"Delegation of authority," responded her android secretary. "Each of them has selected people from the resident populace and appointed them to positions within the new aristocracy. Governor Kemp has done so by subject matter, ie: Minister Of Defense, Minister Of Agriculture, and so on. Governor Jackson of North America is appointing Sub-Governors by sub-region such as Sub-Governor Faisal of the North Atlantic sub-region."
"And I can't appoint Usagi to take over Tokyo until the final battle," said Doctor Mizuno. "So how did they select their cabinet members?"
"In the case of Governor Kemp, he asked his computer to tap into an existing government database to begin, then correlate all available data, then select top figures in each field. Those that were recommended in this method went on to be contacted individually regarding their recruitment." The android looked over some displays before proceeding. "Governor Jackson made his selections at apparent random."
"That doesn't sound right," protested the new Governor. "Char, can you do what Governor Kemp did? Find me someone in each field who can take on the responsibilities so that I can delegate some of this?"
"Working," agreed the Char Aznable lookalike as "he" accessed the main servers. As he did there were flashes of display crossing his sunglasses from no apparent source. "Records retrieved, beginning correlation and retrieval from other sources. This will take approximately three hours twenty two minutes."
"Maybe I should check on my daughter in the meantime," said the doctor. "This has to be troubling her."
"We're doomed!" Ami said.
"I can win this!" Haruka declared.
"The contest consists of three male contestants that you can't see and yourself. You're allowed to ask ten questions, each of which the contestants will answer to allow you an idea of which one is the most compatible, at the end of which you choose your winner. The second part of the contest will be a date between you and the one you select. A panel of viewers will then rate the contest to see if you win or lose. Score of 60% or better to win."
"Hah!" said Haruka. "I'll leave that guy dazed in the road, he won't know what hit him!"
"Doomed," said Ami.
"So which territory are we losing this week?" Minako asked as she opened another love letter.
"The rest of Europe," answered Ami.
"Plan on my victory," insisted Haruka.
"What about strategies for the battle after this one?" Michiru asked.
"After my victory," added Haruka.
"Do you honestly think that you can be a better date than Himalia?" Ami brought up a picture of the Hispanic-looking barbarian swordswoman.
"She doesn't have seduction powers, does she?" Haruka asked, wondering if it could be rigged.
"Force projection," said Ami.
"Yeah, she can project energy bolts that hit like a baseball bat," attested Makoto. "I got 'acquainted' with her during our little melee. I beat her because I only got grazed with those forcebolts and by the time she switched to producing a sword I was inside her guard."
"Not much of a fighter, eh?" Haruka asked.
"No, I think she was expecting me to stay at a distance and use ranged attacks. She was just a little slow in adapting when I went for punching her lights out." Makoto shrugged.
"OOOOH!" Minako bounced up and down in her chair. "This letter's from England. Ah! He's cute!"
Haruka grumbled as the Inners suddenly lost interest in her impending victory to go over their fanmail. With the exception of Ami who was groggy from taking allergy medication and hadn't touched her stack.
"Oh, Hotaru, here's one for you," said Makoto, holding up an envelope. (rush snatch) "Ow! Paper cut!"
"Sorry," said Hotaru absently as she shredded the envelope to get at the contents.
"Are the Bugs as dangerous as made out?" asked the Russian.
"You have kidnapped me, my people will-"
"Why is the alien not talking?" asked the Russian of one of his fellows over the sounds of beating. "In the old days we would have him confessing to things he didn't know existed by now."
"The drugs do not work the same on him, his physiology is not quite human enough," responded the Czech. "We don't know what caused the other one to expire so quickly."
"We will have to use whatever means available to avoid having the Abomination taking over," said the Russian. "If these 'Bugs' are for real - we shall have to adjust our plans accordingly."
"Do we have enough of the packages?" The Czech asked.
"Just worry about getting answers," advised the Russian. "The less you know the better."
"I am just worried. If we succeed, we will be heroes. If we fail, then we will have committed an act so heinous that our names will be cursed a thousand years from now," said the Czech.
"If we do either and those damn Bugs are real, then there will be no humans around to curse our names," pointed out the Russian.
"...oh hell..." Governor Andrew Jackson said as he looked over the report. "Can someone confirm this?"
"Which one?" called a worker.
"This CIA translation of an MIA bulletin regarding a Russian transmission," called out Governor Jackson.
"The 'snoopies'? We're trying to corroborate." The worker went back to scanning documents into the line of supercomputers set up in the NorAm Tower.
"Why do the hell they call 'em 'snoopies'?" asked the Governor as he looked at the report again. "How big are these things?"
"About the size of a suitcase," answered the worker. Rafael was his name though he was beginning to think it had been changed to "Hey you" of late. "Though if you meant payload, about 1 kiloton. Dirty bomb. Suitcase has a release switch if memory serves me correctly. Just let go of the handle once its primed and boom."
"That's pretty bad," said the Governor.
"Not really, we can spot 'em fairly easy just with pre-alien tech. They can't load a lot of lead or shielding or it gets too heavy to carry." Rafael finished another stack of papers. "Oh, and I finished hooking up the coffeepot."
"Hmmm. Where did I get you again?" Governor Jackson wondered. "Understand the past few days have gotten to be a blur."
"Baltimore," said Rafael. "I was the waiter at that Cap'n Bob's fish restaurant, remember?"
"Oh right." Governor Jackson nodded. "How are you liking the new job?"
"Pay's okay, benefits are good," said the former waiter. "Hours stink. Tech's nice though I'm having to rig equipment way too much. The stuff from Germany isn't compatible with the stuff from Australia."
"Ah," said the Governor, noting yet another problem on his list.
Sailor Uranus checked herself in the mirror and adjusted her tie.
Yup. She was going to knock them dead and win this one, redeeming herself in the eyes of her team and the world.
Elegantly tailored business suit, black flats, light makeup.
"HARUKA?!" Michiru took one look and had problems. "You're dressing masculine for this?!"
"Not a problem," said Haruka as she breezed past her lover into the next room.
"So which territory is it we're losing?" asked Minako of Ami. "The breast of Asia?"
"The rest of Europe," corrected Ami.
"I'm going to win this," said Haruka.
"Haruka-san, you dressed like that when we met you, and we thought you were a boy at the time," pointed out Usagi.
"It's a blind dating game," pointed out Makoto. "The contestants will not be able to see her, nor she them."
"There are scanners for explosives and other weapons," said Ami. "See, they've stopped three assassins from being part of the studio audience."
"That would tend to cut down on the fun level," agreed Minako. "Well, good luck, Haruka-chan. Break a spine!"
"That's 'break a leg,' Mina-chan," pointed out Ami.
"I will," promised Haruka.
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(Posted Wed, 15 Oct 2003 13:12)
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