April 4: A Different Perspective
Page 38
"There are no other calls, so it seems it is up to you Mrs. Hu," Muños said.
She walked up to April and pointed at the long wrapped grip her right hand was so casually draped over. "May I borrow that?"
April just lifted her hand clear and nodded. She wanted to warn her how sharp it was, but it seemed like that would sound silly. Of course it was sharp.
The room was suddenly so silent you could hear the long katana ring as she pulled it free.
"Kneel," she told the lieutenant.
He looked around wild eyed. There wasn't a friendly face to be found.
Fred Hart, sitting closest up front to the platform, pulled out an old fashioned revolver and holding it pointed at the overhead, rolled the hammer back. Just in case.
Moore looked at him, making solid eye contact, from just two meters, considered it just a heartbeat and knelt, shaking.
"All the way," Hu instructed. "You don't want me to botch this do you?"
Moore leaned over, hands between his knees, quivering, exposing his neck. He lost control of his bladder and the dark stain ran down his legs and dripped on the platform.
Hu laid the flat of the cold blade on the back of his neck, held in both hands. "Do you admit you are an accessory to murder?"
"Yes," he said, just barely audible, sobbing, resigned.
"Then I say ship him off to his fellow criminals," she said, lifting the blade. She turned her back on him and returned the sword to April.
Behind her Lt. Moore tried to straighten up, but his eyes rolled up in his head and he fainted dead away, flopping on his side on the platform, laying in his own piss.
"If that is your justice, then I dare say we will not vote against it," Muños said. Somebody had called medical and they rolled the unconscious lieutenant on a gurney and removed him. April was wiping her blade with some sort of cloth and everyone sat silent, until the medics had the man in the corridor.
Muños, still standing, went on like there had been no drama. "What else would the Assembly decide in this matter?"
"Marion Hertz, what would you tell us?"
"I work in traffic control, but I've dealt with the Chinese when I worked for Jeff Singh. Moving out by L2 is fine. It gives us enough room that we won't get caught by surprise again, but if we leave it at that, it just puts the trouble off until enough Earth powers rebuild from the war loses, we have more traffic around moon and the lunar colonies get bigger. They don't have it in them to leave us alone. The USNA is the only one we told they can't lift weapons to the moon. We need to draw a clear line in the sand. I propose we declare an interest zone inside the moon's orbit. Tell them all - no armed Earth ships past L1. If an Earth ship is armed past L1, it will be destroyed without warning."
"Is there discussion? Elaboration?" Muños invited, instead of an immediate vote.
Dave had his head together with several other shipbuilders. They leaned apart and Dave tapped something in his pad before standing.
"David Michelson, what would you add?"
"The other shipwrights and I have compared notes. It would appear there are only two Home registered ships that don't carry weapons, although some are subtle about it. Some carry very significant systems. The militia alone, probably has sufficient force pledged to give any single Earth power pause. If you publish such a resolution, it would be sufficient to give it teeth if Eddie Persico and Jeff Singh, pledge their vessels to support the militia in such an embargo. Any of the other singles or couriers or shippers that run more than one ship would really make it look good. The appearance of solidarity is useful. We also think it would be smart to wait to make this a public announcement until we are relocated."
Jeff looked at Eddie sitting two rows away. Eddie just gave a single solemn nod and the deal was sealed. Then Jeff put his head together with Heather and April briefly.
Jeff made a gesture to Mr. Muños, rather than use the com and Muños recognized him.
"If it is the will of the Assembly, to limit armed Earth ships to inside L1, the complex of companies Eddie and I run will support that. We'll give our commanders instructions to do so without needing to ask us and to coordinate with the militia. My partners in Singh Industries, Heather anderson, April Lewis and I, also pledge our planetary lander Dionysus' Chariot to this cause and such future vessels and landers as we may own separately from Eddie Persico. We want it made clear though, that this is not strictly a lunar exclusion zone, it is a solar prohibition and indeed, when it becomes necessary, an interstellar exclusion. We have had enough of Earth wars. They can keep their wars to themselves and leave us alone, or I for one will show them how to make war!" There was shocked silence and then a steady approving applause as he sat.
"Mr. Gibbons?" Muños recognized another man who stood among the ship owners.
"I run three couriers, all armed. I would pledge them to such a resolution too."
"Mr. Larkin?" Muños invited.
"Larkin Lines runs five orbit to orbit and landers. They are available for such an enterprise."
"Mr. Morris…" the crowd heard eight more owners pledge at least one vessel to the cause.
"Ms. anderson?" Muños said, obviously surprised she had something to say, since Jeff had pledged her ship shares.
"I have an interest in the moon itself. I speak for my people as a sovereign, not just a citizen of Home. It is in our interest to exclude armed Earth powers past L1, so you may add my voice to this declaration. I have control of the lunar surface, though some of my neighbors may not realize this yet. I can assure you the North Americans know, having found out the hard way. I am prepared to remove any attempt by Earth powers to land armed forces on the moon. So in wording this declaration, I invite you to speak of space and the moon beyond L1. We will support this," she vowed and sat down.
April leaned past Jeff and whispered in her ear. "Was that a royal we you just snuck in?"
"I think it was," Heather admitted, embarrassed how easily it came out.
"In the matter of making a resolution, to be released to the Earth governments upon our reaching our halo orbit, declaring an exclusion of Earth armed forces past the Lagrange point, L1, with the support of the enumerated ship owners and the sovereign lunar power, how do you people say?" he inquired.
It took awhile, almost twenty minutes, their longest vote yet. When the last vote stayed on the screen for the required pause, with no new vote, Mr. Muños stood.
"It is the will of the Assembly of Home, 1798 votes yea, to 172 votes nay that we impose such an exclusion zone for Earth arms."
"If I may make a proposal myself, I would suggest we have Jon Davis compose the communication, as he has served us well as Spox before. How do you people say?"
The people were ready to go home, or go to dinner and when enough voted to see it would pass they left off voting and let the timer run out early at 457 to 17.
Chapter 38
"That's scary, you got the look on her face down perfect," Eric admitted. Hu holding the sword on Moore's neck was a great drawing. The people seated behind were just line caricatures in this view. Lindsey got six full sized drawings out of the Assembly and a couple pages of doodles and thumbnails she might expand on later.
When President Wiggen had asked if anyone there had some actual paper, Lindsey offered her pages from the back of her sketch book and an ink pen. Wiggen proceeded to write a pardon for Lt. Moore and then a blanket pardon for any of the Patriot Party willing to lay down their arms and desist fighting against the government of the United States of North America by midnight of three days forward, hoping it might help quell the fighting.
Then she wrote on a separate page and addressed Congress, informing them she resigned the Presidency, effective immediately. She handed them all off to Jon Davis, with instructions they go back to Earth with Lt. Moore. Lindsey kept the pen and put it in a pocket, figuring it for a keepsake. The last page she rubbed with a pastel, so that Wiggen's resignation letter showed from the indention of the pen on the backing page.
History was very scary and messy, to watch it being made and tiring. School ran over, but it was worth it and she suspected her drawings would find a market, if she ran them as prints.
She'd been sure Mrs. Hu was going to hack Moore's head right off and she was glad not to have seen such a thing. He'd been sent off hours later, by special courier, to ISSII and nobody had heard anything about him.
They'd be in halo orbit in another week and she wondered how the Earth governments were going to receive Jon Davis' letter. She's do a sketch of him reading it for sure.
Epilogue
The view out the forward viewports of Dionysus' Chariot was a much better than any from the spinning habitat. M3 hung before them, turning full speed again. The third ring was much further along, fully clad and there was a jumble of material for various projects cluttering the space off the north hub.
The back face of the moon presented a waxing crescent to them and they knew the Rock should be just over the moon's horizon, to the same side where the marble of the Earth hung, but they couldn't see the tiny glint of it by eye.
April and Jeff were holding in queue for Local Control, on the way to pick up Heather in lunar orbit, which an open framed lunar jump-bug from Central could just manage to reach. The Chariot would then move on to Earth, to an open ocean landing, pick up freight from the ketch Tobiuo and drop them off for a couple weeks cruising, including a quiet layover on an uninhabited atoll. Gunny was in the back, along for security, happy to do it cheap because he loved being on the boat. They would finish at Tonga and lift by commercial shuttle as she had before. Less some of the drama and uncertainty this time.
"It's a very different perspective now, with Earth not filling half the sky isn't it?" Jeff asked.
"It's a much better perspective," April insisted. "More in line with how important Earth is to us now."
"I had a pretty good idea, you have to admit," Barak reminded them from the couch behind.
"Yes, you did, but don't get too full of yourself," April warned. "You had a good idea and it took a lot of work by Jeff and Heather and others to fill in all the details and make it work."
"Well yeah, I know. I'm happy with everybody getting credit," Barak allowed easily. "I'm really looking forward to seeing what a planet is like," he went on. "I mean, I know what it is like in theory, but air around you as far as you can see, no overhead and no place it can leak off to? It sounds very strange."
"We'll teach you to fish and you have to learn to swim," she insisted.
"But there's killer sharks and stuff," Barak worried.
"They can just mind their manners if Jeff is using their ocean. It's a matter of professional courtesy."
Barak wasn't sure if they were making fun of him again, like a little. Sometimes it was hard to tell with these two. A glance at Gunny's poker face gave no clue. He ignored it, which was safer and looked out the viewport again. Sometimes he missed the Earth filling the sky, but he didn't miss the Earthies. He wondered what Jupiter would look like, just as close, all banded and swirled in all those colors, filling the view. He had to talk to his mom about going out there when they went out for another ice-ball. He'd be fifteen by then, after all, almost as old as April's present sixteen, he suddenly realized and he hadn't been anywhere…
- END -
The Last Part : Other Books and Links by Mackey Chandler
April (first in series)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077EOE2C
April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities, after a chance run in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a teen should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies, who give them a thin technological edge in rebellion. It's a good thing, because things get very rough and dicey.
Down to Earth (sequel to April)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RGBIVK
April seems to make a habit of rescues. Now two lieutenants from the recent war appeal to her for help to reach Home. The secret they hold makes their escape doubtful. North America, the United States of North America, has been cheating on their treaty obligations and a public figure like April taking a very visible vacation there would be a good way to remind them of their obligations. Wouldn't it? Her family and business associates all think it is a great idea. She can serve a public purpose and do her rescue on the sly too. But things get difficult enough just getting back Home alive is going to be a challenge. It's a good thing she has some help. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
The Middle of Nowhere (third in April series)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Nowhere-April-ebook/dp/B00B1JJ7RQ
April returns home from her trip down to Earth unhappy with what she accomplished. Papa-san Santos is finishing her rescue of the Lieutenants, Her traitorous brother is dead and so many things are uncertain. The Chinese and North Americans both continue to give her and Home a hard time. But April, Jeff and Heather are gathering allies and power. China, trying to steal Singh technology, gets its hand slapped badly by Jeff and the Patriot Party in America is damaged, but not gone. Their project on the moon is not so easy for North America to shut down, especially with the Russians helping. Heather proves able to defend it forcefully. They really didn't know she owns a cannon. The three have their own bank now, Home is growing and April is quickly growing up into a formidable young woman, worthy of her partners.
Paper or Plastic?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RCLW68
Roger was medically discharged after his service in the Pan Arabic Protectorate, cutting off his chosen career path early. He is living in rural Sitra Falls, Oregon trying to deal with hyper-vigilance and ease back into civilian life.
When an unusual looking young woman enters his favorite breakfast place he befriends her. Little does he know he'll kill for her before lunch and start an adventure that will take him around the world and off planet.
When you have every sort of alphabet agency human and alien hunting for you survival is the hard part. But you might as well get rich too.
Family Law
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS
You know people who love their dogs. They put them in their will. They forgo vacations to stay home and take care of them.
Can a dog love back or is it simple self interest? Affection or love? Unconditional or a meal-ticket? What if you dog could talk back? Would your dog be less lovable if he could tell you what he thinks, like your spouse? If he complained his kibbles were dry and boring, would your affection wear thin? I don't want to touch on what a cat might tell you...
Is the dog part of your family, or property? Who should decide that for you? How much more complicated will it be, if we meet really intelligent species, not human?
Humans don't have a very good history of defending the interests of others. Even variations of their own species. How will they treat 'people' in feathers or fur? Perhaps a more difficult question is: How will they treat us? Usually the people who answer these sort of questions have no desire to be on the pointy end of things. They are just minding their own business and it is thrust upon them. This story explores those questions
Common Ground and Other Stories
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050YYVHY
A book size collection of seven short stories by Mackey Chandler. Ranging from single page to novella. The seven shorts contain an alien with a very human foible, a joker Joyboy banished to selling shoes on the moon, a crotchety old man holding aliens at bay with a leaf blower, the ultimate Windoze -FAIL-, a self made billionaire who never lost his touch, a sword wielding Earth diplomat. who was either very, very good, or incredibly lucky and a future Mama's boy dealing with family, in an era of extended life times.
Link to full list of current releases on Amazon:
http://www.
amazon.com/-/e/B004RZUOS2
Mac's Writing Blog:
http://www.mackeychandler.com