King of All I Survey-Chapter 156: ’A Dangerous Shadow Army of Violent Criminals’

"The entire document is quite long and boring, I’m afraid. However, we can provide a summary of highlights to your video feeds and on a memory card."

The summary appeared on the screen behind me. I knew it would also be shown on the video feeds for those new agencies streaming or broadcasting live coverage of my press conference. The main benefits I had outlined in my speech were bulleted. One section was titled member nation obligations. It listed the Member Nation Obligations. We had designed these bullet points to look very much like additional benefits. A partial list included:

Governments held accountable by Universal Earth Concord (UEC) Elected government leaders serve on Universal Earth Concord Advisory Council (UECAC) Early UEC signatories get first UECAC seats, rotating every two years among all member nations once membership exceeds 21 nations UECAC sets policies subject to veto or over-ride National Income and Property taxes to be replaced by licensing commissions on goods sold/ consumed (fully audited and monitored by UECAC and every member nation’s elected government) UEC income shares allocated to member nations for infrastructure costs, balances paid to citizens as direct income UEC member nations benefit from greatly expanded trade markets facilitated by UEC trade agreements and licensed fabrication IP rights of individuals, corporations, and nations respected through UEC licensing agreement Prison administration responsibilities assumed by UEC with focus on rehabilitation and community restitution Member nations join common defense league Member nations to refrain from offensive military action UEC member nations may not restrict UEC citizen movements within UEC territories

The bullet point summaries were carefully constructed to avoid directly where the veto or override authority over UECAC policy setting rested. It also failed to mention that the overwhelmingly largest portion of the licensing income and market expansion would be gained by licensing Earth goods and IP to off world customers through the UEC as a centralized Earth licensing agent.

With the lengthy bullet point summary behind me, I continued, "The contract requires some pretty substantial changes in the way governments behave. While we strongly believe these changes are for the better and will benefit the citizens of countries who adopt this agreement, there’s no doubt that it is long and complicated. President De La Huerta, or any leader, would be remiss in their duties if they didn’t take their time to read through it carefully and understand it fully, before making their decision. One reason I worry about whether President De La Huerta’s decision is because it’s quite natural for people, especially powerful people, to resist big changes, especially if they themselves are facing increased accountability. That’s why it’s important for everyone in Mexico to make their desires heard. Call your governor’s office, call the President’s office, call the Congress of the Union and tell them what you want them to do."

I raised my eyebrows and glanced over my shoulder to indicate that my answer was finished and that we’d move on to the next question as the face of the next reporter in line was highlighted in the screen.

"Where are the cartel prisoners right now? Will they receive fair, public trials?"

"Right now, they are being held in a secure facility designed to facilitate intensive psychological therapy treatment. As you know, many of these cartels have connections around the world, some of whom are still operating in other countries. Therefore, for security reasons, we cannot disclose their current precise location.

"As for trials, we have amassed very detailed and specific evidence of the crimes committed by each criminal we have detained. If there was any doubt, if evidence was only circumstantial for instance, no arrest was made. I will include in the updates of your digital information packages, a complete list of the names of every individual we have detained in Mexico, and the specific crimes for which they have been arrested. I can make evidence files available for any individual in our facilities, with victim identities retracted. Your packets contain contact information through which you can request individual case files. The decision of guilt or innocence was based on strong evidence and direct surveillance. That determination was made in advance of detaining any individual.

"As for sentencing, it is our hope and desire that with proper treatment, they can be fully rehabilitated and one day be released, with ongoing supervision, as productive, law-abiding members of society. If our experts, using the most modern scientific processes available, determine that any individual poses no continued threat to the public if released, his sentence will end in favor of an ongoing probationary release with a paid, community service job in a community where he has no prior... entanglements.

"Some of those with milder records and less well-entrenched violent tendencies, I’m told, are progressing quite well, and may be allowed to start their probations quite soon. Once that process begins, we will ask them if they wish to be interviewed. If they agree, we will facilitate meetings with the press, and you can ask them directly any questions you may have about their former actions, imprisonment, or their future plans. I want to reiterate that it is our policy to protect society from criminal actions. We do not aim to inflict suffering on criminals as revenge or to make ourselves feel better. Prisons under our control are all designed for the treatment and rehabilitation of criminals to ensure that they do not continue to commit crimes, even when pushed by circumstances. If we judge there is any risk of continued criminal activity, the prisoner will not be released but will instead continue to receive treatment. As soon as we judge a prisoner has progressed to the point where we are 100% sure he can be safely returned to society, we will release them, again with ongoing supervision and a job in our charitable organizations working to improve the country for everyone."

The next question was called out from someone who was not the next in queue. "Are all your charity workers criminals, then?"

"In order to keep this briefing orderly," I responded, "I’m going to have to insist that you follow the ground rules of waiting for your turn. However, I will answer this ONE question. No, not all of our employees are criminals. I have even been told that some," I looked pointedly at Maribel, "are better described as saints." There was a smattering of chuckles throughout the audience. Maribel glared at me reprovingly. "Let me be clear, though. Once released from our facilities after receiving proper psychological care and treatment, and after passing a thorough review of their progress, we don’t consider them to be criminals anymore. Former criminals, yes, but no longer presenting any threat to anyone."

We moved on through the list of journalists, answering questions until they had all had a turn. I fielded most of them directly, but a few were directed at Maribel and one to Mom (Susana, as she was called now throughout Latin America). By the time it was done, I was mentally exhausted, yet also energized somehow, by the interactions. I thought we did a good job overall. Our most important goal was to put pressure on De La Huerta and other government officials to agree to join the UEC by stoking public support. Despite all our lofty moral positions, Joe’s prior analysis told us that we would get the most reaction by hammering the fact that taxes would go away entirely and instead the government, through UEC licensing royalties would pay them. Secondly, protecting the average person from crime and even from corrupt officials would drive strong support.

In the end, Joe graded my performance a solid "C." It was good enough, he said, but could have been much better. Then, we’d have to wait and see if it had the desired effect. Clips from the press conference, and the Mexican military assault on the two women and the hospital were replayed around the world. Mostly casting them as the villains, but in a few countries, primarily those with only state-run or closely controlled news services, they justified the Army’s actions, emphasizing the cartel activity in the area and the fact that we admitted to having criminals working in our charities. They even suggested that our entire goal of handling the prison systems for member nations was to let us recruit the worst criminals to work for us with impunity. One started calling out charities a "dangerous shadow army of violent criminals waiting to be unleashed on the public if people resisted our draconian rule."

On the other hand, after the broadcast, we got volunteers. Countries ready and willing to sign the Universal Earth Collective, sight unseen even, based on the brief summaries we provided to the media.

Mom, Dad, Joe and I sat at a conference table in the once again expanded status room, reviewing these requests. "I think we should act on these quickly," I said. "Of course, we’ll have to give them full copies and make sure they understand it with the implant learning devices, but if they still agree, I want to move quickly. What can we support logistically?"

"It’s hard to say, really," Mom replied, "In Guatemala, Colombia and Mexico we have a work-force of former cartel and gang members as they finish rehab. We can put them to work on infrastructure projects and make quick visible progress. We don’t have that in other countries. Especially those far removed where we have no presence at all."

"Do we give Mexico and Guatemala time to decide before accepting any other countries?" Dad asked. "We’ve done the most work there and we have a better handle on working with the current governments. It’ll be easier to show we’re making a difference."

"I agree that we want countries that join the UEC to see and feel immediate improvements due to joining," I said. "I’m thinking of regions where there is on-going conflict. As long as we enforce peace and protect people from missiles and stuff, that is right away a highly visible and meaningful improvement. If rebuilding takes a little time to get going after that, I don’t think they’ll mind."

"I don’t know," Dad protested, "Stepping into a war zone carries different problems. What about the other country’s reaction? Do they try to lump all UEC together as an enemy and go after us and our member nations everywhere? Do they drum up support against us around the world? There are a lot of implications to that approach."

"I know," I replied, "but we can disable weapons as needed with precision drone laser strikes. They literally can’t hurt us if we stay vigilant. Fortunately, Joe is always vigilant everywhere at once."

Dad shrugged, "Maybe... where would you start, I still think a measured, slow pace is best. Maybe one country at a time, until it’s fully assimilated. We don’t even have a full proof of concept yet."

I nodded, "That makes sense... I’m thinking we start with Ukraine. They’ve offered to join for protection if we can stop attacks against them."

Dad’s head lolled back and he stared at the ceiling as he took a deep breath. He returned to a normal posture as he spoke, "So your idea of starting slowly, as a trial, is to take sides in an active war against one of the world’s nuclear superpowers?"

"Yep," I smiled

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