“Okay,” Calvin nodded. “Which equations were these?”
“They’re the power-balancing equations,” Valeria replied. “Actually, I don’t know exactly where they fit into all this. But they were originally power balancing equations, that Jacqueline has me adapting for this defensive system.”
Calvin shook his head as they walked. “Yeah, I’m not sure which equations you’re referring to. Was this one of the original equations we worked on the other day, with Leon?”
“No, not one of those.”
“Well, it’ll wait ‘til we get to the lab. Speaking of Leon, I actually didn’t ask: Are you two an item?”
Valeria smiled, but she didn’t blush. “Well, maybe not yet. Mostly, we’re just bed buddies. And oh, God, what a buddy! Get him to solve a ninth-level quantum equation for you, and he’ll go all night long.” Then she shrugged. “Not much of a conversationalist, though… he’s kind of boring. But there’s potential. Remember when you first met Maria? You told me that you were worried you two wouldn’t be able to communicate, because she wasn’t a scientist.”
“Yeah, I remember,” Calvin grinned.
“Well, obviously you two got through that,” Valeria said. “Unless it’s just the sex!”
“No, it’s not just the sex,” Calvin laughed. “Not that that hurt! But no, we found plenty to talk about. And even more after Erin was born. She’s beginning to worry me, though.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Well, she’s just gotten very uptight about the state of Earth lately. She talks about going down there to see things… but mostly things that don’t really exist anymore. I mean, I’d like to take her on a trip, but not to a place of her choosing that turns out to be submerged, or trashed, or whatever. I was actually thinking about taking her to the Grand Canyon, before Yosemite went off.”
Valeria nodded sadly. “Hopefully you’ll be able to go, when this is all over.”
“God, I hope we get the chance,” Calvin replied as they reached Valeria’s lab and went inside. Valeria put her tray down on an empty corner of the workstation, and removed a pear from it, taking a bite and immediately hunching forward to avoid pear juice dripping onto her blouse. “So,” Calvin was saying, “show me this equation.”
“Right here,” Valeria pointed at her workstation screen. “See, it’s a variation on another equation that I was already working on… the one Jacqueline said would apply to this project? Here, you can see I’ve got a working range going for the R-Phi variable, but then I can’t get the range to fit to the H-sub-Y variable. What am I missing here?”
“Hold on,” Calvin said, examining the equation. “I don’t know what all this is even for, Val. You said Jac—Dr, Silver said this applied to the project?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Valeria shrugged sheepishly. “Actually, she didn’t say. She just said it did, and asked me to get started on it.”
“I’m confused,” Calvin stated, staring at the equation some more. “You said you were working on this equation before?”
“Another variation on it, yes,” Valeria nodded.
“Related to what?”
“Our freight project.”
“Is that the project Aaron Hardy had Dr. Silver working on? The one everyone was being so quiet about?”
“Pretty sure,” Valeria said. “A lot of us have been working on bits and pieces of it, I think. Well, up until today.”
“Then why did she give you this?” Calvin rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he examined the screen. He didn’t see how the equation before him could be applied to the defensive project at all… so why did Silver give it to Valeria? Was she planning to secretly keep working on the freight project?
“We have to find Silver,” Calvin abruptly said, as his mind kept racing ahead. He remembered the unvoiced suggestion in the conference room… about the possibility that Aaron and Silver’s transporter system could deliver bombs—
“And we’d better hurry,” he added, grabbing Valeria’s arm and towing her out of the lab.
~
Kris tried again to get a message through to CnC, but again, her com gave her a busy circuit signal. “Damn!” she snapped, causing a number of the people on the tram to snap their heads in her direction.
But she was only one of many. Quite a number of people on the tram were grumbling because their com calls were not going through, either. Kris had heard people mention the incidents at the other satellites, and a general concern by everyone for the safety of their loved ones, and she could only guess all of those people were trying to talk at once on the com lines, checking up on each other, trying to get together in case something happened around them.
Kris noticed, but paid them no mind. She was too upset to be concerned about them right now. She had a sick feeling that there was about to be a war… and even worse, that she would be caught on the wrong side. Thompson’s orders to her had been the last straw: She was content to use her talents to ferret out information, but she was not about to act as a government assassin, just so the United States could ruin her home.
Angrily she tried her com again, trying to get a clear line to CnC. Again, she got the busy circuit tone. “Shit!” she spat out, causing even more people to look up in annoyance or concern.
Almost as she reached the end of the tramline, she finally heard the tones that indicated her call was going through. “CnC.”
“This is Kristine Fawkes, diplomatic representative for the United States government!” Kris snapped out, her voice loud due to stress. Quite a number of people looked up when they heard her yelling across the tram, and especially when she announced her title. “I have an urgent message for Ceo Lenz or Eo Luis, get me either of them right now!”
“Stand by, Miss Fawkes, I’m—” There was a perceptible break in the line, followed by a return of the same voice. “—lease hold on whi—” The line broke again, and after a moment, the busy circuit signal cut in again.
“God-dammit!” Kris belted out, and threw her com angrily at the far wall of the tram. The com shattered when it hit the window, scattering pieces over half the car. Other passengers immediately started either ducking from carbon shrapnel or shouting at her: “Jeezus, lady! What’s your problem!” “Are you crazy?” “Knock that shit off!”
But before Kris could respond to any of them, the tram came to a stop, and the doors opened. From here, a lift-ride would take her up to the CnC floor, and she could run the rest of the way. Kris was out of her seat like a shot, bolting past other passengers and fading up the corridor towards the lifts.
~
“Sir, I’m pretty sure it was Diplomat Fawkes,” one of the CnC technicians was telling Julian. “But I lost her signal. All this com traffic—”
“I know,” Julian nodded. “See if you can get her back.”
“We have other issues,” Reya called from across CnC. Julian joined her at the main workstation. “Flight activity from the ground. These look like fighters, not passenger aircraft. And see that one?” She pointed at a slightly different set of ident numbers. “Troop carrier.”
Julian examined the main display, which showed indicators in a number of locations bordering the southern edges of the United States. “Have they—”
“Look there,” Reya said, pointing at one set of indicators. “They’ve launched from south Texas. They’re gonna take a beating going through the ash layer from there, even with a southerly course. Only one reason you do that.”
Julian nodded. “Alert all Wasps. Go to code red standby, repeat, code red standby.”
Reya nodded, reaching for a com mike and starting to speak… then pausing a moment. Julian noticed her pause, looked to her to see what was going on, and saw Reya looking towards the main corridor entrance to CnC. Julian followed her gaze, as Reya resumed issuing orders, and saw Kris Fawkes literally running towards CnC. She was a sight to behold in her immaculately-tailored suit, her dark hair streaming behind her, and taking the stri
des of a long distance runner.
When she reached CnC, she skidded to a stop nearby Julian, and tried to stand poised and regulate her labored breathing. “Sir… I need to speak…”
“I hate to break it to you,” Julian said, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder, “but we already know. The first fighters have mobilized from Texas.”
Kris looked at the main board, and a pained expression came across her face. She nodded, still breathing heavily. “I tried to call… there’s more,” she managed. “Thompson… as much as ordered me… to kill you if necessary… to secure Verdant control for the United States.” Those who were in earshot went silent, and all turned to stare at Kris and Julian. Slowly, she regained her composure, and her breathing became more normal. “I hereby surrender to you… I abdicate my position as American diplomat. And I advise you to take all appropriate steps… to protect yourself, and the CnC. There will probably be others…”
“I understand,” Julian said, turning to face one of the security guards at the entrance to CnC. “Code four, Lieutenant. Seal us up!” The security guard he had addressed immediately saluted, turned to a panel on the wall, and punched in a series on its keypad. As he did so, the other guard shifted his position to the outside of the entryway, and a moment later, a set of glass double-doors began to slide out of the opposite walls on heavy gimbals. They converged on each other and connected, and a loud hiss signified the hermetic sealing of the room, leaving the Lieutenant on the inside of the room, and the other officer outside the doors to CnC.
Most of the technicians had watched, spellbound, as the ominous doors closed and sealed them inside. Reya, however, had kept her eyes on the main workstation, and abruptly, she looked up. “We have an incoming message,” Reya announced, pointing at a technician. “Put it on speaker.” The technician worked, and after a moment, a voice was heard throughout the room.
“This is Vice President Lena Carruthers of the United States of America. It has been brought to our attention that the satellites of Verdant and Tranquil, and probably Fertile and Qing, have developed an offensive weapons system, in violation of their U.N. charter.”
“We have?” a technician asked. Reya gave them a look to shut them up, as the voice continued.
“Given the fragile state of affairs at present, the United States feels it is in the world’s best interests if this threat is neutralized as soon as possible. Therefore, we are sending troops to occupy Verdant and Tranquil, and to secure this weapons system. We require the cooperation of Verdant and Tranquil to allow the peaceful transfer of power to our forces. Failure to do so may result in further action to secure the satellites, and may involve a hazard to the residents and inhabitants aboard the satellites. We have no desire to harm innocent citizens. Therefore we urge the commanding staff of Verdant and Tranquil to comply with this order. We require a response on this channel within one hour, time starting now. That is all.”
All of CnC was quiet after the broadcast, the only sounds being com traffic between the Wasps that murmured throughout the room, and informational streams from the GLIS. Reya looked to Julian, who seemed to be absorbed in the activity on the main board. Kris Fawkes also watched Julian from just a few paces away.
Julian finally broke the silence by muttering, “We’ve just been threatened by Cocktail Barbie.”
Reya did not bother to suppress a grin, and finally asked, “Any response?”
Julian shook his head. “They gave us an hour. We’ll respond in an hour.”
Reya nodded. “What are we going to tell them?”
Julian looked at her. “I’ll tell you in an hour.”
21: Collision
“Here it is.”
“Is there a light?”
“Of course there’s a light, Cal. Hang on.”
The room remained dark for a few more moments. All Calvin could see before him was a large, mostly spherical silhouette connected to the floor, and other shapes that suggested machinery stationed around it, or perhaps suspended from the walls. Then he heard a barely-audible click, followed by the activation of a light panel on the ceiling. Three more clicks signaled the activation of three more ceiling lights, until the room’s lights were all on, and the room was completely revealed.
“Yup,” Valeria said from behind him, “that’s it. The second test-bed.”
“Yeah?” Calvin approached the object. In the light, he could now be sure it was a beach-ball-sized sphere, though the wealth of modules, cables, antennas and exposed panels that festooned its surface almost hid its spherical nature. It sat on a gimbaled cart that seemed custom-made to support it, and cables ran from the sphere, and the cart, to other machines that filled the room around it. “What-all is it connected to?”
“Most of this stuff, I think, is to download and examine internal readings and monitors,” Valeria replied. “But that’s not my area, you know… I just did the calculations for it.”
“And what, again, were your calculations supposed to do?”
“They were supposed to provide an instantaneous factor that represented its composition and location at a precise moment, which would impose itself on the object during translation.”
“‘Translation’?”
“Yeah,” Valeria nodded. “It’s quantum-speak, because the thing doesn’t actually move, it sort of… isn’t here anymore… now it’s there.”
Calvin wasn’t sure he understood the distinction either, but that was quantum physics for you. He shook his head. “Anyway, obviously no one’s messing with it.”
“Who did you expect to be messing with it?”
“Dr. Silver… or some of her people,” Calvin replied. “I was afraid that… I don’t know… they’d be putting something inside of it. Some kind of… payload.”
“A bomb?” Valeria did not regard him as if he was crazy, but she nonetheless looked dubious. “Look, Cal, I saw this thing at various stages of construction, as it so happens. I’m no engineer, but I can tell you that thing’s so packed with equipment that there’s not enough room inside to slip in so much as a firecracker, much less a serious explosive.”
So, okay… no one’s arming the thing,” Calvin agreed. “That’s good. Is there a chance there’s another test-bed somewhere?”
“Sure, the first one… I’ve seen that one, too,” Valeria replied, and Calvin perked up. Then Valeria held out her hands as if cradling something about the size of a soccer ball. “It’s about this big. And even more packed with equipment.”
Calvin’s frustration was evident on his face. Finally, he said, “Well, if your calculations aren’t for this thing… and it’s not for the defensive system… what’s left? And where the Hell is Dr. Silver?”
~
“This goes on record as the most screwed-up day I’ve ever had out here,” Hunter grumbled from Wasp three. Already on his third flight rotation since being scrambled that morning, he and Goldie were still doing the same thing, maintaining their position between Verdant and a small collection of sub-orbital fighters and troop carriers from the ground. The craft had entered orbit and taken up positions one kilometer below them, too far away to reliably engage, and were apparently waiting for the end of the hour that Carruthers had specified in her announcement. Which was still over twenty minutes away.
Goldie couldn’t argue with her wingman… it had been a frustrating day. Maintaining station, returning to Verdant so a fresh team and set of Wasps could hold their station, getting just enough rest to return to their refueled Wasps and go back out, back in, back out… it was unnerving just thinking about it. Then, seeing the enemy ships approach (and how else could you think of them at this point, except as “the enemy?”) and take stations below, forcing them into staring contests, waiting to see who blinked first.
Goldie knew Hunter, too, and if she knew anything, it was that he was aching for an excuse to attack the American fighters: The atmosphere-optimized design of an F-449 Raptor was configured for aerial fighting on-the-run; but in orbit, a complete
ly different set of battle maneuvers were required, and a Wasp fighter was designed to take advantage of a three-dimensional airless playing field; the Raptors would be just naturally clumsier fighting in vacuum than a Wasp, and Hunter would be looking forward to showing them up.
“They could at least let me fire some warning shots,” Hunter commented. Goldie knew he was kidding. But only just.
“I’m sure you’ll get your chance,” Goldie told him over the com. “Right now, just be cool.” As she spoke, she watched her monitors, her eyes drawn to her telescope display which showed multiple craft near Tranquil, a freighter, a troop carrier, and fighters. The freighter had been there, hovering outside of Tranquil, for most of the day, having taken off before the lock-down, and apparently hoping the lock-down would be eased for them to enter. But the lock-down had remained, then the ground-based fighters and troop carrier had shown up, and the hapless freighter was stuck in the middle of a potential battle zone.
Now it had finally decided to move, firing its retros and sliding away from Tranquil and the phalanx of Wasps keeping station ahead of the satellite. It edged away slowly, as if intent on escaping the field of battle without arousing concern by either party. Goldie oriented her telescope to give her a close-up of the action, and she watched it, hoping they would manage to avoid upsetting any nervous or trigger-happy airmen over there…
When, without warning, the freighter bucked, making the kind of maneuver that could only happen if a manual control stick had been jostled by someone.
“Uh-oh.” Hunter had seen it on his monitors, too. “That didn’t look good.”
Chatter erupted on the coms… requests for status on the freighter, warnings to mind its course. There were no responses from the freighter. And then it bucked again. The same kind of motion. Goldie was sure now: They were having control problems. As in, someone was on the bridge, fighting for control. Perhaps someone who was adamant about staying put, or on forcing themselves onto Tranquil… or maybe it had been someone like that that had wrested control in the first place, trying to de-orbit before the freighter’s pilot returned to regain control…
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