"Yes. . . I hear what you are saying," Jeff admitted. "I suspect that's why I haven't heard from the Brazilian, Mr. Weir. He's probably worried I want to sabotage their efforts or at least gain some insight that will give me an advantage. Truth is I have nothing in progress that competes with him in any way. I said as much when I invited him to meet with us and have dinner. I indicated I simply wished to discuss his paper. No harm in that. It's been out there for anyone to read a couple years now."
"Jon told me he's North American," April informed Jeff.
"Oh, I suppose he might be worried about the political implications then. Collaborating with the enemy and all that sort of thing. It's a wonder he feels safe to be here."
Jeff got a thoughtful look. "Put the question out there where his partners are from and what their connections are also. To your people and Chen. If he's the theory guy then they, or at least one of them must be the source of funding. He didn't study elsewhere besides North America and Brazil?"
"I don't think so. If anything he seems estranged from North America, but keeping a low profile. You notice he's doing his research commercially in Brazil? I looked his firm up online and as far as I can tell it's just him and two other guys in a partnership," April said. "All closely held."
"Sort of like us," Jeff said, looking amused.
"If he's going to be secretive, then I expect he might be cautious about testing this hardware he's having made. We should be in a position to observe it," April said frowning.
"Wow. Spying out trade secrets seems awfully competitive for somebody who doesn't like that mind set," Jeff teased.
"I said I prefer cooperation," April explained. "That doesn't mean I'm going to be stupid and ignore reality when it doesn't please me."
"Well, unless these fellows have a lot more money than I suspect, they can use the moon to shield their testing from Earth, but they won't be able to hide it from us or anybody on the back side of the moon. Anywhere they can afford to test it we should be able to watch. They won't have the funds to take it far out-system. Dave has some pilotless drones for quickly deploying satellites back to LEO. I'll rent one and have Dave modify it to carry a sensor package clear of any obstructions and track their test vehicle when it's deployed."
"I wouldn't mention we're observing if you do get to talk to Weir," April counseled.
"No, no need. I'm sure he's nervous enough, knowing it's far too public, and no help for it."
* * *
"Have we secured the depots and military equipment in San Diego?" General Kilpatrick asked.
"Some," Bellini said. He paused and his face said he was conflicted, and what he wasn't saying wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Don't withhold bad news from me," the General insisted. "Once we start down that road it only leads to disaster. Have I ever shot the messenger?" he demanded.
"No, but I'm unhappy I haven't been able to do what was needed," Bellini admitted. "I totally agreed every action we planned and intended was vital, but we simply didn't have the resources, especially against time constraints. Some of which I didn't anticipate."
"You're human," Kilpatrick said. "But if you didn't anticipate them be aware I didn't either. You have the advantage of the reports, but I'm still waiting for you to detail how these tasks failed." He seemed a bit irritated to have to beg for a briefing.
Bellini sagged a little from his usual stiff posture.
"Most of the warehouses and armories were guarded initially. My biggest error was in understanding how long that would be maintained. Some of the defenders had minimal field rations. In one case I know they had none. Those that did still depended on the local water supply, and only one commander had a couple water tankers and took the initiative to fill them by pumping from local supply before it failed.
"If the power outage had been limited to the north of LA we might have retained control. But the fact that the grid couldn't isolate that area and the outage spread hour by hour was the key factor in this failure. It went all the way south through San Diego and the new suburbs that have spread south since the Mexican annexation. Talk about withholding bad news. I think the power grid was much more delicate and poised to crash than was ever admitted to us.
"There were all sorts of contingency plans for projecting force and its supply from bases to an external threat, but nobody anticipated the internal collapse of civilian supply and control around these assets, isolating them. The local police were the first to abandon their posts. They were not effectively managed and directed. In many cases they followed orders as long as the battery lasted in their personal radio.
"After that, chaos at the street level was far beyond anything they could control. With no idea how widespread it was, and no backup or resources such as transport for anyone they arrested. . . well, they took their transport home if they still had passable streets, or walked away and saw to their own families and friends as best they could. I can't really blame them.
"The streets in many areas became impassable late on the second day or third morning when people decided the power wasn't coming back on and the water failure was becoming wide spread. Since they crossed over to the opposite lanes when the outbound lanes got full, people fleeing a new area without power ran head on into people who had lost their power the day before. Then the roads were blocked by miles of gridlock nose to nose. The civilian authorities didn't offer any useful guidance about what areas had power or which routes were open, because their emergency services simply repeated the false official position that it was a limited local earthquake over and over until their coms went down.
"Some areas had water towers that took awhile to empty and lose pressure without pumping. The firefighters couldn't do their jobs when that happened and abandoned their efforts. The grid lock was widespread enough by them that their equipment was trapped on site or in a limited area bound by major highways.
"Forces guarding military assets off the major bases, particularly transport, were never large. Some weren't even on site, but hastily called to duty when the power went down. As communication failed they found themselves in the same position as police. Two days without water or promises of relief left many convinced their position was untenable. Some small forces were guarding large facilities and soon were faced with groups trying to cut their fences and gain entry to loot. They were reluctant to fire on civilian mobs that outnumbered them.
"The fact commanders subordinate to us were still insisting the root event was an earthquake, when even the civilian population knew better, undercut trust. Some we could have relieved simply didn't believe we were coming in the face of other obvious lies, and abandoned their posts early. When relief did arrive they found the easily transportable stores looted. One particularly troubling observation was that the mutineers left their uniforms behind, sometimes with the nametags ripped off and occasionally burned in a pile. This indicates to me they have no intention of reporting back anywhere or anytime again, and have a vested interest in joining an already hostile population so they are never brought to justice for abandoning their posts."
Kilpatrick looked stunned.
"So how do we regain control of. . . basically all of Southern California?"
"That's what I was really loath to report," Bellini admitted. "We're not, at least not anytime soon. In my opinion, if we try we will squander resources we need in the areas we still control. The possibility exists we could lose all control at a national level if we try to retake this vast area immediately. There are already large areas in the northern states significantly depopulated with very marginal civilian control.
"The fact we still have New York as a functioning city is critical, and the idea we could lose public confidence there terrifies me. Vancouver seems somewhat safer, but I've come to distrust my own analysis. If we start to see an exodus from New York and the densely populated Northeast we've lost the Union. We could be reduced to an effective area that approximates the old Confederacy, separated from our thinly populated areas in the north by a transcontin
ental band out of our effective control." Bellini warned.
"So, you are suggesting we let Southern California remain a lawless area indefinitely?" Kilpatrick asked. He didn't seem comfortable with that possibility.
"For at least several years," Bellini said, forcefully. Gaining confidence now that the whole ugly picture was fully laid out. "The valley will lie fallow without repowered waterworks, it will be the first area we can reclaim by doing that. But everything below will have to wait. Including the Baja, all the way to the end of the peninsula. It's mostly been a playground for the rich since the annexation anyway. There isn't any significant industry there. It's sufficiently isolated from the rest of Mexico for the contagion not to spread. Frankly, the whole area is going to be significantly depopulated. When we do retake it part of the reason we will be able to is that it will be almost empty, compared to now. Just controlling and resettling the few who do manage to get out will be a sufficient problem for us right now."
"I worry the Mexicans may try to take advantage of this to become independent again, but with their old territory and most of California again. Maybe parts of Arizona and New Mexico too," Kilpatrick said. The idea visibly distressed him.
"But not Texas?" Bellini asked.
"No, if there is chaos and border shifting I'd be more worried Texas might decide that it's time to go it alone again. Of course that might mitigate any Mexican problem, because they're likely to claim half of Northern Mexico too," Kilpatrick said. "We have to plan how to dissuade the Texans from doing that if Mexico rebels."
"If the Mexicans try to invade California before it depopulates, perhaps we should encourage Texas to deal with them," Bellini mused. "They always have a significant faction pushing independence, but we're stronger there than the Patriots. Between California and Texas, I believe Mexico would be effectively run through the meat grinder, and regret attempting an annexation. Regaining control of Mexico later should be a lot easier after they are diminished by both exercises."
"Perhaps you are right, if we could survive Texan independence," Kilpatrick pointed out. "I'd bet they would claim Oklahoma and chunks of other neighboring states if they left."
"That would be a huge intrusion in our middle wouldn't it?" Bellini allowed. "Let's hope it never comes to that, or we'll face much tougher choices than we have right now."
The vision of potentially greater chaos seemed to help Kilpatrick decide. "All right. We salvage what we can from the uncontrolled areas, and conserve our resources. We do have to make sure an opposing authority isn't allowed to consolidate power there when things settle down. Better to assert our control a little early than to wait too long and have it contested."
"I'll create a task force to watch for that danger and mitigate it," Bellini promised.
Chapter 5
"Let's take a stroll and get some supper," Jeff suggested. "I've been sitting too long."
"OK, the new cafeteria?" April asked. "I've only tried it a couple times."
"Not this time, please. I have too much to do today. Messages I need to read in their entirety and replies to make. The day after tomorrow?" he suggested.
"Yes, but you have to tell the people that you have a dinner date, because there'll be just as many badgering you tomorrow as today."
"You're probably right," he admitted with a sigh. "And I promise I'll keep my commitment to you just like I am these others today."
"Done," April agreed.
A man in work overalls with a tool pouch and a chunk of disconnected machinery on a push cart passed the other way. Whatever the piece was it had lots of copper tubing attached, rolled in a large coil. Hands full, he gave an exaggerated nod in greeting as he passed, and looked a little less grim than before.
"Do you know who that was?" April asked. "I nodded back to be polite, but I really can't place the fellow."
"You may have never met him," Jeff said. "People know you. No really," Jeff insisted when she made a face. "You've spoken in the Assembly quite a few times. Spoken about some controversial things others avoided. A few times you spoke clearly when others had no consensus and were speaking without any clear direction. People remember those things. You don't like to hear it, but you are on the gossip boards, and some of that even leaks to Earth. To the irritation of Earthie authorities mostly. They rightly figure any publicity has some positive value. That's why they don't mention you themselves. But the coverage here is generally positive."
"Maybe he was nodding at you," April said.
"People nod and smile when I'm with you," Jeff insisted. "If I'd been alone he might have made a ruder gesture."
"Oh come on. If people hated you that much you'd never get to breakfast without a duel first."
"Well, not that bad maybe, but people do like you better than me. On the gossip boards I get billing as your boyfriend. People don't mention we're business partners, at least not first. Business is sort of boring to most people. I'm afraid you are what the term celebrity was coined to describe. Not the sort we have now that depend on favorable press and a diligent publicist to promote them every day. Celebrities used to be actual interesting people who did things to create public interest. It wasn't simply how outrageously they can act or dress, to call attention to themselves, or with whom they've slept."
April frowned and scowled. "I'm not sure I understand. Give me an example."
"OK, there was a fellow, Lindbergh, who flew across the Atlantic Ocean between the World War and the First Atomic War. People had flown around it in steps, but there was a prize offered to fly across. Well he did so, flying solo near six thousand kilometers to win $25,000."
"American dollars?" April asked. Her face said that wasn't much.
"Yes, but before years of inflation that was a lot more money. He wasn't a particularly well known or an immensely wealthy person. He'd been a military aviator and mail pilot. But once he did this it caught the public imagination and he really did become a celebrity. He got awarded medals besides the prize money and people did things like name schools after him.
"It ended badly however. He had no idea how to deal with notoriety. Later his fame attracted some nut that killed his child, and he became a political pariah by taking a hard public stand against his country entering the next big war. The powers of the time were of an opposite mind, and he wasn't allowed to resume his military service. He flew in combat as a civilian by being an aircraft factory rep. Quite a few people had to wink to allow that, which shows how respected he was. He didn't have any idea about personal security or the practical limits of his personal power from his fame. It was kind of sad reading about it actually."
"He didn't get bodyguards and a safe home? I can't imagine not having Gunny or Chen and his friends like Mackay on retainer," April said.
"It was a different time. There wasn't the sort of publicity we have now. Why, I read once that. . . not long before that time, the President of the United States could walk out of the White House and stroll down the street to buy a cigar without security or concern he'd be molested."
"I don't understand how that could be. Political assassins and rivals aside. . . they had to have mentally ill people just like we do now," April said.
"I can't say I understand it all myself," Jeff admitted. "Yet here we are walking to a public cafeteria and you aren't afraid for your life while you are well known. I suspect it was a different society then, just as Home is so different from North America now. Perhaps besides any real danger how much risk people would assume changed. How and what changed, and why, is more than I can claim to understand. I'm a bit of a businessman and a designer, not a historian or a sociologist."
"I never aimed to be a celebrity," April said. "Not even to be well known if there's any significant difference. But I remember how much more difficult it was on Earth when I visited. I've tried to put you in a favorable light to people, but maybe I'm not doing you any favor."
"Well if you can't avoid it, I guess being a celebrity beats being notorious," Jeff said.
They arrived at the cafeteria and got into selecting supper. But April was still thinking on all of it as they got their food and took it to a table.
* * *
They didn't talk about public image and notoriety again once they had their food. The subject was played out and they mostly ate and acknowledged a few greetings from friends. They were near going back for a dessert when a big blond fellow stomped in with a scowl and questioned the fellow on the rear of the serving line. The man looked surprised, and not only replied, but turned and looked straight at them.
"Uh oh, the big Viking there just asked Mr. Holmes in line something and he directed the fellow to us, all but pointed rudely at us."
"Well he's not armed, at least not visibly, but he does look angry," April noted.
"Be careful. He may be unarmed but he's a big sucker. An Earthie for sure," Jeff appraised him.
"Yeah, stupid hard soled shoes and a belt. Buttons on his shirt. You talk to him," April requested. She put her hand down on her pistol, made sure it was free in the holster, and left her hand on her thigh, just in case.
She wasn't forced to acknowledge him at all. He went straight to Jeff, slapped something down on the table in front of him, and demanded: "Explain that to me, Singh!"
Jeff confounded the angry man by not reacting to his anger. He obviously expected either anger or guilt. Instead Jeff took his butter knife and slid the little object closer. His clear spex turned silvery on the right as he had one lens magnify the offending object.
"Now that's an ugly and inefficient design," Jeff concluded quickly. It looked like a little silverfish, but was metallic and scorched and melted at one end and along the side a little.
"It's not one of ours," Jeff assured him.
"So you do admit having bugs?" the fellow asked, starting to run out of mad without being able to get a rise from Jeff, but still on the same stubborn track.
"Oh yes. We deploy them on Earth quite a bit. Not on Home. Too many people would have my head. But this isn't one of ours. All those legs are just silly, needlessly complex when there are easier ways to get hyper-mobility and climbing vertical and inverted surfaces. It obviously got zapped by some sort of defenses or a bot killer with a discharge weapon. I'd never design one with a conducting body, much less legs that could be the path for a lethal short. It's too heavy with that much metal too."
A Sudden Departure (April Book 9) Page 6