After Karen's assumption of office and the subsequent celebration, it was time to get to work. However, Victorino announced that he would be taking a break, a long one, as he claimed he deserved it. Fausto, on the other hand, decided to stay by her side. He did not take any public office, and just as she had done for him in the past, it was now his turn to be there for her.
During the first few weeks, Karen became the center of all conversations. Citizens wondered what her government would be like: would it be continuous or would it become a catastrophe?
However, she surprised everyone when she presented a state project: the modernization of the State. The project was simple yet ambitious, aiming for political continuity in public administration. What truly caught attention was the support she received from Rivas, who backed Karen's government, largely because she respected the "independence" of the military. As Karen had stated, her intention was to show the positive face of the armed forces.
Over the years, Rivas gained prominence, taking advantage of Victorino's absence from the capital. Historians agree that Victorino's presence had often overshadowed the figure of Rivas Hidalgo, and the evidence of this was clear: even opposing him did little to help those who tried to challenge his influence.
Despite everything, it was clear that Fausto did not like the way his wife was handling the reins of power. However, out of respect, he preferred to remain silent. The proof was that when he toured with his wife, the journalists, sly as foxes, tried to get a reaction from him, but he always found a way to avoid answering.
As all of this unfolded, Hidalgo's role began to gain greater relevance. Although in the Congressional debates his opponents attacked him for his opposition to Fausto's government, he stood firm, ignoring the comments and arguing that he would never oppose ideals that could benefit the people. However, Harrington, known for his skill in detecting weaknesses, cunningly attacked him.
"Mr. Hidalgo says he thinks about what’s best for our country, but he abstained when the president proposed the abolition of slavery," Harrington said with a challenging smile.
Harrington's words did not go unnoticed by the representatives present.
"I was not against their freedom," Hidalgo replied calmly.
"But you weren't in favor, either," Harrington retorted sharply.
"There was a reason why I abstained," Hidalgo said, maintaining his calm.
"Oh? And what’s that reason? So, tomorrow, if someone presents a proposal you don't like, will you remain silent?" Harrington asked disdainfully.
"You confuse my silence with falsehoods and slander," Hidalgo replied, staring at Harrington.
"Your silence means nothing, Mr. Hidalgo," Harrington insisted, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you think you're in a position to dictate what decisions I made in the previous administration?" Hidalgo retorted, his tone firmer now.
"The real question, Mr. Hidalgo, is not that. The right question is: why didn’t you?" Harrington asked, skillfully trying to force a compromising answer.
"You didn’t approve that law out of goodness or morality, but for pure personal benefit," Hidalgo declared, attempting to turn the conversation around.
"I’ll ask you a simple question. Would you give your house to a homeless person?" Harrington challenged, confident his question would stump him.
"That has nothing to do with our conversation," Hidalgo responded, dismissing the attempt to divert the topic.
"It has everything to do with it," Harrington replied firmly, not relenting.
"That's a slippery slope fallacy, Mr. Harrington," Hidalgo said, recognizing the trick and returning to his stance.
"I’m surprised, but in a way, it confirms it. You’re incapable of giving a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. You only divert the conversation. Is this how you plan to govern?" Harrington mocked, trying to destabilize Hidalgo.
"I have always been and will always be loyal to the homeland. Do not dare to belittle me," Hidalgo said, raising his voice firmly.
"No one doubts your loyalty, Mr. Hidalgo. However, it would be ideal if you stayed on one point, instead of rambling and creating branches," Harrington replied, maintaining his composure.
The tension in the room was palpable. Both had made their positions clear, but Harrington's ability to overwhelm Hidalgo remained a topic of debate.
It was clear that Rivas Hidalgo was no match for the crafty veteran Harrington. His lack of defensive skills became evident, and both his party and public opinion began to question whether he was truly worth supporting.
After this setback for the government, Karen introduced a series of legislative projects aimed at protecting people with disabilities. Among them was a law that had been stalled during Fausto’s administration, but now included substantial modifications. The new proposal not only sought to compensate those who suffered accidents with permanent consequences but also included the provision of pensions for these individuals, provided they had worked for at least five years in the public sector. This measure addressed the frequent injustice suffered by those who, becoming a burden due to their physical limitations, were fired from jobs as workers, doctors, teachers, and others.
To everyone’s surprise, the law was passed with little resistance. No one dared oppose an initiative that benefited so many, especially since many senators knew someone in such a situation. Though they gave long, eloquent speeches on the importance of the law, in the end, everyone voted in favor.
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Additionally, Karen strongly promoted the funding of industries in the Seven Republics. In an era where public transportation was limited to carriages, horses, and bicycles, she proposed a modernization plan that would allow each citizen to have their own means of transport. To achieve this, the state allocated large sums of money to research in search of an energy source that could power future vehicles.
It was in this context of energy transformation that CAF (Combustible de Agua y Florrema/Water and Florrema Fuel) was discovered, a revolutionary energy source presented by Alexander Rice, a scientist from Belúa. CAF was obtained through a process in which water was mixed with a peculiar plant called Florrema. Due to the radiation in its environment, this plant had developed a unique ability: the capacity to generate and conduct electricity when it came into contact with water. However, the challenge lay in how to stabilize and efficiently store this energy.
Florrema is a plant species that, constantly exposed to high levels of radiation, underwent an unusual evolution. This plant possesses specialized cells that, upon contact with water, initiate an electrolysis process at a molecular level, separating the water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen and releasing energy in the form of electricity. This phenomenon, based on a modification in its cellular structure and metabolism, allowed Florrema to generate electricity continuously, but the true challenge was how to store this energy in a stable manner.
This was where Alexander Rice played a crucial role. After years of research, Rice succeeded in stabilizing the energy generated by Florrema, turning it into a usable power source. His breakthrough came with the creation of Rice Substance, a biocatalyst derived from a natural compound found in Florrema’s cells. This substance acts as an intermediary between the water and the plant, allowing the electricity generated to be stored efficiently without dissipating quickly.
The Rice Substance interacts with the water molecules and the cellular structures of Florrema, creating a reaction that not only generates electricity but also converts it into a stable, storable form, ready to power electric engines or energy storage systems. This energy conservation process was key to the functioning of CAF.
In scientific terms, CAF is classified as a form of bioelectrochemical energy, similar to a biological battery but much more efficient and eco-friendly. The production process of CAF emits no greenhouse gases and does not rely on fossil fuels, making it a clean and renewable source of energy. Additionally, Florrema regenerates quickly, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the energy source, with a harvest cycle lasting just one week.
The implementation of CAF marked the beginning of a new era in energy innovation, where traditional fuels would be replaced by sustainable solutions. Research on Rice substance and Florrema continued with the goal of improving the process’s efficiency and expanding its applications into areas such as domestic energy, industry, and agriculture.
Amidst these advancements, the RIU Party, under the undisputed leadership of President Karen Freeman, announced the launch of its most ambitious project: the Renovation and Future plan. This project would not only reform the country’s infrastructure but radically change the daily lives of all its citizens, regardless of social or economic status.
The plan was hailed by many, and in a short time, the population began adapting to this new reality. Houses were modernized, public buildings were adapted, and parks and streets came alive thanks to the constant light provided by CAF. However, the opposition was quick to react.
Up until that point, energy in the country had already been free, a right established by President Joaquín Fernández Gabriel Fausto, who had made free electricity a constitutional right. The issue, however, was that the source of this energy relied heavily on traditional generation systems, which, while sustainable in the short term, were beginning to show signs of depletion. Renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric were not always available when needed, making it difficult to ensure a constant and reliable energy supply without proper storage systems, which led to additional costs. Although electricity was free, the supply was not always reliable, especially due to a lack of light at night. The system, though functional, was not sustainable in the long term.
That’s when CAF completely revolutionized the situation. This new fuel not only represented a clean and renewable source of energy but also eliminated the need to import energy resources, which had been a significant economic burden. CAF guaranteed unlimited energy at no cost, ecologically and completely self-sufficient. Every home would receive a small Florrema cultivation unit, enough to meet all its energy needs, eliminating reliance on external networks and vulnerability to fluctuations in international energy markets.
In the corridors of Congress, dissenting voices began to rise. The opposition, mainly from the JW Party, led by the shrewd Senator Aníbal Harrington, viewed Karen Freeman’s progress with suspicion. Despite the efficiency of the plan and its benefits for the population, they could not ignore what they saw as a blow to their own interests. The success of this project not only represented a technological breakthrough but also a consolidation of President Freeman’s power. Free energy, available to all, threatened the businesses in which some members of the opposition had invested, as CAF was expected to become a gold mine.
“It’s an undeniable political achievement,” Harrington murmured in one of his private meetings with Federal Party leaders. “But we can’t let this go unchallenged. We need to show there are risks in this project, that there’s a price for all of this.”
The opposition’s strategy focused on sowing doubts about the long-term sustainability of CAF and the implications of its widespread use. They argued that, although the energy was free and clean, the cultivation and maintenance of Florrema could become unsustainable if demand exceeded expectations. They claimed that Florrema’s supply was limited, that cultivation techniques required resources that were not always available, and that the model did not guarantee long-term durability. In their speeches, opponents began referring to CAF as an “ecological farce,” suggesting that the expectations of efficiency and durability were merely a cover-up for what they saw as a fragile and vulnerable system.
“Karen Freeman has sold a dream,” said Baltazar Uribe from the Red Party in his public appearances, “but what she’s really created is an energy bubble that, when it bursts, will leave us in the dark.”
Attacks also centered on the centralization of power implied by the system. For the opposition, the free distribution of energy was a form of social control disguised as progress. While citizens enjoyed free light, opponents pointed out that the entire system was under the direct control of the government. What would happen if, one day, the system were manipulated? What if the light depended on a government that decided to withdraw it or use it as a tool for pressure?
Despite the criticism, the Renovation and Future plan continued to move forward. Karen Freeman had not only achieved an unprecedented breakthrough in the energy politics of the Seven Republics, but she had also solidified her image as the leader of a new era. While the opposition attacked her, the population celebrated access to free electricity, unaware that the political battle had only just begun.
Homes, once shrouded in darkness due to electricity bills, now glowed under the constant brilliance of CAF. People quickly adapted to their new reality, enjoying the free light they never imagined having. Through this achievement, Karen Freeman left an indelible mark on the nation, but she also opened a new era of political confrontations, where power was not only contested in the halls of Congress but in every home that enjoyed energy that, for the first time in a long while, had no price—neither monetary nor seasonal.