Mike was incredulous. "Are you serious? Three ships, hijacked at the same time? You're crazy if -"
Javier cleared this throat and Mike looked at him and stopped.
"Karina, you raise a good point," Javier said. "I think that before we go too far, we really do need to figure out what's going on with the command and control -"
Mike looked at Javier wide eyed and turned his hands up in a what-the-hell gesture. "Javier, you can't honestly -"
Javier raised his voice and spoke over Mike. "Agreed; we need to get more data to see who's behind this - but since it is at least plausible, if not likely, that this is deliberate government policy, it can't hurt to talk about plans for that contingency.” He stressed the last word. "Don't you think?"
Karina shrugged noncommittally. "I think that premature talk of force is...dangerous. At best. There's no way we can fight the Earth governments. Mike is saying that we all knew that a fight would come sooner or later. I reject that - we all know that a confrontation would come sooner or later. I, for one, have always thought that once we proved ourselves viable we'd be able to negotiate. And I still think that." She turned from Javier to Mike.
"And speaking of confrontation and negotiation, I've heard rumors that in the wake of the Wookkiee hijacking, your rifle club took prisoners. I understand freeing the crews of the Wookkiee and the RTFM, but taking prisoners? That's an act of provocation. We need to de-escalate. Our plan all along has been to build wealth here in Aristillus while the current craziness sorts itself out down there. We know that a more sane government is going to be voted in at some point -"
Mike interrupted her. "We don't know that at all! Government has growing more repressive for centuries. A man needs a permit to brush his teeth. There's no reason to think that's going to reverse itself."
Mike looked around the table. Darren Hollins of Goldwater was leaning forward, listening. Good! One ally against Karina. Who else? His eye landed on Hector. "You need a hundred permits to build a house. You have to jump through hoops and know the right people to get a restaurant license. You have to kiss someone's ass to even raise some livestock without the government coming in and killing your animals. Am I right, Hector?"
Hector Camanez raised his eyebrows and shrugged. Why wasn't Hector weighing in? That man had been as brutalized by government as any of them at this table. He should be angry - but he seemed calm and detached. If Hector wasn't going to support him, who would? Shit - this was exactly why he hated politics. How were you supposed to know that an attack like Karina's was coming - and how were you supposed to know that you wouldn't get support from -
Rob Wehrmann spoke up. "Whether it's a rogue military unit or the central governments, what the fuck difference does it make? Some preparation seems smart either way."
Alright. Not full-throated support, but decent. Darren Hollins cleared his throat and Mike looked at him. Good. With his background - American, two factories shut down, and then a profitable mine appropriated out from under him - he'd lay the smack-down on Karina. He'd -
"We need to find out who's behind this so we can figure out the right palms to grease. Maybe we can make this go away."
Mike's head rocked back. What the hell? Darren should be supporting him!
Karina shook her head. "I don't like the idea of bribery. That just exposes us to ethics charges -"
Mark Soldner nodded. "We should work through channels - proper channels. We don't want to lower ourselves to their level."
Darren snorted. "Have you people ever actually worked with a government licensing body? Bribes are how you get things done! I'm not sure we can buy our way out of this, but it's the first thing to try."
What the hell were these people talking about? They were here to figure out a military response, and they were bickering about bribing the governments to go away? Mike shot a loot at Javier. Javier held up one hand: Let it play out. Mike scowled. This was stupid.
Mark Soldner held up one hand. "I agree with Karina - corruption isn't the way. We talk to them, but we talk to them as equals. We form a congress and we draw up a list of grievances. That way -"
"A list of grievance?" Darren interrupted. "What is this, a choir club asking for snacks? We find the right politicians and we give them cash. Cold, hard -"
Karina cut him off. "If we do that and we get exposed -"
Mike rubbed a hand over his forehead. What the hell was wrong with Karina? With all of these people? Worrying about bullshit like ethics laws, when the government was already burning Gamma's sats and hijacking their ships? And why weren't more people backing him up? Was he the only one who saw the RTFM crew member executed by the PKs? What the fuck were these people thinking?
If these fools didn't understand the situation they were all in, they were idiots, and he was going to tell them so.
Mike punched the deck steel of the table and shouted, "No!".
The room fell silent and a dozen stunned faces turned to him. "You people don't -"
"Mike!" Javier shouted.
Mike turned to him. "Javier - no, wait! I need-"
"Mike, let me take it from here."
Mike protested. "No, I can -"
Javier held up two hands in a calming gesture. "Mike, I understand your position - but let me try, OK?"
"No, Javier. Everyone has to understand that we cannot negotiate. This isn't some tea party. We're not negotiating spheres of influence. This is a war.”
Javier's lips pinched. "Mike -"
Mark Soldner interrupted him. "Javier, let me try. Mike, I agree with you that trouble is brewing, and I agree with you that the Earth governments are overreaching their enumerated powers. Unlike many of you - " he gestured around the room " - I never had run-ins with the law, but I've got sympathy with those of you who have. Albert Lai and the old PRC, Hector and the DEA - I get it. The US government has overstepped its bounds. We may end up needing to fight, and the first step is to form a government -"
Mike banged the unyielding steel table. Damn it, his hand hurt. "No! The last thing in the world we need is a government! It's government that ruined the Earth, that tried to throw us all in jail. Government is force -"
"Yes, unlimited, out-of-control government is a problem, but a limited government -"
"You think you can have a limited government? There's no such thing. Government grows - that's what it does. I'm not going to tolerate a government in Aristillus. I've been clear about that from the beginning."
"It's not your decision, Mike. If the people want -"
Mike started to speak over Mark - and in turn and was cut off by a loud high-pitched chime. He looked around - and saw Javier standing at the far end of the table, striking his water glass with his pen over and over, waiting for everyone's attention.
He fumed - he'd been about to put Mark in his place. Around him the babble died down.
Javier - slacks pressed, shirt crisp, bolo snugged, salt and pepper hair and goatee perfectly trimmed - Javier looked calm and composed. Mike didn't understand it. How could he be calm with all this bullshit going on?
The room fell silent and Javier said, "People, please. This meeting is degenerating. I propose that we draw up a list of questions to ponder and debate offline, then we meet again in a week."
Mike raised his voice. "A week? We don't-"
Javier's tone was icy and direct. "Mike. Please. Sit. Down."
Mike stared at Javier. Javier had all but forced him to step up and run this - and now he was telling him to shut up and sit down? Mike looked around the table, at the angry faces. Shit. He had to admit that the meeting had been a disaster. How? The issue was so simple - the Earth governments had started a war and Aristillus had to fight back. And now even Javier was trying to stall. Mike looked at his friend again. Javier stared back, firmly, implacably.
This was bullshit. If they were going to win this war, they needed to move, and move now.
Javier inclined his head, directing Mike to sit.
Mike breathed out. Ja
vier had better have a good explanation for this. Mike pulled his chair out, and sat.
Javier nodded a thank you, and then continued. "I propose that we draw up a list, then adjourn. Agreed?"
Mark Soldner raised one hand. "I also propose that we draft a petition - like Jefferson's Olive Branch Petition - and lay out a short set of grievances for the Earth governments. Maybe we can reach some accommodation."
Mike braced both his hands on the edge of the table and was about to push himself erect and begin arguing when he caught Javier's eyes.
In the fifteen years he'd known Javier he'd never seen the man so angry before. The others in the room might not be able to read it - Javier was so good at controlling his face and stance - but Mike read his eyes.
He took his hands off the table and sat back.
Javier nodded to Mark. "I'm not sure that there's yet a need to open negotiations with the Earth governments. If nothing else, it sets a precedent that we might want to think about. I suggest -"
Mark looked around the room. "I think we should vote -"
There was a general murmur of assent. "All in favor of drafting a document?"
Hands went up. Mike looked around, amazed - and disgusted. Mark and Karin, of course, and then also Rob Wehrmann, Darren Hollins, Albert Lai. Katherine Dycus? The hell! Katherine had been part of this since the very beginning. How could she -
Mark announced the results. "Seven in favor, that's a majority. Do we have any volunteers to draft it?"
"Mark, I think you'd do a good job," Karina said. She glanced around the table. "Any objections?"
Despite the threat in Javier's eyes, Mike couldn't control himself any longer. "This is bullshit. Mark has always wanted a government and he's going to try to sneak one in. If anyone's going to draft this document, it's going to be me. I'll tell the fucking governments what they - "
At the far end of the table Javier again interrupted by striking his water glass with his pen. The noise was loud enough that Mike thought for a second the glass had shattered. Javier's voice, though, was controlled. "Mike. Please. Let's let Karina finish, shall we?"
Mike seethed, but shut up. Once he and Javier were alone there was going to be hell to pay for this.
Karina Roth pursed her lips. "Mike, we all know that you've been instrumental - no, utterly critical - to creating Aristillus. But it's not clear to me that you're the best public face for drafting a petition to the governments."
"Excuse me?"
Karina's eyebrows went up. "First there's the issue of your unorthodox -" she coughed, " -exit from the CEO trials. That alone means that we don't want to associate your name with this. But even aside from that, the recent video that's been going around the blogs of the bribery attempt -"
Mike scowled and waved his hand.
Karina continued, "No, I think this is worth talking about -"
Mark Soldner looked confused. "I apologize, but I've missed this. What's this video?"
Mike rolled his eyes. Karina turned to Mark. "There was apparently some sort of surveying mix up between Mike and Leroy, and Mike tried to bribe Kevin -" here she pointed down the table "- to forge some files."
Mike gritted his teeth. "No, that's bullshit. The real story is that it was a shake-down attempt. Leroy tunneled into volume that I'd already registered and he forged some records - and he was the one who was trying to -" He stopped. "Anyway, it's not a big deal."
Karina Roth spread her hands. "Mike, how you do your business is up to you, but if this little cabal moves forward, it needs a public face that -"
Javier cleared his throat. "Folks, a vote on whether Mark Soldner should be in charge of drafting the petition?"
Mike looked around. Every hand except his was up. Even Javier himself was voting? What the fuck was wrong with people? Fine. Fuck them.
"Eleven in favor. Very well. People, let's all meet a week from today. Unless there's any further business ?"
* * *
The last of the CEOs left the room, leaving Javier and Mike alone.
Mike remained silent. What the hell had happened there? Even Javier had turned against him in the end. "Javier, what the hell was -"
Javier met his eyes and the anger radiated through them like heat from a furnace. "God damn it, Mike! It's bad enough that you're your own worst enemy, but do you have to screw up stuff for everyone else?"
Mike blinked. "What? What did I -"
"Damn it, Mike! You've worked your ass off for a decade to build Aristillus. You're this close -" he held his fingers up millimeters apart "- to getting what you've wanted your entire life. All we've got to do is win this war. And now you're almost trying to throw it away. Do you know how much damage you caused in less than twenty minutes?"
"Wait a second! I -"
"Did you go out of your way to create that mess? And why the hell did you call the meeting on four hours notice? I didn't even get the message until thirty minutes beforehand!"
Mike blinked. "This war is important. This meeting was your idea. I thought you'd be happy that -"
"Mike, damn it, I needed time to figure out what everyone wants. I needed time to work people behind the scenes."
Mike sighed. "Jave - look, the meeting went off the rails, but I don't know -"
Javier slapped his open palm on the table. "I know you don't know. Damn it, Mike you -" He paused, exhaled heavily, and then gave up on the sentence and settled for shaking his head sadly.
Mike was confused. He'd started this post-meeting eager to rip Javier a new asshole for telling him to sit down and shut up in the meeting - and now the conversation was headed in an entirely different direction.
It was clear he'd let Javier down, even if he wasn't sure how. Damn it.
"Javier, I -"
Javier made eye contact, and Mike could see the sadness in his eyes. No: disappointment.
"Mike. You fucked up, and you don't even know how you fucked up, do you? Just - don't talk to me."
Mike stood and walked to the side table and poured himself a glass of water. He turned back. "I'm sorry. Even if I don't know what I did."
He stood and waited.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, Javier uncrossed his arms and looked up. "Damn it, Mike. You're not very good with people, do you know that?"
Mike raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, Darce reminds me of that now and then. And so does my best friend."
Javier sighed, then finally allowed a rueful smile to creep onto his face. "You know, whoever the idiot was who put you up to this meeting really should take some of the blame for not explaining a few things to you."
Mike cracked a bit of a grin. "Do you still think that I'm the ideal 'human face' of the revolutionary cabal?"
Javier sighed. "We've got some work to do."
Chapter 62
2064: MaisonNeuve Construction office, Aristillus, Lunar Nearside
Leroy looked across the desk at George White and took his measure. He'd been working with George for years, so in truth he wasn't looking for new information. No - the point was that he wanted White to know that he was being looked at. Evaluated.
The man was tall and broad. Whatever the opposite of an aristocratic face was, White had it. He claimed to have been a Detroit cop back before he came to Aristillus, and as far as Leroy could find out it was true - but with the Public Servant Privacy Laws, it was hard to find out anything about at all about ex-cops. There were some rumors that he'd been thrown off the force. Not that that was a concern - the man always managed to get the job done, and that's what mattered.
He looked White in the eye - or tried to. White was looking off, over Leroy's head, apparently inspecting the room. Leroy hated it when someone wouldn't meet his eyes. It was a power game.
Leroy leaned forward and cleared his throat. "I've got another project with Mike Martin."
"The cafeteria video wasn't good enough?"
Leroy ignored the question. "I need something else."
White nodded. "What do you want me to
find out?"
"I don't want you to find out anything. I want other people to find things out."
White narrowed his eyes. "What? I'm a PI. I get information, I don't spread it."
Leroy sighed contemptuously. "George, a war is coming. And this one is going to be like every other one: perception is going to matter more than anything else. And that's why I - why we - will win it."
Chapter 63
2064: Old Army Base Docks, Darwin, Australia
The nearly rusted-out Nissan truck pulled to the gate and slowed to a stop. One of the four men at the gate - apparently unarmed, but solid and muscular - walked to the vehicle.
"Invite, mate?"
The driver stuck his laser-printed form out the window. Paper. These people were paranoid.
"Neil Keenum?" the guard asked.
"That's me," said the driver.
The guard grunted, and scanned the page with a slate, which beeped.
"Right. Go'an in."
The other guards dragged the gate open, the sagging steel rasping against asphalt. A moment later the truck was through, and the gate shut behind them.
Neil looked around; the small parking lot seemed abandoned. But, wait, there - another guard was waving him around the back of a corrugated metal outbuilding. He pulled forward, and - ah. Here, hidden from the road, they'd gathered. Two hundred people - maybe more.
He pulled the truck into an empty space, killed the ignition, and sat. The two other men in the cab and the rest in the truck's bed also looked around, taking in the enormity of the situation.
Another hundred people arrived at the small lot over the next fifteen minutes: a few on foot, a handful in flatbed trucks, the majority in utes and battered pickups. The one thing the vehicles had in common was that their resale values - even assuming one knew the right palms to grease to get a Carbon Vehicle Transfer Permit - were near zero. Neil nodded; any vehicles worth anything had been parted out and sold piecemeal on the black market or given to friends.
Everyone in this parking lot was heading for a new life. Vehicles were just one of the many trappings that would be left behind.
The Powers of the Earth (Aristillus Book 1) Page 25