[b]Vancouver[/b] [i]“We will rebuild this country and set it on a path that will show the world that we are ready to become something more than an also-ran, and the next century to come shall be called the American Century.”[/i] Arthur watched the man on the television screen speak to the crowd gathered thousands of miles away. This man, who was now the president of the country he now belonged to, a man he had never voted for would now lead the nation he had never agreed to join. Arthur was just one of a half dozen gathered outside the department store, watching the inaugural address on a bank of black and white televisions. The people running the store had piped the audio out to the street so those without television could watch the historic event. The applause in Washington started to die down and Norman, the man who invaded Arthur’s country and taken his government away by force, smiled before turning stern. [i]“For the first time in nearly a hundred years, a vast expanse of territory has been gained by the United States. These tracts of land in the northwest, this former North West Coalition, were the site of much suffering in the war. The horrors of war and genocide still hang heavily over the territory and the state of Washington. The people behind the attack in Seattle have been punished for their crimes, those that would attack our country in the most cowardly ways have been put on notice that the events of Seattle must be forgiven, but they must never be forgotten. One of the first acts of this new administration will deal with the former NWC, and I urge Congress to begin deliberation on a resolution that will see the Cascade Territory granted proper statehood. It is my goal to welcome her into the Union before the end of my term in office.“[/i] While the crowd in DC let out continued applause, the reaction in front of the Vancouver department store was much different. A few of the people booed, one man spat on the glass window separating the crowd from the televisions. The general went on with more lofty plans for the country but Arthur was no longer listening. He shoved his hands into his pockets and shuffled down the street with the rest of the people going about their day. A semi-truck with a canvas top slowly rolled down the artillery scarred street, careful to avoid the holes in the road. Arthur caught a glimpse of the dozen or so US troops sitting in the back of the truck with their rifles before the vehicle disappeared around a corner. That was just one of the many reminders that the NWC, Arthur refused to call it Cascade, was under military occupation. There were the pockmarked roads, the buildings damaged by the intense fighting that took place, and of course the queues. There were queues at the stores, queues that ended up with people getting their box of weekly rations before they trudged on home. The NWC had been one of the strongest economic powers in the Americas and now their wealth had been absorbed by the US upon annexation and distributed to the federal government, the NWC’s budget surplus used to prop up the country’s many impoverished states. Arthur’s nation hadn’t lasted long, but it had existed and it was a strong one. Now that country was a thing of the past and it was destined to go down in history as a footnote like the failed Southern secession attempts and the New England Republic. [b]Washington DC[/b] All eyes were on President Norman and the First Lady as they had the first dance of the Inaugural Ball. The president wore a tuxedo while his wife of over thirty years wore a cream colored strapless ballgown that was subtle and effective without being too over the top. They glided around the dance floor hand in hand, dancing slowly and lost in the moment. Others began to file out on the dance floor to join the First Couple in the night’s festivities. Russell was not one of those people, and neither was Senator William Robert Dixon. The two old bulls sat together near the back of the ballroom, talking amongst themselves over drinks. Russell held a hand up and waved at his wife as she danced with their son-in-law. “So, Russ,” Dixon said in his Okie drawl. “I heard an interesting rumor while you were on the campaign trail this summer. It concerned you and those sumbitches that think they run things down in Texas.” “Well I don’t know what you heard, but all I did was teach them a lesson on where real power lies.” “Power is where power goes?” Dixon asked with an arched eyebrow. He chuckled when Russell nodded. “And where is power going now, Russ? What kind of power can you possibly hope to mine out of the most powerless job in DC?” “Look around you, Bill. All eyes are where? Front and center on the president just where I want them. He gets to be the face, I get to be the one who operates in the shadows to get the job done.” “Power behind the throne,” Dixon’s amused smirk stayed on his face. “Or more like presidential hatchet man? Regardless, that job lasts as long as you stay in Norman’s good graces.” Russell laughed and took a sip of water. Devil’s advocate was Bill Dixon’s specialty. The two men had operated on opposite sides of the Senate aisle for ten years; Russell was majority leader at the time that the Democrats had a two vote majority in the Senate and Dixon held a large bloc of conservative voters in his pocket. They had worked together and clashed over dozens of issues in the past, but they were both pragmatic when they needed to be. “Speaking of promotions, I’m surprised you didn’t get the Leader post.” General Norman’s national appeal had led to a democratic landslide in the presidential race, but the Senate seats up for reelection went in the Republican’s favor and they now had a three seat majority in the Senate. The fact that he would have lost the Leadership was further proof to Russell that he had made the right decision to take the Vice-Presidency. “It’s just a title. I still have my caucus, more now that we picked up a few seats up in the Northeast. Power is where power goes? Well, I’m staying right where I am and so is my power. I’ll let Kelly play at trying to run the Senate, but I’m gonna make damn sure my people vote the way we need to.” The question left unsaid between them was how long would Dixon stay where he was. It was only 1980, but 1988wasn’t that far away. Russell knew he was too cautious to run against an incumbent like Norman, especially if Norman was successful in his first term. Running against Norman’s Vice President however could be far easier. "Within the next few days, the president is going to want to meet with the leaders of Congress about the agenda he wants to set for the upcoming congressional session. Cascade statehood, among other things, will be brought up. Annexation was your baby, Bill, what do you think about statehood?” “Too soon,” Dixon grunted. “We still got armed forces there occupying the old NWC states. We gotta wait a generation or two before we try to think about statehood, let the wounds heal up some. They’re already pissed at us for annexing them.” “I bet. Also doesn’t help feelings that NWC United was dissolved by the US and Dixon Oil swooped in to take its place.” “Yes,” Dixon said impassively. “But at least Dixon Oil is working hard to jumpstart the economy there with jobs and new projects.” “Indeed,” Russell nodded, “Corporate altruism at its finest.” Russell stood and held out his hand for Dixon. The two men shook hands quickly and looked each other in the eye. “Congratulations once again, Mr. Vice President, and best of luck making something relevant out of your office. You’re gonna need it.” [b]Simon Fraser University Vancouver[/b] “Blame Canada.” A murmur of approval went through the small room. The man behind the lectern was bald with a three day stubble and thick glasses with black plastic frames. The glasses made is blue eyes appear three times larger than they actually were. He tapped the surface of the lectern as he spoke. “It was their aggressive nature that forced the US’s hand. Blame the NWC, it was our own government’s greed that led to entering the war in the name of grabbing more territory. Blame the upper class; it was their desire to take over the country that led to the genocide in Seattle. One can only sympathize with the US as they invaded us and annexed us as revenge… but that was a different country that annexed us. Where has the Socialism in the United Socialists States gone? Today’s inauguration was proof that the country that now controls our fate is leaving its Socialistic ties behind.” The professor continued to rail on the values of socialism and why it had worked for the US. Arthur kept his right hand on his chin to keep his head from nodding. He had started out on a good path, but it had gone another way. Arthur cared very little for socialism; the NWC’s government hadn’t been Socialists, they had a government similar to the old US government back before the wars. The professor’s political tract winded on to the point to where Arthur had to leave. He left the lecture hall with his notebook in hand. “Couldn’t stand it either?” a voice asked from behind. He turned and saw a man roughly his age wearing a faded olive field jacket and smoking a cigarette. He had a rough beard and a long, curly black hair. He gave Arthur a grin and blew smoke from his mouth while he talked. “All that socialist bullshit is for the birds.” “Yeah, I thought he was onto something… but…” “Say, what do you think about all this shit, the American occupation, annexation?” “Shit is the right word,” Arthur said with a shrug. “Rans fucked up royally getting involved in the war, and the thing in Seattle was bad… but annexation? For what exactly did we lose our country for? For oil and all that other economic bullshit, that’s what.” The man nodded and flicked his cigarette against the wall of the hall. He motioned for Arthur to follow him and they walked down the corridor talking. “I’m Alex, by the way. I’m a third year Pol-Sci major.” “Arthur. I’m second year engineering.” “Engineering?” Alex asked with a cocked eyebrow. “Like mechanical?” “Electronic.” “Really? That’s cool.” Alex stopped once they were outside. He bundled his jacket against himself and looked at Arthur. “I gotta get going. You know, Arthur, I’m part of a group that meets once a week, we talk politics and shoot the shit and all that stuff. You seem like you’ve got some interesting ideas, would you like to come to the next meeting?” “Yeah,” Arthur said, trying his best not to seem too excited. He hadn’t really made friends since he started at school, preferring to keep to himself even when he was part of groups. Almost everyone didn’t have his interests, and to be part of a group that seemed to care about the things he cared about was something he had been trying to find for a long time. “Cool. Meet me outside here the day after tomorrow about seven and I’ll take you to where we meet.” “I’ll be there with bells on.”