Chapter 47: Chapter 47 – The Triple A Deal
[3rd POV]
"Useless! Useless! You're all useless!" George H.W. Bush yelled into his phone before hanging up.
It was a week after the raids on Apollo Enterprises. And nothing was going well.
4,300 Texas National Guard troops were lost in the Apollonia raid. 2,000 Montana National Guard troops were lost in the Dodona Sanctuary raid. 3,000 CIA agents lost in the New York Sunscraper raid.
The FBI incurred minimal losses, ironic considering these were technically FBI raids.
The president was particularly angry because he was just finding out. In Apollonia and New York, everyone had been killed or captured, preventing word from reaching Washington. And in Dodona, Colonel Miller had done his best to prevent any word regarding the losses from getting out.
But now the president knew. Not from his cabinet or generals, but through YouTube.
Apollo Enterprises had released a two-hour documentary regarding the raids. The events portrayed the American government as an authoritarian, corrupt government attempting to squash a rising star with military force.
For the Apollonia raid, actual combat footage was shown, displaying the skill of the employees at Apollo Enterprises.
For the New York raid, the incompetence of the American government was shown, with clips of CIA agents getting pranked going viral.
The Dodona raid wasn't featured as prominently as the others. All that was stated was that 2,000 soldiers from the Montana National Guard went into the Dodona Forest and were never seen again.
Most humiliating were the people they captured. Thousands of American soldiers and CIA agents, along with the Director of the CIA, Director of the FBI, and the Army Chief of Staff. Each had a short interview in the documentary admitting their plans.
"Mr. President, Mr. President," a White House staffer rushed into the Oval Office and turned on the television. "You have to see this."
The staffer opened a live CNN stream on YouTube, where Bernard Shaw was interviewing Apollo and Artemis.
"— and I repeat Shaw, the powers in the government conspired against me. Think about how crazy that is. They sent the military to attack me," Apollo was ranting. "You saw the documentary, right? We showed you communications from the White House, they wanted to unleash artillery on an American city!"
"What do you say to those who say you went too far?" Wolf asked. "Some think that Apollo Enterprises Security Forces needlessly killed Americans. And they had a warrant signed by a judge."
"A judge can sign a warrant to check what's in my pants, doesn't mean I'm going to bend over," Apollo responded flippantly. "If you check the warrant, it's an accusation of nonviolent crimes. There's a process that involves lawyers, courts, and a presumption of innocence, not sending in people with guns. It's a total violation of my sixth amendment! And if someone sends people with guns after me, then by the second amendment, I, along with my employees, have the right to form militias and defend ourselves."
"And what are your thoughts regarding these events?" Shaw asked, turning to Artemis, who hadn't spoken during the entire interview.
"In 1986, I fled from a communist country," Artemis said in a sappy tone, "a country where the government could take your private property or use the military against civilians. It is very sad to see the American government, one that should promote and stand for freedom, turn authoritarian and violate the God-given rights of people."
"Thank you," Shaw said before turning towards the camera. "You heard it here folks! George H.W. Bush, a potential communist? We'll be back with a panel to discuss."
The interview ended and advertisements started playing.
"Mr. President," staffers said as they rushed into the room.
"The attorney general is opening multiple investigations into the White House and the military."
"The senate majority leader is calling for your resignation."
"The speaker of the house is preparing articles of impeachment."
Bush slumped over his desk, head in his hands. The walls were closing in on the administration. He needed to end this now. "Call him."
"Pardon?" one of the staffers asked.
"I said call him," Bush replied in a dead voice. "Tell Apollo I give up. Whatever he wants. Just make him stop attacking me."
The staffer rushed out with the new orders.
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A few days later, after negotiations, the Apollo-Artemis-Apollo Enterprises Deal (also known as The Triple A Deal) was signed. The terms were as follows.
1) Apollo, Artemis, and Apollo Enterprises are to be exempt from all American taxes.
2) Apollo, Artemis, and Apollo Enterprises are to be exempt from all American business regulations.
3) The United States officially grants legal immunity to Apollo, Artemis, and Apollo Enterprises.
4) The United States officially cedes any authority of land owned by Apollo, Artemis, or Apollo Enterprises.
5) The United States government promises not to engage in espionage or theft against Apollo, Artemis, or Apollo Enterprises.
6) The United States is to pay 20 billion USD in damages per year for 10 years from 1991-2000.
7) Apollo, Artemis, and Apollo Enterprises are not to be involved in American politics.
8) Apollo Enterprises is to provide military intelligence regarding the crisis in Kuwait and Iraq.
The Triple A Deal was secretly passed through Congress in the middle of the night by the leaders of each party. Simply put, no one wanted Apollo, Artemis, or Apollo Enterprise to be in politics.
Apollo made sure a bunch of governors signed the agreement as well. Especially one William Jefferson Clinton of Arkansas.
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[Main POV]
I signed both copies of the Triple A Deal. One for me and one for the White House. I had to sign the deal twice, as Apollo and as the CEO of Apollo Enterprises. Afterwards, Artemis signed as well.
After the government representative took their copy and left, I held the document in front of me, admiring it meticulously.
Had I been underpaying my taxes? Absolutely.
Did Apollo Enterprises break hundreds of government regulations? 100%.
But thanks to our victory, now the American government would be paying me. Along with the money they were already paying me for the satellites and other military equipment, I was officially fleecing them.
And I fully intended to bill them for the military intelligence they requested. After all, the deal didn't say I had to do it for free.
"Artemis," I said, turning towards her, "How'd you like to go on a trip to Riyadh?"
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AN: We're nearing the end of the second arc of the story!
Give me Power Stones and maybe you will be exempt from paying taxes (not really but still).
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