King of All I Survey
Chapter 144: Introducing the Universal Earth Concord

Chapter 144: Introducing the Universal Earth Concord

We had two versions of the Universal Earth Accord, of course. One was complete and included all the references to galactic economics, technologies, protection agreements, and, in short, everything pertaining to off-world stuff or alien civilizations. That was not the one we were bringing to this meeting. The one we would offer to the nation of Guatemala was an edited version that made no reference to these things. It included many of the same concepts but converted to terms that made sense for an Earth only interpretation.

It alluded to technology and scientific advances made by the research centers of the Universal Earth Concord (UEC) and talked about sharing the proceeds from those advancements. It talked about preferential placement of UEC factories to provide jobs. It had provisions for establishing healthcare facilities paid for entirely by the central UEC organization. It even offered military protection and assistance with law enforcement. All the benefits that we could provide to Earth nations without mentioning off-world economics or invading extraterrestrial fleets, were neatly detailed. It did not contain any provision for taxes or any remuneration to be paid by the signing nation, except a small per usage royalty payment for the use of exclusive technologies. These would be paid in the local currency, according to the Concord document, until such time as the UEC introduced its own currency should that ever occur.

Guatemala, of course, had firsthand experience with our abilities to assist with military endeavors and law enforcement. Those benefits would be easy to sell. We had one small factory already being built in the country, promising hundreds of new jobs. We could offer increased yields on the processing of crops such as maize, coffee, and even some of the gourmet salt products found in Guatemala, like the Mayan Black Salt normally produced in small quantities in Sacapulas. We had medical clinics already operating in the country at no cost. We were even in the process of building a major cancer research and treatment center outside of Guatemala City that would likely draw people from all over the world for treatment and consultation as our results became evident and our reputation grew.

Once we enacted the Universal Earth Concord, citizens of member states would receive all of our services, including very advanced medical care, without charge. Furthermore, member countries hosting our facilities would receive a portion of the payments received from non-member clients. Part of these funds would be distributed to all citizens of that member country directly as a subsidiary income. The rest would be invested directly toward our building out of advanced infrastructure systems throughout the country: reliable electrification extending from the cities to the most remote regions, water purification, sewage treatment, food distribution, roadways and transportation systems, and even ecological preservations zones.

Our efforts to improve the lives and safety of Guatemalan citizens would continue indefinitely, so long as the country remained a member of the Universal Earth Concord.

Conversely, if Guatemala decided not to become a member, we would cease adding new facilities there and look to transfer existing facilities like the Cancer research facility to other UEC members once they signed. UEC benefits would be preferentially allocated first to member nations in the order in which they joined the UEC. As the first signatory, Guatemala would get the best of everything we could offer first. Should our resources ever be strained, Guatemala would be the last country affected.

All we asked in return was that the country allow us to protect it, that the laws we established in the document be adopted (and they were mainly things that were already law in most countries), and that our IP and licensing rules be followed for products we introduced. We promised to do our best to expand markets for Guatemalan products. Paying full local prices, very generous prices, to local producers. We would take over the punishment of criminals, focusing on retraining, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts. Even absorbing existing prison inmates into our treatment facilities. We would bear all costs for this from the portion of our funds allocated to infrastructure improvements.

The existing government would run the country as they did now, providing only that they be subject to regular free and fair elections, they follow the laws of the Concord, that all citizens be treated with equality, that people be allowed to immigrate or emigrate without limit, allowing immigrants to become citizens, and that the country never initiate any military action against any other nation.

From a cost-benefit analysis, it was a no-brainer for Guatemala to sign, but it would all depend upon whether they trusted the UEC over their own control of the country. That would be the ultimate sticking point, I knew. It would help that our efforts had already transformed the country.

Joe and I decided to transport to a nearby apartment building hallway, then walk twelve minute to the Presidential Palace for our meeting. We wore neat business suits, to look as professional as possible. We walked through the city toward the Palace, we noticed that the nature of the city seemed different than it had when we first chose Guatemala to begin our operations. The air seemed happier, more optimistic. People smiled as they went about their business, we didn’t see any local gang-members lounging around, no-one posted as look-outs to warn of strangers or military activities that might be directed to the traffickers we had rooted out.

We did see former gang-members working to repair a road along our path. Another group was working on the old chaotic tangle of electrical wires that ran from the street poles to the houses and commercial buildings of the city. They were replacing it with a system of organized, modern cables, designed for efficiency and minimizing the visual clutter. Eventually we would replace the grid system entirely with dedicated individual dark energy generators at every location. Then, there would be no need for electrical cables at all.

We walked up to the guards stationed at the gates of the palace. We identified ourselves and were allowed to enter. One of them escorted us inside to a meeting room. President Arroyo was already there. Standing beside his was Gabriel Morales, President of the Supreme Court, and Angelo Hernandez, President of Congress. The latter two had distinctly hostile looks. President Arroyo, at least, wore a friendlier expression, though I didn’t know whether it was genuine or polite mask.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Arroyo said, stepping forward to shake our hands. I stepped forward and shook first.

"President Arroyo, I am Timothy, Leader of the Universal Earth Concord. My associate is Diego Flores of Lima, Peru. He is one of our senior board members." Joe, as Diego, stepped forward and shook the President’s hand.

Arroyo studied our faces in turn as he shook hands. "Ah, Mr. Flores," he said, "I have met your daughter Maria Isabel. She is a remarkable and capable woman, a credit to her family."

The android body of Diego Flores, under Joe’s control, smiled warmly, "That is kind of you to say, Mr. President. She makes us all proud. She has only good things to say about you, as well." Flores’ tone was affable and warm. A perfect model of fatherly pride and respect.

I turned to the others and offered my hand, "Mr. Hernandez, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Yes, a pleasure," he said in a voice that was almost a growl. I smiled and turned toward the third member of the ruling group, "Mr. Morales, also and honor to meet you."

"Yes, you’re much younger than I expected." He said as he stared at my face.

I smiled, "I trust that will not get in the way of you choosing the best path forward for Guatemala."

He shook his head, "No. I will do what’s best for my country," he said with emphasis on the words ’my country’.

I stepped back and addressed all three of them, "I look forward to working with you to help further improve life in Guatemala and, indeed, around the world."

"Shall we sit down and get started?" President Arroyo asked indicating the conference table in the middle of the room. One side of the table had three chairs, the other just two. Diego and I move to sit down on the side with two chairs. Each place at the table had a printed copy of the Universal Earth Concord document that we had sent over electronically about a half hour before our arrival. Each position also had a glass tumbler on a white paper napkin. Two pitchers of water with ice sat on trays in the center of the table, within reach of either side.

The three Guatemalan leaders took their places and the five of us sat.

Arroyo began, "Obviously, we have not yet had time to go through the entire document. We have read the abstract at the beginning, and little more."

"Of course," I said. "Actually we have brought one of the many technical innovations we have developed in our research facilities to help with that and demonstrate one of the benefits we could install in every Guatemalan school and job training location around the country. Diego?" I looked toward Diego.

He placed the briefcase he had been carrying on the table and took out three small, tablet-like devices. Handing them to each of the three across the table. "These are Enhanced Learning Devices," he explained. "With these, anyone can absorb a long complicated document like the Universal Earth Accord, or learn a more complex subject like calculus or how to program computers, in a much reduced time."

The three men took the devices and glanced between them and Diego curiously. "These are pre-programmed to allow the quick and easy assimilation of this entire document, along with relevant linkages and comparisons to the current Guatemalan Constitution and code of laws. It will enable clear understanding of the economic principles and infrastructure complexities applicable to your situation here as well."

The three looked even more curiously still looking back forth between Diego and the devices.

"As you can see," he continued, "the screens currently require a positive acceptance of the learning program before it commences, to be sure that consent to this rapid learning process." All three looked down at the screens. "The consent does not carry any further legal obligations or restrictions, you are free to discuss anything related to the devices or what you learn from them without restriction, we are quite ready to bring these to market and would very much like the major factory to be placed here in Guatemala." He paused to let them consider the implications of adding another large employer to the country. "All of our facilities adhere to the strictest environmental protections and worker safety practices on Earth, we assure you. If you would care to try the new devices, selecting I consent to enhanced learning of the Universal Earth Concord, will begin the process. Once started, each device will provide the information in a format that is optimally adapted to be recorded in your memory so that you learn it quickly and completely, in a fraction of the time otherwise required." Diego sat back and waited expectantly.

The three men each gave the devices their full attention, Arroyo glanced up at Diego, then at me. He looked back down at the device and selected the I consent option.

He looked back up, suddenly realizing that he ’remembered’ and fully understood the entire document. "Dios mio," he said quietly.

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