This story takes place almost two hundred years into the future. Things are quite different. Homosexual sex is a norm. So if you are under age or if explicit "abnormal" sexual activity is abhorrent to you, please read no further.
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THE THRD EMPIRE
by Macout Mann
INTRODUCTION
It took the Roman Republic five hundred years to disintegrate. The United States of America lasted only half that long. But then the Romans didn't have "media" or modern technology to hurry things along.
Both republics, however, turned into monarchial empires. Rome lasted another five hundred years. Now in 2190, we still have to see how much longer this new empire can sustain itself.
This treatise is not about war, statecraft, or politics of course. But in a few paragraphs it might be helpful to reexamine how we got to where we are.
Most scholars feel that the disintegration of the American republic began in the early years of the twenty-first Century, when the Congress became dysfunctional. Others suggest that like the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC it was the assassination of John Kennedy in 1963 that began the downfall of the United States. Whatever. By the presidential election of 2016 the country was in total crisis, although only a few academicians were willing to admit it. Republican Government requires compromise among the various parties and there was absolutely none.
Actually the "two party system" upon which the government had been based was already in shambles. There were still supposedly two parties, but actually there were parties within parties within parties. There were those on the right who believed that the government should only defend the country and deliver the mail, what mail that was still being sent. There were those on the left who believed that the government should provide a living for every citizen. The result was that the only legislation that could be passed were bills to support the military and continue to pay government employees. Defense appropriations became an even greater part of the national budget. The role of government began to shrink, because funding was not provided to enforce laws already passed.
Meanwhile, after attacks from terrorist groups in the early years of the century, the executive branch had assumed more and more control over the government. Some felt that protections guaranteed by the Constitution had been circumvented.
The reality of global warming by 2032 had also created a world-wide recession. Coastal cities around the globe routinely were beginning to flood. To relieve joblessness in the United States compulsory military training was inaugurated in 2035. Every able-bodied eighteen-year-old had to undergo two years in the army or join one of the other branches.
And the gap between the so-called one percent, the wealthiest Americans, and the middle class grew with each passing year.
All of these factors had created an environment in which politics was so hectic that no president since Obama, who left office in 2016, could be reelected. In 2049 the Fifty-forth President of the United States was inaugurated. And that was when the Middle East Crisis, which had been simmering for a century, finally blew up.
To this day no one knows whether it was Israel or Iran that launched first. Because of automatic tracking systems, the explosions occurred within seconds of each other. The Israeli weapon was more "tactical." It only leveled Teheran. The atom bomb that fell on Tel Aviv laid waste to everything from Hama in Syria to the north down to the Suez Canal in the south, devastating all of Israel and Jordan. The Dome of the Rock or the Temple Mount were no more.
Despite the hope of evangelicals in the United States and elsewhere, this did not bring on Armageddon. But it did foment a war beginning in the Middle East which ultimately spread throughout the world.
Since the United States had been building up its defenses for over a quarter century, it with what was left of Israel and its traditional allies triumphed. The Near East was totally devastated. Russia and China were occupied by the Allies. Sub-Saharan Africa was an economic wasteland.
The Commanding General who had led America to victory was elected the fifty-sixth president of the United States and took needed action to stabilize the political unrest and unbalanced economic condition worldwide.
Looking to history and recognizing the importance of the Pax Romana and Pax Britiania in maintaining order in past centuries, the American Congress created a Pax Americana, a Third Empire with the president as Emperor. No other country had the power to resist its suzerainty. Washington became very much like ancient Rome, but without gladiators fighting to the death. American-style football had become violent enough.
A parallel to the Roman Empire was the new empire's attitude toward sexual mores. The ancients had always had a more liberal attitude toward sexual conduct than the Christian world, at least theoretically, had had. The Etruscans, who inhabited Italia before the Romans did, presided over perhaps the most sexually liberated civilization on earth. Every get-together could be an orgy. Marriage carried no promise of fidelity. Sex was permissible with anyone of either anatomical design. Despite the Greek's well known preference for male to male cohabitation—wives were for reproduction, guys were for fun—the Romans during the early republic were comparatively puritanical. It was only when Rome became the most powerful entity in the ancient world, did sexual liberation set in. The proclivities of some of the Roman Emperors have been well documented. They were well emulated.
Likewise, all kinds of sex in the United States had become more and more accepted toward the end of the Twentieth Century. In the Twenty First, same sex marriage became legal. The dire consequences that some fundamentalist Christians predicted did not result. But sexual mores did become more and more liberal, so now in 2190 sexual activity is not too different than what it was in Athens or Sparta when Ancient Greece was in its prime.
I
Quintus Johnson (Roman names are now in vogue) is the recently appointed Governor General of Suriname. He, his wife, and his seventeen-year-old son, Flavius, have moved into the former presidential palace in Paramaribo.
Quintus' household includes not only the usual household servants, bodyguards, and Marines on ceremonial duty, but four young guys who are designated "Civil Service Interns." They are well-brought-up young men around his son's age whose internship is designed to expose them to the culture of non-military branches of government service. Later on, after serving their compulsory military training and finishing further education, they might someday even aspire to become a governor general or something. They associate with all sorts of government officials, are privy to all sorts of discussions, and yes, must be the willing sexual partner of Governor Johnson or any of the other dignitaries with whom they came in contact.
Flavius has the same opportunities as the interns. In fact all five of them share quarters in the palace or mansion as it is now called. Five hot teenagers sharing a room make for some almost Etruscan orgies.
Flavius had been introduced to the pleasures of sex by an older schoolmate when Flavius was twelve. The following year he did the same for a younger boy. It is expected that boys initiate their younger friends as soon as they reach puberty. When he was old enough to join his father and his friends at dinner parties, he learned the further joys of being with more mature men. That is just the way it is done. Sex is part of socializing. It has no moral or religious significance. Whether it involves another male or a female makes no difference. But as in ancient Greece, females—especially among the upper classes—are mostly for breeding.
Flavius four roommates are Sextus, Sabinus, Claudius, and John. John's father is British and can't fathom why Roman names are so much in vogue. He wants his sons to have good English names.
As for Flavius, his favorite playmate is John. John just loves sex. All sex. Doesn't matter whether he's being fucked or is fucking, sucked or sucking, or just making out. Flavius is sure that John is his dad's favorite too. At parties he seems to have John seated next to him more often than not. And well, you know what the odds are, if you're seated next to someone. Is it 2:1 or 1:2? Usually they're better if you're the governor.
In the tropical heat of Suriname, everyone wears as little as possible. Shirtless is the norm for everyone, except on important occasions. The "cutoff" is the only garment commoners generally wear. It is basically a loincloth fitted around the hips. Its name derives from a homemade garment popular a couple of centuries ago that were cut from "jeans" that also served only to hide the dick and balls. Cutoffs for the masses are usually made of denim or broadcloth. Upper class men and boys also wear them, but their cutoffs are fashioned of linen, silk, or another more expensive fabric and may be adorned with erotic patterns. Over the generations the name, cutoff, has come to be associated with the idea that the garment cuts off the view of the wearer's genitals. Private parts, however, can be very easily reached by anyone wanting to feel them.
Thursday, August 10, 2190. Titus Bush, the Assistant Minister of the Exterior, arrives for an official visit. Titus is descended from one of the republics most famous families.
At the arrival ceremony, Flavius stands next to his father, and the Governor General introduces him to the minister.
They shake hands and Titus says, "My. I remember meeting you back in Washington when you were a small boy, Flavius."
He reaches under Flavius cutoff and gently gropes the young man's jewels. "I hope I can get to know you, while I am here."
"I will look forward to that, sir," Flavius smilingly replies.
That evening an informal dinner honoring their distinguished guest is held. The great banquet will come later. The guests include the Bishop of Suriname, the Commanding General of the Militia, and Commissioner of Education.
The bishop heads the Church of the Eternal Godhead in Suriname. It was created, or as it would say "recognized," by the first Emperor. It manages to merge the moral teachings of Christianity, Islam, and most other major religions and joins them with the social mores of the Empire. Its structure is not unlike that of Roman Catholicism. Theologically, it doesn't deny belief in any traditional gods. It just doesn't mention any of them by name. There are still remnant adherents to the older faiths, but most everyone now gives at least token allegiance to the Eternal Church. Bishop Mason is comparatively young at 35.
Each governmental entity of the Empire has its own militia. After a guy had finished his compulsory military service, he may apply to become a militiaman. The militia functions very much like the National Guard back during the Republic. It keeps order if there is civil unrest, aids in natural disasters, and keeps guys who want to be "weekend warriors" happy fucking each other once a month. The regular services are powerful enough that militiamen don't have to worry about being called to active duty. The post of Commanding General keeps retired flag officers occupied. Brigadier General Saunders had a rather mediocre active duty career. Achieved flag rank primarily because he was good at getting together with his superiors.
Education is a paramount concern of the Empire. Schooling, including foreign language studies, begins at age three and ends for most students at age sixteen. For them the emphasis is on vocational training. Those whose superior abilities are recognized will go into some sort of internship before their two years in military service. Then, if they don't stay in the military, they may go on to university. Those chosen to stay in service may be tapped to become a commissioned officer after attending one of the military academies. Marcus Stanbridge, the Suriname Commissioner of Education, is obviously destined for great things. He has risen to his present post in only seven years. Strikingly handsome at 31, boasting a body to die for and a mind second to none, nobody expects him to be around Suriname more than a couple of years.
Flavius notices that he has been seated between the minister and his father. John is between his father and the general. Obviously Flavius is to entertain the minister. The general will be expected to yield to the governor, so that leaves the general with Sabinus, who is seated to his right. Sabinus is the least attractive but best endowed of the interns. His organ will keep the general happy. That leaves the bishop with Sextus and the commissioner with Claudius. An ideal arrangement all around.
The low table is round and the guests are seated on curved armless sofas that fit together so that the diners can recline and relax very much as the ancients did.
The menu is also influenced by foods consumed in the First Empire. Things like olives, figs, and pomegranates are abundant. Raw cabbage dipped in vinegar. Several vegetables, leeks, carrots, and cucumber. Swordfish steaks. More than one wine. (Beer was drunk only by the lower classes.)
The dinner is served by young girls from the local culinary school. It is quite an honor to be chosen to serve on an occasion like this. And the girls get quite an earful and an eyeful as the dinner proceeds. The conversation can be quite raucous, and Titus particularly doesn't hesitate to fondle Flavius' prong. Flavius doesn't hesitate to respond. By the time the final course of cheese and grapes is served, the diners are feeling no pain. The wine is having its effect and there are hards-on all around.