War Orphans (The Terra Nova Chronicles)

by Robert Dean Hall

  “Well, then, if that is the perception, I can see where punishing everyone that came with him would be quite an accomplishment for a government that might otherwise appear ineffectual. Misdirected revenge often looks like true justice. Earth’s citizens will finally get to see someone pay for the theft of the greenhouse. Never mind there was prior knowledge of his intentions on the part of your government, and he could have been stopped if they had chosen to. Don’t bother to wonder if Chamberlain and those who came to Zunnuki with him had a valid reason to leave Earth to begin with.”

  “Before you go too far with this, remember who you’re talking to. You still haven’t completely convinced me Chamberlain himself wasn’t connected to the Ekkidans, or even that it matters.”

  “Did you not listen to Wilkes this morning, Vijay?”

  “Chamberlain may not have led the Zunnuki raids,” Gupta replied, “but, he and all of the other Terrans on this rock still took a valuable resource Earth needed badly and brought it here without permission for their own selfish reasons. My orders are to prosecute the remaining colonists. If it comes out later there was some sort of mutiny and Ekkidan rebels were involved, it still won’t change things. Those people came along willingly and they all bear the responsibility.”

  Calf Stealer brought his fist down on the table heavily. The sound caught the attention of most of the other patrons, who turned curious eyes in his direction to see if they could tell what the commotion was about.

  Calf Stealer lowered his voice and spoke through clenched teeth. “Maybe they are all guilty of theft by deception, but not all of them bear responsibility for what was done to the Zunnuki. Most of those still living were morally outraged and eventually overthrew Yuen with our help. They are heroes and they represent what is good in your people.”

  “For your government to dismiss that as inconsequential and sacrifice them for the sake of diplomacy is the worst form of hypocrisy and it offends me and my people,” Calf Stealer added. “Azir’s people will also look at you with suspicion from now on, especially if your government continues the whitewash it is hell-bent on perpetrating. After that, it would serve no purpose whatsoever to bring Yuen or the Ekkidans up, for any reason. You must see that, Vijay. You aren’t a fool.”

  “Are you telling me you believe the truth will never be told?”

  “Are you telling me after our briefing this morning, you believe it will. It has to be obvious to you by now Wilkes has been ordered to do whatever he must to ensure the Earth government or the Ekkidans can never be implicated in this. That’s the only explanation for his refusal to allow you to see the records of any of the military personnel among the colonists.”

  “I also believe,” Calf Stealer added, giving Gupta a concerned glance, “he will do everything in his power to coerce you into prosecuting all of the colonists for war crimes, hoping you will find a few who are willing to implicate Chamberlain in return for clemency. The tribunals will be show trials. They’ll be staged for the entertainment of those who have been led to believe Chamberlain was an elitist criminal. After all is said and done, none of your planet’s ills will have been addressed and, worse yet, the true criminals will escape to do more evil.”

  The waitress brought Gupta’s beer and Calf Stealer’s food. As she sat everything down on the table, Gupta told her he would also like steak and eggs. He then picked up the beer and took a large gulp.

  Calf Stealer closely studied the waitress a second time as she walked back to the kitchen.

  “I really need to see what’s on the tablet Azir is holding,” Gupta said.

  “I agree. I have a feeling it won’t be today, however.” Calf Stealer attacked his meal with an angry knife and fork. He put a bite of steak in his mouth to chew and drew a heavy breath. His distress with the situation settled like a storm cloud on his shoulders. “I think I’ll have another beer, after all.”

  “You normally take shit like this much better than I do,” Gupta remarked. “You could be jumping to conclusions, you know? I don’t believe we have enough to go on. Drew might share more with us later.”

  “You’re forgetting I’ve been on the war council for nearly my whole adult life,” Calf Stealer said. “Before that, I was a Special Ops soldier who was trained in strategy and tactics by a human. He taught me to get inside my opponent’s head.”

  Calf Stealer set his flatware on his plate and once more looked his human friend in the eye. “William Black Bear warned the felines, before he went into exile, if more of you ever showed up here we would do well not to take anything you told us at face value. I wanted to believe he was wrong, even though I had seen human deception first hand.”

  “I learned in the compounds,” Calf Stealer continued, “most Terrans are compassionate and trustworthy beings at their cores. However, it often turned out those I could trust were seldom the ones in power. They might gain control occasionally, but never do they hold it for very long.”

  “You’re starting to hurt my feelings, Alphie. Are you telling me I haven’t earned your trust?”

  “You most certainly have,” Calf Stealer replied.

  Gupta was about to grin when Calf Stealer added, “If only you were in charge.”

  Chapter 11

  9-February-2410

  No sooner had Zheng closed his tele-link with Pedersen than the locator alerted him to another incoming call.

  Zheng looked at the locator’s display. The request came from within the Bureau of Historical Sciences, but the identification of the individual caller didn’t show.

  “Zheng here.” The walk to his apartment was getting colder and darker and his annoyance at the pause required to take another incoming call showed up in his voice.

  “Ah, Colonel Zheng.” The voice of the caller on the other end was cheerful and light. He either didn’t detect Zheng’s gruffness or chose to ignore it. “It is wonderful to speak with you again.”

  “Aro Non. This is a surprise.”

  “Is it, Colonel? Certainly you’ve heard the news by now and was expecting me to contact you.”

  “Yes, Aro, I have heard. Only seconds before your call, in fact. That news also came as quite a surprise.”

  “I assure you I was more shocked than anyone, Colonel. I had no idea the Secretary General was considering me for the post. I’m quite flattered.”

  “I guess it makes sense. From our last conversation it’s clear to me many Ekkidans could be of the opinion the Bureau lacks objectivity, if not credibility.”

  “That would be a valid assessment. I hope I can restore some of the faith lost in the Bureau. Some of my old friends in the Central Government tell me Ekkidans are not the only ones with doubts about its direction.”

  “Is there something important you wished to discuss, Aro?” Zheng shook his head when he realized he might have sounded a bit short and ungracious. He was about to apologize for being so direct when the aro continued.

  “I’m in need of your counsel, Colonel, and, if you please, call me Merak. We’re colleagues now. I understand Alo Galuz Cozeremi preferred things to be informal between the two of you and I see no reason why they shouldn’t also be informal between the two of us. Of course, I have no qualms about you calling me by my new title; that is if you’re uncomfortable being on a first name basis.”

  “I’ll defer to you, Aro.”

  “Then Merak it is, Herbert.”

  “Alright then, Merak. What’s on your mind?”

  “Your directness would be considered an affront to most of my associates, Herbert, but I must say I find it to be endearing. I’ll get to the point. I have an overarching priority to restore any respect this directorate may have lost during Galuz’s term. I wish to start with you.”

  “With me? How could my opinion be of any importance?”

  “If you don’t mind me also being direct, Herbert, your refusal to banter is rather charming, but your false modesty grows old almost immediately. Your position at the Academy has enabled you to influence more tha
n one generation that has gone on to serve the League in many capacities. Your former students are not only proudly serving in the fleet, but have found their way into industry and public service. Only a fool would deny the impact you’ve had on our way of life.”

  “Then allow me to re-phrase my question, Merak. Why has raising my opinion of the Bureau become a priority?”

  “Your disagreements with the Bureau have become the stuff of legend, Herbert. Earning your trust would go a long way in helping me improve its public image.”

  “I’m afraid with the way things have played out recently, earning my trust will be an uphill battle,” Zheng said. “Please don’t take it personally, though. I’m finding it hard to trust anyone these days.”

  “Understandable,” Merak replied. “Those who advised me not to take the directorship made me aware of how suspicious it looks. I did a lot of soul-searching before accepting this position. I assure you I had nothing to do with Galuz’s death.”

  “But, I’m sure you realize how someone might suppose you did.”

  “I know how this must appear to the uninformed masses, but certainly you should be able to see things much more clearly, Herbert.”

  “I only know I narrowly escaped assassination after receiving documents from you that might cause others public disgrace.”

  “Are those documents still safely with you,” Merak asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you’ve been able to inspect them? Are you convinced they are exactly as I represented them?”

  “I’ve only been able to open a small percentage of them as of yet. Most seem to be corrupted.”

  “They are very old files, but your modern tablet should be able to read them,” Merak replied. “The legal documents use standard encryption. It may be there are some other file types your tablet doesn’t have a decoder for—video of parliamentary hearings and such. I’ll send you a decoder by hyper-mail. Of course, I must ask you to contact me first if you find anything of a personal nature I may have forgotten to erase from the cards, such as family photos and the like.”

  “Certainly.”

  “Good, Herbert. I still mean to stand behind the agreement we had before this turn of events. Anything you find that will help you in your quest is yours to publish, even though I have formally conceded the election to Barad Jaro.”

  “Conceded,” Zheng asked. “I thought you considered your election as Ekkidan Prime Minister to be essential to your planet’s way of life.”

  “My colleagues in the Central Government have convinced me otherwise. I must leave it at that for now. This is all for the best.”

  “I’m not sure whether to congratulate you or give you my sympathies, Aro.”

  “You’re a cynic to the very end, Herbert, and I told you, it’s Merak. I insist.”

  “Merak, it is,” Zheng replied.

  “One more thing, Herbert. I don’t know exactly how your loose relationship with this bureau has worked in the past. I assume I will learn more from Lennart Pedersen when he briefs me. I can’t foresee any changes to the arrangement, though.”

  “Thank you, Merak. I believe you’ll find the Bureau has benefitted from the arrangement at least as much as I have.”

  “Of that, I have no doubt. Thank you for your time, Herbert. I hope to be speaking with you again, very soon.”

  Chapter 12

  17-April-2210

  Zunnuki Sector, Terra Nova.

  The shuttle was late setting down on the outskirts of Alummari, the westernmost of the Zunnuki municipal districts, where Azir Buzami was governor. Neither Gupta nor Calf Stealer cared the shuttle was late because they lucked into a pair of empty seats when two other officers missed the final boarding call. They’d have been stuck on the Armstrong until the following day had the seats not come open.

  Calf Stealer stretched and yawned once he climbed through the hatch of the shuttle and stepped out onto the plas-phalt tarmac. Gupta emerged right behind him.

  Gupta was wearing the dour expression of a man caught up in circumstances he didn’t quite know how to reconcile.

  “We should go directly to Azir’s office and find out what the Zunnuki government has been told of the Ekkidans,” Calf Stealer said. He saw the dark expression on Gupta’s face. “Besides, you look like you could use a Zunnuki ale. I’m sure Azir will have a few on hand.”

  Gupta looked up at Calf Stealer and managed a weak smile. He looked back down at his feet as the two walked toward the nearest lift to take them down to the inhabited levels. Calf Stealer made a few attempts to engage the preoccupied Gupta in conversation during the trip, but Gupta failed to respond except to say that he desperately wanted to see what was contained on the tablet Chamberlain left in Buzami’s possession.

  When the pair arrived at the district seat, Azir was sitting at his desk, speaking very hurried Zunnuki into his private communicator. He saw the pair standing outside his office and made a silent plea for them to wait as he walked over to close the door.

  Gupta and Calf Stealer exchanged puzzled looks as they listened to Azir having a very animated conversation on the other side of the closed door. Most of the conversation was muffled by the large metal door, but Gupta and Calf Stealer could make out a few Zunnuki curses from time to time.

  Buzami’s office was quiet for a few moments before he opened the door to invite the pair in. “I’m sorry for the wait. My government has suddenly become jittery. I won’t bore you with the details. I’m sure you’ve already heard.”

  Gupta and Calf Stealer shook their heads in unison. They had no idea what Buzami was talking about.

  “The treaty,” Buzami elucidated, making an attempt to resolve the blank stares. “You haven’t been told my people refuse to carry the treaty process any further until they can speak with the Ekkidan diplomats in person?”

  “No we haven’t,” Gupta replied. “What exactly does this mean from your perspective?”

  “Hopefully nothing more than a delay. I was personally very happy with the terms of the pact our two planets were about to sign.” Buzami went to a cabinet in the corner of his office. He pulled out a trio of small drinking glasses and a bottle of liquor.

  “I see you’ve finally decided to take up drinking, Azir,” Calf Stealer said. He took a glass from Buzami and held it up for him to fill.

  As Buzami poured he gave Calf Stealer a look that at once showed both his amusement with the feline’s observation and the exacerbation he felt with his government. “I truly believe this is an error in judgment on the grandest scale. What would be the harm in Earth and Zunnuki continuing with normalization and then negotiating with the Ekkidans either together or separately?”

  Gupta accepted a glass and allowed Buzami to pour some of the gold-tinted liquor before responding. “I think this probably should have been expected. Good or bad, this is how these things usually occur.” Gupta took a sip of the liquor. “This is extraordinary, Azir. It reminds me of single malt Scotch whiskey.”

  “I believe that’s what John Chamberlain said about it,” Buzami answered. “But, it was distilled here on this planet. I am anxious to try some of this Scotch you talk about. That is, if it is really as good as this andulissu.”

  Gupta laughed out loud as he heard the name Buzami gave the drink. The word was very close to the term urine of the gods in Sumerian. “So we’re drinking the piss of deities to celebrate our misfortune, eh Azir? Sounds fitting.”

  “The irony isn’t lost on me, Vijay,” Buzami replied. “I am quite concerned about what may be happening here.”

  “We shouldn’t panic yet. If what you hear is true, the treaty process has only been put on hold for the time being, not completely disregarded. We shouldn’t be in such a hurry, anyway. The relationship between our peoples has started off quite well. I don’t foresee that changing, even with the Ekkidans adding a new dynamic.”

  Calf Stealer threw a pleading glance at Buzami. Buzami nodded his head as an indication he was amenable to allowing the fel
ine to speak for the both of them.

  “After all you’ve learned over the last few days, you can’t possibly believe this is something we can just pass off, Vijay,” Calf Stealer said.

  “I didn’t say that. I only told you this is not the time to panic. For all we know, The Ekkidans we’re talking to now have absolutely nothing to do with those who were backing Yuen and the mutineers on Chamberlain’s crew. I agree it’s a bit of a disappointment the pact we’re currently working on has been delayed, but it may be the Zunnuki government fears the Ekkidans will be offended if we continue without them.”

  Buzami spoke up before Calf Stealer could register his rejection of Gupta’s theory. “More likely is my fear the Zunnuki central government feels as Alphie and I do. We do not trust these Ekkidans and we are afraid they are somehow orchestrating the talks between Earth and Zunnuki.”

  Buzami downed the whole amount of andulissu he poured for himself and then said, “I’m afraid there are a great many of my people who still don’t trust your government either, Vijay. This delay gives them time to proselytize among our allies in the legislature, and we have nothing with which to rebut them. Only the fulfillment of your promise to transfer knowledge and technology or the commencement of your assistance in rebuilding the surface of my planet will prove your sincerity to many of them.”

  “I’m afraid Azir is correct, Vijay,” Calf Stealer added. “The feline war council will also look at this sudden turn of events with great concern.”

  “Understood,” Gupta said, “but, we can’t start rebuilding the ecosystem without a treaty and we can’t finalize the treaty without carrying through on the negotiations. Azir, has anyone in your government been in contact with my Forward Command about this?”

  “Of course. I assumed you had already been notified. I was told all your diplomatic teams would be pulled from the surface immediately except for your new consulate in the capitol.”