[b][I]Washington DC[/i][/b] As stated earlier, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, as well as many members of the remnants of IS, were Metahumans. Thus, they were also prey to the Alien Abductions, abductions that in turn left the IS-controlled zone shattered, without their leader and prime fighters. George Maxwell, being frustrated in his designs as regards International Cooperation and establishing telepathic contact with the Metas, began to establish plans for the remains of the zone, including Raqqa, which had held out because of Al-Baghdadi's Metahuman Abilities, to be retaken by Iraq, Syria, and the Kurds. If he cannot have his 'World Government', then he was going to destroy IS, once and for all. But it was not just IS he had to deal with; the World Economy would feel the shocks of the Alien Abductions as well, from investor confidence failing, to Metahuman-made gadgets and infrastructure breaking down, and Metahuman businesses and charities trying to function without said Metahumans, with those who did business with those businesses and charities suddenly finding that they could no longer make use of such talent. Right now, such things were distant, very much so, but George knew he had to plan ahead; he had some suggestions to make to anyone who wanted to 'consult' him on the looming financial crisis. Of course, those who would consult him would be doing so in defiance of the President - he hated that woman now! The world was going to pot and she preferred to electioneer? If she dropped dead...no, he was a loyal soul; best not to think about that. Damnit all, he had nothing to do but put out fires, and he was circumscribed on how to do that! Restricted, forbidden! And all because of petty ambition; was Humanity really that dumb? Enough of this. He reviewed the Overdrive Project; Overdrive himself was missing, probably killed in the assault on the New Sun Tower or the assault on the International Heroes HQ. For a moment, he thought of an army of combat robots equal to Metas, all with human conciousnesses transferred to them. Then he dismissed it; it wouldn't work. No plan to defend Earth without Metahumans can work. "Damn them. Damn the Aliens, Damn the President, Damn Abernathy, too, for being the bearer of bad news," George said, his voice heavy with rage as he clenched his fists until they were white. "Damn the lack of good Telepaths on those Alien Ships, Damn the lack of any way to make contact with the Metas, Damn my inability to come up with a good strategy. And finally, Damn [i]me[/i]," George finished, tears falling out of his eyes. "Cedric, I failed you, and we failed each other. We failed to pursue the dream of coexistence that we wanted," he was speaking to nowhere now, half-mad. For some brief moments, this madness extended to thoughts of WMDs and coups and wars and even killing off Humanity because it might be better than letting the Aliens victimize them. But George recovered himself, he was not the Secretary of State for [i]nothing[/i]! "I am not letting myself get beaten by this. No, I can, and will, reach the abducted Metahumans. I can, and will, ensure a world that is not hostile to them when I secure their return. And I will ensure a future where Humanity can flourish, a future where man, woman, and child will live happily," he spoke to nowhere.