"You want us to develop powerful new weapons that the aliens haven’t thought of yet? Is that your plan?" Wagner asked incredulously.
"Wait! How do you get to be Supre Ruler or whatever? Why not the UN or at least the president of the United States?" Donaldson demanded. Then he paused and added "If we believed your crazy story."
"What’s the number one job of the Ruler of Earth?" I asked.
Wagner smirked, "OK, Socrates, why don’t you save us so ti and just tell us?"
I laughed. "Not a fan of the Socratic thod, Professor? Fine. The number one job of a leader is to take care of the people under his or her stewardship. That ans giving everyone the chance to live their lives in peace, with the freedom to live however they like (so long as they don’t hurt anyone else), and allowing them the opportunity to find happiness and prosperity. Period. That’s the number one job of a leader. On Earth we have many leaders of nations with varying levels of agreent with that goal. Yet, despite the lofty goals of organizations like the UN, nations always vie for their own self-interest above those of the common good of all humanity. We have a proven track record of wars between nations, cri even on a massive international scale, poverty, inequality of dical care, outright brutality and massacres, rampant hoarding of wealth and resources, and I could go on and on".
"Gentlen, the so-called leaders of Earth have not shown a willingness or ability to attack big problems for the greater good of humanity."
"It has been less than three months since the first alien trader landed on Earth and I arranged to be declared Supre Ruler of Earth. In that ti, I have learned to participate in the galactic economy under terms more favorable than any newly contacted world, I’m told by reliable sources, in modern mory. I have learned advanced scientific principles and am adapting them in unique ways for the benefit and protection of the planet. I have withheld the vast majority of Earth’s unique treasures so that we retain ongoing value as a living planet, rather than as a rotting corpse to be looted. I have personally crushed the drug cartels of South and Central Arica, yes that was . I am in the process of peacefully, to the extent possible, conquering the Earth so I can unite it under one beneficent governnt. I am building a strategic defense plan capable of defending our planet against hostile empires with weapons we can barely comprehend. Not only will this plan keep us safe from imdiate destruction, it will make Earth the center of a growing galactic coalition dedicated to peaceful coexistence and cooperation." I realized my voice had been growing louder and more forceful as I spoke. Both professors had shocked expressions.
"Anyway," I concluded in a soft, quiet voice, "that’s why I am the Supre Ruler of the Entire Earth Solar System and Nearby Space."
"But you don’t really need to be concerned with all that," I continued in a subdued tone, "The Galactic Union will only license basic weapons and defensive technologies that they can easily penetrate while remaining virtually invulnerable to anything we might do. However, I think I have found a way to make progress toward figuring out how their advanced weapon systems work. It’ll take a Manhattan Project scale effort of our best scientists to work through the multidinsional physics of what they are willing to sell us, to figure out the principles and practical application of what they aren’t willing to sell us, or equally effective alternatives. And it must be done without anyone outside of the project finding out."
"While I oversee that project, I will continue working to consolidate Earth’s leadership, introduce new life-saving dical technologies, fix global food distribution logistics chains, subtly introduce other technologies that advance the human condition, maintain world peace, manage Earth’s intergalactic finances, and begin covertly building a galactic empire to rival the economic and military might of the greatest interstellar empires ever known."
"Obviously, as I said at the beginning, this is all strictly classified information by order of the King of Earth. Anyway, you can believe all that or not. I don’t care. I suspect there will be plenty of evidence if you join the project. If not, then focus on the specifics of the offer I’m making now. Using advanced field enhancing matrices, we can create fields that act as exclusion shields and incredibly strong physical barriers for defensive purposes, yet I know there are ways to penetrate these barriers beyond brute force by using multidinsional space to allow objects with a normally physical presence to... bypass their own physicality until they are past the barriers. Furthermore, there are ways to improve the shields we can already create in such a way that they will also prevent even these semi-existing objects from passing through. Finally, there may be a way to strike at targets even when protected by these let’s say, level two shields."
"In a nutshell, that’s what this project is about. If you accept, I will ask your assistance in recruiting the best and brightest scientific minds available for the team.
I smiled broadly and faced the two professors. "I can offer four tis your current salary, but the project will be housed on a remote private island with full laboratory and research facilities as well as a private resort community. I would suggest that you bring your families to live with you there while the project is on-going. For security reasons, communication and travel to and from the island will be limited. All expenses for any residents will be paid, of course. I have access to advanced learning technologies that can help you learn all the advanced math and physics required in a couple of days, maybe a little longer due to your advanced age, Dr. Wagner. No offense, it’s just that the brain structure... hold on a minute..." I held up one finger to indicate I was thinking about sothing.
Joe, you said we could license cellular manipulation techniques that could reverse senescence? I asked Joe telepathically.
Yes.
And would it work on Professor Wagner? Make his brain strong and compliant enough for full mory implant training without risking damage?
Yes, to the extent that any human brain can withstand it, yes. As I said, the throughput capacity is limited in humans.
I smiled broadly knowing without any shadow of a doubt that Dr. Wagner would be on board, "Now, let tell you about our health plan."
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