At first, the look on the others’ faces was that of polite shock, until they saw the broad smile on Cheng’s face. “I believe the phrase is, ‘got you!’” he said. “But there is a teachable moment in my declaration. The task is well near impossible and may not be able to be accomplished without a measure of violence. So far, we have done as much as possible to reduce such conflict, but without knowing if the rest of the Middle East countries are truly honest brokers, we cannot determine whether any plan we come up with will not cost lives.”
“Jacob and I have had our top military advisors looking at the plan I proposed, and what it would take to implement the air cover and missile defense strategy to protect Israel. All their estimates in manpower, equipment and financial commitment comes to $285 million a year. That assumes that nothing untoward happens. The estimate is as conservative as we could make it. In short, it may be untenable,” announced Mr. Ambrose.
“We even had estimates of up to half a trillion dollars a year to secure the entire Middle East. Those costs are based on the expectation no one wants to go along with the program,” Pierpoint added.
“We must also ask ourselves what would be the response of the colonists if we end the hoarding of nuclear weapons through violence? We have touched on this argument before, but as we have no way to discuss it with them, we are only left to wonder,” said Ms. Patel.
“We have been at this for almost eight months now, and truthfully we have made no real progress toward a solution,” said Cheng.
“True. Money is tight. Very few countries have the political will to fight. Raza’s people and my own were all too happy to divest ourselves of nukes, for our people as much as for our neighbors,” Ms. Patel said, nodding toward the Pakistani representative. “Cheng is correct. I am close to despair in trying to divest Israel of its nuclear weapons, especially without their representation and participation. I believe our plan should be one that lays out what the world community expects of the Israelis, along with the muscle to make it stick.”
“She’s right. When they effectively severed their relationship with the U.S., they acted like they couldn’t care less. And when the international peacekeepers descended on their country to provide security for the Palestinians, they blustered. But when the predicted violence from the Palestinians never materialized, they all but cut themselves off from the larger international community.”
“When Russia didn’t fall for their entreaties, we just withdrew. They’re never going to join our efforts, they’re never going to voluntarily disarm,” added Vasilov. “I fear that disarming them is going to lead to war.”
“Perhaps it is time to seriously consider putting away our efforts in some, so far, imaginary peaceful transition, then look toward harsher, more definitive means of accomplishing worldwide disarmament,” Cheng said, steepling his fingers before him as he looked from one committee member to the next.
“I think we’re talking about much more than a Security Council resolution at this point. We are talking about war,” Lapointe said in his soft French accent.
The rest of the meeting was subdued as the representatives began planning the occupation of Israel and its surrounding countries. They had no real idea who would participate, who would stand neutral, and who would oppose any such military action. From now on, the works of the committee would be held in secret.
* * *
“Christopher?”
“Yes, Genesis?” he answered.
“There is information originating from the United Nations Special Committee for Nuclear Disarmament of which you should be made aware,” explained the A.I.
“Go ahead.”
“According to information my clone has uncovered, it appears that the committee is preparing to engage a military solution in order to disarm Israel. I calculate a 31% chance that such an action will lead to the use of tactical nuclear weapons.”
“And why did you believe this information would be of interest to me?” Christopher replied, smiling.
“As it was you who called the question to deny the people of Earth access to space until every country divested itself of nuclear weapons, I believed that this information would be of interest. Was I incorrect?”
“Yes, Genesis. You are correct. How soon would this military action commence?”
“That has not been determined. The committee has just begun their planning and are at the stage of identifying international assets to try to bring into the fold as one of the committee members characterized the effort. My clone has electronically infiltrated the audio and video hardware of the conference room and has video of all the meetings held to date. I have placed them into your private storage. Should I also make these recordings available to the council as well?”
Christopher thought. “Why don’t you also give Margaret access and let her decide who else they should be shared with. And do me a favor, Genesis.”
“Of course, Christopher. What is it you wish?”
“Please do not inform Margaret that I have access to these recordings, at least not yet.”
“Very well. Is there anything else I may assist you with, Christopher?”
“Connect me with Lucius, please?”
“Hey, Chris. What’s up?” came the almost immediate reply.
“What are you doing for lunch? I need to talk to you about something.”
“Commons or Sherman’s?”
“Sherman’s, we may need a drink or two.”
“Sounds serious, son. Fifteen minutes?” Lucius asked.
“See you there.”
When Lucius arrived at the colony’s upscale eatery, Christopher was sitting at the bar, a half-finished beer sitting before him.
When he tapped Christopher on the shoulder, the younger man jumped up and hugged Lucius.
“Good to see you,” said Christopher.
“It’s been a day. Shall we get a table?”
“Sure,” Christopher said, signaling Placido, tending bar.
Placido waved toward the dining room, indicating they could sit anywhere. Once they were seated, he brought over menus, a refill for Christopher and asked Lucius what he wanted to drink.
When they were alone, Lucius said, “Something up at home, son?”
Christopher laughed. “No nothing like that, but we do miss having Ben around the house. I just got some information the space station clone uncovered. It seems that the UN’s select committee is beginning planning military action to divest Israel of its nuclear weapons. Genesis calculates a one-in-three chance of such a conflict going nuclear.”
“And you’re feeling guilty that you’re ultimately responsible if that should occur? Well stop it right now. You are not responsible for their foolish actions, especially any violence they decide to visit on each other,” admonished Lucius.
“Maybe so, but I can’t shake the feeling that my calling the question led to this in some way.”
“Tell you what, let’s see what Phillip is doing. I’d like to get his perspective.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Genesis?”
“Yes, Lucius. How may I be of assistance?”
“Would you please connect me with Phillip Lancaster, please?” Lucius requested “Too many Phillips around here,” he whispered to Christopher.
“What’s up, you old reprobate?” Phillip replied.
“What are you doing right now? Can you spare an hour or so to discuss something with Christopher?”
“Sure, I was just catching up on some reading, maybe going to get a bite to eat. Where are you all?”
“We’re at Sherman’s, we’ll hold off ordering until you get here,” Lucius replied.
A few minutes later, when Phillip strolled in and joined them, they brought him up to date on the goings on at the UN, and Christopher’s concerns about his being responsible for war breaking out on Earth.
Phillip mulled the situation over for a few moments, “The way I see it, if we included Ea
rth within our sphere of ‘our brother’s keeper,’ then we might have an obligation to intercede. You calling the question did not place such an onus on our community to protect the Earth. Your calling the question was the direct result of our people being attacked with nuclear weapons, in other words a matter of self-defense. We imposed the condition under which they could share the solar system with us. Admittedly, we did use superior strength against an inferior, one who cannot fight us. As for your feeling guilty? Young man, you have nothing to feel responsible for if they decide to fight each other, even if they do use nuclear weapons against each other.”
“Even if they’re doing so because of the restrictions I laid on them?” asked Christopher.
“Chris, you cannot burden yourself with the belief that you control the actions of others,” Phillip said.
“What about here,” said Christopher, sweeping his hand in the air.
“Especially here,” said Lucius. “People here followed your lead because of your vision, not because of some threat. You earned the respect of each one of us.”
“And what would you do, Chris? Try to stop the use of Israel’s nukes? How could you expect to do that?” asked Phillip.
“With the help of Genesis, maybe I—we could sabotage the weapons?” suggested Christopher.
“Maybe so. Then what? What’s to keep them from acquiring more?” asked Phillip.
“If memory serves, the Israeli military got the intel to build them, as well as the fissionable from sources outside the country. I would hope that no one would want the proliferation of any more nuclear weapons once they’re all gone. We have no idea how a country would be treated if they sought to build such weapons once they were eradicated—at least one would hope they would be treated like a pariah,” added Lucius. “But to believe even if they use atomic weapons that it was somehow your fault is ridiculous, son.”
“Have you considered that you are the reason no nuclear conflict has broken out on Earth to date, Chris? Did you ever consider that?” Phillip asked.
“No,” Christopher laughed. “I haven’t given much thought to Earth at all until Genesis dropped this load on me today. You know, I wonder if Genesis or its clone informed the space station crew, or just saved the info for me.”
“At least you’re aware of what’s going on. Is it all right if I tell Lola about what’s going on with the U.N.? She’s highly involved in studying the doings across Earth,” Lucius requested.
“I have no problem with her viewing the recordings from the U.N., I’ll have Genesis open them up to her, to both of you too,” Christopher promised. “In any case, it’s going to be interesting to see what actually happens.”
Lucius chuckled. “True, but don’t get it in your head that you’re at all responsible for what those crazy folks do. This might end up being the beginning of the maturation of the rest of the species, for that you should take credit. It never would have happened had you not called the question.”
Quiet Storm
Though the United States still had the largest military and one of the world’s top economies, its leadership did not garner the automatic respect that it had enjoyed for two centuries. In its efforts to divest itself of nuclear weapons, the United States was scheduled to be the last superpower to voluntarily dismantle its arsenal, because the U.S. military had the greatest number of nuclear arms remaining and dismantling and disposing would take the longest time to complete.
Several members on the U.N. committee on disarmament suggested that the remaining weapons in the U.S. stockpile could be employed as a cudgel to bring Israel to the negotiating table. Peter Ambrose was not enthusiastic about the idea, seeing a redux of the disaster from sending soldiers to the moon ahead. Then, Vasilov said out loud what every other member had thought about at least once.
“If the Holy Land was seeded with enriched plutonium-239, it would be uninhabitable for twenty thousand years. No one would be able to live there, let alone claim the land as their own,” he said quietly.
The very idea of committing such an act was horrifying, yet no one could argue the efficacy of such a plan. Cheng said, “Let us hold consideration of that idea as the very last option, for what would we be as a people to commit such an atrocity?”
Though it was never mentioned again, the fact that it had been said, and the finality of hostilities for possession of what so many different religions considered Holy Land, had been put on the table. It was a solution no sane person should ever consider.
* * *
“Right standard rudder, bring us to course ninety degrees true.”
“Aye Captain, right standard rudder to course ninety degrees true,” repeated the helmsman.
“Ma’am, gentlemen, follow me,” said Captain Parker as he led the way to CIC.
Once they arrived, he gathered them at the radar screen currently tracking the target, with video screens above showing the DS500, and a feed from one of the Pentagon’s spy satellites centered on a bright dot. The Ardmore was sailing in the ocean currently facing away from the colonists’ space station, hoping the test would escape their notice, unaware that those in the space station were watching the same image from the same military satellite as the Pentagon and the Ardmore.
“As you can see, we’re targeting a satellite, a defunct satellite by the way, in Earth’s orbit. This was one of the specifications the GST railgun had to meet prior to purchase. The DS500 can destroy satellites in low Earth orbit, from about two hundred fifty miles up, all the way out to geosynchronous orbit twenty-two thousand miles above Earth.
“The target was in a medium Earth orbit but ran out of the fuel needed to maintain orbit to keep its solar panels oriented toward the sun. It has dropped down to an orbit three hundred fifty miles up and is a hazard to other satellites. The projectiles from our DS500 hit with the kinetic energy of a railway engine traveling faster than the speed of sound.”
“Holly shit! Sorry,” said Mr. Thomas. “Is that classified? Can I include that information in my article?”
“Go right ahead, Mr. Thomas. The specifications of the DS500 have been in the public domain for some time now,” Captain Parker replied.
“Three minutes until firing, Captain,” reported the weapons officer.
“Thank you. Where’s the target now?”
“Twenty-two degrees above the horizon.”
“Use against normal Naval targets is devastating. Standing offshore and firing on land-based targets is just as bad. We believe that there have been no major attacks against United States Naval vessels precisely because of the devastating efficacy of the railguns we have deployed around the world,” Parker explained. “And although this particular weapon is currently not tasked for use against submerged vehicles, as a deterrent in every other aspect it has obviously been most effective.”
“And why was the RIMPAC exercise chosen for a test fire of this weapons system, Captain?” asked the Senator.
“Begging your pardon, Senator Murphy, exercises like this are precisely the opportunity to not only test the various weapons systems deployed on our ships and subs, but to also drill our people. For example, we rarely use this particular radar system in day to day operations. This test gives our people experience that simulations cannot.”
“One minute, Captain.”
“Power up the railgun, stand by to fire. Where is the target now?” Parker inquired.
“Approaching twenty-five degrees above the horizon, Captain.”
The monitor displaying the railgun showed its barrel rising and the sailors and GST technical staff clearing the area.
“Stand by. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two one, fire!” the weapons officer counted down.
On the monitor there was a brilliant flash at the end of the railgun’s barrel, billowing smoke appeared from the massive amount of heat generated from the friction of the projectile traveling down the barrel. Approximately thirty seconds later the target was obscured by
the bright light generated from the high-speed impact, leaving nothing behind but a cloud of exploded metal.
“Target destroyed, Captain.”
They watched as tiny particles of the satellite and the projectile glowed, then darkened as they rapidly cooled. In a matter of moments, there was no sign of the satellite’s remains.
“Stand down from condition one and safe all weapons. Secure HD radar and contact SECNAV on Red One and inform him that the target was destroyed,” Parker ordered. “Let’s adjourn to the Officer’s Mess and I’ll answer any questions you may have. And, we can rerun the video from the exercise if you’d like,” he said.
* * *
“Holy crap! Did you see that?” Larry exclaimed, watching a rerun of the impact of the railgun’s projectile destroying the satellite.
“That’s unbelievable,” Cheryl added. “I knew the Navy was working on railgun technology when I was stationed on a destroyer, but I didn’t think they’d perfected them yet.”
“G2?”
“Yes, Jonathan. How may I be of assistance?” replied the A.I. clone.
“Please upload the raw video to Ops. By the way, can those projectiles damage this station?” he asked, worried.
“The kinetic energy of one of the projectiles would destroy this space station were it not protected by shields. With the upgrades, one of those projectiles cannot pierce through to the skin of the station. However, there is not a very large margin of safety. If the station is fired upon, it would be prudent to move the station so that projectiles from that weapon system hit off center or miss completely. My advice is that the collision avoidance system be programmed and calibrated to scan for weapons fire from Earth. At ten miles per second, projectiles will take over four hundred minutes to travel to the station. However, given the lower-powered shields carried by the jumpers, it would be best not to collide with any of the railgun projectiles while in flight,” the A.I. replied.
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