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Monday, June 13, 2005
~ 8:00 PM ~
President Cal>Honorary Chancellor! How rare it is to see you in a meeting, even if you do hold your position.
(Hephaestus smiled and sat down on the observer chair placed by the side. It was usually empty of course, as nobody else could and would want to sit in for a Council meeting. The stress and political politeness endowed on the listener literally kills him. However, Hephaestus, as the Honorary Chancellor, had no problems.)
Hephaestus>I have come with bitter tidings, Ms President.
(His expressions did not change, and certainly was inconsistent with his words.)
President Cal>And what may that be, Mr Hephaestus?
Hephaestus>The End.
President Cal>End Of? Which 'End' is it?
Hephaestus>Us, of course. And the Republic.
(With that, Hephaestus looked at the surrounding members of the Council.)
President Cal>Truly, Mr Hephaestus, I do not see that impending doom you see, and I wish that you may explain the underlying reasons.
(Hephaestus went into a deep thought before pulling out a folder.)
Hephaestus>Read.
(President Cal flipped the cover and removed a document.)
Hephaestus> My L.H.S. operatives, together with the Department of Higher Mathematics, have analysed the biodata of all the members of the younger generation. Statistics clearly show that there is a major defect in the batch. Apparently, we have an ability crisis.
President Cal>Are you definite of your findings, Mr Hephaestus? This is a matter of life and death to the Republic's future.
Hepahestus>Yes, Ms Président. (In a weird French accent)
VP Lee>But that would be horrendous! What can we do?
(Commotions in the room. Members of Council worriedly whisper)
Hephaestus>Yes, it is a terrible event, but of course the D.H.M. and L.H.S. have come up with a solution.
Cal / Lee> Tell us!
Hephaestus> I will tell you, but it will not be soothing to hear it.
President Cal>If it will save the Republic, anything will be soothing to us.
Hephaestus>Well then. If you would turn to page 32 of the document, you would see a page titled "Solution: Project ARK". The solution, of course, is named 'ARK'. Project ARK to be more precise.
President Cal>Spare me of all these reading. Just tell us what it is about.
Hephaestus>It is relatively obvious solution, I must say. However, the impact is great and the effeciency high. If a piece of wood is infected partially, we logically cut the infected part. The similar applies to us. We cut the infection from us.
President Cal>Cut? As in expel?
Hephaestus>You can say that. Of course there are other ways to do it. The project would be to come up with the list of infectants. Removing them would be the finale.
President Cal>That would be cruel, would that not?
Hephaestus>Yes, Ms President, but it is only fair to us since they are cruel by infecting the Republic with vices. I wish only to cure the Republic we fought so hard for.
VP Lee>Are there no other choices?
Hephaestus>No, Mr Vice-Président.(Another of the odd accent) There is no cure for this group of people.
President Cal>(Sighs) Very well then, commence with the project. All will be done under the Council's name, of course. Mr Hephaestus and the identities of his operatives will be protected by the Council. Let the amputation begin.
---Adapted from the script of the movie The Council, made years after the event.
