SuBBrilliant Blog

Chong found Lawrence outside the hotel and grabbed him. He almost screamed until he saw who it was who had him around the throat.  Chong pulled him off into an alleyway.
“Chong?  Is that you?”
The President had disguised himself with a stocking cap dark glasses and a new wardrobe, courtesy of Ford.
“Yes it’s me. Keep your voice down.” Chong motioned for Lawrence to be quiet.
“What happened to you?”
“I had a very interesting diversion but I’m not in trouble.  Well not in the trouble weall thought I was, and certainly not from the abduction.  I’ve been with Ford.”
“He’s brainwashed you!” Lawrence’s eyes grew wide.
Chong looked exasperated. “No no no.  Nothing of the sort. He let me in on a few secrets that I now understand he had to keep.  I’ll let you in on them too, as soon as we meet with Speaker Malinao. Here’s what I need you to do.”
Chong explained that he needed a meeting but he couldn’t risk being recognised. Lawrence knew how to take care of it. He was a master in how to get guards and waiters and a whole army of people in and out of important areas without being seen.
“You’ll need to lose that garb.  You may not look like the President of the Moon, but you sure don’t look unobtrusive.” Lawrence gave Chong some instructions and then left the alleyway alone and re-entered the hotel.
His mind was racing.  He only knew part of Chong’s plan at this point but he also knew Chong and that meant the rest of the plan would not be any saner. Chong was a very practical and levelheaded guy but he was also creative.  Adn that spelled danger for an aide trying to keep the wheels of government under control. He reached the President’s room, which had been kept reserved but unoccupied. He radioed down to the guards that he was ordering in a meal to the President’s room for the Speaker and himself to discuss some news on the President’s abduction out of Oakland.
Then he sent a message to Speaker Malinao requesting she meet him under the same pretext.  Finally he contacted the front desk and confirmed that a luncheon could be sent up. Then he sank down in a chair and caught his breath.  He hoped it all would work.  Chong had such confidence in him.  He hoped it was really well placed.
Within a half hour Speaker Malinao arrived, looking a bit skeptical.
“What’s this all about Lawrence? I thought we went over all the Oakland findings?”
“Something new has come up, please have a seat while I check on the luncheon.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather hear what all this is first.  I may have to miss the luncheon.  I have a meeting with the southern Omaha commanders council to discuss air security in the wake of Ford’s penetration of the hotel.”
Lawrence looked dismayed. “I assure the Speaker if she wait she won’t be disappointed.”  He didn’t know what he’d do if she bailed on him.
“Lawrence, I can plainly tell that something is bothering you, but what it is I can’t fathom. So please, stop playing these games and out with it.  It’s not like you.”
A knock came to the door.  Saved. Lawrence opened the door expecting to see someone else.  Instead it was a UMC guard.
“Sir, the luncheon will be late. There’s been a personnell change and we’re implementing knew security measures, so we’ll need to run a complete screen on the new waiter.  Our apologies, if you could give us about a half hour. Lawrence was devastated.
Malinao overheard and got up. “I’m sorry Lawrence but I can’t wait that long.  Whatever it is will have to be resumed later.” She made to move past him. And Lawrence slammed the door.
“Lawrence!” she protested but he held his ground.
“I need you to trust me Speaker. Do you trust me?”
“Normally I’d say yes, but today I’m starting to wonder–”
“Yes or no.”
Malinao sighed. “Yes.”
All right.  If you do what I suggest we will have a meeting you need to have.  You’ll just have to trust me on this.  Will you do what I suggest?”
“What is it?”
“Will you do it unquestioningly.  It’s not dangerous… just … odd.”
Malinao could see that Lawrence was sincere as well as troubled.  But he was not troubled by what he was doing but afraid of the fact that she might not cooperate.  She gave in.
“OK I’ll do it Lawrence.  It would take something extraordinary to make you act this way.  What is it?”
“Open the door and order the guard to send the luncheon up right away.”
“What?  that’s it?”
“Yes.  Tell him you can’t wait for the luncheon and that the new security protocols cna be excercised at another time.  To check ID and send the new waiter up immediately.”
The Speaker’s eyes twinkled. “Our meeting is with the waiter.  I see. How very old fashioned.  OK then.”
Malinao opened the door and instructed the guard to have the luncheon sent up right away.  LAwrence nodded his assent and the guard reluctantly complied.
Malinao had expected some special agent of the UMC, or a Minister but when the waiter entered the room her mouth gaped and she stood.  Chong could tell she was about to scream and cut her off.”
“Yes, it’s me.  Now be quiet please Madame Speaker.”
“Where?  What?  What’s going on?”
“Thank you Lawrence,” said Chong as he set the food out.
“It wasn’t easy Mr. President.”
“Speaker give you trouble?”
“She has a very important meeting.”
“I’m sure she does, so let’s get right to the point.” He finsihed laying out the food, sat down and turned to Malinao.
“I need your help.  I cannot come out of hiding not just yet.  But Ford is not the enemy and we have a plan to defeat the real enemy.”
Chong told them Ford’s whole story, then started in on his plan. Lawrence objected.
“I don;t think that can work–”
“It can.  It has to.” Chong cut him off.
Malinao smiled. “You know, I think it can.” She sized up Lawrence. “You’re just going to have to believe in this plan Mr. lawrence.  That’s all.  If you can get behind it, it will work.”
Lawrence looked dismayed.
Chong butted in. “The Speaker will bear the brunt of the scrutiny in this case. If she’s up for it, and as she says, you do your part, I think it can work.”
“We’ll have to move quickly though if we want it to have the effect we think it will have.”
“Yes, you’ll need to be at a press opp tomorrow.  I suggest you start in Caracas. That’s the first one I indicated in my speech.  Follow that order.”
Malinao frowned. “But everyone knows you’re here.  They’ll expect you to start here.”
“True, but the scrutiny would be a lot greater here and I’ll be expected to give a momentous speech, which I still intend to give.  The smokescreen of other news will dampen the questions of why I didn’t start here in Omaha.”
Malinao nodded.  “I’m in.  Lawrence?  Are you up for this?”
Lawrence sighed and looked form one to the other.
“I must be crazy.  I’ll probably get killed, but OK.  I’m in.”
“Fine,” said Chong getting up and clearing away the dishes. “I’ll just be on my way. Remember Lawrence, I’ll contact you using New Cav code.  got it?”
“Got it.” He stopped Chong. “Be careful.”
“You know I will.”
Malinao got up and saw Chong to the door. She held his arm as well before he opened the door.  A smirk crossed her face. “Goodbye darling.”
Chong froze. Al he could manage was a curt good-bye.
Malinao turned around and gave Lawrence  a studious look. “And hello darling.”
Lawrence groaned and sank into his chair.

They ran down a rickety pile of wood that was a close approximation of stairs. Chong was impressed at how fit Ford was. He found himself running out of breath trying to keep up.  After a hundred meters or so, the stairs ended in a flat dirt-floored room. Ford opened an old metal door and they found themselves in a tunnel. an old set of train tracks could be seen below the ledge they stoo don.  Ford motioned Chong forward into the gloom. Eventually Ford pulled out an LED torch and gave them some light.  Chong sighed in relief.  He was afraid of slipping off the ledge down onto the train tracks.  It wasn’t far but given the darkness he could have twisted an ankle, or worse broken a leg, or split open his head.
They passed an old sign that said ’19th Street’.
“Is this an old transit system?” asked Chong.
“Bart,” barked Ford. Chong could hear him breathing heavily finally, something Chong had been doing since halfway down the stairs.
“Who’s Bart?”
“Bay Area Rapid Transit.  Dates back to the late 20th century. Used to connect this whole area together with underground and overground trains. They’ve long since dismantled the system, but the tracks are still here, at least underground.”
“So what do we do, just hide out here?”
“No, too dangerous.  The cameras and sensors don’t reach down here.  What little crime there is in Oakland flourishes down here. I use it as a route to get places unseen.  Hence it’s attraction ot the criminal element.”
Ford jumped down onto the tracks and held up his hand to help Chong down.
Up ahead, Ford’s torch showed a glint of metal.
“What’s that?” Chong squinted ahead.
“It’s called a rail rider. I bought it from a hobbyist.  They use them to explore the tunnels.  It’s sort of like a motorbike, but grips a rail for it’s motion. It’s  a two seater.  Pop the hatch and climb in back.
The rail rider looked like a silver oblong capsule fromthe outside. Chong could just make out the change in tint where the front windshield must be.  He found the pop latch for the back seat and climbed in. Ford was already strappin into the driver’s pod.
“We’ll go about halfway down the tunnel and exit through service grate.  That’ll take us under a neighborhood just north of Lake Merritt.  I have a place there.  I rarely use it but we can stay there unobserved for awhile. Even if the UMC comes door to door looking for you they’ll have a hard time searching this place.  It’s got multiple apartments all behind double locked doors. Not an ounce of electronics in the place but damned secure all the same.
They took off down the rails and Chong hoped hard that ford wasn’t really a delusional old man.  Chong couldn’t see much anyway being in the passenger pod, but what little he could see was inky blank.  Ford must have noticed something because they slowed to a halt. Chong saw a dim bit of light from a grating once he got out of the rail rider. They climbed up steel rungs covered in muck and rust and pushed up out of the grate.  Chong half expected to see UMC guards there and was wondering what exactly he’d say if he met them.  Most likely they’d assume he was being forced to do whatever he was doing.
Ford helped him up onto a narrow ancient street paved in asphalt. It was a residential area with a mix of big apartment buildings and smaller houses. Ford led them up to an imposing grey block of apartments. Chong saw him pull small piece of metal out of his pocket, insert it int he fornt door and open the door.
“What was that?”
“This my friend,” he said holding up the metal, “is an honest to goodness key.  Not the encryption kind that’s more metaphor than item in today’s locks.  This is what the encryption is named after.”
Chong looked at it puzzled. “Can’t they just stick metal in themselves and open it?”
“has to fit.  You can pick a lock, but then you can break encryption too.  And there are so few mechanical locks these days, nobody’s learning how to pick locks.  It’s actually quite  a bit safer that way. ”
Ford pulled out a different metal key and opened another door that led into a dark stairway.  These stairs were solid and seemed to be made of metal unlike the rickety wood they’d taken down to the train station. One flight up, Ford pulled out a third metal key and opened another door.  It led into a dark hallway with several doors unevenly spaced along it. Ford went down a hallway and into a door at the end using a fourth metal key.
“I see what you mean about the security,” remarked Ford. He doubted even the UMC elites could break through four ancient mechanical locks very quickly. Ford’s apartment was as old as the building itself, sparsely furnished but quite comfortable.
“All I can offer you is water I’m afraid, said Ford from the small aisle of a kitchen. “As I said I don’t spend much time here, so don’t keep much perishable.”
“That’s fine,” chong said still looking around at the apartment’s fixtures.  It had a large window that looked out into a private courtyard that was overgrown with weed and a couple large trees.
“You were saying when my army so rudely interrupted us trying to rescue me?” prodded Chong as Ford brought him a cup of water.
“I don’t know how they foud you unless you’re tracked.  Are you?”
“Simple RFID, but difficult to pin down in that time.  They must have had help.  It should have taken them a couple days to narrow down my pellet’s signal.”
“My brother.”
“Narang?”
“Yes, Minister Narang.  He’s my half brother and full annoyance. He doesn’t know about any of this and he’s determined to bring me back to the right ways of thinking. I’ve tried to explain, but I don’t want him to know.  I don’t want to implicate him.”
“But you shot him!” Chong exclaimed.
“One of me did yes,” Ford nodded. “He’s hard to control that one.  But he’s worth it.  He didn’t kill Narang, and right now he’s probably just finished cleverly hiding all my cloning work.  Your UMC boys and girls will find nothing.”
“and my part in this?  I’m still curious.”
“Of course. Well I can;t have you examine the cloning machines right now, so on to the second part. I believe I know several of their main operations centers. They know about me.  They think I’m still on their side but I’m rogue and compartmentalized.  If I get near them they’ll disappear. I’m only to make contact with them in  avery specific way after I’ve completed my task.  Or that’s what one of my clones tells me.  The one actually sent out to kill me and you.  The one you’ve met. I believe him.  It’s funny how well you can read someone just like yourself. In fact the shock of finding out he wasn’t me is what led him to join me.  Anyway, I Get sidtracked at my age. I can’t get near them but you can.”
“You don’t think a big old Presidential convoy into town would make them scatter?” Chong was skeptical.
“Yes it would, but that’s not how we do it. You’re going to go off on a tour.  you need to go off on that tour, or appear to.  Then I’ll guide you to the centers.  One of them is on the Moon. You’ll scout them and assess them, posing as a potential member.”
“And they won’t recognize the President of the Moon?” Chong shook his head.
“No they won’t and here’s why. You don’t look the same in person as you do on video.  And you’ll be on video touring, so they’ll know it isn’t you, because it couldn’t be you.”
“So how do I pull that off?”
“We clone you.”
“Ahh no.”
“It’s the only way.”
“No way.  I’m sorry, but we’ll have to do better than that.  I understand what you’re up against.  What we’re up against, but the cloning has to stop and we don’t make it better by making another clone.  Especially of me.”
“If you have a better plan I’ll hear it.”
“I’ll need more of your whiskey for that.”
“That I do keep here.”
“I thought you might.” Chong gazed out the window into the garden. Their had to be a way to do this without any more cloning.  Ford’s plan could work but was there a better way.  Yes.  There was.

He appeared much older than the other two.  In fact, he appeared to Chong to be in ill health.
“Thank you both,” he said to his two copies.  “I want to talk with the President alone in my office.”
He motioned for Chong to follow him over through the emptiness to a small office built along one wall. Ford said nothing until they were both sitting down inside.
“Can I get you a drink?”
He pulled a bottle of brown liquid out and set it on the desk between them. He popped it open and poured a couple fingers in a paper cup.
“Sure,” said Chong.  For some reason he just absolutely trusted this version of Ford.  That’s what must have made him such a strong negotiator.  He just oozed good feeling s and trust.  Chong was dying to find out what had happened.
Ford poured the other drink and slid the cup over to Chong.
“Well I guess you must be pretty confused and angry about now.  For that I apologize.  As the other mes probably told you, I couldn’t see any other way. After I explain more, I hope you’ll understand.”
Chong shifted in his seat and took a sip.  Hot fire burned his lips and throat as the liquid raged down into his stomach.  Now that was whiskey.
He snorted a bit. “I’ve never tasted anything like this.”
Ford chuckled. “Of course you haven’t.  Scoth this good is outlawed from trade with the Moon.  Maybe a bootle of 12-year-old MacAllen every once in awhile is the best they’ll let you get.  Most of the time you’re stuck with blends. This here is 21-year-old Oban.  Pre-war. It’s my favorite. Dry and smoky.”
“It’s good,” agreed Chong. “I’m not all that angry right now.  But I certainly am eager to hear what all this is about.”
Ford settled in for a long talk. “A group of the Fundys started experimenting towards the end of the war, after you all entered in. They could see the writing on the wall with the UMC forces in play raining hell ont hem from above. Experimenting on their prisoners was nothing new for them, but this group of scientists in Omaha started something unique.  Investigations into stem cells.  I assume you saw the body fields in Omaha?”
“Yes,” Chong shuddered a bit at the memory. “We flew over them on the way to our hotel.”
“You’ll find similar scenes at various Fundy installations, but nothing quite so vast. Fundy scientists, with some kind of twisted religious justification, were learning how to duplicate the humans int heir care. I believe their rationalization ran something along the lines that the sinners they had captured had lost their souls, so reproducing their bodies would not be a problem.  They would sen these clone armies out to defeat the heathens and win the war.”
“How did they get around the protien limitations?”
“Rather clever that.  They only clone the ovum.  Easy enough.  After that they clinched away of replicating the womb conditions exactly.  Then they figured out how to speed the whole thing up. The cells think they’re int he womb, so they have all the protiens they need.  The speeding up is the extremely brillinat part.  After that, all you ned is the right machines and a little knowledge of biology and everyone can do it.”
“So why haven’t we seen the clone army?”
“The machines are quite power intensive. In the end you were battering at the electircal capacity so bad, they could only produce a few clones. A few of the ones seen here were created by the Fundys.  I’ve liberated them.  The clone of my wife you met on the train in Avalon was another. They’re sending out the clones now as spies to attempt to find them a new base where they can receive enough power without drawing attention. They’ve tried Cana colony on the moon, but as sympathetic as the reliogious Canans may be, they reject cloning out of hand. Anywhere else on the Moon would suck up too much power and draw attention.”
“So why do you need me?”
“It’s tricky. You are who they want more than anything. The Ford I’ve sent to lure you in was one of them.  I’ve barely kept him on my side.  He was programmed to hate the UMC. These Fundys–  well they’re really not Fundys anymore.  They’re radical cloners.  They want the UMC gone more than anything so they can slip back under the radar. I needed them to think their rogue Ford clone was just at large doing their work. They won’t think so much about his not contacting them.  It’s how they work.  To keep secrecy.”
Chong felt the liquor hit him an decided not to finish the glass quite yet.  He rarely drank. “So that’s all very interesting, it really is. But what’s the short version? Why do youw ant me?  What is this place?”
“I need you because you’re the President of the Moon.  I need to keep you safe and out of their hands.  I also need you to help me finish them off. They’r erunning very scared right now, but if we do nothing they will find their niche, grow bold and unlease something far worse than the Fundy war. Those body fields in Omaha are littered with failed experiments.  But they’ve learned much.  That clone of my wife really thought she was my wife. They’ve learned how to do that. I have one of their machines here.  I’ve made a few John Fords on my own.  But nothing compared to where they’ve advanced to. If they find a willing protector with enough power, the world is doomed.”
“But why me?”
“Because you’re talented.  Your smart.  And they fear you.  They really do.  In their eyes, you rained down destruction from above.  And they’ve found it almost impossible to infiltrate the Moon colonies. Not in any numbers. My family did die in Omaha, but not in the bombing.  They died in the body fields.  I almost did too. I got away with one of their machines and hid here. If we united, nothing could stop us.”
“I see.” Chong rubbed his chin. “So what’s the plan?” He wasn’t convinced yet, but he was leaning that way.
“We start by giving you a look at the cloning machine to see what you can figur eout.  Then–”
An loud crash outside interrupted them.  Chong and a handful of Fords ran to the security monitors. Chong’s mouth gaped at what he saw.  Outside a UMC command craft and a battle fighter had landed in the street in front of the building. A cadre of UMC troops were being led by LAwrence to surround th ebuilding.  Chong suddenly realized he wasn’t sure he wanted to be rescued.
“Do you have something I can write on?”
One of the Fords handed him a tablet.  He scrawled down a quick message then said, “Let’s go” to the original Ford. “Just you and me.”
“This way,” Ford made for a set of stairs near the back of the building that went down into a cellar.
“I’m very glad you’ve decided.”
Chong follwoe dhim and they sealed the door shut above them.

Chong was certainly not expecting this, but he was a bit more prepared. He touched his tounge to a sub-molar notification device in his mouth that would summon the guards.
“Your wife’s dead,” Chong tried.
“Of course she is. But that didn’t stop her from popping on your train and having  alittle talk did it?” Ford got up and waved his gun as he talked.
“How do you know that?”
“Thanks to your vigilant protection of the lunar populace, you have a camera on every train, no? I have connections.  It’s not hard to get copies of the video.  Although, I must say,” and here Ford frowned, “the audio is awful.  Enough to hear what you were saying, but still,” he shrugged.
“So you know your wife is not dead?” Where were the guards.  Chong touched his molar again.
“Don’t strain your tounge muscle, Mr. President. The frequency’s jammed. Good idea and all, but I was ready.”
“Why so much talk then.  Why don’t you shoot?”
“Good tactics Mr. president.  Youv’e been trained well.  And I must give you credit.  You’ve seen through me.  I don’t really want to kill you.  I needed to make you believe that.  And it doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.” Suddenly an invisible knife cut into Chong’s leg and casued him to fall to the ground in brief pain. Ford’s gun was capable of subsonics.  It could use sub-audible sound waves to incapacitate or kill the victim.
“A low setting Mr. President.  Just to show you I’m serious. Now.  I’m going to shoot you again, just to knock you out.”
Chong was screaming, but no sound came out. Then he realized he was in the back seat of a car.  The ride was very turbulent, he was bouncing around all over the place. He opened his eyes and sat up.  He was handcuffed in the back part of  truck cab.  It was an old fashioned ground car.  John Ford sat in the front driving.
“Good morning Mr. President.  Sorry for the acommodations.  I imagine you’re used to much better.  However it was necessary to get where we’re going unnoticed.
“And where’s that exactly?” Chong mangled the words as he worked the sleep out of his mouth.
“you’re probably working off the drug I gave you.  Perenity.  No lasting effects, but you will have a bit of a hangover.”
“I asked where we were.”
“Yes you did. We’re in Oakland, California. Uh… Grand and Harrison right at this point.”
“Why are we in Oakland, California?” Chong’s geography was good, but he wasn’t exactly sure where Oakland was.  He vaguely remembered it being in northern California.  Somewhere near San Francisco?”
“Well, Oakland has become a favorite for people to hide out in.  It’s got an old reputation for violent crime that long ago became untrue. So it’s instead become a perfect place for people to hide out for awhile. Nobody bothers you.  Everyone’s nice.  The restaurants are good.  Only issue is the police. You can’t get away with much here in the way of violence.  That should comfort you.  Killing someone in Oakland, is tantamount to turning yourself in.  However, non-violent crimes? Petty crimes?  That’s a different story.  You’ll understand. Amazing city, this Oakland.  One of the few untouched by the war.  Fundys focused all their might and anger on San Francisco, right across the bay.  Left Oakland untouched.  Sort of treated it as unimportant.  Another advantage in my mind. Closest the war came to me here was the internment camp at Emeryville. A few Fundys still over there actually. But I do ramble.  There’s water in the flap of the backseat for you.  I think you should be able to open it even with the handcuffs, but let me know.”
Chong opened the water and rank.  He noticed Ford was much different.  Much more affable.  A closer approximation to the Ford that was the negotiator before the war. Chong thought mayb e he imagined it but he looked a little different too.  Older maybe?  Chong couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was odd.
They pulled up next to an old power station downtown.  The truck moved through an alleyway, around the back and into a private garage. Ford helped Chong out of the truck and walked him through a door into an empty warehouse.
“Used to be the Western Power Station way way back in the day. Was used for all sorts of artsy and not so artsy things for a long time.  Now it’s my little laboratory.” Ford sat Chong and himself down on a set of church pews in one caroner of the empty hall. The rest of it was dark and gloomy.
“Here’s the thing Chong.  I can’t explain to you everything that’s going on.  You’ll have to piece it together for yourself.  And there’s no way you’re going to trust me right away, so I’m going to have to keep you locked up for now.  But I assure you,” Ford moved in closer to Chong with a determined almost manic look in his eyes, “I assure you with all I know and believe, there was no other way.  What I’m doing only I could do. And it’s not only for your benefit, but for the benefit of both worlds. The war is far from over. In fact, if you had attended the peace conference without incident, the worlds would be in dire straits now.  You did defeat the Fundys.  You did kill Touareg.  But there was a faction.  One even Touareg distanced himself from, that has persisted.  They have not surrendered.  They’re far too clever for that. You’ve met one now.  My wife.  And she was my wife, in a way.  You’ll understand.  But she’s not to be trusted. They may be impossible to defeat.  But I may know the way.  if I’m right, it’s the only way. And it must happen just so.”
Chong was overwhelmed with the mad rant. He felt mor ein danger here than when confronted by Ford previously.  At least he felt he understood the homicidal Ford.  But this Ford seemed insane and capable of just about anything.  He wasn;t just mad, but mad with an invented cause.  Chong tried to remember his training in psychology, but he had never meant to go into the discipline and only really mastered the interpesonal methods, not the clinical methods for dealing with the truly ill.
“Stand up,” Ford seemed nervous now. Chong obeyed.  He had not other choice but disobeying and that didn’t seem to gain him anything.
“Walk…” Ford tapped at his head compulsively as if he ahd a tic. “I’m sorry, it’s just that nobody’s ever seen this before.  I have to be confident I’m doign the right thing.  Walk forward about 10 feet.  Stop when I say stop.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so!” screamed Ford.
Chong had little choice now.  He could procoke and get into an argument with a man who claimed he didn’t want to kill him anymore, but acted like a madman.  Or hecould walk forward 10 feet and see what happened. He walked.
“Stop!” Ford commanded.
Chong was surrounded by darkness.  He could hear a low hum near him and felt the presence of something large in the gloom.  His heart raced.
“President Chong, Meet… the rest of me.”
A bank of lights came on suddenyl causing Chong to squint.  When he could see again, he faced a row of refirgeration units with translucent doors. In each unit was a copy of John Ford.  There were about a dozen in all with three units empty.
Chong gaped.  Ford was engaging in illegal cloning.  Or were these androids? It seemed more like cloning.  You wouldn’t need to refrigerate androids.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see three versions of Ford.  He immediately recognized two of them.  The youngest was the Ford who had attempted to kill him. Another was the older Ford who had driven him here.  The third stepped in front of the others.  His voice rasped out like dry paper.
“President Chong, it’s a pleasure to meet you.  I’m John ford.  The original John Ford.”

It was a rough landing in Omaha.  The spaceport there had been destroyed during the war, so Chong had pulled some strings and allowed the Rayburn to land at the military spaceport erected south of the city. Needless to say it had none of the comforts of even the smallest spaceport.
The group disembraked onto a gantry that led down to an open tarmac.  Not only was this rustic, but frankly somewhat dangerous. The military port was quite active and shuttles were large, loud and blind. Chong breathed an inward sigh when they finally made it to the temporary command structures away from the moving space hulks.
A car waited to fly them up into central Omaha.  Chong would stay in a hotel there and then tour the main sites of the bombing with Malinao. Along the way, Chong saw the effects of the war, and the bombing he had authorized. Streteches of normal suburban businesses and houses were punctuated by large tracts of empty land and charred earth. The rebuilding efforts were underway in the center of the city but had not reached out this far. Instead, cleanup crews had removed dilapidated structures and prepped land for rebuilding. The empty stretches were desolate with nothing but black soil and a few signs and markers left for fututre rebuilding crews to identify what property belonged to whom and what structures were meant to be replaced.
Just before the car flew over Mandan Park, Chong got his first look at the true result of the bombings. A neighborhood had not been cleared. Chong tapped on the window to get the pilot’s attention.
“Fly closer to that area, I won’t to get a better look.”
The pilot looked a question at Lawrence who just nodded.
Malinao scoweled. “Are you sure you want to see that right now Chong?”
Chong said nothing but kept his gaze fixed out the door.  He soon realized both why the are had not been cleared and why the pilot and Malinao were uncertain he would want to see this. Among twisted metal and mounds of ash were hundreds and hundreds of bodies, preserved in stasis bags.  This was an identification center for the war dead. The field of bodies seemed endless and could not have had a more macabre setting. Nothing lived down there, and workers wore clean suits to prevent themselves getting infected. As they swooped down to their lowest point in passing, Chong saw that not all the bags had bodies.  Some contained collections of limbs or merely charred skull-like heads. He shuddered.  Suddenly the field of bodies ended. and in a snap he was looking at  shopping center.  Granted it wasn’t bustling.  Doubtless people had little to spend and wouldn’t be too keen about shopping near the dead.  However, aside from the lack of people it looked untouched as if the war had never happened.
Malinao leaned forward and touched Chong on the knee, sending an electric shock up his spine. “Are you OK?” she asked.
He found himself frustratingly speechless, not because of what he’d just seen but from Malinao’s touch.
“There’ll be worse tomorrow you know,” she said concerned. She removed her hand and freed his tounge.
“I know. That’s what I cam for. We have to confront it in order to get past it.”
The rest of the trip was in silence until the car floated to a landing at one of the few hotels in business in downtown Omaha.
The streets in downtown Omaha were quite a contrast to the outlying areas.  People were everywhere working on construction projects, conferncing about plans, protesting about issues and some of them merely asking for handouts. The bustle lifted Chong’s spirits a bit and he saw a similar effect on the others in the group.
Lawrence handled the checkin and brought everyone there room cards.
“They weren’t terribly pleased to see me, I’ll say that,” said Lawrence as he doled out the cards.
“Don’t take it personally,” Malinao said. “They’ve been through a lot. I don’t think most of the Omaha residents have anything against the UMC.  Most of them blame the Fundys at this point. Ford is unique. Most of these people weren’t even living here anymore at the time of the bombing.”
Chong started to feel the weight of a long day of travel, planet change, emotional sites and more. He intended to retire to his room and get some sleep. A guard accompanied upstairs and stood outside his room.  LAwrence was even too tired to talk right now, and went straight to his own room. They would all meet in four hours to begin their tour.
Chong threw his things down on the couch and opened the doors into the suite’s bedroom.  Sitting on the bed was John Ford.
“Hello Mr. President.  I hear you’ve met my wife.”

ISS 5 had been launched a mere three years before the war. The Fundys had control of Venezuela and were a growing threat at the time, so it had been built with security foremost in its design.  Chong wondered if that’s why it looked like a spiky grenade or if that was just an accident of design.
Aside from the foreboding appearance, the docking procedure was almost impossible. Any ship not pre-cleared with a double-authenticated one-time pad International Space Agency key had to wait two hours to dock instead of 30 minutes. Chong got a special demonstration of this security by bureaucracy in action as he watched Speaker Malinao’s ship arrive and dock while his UMC shuttle waited. He respected that it didn’t matter whether the President or the janitor was on board, he just thought the overall security was a little overdone for peacetime.
The shuttle finally received an assigned spike near the Speaker’s, and after one hour in space and two waiting outside their destination, Chong, Lawrence and their guards set foot on the ISS 5.
It was in fact, a historic occasion that went largely unmarked.  No UMC citizen, much less a President had been on ISS 5 ever. The head of UMC’s space agency had visited ISS 4 in the decade before the war, but the ISA was never excited about UMC personnel on board, and the war had frozen out any chance of UMC citizens finding their way over to the Earth’s prime space outpost.
It was really just jealousy.  UMC troops could have guarded the ISS 5 during the war but the ISA resisted. When the colonie shad united and rebelled against the Earth, they had also rebelled against the ISA which had overseen most of the missions that founded the colonies. Many of the Moon revolution leaders were members of the ISA. So it was natural for the remaining ISA members to see the UMC as a rebellious and ungrateful child. The most loyal ISA leaders accused the UMC of setting back space exploration thirty years. Martian missions aside, it was true that no new colonies had been founded since the Moon revolution. It was also true that the two attempts to found a newcolony at the Ambrosius site, one before and one after lunar independence, both failed for lack of interest. Moderates agreed that the UMC’s independence was more a symptom of the stall in colonization, rather than the cause.
That didn’t change the chilly reception as the President of the UMC set the first lunar foot on ISS 5. A single Lieutenant met them and barely greeted them before instructing the pilot on the conditions and procedures for leaving. Chong felt this was more than hint, it was a push.
Speaker Malinao cam erunning in with a few aides in tow, huffing and puffing out of breath.
“I’m so sorry we’re late President Chong… uh Chong. I know we look close form outside, but they docked us 5 stories up and the lift is in use for cargo or something ridiculous, so we had to hoof it. I’m so sorry.  Anyway, how was your trip?”
Chong thought it remarkable how much she glowed after a little excercise.  Further thoughts along these lines were quickly stamped out, but not before it became apparent he was staring.
“The President and I had a lovely trip and were impressed with the strength of the ISA’s security protocols,” Lawrence broke the awkward silence.
“Yes, quite a wait,” Chong managed. “How was your flight.”
“Uneventful.  I’ll show you the way to our ship.  You know these ISS types, always in a hurry.”
Malinao led the way to the stairs back up to where the US ship was docked.  Chong found himself walking up the stairs behind Malinao and struggled for all five flights with not only carrying on a conversation while huffing an dpuffing, but trying to decide where his eyes should focus.
“Welcome to the USS Sam Rayburn, my home in the stars,” said Malinao gesturing at her ship. “It’s been in use by Speakers of the House in the United States for just over fifteen years. But they didn’t make it for us.  Before it was given to the Speaker, it was used as the Vice Presidential shuttle for five years.  It’s old but it’s spaceworthy.  They’ve kept it maintained and upgraded.  It should fit six nicely, but since we have about nine it may be a little cramped.  I hope you don’t mind.”
Chong admired the enthusiasm that filled her deep brown eyes when she spoke about her ship. “I don’t mind at all,” he said truthfully.
Lawrence looked like he disagreed, but they all made way through the entry.  The interior was velvet red and to Chong’s Moon-raised eyes seemed mor elike it was built for 12 rather than six. But there were only six seats, which meant three of the guards had to strap themselves into wall spaces for the departure. One of the guards took the invitation of the pilot to sit in the cockpit after Chong said it was all right.
They departure protocols took all of five minutes, considering that they were leaving in a pre-authorized ship.  He wondered how long the UMC shuttle would have to wai tto leave.
“Your pilots should be leaving right after us.  They won’t waste time on the way out,” Malinao said as if reading Chong’s mind.
It was an hour trip to Omaha. After departure they would have about twenty to thirty minutes to float about the cabin before reentry commenced. Malinao took the opportunity to show them around the ship.
At one point, Chong found himself alone with Malinao, looking at a viewport at the Earth rolling by beneath them. He wasn’t really alone, but the guards were in the cockpit and Lawrence was conferring with the aides on arrival logistics.
“Don’t you ever miss it?” Malinao asked.
“I never had it,” Chong said.  He got this question a lot from Terrans. “I grew up with a black sky and silver light.  It’s all I’ve known. The Earth’s beautiful to me but so are many things.” He realized what he just said as he also realized Malinao was looking up at him.  He turned quickly away and thought he caught the hint of a smile.
“The Mona Lisa is beautiful. A Martian sunrise is beautiful, but I don’t particularly miss either one of those things. I appreciate them but I never had them.”
“So you have to have something, to miss it?”
He inexplicable feared answering that question.
“Well yes, I suppose.  At least when it comes to planets– I,” he was interrupted, saved, by the announcement that reentry would soon commence and all passengers needed to secure themselves.
“We’ll continue this later,” Malinao said as they made their way back to their seats.

On board Air Force One, President Chong sat bewildered, discussing the events with President Torres.
“It doesn’t make any sense. Why would Ford warn Narang, then shoot him.”
“He’s a bloody man.  Narang will recover, he wasn’t mortally wounded.  Ford’s just making his point.”
“Did you ever think he might have meant us to take your ship? That we’re in danger right now.
“Of course we are, nut even so, the security on AF1 is the best in the world.
“Sir?” A woman interrupted them. Chong lost his breath.
“Oh hello Samantha. This is President Chong of the United Moon Colonies. Rich, this is Samantha Malinao, Speaker of the House.”
“Pleasure to meet you President Chong. This concerns you too. Sir, we just received news the Paris Elevator has been damaged. A unit of UMC troops was descending to assist at Versailles. An explosion took out the stabilizers. There are 2 fatalities, 12 injured and the elevator is damaged.”
Chong stared at Malinao. She had long black hair, and deep chocolate brown eyes. She wasn’t a bombshell in the classic sense, but she had quite an affect on Chong’s attention. He had never married or even dated much, leading to all kinds of speculation on his love life and sexual tendencies.  The truth was he was bisexual but so concerned with his job he didn’t have time to pursue sexual relationships much. He had once though he and Lawrence would hook up, but realized he probably wasn’t Lawrence’s type, and besides they worked too closely.
“Chong?  Do you need to contact your staff?”
Chong shook himself out of it. “Yes, yes of course. I’ll be right back.”
“We have to return to Serenity sir. It’s not just about your safety at this point,” Lawrence said when he found him at the back of the ship.
“You’re right Lawrence. We’ll take the New York elevator. But we’re coming right back down.”
“Very good sir. I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Don’t smirk Lawrence.”
“Of course not, sir.  I never smirk.”
Chong returned to his seat to find Speaker Malinao in it.
“Oh I’m sorry President Chong…”
“Call me Richard, or just Chong like Rudy here.”
Malinao raised an eyebrow.
“It’s just more efficient.”
“Of course, Chong. Would you like your seat back.”
“That’s fine.  I’ll sit here, and took the empty seat next to Torres.”
“So what’s the scoop Rich.  YOu need to head back I expect.”
“Yes, Lawrence is arranging it now.  I’ll take the New York elevator back up but I’m coming right back down. I intend to be in Omaha tomorrow.”
“That’s what happened,” Malinao interjected. “That’s why they shot Minister Narang.  He was headed to Omaha as well. They want you there alone.”
“Well they would have known all our itiniraries, that’s true,” said Torres. “I can’t go to Omaha. I have a conference on Naval redeployment for the next three days. It’s not like you’ll be undefended, but the fewer dignitaries the fewer troops.”
“Not just that,” said Malinao with a smile that melted Chong. “It’s also to have you isolated.  No friends around.  Terranists like to play mind games.”
“Well, I’m going anyway. I can beef up the guards but I feel with a man like Ford it matters little.”
“Ford?” Malinao looked suprise.
“Uh, she hadn’t been briefed,” explained Torres.
“John ford is the man after me.  It’s not just the Terranists against the UMC. It’s somehow personal.  Ford lost his family in Omaha.”
“And you’re going there on purpose,” Malinao had a look of respect, which Chong hoped included a little admiration. “That seems really stupid.” So much for admiration.
“I want to beat Ford and beta him quick.  The problem with all people like him is letting them rule the debate.  Trying to go after them, trying to eliminate them or comat them.  They don’t plan for direct confrontation, they plan for games and strategy. I’m attempting to foil his plans by doing exactly what he doesn’t think I’ll do. Unfortunately he forced my hand with the elevator. So he’s ahead. I wish there was a way I could go directly to Omaha from Serenity, but I’m limited to the elevators, at least from space.”
“Why not have a UMC ship take you direct from Luna?” Malinao asked.
“Because Chong thinks the military efforts are too important to waste time carting his ass around,” Torres butted in.
“But surely    this is an exception, no?”
Chong shifted uneasily. “I suppose it could be. If there’s a mission headed that way anyway, but there’s probably not. ”
“What if I pick you up?” Malinao offered.
“What?  From Luna?” Chong asked shocked.
“I was thinking from ISS 5.”
ISS 5 was the UN orbital station. Chong would need special permission to fly there, but Torres could get him that. However he could only leave from there if he was traveling back to Luna, unless someone else gave him a ride.
“You can do that?”
“I’m not such a masochist as you, Chong. I have a ship at the speaker’s command and I intend to use it.”
Chong laughed at the insult. He would have laughed if she slapped him, he thought. “OK. So why aren’t you in your personal carriage right now?”
“I said I’m not a masochist.  I’m also not wasteful.  No need to take two ships where one works.”
“Then I accept.  Rudy, can you get me landing..”
“Yaah, yeah, you two have fun. I’ll get you ISS privilegs. Just do me a favor and don’t get our SPeaker killed, all right.  She might be the next President.
Malinao looked a bit embarrassed for the first time.
In New York, Chong had little time to say goodbye before he was whisked out to Jamaica Bay to the elevator.
“I think Speaker Malinao’s plan is sound,” Offered Lawrence during the ride up to platform 70. That was unlike Lawrence, who rarely offered any kind of unsolicited advice.
“You’re starting to get downright pushy Lawrence,” said Chong.
“Pardon me sir, but if it saves your butt, I’ll do it. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I always thought you were a bit too deferential anyway.”
Lawrence chuckled slightly.
“What?” Chong turned to see his aide struggling to keep a straight face.
“Sorry sir.”
“No out with it, what?”
Lawrence sighed and lost all compsure as he put on a dead-on imitation of Chong’s voice. “Lawrence, I know we’ve been friends for a long time but now I’m the President.  This doesn’t change our friendship but we have to act like professionals.”
“Which you agreed to!” Chong was starting to get a little angry.
“And which you’re now telling me I can ease off of. I guess it’s natural when we’ve been at it for seven years. Still sir, it just struck me funny.  I apologize.”
There was nobody else in the car to hear the conversation, but they both new it would be observed and recorded for security purposes.
“Fine,” Chong sighed. “I hereby give you a Presidential order to lighten up a bit.”
“Very good Rich.  Sorry, can’t do it sir. We have a staff meeting at the capitol, then we need to head to Armstrong, to the Floy Center for a UMC business council address, the Clavius this evening for a University meeting, then New Canaveral for your shuttle flight to ISS 5.”
“You certainly know how to pack an agenda Lawrence.  Any way of skipping the University?”
“Well they’ve been waiting for you to attend for months and the shuttle can’t leave until late anyway. So it wouldn’t hurt.  You don’t have to speak or do anything but eat their dinner and smile.”
“I’d rather be alone, but all right. It’s important. Thanks Lawrence.”
The elevator arrived at platform 70 and UMC guards escorted the President and his chief aide to the waiting shuttle to take them to the Serenity colony on the Moon.

While the Worlds War engaged every single nation on Earth and the Moon, some were the primary movers.  Her are described the main national members of the sides of the war.

Fundamental Union of Nations (Fundys)
The Fundys believed they were inspired directly by guide to wipe the Earth of sinners and sinful ways.  They held no value for either their own lives or the lives of others. They had been considered terrorists or extremists in their areas of operation until they formed a worldwide union to set aside their differences and coordinate their efforts. What had been Islamic, Christian, or Jewish militaristic movements sometimes at each others throats, were brough together under one anner by Abraham G. Touareg at the council of Caracas. Touareg’s Fundamental Union party won control of the Venezuelan government then expanded his party’s control quickly around the world.

Venezuela – One of the brightest economic lights of the southern hemisphere before Fundy control, Venezuela became the central base of operations for Touareg and his party. Where Caracas had once been the financial capitol of South America, Touareg dismantled its economy and fed on its strength to make the Fundys strong. It is said that the economic success of Venezuela came to quickly for the country to cope, opening the way for Touareg to take control by appearing to bring the country back to basics. At its height, Venezuela controlled two-thirds of South America and claimed most of Central America as satellite states.

African Confederacy – Venezuela formed alliances quickly with more fundamentalist governemnts in Africa, and sooned formed a continent-wide confederacy to meet and discuss matters of world importance.  The African COnfederacy became a counterpoint to the UN where in Touareg’s words, “the moral nations of the world can meet unmolested by sinful ideas, in order to discuss how to bring God’s plan into being.” Odwale Mbeko rose to prominence as leadr of the Confederacy and Touareg’s puppet and right-hand man.

United Arabia – The tumultuous history of Arabia had seemed to finally be resolved with the formation of the United Arabian Government. However, Touareg’s funding caused the Fundys to take power there and start rolling back the clock, reinstituting fundamentalist laws and programs.

Israel – The shining example of the power of diplomacy fell when the Jewish arm of the Fundys took control and dismissed the Gnesset. Israel became partners with Touareg and United Arabia in a policy of repatriation and appropriate occupation, now known as The Purgings.

Fundamental States of America
An uprising in the midwest of Fundys secured several state governments and attempted to take over the Federal Governemnt of the US as well. The states were kicked out and a second civil war erupted.

Fundamental European Union
Scattered provincial governemtns fell to the Fundys throughout Europe, starting one of the most complicated theatres of war ever as two European Unions existed at once over essentially one territory with millions of fronts between many different sects and populations.  Europe was the scene of the bloodiest battlegrounds in the war. The F.E.U. based itself in Vatican City, holding the Pope as a hostage and mouthpiece for their work.

Alliance of Nations (Later Alliance of Worlds)
The Alliance grew slowly as Venezuela marched south into South America, and slowly converted Africa to their cause. American countries foremed the first Alliance begun by Mexico. Europe joined next, led by France and Russia. The entry of China was felt to be the key to turning the tide, but only the entry of the UMC put the Alliance on the road to victory.

Mexico
As Venezuela began taking over its South American neighbors, Mexico declared war and attempted to free Brazil and other of its allies.

Canada
When Venezuela caused several Central American countries to invade southern Mexico, Canada joined the war.

United States of America
The rebellion of the midwestern states, moved the US into the war on Venezuela.  Mexico, Canada, and the US formed the first Alliance of Nations against the Fundys.

France, Britain, Russia (European Union)
The non-linear attacks and victories acrossed Europe caused some individual conuntries like Germany and Italy to become non-functional. France Britain and Russia are created with keeping the EU governemtn going during the war.

China
Touareg originally signed a peace treaty with China and kept them out of the war, until the African Confederacy began to move into southeast Asia. China declared war on Africa, and Venezuela declared this a violation of their treaty and sent tropps into China.

United Moon Colonies
The last nation to enter the war, along with the tiny independent Moon colony, Cana.  The UMC held a distinct tactical advantage, able to deploy troops from space anywhere they were needed.  The UMC forces were also fresh and easily supplied as the Fundys had little experience with space-based defense.  They knew enough to block Earth access but could not cope with UMC attacks from above. The great space elevators were expanded  and used to shuttle troops and supplies between key points on Earth and the Moon. The UMC involvement turned the tide of the war and led to Touareg’s death and the fall of the Fundys.

This is part of a story being written for National Novel Writing Month. 

Lawrence made for the door but Ford was quickly over with a gun next to Chong’s head.
“No, Mr. Lawrence.  I don’t wish to be disturbed. Besides. I’m not going to kill Mr.  Damn.  Pardon me.  PRESIDENT Chong.  Not yet. They probably have warned you baout me.  I am dangerous now.  I’m aware of that.  But I’d rather not kill you.  That’s why I’ve risked my own life.  So you understand Mr. President?  My own life is at risk right now.  I’m risking my life to save you.”
Ford kept the gun at Chong’s head, moving it around slowly as he circled the President. He was almost massaging Chong’s head with the barrell. All the time keeping an eye on Lawrence who still stood next to the door.
“Mr. lawrence, please.  You’ll be more comfortable sitting down.” He moved the gun off Chong momentarily and waved it toward a couch. “Please.  Have a seat.”
Lawrence moved over to the couch, keeping his eyes on Chong for any kind of sign as to what he should do.
“So you see, Mr. President.” Ford spat out the words this time. “I’m paying you back.  You risked your life, and the lives of your so-called countrymen to defate the Fundys. I respect that action.  I truly do. And so I return the favor.  But you’re madmen.  You indiscriminately kill in order to get your result. As you have seen, I can respect that too.  Though I narrowed my bombs focus a little.  I didnt wish to kill.  So I’m not quite up to par with the United Moon Colony fforces, am I?
“But I’m a follower of yours President Chong.  An acolyte, if you will.  I follow your example.  Even if I’m learning and didn’t get it quite right today.  I didn’t kill anyone see?  Didnt rob anyone of their wife and children.  But I noted you came down the elevator alone. A good symbol.  So I folloed it.” Ford smiled widely and waved the gun out away from Chong to gesture. “I came here alone too. In order to deliver you…”
Lawrence had his arm in a tight grip.  He’d dropped his guard briefly and neither of the other men had missed it. Chong was around Ford in a split second and the gun was on the floor. But Ford was not to be trifled with.  He swung both arms forward and knocked both men to the floor. He was almost back to the gun when Lawrence leaped toward it too. Chong had started shouting from the moment they had jumped Ford and the guards had come running into the room.
Ford looked up and smiled.
“Oh Mr. President Chong. I guess you’ll have to hear my message in a different way.  If you hear it at all. Remove your troops now.  Thayt’s really the short version.”
As if anticipating the firing, Ford was out the window and gone before the guards could stop him.”
“He can’t have gone far,” said Lawrence, but when they looked out the window, there was nothing.  One of the guards ha dalready run to alert security, but Ford wasn’t found.
The guards insisted on remaining in the room and Chong had to presuade them not to stay in his bedroom.  It’s not that he couldn’t have slept with them there, he just felt it was ovverreacting, and overreaction is exactly what Ford wanted.

The next morning Minister Narang met Chong in the hallway on his way to breakfast.
“Good Morning Mr. President. So I see you didn’t take President Torres’ advice, at least not yet.”
“No Minister.  I’m certain it’s good advice, but I’m not ready to run.  In fact I made a decision on my next action this morning in the shower.”
The Minister raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? Do tell.  If you don’t mind my knowing.”
“Not at all.  I intend to have Lawrence set up a press conference today. I’m going to Omaha.”
“Is that right?”
“You don’t seem as surprised as I would have expected, Minister.  I’m disappointed.”
Narang gave a sly smile. “I won’t go so far as to say I have you figured out, President Chong. But I daresay I expect you to surprise at this point.  I couldn’t have predicted you’d go to Omaha next, but it is the kind of thing that seems to fit.  Do you know what I’m getting at?”
“Yes.  I guess so.”
“Besides, it is also where I’m headed after the peace conference.  So I’m pleased that I may get the pleasure of your company again.”
“Do you always talk like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like a storybook.”
“Always.”
“Well it’s damned odd.  Why are you going to Omaha?”
“To appear in front of the troops. The small European aid contingent that’s there is largely British. They won’t be needed for much longer, but we need to boost morale to get them over the hump until the end.”
“What a coincidence.”
“Are you satying for the rest of the conference I hope?”
“Yes.”
“And then you hope to draw out Ford.”
“I hope to kill him.”
This stopped the Minister. “Now that. Was unexpected.”
“I’m glad I could finally surprise you.”
They had arrived in the Great Hall and Chong sought out Lawrence to inform him of the plans.
Lawrence was no easily persuaded this was th ebest way to go about things, but in the end, Chong was President.
The media had been largely absent because of the tight security controls, but they had been allowed in to view the signing today.  Most of them were pestering the poor Security Chief and taking video of the bomb site, now covered in canvas on one end of the hall.
The meeting was long and boring with many speeches from the different leaders and the great moment of the official signing of the peace treaty with the former Fundy nation’s representatives. Chong’s speech was scheduled immediately after the signing.  It was explained to him that the first words in an era of peace should come from the UMC. Lawrence had explained to him that nobody would bother listening once the treaty was signed.  And it was true.  About two thirds of the cameras and reporters left the hall immediately after the signing. They had published their video.  Now on to other work.
As the national leaders took their seats again, Chong approached the podium. Applause rippled through the crowd. Of those left, most all recognized the great contribution of the UMC. While some still belittled the upstart nation, and others worried about the larger role they now held on Earth, none of them were ungrateful for the support they gave.  If he would ever have the world’s ear it would be now. The remaining press corps would report his words and if he did it right, would end up with a scoop.
“Thank you assembled leaders and distinguished guests. 100 years ago, my Grandfather was a member of a similar conference as this. Peace was the goal, but there was no moral high ground for either side. An uneasy peace was reached that has festered ever since.  This day is different for many reasons. The Fundamental Union of Nations was a scourge unseen on this world for a long time. They rose out of Earth’s failings, and for a time, I’m embarrassed to say, some in my governemtn were symptahetic to their complaints.  But their policies were abhorrent. Their methods unacceptable, adn in the end they became not just a problem for the entire Earth, but for all of humanity.
“It was not popular to enter what was essentially a five front war. Especially on a planet that had an uneasy relationship with us. Many said to leave Earth to itself and stay out of it. But we could not. In the end we won more than just peace by joining this war.  We won understanding. In a sense we’re declaring peace in two wars here. Not only the end of the Fundamental Union’s war on humanity, but the final healing peace between Luna and Terra.  The Moon and Earth.
“But our work and responsibility is not done.  The UMC forces could just leave, and many would like us too. But we must leave things better than we found them. History has shown that wars fought with no end, end in other wars.  We will not let that happen. I will leave form here and personally inspect the conditions in every UMC occupied area, and then consult with the Alliance Countries on an exact plan for rebuilding and withdrawal.
“I will visit Caracas, and ensure that the vibrant economy that once flourished there, retruns. I will visit our administrative region in Gabon and see to it that the Anthropological INstitute can resume it’s work. In United Arabia, i will personally investigate how to get energy systems back up and running in responsible hands. In Europe I’ll speak with unit administartors in the Vatican.
“But my first trip will be to America. To Omaha. To the site of the bombing and our military police in the midwest. A man named John Ford recently threatened my life if the UMC did not leave this world.  He’s upset with what happened in the war. Well so am I.  But I will not do people the disservice of leaving before we’ve put things right.  And I will not let confusion rise over what the Fundys did and what we did.  And we will tak responsibility for what we did.
“A song became popular during this war.  Its words referred to the Looneys coming and thank god the looneys are here. I’ll take the backhanded, light-hearted compliment of that song. The Looneys as some call us have a way of doing things that has led to the creation of a strong band of united colonies. When we find adversity, we defeat it and make things better. We will do that, depart, and leave you to do the rest.  Thank you.”
“A mixture of reaction met the ned of Chong’s address. Some leaders showed obvious shock at the revelation of John Ford’s agenda, that they had worked hard to keep secret. Others clapped lightly and politely at what they considered a self-serving and pompous sermon. But the majority of the press, aides and lower level guests cheered heartily.  They were the ones till glad the Looneys had ocme to save them.  They valued the straight talking of Chong. ‘Moon men play straight’ was another saying that had grown up during the war.
Chong hadn’t planned to announce the visit to Omaha or speak of John Ford directly when he started the speech.  he could already see the frustration in Lawrence’s eyes.
“We’ll figure it out, Lawrence, don’t look at me like that.”
Venezuela, The African Confederacy, United Arabia, and Israel, North America, and Europe.
“You’ll be the death of me, Mr. President.”
“I got here by trusting my instincts. We beat the Fundys by trusting my instincts.  I don’t mean to be too full of myself, but I figure my good luck may run a little longer.”
“As you say, Mr. President. Gravity doesn’t make a man, it’s the way he jumps.”
“I never say that.”
“But you sure act the part of the old-time Moon Man quite well.”
“Point taken.”
The press conference was scheduled in an alcove off from the elevator banks. After speaking to the press, Chong would ride back up to Serenity in the UMC, take care of some business, then take another elevator back down to New York and fly a UMC transit ship to Omaha.
The Press Conference went off without a hitch.  The questions were almost entirely about the trip to Omaha and the revelation about John Ford, but nothing Chong couldn’t handle. At the very end, Lawrence had a habit of taking a few questions from the unofficial press.  These were upstarts with no real press credentials trying to build a name or business. The final question came from a recently popular political intrigue writer named only Bex. She was faddish hit who liked sensational material and had been eating up the John Ford story.
“Mr. President.  Are you aware of the connection between John Ford and the British Minister Narang?”
“I’m aware that Mr. Ford used to be a key negotiator and has connections to almost every leader on Earth, and even me.”
“I’m speaking of their relationship as brothers.  Did you know Mr. Narang is the half-brother of Mr. Ford?”
The rest of the press corps groaned.  This was the ype of sensational rumour Bex thrived on.  It needed no basis in fact.
“No.  I’m not aware that that is true.”
“But it is true Mr. Presidet.  I have hear documentation…”
Lawrence attempted to cut her off. “That will be all for now.  The President will be holding his next confernce after his landing in New York tomorrow…”
Suddenly the doors to the room burst open and Minister Narang came in holding his belly and breathing heavily.  He stumbled up the aisle to Chong barely able to breathe or speak. “Don’t take the elevator.  Ford has it. My brother will get you.” He passed out.