Love laughed at that but it had a manic quality to it.
“I understand if you want to just go home,” Jeff said. “It looks like they set you up for deliberate failure. I guess they want war, and if they are determined… It takes two to have peace and one to force a war. My intelligence fellows, people who work for Chen, warned us there is chatter from the military that they think they can win a conflict. That they can absorb the damage and all it takes is one warhead getting through to end Home. Central would be a harder nut to crack. They’ve already been nuked and survived it. But it could be done. I might suggest you stay here instead of going home. Nick can probably arrange it. It’s going to be bad.”
“How bad?” Love asked.
Jeff looked uncomfortable. “I don’t want you to think I’m exaggerating and trying to bully you with threats. Here, I had this conversation with Tanaka, here’s what I told him before I ever met you.” Jeff searched for the audio of his meeting and sat the pad on the table. “I’ll let it run and I’m going to make some coffee. You can tell it stop, backup, or go if you want to hear something again.” He pressed play and walked away.
“So it is a matter of survival for you,” Tanaka said.
“Yes, but it’s a matter of survival for them too. They just may not believe it,” Jeff said.
“Convince me,” Tanaka said.
Love was sitting there finished when Jeff came back with two mugs.
“I believe you,” Love said.
Jeff shrugged. “Thank you. I appreciate that, but does it really matter anymore?”
“Yes, it does, because I don’t feel I have the option to go home, or just stay here either. That would be cowardly.”
“Wow, that borders on malicious compliance. They’re going to be pissed you did what they told you to do. Of course, you could do the best deal you can and not go home,” Jeff said.
“You really don’t understand people if think that’s possible. If I didn’t go back it would condemn everything I negotiated as inadequate at best and deliberately disloyal at worst.”
“I do rely on my ladies extensively to instruct me on matters of human nature.”
“Are you diagnosed with a specific… impedance?”
“No, you don’t have to be careful of offending me. I’ve just always been interested in other things that make more sense. I like building machines and ships.”
“You told Tanaka you would yield something. I’m prepared to do that too. Instruct me about your needs. Why can’t you let North America take armed ships past L1?”
“Our history should tell you that. Maybe you don’t know it, just like you hadn’t seen yesterday’s video. We started with North America trying to steal a small asteroid that private investors brought into LEO near us. That’s what precipitated our rebellion.”
Jeff described the attempt to nuke them and the continued sniping that drove them to go out past the Moon. “Then the UN declared we could not occupy any orbital position without their permission. The Chinese sent a fleet to enforce that, and Heather killed all but one ship which surrendered. That fleet was what made us say no more. We are beyond the Moon. You don’t bring armed ships out here anymore. Our assembly voted that Earth law, Earth custom, and Earth power do not extend beyond L1.
“If they are free to position armed ships anywhere in the Solar System, we aren’t any safer than we were in Earth orbit. We can be attacked from any direction with little notice. The more so with the kinds of weapons the Constitution carried, far more advanced than the Chinese had who attacked Central. Didn’t you know those things?”
“I knew some of them. From a different slant,” Love said kindly.
“I could document it, but you can fake so much so easily now,” Jeff lamented.
“I have to point out that even if you disapprove, the Constitution was not taking her weapons into the Solar System. She was headed out for the stars.”
“How would we know?” Jeff demanded. “It’s not like military ships even ask clearance from traffic control. They just go.”
“What if there was an Earth-Moon traffic control for everybody? Civilian and military alike, and they declared any extra-solar destination before passing L1?”
“They’d never do it,” Jeff said skeptically.
“I’d yield the point to you,” Love said. “If they refuse my agreement, that’s on them.”
“And keep Solar traffic without heavy weapons?” Jeff asked.
“I haven’t heard anyone argue against that side of it yet.”
“Alright, those are significant concessions,” Jeff admitted.
“The thing is, many people jumped to the conclusion the intercept wasn’t about lines or arms. They think you mean to cut us off from the stars entirely,” Love said.
“I can see why. They try to impose control over where we can park in empty space, much less on physical bodies. They have been arguing about who would own the Moon since before anybody went to it. They’ve tried to say who owns the planets before we landed on them. People still have this crazy meme that they are the joint property of all humanity. Funny they never feel that way about the real estate under their feet. Watching the news on this I saw a politician say “Who can own the stars?” like it was just obvious nobody can. They still believe that today. I can easily agree whoever gets there first and claims it owns it. But I’m not sure that they will respect our claims.”
“Then that’s your first concession,” Love said. “You will honor all ownership claims from North America and we will reciprocate. This is good because it is entirely in the mission of Commerce to set trade agreements.”
“That’s fine for now,” Jeff said, “but I can tell you right now that just because you have an agreement with us, doesn’t mean you aren’t going to have conflict over ownership claims between you and all the other Earth nations. If you don’t get some kind of treaty with everybody to administer that it’s going to be a mess. We’re not going to take sides if the USNA and China argue over a star.”
“So you’d also respect agreements from a governing commission?” Love said.
“If it is independent and represents anybody who brings an extrasolar claim to it. Not an agency that everybody knows was created to rubber stamp North American claims, or Chinese for that matter,” Jeff said.
Love just ticked off another checkmark in the air with his finger.
“Ownership is fine,” Jeff said, “but we also need rights of passage just like on Earth’s oceans. We’ll soon be hedged in by private stars we can’t get past otherwise.”
“That’s another point of mutual benefit,” Love said. “But do you really expect explorers to go off into the unknown defenseless?”
“Not defenseless, but these are long-range ship killers. You can screw up spectacularly with just one misunderstanding. Let them carry short-range defensive weapons and nothing that could do a planetary bombardment. If they want to carry self-destruct charges, if they have the guts to use them, that’s fine. We do.”
“You’re willing to do the same?” Love asked.
“As long as they abide by it too,” Jeff said. “I have the tech, but never built a warhead that does what these do.”
“Noted,” Love said. “What else do you need?”
“Leave it at that,” Jeff said. “The more complicated it is, the more people have to argue about and the less chance they’ll agree. If there is any significant hitch or we need to add things later it’ll easier to change an existing framework.”
“I’ll go back to my hotel to make a written copy from the audio recordings. If you approve how it reads their business center can print copies. We should ask Prime Minister Tanaka to witness our signing in the morning,” Love said.
“And my crew, they will witness, and whoever you and Tanaka want to invite. Let’s not get in a rush. Let’s set it up for 1500,” Love said.
“By the ship? Or at least in a hanger?” Jeff said. “The weather can’t be trusted. It just rains at random. I d
on’t know how you guys put up with it.”
“You have no idea how many would agree with you.”
* * *
“You phrased a few things differently than I would have, but it’s nothing worth arguing about,” Jeff said late in the evening. “I’m happy. Print it up and invite Tanaka. I’m going to show it to Naito when he gets up in the morning.”
“If we were trained diplomats it would be eight hundred pages, and we’d need a couple of months to agree on every comma. I’ll ask the use of a hanger as you suggested,” Love said and ended his call.
For the first time since he arrived Jeff relaxed a little. April had that lovely pool and he could take a swim and go to bed.
“We have an agreement. We’ll sign it tomorrow,” he told Otis standing watch.
“Amazing. I’ll tell Mackay when we switch.”
* * *
Tanaka had a bigger mob there than the other signatories. Heads of the Hawaiian government, military, and even the mayor of Honolulu. Of course he invited the press.
“Can you take a few questions before you start?” a familiar voice asked. It was the Australian fellow, Leo Champion, with Victoria Vantage.
Jeff looked at him in disbelief. “How could you possibly have gotten here in time?”
“Oh, we came back next shuttle after your interview on Home, but it was a close thing anyway. We got home the day before yesterday and I came straight away as soon as I heard your ship was here. My manager isn’t going to be happy with my travel charges.”
“Very well. Such effort deserves to be rewarded. Go ahead and take the lead question,” Jeff said.
“Have you looked at the North American news this morning?” Leo asked.
“No, I was in entirely too good of a mood having wrapped up this agreement. Are you about to spoil that?” Jeff asked.
“That is of course yours to determine. The USNA Space Force absolutely denies the weapons on the Constitution were of the nature you described. Since this is the start point for this entire conflict and disagreement, I thought you’d want to address it.”
“Otis, have the Hawaiian gentleman who brought all of you suited up over in the truck go back to Dionysus’ Chariot and bring us the proof package back.”
“Ah, you anticipated this issue might come up,” Leo said.
“Indeed we did. I might take a few questions from the others while we are waiting.”
The questions were low-ball and cautious, even though they all had copies of the agreement and could have asked about details of it. They were waiting to see how he answered Champion. When the truck returned Otis retrieved a white cylinder from the bed. It was flat on one end and hemispherical on the other. Even though he had enhanced strength and powered armor he fairly staggered under the load. That was obvious from how far he had to lean back cradling it in his arms to get under the balance point.
Mackay rushed forward to help him ease it to the hanger floor, and about half the press corps and Tanaka’s delegation stepped back when they realized what it was. That was silly. They’d have had to retreat to the other side of the island to lessen any danger.
“This is my proof,” Jeff said in a soft voice. “We’re disassembling one right now on the Moon. This is my gift to Hawaii. I suggest you enlist someone with experience in nuclear weaponry to help you dismantle it safely. The French come to mind as a good possibility. We realized these would have a destruct mechanism in case you fire it off and change your mind. It also will auto-engage if the target is not intercepted. That doesn’t detonate it. It just engages the chemical charges out of sequence to blow it to pieces well past reverse engineering.
“We removed the receivers for that function some distance away. The North Americans have been transmitting the destruct code in the K band from orbit the last couple days to no effect. Of course, without the nuclear portion going off, it would be hard to tell if any of them received the signal and self-destructed.
“The disassembly we are doing is far enough along I can tell you with certainty you will find plenty of contractor and agency names written on components to know this is a North American device.
“I find I don’t want to take any more questions. Let’s get to the signing so we can all go home,” Jeff requested.
Three copies of the agreement were laid out on a low table with a fresh pen for each. There was a seat to allow signing without leaning over awkwardly. As they’d agreed privately, Quincy Love stepped forward and signed each in turn. Jeffrey Singh then signed them and applied his hanko. Prime Minister Tanaka was the only witness signing and surprised them by having a hanko too. Jeff didn’t want a dozen signatories and didn’t see the point of them with modern media and recording. It wasn’t like witnesses would be asked later to verify their mark. Several photographers recorded the event and it was streamed out live.
When they were done a Hawaiian officer enclosed each copy in leather covered hard folders and presented them to the signatories. Tanaka and Love shook hands with him and Jeff went straight to his ship.
* * *
“Not bad,” Heather said, sitting watching it with April. “He said he’d get us the best deal he could and I’m not complaining about this one at all.”
“They may balk and argue about details so we have to add onto it,” April predicted.
“I’ll try to look somewhat reasonable in that event,” Heather vowed, “as long as they don’t try to reject the whole thing. That would be unfortunate.”
April nodded. She understood just how unfortunate. She wondered just how plainly Jeff explained that to them? They’d find out in a couple of days when he detailed events to them. The old Jeff who dealt with the Chinese would have never been able to have an actual discussion and negotiate. His style back then was more – Do what I say or I’ll kill you. He definitely has matured and socialized.
“Do you think Mr. Love will be treated decently at home? Do you even think he is safe to go back to North America?” April worried.
“I think they accidentally picked a very strong-willed person and will regret it if they repudiate his treaty. Treaties aren’t forever but it’s déclassé to break them in a week. He wouldn’t abide it silently. If they do treat him badly, I hope you don’t go into rescue mode.
“He might even be able to push through some sort of a commission to administer claims. I thought that was a marvelous idea. So good I’m trying not to get my hopes up they’ll do it. The treaty didn’t say who contributed each point. I wonder which parts were from each of them? I don’t think I’ll ask. It might be seen as critical.”
“I’m shocked North America hasn’t asked damages. They tore that ship up rather badly. I’m sure it’s not repairable,” April said. “They might salvage some systems.”
“Any delay is good,” Heather said. “because it’s a race. We need to get back to the planet Deloris’ crew discovered with Dionysus’ Chariot so they can land. I’m encouraged. If we found a living planet this soon and so close, I can’t believe there aren’t more waiting to be found.
“I’m not foolish enough to think we have a permanent peace. All we did was buy some time, but that should be enough.”
The End
The Last Part
Other Kindle Books & Links by Mackey Chandler
April (first of series)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077EOE2C
April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities after a chance run-in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a teen should have to deal with. Fortunately, she has a lot of smart friends and allies, who give them a thin technological edge in rebellion. It's a good thing, because things get very rough and dicey.
Down to Earth (sequel to April)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RGBIVK
April seems to make a habit of res
cues. Now two lieutenants from the recent war appeal to her for help to reach Home. The secret they hold makes their escape doubtful. North America, the United States of North America, has been cheating on their treaty obligations and a public figure like April taking a very visible vacation there would be a good way to remind them of their obligations. Wouldn't it? Her family and business associates all think it is a great idea. She can serve a public purpose and do her rescue on the sly too. But things get difficult enough just getting back Home alive is going to be a challenge. It's a good thing she has some help. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Family Law (First of four in series.) Also as audiobooks.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS
People love easily. Look at most of your relatives or coworkers. How lovable are they? Really? Yet most have mates and children. The vast majority are still invited to family gatherings and their relatives will speak to them.
Many have pets to which they are devoted. Some even call them their fur-babies. Is your dog or cat or parakeet property or family? Not in law but in your heart? Can a pet really love you back? Or is it a different affection? Are you not kind to those who feed and shelter you? But what if your dog could talk back? Would your cat speak to you kindly?
What if the furry fellow in question has his own law? And is quite articulate in explaining his choices. Can a Human adopt such an alien? Can such an intelligent alien adopt a human? Should they?
How much more complicated might it be if we meet really intelligent species not human? How would we treat these 'people' in feathers or fur? Perhaps a more difficult question is: How would they treat us? Are we that lovable?
A12 Who Can Own the Stars? Page 45