I spent the next several hours pulling people from wreckage, dragging chunks of the vehicles into Julians lab, and helping to put out what fires I could. The Entombed and Nix located quickly, but let continue what I was doing, even helping where they could. By the morning, the majority of the recovery had been completed. I stood by one of the cuts through the city and held my hand to it. The radiation coming from it was intense and familiar. The cuts themselves were incredibly, smooth, leaving deep impression in the earth that deadn and won were already filling in with dirt, even as they were assessing what other damage had been done.
It didnt take a Marshal to figure out that the weapons that the Shrikes had used were of the sa origin as whatever had created the Cut itself. The idea that the Remnants had access to that type of technology was terrifying, but what was even scarier than that, was that theyd managed to attack Potts itself, and area everyone had presud would be safe. Looking over the pilots I found that they were all wearing the sa anti-radiation suits that Id encountered before. In the past Leah had said that flying Shrikes was incredibly dangerous, and that the vehicles themselves were costly. Either shed lied to , or they were just that determined to hit us where it hurt.
Once wed done basically all we could, Nix and the Entombed brought to the Mausoleum. There was a single cut through it on the far right side, but otherwise it seed to avoid the majority of the damage. That was a mixed blessing. The building itself wasnt as important as the lives that had been lost, and from what I could tell, the attack had been focused on the residential portions of the city. I hadnt heard fully counts of the dead yet, but from what I could sll, there had to be at least one-hundred casualties.
We entered the Mausoleum, finding white robes moving quickly around, and everyone as busy as could seem possible. I was escorted to the Honored Deads chambers and walked inside, where I saw all of them gathered, sheets of paper in front of them, board marked with chalk, and Mama standing in the center, a look of focused determination on her face. To the side I saw Solomon, he was missing part of his foot, as if it had been cleanly burned away. In spite of that, I saw a grim focus on his face as well.
When we entered, they all turned to us. Mama approached , wrapping in a big hug, and looking over everyone else. I appreciate you bringing him, and we will hear his case, bring forth his accusers, and go through the proper traditions as soon as we can, but we cannot do so now. The first debate is going to begin in just monts, take him to one of the empty audience chambers and keep him there for nowand get so rest. Ive heard of what you, she looked to , what all of you did during the attack.
We all nodded, and were swiftly spirited to a room nearby by one of the white robes. The attack, the risk of it, and the timing were all starting to make sense. The Remnants knew we were bringing a candidate forward, and theyd likely found out that the Khan was supporting her.They werescared of it, scared of losing the one thing they seed to crave beyond anything else in the wastes, the presidency.
As we settled, the entombed all sitting around , but too tired to pay much attention to actually guarding , on top of realizing that at this point their job was complete, and why would I choose to escape now, when Id already had so many other opportunities. Just as I finished taking a long sip from my flask, my vision was overtaken by a ssage.
Welco Aricans! The first debate will begin in 10 minutes!
The Candidates who Qualified for this debate are as follows
Michael Masters
Mama
Gary Garyson
Please stand by to see what our potential future leaders have to say!
Well, I knew who two of the three candidates were, and had a theory about the last one that I hoped would prove wrong. I waited in silence with my jailers, wondering exactly how the debate would play out. Would it simply be a series of ssages sent through the system, would I actually be able to hear the candidates when the spoke? Would I be able to see them? I hoped it wasnt going to be the third, as even with the strides deadn had made, Mama would be at a distinct advantage if people were able to see what she was.
It didnt take long for to find out.
Hello citizens of the United States of Arica, and welco to the first presidential election since @!*($&(&. The voice sounded like it was speaking directly in my mind, a semi-robotic and vaguely feminine voice that briefly beca a blast of static toward the end of what it was saying.
Our candidates are Michael Masters, Mama, and Gary Garyson. We will begin by allowing each of these candidates one minute to introduce themselves before we begin the debate.
Michael Masters, you have one minute.
Thank you. I am Michael Masters. Secretary of Reclamation and leader of what remains of the true United States governnt. I will bring this country back into the light. Take back this country and return Arica to its rightful place as the most powerful country in the world. I will bring peace and stability to this savage land, and return the rule of law and order. Together, under my leadership, we can rebuild and reclaim our destiny!
I gritted my teeth as he spoke. He managed to emphasize and phrase things so that his speech would take exactly one minute, without a second wasted. He likely knew beforehand what the rules of this would be. His voice had a kind of entitlent to it, like his victory was an inevitability.
Thank you Mr. Masters. Next will be Mama. You have one minute.
Well hello dearies. Im Mama, and unlike Mr. Masters Ive lived here in the wastes my whole life. Ive dug the harsh earth to scrounge up enough to eat. Ive raised children here, and Ive defended my land and my family with nothing more than a rusted our revolver and grit. Masters wants to talk about making things how they were, but he doesnt even know how things are. He was too busy hiding in space. I know what wasters need, because I am one. Ill never pretend to be anything else.
I nodded along as Mama spoke. I was more than a little biased of course, but I thought here speech had more sincerity to it, and seed more like the kind of thing the average waster would really listen to.
Thank you Mrs. Mama. Next will be Gary Garyson. You have one minute.
This country isnt Gary enough, but Im here to change that. My opposition youll notice, isnt even nad Gary. The idea that a non-Gary can be in charge of anything, should show you how much needs to be fixed. I, Gary Garyson, son of Gary Garyson, will do everything in my power to make things even more Gary than ever before. I will turn this country into the United Gar-.
That is the end of your ti. Next we will go into questions and rebuttals. Each candidate will have one minute to answer the question, then the other candidates will be able to provide a 30 second rebuttal.
There was a brief pause.
Mr. Masters. In the current United States. What are your plans for the Economy?
That question seed incredibly vague, but I supposed that made sense. The questions were likely pre-programd back before the war, and they had no way of knowing what specific issues might exist at this point.
To start, I will use my executive authority to strengthen the Patriot Point, and move us away from the primitive system of bartering that exists now. I will invest in building infrastructure such as roads that will allow communities to better reach one another and engage in stronger trade, protecting those roads with a police force to ensure that communities can trade safely with one another. All of this should allow for improved comrce and create economic stability within the wastes. I will-
Mr. Masters your ti is up. Mama, rebuttal.
Youre going to try to move away from bartering? Last ti I checked, I cant eat, smoke, or shoot patriot points. And how will you pay for this infrastructure? Ive heard a thing or two about STAR territory taxes, and it sounds to like you want everyone to start paying those. I heard so mirth enter her voice. Sounds like this poor spaceboy doesnt know how things work down here.
Mama, your ti is up. Mr. Garyson, rebuttal.
All this doesnt sound very GARY to , and if its not Gary, its garbage. he paused there for several seconds.
Do you cede the rest of your ti? asked the announcers robotic voice.
Gary cedes his ti.
From there on the questions went back and forth. Masters would speak in long complicated plans that clearly had a lot of research and were based in the Arica of old. Mama would tear his ideas down with so folksy wisdom and a put down or two, then lay out a simpler plan closer to what was already in place and worked. Gary wouldadd so flavor to the proceedings. Id been to a settlent of Garys a long ti ago, and I was very surprised theyd managed to put together enough nominations for him to participate. Once the debate was over, I felt like Mama had made a good case for herself. Whether that could overco the propaganda and numbers behind the Remnants, remained to be seen.
A white robe entered a few minutes after the debate had ended. The Honored Dead will see you now.
Reviews
All reviews (0)