On the third day, John spent most of the morning watching the United Nations emergency session on television. Cassandra had gone shopping.
The U.N. president addressed the assembly, “The number of airwar sightings is now in the thousands. The death toll from direct airwar attacks is above forty-thousand. We have an unprecedented world crisis, and world leaders demand an immediate United Nations response. Although we haven’t found the source for the original airwars, it’s clear they only reproduce by destruction of an adult form. Therefore, we have no choice but to call for a worldwide ban on attacks on airwars.”
A representative from Jamaica began throwing papers and files. He had to be escorted from the room by guards. Several other countries with confirmed airwars inside their borders also dissented.
Cassandra came in with a frazzled look. “The traffic is unbelievable for a Sunday. I’ve been sitting on I-4 the whole time. Stores are overrun. Everyone is hoarding. If I can’t get coffee, there’ll be a Cassandra crisis making the airwar crisis look like small potatoes.” She smiled at John. “Anything new on the airwars?”
John looked up from the television, “Yeah, the United Nations has formed an emergency council to disseminate world policy to all governments.”
“Can the United Nations do that?” asked Cassandra with uneasiness in her voice.
“They just did. Someone selected a bunch of scientists, politicians, and military to run this Airwar Scientific Council.”
“Who decided who gets on this Council?”
“I don’t know, but not everyone is happy,” said John and he pointed toward the television.
The ambassador from Lichtenstein was pounding his desktop as he was yelling. Scattered around the U.N. chamber, several other ambassadors were standing and yelling as well.
“Well, I’m sure it’ll take weeks for them to get organized and make recommendations,” said Cassandra, “Plenty of time to add anyone worthy who’s been overlooked.”
“I’m not too sure about that,” said John. “For a new political organization, it seems pretty structured, and based on the rhetoric I’m hearing, it appears the Airwar Scientific Council is a closed club. Plus, the council has already voted on one action that, frankly, I’m a bit uncomfortable with.”
“What’s that?”
John tapped the keyboard of his computer tablet and said, “Look at this logo.”
On the screen was a red square with the letters ASC in white in the center.
“This is the Airwar Scientific Council logo,” John said with a frown. “Its now required on every press release dealing with airwars. ASC determined there’s too much misinformation about airwars. It decided, as a matter of world security, press reporting on airwars must be limited to ASC-approved reports.”
“Sounds like a violation of the first amendment to me,” said Cassandra.
John shook his head, “This is the U.N. talking, not the United States. America, Canada, Britain, Australia, Japan, and a few other free press countries are having a cow, but the rest of the world press are marginalizing this opposition.”
John stopped speaking and pointed to the television.
The lady senator from Massachusetts, who was now apparently an ASC member, was addressing the press. “I can assure you that everyone has complete freedom of the press. You just must report factually. I am sure none of you have a problem with reporting the truth.”
A bald reporter wearing wire-rimmed glasses and a bow tie stood. “Who decides what’s the truth?”
“ASC does, of course,” replied the senator, with a slight roll of her eyes. “ASC is a highly qualified group of world scientists and leaders who are more than capable of discerning the truth.”
Several other reporters stood and shouted questions, but the senator waved them off and walked off stage.
John looked at Cassandra and said, “Somehow I feel we’re being required to ask the fox how the chickens are doing.”
“Well, at least someone is doing something; that’s somewhat reassuring,” said Cassandra.
“Doing something and doing the right thing are frequently unrelated,” retorted John.
By the fourth day, airwars had appeared in Europe, Asia, and Australia. ASC, backed by mounting scientific evidence, unanimously passed the Airwar Act. Any non-U.N./ASC attack or contact with airwars was determined to be an act of terrorism and punishable by death. There were a few weak protests from the United States press. Later that evening, ASC verified the presence of airwars in southern Florida, and the press capitulated.
On day five, virtually all countries had confirmed airwar sightings. World count of full-sized airwars reached ten thousand. Global citizen pressure demanded ASC try weapons of mass destruction on airwars.
A tall handsome man in his fifties named Otis Glavin appeared on television. His dark hair with some gray in the temples along with his steel blue eyes and deep voice conferred an air of authority. He was the spokesperson for ASC. Glavin read a one-sentence press release on the early morning news. “Due to the congregation of airwars near inhabited areas, it’s unrealistic for ASC to support the use of large destructive weapons on airwars.”
In response to the ASC position, early afternoon riots began breaking out in capital cities around the world. Spokesperson Glavin reappeared on the early evening news.
“ASC has reconsidered, with trepidation, to proceed with an experimental destruction of an airwar tonight.”
Less than an hour later a thermobaric bomb obliterated an airwar hovering over Lake Cobly in the southern United States. Not a single juvenile was seen following the blast, nor were any of the citizens of the small nearby town, which was also annihilated by the explosion.
The media leveled criticisms that only cryptic warnings were given to residents before the blast, but Glavin responded that warnings were given and went unheeded.
Later the same night, a small nuclear blast outside Tel Aviv of undetermined origin destroyed three airwars, but a change in winds pushed the radioactive cloud into the city, making it uninhabitable.
Glavin read a final press release late that evening. “Due to extreme collateral damage, ASC has passed Airwar Resolution III. Weapons of mass destruction are to be placed under ’observational control’ by ASC officials and are heretofore banned from further use on airwars.”
Besides the criticisms leveled at the thermobaric bomb test, the media continued to create other problems for ASC with non-approved sensationalized headlines such as “Psychics detect telepathic communication among airwars. Scientist warns: alien super intelligent species bent on destroying mankind. Airwars: angels of God sent to punish sinners.” Each new story caused greater panic and demands for more action by ASC.
On the morning of day six ASC began railing against media-produced misinformation. Glavin gave a seven a.m. statement.
“Half-truths, lies, speculation, and debate are clearly dangerous in times of crisis. Only ASC is qualified to provide accurate information. Therefore, ASC is now demanding worldwide passage of the Airwar Sedition Bill.”
The Airwar Sedition Bill essentially said non-ASC approved mention of airwars on radio or television would result in the revocation of the station’s FCC license to broadcast. Printed columns regarding airwars