Book 3 Chapter 48: Presidential Debate

Book 3 Chapter 48: Presidential Debate

I spent the next several hours pulling people from wreckage, dragging chunks of the vehicles into Julians lab, and helping to put out what fires I could. The Entombed and Nix located me quickly, but let me continue what I was doing, even helping me where they could. By the morning, the majority of the recovery had been completed. I stood by one of the cuts through the city and held my hand to it. The radiation coming from it was intense and familiar. The cuts themselves were incredibly, smooth, leaving deep impression in the earth that deadmen and women were already filling in with dirt, even as they were assessing what other damage had been done.

It didnt take a Marshal to figure out that the weapons that the Shrikes had used were of the same origin as whatever had created the Cut itself. The idea that the Remnants had access to that type of technology was terrifying, but what was even scarier than that, was that theyd managed to attack Potts itself, and area everyone had presumed would be safe. Looking over the pilots I found that they were all wearing the same anti-radiation suits that Id encountered before. In the past Leah had said that flying Shrikes was incredibly dangerous, and that the vehicles themselves were costly. Either shed lied to me, or they were just that determined to hit us where it hurt. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Once wed done basically all we could, Nix and the Entombed brought me to the Mausoleum. There was a single cut through it on the far right side, but otherwise it seemed to avoid the majority of the damage. That was a mixed blessing. The building itself wasnt as important as the lives that had been lost, and from what I could tell, the attack had been focused on the residential portions of the city. I hadnt heard fully counts of the dead yet, but from what I could smell, there had to be at least one-hundred casualties.

We entered the Mausoleum, finding white robes moving quickly around, and everyone as busy as could seem possible. I was escorted to the Honored Deads chambers and walked inside, where I saw all of them gathered, sheets of paper in front of them, board marked with chalk, and Mama standing in the center, a look of focused determination on her face. To the side I saw Solomon, he was missing part of his foot, as if it had been cleanly burned away. In spite of that, I saw a grim focus on his face as well.

When we entered, they all turned to us. Mama approached me, wrapping me in a big hug, and looking over everyone else. I appreciate you bringing him, and we will hear his case, bring forth his accusers, and go through the proper traditions as soon as we can, but we cannot do so now. The first debate is going to begin in just moments, take him to one of the empty audience chambers and keep him there for nowand get some rest. Ive heard of what you, she looked to me, what all of you did during the attack.

We all nodded, and were swiftly spirited to a room nearby by one of the white robes. The attack, the risk of it, and the timing were all starting to make sense. The Remnants knew we were bringing a candidate forward, and theyd likely found out that the Khan was supporting her.They werescared of it, scared of losing the one thing they seemed to crave beyond anything else in the wastes, the presidency.

As we settled, the entombed all sitting around me, but too tired to pay much attention to actually guarding me, on top of realizing that at this point their job was complete, and why would I choose to escape now, when Id already had so many other opportunities. Just as I finished taking a long sip from my flask, my vision was overtaken by a message.

Welcome Americans! The first debate will begin in 10 minutes!

The Candidates who Qualified for this debate are as follows

Michael Masters

Mama

Gary Garyson

That is the end of your time. Next we will go into questions and rebuttals. Each candidate will have one minute to answer the question, then the other candidates will be able to provide a 30 second rebuttal.

There was a brief pause.

Mr. Masters. In the current United States. What are your plans for the Economy?

That question seemed incredibly vague, but I supposed that made sense. The questions were likely pre-programmed back before the war, and they had no way of knowing what specific issues might exist at this point.

To start, I will use my executive authority to strengthen the Patriot Point, and move us away from the primitive system of bartering that exists now. I will invest in building infrastructure such as roads that will allow communities to better reach one another and engage in stronger trade, protecting those roads with a police force to ensure that communities can trade safely with one another. All of this should allow for improved commerce and create economic stability within the wastes. I will-

Mr. Masters your time is up. Mama, rebuttal.

Youre going to try to move away from bartering? Last time I checked, I cant eat, smoke, or shoot patriot points. And how will you pay for this infrastructure? Ive heard a thing or two about STAR territory taxes, and it sounds to me like you want everyone to start paying those. I heard some mirth enter her voice. Sounds like this poor spaceboy doesnt know how things work down here.

Mama, your time is up. Mr. Garyson, rebuttal.

All this doesnt sound very GARY to me, and if its not Gary, its garbage. he paused there for several seconds.

Do you cede the rest of your time? asked the announcers robotic voice.

Gary cedes his time.

From there on the questions went back and forth. Masters would speak in long complicated plans that clearly had a lot of research and were based in the America of old. Mama would tear his ideas down with some folksy wisdom and a put down or two, then lay out a simpler plan closer to what was already in place and worked. Gary wouldadd some flavor to the proceedings. Id been to a settlement of Garys a long time ago, and I was very surprised theyd managed to put together enough nominations for him to participate. Once the debate was over, I felt like Mama had made a good case for herself. Whether that could overcome the propaganda and numbers behind the Remnants, remained to be seen.

A white robe entered a few minutes after the debate had ended. The Honored Dead will see you now.