With the aircraft headed home, the Ghost was forced to ride a passenger train as the Offensive Ottawan Bias Armor was too damaged to fly home. As he got onboard, the soldiers saluted him. He saluted them back and was escorted to another train car.
"You guys don't have to do this."
"Nonsense sir. As our leader, you should ride in style, have a cabin all to yourself."
The Ghost shook his head, but walked with them. As they showed him to the cabin, he made a request of them.
"Once the train starts on its journey, come back in here. I'll need assistance with something."
"Of course sir."
Once the two GOBs had left the cabin, the Ghost pulled the door's window cover down, then lowered his mask. He set a "Everybody Body Wants To Rule The World" record and lowered the turn speed. He grabbed a rag, wet it, then wiped down his face. He looked into the mirror, noticing just how exhausted he looked. As he dried his face, he wiped out the mask, then returned to the booth.
With a whistle, the train began steaming for Greater Ottawa. After about ten-minutes, the two GOBs returned to the Ghost's cabin.
"May we come in sir?"
"Yes, come in." The Ghost quickly put his mask back on. As they came in, he invited them to sit down.
"What are we doing sir?"
"Boys, I need your assistance drafting up a plan."
"A plan? For what sir?"
"I'm planning on having Greater Ottawa host a World's Fair."
"Sir, you don't mean to invite the whole world, do you?"
"Of course not. The goal is to have an event that allows the citizens to relax, unwind and enjoy life a bit. That's an open invitation to our allies only."
"Well, I'm not sure how much help we'll be. We're just GOBs sir."
"Just GOBs? Boys, you both are members of a team that are in charge of Greater Ottawa's border and transport security. Take pride in the work you do."
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"Granted, what's on your mind?"
One of the Greater Ottawan Border Soldiers looks at the other, then back to the Ghost. "Well to be frank sir, we don't get paid like we should be proud."
The Ghost looked at the both of them, then looked in his briefcase for something.
"Sir?"
"One second.... Ah, here it is, the Council's Budget plans. Let's see.... hmm, it says here the GOBs are getting paid fifty Greater Ottawan Aureus per two-hours of duty you serve."
"Wait, really?"
"Yes, look here."
The two looked at the paper and much to their surprise, they were supposed to be getting paid a whole lot more.
"Sir, there must be a mistake somewhere, as we've been receiving five Greater Ottawan Aureus per two-hours on duty."
The Ghost was stunned. He'd expressed his plans for how the currency system was to work before the Council had even existed. Even after his re-election he'd been certain to have the Council raise the pay of all soldiers to fifty G.O.A. He shook his head.
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will address this once we get home."
"Are you sure, sir? I don't want to...."
"It's a big deal that the Council isn't following the budget. It needs to be addressed."
"Well thank you, sir" Expressed both of the GOBs.
"What else have you got on your mind?"
After several hours of being on the rails, the Ghost of Ottawa stepped off the train and immediately raced over to the Committee Building. As he stormed inside, the guards weren't fast enough so the Ghost slammed the doors open during a meeting.
"Our apologies sir."
"Don't sweat it."
As he entered, the Council was silent.
"So who can tell me what we pay our soldiers?"
"Well, the budget says we pay..."
"Yea, yea, I don't care about the fucking budget. WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY PAY THEM!" Yelled the Ghost as he threw the papers off of his desk.
Nobody spoke a word. Everyone scrambled to an answer when he stopped them.
"Stop, just..." He sighed as he handed them a copy of the paystub from the GOBs Station.
"Five Ottawan Aureus is not fifty! People, how the hell did we do this wrong?"
"Well... It was the election." Said Councilwoman Barbara.
"The Election? What do you mean about the election?"
"As trustees, we were told to vote for a decrease in taxes. It puts a strain on all of the economic sector...."
The Ghost shook his head and went into his off and slammed the door. "Things have to change, otherwise we'll never make it."
He spent the next few hours drafting out a tax plan for Greater Ottawa then stormed over to the WCMY radio station. Once he was inside, Mike set the broadcast to play all over the city with the speakers systems installed, across every radio there was.
"Attention Greater Ottawan WCMY listeners and citizens, this is a special announcement coming from the Ghost himself, right here in the studio."
"Thanks Mike." The Ghost took a deep breath, "While on my journey back from California, I found out all of our brave soldiers, Greater Ottawan Border Soldiers and more had their pays cut down to five Ottawan Aureus... This is absolutely unacceptable. I have come to find out, in the last election you all voted for lower taxes AND more improvements to the city. YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH! Effective immediately, I have signed the original tax code back into order. Additionally, I will be revising how the Council works and I have cut the pay of several industries. The Council will be receiving zero funds, fast food, the theater, the park service, the road service, and will get two Aureus until they talk to their trustee to revise a tax code that works for the things you want. Want to pay less? Congrats, less is getting built, fixed, maintained. You all have to figure it out. You all have till the end of the day tomorrow."
As the Ghost left the studio, it seemed everyone had gotten the message as they pounded on the doors of the Committee Building. The Ghost parked his truck and went into the Reddick Mansion. Ready for the steps to come tomorrow.