Planning the Focus

Posted on Wed Dec 15th, 2021 @ 11:57am by Vice President Nina Frost (*) & Mr. Ulrich Brauneg

Mission: So Help Me, God
Location: Transition: Chief of Staff's temporary office
Timeline: Saturday, January 14, 2017; 9:45am

It wasn't the hugest office in DC, so he hadn't moved in too much, knowing after the inaguration he'd have the office in the White House. But for today he had a few things set up, usual family picture, this one taken at Parents' weekend when his oldest had completed Plebe summer at the Naval Academy. In one side was the simple briefing books on the staff and possible cabinet nominees. The party, surprisingly had been very supportive, because he would come back with good experience, and possibly maybe chairman down the road, but today was today.

He did also set up a good coffee maker. It was the elixir of the Gods in his opinion and he was ready for his meeting with the future Vice President.

Nina Frost was nothing if not bold and she hadn't appreciated being summoned to the office of the man the President-elect had tapped to run the EOP. She'd heard of him as the Director of New Media at Party HQ, but had her own Chief of Staff, Tony Todd, dig some information up on him before this meeting. A former football player from Wisconsin; a lifelong career staffer; three kids with one at the naval academy; two dogs. She remembered the advice of old: know thy enemy.

Gabe Helman, a lamb in her view, had selected a lion for his running mate. She desired real influence over go-away missions; she was a fox but she was concerned that her lamb had just hired an animal catcher with a leash. She applied her lipstick again and slid on her expensive red high-heels; she never underestimated the value of looking good, even with a rival.

"Is Brauneg in?" she asked the receptionist sitting outside the man's office.

"Mr Brauneg is in his office." the receptionist, picked up the phone and made a brief call, "Go right in."

Ulrich rose as he walked to greet his guest, "Madame Vice President elect, welcome."

"Mr. Brauneg, thank you." she said, her eyes glowing as they so often did. She approached the man and grabbed a hold of his hand gently, cradling with her other as well. Most people in Washington tried for the firm vice grip handshake, but she knew she didn't have it in her. Instead, she tried to make her handshakes intimate and pleasant. She looked the much taller man in the eyes and gave a somewhat coy and feminine smile. "You just said yes to the hardest job in town. I'm surprised you have time for little-ol me."

The only thing that kept him from laughing in her face at that routine, was not wanting to tip his hand. Instead he paused, "I'm going to be direct with you, I never bought the sweet princess routine from my wife, or my daughter, and I'm not buying it from you. I understand just based on your history you probably want the oval office after this administration. No judgement, not a threat, but why else would someone take a job that John Nance Garner called not worth a warm bucket of piss?" He paused, "So, what I want to do is propose a deal, You work with me and this administration, and I will do what I can to help you get ready for that run."

Her grin brightened at his calling her out. He was cleverer than most men in this town; she would have to work harder. Though a deal sounded like a good place to start.

"Since we're being frank...the job was only worth a warm bucket of piss because the men who inhabited it were only worth a warm bucket of piss." she said, folding her arms over her chest. Her smile faded. "I convinced The President elect I could make the Vice Presidency work for him as long as I'm cued up well to run when he's finished. What I won't do is be shoed off on some 'go-away' project teaching girls to read in Rwanda instead of making real policy and in-roads."

"That would be a waste of your talents. It would be like takng Brett Farve and putting him at linebacker, his talents lie at quarterback." He looked at her, "You have experience in the National Security field, not just think tank experience but real world, intel gathering and handling experience, that is rare in elected office. To not use that would be malpractice. Again, to put all cards on the table, I will advise the President to get you a strong national security/foreign policy portfolio, you may have to do the teach girls to read stuff, but rest assured, that will be to let you move around and maybe some backdoor diplomacy."

She grinned, turning her head to the side again.

"Now we're talking, Mr. Brauneg. But when I'm in Washington, I want a place in the Situation Room. This conflict in Iran for example; I want to be at the table when the big decisions are made. If you can ensure I will be inside on national security issues at home and abroad, I will be a good little girl for you." She said, pursing her lips as if very pleased by what she said. "And if not, I can find very clever ways of charting my own path."

He nodded, "At the table makes sense, I will pass it along to the President-Elect with a recommendation, but you understand, in this I can only suggest and recommend, it's his decision. "

"Of course it is." she said, a tinge of resentment in her tone. "Though I suspect it will go well. This arrangement is in both of our interests, and, I think, in the best interest of the country."

"I will recommend it to him." Ulrich responded, "we don't want to misuse your skills."

“I couldn’t agree more.” She said, and offered a cheep grin. “On that note, I’m sure you’re busy and I have a full schedule today. A Saturday during transitions means cramming before public events.”

With that, she turned and began for the door. Time would tell how these arrangements would work out.