Chrono X Angel, Book 8: The Sands of Time

Chapter 7

In Another Time and Place...

It has been five years since the day President Usoko Tachibana had taken command of the world's governments, three years since the worst of the fighting had ended. Such a reaction was to be expected of course, humans always seem almost naturally opposed to change, even if it were ostensibly for their benefit. For the most part now, there was a tentative peace across the globe. However, even as she was beginning to consolidate her power, Usoko knew full well that there were still those who harbored resentment towards her and her new government. What was worse, and most embarrassing in her eyes, was the continued resistance by one country in particular: France. Though most governments had either surrendered on the spot, or made treaties in exchange for certain guaranteed liberties, this one nation had held out the longest against her, almost seemingly out of spite. This was something she had vowed to rectify, and now was going to make good on.

"Kanata, are you there?" She called into her comlink, "Make certain what I'm about to do is being broadcast globally. Absolutely no one can miss this."

Halfway across the globe in Japan, the now thirty-two year old Kanata was stood in the broadcast suite of Usoko's palace with a crew of people who knew about as little as she did about what was happening. They had all been alerted two hours prior to be ready to film Usoko's "big push". Whatever that meant. The screens were currently filled by what looked like the night sky, as Usoko's gaze was currently held upwards. Her sights were being broadcast via a special camera/contact lens hybrid that had recently come into vogue amongst Youtubers.

"Yeah we read you Koko, loud and clear," replied Kanata, "Iris-cams are go, we have visual, and your mic is coming through clear. Mind finally telling me what it is you're about to do?"

As Usoko turned her head down, the crew were astonished to see that she was actually floating in low-Earth orbit over Europe. More specifically, she appeared to be almost directly over Paris, France itself.

"Just giving a demonstration is all," answered Usoko, her voice chipper but carrying an undertone that Kanata really did not like.
"Begin broadcasting at once."

There was a pause of a few seconds before Usoko received the "live" signal, and she began the preprepared speech she herself had written for this very day.

"People of Earth, this is your President speaking. As you know, I have been hard at work uniting us all under one common banner, for the first time in our collective histories. It has been trying at times, but those of you who have cooperated have known my favor firsthand."

Her gaze shifted to the ground below her once more.

"One nation in particular, however, has seemingly chosen to reject my favor entirely. Their vulgar actions have reflected poorly on both myself, and my government. I have tried on several occasions to change their minds, urged them to reconsider, only to be met with armed aggression each time."

Usoko's gaze now flicked to her left hand, held in which was a small glowing orange sphere that was starting to glow.

"I truly wish it had not come to this, but if I let one country rebel, others may think they have the right to do so as well, and that cannot stand. It will not stand."

The sphere was growing at an alarming rate, already larger than Usoko's hand which it now hovered over, and showing no signs of stopping soon. Car sized, then house sized, soon it was larger than a small town. It almost looked as though Usoko was holding the sun in miniature over her head. Though the camera was unable to show her face, the expression she wore was one of stone cold indifference. No malicious smirk. No regretful frown. She simple did not care. On the other side of the camera, Kanata was screaming at Usoko to stop. She knew what her friend was about to do now, and was horrified. Revenge against the governmental officials was one thing, but this blast?? It could wipe out half of Europe with that kind of raw power.