He drew up outside the constituency offices and Katz paused to look around him then again turning his collar up against the cold and hurrying inside. This was the system he was going to be competing for, and although he had seen it so many times over the past few months, it suddenly struck home that he was going to be responsible for it.
He knew the electorate process; he knew the figures involved, the faces behind this particular system. The movers and shakers of the community. The question was, would they be as optimistic about his chances as the Party faithful back in Omega-52 were?
He licked his lips nervously, shrugging his shoulders and walking into the buzz and bustle of the campaign war room his war room.
Brad MacKenzie, or just Mac to everyone who knew him, was waiting for him. The President of the Huron Mining Union grinned at him as he walked through the doors, a friendly clap on his shoulder and a warm gesture around him.
Hows it feel? he asked with a smile.
Nerve-wracking, Katz admitted honestly as he looked about him at all the volunteers already hard at work on his behalf. Some faces he recognized, but so many new ones were mixed in with them. He stopped and blinked when he recognized the Ontario Traders Association members working some of the phones.
Mac grinned at him and pointed across to where Lisa was talking into a phone, her suit jacket over the back of a chair and her desk littered with signs and posters. Well, you have a good bunch willing to help you out; your press conference on Toronto Station really created a stir, and so far only the incumbent is challenging you. He chuckled and winked, Mainly because were not putting anyone on the card against you but the Governor.
Alicia, his PA was happily smiling at him as she unpacked her stuff onto a desk just outside the office that had seen better days, and Katz nodded back at her as he followed Mac around the makeshift campaign comm. center with its signs and posters.
He stopped and blinked. Howd these get made so fast? he asked incredulously, looking at the red and white signs with his name splashed over them.
The Coaltions PR department ordered them made, Mac replied with a shrug. They seem adamant that they want you to run this system; must be flattering to know you have so much support.
Intimidating, Katz replied, stopping and staring at his face looking back down at him from the wall. He had to blink to ensure that what he was looking at was real.
Mac smiled, a PR weasel had a photo of you blown up. Its a good pose; took a while to get it just right but should do the trick
Katz continued to stare at the poster a second before he realized that Mac was moving on, and he stumbled after him, still staring in awe at the sight. He seen campaigns on Denver, he knew what to expect, but it still hadnt prepared him for seeing his own image on the poster. There was something indescribable about the fear it caused in his stomach, that doubt that came with realizing he might be in over his head.
He steadied himself and caught up to Mac who waited patiently with a smile on his face. Id like you to meet a few of your key sponsors, Mac said, gesturing to a couple of men in business suits, a couple wearing Trade Association pins. They have all made contributions to your war chest which, he gestured around him, are being put to good use.
T-Thank you, Katz stuttered, extending and shaking hands. Whos my campaign manager? Katz whispered in a low tone, glancing at Mac.
Well, you leave funding to me, Mac said with a nod to the sponsors, but the brains behind this is He pointed to a pair of comfortable leather shoes sticking out from behind a cubical partition.
Katz frowned, and walked around the partition to see an a smiling face lounging in a chair and talking on a Comm. unit.
Comrade, Katz said, as if there was any doubt.
Our little Katzys all grown up and running for Government, the Propaganda officer sniffed as he clicked off the Comm. Unit and wiped away a mock tear.
Katz shook his head in amazement, Do I even want to know how?
Nope, not for you to know, he grinned at Katz as he fished a donut out of the box on the corner of the desk and proceeded to dunk it in his mug of Tim Hortons coffee from Hamilton Station.
Careful, Katz tossed back. Public figure now, we cant allow me to have a bad reputation.
Sheep in wolfs clothing, the Campaign manager chuckled as he flipped open his Comm. Unit. You sit back, and try not to look Bourgeoisie and leave the hard work to us; well have you elected in no time.
Katz smiled at him, Thanks.
The Campaign Manager waved him off, and Katz smiled walking across to the name on the door had been changed, and he stood a moment staring at it. Citizen Katz. He cocked his head and walked in, setting his briefcase down and sweeping off the great coat and hanging it on the hook behind the door.
Alicia was already there with a mug of coffee and a couple of sheets of computer printout numbers. The results of the last election, and the current polls, she said in explanation, pointing to the various sheets with a pen. We expect high voter turnout. She smiled, However, Your Campaign Manager was rather quick to get the local Traders Association on your side. She turned a bit and looked out at the volunteers, Youre reputation with the Pirates certainly helps with them
Who am I running against? Katz asked cautiously.
The Incumbent Governor, Kelly Siseau. Her figures are here she is the only real contender, and shes going to be pushing to keep her office. Shes got the old and experienced card, you have the young up-and-coming stuff going for you. She gave Katz a square look, Weve got the fact that she nearly lost the last election and the fact that the voters want change, which is running in our favour.
Thanks, Katz said, adjusting the chair as he began to unpack his briefcase.
You have a meeting with some constituents over at the Toronto Community Center, and then a press conference on the state of the Battleship Ottawa; Lisas working on things for you to say. But you are already familiar with the issues
Katz nodded; hed been through this before, he had the advantage, he just needed to remember that it was him now who would be front and center delivering the speeches and posing for the camera.
He loosened his tie and reached for a pen.
Youre not planning to go dressed like that are you? Alicia asked in concern.
Katz stopped and blinked, Like what?
She gave him a frustrated sigh, Youre dressed like a Military Officer you cant give the impression youre a dictator in training, youre one of the people, like them. You need to dress like it.
Right Katz said cautiously.
Give me your Neural Net Account, she said, sounding insistent as she held out her hand for it.
Why? Katz said, already tugging his wallet out of his pocket and fishing out his card.
Im doing what any good personal assistant does, she smiled happily as she took it. Make her boss look good. Sirius Tailors here I come
Dont you dare he warned.
She smiled at him sweetly and gestured to a couple of the Trade Association volunteers, gestured back at him, and held up his Credit card. There were a few cheers before they were all gone.
Huron...He hoped never to have to set foot on here, but he had heard the news from the 'grapevine' and had to see for himself, he was currently in disguise, his normal Flight suit replaced with that of a 'buisnessman' , a suitcase in his right hand as he streighten's his Tie, his normally unruley Brown hair combed to the right and to top it off a pair of spectacles on the tip of his nose.
As he approached the offices he sighed, he hated being dressed up like his, but it was the only way he could avoid police forces that were likely on the lookout for him...Still he pressed onwards, his hands pale due to the blood slowly leaving them to retreat deep into the body.
He opened the door and stepped inside, sighing in relief as he felt the warmth starting to return to his poor hands...
As he walked through the crowds of Volenteers and other various people, most of them hard at work, using Comm Units to talk to various supporters , handling paperwork...He felt like he had stepped into a strange new world...
As he moved through them he looked for the office where Katz was located, however this proved quite difficult, he tapped the shoulder of a passing man and put on a calm yet cheerful smile.
"Pardon me, could you tell Mr Katz that Benny Warntez is here to see him on behalf of the Liberty Workers of Baltimore?", the man nodded and walked off to deliver the message while Ben waited in the cubicle city...Waiting patiently.
Katz’s system stretched from Hamilton Station up to Fort Severn, from Cochrane Depot to the Dryden. Toronto Station, the heart of the bustle, the noise, the middle of the rush that was metropolitan life.
He had just concluded his first speech as a political candidate, sleeves of the sturdily made shirt rolled up and the new black waistcoat undone and hanging loose. He looked like a man who was hard at work; a more honest image, Katz felt, than the man that had stared back at him in the mirror wearing the designer-label suit Alicia had bought him.
He was dying for a cigarette as he shook some more hands, greeted some more of the voters. The Election was only a few months away and he had his work cut out for him. But from the reception he had received at the community center… he couldn’t believe those cheers had been for him, bright and eager faces listening to his plans to fight for equality, how he intended to carry on with the good work that they had started to build equal opportunities for everyone.
He knew what it was like to be a simple man in the work place, he understood and empathized with them on what it was like to be discriminated against. And how, as a Coalition Officer he had made sure everyone had been safe from the stain of Cardamine and Slavery.
He glanced over at his Campaign Manager who was tapping his watch, and Katz nodded, pausing long enough to smile at a familiar looking face in the crowd. Pausing long enough to shake hands before he was moved onto the next face.
Katz nodded again and excused himself, hurrying to catch up to his Campaign Manager and Lisa, Lisa already holding up his coat for him to slip into.
Katz glanced at Brody, “Now that…that was fun.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Attention slut,” she commented with a grin. “We gotta roll if we’re gonna make it back to the Campaign Office.”
Katz glanced back and offered a wave to the crowd before he allowed himself to be swept off once more on the campaign trail.
They returned to the Campaign Office as the shadows of the day were lengthening. The Cold air outside was biting as Katz sank his hands into the pockets of his overcoat, taking a moment to stare up at the sky. All of it, was his to protect.
He made his way inside his offices, bobbing his head in greeting to the people that cheerily bid him hello. And he paused at the door to his office, looking at the bookish man standing there clutching a briefcase, looking like an IRS tax collector.
“Benny Warntez on behalf of the Liberty Workers of Baltimore,” the man said in a voice that was all too familiar.
“Oh my…” Katz began, as he quickly opened the door to his office and gestured for Ben to go inside. He checked to make sure the coast was clear before he shut it and stared at his friend.
“My God ‘Benny’ I’d never have recognized you,” Katz said smiling as he sat down behind his desk and lit a cigarette, taking a deep pull on it. “Ahhh my God… that’s… sorry… wow!” He shook his head as he gestured with the cigarette. “What the heck are you…?”
As 'Benny' walked into the office with Alvin and the door was shut he chuckles softly as Katz asks ' what the heck he was', taking off the glasses he shrugs his shoulders.
"Oh this is just to prevent the LPI from recognizing me and attempting to take me to their Prisons." He said in an 'as matter of fact' tone, yet the look in his eyes was joking.
"So..." he commented, looking around the office, setting the case down beside him. "This is quite the operation you have going, running for Govenor" he chuckles "Who would have thought?" his tone was joking as he pats Katz on the shoulder heartily.
He pops his knuckle's 1-by-1 as he takes a deep breath, he noticed the suit the other man was wearing as if for the first time, his smile widens as amusement creeps upon his face.
"My my, all dressed up...If i did not know better i would say you were 'Respectable', my friend." he jokes.
Katz smiled at his friend as he sat there, stifling a yawn and realizing he had been on the go since some ridiculous hour. He rubbed a furrowed brow a moment before he stood up.
"The room is secure, security sweep it from time to time to ensure it isn't bugged. Add to that the constant presence of the good Commissar Mendel, and we have some peace." Katz gestured to a chair across from him.
"It is going well with the people, they are enthusiastic, the show of force in orbit of all the ships allied to their cause was a large boost in moral. But I am worried about the tensions with the Liberty Navy. I think I am going to try to reach out to them on a more diplomatic front, find out what it is they want..."
He looked at his cigarette and shook his head, "What I am more worried about is what happens when they realize they are going to loose here? The popular vote is behind me, the factions in Ontario are behind me, hell even the factions that are supposed to be my enemies are endorsing me... I am worried that they will declare Martial Law and muzzle Ontario completely. I am worried what that will mean for us, all of us."
He puffed on his cigarette and looked distantly out of the window, "they'll start a Revolution here. And some might say that is inevitable, look at Denver next to us, they are simmering and watching us... California as well. We are very close to something... some kind of change, I can feel it."
When Katz explains who he is, a pair of Junkers usher him through Rochester's haphazard corridors to a metal door. "Director's office," one says brusquely.
Katz bows his head, smiling as he knocks on the door. Waiting patiently he inclines his head to the junkers around him. "Thank you."
"Come in," a female voice calls from behind the door.
Katz turns the handle and steps inside, taking a deep breath and knowing that he must look tired. He smiles at her as he nods. "Citizen Katz, Madam Director, it is good to finally meet you."
The office is reasonably sized, and the walls appear to be composed of random sheets of scrap metal riveted haphazardly together, because they are.
The Director herself is not behind her desk but at a makeshift workbench to the left of the room, which is covered in machine parts. "Oh, yes, Mr Katz," she says, tightening a bolt on a complex jumble of machinery in front of her. "Sorry about the mess. Have a seat." She waves distractedly at a chair in front of her desk, which appears to have been ripped out of a CSV, because it was.
Katz smiles at her and gladly takes a seat, "thank you, I'm glad to be here, this is going to give me a chance to meet people I have been anxious to understand better."
"More than can be said for most SCRA we've encountered, I must say." Her spanner slips off the bolt and falls on her foot, an event which is greeted by a stream of curses that would cause Queen Carina to choke on her tea. She picks up the spanner and belts the unidentified machine in front of her with it, causing it to splutter into life. She shuts it off. "Right, that's taken care of. May I offer you a drink?" She pulls a panel off the wall to reveal a selection of liquor bottles, most of which seem rather the worse for wear.
"Irish cream coffee if you have some," Katz asks.
She selects a bottle of Arranmore's finest Irish cream, and sends one of the men at the door for some coffee. "Excuse the mess, I was just fixing my auxiliary deuterium converter. Damn thing keeps dropping out mid-flight." She pushes a pile of papers off her desk (which, on closer inspection, is part of a Starflier's hull bolted to a shipping crate) and sits on it. "Coffee should be here soon."
Katz looks thoughtful, "I don't know much about engineering, I used to work in a Manufacturing plant on Denver... but I can appreciate the difficulties you must face at times. Though the most interesting thing I have ever seen was the little boy..." he jerks his thumb back at the door.
"He had shoes made out of old belted radial tires...Amazing, I'd have never thought to recycle like that."
"Well, that's what we do, Mr Katz, we're Junkers after all." The coffee arrives in two misshapen mugs. "Help yourself to the Irish cream." She wipes some grease off her forehead. Noticeably, on top of the pile of discarded papers is what appears to be a gilt-edged invitation.
Katz accepts the coffee, mixing in the right amount of the cream, stirring it slowly with a spoon. He stares at her a moment, levelly through tired eyes. "I'm here to listen, but I am here to answer any concerns the Junkers might have with regards to Ontario. It is my first task, to ensure that no one is left behind in this. Unity cannot be factional."
Katz leans forward in his seat, cradling the mug of coffee, "I think a good place to start would be, what do you need from an independent Ontario?"
"Well, for starters, we need to know that we'd be in an independent Ontario. The LRF are... quite vocal in their disapproval of us. To say the least."
"Can I ask why?" Katz inquired. "I've known Ben Warner a long time, I can discuss and mediate between you, if you would like."
"But I want to make clear, I am not going to turn Ontario into a haven for piracy. Piracy against any and all. In fact I want to bring groups that have... up until now, been left out of any protections."
"Piracy? We don't indulge in piracy," Amy says dismissively. "Makes too many enemies, you know? Anyway, there was an unfortunate incident where some Congress vessels opened fire on some LRF vessels, when I find out who heads will roll, and they haven't really liked us since."
"I know, I have found the Junkers, in my experience, to be honourable and honest. You limit your smuggling to Software and artifacts, you don't touch Slavery and Cardamine in the Ontario system, which I appreciate. So I want you to know, that after the election, those commodities will be legalized in Ontario."
Katz shifted in his seat, "I will also clear up the trouble with the LRF and ensure that there will be no trouble in the system."
"Software and Artifacts?" Amy asks. "Well, we do appreciate that. And any help you can give us with the LRF situation is also appreciated. One thing you learn about the Junkers when you interact with us, Mr Katz... may I call you Alvin?... is that we're in the business of making friends, not enemies."
"I prefer Citizen Katz for a formal title, but Alvin is fine for friends," Katz smiles warmly. "Now is there anything you want from a free Ontario?"
"Call me Amy, then. Well, we'd want to be left in peace, which we've established already. Congressman Watsas mentioned something about synthetic marijuana, not nearly as bad as Cardamine as I'm sure you're aware. We'd also want something done about the Knights of Labour."
Katz nods on the marijuana issue, "I see no problem with rendering that legal as well. I am aware of its affect and many of the citizens of Ontario have a long tradition of support for it. There is an annual protest for its legalization aboard Toronto Station that predates the Exodus... First Saturday of May I think."
He takes a drink of his coffee and looks at Amy, "now about the Knight's of Labour, what is the issue there?"
"They loathe us," she says bluntly. "You probably encountered a few of their ships out there." She indicates the large window behind her, past which pieces of scrap lazily drift.
Katz raised an eyebrow and glances out the window, "I saw an absolutely amazing wreck out at Trafalgar base at one point... but I digress." He sits back, "I can't promise to exclude them from Ontario, as we must be open to all if this is to work at all. But if they cause trouble in Ontario they will regret it. The safety they will enjoy there will only be contingent upon the safety they afford others." Katz looks firm. "If they wish to use Ontario, then they have to realize it is a Junker home as well. We will respect you and leave you alone, but I will not stand by and allow any base within the system, or people that live there, to be attacked by anyone."
Amy nods. "Sounds fair. We won't be attacking them, either, as a matter of course. Unless it's in self-defense... Incidentally, I hope your superiors in the SCRA don't mind you talking to us."
Katz shakes his head, "I am Citizen Katz currently, my portfolio is my own. Ontario must be free to chat it's own course. It is my hope, one day, that it will join the Coalition... but I cannot force that. The people of Ontario will have plenty of time to make their own choice and I will abide to that. I am here as Citizen Katz, that is my focus and that is how I must proceed."
"The first step is independence, after that we will have a long road to travel before Ontario can even consider Coalition membership."
"Just as a blacksmith cannot seize the red hot iron in his naked hand, so the proletariat cannot directly seize the power; it has to have an organization accommodated to this task." Katz looks distant. "Trotsky, if you are interested."
"Interesting. I'll have to look it up." A drifting piece of scrap bounces off the station's shield. "Well, I hope this will be the first step towards a... healthy neutrality between our two peoples."
"Better than neutrality," Katz states rising and setting the cup aside. "I hope it is the beginning of something truly better for all of us. I have recently been called a deluded dreamer by a Libertonian General I lambasted for hypocrisy... But I think it is us deluded dreamers that actual bring about change. So... maybe this is the start of something new, for all of us."
"Can I count on the Junker's of Ontario endorsing my bid for Governor?"
"Well, off the record, the Liberty arm of the Junkers Congress fully endorses you. We can't show too much open support, as we might get the cops and navy and LSF asking us some... awkward questions, but... yes, we endorse your bid for Governor."
Katz nods, "that means a lot. With your permission I will visit your base in Toronto and meet with the people there. To hear from them about the community's needs. I want there to be no doubt, my office door will always be open."
"Likewise," Amy says. "I'll have the dock workers upload the co-ordinates for our Ontario base into your nav computers, I think you can be trusted with them." She stands up. "Pleasure meeting you, Alvin."
Katz shakes her hand firmly, "Indeed. And thank you for your time, Amy."
"Give my regards to the Knights and LRF. And wash that hand, you've got some second-hand grease on it. I expect I'll be seeing you around." As the door men escort Katz out, Amy returns to the deuterium converter.
Ben listened to his friend voice his concerns, his mind working out possibilities and ideas on how to manage them, discarding those that have little chance of working and mentally 'tweaking' the ones that show promise.
Yet he didn't voice them as of yet, but rather let Katz think it through, as he takes a seat across from him, folded his hands overtop of one another and sighed.
"The Navy does not like change, they see anything that even has the remote possibility of distrupting the 'Status Quo' is eliminated or they try to make it...dissappear." he casually commented as if one was talking about the weather, his brown eyes seem to peirce Katz's soul as he stared at his friend.
"Now i do not claim to be a Mind-Reader nor a Prophet, but i am quite sure that the Navy will either attempt to Arrest you for a trumped up charge, or worst case situation; Hire an outside source to...Remove you so it cannot be linked to them." he gravely infromed Katz, feeling slightly uncomfortable in this 'Monkey Suit' as he lovingly referred his suit as...
" Admiral Hale will eventually also take notice of this and direct somebody to take a close look at the situation...I know him...Fought him...He's very good at his job." He mutters softly, his left thumb rubbing in a slightly habital reaction to stress against his palm...
Mendel poked his head around the door, "we have the hockey game."
Katz nodded removing his tie and pulling on his overcoat. "You should come to this Benny, it'll be good for you."
***
Katz was standing in the coffee shop area of the arena, wrapped up in a scarf and gloves holding onto a cup of coffee, drawing warmth through the thin Styrofoam as he looked down from the large windows over the ice.
The players were taking their positions waiting for the puck to be dropped, and Katz found he was nervous. He had chosen to stay in the coffee bar’s windows, it let him watch without being down with the main crowds. He couldn’t handle all the attention at that moment. It had been nearly endless since he had arrived.
Citizen Katz this… Citizen Katz that… so many questions. His near constant shadow, Mendel warding them off by stating firmly that Katz was just there to watch the Hockey game, he wasn’t there on the campaign trail. Which, of course, was a total lie, but in order to speak to the people of Ontario it was important to understand their language.
Hockey was life.
He held his breath as the puck fell.
It was clearly a competitive game, and the Muskrats had control of the puck early. The Leafs were a good team though; they seemed to learn fast, and saw that there was something wrong with the Muskrats line. It was as if teamwork had suddenly become non-existent; the Muskrat Team Captain swept down the ice, but his team wasn’t with him… And as he found himself alone facing the Leafs’ defensive pair, Katz winced as One of the players was checked into the boards.
“Relax,” Joe, the recently appointed head of the Ontario Trader’s Association said appearing beside him, “just remember ‘a un but’,” he broke into French, his voice raising in pitch.
Katz nodded and gripped the rail as he stared down at the ice. Despite his team’s nervous first line, the Muskrat's were skating like nothing was wrong. The Captain pointed and directed his team-mates as if he expected them to obey. And grudgingly Katz could see they obeyed, but it was a struggle of wills, and it was as if the team captain was playing against his own team as well as the Leafs. Katz noticed that some of the players were playing defensively, keeping the Leafs from scoring, but without more aggression he couldn’t go on the offensive. Katz was amazed at how effortless they made the game look, while the Muskrat Goalie blocked every slap shot that got through.
It wasn’t until the last few moments of the first period that one of the players burst into action, exploding from the bench on a line change to scoop up the puck from a sloppy Leafs pass. He deked the puck around, sweeping it from side to side as he moved with blinding speed. The slap shot was long, and from an unexpected angle.
The arena exploded into cheers as the red light lit up. A goal.
"Wow!" Katz exclaimed in utter shock as the period ended.
"Un But!" Joe yelled dancing around behind them, “La Lumiere est rouge!”
Katz shook his head in disbelief, “I can’t believe it, how did he do that?” It had been blindingly fast, but there was no doubt it had been One of the players alone who had scored.
"It was a good goal,” Angie acknowledged, she touched his arm, “But they can’t keep playing like they have been. That was a lucky goal…”
“That is the first period over,” Commissar Mendel said, looking up from where he sat smoking and drinking a cup of stale coffee. You should mingle, shake hands. Make them know you are here. Staying up here in a ‘box’ is far too bourgeoisie, get down amongst the people.”
Katz nodded, watching as the Muskrats made their way off of the ice heading for the locker rooms. He looked down over the crowd of miners who were leaning expectantly on their seats to watch their teams. Shrugging on his long black coat, he glanced at his reflection in the tall windows. He was dressed like an Amish man, and he supposed, that was Mendel’s point.
Katz excused himself and headed down the stairs, greeting people that were making their way up into the canteen, shaking hands and smiling as they boisterously clapped him on the shoulder. He was on their turf, amongst them, reachable and open, and they respected that.
He could pick out LRF faces in the crowd, as well as a number of volunteers for the Ontario People’s Police, a kind of local force that was enforcing the law in the system while the LPI were busy spending their time eating doughnuts and collecting bribes.
Things were changing in Ontario, and he could feel it. Up in the rafters someone had already strung the Ontario Democratic Republic’s flag, no doubt at the suggestion of Mendel. The flag prominently alongside the Libertonian one that it would one day replace.
He shook hands and moved on, realizing that Angie was remaining close at hand, circling the crowd and keeping an eye out despite her obvious discomfort. And he appreciated that, her presence reassured him, and he went on through the groups, nodding and smiling as he worked his way around the arena.
“The LPI are here,” Ben whispered in his ear, nodding across the area, to where a collection of Police Officers were standing, hands on their menacing Billies, eying the crowd.
“Navy?” Katz inquired.
“No sign yet…” Ben murmured. I should round up the men, in case.
Katz nodded his head, reaching the small door that led out onto the ice. Years of playing on frozen ponds on Colorado, and spending time in rinks as a youth had taught him to balance on ice, even in leather shoes. Using one foot to push, he slid out towards centre-ice as the Zamboni machine trundled around him.
Quickly one of the Referees skated out towards him, carrying a microphone.
“For you, Citizen Katz,” the Referee offered. As a hush descended over the crowd, all eyes on the would-be Governor, standing centre-rink.
“Thank you,” Katz said, surprised at the echoing booming his voice took around the arena. He quickly adjusted it. “Thank you Ontario!”
“I would also like to thank our dear friends from the LPI who have finally found the time to tear themselves away from their oh-so-busy schedules to come down and enjoy the game.” Katz gestured up at the Police Officers, who were shifting uncomfortably under the scrutiny of so many people.
“Now let’s talk about President Powell who, like the fraud and hypocrite that he is, roams across blood-drenched border-zones as the highest representative of morality, the messiah of the Sirius Credit, chastises, pardons and settles with his Rhienland Counter-part Kranzler. Everyone asks them, begs them, invites them despite the humiliations that they have both heaped upon not only their own citizenry, but on the citizenry of any that traverse the Bering-Hudson zones.”
“Rolling up his trousers Powell steps over the puddles of blood and by the grace of the Manhattan stock market and looted Rhienland Blood Diamonds, he seeks to wage yet more war, despite of the fact that his people at home are wailing at him to cease…”
“Who does he send to Ontario? No one. instead we have Liberty Navy Officers threatening Martial Law and swift reprisals against us if we secede from their union. We are not in revolt, we have not broken the law here. We are people, proud people, who want out of the Mad-House that Powell and his hawks have created.”
“Just today I had the most disturbing news that elements of Liberty’s own Diplomatic service are trying to ally themselves with people they once persecuted the Unioners, and the Hessians, hoping that they will win their war for them… How bourgeoisie… getting the workers to fight a war for them.”
“It seems that in the Liberty Asylum the inmates do not know for one half-hour at a time whom they are going to butcher and with whom they will befriend. But one stark lesson stands out, people, and that is that they are embroiled in a war, a war from which, they say, they can’t spare the man power to defend us.”
“Well I say this, General Isabelle Kaitlyn, if you don’t have the man-power to defend us, you certainly don’t have the man power to impose this Martial Law. We will not be silenced by threats, nor will we stand for your hypocrisy.”
“You say that Liberty is great, and yet weren’t you the same General that abandoned Liberty and went AWOL, and then returned to it? You ask us to stay strong, and faithful, and yet you cannot do the same? I ask you, Ontario, can you trust the words of a front line deserter? Can you trust the word of a Hypocrite? No… Liberty may be a house of lies, but here in Ontario we listen, we watch and we remember.”
“I love this system, this place is where I will make my stand! I know one thing, no other heart is truer than the one we call Ontarian!”
“I am Citizen Katz, and I am STILL the only serious choice on offer here!”
===========
EDIT: I must edit this speech as per a request from two players, which I do happily. As the original plot mentioned was actually ret-conned and I wasn't aware.
As Ben listened to the speech, now in warmer clothing suitable for the arena he smiled, Katz truely had grasped the attention and devotion of many of the people...If not all...
The LPI couldn't touch him at the moment, otherwise they would make him a martyr, and if there was anything that fueled the fires of a movement, it was a Martyr...
So all they could do was stand through his speech and just twiddle their thumbs, Ben almost laughed when he publicly bashed the image of the Liberty General, but managed to hold his words within his mouth...
When the speech ended he started to clap loudly, which spread throughout the Arena until it was thunderous, like a storm raging within the hearts of the people.
He nodded to several of his fellow LRF as they stood up and continued to clap, causing many to do the same as several whistled loudly in support, if the LPI present were nervous before they would be fearful now in the face of such huge public support!
He softly sung a song that followed a similar tune to that of old Sol, but modified (//USSR Anthem)
"Unbreakable Republic of Labour, defiant in the face of the Slaver!
Great Ontario has joined forever!
Long Live the Republic! Made by the Public!
United and Strong Ontario Republic!
To Glory! Our free Motherland!
Stronghold of Freedom and those who Understand!
Ontario Democratic Party! The Power of the People!
It leads us to the Triumph of Freedom!
Unbreakable Republic of Labour, Defiant in the face of the Slaver!
Great Ontario has joined forever!
Long Live the Republic! Made by the Public!
United and Strong Ontario Republic!" he sings proudly, it slowly spread throughout the entire Arena until all were singing it, their hands over their hearts and proudly looking upon the Ontario Flag as they sung, a strong sense of Patriotism could be felt by many within the room. Ben smiled, nothing would truely be able to stop them now...
LNS Quebec Citadel - formation orbit with LNS Ottawa
Isabelle watched the whole speech on her own set of screen - images transmitted back from her own set of surveillance team. A couple of snipers and specialists in electronic warfare.
She wasn't too surprised - the attacks were just slightly more vicious than the politicians at the congress. Stirring the masses with provocative wording. As with all great lies, these socialist fanatics took a great amount of truth to forge their own bible. Probably they really believed in it.
Well, there were still a thing or two these happy going fools haven't learned yet.
If they wished to play on Libertonian playground, they'll play by her rules.
"Operation approuve." (Operation approved) she spoke softly on the intercom.
The reply came in with a lag of 2 seconds;
"Compris, termine." (Roger, over.)
--
"Sir? You are well M. Katz, Citizen Katz?"
The voice was polite, cultured. Its tone couldn't get any more neutral.
The man was dressed in a simple black business suit. He looked handsome, with those curious black eyes, well shaped face and one could guess an athletic body sculpted underneath the expensive clothes. However, the way he stood and his jet black hairs trimmed too short gave away his identity as a copper. He was flanked by two identical individuals.
The microphone that served to Katz' speech was still open - whether he simply forgot to close it, or an apparently negligent technician accidentally pushed the "on" button by adjusting his equipment wasn't important. The voices were heard over the stadium even though the cameras already turned away as the crowd were slowly starting to lose their attention. It was the moment.
"M. Katz," the man repeated, showing his badge with his thumb and index, a golden winged shield, while his middle finger and index clipped a mandate file, "Internal Security."
"We are arresting you for charges of conspiracy on terrorism and open association with the following known terrorist groups known as the Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army and the Liberty Revolutionary Front. You are also charged with treason for collaboration with Rheinland nationalist militant group known as the Unioner. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you will say from now on can be later used against you in court."
The crowd was confused, some shocked at the severity of the accusations, some curious at what would follow. The cameras returned to where Katz made his speech, showing these three men, polite, reserved, neutral asking the would-be politician to follow them - in a tone that suggested an invitation to a private club more than an arrest. They waited patiently for an answer.
--
Far away, Isabelle reflected on the situation.
It was strange they did it so far. What did they think they were doing? It was as ridiculous as if this certain Castro presented himself as an election candidate for dictatorship while his guerilleros kept wrecking havoc on little Cuba...
Well, now was the time to cease this little clown show.
You didn't present yourself to the elections with the status of terrorist.
You did even less affirm yourself affiliated with criminal groups publicly confirming they murder cops and soldiers.
Well, they wanted to play with the public - maybe it's time for this manipulated public to realize just how serious murdering someone is in Libertonian society - in their society.
She spoke quickly in her commlink;
<translating from french:> "Intervention group 2, prepare to act at any moment. Identity the known elements of insurgency and be ready to immobilize if they turn rogue. Approach targets slowly, casually. Group 3, if the target surrenders, I want you people to block away all the cameras, as if we are trying to hide the view from the public. Please fail - slightly to your task. Let pass a cameraman or two accidentally before pushing them off the perimeter... Group 4... if things get messy, I count on you, soldiers. You know your task. Omega tango one, over."
![[Image: audrey03a.png]](http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7610/audrey03a.png)