Discovery of the Saiph (The Saiph Series)

by PP Corcoran

  “Well,” said a very impressed Rebecca, “I see that you have been giving this a lot of thought, Thomas. I have to admit we never thought of this before now. Why? I do not know. This lack of forethought, on my part, smacks of foolishness.” Rebecca looked across at Joyce who seemed to be equally impressed.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, Senator. But I never thought you had it in you,” said Joyce.

  Crothers smiled at him, as a teacher to a pupil who had just independently figured out a lesson he had been tutoring for months. “I’ll take that as a compliment, General.”

  Joyce went on. “Admiral Jing had raised concerns over us having only one production facility; he has looked at the raw economic data and figured the construction of a separate shipyard for Janus was at least five years away.”

  “On the contrary, General.” Crothers was warming to his subject. “Taking into account industry-financed participation, my projection shows that we could have a viable, completely self-sufficient colony on Janus within two years.”

  That last sentence clinched it for Rebecca. “Well, Senator, it would seem that the only thing left for you is to resign.”

  Crothers looked aghast, stumbling over his words “But... eh... why... Madam President...? Eh... I am only trying to improve the colony’s chance of success.”

  Rebecca paused for a moment. “I understand completely, Senator. However unfortunate, I cannot have you double jobbing as Secretary of Finance and Governor of Janus. I accept your resignation forthwith.”

  Crothers’ mouth hung open, like a fish. He wanted to say something but no words were forthcoming.

  Joyce stood and stuck out his hand. “Congratulations, Governor!”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  A New Beginning

  Janus Colony - Alpha Centauri B - 4.37 LY from Earth

  Thomas Crothers, Governor of Earth’s first extra-solar system colony of Janus, looked out through the clear steel window of his office on the fourth floor of the Terran Republic building, in the centre of the capital of the colony. A capital which by popular demand had been named Witsell after the captain of the TDF Vasco De Gama who had sacrificed herself and her crew to save the marines fleeing from ‘The Others’ during the fighting in 70 Ophiuchi a year before.

  Only a year? Thought Thomas as he looked out at the bustling streets. The Magellan colony ships had been shuttling people from Earth as fast as the expanding colony could take them. The current population was now over one and a half million, and that was just on the surface of Janus. In orbit and in the asteroid belt, another half a million humans laboured to supply the needs of the flourishing colony with its fledgling shipbuilding yards. If the projections were correct, given another year Janus would have a population of five million and be completely self-sufficient.

  A descending shuttle caught the Thomas’ eye as it headed for the landing pads – that would be his visitors. With a sigh, he turned from the window and returned to the waiting, seemingly endless bureaucracy that came with the job, in a vain attempt to empty his inbox before their arrival.

  Half an hour later, Thomas stood as the entry chime sounded on his office door which swung open and allowed Fleet Adm. Jing, newly named Commander of First Fleet in the rapidly expanding Terran Navy, and a vice admiral that he didn’t recognize into the office. The Governor walked around his desk to greet the Navy men. “Good to see you again Admiral Jing, and…?”

  The unnamed admiral smiled and shook the Thomas’ proffered hand. “Vice Admiral Robert Lewis, Governor.”

  The name was familiar to Thomas and then his memory placed the name, “Of course, Captain of the James Cook. A well-deserved promotion if I may say so, Admiral.”

  “Please don’t, Governor,” interjected Jing with a chuckle. “Since being appointed my deputy at First Fleet, he has become insufferable. In fact, my trying to get rid of him is what has brought us to Janus.”

  Thomas indicated a group of comfortable chairs and the three men sat before Thomas asked, “And how do you intend to rid yourself of poor Admiral Lewis?” as he gave Lewis an apologetic look.

  Jing pulled a PAD from his case and pressed his thumb against the DNA scanner to activate its secure contents. “It has been noted by many back in Geneva, Governor, that Janus is well ahead of schedule and, without sounding like a sycophant, nobody back home is fooling themselves that the success is down to anything other than your hard work, Governor.”

  “And many others who have put more blood and sweat into the building of the colony than I, Admiral,” added Thomas.

  A politician that is willing to put others before himself, thought Jing. How novel. “Well your combined efforts have enabled the TDF to bring forward its schedule by nearly ten months. The ship yards here in Janus have reached a sufficient level that the Joint Chiefs believe that a percentage of their production can now be dedicated to the production of military hardware.”

  “What sort of percentage are we talking, Admiral,” asked Thomas apprehensively. “We still have a lot of work to do in the asteroid belt and the orbital habitats.”

  Jing consulted his PAD before answering. “Based on your own figures, we would be looking at switching over twenty-one per cent at this stage, with that growing to thirty-five per cent by the end of the year.”

  Thomas opened his mouth to protest, but Lewis got in first. “Governor, if I could explain?”

  “Please do, Admiral Lewis,” said Thomas unhappily.

  “The speed with which the colony has expanded beyond our planning has meant that the Joint Chiefs feel that the resources of the Sol system are being stretched to provide adequate defences for both the home system and Janus. And, to be blunt, if you don’t start to provide the material to defend yourself, then everything that you are building here could be for nothing if ‘The Others’ come calling.”

  Thomas paused for thought; the admirals had a point. Everything the population of Janus had worked so hard to build could be taken from them if ‘The Others’ stumbled on Janus. After all, the whole idea of Janus was that if, God forbid, some disaster befell Earth, then mankind would be able to continue. Was it not his duty as governor to ensure the safety of the colony?

  “My apologies, Admirals. Of course Janus must assume the burden of its own defence. Please continue.”

  Both admirals let out a small sigh of relief. They had expected a harder fight for the resources that they needed.

  “Governor,” continued Admiral Jing, “it is the intention of the Joint Chiefs to expand the TDF’s forces here at Janus. System defence needs to be brought up to par, and to do that the Navy intends to build a fleet base here for what will eventually become Second Fleet, and Admiral Lewis has been chosen as its commander.”

  “Ah,” said Thomas with a slight smile towards Adm. Lewis, “This would be Admiral Jing’s cunning plan to get rid of you.”

  Lewis gave a small shrug of his shoulders. “So it would seem, Governor.”

  “So, down to brass tacks gentlemen. What sort of forces can I be expected to provide?” stated Thomas, all business now that the decision for Janus to build its own units had been taken.

  Jing indicated for Lewis to continue. “In broad brush strokes, the first thing we need to establish is a sufficient defensive capability to ensure Janus can fend off any initial attack and buy enough time for forces from First Fleet in the Sol System to respond and come to our assistance. Once I believe our defence units are sufficient to secure Janus, we will switch production over to offensive units, and that is where the main power of Second Fleet will be. It gives us the capability to respond to any calls from First Fleet for assistance as well as to go on the attack independently if needed. We plan to initially bring manpower from Earth to form a core of experienced crews for the ships, but Janus will be expected to provide what it can.”

  “I don’t see that being a problem, Admiral,” said Thomas. “The people are proud of what they have achieved here and will want to protect it and their families that have s
ettled here.”

  Lewis nodded his understanding. “People will always protect their families and what they have built themselves. We would project that the orbital defences, which would be mainly automated, should be fully in place and operational in six months with first fleet units being operational between twelve and eighteen months from now.”

  Thomas held a hand up to stop Adm. Lewis “A suggestion, Admiral.”

  “Of course, Governor.” Lewis looked across at Jing. Was the Governor going to change his mind in supporting their plan?

  “If I was to reduce your percentage of yard production from twenty-one per cent to say eighteen per cent, how would that impact your production of the automated orbital defences?”

  Jing did some quick calculations on his PAD. “It would extend our orbital defence completion by a month or so.”

  Both admirals sat waiting patiently. The Governor appeared deep in thought before his eyes refocused. “If I use that three per cent to build additional yard units and build the Navy its own dedicated construction facility, it could be incorporated into your fleet base. And means that you roll out the first fleet units in eight months.”

  The admirals regarded Thomas in amazement.

  Thomas went on, seemingly ignorant of the admirals’ expressions, “Of course you would need to step up your personnel movements, but I’ll have a word with the colony construction teams. I’m sure we can sort something out in the short term until your fleet base is up and running. Is there anything else that I can do to help?”

  Jing shook himself. “No, Governor. That should cover everything.”

  “In that case, I shall organize a meeting with Admiral Lewis and the colony planning board for tomorrow and we can get things rolling.” And with that, Governor Crothers stood.

  Both admirals stood and shook hands with a man that had just changed both their perceptions of how a politician behaved.

  #

  Office of the President of the Terran Republic - Geneva - Earth

  Rebecca Coston walked through the entrance of her private conference room, and the quiet conversations that had been going on stopped as the gathered men and women turned to look at her expectantly. Rebecca recognized most of those in the room but was surprised to see Edward Munro, Director of the Federal Investigation Bureau, Carol Manning, Secretary of Finance and Edvard Dietel, the Attorney General, present. “Please take your seats,” said Rebecca.

  Rebecca took her seat at the head of the table. “Ladies and gentlemen, I must assume that this is an urgent matter or I would not have agreed to this meeting on such short notice. Would someone like to tell me what is going on?”

  Gen. Joyce, cleared his throat nervously. “Madam President, as you are, no doubt, aware, we have been building warships and expanding our military forces as rapidly as possible in the face of the perceived threat from ‘The Others’.”

  “General, I am well aware of this,” said Rebecca with some exasperation. “Has something changed that I am unacquainted with for you to ask for this meeting so urgently?”

  Joyce looked across the table at Vice Adm. Wilson, before continuing. “When the decision was made to begin the expansion, I put in place certain measures in the hope of containing any internal or external interference in that expansion.” Joyce nodded towards Wilson, “If I may introduce Vice Admiral Elizabeth Wilson, who works directly for me. Her job is to overcome any such obstacles.”

  Rebecca regarded Wilson. “You mean she’s your hatchet man, General,” she stated.

  Joyce allowed a small smile to appear on his face. “Hatchet man would be a fair description, Madam President, and it is due to Admiral Wilson that I asked for this meeting.”

  Rebecca looked towards Wilson quizzically. “Surely you have not found some obstacle within the military that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs cannot deal with? Surely you do not require presidential intervention?”

  “That’s the issue, Madam President,” replied Wilson. “The problem isn’t within the military per se.”

  Rebecca was starting to get a little irritated with all this pussyfooting around. “Please get to the point, Admiral.”

  “Very well, Madam President. Your Secretary of Defence, Senator Geoffrey Rawson, has been selling contracts for bribes and has been embezzling funds on a huge scale,” Wilson stated as a matter of fact.

  Rebecca said nothing, but continued to stare at the Admiral for a few moments. That weasel! She thought. Curse that day I ever agreed to him getting the post! Rebecca took a deep breath and steadied herself before asking. “How much Admiral and for how long?”

  It did not occur to Wilson that the President had not questioned the validity of her claim for a second. “I first had an inkling that something wasn’t quite right when I compared the costing and output of the yards at Deimos with the yards at Janus. The discrepancy was nearly ten per cent per unit, and even though they were using virtually identical equipment Deimos’ construction time was fifteen per cent longer than that at Janus. Now we all know that Governor Crothers has a knack for efficiency and cost cutting but the discrepancy was too much to be ignored, so with General Joyce’s permission I began an off the books investigation using outside agencies, investigators from the Federal Investigation Bureau and auditors from the Department of Finance...”

  Rebecca was finding it difficult to remain calm. “I shall ask one more time, Admiral. How much and for how long?”

  The room became very still. No one present had ever seen President Coston as aggravated as this before.

  To her credit, Secretary Manning spoke up. “Madam President, my auditors discovered a trail which leads us to believe that Secretary Rawson has been lining his own pockets since his appointment as Secretary of Defence. Our current estimate is approaching eighty-three million credits between skimming the budget and bribes.”

  Rebecca let out a gasp. “Eighty-three million! How the hell did no one notice?”

  “When Secretary Rawson took over at Defence, he brought a lot of his own people with him and it would appear that many, if not all, are implicated. To be honest, we just have not had the time yet to go over all of their finances. Remember, Madam President, we have been flinging money at Defence hand over fist for the past three years, and it would appear, according to Director Munro’s people, that anyone that Rawson couldn’t pay off was pushed out of Defence or an excuse was found to sack them.”

  Rebecca pointed at Director Munro. “I want rid of him! Not tomorrow, not at the end of the day. I mean right now. That man has not only stolen money from the Republic, but by slowing construction of our defences he has put the lives of the people of the Republic at risk.”

  Director Munro hesitated. “Are you sure you want this done publicly, Madam President? I could have agents arrest him at his home this evening and give you time to prepare a press statement.”

  Rebecca fixed him with a look that would have wilted a lesser man. Without taking her eyes from him, she addressed the Attorney General. “Is there enough evidence for a charge of Treason, Edvard?”

  The Attorney General struggled to keep his voice calm and level; treason was a crime that still carried the death penalty within the Republic. “Yes, Madam President. I believe the evidence I have seen is enough to justify the charge of treason.”

  Rebecca’s eyes had not strayed from Director Munro. “Well, Director?”

  Director Munro tapped his secure wrist link. “This is Director Munro. Inform the protection detail for Secretary Rawson that on the President’s order they are to secure the Secretary immediately and await the arrival of agents from my office. The Secretary is to have no contact with any person or access to any electronic system.”

  Rebecca stood abruptly. “I think that will be all for today, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to you, I can pretty much guarantee that the rest of my day is shot to hell.”

  As the people gathered in the room began to leave, Rebecca called, “General Joyce, a moment please.”

  The Gener
al halted and returned to stand by his seat at the table. Rebecca indicated for him to retake his seat as she sat herself.

  “So how long have you suspected Rawson?” asked Rebecca in a tired voice.

  “Admiral Wilson came to me about a year ago with her concerns and I trusted her instincts enough to let her run with the investigation,” replied Joyce.

  “And you didn’t trust me enough to let me know of your suspicions?”

  “Madam President, with all due respect,” replied Joyce, “when Admiral Wilson came to me to tell me she suspected the Secretary of Defence, a secretary you had appointed, what would you have done?”

  For the first time that day, Rebecca’s face had a wry smile. “I would have trusted no one General. You did the right thing. My problem now is when this scandal breaks, who will the people trust enough to be Secretary of Defence? And how quickly can we undo the damage done to our military build-up caused by Rawson?”