“It was my idea to join the Arthropodan marines,” answered Mora, still angry, but now sitting down. He took off his helmet and tried to relax. “But I suppose the discipline in the marines is different from the Legion. I am allowed to argue with my superiors, but I could be shot for disobeying orders. Also, it’s tough trying to keep up with spiders because they are so fast. Did you know a spider can run fifty miles per hour?”
“But why not join the United States Galactic Foreign Legion?” asked Coen. “Surely you would fit in better with humans.”
“I want to fight the insurgency,” said Mora. “Terrorists kill both spiders and humans. The Legion provides weaponry to the Northern Insurgency Fist & Claw. I blame the Legion for many innocent deaths.”
As if on cue, a surface-to-air missile arced up east of the airport, swerving sharply towards a departing Arthropodan shuttle. The shuttle banked hard to the right, emitting chaff.
The spider commander was furious. He ended the press conference and personally led his security detail to the point east of the airport where the missile originated. Their armored cars immediately drew small arms fire from positions up in the rocky hills. Bullets pinged off armored plating. Mora fired the turret machine gun at a tunnel bunker. Tracer rounds could be seen arcing back and forth as the spider commander’s armored car led the assault.
An improvised explosive device exploded beside the first armored car, knocking it on its side. A small fire started. Spider marines quickly evacuated the smoking vehicle, dragging their wounded to safety. As an Air Wing fighter came in for a low pass, the insurgents retreated into their escape tunnels. The fighting abruptly stopped.
“Cowardly human pestilence,” fumed the spider commander, now standing by his fully engulfed armored car. Rounds were going off inside from the fire. “Is everyone okay?”
“Mora is dead,” replied the spider team leader. “His head slammed against the inside bulkhead.”
The spider commander went to the fallen human marine. A medic was attending Mora. “There was nothing I could do,” cried the spider medic, looking up at his commander. “Bob was not wearing his helmet. His head cracked like an egg from the blast.”
“What?” asked the spider commander, enraged. He turned to the team leader. “Where is this marine’s helmet, and why was he not wearing it? It is your responsibility to make sure all commandos in your squad are properly equipped!”
“Marine Commando Mora took his helmet off during the press conference, sir,” replied the team leader. “In the excitement of the attack, he forgot to put the helmet back on. During training, I have stressed wearing a helmet at all times, especially by our new human pestilence recruits. Obviously their skulls are much more fragile than our exoskeletons.”
“Marine Commando Mora is not human pestilence!” shouted the spider commander. “You will not disrespect Mora with that slur. Mora is a hero, and his body will be disposed of respectfully, according to custom!”
“The humans bury their dead in elaborate ceremonies,” advised the spider team leader. “You will need to contact Bob’s family. It is a very important sign of respect to contact Bob’s family as soon as possible.”
“The media will be watching how we handle this,” added the military intelligence officer. “Phil Coen of Channel Five World News Tonight will want to talk to you about it. Be careful how this disaster is spun.”
“Damn the media!” said the spider commander, cradling Mora. “This human took a big chance by joining us, and we let him down. His death will not be turned into a media circus. Keep the cameras away. We will grieve in private. And, we will seek revenge.”
Major Lopez had followed the spider marines into combat in his own armed car. When the battle ended, Major Lopez approached the spider commander about Mora’s body.
“Give me Mora, and I’ll make funeral arrangements and prepare a proper memorial,” offered Major Lopez.
“No, thank you,” replied the spider commander. “We will take care of our own.”
“Our technology enables us to make a computerized brain imprint memorial,” explained Major Lopez. “It might comfort Mora’s family to have an interactive memorial. But, the process is time sensitive, especially when there is head trauma. Our medics need to extract brain fluid and chemicals to make the imprint.”
“The whole process sounds extremely morbid,” said the spider commander. “The dead should stay dead, not interact with grieving loved ones. You would prolong their grief?”
“It’s a new technology that is catching on back on Old Earth,” said Major Lopez. “Brain imprints are still rare here on New Colorado, but Colonel Czerinski is pushing the idea.”
“That must be why Czerinski has bought several cemeteries,” said the spider commander. “You are Colonel Czerinski’s military intelligence officer? I will not allow you to spy inside Marine Commando Mora’s brain. You will not be allowed to desecrate our dead!”
“My offer was made to provide comfort to Mora’s family!” responded Major Lopez. “You can go to hell!”
“If you want to provide comfort to Commando Mora’s family, you can help us get revenge on the insurgents that killed him,” replied the spider commander. “Of course, before that can happen, you would need to stop providing Legion weapons to the terrorists.”
“The Legion does not give weapons to terrorists. Your problem with the freedom fighters was created because your citizens want to be free from the yoke of the Arthropodan Empire.”
“Where else but the Legion would insurgents get surface-to-air missiles? Can they just go out and buy RPGs and machine guns at Walmart? Not likely. You have Commando Mora’s blood on your filthy hands. Admit it!”
“Check your own armories,” suggested Major Lopez. “Corruption is so rampant in your military, your own soldiers sell the insurgents all the arms they want.”
“The Legion’s fingerprints are everywhere here today,” argued the spider commander. “You will pay for your crimes.”
“Get off our planet!” responded Major Lopez, losing his temper. “We were here first!”
“And we will be here last!” answered the spider commander.
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Chapter 18
The spider commander woke to the sound of his new alarm clock. He angrily smashed his claw down on the snooze button. Blessed silence followed as he drifted back to sleep. An aide had bought the damn human pestilence device from Walmart because the spider commander had been having punctuality issues. It was hoped the alarm clock might help.
Using alarms to wake up was a completely alien concept. Humans were obsessed with clocks and alarms. Humans put clocks atop courthouses, on bank signs, on freeway signs, and even wore time pieces on their appendages. Small and large alarm chimes ruled the human pestilence day. Fools, thought the spider commander. He glanced at his new Timex watch, also just bought at Walmart. It was 0530 hours. The sound of Reveille could be heard across the MDL, playing on Legion loudspeakers.
As the spider commander drifted back to sleep, the alarm clock sounded again, this time louder. “Air raid!” mumbled the spider commander, talking in his sleep. He dreamed of Legion bombs falling from the sky, but he could not move or wake up to save himself. His nemesis, Colonel Czerinski, was using nukes to kill him! Finally, the spider commander woke abruptly from his nightmare. He smashed the snooze button again, but this time it would not turn off. He pulled the cord from the wall and threw the clock across the room.
Coffee! That is what I need. How can I be expected to fight the human pestilence invasion, and all these encroachments on our culture, without first having my Starbucks mountain-grown? It would be uncivilized to even try!
***
Major Lopez, CIA officer Scalia, and a squad of legionnaires used flashlights mounted on assault rifles to see through the darkness of the newest insurgent tunnel across the MDL. Leaders from the Fist & Claw were to meet them halfway, to take possession of crates of weapons and ammunition. Also being delivered were
gas masks and atropine to counter the spiders’ recent use of nerve agent and chemical warfare in the tunnels.
An insurgent challenged Major Lopez from far off down the dark corridor. The legionnaires stopped, wary of the spider voice. A human also called out a challenge.
“I guess freedom fighters come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and species,” commented Major Lopez. “Can he be trusted?”
“We also come in all sexes,” replied the spider insurgent. “I am female. I started this cell, and I lead it. Of course I can be trusted. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Whatever,” said Major Lopez. “What are you going to do with all these weapons you bought? The insurgency hasn’t been all that active lately. I thought maybe you had been defeated and given up.”
“Desire for freedom cannot be defeated,” said the spider insurgent. “Student protesters at Capital City University are going to seize the administration building and the rest of the campus. When the Intelligentsia State Police respond with their usual heavy-clawed tactics, they will be in for a big surprise.”
“You can’t fight from defensive positions against mechanized infantry,” advised Major Lopez. “Mobile guerrilla tactics and car bombs would be more effective.”
“We are going to declare our independence,” replied the insurgent leader. “You do not declare your nation’s independence to the world with a car bomb. We are going to appeal to the galaxy and the United States Galactic Federation for diplomatic recognition and military assistance.”
“The Legion cannot send troops,” said Major Lopez. “That would just start another war. The risk would be too great.”
“What do you know of risk?” asked the insurgent leader. “No matter, we will be martyred. But our voice will be heard across the galaxy.”
“I will put the Legion on full alert,” said Major Lopez. “If I see an opportunity to help, I will. Perhaps we can create a diversion to distract the spider marines. But if you try to hold fixed positions, you will be overwhelmed and killed by superior forces.”
“Satellite TV will broadcast our fate on the networks and on the database,” said the insurgent leader. “This will be our Tiananmen Square. No matter what happens, New Colorado will never be the same again.”
“You’re a legend in your own mind,” said Major Lopez, dismissing the insurgent leader as crazy. “I wish you luck.”
“You don’t care what happens to us!” shouted the insurgent leader. “Do you?”
“Major Lopez follows orders,” said CIA officer Scalia, stepping between them. “That is all that is important here today.”
“Wrong,” said the insurgent leader. “It is important that you believe in our cause, because you will have to live in the new world we create. We are all Coloradans. I am not a terrorist. We are your future.”
“Rationalize all you want,” replied Major Lopez. “Causes and fanatics like you come and go. As long as you stay north of the MDL, I am fine with that. You will eventually be killed or just fade away.”
“Desire for freedom never fades,” insisted the insurgent leader. “You are only motivated by your hatred of us spiders. You supply weapons so we can kill each other off while you stand back and watch.”
“I don’t hate anyone,” lied Major Lopez, uncomfortably shifting his feet. “And for the record, I truly wish you and your freedom fighters good luck. I do not want you to die.”
“You don’t want me to die?” asked the insurgent leader. “Or my fighters?”
“Either,” said Major Lopez.
The spider insurgent stepped forward and kissed Major Lopez on the cheek. She then quickly left with her comrades. Major Lopez frantically wiped the greenish yellow saliva off his face.
“You owe me big time for that,” said Major Lopez, turning to Scalia. “Getting kissed by an insurgent spider babe is well above and beyond the call of duty.”
“You want another medal?” asked Scalia, sarcastically. “It’s not going to happen.”
* * * * *
These leaflets are being distributed everywhere in Capital City,” advised the Director of Intelligentsia and State Security for the North Territory. “Informants report Fist & Claw terrorists have infiltrated the university and are heavily armed with smuggled Legion weapons.”
The spider governor glanced at the clumsily handwritten flyer handed to him. The document appeared to be a declaration of mutiny:
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all species are created equal, that they are endowed by God with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
That to secure these rights, governments are created, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That absolute Imperial despotism has become destructive of these rights, it is the right of all citizens to alter or abolish their government, and to institute new government.
Giving the severe nature of Imperial will, the Coloradans have no choice but to exercise our right to throw off such government and declare our full independence and intent to take our rightful place as equals among the nations of the galaxy.
To this end we mutually pledge our lives, fortunes, and honor.
Fist & Claw.
“This is treason,” fumed the Director of Intelligentsia. “They all should be arrested and shot before their bad weed takes root and grows.”
“A few student protestors occupying the university dean’s office does not a revolution make,” commented the spider governor. “The Emperor has decreed that free speech is to be allowed and tolerated.”
“But what about the armed militants?” asked the director.
“It is your job it ferret out the militants hiding among the regular students,” said the governor. “Arrest or kill any Fist & Claw agitators or terrorists you find. Do it discreetly. But let the students have their fun. The students will soon tire of protest in a few days and go back to their partying and beer drinking. It is their nature.”
“Yes, sir!” said the director. “It will be done.”
“Make sure you do not light the fuse of chaos,” warned the spider governor. “I want this protest to remain a local police matter. I do not want martyrs on TV.”
* * * * *
Intelligentsia armored infantry surrounded the university and waited for orders. Occasionally an isolated arrest of a disorderly student was made. All movement was barred into the campus. Students were allowed to leave in small groups. All classes were canceled indefinitely. As the Intelligentsia tightened its perimeter, students were ordered to disperse. Most students stayed, chanting and throwing rocks or debris. Checkpoints were established to control all movement of supplies, including medical and food. Slowly, the protest started to lose steam. After a few days, students began to leave their trashed classrooms and the administration building.
Then, anti-tank missiles slammed into Intelligentsia armored vehicles. The Intelligentsia responded with machine guns, tank fire, artillery, and air strikes. Arthropodan marines were called in for reinforcements. Millions of citizens of the North Territory watched the events unfolding on TV and the database. They converged on Capital City to shield the students from slaughter. A truce of sorts followed.
Led by the spider Mayor of Capital City, the crowds milled about the tanks and damaged buildings. The mayor stood atop a tank turret and urged the marine team leaders to turn their guns away from the campus, and to protect the students. He denounced as immoral the slaughter of spiders by spiders. One by one, young tank commanders turned their turrets about. Ambulances rushed through the Intelligentsia lines to evacuate wounded. The Director of Intelligentsia tried to rally what was now a lost cause, but was arrested by a spider marine commander. The marines then revolted, declaring the North Territory to be the Independent State of Colorado.
Furious, the governor ordered the General of New Memphis and the Supreme Commander of the New Gobi Desert Military Sector to restore ord
er in Capital City. Both had been watching events unfold on TV, and refused to lead troops. When marines and protestors marched on the governor’s palace, the governor resigned. The power of the Office of the Imperial Governor of the North Territory was relinquished to the Mayor of Capital City. The new governor declared on TV and the database that all of the North Territory was independent, and called upon the United States Galactic Federation to be the first to establish diplomatic relations with the Independent State of Colorado.
Major Lopez, also watching on TV, gloated. All had gone beyond anyone’s greatest expectations. The Arthropodan Empire had been dealt a major blow. They could no longer threaten America if they couldn’t even control their own.
General Daly immediately, in his capacity as Military Governor of the human half of New Colorado, publicly accepted the credentials of the new nation’s ambassador. General Daly ordered the Legion space fleet to block any aggressive moves by the Arthropodan Fleet to prevent a massacre from space.
All seemed to be going well. General Daly looked out the window of his top floor office at Legion Headquarters at his own student demonstrators. In the excitement of the collapse of the North, he had forgotten about them. Protestors were complaining about the Legion’s use of a nuclear bomb during the latest round of fighting, and about the summary extradition of American citizen Saviano Juardo, and about ignoring due process.
When word of the collapse of Arthropodan rule in the North spread, the population of New Phoenix and the surrounding communities swarmed into the streets to celebrate. Many joined the protestors at Legion Headquarters and easily pushed aside security to occupy the building. General Daly was taken hostage. Protestors declared that now the entire planet of New Colorado was independent. Other government buildings in New Phoenix were soon occupied by the mob. I got a call from Old Earth to mobilize.
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