Black Bear sat silently and listened to Chamberlain read him the Riot Act. He had always prided himself on choosing a side in an argument and sticking with it until the end. More often than not, his ability to analyze situations both logically and intuitively enabled him to say he had chosen sides correctly. This was one of the rare times he had failed to wisely discern the proper path to follow and he was quite upset with himself.
Black Bear wished he could say that his decision to back Yuen and the benefactors against Chamberlain was the most logical choice to see the mission succeed. Black Bear also wished he could say that; by not directly opposing Yuen once he had become a despot; he had spared the lives of any civilian colonists who would have rebelled along with him.
Black Bear certainly wished he could say the personal sacrifices he made were for the good of the mission and the well-being of the colonists, but at this moment, he was acutely aware the mission and the colonists were in terrible jeopardy.
Black Bear was most upset that he could not say his protests against some of the benefactor’s and Yuen’s actions had made any positive contribution.
The only thing that Black Bear could say in all honesty was the amount of moral cowardice it now appeared he had displayed, surprised and disgusted him. For all the stands he had taken, he had nothing to show.
Black Bear listened as John Chamberlain listed all of his failures as a friend, a colleague, a soldier and a man. He reminded Black Bear of the people he had hurt and the trusts he had broken and also reminded him he was at least partly to blame for the predicament he presently found himself and the rest of the colonists in.
“Just tell me what I can do to put things right, John,” Black Bear finally begged.
“Do you have your side arm with you,” Chamberlain asked.
Black Bear swallowed hard. “Not at the moment, John,” he replied.
“That’s a pity,” was Chamberlain’s response. “A goddamned shame, actually.”
Black Bear sat silently.
Things were quiet on Chamberlain’s end also, except for some intermittent noises that Black Bear couldn’t readily identify. They sounded like electronics of some sort.
After a long wait, Chamberlain spoke up. “If there isn’t anything else,” he said. “I’m busy.”
“Doing what John,” Black Bear asked. “What is it you are trying to accomplish?”
“I’m trying to save the people who willingly followed me into this mess,” Chamberlain responded. “Heaven help us both if I fail.”
“Please, John,” Black Bear implored. “Let me help you.”
“It’s you I’m trying to save them from,” Chamberlain retorted. “I have no use for you, Billy. In fact, if I had you in front of me, I’d be hard pressed not to go looking for something to beat you to death with. I’m closing this channel. The smartest thing for you to do would be to stay out of my way, and tell Yuen that his days on this planet are numbered.”
The tele-link went silent and Black Bear broke into a cold sweat. He had learned what he came to find out.
That Chamberlain was still alive and safe was a good thing, but the likelihood that Maggie knew where he was presented problems.
Black Bear looked down at the locator cradled in his palm. He was tempted to make a fresh try at convincing Chamberlain he now realized that Yuen could no longer be left in command of the colonists, but he thought better of it.
There was probably nothing that Black Bear could do short of overthrowing Yuen himself that would convince Chamberlain of his change of heart, and Yuen still had too much support among the military. He would certainly not be able to fight off the army of felines that would most assuredly side with their masters.
Black Bear placed the locator in his pocket and went to the door of Maggie’s apartment. He slowly opened it and surveyed the area for any civilian or military activity in the street, which in reality was nothing more than a dirt path that had been worn down by heavy foot traffic.
There wasn’t a soul in the area that Black Bear could see, but he didn’t step out any further. He pulled his head back inside and shut the door.
“Maggie won’t be happy to find me here when she gets home,” he thought to himself. “But, I can’t help it. I need to convince her to tell me where John is, before it’s too late…”
He was feeling the effects of the pain medicine quite heavily. He went to Maggie’s bedroom and lay down on the unmade bed. He was soon fast asleep.
Chapter 38
“Are you sure you weren’t too hard on the man, John,” Buzami asked as soon as the tele-link was broken.
“No,” Chamberlain replied. “He got what he deserved. He’s a big boy. He can take it.”
“I don’t know, John,” Buzami said. “I have to trust you know these men as well as you say, but this whole plan still worries me. We have taken a really big risk, giving up the location of our central defensive facility in this manner. I had to argue vehemently with my high command to go along with this.”
“Black Bear’s ego may be a little bruised,” Chamberlain answered. “But, he’ll recover soon. My only fear is he will make the mistake of taking what he knows back to Yuen instead of trying to contact me again. I have no doubt he has ascertained by now I am inside one of the cities. He’s already made the determination that without the guiding hand of the Ekkidan benefactors, Yuen has no idea how to handle the current situation.”
Buzami picked up a notebook that was sitting on the desk in front of him and fanned his face with it. Large drops of sweat were falling from his forehead even though the room was quite cool.
Chamberlain was slightly amused, but still felt a great sympathy for Buzami. The man had taken Chamberlain’s request for asylum at face value. He had also championed the plan Chamberlain offered the Zunnuki to end the war at great political risk to himself.
Chamberlain’s plan required the Zunnuki to allow him to install his artificial intelligence on their planetary data and communication grid. They were vehemently against it until Chamberlain explained that in return, he was offering the ability to constantly track the movements of every vehicle the Terrans had brought with them. The lure of that promise was what finally made the Zunnuki agree.
“Calm down, Azir,” Chamberlain told Buzami as the worried Zunnuki continued to fan himself. “We have much more control over this situation than it appears. Maggie will work on Black Bear from that end. I have no doubts he will soon see he has no real choice but to back us against Yuen if he claims to support the original objectives of this mission.”
“Do you think he suspects we took his cats as prisoners,” Buzami asked. “We don’t know how long that flying robot was there before the shuttle sat down on the desert floor. I’m sure they got a good look…”
“We should probably accelerate the conditioning process,” Chamberlain said. “I have no doubt the drone saw enough to make them suspect some sort of diversion. I was hoping our theatrics would keep them wondering what the Hell we were up to long enough to fill the felines in on what I found in Yuen’s journal and educate them on my original mission objectives. I only hope that if Black Bear does suspect we have the cats he is smart enough not to attempt any rescues. I believe he can keep Yuen from retaliating.”
“What if Yuen does something totally unexpected,” Buzami asked. “Like fire a missile back at us, or use troops to invade once more?”
“Artie can divert any missiles that Yuen fires at us out into space,” Chamberlain replied. “I have control of the spy satellite, too. I can shut it down. I still haven’t gotten back complete control of the Niña’s systems, though. I can keep her from firing missiles, but that pulse cannon Yuen mounted to her is not under the control of the original computer system and it could really hurt us.”
“It might be prudent to prepare for another attempt from Yuen to send soldiers into the cities on foot,” Chamberlain finally admitted. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a large troop movement to within a few kilometers of he
re over the next seventy two hours. You might want to be ready to go out and meet them. I’d also warn the other districts to be on alert.”
“I hope you are wrong,” Buzami replied. “We’ve spent every available resource upgrading our weaponry since you showed us how to build phase rifles, but we still can’t match the felines, weapon for weapon. And, we will only be able to outfit the reserves we called up with ballistic rifles and bayonets.”
“Then you need to pray harder we can convince the cats we have in the detention area they have more to gain by switching sides,” Chamberlain replied. “God help us if they can’t convince the rest of the felines of that when we send them back.”
Part X - On Ekkida
Chapter 39
2-November-2409
“How is your roasted turkey, Colonel,” Merak Non asked as he forked another morsel from his own plate and rubbed it around in some gravy and mashed potatoes before placing it in his mouth. The look on Aro Non’s face told Zheng he was not only enjoying the meal immensely himself but was taking great pride in being able to offer it to his guest.
“I send the chefs in my employ all over the League to perfect their craft,” Non proclaimed. “I would say you can’t find a holiday meal this authentic anywhere else in the League but back on Earth.”
“I would have to differ with you there, Aro,” Zheng replied. “This meal is excellent and I am enjoying it tremendously, but only because it reminds me of the Christmas dinners that my mother prepared on Terra Nova.”
“Ah, yes,” Non said. “I had forgotten your family was transplanted to Terra Nova from Earth. I stand corrected.”
“No need to apologize, Aro,” Zheng answered. “No harm done. And, if I failed to thank you earlier for this fine meal, then you must forgive me. It has been years since I’ve eaten this well. Again, thank you much, Aro, and please give my compliments to your chef.”
Aro Non had been surprisingly friendly to Zheng the hour or so since the two first met. Zheng had expected him to be cordial but not as gregarious as he turned out to be. His initial assessment of the aro was similar to that he had made of the aro’s youngest son, Cadet Non. They both appeared to be genuinely affable and not have a vain or arrogant bone in their bodies.
Still, Zheng remembered he was there on business and Aro Non was an upper caste Ekkidan.
Aro Non had apparently spared no expense on the evening meal. It wasn’t as if he needed to impress Zheng, but he seemed to be going all out to do it. Zheng assumed the aro’s attitude would change drastically when it came time to negotiate. For now, he would just accept the man’s hospitality at face value and not read too much into it.
“You are truly welcome, Colonel,” Aro Non replied. “It is a pleasure having you join me and I am only too happy to be able to serve you such a fine meal.”
“Tell me, Aro,” Zheng prodded. “Did I arrive during a special occasion or do you treat all your guests to such fine dining?”
“Isn’t it always a special occasion when one has guests, Colonel,” the aro asked in return. “And, even if not, it is certainly a special occasion when one entertains an author and educator held in such high esteem by so many.”
“Thank you much, Aro,” Zheng replied. “But, I’m afraid you greatly overestimate the esteem in which I’m held. I fear I might even be considered a bit of a crackpot by some.”
“Nonsense, Colonel,” Aro Non stated emphatically. “I’ll hear none of that this evening. I’ve read every one of your treatises on the birth of Terra Nova and the founding of the League and find them well researched and quite astute. Simas goes on and on about how much he enjoys your lectures when he writes his mother and me.”
“Again, I thank you, Aro,” Zheng replied. “These compliments are a special honor coming from one whose culture holds the tradition of oral family history in such high regard.”
“You are again quite welcome, Colonel,” the aro told him. He then took on a slightly more somber tone. “I’m afraid that my culture doesn’t hold its ancestors or the ability to recite their accomplishments in such high regard as when I was a child,” he said. “It seems the Ekkidans of Simas’ generation are only interested in the here and now. It saddens me they do not stop and take the time to realize their here and now is the direct result of the endeavors of those who lived in times past, and whether those endeavors succeeded or failed.”
Zheng nodded in agreement.
“I won’t make an attempt to place the blame for that,” the aro continued. “But, I’m sure we both have an idea where it actually lies.”
The aro still had his eating utensils tightly in his grip although he’d finished his meal. He waited for some sort of reaction from Zheng before continuing to speak.
The Historian looked up from his plate to his host. He gave the Ekkidan aro a confused glance. He had his guess as to where the conversation may be headed, but was content to allow Aro Non to remove any ambiguities.
“I believe you will agree with me there are some agencies of the Central Government taking it upon themselves to usurp their authority in the name of the common good,” Aro Non said. He dropped his flatware and noisily put his hands palm down on the banquet table. “The Bureau of Public Affairs is a good example,” he stated.
“And the Bureau of Historical Sciences would be another,” Zheng asked.
“Absolutely, Colonel,” Aro Non replied, jumping quickly on Zheng’s response. “The Bureau is obviously allowing itself to be used as a propagandist’s tool,” the aro complained. “There are so many in the pasts of Ekkida, Terra Nova and Earth whose enterprises and undertakings should be studied and emulated. But, to the shame those governing the League of Aligned Planets, as well as the local governments of some of the member worlds, their stories are not allowed to be told.”
“I agree with you there, Aro,” Zheng said. “And, I find there are also those who’ve had their reputations tarnished or destroyed because ineffectual governments desired to make them scapegoats for failed policies. Many were vilified for acts that those governments themselves engaged in, but later wanted to disavow.”
“Is there any certain case in point you want to discuss, Colonel,” the aro asked. “I’m sure I could mention a few we both are familiar with. I could also cite examples of a scoundrel or two who escaped public ignominy by capable employment of the same tools.”
“We don’t need to mention names, Aro,” Zheng replied. “None is more important than another. It’s the institutional prevarication ingrained in the bureaucracy that concerns me.” “As you know,” he continued. “I have spoken publicly and written quite extensively that I believe our government has displayed an obvious pattern of covering up ‘inconvenient’ historical facts and current events, since its beginnings as the alliance that came from the Zunnuki Accord.”
“The institutions of our Central Government haven’t even bothered to hide the fact their policies are based upon the belief the governed are incapable of making informed decisions,” Zheng said. “They also assume the citizens are better off not knowing everything that is happening around them. I’ve said more than once that those policies will be the undoing of the Central Government, if not the League in its entirety.”
“I hear the rumblings of discontent growing louder every day, Colonel Zheng,” Aro Non stated in agreement. “Let us hope those who hold fast to that philosophy are weeded out before they bring the rest of us down.”
“Tell me, Aro,” Zheng asked. “Why have you decided to run for Prime Minister of Ekkida at this time, instead of waiting for the next League election to run for Secretary General? From what I understand, you would be almost certain of winning. It seems to me, holding that seat would allow you a much more likely platform with which to further your agenda.”
“And what agenda are we talking about, Colonel,” the aro enquired. The smile on his face and the tone of his voice were incongruent with the defensive ring of his words. “I only wish to serve, my people. I have no other aspirations.”
“Perhaps I chose my words poorly, Aro,” Zheng replied. “Allow me an opportunity to make my meaning clear.”
“Of course, Colonel,” Aro Non replied. “Perhaps we should adjourn to the terrace and have drinks while we discuss it? The view of Ekkirizaddeqar is breathtaking from there.”
The two rose from the banquet table and the aro led Zheng to the terrace.
The night air was just as hot and dry as that of the daytime, but it was much more tolerable without the Ekkidan sun beating down. Vushmatu now hung well above the eastern horizon as the two sat down in a pair of patio chairs to look out over the city. The lights of the city spread out to the horizon in every direction.
Zheng stared as the head and tail lamps of the ground vehicles moved around among the stationary lighting that graced the businesses, schools, dwellings and other buildings of the city. In the distance, he could see the lights of the space terminal and was fascinated by the number of transports breaking orbit and descending on the terminal, as well as the number lifting off.
Zheng landed at the government shuttle pad near the front of the terminal and hadn’t really seen how large the public area was, but it must have been huge.
Aro Non noticed that Zheng was watching the space traffic and remarked, “It’s the second busiest port in the League. After Chicago, that is.”
“Days often go by at the Academy between shuttles,” Zheng replied. “They are so rare they are a distraction when they land and take off.” He gestured toward the line of transports continually landing and departing. “I can’t even hear them. How far are we from the terminal,” he asked.
“About twenty-five kilometers,” the aro answered. “Down at street level the noises of the city tend to overwhelm the sound of the thrusters, except when they fly in or out directly over us. Of course, the noise is almost unbearable here in the penthouse when that happens. Thank the heavens Air Traffic Control only brings them in from or sends them back up toward this direction during the day. That is, unless there is an emergency that would force them to at night.”
Chamberlain's Folly (The Terra Nova Chronicles) Page 36