Chapter 1

White House, Washington D.C., American United Empire

20 years later, April 12th, 2049

10:47 a.m.

"Are you sure, Mr. Xiao, of what you are advancing?" said the emperor Gilbert Samuels, with a voice filled with satisfaction of accomplished work and a bit of joy.

"Yes I am, my emperor. Your History modifications are starting to do their work : people are supporting you more and more. We can see it in the society : the number of people wanting to join the police or the army has exploded, the teens and young adults take you as a model, etc. Hell, even some of the most tenacious opposition groups are disappearing. Still a few years and it'll be a total success."

The interlocutor's voice was excited and proud, like a child showing his good grades to his parents.

"All of this is fabulous, Mr. Xiao," continued the emperor, "but I can't discuss any longer. I've got a lot of work today and and it seems long. If I want finish it before the day's end, I'd better start now. I'll call you back."

Xiao let out a little laugh.

"I understand, my emperor, I've got a lot too."

"All right. Bye."

"Bye."

The emperor clicked on his earphone, which ended the phone call with Lin Xiao, the minister of Propaganda. Moving back in his chair, the president congratulated himself. His plan was going as expected. But what were these History modifications? I am sure you are asking yourself this question. Let me explain.

The History modifications were a set of changes meant to modify the course of History. The history books were rewritten in order to glorify the Empire. Dating from the War, the ultimate goal of these alterations was to nip in the bud the youth's opposition to the government. Kind like a brainwashing.

Leaning back to his desk, the dictator grabbed a pen with his right hand, a random paper with his left, and started to work. About 15 minutes later, feeling he was thirsty, the president got up, went to a coffee machine in one of the room's corners and, after he prepared it, turn it on.

While waiting for his drink, Samuels let his look wander around the Oval Office. The room had not really changed over his reign. The walls still had the white and gold wallpaper, the same solid wood desk, the same paintings, the same concealed doors... For Samuels, this room, in its actual state, represented perfectly the American power and supremacy. To change it would be an insult to the American United Empire itself.

Finally, the machine rang, indicating that the coffee was ready. Grabbing a mug on the tray next to the coffee maker, the emperor poured the liquid, added sugar and cream, then went back to his seat and resumed his work.

Half an hour had gone away when a little and constant beep resounded in his right ear. His secretary wanted to talk to him. Interrupting his work, he clicked on his earpiece and said with a bit of annoyance :

"Yes, Ms. Sinclair?"

A young feminine voice responded with a neutral accent, like she had not noticed her boss's emotion :

"My emperor, the minister of Economy wishes to talk to you."

Samuels frowned. The minister of Economy? What was he doing here? Usually, when the Economy wanted to talk to him, they were sending a simple email, not the minister himself. Intrigued, the emperor asked :

"Why?"

The answer came back a few seconds later.

"He says it's a very important problem, that if it's not solve quickly, it could threaten the Empire's economic prosperity."

The leader froze. The words «economic prosperity» had created a strong feeling of worry. The affair was that bad? Without responding to the secretary, Samuels leaned forward and pressed a button, authorizing the visitor to access the Oval Office. While waiting for the unexpected visitor to arrive, the emperor smoothed out his army uniform with his hand and put back on his head his cap that he left on his desk. A minute later, the minister entered.

His name was Colin York. The newcomer had brown eyes, brown hair, a broken nose and medium sized mouth counting three false teeth. His features revealed a British origin. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt, no tie and black shoes. The suit's jacket was on his left arm and a briefcase in the right.

At his sight, the emperor's worry went higher. York was normally energetic and he was taking care of himself. But today, his eyes were puffy with dark rings under them, his complexion was pale, his hair were tousled and his legs were unsteady because of weariness. He had not slept during the night.

Samuels pointed a chair next to his desk and silently invited the visitor to sit down. York shuffled to the seat in front of the desk and, when he reached it, literally let himself fall in it. He then asked with a hoarse voice and a strong British accent :

"Do you have coffee, my emperor? If I don't have some soon, I think I'll fall asleep for the next week."

The political leader got up, went to the coffee machine and poured the rest of the liquid in another mug. He then gave it to York and sat back down.

After swallowing a mouthful, the minister started to talk :

"My emperor, the situation is grave."

The president raised an eyebrow, signifying : What do you mean?

"Well, my emperor, I think you should put yourself more comfortable, because it might take a while to explain to explain everything." He took another sip.

The dictator leaned against his chair's back and crossed his arms, which signified : Go on.

"Ok. Six years ago, the department of Substructure called my office. They had noticed an «abnormal» augmentation in the different materials' prices. Suspecting something, they wanted an investigation to be sure everything was normal. I tried to make them hear reason by explaining the economical system and liberalism, but they insisted : they wanted an inquiry. Accepting this, I put men on it and waited for the results. When the investigators' report came in, I was surprised by what they found : something was indeed abnormal. I sent more people on it. We were able with this to make a huge collusion plot fall. Do you remember? Good. Two weeks ago, the same thing happened, but the problem seemed to come from another place : the department of Natural Resources.

"So, I sent my people in there, but they didn't find anything ; I told them to continue to search. Two days ago, one of them found a document. He read it and, according to him, «almost fainted». So I read it myself. It was a normal report concerning Earth's reserves of the periodic table's different elements. At first sight, there was nothing extraordinary. But my man really looked anxious when he gave it to me. So, I did calculations. And..."

York shuddered. Then, he said with a frightened expression :

"There's not a single word that could describe what I felt when I synthesized the results. I thought 'there must be a mistake, this is impossible'. So, I restarted my calculations. Three times. And it was still giving me the same results."

The minister thrust his hand in his pocket and got a little USB key out. He offered it to Samuels and said :

"Here, take a look by yourself, my emperor."

The dictator took the key. He then reached a drawer on his left, opened it and pulled out an electronic tablet. He switch it on and plugged the key in it. A document's icon appeared on the screen. He clicked on it and the content showed. He read :

Synthesis of the reserves of different metals according to a report from the Department of the Natural Resources of the American United Empire.

Copper : 5 years

Iron/aluminium/steel : 8 years

Titanium : 7 years

Gold : 6 years

Silver : 6 years

The emperor put down the tablet. His face was neutral, but his eyes reflected surprise, anxiety and a bit of fear. But York was not finished :

"Oh, I forgot, my emperor. If we run out of these materials, the effects of this event would be far worse then the ones from the 2037 petroleum crisis."

It finished the president. He got up and, wobbling, went to the windows behind his desk. While looking outside to the White House's backyard, he was processing the information in his head. The 2037 petroleum crisis, because of the anarchy caused by the lack of oil, had caused millions of deaths and almost destructed the American United Empire. Suddenly, he turned to face his subordinate and said with a neutral voice :

"Go to sleep, mr. York. I want you here tomorrow morning at 9 a.m."

"Yes, my emperor."

The minister got up (more confident because of the coffee), went to the door, opened it and stepped outside. When it shut, the president clicked on his earphone. The voice of his secretary answered :

"Yes, my emperor?"

"Call all the departments. Tell them I want all the chief ministers over here tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. for an extraordinary reunion. They can't be absent under any excuses."

He clicked again and it ended the conversation. He stayed in the same position all day, turning around his head the words of Colin York.

The day after, all the ministers were reunited and sitting in the Oval Office. Wearing their best suits (because it is not everyday you meet the most powerful person on the planet), they were all nervous and asking themselves why the president asked them to come. Only York knew, and he had not talk to anybody about it.

The emperor entered the room and silence fell upon it as everybody got up. With a move, Samuels ordered them to sit down. He then installed himself at his desk and started to speak :

"Ladies and Gentleman, first of all, good morning."

Everybody but York answered back.

"Second of all, I'm sure you're asking yourselves what is going on for such a meeting to take place."

Everybody agreed.

"Well, let me give you three words to help you understand this. We. Are. Fucked."

Everyone frowned and started to show interrogative expressions.

The emperor continued and explained the situation to the assembly. When he finished, everybody had their mouth gaping and their eyes wide open. But their boss was not finished. He continued :

"Now that you know the situation, I'd like to know something : how the hell have I not been warned about this before Mr. York came to me? Ms. Carter?"

All the ministers turned to look at the interpellated person. Jessica Carter was an average woman. She had brown eyes, black long hair, little nose and mouth and big glasses. She was wearing a grey suit with high heels. It was not the kind of woman to be easily intimated by men. She occupied the post of minister of the Natural Resources. With the intention to explain herself, she asked :

"What do you mean, my emperor?"

"The report on which Mr. York based his calculations came from your ministry. So, I deduce that you've been knowing about it."

"Yes, I was, my emperor."

"Why did you keep it secret then?" Samuels was now standing like a father reprimanding his daughter.

"I didn't want to alarm you, my emperor. It was a first report, we were waiting for a second one to arrive. Maybe it would have been better."

"I don't think so. Usually, second reports are always worst then the firsts. You should know this informal rule, Ms. Carter."

Carter wanted to reply, but her leader imposed silence by lifting his hand. He lowered it, got up from his chair, leaned on his hands over his desk and, looking at the little assembly, said, in a solemn tone :

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have to solve this problem if we want to insure the survival of the Empire and avoid a devastating catastrophe. Anyone got an idea?"

Silence. Everyone was thinking. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand lifted and a voice echoed :

"I do, my emperor." The man who had pronounced these words got up from the sofa he was sitting in. The emperor turned his head towards him. The speaker was a 40 year-old man. He had hazelnut eyes, brown hair, a medium sized aquiline nose and mouth. He had a navy blue suit on him with black shoes. His name was Sergueï Vassilimenko, minister of the Air and Space.

"What is it?" Asked the emperor.

"Exoplanets."

"Exo what?" Samuels had an interrogative expression on his face. He knew a bit of astronomy, but had never this term before.

"Exoplanets. Planets that look like Earth, but that are out of the Solar System. We are studying this possibility since the beginning of the Empire. We could send people there to exploit the different resources. We have the technology and the money to do it. It may sound dangerous to all of you, but this is a risk we have to take to save the Empire. What do you think, my emperor."

Samuels thought of this suggestion. He tried to find other possibilities, but he rapidly face facts : to save his empire and humanity of a worldwide crisis, it was the only choice he could make. No matter how dangerous an operation like this would be, there was nothing else he could do. The emperor walk around his desk, went to his minister and offered a handshake.

"Congratulations, sir, you just saved us."

The other people tried to complain, thinking there was another less dangerous solution, but the decision was final.

Vassilimenko, showing his biggest smile and a look filled with modesty, shook the hand of his leader.