Chapter 27:

US companies, such as Microsoft and Hollywood filmmakers had been getting almost no revenue from outside of the NAFTA area until the United Earth treaty was enacted. Now they were part of the new economic system. Intellectual property was free to use, but United Earth kept track of the level of usage of all such intellectual property, and also on all research and development spending. Then, using a complex formula, United Earth directly paid the owners of intellectual property an amount based on its use and their development spending.

There was a global system of taxation to pay for the system. In addition, United Earth was using magic to generate wealth wherever possible.

The infrastructure team of United Earth used a lot of the previous staff of the Technology Alliance. The US saw its very different style in action. There had been years long plans to improve the speeds of passenger trains between DC to NYC to Boston. There was an expensive program to improve the tracks in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It would remove grade crossings, electrify the lines, and make other improvements. Trains were ordered that could tilt, letting them go a little faster on curves.

United Earth instead, quickly built a deep level of tunnels to connect the 13 stations that were planned for Acela and added trains best described as old fashioned luxury, with no visible locomotives. They went a steady 800 kilometers per hour after accelerations of 0.1g. Each station had large rapid elevators added to reach the existing platforms. The tracks were straight lines between stations, so no side-wise acceleration needed to be dealt with.

In Boston, they went right past South Station, and continued to Portland Maine, connecting to seven existing stations along the way. Other routes were being planned for the next phase, throughout the US.

There were no explanations given as to how projects that should have taken years, cost billions, and average far less than 100 miles per hour, suddenly got built. There was also no explanation given as to what made the trains run.

World-wide navigation systems were rapidly integrated. Both GPS and the Russian Glonass kept getting expanded. Both were now interoperable, and the next phase was to build a better combined system. There was no longer a separate military versus civilian signal system, all were available for civilian use.

Satellite launching around the world now had magical boosters to help, and later to completely replace chemical rockets. No explanations were given to the public as to how they worked.

The satellite internet system took shape decades before the one in my timeline did.

Factories would see uniformed teams of United Earth specialists arrive and suddenly have a better system of quality control, and efficiency of production.

Magic was obvious, just not what was behind it.

The magical world had schools and correspondence courses everywhere to improve skills in industrial magic. All magic schools had that as a core subject. United Earth hired spell casters, as did private companies, so most spell casters found it in their interests to learn it. No matter what else they wanted to do, they could earn extra money by doing industrial spell casting.

We let the press speculate as to how United Earth accomplished what it did. We figured that they'll figure out that the world was being helped, and put later announcements about the magical world in that context.

The semiconductor industry now was unleashed throughout the world. Entirely new designs of fabrication plants, called fabs, were put together using magic.

One part of a fab was a part that had absolutely pure air kept at constant temperature and humidity. Magic could do this at a much lower cost than with machinery. Further enormous efforts to keep human employees from contaminating the process, again was easier with magic. Removal of waste substances from production, again easier with magic. Enormous structures to provide the infrastructure needed for air control, no longer needed.

The magical side of the economy also was similarly improved. I had started this process years ago, and now no longer had a unique competitive advantage. I did have a large established company to now compete with the rest of the world.

With an economic system with free use of inventions, with the owners being paid directly by United Earth, the main advantage in production was efficiency and quality.

Non-magical engineers and industrial designers analyzed every step of production of enchanted objects. They found new methods, sometime using industrial machines were helpful, sometimes using assembly lines where helpful. Spell casters and rune writers were analyzed to see what limits their ability per day. Everything possible was shifted to non-magicals leaving only the magic for the spell casters.

A similar effort was done with magical medicine, having all of the analysis done by others, leaving spell casters rapidly going between patients, being told what to cast and where.

The ICW saw now that a general announcement of magic would be needed. Many were upset that they were put in that position, that the previous legislation never was intended to lead to that outcome.

After much debate the ICW announced, "Effective January the First 1998, the International Statute of Secrecy will be modified as follows.

Secrecy will now be voluntary. Announcements about magic will be made on that date to the non-magical populations.

Those wishing to remain hidden from the non-magical world should have proper wards for their locations. Wizarding locations deciding to remain hidden, likewise will have proper wards.

It will be illegal to reveal locations of hidden wizarding locations, or of magicals who wish to remain unknown. Magicals who wish to remain hidden can go to non-magical areas, but not perform magic there. Other magicals can perform magic among the non-magical public. There will be detailed guidance as to what is allowed. In general, avoid causing danger, and avoid causing the perception of danger among non-magicals.

Magical species that do not appear human will be introduced, and they will likewise have a choice of whether to appear to non-magicals. Magical species and individuals dangerous to non-magicals will be kept separate except where proper precautions are taken.

Enchanted objects and potions will need approval before being presented to non-magicals. Local magical ministries are required to use the criteria of reasonable safety. Sometimes proper education about the objects would be required for them to be made available to non-magicals.

Badges will be available for all magicals who will be in non-magical areas. They will provide proof of magical citizenship, will contain a port-key to escape from danger, and will provide a way to signal the need to emergency assistance.

All adult witches and wizards are entitled to join United Earth and have a badge that indicates that status and sometimes a uniform. Certain classes need to be passed and it must be assured that you will follow rules to acquire that status. That status will prevent you from being subject to many forms of non-magical law enforcement and will have other privileges.

No violence towards either magicals nor towards non-magicals will be tolerated. United Earth will override any local government responses that do not keep that aim."

One aspect that wasn't made clear to witches and wizards until they wanted a uniform or a badge that gave them privileges, was that they were required to perform a certain amount of spell casting for United Earth and also to keep up with continuing education. This would be fine tuned to make sure that there would be a good level of participation. A requirement to cast some spells would be a major source of United Earth revenue.

A typical message that appeared over all non-magical media, meaning TV, internet, radio, and newspapers on New Years 1998 was the local head of state giving a speech. The speech was at the same time throughout the world, and in local time was sometime during January 1st, or slightly into January 2nd. It was repeated throughout the next day, especially when the original time was in the middle of the night.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Recent developments used to improve living standards use an ability that can best be described as magic.

There have been people, for thousands of years, with magical abilities. This is an ability that they are born with, and is their own, not a channeling of other entities. Some are born from parents without magic, most have at least one parent who also has magic. They learn to control their magic, and to learn from thousands of years of knowledge of magical skills.

There was a time when they lived openly. Then there was also a time when they were faced with witch hunts and went into hiding. By the 1690's magical societies had strict rules to stay hidden from non-magical societies..

They have now reemerged, first to seek out and contain nuclear and biological weapons found in irresponsible hands. Second to improve clean energy and water production, and overall technology. Now to join in working together with all inhabitants of Earth.

United Earth seeks to combine the best of both societies to let humanity prosper, to reach its full potential.

There will be further announcements."

The next day there was a scheduled speech by Khan Singh. It was given in English, with subtitles and then repeated in the local languages.

"The journey in the last few years has been an incredible one. From wars to peace. From desperate poverty in places to the start of prosperity. From those with magic hiding from the rest of Earth, to it joining together. For all the skills of Earth being combined to previously unimaginable heights.

What we have seen is only the beginning. The future of United Earth is to provide prosperity for all, meaningful work, safety, a flowering of culture, of technology. To combine the unique skills of those with magic and those who invent technology.

Our later goals will be to open a new frontier in space, not just for a few specialists, but for those who want to move there.

United Earth needs you. United Earth wants you to reach your full potential."

My organization became more formalized. It was called the Safe-Guarding the Future department, or SGF. There were three parts: Covert action, intelligence, seers.

The covert action part was a challenge. They needed to be available as needed, but be given roles that would be fulfilling and profitable for the majority of the time when there was no mission. I had already built an organization based on organized crime. Now that organization needed to have more of a role of security enforcers, without over-using their badges or being considered a problem by regular society.

It turned out that there was a lot for them to do. Formally the United Earth was a cooperation between non-magical and magical governments, each following their usual methods of governance. My organization helped ensure decisions of United Earth were carried out.

The second part was intelligence. That itself had several sub-parts. One was a coordination of existing intelligence services throughout the world. Another was regular employees also reporting to SGF Intelligence. The last was an analysis of publicly available information and the raw information that technical surveillance could provide.

I went to Hogwarts to recruit seers. My unique information was from Harry Potter and Star Trek canon. Seers of various abilities and types needed to be recruited to help avoid future problems.

First I paid a courtesy visit to Dumbledore, "I am recruiting for the SGF, I am going to approach Firenze and Trelawney."

"Professor Trelawney, I would like to meet with you on United Earth business."

Trelawney said, "Very well, in my classroom at 5pm."

I visited her room and accepted the tea she offered and said, "I am organizing a department of United Earth, called Safe-Guarding the Future, and would like you to be part of it."

Trelawney said, "Really? You believe in my abilities?"

I answered, "You occasionally make true prophecies. You do not remember them afterwards. In addition, much of what you otherwise predict comes true, while some does not.

First, I want to know if you agree to work for the United Earth SGF? If so, do you want a uniform or just a badge?"

Trelawney answered, "Well yes, I do. Is it paid? Can I still remain here? I would like a uniform, but maybe only wear it on occasion."

I said, "Yes it is paid. Yes, I want you to remain here and identify future candidates for the SGF who have seer's gifts. Here is the pledge you will need. We can begin now."

Trelawney gave the magical pledge after looking it over.

I said, "In this department, we speak to each other with brutal honesty in private, with respect in public.

You are going to wear that uniform with pride. You will always have your badge on your person, it can be displayed or not as you wish. Your badge will record you and preserve any prophesies that you utter.

We are going to solve a major aspect that has been holding you back. Many people can have alcohol without causing a problem. You are not one of those people. I will put you in contact with a healer who will help you to not be impaired.

I am going to show you memories of a timeline that did not happen, where you made several true prophesies, and the true prophesies plus predictions you made in this timeline."

Trelawney said, "I never had a problem with a little cooking sherry I might favor. However, if you insist I'll talk to that healer.

Are you a seer like me?"

Knowing that she was now pledged to keep secrets, I answered, "Not like you. I have on two occasions, received years worth of memories, past present and future. I do not know if it will occur again. Other than that I only have use of those memories, not new information."

I knew that I would need follow up visits with Trelawney to keep her on track. Next I visited Firenze.

Firenze got right to the point and said, "Apophis gets brighter and dimmer, but in 31 years will be too bright. You have done nothing to change it."

I vaguely recalled something from my original timeline, involving an asteroid and the year 2029. I asked, "Where is it now?"

Firenze pointed at a place in the sky and said, "There."

I said, "I do not have the perception ability you do, and cannot see that. However, I think that I have misunderstood what you said at an earlier time. I now understand Apophis as being an asteroid that will get too close to Earth in 2029, not the adversary of Ra."

Firenze looked pleased at what I said. I continued, "I would like you to continue to help United Earth with your insights."

Firenze said, "I will call for you when I have something to say. Before you ask, we Centaurs do not want to be put on display to non-magical humans. We'll stay on our land and accept a rare visitor from Hogwarts."

Next I visited Luna and Xenophilius Lovegood. Again I accepted odd tea and sat with them in their odd home. I could hear his printing press at work in the background. I said, "I want both of you to assist United Earth with your perceptions."

Xenophilius said, "What I have to say can be found in my publication."

I answered, "Both of you are more gifted than you realize. You see events and then put them into categories that you perceive or expect, distorting your true visions.

I'll give an example of Luna seeing Nargles and Wrackspurts where simple human hostility and trouble would have been far better explanations. Another would be this alternate timeline article in the Quibbler, that I will show you on my projecting pensieve.

I showed the article about the Rotfang conspiracy.

"This was in a different timeline, in which you understood a conspiracy, but distorted what you saw. It was a Death Eater conspiracy to take over the British Ministry. Death equals rot. Eater equals fang. You thought that it actually involved teeth."

Luna said, "That is fascinating to be able to read the Quibbler from a different timeline. I would much appreciate any other issues you can show me."

I answered, "I can show some more headlines, but these are memories, I do not have access to more than I will show you. I will also show you some more alternate timeline memories."

I showed the scenes of Xenophilius trying to turn in Harry Potter and friends to the Death Eaters, in order to try to get Luna, who was being held hostage, released.

I said, "I understand if you are suspicious of my role, but I did save you from this timeline."

Xenophilius said, "Very well, we will send you a message if we have something relevant to disclose to you. Perhaps in exchange you can provide some material for the Quibbler."

I answered, "I would be delighted to. Not under my own name, but as background material for you to write about."

In July 1998 we were planning Draco and Daphne's wedding. This was going to be a major event, held at Malfoy Manor. The President of Earth, Khan Noonien Singh was going to attend. World press was invited. Of course we had multi-layered security and would be within the Malfoy wards.