The era we found ourselves in was only a few years away from the American Civil War. Nations were shifting, tensions rising, and history was preparing to split down its predetermined fault lines. Yet, because of everything we had done in the past few centuries—recruitments, anomalies, interventions—history had already begun to warp and twist. Some events were pushed forward, others delayed, and a few had altered so strangely that we were forced to subtly correct them to keep the overall timeline intact.
And now we were gathered in the 05 Council chamber, locked in one of the most heated debates we'd had in decades.
Our primary goal in this period was straightforward: recruit George Washington.
Not just the general. Not just the president. We wanted the man whose legend helped shape a nation, and whose influence—properly guided—could shape the world even further under the Foundation's silent direction.
Supporting America would make the recruitment simple. We already knew who would win, and keeping history aligned as closely as possible made our jobs easier. But the Civil War itself? That was far from simple.
Julius leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the obsidian table. "If we support America too openly, we risk creating a dependency. Nations shouldn't grow if they think a godlike organisation is holding their hand."
Cleopatra scoffed lightly. "We supported them before, in subtle ways. They still flourished. Besides, leveraging the Civil War to secure Washington's legacy is optimal. His anomalous potential is wasted otherwise."
Sun Tzu raised a hand calmly. "War is opportunity. If we guide it properly, we can extract strategic advantages from both sides without altering the final outcome."
Darius shook his head. "Too risky. The more we meddle, the more we risk splintering this timeline again. We barely stabilized the last distortion."
Victor von Doom gave a low hum of interest. "And yet, the American Civil War is a nexus point. With the proper manipulation, we could secure several individuals of interest, including Washington. His leadership abilities alone make him invaluable."
"And his anomalous signature," Julius added. "Let's not pretend we didn't notice the readings around his bloodline."
The Brain, connected through the chamber's speakers, chimed in with cold precision, "Recruiting George Washington will require maintaining the illusion of historical accuracy while establishing trust. Supporting America is statistically the most efficient route."
Lincoln, O5-10, folded his hands thoughtfully. "I can negotiate with the emerging political factions. But if we want Washington, we must present ourselves during a moment that cements trust rather than suspicion."
The Archivist nodded. "Historical records indicate he valued unity, stability, and strength. If we appear to ensure those values remain intact, the chances of him accepting recruitment increase significantly."
Hobbes gave a toothy grin. "And if politics fail, I can always talk to him. People listen to me—whether they want to or not."
Cleopatra rolled her eyes. "Your charm forces submission. We want Washington loyal, not mind‑broken."
The debate circled around and around as centuries of experience collided—strategy, morality, opportunism, and sheer practicality fighting for dominance.
We had already altered history once by simply existing. Now we had to navigate the branching paths we created while making sure the nation destined to become the world's dominant superpower didn't fracture beyond repair.
Recruiting Washington wasn't just an opportunity—it was a necessity.A stabilizing force.A symbolic victory.A way to anchor America's future to the Foundation without breaking the timeline.
But how we approached him?That was what the Council was now fiercely debating.
And we would continue arguing until every angle—political, historical, supernatural, and anomalous—had been dissected, reforged, and weaponized.
Because this wasn't just history.This was the Foundation reshaping the world… one legend at a time.