| |
When Ambassador Garincha Dela Moroforon and her assistants arrived at the United Nations Headquarters, the skyscraper was silhouetted by cloudless blue sky. She left the vehicle and stopped to admire the cascade of flags.
‘Colin,’ she said, ‘what is the reason for this decoration? So many beautiful designs. Is it a festival?’
‘Ya Moroforon, these are flags. There’s one for each of the almost two hundred nations who are members of the United Nations.’
‘Do I understand correctly, these are provinces of the Earth?’
‘We call them countries or nations,’ said Colin. He gave her a few minutes to look at the flags before guiding her towards the entrance.
As the party approached the foyer, the permanent members of the Security Council emerged to greet her. The fairylike Heldy Mistorn shot into the air and began flying up the side of the tall monolith of a building, hovering occasionally to look in through the windows. Everyone’s heads looked upward to follow her progress and you can only imagine what the staff on the inside thought when this strange black cherub peered inwards at them from tens of metres in the air.
Colin stopped to introduce the ambassador to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Perfect Okafor, a black Nigerian woman in an immaculate grey trouser suit.
She, in turn, introduced the permanent members of the Security Council: Ken Hood, the British PM; Dimitri Ivanov, President of Russia; Jack Spence, the US President; Da Cheung, President of China and Jeanne Meunier, President of France.
‘I’m pleased to meet you all. So, each of you govern a province of the Earth?’
‘Yes, Ambassador,’ said Perfect Okafor, ‘but there are many more countries. There are another ten temporary members of the Security Council and representatives of all the remaining one hundred and eighty members. You will see them inside the General Assembly auditorium. Shall we enter?’
The Ambassador let out a high-pitched whistle and, within a couple of seconds, Heldy was hovering over her shoulder. For such a delicate looking creature, she had an extraordinary turn of speed. The powder blue gorilla-like alien struck up a conversation, in perfect Cantonese, with Da Cheung as they entered the reception area and passed through to the Assembly room.
Secretary Okafor began the meeting by emphasising the unique nature of the day and welcoming the Ambassador and her party. She expressed a hope that they could come to a good agreement with the Federation and that this was the beginning of an illustrious future relationship.
Huge applause accompanied the Ambassador, with Heldy hovering over her right shoulder, as she approached the lectern. A hush fell over the assembly as she began to speak.
‘I’m flattered that all the leaders of the different provinces of Earth have been kind enough to welcome me. I was expecting only a meeting with Ya Okafor and her assistants.’
[At the time, Ya Moroforon clearly thought that the Secretary General was in charge of the Earth. This was a mistake which was to perpetuate for far too long and had ramifications. RBB]
‘As there are so many of you present, it would probably be useful for me to give you a basic understanding of the Federation.’
Heldy flew off and made her way around the members, the movement of her wings disturbing their hair and papers as she hovered over them. Some delegates recoiled almost in fear and others raised their arms to protect their faces.
‘Ya Mistorn,’ she said, indicating the flying creature, ‘is an aid to my memory. Everything she sees or hears is indelibly recorded in her mind. Please forgive her intrusion into your personal space.
‘So, what is the Federation? We comprise 247,213 planets on this side of the galactic core.’
Delegates let out involuntary sounds of surprise and amazement.
The Ambassador continued, ‘A further dozen or so have a loose relationship with us without full membership.
‘We trade together, share economic systems, the same currency and, mostly, share the same language – Galactic Standard is taught as a first or second language in all schools. The Federation looks after each of our member’s needs, whether as individual people or whole planets. Government is by a democratically elected General Council located on Arlucian. The president is currently Ye Dimorathron and this changes in rotation every ten years.
‘All planets wishing to join are expected to adopt Federation standards. Such a possible membership is open to Earth if you were willing to fulfil the criteria.’ She paused as Slindo approached her. The powder blue creature whispered something to her.
'Yes, my assistant reminds me that the reason we are offering membership is that you’ve been using some technology which has been interfering with our own. As part of membership we’ll help you improve such systems as well as assisting you to become interstellar travellers, so that your citizens can visit other worlds. Becoming part of the Federation has been the making of many worlds and it will open up amazing opportunities for education and exploration for you. We live in a wonderful universe.
‘With the Federation representing so many planets, the central council comprises four hundred and thirteen delegates. Each represent a large number of civilisations, and councillors regularly hold surgeries with representatives from each of their planets.
‘We’ve a small armed security force to deal with any unfriendly planets we may encounter, although it’s rare that a civilisation has an issue with us which cannot be resolved through negotiation.
‘I’m happy to take general questions, although details would be better left to your representatives.' She looked around to Secretary General Okafor, who walked up to take the microphone.
‘I thank Ya Moroforon for the information she’s provided. I know there’ll be many questions members would like to ask. I intend to restrict it to thirty minutes.’
The Secretary General looked at her tablet. ‘The assembly recognises the United States of America.’
The US President asked, ‘Ya Moroforon, what cost is involved in membership?’
The alien took the microphone. ‘There’s no cost to the planet, Yol Spence.’
‘There’s always a cost,’ said President Spence.
‘There’s no direct cost. All costs are absorbed by the Federation, particularly so for new members,’ said Ya Moroforon.
‘But where does the Federation get its money from to pay such costs?’ he asked.
‘From general revenues.’
‘And how much do we contribute to that?’
‘Every individual person contributes the same amount and it’s announced annually.’
‘I understand that, Ya Moroforon, but what is that amount? There must be a figure.’
‘Yol Spence, the figure cannot be calculated until you join the Federation, but you’re welcome to visit Federation planets to see how the economic system operates and speak to individuals or councillors. Understanding will soon follow. If I were to say an amount to you, it would be meaningless as you do not have any knowledge of the value of our currency.’
The US President leaned back in his seat. He was clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
‘The assembly recognises China,’ said Perfect Okafor.
President Da Cheung spoke in Cantonese and the Secretary General offered the Ambassador an earpiece.
‘What is this for?’ she asked.
‘To understand President Cheung, who speaks Chinese,’ said Perfect Okafor.
‘It’s not necessary, Ya Okafor. I learned Cantonese yesterday.’
To say that the Secretary General was taken aback, in fact, shocked, would be an understatement.
‘Good day, Ya Moroforon. Can you give an indication of what laws or rules we would need to follow for membership?’ said President Cheung.
‘Again, Yol Cheung, this is something which is best carried out by visiting, so full understanding can be achieved. There are safety standards for manufactured goods, health standards etc. A simple example would be that all planets have the same electricity, water, and fuel standards. The prime requirement is absolute equality. Every individual must have the same opportunity as any other, and each has the same worth, whether he or she lives somewhere on Earth or in the furthest outpost of the Federation. It would help if I knew more about your planet and its current economic system.’ The Ambassador turned to the Secretary General. ‘Would that be possible, Ya Okafor? We’ll need to study your people and culture.’
‘Certainly, Ya Moroforon, we’ll facilitate it, letting you visit countries of the world with a representative of each and myself to aid in interpretation,’ said the Secretary General.
Quietly to Perfect Okafor, the Ambassador said, ‘I didn’t expect the individuals from the provinces to have such questions. I expected them to be presented through you and your staff.’
‘Our United Nations does not quite work in that way. I’m the nominal head, but I can’t overrule or speak for the individual national leaders or their representatives.’
‘This is a strange situation. I’ll need to know more, but not immediately. For now, I’ll answer these leaders of the provinces as if they’re questions from you. We’ll need to set up a working group to discuss how membership works in detail and your and our requirements.’
Perfect Okafor began to understand that this meeting was not what the Ambassador thought it was, but now was not the time for explanations.
The questions and answers went on for about thirty minutes. Perfect Okafor called an end to proceedings because questions were increasingly aimed at aspects which couldn’t be answered until the Ambassador had a more comprehensive understanding of life on Earth.
As soon as the Ambassador had departed the UN complex, Jack Spence called for an immediate meeting of the UN Secretary General and the other four permanent members. After lunch, they assembled in a private room.
Once the Ambassador’s party left the UN HQ, Colin Hall continued to accompany them, eventually returning them to their ship in Central Park.
««o»»
Jeanne Meunier and Dimitri Ivanov spoke fluent English, but Da Cheung brought two interpreters into the room with him, even though it was known he spoke good English.
Language was one of the biggest obstacles to smoothing international affairs and the Secretary General wished they had the ability to learn a new language in a single day, as the Ambassador had with Cantonese.
The leaders took their seats around an oval oak table.
‘Jack, you called this meeting. Fire away,’ said Perfect Okafor.
‘Frankly, it looks as if we’re being signed up to a communist regime. Absolute equality of individuals, what sort of system is that? Does it mean the lazy, good-for-nothing individual in the ghettos of Chicago will have the same privileges, wealth, and home as someone who works eighty hours a week on building his own business and creating jobs for others? I can’t see this working for us.’
‘No, not for Americans,’ said Da Cheung, and he laughed.
‘Jack, they’re exactly my thoughts, too. We need to find out how their economic system works,’ said Jeanne Meunier.
‘Yes, too soon to come to a judgement,’ said Dimitri Ivanov.
‘We do need to learn more,’ agreed Ken Hood.
‘So, what do we do?’ asked Jack Spence.
‘I think we should take up the offer to visit other worlds and let the Ambassador tour the Earth. After that we might be able to work out a common interest which would allow us to move forward,’ said Perfect Okafor.
‘That seems logical,’ said Dimitri Ivanov.
‘With all due respect, Perfect,’ said Jack Spence, ‘I’m concerned that you are seeing yourself as rather more elevated in authority than you actually are. You are an appointed official, the nominal head of the UN. You’re not the President of Earth!’
‘And at no time have I given that impression, Jack. You know that!’ she said. ‘It does seem, however, that the ambassador expects us to have a single leader.’
Ken Hood said, ‘It does appear that there’s been a misunderstanding, but I’m sure we all know that Perfect is acting in good faith and she’s aware she can’t commit any of us to any agreement.’
‘Thank you, Ken,’ Perfect said.
Ken Hood continued. ‘Let’s set it up and take television crews to see the other planets. This is a great discovery, knowing we’re not alone in the universe. This morning we had no idea about a Federation, now, just a few hours later, we’ve learned of a quarter of a million other civilisations. It’s amazing and fascinating. Let’s explore the options, even if we don’t sign up.’
‘Yes, Ken’s right. We must learn all we can from this situation, and, my God, the chance to visit another world!’ said Jeanne Meunier. ‘This is the greatest and most profound discovery of our time and we mustn’t miss any opportunities it might offer.’
‘Jack?’ asked Perfect Okafor.
‘Okay. We do need to learn from this, but I smell a rat. Let’s keep our eyes wide open... and, Perfect, you don’t agree to anything on behalf of the United States!’
‘Jack, I understand that, but we need to find a way of getting the ambassador to understand that she’s not talking to a world leader,’ said the Secretary General. ‘I shall make that clear as soon as possible, by the next meeting if I can.’
The session broke up and the leaders returned to their embassies.
Elsewhere in the world, the Earth’s residents who had clear skies that night, spent some time looking into the heavens knowing that many of the stars they could see had planets which were home to other civilisations very much like theirs.
In Central Park, the Federation’s four-hundred-metre starship floated a metre above the surface.
A palpable excitement was building in all quarters of the world.