Best Intentions

It seemed like old times to Mark, back at the United Nations and preparing to address the General Assembly once again. “They should have given me my own table by now,” he thought.

When he had contacted Bhan Jae-Sun and told him that he needed to address the delegates, the Secretary-General had expressed curiosity. “Mr. Richards, we would be more then happy to have you visit us again. May I ask what the subject will be?”

“Mr. Secretary-General, I’d like to, but what I have to discuss should really be done before the entire assembly.”

“I’m sure that it must be a subject of great importance, Mr. Richards, so I will try to restrain my curiosity until the meeting.”

“I do have a favor to ask of you, though.”

“Certainly, Mr. Richards. After all you’ve done for our organization, and in fact the entire world, you can ask anything and I will do whatever I can to accommodate you.”

“Could you convey a request to the delegates for me? I would like to extend invitations to the leaders of their respective countries to attend the meeting as well.”

“Yes, I will pass on your request. I daresay most if not all of them will make the time to be here. By now I doubt that anyone would believe that you would ask them to attend a meeting without having a good reason.”

“Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General. I would like this to happen as soon as possible. I know that getting so many world leaders together is not something that can be organized overnight and I appreciate your aid in this. Please contact me when you have heard back from the delegates as to when they would all be available.”

“Certainly, Mr. Richards. I should be able to give you an answer soon.”

In spite of the Secretary-General’s assurance it still took several weeks before a date acceptable to everyone was decided upon. The good news was that every leader chose to attend.

Mark’s introduction was more formal this time in deference to the presence of so many of the world’s leaders. Stepping up to the podium he looked out across the attentive faces before him.

“They’re wondering what I have for them this time,” Mark thought. “As if free energy, a cleaner environment, a halt to global warming and the prospect of world peace in their lifetimes wasn’t enough for them. Maybe giving them an entire new planet will impress them.”

“Hello everyone, I want to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this meeting. I’m not going to make a speech this time; however I do have something to show you. Could we have the lights down, please?”

As the illumination in the hall came down, Mark took another of the miniature hologram projectors out of his pocket and set it on the podium. He cleared his throat.

“Here goes,” he thought.

“World leaders and delegates, ladies and gentlemen, my friend CJ and I have prepared the following short presentation for you. I hope that you enjoy it! I will be taking questions afterwards.”

There was some polite applause from the gallery. When it finished, Mark pressed the activator on the projector.

A detailed three-dimensional rotating model of the Earth appeared overhead.

“Earth is the jewel of the solar system,” Mark said, “but not because it is the most beautiful of the planets.”

The projected image started to change, showing first mighty Jupiter with its colorful bands of swirling gas and then multi-ringed Saturn. The detailed images were courtesy of CJ’s voyages through the Solar System.

“Earth is the most precious because of all the planets in the Solar System, only it has an environment that can support human life, the most important commodity we possess.”

The image changed back to show the Earth once again.

“So I asked myself, why just one? There is another planet that exists in this system within the habitable temperature zone of our Sun, the so-called goldilocks zone. Why was life-giving properties bestowed on Earth alone?”

Once again the image switched to show Mars, a world of rust-red sand, a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere and frigid temperatures.

“These worlds, Earth and Mars are quite different from each other. Mars does have the potential to support life but realizing that potential poses enormous challenges. It is however possible. You just have to use your imagination.”

The image of Mars started to change. The color faded from reds to greens.

“You just have to believe.”

Bodies of water started to appear on the surface and the polar caps receded.

“You just have to share my vision for the future!”

The face of Mars was now a vibrant cloud speckled blue and green near duplicate of Earth.

“Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Earth, I present to you, Mars reborn!”

The image of a transformed Mars hung there over everyone’s heads.

The delegates and world leaders sat there in stunned silence. Whatever they may have expected when agreeing to attend this meeting, they hadn’t expected this.

Mark just stood there and let the silence go on for a few more moments.

“Can we have the lights, please?” he asked.

Nothing happened.

“Lights, please,” he repeated in a louder voice.

Finally the lights were brought back up to full strength showing a room full of people, many of which still sat with mouths hanging open.

“Any questions?” Mark asked with a smile.

The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Daniel Cameron, was the first to speak. “What you just showed us, I assume it is planned for the future. You haven’t done this yet, have you?”

“The work has begun, Mr. Prime Minister,” Mark replied. “But the entire engineering project will take decades to complete. It’s a cliché, but the longest journey begins with the first small steps.”

“This is completely unbelievable, Mr. Richards! Re-engineering an entire planet is only within the realms of science fiction, or so I would have believed before today,” said Demetry Meved, President of the Russian Federation. “If it was possible to completely change a planet as you have shown, it should take centuries, not decades, no?”

“President Meved, planetary engineering is one of the primary functions that CJ was designed to accomplish. And I can tell you that he is well equipped to perform what to us might appear to be a miracle.”

“Does not Mars have a much lower gravity than Earth? Will not anyone who lives there become weak and unable to return to Earth?”

“That is correct, Mars’s surface gravity is only 38% that of Earth. But as CJ explains it, the cities that are to be constructed will have gravity inducers to provide an Earth normal gravitational field within their precincts.”

“What is to become of Mars once the, what did you call it, planetary engineering is complete Mr. Richards?” asked the Prime Minister of Israel.

“Well Prime Minister Perez, I’m not creating a showplace. I’m building a world. The intention is to create another world for us to live on, of course.”

“Who will have the opportunity to live on Mars, Mr. Richards, how will they be selected?”

“I haven’t even begun to think in those terms yet, Mr. Prime Minister. After all, it’s going to be quite a while, maybe seventy years before it will be fully suitable for human habitation. I can tell you that no one will be excluded from the chance to live on Mars if they want it.”

“Not even the people who haven’t agreed with you? Will they be allowed to participate in this grand venture?” he asked.

“I fully expect that in the time between now and then, most if not all of those countries will come around and embrace a more reasonable point of view. We are talking decades here, not months or years. I seriously doubt that a repressive government could manage to retain power once their citizens see what the rest of the world is like.”

“What if you are wrong, Mr. Richards? What if some of the hardliners in the Middle East keep to the old ways and keep their citizens from seeing the changes around the world?”

“You all must remember the turmoil in Iran after the contested election a short time ago. Because of the Internet, the government was not able to keep the atrocities committed by the Republican Guard units a secret. Even they have started to change, which is something I would have put long odds against not too long ago. If they can change than anyone can. However, if some try to stick to brutal ways and enough of the people ask for help, I will be compelled to step in; through the offices of United Nations peacekeeping forces, or through more direct action.”

“Of what type of direct action do you speak if I may ask?”

This constant questioning of his motives was starting to get to Mark. “Look, we aren’t here to talk about possible scenarios of the future, we are here to talk about the actual future. This,” he said waving his arm towards the image of the completely transformed Mars overhead, “is the future I want to believe in. And it’s one I hope everyone chooses to join!”

Everyone got to their feet and applauded for a few minutes. Mark stood there at the podium beaming out at his audience. When they finally stopped and retook their seats as he continued.

“On a more serious note, I have recently had a meeting with President Morris regarding the growth of the world’s population. This is something that has the potential to become the biggest problem we will have to deal with before Mars is ready for colonization. I do have a temporary solution, something that should at least keep it to more manageable proportions for some time to come.”

“What is this solution, Mr. Richards?” asked the Secretary-General himself.

“CJ has plans in his memory banks for city structures of immense size. They can be constructed anywhere on Earth, at least where there is enough available land. These structures are fully self-contained and would be able to house up to thirty million people each, with all the facilities of a modern city to keep them fed and entertained.

“You said that you have spoken with the American government. Would you build these structures in the United States? Are they to be the only ones to benefit from them?”

Mark just stood there shaking his head. “How can any of you ask a question like that? Why would I be speaking to all of you if I were intending to help just the United States? I don’t understand why all of you can’t accept that what I have been trying to do is for everyone, not just one country. I asked President Morris to provide the land as a test site for a smaller model city. When constructed, this will be a showcase for the world to come and visit. Like I said before, CJ can construct these structures anywhere, but I do have someplace in mind for many of them, that is if you all agree.”

“Where is that, Mr. Richards?”

“Some place where there are millions of square kilometers of unused land, Antarctica.”

“Do you intend to isolate the people who choose to live in these structures, Mr. Richards?” asked the Secretary-General. “Antarctica is an inhospitable place and transportation to and from that continent is completely dependent on the weather. People could be isolated for months at a time.”

“I have considered that problem Mr. Secretary-General and I have a solution to that as well. CJ is ready to begin construction of a major transportation network that will encompass the entire planet. This will take care of any difficulty in reaching these regions.”

“Please tell us more, Mr. Richards. Exactly what type of transportation network?”

“It is a subterranean high speed transit system that will run between all the major cities and travel hubs of the world. CJ’s machines can bore tunnels through the Earth’s crust and install shock-insulated tubes. Magnetic levitation trains will move through these passages at tremendous velocity. Smaller ancillary lines will be constructed between the major hubs and smaller cities.”

“That is quite ambitious, Mr. Richards. How long will of project of that magnitude take to complete?”

“Even with CJ’s machines working twenty-four hours a day, every day, it will still take almost ten years. The major tunnel construction requires boring through tens of thousands of kilometers of rock.”

“Maybe we can offer assistance with some of the construction work, Mr. Richards,” President Morris advised. “We do have some good engineers here in the States and elsewhere around the world.”

“I had intended to involve many countries in various aspects of the project. Worldwide, many jobs can be created by this endeavor. The major excavations however should be left to CJ’s machines.”

Just then, an aide rushed into the chamber and had a short, hushed conversation with the Secretary-General.

Mark looked over and seeing a look of concern on his face, stopped his explanation of the transportation project and waited for aid to finish.

“I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen,” said the Secretary-General. “There has been an incident in Afghanistan that requires our attention. Mr. Richards, I need to speak with you please, you also Mr. Karazi and Mr. Zaradi,” he said, addressing the Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

There was an objection from the floor. “We should all be involved in any discussion here, Mr. Secretary-General,” said the President of the Russian Federation. “This is not a place for secrets.”

“Very well,” said the Secretary-General, sounding distinctly unhappy. “There has been an attack on a school in southeastern Afghanistan. Militants have killed at least thirty-five students and teachers this morning. The men fled across the border into Pakistan.”

“Where were the UN peacekeepers, Mr. Secretary-General?” asked Mark. “Preventing crap like this is what they are supposed to do in the first place!”

“I am sorry, Mr. Richards. They were not able to prevent this incident. Afghanistan is a large country and much of the terrain is difficult to monitor. The peacekeepers cannot be everywhere.”

“Have they pursued these killers? I want them caught and brought to justice!”

“The Peacekeepers followed the escape route which led into neighboring Pakistan. They were turned back by Pakistani soldiers and not permitted to cross the border.”

Mark turned to President Zaradi of Pakistan. “Why would your soldiers refuse the United Nations troops permission to pursue terrorists?”

“Do not use that tone of voice with me, Mr. Richards. I am the President of Pakistan! There are no terrorists in Pakistan and I resent the implications being made here! The men the UN troops pursued must have taken a different route, one that did not lead into my country.”

“You refused to allow United Nations troops to enter Pakistan Mr. President,” the Secretary-General stated. “That is a direct violation of the agreement that your country signed.”

“We did not agree to have our sovereignty violated at will. I have stated clearly that no terrorists were allowed to cross the border into Pakistani territory. The peacekeeping troops are obviously mistaken.”

“Mr. Secretary-General, are the peacekeepers certain the men that they pursued crossed into Pakistan?” Mark asked.

“Yes, Mr. Richards. The men fired on the troops after they had crossed the border - from inside Pakistan. They were not able to apprehend them before being stopped by the Pakistani patrols.”

“That is a lie, Mr. Secretary-General. Our patrols would not allow militants to cross the border into Pakistan.”

“President Zaradi. You must allow the United Nations troops free access to your territory where it borders Afghanistan. The peacekeeping troops must be allowed to do their job, and pursuing militants is the primary function in that area.”

“No, Mr. Richards. That I will not allow. I have said the peacekeepers must be mistaken and that there are no militants inside Pakistani borders. We will not be subject to arbitrary searches by outsiders.”

“Mr. President, you’re putting me in a difficult position,” the Secretary-General argued. “The agreements we have forged here are dependent upon the mutual cooperation and trust between all our members.”

“We did not agree to have our rights violated,” he repeated. “We will not allow foreign troops to roam throughout our country at will.”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Mark yelled pointing a finger at the Pakistani President. “I have had it with your idiocy, Zaradi. You no longer have a choice in the matter. I will not have innocent people killed because YOU allow terrorists sanctuary within Pakistan.” Turning to the Secretary-General he said. “I understand now that I will need to take care of this myself.”

“Don’t raise your voice to me, Richards,” President Zaradi shook with rage. No one spoke to him like that. He emphasized his message with a finger pointing in Mark’s face. “Pakistan is under my control and I will govern it as I see fit. We are not one of those little countries you have rolled over. You will do nothing!”

Mark lowered his voice in sharp contrast to the Pakistani President. “You want me to lower my voice? Fine, then, just listen closely. You just think you are in control. As for ruling Pakistan, that could change. You act like you’re used to getting your way. I’ve met bullies, people used to pushing others around. If you think that approach will work with me, you are in for an unpleasant surprise. I’ve had to put up with bullies like you through my childhood, but no more.”

Mark turned to the Secretary-General. “Have the peacekeepers pull back to protect the villages and towns near the border, Mr. Secretary-General. No more hunting insurgents, at least not by UN troops.” Mark looked over at the President of Pakistan. “Within a few days we won’t have any more trouble with any of these imaginary terrorists who aren’t hiding in Pakistan.”

“What are you talking about, Richards?”

“Two days, Mr. President,” Mark said holding up a pair of fingers. “In two days I will be sending my own troops. You would be well advised to have your men vacate the mountains bordering Afghanistan immediately. They will be hunting the militants, and trust me when I tell you - you don’t want your troops mistaken for terrorists. Resistance, any resistance at all will be met with deadly force.”

“What troops, you have your own military forces?” he asked. “This will not be tolerated!” Facing the assembled delegates and other world leaders President Zaradi exclaimed, “can we allow this to continue? Whose country will be the next one violated by this outsider?”

“Mr. Richards,” said the Secretary-General. “This is most irregular. We were not informed that you had your own forces. Cannot our peacekeepers be utilized for this operation? Wouldn’t it send a better message?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Secretary-General. While I agree it’s time to send a clear message, I have a different message in mind and I will be the one to send it. Hunting terrorists who prey on women and children is a dirty business, not worthy of United Nations troops. I can assure you that UN peacekeepers will be involved, but after I have completed my operation.”

No one in the gallery had anything to say, but many conversations were in progress around the chamber.

“I’m sure the Middle Eastern countries would support his position, if they hadn’t walked out in protest over the previous votes,” Mark thought.

“Mr. President, I would not need to do this if you weren’t being so pig-headed. I just can’t figure out why you want to protect terrorists who kill women and children. Why don’t you explain it to all of us?”

“Our troops will stop you, Mr. Richards. Pakistan is strong! This course of action will not stand.”

Mark gave him a pitying look; “I think that you might want to speak with the Israelis before committing men and machines to oppose me.”

Mark turned to the assembled leaders. “I’m sorry but all this has dampened my enthusiasm for speaking about progress. This continuing senseless violence has to stop. I thank you for coming and hope that I can have a productive working relationship with most of you. Now if you will excuse me, it seems I have work to do.”

“Wait, Mr. Richards, before you take any rash action we should all sit down and discuss this situation.”

“Mr. Secretary-General, I’m through beating this particular dead horse. Mr. Zaradi here has made his position clear and so have I.”

Mark turned back to the leader of Pakistan. “Be smart Mr. President, and don’t oppose me in this matter. You can’t win and you may find that the consequences of trying will cost you more than you can afford.”

President Zaradi just stared with open hostility at Mark. Mark for his part just shook his head, not in the least intimidated. He turned and left the assembly hall muttering something under his breath about idiots with too much power for their own good.

He had things to arrange with CJ and left the UN immediately to get back to the ship.