The President cleared his throat. “Jeannette has spoken in favour of accepting the alien terms,” he said. “Would anyone like to speak against them?”
Toby watched, keeping his face expressionless. Several Senators who had been vocal opponents of transnational institutions in the past kept their mouths shut, seemingly unwilling to challenge the Federation openly. But then, modern Washington leaked like a sieve; a single leak, picked up and amplified by the media, could destroy a career. The blandness of modern politics contrasted sharply with the world it had created. No one dared to venture onto the record when it could shatter their hopes and dreams for the future.
There was the sound of someone clearing their throat. Toby looked down and saw General Elliot Thomas preparing to speak. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been invited to what was, officially, a political meeting because he had his thumb on the pulse of military opinion. Whatever the Federation might have in mind, disbanding ninety percent of the American military machine would put hundreds of thousands of people out of work and onto the streets. That hadn’t worked out too well in Iraq and it wouldn’t be much better in America. Toby had heard that Congress was even debating a bill to ensure that all military personnel continued to receive their salaries for at least six months. It was a nice idea, but he doubted it would pass. Congress hated the thought of paying someone for nothing, at least someone outside the political circle.
“Mr. President,” he said, gruffly. “I would not say that the Federation’s promises are not extremely attractive. I would not argue that we are being offered something we should refuse, without consideration, even if we were the only nation on Earth. And, put bluntly, decisions regarding discussions with foreign powers are a political concern. It is my duty, however, to make you aware of the military implications of the Federation’s demands.”
“There are none,” McGreevy said, sharply. “The Federation is not planning to invade us, General. And even if they were, how much chance would we stand against someone who can cross the gulf of space?”
Thomas ignored her, but then; they were old enemies. Toby knew that Thomas had never forgiven McGreevy for her political interference during a brief crisis with Iran, nine months ago. He’d said that she’d intruded upon military affairs and almost cost America nine young lives. She said that she’d managed to negotiate a mutual stand-down that had avoided the need for violence. Toby knew that it had involved treating Iran, a nation that much of the American public regarded as the Great Satan, as an American equal. The Iranians had made much out of their political success at the UN — and it had made the United States look very weak.
“We know almost nothing about the Federation,” Thomas said. “They have been reluctant to tell us anything about themselves; we know nothing about their interstellar geography, their biology, their technology… some data, sure, isn’t what anyone would choose to share when confronting a violent bunch like ourselves, but they have often refused to share data that would have no conceivable military value. All we know for sure is that they have seventeen starships orbiting over our heads and that those starships are crewed by one race. They tell us that the Federation includes thousands of races… so where are they?
“But that is outside my remit,” he continued. “They have demanded that we hand supreme authority over to a world government that will not be elected into power — even by the world’s population — and that we disband most of our military force. I see no logic to their demands. Why would they want us to cut the military when the military poses no threat to them — or any nation under their protection? We know almost nothing about the Federation, Mr. President; we are in a state of almost complete ignorance. And that is very dangerous.
“It is my feeling that agreeing to sign up to this alien-designed world government is not a constitutional action,” he concluded. “Even if the aliens meant every word they’ve told us, I would still recommend that we do not surrender our government to a global government that is not — cannot be — accountable to ourselves. There are other ways to integrate their technology into our society.”
Toby smiled, impressed. The General had summed up the problems he’d seen with the alien terms — problems that had been reported on the internet, before a number of bloggers had dropped dead. A tenth blogger had been reported dead in Texas in what looked like a drink-driving incident, although his friends had sworn blind that he was a strict Christian who never touched a drop of alcohol. And now the General himself might be targeted. Toby started reviewing the procedures he’d put in place for contacting his father. General Thomas was someone who could not be allowed to die.
“You are interfering in a political matter,” McGreevy snapped. “That is well outside your remit.”
The President looked uncomfortable. “General…”
“I understand,” Thomas said. He pulled one of his medals off his uniform and dropped it on the table. “I cannot go along with this, Mr. President. You’ll have my resignation on your desk by the end of today.”
He stood up and stalked out of the room. The President watched him go, a shocked expression meandering over his face, before he caught himself and turned back to the table.
“We need to take a recommendation to Congress,” he said, flatly. “How many of you are in favour of accepting the alien terms?”
Toby didn’t get a vote, of course, but the remainder of the table knew that what they agreed upon would be pushed through Congress with ease. He watched as dispassionately as he could as the votes were tallied up. Only two politicians were prepared to put their doubts on the record; the remainder agreed that America needed to join the global government at the start. Toby couldn’t quite believe it. They were signing away America’s independence, for what? Alien technology, toys and gadgets — and a fear that if they refused, America would become a Third World state and their political careers would be over.
“The ayes have it,” the President said, flatly. He glanced towards the covered windows. Outside, the Witnesses and their throng of protesters had gathered, shouting their demands towards the White House. Parts of Washington reassembled a battlefield after protest marches had turned into riots. Rumour had it that the National Guard was on the verge of being called up to help keep the peace. “We will join the Galactic Federation.”
Chapter Fifteen
Washington DC
USA, Day 25
As the President’s Special Assistant — a term that covered a multitude of sins — Toby was technically entitled to a room at the White House. He’d declined the honour, choosing instead to set up his home in an apartment some distance from the White House. It allowed him to tell himself that he had some independence, while being close enough to the President’s residence to get back there within twenty minutes if there was an emergency.
He entered the apartment, checked the expensive security system to ensure that no one had tried to break in while he’d been at the White House and closed the door behind him. There were only four rooms within the apartment — the high rent came from being so close to official Washington — and he walked into the bedroom and threw himself down on the bed. He was tired, immensely so, yet he dared not rest yet. There was too much to do.
Rolling over, he stared up at the ceiling. It had never stuck him until now just how little he’d done in the apartment, even though he’d rented it for the last three years. A small shelf of books, a secure laptop from the NSA, a handful of DVDs and CDs… there was little to show that anyone lived and worked from the apartment. Some of the people he shared the apartment block with had money to burn, using it to outfit their apartments with tasteless paintings and decorations. Toby had treated it as little more than a place to sleep when he wasn’t on duty, or catching a power nap on one of the White House sofas. His father would probably not have approved.