by Jay Allan
“Alright, Captain…and Captain…we’re ready.” Bell motioned toward the podium, and Wickes and Charles walked over, standing next to each other and looking into the small globe that would transmit their broadcast throughout North America.
“Okay, Dev,” Wickes said softly. “Let’s do this.”
The studio had no windows, but Charles knew it was morning now…perhaps not as good a time for a live broadcast as early evening, but millions of UNGov citizens would be watching the morning broadcast. It was usually full of UN propaganda, and people were strongly encouraged to tune in.
“We’re connected to all relays. You’re live now throughout North America.”
Wickes cleared his throat. “My fellow citizens, I am Captain Stanley Wickes, United States Marine Corps, retired. I am also a member of the New York City Resistance, a rebel group struggling to overthrow UNGov. We have taken control of the state media facility in New York so we could broadcast this message to all of you. For too many years we have lived under the iron fist of UNGov control, endured the censorship, the draconian regulations, the poverty and lack of opportunity. We have seen friends and neighbors dragged off in the night…and tried our best to look the other way. For too many years we have done nothing. Those of you who are my age remember something different, freedom, liberty. Your children have never known this wonder…your grandchildren never will. Unless we do something.”
Wickes turned and looked at Charles. “And now I wish to introduce Captain Roderick Charles. The captain is an officer of the Army of Liberation. These are our soldiers, men who were conscripted and sent off-world, never to return. They are brave warriors who have been libeled, slandered by UNGov’s propaganda machine. They are the friends and brothers and sons many of us thought lost to us forever, sent through the Portals to fight the Tegeri. These brave and honorable soldiers were accused of terrible crimes by UNGov. We were told they murdered their comrades, that they allied with the enemy to enslave mankind. But this is nothing but lies…lies from those who truly enslave mankind, who have done so for forty years. Captain Charles and his comrades have come back to Earth to free its people, to cleanse us of the unclean government that has ruled with brutality and tyranny.” Wickes paused and took a breath. “And Captain Charles has something else to say, a truth long hidden, and one all men and women must hear. Listen to what he has to say…and then spread the word, makes sure all know the truth of this war.”
Charles looked right at the camera. “Hello, North America. I am Captain Rod Charles. I am one of you, was one of you, at least. Long ago. I was born in New York City, in the Bronx. In the kind of neighborhood some of you would recognize only by description. It was—is—a violent place, an area where people died every day. That is where I was born. It was where I grew up.
“Eleven years ago I was arrested because I was walking home when a food riot broke out. Two federal security troopers were attacked, and in the response, over a hundred civilians were killed. I was wounded, shot in the leg…and I was arrested and charged with assaulting federal officers, though I was nowhere near where the two troopers were attacked. I was given a choice…twenty years at hard labor, or I could ‘volunteer’ for the off-planet military, and repay my debt to society by helping to defend Earth.”
“I agreed to join the military, to do my part to keep Earth…my family, my friends, safe. I went through training, and then I shipped out, stepping through the Portal, leaving the home world I thought I would never see again. I was despondent at leaving my family, but at least I was serving a noble purpose. At least I believed that I was…and it was years before I discovered how terribly wrong I had been. But finally, so many years later, I learned the truth…as I am about to tell all of you…”
Chapter 22
From the Writings of Jinto Akawa:
I will never forgot my first impression of General Taylor. There is something about the man, some inner strength, a power that is irresistible. When I look back on the war his people waged against UNGov I cannot help but wonder at the odds…at the crazy fluke of history that placed a man with his unique abilities at the right place and time. I later learned that the Tegeri had long sought a contact, a man who could lead his people to freedom. As with so many others in his army, I began as his enemy…and now I stand behind him, my loyalty and admiration absolute. I once tried to fight Jake Taylor, to destroy him. Now I would die for him.
“General Akawa, I must confess, I find your proposal surprising coming from a UNGov official of such senior position. I would expect you to be willing to do anything to see us defeated.” Taylor sat across the table from Akawa, his best poker face rigidly in place despite the uncertainty and confusion he felt.
“I am not a senior UNGov official, General…or at least I wasn’t until three weeks ago when Secretary-General Samovich promoted me from a staff colonel to the supreme command.”
“And why would he do that, General?” Taylor was suspicious, but something inside him was telling him Akawa was different. He didn’t necessarily trust the general yet, but he wanted to hear what the man had to say.
“I really don’t know, General Taylor. If you pressed me for an answer, I’d say that faced with the very real danger of your invasion he didn’t trust the political appointees who dominate the high command on Earth. As I said before, I am not a political officer. I am career Earth military, though I had never served in combat before, as you and your soldiers have.”
“Why would you surrender to Colonel MacArthur the way you did?”
“Because I believed it was the quickest way I could think of to see you. It would have been difficult to contact you over the com system without our conversation being…overheard. Also, I felt that placing my trust in you that way would be a show of my good faith.”
Taylor nodded. “And you want to surrender your entire army?”
“Yes, General. Provided certain conditions are met.”
“You’re not in a particularly strong bargaining position, General Akawa. You are already my prisoner.”
“That is true. You can obviously do with me as you will. But I will not help you capture the rest of my forces, not unless I am satisfied they will be well-treated.”
Taylor looked across the table. He found his respect for this UNGov officer growing.
He’s concerned about his troops, about their safety…
“I’m afraid there may be little I can offer you in that regard, General. I would be more than willing to guarantee the safety of the conscripts in your force, the men who had been drafted for the planetary armies and then redeployed to face us. But UNGov enforcement units were also assigned to your army. These…soldiers…” He spat the word like it tasted bad. “…have spent their careers abusing civilians, dragging people to reeducation camps. They are part of what we came to destroy, and I have every intention of seeing that done.”
Akawa sat silently, looking down at the table. Finally, he nodded and looked back at Taylor. “Will you give me your word than none of my soldiers who were not previously UNGov enforcers will be harmed? And that any who are accused of such will be accorded some kind of due process to ensure no innocents are blamed and punished?”
Taylor returned Akawa’s gaze, trying to take his measure of the man. Finally he said, “Yes, General. I will give you my word on that. It has grieved me terribly that so many soldiers were killed in the fighting of the last week. Those conscripts swept up into your army are no different than I am, than any of my soldiers. They are victims, and now twice so for those killed fighting for an unjust cause. I would see them know the truth, be spared any more servitude to unjust masters. Will you help me save them? I have offered you all I can in return.”
Akawa nodded. “Yes, General. I will help you. But there is little time. I expect to be relieved any moment now, and we must conclude a surrender before then. I will need to go back, to get to my headquarters to issue the orders. And you will have to have your troops ready…no doubt, some of the UNGov enforcers in t
he ranks will resist.”
Akawa stared at Taylor. “I have trusted you, General, placed myself entirely at your mercy. Now you must decide if you trust me.”
* * *
Magnus Jarn sat quietly in the back of the transport. He hadn’t said more than a few words since the convoy left Geneva. General Volkes sat across from him, but Jarn’s single word answers to his questions had shut the general up after a few attempts at conversation. Jarn didn’t have the temperament for pointless chatter. He had a job to do, and that’s why he was here. He was to apprehend General Akawa, and summarily execute the disgraced general. A simple task. He was clearing the way for Volkes to take command, but he wasn’t under the general’s authority—he reported directly to Secretary-General Samovich. Which made the relationship between the general and him essentially sharing a ride.
Jarn was a cold man. He’d always been that way, but twenty years as an Inquisitor had only increased those tendencies. His job was one only a few people could do well. Casual brutality was easy for many, but an Inquisitor had to have complete control. It was the job that always ruled, not pointless cruelty. People looked at Inquisitors and they saw the terror, the shadow of UNGov’s most feared enforcers. But the job required thought, patience, intelligence…and a willingness to do whatever was necessary to complete the mission.
The mission, a simple execution, didn’t seem like anything that required UNGov’s top Inquisitor, but Jarn had been ordered here by the Secretary-General in person. That made it important enough. Jarn had initially planned to bring just two of his people, but Samovich had insisted he take his entire team. There were a dozen transports, filled with over one hundred operatives. All to take one disgraced general out into the woods and shoot him.
“We should be there shortly,” General Volkes said, breaking about half an hour of silence Jarn had thoroughly enjoyed.
“Yes,” he replied. One word answers had worked so far, and he saw no reason to change his tactics. Besides, Volkes was right. They were almost there…and that meant it was time to prepare himself. It was an easy job, but that didn’t mean there was no danger. No doubt, General Akawa had surrounded himself with at least a few loyal soldiers. Jarn had always been surprised how many of the condemned went along without resistance, but some put up a fight. And if Akawa and a few of his officers preferred death in a gunfight to execution, so be it. Jarn and his people would be ready to oblige.
He glanced over at Volkes, the man who would take over the wreckage of the army. Would he do better than Akawa had?
Or will he be my next mission?
* * *
Akawa stepped out of the transport, the snow crunching under his boot. He walked toward the shelter that housed his office. At least he thought it was still his. No one had challenged him as he’d driven back into camp, so it seemed like he was still in command.
Good, he thought. That will make things easier.
He glanced back at the column of transports. The makeshift convoy had not been questioned—one of the advantages of having the C in C in the front vehicle. But Akawa knew there were a dozen of Taylor’s Supersoldiers in each. He wasn’t sure how much they were here to back him up…and how much to make sure he kept his word, but either way, he’d just snuck an enemy force into army headquarters. If the orders for his relief—and likely, his execution too—hadn’t been issued yet, this would do the trick, he was sure.
“Major Forbin,” he snapped as he leapt from the transport, “I want Colonels Elmsford and Chin to report to my office immediately.” Akawa considered the two colonels to be his best officers. There were a dozen other generals in the army, but they were all political officers. People he couldn’t trust. People Jake Taylor wouldn’t pardon.
“Sir…” The major’s voice was soft, distracted. Akawa knew immediately that something was wrong.
“What is it, Major,” he snapped.
“Sir, a convoy just arrived…ah…it is…”
“General Jinto Akawa…” Another voice, darker, grimmer. “…I am Inquisitor Magnus Jarn. I hereby inform you that, effective immediately, you are relieved of command. You are further instructed to accompany me.” The hulking figure extended an arm, gesturing toward a nearby transport.
Akawa felt a ripple of fear move through him. Just a few more hours, he thought…and we might have pulled this off…
“I’d like to see those orders, Inquisitor.” He was playing for time, trying to think of what to do. Anything…“It’s not that I don’t trust…”
“What you would like is of little account, I’m afraid.” The Inquisitor pulled a large pistol from his belt. Akawa could see half a dozen men behind Jarn, all of them armed. “I will repeat myself only once, Mr. Akawa. You are to come with me immediately.”
Akawa noted the ‘mister,’ that the Inquisitor had dropped his military rank.
My former rank…
He nodded, not wanting to risk any escalation. He didn’t doubt the Inquisitor was here to kill him, but if he was fated to die, at least he could buy a chance for the men Taylor had sent with him to escape. He understood now, far better than he had before. Taylor’s soldiers were Earth’s best hope…and most of his own troops belonged at the side of the invaders, not fighting them. If he’d had more time…but there was no point in such thoughts. He didn’t have the time. He would go, follow the Inquisitor to whatever place he chose as the execution spot…and he would hope with his last thoughts that Taylor’s soldiers escaped…
His head snapped around at the sounds of gunfire, and he stared in stunned surprise. It was the Supersoldiers. They were pouring out of the transports, firing as they did.
Akawa turned back, just as Jarn raised his pistol. For an infinitesimal instant he felt an urge to give up, to allow the Inquisitor to shoot him. But then his spirit rallied. He ducked to the side, just in time, and Jarn’s shot went wide. He leapt forward, his hands moving up, grabbing Jarn’s arm, pushing forward as they both fell to the ground.
The Inquisitor struggled with him, trying to bring the pistol around for another shot. But Akawa held on, pushing Jarn’s arm back, squeezing, trying to force the gun from his hand. He was aware of Jarn’s men, at least half a dozen, standing around, waiting for a chance to shoot without endangering their commander. Then they were gone. It was hazy, and it happened quickly. A hail of gunfire, Jarn’s men falling to the ground.
Then Jarn was gone too, ripped from his grasp. It took Akawa an instant to regain his sense, but when he did he saw his opponent, standing, gripped in the iron vice of two Supersoldiers. The pistol was on the ground.
Akawa felt hands on him, and he turned with a start. But it was one of Taylor’s soldiers, helping him up. He stumbled to his feet, relying more than he wanted to admit on the assist.
“Are you okay, General?” Karl Young stood in front of a row of Supersoldiers, looking toward Akawa with a concerned expression.
“I am fine, General Young,” he said. “I didn’t know you were in the convoy.”
“General Taylor thought it was a good idea. He figured you might need some help.” He looked out behind Akawa, to where several dozen of his veterans were fighting with the survivors of Jarn’s force. They had already gunned down most of the Inquisitor’s troops who’d been in the open, and now they were searching the vehicles and killing any stragglers they found.
“I think we’d better get you to your office, General,” Young said tensely. He turned and looked behind him toward the rest of the camp. The fighting had drawn attention and troops were running around, grabbing weapons. “You have to order your troops to stand down, before something…unfortunate…happens.”
“Yes, of course,” Akawa said, turning back toward Jarn for an instant. “And what of him?”
“General Taylor was very clear about the disposition of UNGov enforcement personnel.” From the tone of his voice it was clear Karl Young agreed completely with Taylor’s harsh policy.
Akawa nodded. “I will order the army to stand down
.” He took a last glimpse at Jarn, and then he trotted toward his HQ shelter, half a dozen of Young’s men falling in behind him. About halfway to his office he heard a shot from behind him. He didn’t need to turn around to know what it was.
* * *
“Sir, the rumors are true. The army has surrendered. General Akawa just broadcast the stand down orders.” The commando couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice. “It appears that the Secretary-General’s order relieving the general was not implemented.”
Alexi Drogov sighed softly. Which means Inquisitor Jarn is dead…
“That is unfortunate.” Drogov knew the army was in bad shape, a pathetic remnant of what it had been before it fought a death struggle with Taylor’s veterans. But it was also the only thing with any chance of slowing the AOL’s advance on Geneva. Drogov knew Anton Samovich would never yield. He wouldn’t run either, not with the news from North America. The entire continent was in open rebellion, with widespread riots, and the Resistance in control of at least half a dozen cities. No, abandoning Geneva would be as good as surrendering.
Drogov took a deep breath. He knew what Samovich would do, and for once, even the emotionless, cold-blooded killer that he was felt a shiver of fear.
“Sir, we have our teams in position. We can’t stay hidden long. We have to move now.”
Drogov looked back at his aide. The Shadow Company was in place, all of it. He had planned and planned, studied every scrap of intelligence, commandeered half of UNGov’s satellites to his own purposes. He knew when Jake Taylor got up in the morning, when he ate, when he held his meetings…when he took a dump. All of it, more information that he’d need to plan an invasion. All to kill one man. And now it was time.
And it wasn’t time…not anymore. Killing Taylor would have been decisive, if he’d been able to do it before the battle. Or even before Akawa had surrendered the rest of UNGov’s military strength. But now it was too late. The war was lost…even without Taylor the AOL would prevail. The secret of UNGov’s great lie, the true story of how humanity ended up at war with the Tegeri…it was out, and there was no forcing it back into the bottle. The only way UNGov could maintain power was with massive force, gunning down rebels and protestors, drowning the rebellion in blood. But it didn’t have the force to do that, not anymore. Its enforcers had mostly been drafted into the army, and the majority of them were dead on the Russian plains…or prisoners of Taylor’s army, which he suspected would ultimately amount to the same thing.