by Dani Kollin
“Funny you should ask. When I gathered them in the room, I asked who could support the coup. Apparently, Franklin Higgins IV had more backbone than I gave him credit for. He called me traitor and told me to do my worst.”
“Was he serious?”
“I can’t say if he was. I shot him as soon as he said it.”
“And the other two?”
“Luciana Nampahc will play ball. As for Irma, she came up with the cover story that’s about to break.”
“Really, I can hardly imagine.”
“It appears that our dear Minister of Internal Affairs was so against our bold President’s plan for peace that she tried to engineer a coup. Sadly she succeeded in killing the President and the Minister of Justice and had poor Irma arrested and on her way to be executed. Luckily, Luciana was able to warn me just in time and with Gretchen Arbieter’s help was able to kill the traitor.”
“But that means that Hektor Sambianco will die a hero.” Zenobia was deeply offended. Like her boss, she had read the captured UHF records and like her boss had reluctantly come to believe them. They jibed with too many other little things she’d spent years ignoring.
“Yes, he will die a hero and quite a noble one at that. He died trying to end a war he didn’t start at his moment of greatest courage. I imagine,” Trang said with an oddly wistful smile, “he’ll be remembered as a great man after all.”
“That’s so very wrong, sir.”
“Zenobia, I just lied to a grandmother that her beloved grandchild is alive.”
“But that was for a purpose.”
“This lie will serve a purpose too. A President martyred for peace makes that peace worthy and sacrosanct.”
“I guess that leaves one more question.”
“Yes?”
“Who’s President?”
Trang now smiled demurely. “About that speechwriting job.”
DID WE JUST WIN?
—Alliance Daily News
DID WE JUST LOSE?
—Alliance Daily Star
Via Cereana
Ceres
In orbit around Saturn
Sandra O’Toole and J. D. Black were sitting comfortably in J.D.’s shuttle as it left the AWS Warprize II, making its way back to the Presidential landing port of the Via Cereana. Both the President and the grand admiral were happily silent, not having much to do and taking advantage of the fact. Neither of them knew it, but their respite had been purely manufactured by J.D.’s subordinate officer, Fatima Awala. The communications officer had ordered the combat major who outranked her not just in fact but also in years of service to go as slowly as possible in order to give both their superiors as much time as possible before being deluged in the necessary responsibilities of their victory. The major had simply saluted Awala as if she had every right to order him around, which when it came to caring for the Blessed One, in a certain sense she did.
So it was only when J.D. was sitting, not thinking about anything at all, that an annoying question suddenly popped into her head. She slowly eased herself into a more erect posture in her chair and regarded Sandra curiously.
“Out with it,” chided Sandra.
J.D. chuckled. “I realize this may seem odd coming from me…”
Sandra waited patiently.
“But did Hektor really have to die? Which is to say, the enemy you know…”
Now Sandra straightened in her chair. “You’re right. I can’t believe that you of all people are asking that question. Especially after watching that little jig you did at the news of his death.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I never said I wasn’t happy about it; I’m talking strictly from a strategic perspective. With the information that we gave Trang, he could’ve blackmailed Hektor into behaving like a good peace-loving President. I know Hektor. He would have hated every single moment of it, but his sense of personal survival would have compelled him to play along. A coup attempt was risky, Sandra. And the more I think about it, the more I realize just how much. It could have gone balls-up in a thousand different ways.”
“Yes, it could’ve. And you’ll have to trust me on this, it was discussed ad infinitum.”
“With whom?”
Sandra started counting off on her fingers, raising each as she called out the names. “Eleanor, Marilynn, Gwendolyn, Dante, and Amanda Snow. It was a rather long meeting discussing the option before your fleet left for Earth.”
“Why wasn’t I informed?” demanded J.D.
“If you recall, you were getting ready to martyr yourself and screw the rest of us with a soul-crushing victory. There was so much destiny rumbling around your head,” pointed out Sandra with just enough of a smile to take the sting out her words, “that not much except the final battle would’ve gotten through.”
“All right,” agreed J.D. after a moment’s thought. “That’s fair, much as I hate to admit it. So what did the committee on the future of the war come up with?”
“Well, they all thought killing the bastard was a pointless exercise, as there was going to be a final battle and that would determine the war. I simply billed the meeting as a ‘cover all conceivable bases’ exercise.”
“They really had no idea what you were planning?”
“Give up and run away?” There was something about Sandra’s laugh that revealed the depth of her weariness. “I should hope not. But they all agreed that in the unlikely event we had the chance, a blackmailed Hektor was the safer option for ending the war. There were far too many risks involved with a coup. Say what you will about Hektor Sambianco, he did have real power.”
“And they were unified in that agreement?”
“Well, everyone but Amanda. When that woman decides to hate, she hates. She wanted Hektor to die. Would’ve preferred a torturous death, but any death would do—felt he was too dangerous, no matter what sort of control our stolen data gave us, was absolutely convinced he’d eventually find a way to come at us again.”
J.D. nodded. “Makes sense. So you agreed with her over every other opinion?”
“No, Amanda was wrong. We needed peace, and Hektor alive was the best way to get it. Once the war was stopped, Hektor could not have got it going again. He knew that better than anyone—other than me.”
“Then why did you convince Trang that Hektor had to die? Why take the risk?”
Sandra’s eyes were suddenly cold and expressionless. Her jaw seemed to stiffen in fierce resolve. “Hektor Sambianco deserved to die. For all the deaths he caused, for all the misery he inflicted, and for all the evil he spread, justice demanded it.”
“But that’s not the whole reason, is it?” urged J.D., a conspiratorial edge to her voice.
“No,” admitted Sandra. “Hektor Sambianco had to die because I wanted him dead.”
* * *
J. D. Black exited her shuttle with the President in tow. Much to J.D.’s annoyance, her shuttle was still intact and still just as decadent as ever.
J.D. glanced over her shoulder at the shuttle. “You couldn’t have them accidentally blow the thing up?”
“I suppose I could’ve, but the point of the whole exercise was to avoid a battle, remember?”
“Details.”
The two women moved on to discussing their plans for the campaign to get the peace treaty approved by the Congress, when they were suddenly stopped by the sound of a brass band playing for all it was worth. Louder than the band was the rather sizable crowd that had filled the executive loading bay, awaiting their arrival. Sandra was planning a formal return ceremony for later that afternoon, and J.D. was already planning the “treaty acceptance campaign” as she naturally thought of it, but neither of them had planned on an early party.
The band was made up of whoever grabbed an instrument and began playing; the decorations, whatever people could throw together; and the people, whoever felt like finally letting their hair down.
“I think we just might pull this off!” Sandra shouted to J.D. over the din.
The
grand admiral was just about to comment back when she cocked her head, listening. It seemed like she was desperately trying to hear one individual thread of a sound out of the vast tapestry of noise that surrounded them. In a moment, her eyes locked on to her target. With a magic that still worked, the crowds parted for Janet Delgado Black, and about a third of the way across the landing bay she got down on one knee and was nearly bowled over by a six-year-old girl who seemingly appeared from nowhere.
“Mommy!” the little girl shouted as she hugged the most fearsome person in the human race and was given a wraparound hug in return.
“Did you save the worlds, Mommy? Did you? Did you?” shouted an excited Katy.
“No, little one,” said J.D., smoothing her daughter’s face with the back of her unscarred hand. “You did.”
And for the two of them, the crowds and the noise simply faded to insignificance as mother and daughter were reunited.
We fought this war for our freedom. They fought this war for their security. For our freedom and for their security we were both willing to pay any price—and together we paid it. For our freedom and for their security we were both willing to make any sacrifices—and together we made them. For our freedom and for their security we were both willing to commit any crime—and together we committed them.
There are those on both sides who say that the price paid is so high, it can only be justified by victory. We must now decide if that is true. Because if it is, victory will cost us the freedom we have struggled so long and sacrificed so much to earn and to keep. What this war has given us both are lessons. We must now decide if the lessons both sides have paid so terrible a price in blood to learn have been in vain. For our Alliance there is no choice. We must decide which we value more: victory or freedom.
—Speech given by President Sandra O’Toole to the Congress during her call for new elections
* * *
Cyrus Anjou was talking to a group of his former constituents in a large asteroidal cylinder that was so newly formed, it still had that new asteroid smell. The plants would take months to grow enough to supplement and then supplant the artificial system. But none of the former residents of Jupiter minded. They finally had a home of their own, and the most famous Jovian was coming to speak directly to them.
“I’m not saying I don’t love Jupiter,” he said, beginning his stump speech, “there’s no more magnificent place in the solar system. But I’m just thinking it would be nice if we could find another place for us Jovians. You know, something exactly like Jupiter—” He paused to add emphasis to the punch line. “—only not so small.” And with that little joke and with the accompanying laughter, Cyrus Anjou helped awaken his former constituents and still loyal supporters to the possibilities that awaited them outside their tiny star system. And he would make that speech and many like it over and over again.
* * *
“I fought for the Alliance,” J.D. said to the Neptunian Assembly. “I fought for our survival. But now I need you to help me. If we lose this vote, I and all our daughters and sons will lose our hard-earned right to the galaxy in exchange for the right to fight a war of extermination. We did not sacrifice all we have to make that choice.
“There are those who say I should not partake in this election. That as a military officer, I should remain above the fray. To them I say: bullshit. If we lose this election, and I count myself among the strongest supporters of the President when I say ‘we,’ I will have to lead my spacers back into a battle we don’t have to fight. I can win it, but I shouldn’t have to, they shouldn’t have to, and if we have the wisdom to see our future, we won’t have to.”
As the applause thundered, J.D. was already heading for her shuttle. The Warprize II awaited her, and Uranus was next.
* * *
Tyler Sadma was looking concerned, but that was how he looked most of the time. Sandra leaned over and touched his shoulder. “You should go home to Eris, Tyler,” she said gently.
“Madam President, you were foolish enough to call elections for a new Congress when I was pretty sure we could have gotten the treaty through the old Congress with some persuasion. Now we might lose the seats we need, and then where are we?”
“In your heart, you agree with me, Mr. Speaker, or you would have fought more. As much as I want this treaty to go through—as much as I feel it must go through for the survival of us all—I cannot force it. At the end of the day, the people must decide their fate with time for all points of view to be heard and debated openly, or it has all been for nothing.”
“Admit it, you still need me,” he said, stifling a yawn.
Sandra got up from the coffee table, where she’d been making calculations all day about where to send Cabinet members or military heroes to support a borderline candidate. Or where to make the hard decision to give up another candidate as a lost cause and who was doing so well they could raid her or his campaign for resources. It was an exhausting process because it involved hundreds of elections spread out over what was still the rather large area the Outer Alliance managed to control, and factors could change district by district, hour by hour.
“I admit we need you. But the election is not for two weeks yet. When was the last time you went home? When did you last see your wife, your children?”
“I saw my daughter just last week,” said Tyler.
“She’s a rail gun loader in the fleet,” Sandra said in a voice that let him know that didn’t count. “How long?”
“Seven years,” he said softly. “Since near the beginning of the war. Eris is so far away.”
“Bullshit. Ceres is no longer near Mars. We orbit Saturn now. And the Via Erisiana was completed a week ago. The trip takes four days.”
“This close to the election…,” he began.
“I need you rested and happy for the election. You’ve earned it more than most. It will take you four days to get home. You’ll spend four happy days with your family and reconnecting with friends, enemies, and the citizens you represented so well all these years. They deserve to see the legendary Tyler Sadma.” Sandra was surprised when he actually harrumphed at that but continued. “Then you can take the Via Erisiana back to Ceres and return with two days left till the election. As your President, I’m ordering you to go home and be with your family.” She pointed toward the door.
Tyler smiled and slowly stood, stretching his back as well. “And this has nothing to do with the fact that Eris is a toss-up and I stand a small chance of losing my seat? And a trip home right before the election could tip the election in our favor?”
“Why, Mr. Speaker,” answered Sandra in a tone that belied her honest intent, “that thought never crossed my mind.”
With a bow to his political superior, but without another word, Tyler Sadma departed the Triangle Office.
Treaty of Luna
Terms
1. Both sides of the conflict, heretofore referred to as the UHF and the OA, will cease active military operations.
2. The UHF will not occupy space beyond the orbit of Mars until the Exodus.
3. The OA will occupy only space beyond the orbit of Jupiter until the Exodus.
4. Jupiter’s hydrogen resources will be mined by a neutral party and shipped to the UHF or OA by prearranged routes at prearranged times for negotiated rates of exchange.
5. The creation of additional military forces is strictly forbidden. Both sides have the right to send observers to any location in their respective territories for the purpose of verifying this provision. Refusal to allow inspectors to any location is grounds for abrogating this treaty.
6. In a number of years being no less than two and no more than fifteen, the OA will leave the solar system. It will do so with the full cooperation of the UHF. In so doing, the OA gives up all present and future claims to the territory known as the solar system, consisting of all resources and artifacts from the edge of the Oort cloud to the center of the sun known as Sol. The UHF at that time will give up all present and future
claims to any territory beyond the Oort cloud.
7. Any citizen of the UHF who wishes to leave the solar system is free to do so, provided they can reach OA territory and secure OA citizenship. They will not be hindered in any way by the UHF or any agents thereof, including the Corporations. Any stock claims for losses due to this emigration will be handled as a death for legal purposes, and the government of the UHF will bear all final financial burdens of these claims.
8. Any citizen of the OA who stays in the solar system after the completion of the Exodus will be considered a citizen of the UHF. All such citizens will automatically be granted a full pardon for all actions committed against the UHF up to the signing of this treaty. Any actions after the signing of this treaty will be arbitrated by a joint military judiciary board of justice.
9. Any citizen of the OA who stays in the solar system will be incorporated according to the standard laws pertaining to the same with the following exceptions: All such citizens regardless of past agreements will be incorporated as legally new individuals. All past contracts are void. All such individuals will be given a 70 percent stake of their own stock. The government of the UHF will be given 5 percent to hold in perpetuity and 25 percent to be allotted according to the dictates of justice as determined by the courts. The UHF may not hold any of the 25 percent of any individual beyond twenty-five years.
10. This treaty will supersede the armistice signed by both sides only on the date both sides sign.
* * *
Three months after the signing of the armistice, the entire solar system awaited the results of the elections taking place in the Outer Alliance. In the UHF, the treaty had sailed through the Assembly. That is, it did after the Assembly had been found and thawed out. Hektor and Franklin Higgins had done a good job of hiding that pesky voice of the people within the billions of souls still suspended above the troubled boiling skies of Mars. But when the various Assemblymen and -women had been woken up from the destruction of Mars to be informed of the destruction of the Avatar Plague and then to be told the Alliance might be willing to leave and let them have the solar system after all, it wasn’t a close vote.
