Confrontation

by William Hayashi

  “I need to know what’s the top speed of our jumpers,” Christopher demanded.

  “I don’t know. What happened? Tell me!”

  “The authorities have grabbed Lucius—and Julius too.”

  “How the hell did that happen?”

  “Chuck said it was over a traffic accident. Here, watch this. Genesis, play back Chuck’s message for Peanut,” Christopher said as he got up to leave the room. “I’ve got to send a message back to Chuck. I’ll be right outside.”

  When Chuck’s message started up, Christopher stepped out.

  “Genesis, message for Chuck, audio only.”

  “Ready.”

  “Chuck. Got your message. Inform the council as soon as possible, leave nothing out. I’m going to explore some options with Peanut. I’ll get back with you shortly. If anything changes, call me immediately. Message ends.”

  “Message sent, Christopher. Will there be anything else I may assist you with?”

  “Thank you, no,” he replied, peeking through the little window in the door to see if the message playback was over. Seeing it was still running, he went inside and sat. When the message concluded, Peanut said, “What the fuck?”

  “Exactly. So, how fast can I get to Earth?” asked Christopher.

  “Look, Chris, we’ve never really pushed them much faster than a hundred thousand miles an hour. They can go faster of course, once you get the G-waves to focus every bit of their power pushing the jumper, and making damn sure the artificial gravity is steady, who knows? But if you run into even a grain of dust, it’s going to drill a hole through the hull,” Peanut explained.

  “Even if you kick up the power to the shields?”

  “Well, probably not.”

  “Let me ask you this. Do you think we can equip a jumper to safely go five hundred thousand miles an hour?” Christopher asked.

  “Shit, Chris! At that speed the damn clocks will start to slow down.” Peanut paused, doing some calculations in his head. “There’s nothing operational that would keep a jumper from going that fast. But it’s risky.”

  “Good! And if anything happens to either of them, I’m going to crush that fucking ship out there,” Christopher said, in a cold anger Peanut had never seen before.

  “Um, Chris? They haven’t done anything to us. They probably don’t even know what’s going on back there,” Peanut said, beginning to panic.

  “Too fucking bad!” Christopher said, getting up and beginning to pace.

  “Chris! We don’t know anything yet. Cool out!”

  “Cool out? They sent soldiers to kick in our front door, and they send a couple of ships to trespass in our neighborhood, and they can’t wait to try to nab or shoot down our ships! You don’t see that as provocation?” Christopher said, shaking his finger in Peanut’s face.

  Just then they were interrupted by Genesis, announcing a call from Maxwell and the rest of the council.

  “What!?” Christopher shouted.

  “Sorry. Are we interrupting, Chris?”

  Calming down, he answered, “No, I’m just talking to Peanut. What do you want?”

  “We just got the update from Chuck. We were wondering if you’d be able to come by so we can discuss some things?” Maxwell said carefully.

  Christopher gave the finger toward the ceiling speakers, then said, “Sure, we’ll be right there.”

  “We?” Peanut said when the call was disconnected.

  “That’s right. Let’s get a move on,” he said, already walking out the door.

  Christopher arrived at the council’s office under a full head of steam. When he entered the conference room, everyone there could tell that a long, difficult time was ahead.

  When Peanut arrived a couple of seconds later, he just shrugged, cocking his head toward Christopher, then took a seat.

  “I just asked Peanut how fast a jumper could safely travel when we mount a rescue operation,” Christopher began. “I also think we should be holding those damn ships out there hostage for the safe return of our people.”

  “Whoa there, Chris. We all reviewed the information Chuck has so far, and this could all be a matter of DWB,” Maxwell protested.

  “Driving while black?” Christopher said, throwing his head back and laughing. “That’s somehow supposed to make it right? That’s supposed to excuse America’s centuries-old persecution of us? That might be all right for you, but for me, this time it’s personal.”

  “What does that mean, Chris?” Phillip asked calmly.

  “It means that I am fully prepared to go to war over the kidnapping of our people. If we don’t respond in a way that does anything less than scare the shit out of them, they will always be testing us, pushing us, seeing just how much they can get away with,” he replied.

  A chill came over the room at Christopher’s declaration. No one was willing to speak, most present unable to disagree.

  “We have been out here for a decade, not bothering them. Even our mission there isn’t bothering anyone, everything we’re obtaining being bought and paid for all nice and legal. Their molestation of our people is an affront to decency, and should not be tolerated. They have no right to hold Lucius or Julius, they broke no laws according to Chuck other than, as Maxwell put it, driving while black. Well, at least for our people, that ends now. I am preparing to mount a rescue operation to retrieve our people,” said Christopher.

  “I would ask what has happened to our vows of nonviolence? Where are our principles if we harm someone in the retrieval of our people? How do we hold the moral or ethical high ground in that case, Chris? It was you who helped develop our community’s guiding principles, are you so easily able to abandon them for so little provocation?” Maxwell asked.

  “Ask Phillip. That’s such a common, bullshit argument, I’m not going to dignify that with a response. Where do we draw the line? How much screwing around with us meets the threshold where we are allowed to respond? I say enough …”

  The room remained silent.

  “Well?” Christopher demanded.

  “Well what? There’s little we can argue. None of us wants to see any loss of life, but you’re right. We essentially got chased off the moon, at least earlier than we planned. And we come way the hell out here and they still hound us. I see it your way, Chris,” said William, getting a couple nods around the table.

  “I’m not saying I disagree. And there’s certainly no harm in preparing a rescue mission, that is if our assets already on Earth can’t do it alone. Peanut, you’re on board with this action?” Maxwell asked.

  “Damn right I am. Not for anyone getting hurt, but I’ve known Lucius from the beginning when he was taking care of Chris’ mom. If anything happens to him, they should be made to feel very sorry for messing with him, with any of us. Julius is just as important as Lucius! And I’m with Chris, they should just leave us the hell alone!”

  Everyone nodded when Peanut finished.

  Margaret spoke up and said, “It’s about time they learned that we mean business. Apparently, ‘Whitey Go Home’ wasn’t definitive enough for them, and as Christopher said, this time it’s personal.”

  “Very well, then. Peanut, Chris, gather whomever you need to put a rescue mission together and when you have a preliminary plan, please bring it to us so we know what you intend, okay?” Maxwell requested.

  “Yeah, sure,” Christopher said, getting to his feet and leading Peanut out of the conference room.

  “Anything else?” Maxwell asked the council.

  “It might be a good idea if Sydney talks to Joy’s father again, and explains the consequences of keeping Lucius and Julius in custody, or if they mess with our ships,” Sarah suggested.

  “This was bound to happen. America simply can’t live with coming in second on anything. Chris is right, it’s time to draw a line in the sand,” Phillip said, surp
rising the others.

  Maxwell asked in surprise, “You’re on board with this, Phillip?”

  “I am. Even an ethicist can recognize a time when transgression simply has to stop. Hopefully, getting those two will turn out to be a simple affair where just a technological show of strength will be enough. Let’s pray it is so,” Phillip said, folding his fingers on the table before him.

  “All right. I’ll speak to Sydney and let her know what’s going on. The rest of you do rumor control. The moment Chris starts planning the rescue mission, the whole colony is going to know about it. The best possible outcome would be those two being kicked loose by the authorities and all this angst will have been for nothing. Now beat it!” Maxwell said, smiling.

  When the room was cleared, he had Genesis put him in touch with Sydney.

  “Do you have a few minutes?” he asked. “There’s something I need your help on.”

  “No problem. Want me to stop by the office?”

  “How about we meet at the cafeteria, I’m starving!”

  “Five minutes,” she promised.

  When he arrived, he didn’t see Sydney anywhere, so Maxwell went through the line and got lunch.

  A couple of minutes after he sat down, she breezed by, dropping off her datapad and then went to get her lunch.

  When she returned, Maxwell was going to let her get settled before he began but Sydney asked right off the bat, “What’s up?”

  “First of all, I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to you about your conversation with Joy’s father. How did it go?”

  “It was bittersweet. He was completely taken by surprise. I sent him a picture of Joy, and he accepted my informing him that they wouldn’t get a chance to speak. He’s a really good man, it’s just too bad … ” she said, her words training off.

  Maxwell clasped her arm, saying, “I know. But there’s just no way it can happen. Unfortunately, everyone else agrees that it just wouldn’t work. Joy’s father would be an outcast just as much as one of us would be in similar circumstances. Almost all of us have been through that at one time or another. Would you wish that on him?”

  “Of course not. And he’s smart enough that he realizes it too. Anyway, what is it you need from me?” she asked.

  “Before we go there, did you pass along that there’d be no opportunity for either mission to talk to us on an official basis?”

  “I did. They understand,” she replied.

  “Good. Here’s the skinny. Lucius and Julius were picked up by the authorities after a fender-bender. They were initially held by the police, but now they’re in federal custody.”

  “Oh no! What’s going to happen to them?” she said, immediately distraught.

  “Nothing, if Chris has his way.”

  “What’s he planning, Max? He’s not going off half-cocked is he?”

  “Not exactly. The whole council met when Chuck sent us the news on the ground crew. He and Peanut showed up—well I invited Chris myself—and we reached a consensus on drawing a line in the sand with Earth, more specifically, with the United States of America,” explained Maxwell.

  “So where do I fit in?” Sydney asked, curious.

  “We think it would be a good idea to warn the Jove mission that we take our missing ground crew members in custody very seriously. And that there’s no way that our technology will ever be allowed in their hands. Can you do that?” he asked, searching her face for any resistance or anxiety.

  “That won’t be a problem at all. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about talking to John again after lunch. Is there anything else I should be bringing up?” she asked.

  “Maybe a reminder that some here, not most of course, see the mission as potential hostages should our people not be released,” Maxwell said carefully.

  Sydney’s eyes opened wide in shock. She asked, “We’re not really there, are we? Are things that precarious?”

  “Maybe. Chuck doesn’t know yet and he’s the command and control on the ground. No one wants that, so do what you can to convey our position on this one, okay?”

  “I will,” she said, pushing her tray aside. “Suddenly, I’ve lost my appetite.”

  Maxwell told her everything he knew. How they were picked up, where they were being held, and that Chris saw this as the last straw. Once she felt she understood everything that had happened, and what she was being asked to convey to the Jove mission, she told Maxwell she would go talk to John immediately.

  She got up to take her tray, but Maxwell stopped her and said, “Leave it. I’ve got it. Go on and do what you have to do.”

  “I’ll call you as soon as I’m done,” Sydney promised.

  * * *

  John had woken up tired, hundreds of thoughts and questions chasing around in his mind most of the night. But once he was up, he braced himself and left his compartment. The others greeted him with smiles, some sympathetic, and somewhat forced conversation trying to paint a normal appearance.

  He joined in cooking breakfast, and it wasn’t long before everything fell back into the ship’s normal routine. Rachel even summoned the courage to ask John if his conversation had gone well. He told her that when they sat down to eat he’d tell everyone all about it.

  Once they had the food prepared, and all the bowls and plates magnetically stuck to the table, John began.

  “It started out weird. After all, I hadn’t seen Sydney since she left Earth. She looked great. In some ways it was like no time had passed, and in other ways we were like strangers; ten years is a long time in anyone’s life. We sort of did a little small talk, then she dropped a bomb on me; we have a daughter.”

  “That’s great! Congratulations … ” Peter started to say, then, “I mean, I guess it’s good news, right? Oh hell! I don’t know what I mean.”

  John laughed at Peter’s discomfort, and let him off the hook. “Of course it’s a good thing, it’s a great thing! Even though I won’t be part of her life, Sydney said she told her, her name is Joy, all about me. But Syd thinks it’s not a good idea for us to talk, and after thinking about it all night, I think she’s right. It would only make problems for her where they don’t exist right now.”

  “You didn’t know she was pregnant?” Rachel asked.

  “No. We had only been together the one time, the night she left Earth,” explained John.

  “Holy shit! What were the odds, man?” Peter exclaimed, not able to help himself, and the table erupted in laughter.

  Chester then asked, “How are you doing knowing you’re a father?”

  “I guess I’m all right with it. Maybe the shock hasn’t really worn off yet.”

  “So what else did she say?” Bianca inquired. “Did she say anything about our mission and what we’re offering in the way of normalized relations with the colony?”

  “She did. Officially, they will not be communicating with us. Syd’s only being allowed to talk to me for humanitarian reasons, I suppose. They can’t trust anyone on Earth, and I have to agree. What would any country be willing to do to get one of their spaceships? They’re definitely not stupid.”

  “The same thing goes for the Svoboda mission too?” asked Bianca.

  “That’s right, they’re not going to play favorites. They pretty much want to be left alone,” said John.

  “What about their mission on Earth? Did she say anything about it?” Susan asked.

  “She said it’s classified or some such. She wouldn’t say—”

  As John spoke the radio beeped, and then Sydney’s voice said, “Project Jove, this is Sydney Atkins requesting to speak to John Mathews, please respond.”

  Everyone looked at John, watching for his reaction. David unstrapped from his chair and jaunted over to the communications console. He donned the headset and said, “One moment, ma’am. John will be right there.” Pointing to John’s compartment, he asked,
“You want to take it in there?”

  “Sure.” John made his way to his compartment and closed the door behind him. As he sat, Sydney appeared onscreen.

  “Hi, John,” she began.

  “Hey.”

  “I suppose I gave you a lot to think about yesterday. You okay?” she asked.

  John chuckled. “I guess so. And I’m very thankful that you were able to talk to me, given the stance on dealing with Earth,” said John.

  “I’m glad you mention that, John. I have some unofficial information to pass along to you.”

  “That sounds ominous. What’s up?”

  “Two of our people are in custody on Earth. They are currently being held at a federal facility in Chicago. We want them immediately released unharmed and unmolested.”

  “What? How the hell did that happen?” a shocked John asked.

  “Something about a traffic accident,” she explained.

  “Was anyone hurt? Is that why your people were taken into custody?”

  “No, John. It was a just a fender-bender but for whatever reason, two of our people were taken into custody and kept overnight without charge.”

  “Do they know that they’re from the colony?” he asked, hoping it was just a mistake.

  “We believe they do. The fact is that we are not going to take this illegal detention lightly. Please, John, do whatever you can to get the authorities to let them go. There’s even loose talk about using your mission as hostage until our people are released.”

  * * *

  “Colonel, I am seeing transmission of a signal between the separatists and the Jove spacecraft. It’s an encrypted wideband signal, perhaps a video transmission,” Chux announced.

  “You are absolutely certain?” Levkov asked as the others listened to the byplay.

  “Yes. It is a fairly directional signal, but it is strong enough for me to triangulate the origin. It is coming from the colony and is aimed at the Jove spacecraft.”

  “Son of a bitch! Can you decode the signal?”

  “Given enough time, maybe. But the signal is packeted and frequency-hopped. It’s doubtful we have the necessary computational power to do so before we return home.”