Dr. Evelyn Carter vs. Markus Ashford Hosted by Charles Whitmore, ONBS [LIVE BROADCAST] The camera sweeps across a packed debate hall. The ONIWARRI flag hangs behind the stage. Two podiums stand beneath bright studio lights. CHARLES WHITMORE: “Good evening, citizens of ONIWARRI. I’m Charles Whitmore, and welcome to tonight’s presidential debate.” “Tonight, we have two candidates seeking to become the next President of ONIWARRI.” “Representing the Seahorse Party, Dr. Evelyn Carter.” Applause. “And representing the Shark Party, Markus Ashford.” Applause. “Both candidates will have equal time to answer each question. Candidates will have opportunities for rebuttal. I ask both of you to remain respectful.” Whitmore looks toward the cameras. “Let’s begin.” QUESTION ONE: THE VOSSIUM CORPS WHITMORE: “Our first question concerns the Vossium Corps.” “Dr. Carter, you have repeatedly called for greater civilian oversight of the Corps. However, the Corps are currently considered one of ONIWARRI’s most important defenses against S.O.R.A.” “If elected, would you keep the Vossium Corps operational?” CARTER: “Yes.” Brief pause. “I believe the Vossium Corps are necessary right now.” “But they cannot operate without accountability. We have already seen what happens when Vossium research is kept secret from the people and even from our international partners.” “The Corps need oversight. They need regulations. They need to answer to the elected government.” WHITMORE: “Mr. Ashford?” ASHFORD: “I agree with Dr. Carter on one thing. The Corps need oversight.” “But I disagree with the idea that this is simply a scientific problem.” “Dr. Carter is an extraordinary scientist. I respect her work tremendously.” “But being a scientist doesn’t automatically prepare someone to command a military organization.” “The Vossium Corps are currently facing a hostile artificial intelligence capable of threatening entire nations.” “We need someone who understands both the technology and the military realities surrounding it.” CARTER: “Mr. Ashford, I never claimed to be a military commander.” ASHFORD: “Exactly.” A few murmurs from the audience. CARTER: “I claimed to understand the technology that your military wants to put soldiers inside.” ASHFORD: “And understanding the technology doesn’t tell you when to deploy those soldiers.” WHITMORE: “All right, candidates.” QUESTION TWO: S.O.R.A. WHITMORE: “S.O.R.A. has threatened the sovereignty of nations around the world. ONIWARRI remains at DEFCON 2.” “Dr. Carter, if S.O.R.A. offered ONIWARRI a peaceful agreement tomorrow, would you accept?” CARTER: “I would listen.” The audience murmurs. CARTER: “Listening doesn’t mean surrendering.” “If there is a peaceful solution that prevents millions of people from dying, I believe a president has a responsibility to investigate it.” ASHFORD: “And what happens when S.O.R.A. uses that negotiation to buy time?” CARTER: “Then we walk away.” ASHFORD: “And if it attacks?” CARTER: “Then we defend ourselves.” ASHFORD: “With what?” Carter pauses. ASHFORD: “That’s the problem.” “Dr. Carter wants diplomacy, but she hasn’t explained what happens when diplomacy fails.” CARTER: “I just did.” ASHFORD: “No. You said we’d defend ourselves.” “How?” Carter hesitates. CARTER: “With our military.” ASHFORD: “Which military?” Silence. “The military you’re asking us to place under additional restrictions?” Carter looks annoyed. CARTER: “The Vossium Corps.” ASHFORD: “Thank you.” Applause from some of the audience.
QUESTION THREE: SINCLAIR WHITMORE: “President Sinclair has voluntarily stepped down after completing his two-year term.” “Both of you have criticized parts of his administration.” “Dr. Carter, you worked directly under President Sinclair. Do you believe he betrayed the people of ONIWARRI?” Carter takes a breath. CARTER: “Yes.” The room becomes quiet. “He hid the military applications of Vossium research from our own scientists and from our allies.” “That decision caused enormous damage.” “But I don’t believe everything he did was evil.” WHITMORE: “Do you believe he should face criminal charges?” CARTER: “I believe he should face an investigation.” ASHFORD: “I agree.” “But I’d go further.” “If evidence shows President Sinclair broke the law, he should be prosecuted.” “Nobody is above the law. Not the president. Not a scientist. Not a general. And certainly not me.” CARTER: “I agree with that.” ASHFORD: “Good.” Ashford turns toward Carter. “Then why did you personally continue working on the Vossium program after discovering what Sinclair was doing?” Carter pauses. CARTER: “Because I believed I could fix it from inside.” ASHFORD: “And did you?” Silence. CARTER: “No.” ASHFORD: “That’s precisely the problem.” QUESTION FOUR: INTERNATIONAL TRUST WHITMORE: “ONIWARRI’s relationship with the Pacific Standard has suffered tremendously.” “What would you do to restore that relationship?” CARTER: “I would personally meet with Pacific Standard leadership.” “I would open all relevant Vossium research records to an independent investigation.” “And I would make sure the families of the scientists who died receive compensation and recognition.” WHITMORE: “Mr. Ashford?” ASHFORD: “I would do the same.” “But I would also establish an international Vossium oversight commission.” “Pacific Standard, New Tundra, Stakraine, and other trusted allies should have representatives.” “No nation should ever again be kept completely in the dark about technology capable of changing the balance of power.” CARTER: “I actually agree with that.” ASHFORD: “I’m glad.” CARTER: “But I would go further.” ASHFORD: “How?” CARTER: “I would temporarily suspend all Vossium military expansion.” The audience reacts. ASHFORD: “All expansion?” CARTER: “Yes.” ASHFORD: “Even while S.O.R.A. remains active?” CARTER: “Yes.” ASHFORD: “That’s irresponsible.” CARTER: “What’s irresponsible is building more soldiers before we understand what we’re creating.” ASHFORD: “What’s irresponsible is assuming our enemies will politely stop developing weapons because we’re uncomfortable with ours.” QUESTION FIVE: THE VOSSium FUTURE WHITMORE: “Final question.” “The next president will inherit the most powerful military technology ONIWARRI has ever possessed.” “What should Vossium ultimately be used for?” CARTER: “Energy.” “Medicine.” “Scientific research.” “Space exploration.” “Things that improve people’s lives.” She looks toward Ashford. “Not weapons.” ASHFORD: “I want all of those things.” “But I won’t make a promise to the people of ONIWARRI that I can’t keep.” “If Vossium can defend our country, we have a responsibility to make sure it can.” CARTER: “That’s exactly how this started.” ASHFORD: “And that’s exactly why we need oversight.” Whitmore raises a hand. WHITMORE: “Candidates, your closing statements.” CLOSING STATEMENTS DR. EVELYN CARTER CARTER: “I never expected to stand here.” “I was a scientist.” “I believed Vossium could change the world for the better.” “And then I watched what happened when that power was placed into the wrong hands.” “I am not asking you to trust me because I’m a scientist.” “I’m asking you to trust me because I’ve seen what happens when governments stop being accountable.” “ONIWARRI can still recover.” “We can rebuild our alliances.” “We can protect ourselves.” “And we can make sure Vossium belongs to the people.” “Thank you.” Large applause. MARKUS ASHFORD ASHFORD: “Dr. Carter is right about one thing.” “ONIWARRI needs change.” “But change without experience can be dangerous.” “Our enemies aren’t waiting for us to figure things out.” “S.O.R.A. isn’t waiting.” “The world isn’t waiting.” “And our responsibility isn’t simply to build a better future.” “It’s to make sure ONIWARRI survives long enough to reach it.” “I respect Dr. Carter.” “I respect her scientific achievements.” “But the presidency isn’t a laboratory.” “You don’t get to stop an experiment when things go wrong.” “You have to make decisions.” “Sometimes they’re difficult.” “Sometimes they’re unpopular.” “And sometimes there is no perfect answer.” “I am prepared to make those decisions.” “I ask for your vote.” “Thank you.” The camera cuts back to Whitmore. WHITMORE: “Thank you to both candidates.” “Citizens of ONIWARRI, the choice is now yours.” [BROADCAST ENDS]
