He flipped the stack at the governor, who missed the catch. They scattered on the floor, full color and lurid in nature. Night pushed one of them toward the governor with the toe of his boot. “How you got her to try that is beyond me,” Night added, “but I doubt she was a willing participant.” Mrs. Briggs gasped as she saw it. “Let me say, though,” Night continued, “I think you are a sick man whose DNA should be removed from the gene pool.” Elizabeth Briggs started crying.
“In addition to the photos,” Calvin concluded, “we have audio recordings backing up all of this. I wanted to turn this over to the police, but we need stability at the moment, even if that stability is you. Here’s what I would suggest you do. One, in the morning, you send the amendment to the legislature. Two, you back it up with speeches about how good this will be for the country. Three, you get the amendment passed this month. Four, next month, before the end of the month, you retire, refusing to take any retirement compensation or benefits from the state. Maybe you claim you have a problem with alcohol. Whatever. I don’t care. Five, lastly, you vanish from the public eye, never to be seen again. If you violate any of these points, or even think of violating any of them, all of this will become public. Do you understand me?”
The governor had one more card. “This is blackmail,” he charged. “I’ll fight it!”
Calvin cocked his head. “Really?” he asked. “This isn’t blackmail; this is an investment in your life. How do you think the people in the Lake Dardanelle land deal are going to feel about you when it comes out that you intentionally screwed them over?”
“How do you know about that?” the governor asked. “No one knows about that!”
Calvin shook his head, “I told you, the ship sees everything. Did they ever find the body of your third partner, or is it still buried somewhere along the Arkansas River?”
The governor deflated. “I’ll do it,” he whispered. “I’ll do everything.”
“I’m sure you will,” agreed Calvin. “We’ll be watching, too, just to make sure.” He stood up. “C’mon, Night. I need a drink to get this disgusting taste out of my mouth.”
“Wait!” called Elizabeth Briggs with a sob. “What about me?”
“You?” asked Calvin. He looked at the governor in disgust. “You can do whatever you want.”
Night crossed to her in two brisk steps and handed her a card that he pulled from his pocket. Looking at the governor he said, “This is my card and my phone number. If he ever does anything to you or refuses to go along with anything you say, give me a call. I’ll be happy to come back some time when I’m not in uniform. I don’t need ‘friends’ to do my dirty work; I’ll be happy to talk to him for you, myself.”
“Thank you,” said the soon-to-be-ex Mrs. Briggs with a sniff.
“My pleasure,” replied Night, tipping his cap as he walked toward the door. He made sure to bump into the governor as he walked by him. “I’d really like to see you again,” he growled in his deep voice. “Next time, I won’t be so nice.”
The two men walked out of the house and back toward the car that would take them to the airport and their waiting shuttle. “Are you still going to give all that to the press?” asked Night.
Calvin nodded. “Just as soon as he leaves office.”
KIRO-TV, Channel 7, Seattle, WA, January 22, 2020
“In national news this evening, the White House announced that it had 37 signatures on the amendment to join the Terran World Government,” read KIRO’s anchorwoman, Anna St. Cloud. “President Bill Jacobs made the announcement earlier today.”
The scene shifted to the president at a podium, “I’m very happy to announce that Arkansas signed off on the 28th Amendment today,” the president said, “this makes 37 states that have ratified the amendment which will allow the United States to join the world government. We are only one state shy of it being signed into law. That this has come so quickly can only be seen as a mandate from the masses.”
The camera came back to Ms. St. Cloud. “Assuming that one more state ratifies the amendment within the next three months, the amendment will have gone through the ratification process faster than any other amendment previously. The 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, previously held the record, as it only took four months during the summer of 1971 to be ratified by the required three-fourths of state legislatures.”
The camera shifted back to Bob Brant, the station’s co-anchor. “Although there are several states that seem close to ratifying the amendment, there are several others that are moving far more cautiously on the measure. Leaders in New Hampshire, long known for its motto, ‘Live Free or Die,’ have made the headlines by saying that they intend to secede from the United States rather than give up their freedom to foreigners in Europe and beyond. They have threatened a lawsuit on the constitutionality of the amendment, rather than joining in the effort.”
“A small but vocal minority disputes this position, however,” he continued. The scene shifted to a small group of picketers. “This group outside the Capitol Building in Concord, New Hampshire disagrees with the majority opinion. Let’s go live to Jim Lordes.”
“Hi,” said the on-site reporter to the camera. “This is Jim Lordes in Concord, New Hampshire. I’m here in front of the Capitol Building with Richard Smithson, who is leading a group that is picketing the state’s legislature.”
The camera shot panned out to include Smithson. “What can you tell us about what’s going on here?” asked the reporter.
“Hi Jim,” replied Smithson. “We’re here today to try to talk some sense into our elected officials. Like any New Hampshire native, I live by the motto, ‘Live Free or Die.’ There comes a time, though, where everyone has to rally together for the common good. The time has passed for us to fight amongst ourselves. We’ve got to come together to fight the aliens that are headed our way. It’s hard to live free when you’re dead.”
“There you have it,” announced Jim Lordes. “At least a few voices are willing to put aside the past to help build a better future. Back to you, Anna...”
* * * * *
Chapter Five
KIRO-TV, Channel 7, Seattle, WA, February 3, 2020
“Closer to home,” Anna St. Cloud reported, “Governor George Shelby has called the legislature together for a special session to debate the 28th Amendment. The legislature was supposed to be on a recess for the next month and a half, but the governor called them back so that the issue could be debated as quickly as possible. Here’s what the governor had to say.” The picture shifted to Governor Shelby, seated behind the desk in his office.
“I hope that our legislature rapidly ratifies this measure,” Governor Shelby said. “As we saw a little more than a year ago, the world is too small for bickering amongst ourselves. The world needs to look at the big picture and move forward together, and the United States needs to lead this process.”
“We have an historic opportunity before us today,” he continued. “So far, 37 states have ratified the constitutional amendment that will let the United States join the Terran World Government. I feel that this is the single most important piece of legislation that has come before me in my entire public service career. My fellow Washingtonians, our world is in more peril now than even at the height of the Cold War, when the United States and the U.S.S.R. stared at each other across the tips of their nuclear missiles. We need this legislation in order to continue to lead this effort. If we don’t lead and bring all of our economic might with us, it is unlikely that the world will be prepared when the Drakuls come.”
“I come before you today to ask you to exercise your rights as citizens and voters of this great State of Washington, a state that has known its share of conflict and war recently, more so than any other state in almost 75 years. Email your legislators and tell them to vote for the amendment as quickly as they are able. If you have a minute, call them and do the same, so that they know you are serious. I have called the legislature back to work to debate
this issue; let them know where you stand! I can think of no greater honor than for this state to be the 38th and deciding state to ratify the amendment. I implore all of the citizens and members of the legislature to make this happen, and make it happen now!”
“Thank you for your support,” closed the governor.
“Impassioned words from the governor,” commented Ms. St. Cloud as the camera returned to her. “Generally, we here at KIRO-TV Channel 7 try to report the news, free of commentary or partiality, but I have to say, after listening to the governor, I hope everyone will take the action he recommends. I was here on camera when Chinese soldiers broke into this station and killed my co-anchor. I never want to experience that again!”
“Thank you for those heartfelt words of your own,” said Bob Brant, looking at Anna St. Cloud. “I know those were difficult times here.” He looked back to the camera. “In happier news,” he said, “the Defense Department has announced that Joint Base Lewis-McChord will host a new school to train special forces soldiers to operate in space. Wendy Phillips has the story...”
Assembly Room, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA, February 27, 2020
“It is appropriate that we are here today,” said the president, “here at this place where 56 courageous men risked everything, their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor, in order to declare their liberty from oppression. Not only was the Declaration of Independence signed here, but 11 years after that, representatives from 12 states gathered here to shape our Constitution, finally creating one unified nation. E Pluribus Unum; Out of Many, One. For well over 200 years, the nation that those brave men created has stood as a world leader. It is appropriate that we are here today, near a broken bell which still stands as one of the most powerful symbols of liberty in the world. Its message from Leviticus, Chapter 25, Verse 10, still guides our actions. ‘Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.’”
He looked out over the Assembly Room. “We are gathered here among all of these symbols to write a new chapter in America’s history. We look further beyond our borders than we ever have before, bravely daring to strike out in a new direction because that is what is right; indeed, that is what is necessary.”
“The signing of a constitutional amendment is one of the biggest acts possible in our great nation,” the president continued. “In order to achieve it, two-thirds of both houses of Congress had to agree on its exact wording. How often does that happen?” He paused for polite laughter. “I would like to thank the members of Congress for their vision in crafting this resolution.” He nodded to the left of the platform, where the leadership of both houses stood, leading the applause for themselves.
“Not only must Congress agree on the amendment, but three-quarters of the states, or 38 out of the 50, have to agree on it as well. I would like to thank the governors and legislatures of the 46 states that have ratified the 28th Amendment for their diligence and hard work.” The president indicated the group standing to the right of the dais. “I hope that the states that haven’t ratified it so far will join the rest of the states that already have, thereby creating a united front as we move forward.”
“We have come a long way in a short time,” said the president, “but there is still a long way to go. We have much to do, and I am conscious of the passing of time, so I will not waste any more of it in flowery speeches.” He motioned toward the Archivist of the Office of the Federal Register, sitting at a small table in front of him, the original table and inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence. “Mr. Archivist, the floor is yours.”
The Archivist held up a single piece of paper, something that seemed far too small for the significance it held. “The 28th Amendment has been agreed to by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, and it has been ratified by three-quarters of the states. I hereby certify the 28th Amendment to be the law of the land in these United States of America.” He set it back onto the desk and pulled an authentic quill pen out of the inkstand. Having practiced for several days until he had it right, he used the pen to sign the document.
The United States of America was now a founding father in the Government of Terra.
* * * * *
Chapter Six
Bridge, TSS Vella Gulf, Stargate #1, March 22, 2020
“So, now that we have a world government, can you please tell us how the gates work?” asked Captain James Deutch as he watched the shuttle launch. The trip to drop off extra mines and other defenses around the stargate was to be his last time in command of the Gulf. When they got back to the moon, he was going to be relieved by Captain Lorena Griffin, who was moving up from her duties as executive officer (XO). He would return to Earth to lead the new curriculum in spaceship operations for officers going through commanding officers’ school. Although it was necessary to pass on everything he had learned as a starship commander, it would not be as exciting to talk about driving a spaceship as it was to actually do it. Not even close.
“Although the procedural methodology of wormhole employment has been reliably established,” answered Arges, “we are stymied as to the internal mechanism of its functioning.”
“Huh?” asked the helmsman. He turned around and asked, “What was that?”
The XO turned to look at the helmsman. “They don’t know how it works,” she said.
Steropes shrugged, “Unfortunately, that is an accurate assessment. We don’t know how the gates work. They’re the product of an earlier civilization. We also don’t know why they were placed the way they were. Most systems have two stargates, which would appear to be a way in and a way out of the system. Why do some only have one? Why do other systems have multiple gates? We don’t know. It may be because of the stellar mechanics...it may be something as simple as the earlier civilization liked traveling to a particular star system for some reason, so all of their roads led there.” He paused for a second, collecting his thoughts.
“Our best engineers have worked on figuring out how the stargates work for over 10,000 years,” he said when he continued, “and they still don’t know. We believe that they are collapsed black holes, but the method for collapsing them and linking them together is beyond us. The closest we’ve come to figuring out the gates was the Churther Box. Arton Churther was a brilliant scientist whose life’s work was trying to figure out how the gates worked. No one is sure how he did it, but he created a box that appeared to open a doorway to either somewhere else or to some other time.”
“Didn’t he know what he created?” asked Calvin, who was aboard to coordinate the air wing’s operations. “Where did he think it went?”
“That’s the problem,” said Steropes. “He never got a chance to say; he got sucked into the first gateway that the box opened. His assistant turned off the box, but Churther was gone. The assistant knew enough about the box to try turning it on and off a few times, but he couldn’t find the world that Churther went into. After a large group of Drakuls came through one of the gateways he created, the government stopped allowing people to operate the box. Of course, there wasn’t anyone left alive who knew how to operate it, so the point was rather moot.”
“So what did your scientists think that the box did?” asked Captain Deutch.
“We don’t know,” Steropes answered. “It created a gateway to another time, another place, or another universe. We don’t have enough information to make a reliable guess as to which. The incredibly scary thing is that one time they turned on the box, the gate led to nothing.”
“What do you mean, ‘nothing’?” asked Captain Deutch.
“I mean just that,” replied Steropes. “There was nothing there. The universe was gone.”
Terran Government Headquarters, Lake Pedam, Nigeria, March 29, 2020
President Bill Jacobs surveyed the bustle going on to the east of him. The site was a beehive of activity, with so many large earth movers working that he wasn’t sure how they didn’t get into each other’s way. It was a well-choreographed dance of con
struction, he decided. As he watched, a truck pulling a flatbed with yet another bulldozer came trundling down the road from the airport, along with a giant crane.
The new Terran Government Headquarters building was going up on his left, with the foundations of several other buildings also in progress. The site was nestled along Pedam Lake in the shadow of Aso Rock to the east of Nigeria’s capital of Abuja. Aso Rock was a 1,200’ tall stone monolith and Abuja’s most noticeable feature. He had found the site fitting, as the name ‘Aso’ meant ‘victorious’ in the native language of the local Asokoro people. He tried not to think about the fact that the Asokoro (literally, ‘the people of victory’) had themselves later been defeated and forced to move from the area.
He turned to Arges, whom he had asked to meet him here. “We’re going to make this happen, even if I have to get out there and start building with my own two hands,” he said with a smile. “Happily, I think that we now have enough buy-in from all of the other nations that won’t be necessary.” The smile faded. “The Russians even appear to be committed to the process now, although I don’t know how we’re ever going to get the Chinese involved. The war pushed us so far apart that it will be difficult to bring us back together.” He looked intently at Arges. “I am not giving up on bringing them in; I just wanted you to know how hard it will be.”
“You have done a tremendous job in a very little time,” said Arges. “And I believe that you have put together the beginnings of a world government. I wish that I had better news for you, but your accomplishments so far are only a small portion of the effort that will be required.”
When the Gods Aren't Gods: Book Two of The Theogony Page 4
