Fire and Ice

Chapter 40 ∞ Valentine

After I post the video, the nets are silent.

But only for a moment.

They explode, person after person posting statements, all saying similar things.

Stop the IF!

We have to try communicating with them!

They aren't even attacking anymore!

Stop the fight! For Kayleigh and Ender!

We can't let this continue!

Amongst the mania, I publish my Demosthenes article. It focuses on the fact that if Gold Leader Kayleigh Bright thinks we can't win this war by fighting, she's probably right.

The people go nuts for it.

People who don't normally agree with my articles are backing me. Everyone is calling for an end to the war.

Then, Peter publishes his Locke article. He passionately points out that the people fighting this war are children, and that we're wrong for letting this go on for so long. He agrees that it's time to end the war, especially since the bugs don't seem to want to fight us anymore.

The nets explode again, servers crashing from all of the traffic, because the great Locke and Demosthenes have finally agreed on something. News outlets can't do damage control fast enough. The IF, the Hegemon, and the Polemarch are trying to calm people down with the normal propaganda vids, but it's not working. Almost every debate forum is down.

Oh my God.

I hope Kayleigh knows what she's doing.

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"Who posted that," the Strategos demands, slamming his palm on the table and standing up.

"The user is apparently a burner account," Anderson says.

"We can't trace them," Rackham adds.

"Sir all news and debate forums a are closing down due to traffic," an aide calls.

"Try showing the propaganda vids,"

"They're not working sir,"

"Everyone is calling for the war to end," Anderson says.

"Damn."

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††

I watch as the nets implode. Perfect. Everyone is calling for the war to end.

Then, Locke and Demosthenes post their articles, and the news forums start shutting down due to overwhelming traffic.

Because for the first time ever, Locke and Demosthenes agree about something. Val you really are a genius.

"What's going on?" Petra calls.

"The nets are shutting down due to overwhelming traffic."

"How?"

"A propaganda vid Val made and posted has gotten everyone on planet Earth on our side. They're all calling for the war to end peacefully. The two largest political writers Locke and Demosthenes have agreed about something for the first time ever, which is that the war should end."

"Damn..."

"We're in business."

"How's that gonna get us out of here though?"

"I'm working on it."

∞∞

Ding Ding!