Confrontation

by William Hayashi

  “Not yet, Christopher. But I am now monitoring the conversations within the ship, I am resident in their comm system.”

  “Can they tell?”

  “Not even if they run full diagnostics. But no system has any programming or controls for missiles, if they are actually installed. The control systems must be resident in a stand-alone system.”

  “How the hell do they aim the damn things?” Christopher wondered aloud.

  “That is a very good question, Christopher, most likely by radar. But it is one that I cannot answer at this time.”

  “Thank you, Genesis. That will be all,” Christopher said, then returned inside the monitoring center. He and Peanut waited around for a few minutes, and when nothing happened except for Colonel Levkov shouting into the radio, they departed to continue planning the potential rescue mission.

  The Svoboda crew was doing the weightless equivalent of tiptoing around Colonel Levkov after the colony had ignored his every entreaty and Roscoe’s brutal takedown. Levkov left the cockpit fuming, wanting to strike out at someone, anyone, but wasn’t quite ready to commit to an attack. As much bluster as he displayed, the separatist warning did give him pause.

  After half an hour, when Xavier saw that Levkov had calmed down a good deal, he floated over and said too softly for anyone else to hear, “You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking are you, Colonel? Because I believe it would be madness to provoke these people. Have you taken a look at the sheer size of their home?” he whispered.

  “I cannot allow the Americans to come away with anything those niggers decide to give them,” Levkov spit the words out vehemently.

  Even though Levkov was trying to speak quietly, everyone heard most of what he said and was surprised to hear that word pass the colonel’s lips.

  Xavier went silent. As the only other crew member who knew about the secret weapon system on the ship, he worried that the colonel would lose his temper and commit an unthinkable act. He had secondary access to the missiles, but needed Levkov to be off the ship or dead to gain access. It would be too easy for the colonel to override any commands he could enter. Besides, the only console that could activate the weapons system was the pilot’s—in other words, Levkov’s.

  After observing Levkov’s behavior over the last few days, everyone was worried about the Colonel’s stability. It appeared that his behavior was not based on some hidden agenda or secret orders concerning the mission, but was born of deeply seated prejudices and paranoia.

  Judith was an M.D., but had little experience dealing with severe cases of mental illness. And it was a long trip home if he suffered a mental collapse or had to be restrained for the duration of the trip. Left unspoken, but on everyone’s mind, was the possibility that the colonel could commit an act that could actually get them all killed.

  Without being directed, the crew began the onerous task of checking every system for any damage that might have occurred when the colony forced the ship to move, leaving the colonel to his own devices.

  Levkov retired to his compartment and remained there the rest of the day. He sent a report back to Star City mission control about the day’s activities, glossing over his own behavior. He also sent several encrypted messages inquiring just how much latitude he had in dealing with both the American mission and the colony which Genesis intercepted, decoded, and provided to the council. Noticeably absent from any of the dispatches between Svoboda and Star City was any mention of weapons aboard the ship.

  Several hours later, the colonel left his compartment and announced that they would be departing for Earth in twenty-four hours, and for Sybil and Rachel to begin calculating the course home and program the navigation computer. The moment he gave the orders, Genesis informed the council. Maxwell called a meeting for the next morning to discuss the latest development.

  Chapter 31

  BURNING BRIDGES

  The colony’s ground team made quick work of removing all traces of their handiwork at the warehouse. Neil restored the combination of the safe to the one they had originally found. G2 remotely cleaned off the office computer and removed all traces of the list of items shipped there and whatever searches had been made on the Internet. Albert took every shred of paper in the office out back, dumped all of it into an oil drum and set everything on fire. He kept stirring the ashes so no one could reconstruct any of the original information. They also dumped the remaining food from the refrigerator in the fire, leaving the soda and beer behind as a gift for the next people who used the facility. When their underwater gear was all packed up and in the truck, they locked up the warehouse and left.

  Once they radioed that they were finished and on their way, Chuck had them return to the motel and check out, then directed them to find a suite at a downtown hotel so they could all stay together. This way, Lucius and Julius couldn’t be forced to reveal the whereabouts of the others under duress.

  Neil parked the van in the hotel garage, and the three took off on foot, not taking any chances at being overheard. They wandered around the Near North restaurant district, passing the place they had eaten their first night on Earth but staying well away from the federal building. They chatted with Chuck, Todd and Sondra, trying to plan the recovery of their two incarcerated comrades. G2 was still keeping tabs on the them, but other than meals brought to their cell, they were subjected to no communication or questioning. Lucius demanded to go before a judge, call another attorney to represent them, or to simply be released; no one was talking to them.

  Todd wondered aloud if he and Chuck shouldn’t head toward the middle of the country so they could somehow rescue the two in custody. But everyone realized that to do so would definitely tip their hand. If the authorities weren’t quite convinced that the two were not associated with the colonist’s ships on Earth, having the ships come to the Great Lakes region would confirm their suspicions and draw a massive military response.

  * * *

  For once, John decided to call Sydney instead of waiting for her to contact him. He opened the channel they had been using and a “One Moment Please” message immediately flashed onto the screen, then Sydney appeared, this time in an office setting.

  “I didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?” John asked.

  “Not at all. As you can probably see, I’m at the office,” she said, smiling. “What can I do for you today?”

  “I wanted—we wanted to thank you for your assistance with Colonel Levkov. He didn’t sound too stable barking at Susan.”

  “No he didn’t,” she said, chuckling.

  “We also heard him cussing you all out over the radio. Much as I hate to admit it, we got a huge kick out of that.”

  “In case you didn’t know, Colonel Levkov has ordered his crew to prepare for departure back to Earth some time in the next day,” she informed him.

  “I’ll let Susan know.”

  “And I must ask, when will your ship be departing, John?” she asked sadly. “It has been a bittersweet pleasure to talk to you again, but once you leave, the opportunity is over. I will not be able to contact you ever again.”

  “I know. And I am grateful that we were allowed to speak. Thank you for letting me know about Joy, and especially for the picture. I will cherish it for all time, and if you think it’s appropriate, please let her know I love her and that she will always be special to me.”

  “I will. But before we both get all maudlin over parting, there is a matter that needs to be addressed,” she cautioned.

  “Your people, right? The ones on Earth?” he asked.

  “That’s right. They must be released unharmed and allowed to leave unmolested. There is no negotiating this point. They have committed no crime, and to try to use them as leverage against us will not be tolerated, John. Please tell your people to let the authorities know that to hold them is crossing a line that cannot be uncrossed.”

  “What are
you saying? If your people aren’t released that the consequences will be … what? Violence? Some kind of quid pro quo exacted? Somehow I always thought your ideals were so much better than ours. What do your people really mean?” John cautiously asked, really uncertain whether he wanted to find out.

  “I can’t tell you exactly because I don’t know. But no one here has forgotten that soldiers were sent to visit our home, again without provocation. My personal feeling is that if our people aren’t let go, the reaction is going to be disproportionately harsh.” As she spoke, she was looking unflinchingly into John’s eyes. “Tell them.”

  “Let me go and discuss this with Susan. I believe you, and the last thing I want to see is something happening to your people.”

  She could see the seriousness in his eyes, and the sadness. “I have to warn you, the next time we speak will probably be the last time.”

  “I know. And, Syd, you don’t have to worry, I’m not going to say it. But you know,” he said before he broke the connection.

  John left his compartment and looked around the common areas for Susan. When he didn’t find her he went and tapped on her door.

  “Come in. Oh, hi John, come on in. What’s up?”

  “We have a serious problem, and some good news too,” he said as he pulled the door shut behind him.

  “Okay, give me the good news first.”

  “The colonel has ordered his crew to prepare to head back to Earth in the next twenty-four hours,” he said, then chuckled as he saw Susan raise both fists as she said, “Yes!” She did a little dance in the middle of the air, then sobered and asked, “Okay, so what’s the bad news?”

  “The separatists are pretty pissed that the authorities have grabbed two of their people on Earth, and want them released right now or there will be some unpleasant consequences.”

  “Did she say what kind?” Susan asked. “And why are we just learning this now?”

  “Our own people didn’t tell us. But I have no doubt they mean it about repercussions. She mentioned that they still haven’t forgotten or forgiven those SEALs being sent. Essentially, the message is that the U.S. authorities have crossed a line in the sand, and that there’s no going back. They want their people released immediately.”

  “Dammit. Okay, let me send the word down the line. Are you planning to speak to Sydney again? The reason I ask is I’m not sure how long mission control is going to let us stay if there’s not going to be anything forthcoming from the colony. We may be leaving right on the heels of the Colonel if you can’t open an official dialogue with them.”

  “I know. But at least talking to Sydney is something. It’s more than anyone else has managed to do.”

  “I guess the GST board of directors knew what they were doing, eh?” she said, grinning. “Let me write this latest up and send it off to mission control. I’m sure Dr. Milton will get it sent off to the right people as soon as possible. Let Sydney know the message has been sent, thank her for me and tell her that if there’s anything else we can do on their behalf, it’s theirs for the asking.”

  “Pretty generous offer,” John said, puzzled.

  “It can’t hurt, and for the most part, it’s true. And John, try to get some rest. It’s obvious you haven’t been sleeping much.”

  “I will,” he said, drifting to the door. He slid it open and pulled himself outside the compartment. When he turned to close the door, he gave Susan a half-hearted salute and slid the door closed.

  * * *

  “Mr. President, I have Paul Milton on the line. He says it’s very important,” Laughlin’s secretary announced over the intercom.

  “Thanks, Sandra.”

  “Paul, how are you?” said Laughlin.

  “Not good.”

  Laughlin sat up straight in his chair. “Something with the mission?”

  “Not directly. I just received official, unofficial word that the colonists want their people released immediately or there will be rather harsh consequences. That came directly from Sydney Atkins of the colony. She sent word through John,” Milton said, clearly worried.

  “Was she specific about what they are threatening?”

  “No, just that, and I quote, the authorities have crossed a line they can’t uncross. That sounds pretty definitive, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, it does. Do you think the mission is in danger?” Laughlin asked, recalling that his security team concluded that there was pretty much nothing they could do if the Jove people were threatened.

  “I don’t know what to think. We essentially put our people right into their hands. I know there’s no protecting them, other than letting their people go unharmed here,” Milton said.

  “So what do you suggest?”

  “I suppose letting them go is out of the question?” Milton asked.

  “For now.”

  “Don’t tell me anything else. I don’t want to know. I’ll let Dr. Roscoe know that I passed the warning on. Do you have any message you want to send back to the crew?”

  “Not at this time. There’s too many balls in the air right now. I suppose you forwarded her message?”

  “I did. You have it already.”

  “Good. Thank you very much, Paul. I’ll be in touch,” Laughlin said, then hung up.

  Two seconds later, Dawkins came rushing into the room. “Do you know about this?” she said waving a piece of paper in her hand.

  “The threat the colony made if we don’t release their people? Yes, I just got off the phone with Paul in Houston. This is the proverbial shit hitting the fan,” Laughlin said, sounding very tired.

  “Are we going to cut them loose? They’re not giving us much choice.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not? What’s holding you back? Who’s making you?” Dawkins shot at him.

  “Whoa, slow down. I just said I can’t cut them loose, at least not yet. Not if there’s even a slight chance of getting our hands on any of their technology.”

  “This is a very dangerous game, no, not a game at all. It sounds like lives may be at stake. This sounds even worse than what Bender faced, what Bender’s legacy ended up being if you go through with this. If you listen to me at all, I’m advising you to let those men go,” she said.

  Laughlin looked at Dawkins, at a complete loss for words, he just sat there silently.

  “Let me say this, I will not abandon you, I will stand by you, but you can’t win this one,” she warned.

  “Don’t you think I know that? There’s no way out of this situation. If I let them go without getting something in return the American people will have my head.”

  “And if you go through with it, the separatists are liable hand it to you. Do what you will.”

  When she saw that Laughlin had nothing further to say, Dawkins rose and informed him she had a meeting to attend and that she would return later. He watched her until she left the room, knowing that she was right.

  * * *

  The countdown until a de-orbital burn for the Svoboda spacecraft had been underway for five hours as the crew continued to perform the main engine start checklist. Everyone was keeping conversation to a minimum, especially so in the case of having to speak to the Colonel during the de-orbital prep. The ship’s computer was constantly exchanging data with Star City mission control, plotting the exact course Svoboda needed to take to rendezvous with Earth, this time at top speed the whole way. As the crew continued to activate the flight systems and run diagnostics, Genesis secretly monitored the status of Svoboda and its data communications, still on the lookout for any signs of weapons installed on the ship.

  The residents of the colony weren’t particularly excited to see the Russian/EU spacecraft prepare to leave; the majority of the colonists would just as soon see both ships gone. Only those who knew about Sydney and John’s prior relationship, and the fact that Sydney had dec
ided to tell John he had a daughter, had any idea that anyone had contacted either of the ships.

  Earlier, Colonel Levkov sent word to mission control that the colony had been in contact with the Jove mission, leaving whatever diplomatic or political hay that could be made to those on Earth. So far he hadn’t received any return message from mission control other than logistical support for their return. Levkov felt cut off, abandoned in light of the previous twenty-four hours of silence from his superiors, but he was convinced that they would not stand for the Americans gaining a technological advantage by obtaining the wonders the separatists had already demonstrated. Having been told that the Svoboda Mission would never have any kind of contact with the colony was intolerable when there was clear evidence that there was contact between Jove and the separatists. Plotting what to do was churning his mind around and around like a hamster on a wheel.

  Colonel Levkov couldn’t wait for their departure from the colony, but for all the wrong reasons.

  * * *

  Chuck had been exchanging messages with Christopher concerning mounting a rescue mission for Lucius and Julius if they weren’t released. Peanut was in on nearly every discussion, even though the conversation was still hampered by a ten-minute lag time. They had eliminated any plans that called for the ground crew to try to free the two by entering the federal building, even with the help of G2 infiltrating the building’s various computer systems. They looked carefully into G2 triggering an evacuation of the building with a fire alarm, or other procedural alert that would clear everyone out onto the street. The problem with those scenarios was that there was every chance that the two prisoners would be escorted by armed guards and probably taken from the building by vehicle. Those plans increased the complexity of any attempted rescue. Simplicity was the watchword for any plan. G2 was monitoring communications between Chicago and Washington, D.C., and so far there were no plans to interrogate or transport the captives.

  Christopher was the most impatient of the three, and had the more volatile temper. His rage over the government having nabbed Lucius and Julius burned deep and white hot. But however angry he was, he knew that any overly dramatic plan would more likely endanger the two rather than lead to their freedom. While Chris and Peanut were taking a break in the commons, they continued tossing ideas back and forth.