Reboot
Chapter 20

Special meeting on international relations

Mooney opened the meeting: “As you know, I’ve gathered you here today because I want updates on the order of things in the world today. What’s new? You’ve had plenty of time now to conduct your analysis, I want some answers. Who can we count on for example? And who are we unsure about? Lets start with that.” He looked to his right and then to his left, seemingly at no one in particular, and the sat down. You’d have to look closer than was allowed to see the faint ticks that were taking over his face.

Richard Power, the aid to Mr. Chin, raised his finger and Mooney nodded slightly.

Then he looked at the ceiling as if in deep thought, but he was really concentrating on looking kingly.

“We have made some headway into the reconstruction of the United Nations, but it’s very slow going. Members are introspective. Licking their wounds. I don’t think we have anything to fear from any impending attack, no one has the capacity to undertake such action at present.”

“I disagree,” countered General Martin Rafters. “There are various countries who have the capacity to inflict serious harm to this country. Nations that were no threat before, but we think are certain to entertain at least the idea of invasion.”

“What are you basing that on?” asked Mr. Chin.

“Lack of open channels, suspicious behavior by countries like Venezuela which have suddenly stopped talking to us. Spy planes sent by Mexico and Argentina. I hate to say it, but we have to re-evaluate our entire alliance grid. Even Canada is acting strange.”

“Well don’t you think that’s normal after what’s happened?” continued Chin. “Everyone is nervous.”

“I’m just telling you the facts. We are wide open and vulnerable.”

“What do you suggest we do?” asked Mooney. Mooney was nervous and twitchy. Sweating a lot, slurring some words. Anderson looked at him worriedly.

“Rebuild our defense network as soon as we can. Get back on top immediately, before someone decides we’ve lost the right to do so.”

“Yeah, sure, but how?” We can’t pay for anything yet. Anyway, is anyone out there producing? Could we buy or steal arms from anyone?”

“We don’t have the numbers, sir. We simply can’t put together any reasonable sized army now. We could send out teams. We still have the best delta and seal teams in the world, but without adequate support. So incursions are impossible at this time. We can trade for arms and logistical assets from some places, but they are few, and again, it’s difficult to know what to bargain with when we have no financial structure. We have gold. But no one wants it.”

“What do you mean, no one wants it,” asked Mooney.

“Well they’re just unsure of the value of anything at this point. Imagine if you will the value of a diamond if everyone decided overnight that diamonds are unappealing.”

“How are we doing with rebuilding our own financial system?” Money was exasperated.

“We are dealing with leaders who’ve never dealt with us before, sir. The mayor of one town might have been a schoolteacher before the war. When we tell them that we want to hurry up and get things rolling like they were before, they are understandably suspicious. Our first attempts at re-organizing a tax base have failed. They simply ignore us.”