FEDERATION Complete Trilogy (Federation Trilogy), page 44
‘Good evening, Matthew. I guess I need to ask why your face looks as if you’ve eaten some bad shellfish?’
‘Ha ha, yes. I was caught up in one of the terrorist events organised by the pro-Federation movement and it stained my face. Many came off worse than me.’ His face and voice showed pain. ‘Some were killed or wounded. The terrorists were trying to assassinate our president and only the swift action of the FBI saved him from injury. These alien-loving fanatics claim they want a free America, when in fact they are working for the exact opposite – they want us to be ruled and perhaps enslaved by the aliens. Madness!’
‘Yes. Maybe we could come back to that. For now, you have a minute to explain why you want the United States of America to reject rule by the Federation.’
The camera closed in on Matthew Brown with his close-shaven skin, even, pearl white teeth and charming, natural smile. The greenness didn’t detract, it just added to the fact he was a patriot.
In a soft, friendly voice he said, ‘Fellow Americans, you are about to be asked to make the biggest decision you will ever make in your lives. Either you will support the America you love, remaining free and independent of foreign and alien interference, or you will vote to invite a communist regime to come in and take over our country.
‘It has often been said that communists will take over America without even having to fire a single shot. If you vote to support the aliens, you will be the method by which they achieve that objective!
‘The Federation wants to remove your right to continue to work for a living, to be promoted and to gain the rewards you deserve from your hard work and diligence. The Federation wants the lazy, good-for-nothing people who have never done a hard day’s work in their lives, to receive the same income as you! Why should they? Choose wisely or regret it forever.’
‘And, thank you, Matthew for that excellent introduction to your case for independence,’ said Tanya. ‘Now, let me ask a few questions – firstly, you say that everyone will earn the same, but isn’t this a good thing. Those less able or disadvantaged deserve the same rewards in life, surely?’
‘Yes, Tanya, and our country works towards that, ensuring there is always a fallback position for the disabled, the sick, the people who are intellectually challenged. But the way to do it is to create a wealthy country which is able to provide the resources for such welfare. If we shut off the way for people to make money, then we are also shutting off the source of the wealth to pay for Medicare and social welfare.’
‘I see your point, Matthew, but doesn’t the Federation offer the end to war, famine and poverty?’
‘Yes, it does, but the USA has been the largest influence for a peaceful world for over seventy years. We have always fought for the oppressed and sought to rid the world of tyrannical leaders like Hitler and Saddam Hussein. We did not do that only to replace them with a multi-tentacled, technicolour alien with delusions of grandeur! The United States is a wealthy country with incredible resources. We are well able to look after ourselves, feeding ourselves, caring for each other and, through the ingenuity which comes from being free and offering proper rewards for invention, we will continue to improve everything about America.’
‘The Federation is offering people the ability to travel to other worlds. That sounds very exciting,’ said Tanya.
‘Yes. It will be, but we will not be stopping that. We will actively encourage it. We do not need to join the Federation in order to take advantage of what it could offer us. The difference is that, if you vote for independence, we will still be able to trade with the Federation and there is still every opportunity for citizens to visit any of the Federation worlds.
‘I would also like to point out that they have designs on some of the rights within our constitution. Guns – I know it is always a contentious issue, but the Federation will take your guns away from you – everyone – they’ll remove our way to fight back when we realise we’ve made a dreadful mistake. An American way of life, the right to hunt for game, destroy pests and protect ourselves and our families will be gone. How many more rights will they take from us?’
‘You’ve sold it to me, Matthew, and we are now close to the end of the programme. Perhaps you’d like to give us a couple of words to sum up.’
‘Yes, Tanya. It is easy really. Americans love their country. It is not just the land, but the way of life. Rewards for the innovative and hard-working, yet a safety net for the unfortunate and disadvantaged. The United States has a tradition of being the land of the free. For goodness sake, that freedom is under attack! Don’t allow alien forces to take over our freedom. It is like a bad science fiction film. We really must stop it! Vote for independence tomorrow!’
‘Thank you, Matthew,’ said Tanya and the audience, strangely absent the previous night, burst into applause and chants of USA, USA!
Tanya had to wait nearly three minutes for the chanting to die down, then she said, ‘As Matthew said, voting takes place tomorrow, so be sure to get out of your home and vote. This is your opportunity to secure the country’s future. Don’t miss it. Polling stations will open at seven am local time.’
The screen faded and the credits rolled upwards.
19 Voting
[Broadcast media recordings. RBB]
Voting began energetically with long lines developing at some urban stations. People seemed to have taken on board the message and wanted to record their opinions early. Almost the entire country seemed to be enjoying fair weather which would encourage a high turnout.
Of course, there were pollsters outside a large number of the polling stations. Many were the media, but the bulk were government organised. President Slimbridge and Matthew Brown wanted an early indication on how the vote was going. For Matthew Brown, it was even more important as, if the vote were mainly for the Federation then it would be necessary for him to put “contingencies” into place – contingencies which would guarantee a win.
There were other pollsters too. Free America volunteers waited to speak to people as they headed home or to work from the polls. They had just two questions to ask.
‘Excuse me,’ one said to a couple leaving one of the polling stations in Jacksonville. ‘Can I ask you a couple of short questions?’
‘Sure thing,’ said the man.
‘How did you vote?’
‘Independent.’
‘I did too,’ said the woman.
‘Thank you. Can I ask what swayed you?’ asked the person with the clipboard.
‘No contest,’ said the man. ‘Who the hell would want to be ordered around by alien creatures?’
‘Yes,’ the woman said. ‘No-brainer, really.’
The volunteer moved on to the next person. The response was often very similar. Those who voted for the Federation were in the minority, but those who did, expressed the opinion that the presentations had been biased.
««o»»
[Independence HQ’s files. RBB]
One of a couple of dozen assistants brought papers to Matthew Brown. He nodded at each, sometimes made a note on his tablet, and sent the assistants to the master information board.
It was good. It was fucking good. It couldn’t have been better. He walked over to the whiteboard which showed a growing percentage of votes for independence.
Why had he worried? The case had been put so well by him and the defence promoted so ineptly, that the result was going to be a landslide.
The phone rang.
‘It’s the president, sir,’ said a young woman, passing the handset to him.
‘Is it as good as the media are saying, Matthew?’
‘It sure is, Mr President. It’s getting up to sixty per cent for independence.’
‘Why’s it so high?’
‘I think we did a better job than we needed on both sides. You need to give MacNamara a bonus, sir. He was amazing. Made it sound real, but presented it so poorly that he helped our case no end.’
‘But that still doesn’t explain where the Federation supporters have gone.’
‘My original estimates were thirty per cent for independence; thirty against and thirty don’t knows. Seems the don’t knows have bought our presentation better than I expected. Might change later. I’ll keep a close eye on it, but we could be home and dry by mid-afternoon, sir.’
‘Well done, Matthew. Well done.’
‘Thank you, sir. My pleasure.’
««o»»
[From Brad Gregg’s and Jim Collins’ notes and recordings. RBB]
‘The polls have closed in the east,’ said Brad.
‘Still as bad?’ asked Charles.
‘Worse. Our local pollsters are reporting between sixty-two and sixty-seven per cent against the Federation. In some areas it has been as high as eighty,’ said Brad.
‘California is better,’ said Jim. ‘Some stations are only showing fifty per cent although most are closer to fifty-five. I think the Federation has lost this one.’
‘Do you think the statistics are real or distorted?’ asked Charles.
‘I regret to say that they appear to be real,’ said Brad. ‘Our own volunteers are getting the same result as the media pollsters.’
‘With the sort of biased presentations we saw, it’s no surprise,’ said the general. ‘I think we’ll carry on doing our own thing.’
‘Trouble is, we’re losing some of our legitimacy because of this landslide,’ said Charles.
‘Nonsense!’ said Dick Beech. ‘You’re forgetting that we are standing against a murderous illegitimate regime. Slimbridge killed our president and murdered around eight million New Yorkers, as well as most of the world’s heads of state. The uprising is not about whether or not we join the Federation, it is about whether we’re prepared to let a tyrant take over our country.’
‘Yes, you’re right, Dick. Thanks for the timely reminder. I think I lost focus over this referendum,’ said Charles in a rather subdued manner.
‘Not at all, Charles. This referendum was sent to try us. We are battling through it. The parade in Memphis will make you feel much better,’ said the general, and laughed.
20 North Korea
[From Paula Wilson’s tapes, notes and biographies. RBB]
‘The whole thing is going pear-shaped,’ said the secretary general, holding her head in her hands.
A blond giant, Lara’s deputy, Lars Eriksen, finished reading the dossier on North Korea. ‘I cannot believe Kim Lung-min turned the offer down. He’d have been able to live in luxury for five years instead of the usual three.’
‘He must know that he can’t hold out. President Yang was furious,’ said Lara.
‘So, what’s next?’ asked Lars.
‘The ambassador was quite clear. It is up to us to solve the North Korean and Israeli problems ourselves.’
‘How is Israel coming along, ma’am?’
‘Quite well, actually, Lars. President Ramseur has visited them twice. He’s rather stretched the parameters of the offers we’re allowed to make, but I think the ambassador might accept them.’
‘What’s he done?’
‘He has agreed that Israel’s borders can be controlled by them.’
‘But that’s way beyond what’s permitted.’
‘That might be the case, but the way President Ramseur put it to me, once we’re all in the Federation, the borders will naturally become more relaxed. He thinks that President Avraham will soon leave office after integration and the new administration will want to remove the controls because they will not be necessary. Also, President Ramseur has suggested that the ambassador will put similar restrictions on Israelis wanting to leave Israel.’
‘How does that help?’
‘Obvious, really, Lars. If you are an Israeli and want to live somewhere else and your government is stopping you doing that because of their own rules on immigration, you’ll soon become very dissatisfied and the government will change their rules.’
’Sorry, ma’am. If they do that, will they not be flooded by millions of Palestinians wanting to return to their native lands?’
‘Not necessarily, but, you’re right, it is an issue. We both think that President Avraham will not have thought through the repercussions of restricting his own people.’
‘When is your next meeting with the ambassador, ma’am?’
‘Probably next week. The Security Council meets in two days and we’ll look at all of our options then. Disappointing result in the States.’
‘Yes. Do you think the results were genuine, ma’am?’
’Surprisingly, there is no reason to disbelieve them and the Free America pollsters on the day showed very similar feedback to the actual result, if Brad Gregg is to be believed.’
‘You don’t think that could become contagious?’ asked Lars
‘What? That other countries will get cold feet, too? Not from reports coming back from the off-world visits. How did your group do?’
‘Absolutely fantastic, ma’am. The first world we visited was entirely put down to food production. It had never had any intelligent indigenous people. They lived on a nearby world. There were three Earth-type planets in the system.’
‘Three?’
‘Yes. We held in orbit over the food planet and it gave us all a chance to see that the entire world, with the exception of mountainous areas and rainforest, had been cultivated. We dropped out of orbit and settled close to the most enormous warehouses.’
‘How many of you in the group?’
‘One hundred and sixty. Gradually we all disembarked onto an enormous floating platform which then set off across the countryside. Some fields were more than fifty miles across. Giant cultivators could be seen in some areas, or watering machines, pickers, weeders, transporters. In another field there was ploughing and seeding underway. All automated. Not a person in sight.’
‘Did you see inside the warehouses?’
‘Oh, yes. Amazing. Some buildings were for sorting and packing. Others were separating off seeds for storage and the food was being conveyed into ships, ten times the size of our liner. We didn’t actually see one leave, but there were several being filled at just one warehousing terminal of which, we were told, there were over a thousand.’
‘Incredible.’
‘Interestingly, given our own problem with plastics, all produce was shipped in cardboard cartons and trays with a transparent vegetable protein sheath. A special gas preserved the contents. No single-use plastic at all,’ said Lars. ‘And the next world was amazing, but in a different way. It was an actual holiday world.’
‘What no indigenous people again?’
‘Oh, no, there was a population, but much of the surface had been put down to amusement parks. Ships were coming and going all the time we were there.’
‘What sort of entertainment?’
‘Anything and everything. Treetop walks, helter-skelters, all the fairground rides you could ever imagine plus motor racing, automaton riding…’
‘What’s that?’
‘Robots like horses, lions, elephants and even sauropods which you could ride on or race. We all had a go on something. I particularly liked climbing sheer cliffs.’
‘Safely, I hope?’
‘Oh, yes. Force fields stopped you falling. Not instantly though. You had the sensation and thoughts about having failed, but you could get back on and try again. I’ll have to go back sometime as there was an overhang, just like the Preikestolen at Lysefjord.’
‘The what?’
‘The Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock. A famous Norwegian landmark, over five hundred metres above the beautiful Lysefjord. Very scary, but this one was there to climb.’
‘Wouldn’t fancy that, Lars. Vertigo would get me.’
‘I suppose everyone likes something different and Fotpiz, I think the planet was called, has everything you could ever dream of. The upshot was that everyone on board loved it.’
‘How did it come about?’
‘What? It becoming a holiday world?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I don’t know the history, but I got the impression it has concentrated on providing fun for a long time. Fotpiz has been in the Federation for thousands of years. It is amazing how old the Federation is. Earth really is a baby by comparison.’
‘Yes, with all our primitive attitudes, hatreds and conflicts.’
‘The next world was in transition; they’d only been in the Federation for eighteen years. People were still doing a small amount of physical work, but they told us that there was an increasing population of robots who now did all the messy or difficult jobs, leaving them to just pick up some of the more pleasant, interesting or challenging tasks. They were gushing with the difference it had made to their lives since they’d signed up.’
‘That will work in our favour.’
‘One world you really must visit sometime is Kasettod. We split into small groups on arrival and travelled in secure pods to protect us from the animals and environment. It was a prehistoric world. Giant dinosaurs roamed the land. It was fascinating to watch Lost World events playing out before our very eyes. The guide was telling us that Kasettod is only one of more than a hundred worlds which are now specially protected, and visitors are no longer allowed to interact with the native creatures.’
‘Does no one live on these worlds?’
’Some, ma’am. There were some domed towns in the forests, and these were mainly home to university students and lecturers from throughout the galaxy and, guess what, we were told that more than thirty per cent of the students are mature. Older people using their free time to learn more about natural history and prehistoric environments. I don’t mean just pensioners. By mature I meant thirties upwards and they were loving it. Such a boon which would be unavailable to people on the current Earth where mundane work occupies the bulk of our lives until old age.’
‘Gosh, yes, Lars. Imagine what we could all do if we were not imprisoned in our places of work until retirement. A great benefit to being in the Federation. We must make mention of that in presentations.’
