by Aer-ki Jyr
“What do you do, if what the people want isn’t what they need? Do you obey their orders and assist in their self destruction, or do you disobey them to acquit your duty to protect them?”
“I sense a trick question here, Archon.”
“No trick about it. It’s a pointed question.”
“You’re asking if I’m serving the American people or serving the American people?”
“Exactly.”
“I would say I am responsible to do both.”
“How many thousands of your people are in your fleet, slowly starving to death? Are you acquitting your duty to them? They may be soldiers, but they’re no less American than the civilians back on Earth. Are you truly serving the people, or the orders of men who truly do not care?”
When Harrison hesitated Liam pushed further.
“Perhaps you’ll recognize these words,” he offered, reading off a nearby computer screen.
“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s god entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
“The Declaration of Independence,” Harrison immediately identified.
“A bit wordy for me, but the root point is sound. Political bonds are not absolute. Following orders is not the highest duty you possess.”
“And what cause, pray tell, do I have for separation?”
Liam read on. “’We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’…which I would suggest means that neither the people nor the President have the authority to order you to your deaths. Furthermore, if they do have that power over you, then you do not have liberty, and I really don’t think starving to death fits into your pursuit of happiness either.”
Liam held up a finger to stop Harrison from speaking as he continued to read.
“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it,” Liam paused for emphasis, “and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty,” Liam emphasized again, “to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
Harrison waited to see if he was finished before he finally replied. “So you wish me to lead a revolution to overthrow the United States?” he asked sarcastically.
“Nothing that drastic,” Liam assured him. “I’m simply asking you to break ties with them in order to safeguard your people. It is your duty to make sure their lives are not wasted. If you betray one, you betray them all. Each are equal and separate, and do not bow in significance or value to the masses.”
The Admiral closed his eyes for a moment, thinking hard. “You’ve done your homework.”
“I read a lot. And when you have the fate of millions in your hands, it helps to be well versed on philosophical aspects of past and present societies, for reference, if nothing else.”
“You argue that if I follow orders and my people suffer for it, I am betraying the public trust that put the President and myself into positions of power. If I do so, then whatever orders handed down to me become irrelevant because I’m already a traitor?”
“Pretty much,” Liam agreed lightheartedly.
“You said my men would be returned to Earth?”
“If they wish, yes.”
“You won’t be taking any prisoners? The officers, perhaps?”
“Not unless you want me to. Our object is to remove the American fleet and personnel from the Mars micro-system. “We have no desire to keep prisoners.”
“Very well, Archon. You have my surrender. May I ask for relief supplies for my men? Many are more ill than I.”
“Within the hour, Admiral,” Liam promised.
“Thank you,” he said genuinely. “At least I know my last order given was in acquittal of my duty.”
“You don’t figure your superiors will see it the same way?” Liam guessed.
“I doubt it. And I don’t think reading them the Declaration will make much of a difference.”
“I pointed out the part about separation for a reason, Admiral. You don’t have to go back to Earth in disgrace.”
Harrison’s head came up. “What do you mean?”
“Not all of your people wanted to return to Earth. About 20% of your troops opted not to go back, and more than half of the colonists elected to stay as well. We have them split up into various facilities for processing, some of them will join Star Force, others have asked for asylum in other countries, both back on Earth and here on Mars, but we’re offering them a third option. The same option we’re offering the holdouts from the other six countries.”
“We’re creating a separate colony,” Liam explained. “An independent nation here on Mars. It will have strong ties with Star Force, but it will also achieve its sovereignty after certain measures have been met. As I said, I have no use for your ships…but this new nation might.”
“I could retain my fleet?”
“It would have to be reorganized, and you’d have to go through retraining, using a Star Force model, same as everyone else, but within a year’s time you could be back on your flagship…though it’d be flying a different flag.”
“Breaking political bonds,” the Admiral repeated, “to secure the same duty.”
“Your crew will have the same options, and a few days, at least, to think it through before the first of them are sent back to Earth.”
“This new nation…will it be a democracy?” Harrison asked in a tone that suggested he was going to accept regardless.
“It will be a Republic, as the United States was originally intended to be. We haven’t picked a name yet.”
The Admiral visibly straightened. “Archon, on behalf of my fleet I surrender it to you as the American commander. I also, hereby, resign my commission with the Unites States Space Navy, effective immediately, and request enlistment in your new nation’s space forces.”
“Surrender accepted, Admiral,” Liam said, matching his formal tone. “Request for enlistment, granted. I’ll send over a choice of nondescript uniforms for you to change into along with the supply shuttles and medics.”
“Thank you,” Harrison said, bowing his head respectfully.
“Do you expect trouble from your crew?”
“No need to fear, Archon. Your shuttles will not be fired upon.”
“I hope not,” Liam said sarcastically. “I’d hate to have to kill you now that we’ve become friends.”
