Confrontation

by William Hayashi

  Susan laughed, then said, “That is, if they buy that I’m really the mission commander. They may think some white man on board is really leading the mission.”

  Bianca smirked, then cut a quick glance at John no one else noticed. John just slightly shook his head and looked down at the floor, knowing she still wasn’t convinced.

  “Why would they think otherwise, Susan?” asked Peter.

  “Because it’s such a common meme, Peter. I don’t think it’s too different in Japan that men run the show, is it?” Susan asked.

  “Well yes, it’s a male-dominated society. But there’s no subterfuge about it. I can’t remember an instance growing up where a woman was a figurehead for some organization where a man was secretly in charge. Or maybe I just didn’t know about it,” Peter said, his voice trailing off.

  “Anyone who thinks Susan is just a figurehead will be disabused of that notion in a hurry!” claimed Bianca.

  “So this peace message is blasting out ahead of us, and in all this time we’ve not gotten any response at all? That’s not good,” John said ominously.

  “But it’s not a denial or a ‘keep out,’ a ‘Whitey go home’ or anything else negative either,” said Susan.

  “Yeah, but them not saying anything is disconcerting. As advanced as this ship is, it’s unarmed and really has no defensive capabilities. If someone wanted to do us harm, and I’m not saying that the colonists have any such agenda, it would be easy to consign us to death in space,” David observed.

  John snorted, then said, “What I’m worried about is the other mission. Their commander is a Russian military man from the old Soviet Union. I don’t care how you dress him up, he’s still a soldier.”

  “So am I,” said Harriet. “And we’ve made no secret of it.”

  “But you’re not leading this expedition, Susan is. That’s completely different, I hope. Moreover, we have Bianca, who can negotiate on behalf of the United Nations, we have that going for us, too,” Chester said. “That gives us a definite psychological and sociological advantage.”

  “From your mouth to God’s ear,” Judith said quietly, then got up and went to her cabin without another word.

  Everyone was silent, hoping Judith was right. Half a trillion dollars in technology had been spent to get out past the orbit of Mars and back, but the reason for the trip was completely up for grabs. No one on the Jove crew knew what reception they faced at the colony. And what no one wanted to discuss was the likelihood that they were sticking their collective noses where they didn’t belong.

  * * *

  Chuck and Peanut were in their spacesuits doing a visual inspection of the specially-modified whale and jumpers prepared for the coming Earth mission. Although Peanut’s engineering team had inspected the ships and their systems numerous times, Chuck wanted to eyeball them himself. He wasn’t expecting to find anything wrong, but as one of the jumper pilots for the mission, he just felt better seeing how all three ships were configured to connect together for the trip to Earth.

  “Anything special you want me to bring back, Peanut?” Chuck radioed as they floated around the exterior of the ships.

  Peanut laughed, shining his helmet lights along the grooves where the jumper skids joined with the whale. “How about a bucket of tips? You think Ribs ’N Bibs is still around?” he asked about their favorite rib joint on Chicago’s south side.

  “No telling. Hang on … Genesis?” Chuck announced over the radio.

  “Yes Chuck, how may I be of assistance?”

  “Would you check and see if Ribs ’N Bibs is still open in Hyde Park back in Chicago?”

  “According to recent consumer ratings, the establishment is still open.”

  “Thank you, Genesis. That will be all. Okay, Peanut, you’re on. A bucket of tips with extra sauce. I’ll freeze ’em and bring ’em back. We can get Chris, maybe a few others from the Chicago days, and have a feast in Riley’s honor. Sound good?”

  “Hell yeah! How much longer do you want to look around?” Peanut asked, sounding somewhat fatigued.

  “I’m done. I knew I wasn’t going to find anything your crew missed. I just wanted to see it for myself.”

  They jetted back to the personnel airlock, having skipped coming by jumper the short distance to the ships. Once inside and they had removed their helmets, Peanut asked, “Chris over being pissed about not going?”

  “Probably not. But Pat wasn’t bullshitting about putting her foot down. Even Chris had to acknowledge that anyone with kids shouldn’t go. Also, the council wasn’t going to let it happen no matter what. If he got caught down there, game over. Whoever nabbed him would squeeze every single drop of our technology out of his head, and we’d never see him again,” Chuck said, helping Peanut get out of the top half of his suit.

  Peanut scratched all over getting at itches, real and imagined, that he couldn’t reach while inside the suit. Once Chuck put the top half of Peanut’s suit on a shelf, Peanut helped Chuck get out of his suit.

  “He has no business even thinking about going, now that they’ve got Ben to raise. We ain’t no single-parent community. Besides, his place is right here when both those missions show up. It doesn’t matter who the council picks to talk to them, if we end up communicating with them at all, Chris is going to want to be right in the thick of things,” Peanut said, lifting the suit’s torso so Chuck could get his arms out.

  The two wiped out the inside of their helmets, put on the dust covers and shelved them. Then they both started working on the lower halves of the suits and getting their boots off.

  “Is eight of you going to be enough?” Peanut inquired.

  “Yeah. That’s five effectives not counting pilots; that should be more than enough. Lucius is going to need the help getting everything loaded up. Fortunately, with the modified whale, it shouldn’t take much time to slide standard shipping containers inside. When the whale is loading up is when the whole mission is most vulnerable. We for damn sure don’t want to get caught on the ground.”

  “It’s a bold plan, Chuck, I’ll give you that. How come Angela’s not the other jumper pilot? I wasn’t in on the planning much.”

  “Because I want our most experienced combat pilot here when those ships from Earth show up,” Chuck said, peeling out of his inner suit.

  “But our ships aren’t armed.”

  “I know, but she can do a hell of a lot of stuff defensively, like intercept missiles.”

  “Missiles!? You think they’re armed with missiles? What the hell, no one said anything about that,” Peanut said in alarm.

  “And as far as everyone else is concerned, no one has,” Chuck admonished.

  “Who else knows this?”

  “Look, Peanut. As far as we know the NASA mission is on the up-and-up. But Genesis was able to scope out mountings on the Russian ship that matched air-to-air missiles made in Russia and France, though there’s been no other documentation to suggest they actually armed the ship. We looked over the blueprints, even the secret stuff, and there’s nothing available online that proved missiles were actually installed; we aren’t taking any chances.

  “They got that fucking KGB asshole colonel commanding the mission and no one trusts his ass for a second. If they’re armed, then they’ll be wishing Chris had come with us to Earth because that could just push him over the edge. That’s one of the main reasons Angela is going to be on high alert while those ships are in the neighborhood.”

  “But all she’s got are shields. She can’t shoot back,” protested Peanut.

  “And that’s why I asked you along on this little inspection trip. I need a favor,” Chuck said quietly.

  “This doesn’t sound good. You know I can’t go against the council—or Chris for that matter. Don’t make me do something—”

  “Slow down, man. I’m not going to make you do anything you shouldn’t.” />
  “Oh yeah, then why the behind-the-back shit? What is it you want?”

  “I want you to mount as powerful a G-wave excavator you can on the front of each of the two Jupiter mission jumpers.”

  “What the fuck for?” Peanut asked, clearly exasperated.

  Chuck laughed. “You are still the no-cussingest brotha’ I know.” He paused a moment then said, “Because even with the shields we have now, I want something that may give them pause if they actually think they can get away with an attack.”

  “Do I tell Chris?”

  “Do you feel you have to?” Chuck asked pointedly.

  Peanut paused, thinking it over.

  Chuck continued. “Okay, look at it this way: it’s just a tool that Angela and her wingman will have in the event someone threatens our home. Is that good enough a reason for you?”

  “Look, you know I’m going to do it. I just feel shitty about keeping it from Chris.”

  “Then tell him. I don’t care. But I’m not having some son of a bitch threatening my home when I’m away and you all have nothing to respond with. You get me?”

  “Don’t do me like that, Chuck. You know it’s not like that. I already said I’d do it,” Peanut said, a crestfallen look on his face.

  “Aw man, I don’t mean to come down on you. It’s a messed-up place to be, I know. But let me ask you this, do you want Chris to lose his temper right off the bat and decide to crush those ships if they piss him off? I won’t be here to tell him ‘no.’ It’s just going to be you and the council to ride herd on him, maybe Pat if she’s around when the shit hits the fan. Won’t it be better if you can tell him only if they’re needed as a last resort, not a first-strike weapon?” he asked.

  Peanut thought about it while he pulled his clothes on. Moments later he agreed, “Okay, I get it. You’re right. Anyway, I’m sure the shields are more than enough to keep us safe, but I get what you mean. I’ll get started on the jumpers right away, at least mounts for the units. I think I’m going to design a couple of long-range G-waves for this. Maybe two whose fields converge some ways away from the jumpers.”

  “Whatever, my man. I leave the genius design stuff to you and your team. Want to get a bite?”

  “How about we call Iris and Bernice and eat at Sherman’s? We haven’t been out together in a while, and with you going to be gone for a few months, what the hell?”

  “Good idea. Want to call Chris and Pat?”

  Peanut shook his head. “Not this time. I think we might discuss the whole riding-herd-on-Chris thing; we need to help him keep cool if he’s provoked. I think we should all talk about that and later see what Pat thinks about it too. She’ll be a big help.”

  “Okay, I’ll check with Iris. I’m going to grab a shower first. I’ll let you know what she says,” promised Chuck.

  “Right on.”

  The four met later in the upscale eatery of the colony, and because the crowd was sparse, were immediately seated by Albert, the restaurant’s maitre d’.

  “What may I have Placido pour for the four of you?” he asked.

  “Maybe a nice, crisp white wine for the table?” Bernice suggested. “Is that okay for everyone?”

  Getting nods all around, Albert went to place their order. They chatted until the head bartender, brewmeister and vintner, Placido, brought the bottle to the table, uncorked it and poured. He waited until he had their approval, as the bottle was one of his best winemaking efforts to date.

  “How do you do it, Placido?” Bernice asked.

  “Research! The few vines I was able to get when we were living on the moon were excellent Californians. And I got a lot of help from Annie in hydroponics figuring out the best way to grow grapes with no soil or natural sunlight. I’m really digging the science part of the process, and Annie is an excellent help with the grapes,” Placido said, smiling with pride.

  “This is fabulous, the flavor is crisp and light, I like it!” Iris declared.

  “Why thank you very much. It’s nice to have one’s art appreciated,” Placido said, then bowed and made a smooth exit.

  Bernice took another sip from her glass, and when she placed it back on the table, she folded her hands and said, “Okay, Peanut wouldn’t tell me why the sudden invitation. Not that I mind, but I know when something’s up with my man.”

  Chuck laughed at the abashed look Peanut was giving his wife. He then said, “Go easy on Peanut, Bernice. It’s my fault.” He looked at Iris, who was just shaking her head, and asked, “What? Not everything is my fault.”

  “Maybe, but if I play the odds on you I almost always come out ahead,” she replied.

  “You called it right this time. What I’m worried about is that Chris might lose his temper with one or both of those inbound ships and do something that everyone will regret. Something even Chris himself will never be able to get over, and that would be the worst possible thing to happen to him. He takes everything so seriously and if someone died by his hand, directly or not, he’ll never get over it. So while I’m gone I need everyone close to him to keep an eye out. And I plan on approaching Pat too.” Chuck looked around the table to gauge the reactions of the others.

  Iris was the first to speak up. “I’ve known Christopher a good long time. And after that whole ‘first time on the moon’ thing I haven’t heard of him losing his temper since, except for the night Riley passed away. I know he’s wound a little tight, but marrying Pat and having Ben has kind of mellowed him out, hasn’t it?”

  “Maybe it’s just driven his anger deeper so we don’t see it so much. He’s not about to let Ben grow up angry like he did,” Peanut said.

  “That’s what I mean,” Chuck said. “He’s got it hidden away, but it’s still there. And I’m worried. We’ve never had any visitors here, and now we have some KGB colonel and a bunch of Americans coming at us. No one knows what to expect, and I’m going to be a month away by the time they arrive. Maybe I’m worrying for nothing, but why take a chance?”

  “We get you. We all love Chris, you know that. He’s like your brother. Hell, for all practical purposes he is your brother. We’ll keep an eye out while you’re gone, and you damn well better come back in one piece!” Iris said, getting nods around the table.

  “How dangerous is the mission, Chuck?” Bernice asked.

  “If we stick to the plan, not very. Hasn’t Peanut kept you in the loop?” Chuck asked, puzzled.

  “I never knew the whole plan. I was too busy with the mods to the whale and jumpers, remember?” Peanut reminded him.

  “To be honest, Lucius is pulling all the risk once we get there. The three ships are going to be hidden underwater while he gets everything delivered and loaded up into some big-ass shipping containers. Then the only time we’re really exposed is when we have to load the whale.

  “The military has detectors that can see where our G-wave tech is in use. That’s going to be the biggest pain in the butt. The way the mission is laid out we’re going to drop down over Lake Michigan with all three of the spacecraft connected together and drop the whale in the lake in about sixty or more feet of water. Once it’s away, the two jumpers are going to take off for the coasts, hopefully pulling everyone else away from the area. Once the coast is clear, then Lucius and the other guys are going to swim to the surface and get at it,” explained Chuck.

  “It doesn’t sound too difficult. Pardon me for asking, but is Lucius in good enough shape for this mission?” Bernice asked.

  “Doc Long says so,” Chuck said, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Is the whale going to land somewhere, like at a warehouse?” asked Iris.

  “No. They’re going to transfer the loaded shipping containers onto a barge and push it out into the lake in the middle of the night. The whale will float up to the surface without firing up the G-waves, load the containers, seal up the cargo hold, then take off. Meanwhile
the two jumpers are going to play tag on the east and west coasts, distracting the military away from the Great Lakes region,” Chuck replied.

  “What about the guys on the ground with Lucius? Won’t everyone need ID just in case?” Bernice asked Chuck.

  “Genesis can insert false IDs in the DMV database. Lucius will have IDs in his name. He’s not listed as being here and he’s aging himself so he’ll look more like his actual age. Genesis has been managing investments he left behind, and creating some correspondence by email, making it look like he’s been retired on some remote island, but not dead. Genesis is going to be tapped into everything while we’re there; it’s highly unlikely anyone’s going to be able to sneak up on us. So, not to worry.”

  “Chuck and I have been over and over the plan, looking at it from every possible perspective. I wouldn’t be letting him go otherwise,” said Iris.

  “I’m a lot more worried about what might happen here than I am about being back on Earth,” Chuck confessed. “That’s why I want you all to be looking out not only for Chris, but for anything that just doesn’t smell right.”

  “Man, you know everyone here is going to be putting everything under a microscope. No one has forgotten the last time they sent someone to talk to us. They had guns that could fire in a vacuum, for Christ’s sake,” said Peanut.

  “What I don’t get is what part of Whitey Go Home didn’t they understand?” Iris asked, pouring more wine into her glass. “Assholes,” she said under her breath.

  Everyone laughed at the utter disdain in Iris’ voice. While they waited for their food to come, they talked about what items they placed on the colony’s wish list, since the mission was devoted to filling every possible request from all the various departments on down to each individual member of the community.

  They were amazed when Chuck told them that the whale was reconfigured to receive six standard shipping containers and could even hold eight with a bit of jockeying around.

  “Does everything have to be shipped with air inside?” Bernice asked.