The White House was quiet when Ethan and Callie returned. The corridors were empty, except for a few guards. The air smelled of cigar smoke and ink.
Lincoln was in the Oval Office, waiting for them. He stood up when they entered. His face was tired, but his eyes were bright.
"Mr. Voss," he said. "You've done it. You've stopped Lee."
Ethan nodded. "We've stopped him for now, sir. But he'll be back. He'll regroup, and he'll attack again."
Lincoln sat down. He leaned forward. "I know. That's why I need you to stay. I need you to help me win this war."
Ethan hesitated. He knew what this meant. He knew that he would be drawn deeper into the conflict. He knew that he would have to make more difficult choices. He knew that he would have to confront the moral weight of changing history.
But he also knew that he couldn't walk away. He knew that this was his purpose. He knew that this was why he had been brought to this time.
"I'll stay," he said.
Lincoln smiled. A tired but genuine smile. "Thank you. You're the man I need."
He paused. He picked up a map of Pennsylvania. "Lee's next move will be north. He'll go to Pennsylvania. He'll try to win a major victory there. He'll try to convince the British and the French to recognize the Confederacy."
Ethan nodded. He knew this. He had studied Lee's campaigns. He knew that Pennsylvania was the next target.
"We need to stop him," Lincoln said. "We need to defeat him in Pennsylvania. We need to end this war once and for all."
Ethan studied the map. He thought about Lee's strengths and weaknesses. He thought about the Union's strengths and weaknesses. He thought about the terrain, the weather, the supply lines.
He made a plan.
"First," he said. "We need to build a rail network in Pennsylvania. We need to be able to move troops and supplies quickly. Lee's army is fast, but they're dependent on roads. We can use the rails to outmaneuver them."
"Second," he continued. "We need to use deception. We need to make Lee think we're weaker than we are. We need to make him think we're not ready for him. We need to draw him into a trap."
"Third," he said. "We need to hit him where he least expects it. We need to attack his supply lines. We need to cut off his food and ammunition. We need to make him fight with his back to the wall."
Lincoln listened. He nodded. He smiled. "That's a bold plan. Risky, but bold."
"It is risky," Ethan said. "But it's the only way to win. Lee is a brilliant general. We can't outfight him. We have to outthink him."
Lincoln thought for a long moment. He looked at Ethan. He looked at Callie. He looked at the map.
"Do it," he said. "I trust you. Make it happen."
Ethan nodded. He felt a sense of purpose. He felt a sense of responsibility. He felt a sense of hope.
He turned to Callie. "We need to get to work. We need to build the rail network. We need to set up the deception. We need to prepare for the attack."
Callie nodded. "I'm with you."
They left the Oval Office. The corridors were still empty. The air still smelled of cigar smoke and ink.
But something was different. The future was different. The war was different.
Ethan knew that this was the beginning of the end. He knew that this was the beginning of a new America.
He walked to his hotel room. He sat at his desk. He spread out a map of Pennsylvania. He took a pen and began to draw. He drew lines of rail. He drew lines of attack. He drew lines of defense.
He wrote down numbers. He wrote down names. He wrote down plans.
This was his element. This was what he was born to do.
As he worked, he thought about the future. He thought about the family he would never have. He thought about the life he had left behind.
But he also thought about the future he was building. He thought about the America that would rise from the ashes of war. He thought about the family he would create.
He smiled. He knew that this was his legacy. He knew that this was his gift to the world.
He continued to work. The night passed. The sun rose.
And the plan took shape.
The Second Summon had been answered.
The war was about to change.
And the Voss Dynasty was about to begin.