Virtual Meeting

  Ottawa, Canada

  "Now that everyone has joined the chatroom let's begin." Prime Minister Trudeau looked at the people around the round table.

  "Please introduce yourselves." The request from the PM might as well have been an order.

  "Captain Richard McLean. Special Forces assigned to the UN peacekeeping mission in Greenland. Above McLean, the information was displayed in an easy to read opaque window.

  "Sgt. Jaime Petersen assigned to the same mission as the Captain." The opaque window popped up above Petersen.

  "Chief Superintendent Levi, assigned to the National Capital." Another pop-up window appeared.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "Pierre Wilder, RCMP Technical Department Commander." The same ID window displayed Pierre's information.

  "Sgt. Jack Stewart, Special Constable RCMP. Special Operations." The opaque window displayed its content.

  The next person was, "Kieran Maloney. Constable assigned to Special Operations." Another pop-up and on to the next person.

  "Rene Wilder, Canada Post. Delivery Agent." When the others looked quizzically at Rene he explained. "That's my actual title. Canada Post doesn't say, the mailman. Too gender specific.

  There were 'Ahs' and 'okays' from everyone.

  "Mr. Wilder, why don't you have an introduction window?" The PM pointed above Rene.

  Rene checked his status and found that it was still set to hide his information. He released the switch to display the information he gave.

  "More of that sys-admin ability?" McLean asked. Rene nodded.

  The look from the PM silenced the chatroom before everyone joined in on the impromptu discussion. "Let's finish the introductions first gentlemen."

  Rene and Richard apologized. They were Canadian after all. They would have apologized for the weather if they could.

  "Jeffrey Reardon. Principal Secretary for the Prime Minister." Nothing else was needed to be said. This was the second most powerful political player in the country after the Prime Minister. The display window displayed...

  "Jean Paul Wilder. Student, Samuel Genest. RCMP volunteer." The status display was in red.

  "Samuel Genest? C'est un Collége Catholique n'est pas?" The PM asked.

  "Oui." Paul was speaking with the Prime Minister. He kept his answers short. He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of his father and uncle.

  "Quelle age a to?" Asked the PM.

  "I'm 17." He followed his uncle's advice. Less is more.

  The PM turned to Rene and said, "Your son is still in high school."

  "He graduates in a few months. He's already been accepted at Ottawa University." Paul deserved to be here as much as anyone else. He earned his place at this table.

  The PM dropped any further questions and moved on. 17 was old enough and the young man had more power at his command than most. In this new world, power spoke louder than words.

  "Ae'url. Species Mechanoid. Strike Group Leader. Quarantined." She still kept her rank. After speaking with Captain Fo'Rkon she was assigned as a liaison in the hopes of stopping the escalation of this emergency. As the Captain said, they have the power and it will be respected. Her job was to de-escalate the hostilities.

  "Rene Wilder, AI. No other affiliation."

  The PM knew that this being was the true wild card of this bunch. If there was one person that he needed to win at this table, the AI was it.

  "I am Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister of Canada."

  "Let's get this meeting started..."