

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negotiations would be thrown out the window. Where the President believes that the United States had taken a step forward in the issue of the surging PRC, he is notified after the press conference that the PRC had made a move that nobody expected. The Canadian Prime Minister contacted the United States with a state of emergency as the PRC had unexpectedly invaded from the North, perhaps to gain leverage on both of the U.S. borders. With this news, war had officially begun and for the first time, the United States was on the verge of being invaded for the first time as a collective fifty states. Talk of tactics and plans begin between President Bridie and the general of the United States army, Gen. Nick Douglas, on how they should approach the defense of the now surrounded United States. They decide that besides the Northern and Southern borders, the West Coast is also the most susceptible to an attack since the epicenter of the Chinese Empire is where the previous outline of the country was in Eastern Asia. Although they were planning on putting a lot of their chips into the West Coast, President Bridie made it a priority that they do not lose New York and Washington, D.C., being that if the capital of the United States was lost, than the mood of the country would demoralize. Weeks pass by as the PRC makes its way through Mexico and Canada until the stage is finally set. The only remaining country outside the Chinese empire is the United States. Morale is low and American citizens have lost their hope as they have witnessed the PRC claim every, single nation in the matter of a year and a half. President John Bridie, not even halfway into his first full term as U.S. President, has the weight of all forty-nine previous presidents combined. Where many people avoid running for president to stay away from the issues of the economy, social security, and education reform, President Bridie wishes those were the issues he could face. The economy is wrecked since there is no longer something called a world economy since the PRC has control of all of it. All facets of life in the U.S. have been put on hold with hopes of holding onto the world they

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have known and held so dear. President Bridie remains as calm and composed as anyone could in a situation like this, which leads him to make a choice no one else had during the PRCs conquest. President John Bridie requests a meeting in the capital of the Chinese Empire, Shanghai, with Emperor Mao Zewong to discuss their visions of the world. President Bridie believes that an attempt to negotiate some kind of resolution would show that he is making a personal appearance in order to avoid the huge war that was now upon them. The plan to fly the President to the Chinese epicenter happens immediately after the announcement in order to buy as much time before an attack by the PRC on any American city. As Air Force One flies across the Pacific Ocean, a conference call is brought on board. In the board room, President Bridie sits with Vice President Alex Burgess and General Nick Douglas along with other key members of his cabinet. The call is unexpectedly from Emperor Zewong, which startles the staff since there was no prior warning of a conference call or anything of the like. Negotiations are ended on the spot, as Mao Zewong declares the U.S. will be an asset of the Chinese Empire by the end of the year. He warns that if the U.S. does not surrender like the rest of the planet, they will end up as an empty land that will be used for space for more people to live since all U.S. citizens will face annihilation. As Zewong continues his warnings, Gen. Douglas leans over to President Bridie and notifies him that war has begun at home; attacks on the Mexican and Canadian borders to go along with invasions of major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. President John Bridie realizes that he made a fatal flaw in asking for negotiations. By leaving the United States, he set it up for an attack as the Commander in Chief was no longer in the continental U.S. A frantic turn of events forces Air Force One to whip around and head into the United States that had now become a war zone. Despite having both the General and the Commander in Chief absent, the response by the United States military is exceptional and holds

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the PRC at bay while providing enough time and defense for Air Force One to fly over the beginning stages of the battle without any airspace issues. Once Air Force One lands, President Bridie and his cabinet are rushed by General Nick Douglas to the Pentagon before battle begins waging in the streets of D.C. The situation on all fronts are being sustained, as the Presidents defense plan of heavy resistance to the South and West prove correct with the most insurgents coming from those directions. The Northern border became stronger than originally planned as the remaining forces of the Canadian military have joined with the United States in the battle for the Northern border. New York and the capital are now the primary spots of focus since they arent heavily defended. Battles begin to wage on the U.S. Eastern front as the PRC makes a push to take over the United States capital to cripple the morale of the country. Citizens are evacuated to the Midwest to avoid all the border and ocean shore battles. The war for freedom had begun for the United States and President John Bridie becomes the first president to face a war from a foreign invader on American soil as the complete fifty states of the United States. The war for freedom has gone on for three months now with gains and losses on both sides. The war has taken a toll on President Bridie as he now has full command of the Pentagon with Gen. Douglas leaving for the field. The Northern and Southern borders of the U.S. have held firm, with small but helpful aid from both remaining Mexican and Canadian armies but the Western and Eastern fronts have taken a beating. New York had taken a serious blow simply because the PRC had more air support than the U.S. had, making it tough for land and air troops alike. Washington, D.C. was having troubles with the constant resurgence of troops into the capital. Washington, D.C. was not as large as the other major cities that were attacked so any mistakes would cause major loses for the U.S. President Bridie knew this; he feared losing the capital because he knew that even if they were victorious in all the other major cities, the defeat

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at Washington, D.C would cripple all other victories. Weeks pass until there is finally good news brought to the Pentagon. The Western front had successfully forced the PRC out of Los Angeles and had claimed victory for that side of the United States. The remaining forces of the PRC split up to aid the Northern and Southern battles, hoping to get the first crack through the U.S. defenses. With the added artillery in the North and South for the PRC, its dream finally comes true only a month later. The PRC breaks through the lines at both borders and President Bridies worst fears are realized. The Chinese Empire becomes the first force to step foot inside the fifty states while the United States defended it. The citizens in the Midwest are surrounded but are not claimed, an interesting move as it was assumed that the corralled citizens would be used as ransom in means of surrender. President Bridie fears this move because that meant the PRC are looking for domination through strength of arms other than negotiations. The PRC begins moving toward the east coast to strike the very heart of the United States, Washington, D.C. The western front has now retreated back to the east and New York is abandoned as all eyes now fall on the nations capital. President Bridie now faces a personal decision: command the forces from the Pentagon and try to garner enough morale to force the PRC back, or fight with his troops to the end. In a historically brave move, the President announces to his cabinet and the American people that he will be fighting alongside the military in hopes of aiding his men and women. In a joint session of Congress, members demand the President remain in Washington, D.C and instill order during this turbulent time. President Bridie refuses and vows that he will turn the tide of the war in order to preserve the United States for future generations. The Presidents rendezvous with General Douglas is at the forward command center that is right outside the Capital Building. Another couple months rage on with the PRC closing in around the U.S. capital, but it hits a stalwart. The joining of President Bridie on the battlefield has inspired the troops to a level of

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passion, fire and hope. The success of the military brings out an unexpected side of John Bridie: arrogance. Intel is received that Mao Zewong is in the states to personally see the victory for the PRC. John Bridies one flicker of arrogance drives him to the desire to go on a covert mission to attempt to take Zewong out to bring the momentum back to the U.S. President Bridie and two other Special Forces soldiers begin the mission to eliminate Emperor Zewong. Their mission takes them to the former Stock Exchange building in New York City, as Zewong did not want to enter D.C. until the United States had finally lost. They navigate their way through the nooks and crannies of the Stock Exchange building until they arrive to Zewongs location. They plan to breach his confines, storm the room, sweep it of its inhabitants and get out before more PRC soldiers rally to assist. The breach happens and many shots are fired. Smoke settles, bodies scatter the floor and the two Special Forces soldiers survey the scene to examine the dead. Mao Zewong is successfully taken out with multiple gunshots wounds along with the guards surrounding him. When it is all cleared, the soldiers realize only they themselves were standing there. At the entrance of the room, President John L. Bridie lay severely injured with multiple bullet wounds. As the soldiers frantically look for help, the PRC forces in the area are drawn to the attack. The soldiers drag their leader out and return to their helicopter. With the frantic escape out of New York, they never had time to check on President Bridie. As the Blackhawk helicopter takes off, they realize that he is dead. The President of the United States had fallen. A worried General Douglas yells for an update on the attack and gets the news no one wanted to hear: mission successful, P.O.T.U.S down. In the months following John Bridies death, the PRC is crippled by the loss of their leader while their opponents fight harder with news of the loss of theirs. The PRC is eventually driven out of the continental United States five months after the death of the President. Under the new command of President Alex Burgess, the United States

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achieves an all-but-lost victory and preserves their way of life in America. A two year war in the United States ended in the wanted results, but with the loss of the President, the victory is scarred and demoralizing. The rebuilding process of not only the United States but the world begins as nations begin to shape themselves back out. A monument is erected in memory of the fallen President, John L. Bridie, so everyone from now into the future can remember the greatest sacrifice by a standing U.S. president. President Alex Burgess finishes President Bridies term and remains President for one more following term before refusing to run for a second term simply because of exhaustion. The story ends with a view of planet Earth and the red flag of the PRC fading away from all the countries it had claimed. A view of planet Earth from space closes the story by showing that because of the sacrifices of the United States and its leader, the world has been given a future of freedom.