"So far, the best options we’ve thought of are just different ways to kill the bad guys before they kill more people themselves. The xican Army could do that without our help if they really wanted to. We have huge advantages they don’t have." I started ticking each one off on my fingers as I counted them off. One, we have super high-tech alien technology that nobody else knows about. Two, we have shields that make us practically invulnerable. Three, we can fly. Four, we can be invisible. Five, we can use interdinsional travel to teleport ourselves, other people, or objects at will. Six, we have invisible remote-controlled drones that can listen and watch our enemies from perfect safety. Seven, those drones can use x-rays or other wavelengths to see through walls or just be teleported to the other side of the wall. Eight, we can listen in on any electronic communication in real ti regardless of any encryption. Nine, we have powerful weaponized lasers on invisible flying platforms. Ten, we can knock out the electricity and communications in as small or large an area as we want." I ran out of fingers, so I closed them all and started over. "Eleven, our shields give us augnted strength. Twelve, our androids can aim without error with any weapon. Thirteen, we have almost unlimited cash. Fourteen, we have a super powerful interdinsional quantum computing artificial intelligence with unlimited ability to track multiple events and coordinate efforts in multiple places at once while managing everything else. Fifteen, we have simulation rooms that can literally create any scenario so realistically that anyone in the room can’t tell it from reality. Sixteen, we have fabrication chs that can create any equipnt we need from literally any other molecules."
I paused, still holing up six fingers. I realized my voice had been getting louder and louder. I slowly let my hands fall to my sides, and continued more softly, eting Mom and Dad’s eyes in turn, "I refuse to believe that with all these advantages, we can’t do any better than the xican Army. I refuse to believe with all these advantages the best we can do is just kill people who get in our way."
I took a deep breath then exhaled loudly.
Mom and Dad were just kind of staring at , as if in a state of shock. Finally, Dad stood up and stepped toward , "King Tim, you’re forgetting advantage number seventeen, maybe the biggest advantage of all, we have you to lead us to make better decisions."
He took another step forward and drew into a big hug. As he did, I glanced over to see Mom smiling at us.
After a couple seconds, he stepped back. "Ok, Joe," Dad continued, "Leave so drone coverage in our highest priority sites, but send everything you can up to the xican coast. Start identifying our targets based on the surveillance you collect. Trace all communications in the area for remote accomplices. Add them to the situation map as soon as you have confidence. Those with evidence of murder or extre violence in red, the others in blue. If we don’t have enough drones, send paramilitaries, fully shielded with invisibility enabled. Have them patrol areas with light drone coverage and follow suspects around. Bring in LITV units to pull anyone about to commit a violent cri imdiately. Put them directly into Blue Island simulation room cells and start direct implant therapy. If you find irredeemable cases, flag them for us."
I smiled, "Excellent start, Dad. Once we have better info, we can work out the rest of the plan."
"We have another issue," Joe inford before we got too excited with our progress. "The Colombian Governnt has issued a warrant for the arrest of Rafael Camal de Leon and Maria Isabel Flores. They accuse them of orchestrating the wholesale kidnapping and/or murder of an undetermined number of Colombian citizens, destruction of property, theft by fund transfer fraud, violation of national sovereignty, fonting insurrection, various acts of terrorism, and a whole host of conspiracy charges. They have lodged a complaint with the OAS and the UN against Guatemala suggesting that the two may be acting as agents of Guatemala, or at the very least, Guatemala is aiding and abetting their cris as well as harboring them. They demand Guatemala imdiately return their citizens. They are also conducting training exercises with their air force, and unofficially suggesting military force might be used."
Mom was visibly upset, "They want the cartels back? And they’re complaining about the lost coca fields? Who the hell is running the governnt there? Maybe so of them need to disappear!"
"We knew when they rejected the evidence we sent them, they were protecting the cartels," I reminded her. "If they take the position that we have not proven anyone guilty of anything, they certainly can’t allow their borders to be violated. I an, honestly, we did do all that stuff... Rafael and Maribel were just figureheads, but the rest of us did take their citizens, destroy fields and drug labs, and drain cartel bank accounts."
"What are we going to do if they attack Guatemala? We can’t treat their soldiers like the Chiapas gang incursion." Dad asked.
"We should make sure they don’t attack. First, I think we need to see how President Arroyo is reacting to this. Clearly, he can’t say he had anything to do with crossing borders or kidnapping or stealing funds from Colombian nationals, because he didn’t do any of that. He could issue warrants for Maribel and Rafael and arrest them or even hand them over to Colombia. He could deny knowing where they are, which is mostly true. Our response depends on his reaction. I’m pretty sure the OAS will wait for his statent. The UN will give him a chance to respond at any hearing or before any vote takes place, I think."
"I suppose Maribel should call him right away and see where he stands on this," Mom said.
I nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. We should go over our possible reactions to anything he might say so, Maribel doesn’t go off script and send Rafael to kill him..."
Mom gave a really angry look and raised her finger to point at , "That is uncalled for, mister!"
"I was kidding, Mom. It was just a joke, I’m sorry."
"Well, it’s not funny!"
"I’m sorry, I should have thought before I spoke. We do need to plan our options, though."
"Yes, we do," Dad chid in, probably hoping to take so of the heat off . "We could lend Guatemalan forces enough aid to beat back any attack... or even counter-attack and take over the country..."
"Whoa!" I exclaid, "That’s a little premature and a lot too aggressive."
"It would add more territory for your world governnt..." Dad suggested.
"No, I’m not going to let countries start shooting wars over sothing I’ve done," I insisted. "Worst case, we disable Colombian aircraft before they get off the ground. With Joe monitoring their communications, we’ll have plenty of warning IF it cos to that. Hopefully, we can talk our way out of this."
Mom shook her head slowly, "I hope you’re right."
", too," Dad agreed, "if the UN imposes sanctions on Guatemala, it could be pretty bad for the people."
"Really?" I asked. "I think it wouldn’t matter at all. We can literally synthesize enough food and basic goods for the whole nation if we really focused our efforts. Guatemala might even thrive under a complete international blockade, with our help."
Dad’s eyes widened, "Oh..."
I smiled, "We’ll let Colombia bluster about the loss of their international drug trafficking syndicates, and whatever the outco, there’s nothing they can do to Guatemala or our people. Who knows, though, there might even be countries who would welco soone intervening to stop the flow of drugs. Maybe even a country with veto power."
"I wouldn’t count on that," Dad said. "I think most if not every country is going to insist on the sanctity of national territory and publicly at least speak against any country or organization that violates it."
"Maybe, but like I said, what can they do?"
"They can ban Food First from operating anywhere outside of Guatemala, trace our shell companies and seize assets."
"Assets co and assets go. We can always make more money. Banning Food First and Health First, might be a problem though," I admitted. "Of course, if we announce so major dical breakthrough at a Health First research facility, it might be hard to make that stick."
"Well, first things first," Mom interrupted, "What are Arroyo’s possible reactions and how should we respond. We need to be thoroughly prepared before Maribel calls him."
"Agreed," I said, "So, first, let’s say he sees this as an opportunity to get rid of Rafael as a thorn in his side. He could either include Maribel or protect her. Let’s start with that scenario. Do we let him arrest and extradite Rafael? What would that say to the others who have amnesty if even he can still be arrested?"
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