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Ruby's victory speech

"Somewhere between 1 and 2" an eager face responded.

Noah struggled to process that. Of course he meant somewhere between 1 and 2 million people. Where on earth do you put them all? Something like one fifth of the entire population of Melbourne. Spread throughout the city. For Ruby’s speech. A very important speech. Marking the new beginning, setting an agenda. Consolidating power.

"How do we fit them?" Noah asked the obvious question.

Jack turned towards him.

"As far out as Brunswick. On the street. Everywhere."

"Screens?" Noah asked

Those without the augmented reality viewers would gather in parks. But most had the viewers that projected onto glasses. You got the speech overlayed on top of the scene you were looking at. He almost hesitated to ask.

"Security?"

Ruby looked up. Glanced at Jack.

“If they fly anything in past the city limits we shoot it down."

Noah looked out the window.

"It only takes one person with a rifle.” He said.

Ruby gestured towards the military end of the floor. Lots of uniforms hustled in groups, rehearsing their roles. She continued.

"Confidence. It's all about confidence. We are so fragile. If we cower behind doors then our supporters will lose courage."

Noah realised he was just wasting time. They had to get to Federation Square, opposite Flinders Street station, on the banks of the Yarra. The three of them headed for the express lift. Out into the biggest crowd he had ever seen - the biggest crowd the city had ever seen. As they made their way down Collins Street people recognised them, waved, and cheered.

The closer they got, the tighter the crush.

Ruby climbed up the steps, onto the tower. She smiled down at Noah, took in the vast scene, and began.

"Friends. Here we are. Us. All of us."

She paused. A huge cheer sprung up, and spread like a wave. In the distance, up Flinders Street, it echoed as it propagated through the narrow funnels of the streets.

"Today marks a new beginning. We have thrown off the shackles. We have the military to thank for that."

She gestured towards them. Almost all of the military had gone with the south, but there was a faction loyal to the north.

"We will create a new social contract. There will be no more worshipping of the market. A market is not a religion, it is a mechanism for distribution. A way of organising things. No, we are not going to dispense with the market. We are not going to attempt to impose an idealistic view. There will be no nationalisation or collective ownership. All we are doing is restoring a balance that has been disrupted.

What is a social contract? It's give and take. It recognises that we are connected. That we work together. That a simple numerical majority does not mean that you take advantage. For too long we have had a system that is a slave to a powerful few, and a numerical majority. You and I have had enough.

You know we have, in part, given up on democracy. A society requires a lot of give and take. When it becomes all take and no give, it doesn’t work anymore.”

The crowd cheered wildly.

"We are not a vindictive government."

She moved on.

"Housing is for living in. It's for people to raise families, to go to work, to school. The days of rampant speculation on housing are over. We will be compulsorily purchasing large tracts of housing in the city. If you work in this city, you will have access to affordable housing. We will just keep acquiring until it is. Our message to the property speculators is simple: your time is over."

She paused. They cheered. Again it went in waves, rippling down the canyons. She looked across at Noah and Jack. They smiled. It was a beginning, but also an end. For so long they had huddled in back rooms, hiding, planning, scheming. To come out into the light, such a light, was blinding but also exhilarating.

"If you are a business, we are here for you. The supports of the city: transport, housing, education are going to improve dramatically. We want you to expand, to hire more people, to go with us into this bright future.

One thing has to change though. The days of paying low wages and cheating on entitlements are over. You will pay a percentage of profits to your workers. Exactly how much we will leave to you. Of course we will set a minimum, but we are hoping that you will come on board. That you will understand that we are of the future. If you take the other path, to try and continue with the old ways then we will not be tolerant at all. “

More cheering. It rose in volume as they realised that Ruby had come almost to the end of the speech. She looked up. People as far as she could see in all directions. She continued.

“I’m not going to sugar coat it for you. These are great days. New beginnings. Our enemies, for the moment, have been caught off balance. We have the advantage. But this will not last. They will process what has happened, gather their forces and come back at us. There will be many difficult days. Many days that we will wonder how we will keep going. But you know and I know that it is worth it. It is worth it for one reason: we have seized our own future.”

She waved, and descended the steps. In a tight huddle the three made their way up to the parliament. How long before it sat again? They had not even had that discussion.

First on the agenda was the security briefing. The room had a window that had a view of Spring Street. Ruby could see the brief shower of rain sweeping the street. No time for that though, here she was facing a room full of serious people. Although she was, just for a moment, intimidated by the array of older men, she told herself that most likely they were wondering how long they would have their jobs. She smiled to put them at ease.

"Thank you for coming. Shall we begin with introductions?"

They went in turn. Intelligence, Police, Military.

"I'm afraid I don't have much time. Can we cut to the chase?" She said.

They looked at each other, and deferred to Wan Li, intelligence. Mid fourties, metallic rim glasses, looking not at all intimidated by the situation.

"They have assembled a large force just north of Albury."

He brought up satellite surveillance. ”As you can see they have a significant drone force, helicopters and tanks. I expect them to reserve the tanks for later use. For the moment they will use the mobile forces."

The room paused. Ruby asked the obvious.

"We have a presence of our own. How can they proceed?"

Ruby referred to the joint military ‘exercises’ that had, courtesy of their Chinese friends, an impressive array of technology just south of the border. For the residents of Rutherglen it was quite something to see the hovering silver of the monitoring drones. Anything hostile in the surrounding 100km or so, would be met with a rapid air to ground, or air to air missile strike.

Wan brought up a topographic map.

"Yes, in good weather, these things are impossible to pass. They will search out the difficult terrain, and volatile weather."

Of course. Noah sat back in his chair. The north had the Americans, but they were unreliable and weak. On the other hand, their Chinese friends were only too eager, and engaged. A bit like using a tiger to intimidate a snake. No saying when the tiger would get hungry and turn on you instead.

Noah and Jack watched Ruby do her thing. It was that air of authority, the ability to grapple a room full of bureaucrats. How far they had come.

After the room cleared, and Ruby had turned, waved and exited with her entourage. They made a space outside, just down the steps.

Noah turned to Jack.

"Military thinking. Lines on a map. Expecting them to go out into the desert and fight in the open."

"Great speech but."

"The best. You imagine the illustrious middle class are just going to surrender their expensive real estate without a fight?"

"What are they going to do, whip their lattes into a froth and throw them at us?

They both laughed.

"Where to?" Noah asked Jack. After the magnificence of the speech, the euphoria, it was back to the humdrum.

"Review the north east surveillance schedule."

"Exciting."

"Necessary."

Down two floors. Into a theatre adapted for the purpose. Noah sat, and took it in. The last ten hours, then in more detail the incidents of interest.

Jack waved at one of the operators. He climbed the steps up to where they were sitting in the top row.

Jack introduced Noah.

"Noah."

"I'm Alex."

"The coverage in the mountains." Jack asked.

"It's patchy. On the ridge tops its brilliant. But it is not possible to get deep penetration into the valleys. The vegetation prevents the drones getting down. We don't have enough drones to fly missions into every deep gully."

"So, in theory it is penetrable.“

"You need to spend time there. It's impossible. The tracks, the roads are all along the ridges. Get stuck in the undergrowth down there and it's impossible."

"Any signs of them?"

"We pick up lots of exploratory flights."

"How do you sight them?" Noah asked.

Alex warmed to the task.

"The satellite tags the drones as soon as they launch. We then project and follow using the ground stations."

"So if they wanted to be not detected?"

"Only really possible for the smaller drones. They can carry one on the back, launch it deep in a gully. We won't track it unless it gets within range of the ground posts. However I expect they have already have a map."

"So they will proceed on foot."

"Yes."

It was interesting how things came down to the individual level, the low technology. No way to defeat technology with more tech. You had to think outside that space. Noah pictured their enemies on the tracks east of Albury. Keeping under cover, walking their way across the Great Dividing Range. Fighter planes cancelled each other out. The balance was shifted by that which could be hidden, that didn't display a technological trace.

TheLandlords

Jacinta was from Ruby’s office. Only just met Noah and Jack, so proceeding cautiously. In a sense Noah and Jack were further up the power totem pole than Jacinta, but being from Ruby’s office she carried the mantel. Also Noah and Jack had a bit of a reputation, and they didn’t want to become known as the government’s bad boys.

“Meeting with the landlords.” Jacinta said. She was about twenty five. Very neatly dressed. Suit. Power dressing type thing.

“What, all of them?” Noah asked

“Of course not. It’s a gathering though. A hall full. They will be on edge. They supported the previous government very strongly. There are precious few young landlords.” She continued.

“Some though.”

“Three percent. City wide.”

“We do the meet and greet. Do not fear your new rulers. All will be well. Don’t believe what you’ve heard about us. We really are not socialists.”

She grinned. “That would would be good, but that’s not all of it. You remember the policy.”

“Changing the balance.”

He should have paid more attention. Jack interjected.

“Stability. Once a renter has successfully completed a six month contract, only they have the option to terminate the contract. If the landlord wants to terminate, they have to find an equivalent rental for the tenant. European style.”

Jacinta grinned more widely. Impressed.

“Exactly. It’s an inversion. Along with the massive expansion in supply of rental properties. You remember the discussion on bringing rents down by at least 50%?”

Noah leaned back in his chair.

“They are going to be very unhappy. How do we calm them down?”

“Welcome to the new world. Learn to love your new rulers or get a canoe and paddle in the direction of the United States.”

They all laughed, and Noah and Jack were dismissed. Out on the street they were both quiet. Thinking it through as they headed in the direction of the meeting.

“We could just detain the lot of them as enemies of the state. Seize the properties and rent them out ourselves.” Noah said. Jack frowned.

“Yes, we could. Of course we could. A real incentive for new landlords to enter the system. Before you know it we are running every rental in the city. Nobody volunteers a property. We are running everything.”

“Why not?”

“Because we have better things to do with our time. You really want to go that way? One big housing office that runs everything?”

As if to focus their attention, they passed a homeless camp just next to the station at the corner of Collins Street and Swanston. In the shadow of a wall there were about ten campers. A loose pile of clothing, bedding. One or two of them recognised them.

“Way to go, Noah.” An old guy who had quite obviously been sleeping rough shouted out to him. Noah and Jack exchanged glances.

“Where is it?” he asked

“Northcote Town Hall.”

“The 86?”

“Yes.”

“World’s slowest tram ride.”

“The very same.”

“Have you checked? That it really is the world’s slowest tram ride?”

“No.”

“There is probably a really snaky route in Hiroshima that beats it.”

“No doubt.”

Noah checked in with Ruby’s office.

“We right to go?”

A quiet female voice, one of the many in her office replied.

“It’s looking clear at the moment. Also ground. You will be met at the hall. You will need the codes.”

“Is this really necessary?”

“I’ll hand you over to Ruby for the lecture if you like.”

“No thanks.”

The tram turned sharp right at Gertrude St. Seeming to jump out of the tracks. But it always did that. True to its title claim the tram was held up by a series of traffic lights all the way down Smith Street. This was inner city central. Very New York like, with the expensive real estate on the left and the housing commission on the right. As if the very rich and the very poor had a preference for co-location.

Noah turned to the task at hand.

“Persuade the landlords. That’s the mission.”

Jack smiled.

“Yes. We are all in it together. One big happy family.”

“I would rather be shooting predatory capitalists at the border.”

“Maybe you would. But your skill profile says you are quite good at talking and actually quite poor at shooting.”

It went silent as the tram sat at Alexander Parade. Watching the car convoys speed east. This was the beginning of the autonomous zone. Cars locked onto a convoy in front, and the drivers became passengers. They could quietly snooze until they got closer to home.

“Homeward bound.” He said.

“A bungalow in Templestowe awaits you.”

“Yes. Well, no, actually.”

“No.”

The life unlived. Neither of them would have considered the quiet suburban life. Now that it was clearly out of reach though, in a weird way it looked attractive. How was that? The lure of the impossible.

“What’s the pitch again?” Noah asked

“We are re-making the industry. In a new and caring way. Your future is secure.”

“Yeah, right.”

“You looked at the analysis?”

“No.”

“You should have. They are worried that we are crazy socialists. Intent on taking ownership of their properties without compensation. Rumour has it that we plan to sweet talk them to calm them down and just seize the properties later when they aren’t looking.”

There was a momentary silence as they scanned for the stop. Jack realised that it was a long time since he had been to this part of town. It was a seriously old building. Now quite out of character with all those around it. Northcote was strange like that. A mix of the decrepit and the rapidly developing. Sort of typical of the inner north. Mazeratis and bicycles.

Noah and Jack walked towards the hall. Two young men in dark suits approached them, and the electronics started bleeping. Their wearables talking to theirs. Probing and exchanging codes. This was their personal security detail. It was spooky stuff. If it failed then Noah and Jack would have to walk away really quickly. But it didn’t. Noah didn’t like to look, it wasn’t obvious, but both of these guys were heavily armed.

“Is this really necessary?” Noah asked.

There was an exchange of glances between Jack and the detail.

“I’m Michael, this is Hilary. We are pleased to look after you tonight.”

Noah didn’t persist. Of course he knew why they were there, and why they were necessary. It just seemed incongruous.

The hall was full. Seriously full. All eyes turned to them as they entered. Around the perimeter there was an impressive array of security. Lots of it. About a guard every five metres all around the aisles. Noah glanced at Jack, who raised his eyebrows and then looked resigned. Yes, it was excessive, but yes, it probably was necessary. Also, yes, it elevated the emotional temperature in the room.

Noah walked out onto the small stage, feeling very exposed. It was silent. He began.

“Thank you for coming. I ask you to approach this session tonight with an open mind. Put aside all that you might have heard about this government. Housing is the lifeblood of a city. Unfortunately this city has real problems. People cannot afford to live within reach of where they work. You might see that as a threat to your incomes. But I’m going to ask you to consider that the old regime was unstable. Sooner or later it was all going to come unstuck. Cities are born, cities die. The old ways were a recipe for creating a dead city.”

He looked out at the eyes watching him. There was a lot of anger, but also now some puzzlement, along with most paying attention. So far, so good.

“We are going to expand the availability of properties to rent. Of course we can’t do that overnight. It will take time. Rents will fall. But importantly, they will be sustainable.”

Pausing for breath.

“Consider the value of a long term tenant. He or she provides you with income perhaps for many decades. This is of great value to you. In the past, the balance of power has been very much in your favour. We are going to reshape this relationship. To make it more equal. To represent the actual commercial nature of this relationship. You will have targets for maintenance response times. If you miss the targets then it will cost you. As in any normal business relationship. It’s completely unacceptable that you could leave a stove not working for months, or a hot water heater out of action for weeks.”

At the back, there was a swirl of activity. A person got to their feet and shouted at him.

“What about damage to the property. They can just trash it and leave.” Security hovered over him, but Noah gestured for them to move back.

“This will work both ways. Renters that don’t meet quick restitution will be banned from the system. Also renters that fall behind in their payments.”

General murmurs of agreement. It was going well. Time to get to the crux of it.

“I mentioned shifting the balance. We have new categories of ten year plus rental agreements. Renters that break the lease suffer financial penalties if they leave, commensurate with your costs of finding a new tenant. On the other side, if you decide to terminate the lease you have to find an alternative rental for them to move to. It has to be similar to yours, and in a similar location.”

He paused. Expecting trouble. At the back there was a group that had been glaring at him the whole time. At the far left in the rear row, a group of four or five shuffled towards the side. At the same time, a questioner jumped up at the other side.

“We bought these properties on the basis of the law. Rented them out. Now you are arbitrarily stripping the value from them.”

Some scattered applause, general murmurs of agreement. Noah paused, then replied.

“As I explained, the important question here is the sustainability of the old way of doing things. The fact that we have a new government shows that the old way was not sustainable.”

“Bullshit. It shows that you seized power. You’re a dictatorship. Just a jumped up military dictatorship. You have no legitimacy at all.”

As if on cue, the group on the right started heading towards the stage. They made about ten paces before security reacted. Noah stepped back from the lectern. He wasn’t going to run. At the side of the stage people were waving at him to get off, to retreat with the security. But he wouldn’t.

He moved back, and began talking again.

“Legitimacy is earned. I accept that. We will work with you to gain that.”

Now the troublesome group was being ushered out the side doors. As he continued, they were out of sight in the side chamber, where Jack was.

“I question your notion of value. When you buy or sell an asset it is to a community. We all together decide that value. The previous values are never going to return.”

The piercing sound of a single shot rang out from the chamber where the protestors had been taken. The whole room turned around in that direction. There was a look of panic on every face he could see, that quickly turned to very nasty anger. Noah’s heart rate was so fast that he was struggling to speak. He scanned the room, and took in the full intensity of the anger. Security was all over him, he was totally surrounded.

“If you have any questions, I will be here.”

Quickly he moved to the back of the stage and through the back doors to where the protestors were being held. He found that he was shaking.

Jack was standing, smiling as Noah entered.

“What the fuck?” he asked

“Bullet catcher.” Jack said, holding a box up, about the size of a loaf of bread. “Fire a single shot into it and just stops in the box.”

“Next time, can you tell me first?”

“Spoils the impact.”