The AARsenal of Democracy –
Legacy of the Freedom War
Prologue
The full moon stares down from the sky, pitiless and serene. The gust of wind blasting through the city street is terribly cold. You shiver uncontrollably for a moment and then pull your cloak tighter about yourself. You carefully sidestep a pile of snow on the sidewalk, looking at the sky and wondering if more is on the way. But snow is not your purpose tonight. You turn with the street, heading towards the only building that shows any light. The structure rises high into the heavens; a bastion of the rich if you have ever seen one. It seems to be a hotel, but there are also elements of many other designs in it, including Turkish mosques and catholic cathedrals. The large dome around the tower provides a distinct Arabian feel, and the bright streetlights on the road add gay colors to the chilly night.
You notice that no cars seem to be driving tonight. That is not altogether unexpected. When you approach the door to the building, you see the majordomo greeting a bald man in a suit. You faintly hear an exchange in German, concluding with "Im dritten stock - mein präsident"
The man goes in, and the majordomo turns to you, a fake smile plastered on his face. "Guten abend. Ihre reservierung. . ." his eyes widen in disbelief. You raise a finger to your lips, a joke springing unbidden into your eyes. The man stiffens and nods. You walk past him into the building.
Inside, you see men and women from all corners of the globe laughing and sharing drinks. They are not hear to socialize, however. They are here to hear a story. And you are one of them. Every one of the global leaders of 2011 wishes to hear this tale. You are no president, no king, but you are a figure of great importance in this world, yet in your simple cloak no one recognizes you. You laugh silently at the blindness of the wealthy and powerful, for just a change of clothes and you would be in the center of the crowd, being offered drinks and meaningless praise hand over fist.
Then a man takes to a podium in the back of the room. "Good evening." he announces in English, German, French and Japanese. Then he returns to English to say: "I think we can all get along in this language, don't you?" after a general assent is heard, he begins in earnest:
"Most of you have heard of events that shaped our modern world, how such small things had major consequences. However, the story of the Freedom War and its subsequent successor, the Great War, is one that must be told in all particulars to the leaders of the world. As they say: he who knows the past, knows the future. So many of us simply know the basics of the war that showed us all the danger lurking in our own hearts, in the hearts of all mankind, but we must know more. The Great War was an event that changed the history of the globe for the better. But before the glory came out the other side, the days there were dark indeed. I feel an obligation, as a man who knows this tale down to the fiber of my being, to share it with you."
He pauses to shuffle the papers on the podium. He pulls a chair up behind him. He then looks up.
"This tale is one that shows us all that the human race is capable of, from the most glorious lightness to the darkest blackness in our hearts. Some here doubt that some men are born evil. I do not. Not after hearing this story. This is the story of America. This is the story of the Confederacy. This is the story of England. This is the story of the world. This is the story of the Great War, the War to End All Wars. This is the story of . . . THE WORLD!"
And then he begins to speak, weaving a tale that captivates all who hear it, yourself included.
______________________________________________________________
The AARsenal of Democracy - starts now.
Legacy of the Freedom War
Prologue
The full moon stares down from the sky, pitiless and serene. The gust of wind blasting through the city street is terribly cold. You shiver uncontrollably for a moment and then pull your cloak tighter about yourself. You carefully sidestep a pile of snow on the sidewalk, looking at the sky and wondering if more is on the way. But snow is not your purpose tonight. You turn with the street, heading towards the only building that shows any light. The structure rises high into the heavens; a bastion of the rich if you have ever seen one. It seems to be a hotel, but there are also elements of many other designs in it, including Turkish mosques and catholic cathedrals. The large dome around the tower provides a distinct Arabian feel, and the bright streetlights on the road add gay colors to the chilly night.
You notice that no cars seem to be driving tonight. That is not altogether unexpected. When you approach the door to the building, you see the majordomo greeting a bald man in a suit. You faintly hear an exchange in German, concluding with "Im dritten stock - mein präsident"
The man goes in, and the majordomo turns to you, a fake smile plastered on his face. "Guten abend. Ihre reservierung. . ." his eyes widen in disbelief. You raise a finger to your lips, a joke springing unbidden into your eyes. The man stiffens and nods. You walk past him into the building.
Inside, you see men and women from all corners of the globe laughing and sharing drinks. They are not hear to socialize, however. They are here to hear a story. And you are one of them. Every one of the global leaders of 2011 wishes to hear this tale. You are no president, no king, but you are a figure of great importance in this world, yet in your simple cloak no one recognizes you. You laugh silently at the blindness of the wealthy and powerful, for just a change of clothes and you would be in the center of the crowd, being offered drinks and meaningless praise hand over fist.
Then a man takes to a podium in the back of the room. "Good evening." he announces in English, German, French and Japanese. Then he returns to English to say: "I think we can all get along in this language, don't you?" after a general assent is heard, he begins in earnest:
"Most of you have heard of events that shaped our modern world, how such small things had major consequences. However, the story of the Freedom War and its subsequent successor, the Great War, is one that must be told in all particulars to the leaders of the world. As they say: he who knows the past, knows the future. So many of us simply know the basics of the war that showed us all the danger lurking in our own hearts, in the hearts of all mankind, but we must know more. The Great War was an event that changed the history of the globe for the better. But before the glory came out the other side, the days there were dark indeed. I feel an obligation, as a man who knows this tale down to the fiber of my being, to share it with you."
He pauses to shuffle the papers on the podium. He pulls a chair up behind him. He then looks up.
"This tale is one that shows us all that the human race is capable of, from the most glorious lightness to the darkest blackness in our hearts. Some here doubt that some men are born evil. I do not. Not after hearing this story. This is the story of America. This is the story of the Confederacy. This is the story of England. This is the story of the world. This is the story of the Great War, the War to End All Wars. This is the story of . . . THE WORLD!"
And then he begins to speak, weaving a tale that captivates all who hear it, yourself included.
______________________________________________________________
The AARsenal of Democracy - starts now.
