by K. D. Mattis
“Excuse me, sir?”
“Off duty, ma’am.”
“I understand that,” Asher said, “but there’s a man at the back of this car. I think he’s following me.”
The officer’s eyes perked up. “Where?”
“In the back. He’s the one with the beard and hooded sweatshirt.”
Asher nodded and the police officer stood. Looking at Asher and seeing genuine concern, he walked back to talk to the man. They didn’t say much to each other, but the man in the hooded sweatshirt stepped off at the next station.
Though Asher offered her thanks, the officer waved it off. “I just did what’s right. That guy was confused about his exit. I set him straight. He wasn’t actually a problem, but you won’t have to worry about him again.”
25
Asher knew not to expect much when she walked into the Senate chamber. A panel of twelve people sat at the front of the room, each ready to tear her apart.
As she took her seat, Asher couldn’t help but notice the stare of the oldest man in the group. He looked at her but did so with obvious disdain.
“You’re the admiral?”
Asher placed her bag on the desk in front of the panel. She took her time emptying it. The longer she took, the more the oldest man cleared his throat.
“Excuse me, Miss. Are you the admiral we’re here to talk to today?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“You’re the admiral in charge of the United States Space Corps?”
Asher rolled her eyes. “Yes, sir. I am,” she said.
Leaning back in his seat, the man laughed out loud. “This has to be a joke. She’s much too young to have such a powerful position.”
With the laughter of several other senators, Asher couldn’t take their condescension anymore. She stepped up to the bench and slammed down a notebook filled with loose pages.
“I am an Admiral. You should speak to me as such.”
“With all due respect, you should watch your tone.”
“Watch my tone? You’ve dismissed me because of my age before you’ve even heard me talk, and you’re concerned about my tone? Sir, you should consider yours.”
The senator reached forward and flipped through the pages of the notebook. With each new page, his face twisted even farther.
“Admiral, I’ve heard your arguments, and I know what you want. You would like us to overlook our international treaties and authorize you to put more weapons in space. We simply cannot allow it.”
“Senator, that’s not—”
“I understand you may have gotten quite far with your passion, but your passion will not find its way past a binding treaty. There is no need for our committee to hear this presentation.”
Asher walked over to her desk and sat down. She crossed her arms and stared at the senator.
“There’s no need for you to remain, Admiral. Your request has been denied.”
Asher didn’t move.
“You can either leave, or we can have you escorted out.”
“I will not leave, and you will not escort me out,” Asher said. “I booked the meeting and your committee gave the meeting its approval. Until I’ve made my presentation, I will not leave.”
“I’m afraid we have nothing to discuss.”
“Is this the Foreign Affairs committee?”
“You know it is.”
“Then we have a lot to discuss.”
For several moments, the two stared at each other, neither blinking. Asher couldn’t help but think of her crew, her father, and the life she spent preparing for this one moment, and she wouldn’t let all of that down.
“Fine then, Admiral, proceed, but don’t waste our time.”
The admiral pushed her tightly curled hair behind her ear as she removed several papers from her bag.
“Senators, it’s unfortunate, but I don’t believe we can make the United Nations budge. They’re convinced that we should limit the arms we put into space, which means our space station stays unarmed. As I have expressed before, this is a decision I don’t agree with.”
“Yes,” said a senator, “We’ve heard that you might disagree with their opinion. There was a report that went out about a violent outburst on the UN floor.”
Asher smiled. “I may not agree with the UN, but I understand that this is a nation of laws. Our treaty is legally binding, so we must abide by it.”
“I’m glad to see you understand that.”
“I do understand that, but it doesn’t mean I think it’s any less of a mistake. The fact is that the other nations have listened to me. They realize that we have a lot to lose if the aliens return and we aren’t ready for them.”
Walking up to the bench of the senators, Asher laid out ten pictures. All of the senators craned their necks to get a good look, but none would touch the pictures.
“Each of these pictures is from a different nation that has signed the treaty,” Asher said. “After watching their moves for some time, we know that they’re preparing defenses.”
Finally, a senator, an old woman from Utah, picked up one of the pictures. She held up a pair of reading glasses near her face without actually putting them on.
“Admiral,” said the senator, “how did you get these pictures?”
“Ma’am, the pictures were taken with our satellites. Again, we don’t know exactly what is being built, but we do know that construction only started after my speech at the UN. Then, if we consider the size of the structures, it only makes sense that they’re building defenses in the event of another alien attack.”
“Is it safe to assume that you are here to ask permission to do the same? That you want to focus on building more defenses on Earth?”
“That’s correct, Senator.”
“Is this to say that you don’t feel what we have available will be enough?”
Asher felt her jaw drop as she stared at the man in front of her.
“You see, Admiral, you’re putting us in an odd spot. You’re asking us to allow you to build defenses just because other nations are doing so. You’re asking us to spend money just because you think other nations are spending money.”
“No, that’s—”
“I’m sure you were asked this growing up, but I think it makes an excellent point. If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you join them?”
Asher turned to the audience in the benches behind her. She’d ignored them as soon as she entered the room. Now, she needed them.
“By not acting, we’re jumping off the cliff!”
As the crowd erupted in murmurs, the senator slammed his gavel against the bench.
“Admiral, this is out of line. You have to understand the position we’re in.”
Springing toward the bench, Asher said, “What position? The only position you’re in is one that will allow you to take this to a full vote before the Senate. I’m just asking you to allow me to protect our nation.”
“You really believe that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“When the aliens attacked before, you held them off with the weapons we already have. You were able to destroy an alien vessel using only what we have in space. You now have a space station. You now have satellites. You now have a space elevator in construction. What more do you need?”
Asher reached her hands out to the senator.
“I need you. I need you to help me keep this country safe.”
“As I’ve already said, you’ve defended us once before. Now the Explorer is even more powerful than ever.”
“You’re assuming too much,” Asher said. “You’re assuming that the aliens are going to come back with the same kind of ship they did before. There’s no guarantee that they won’t come back with more ships, or better ships.”
“And you, Admiral, are assuming the aliens are going to come back at all. There’s no guarantee that they will.”
“But there is,” Asher whispered.
“Excuse me?”
“
Nothing.”
The senator from Utah stood and leaned toward the admiral.
“Is there a guarantee the aliens will return?”
Asher shook her head. “That information is classified. Contact US Space Corps Central Command if you want more information”
26
The second Asher took her seat in the Oval Office, President Krasinski slammed a folder filled with papers on the desk between them.
“Do you know what that is?” he asked.
“No, sir.”
“Not even an idea?”
“No, sir.”
Pressing his left hand on his head, the president began to pace behind his desk. “That’s the report from the Foreign Affairs Committee. They tell quite a tale. I missed the broadcast, but would you mind telling me what has them so upset?”
Asher didn’t show any emotion. “I did my duty and gave them the information they needed to make a sound decision.”
“No, you didn’t. I know you well enough to know you did a lot more than that.”
“I may have pushed the issue.”
“How hard?” the president asked.
“Hard enough to make a point.”
The president slammed an open hand on the table. “Why do you do this to me? I remember explicitly telling you to approach these people with respect. You can’t play games with these people. If you keep burning bridges everywhere you go, we won’t have one to walk on. Then we’ll never get past this treaty.”
Asher flipped through the folder. “If we’re not clear with them and we don’t show them we mean business, they won’t listen to us. They don’t have to like me, but they have to know that I’m not leaving any room for compromise. I’m only asking for what I need to defend the planet.”
“You’re not leaving room for compromise?” the president asked. “These men and women are politicians. They live for compromise. To get anything, you have to give them something of equal or greater value. It’s how the system works.”
“So, it’s a game,” Asher said bluntly.
“It’s unfortunate, but yes, it is. It’s a game, and they’re expert players. We have to find a way to join in. If we don’t…”
Asher’s eyes shot wide open. “If we don’t join in their game, I can’t do my job?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“I’m not trying to get something for myself here. I’m trying to defend the planet. Those are the stakes. Either I get what I need to keep us safe, or we live in jeopardy. I don’t have time for their games.”
Sighing, the president said, “There’s no way around it. If you expect to get something, you have to give something.”
“Okay. Let’s make this as clear as possible. For us to get anything, no matter how important it may be, we have to give something?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“How about their lives?”
The president’s jaw dropped.
“You don’t understand,” Asher said. “I won’t compromise with these people. If they want to stand against me, I’ll send someone in who is better at the game than I am.”
“There’s no one on your side that—”
“You’re on my side,” Asher said, staring the president square in the eyes.
“I may be on your side, but it’s not my place.”
“No? You’re the Commander in Chief of our armed forces. Your number one priority is the protection of our country. You’re a politician, and you’re the president. If anyone can make these people understand the severity of the situation, you are.”
Looking Asher over several times. “I’d be putting too much on the line to help you.”
“And if you don’t,” Asher said, “you can expect to see my immediate resignation. If you’re not going to stand with me, you’re just another obstacle preventing me from doing my job.”
The president laughed.
“That’s dangerous talk, Admiral. You don’t want to play with fire.”
“It’s the truth. If I can’t convince one man to help me, how can I convince an entire committee?”
“You can try again. They might listen this time.”
“No, they won’t. You said I burned that bridge.”
Picking a small globe off his desk, President Krasinski’s grip tightened around the object.
“Just once, I’d like to have a pleasant conversation with you, Asher.”
“I don’t do small talk very well. Are you going to help me, or am I turning in my resignation?”
The president paced some more. Several times, he stopped and started to open his mouth only to slam it shut before saying anything. “Fine. I’ll help, but I need time.”
“Time is something we don’t have.”
“We don’t have a choice. It’s going to take time to get things worked out. I just need you to lie low for a while.”
Asher laughed. “How low? I’m not exactly known for blending into the woodwork.”
“You’re right. You need to get away from here.”
“Away? I need to be here in case something happens.”
“No. You’re going on a mission.”
“My only mission should be protecting Earth.”
“And it will be. Years ago, NASA designed probes to help detect Near Earth Objects so we could keep an eye on them in the event they became a threat, asteroids and the like.”
Asher squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m going to pretend this is a dream.”
“Why?”
“Launching those probes is a useless mission. There are much better things I could be working on.”
“It doesn’t matter,” the president said “We need you gone. You’ve made enemies in the Senate and in the United Nations. You can’t make any new enemies if you’re gone.”
Asher sighed. “Where are we deploying the probes?”
“Toward Venus. While you’re at it, I want you to launch a mission to the planet. I don’t care what you do, but you could desperately use some positive media attention right now. The Mars probe provided nothing but positive press.”
Asher’s ears turned bright red, but she hoped he didn’t notice. She hated having her emotions on display.
Raising his wrist, the president pulled up his sleeve and looked at his watch. “I have another meeting, Admiral. You’re dismissed.”
“And you’re serious?”
“You have your orders. Central Command can direct you to the probes. You’re to depart as soon as possible.”
Asher straightened the papers, stood up, and gave a salute. She gathered her things and walked toward the exit. As she reached for the handle, the door opened before she touched it. A rather frumpy old man walked in. Asher looked him in his eyes.
“Admiral, it’s so nice to see you,” the man said as he extended his hand.
Asher looked down but didn’t offer her hand in return.
The man withdrew his hand and awkwardly moved his briefcase to the front of his body. “It’s just as well. I have to say, I’m surprised to see you here. It’s funny, really. I’m here to talk about you and your buddies in the—” The man looked around. Placing his briefcase on the ground, he removed his glasses to clean them with a dirty rag from his pocket. “Oh, I can’t think of the name. Space rangers? Astronaut corps? Something like that.”
As the man walked in and took his seat, Asher did her best to restrain herself. She couldn’t do it. She turned to face the man. “Senator, it’s the United States Space Corps. You have a duty as a Senator on the Foreign Affairs Committee to do what’s best for our nation. If you don’t have enough respect for the position to remember the name of the agencies you oversee, you might consider resigning. I hope you remember that in the future.”
As Asher walked away, she never thought about looking back toward the senator’s shouts.
27
“Admiral?”
“Yes?”
Card, the comm officer, continued to talk without looking up from her console. “We have a shuttle with t
he last batch of probes requesting permission to dock.”
“Granted. I want them unloaded quickly. Frankly, we’ve spent more than enough time here. We need to get these dispatched.”
Gibbs, sitting in a chair at the back of the room, laughed aloud. Asher shot him a look that stopped him dead in his tracks. He started looking through ship logs.
After the shuttle dropped off their supplies, the Explorer could finally leave.
“Helm, set a course toward Venus. We only need half the distance between the closest point of orbit, so move us ten percent of an astronomical unit that direction.”
Pilots Harris and Gonzales set about plotting the course.
“Sir, we’ve plotted a course for fifteen million kilometers toward the orbit of Venus,” Harris said.
“How long is the trip?”
“At cruising speed?”
Asher nodded.
“Roughly a week.”
Fighting the urge to groan, Asher said, “Proceed at will.”
“Sir, why Venus?” Gibbs asked. “Shouldn’t we be placing a probe network to look for aliens?”
“You would think so,” Asher said, “but no. Central Command wants me away from everyone for a while, so we’re setting up a probe network to research Venus and its gravitational effects on Earth and Near-Earth Objects.”
“Why would we care about that?”
Asher let out a sigh. “Apparently it could help predict any incoming asteroids that may hit Earth. Very important.”
Laughing, Gibbs said, “More important than looking or preparing for aliens?”
“Oh, of course,” Asher said, bolting upright in her chair sarcastically, “an asteroid could hit Earth sometime in the next thousand years. That’s something we have to prepare for right this second. The aliens can wait.”
Standing, Asher reached toward the low ceiling of the bridge and stretched. Everyone around her focused on their work with glassed eyes.
“Harris, can you handle the helm for a few hours?” Asher asked.
