King of All I Survey
Chapter 145: Presenting My Case for World Domination

Chapter 145: Presenting My Case for World Domination

"What’s wrong?" Hernandez asked, concern showing plainly on his face.

Arroyo shook his head slowly, "Nothing is wrong. Nothing at all. We can get these for the schools, to teach nay subject?" He asked looking at me intently.

"Yes, any member country can have these devices as they become available, in the order in which they joined the Universal Earth Concord," I replied.

He nodded almost imperceptibly. He turned toward the other two men on his side of the table, "Try it."

Hernandez looked hesitantly at the device. Morales hit the consent button and his eyes went wide. He smiled, then laughed out loud.

Hernandez looked at him as if he had gone mad, but President Arroyo, knowing what he was experiencing, smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead, Angelo. It’s perfectly safe," Arroyo encouraged.

He looked hesitantly at Arroyo, then at Morales, then back to the screen of the device. He tilted his head as if doubting his decision but pressed the acceptance. He stared at the screen of the device for a long moment, then carefully set it down on the table in front of him. "How is this possible?"

"We have teams of the best scientists researching many exciting new technologies like this," I told them. "We have made some incredible break-throughs lately and we are ready to start releasing them to the public. By being the first nation to join the Concord, Guatemala could be first in line for all of them."

Joe, as the wealthy investor Diego Flores, chimed in, "The United Earth Concord is willing to finance factories here, perhaps even a local research facility or two. Once in production, sales to non-member nations will bring in very substantial revenues to help cover the costs of infrastructure modernization throughout the country, even the most remote villages in the mountains. With these devices in the schools, Guatemalan children could become a generation of brilliant scientists, businessmen, artists, leaders in whatever field they choose. If you think my Maribel is impressive, imagine if this technology had been available to her as a child."

"According to the Concord document, we get that for free? How much is the licensing fee it refers to?" Morales asked.

I smiled, he was engaging in the details of the document that had been implanted in his memory, that was good sign, I thought. "It will vary by item. It’s based on the individual technologies included in each device. The inventors get a basic royalty for their work, as is only fair. The manufacturing cost, materials, distribution costs are all borne by the UEC," I explained. The net cost to you for each of these, with a small additional fee for each subject loaded, would be..." I hesitated, I didn’t actually know. We’d have to pay the licensing fees for Galactic Union technologies in Galactic Credits which had no basis for conversion to local currency. I looked at ’Diego’ for help.

"Excuse my colleague," he said, taking over, "he is not familiar with the exchange rates for Quetzales. If you export your native goods through us, the cost of these devices and infrastructure modernizations will be more than covered by your country’s share of the profits, we can command very high premiums for things like Guatemalan coffee, chocolate, bananas, and other fruits. Even renditions of the ancient Mayan mythologies by speakers of the old languages who heard the stories passed down from their elders would bring substantial revenues, both for the country as a whole, and the individuals who provide us with those renditions. It’s not only physical items, but intellectual property like stories and songs that can bring added wealth to your country and people under our licensing structure."

The three men were listening intently. I noticed Hernandez still had a furrowed brow and pursed lips as if he didn’t trust the whole situation. "Mr. Hernandez, do you have any concerns you’d like to discuss?" I asked.

He sat up straighter in his chair. I leaned forward to express my eagerness to hear his concerns. "I do," he said.

I raised my eyebrows to encourage him to continue.

"I don’t trust you. I don’t understand why you would do all this. This country has seen colonialists come offering modernization before. We have been left with poverty at best, corpses at worst. Always, the promises of wealth and prosperity prove empty. Lies to exploit us and take what little Guatemala has. Before the colonialists, this was a rich land. The people prospered. We have been reduced to a country of drug-traffickers, criminals feeding the needs of those same colonialists to this day at the expense of our own people. How can we ever trust you or any offer like this? Would you in our place?"

I tilted my head considering. I noticed Diego looking at me with a raised eyebrow, not only leaving the answer for me, but plainly curious to see how I would answer. I nodded my agreement, I sighed heavily before answering. "I understand your concerns. I would share them in your place. Guatemala has paid a heavy price. We can not undo the past." I glanced quickly at Diego, suddenly wondering whether something like rewinding the past might be possible. He gave me mental Nope, reading the question in my look. I focused back on the three men seated across from me. "None of us can undo the past or erase the wrongs that have been done. Yet neither can we let the past prevent us from making the most of our present opportunities as we reach eagerly toward a better future. I can tell you that I personally, have directed every endeavor of the United Earth Concord her in Guatemala and the neighboring regions. I will continue to direct every action of the Concord, with advice and counsel from leaders, like yourselves who join our guiding council. I chose Guatemala as the first country in which to intervene because I saw a combination of many important factors that called out to my heart. First, I saw a people in great need, held back from their potential by the outside influence of drug cartels and profiteers without conscience. Second, I saw the Guatemalan people, their commitment to the future of their families and communities giving them strength and courage to bear nearly impossible burdens and to remain resilient, steadfast, and unbroken. Third, I saw the country, the land holding a key strategic position- a linchpin I could pull to destabilize and destroy the drug-trade, at least the biggest piece of it. I saw also an opportunity to use Guatemala."

Hernandez gasped slightly as I seemed to confirm his fear.

I continued, "I wanted to use Guatemala as an example to the rest of the world. I want to show how people naturally rise up when war and crime do not hold them down. I want to show how bright the future of a nation can be when poverty is erased, when the children, and even the adults have full access to the best education, when there is no worry about war, starvation, disease or the greed of small-minded leaders. I want the rest of the world to look at Guatemala and say ’I want to be like them’." I paused. I could see my words were having an effect on my audience. "I didn’t come to Guatemala to take. I came here to give. I have given you a country safe from the cartels, now and forever. I have given you a country where your young men have no need for gangs to make a future for themselves. Where instead they see that their future is tied to the prosperity of the entire community and they work hard, dedicating themselves to building that future. The great grandchildren of the Mayans are again men their ancestors would be proud of. Their great-great grandchildren can rise even further and achieve more than they could ever have imagined, taking their rightful place as true leaders, guiding the entire world by their example toward a lasting peace and prosperity for all."

I ran out of words. I hadn’t planned that. It just came out. I didn’t know if it would help or hurt our argument, but it felt right. I believed every word of what I had said. Whether they decided to join us or send us away, I had spoken my truth, and I would be comfortable with the result. I couldn’t read Hernandez’s expression to see if he had been swayed. Arroyo, I thought, was already leaning toward acceptance. I had no clue about Morales. I looked over at Diego/ Joe. He was looking at me differently, somehow. I wasn’t sure what that expression meant. He nodded to me, then looked back at the others, "You see gentlemen," he began, indicating me with a glance of his eyes, "You see why this very young man is the leader of our group. He is wise beyond his years yet filled with compassion and optimism. Not just the optimism of youth, but also with the strength and determination to make his hopes and dreams into reality. It is his selfless example that has gained the loyalty of experienced and worldly businessmen like myself, of scientists, soldiers, doctors, and people from all walks of life. All of us willing to dedicate our fortunes, our careers, and our very lives to his cause. We do not doubt his word or his ability to deliver everything he promises."

"Thank you, my friend," I said quietly.

"We do not come with threats for those who choose not to follow," Joe continued, "We will leave Guatemala forever changed for the better whatever you decide and bear you no enmity, but if you choose not to follow us into the future Timothy envisions, he will move his focus elsewhere and offer the same opportunity to someone else. Perhaps, when you see another nation’s example, you will choose to follow those others who are courageous enough to lead the way."

Arroyo broke the silence that followed Diego’s words, "What of your daughter’s threat to make Camal de Leon President?"

Diego Flores, tilted his head and shrugged, "she is young and impetuous. Yet, I agree that he is a man of great potential. She feared that you would never sign a treaty that let others make decisions for Guatemala. That he might be more malleable, believe it or not. Timothy and I do not necessarily share her perspective on this issue."

I jumped in when he paused, "I expect that we will offer Mr. Camal de Leon another position within our organization that he will find a more suitable challenge for his abilities... once he has received the psychological therapy he needs to help him past the trauma he experienced as a child. Do you know his early background, Mr. President? It is a terrible story and one that, unfortunately, is not uncommon for the people of his age in this country. Perhaps one day, the two of you might discuss it over a cup of coffee."

Diego steered us back to the matter at hand, "Gentlemen, we have made our offer. We will give you time to consider, time to consult with whomever you wish to consult, and we will await your reply. Please take as much time as you need."

I nodded my agreement, and sighed. That was that, I thought, now we would just have to wait