“The Zunnuki are adamant about none of Chamberlain’s followers being court-martialed either, Drew,” Gupta growled. “But, the Forward Command and Earth’s government are sure as Hell going after them.”
“I have nothing to hide, Vijay,” Calf Stealer replied. “I believe the commodore’s question is valid.” He turned to Wilkes and said, “I participated in those raids, Commodore. And, I am ashamed to say I was responsible for the deaths of innocent people. I did everything that my superiors at the time ordered me to do. That is no excuse; only the truth.”
“Who gave you those orders,” Wilkes asked.
“The Commander-in-Chief of the Ark’s military was General Dennis Yuen,” Calf Stealer answered. “His direct lieutenant was Colonel William Black Bear. I can name all those in my chain of command, if you desire…”
“Not necessary,” Wilkes replied. “I think I’ve heard enough.” “What have you shared with General Gupta,” he asked.
“I’ve told General Gupta who was in control of the Ark when the raids happened, Commodore,” Calf Stealer said “And, who I believe was responsible for ordering the raids on the Zunnuki cities. I’ve also made it clear to him I believe John Edward Chamberlain’s character is being assassinated so the current Earth government and military appear to be heroes riding in here to save the day on white stallions.”
“Understood completely, Colonel,” Wilkes acknowledged. “We will be addressing that.”
“What I am about to show you cannot be shared with anyone until it has been de-classified,” Wilkes then told the both of them, “It is especially important you do not share any of it with the Zunnuki diplomats, even if you have reason to believe they already have prior knowledge.”
Gupta became a bit antsy.
“Please hold your questions until later,” Wilkes stated as Gupta raised his hand.
Gupta frowned, but relented and Wilkes continued with the briefing.
“As you know,” Wilkes stated. “John Edward Chamberlain hatched a plan to build a massive space ark and left the Earth with around ten-thousand pilgrims some fifty years ago. At that time in Earth’s history, certain national governments were communicating with members of the Ekkidan parliamentary body in secret. This information was not shared with the general population of either planet.”
“Neither the national governments on Earth nor their contacts in the Ekkidan Parliament were officially sanctioned to speak for either planet,” Wilkes admitted. “There was one official diplomatic mission from Ekkida that entered Earth orbit in the twentieth century and communicated with the superpowers of that time period, but this was also never disclosed to either planet’s populace.”
“Is it known why the Ekkidans traveled to Earth in the first place,” Calf Stealer asked.
“The Ekkidans detected the x-ray bursts from our atomic weapons testing and thought they should come and investigate,” Wilkes replied. “When they got there, they didn’t like what they found. It scared the bejeezus out of them that people as primitive as twentieth century Earth men had that kind of weaponry at their disposal. It was determined that Earth’s civilization was not developed enough for open contact and there would be irreparable harm if people were told there were more technologically advanced civilizations in the local galactic neighborhood.”
Gupta became impatient when he saw that Wilkes was wandering into the weeds, so he broke in. “I believe you are referring to the Brookings Report, Drew,” he said. “That is all interesting, but I think you can skip it. Could you tell us when the secret communication started? Or, for that matter, why?”
“Almost immediately,” Wilkes explained. “Both of the superpowers in the latter half of the twentieth century were contacted. By the time the CEF was founded, the national governments of the United States, China, Russia, Great Britain, Australia and Japan were all carrying on secret negotiations for technology and other commodities with agents inside the Ekkidan parliamentary body.”
“What about Earth’s Consolidated Government and the early CEF, Drew,” Gupta asked. “How involved were they with the Ekkidans?”
“Unofficially, the Consolidated Earth Government started communicating with Ekkidan nationals from its inception,” Wilkes replied.” The US, Great Britain, Australia and Japan all brought their contacts with them when they formed the CEF. Russia joined later and China never admitted they were communicating.”
“Who in the Ekkidan government were we communicating with,” Gupta asked. “And, why didn’t we go public then?”
“None of the Earth entities, including the CEF were communicating with the official Ekkidan government,” Wilkes answered. “Of course, we didn’t know that for certain at the time, although we were suspicious about certain things. It was felt we should wait…”
“I have my doubts about the veracity of that statement, Drew,” Gupta interjected, with a cynical grin. “I’d stake my life on the fact the US and China knew exactly who they were talking to and didn’t give a furry little rodent’s hindquarters where that technology was coming from as long as they felt they were being given the edge one against the other.”
“Probably so,” Wilkes answered. “But, I can’t speak to that. I can tell you, though, around twenty years ago, some sort of political upheaval happened on Ekkida and things changed.”
“How so, Commodore,” Calf Stealer asked. “It appears that until today, your government still kept the Ekkidans existence hidden from your people.”
“And, also the origin of all this shiny, new hyper-dimensional technology we’ve amassed over the last half a century,” Gupta added.
“At that time, all communication with the national governments essentially stopped,” Wilkes said. “From that point forward only the Combined Earth Government and the true representatives of the Ekkidan parliamentary body spoke to each other. The national governments were cut off entirely. I can’t go into the details, right now, but I encourage you to read the report I gave the both of you on the memory cards. Don’t transfer to internal memory and please destroy the cards after you read the report.”
“Understood,” Gupta acknowledged. Calf Stealer nodded in agreement.
“Now, Gentlemen,” Wilkes said. “I am going to tell you the most important reason why you can’t go about spouting off any of this in front of the Zunnuki. I’m sure you have questions, but I need you to wait until I finish.”
Gupta and Calf Stealer both nodded in agreement to the terms.
“At the time the Ekkidans sent their first diplomatic mission to Earth in the late twentieth century, there were factions in their ruling class who were making plans to overthrow the Ekkidan government,” Wilkes said. “They were aware that tribal warfare was rampant on Earth at that time and they set out to use it to their advantage.”
“They started giving technology to various governments and meddling in the wars being fought on Earth over territory, religion, economic philosophy and what have you,” he continued. “Their ultimate goal was to create a superpower that could dominate the totality of Earth. Once that was done, they could supply hyper-channel and faster-than-light technology so the winners could build a military fleet to rival that of Ekkida and help them in their bid to assume power.”
“Where does this planet, Alpha Centauri A IV or Zunnuki or whatever you want to call it, fit into all of this, Drew,” Gupta asked.
“With Earth being overpopulated, the Ekkidan revolutionaries decided they could ensure our help if they could find other planets for us to colonize,” Wilkes replied. “They sent the various factions on Earth information on most of the earthlike planets within twenty light years of our solar system.”
“The Ekkidans had taken a look at this planet from a distance,” he said. “But, they never tried to land here. They determined from looking at the condition of the planet’s surface and the debris in orbit, the population had somehow blown itself to bits and was not going to be around much longer.”
“Some of the players on Earth were gettin
g impatient because of the shortages of resources and wanted to start emigrating, but our ability to begin work on our first colony ships was still twenty-five or thirty years away,” Wilkes explained. “So, when one of the national governments found out what Chamberlain was planning and wanted to eliminate him to prevent him from mucking things up for the rest of them, the Ekkidans encouraged them instead to piggy-back.”
“Piggy-back,” Calf Stealer asked.
“They infiltrated his mission crew and hi-jacked his mission,” Gupta explained.
“And,” Wilkes added. “For all intents and purposes they shot themselves in their collective feet.”
“A fair assessment if I ever heard one, Commodore,” Calf Stealer replied, with a grin. “May I also tell you it does my heart good to hear you saying this openly?”
“I’m only being candid because you and Vijay have my testicles in a meat-grinder with your fingers to the power button, Colonel,” Wilkes admitted. “Official disclosure of this information is still years away in my estimation. As far as I’m concerned, this conversation never happened and the Forward Command as well as the Earth and Ekkidan governments will back me up.”
“How do we know for sure the people we are dealing with now are not the real revolutionaries,” Gupta asked. “How sure are we these guys are any more legitimate than those before?”
“Because they sent a second diplomatic mission to Earth right after they discovered what their people were up to and delivered an ultimatum,” Wilkes responded. “They told us we must develop a strategy to reveal to our people that Earth isn’t alone in the universe. We were also told to clean up the shit we were a party to here on Zunnuki, or they would return to Earth with a nice little show of force.”
“The Ekkidan diplomats were none too happy when they entered Earth orbit and saw five colony ships, circling the moon, almost completed and ready to carry our asses out into the universe,” Wilkes said. “It’s a wonder they didn’t throw a blockade around us, or pound us to dust and just say, ‘to Hell with it’.”
“So what exactly are we trying to accomplish here,” Gupta inquired. “Why don’t we just tell the truth? It seems to me that would be the best course of action.”
“Eventually, that will happen,” Wilkes replied. “But, not before relations among the three planets are normalized and we’ve had a chance to bond strongly enough that we can be sure the past isn’t an issue.”
“Drew,” Gupta said. “I can’t continue with our prosecution of expatriates, knowing all this. At least, not of those that had nothing to do with Yuen’s mutiny.”
“Vijay,” Wilkes barked. “Every one of those people is guilty of something as far as the Forward Command and the Consolidated Earth Government are concerned. Even if they didn’t take part in the massacres, they are, at a minimum, guilty of either fraud or theft by deception for taking part in Chamberlain’s plot to bring the Ark here. I don’t care if you have to arrest them for traffic violations. Just find something and make it stick.”
“If you want me to start nailing people to crosses, then give me the asses of those left alive who participated in the mutiny and I’ll make sure they get what is coming to them,” Gupta shouted. “Let me have access to all of their military records. I need something to work with.”
“And allow the possibility of introducing testimony that would implicate the Ekkidans in this, Vijay,” Wilkes asked. “Didn’t you hear any of what I’ve been saying? That would sink us. You need to continue your depositions and work at building cases from that angle. Those expatriates who are aware of the true significance of what went on here are expecting us to make good on our promise not to turn them into scapegoats. They will be happy to give you statements that will support what the public back on Earth has already been told. They were prepared for this eventuality and knew how important it was to see this through, no matter how it turned out. You can’t start persecuting them. They were following orders.”
Unexpectedly, Gupta stood and calmly asked, “Will that be all, then, Commodore?”
Wilkes looked at Gupta for a moment before replying. “Unless you have any more questions,” he said.
Gupta turned to Calf Stealer. “Colonel,” he asked. “Do you have any further questions for the commodore?”
“No, General,” Calf Stealer said.
“Then I guess we should get back to the surface,” Gupta said as he picked up his things. “Thank you for your time, Drew,” he said to Wilkes as he motioned for Calf Stealer to join him and turned for the door.
“Vijay,” Wilkes said, as the pair walked away. “This will turn out for the best… for everyone involved.”
“I certainly hope so, Drew,” Gupta replied. His expression showed that he doubted it. “I’ve seen too many of these things turn out really badly. And, not just for those directly involved. What we do here will have consequences for years to come.”
Once Gupta and Calf Stealer were on the other side of the door from Wilkes, the feline asked, “What do we do now?”
“The first thing I want to do is take you to the Officer’s Lounge and get you a real beer,” Gupta replied. “After that, we are going to find out what that tablet Azir has under lock and key can tell us.”
Part IX - Repentance
Chapter 37
7-December-2192
“Are you somewhere safe, John,” Black Bear asked. He didn’t request Chamberlain’s exact location, because he figured it would be no use.
“That depends on what you mean by safe, Billy,” Chamberlain answered. He sounded as if he had the weight of the whole universe on his shoulders. “I’m comfortable and in no danger for the present time. But, that could change.”
“Why would that change, John,” Black Bear asked. “Where are you now? Please, tell me.”
Black Bear was certain he wouldn’t like Chamberlain’s answer. He still held hope that Chamberlain wasn’t supplying information to the enemy, but it was a small hope.
“Things have gotten bat-shit crazy here, John,” Black Bear said. “Please tell me you didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“I have nothing to say to you about that, Billy,” Chamberlain replied. “I don’t answer to you or Yuen.” “By the way,” he asked. “Is that arrogant son of a bitch there with you now?”
“Dennis isn’t here, John,” Black Bear said. “I came here alone, to see Maggie and ask her what she knows about your disappearance.”
“She doesn’t know anything of any importance to you, Billy,” Chamberlain snapped. “Leave her alone and tell Yuen to do the same. In fact, if anything happens to her, I’ll make sure I kill the both of you myself.”
“I don’t want to see anyone hurt, John,” Black Bear said.
“Don’t bullshit me, Billy,” Chamberlain yelled. “You’ve done nothing but hurt people since you mutinied on my ship. You and Dennis are responsible for hundreds of deaths on the Pinta and the Ark, and the murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings on this planet.”
Black Bear’s ears burned and his face reddened.
“You took valuable resources that should have been used for establishing a peaceful colony here on this planet and turned them into weapons,” Chamberlain told him. “You arrogantly took the genetic material that crew members gave willingly to ensure the survival of our species and used it to create that race of feline monsters, and you didn’t even have the decency to tell the felines you were going to exterminate them when you were done with them.”
“You and Dennis are nothing but evil cowards,” Chamberlain said. “God help you. I have no use for either of you.”
“I deserve that, John,” Black Bear said, without the meekness that would have normally come with being scolded by someone you respected. “But, right now I need you to tell me where you are.”
“Why should I tell you anything, Billy,” Chamberlain yelled. He rarely yelled about anything, even when he was upset.
Black Bear knew that for Chamberlain to speak to anyone
in such a tone meant they had reached the end of his almost saintly longsuffering, understanding and patience. Making John Chamberlain your sworn enemy was one of the most difficult things that a person could ever achieve, but to Black Bear’s shame, he had done it.
“I’ve tried my best to convince you that your chosen course of action is foolhardy and doomed to fail,” Chamberlain said. “But that advice keeps falling on deaf ears. You and Dennis are about to see just how badly you’ve been deceived by your so-called benefactors.”
“Why is that, John,” Black Bear asked. “What is it you know that I don’t?”
“I know for a fact your friends, the Ekkidans, have all but abandoned you,” Chamberlain replied.
“Where are you getting your intelligence,” Black Bear asked.
He waited for an answer from Chamberlain but got only silence.
“Please, John,” Black Bear requested meekly. “This thing has gotten out of hand. I can’t help you fix it if you won’t tell me what you’re up to...”
“Help me fix it,” Chamberlain asked. “Help me fix it? It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it Billy?” He laughed out loud.
“I needed your help long before this,” Chamberlain said. “There was a time early on in this fiasco when you could have made a difference and we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“I made mistakes,” Black Bear admitted, desperate to get Chamberlain to listen to reason. The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach was familiar. He often felt this way when trying to talk Yuen out of doing something the both of them would later regret.
“Damn it, John,” he pleaded. “I said I was sorry.”
“Crocodile tears, Billy,” Chamberlain asked. “Jailhouse repentance, maybe? What could you possibly do or say that could convince me you have changed your mind about this mission and your loyalties? How do I know you won’t report any of this to Yuen? For that matter, how do I know Yuen isn’t there with you right now and you both aren’t holding Maggie hostage? I sure wouldn’t put it beyond you.”
Chamberlain's Folly (The Terra Nova Chronicles) Page 35