Read Online Episode VI: Beta Test by Ben Winston - Free Book Online Page A

technology offered by the Alliance, none of them wanted the Alliance to regulate that technology. They most certainly did not want to give up any of their military.
    In a globally televised event, Ambassador Gomez told them that the Alliance would like to accept Earth as a Core World of the Alliance, thus giving Earth all the benefits of a main Alliance world. Regardless of Earth's decision to accept Core World status in the Alliance, free, unlimited medical care would be offered to all citizens of the planet as soon as the details could be worked out and the facilities built to provide it.
    Within a week, there would be contact information released to the general public seeking those individuals that might need immediate medical assistance. In which case, the patient in question would be taken to either the lunar base, or up to one of the many ships currently in the system. Areas that are in more dire need will be receiving emergency aid as soon as these areas are identified. Aid would also be offered for the homeless or destitute upon request, but what type of assistance was not mentioned.
    Earth would also be gaining all other planets in the Alliance as trade partners. Until educational and technical levels on Earth could be brought up to Alliance standards, trade would be limited to basic goods and services. However, each individual, as a citizen of the Alliance, would also be allowed to immigrate to other worlds for employment if they desired.
    The Ambassador explained that the Alliance had decided to build an extensive military base as well as research facility in the system as well as in the neighboring system of Centauri. Because of this, there would be virtually unlimited employment potential either by the Alliance itself or from any of the many companies that will be involved in the undertaking. It was hoped that many of those companies would be from Earth. However, there were certain rules each company would have to adhere to in order to be allowed to do business in the Alliance. Those rules and regulations would be available on the new web site that was currently under construction for the planet. The existing Earth Internet would also be getting linked to the far larger system used by the Alliance. AllNet would be joining the Internet by the end of the month. However, there was still much work to be done in order for the two radically different technologies to work together. In all aspects of life, from social standing to commerce, Earth stood to benefit greatly by accepting Core World status. Homelessness, hunger, illness, terrorism and even crime would be greatly reduced if not eliminated completely. All they had to do was accept what was being offered on the terms of the Alliance Council.
    In order to become a core world, there would need to be some changes. While it was acceptable for Earth to keep all the different countries they wanted, each nation would have to answer to a single planetary governing body decided on by all the adult citizenry of the planet. Every man and woman over the age of sixteen in every country would have a vote. Coercion in any form would not be tolerated.
    No single country, nor even the planetary authority after it was formed, would be allowed to maintain a military. Police forces were acceptable, as there would still be a need to maintain order and to protect citizens from criminals. But no standing armies would be needed. That was one of the benefits of becoming an Alliance world. Military protection would be provided by the Alliance.
    As far as material goods and services would be concerned, no single country or government would have more or less than any other. All technologies and services would be offered equally to everyone.
    Political corruption would also no longer be allowed, as that was a form of crime. Religions and business of any type were not allowed to enter the political arena. The people working for a company or that were part of a religion could vote. But