Post by Lorpius Prime on Jun 4, 2009 13:48:25 GMT -5
"I see that the rumors have been true, then," the man on the couch across from Eduard said. He picked up his teacup from the little glass table between them and sipped from it.
"In part," Eduard nodded. "We're making the public announcement later today."
"I wish you had told me sooner," said the other man, keeping his mouth concealed behind the teacup, "I would have liked to have met some of these Tadpoles."
"If all goes well, then I'm sure you will have an opportunity to meet them soon, Mr. Prime Minister." Eduard only wished he could be surer that all would go well.
The man with the teacup nodded. He looked at Eduard for several seconds, and looked as if he was about to say something, but then he closed his eyes and set the teacup back down on its table.
"I look forward to it," he said once that was done, and then leaned back in his couch. "But why don't we move on to the question you'd really like to ask me, Eduard."
Eduard Molinas suppressed a sigh, with only partial success. The man across from him pretended not to notice, which only irritated Eduard more. Eduard shouldn't have to be doing this; he had already beaten this man. Life was playing a cruel prank indeed to force Eduard to come to this man and beg.
Subhas Jahnavi, the Prime Minister of India, was clearly aware of the irony himself, and was relishing every moment of it. He kept a tiny smile on his face as he waited for Eduard to get on with business. Eduard set his teeth; he might as well get on with it.
"Well, Mr. Prime Minister, I'm afraid that Councilor Trautmann has made it abundantly clear that the OES just doesn't have the resources to fully compensate the colonial shareholders when we seize the habitat ships."
"Oh," Jahnavi said in feigned surprise. He kept looking at Eduard, apparently with nothing else to add yet.
"Yes," Eduard continued, "the technologies the Tadpoles are giving us should be immensely valuable, but they just don't have enough immediate value to offset the loss. And," Eduard clenched a fist, "we've discovered that the colonial company is an even bigger sinkhole than we previously thought. Wilhelm doesn't think there's any way to stop them from going under at all now."
"You just want to minimize the damage," Jahnavi nodded.
"Correct. We're worried about the exposure that some of the invested companies have to this. If we can't soften the blow even somewhat for them, we could end up toppling a lot of dominoes."
"Well I can see why you're worried, Eduard. A recession like that could be pretty bad for you."
"I think it'd be bad for everyone, Subhas," Eduard's eyes narrowed.
The Prime Minister nodded. Then he put a finger beside his chin, "So you're hoping that India will cover the check you want to write to the company."
"I'm asking everyone to help," Eduard said, "but your country does have quite substantial resources at its disposal, Mr. Prime Minister. You could ensure that we make it."
"I could." Jahnavi leaned forward, "But why would I do that?"
Eduard could feel his blood beginning to boil; it was going to be like this after all.
"Because it's the right thing to do?" he asked, not trying hard to conceal his sarcasm.
"What? To save a bunch of corporate suits from the consequences of their own greed and stupidity?"
"A lot of people depend on those companies, Subhas. A lot of countries do too." Eduard didn't know why he was arguing this; Jahnavi wasn't really bothered by corporate welfare.
"You mean a lot of politicians do," the Prime Minister seethed. "Including yourself, Eduard. How long do you think it'll be before you're impeached if all your sponsors suddenly go up in smoke?"
"Dammit, Subhas." Eduard didn't have a proper table in front of him, so he brought his fist down against his knee. "This is not about me!"
Jahnavi sneered. "Of course it's about you, Eduard. It's always been about you. And your ego. The only reason you ran for Chief Executive was because it was next. Well congratulations on achieving your ambitions, Chief. You've built your career on no principles but yourself, and now you get to watch it all crumble around you."
Eduard stared. He was no longer enraged, he was horrified. Personal grudges were one thing, but Jahnavi was putting his ahead of the well-being of his country and his entire planet.
"Mr. Prime Minister, whatever sort of man you might think I am, I am still responsible for the security of the Human—"
Jahnavi bolted to his feet, shouting, "Don't lecture me about your responsibilities! I have been watching Earth Fleet wither for the last two years while you ran the OES like it was your own personal fiefdom!"
"You can't—"
"Where are Moscows, Ed? The first was supposed to launch last year and now you're telling the Assembly it won't be ready for another eight months? That the New Delhi isn't going to finish until seventy six? Because you've stopped working on her?"
"There's no money, Subhas," Eduard said. As Jahnavi grew angrier, Eduard could feel his own voice becoming calmer. It was like dealing with a child throwing a tantrum.
"Bullshit!" the Prime Minister dismissed the explanation with a chopping gesture. "You've got the biggest budget of any OES administration ever, you've just been using the Fleet's contracts to hand out political favors."
"The project is eight times over budget. If we tried to force the original terms, the ships would never get built at all."
"They're not getting built, Eduard! Neither is anything else! The Uruguay program's been gutted. You've ordered three new heavy cruisers! Three! The last administration ordered fifteen! You're launching exactly one cruiser in 2075 and no destroyers. What are you doing?"
Eduard slammed a fist into his open palm, "I'm trying to build the next generation of warships for the Fleet! I'm trying to expand our infrastructure and upgrade our unmanned defenses that we've neglected!"
"I liked your nephew's speech where he talked about expanding the Kampala elevator. But he forgot to mention that its orbital defenses are still in phase two of construction planning."
Eduard ignored him, "I'm trying to expand the Fleet's training program so that we can actually crew the new ships we build. And for God's sake, man, I'm trying to negotiate deals with advanced alien races so that our species might actually live through the next century!"
He glowered at Jahnavi. The Prime Minister stared back, his face twitching with anger. After a minute or two of tense silence, Jahnavi dropped back onto his couch. He turned his head to look away from the Chief Executive.
Eduard let out a long sigh. "We're making the announcement later today," he said again, "and I'm sure the open markets are going to take a nosedive when we do. But if we can get your support for extra contributions to pay compensation, I'm sure we can mitigate the worst of the damage."
"I'll take it to parliament this evening," Jahnavi still refused to look at his guest.
Eduard ran his hands across his forehead, "If you're not behind it, Prime Minister, you know your parliament's going to tear it apart."
Now Jahnavi turned to face forward again, and he gave Eduard a disgusted look. "I'll take it to my parliament, Ed. They're the ones who get to decide these matters; I don't have any delusions of being an autocrat like you."
Of course not, Eduard sighed again. But it was really the best he could ask for, and more than he had seriously expected anyway.
"All right then," he stood up. Jahnavi did the same. "I had better keep making the rounds about this. Thank you, Prime Minister."
"Of course, Chief Molinas."
Both men stood there awkwardly for a moment, and Eduard felt his arm twitch. But, ultimately, neither man could bring himself to shake the other's hand. Eduard eventually broke the pause by stepping around the couch towards the office's exit.
He forced himself to smile. There would be journalists wielding cameras outside, and Eduard would have to tell them that he and Prime Minister Jahnavi had just had a friendly and productive meeting.
Lieutenant Commander David Sykes greeted them at the airlock. His ship, the EFA Barn Swallow, was among the very largest vessels in Earth Fleet's roster. Almost as long as the Fleet's enormous Uruguay heavy cruisers, the Barn Swallow had more than twice their diameter. None of that mountainous volume was devoted to offensive weapons. The only weapons the vessel mounted at all were four short-range lasers mounted in pods for point-defense.
The Barn Swallow was a freighter, its job was to carry the supplies and equipment consumed by Earth Fleet's spacers and vessels from Earth to the Fleet's distant outposts. Earth Fleet was the only Human operator of such vessels. All of Earth's private cargo transports were little more than short-range shuttles which transferred goods between the elevator stations and Bat freighters waiting in designated safe orbits. The Fleet, however, had to rely on its own means to keep its outposts on the Moon, Mars, Venus, and in the Asteroid Belt functional. And so the Fleet built and maintained vessels like the Barn Swallow.
"I hope you had a pleasant trip reaching us," Captain Sykes said. He smiled at the diplomats before nodding to Commodore Lee and her adjutant. Chief Engels and Spacer Apprentice Mohammed had already excused themselves to go kill time with the pilots of the Barn Swallow's cargo shuttles.
Pascual nodded vaguely in response to Sykes. He had decided that someone else could be the group spokesman for a while. He was still recovering from the massive dose of anti-nausea drugs that had been pushed into his system during Taffy Eleven's turnaround maneuvers. He'd thought he was actually going to vomit during the rapid switches between acceleration and zero gravity. Lieutenant Muyskens had noticed his expression and quickly found him a barf-bag. Pascual hadn't realized the shuttle was equipped with any, but apparently even the Fleet's spacers still lost their lunches on occasion. Pascual had kept his in the end, but he had a bad taste in his mouth and his head felt a little wobbly.
Sykes must have gotten some sort of response, because he went on, "Good! Then if you'll follow me just this way, we've tried to arrange your quarters and working spaces as close to the personnel shuttle bays as possible."
They followed him. The halls here were much bigger than the aisle inside the shuttle, and Pascual had a much easier time keeping his legs relaxed to properly propel himself along the handle bars.
"Okay, I've got a question," Pascual said a few minutes later as they were climbing a wide ladder to the next deck up. "Why not spin the ship for gravity? You can do that with something like this, right?" From the outside, the Barn Swallow looked like one giant steel cylinder.
Captain Sykes looked back at him, "Yeah. We've done that occasionally, to give the crew a break when we were parked with nothing to do. But it's more important for us to be able to operate when we're accelerating, and the engines can move us at just under two-gee, pulling you straight that way," he pointed to the floor below them.
"Do you usually go that fast?" Pascual asked. He'd always thought Earth Fleet's spacers spent most of their time floating in zero gravity. Weightlessness made him a little ill, but at least it could be fun, too. Living in double Earth's gravity sounded rather less than fun.
"Oh no!" Sykes said to Pascual's relief. He chuckled and paused in mid-swing to rap his knuckles against the hallway ceiling. "She's rated for it, of course, but we'd burn through all of our propellant in a few hours. We usually run in low-gear, tenth of a gravity, maybe a quarter if we're busy. The impulse is much better that way."
"We'll be pushing you a little faster than that, Captain," Commodore Lee said from the center of the group.
"Yes, sir. I've had my boys triple-checking all the stacks; and the engines are all polished up and ready. We won't give you any problems."
The Commodore looked pleased. The Barn Swallow's captain led the little group down a long, gently curving hallway for several more minutes before coming to a halt in front of a wide hatchway. A plastic sign which read "Guest Quarters" had been pasted up over the door.
"Here we are," Sykes said. He let go of the handlebars and hooked his toes into a lip under the door so that he could grab onto the hatch's lever. It released with a clunk, and Sykes pushed his way inside.
Pascual entered first.
"As you can see," Sykes said as his guests started filing in, "we've put down carpets so that you can keep using the walkies they gave you back at the elevator. My personal recommendation would be to keep practicing on the bars, though, since you'll need them to get around on the ship, and you can move around a lot faster that way anyhow."
Sykes smiled as the last of Rokden's delegation passed through the hatch, followed by Lieutenant Muyskens. She hurried out the way quickly so that Sykes could shut the door again behind her.
They were standing against one wall of a wide room. It looked even larger than it was because the ceiling was low to allow access to its handlebars. The walls were temporary constructions, made out of modular, fabric-covered panels that one might find in the cubicles of an office building. A white table was bolted to the floor in the center of the room, it was about the size of an ordinary dining table, and was equipped with a dozen chairs mounted on swing-out arms.
"So this would be the common room, to hold meetings in conference, or you could also take meals here. The big monitor on the wall there," he pointed to the far side, "is for presentations or video communications, but I suppose you could also watch movies on it if you wanted.
"The individual rooms are along here," he swept his hand across the room. Five doors were set into the walls along the back. "They've each got their own monitor and desk to give you a private working space. Everything's fully connected to the ship's network so you've got access to the rest of the task force and Earth. Internet isn't going to be much fun once we leave, of course, but you're still pretty good for another few hours."
Pascual sighed to himself. He'd never been away from vast and constantly-updated sea of information available on Earth. He hoped that he could adjust, but had heard that it was difficult.
"There's also a bed, and each room has a bathroom with shower and toilet. I'll show you how to use all of those in just a minute," he paused and glanced to Commodore Lee.
The Commodore nodded, and she turned to face the Tadpoles of Rokden's delegation.
"Ambassador Rokden, you and your assistants are welcome to return to your own transport at any time. We have prepared these rooms for you if you would like to be able to conduct face-to-face meetings with Ambassador Molinas without the trouble of shuttling back and forth. I understand that there were some technical difficulties with establishing a secure lock between our equipment and your vessel, so this arrangement would make that unnecessary. But as Captain Sykes has said, we are fully capable of conducting any discussions by teleconference, so it should be no trouble if you do not wish to remain here."
The Tadpole ambassador nodded his large head, "Thank you, Commodore. I do prefer to meet in person, as it is both convenient and more secure from outside surveillance." He paused for a moment, and Pascual had to resist the urge to glance at Hyong. Rokden went on, "However, I would like to return to my vessel for a short time, at least. Would it be possible to do so and then return here later?"
"Yes, of course," Commodore Lee said. "We'll be underway in a few hours, but it won't be a problem for the shuttles at low acceleration. I'll arrange for a trip once we're done here."
"Thank you," Rokden said. He placed a hand on his chest and leaned forward slightly; bowing, Pascual supposed.
Hyong spoke next. "Forgive me," the Bat said. He turned to Commodore Lee. "But I have a concern about this arrangement."
The Commodore didn't exactly frown at Hyong, but her expression became noticeably cooler. "What is your concern, Operative Hyongyaheek? Is that your proper form of address?"
"It is simply Operative Yaheek, if you please" Hyong told her. "You have said that this room will be available to meet to Ambassador Molinas, but what about yourself, Commodore? I understand that this vessel is not your flagship."
"No. I will be commanding the task force from the Uruguay, one of our cruisers."
"Then should we not also be aboard that vessel? It will be difficult to observe this mission if the Human commander is elsewhere."
"Ambassador Molinas is Earth's representative to the Tadpoles for this operation," Lee held out a hand towards Pascual. "I am simply the commander of the escort."
"And as Earth's senior military commander on this voyage, you will have significant authority and influence which may affect the conduct of any negotiations," Hyong said. "My apologies if I am being a bother, but your government agreed that I would accompany this expedition to monitor the outcome and your actions. I do not seem to be in a position to do that from here."
"Operative Yaheek," Commodore Lee said sternly, "I am afraid that this is the only position that I can offer you. I do not have the space to accommodate you or the other members of this delegation on the Uruguay. Even if I did, my government would not permit you or Ambassador Rokden to come aboard. The Uruguay is a warship and contains a great deal of classified information and technology that I cannot reveal to most Humans, much less the agents of non-Human governments such as yourself."
She shook her head. "However, my instructions are simply to see all of our vessels safely to Titania and back. You will have full access to our political representation here, and you can use all of the resources here to observe our actions once we've reached Titania. I cannot speak to how much access the Tadpoles themselves will grant you to their colony, but our communications equipment and personnel are available to you. I myself may be on another vessel, but you may contact me even so if you feel that you have an urgent need."
"But this way I cannot be certain you are not conducting hidden operations from your flagship," Hyong countered.
"No, I suppose you cannot," Commodore Lee said, simply. "But if we were seriously attempting to hide something from you, Operative Yaheek, do you think we could not do so even if you were on board my flagship?"
Hyong didn't say anything for a moment. Then he bared his teeth at the uniform woman. "No, I suppose that you could deceive me even then. Very well, Commodore, I will accept your arrangement."
"I'm glad," she nodded respectfully, but Pascual gritted his teeth to hear the sarcasm in her voice. She turned back to Sykes, "Please continue, Captain."
Sykes, who had clearly been getting a little nervous at the conversation, coughed into his fist. "Yes, sir. Right, if everyone would like to come with me, I'll show you how we spacers sleep."
"Captain?"
Casey Rukavina looked up from the PDA in his lap towards the red haired man standing over his shoulder.
"Yes, Commander?"
"You asked to be informed when Chief Molinas was speaking. He's about to start."
"All right, thanks Commander."
He nodded, and the red haired man turned away. Casey flipped his stylus around in his fingers and slid it into the back of his PDA. Then he looked at the man on the monitor in front of him.
"I need to watch this, Knut," Casey said. "I'll get back to you about the rest of these, probably tomorrow."
"No problem, Captain," the man on the screen said. He nodded, which caused the white hat with its blue star to wobble on top of his head. "My team should have most of these cleared up by tomorrow anyway, but I'll keep you posted."
"Thanks," Casey said. He leaned forward to toggle a control on the monitor, but then paused, "Hey, you may want to watch this yourself. Could be good."
Knut shrugged, "I'll give it a listen. See you tomorrow, Captain."
"Bye," Casey closed the connection. Then he flipped the monitor over the broadcast that he had been waiting for. The red and white flag of the OES filled the screen, and an announcer was speaking.
"—ation of Earth States."
The flag faded and was replaced by a video image of the Chief Executive, Eduard Molinas, sitting behind his desk in the OES building in Caracas. His black hair was graying and his eyes looked tired, but he was still wearing a calm smile.
Casey was probably one of the few Fleet spacers who had actually supported Molinas' bid for the Chief Executive's office. Most of his colleagues had backed Subhas Jahnavi because of the Indian Prime Minister's rabid support for the Fleet's construction programs. They also didn't like Molinas' less-than-glowing reputation as a politician. But that had never bothered Casey; Molinas just struck him as a smart guy. Casey had actually met the man once. He had given a speech in Chicago back when he was still Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety and Casey was still in high school. Casey had been able to shake his hand afterward.
He focused on the monitor as the Chief Executive started speaking.
"People of Earth," he said. "Hello.
"As most of you know, a little over two years ago a long-range alien colony ship entered the Solar system. The vessel entered orbit around the planet Uranus and the aliens on board began to colonize the moon Titania. By the time I took office as your Chief Executive, we had still received no communication from this new species. The only information which the Bats could tell us was that they were a race affiliated with the Charterlings whom the Bats called the Kekregka."
Casey was glad to have a different name for them now. "Kekregka" just sounded silly coming out of a Human larynx. Molinas continued after a brief pause.
"Four weeks ago a vessel departed from Titania. Shortly thereafter it arrived in Earth space. The vessel bore several representatives of this unknown species, and they carried a message from their leaders to the people of Earth.
"After this broadcast, the OES will make much of the information that we have gained about these aliens publically available. We still have much to learn about them, especially their culture and their language. Since our first meetings, most of our officials have taken to calling the species "Tadpoles" after their appearance. This is how I will refer to them now and until continued discussions have given us a better alternative." He smiled, probably imagining all the bleeding hearts having conniption fits over the name.
"I was surprised to discover that the Tadpoles have much in common with Humanity," Molinas went on. "Many years ago, they found the star system where they had evolved invaded by distant aliens with fantastic technology. The shock of this experience profoundly altered their society and their history. It sparked new developments in their technology and led them to reach into space and out to the stars with their own explorers. Ultimately, it led them to build and launch the colony ship which reached us in 2070.
"Their technology is ahead of ours, but it is not nearly so advanced as the other races that we have met. Their warp engines will not travel faster than light, and the transport they sent to Earth uses engines little different from those on our own vessels.
"I said that the Tadpoles had a message for us when they came here, and they did. They have asked us for help.
"Despite their extensive preparations, the supplies the Tadpoles brought with them have proved inadequate to the task of colonizing Titania. Their colony is failing and their people are dying. The other aliens in the Solar system have either been unable or unwilling to help them, and their equipment will no longer permit them to return home.
"Facing death, they came to Earth for assistance. We are now the only ones that can save their colony. They know that we are struggling for our own survival, and that the presence of aliens such as themselves in the Solar system is our greatest threat. But they have asked for our help and our friendship anyway. They have offered us samples of some of their advanced technology, and assistance in replicating it ourselves, in exchange for our assistance. Some of this technology may be vital for our efforts to improve our capabilities to match those of the aliens colonizing the planets around us. But in return, we must help one of them to survive and continue to live among us here.
"I have agreed to their offer."
Here it comes, Casey thought.
"On my orders, a task force of nineteen Earth Fleet warships and support vessels has departed for Mars, escorting the Tadpoles' transport," Molinas said. That wasn't quite true: the ships weren't leaving for another few minutes. "Once on station at Mars, Task Force One will assume control of the three habitat transport vessels owned by the New Mars Company, the NMC Discovery, the NMC Destiny, and the NMC Diligence. These vessels represent spaceborne assets critical to the mission of the OES, and so I am invoking Article Four of the OES Charter and drafting them and their crews into Earth Fleet service. Task Force One will escort the habitat ships to Titania, where they will be used to build the foundation of a sustainable settlement for the Tadpoles.
"I know that these vessels represent the work of many years and the investment of much capital. The OES will of course compensate the New Mars Company for its loss, but it will be impossible to truly make up for everything that has already been spent. The Mars Colony was the culmination of more than two centuries of Humanity's hopes and dreams. I know that those dreams will now be put off for many more years, and I do not take this action lightly.
"But what we give up on Mars today, we will gain back two-fold and more in goodwill and friendship from those whom we are sacrificing to rescue. By assisting the Tadpoles, Earth and Humanity will demonstrate not only our willingness to take on a positive role in the interstellar community, but our ability to do so. We are no longer backwards savages capable only of begging for scraps at the table of the Gods. Today we shall help them, and in doing so prove our worth.
"This is the fruit of our progress, and all Humans can be proud today. Because now we begin to leave our own mark among the stars. Now we begin to build our legacy. Look to the future, and know that we will be remembered for what we have done today and what we will continue to do out of our own kindness, for the cause of peace.
"That is the future that we will create. And you—everyone one of you—are the ones who have made it possible. So be proud. Thank you."
Chief Molinas nodded a final time, and the screen turned to black. Casey Rukavina wasn't sure how long he kept staring at it before the red haired man returned and spoke from over his shoulder.
"Captain? Task Force One has started its burn on schedule."
"Thank you, Commander," Casey said. He rubbed at his cheek. "Well then, let's get back to work."
"In part," Eduard nodded. "We're making the public announcement later today."
"I wish you had told me sooner," said the other man, keeping his mouth concealed behind the teacup, "I would have liked to have met some of these Tadpoles."
"If all goes well, then I'm sure you will have an opportunity to meet them soon, Mr. Prime Minister." Eduard only wished he could be surer that all would go well.
The man with the teacup nodded. He looked at Eduard for several seconds, and looked as if he was about to say something, but then he closed his eyes and set the teacup back down on its table.
"I look forward to it," he said once that was done, and then leaned back in his couch. "But why don't we move on to the question you'd really like to ask me, Eduard."
Eduard Molinas suppressed a sigh, with only partial success. The man across from him pretended not to notice, which only irritated Eduard more. Eduard shouldn't have to be doing this; he had already beaten this man. Life was playing a cruel prank indeed to force Eduard to come to this man and beg.
Subhas Jahnavi, the Prime Minister of India, was clearly aware of the irony himself, and was relishing every moment of it. He kept a tiny smile on his face as he waited for Eduard to get on with business. Eduard set his teeth; he might as well get on with it.
"Well, Mr. Prime Minister, I'm afraid that Councilor Trautmann has made it abundantly clear that the OES just doesn't have the resources to fully compensate the colonial shareholders when we seize the habitat ships."
"Oh," Jahnavi said in feigned surprise. He kept looking at Eduard, apparently with nothing else to add yet.
"Yes," Eduard continued, "the technologies the Tadpoles are giving us should be immensely valuable, but they just don't have enough immediate value to offset the loss. And," Eduard clenched a fist, "we've discovered that the colonial company is an even bigger sinkhole than we previously thought. Wilhelm doesn't think there's any way to stop them from going under at all now."
"You just want to minimize the damage," Jahnavi nodded.
"Correct. We're worried about the exposure that some of the invested companies have to this. If we can't soften the blow even somewhat for them, we could end up toppling a lot of dominoes."
"Well I can see why you're worried, Eduard. A recession like that could be pretty bad for you."
"I think it'd be bad for everyone, Subhas," Eduard's eyes narrowed.
The Prime Minister nodded. Then he put a finger beside his chin, "So you're hoping that India will cover the check you want to write to the company."
"I'm asking everyone to help," Eduard said, "but your country does have quite substantial resources at its disposal, Mr. Prime Minister. You could ensure that we make it."
"I could." Jahnavi leaned forward, "But why would I do that?"
Eduard could feel his blood beginning to boil; it was going to be like this after all.
"Because it's the right thing to do?" he asked, not trying hard to conceal his sarcasm.
"What? To save a bunch of corporate suits from the consequences of their own greed and stupidity?"
"A lot of people depend on those companies, Subhas. A lot of countries do too." Eduard didn't know why he was arguing this; Jahnavi wasn't really bothered by corporate welfare.
"You mean a lot of politicians do," the Prime Minister seethed. "Including yourself, Eduard. How long do you think it'll be before you're impeached if all your sponsors suddenly go up in smoke?"
"Dammit, Subhas." Eduard didn't have a proper table in front of him, so he brought his fist down against his knee. "This is not about me!"
Jahnavi sneered. "Of course it's about you, Eduard. It's always been about you. And your ego. The only reason you ran for Chief Executive was because it was next. Well congratulations on achieving your ambitions, Chief. You've built your career on no principles but yourself, and now you get to watch it all crumble around you."
Eduard stared. He was no longer enraged, he was horrified. Personal grudges were one thing, but Jahnavi was putting his ahead of the well-being of his country and his entire planet.
"Mr. Prime Minister, whatever sort of man you might think I am, I am still responsible for the security of the Human—"
Jahnavi bolted to his feet, shouting, "Don't lecture me about your responsibilities! I have been watching Earth Fleet wither for the last two years while you ran the OES like it was your own personal fiefdom!"
"You can't—"
"Where are Moscows, Ed? The first was supposed to launch last year and now you're telling the Assembly it won't be ready for another eight months? That the New Delhi isn't going to finish until seventy six? Because you've stopped working on her?"
"There's no money, Subhas," Eduard said. As Jahnavi grew angrier, Eduard could feel his own voice becoming calmer. It was like dealing with a child throwing a tantrum.
"Bullshit!" the Prime Minister dismissed the explanation with a chopping gesture. "You've got the biggest budget of any OES administration ever, you've just been using the Fleet's contracts to hand out political favors."
"The project is eight times over budget. If we tried to force the original terms, the ships would never get built at all."
"They're not getting built, Eduard! Neither is anything else! The Uruguay program's been gutted. You've ordered three new heavy cruisers! Three! The last administration ordered fifteen! You're launching exactly one cruiser in 2075 and no destroyers. What are you doing?"
Eduard slammed a fist into his open palm, "I'm trying to build the next generation of warships for the Fleet! I'm trying to expand our infrastructure and upgrade our unmanned defenses that we've neglected!"
"I liked your nephew's speech where he talked about expanding the Kampala elevator. But he forgot to mention that its orbital defenses are still in phase two of construction planning."
Eduard ignored him, "I'm trying to expand the Fleet's training program so that we can actually crew the new ships we build. And for God's sake, man, I'm trying to negotiate deals with advanced alien races so that our species might actually live through the next century!"
He glowered at Jahnavi. The Prime Minister stared back, his face twitching with anger. After a minute or two of tense silence, Jahnavi dropped back onto his couch. He turned his head to look away from the Chief Executive.
Eduard let out a long sigh. "We're making the announcement later today," he said again, "and I'm sure the open markets are going to take a nosedive when we do. But if we can get your support for extra contributions to pay compensation, I'm sure we can mitigate the worst of the damage."
"I'll take it to parliament this evening," Jahnavi still refused to look at his guest.
Eduard ran his hands across his forehead, "If you're not behind it, Prime Minister, you know your parliament's going to tear it apart."
Now Jahnavi turned to face forward again, and he gave Eduard a disgusted look. "I'll take it to my parliament, Ed. They're the ones who get to decide these matters; I don't have any delusions of being an autocrat like you."
Of course not, Eduard sighed again. But it was really the best he could ask for, and more than he had seriously expected anyway.
"All right then," he stood up. Jahnavi did the same. "I had better keep making the rounds about this. Thank you, Prime Minister."
"Of course, Chief Molinas."
Both men stood there awkwardly for a moment, and Eduard felt his arm twitch. But, ultimately, neither man could bring himself to shake the other's hand. Eduard eventually broke the pause by stepping around the couch towards the office's exit.
He forced himself to smile. There would be journalists wielding cameras outside, and Eduard would have to tell them that he and Prime Minister Jahnavi had just had a friendly and productive meeting.
* * *
Lieutenant Commander David Sykes greeted them at the airlock. His ship, the EFA Barn Swallow, was among the very largest vessels in Earth Fleet's roster. Almost as long as the Fleet's enormous Uruguay heavy cruisers, the Barn Swallow had more than twice their diameter. None of that mountainous volume was devoted to offensive weapons. The only weapons the vessel mounted at all were four short-range lasers mounted in pods for point-defense.
The Barn Swallow was a freighter, its job was to carry the supplies and equipment consumed by Earth Fleet's spacers and vessels from Earth to the Fleet's distant outposts. Earth Fleet was the only Human operator of such vessels. All of Earth's private cargo transports were little more than short-range shuttles which transferred goods between the elevator stations and Bat freighters waiting in designated safe orbits. The Fleet, however, had to rely on its own means to keep its outposts on the Moon, Mars, Venus, and in the Asteroid Belt functional. And so the Fleet built and maintained vessels like the Barn Swallow.
"I hope you had a pleasant trip reaching us," Captain Sykes said. He smiled at the diplomats before nodding to Commodore Lee and her adjutant. Chief Engels and Spacer Apprentice Mohammed had already excused themselves to go kill time with the pilots of the Barn Swallow's cargo shuttles.
Pascual nodded vaguely in response to Sykes. He had decided that someone else could be the group spokesman for a while. He was still recovering from the massive dose of anti-nausea drugs that had been pushed into his system during Taffy Eleven's turnaround maneuvers. He'd thought he was actually going to vomit during the rapid switches between acceleration and zero gravity. Lieutenant Muyskens had noticed his expression and quickly found him a barf-bag. Pascual hadn't realized the shuttle was equipped with any, but apparently even the Fleet's spacers still lost their lunches on occasion. Pascual had kept his in the end, but he had a bad taste in his mouth and his head felt a little wobbly.
Sykes must have gotten some sort of response, because he went on, "Good! Then if you'll follow me just this way, we've tried to arrange your quarters and working spaces as close to the personnel shuttle bays as possible."
They followed him. The halls here were much bigger than the aisle inside the shuttle, and Pascual had a much easier time keeping his legs relaxed to properly propel himself along the handle bars.
"Okay, I've got a question," Pascual said a few minutes later as they were climbing a wide ladder to the next deck up. "Why not spin the ship for gravity? You can do that with something like this, right?" From the outside, the Barn Swallow looked like one giant steel cylinder.
Captain Sykes looked back at him, "Yeah. We've done that occasionally, to give the crew a break when we were parked with nothing to do. But it's more important for us to be able to operate when we're accelerating, and the engines can move us at just under two-gee, pulling you straight that way," he pointed to the floor below them.
"Do you usually go that fast?" Pascual asked. He'd always thought Earth Fleet's spacers spent most of their time floating in zero gravity. Weightlessness made him a little ill, but at least it could be fun, too. Living in double Earth's gravity sounded rather less than fun.
"Oh no!" Sykes said to Pascual's relief. He chuckled and paused in mid-swing to rap his knuckles against the hallway ceiling. "She's rated for it, of course, but we'd burn through all of our propellant in a few hours. We usually run in low-gear, tenth of a gravity, maybe a quarter if we're busy. The impulse is much better that way."
"We'll be pushing you a little faster than that, Captain," Commodore Lee said from the center of the group.
"Yes, sir. I've had my boys triple-checking all the stacks; and the engines are all polished up and ready. We won't give you any problems."
The Commodore looked pleased. The Barn Swallow's captain led the little group down a long, gently curving hallway for several more minutes before coming to a halt in front of a wide hatchway. A plastic sign which read "Guest Quarters" had been pasted up over the door.
"Here we are," Sykes said. He let go of the handlebars and hooked his toes into a lip under the door so that he could grab onto the hatch's lever. It released with a clunk, and Sykes pushed his way inside.
Pascual entered first.
"As you can see," Sykes said as his guests started filing in, "we've put down carpets so that you can keep using the walkies they gave you back at the elevator. My personal recommendation would be to keep practicing on the bars, though, since you'll need them to get around on the ship, and you can move around a lot faster that way anyhow."
Sykes smiled as the last of Rokden's delegation passed through the hatch, followed by Lieutenant Muyskens. She hurried out the way quickly so that Sykes could shut the door again behind her.
They were standing against one wall of a wide room. It looked even larger than it was because the ceiling was low to allow access to its handlebars. The walls were temporary constructions, made out of modular, fabric-covered panels that one might find in the cubicles of an office building. A white table was bolted to the floor in the center of the room, it was about the size of an ordinary dining table, and was equipped with a dozen chairs mounted on swing-out arms.
"So this would be the common room, to hold meetings in conference, or you could also take meals here. The big monitor on the wall there," he pointed to the far side, "is for presentations or video communications, but I suppose you could also watch movies on it if you wanted.
"The individual rooms are along here," he swept his hand across the room. Five doors were set into the walls along the back. "They've each got their own monitor and desk to give you a private working space. Everything's fully connected to the ship's network so you've got access to the rest of the task force and Earth. Internet isn't going to be much fun once we leave, of course, but you're still pretty good for another few hours."
Pascual sighed to himself. He'd never been away from vast and constantly-updated sea of information available on Earth. He hoped that he could adjust, but had heard that it was difficult.
"There's also a bed, and each room has a bathroom with shower and toilet. I'll show you how to use all of those in just a minute," he paused and glanced to Commodore Lee.
The Commodore nodded, and she turned to face the Tadpoles of Rokden's delegation.
"Ambassador Rokden, you and your assistants are welcome to return to your own transport at any time. We have prepared these rooms for you if you would like to be able to conduct face-to-face meetings with Ambassador Molinas without the trouble of shuttling back and forth. I understand that there were some technical difficulties with establishing a secure lock between our equipment and your vessel, so this arrangement would make that unnecessary. But as Captain Sykes has said, we are fully capable of conducting any discussions by teleconference, so it should be no trouble if you do not wish to remain here."
The Tadpole ambassador nodded his large head, "Thank you, Commodore. I do prefer to meet in person, as it is both convenient and more secure from outside surveillance." He paused for a moment, and Pascual had to resist the urge to glance at Hyong. Rokden went on, "However, I would like to return to my vessel for a short time, at least. Would it be possible to do so and then return here later?"
"Yes, of course," Commodore Lee said. "We'll be underway in a few hours, but it won't be a problem for the shuttles at low acceleration. I'll arrange for a trip once we're done here."
"Thank you," Rokden said. He placed a hand on his chest and leaned forward slightly; bowing, Pascual supposed.
Hyong spoke next. "Forgive me," the Bat said. He turned to Commodore Lee. "But I have a concern about this arrangement."
The Commodore didn't exactly frown at Hyong, but her expression became noticeably cooler. "What is your concern, Operative Hyongyaheek? Is that your proper form of address?"
"It is simply Operative Yaheek, if you please" Hyong told her. "You have said that this room will be available to meet to Ambassador Molinas, but what about yourself, Commodore? I understand that this vessel is not your flagship."
"No. I will be commanding the task force from the Uruguay, one of our cruisers."
"Then should we not also be aboard that vessel? It will be difficult to observe this mission if the Human commander is elsewhere."
"Ambassador Molinas is Earth's representative to the Tadpoles for this operation," Lee held out a hand towards Pascual. "I am simply the commander of the escort."
"And as Earth's senior military commander on this voyage, you will have significant authority and influence which may affect the conduct of any negotiations," Hyong said. "My apologies if I am being a bother, but your government agreed that I would accompany this expedition to monitor the outcome and your actions. I do not seem to be in a position to do that from here."
"Operative Yaheek," Commodore Lee said sternly, "I am afraid that this is the only position that I can offer you. I do not have the space to accommodate you or the other members of this delegation on the Uruguay. Even if I did, my government would not permit you or Ambassador Rokden to come aboard. The Uruguay is a warship and contains a great deal of classified information and technology that I cannot reveal to most Humans, much less the agents of non-Human governments such as yourself."
She shook her head. "However, my instructions are simply to see all of our vessels safely to Titania and back. You will have full access to our political representation here, and you can use all of the resources here to observe our actions once we've reached Titania. I cannot speak to how much access the Tadpoles themselves will grant you to their colony, but our communications equipment and personnel are available to you. I myself may be on another vessel, but you may contact me even so if you feel that you have an urgent need."
"But this way I cannot be certain you are not conducting hidden operations from your flagship," Hyong countered.
"No, I suppose you cannot," Commodore Lee said, simply. "But if we were seriously attempting to hide something from you, Operative Yaheek, do you think we could not do so even if you were on board my flagship?"
Hyong didn't say anything for a moment. Then he bared his teeth at the uniform woman. "No, I suppose that you could deceive me even then. Very well, Commodore, I will accept your arrangement."
"I'm glad," she nodded respectfully, but Pascual gritted his teeth to hear the sarcasm in her voice. She turned back to Sykes, "Please continue, Captain."
Sykes, who had clearly been getting a little nervous at the conversation, coughed into his fist. "Yes, sir. Right, if everyone would like to come with me, I'll show you how we spacers sleep."
* * *
"Captain?"
Casey Rukavina looked up from the PDA in his lap towards the red haired man standing over his shoulder.
"Yes, Commander?"
"You asked to be informed when Chief Molinas was speaking. He's about to start."
"All right, thanks Commander."
He nodded, and the red haired man turned away. Casey flipped his stylus around in his fingers and slid it into the back of his PDA. Then he looked at the man on the monitor in front of him.
"I need to watch this, Knut," Casey said. "I'll get back to you about the rest of these, probably tomorrow."
"No problem, Captain," the man on the screen said. He nodded, which caused the white hat with its blue star to wobble on top of his head. "My team should have most of these cleared up by tomorrow anyway, but I'll keep you posted."
"Thanks," Casey said. He leaned forward to toggle a control on the monitor, but then paused, "Hey, you may want to watch this yourself. Could be good."
Knut shrugged, "I'll give it a listen. See you tomorrow, Captain."
"Bye," Casey closed the connection. Then he flipped the monitor over the broadcast that he had been waiting for. The red and white flag of the OES filled the screen, and an announcer was speaking.
"—ation of Earth States."
The flag faded and was replaced by a video image of the Chief Executive, Eduard Molinas, sitting behind his desk in the OES building in Caracas. His black hair was graying and his eyes looked tired, but he was still wearing a calm smile.
Casey was probably one of the few Fleet spacers who had actually supported Molinas' bid for the Chief Executive's office. Most of his colleagues had backed Subhas Jahnavi because of the Indian Prime Minister's rabid support for the Fleet's construction programs. They also didn't like Molinas' less-than-glowing reputation as a politician. But that had never bothered Casey; Molinas just struck him as a smart guy. Casey had actually met the man once. He had given a speech in Chicago back when he was still Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety and Casey was still in high school. Casey had been able to shake his hand afterward.
He focused on the monitor as the Chief Executive started speaking.
"People of Earth," he said. "Hello.
"As most of you know, a little over two years ago a long-range alien colony ship entered the Solar system. The vessel entered orbit around the planet Uranus and the aliens on board began to colonize the moon Titania. By the time I took office as your Chief Executive, we had still received no communication from this new species. The only information which the Bats could tell us was that they were a race affiliated with the Charterlings whom the Bats called the Kekregka."
Casey was glad to have a different name for them now. "Kekregka" just sounded silly coming out of a Human larynx. Molinas continued after a brief pause.
"Four weeks ago a vessel departed from Titania. Shortly thereafter it arrived in Earth space. The vessel bore several representatives of this unknown species, and they carried a message from their leaders to the people of Earth.
"After this broadcast, the OES will make much of the information that we have gained about these aliens publically available. We still have much to learn about them, especially their culture and their language. Since our first meetings, most of our officials have taken to calling the species "Tadpoles" after their appearance. This is how I will refer to them now and until continued discussions have given us a better alternative." He smiled, probably imagining all the bleeding hearts having conniption fits over the name.
"I was surprised to discover that the Tadpoles have much in common with Humanity," Molinas went on. "Many years ago, they found the star system where they had evolved invaded by distant aliens with fantastic technology. The shock of this experience profoundly altered their society and their history. It sparked new developments in their technology and led them to reach into space and out to the stars with their own explorers. Ultimately, it led them to build and launch the colony ship which reached us in 2070.
"Their technology is ahead of ours, but it is not nearly so advanced as the other races that we have met. Their warp engines will not travel faster than light, and the transport they sent to Earth uses engines little different from those on our own vessels.
"I said that the Tadpoles had a message for us when they came here, and they did. They have asked us for help.
"Despite their extensive preparations, the supplies the Tadpoles brought with them have proved inadequate to the task of colonizing Titania. Their colony is failing and their people are dying. The other aliens in the Solar system have either been unable or unwilling to help them, and their equipment will no longer permit them to return home.
"Facing death, they came to Earth for assistance. We are now the only ones that can save their colony. They know that we are struggling for our own survival, and that the presence of aliens such as themselves in the Solar system is our greatest threat. But they have asked for our help and our friendship anyway. They have offered us samples of some of their advanced technology, and assistance in replicating it ourselves, in exchange for our assistance. Some of this technology may be vital for our efforts to improve our capabilities to match those of the aliens colonizing the planets around us. But in return, we must help one of them to survive and continue to live among us here.
"I have agreed to their offer."
Here it comes, Casey thought.
"On my orders, a task force of nineteen Earth Fleet warships and support vessels has departed for Mars, escorting the Tadpoles' transport," Molinas said. That wasn't quite true: the ships weren't leaving for another few minutes. "Once on station at Mars, Task Force One will assume control of the three habitat transport vessels owned by the New Mars Company, the NMC Discovery, the NMC Destiny, and the NMC Diligence. These vessels represent spaceborne assets critical to the mission of the OES, and so I am invoking Article Four of the OES Charter and drafting them and their crews into Earth Fleet service. Task Force One will escort the habitat ships to Titania, where they will be used to build the foundation of a sustainable settlement for the Tadpoles.
"I know that these vessels represent the work of many years and the investment of much capital. The OES will of course compensate the New Mars Company for its loss, but it will be impossible to truly make up for everything that has already been spent. The Mars Colony was the culmination of more than two centuries of Humanity's hopes and dreams. I know that those dreams will now be put off for many more years, and I do not take this action lightly.
"But what we give up on Mars today, we will gain back two-fold and more in goodwill and friendship from those whom we are sacrificing to rescue. By assisting the Tadpoles, Earth and Humanity will demonstrate not only our willingness to take on a positive role in the interstellar community, but our ability to do so. We are no longer backwards savages capable only of begging for scraps at the table of the Gods. Today we shall help them, and in doing so prove our worth.
"This is the fruit of our progress, and all Humans can be proud today. Because now we begin to leave our own mark among the stars. Now we begin to build our legacy. Look to the future, and know that we will be remembered for what we have done today and what we will continue to do out of our own kindness, for the cause of peace.
"That is the future that we will create. And you—everyone one of you—are the ones who have made it possible. So be proud. Thank you."
Chief Molinas nodded a final time, and the screen turned to black. Casey Rukavina wasn't sure how long he kept staring at it before the red haired man returned and spoke from over his shoulder.
"Captain? Task Force One has started its burn on schedule."
"Thank you, Commander," Casey said. He rubbed at his cheek. "Well then, let's get back to work."