His Annie read the message, it was from his father. “Martin I have to send you the bad news of the death of uncle Abram. It seems to be carbon monoxide poisoning. The police are involved. Conduct yourself accordingly.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed. Poor uncle Abram, he thought. He was so kind and sweet. He picked up his Annie and read again the words. The police are involved. Conduct yourself accordingly. Dad was telling him something wasn't right. He would have to be careful. Then the danger of the situation hit him. Why did I say anything to that Lockwood woman, he wondered. I suspect her sudden disappearance and uncle Abram's death are connected. It's too coincidental. She was either working for the same people that killed uncle Abram or she was working for another group just as capable of such an act. I'll have to keep my mouth shut from now on, he thought.
Regardless, whoever these people are they have proved they are willing to do whatever is necessary to get their way, Martin thought. They are also moving too fast for the law to provide much protection. It will take Randall Benchley some time before he gets a ruling of res nullis or even a stay of proceedings out of the courts. By that time it could be settled in fact by actions in the field not in the courts.
We are going to have to move faster than we thought. This fact finding mission needs to become more, thought Martin. We need to bring together all the independents in the Belt and reach a decision. We need to assert self-determination before the governments on Earth assert their suffocating authority.
We, Martin stopped himself, no, I am going to have to take the initiative to make this happen. No one else can reach the Belt in time to handle the preparations. I don't know if they'll listen to a kid just out of the Academy, but I have to try. Even if I fail I know that uncle Abram would have been proud of my efforts.
Martin contacted the communications officer and requested passage aboard a Belt-direct fusion ship as soon as possible. He knew the cost would be prohibitive but it was the foundation's only chance to get to the Belt before Lockwood.
11
Randall Benchley hadn't had much success. He had presented his brief on the Asteroid Belt to the jurisdictional court but had been stymied to bring the issue to a resolution. On Earth the UN still controlled all matters relating to space law and it was not an easy bureaucracy to navigate. Randall had thought himself equal to the task but now he wasn't sure. Somewhere there were parties that weren't observing procedure but were obfuscating the whole process.
Randall needed to come up with a reason that would discourage any but those in the Belt from claiming rights. He had an idea but it was quite a leap. A bit of a desperate gamble of which he would normally take no part in, but he owed it to Abram to try.
Randall proposed to file a new brief in which he would claim that if as is asserted by some scientific experts the Asteroid Belt was a failed planet, either broken up or prevented from forming by Jupiter, then the Belt was the space equivalent of a shipwreck on the open seas. And if this was posited then Maritime Law as regards salvage operations would by analogy apply to asteroids in the Belt.
Now if Randall could make this assertion seem reasonable he could spring the trap. If the Belt could be considered as a wrecked ship then anyone recovering material from asteroids would in effect be salvaging. Maritime Common Law required that such a person would be recompensed either by the recovery itself or by the owner of the recovered article, in this case asteroid material.
With this argument, Randall hoped that the Belt would become a less enticing land grab for Earth governments and corporations. Rather they would see the asteroids as a liability which could be quite an expensive responsibility should anyone but themselves claim and recover. Most asteroids of any size were estimated to have billions of dollars of salable, salvageable elements and organic compounds.
The fact that there were already several asteroid miners prospecting the Belt could prove to be the decisive argument. Should any of them begin recovery (mining) operations then they would in effect be salvaging if Randall's brief was sustained. No government or corporation would be willing to pay the likely recovery fees that such Belt miners would demand. The Belt would in effect be res nullis, the hoped for outcome.
Randall would begin to prepare such a brief. At the same time he would inform his Martian contact, Lawson, of the advantages of having the Belt miners begin their mining procedures as soon as possible.
Randall hoped Abram would have been pleased.
12
Senator Conway hated space flight even though he was the head of the Science and Space Subcommittee. But it was important that the Terran Federation get its way in the Asteroid Belt. So here he was on a moon shuttle hating every second of the flight.
Conway was going to the UN moonbase for discussions with Song Jin-woo, Song had insisted on a personal meeting before taking any action. So far, except for the moonbase, the UN had not been very successful in establishing settlements loyal to the UN. They hoped to change that with the help of Conway.
The meeting was held in the U Thant Center of the base. Song Jin-woo arose from his seat as Conway entered the room. He moved adroitly to shake Conway's hand and help him to his chair. Conway was still unacclimated with the low gravity of the Moon.
Once settled Jin-woo said, “Thank you for coming Senator Conway. We at the UN appreciate your interest. Concerning the case filed by Randall Benchley in our International Tribunal for Space Law Court. I think you know all the particulars of the case.”
“Yes, yes I know,” said the Senator. “They, the asteroid miners, have been trying this tact for years. What's new?”
“We at the UN,” said Jin-woo. “Believe the brief prepared by Benchley will sway the case in the miner's favor. We already see a great deal of movement on the part of the smaller states to support such ruling.”
“So, you need to do something before the law is settled,” said Conway. “Is that why I'm here?”
“Senator Conway we at the UN are ready to support any action that you deem necessary. As we have already shown by transporting your assistant Ms. Lockwood to the Belt. If the Terran Federation were to initiate an action to provide for the security of the Belt and its personnel operating in the area.”
“But we don't have any personnel operating there,” said Conway.
“I believe Ms. Lockwood will be in the area shortly,” said Jin-woo.
“I see,” said Conway. “And to provide for her protection the UN would be willing to use its forces in the area, the cruiser carrying Ms. Lockwood, to assist the Federation. Isn't it fortunate that Ms. Lockwood and the UN are in the same area.”
It was Jin-woo's turn to smile.
13
After months of delaying maneuvers by their opponents, Donner Jackson had received word through Lawson that Randall Benchley’s refiled brief was to be taken up by the UN courts. Randall thought he had an excellent chance as the smaller countries were coming on board. These countries saw the brief as a way to prevent the more powerful countries from dominating the Belt. They had been beaten too many times to salvageable resources, usually off their own coasts, by the larger nations or their corporate clients. And they figured dealing with independents would be easier than dealing with large bureaucracies or corporations.
So Randall had hit upon the perfect wedge issue to turn the smaller, predominant members of the UN against the larger members. It was a question of right versus might in the minds of many. Randall was appalled by all the publicity but was pleased to be on the side of the underdogs. Donner had relayed the good news to Martin several days before.
For his part, Donner was preparing to ask for an update from Lawson when the message alert on his Annie rang out. Donner opened the document, it was encrypted, and it was from Martin.
Decrypted it read, “Finally arrived. Situation changing rapidly. Have met opposition here. Threatened action by UN forces. We must move quickly, can’t wait for the results from brief. I am meeting with independents, if unanimous we will be
taking action.” – Martin.
Donner was alarmed at the last sentence. He wondered what action Martin was talking about. He worried for the safety of his son.
How did the UN forces become strong enough out there to threaten the local autonomy movement? Someone obviously knew a lot about the movement’s plans and had prepared a counter move. If that was the case then Martin was right of course, the venue of the law was moving too slow, autonomy or not would be decided out in the Belt.
Donner prepared a message for his son, it read, “Good luck.” - Dad.
14
The meeting was held on one of the smaller asteroids, an independent homestead. The miner's domicile was large enough for a few miners in person. The cylinder shaped housing was spun up enough to provide one-third gravity, similar to Mars. The rest of the miners were attending over a secure comm-link. Or what Martin hoped was secure.
Martin had already introduced himself to Almon Kipler, the homesteader and host of the meeting. Almon was short and wiry with a balding head and eyes that always seemed to twinkle with humor. Martin immediately took a liking to Almon because of his no nonsense attitude but playful banter.
Martin now introduced himself to the rest of the attendees, all men very similar to Almon in personality and integrity. He explained his family background and his credentials. He began to talk about the efforts of uncle Abram and his father on their behalf. He explained why his family had made this their concern.
“Once we were Earthlings,” said Martin. “We saw things as Earthlings do, self-centered and self-important. But uncle Abram was different. He encouraged the family members to take the long view of history. He encouraged us to take a look at ourselves as others would. We found that a selfishness had taken over our lives. That is when my ancestor, Donner Jackson, moved to Mars, joining others of our family, to start over.
“On Mars my family learned about the importance of self-reliance. Of local autonomy. They found many like-minded individuals there on Mars. They wanted to ensure that as the next wave of explorers and settlers pushed out into the solar system, they too would have the chance for self-determination.
“The Martian Republic was very supportive overall to this point of view. But of course there were a few on Earth who opposed it, for selfish reasons or not. Now those that opposed it are here to stop this movement of autonomy. To stop it here and now. So that it will not spread any farther. They already despise the Mars Republic and they think that if they can limit it to a single planet they will be able to control and eventually eliminate it.
“So our duty, if we choose, is to see that those selfish forces do not limit self-determination to Mars alone. That local autonomy become universal through-out the solar system. That people locally decide their futures. We do this by uniting in a union of self-declared free agents and announcing it to the inhabited worlds…”
Just then there was an alarm. Someone switched the view screen to the exterior. They zoomed the image to display a cruiser with UN markings. Everyone moved to put on their space helmet as Almon moved to open a comm-link with the cruiser. “UN cruiser this is Almon Kipler, homestead miner of this asteroid, may I be of service to you.”
Seconds passed and then a response, “Kipler this is UN Spaceship Amity, hold please.”
Another minute passed. Then Martin heard a voice he recognized, Ms. Lockwood. Lockwood said, “Mr. Kipler this is Laura Lockwood, I am a representative of the Terran Federation. We would like to invite you and the others, especially Martin Jackson aboard the Amity for further discussion.”
“It's a trap,” said one of the homesteaders. “They get us over there and they can lock us up and throw away the key.”
“Martin, what do you think?” asked Almon.
“I think if they want to join the discussion that is fine, but they can do it here as easily as aboard their ship.”
“Are we all agreed?” asked Almon.
“Yes!” came the response.
“Good,” I will tell Ms. Lockwood our decision. “Ms. Lockwood, this is Almon Kipler. We thank you for the invitation but we have not only ourselves but several dozen others tied in by comm-link to our discussions. We believe it can be continued most easily here and I invite you and your guests into my home.”
A minute, then another. The comm thundered, “Mr. Kipler this is Captain Cumberland of the Amity. As the only representative of a duly authorized governmental entity responsible not only for the safety of our own citizens but also others in this sector of space I declare this assembly unlawful. You will either disperse immediately and board the Amity or prepare to be boarded, by force if necessary, that is all.”
“I can't believe they are going to do this, the danger is as much to them as to us,” said Almon.
“They're in a hurry for some reason,” said Martin. “We need to hold out as long as we can. Open a comm-link to my father on Mars, please, I'll give you the address.” Almon moved to establish the link.
“Dad, this is Martin. We are under siege by the UN ship Amity. We need an update on the situation as soon as possible.” It would be at least ten minutes before they heard anything, assuming Martin's father was available.
“Martin,” said Almon. “I want you and the others in the safe room. The door to that thing is thick enough to slow them down for quite some time if needed. I will stay out here to monitor the situation. They will have to get past the airlocks first.”
“Almon, why don't you come with us?” asked Martin.
“Because someone needs to be out here to handle communications and environmental as long as possible. And to protest this invasion of my home in no uncertain terms.” Almon opened a locker and took out a weapon, an old firearm. “Now go, in case they are more competent than I expect.”
15
Martin and the other six found themselves in the safe room with the door sealed. Communication with Almon was maintained through the audio-visual link. Martin could hear and see Almon move around among the consoles from time to time but nothing else.
Twenty minutes passed and Martin heard Almon say, “They aren't any more competent than I expected, I could have been through that airlock five minutes ago.” Then Almon said, “Martin there's a message coming in for you from your father, you can read it on the view screen in there.”
Martin read the message, “Martin, Randall Benchley is at the UN at this moment expecting a vote on his proposal. Chances are good that it will pass. I have relayed your situation through Lawson to Benchley and urged him to hurry the vote. Delay as long as you can. Be careful my son, I love you.”
In a few minutes Martin heard Almon say, “They've got the code on the outer airlock. They'll be coming down the corridor to the inner airlock in a few seconds.” Then Martin heard him say, “They're here.”
Martin heard Almon raise his voice. “Amity crew, this is Almon Kipler, you are trespassing on my property. Move away from the airlock before anyone gets hurt.”
“Kipler, this is Lieutenant Warson, you and those with you are under arrest by order of Captain Cumberland, commanding officer of the UN ship Amity. Do not resist, I repeat, do not resist.”
“Well come on in then,” said Almon. “And we will have a little fun.”
In a few seconds Martin heard Almon's voice again warning someone to stand still but he couldn't see him. Then he heard a shot from Almon's old fashioned weapon. There was a brief high pitched buzzing like an overhead power line in summer. Then he heard Lt. Warson say, “You in the safe room open the door that is an order.”
“I'm sorry lieutenant,” said Martin. “We aren't under UN jurisdiction here.”
“You are now,” said Lt. Warson.
“Well then,” said Martin. “I guess we've reached an impasse.”
Minutes passed. Martin could see some of what was going on in the next room though the view screen was limited in how much of the room it showed. The air pressure had been restored and someone was attending to Almon and one of the Amity crewmen. The r
est of the UN crew were searching the room and rifling the lockers. A couple were trying to breach Almon's computer security. Then the viewer went dark as if someone had covered it.
Sometime later Martin heard the view screen beep, a message was coming through. Apparently Almon had left the link up.
Martin read the message, “Martin, this is your dad, I have just received word from Lawson. The brief passed with only seven nay votes. The Belt is res nullis. Please answer me as soon as possible.”
Martin almost laughed out loud. He called to Lt. Warson in the next room. “Lt. Warson, this is Martin Jackson.”
From the Earth: A Future Chronology Anthology Page 23
