[ARCHIVAL AUDIO TRANSCRIPT — DECLASSIFIED 2098]
FILE REF: USG/EO-44-Σ / TRANSCRIPT COMPILATION
DATE: March 3rd, 2064
LOCATION: Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington D.C.
STATUS: VERIFIED (AI-RECONSTRUCTED SEGMENTS MARKED ?)
VOICE ID: Active Vocal Profiling
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: Mr. le Fay. You requested this meeting off-record. But before we begin—I must say, I had ben brief on your proposal.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:02:311]
You understand New York is not for sale.
ALEXANDER LE FAY: I’m not purchasing the city, Madam President. I’m offering relief.
SECDEF (CLASSIFIED): Relief from what, exactly?
LE FAY: Insolvency.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:04:024]
LE FAY: Last fiscal cycle, the federal government spent eight hundred ninety billion dollars maintaining the tri-state grid. You are projected to default by November. Congress will not approve another bailout.
TREASURY SEC. BENETT: We are aware of the numbers, and the sentiments, Mr Le Fay.
LE FAY: Then you also know New York ceased being an asset decades ago. It is now a liability—a financial sinkhole where you keep pouring federal money in.
TREASURY SEC. BENNETT: The federal government is prepared to issue a new tranche of Recovery Bonds—ten trillion, staggered maturities, guaranteed yield. If EVECorp underwrites— ?
LE FAY: With all due respect, Mr Benett. You cannot service ten trillion.
TREASURY SEC. BENETT: We will restructure the existing maturities, extend the—
LE FAY: —you already extended them last spring.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
[Paper shuffling: 0:00:02:724]
LE FAY: The markets won’t trust a second restructuring, let alone a third. The bonds will be rated junk before they reach the exchange.
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: Then what would you suggest, Mr. le Fay?
LE FAY: Not debt. You’ve exhausted the future several times over.
SECDEF (CLASSIFIED): Meaning?
LE FAY: You no longer need liquidity. You need solvency.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:03:478]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: So, what do you suggest?
LE FAY: EVECorp will take possession of Manhattan.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:12:331]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: Is EVECorp a charity now? ?
LE FAY: No, Madam President. A contractor.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:03:884]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: I see.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:01:331]
You want to be a king. ?
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:00:764]
The United States of America has no king. ?
LE FAY: Madam President, I'm not here to rule.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:02:839]
LE FAY: I am here to negotiate concessions.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:02:363]
LE FAY: Kings command loyalty. ? We provide services. If those services happen to replace functions once performed by the state…
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:01:112]
Le FAY: …that is merely the consequence of efficiency.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:07:412]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: What do you want in return? ?
LE FAY: Operational autonomy in the metropolitan zone. Regulatory discretion to execute our mandate. Permission to integrate federal logistics with our infrastructure.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:03:412]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: That is sovereignty. ?
LE FAY: Call it delegated responsibility. You retain symbols: the flag, the anthem, the elections. We assume function of the grid, transit, health, defense logistics and pensions.
SECDEF (CLASSIFIED): The people will never stand for that. ?
LE FAY: The public need not know.
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: Even if we accepted this, the People of America will never kneel to tyrant.
LE FAY: You will find I treat my people very well. 5 Stars on Chrome Door.
TREASURY SEC. BENETT: Not funny, Mr le Fay.
LE FAY: Tokyo signed the Restoration Accord last week.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:07:169]
TREASURY SEC. BENETT: What?
LE FAY: The Emperor Akitsugu ? has entrusted the future of Japan to Muramasa Corporation. They will assume full national administrative responsibilities at midnight. It will be all over the network tomorrow.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:04:609]
SECDEF (CLASSIFIED): Jesus Christ. They privatized Japan.
LE FAY: Vatican has fallen to the Church. Your God is not here.
SECDEF (CLASSIFIED): Get out.
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: No, (crackle*). ?
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:03:332]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: What exactly are you after, Alex? ?
LE FAY: Revenue.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:14:887]
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: This will be seen as surrender.
LE FAY: Then frame it as modernization. EVE Media will craft the narrative. My people will liaise with your people tomorrow.
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: Our Constitution?
LE FAY: Enshrined, inviolate as the days our Founding Fathers. ?
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: The Rule of Law?
LE FAY: ? EVE SDF will reinforce the NYPD.
PRESIDENT WRIGHT: Elections?
LE FAY: Every four years.
[Audio Log Silence: 0:00:10:787]
TREASURY SEC. BENETT: Madame President - ??? (irrecoverable)
LE FAY: Thank you for your time, Madame President.
SECDEF (CLASSFIED): Marg - ?? (irrecoverable)
[END OF TRANSCRIPT]
HYDRA//ARCHIVE NOTE (2098):
The Concession Accord of 2064 authorized EVECorp full infrastructural jurisdiction over the former New York Metropolitan Region. Federal governance remains symbolic. Public announcement delayed six months.
Further recordings are believed to exist but remain unreleased.