Changes

== The triggering ==

== The triggering ==

In the winter of the last year of the strike, John Galt was arrested. The government held Galt in the [[penthouse]] of the Wayne-Falkland Hotel for about a week while they attempted to persuade him to take the post of "Economic Dictator" of the country. They then attempted to force Galt to participate in a [[radio]]-[[television]] simulcast program to announce a new "plan for peace and prosperity" with his name on it. Instead of cooperating, Galt showed the entire country that someone was aiming a gun at him, and then said, "Get...out of my way."

In the winter of the last year of the strike, [[John Galt]] was arrested. The government held Galt in the [[penthouse]] of the Wayne-Falkland Hotel for about a week while they attempted to persuade him to take the post of "Economic Dictator" of the country. They then attempted to force Galt to participate in a [[radio]]-[[television]] simulcast program to announce a new "plan for peace and prosperity" with his name on it. Instead of cooperating, Galt showed the entire country that someone was aiming a gun at him, and then said, "Get...out of my way."

Robert Stadler did not remain in New York to watch that program. Instead, after a humiliating scene with Galt (at Galt's demand), he drove directly to the site of Project X, intending to seize control of it and rule the area of its influence as his private feudal domain.

Robert Stadler did not remain in New York to watch that program. Instead, after a humiliating scene with Galt (at Galt's demand), he drove directly to Harmony City, intending to seize control of the Xylophone and rule the area of its influence as his private feudal domain.

But when he arrived, he found the Project site already occupied by a gang of thugs, led by [[Cuffy Meigs]], who was probably the most militant, and the most corrupt, of all the [[Washington, DC]] insiders. Meigs boasted that he, as the leader of the "Friends of the People," was now in charge, and that he and his men could care for the Xylophone without help. Stadler, incredulous, struggled with Meigs, on the level of physical violence, for control of the Xylophone. In the process, Meigs pulled one of its levers.

But when he arrived, he found the Project site already occupied by a gang of thugs, led by [[Cuffy Meigs]], who was probably the most militant, and the most corrupt, of all the [[Washington, DC]] insiders. Meigs boasted that he, as the leader of the "Friends of the People," was now in charge, and that he and his men could care for the Xylophone without help. Stadler, incredulous, struggled with Meigs, on the level of physical violence, for control of the Xylophone. In the process, Meigs pulled one of its levers.