“Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by
prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear.”
~William E.
Gladstone, 1866
“What’s up, West?”
“The State Department has arranged a meeting for us with the
visiting delegation from South Korea.”
“No kidding?! Wow… I was positive we’d have to force the
issue, you know, with the tablet.”
“Yeah, well… There are a few conditions.”
“OK… And they are?”
“First of all, only you and I will be allowed in the
BUILDING, let alone the meeting.”
“That’s fine.”
“Second, any and all promises you make to them involving any
expenditure of U.S. resources will go unfulfilled. You will not receive ANY
monetary or military support – beyond what we already do today as a matter of
existing foreign policy.”
“Again, not unexpected. Funny that they think they actually
have a CHOICE. But whatever. That’s fine. The nature of our plan doesn’t
involve any of that anyway.”
“The meeting will be recorded and a State Department witness
will be present.”
Edward frowned for a moment. “Hmmm… That complicates
things. But I guess it’s OK, as long as
he keeps quiet.”
“I’m assured that he will only act if your words or action
threaten our diplomatic relations with South Korea.”
“That fine then.
Anything else?”
“Nothing outside of the standard, common sense security… AND
that we need to go over there now: They’re waiting for us.”
“Well, let’s go.”
-----------------------------
After being thoroughly screened by security, Edward and West
were led through the labyrinthine halls of the State Department Building,
towards the room where the delegation for South Korea was said to be waiting. Both Edward and West assumed that there
escort was CIA or NSA, rather than a State Department man.
The slightest bit of suspicion lingered in Edward. “Are you
sure this isn’t a trap?”
“I don’t think so.
More likely a concession meant to lull us into a false sense of security
before they spring their trap.”
“And still no word from… our friends?”
West answered in what he hoped would pass for code, “We’ve
searched North and South and its radio silence.”
Edward wasn’t comfortable with the lack of communication,
but pressed on regardless. “OK, we’re here. Let’s see how it goes.”
Their escorted opened the door, and showed them to their
seats. Across from them Edward
recognized Han Duck-soo, the South Korean Ambassador to the U.S., who was
accompanied by another man, who was introduced only as a Deputy Foreign
Minister, but who Edward and West assumed, as they had with their own escort, was a spy, and a woman who was there to serve as a translator. Their State Department escort closed the
doors and remained in the back of the room.
“Good afternoon,” Edward began. “In advance, please accept
my apologies. I am not a professional diplomat. I am an engineer by education
and trade, so my words may come across a bit more bluntly and directly than you
are accustomed to. Please understand
that this entirely due to my own shortcomings, and that absolutely no disrespect
is intended.”
A few laughs halfway through the translation, follow by nods
from the miniature delegation.
“If I told you that in four months time, the entire power
structure of The People’s Democratic Republic of Korea would be completely
swept away, how would you feel about that?”
After a minute of discussion with the delegation, the translator
turned back to Edward. “Of course we would rejoice if this were to come to
pass. There is no shortage of support
for reunification amongst our people. However we must be clear that we do not
condone any actions that will lead to war.”
“Please reassure the Ambassador that there will be no
military action taken by either of our countries.”
Again, some translation, at which point the Ambassador waved
his hands, and answered directly in English, while the translator continued for
the benefit of the other delegate. “Mister Carpenter… Are you suggesting that
something will happen in a manner similar to what happened in your country two
years ago, and in Iran last year?”
Edward smiled broadly. “Ambassador Han, you are truly a
perceptive and intuitive man. Let’s
suppose I was to confirm this; not something that I can really DO you
understand, but let’s play at the hypothetical for the moment. What is your
position?”
The Ambassador took a deep breath, and took a minute to
gather his thoughts. “The leadership of the North has been a threat to our
people for over half a century now. And you government has been very generous
in support of our continued security.
And with the Death of their Supreme Leader last year, and the ascension
of his son, all indications are that the situation will only grow more tenuous
as time goes on.” A few moments of more thought, as the translator caught up.
“We would celebrate the elimination of this threat, but we cannot condone the
deaths of any innocent civilians – in either country – that direct action would
cause.”
“And if there were no civilian deaths? If it could be
guaranteed than absolutely no one beyond the people directly involved in the current power structure would be
affected – What then?”
“If that could be guaranteed… a dubious suggestion, but IF…
Then we would embrace this opportunity with open arms and sixty years of pent
up feelings of relief.”
Edward sat back in his chair, looking directly into the eyes
of the Ambassador almost long enough to make him feel uncomfortable, before
leaning forward again. “Well, Mister Ambassador, something like that CAN
happen, but there are some reassurances we need from your Government in order
to bring these about.”
The slightest look of suspicion. “And these are…?”
Edward breathed deeply. “Reunification, Mister Ambassador,
will not come about for FREE. I don’t mean that WE must be paid; what I mean is
that there will need to be a commitment on the part of the South that they are
prepared to bear the burden of investment in the necessary reconstruction that
will come along with reunification: Infrastructure, Education, Welfare, Jobs,
Humanitarian aid… The cost of bringing the North into the modern age will come
at a great expense. Is your government
prepared to handle this?”
“The Prime Minister and the Parliament would begin the
process as soon as the Government in the North is gone, I’m sure…”
“Not good enough,” Edward interrupted. “They need to start
making preparations, in secret if necessary, NOW. AND I need assurances that FUTURE Parliaments
will continue to do what is necessary to address the wrongs that have been
inflicted on those people – YOUR people – over the past sixty years. There cannot continue to be TWO Koreas, now
separated by the rich and the poor where it was once the North and the South.”
The Ambassador leaned back in his chair, and pondered this
for some time. “I cannot promise what a future government or a future ambassador
might or might not do. I cannot influence something that I may have no
involvement with. What I can assure is that the will of our people – the
citizens of South Korea – desires reunification and the elimination of the
threat from the North very much. I can
offer you no guarantees, but it is my sincere belief that this sentiment will
hold for a very long time, even with the great burden that it will bring.”
Edward frowned. “I will be honest, Mister Ambassador, I was
hoping for more. But I understand that I am asking you to make promises that
you couldn’t possibly deliver on. So I suppose this will have to do. Please
make sure your Government is made aware of our conversation, and advise them to
begin the necessary preparations to be ready when it comes. I wish you and your
people – all of your people – a Happy New Year, in advance. And I thank you deeply for your time.”
“I thank you, Mister Carpenter. I am glad that we have finally had a chance
to meet face to face.”
Edward would have no further contact with any representative
of the Korean Government, but resolved to move forward with his plans. That
evening, he and Epiphany began entering names into the Tablet, with events to
be set into motion, as they had twice before, on New Year’s Eve, 2012.
---------------------------
As the Election season was came into full swing, as the
President did not face a primary challenger his lack of campaigning thus far
was scarcely noticed by the public. The
Republican primary started out wide open, but an early frontrunner emerged, whose
momentum would easily carry him through to the nomination: Texas Businessman
turned Governor Jack Johnson.
He had been thought of as a political neophyte when he
ascended to the position following the deaths of the Former Governor Perry and
Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst in December of 2010. And even though originally viewed as a
sacrificial lamb being sent forward to lead a rag-tag party, now almost
politically bankrupt, towards what many though would be their last campaign and
their final defeat, Johnson quickly emerged looking more the lion, his mane
wreathed in fire. While behind the
scenes he ran things with an iron fist, and was as averse to compromise as he
was accustomed to getting everything done his way, in public he spoke with a
simple elegance that appealed to the common man, and with a swagger that filled
his audience with the same confidence that drove him. He was a quick study on
the national stage, a charismatic, deft politician who grew into a natural
campaigner, able to achieve that political holy grail of opposing everything
the incumbent had come to stand for, yet still appearing to be a middle of the
road candidate that managed to convey the illusion that he would listen to all
sides, even as he rallied to only one.
His inevitability was such that he began campaigning against
the President directly well before the Republican Convention. He had even had
the audacity to name his own running mate in advance of the Republican’s
Convention: Ronald Camp, a slightly over-weight, soft-spoken Senator with a
reputation for pandering to Christian Evangelicals. While Johnson’s big-business gravitas and
Camp’s credibility with the Religious Right made the ticket was already a
can’t-miss amongst Conservatives, Johnson’s outspoken, charismatic style, paired
with Camp’s softer, under-spoken gentility, allowed them to make early strides with
moderates in advance of the general election.
Even before the Convention, most in the media agreed that they would not
only win the nomination handily, but they were already getting ahead in the big
race.
------------------
At the High and Low,
Edward switched of the television in frustration. “The guy’s still not
campaigning! What the hell?”
Epiphany shrugged. “There no primary challenger. Why would
he campaign?”
“To stop this yokel from getting a head start, for one!”
She sighed. “Well… Even if you could still use the Tablet on
him, it’s not like you can run an entire campaign from it.”
“I can’t believe he spending so much time obsessing over me
that he’s going to shit-can his own campaign because of it!”
Just then, John and Gretchen came in. They seemed in far better spirits than Edward
was.
“Hey guys. How are
things going?”
“Proportionate pay passed!” John beamed.
“And the Carbon Tax is moving forward,” Gretchen added,
“Along with the tax changes needed to offset any of its negative economic
impacts.”
“That’s great news, guys. And the President will sign
these?”
John shrugged. “We don’t know any more than you do on that
front. According to our supporters in
Congress, he seems to be rubber-stamping whatever they send across his desk.”
‘Focusing all of his time and energy on me, it seems,’
Edward thought to himself.
It was Paul’s turn to report. “Campaign Finance rules
continue to be strengthened. And banking
reform is back on the agenda.”
“Good. Hopefully our supporters will be willing to continue
act even though it’s an election year.”
“Given the massive uptick in new jobs now that health care
costs are no longer fixed to head count, everything that would have been
considered controversial at one time is now appearing to quite populist.”
“That’s good. How are
things on the education front?”
Professor Todd stood up. “I’m promised that we’ll have a
vote on the new National Curriculum by month’s end.”
“And you’re satisfied?”
“No… I wouldn’t say our work there is finished. But this will lay a strong foundation for us
to build on moving forward.”
“Good enough.”
“And there’s a vote on a reinstated fairness doctrine
sometime this week. Believe it or not,
this is coming with full support from the Republican side.”
Edward laughed. “Well, I’m not surprised, actually. As the media conglomerates are broken up, and
corporate influence weakened it’s the only way anyone will even invite them on
to speak! Sometimes I forget that they
still have the majority!”
The meeting wore on, eventually covering further peace
accords in the Middle East, with the nascent Iranian Government, born for the
first time of secular democracy, signing on in support the Israeli-Palestinian
Non-Aggression Pact, and triggering several other countries in the region to do
so, before ending in a celebratory round of drinks. But Edward could not empathize with their revelry. He was concerned that the traffic lights on
the tablet had gone yellow-red again, and his thoughts kept going back to the
meteoric rise of the Republican’s new star, Governor Jack Johnson.
Later that night, back in Manassas, Epiphany found Edward in
his study looking over the Tablet.
“What’s up, hon?” she asked, putting her arm over his
shoulder.
The smell of her perfume told Edward that she had other
things in mind than politics tonight, but he had discovered something
extraordinary, and had to share it all the same. “Well, we had about an hour ago
the traffic lights had gone green, but I’m sure they’ll be back to Yellow-Red before
too long.”
“They’re fluctuating pretty quickly these days, huh?”
“Yeah… But I wanted
to show you something else… I was looking to see what I might find out about
this Jack Johnson character. Check this
out…”
Edward showed her his profile and Epiphany noticed that his
timer seemed extraordinarily short. “When…?”
“According to my
math, he’ll be dead about six weeks after the inauguration, assuming any of us are still alive by then
anyway.”
“How?”
“Don’t know.” Edward admitted. “If he loses, as increasingly
unlikely as that would seem, then it really doesn’t matter. But if he wins…”
“Do you think he’ll be killed?”
“As I said: I don’t know.
But I meant what I’ve said before: I will not have ‘Carpenter’ added to
the list of Boothe, Guiteau, Czsoloz and Oswald. I will not become a
Presidential Assassin, no matter what else I’ve done.”
“Are you worried it’s someone else might…? I mean… West, or
the Major, maybe?”
Edward hand’t considered matters that far, and composed a
quick email to both of them informing them of what he had discovered. He ordered each man to keep the knowledge a
secret, but that if either should discover a plot to kill Johnson, whether President or otherwise, to let him know
and to do all in their power to stop it and said that that he would do the
same. Finally, he made it very clear
that NO ONE, not them, nor anyone else in their group, is be permitted to take
ANY action to harm this man, Edward included.
He received their acknowledgements, but the timer never
changed. Either they would fail to stop whatever was happening, Edward would
change his mind, or the man’s death was to come about naturally.
“Isn’t this… well, GOOD news though? I mean… Johnson seems hell-bent on undoing
everything we’ve accomplished. And if the polls are to be believed,
Congressional candidates are going to get quite a boost with him at the top of
the ticket...” Epiphany did her best not to sound worried, but Edward knew her
better.
“See… That’s what I’m just worried about, and why I think
the lights keep changing. Everything we’ve
done can be still be undone. And so for
all we’ve accomplished, Gabriel’s judgment is still coming - and it hasn’t
changed.”
“And we’re running out of time.” Now she looked worried.
“I know. But if
Gabriel can predict what’s going to happen, based on people’s choices, just
like this thing can, and Johnson wins?
Maybe he WILL undo everything. Maybe he’ll erase everything we’ve done, and it
will all be for naught and THAT’S why we’re already fucked.”
“Why not just make him drop out of the race?”
“I’ve thought about it. But someone else will come along.
Someone always does. AND… maybe it’s not him we need to worry about.”
“You mean CAMP?!”
“If the world doesn’t end, and Johnson wins, Ronald Camp
will be the forty-sixth President come March. Maybe HE’S our problem, I just
don’t know.
“Yeah but he’s so…”
“He’s might look milquetoast and soft spoken, but he’s a
religious firebrand underneath it all. Exactly the kind of politician that got
us in trouble in the first place. Who knows, maybe…? I don’t know. All I know
it that we’ve just about done all we can, and it still seems like we’re on the
brink of losing it all!”
“You had expected more from Obama, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, but looking back, I realize that I’ve probably
mishandled everything. I should have
stayed in the shadows. The cowboy act was… stupid. Very poor judgment on my
part.” Edward rubbed his temples in an effort to ease the tension he was
feeling, emotionally if not physically.
“I don’t know,” Epiphany started rubbing his shoulders. Edward was shocked at the strength in her
hands. “You HAVE accomplished almost everything you set out to do.”
“And if our current Commander and Chief was half as
interested in keeping his job as he was about silencing ME, we might have had a
chance of keeping it!”
“Does West have any new info?”
“No, other than they are surveilling the hell out of us,
which we already knew. West received
some vague information hinting that they were planning something BIG, but it
was lacking any details.”
She continued to knead the tension from his shoulders, a
vice-like grip molding muscles of stone.
“I’m sure we’ll be OK. I believe in you. You’ll figure it out.”
------------------------
Back in the Oval Office, the President was meeting with his
entire Cabinet, eager to hear their reports. General Alexander of the NSA
began.
“Gentlemen, with the information we have gleaned from
telephone conversations, internet communications and good old fashioned
surveillance, we can be confident that we have identified all of Edward
Carpenters associates, as well as identified and ,located nearly all – we
estimate over 90% - of his monetary and fiscal assets, including those of his
associates.”
Relieved nods from around the room.
“The plan is set to go into motion on November first, once
every last loose end is addressed. Treasury will freeze and seize every asset.”
Nods from Secretary Geithner.
“The FBI, with support from the ATF and the National Guard
will take their compound in Manassas, and arrest everyone there. Anyone who leaves, any time between now and
then, will be trailed and arrested at the same time. Any evidence seized will be immediately made
available to all departments – FBI, CIA, NSA, State… Everyone.”
Attorney General Holder interrupted. “And what is the
purpose of that? If CIA and NSA are involved, we won’t be able to use ANY of it
in court.”
“You won’t have to, Mister Holder,” General Alexander
continued, “The President has already named Edward Carpenter and all of his
known associates as enemy combatants, engaged in terrorism and insurrection
against this country. Once we have
everyone in custody, and all information taken that we can possibly get, using
any and all means at our disposal, we have been authorized to execute every
last one of them.”
Grim looks around the table, but no objections – even from Director
Panetta, the last holdout for Edward’s potential usefulness.
A question came from one of the Cabinet members at the other
end of the table. “And how do we know, after all of this preparation, that
Mister Carpenter won’t find out and use his… influence to cause up to change course, as he did last time?”
A broad smile crept across General Alexander’s face. “The
very first precaution we took was to pre authorize every aspect of the
operation, and to make every single order non-rescindable. By his own executive order, if anyone involved
shows a change of heart, including both myself and the President, they are to
be immediately removed from duty or office and placed into protective custody
until the operation has been fully completed.
This order has also been made absolutely non-rescindable.
The second precaution is that every single person involved
has an alternate already selected to take over and proceed in the event of said
removal. And each alternate has themselves another alternate, and so on.”
“How many deep?” asked the Vice-President.
“At least twenty layers deep, in every single case, right
down to the men that will go marching in.
And in the unlikely event that the entire arm is eliminated, the other
branches of the operation are authorized to assume command as needed. Everything is already in motion, and our
systems will make automatic notifications if anyone appears to have a… change of heart.
Finally, no one, not even myself or the President, know the
names of everyone involved. As the
alternates were named, their identities were kept secret. Quite frankly? There is no one here, or
anywhere, who can stop this now because no one knows anywhere near the full
list of people involved.
The problem of Edward Carpenter will END with this
administration.”
---------------------
From a cubicle in his dark corner of the National Security
Agency, Information Technology Officer Southworth looked at his screen. It
contained names; what looked like thousands of them. He cut-and-pasted the list into a text file
on his personal flash drive, deleted the data mining programs he’d been using to
generate it and then spent several hours making sure that there was no trace
left behind of his electronic eves dropping.
He was not satisfied until close to midnight. “Now… How can
I get this list to Carpenter?” he thought to himself.
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