“How so?” asked Fitz.
“Well, I haven’t heard of any orgies, but I think they are fairly open and unrestrained in their activities,” responded Juliette. “I’ve learned to be careful of where I stand when I go into an MP’s office.”
“I’m not sure if that’s what the Admiral had in mind,” added Fitz.
“Probably not,” said Juliette. “I’m just trying to look at all the angles.”
“That’s not all,” began Mei Ling. “Alcohol from Earth has made its way to Parliament.”
“What do you mean?” asked Fitz. “All imports from Earth are forbidden.”
“Alcohol, sexual movies, spices, and other rarities from Earth are available to Parliament and the people who work there,” assured Mei Ling.
“So, for all their posturing about our moral superiority, and how we’ve left the Earth’s decadent past behind, our leadership has proven it is all a lie,” said Fitz.
The realization that they were not so superior after all, rocked Fitz. He had always been a true believer. Both Mei Ling and Juliette could see that this realization had a profound effect on him. The last stone in his personal wall that separated him from the people left down on Earth had been blasted away.
After a time he took another drink of his wine and said, “If we go on a moralistic binge, we’re doomed to failure.”
“Don’t even think it,” said Juliette. “We have the situation we have, because the citizens want it this way. They turn a blind eye to corruption because they are kept comfortable and are allowed to feel safe.”
“And superior,” added Mei Ling. “Don’t forget superior.”
“We are not going to solve anything here,” said Fitz eventually. “We have a job to do. Are the two of you still with me?”
“Oh yes,” Mei Ling said. “I will see these people, whoever they are, pay for what they have done to you and to the Legion.
Fitz saw it, fierceness and strength in her that he had felt keenly was in her soul but had never seen it on her face. Her face shown with determination and strength. There was another quality beyond the obvious physical appearance; she shown with an internal beauty. To have the love of such a woman, for what more could he ask.
“I will do everything possible to bring back Farouk and the others. After what this government has done, I owe them nothing,” said Fitz.
“Now,” said Mei Ling, “how are we going to go about getting a Parliamentary Carte Blanche, and by the way, why?”
“The Admiral has not told me everything on his mind, but we are going to get the Legion off that planet and find a place to put it.”
“What are our options?” asked Mei Ling, crossing her arms.
“New Earth or old Earth are about it,” answered Fitz.
“Put them back on the surface!” Juliette was unbelieving.
“That is one of two possibilities,” answered Fitz. “Stop and think for a moment. If we put them down on New Earth, it will be easy for the government to wipe them out without so much as a peep from society. Put them on Earth and keep them in a camp, the government will have to think twice before taking action against them.”
“As crazy as that sounds, you have a point,” said Juliette.
“Either way is better than where they are now,” offered Mei Ling.
“We have a job to do and trust the Admiral to know what he’s doing,” said Juliette.
“Now, how to go about it?” added Mei Ling.
The room was quiet for moments. Mei Ling freshened everyone’s drink. Fitz crossed his legs and stared at some distant horizon.
Eventually, Mei Ling spoke up. “If I had a Carte Blanche, I could travel back and forth between Rill City and New Earth without questions or even getting on the schedule. Now if I just had business to take care of.”
“The old lech I work for would sell his soul for a shot at me; we both know it,” said Juliette.
“Is it possible to get this job done without resorting to that? Besides, if you gave him a heart attack, imagine the scandal. Not to mention, what would it do to your father’s career?” said Fitz.
“You are not getting to be a prude, are you Fitz?” teased Juliette.
“I doubt it,” said Mei Ling. “He’s more like an overprotective, big brother.”
Juliette laughed. Then she said, “My father, now that gives me an idea.”
* * * *
“Hello my dear,” Monsieur Peron beamed.
“Hello daddy,” Juliette purred as she tiptoed for a peck on the cheek.
Her mother came through the door from the formal dining room, after making sure the staff had dinner preparations almost complete. Her daughter was coming to dinner and bringing a friend. It would be a pleasant evening.
“Hello dear,” began Madame Peron, “so wonderful to see you.” Mother and daughter embraced each other.
The affection was genuine, though Mei Ling felt it a bit stiff. Was that reserved for company or did it have to do with their experiences with their headstrong and wayward daughter? She could not tell.
“Please allow me to introduce my friend Mademoiselle Soong Mei Ling,” said Juliette.
“Hello my dear; Juliette has spoken so highly of you,” said Madame Peron.
* * * *
The dinner went off without a major hitch, and she got what she went after, an interview with a young parliamentarian who owed his election to Parliament to Monsieur Peron. While the man had not been around long enough to cause too much trouble, there were rumors that he was not as loyal as he might have been to the French contingent. That could present a problem, and if word got out about his German mistress, he could kiss his career goodbye. That was okay with Juliette and Mei Ling; he was still young enough for military service.
* * * *
“Tell me, Monsieur Duran,” purred Juliette, “do you know a Mr. Chu?”
“Why yes, and please, call me Pascal. Why do you ask?” The young Frenchman had assumed his benefactor had wanted him to have dinner with his daughter for political or matrimonial reasons. They could be the same in some quarters. He found it a bit boring and odd that she brought a chaperon who was quite young and lovely herself.
To be seen out to dinner with two young and beautiful women was quite enough to stroke a young man’s ego, but he did not really enjoy it. He owed entirely too much to her father, but had no interest in her. Besides, there was someone waiting for him at her apartment. He hoped dinner did not take too long.
“Someone at the office mentioned his name,” Juliette lied. “I understand he has had a meteoric rise in the party.” She looked down and took a sip of her drink.
“Well he’s a friend of Herr Schiller; that’s about all I know,” answered Pascal.
He was bored and only halfway through dinner. These political dinners were bad enough, but to think that Peron wanted to foist his daughter off on him, well there was only so much one would do for duty.
“I understand he has been flashing a Parliamentary Carte Blanche around,” interjected Mei Ling.
“A what?” said Pascal.
“You know, a Parliamentary Carte Blanche,” said Juliette.
“Yes, I know what it is, but why does he have one?”
“I don’t know,” said Juliette. “Do they hand those out like candy?”
“No, of course not,” said Duran defensively. “Those are only given out under special conditions of urgency.”
“What condition of urgency does Chu have?” asked Juliette.
“I would use one to go to New Earth to see my fiancé whenever I wanted to. You know some of those girls around navy bases are such sluts.” Juliette purred like a fat long haired cat and waved her drink under her nose.
“Your fiancé?” Duron brightened. “If you want a Carte Blanche, why don’t you just ask your father for one?”
> “That is the problem, isn’t it? You see, my father, as sweet as he is, does not approve of the company I keep. A Carte Blanche would make everything so much easier. Don’t you think so, Monsieur Duran? Tell me about your election to Parliament.”
“Yes, your father was instrumental in getting me elected, but what if he finds out?”
“Oh don’t worry; the whole idea is to keep dear old dad from knowing about my comings and goings. I’ll even put in a good word for you with him. You do want to be reelected, don’t you?”
“Well, yes of course. I’ll take care of it first thing in the morning. How’s that?”
“Too many people around,” answered Juliette. “How about tonight, no witnesses, and no questions?”
“Oh, that is out of the question. I couldn’t go back to Parliament tonight. What would people think?”
“They would probably think that you were trying to impress two young innocent females,” answered Mei Ling.
“You would have to sign in at the desk and everything. No, I won’t do it.”
“Tell me, Monsieur Duran, how is Fräulein Schmidt or Shultz or whatever her name is?” asked Mei Ling, looking like a tigress over the rim of her glass.
Duran laughed low and smiled. “So that’s how it is. I’m actually a bit relieved.”
“How so?” asked Juliette.
“I was afraid your father was trying to marry you off, and I was the intended victim.”
Juliette smiled broadly. “You’re cute Pascal, but not my type. No offense intended.”
“None taken. Now, who else have you told about my friendship with the young lady? She’s apolitical; it shouldn’t matter to anyone.”
“It shouldn’t,” said Juliette, “but you know how people are. Now that you’ve moved into the political arena, everything you do will be up for gossip.”
“Is this to be a regular thing? Are the two of you going to be coming back for more favors?”
Juliette felt genuinely sorry for the young man. She knew from firsthand experience how other people’s expectations could weigh on a person. “No, I need this one favor, and I’ll leave you alone.”
“Very well, I’ll get you your Carte Blanche, and we will be rid of one another. Fair enough?”
“Fair enough,” assured Juliette.
Chapter 33 - With the Greys
Commander Blackstone expertly piloted the little ship into the cargo bay of the huge Grey jump ship. Lieutenant Commander Fitzpatrick sat to his right in the first officer’s acceleration couch, and Admiral La Force sat behind him. Only Lieutenant Commander Appleton was not present.
He was their anchor. If everything went wrong and they all wound up in the brig, he was to let Mei Ling and Juliette know what happened. Instead of flying up with the others, he waited for the transport, which carried regular passengers up to the ship.
All the equipment and supplies needed for the task were aboard Admiral La Force’s in-system ship. There were spacesuits, explosives to be used on orbiting enemy ships, and some extra for the Reptilian base if an attack with conventional explosives became necessary.
Fitz and Blackstone had waited for Cee to return, but he never came. Fitz had sat for hours with his headband on, often falling asleep with it, but the call never came. Eventually, La Force had to assume that Cee was not coming back.
After landing and changing into their dress uniforms, Admiral La Force waited until the ship jumped. Then he led his small contingent right into the bowels of the ship. They marched up to the navy guards, and the Admiral produced his Parliamentary Carte Blanche.
“Excuse me sir, but I’ll have to contact my commander before you can proceed.”
“Actually, I must proceed without your informing anyone. We were not here, and you never saw us.”
“But sir …”
The Admiral raised his hand to stop him. “No buts, I have given you orders, have I not?”
“Yes sir, but …”
“You have seen my Carte Blanche. Son, you are dealing with something way above your head. Now open up.”
The guards exchange glances. “Yes sir,” he said as he opened the hatch.
After they had passed, La Force turned to the guards. “You never saw us; we were never here.”
After they closed the hatch, one guard said, “Did you see that?”
“No, and you didn’t either,” responded the other.
The small hallway completely changed character once the entourage passed the hatch, and soon opened into a large expanse. On either side were rows of equipment, and what Fitz took to be technicians. He had never seen so many Greys in his life.
Halfway across the expanse, he saw two tables facing each other. At the far table sat three Greys. The table nearest them was empty except there were three human-sized chairs facing the other table. Fitz could smell tea brewing.
A Grey walked slowly up to the humans and motioned them to the tables. They advanced and sat down. Several Greys began to pour tea. It would be a bit; everyone would drink enough tea to calm the nerves. With or without tea, it was hard to see what the Greys had going on behind those large black eyes.
However, it was obvious that they knew La Force and company were coming. Just exactly how they knew that was something that tugged at Fitz’s mind from the edges.
If they did not buy this bit of subterfuge, the whole lot of them was in trouble deep. Fitz put on his headband using slow, exaggerated movements as befit the moment. There was no use letting them know he had learned that he did not need the headband, at least with Cee.
After what seemed like twenty minutes, another Grey entered from behind the Grey’s table. He seemed even more wrinkled than the others, and his movements were less sure. The three Greys at the table rose and turned toward this new individual. Admiral La Force stood followed by his men.
The newcomer had a pattern like an extended star burst on his left shoulder. He quite possibly was the Chairman of the ship’s Leadership Committee. Other than that, he was dressed in the nondescript coveralls all the others wore. One of them held a chair for the newcomer, and he sat, followed by the others. Someone came, poured tea for him, and freshened everyone else’s cup. Shortly after that, the Grey next to the Chairman put on his own headband and raised his face to look directly at Fitz.
“We are honored by your presence,” Fitz heard the words fill his mind. “However, we were not made aware of your coming as per protocol. We must apologize for our lack of ceremony.”
Fitz passed on the greeting to La Force.
The Grey, who presumably was specially trained to deal with humans, continued. “The Supreme Chairman of the Spaceflight Operations Committee wishes that I bid you welcome.”
Fitz passed this on as well. “Please tell the Supreme Chairman that it is we who are honored that he would deign to see us,” purred La Force.
The Chairman listened as the Grey passed this message to him and slowly nodded. Then he passed a new message to Fitz. “I am asked to find out what it is you want?”
“A direct question; I like that,” said La Force. “Commander, find out what he knows about the Legion being taken off New Earth.”
“Yes sir.” Fitz did as he was told and waited for the reply. “He says that he is, and would like to know why this was done.”
“Tell him that new people are running Parliament and that they ordered it. Tell him that we believe that the complete destruction of the Legion is their purpose.”
The answer came back. “What is Parliament?”
“Explain it to him. It is our supreme council, and they make the rules our people live by.”
A moment later Fitz said, “He said he understands but wants to know why you would want to destroy your fellow humans, the ones you brought up from the surface.”
“Fitz, make him see that we didn’t have anything to do wit
h this. Tell him that bad men have taken control of our society and that the Legion is in mortal danger.”
Fitz passed the message on, and it seemed to stir up some activity between them. The “translator” slid off his headband and entered into conversation with the others.
Soon the translator was back. “Sir, he says that they are aware that the Legion was moved off planet, but wants to know if we are aware that the Legion has been put on a planet unsuitable for human life. He says that it is quite close to Reptilian held space, which should be of concern.”
“Yes, tell him that a small group of us has become aware of this fact and have formulated a plan to get them off that world. Tell him that we need his help. The lives of many humans, even the war itself depend on us getting the Legion off that world.”
Fitz did so and waited as there appeared to be another long conference. Soon an answer came back.
“Why have your people not advanced this plan along the usual channels?” Fitz looked over at La Force whose countenance remained inscrutable.
“Ask him if he is aware that there are different factions among the leadership of our people.”
“He says that yes they are aware and wants to know if the faction wishing to rescue the Legion is the one that is not in a powerful position at the moment.”
“Tell him that we are not part of any faction, and that we must rescue the Legion. The survival of The People as well as our own depends on it.”
“Yes sir.” Soon Fitz had an answer. “They avoid getting involved in our internal affairs. It would be impolite.”
“I was expecting something like this. Tell him that we do not ask him to get involved in our internal affairs. The Legion is not of our people; they are the surface people. Then tell him that the Legion must be rescued if we are to win the war.”
“He wants to know just what we are asking him to do.”
“Good, now we are getting somewhere,” said La Force with satisfaction.
“This is it Commander. Tell him that we need him to drop our ship off at the edge of the system where the Legion has been left. We will then destroy the orbiting Reptilian ship and damage their ground base. Then we need to evacuate the wounded on this ship. Finally, we need to get The People to evacuate the entire Legion.”
Hell Fighters From Earth Book 2 Page 31
