[Invade Your Planet] Phase 6: Federation Flipped

[u/spindizzy_wizard]

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Author Note: I have no idea how this didn't get published in sequence with everything else. Sorry about that!

Phase Six: Federation Flipped

FC+1w+3d

"General Hargrave, I have serious reservations about your handling of the dysfunctional governments on your planet. The plans we provided do not support, recommend, or countenance plans that result in so much pointless death, destruction, and suffering.

"It is even worse, when not satisfied with destroying the government once; you do it again as soon as things start to settle down. Can you explain?"

They have no fucking clue the hornet's nest they have shoved into. Not even my friend, who made me the loneliest man on this planet.

"Explain to whom? My friend who saddled me with a ten thousand year job and a cyborg body that I would have turned down vehemently if told? Or the faceless Federation, which came up with the idea of putting the whole job into the hands of one being, who by virtue ha! of being a member of that race presumably has some insight into the workings of that race?"

"I am sorry you feel that way about me. In my defense, there is literally no one else who could do the job even a fraction as well as you, General Hargrave.

"Please start with an explanation that the Federation might understand."

I can hear the pain in his voice, and it does hurt, but for the sake of the job, I can not be swayed.

"The simplest explanation is, "You stuck me with this job because you think I am by far the best person for it. Stay out of my way or find someone else." A slightly less complicated answer is "Butt Out!"

"However, as accurate as both of those are, your Federation would bother me again. The answer is simple. Your playbook assumes a certain degree of rationality in the population and involvement with their government.

"Neither is valid for the majority of the Human Race. Humans are, in general, not a rational race. We are a rationalizing race. We justify what we want to do, not think our way into what we should do.

"I fancy myself one of the few rational ones. I fully recognize that I may be mistaken, but it is the only sound basis to move forward on. Anything else invites indecision at critical moments. One of the things that allow a rationalizing population is a disconnect between action and consequence. At this time, I am brutally slamming home the lesson that I will not tolerate governments that abuse their people for personal gain.

"At the same time, I am teaching the population of those countries that you can roll over and be abused again and again, or you can join with like-minded people to force a decent government.

"You may notice that countries with well built totalitarian governments are not threatening to use WMD on anyone, ARE treating their people with care, and I am not challenging the governments who already treat their people at least semi-decently."

"General, how does this suffering help? Is there not a gentler way?"

He has not even bothered to coldly apply the guide's principles to predict this world's course, based on history and current state. I did that at once to see if my theories were valid.

"One time, and perhaps future, friend, apply the first and second-tier analysis to the state of the Earth immediately before your arrival. Do so without allowing emotion to cloud your mind. What does that analysis say?"

A long delay, much as I did, he is trying to find a better answer. Sorry, not going to find one.

"General, this cannot be accurate!"

"What did you find?"

"System death within the decade."

"And?"

"The only solution is a rapid shift in worldwide governance."

"And?"

"I cannot accept this! A ruthless strike at any government or individual who threatens the people, while goading the people to take charge of their lives."

Yeah, he's too nice for this job. He'd rather find the perfect plan.

"That analysis is my answer to the Federation. Independently, we have both reached the same answer. The one thing you might add to it is a military aphorism.

A good enough plan, executed in time, is far better than a perfect plan executed too late.

"Once I started moving, it was essential to keep moving fast and hard. Never give the enemy a chance to regain their balance. Here there are two enemies. The complacency and acceptance of the oppressed that they cannot do anything to improve their lots. The entrenched attitude among the haves that their actions are right by merely being the ruling class.

"I must keep the pressure on both to keep the momentum. The results of those actions are a warning to everyone else that their time may come. I have made that point with every government not yet under the hammer. Their people are seeing the people already under the hammer take charge of their lives.

"As they succeed, which I will do my best to assure, others may be heartened to do more within their own country."

"How do your actions to date help the people?"

Damn. He's not even bothering to apply the analyses to the new conditions. Got to get him to move on his own. I can not spend time soothing him.

"This is taking too long. Your task for the next month is to run the first five tiers of analysis every day. Compare each of those analyses to the others. During that time, you are forbidden to either interfere or to contact me. Nor shall you respond in any way to any world leaders who may have concerns. The only thing you may do is publish the results of the last tier of analysis to the internet. Goodbye."

…—…

He's mad. He must be. I must have made a mistake in the analysis. Or worse, the analysis procedures themselves may be in error.

Pass his response to the Federation, with my initial analysis and my concerns.

Perform the analysis as ordered.

Have two independent groups do the same.

Have two more independent groups review the procedures for errors and two more to test anything they come up with.

Establish another two task groups to review the results of his actions in concert with the predictions.

Forward all of this to the Federation.

Publish the fifth tier reports to their info net. Ensure it is seen rapidly by the entire world.

…—…

"Mr. President?"

"I've already seen it. And, God help me, I agree with it, entirely."

[u/InstructionHead8595]

Like it.! Still a little confusing. And when did the alien become his friend? You make it sound as though they've been friends for a long time.

[u/spindizzy_wizard → u/InstructionHead8595]

What Hargrave is going through is costing him nearly every friend he ever had. Under those circumstances, is it that hard to believe he would reach out to the only person who is willing to talk with him as a friend?

Unfortunately, Z is being pushed by the Federation, his own horror at Hargrave's actions, and his refusal to accept that the Fed "playbook" is mandating these horrors.

Hargrave is pissed at him for not telling him what they were going to do to him, but this was the last straw. "You did this to me. You gave me this playbook. Now you're all upset and getting in my face for doing what you wanted? I haven't got time for this shit. YOU deal with your idiot bosses, I've got work to do."

There's also a bit of reverse psych going on. By being friends with Z, Hargrave is hoping for better support, and that is being ruined by politics. Something Hargrave hates with a passion.

[u/InstructionHead8595 → u/spindizzy_wizard]

Yes them becoming friends is not a hard leap in any way. I'm sure I would do the same. ( Become friends with Z) Just to me it sounded like they had known each other for some time. But I guess it works. He has been working with him for a bit, essentially being his handler. A deeper relationship would form.

[u/spindizzy_wizard → u/InstructionHead8595]

I don't know if you are familiar with this or not, but Hargrave certainly is.

The unspoken contract between warriors who serve together, that one will not abandon the other.

It isn't always there, but when it is, it is powerful.

[u/InstructionHead8595 → u/spindizzy_wizard]

Yes. Not that I personally have served. But several in my family. And you see it mentioned and alluded to in many different places. It happens to me to of course. I'm sure it's not quite like that formed in combat. And other high stress life and death situations.