The Independent Worlds (The Sixteen Galaxies Book 2) Read Online Free Page B
Author: William Drayman
time and work. It will also meet with much resistance.”
“And it must be done without any visible influence from the Independent Worlds,” Maitland replied.
“Quite. At least, in the public’s eye, that is to be so. The individual leaders are another matter, and I will deal with them when the time is right. What is needed in the meantime is to thin the ranks of leadership in governments around the world; there are too many self-interested ego-centric wastrels.”
“How do you propose to do that?” the president asked.
Kestil peered at Maitland. “I don’t need to explain the gravity of this matter, I’m sure. And I’m confident you appreciate the need for eggs to be broken, if one is to make an omelette.”
Maitland shifted uncomfortably. “If this involves criminal activities, Kestil, I cannot sanction it. I appreciate how powerful you are, in comparison to the likes of me, of course. But, I can’t sit idly by while you run amok on our planet.”
Kestil rubbed his chin and regarded the president carefully. Eventually, he nodded. “Of course; I understand your position. However, you have to stand back and look at the bigger picture, too. Humanity must progress toward unification, and, to achieve that end, the current governmental structures must be removed.”
He held up a hand when Maitland made to protest. “Please, let me finish. This removal process must be approved by the planetary population as a whole; we must make a united planet something everyone wants, Michael. To achieve this, people need to desire a change, and we are far from that point. At the moment, your politicians get elected mainly by promising to improve the status quo, not remove it; is that not so?”
Maitland shrugged. “I guess that’s true.”
“They also push inter-racial hatred to promote their cause, do they not?”
Maitland blanched. “Well, some do, I guess. Usually those who want to capture the vote of the less educated groups, anyway.”
“Quite,” Kestil replied. “Those who promote such animosity must, by necessity, be discouraged from any involvement in positions of leadership. They work directly against global unity.”
Maitland nodded. “True enough.”
“So, we need to remove those who would oppose unification, and create such dissatisfaction with the current systems that people will welcome the intervention of the United Nations with open arms.”
“Well,” Maitland replied, “it’s not like people aren’t unhappy now; the two party preferred system is under a lot of fire at the moment; and with good reason, in truth. Although you’d never get me to admit that publicly, of course.”
Kestil gave the president a thin smile. “Of course. The weak point with the current systems in many countries is that a career in politics is obscenely rewarding. Pensions for life after very short periods of service, the whole lobby system, zero accountability and a well-paid job if you make a mess of something, the list is endless. You people have put a structure in place that rewards both leaders and opposition totally out of proportion to their sacrifice. That is where we shall create a problem.”
“In what way?” Maitland asked.
Kestil sat back in his chair. “What if a career in politics carried an inherent risk?”
Maitland narrowed his eyes. “What sort of risk?”
“A life-threatening one.”
3
London, England, 2005
Pat breezed into Justin’s office in a cheery mood. “Her Majesty wishes an audience in her office, ASAP. You should feel honored.”
Justin nodded. “Righto. I’ll head up there now, then.” He watched Pat leave and frowned. Hilary Huntley-Downes almost never called him to her office; he’d been told direct contact with his handler was extremely undesirable. He steeled himself and made his way up the three flights of stairs. Hilary had ordered the lifts be restricted to deliveries and incapacitated people only. Office work is sedentary and unhealthy, she’d told them
“And it must be done without any visible influence from the Independent Worlds,” Maitland replied.
“Quite. At least, in the public’s eye, that is to be so. The individual leaders are another matter, and I will deal with them when the time is right. What is needed in the meantime is to thin the ranks of leadership in governments around the world; there are too many self-interested ego-centric wastrels.”
“How do you propose to do that?” the president asked.
Kestil peered at Maitland. “I don’t need to explain the gravity of this matter, I’m sure. And I’m confident you appreciate the need for eggs to be broken, if one is to make an omelette.”
Maitland shifted uncomfortably. “If this involves criminal activities, Kestil, I cannot sanction it. I appreciate how powerful you are, in comparison to the likes of me, of course. But, I can’t sit idly by while you run amok on our planet.”
Kestil rubbed his chin and regarded the president carefully. Eventually, he nodded. “Of course; I understand your position. However, you have to stand back and look at the bigger picture, too. Humanity must progress toward unification, and, to achieve that end, the current governmental structures must be removed.”
He held up a hand when Maitland made to protest. “Please, let me finish. This removal process must be approved by the planetary population as a whole; we must make a united planet something everyone wants, Michael. To achieve this, people need to desire a change, and we are far from that point. At the moment, your politicians get elected mainly by promising to improve the status quo, not remove it; is that not so?”
Maitland shrugged. “I guess that’s true.”
“They also push inter-racial hatred to promote their cause, do they not?”
Maitland blanched. “Well, some do, I guess. Usually those who want to capture the vote of the less educated groups, anyway.”
“Quite,” Kestil replied. “Those who promote such animosity must, by necessity, be discouraged from any involvement in positions of leadership. They work directly against global unity.”
Maitland nodded. “True enough.”
“So, we need to remove those who would oppose unification, and create such dissatisfaction with the current systems that people will welcome the intervention of the United Nations with open arms.”
“Well,” Maitland replied, “it’s not like people aren’t unhappy now; the two party preferred system is under a lot of fire at the moment; and with good reason, in truth. Although you’d never get me to admit that publicly, of course.”
Kestil gave the president a thin smile. “Of course. The weak point with the current systems in many countries is that a career in politics is obscenely rewarding. Pensions for life after very short periods of service, the whole lobby system, zero accountability and a well-paid job if you make a mess of something, the list is endless. You people have put a structure in place that rewards both leaders and opposition totally out of proportion to their sacrifice. That is where we shall create a problem.”
“In what way?” Maitland asked.
Kestil sat back in his chair. “What if a career in politics carried an inherent risk?”
Maitland narrowed his eyes. “What sort of risk?”
“A life-threatening one.”
3
London, England, 2005
Pat breezed into Justin’s office in a cheery mood. “Her Majesty wishes an audience in her office, ASAP. You should feel honored.”
Justin nodded. “Righto. I’ll head up there now, then.” He watched Pat leave and frowned. Hilary Huntley-Downes almost never called him to her office; he’d been told direct contact with his handler was extremely undesirable. He steeled himself and made his way up the three flights of stairs. Hilary had ordered the lifts be restricted to deliveries and incapacitated people only. Office work is sedentary and unhealthy, she’d told them
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