Chapter Thirty-Two: An Expected Invasion
Wednesday, September 1, 2100
Shortly after the creation of the United States of Earth (USE) in 2050, in order to offset United Europe, fourteen regional countries had joined with Russia to form the Russian Federation: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Also joining them, from halfway around the world, was Russia’s long-time ally, Cuba. Together these countries exercised more political and economic clout than they would have individually.
Their combined population was just over 350 million. However, since all countries got a minimum of one electoral vote, the Russian Federation combined for forty electoral votes. They were a powerful federation as they tended to vote together, usually for the Liberal Party candidate.
| Russian Federation | Population (millions) | Electoral Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia | 3.4 | 1 |
| Azerbaijan | 15.5 | 2 |
| Belarus | 8.2 | 1 |
| Cuba | 10.9 | 1 |
| Estonia | 1.4 | 1 |
| Georgia | 4.7 | 1 |
| Kazakhstan | 19.3 | 2 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 12.6 | 1 |
| Latvia | 2.4 | 1 |
| Lithuania | 3.5 | 1 |
| Moldavia | 4.2 | 1 |
| Russia | 137.2 | 14 |
| Tajikistan | 18.1 | 2 |
| Turkmenistan | 11.1 | 1 |
| Ukraine | 46.1 | 5 |
| Uzbekistan | 51.9 | 5 |
| TOTAL | 350.5 | 40 |
* * *
The Rocinante landed in Moscow early on Wednesday morning, six days before the Russian Federation election the following Tuesday. After taking jet lag pills and checking into their hotel, Bruce explained that, with their victory in Canada and their rise in the polls, they would get more attention—not only from the press and voters, but from nutcases. So there’d be a major increase in security, funded by the world government. The USE Gray Guard would start round-the-clock work immediately. Turk and Crowbar would continue as part of their team, independent of the Gray Guard.
“You won’t notice them,” Bruce added. “The Gray Guard blends in. See that guy over there?” He pointed at a man sitting in the lounge area, seemingly reading a book. “He’s the shift leader. I recognize him from a picture.”
With the increased security, Toby realized it would be tricky sneaking Twenty-two into a hotel. The Gray Guard might do whatever it took to protect Toby, but ultimately, they reported to USE. If they saw Twenty-two, they would report it. The news would quickly go to Dubois, and then all bets were off. Toby wondered if Dubois would go so far as to arrest him for harboring an “illegal alien,” or whatever charge they could come up with. For now, Twenty-two stayed in the Rocinante.
They had just entered their rooms when everyone’s TC went off with breaking news. North Korea had formally requested to be admitted to the Russian Federation.
Feodora was full of news when she met Toby and Bruce at the hotel for lunch—cheese sandwiches and salad. “It is done deal, worked out in secret by Russia and North Korea. Russian Federation Parliament will unanimously approve this afternoon. Also, no longer North Korea; now called Kim, after founder, Kim Il-sung.”
“Why now?” Toby asked, yawning. What a strange name for a country, he thought. Kim?
Bruce smiled at him. “Must have been a long flight for you.”
“At least I didn’t get killed at ping-pong and chess,” Toby said.
“You must tell me about this ping-pong and chess,” Feodora said, nibbling on a plate of vegetables. “Perhaps some other time, when future of world not at stake. You both know debate on Russian Federation as one country or union of countries?”
“Of course,” Bruce said. “Russia wants the RF to be one big, happy country, while most of the other countries want to keep their independence.”
“Close,” Feodora said. “Russia not just want Russian Federation to be one big, happy country. Russia already consider Russian Federation one big, happy country.”
“I’ve heard the argument,” Bruce said. “Isn’t the whole idea of countries outdated? The whole world is one big, happy country now, minus the happy part.”
Feodora nodded. “You are more idealistic than me. Someday the rest of the world see it that way, but not now.”
“If the other countries in the RF don’t agree they’re all one country,” Toby said, “then what’s Russia going to do?”
“That’s why Russia wants North Korea—Kim—to be political issue now,” Feodora said. “Russian Federation countries all want Kim in Federation. When China and Japan protest, that unifies Russian Federation. Outside crisis always unites people against outside enemies. Then Russia makes next big move, call for Russian Federation to be one country.”
Bruce was tossing his ping-pong ball up and down. “You realize that if the RF becomes one country, you’ll lose electoral votes for the next election?”
“Yes,” Feodora said. “As combined country, we have 350 million population, so 35 electoral votes instead of 40. That mean President Dubois and Conservative Party will support it, since conservatives cannot win in Russian Federation. Very blue here.”
Toby felt the situation somewhat surreal. He’d just set foot in Russia, and now he was in the middle of historical events.
“How can Russia justify all this?” Toby asked. “It’s all just a big power grab for Russia. I mean, it’s not the Uzbekistan or the Ukrainian Federation. It’s the Russian Federation. Everyone knows which country runs things.”
“Let me tell you history of your country,” Feodora said. “Before your Civil War, people would say, ‘The United States are.’ After Civil War, people say, ‘The United States is.’ It switch from plural to singular, and that’s when your country stopped being a collection of states and became one country. Is Russian Federation a country or a collection of countries? Nobody say, ‘Russian Federation are.’ They say, ‘Russian Federation is.’ Singular. Because we are one country. Like your Lincoln, we will keep this union together.”
“Even if some of those countries object?” Toby asked. He didn’t think Feodora’s analogy made sense semantically, but it sounded like a good political argument.
“Kim issue will bring Russian Federation together,” Feodora said. “Then we persuade them.”
“By making an offer they can’t refuse?” Bruce asked.
Feodora sighed. “Russia is like ocean tide. It moves in and conquers its neighbors. Then it recedes, and its neighbors go free, but only until the tide comes in again. Right now, tide is coming in. Only this time is purely political. There will be no invasion or threat of invasion by Russia against Russian Federation countries. You have my word.”
“And what about North Korea?” Toby asked. “I mean Kim.”
“They have been part of Russia since 2045,” Feodora said. “Is it not time it be official?”
“Won’t China and Japan object?”
“China and Japan will do more than object,” Feodora said, sipping her tea. “Tomorrow, in surprise attack, they will invade Russia.”