Confrontation

by William Hayashi

  “You know, if there’s some way to get them to the roof, either Todd or Chuck could grab them and get above the atmosphere before fighters scramble,” Peanut suggested.

  “Yeah, but how do we do that? Let’s say that Genesis, I mean G2, can get them out of the cells. There’s no way they’re going to be able to get to the roof without being seen; maybe the stairs. But getting through any locked doors and into the stairwell is going to be a problem,” said Christopher.

  “I know what you said about not splitting the ground crew up again, but what if we dress Neil up and supply him with some official paperwork that says to release them into his custody?”

  “Won’t work unless Albert goes with him, they’d never release two guys to a single agent,” Christopher said, shaking his head.

  “Man, we’ve thought about damn near everything. I’m thinking that driving a jumper through the walls of the building might be the only way to get them,” Peanut said, sitting back in his chair in exasperation.

  “Don’t believe that I didn’t think about it too, but there’s no guarantee that Lucius and Julius won’t get hurt, either by debris or some stupid agent who starts playing ‘Showdown at the OK Corral’ when the shit hits the fan. And you know what, taking the people in the Jove spacecraft hostage is worthless, it doesn’t get our people back. We have to scare them into giving our people back. They only respect a threat of overwhelming force,” Christopher said.

  As they talked, the display screens in the commons came alive with a view of Svoboda as the engines flared to life. At first there was no visible movement, then a slight creep forward. Peanut’s deployed cameras bracketed the ship as is slid farther along the bulk of the massive habitat, looking onscreen like a toy or a Hollywood special effect. When it cleared the habitat, Svoboda appeared to burst into light as it came from behind the shadow of the colony. The glow from the engines decreased, and then it slowly began to turn lengthwise, even as it traveled farther and farther away from the massive habitat.

  When the forward end of the spacecraft was pointed back toward the colony and had stopped rotating, Christopher shouted, “Genesis, connect me with monitoring.” Without waiting, he shouted, “Expand the shields to cover Jove, and bring all shield emitters to one hundred percent. Now!”

  As everyone watched, several pieces of Svoboda’s outer skin exploded away from the forward section of the ship. Seconds later several missiles shot out toward the colony.

  Christopher and Peanut took off at a dead run for the colony’s control center, and missed the six missiles exploding as they detonated, hitting the colony’s shield wall. When they arrived, Christopher said, “Grab that ship and bring it back. Do we have the power to do it?”

  “I’m not sure, Chris. I’ll try,” said the technician manning the tractor controls.

  “Genesis!”

  “Yes, Christopher. How may I be of assistance?”

  “Do we have enough power to stop that ship and bring it back using Peanut’s tractors?”

  “Negative. However, I can control the Svoboda through its navigation computer; stand by… firing the main drive… slowing forward velocity… there should be enough power for the tractor to capture the spacecraft now.”

  “Please take over, Genesis,” the technician said, releasing the controls.

  “I have control of the spacecraft. It is closing with the colony. Where do you want to park the ship?”

  “Put it back to where we had it before, Genesis. And lock down their drive systems,” Christopher instructed.

  Everyone watched as the spacecraft drifted back toward its former parking space, only this time flipped end-for-end.

  * * *

  “Prepare for engine start,” Gina announced, locking the program into the navigation computer.

  The crew was strapped in for the initial burn, and performing their final checks before departing from the habitat’s orbit.

  “Main engines start, ten percent thrust,” Gina announced.

  The crew felt the engines fire, as well as the ghostly sensation of gravity for the first time since they arrived. Colonel Levkov watched carefully as the ship began to pull away from the massive bulk of the habitat.

  “We are approaching two kilometers from the habitat,” Xavier reported.

  “Navigation computer is calling for twenty-five percent thrust. Twenty-five percent thrust initiated,” Gina announced.

  “Two point five kilometers separation from the habitat,” said Xavier.

  When Levkov saw they were passing through four kilometers separation, he overrode the navigation computer and initiated a special program.

  “What is happening?” Gina shouted as the engines throttled back and the thrusters began to rotate the spacecraft.

  Levkov manually switched his console from the ship’s network and activated the secret weapons system. Moments later the rotation came to a halt, with the forward section of the spacecraft pointed directly toward the habitat and the now visible Jove spacecraft. With a loud thump several panels explosively detached from the nose of Svobada, revealing six missiles. All fired at once, their radar guidance systems locking four on the habitat and two on Jove. The crew looked on with horror at the missiles flying directly at the two targets. Then all six exploded well before they could reach either target.

  Levkov returned his console to the navigation system and initiated the program to continue their flight away from the colony at emergency thrust. Seconds later all the computer systems went dead, consoles going dark. Everyone flicked switches and pushed buttons trying to get any response from the systems. Then they heard and felt the main drive slowing their velocity.

  Seconds later Gina exclaimed, “Look! We’re being pulled back to the colony!”

  “What in the hell were those missiles? When were they installed? And God dammit, who else knew about them?” Sophia demanded.

  “Be quiet, woman. Why are our systems inoperable? Why don’t you and everyone else concentrate on getting us out of here?” Levkov shouted.

  “The computers are completely down,” Xavier reported.

  “You have killed us,” said Chux from below.

  “I only did what was necessary. The Americans cannot be allowed to get access to the technologies those niggers have! I have my orders!” shouted Levkov as he fruitlessly tried to activate one system after another.

  “Everything is dead. We are at their mercy,” Sophia said as she gave up trying to reactivate the ship’s systems.

  “We are dead as well, thanks to Colonel Asshole here!” Chux said, unstrapping and checking the main power panel, only to find nothing amiss. He flicked the relays on and off but to no avail. The ship was dead, with only life support running normally.

  “Did the missiles do any damage?” Levkov asked Gina.

  “No, fortunately they all detonated well short of the habitat and the American ship. You ignorant fool! What made you think such an attack would be successful? Chux is right, we are dead. The only way we make it back home is if they decide to let us go, and after this deadly stupidity on your part, I doubt that’s going to happen.”

  * * *

  “Genesis, any sign of radiation?” Christopher demanded when the ship was parked alongside the habitat.

  “There is not, Christopher. The warheads consisted of high-energy explosive and shrapnel in the form of medium-size ball bearings. Nothing penetrated the shields; the habitat and the Jove spacecraft are undamaged.”

  “What is the status of their ship?” Peanut asked, concerned that another attack might occur.

  “All their systems are shut down except for life support and communications, Peanut,” Genesis reported.

  “Good, hold them there. Everyone keep an eye out. We’ll be back shortly. Come on,” Christopher said to Peanut.

  Once they left the control center, Christopher headed in the dire
ction of the council’s offices.

  “Genesis, please have the council assemble in their conference room if they’re out and call Sydney and have her meet us there as well,” Christopher said angrily.

  “Hey, you’re not thinking of doing something rash, are you?” Peanut asked, almost trotting to keep up.

  “Rash, no. Definitive, absolutely!”

  “You aren’t going to harm them, are you?”

  “Wait and see. I’m not telling it twice.”

  When they arrived at the council’s offices, they found everyone there but Sydney. Christopher refused to answer any questions, waiting for her to arrive. Moments later, Sydney rushed into the room apologizing for being late.

  “Sorry, I was at the school helping Joy with a project.”

  “No problem. I want everyone to hear this at the same time, I’m not going to tell it twice, and I’m not going to take no for an answer,” Christopher began, his tight delivery alerting them to his barely controlled rage.

  “Tell us what you’re planning, Chris,” Maxwell prompted.

  Christopher looked around the room, gathering his thoughts before he began.

  “I’m not going to rehash the discussion I’ve had with all of you about making a statement to Earth in general, and the U.S. in particular. And now we’ve been attacked by that ship out there and Lucius and Julius are in custody in Chicago. I’ve had it, and now it’s time for a statement to be made to the entire planet. My first instinct was to destroy Svoboda with all aboard,” Christopher said to sounds of dismay from the others. “But I didn’t. Even I know that it wouldn’t be right to kill the crew. But there’s an extra compartment on the Jove spacecraft. I can put the Svoboda crew in there and then deal with their ship.” He held up his hand to forestall any comment.

  “Peanut, how fast can those Jupiter jumpers travel?”

  “I’m not exactly sure, if pushed you could get about a half million miles an hour fairly easily, but the shields would have to putting out full power the whole way. You hit anything at that speed and it’ll tear a hole right through the skin and probably destroy the jumper.”

  “So we could get to Earth in about ten days, right?” asked Christopher.

  Peanut pulled out his datapad and did the calculation. “Maybe a little less,” he replied.

  “And what about if the two Jupiter jumpers are draggin’ the Jove spacecraft along with them?”

  “What?!” shouted William as the others all started talking at once.

  “Hear me out,” Christopher said, raising his voice over the others. Once it was quiet, he continued. “We have a couple of things on our plate. The first is making sure Earth knows we are not ever to be trifled with and that I’m fed up with their bullshit. No more visitors to our home, and they had best leave our people alone.”

  “But Chris, that’s a double standard that isn’t going to be respected by anyone. If you insist that none of their people ever darken our door, shouldn’t we respect them if they demand the same?” Phillip asked.

  “Maybe, but I say it’s not the same. This is our home, and there’s nothing to say that we have to let people in our home just because someone wants to visit. And holding on to Lucius and Julius without cause is also bullshit. If we don’t set the ground rules from now on, they will always keep harassing us. I’ve had it, and I’ve had it with you all as well. This nonviolent bullshit is fine until you get attacked. What good did nonviolence do Martin Luther King, Jr.?” Christopher said, looking around the room.

  “And what did advocating violence do for Malcolm X?” Phillip replied quietly. “Violence is never the answer and you know it, Chris.”

  “I’m sorry, Phillip, I know no such thing. I acted like it because all of you always thought of me as some bloodthirsty maniac, but today I’ve been vindicated. So I’m going to do this my way.”

  “You’re not going to kill the Svoboda crew, Christopher,” Maxwell said.

  “No, but enough is enough. Sydney, I would like you to inform Jove that they will be having guests, and that they will be returning to Earth in ten days or less. Peanut, I want the strongest possible shields on the twin Jupiter Probe ships, and powerful enough tractor emitters installed so they can tow Jove. I’m going to have Andrea pilot one Jupiter jumper and Lenny the other and we’re going to Earth to get our people.”

  Christopher looked around the room to gauge the reaction to what he had said.

  “Anyone have anything to say?” he asked belligerently.

  “There’s nothing we can do to stop you, is there?” Phillip asked.

  “No, I listened to you all for over a decade, even when we were threatened by those soldiers and all your way did was allow someone to believe that it was okay to attack us. We did it your way, now it’s my turn.”

  “What about Ben, and Patricia? What if something happens to you?” Margaret asked.

  “Peanut here is twice as smart as I am, and he’s staying behind. And if something does happen to me, everyone in this colony will be taking care of them. This is my party. It’s on me. Look, I’m not planning for anything to happen to me or anyone else, I’m just making a statement and getting our people back, and all the things legitimately purchased for this community. If no one else has anything to say, I’m done here and we’re going to get this show on the road.”

  Maxwell looked to the other council members, and seeing no one had anything to add, simply said, “Godspeed, Chris.”

  Sydney stood up, preparing to follow Christopher and Peanut out, when Maxwell said, “Syd, make sure that you impress on the Jove crew that Chris is angry, and armed for bear. To resist him, or attack him once they get to Earth, will be a disaster for everyone.”

  “Will do, anything else?” she asked.

  “Yes, see if they know anything further about our people in custody. I expect not, but it’s worth a shot,” Maxwell said.

  “I understand.”

  * * *

  “What the hell was that?” John said, catching the explosions outside out of the corner of his eye. He jaunted out of his compartment to find everyone else clustered around the window closest to the colony.

  “That fucking colonel fired a half dozen missiles at the colony and us!” Harriet exclaimed. “They were just pulling away when the ship flipped and when it was pointed back at us, then they fired.”

  Susan and Bianca shared a glance and drifted away from the others for privacy.

  “This can’t be good by any stretch of the imagination,” Susan said quietly.

  “We had no idea their ship was armed, and we had informants placed pretty high in the Star City team,” Bianca confessed.

  “I wonder what’s going to happen to them. It looks like their ship is being brought back. Should we have John call and see what he can find out?” Susan suggested.

  “Let’s wait a little while and let things settle over there, although I admit I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall in the colony and in Svoboda,” said Bianca. She then raised her voice and asked, “What’s going on out there now?”

  “Nothing. Their ship is parked out of sight around on the other side, I’m guessing,” Chester replied.

  “Nothing to see here folks, let’s move along now,” John said, making the others laugh.

  “John, you want to see if you can get a response from the colony?” Susan asked.

  “No problem,” he said, heading toward his compartment.

  When he was inside with the door closed, John tried calling. He was met with a screen that simply said, “Your call cannot be completed at this time.” He chuckled, appreciating the sense of humor of whomever programmed their communications system and went back outside to let Susan know.

  “Well isn’t that special,” she said, causing both John and Bianca to laugh. “I guess we should be thinking about our departure. This neighborhood is going to s
hit and other than you getting to talk to Sydney, we’re not really making any progress here,” Susan said with a nod toward John.

  “I know. And I don’t want to be selfish, but I keep hoping that somehow something positive can be salvaged here,” said John.

  “Like what?” Bianca asked.

  “Hell if I know. I’m the first person someone from the colony has ever talked to, there’s got to be something we can salvage from that,” he said morosely, the two women chuckling.

  “We’re not laughing at you, John, but at the situation. If you really think your dialogue with Sydney is going to make a difference for the mission, go on. But sooner or later we’re going to have to make the hard decision. We only have food to stay three more weeks,” Susan reminded him.

  “I know. And even I don’t think—” John began, but was interrupted by an incoming message. John floated over and flipped the switch to listen through the speaker.

  “This is Colonel Levkov calling Doctor Roscoe, please respond.”

  “Screw him,” Susan said.

  “I think not,” Bianca said, making everyone else laugh.

  John flipped the switch and cut off the hail in mid-sentence.

  The rest of the crew had abandoned the windows when Svoboda drifted out of sight behind the bulk of the colony and were gathered around the galley table, discussing the incident and possible ramifications. Susan, Bianca and John joined them with several of the crew asking what the next step was for their mission. Just then the communications console signaled again. John got up to see who it was as Bianca said, “If it’s that asshole, Levkov, let him twist.”

  There was an incoming video call from the colony. John made a beeline for his compartment and shut the door. He composed himself and then answered the call. When he saw Sydney, he was about to smile and say hello when he noticed the look on her face.