“That is what racism and misogyny have cost this country. You come here and ask me what our policies are toward them? They were originally set hundreds of years before we even knew of the separatists’ existence. Now I know what I’ve said here is not going to be popular, especially with stupid, white conservative men—there’s no better way to characterize them—but we have to face the fact that whites are not special, especially at the cost of insults, prejudice, and the murder of nonwhites in the United States. Be angry at me if you wish, but you will not live to be a hundred, two hundred years old because of your racism. You cannot travel to the outer planets because of your racism. You cannot have whatever else they have in terms of improvements to your lives, or riches they possess because of racism in this country. Imagine what life would be like if they had stayed on Earth and their advances in science and technology had spread. Stupid, small minded, white men squandered all that wealth, and now they will never have a chance at possessing it, and Lord knows we’ve tried. At the last estimate the world has spent a trillion dollars trying to duplicate the colony’s gravity-based propulsion. And the world’s medical and pharmaceutical industry has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on geriatric research to lengthen our lives even a decade or so and have failed miserably. Think about that the next time someone in your family is stricken by some disease that the colony probably has a cure for.
“I apologize for going on, but you asked. Just know that you white men are the source of all the ills in this country, as a matter of fact, across the globe. But don’t take my word for it, try looking around without those white entitlement rose-colored glasses. Now one more question, yes, let’s hear from a woman. You in the back.”
“Thank you, Madam President. Thank you for saying what so many refuse to believe. My question for you is this: do you see anything changing in terms of racism and misogyny in America?”
“Good question. First, not everything is as it was when presumably the colonists left Earth in the late fifties or early sixties. My election is a testament to improvements in American culture. But just my being here is not proof that we as a culture have arrived in some kind of post-feminist America; General Archer’s crime is evidence to the contrary. As for where we stand on race in the United States? We still have far too many blacks being murdered for no reason by the nation’s law enforcement personnel.
“Every time we try to legislate equality in this country, when Conservatives get in power, they roll those gains right back: especially in terms of women’s rights. That has to stop.”
“How so, ma’am?” the same reporter asked.
“Hard to say, given that women make up 54% of the voting public today and we don’t have fifty-four female members of the US Senate, or 54% of the House being women. We lack the same percentage in sitting judges on the federal and state benches.
“I didn’t call this conference to give a lesson in civics, everything I said is patently obvious to anyone who gives the issues a moment’s thought. Okay, one more question. Okay, what’s on CNN’s mind?”
“Thank you, Madam President. My question is simple: what’s going to happen to General Archer?”
“He is going to be tried in military court for betraying his oath, for violating a direct order, leading to untold deaths, and destruction of property. That’s all I have for you at this time, thank you all for coming.”
Love’s In Need Of Love Today
Stirling, Larry, Jonathan, and Ellison replaced Alice and Dorothy as the Earth station duty crew, all highly trained combat pilots. They were gathered in the station’s common area watching the President’s press conference with great interest. When it was over, Stirling said, “Wow. No one is going to be happy behind all that!”
“Calling out white boys for their bullshit isn’t going to go over well at all,” Jonathan, a second-generation engineer from Chuck’s department said. “Was it really as bad as all that?”
Larry and Stirling nodded with Ellison replying, “Probably for most of us, especially those of us who worked in advanced fields. When Lucius approached me, I was so ready to up and quit. I was a college professor and I’d been passed over for promotion and tenure three times with two white professors with lower student ratings leapfrogging me.”
“And the women had it even worse. Iris, the woman Chuck lives with, can tell some real horror stories from her days working at GM as a welder. Two strikes were against her, female and black,” Larry added.
“What I’d really like to do is put the President’s word to the test and order a pizza to be picked up!” Stirling said.
“And how would we pay for it?” Jonathan asked.
“Ever the practical one, aren’t you?” Ellison quipped.
“It was worth a shot, especially so with all the railguns destroyed,” Stirling pointed out. “Besides, I heard a rumor that Lucius brought along a hundred million in cash when he was picked up. We should have hit him up before we left; maybe next time!”
“In any case, this is guaranteed to be a quiet tour. I can’t imagine anyone on the planet trying to launch anything anytime soon,” Jonathan opined.
“No doubt,” Ellison replied.
Scanning the satellite news channels and finding nothing new about the events from the previous week, the crew went about stowing the rest of the supplies and settling in for what they all hoped would be a quiet few weeks of Earth station duty.
* * *
President Wilcox met with her security team after a tumultuous morning’s meeting with her Democratic conference, many who were worried that appearing to appease the colonists would be used against them in the upcoming election. In the final analysis, she fell back on a promise to use her bully pulpit to castigate Conservatives, that in their calls for the capture or revenge killing of any colonist found on the planet made them nothing more than lawless vigilantes. That not only were Conservative Republicans vigilantes, they were cowards as well. She was relentless. She also had dozens of surrogates prepared to march out in full support of the President’s decision, fighting to get on every media channel populated exclusively by conservative white men.
She opened the national security meeting with, “I refuse to get into a dick waving contest with any of you, especially the military. If you cannot follow my orders, then resign; there is no place for you in my administration. Before we go through the process of your confirmation, is this going to be a problem for you General Boise?”
“No Madam President, the chain of command is clear.”
“Have the preliminary estimates come in on the loss of the Pentagon, General?”
“The latest tally stands at just over three trillion dollars, but it’s inevitably going to climb higher as we discover more not-so-obvious assets that are missing,” Boise replied to gasps around the table.
“That, ladies and gentlemen, is the cost of one man’s lawless actions. I can’t even conceive of a better illustration of the stupidity of men. Congress is never going to be able to appropriate the funds necessary to replace what’s been lost, not even if it’s spread over a dozen years.
“The bottom line is that not only has this testosterone driven cowboy mentality got to stop, but it must be completely flushed out of the military, beginning with sexual harassment. The bullshit women are forced to put up in all our Armed Forces is demeaning and criminal and if it doesn’t change right now, General, it’s all going to be laid at your feet. I am signing an Executive Order forming a Civilian Board to review all complaints of sexual assault and racism across the entire U.S. armed forces. If I hear one word about stonewalling by the rank and file, then those responsible will be separated from service and denied retirement benefits. We’ve let things go for far too long and this is the perfect opportunity to institute change.”
Wilcox paused, letting everything sink in. “General, how long does the Navy estimate the destroyers that formerly had railguns installed will need before they can be returned to service?” Wilcox
said, pivoting.
“Eighteen months for the ones in Norfolk, probably the same for the one being escorted back from the Middle East, Ma’am.”
“Before the end of the week, we’re going to draft new policies, procedures, and rules of engagement for contact with the colonists both here and in space. Perhaps the ambiguity of my ordering them to be left alone,” she said making air quotes, “was too vague for the intellectually challenged who were awarded social promotions through the ranks. That wouldn’t be you now would it, General Boise?”
“No Ma’am. I have never failed to carry out any legitimate order, Madam President,” he replied.
“Was that a dig at me, General? Because if it was, I’ll can you right now. I’m in no mood for childish word games with anyone, especially when we’re sitting in a three trillion-dollar hole because of some asshole in the service.”
“Sorry, Ma’am. That’s not what I meant at all. What I was saying, obviously poorly, was that not only do I follow orders, but I can tell a proper order from one originating from an illegitimate source, Madam President. Point of fact, had I been on board the shuttle Endeavor, I would have confirmed the order to deploy the SEALs to the lunar surface, even if it meant delaying the deployment and charges being brought against me. You don’t send men out on a suicide mission without at least confirmation from command authority. In other words, Ma’am, you need not worry about that problem with me.”
“Thank you, General. Let’s hope that’s the case.”
“Madam President?” asked the Director of the FBI. “Could you elaborate on our policy vis-a-vis colonists landing in this country? The previous time they were here, President Laughlin had us hold them until he received a similar ultimatum. What I want to know, and probably the entire Department of Justice does as well, is what actions do we take should they return?” he asked with a nod toward the Attorney General.
“It’s a lot more complicated now with the destruction of the Pentagon. Up until then, they had committed no crime that we knew of. Now they’ve destroyed trillions in property, probably killed maybe a couple dozen people in addition to denying us access to outer space for years,” she began. “We have legitimate grievances now. They are killers and have caused the most expensive damage to our infrastructure in the history of this country. This Cold War that we’ve been waging with them has cost us entirely too much. Remember, what we suffered was for the deaths of two of their people, just two. That was more than a slap on the wrist, that was a statement that we ignore at our own peril.
“My recommendation is that we monitor any move they make in this country—hell, anywhere on the planet; don’t forget, we still don’t know what they were doing in Iceland. We watch, and hopefully we get some clue to how their community works, especially their technology. Our people have been studying gravity for years, trying to get any hint to how they control it and we’re no further ahead than we were when we discovered them on the moon. That is the brass ring, the goose that lays the golden egg. Any country in the world would kill for their secrets; including us. Until now. They have drawn a line in the sand that is too expensive to cross. So, we watch them like a hawk, we learn everything we can, but we do nothing that leads to a disaster like the Pentagon. Is that clear enough?”
“Yes, Madam President,” replied the Director of the FBI.
“We have suffered enough thanks to Archer and racism in this country. You two get a policy together to send out to every law enforcement agency about the colonists because we don’t need some Bubba costing us billions because he thinks he’s the one person who can straighten out some uppity Negro from outer space. Have something for us to review by tomorrow. Now where do we stand on the real threats facing this nation?”
“Madam President, we have dispersed our intelligence capabilities to a number of existing bases around the country. Fortunately, much of our Pentagon-based intel capability can be transferred to NORAD. The loss of intel, records, equipment, and the like was priceless; much of it will never be replaced. The silver lining is that we can start with new technology in rebuilding our military command capabilities. The issue now is dealing with thirty thousand military personnel and civilian contractors who are displaced now that the Pentagon is gone. We’re looking for office and warehouse space to try to reconstitute some measure of our workflow.”
Turning to the Head of the Treasury Department, the President asked, “Given the weapons capabilities of the colonists, can we dispense with hustling me into the PEOC every time they decide to leave their station?”
“We’ll look into that, we have to evaluate the risks and benefits of securing you in the command center when they’re in the vicinity, Madam President. Give us a few days to review our policies and procedures,” Treasury replied.
“Very well. The next few months are going to be busy for us all, let’s keep our eyes on the ball, ladies and gentlemen. See all of you tomorrow,” Wilcox said, getting up and leaving the room.
* * *
Christopher’s homecoming was a subdued affair, Patricia and Benjamin suspected what kind of toll the trip to Earth took on him. When Patricia hugged him, she whispered, “You going to be all right?”
He nodded mutely.
“Was it rough, Dad?” Benjamin asked.
“Yes, Ben. This time I was forced to do things I’m not particularly proud of. People paid with their lives for Zelda and Clarice’s deaths.”
“But we didn’t start it!” protested Benjamin.
“No, we didn’t. But to prevent any repeat of those on Earth thinking attacking us is a good idea, I had to make them suffer so disproportionately that they would never consider messing with us again. In doing so, I violated our community’s proscription on developing weapons, I had to commit acts that lead to peoples’ deaths on Earth, and I had to threaten the President of the United States, again. Let’s just say this wasn’t my finest hour, Son.”
Patricia led him to the table and set out a cup and saucer. While she busied herself brewing him tea, Benjamin asked about the two survivors.
“They looked like they’re doing well, under the circumstances. I believe they’re taking it pretty hard. When I spoke to them it felt like they were putting on a good face for me, they couldn’t help it. But Dr. Abbott was with them on the way back home, so if there’s any long-term issues, I trust her to do what’s necessary to get them whole again,” Christopher sighed.
“And what about you, honey?” asked Patricia.
“Me? I’m sure with some rest, a little quiet time, I’ll be fine,” he replied as she poured tea.
“Anything I can do?” Benjamin asked.
“Not this time, Ben. This is all on me, you can’t even blame the rest of the mission crew, I called the shots and they did my bidding, believing that it was the best thing for our community. And on that, only time will tell. Eventually they’re going to be in space along with us. There’s no predicting what that relationship is going to turn out to be like. They’re obviously going to be harboring resentment about the embargo, even though the benefits of a non-nuclear Earth should be obvious to everyone. But we’ll have to wait and see,” said Christopher sipping his tea.
“Have you talked with Chuck or Peanut?” Patricia asked.
“No, just Margaret.”
“Maybe the three of you should have dinner; talk things out. Maybe even invite Lucius along,” she suggested.
“I’m kind of wiped out. Maybe tomorrow,” he said, getting up and heading for the bedroom. “I’m going to grab a shower, get in some fresh clothes.”
Benjamin waited until the bedroom door closed, then turned to his mother, “You gonna call them, or am I?’
She laughed, “You know me entirely too well. Genesis?”
“Yes, Patricia. How may I be of assistance?”
“Would you see if Chuck, Peanut and Lucius have a moment?”
“How’s our boy?” Lucius asked without preamble.
“Not gr
eat. Peanut, Chuck? Could the three of you do me a favor?” she asked. “Could you all take Chris to dinner and talk to him about what went on in Washington, help him get through it?”
“No problem. I’m in. What time?” Chuck replied.
“Me too,” Peanut added.
“I’m in,” said Lucius.
“Maybe about six? I’ll see if he can take a nap, or something first. Then you guys can stop by like it was your idea,” she said as Benjamin grinned and snorted.
They agreed it was a great idea, with Lucius inquiring if they might need some addition time to “get reacquainted.”
Patricia said six was fine and ended the call, heading toward the bedroom, unbuttoning her blouse along the way.
When the foursome showed up at Sherman’s, they found Benjamin at the bar, along with Piper and Joy, who all stood to leave when they saw his father.
“Not staying?” Christopher asked.
“Nope, you old folks are boring as hell,” Benjamin replied, giving his father a hug.
“Catch you later, Ben, ladies,” said Chuck as they walked away.
“So, what were you all talking about before you came to get me?” Christopher asked.
“We were explaining the finer points of parents having sex, despite what their kids think about the whole idea,” Lucius explained, grinning broadly.
“Are we eating?” Christopher asked, taking a seat.
“That’s the plan. What looks good?” Chuck asked, reaching for a menu. When Placido came by to take their orders, they had mostly decided on light fare along with beer and wine.
Over drinks, Lucius asked Christopher to give them a summary. Turmoil was written on his face as he gave them the details. When he started to relate the story about his conversation with President Wilcox, Lucius snorted, remembering how Christopher dealt with President Laughlin. When Christopher began to wind down, Chuck asked, “Is it those news reports of missing Pentagon workers what’s been buggin’ you?”
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