RB Chapter 74 The African Federation
But all the people occupying the seats except for the one who had accepted were still hesitating. They were used to being overlords, having everyone beneath their feet and doing whatever they liked. Why would they want to get entangled in this federation thing?
The woman who stood at the podium let out a sigh in her mind.
'How will we work together if these idiots want to cling to power?'
Her bright eyes scanned everyone around causing some to become uncomfortable, while others acted as if they didn't have a care in the world. Some, glared back at her without backing down.
She recognised them as leaders, whose cities were comparable to hers in economic and technological advancement.
"Do you want to wait until the others finish subduing the beasts on their respective continents?" She asked.
"Of course not!" Someone shouted reflexively. But upon taking note of his unbecoming behaviour, he coughed in embarrassment.
"There is something that I want to bring to your attention. Would you allow me?" Someone asked. His vision was directed towards the lady on the podium. He looked like a middle aged man but his hair had a few grey hairs.
"Sure!" The woman gestured for him to continue. The others also quietened down.
"According to certain intelligence my city had gathered, certain beasts are showing signs of gathering. Also some of them have gained higher intelligence capable of overriding their basic instincts. For now, all of us have limited understanding of the kind of federation you are talking about..." His vision cycled through his companions and all of them nodded in accent.
"But, the foremost threat we have right now is that of beasts! If we want to drive them off, we have to work together, but first, please enlighten us on the kind of organisation you want to form." The man breathed out slowly after finishing and his hologram leaned back in his chair.
The woman had caught a trace of fear in the man's gaze when he had talked about those intelligent beasts.
'It looks like they have started to notice.'
"As you have said, its true the beasts are dangerous, even right now, some are awakening their intelligence by the minute!"
An uproar was created when she confirmed. Of course, those who knew about it before hand weren't surprised.
"Federation...hmmm...I am proposing its formation, but we all have to come together to make it a reality. We must create guidelines and laws if we want to get this plan off the ground. I am open to your suggestions." She looked around after her speech.
"First of all, we have many cities here, a bit over 600, how are we going to organise the ruling structure without offending everyone here. You have to know that there is no way each of us is going to be willing to be under others, even if they are just figureheads." One of the people brought something to attention causing murmurs of agreement to percolate.
"I have worked out some embryonic form of the ruling structure. I am going to enlighten you on it and you will provide adjustments after." The woman grinned.
"She must have everything worked out. How else would she go out of her way to seek our audience?" One of the people mumbled to someone close to them.
"First, all of the members here will become part of a council. Each will have a vote. But, a person can have multiple votes. That will depend on the economic and military strength of their respective city!" After the first point, she gazed upon them and some nodded in agreement. The majority on the other hand had their expressions turn dark!
"The voting power of the council members will be proportional to the levels I am going to list out.
The third level will be comprised of the weaker cities in the aspects I said above. Those cities will be the ones which can barely support themselves to stay afloat. They will only get to have one vote!
The second level, will be comprised of cities which have enough to support themselves but can't expand. Those get two votes.
The first level is for this cities which have the potential to expand, advanced in both the military and economic sector. They will get three votes.
I have also gone to the trouble of categorising each of your cities. 382 fall in the third level, 201 in the middle level and 38 in the first level, for a total of 621 cities! I have sent you the data containing which category your city falls under." The woman paused here and waited for them to look through it.
"Why is my city listed in the third level?" Someone exploded! His entire face was almost cooking.
"Oh! Even though it looks like it deserves a second level designation, it is just depending on loans from others, right?" The woman asked while casting a meaningful look towards the man causing him to sit back in his chair reluctantly.
"It looks like you have great sources of information." He didn't forget to take a jab at her.
The others all looked weirdly at her. Everyone had a myriad of expressions. If you had someone who new the details of your city intimately, even you would be wary!
"It looks like we are second level." Elder Muti breathed in a sigh of relief when he saw the data. He was dressed impeccably in a black suit and his hair combed backwards to perfection!
"Is anyone else dissatisfied with their category?" She asked, bearing the full might of her ruler aura! The weak minded leaders shrank back in their chairs before embarrassment colored their faces. For some reason, even the holograms were being twisted!
"There is good news for those of you who are dissatisfied with their categories...you can rise up if you reach the qualifications. Oh, and I forgot. I didn't invite some small cities as they didn't even have the qualifications to be at this meeting. If they do gain them however, they will be invited."
"These votes, what will they be used for?" One of the people asked. She was spotting a serious look.
"They will be used when we want to pass a plan or proposal that will affect the entire continent. So...are you willing to form a federation?" She asked once again.
All the others kept silent. But judging from their expressions, they were mulling over it.
"What is going to be the goal of the federation?" One of the people who had appeared composed from the start asked. He was the leader if a city comparable to hers. Even in the first category, there were cities which could be termed as Super first level cities. These cities far surpassed the first level! There were only four! One was hers, and another was his. It was Durban, in the territory that used to be South Africa.
"Our first order of business will be expansion of our cities and suppression of the beasts. Its a goal which I want to be achieved within three years! I heard that some people on the other continents are waiting for the year 2200 which they are going to term as 'The Rampaging century.'"
"Oh! Why?" The man appeared to be greatly interested.
"Its like all of them have come to a tacit understanding to start a war with the beasts in that century. They are all accumulating resources and nurturing powerhouses." An uproar was once again raised when the people heard about the nurturing of powerhouses.
"Why would they do that? All they need are their advanced weapons!" Someone asked incredulously.
"So far no one knows the limits of evolution! I attained a price of information from the Asian continent a while ago, a fight between one man and one beast wiped out an entire city on the continent! No survivors were left to tell the tale! If it wasn't for a satellite managing to capture that battle, they might have missed it." Her eyes were bright and she was apparently excited.
"Did you manage to gain the footage?"
"Sadly, no." Her spirits deflated.
"But after that battle, for some reason all the continents have poured massive amounts of money into their biological research, advancing by the day! If we don't want to left behind, we better shape up!" She banged her fist on the podium causing it to tremble.
Many people had their eyes flickering after that revelation.
"It looks like we have no choice but to go on with the changing times. I accept the formation of the federation. But I hope that a separate fund is created to support the federation's policies." One man from the third category said.
"Yes, that is a good idea! It will be implemented right when the federation is formed!" The woman at the podium praised the man.
"I accept..."
It became a snowball effect. All the others accepted causing a smoke to bloom on the woman's face. All the years of planning that she had went through had been worth it!
"From this moment on, The African Federation is formed!" She declared in a bright voice!