The First Century :The Highest Office

The Paradox of a Politician's Promise

The United Nations Parliamentary Assembly is the successor to the United Nations General Assembly. Formed during the first of the reforms that gave the UN its power today in 2050, the first peak of the climate crisis, it became what it is now in 2100 when the Halifax Papers came into effect. The UNPA operates under the one country, one vote system. One that was only chosen after extensive debate. The UNPA drafts and passes resolutions for the various organs of the UN. Unlike its predecessor, the UNGA, resolutions from the UNPA do not go to the Security Council unless they concern military and national security issues. Resolutions on the economy go to the UNESC, for culture and education UNESCO and for space the reactivated Trusteeship Council. Despite this the Security Council still wields a large influence, number one being that they still have a final say in any appointment. The permanent members of the SC : The United States of North America, The European Union, The Republic of India, The Democratic Republic of China, The State of Japan, The Technocratic Republic of Ghana, The Federation of East African States and The Martian Congressional Republic. None of the 8 permanent members still carry veto power. There are 10 non permanent members.

- Excerpt from The Functions and Duties of the UNO

UNHQ, 21st February 2198

Delegates from all over the planet and the Solar System entered the building without the normal noise that accompanied these meetings. Even the press were much more subdued. Interpol had it on good faith that the Secessionist Front would attempt to strike again so security was high. Aside from the usual peacekeepers, the Planetary Guard for the USNA had mobilised one division and a marine unit from Mars was on standby, their drop ship in stable orbit over New York.

Akilah looked up from a briefing on Bifröst and Heimdallr, the lesser know partner. Most people thought Bifröst and Heimdallr are the same thing. In truth they are not. While Bifröst is certainly the most expensive and glamorous of the two, it is just a small component, albeit with a large purpose, of Heimdallr. Bifröst is the Hyperdrive, a specially designed engine that manipulates special quantum particles that cluster around gravitational hotspots called hyperlanes. The theory is that the engine can create enough of a gravitational disturbance for the particles to warp space time. Heimdallr is the ship. Normally after a century of building large scale ships one would not need to fundamentally redesign them. However in order for the ship to withstand the rigours of interstellar travel, a lot of changes must happen.

A pop -up notification appeared in front of her eyes informing her that her Smart Lens have connected to the UNHQ WiFi. In other words they had arrived. Akilah looked at Maxim.

" Day of days, hour of hours. " Akilah sighed.

Maxim smirked. " Indeed ma'am. Though I should point out that no matter the outcome we have two aces: The Council and Bifröst's completion."

" That we do but very few people know about the completion, something I hushed up on your advice" Akilah pouted out.

Maxim just smiled. " And what better time to release the news than when all eyes on the matter, quite literally?"

For a week now a media campaign had been launched against Bifröst and Heimdallr, trying to destroy public support for it. Unfortunately it was working. The planets had aligned for Suharto as many researchers were claiming that like a lot of exploratory missions they cost too much and gave too little in the end. Even the megacorporations who had the most to gain with more resources available had complained about an influx of newly available resources threatening the status quo where any new business that was not connected sufficiently enough to the megacorps would collapse. So with a lot of money backing him Suharto had declared war on them. No matter how self respecting a news agency was, except the ones like Natural Geographic, you can't refuse that kind of money.

The convoy stopped and the door opened. Akilah shivered at the cold wind and drizzle, used to the warm climate of Washington D.C. and Baltimore.. " Damn the Americans and Chinese for backing out of the Paris Climate Agreement in the 2020's. Thanks to them and a few other mess-ups, hurricanes occur in cold winters. "

Inaction on climate change by India, China and America setback many strides taken to cut down carbon footprints. It was not until too late where one of the conditions decided by Canada and Mexico when they formed the USNA with America was that they sign and adhere to the Tonga Climate Convention. By then the Gulf Stream had already collapsed, causing warm water to stay all year round and enabling January Hurricanes. The ' Green' Secretary General, Greta Thunberg, started an initiative to restart it. To date all they have achieved is to bring cold winds from the Arctic. As long as the ocean is warm, hurricanes can happen.

Unfortunately for Akilah a winter drizzle would not stop the press from getting the Sec. Gen. view on a monumental vote. Fortunately for her, a squad of peacekeepers were in place to ensure that no one came close to her. Arjuna's death had been a black mark on Interpol and by default the Peacekeepers. No way in hell would they let someone get so close. The wind picked up speed.

" Hurricane Akilah is making landfall across Manhattan and New Jersey. Hudson and East river Flood Walls are coming up. Liberty Wall is taking a beating ma'am " A member of the advance team told her as she put up an umbrella over her.

" Akilah ? " Obama asked, wondering why a hurricane was named after her.

The lady just chuckled. " Bit of a joke by the boys and gals in Climate. First hurricane in the Secretary General's tenure is named after him or her "

Akilah nodded. " I'm assuming to remind them of their obligations to the planet "

The lady nodded.

" If you don't mind what's your name ? "

" Name's Corporal Ellie Oakland of Toronto Megapolis, USNA.

The silence was quickly broken however, by the reporters. ' Nothing can stop a reporter going for the scoop. Not even peacekeepers ' Akilah mused

" Madam Secretary General, do you care to comment on the rumour that China is cooperating with Indonesia and Brazil on the Bifröst Delay Resolution? " a reporter seemingly from the New York Times if the badge was to go by asked.

Akilah turned and faced the reporter, putting on her family's signature winning smile. This was a question she had to answer.

" It is said that a politician in a Sydney bar can say he is disappointed with another politician in New York and by the time he closes his mouth, the New Yorker politician hears that he ranted and insulted he and his family, " she smiled and paused at that point waiting for the chuckles and laughs to subside. " But rumours are just that, rumours. While I will be the first to confirm that it is not out of nature for Chinese and Indonesian diplomats to meet, one must remember that the Indonesians are desperate. They've been travelling around the world looking for allies even in Amazonia and Singapore. One must also remember that a lot of the manufactories that produce general purpose equipment that Heimdallr needs are in China, not to mention their universities contribute an eighth of personnel that operate the Bifröst Drive. So yes I find it had to believe that China will vote for the resolution "

The reporter just smiled like she knew something. Akilah wondered while then shrugged it off. ' Probably a scheme to get me to reveal more or to knock me off my game.' Answering her usual one question, she and her entourage quickly moved across the pavement, avoiding the clamours for more questions, and entered the building. 1 hour till the proceedings start. Time to see whether a politician's promise is not a paradox .

A/N: Hey I am alive and I have finally done another chapter. WooHoo!!