Jack unlocked his seat restraint straps, grabbed his sword Old Roy and stood up. “The Second Belter Rebellion has been a success. Free peoples on the Moon, on Mars, in the Belt and in the outer moons have declared their independence from Unity control. We invite member nations of the Unity to do the same.” He paused, hoping the worldwide audience understood this was a turning point in Earth’s history. “Oh, shortly we will kill every rocket launch site on Earth as a means of stopping future Unity attacks against the free peoples of Sol system. However, the launch sites of those nations that declare themselves sovereign and apart from the Unity will not be attacked.” He grinned. “Nations that remain part of the Unity have one hour to evacuate all personnel from their launch sites.”
“Jack,” Denise called softly. “Four geosync comsats have gone dead. I’m switching to other comsats nearby to maintain our worldwide link.”
Jack nodded, then grimaced. “As for the American military sites which we destroyed today, that was done after those sites launched missiles and space planes against us. Any nation that attacks this fleet will suffer total defeat. Any national leader who wishes to convey their declaration of independence can reach me on UHF Channel 243.” He paused, wondered if he should say more, then spoke. “My cousins who live in the old state of Tennessee, and the independent-minded peoples of the American Southwest, deep south and Midwest, throw off the chains of your elites! Tell New York, San Francisco and Mexico City to go to hell! Reclaim our American flag and celebrate the Fourth of July!” Cheers sounded from Maureen’s combat holo. “Our fleet will leave Earth once we have killed all space launch sites that could be used by the Unity to attack us, the Moon or Mars. You people of Earth must decide your future for yourselves! I urge you to reclaim your national heritages! Reclaim for your citizens the can-do spirit that has made humanity the source of tough, independent people able to kill any interstellar predator!”
Elaine sighed, looked to Jack and gestured at the front screen. “Our AV signal is being hit with maser white noise, trying to block us. It’s from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. I’m increasing signal power and amplification.”
Jack held up his sword. “I hold an antique weapon. Despite the remarkable tech of the Aliens who sought to claim Earth as part of their Hunt territory, those predators died under this blade. And under the blades and lasers and beams of my allies! We are going out to the stars to spread freedom to those peoples willing to fight for it. Will you people of Earth join us? Or will you let an old, bankrupt ideology limit your futures? You have one hour to call me.” He waved back at Denise to shut off the AV broadcast.
“Nicely done,” Hideyoshi said from the front screen. “And the invitation to national leaders to save their launch sites by declaring independence from the Unity should help break up that monster.”
Jack felt surprise at the words of a former Unity admiral. Hideyoshi had proven his personal loyalty to Jack time and time again. But to hear the man say what he said, in clear hearing of his crew, was a judgment he had not expected to hear. Publicly at least. He smiled his thanks. “The Unity is indeed a monster. It limits personal freedom, tries to demolish national heritages and claims the right to rule over all humans. It is also willing to violate any tenet of international law if it serves their survival. As it did when it used thermonukes against Mathilde.” Jack scanned the images of his other captains. “My friends, let us spend the next hour on the alert for mine fields, laser platforms and Hunter-Killer torps. While the civil leadership of the Unity is dead, its military hierarchy is still very alive. And very conservative. They will be the last to give up the Communitarian dogma!”
Elaine tapped at her lap panel. “Sensors say we are being scanned by multiple American air and land bases. No offensive actions. Yet.”
Jack sat in his Tech seat, locked his straps, put Old Roy on the floor and prepared to receive incoming messages from national leaders. Who would be first? Who would be last? And who would not call at all?
He doubted he would have long to wait.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nine minutes after his broadcast the first AV call came in.
“Captain Jack,” said Denise, her tone awed. “We have an incoming call from Emperor Hisahito of Japan! From him personally, not from an Imperial Household person.”
Wishing he could scratch his neck through the tough fabric of his vacsuit, Jack looked to the front screen’s motion-eye. “Put him through.”
A very old Asian man with white hair, thin face and sharp black eyes fixed on him. “You are Fleet Captain Jack Munroe of the Asteroid Belt?”
“I am.” Briefly he wondered at the energy of the ninety year old emperor.
The man who claimed a historical link to the first emperors of Japan more than two thousand years ago fixed on Jack. “The Empire of Japan today declares its independence from the Communitarian Unity. We have long felt uncomfortable over the Unity’s effort to enforce a uniformity upon peoples with unique heritages. Today we raised our national flag from Hokkaido south to Okinawa. Will you spare our space launch sites?”
Jack gave the man a slight bow. “Your imperial presence is appreciated. And your launch sites at Tanegashima and Kagoshima space centers will be left alone. Please assure that no Unity space vessel uses those sites.”
The man squinted. “Agreed. We have our own plans for those sites. It is time the land of Nihon put up its own space station. The Unity’s Tsiolkovsky Station has always been too crowded for my taste.”
He had not known the former boy emperor of Japan had ridden an H5 rocket to the Unity’s station. “Agreed. Let me extend an invitation to the Empire of Japan to send a delegation to Ceres Central for the establishment of diplomatic relations. Perhaps a crew of nihongin will join us in our future fights against Alien predators?”
The man’s expression grew intense. “Yes! This effort by Aliens to sully the lands and seas of Earth must be thrown back!”
One of his ship captains was waving at him. Ahhh. “Emperor Hisahito, may I invite Admiral Hideyoshi Minamoto of Mars to join our conversation? He commands our Mars fleet. And he has personally battled these Alien predators.”
The elderly Asian gave Jack a penetrating look. “Of course he may join us.”
Hideyoshi nodded his thanks, then looked aside at the repeater screen on his Command Bridge. “Glorious descendant of Amaterasu, may I ask that your Imperial Household burn incense at my parents’ cenotaph memorial in Osaka? I cannot do so. My duty to protect humanity prevents my visit to our ancestral land.”
The emperor’s expression softened. “It will be done. And if you have AV recordings of your battles against these Aliens, I would welcome the opportunity to view them.”
“They are being transmitted now,” Hideyoshi said.
“Second incoming call,” Denise whispered.
Jack sat back in his seat. An action noted by the emperor. “I gather you have other callers. The Empire of Japan values its new alliance with the Asteroid Belt. May the sun always rise upon your home.”
“Thank you. And may your wisdom continue to guide the people of Izanagi and Izanami,” Jack said.
The emperor’s image vanished, to be replaced by a middle-aged Chinese man of Northern Han descent, judging by the man’s sharp cheekbones, long head and formal manner.
“I am People’s Commissar P’eng Hua, director of the Central Committee of the People’s Republic of China. To whom am I speaking?”
China! He had hoped that land which held one-third of humanity would leave the Unity. But it had been a long-shot hope despite the country’s Mars colony. Would there be anger at him for encouraging Mars to declare its independence from Earth?
“Jack Munroe, Fleet Captain of the combined fleets of Mars and the Asteroid Belt now speaks,” he said bluntly. “You called?”
“I did.” The man scanned the other people in the Pilot Cabin of the Uhuru, lingering on youthful Denise. Shaking his head abruptly the man focused on Jack. “Fleet Cap
tain, I inform you that the People’s Republic has today raised the five star red flag of the Chinese Commune over our ancestral lands. The Unity ambassador has been expelled. As have the Unity military adjutants and five Unity naval vessels that were visiting Shanghai Port. We have advised the Unity Space Command they are no longer welcome at our three space launch sites. Does that suffice?”
Jack felt his mouth go dry. “Yes it does. Your launch sites at Xichang, Jiuquan and Taiyuan will be left alone by our fleet. Your fusion pulse ships launch from Jiuquan and Taiyuan. Please ensure that those ships have no Unity persons aboard them.” He paused, kept his expression neutral and gave the key warning. “Our spysats will be monitoring all three of your launch sites. And other launch sites belonging to newly independent nations. If we detect Unity launches from any site within the People’s Republic of China, that location will be vaporized.”
The man who ruled nearly three billion people gave Jack a sharp look. “Understood. While my people have benefited from the resource sharing of the Unity government, its efforts to make invisible the superior abilities of my countrymen has . . . irritated the Central Committee. We welcome your decimation of the Unity politicians!”
Jack had no doubt the man did indeed appreciate his removal of a competing leadership clique. “Your call is appreciated. We of the Asteroid Belt welcome a peaceful visit from one of your ships to our capital on Ceres.”
The man nodded abruptly. “You have my personal contact frequency. Call me if you have need.” The image vanished.
He grabbed his water bottle, held it to the nipple of his helmet neck ring and sucked deep its cool water.
“Captain Jack?” called Denise, her tone bemused.
Well, he had invited this. “Yes?”
“Incoming AV call from India.”
“Put it through.”
A brown-skinned, white-haired man appeared in the middle of the front screen. The leader of more than a billion people wore a white linen longshirt embroidered with scenes from Hindu mythology. He lifted white eyebrows. “You are Jack Munroe?”
“I am Fleet Captain Jack Munroe.”
The man frowned at Jack’s implied correction, then shrugged. “I am Prime Minister Anilkumar Krishnamurthy of the Indian democracy. Why do you threaten our space launch sites?”
Jack folded his gloved hands together. “As I broadcast, the Unity attacked my home with thermonuclear torpedoes. In violation of the Mars Accord. My allies and our ships have decided to remove Unity control over Earth. A part of that control is sites to launch spaceships for the Unity Naval Command.” Jack paused, wondering why the man was debating what had been clearly stated in his broadcast. “Your launch sites at Shriharikota Island, Balasore, Wheeler Island and Thumba have all been used by the Unity. What is your decision on their use and on India’s national identity?”
The elderly man licked his lips, looked uncomfortable, then sighed. “In India we make decisions by democratic committee meetings which—”
“You are the Prime Minister of India,” he interrupted bluntly. “Make a decision. Or forty minutes from now each of those launch sites will be destroyed.”
The man blinked dark brown eyes. His lips compressed. “The people of India hereby declare their independence from the Communitarian Unity. All Unity military vehicles and adjutants will be deported soon. The Unity is forbidden to make future use of our space launch sites.” The man who called Bangalore his home town lifted his eyebrows. “Sufficient?”
“No,” Jack said, adding feeling to his tone. “Deport all Unity ships, planes and personnel today. By public broadcast. And raise the flag of India over the four launch sites. If your flags are raised within the next forty minutes, your sites are safe. Understood?”
“Understood.” The man paused, looked at Jack’s crew people, then back to him. “I understand you have one of our countrymen within your fleet. True?”
Jack nodded slowly. “True. Captain Aashman Dasgupta commands the Belter fleet ship Mongoose. He, his crew and his ship have already gone to other stars with me, fought against Aliens and made friends of two Alien peoples we freed from predator control.” He paused, wondering at the man’s intention. “He is first a citizen of the Asteroid Belt. But like all of us with varied Earth heritages, he values greatly the traditions of his parents’ homeland.”
“Good.” The man’s mood now shifted to one of calm discussion. “Our nation holds one and a half billion people, of all castes, all religions and of many talents. Perhaps your anti-Alien effort could make use of our talents.”
Jack smiled briefly. “Thank you, Prime Minister, for that offer. We welcome a visit by any fusion pulse ship of India to Ceres Central. Our government there is willing to discuss all forms of partnership.”
The man’s expression relaxed. “Our flag will be raised shortly after this talk ends. All Unity people and assets will be deported today. I will make a public broadcast to this effect within ten minutes. May the Lord Vishnu guide your future efforts.”
Jack relaxed. “Thank you! Now, I have other callers waiting.”
The leader of India nodded and his image vanished.
“The Autarch of Brazil is next,” Denise said hurriedly. “And I have a dozen other national leaders on hold or set to call back within the next forty minutes. Including the governor of Tennessee.”
Did that mean a part of old America was breaking away from the North American Cooperative? If so, it would mean much to his parents. The front screen changed.
An elderly woman of middle class appearance filled the middle of the screen. Showing the brown skin tone, dark eyes and long black hair of the Portugese colonizers of Brazil, she quickly scanned the Pilot Cabin, lingering briefly on Elaine, Denise, Nikola, Blodwen and Cassie, then fixed on him. “You are Fleet Captain Munroe of the anti-Alien crusade. I am Autarch Bettina Azevedo of Brasilia. Why did you subvert our Moon colony from its allegiance to the homeland of its people?”
Jack was prepared for this accusation. “I urged Autarch Viktoria Goncalves to declare the Moon’s independence so it could not be used as a naval base by the Unity. Also, I and my allies believe every separate world, like Mars, Enceladus, Ganymede, Europa, Titan, Charon, the Moon and nations on Earth, deserve to be in charge of their affairs.” He smiled. “You could call me an anti-colonialist.”
The woman, who sat in a Scandinavian modern office in a high office tower with glass walls, grimaced. “Hardly. While I and my Congress do believe in the threat to humanity from these predator Aliens, your actions within Sol system suggest you wish to replace Unity control with Asteroid Belt control.”
He shook his head. “Wrong! My broadcast stated my intentions. Brazil is a great nation entitled to its national heritage. You should run your affairs as you and your people see fit. Your relations with other Earth nations are up to you. And them. What is your decision?”
The woman gave him a wry smile. “Independence of course. The Unity Congress and the Brussels bureaucrats have long treated our people as low class colonials. When in fact we were the fourth nation to orbit Mars and the fifth to land on the Moon. Our economy is as strong as that of the EU. We lead South America. And we believe in meritocracy, rather than the enforced cultural sameness of the Unity.” She looked aside as a slim man in a business suit brought a yellow datapad to her, then left. Looking down at it, she touched it, read something, said “good”, then looked up. “My Department of State has personally told all Unity people in Brazil to leave by this evening. All Unity naval ships, planes and the single spaceship undergoing upgrade work will also leave our national boundaries by tonight. Satisfied?”
Jack nodded. “Your launch sites at Alcântara and Barreira do Inferno will be left intact. Please see that no Unity personnel or space ships make use of those sites.”
“It will be done,” the woman said. She tilted her head, her look curious. “What are these other, peaceful Aliens like?”
Jack grinned. “Very similar to us humans. They have fam
ilies. They prefer peace to conflict. They are tech smart and socially complex. They see in our vision range, hear in our acoustic frequency, communicate verbally and live on worlds similar to Earth. The two peoples we liberated, the Mikmang and the Nuuthot, are omnivores with an emphasis on plant foods. They welcomed our destruction of their Alien masters. Would you like copies of our AV records of meetings with them?”
“Yes!” The woman gave him an eager smile. “When I was a young girl I would lie outside at night and stare up at the Southern Cross in the constellation of Crux. Wishing I could visit those stars.”
“Me too. Only I looked at the stars from within an asteroid habitat occupied by my parents and my two sisters. Was a bit crowded. But wonderful. There was no haze to obscure the Milky Way.”
“Ahhh,” murmured the woman, again glancing at Jack’s crew people. “You and your crew are blessed with unique experiences. Experiences that I hope our scientists and astronauts can share with you and your fleet. We will be sending a diplomatic delegation to Ceres Central within a week.”
Perfect. “It will be welcomed. And you may enjoy knowing that one of our ship captains, Júlia Araujo of the Caiman, hails from Belo Horizonte. She was born there before her parents moved to the Asteroid Belt.”
“Excellent!” The woman looked aside as if being called, then fixed on him. “Fleet Captain Jack Munroe, the Autarchy of Brazil welcomes a future alliance with the Asteroid Belt. Good day.”
He waved at the woman, then looked back at Denise when the Autarch’s image disappeared. “What other national leaders are calling us?”
She pulled on one red braid, then looked down at her Comlink panel. “Leaders from Australia, Indonesia, Argentina, Israel, Iran, Russia, South Africa, Norway, Ukraine, Egypt, Algeria and Pakistan. And the Tennessee governor. No one else from Canada, America or Mexico. Or from the EU.”
Well, those nations plus the ones he’d spoken to equaled three-fifths of Earth’s population and half of its active space launch sites.
Freedom Vs. Aliens (Aliens Series Book 3) Page 8
