“This colonel sounds like a psychopath, a real throwback to the Cold War sixties. What’s the plan for dealing with him?” June asked.
“She’s got a good point. Do we wait until the colonel does something stupid, then act?” asked Sarah. “And judging from that conversation, it’s not going to take much for him to be pushed over the edge, whether something happens or not.”
“I say we confront the colonel with the recording and tell him in no uncertain terms that his brand of bullshit isn’t going to be allowed,” Christopher said.
“I would like to avoid directly speaking to that asshole if at all possible, Chris,” said Maxwell.
“We could deploy a jumper and extend its shields around Jove,” suggested Peanut.
Maxwell shook his head. “That’s just the excuse he would need to do something stupid. If one of our ships protected Jove, it would simply confirm exactly what he’s afraid of, even if the NASA people never got hold of our tech.”
“How about we put Svoboda on the other side of the colony, keeping the bulk of the colony between the two ships?” asked Peanut.
Maxwell, grinned, then said, “That’s not a bad idea. That would do two things—put Jove out of sight, and provide a not-so-subtle reminder of our power. Peanut, could your crew keep watch in the event Colonel Levkov fires off a missile and it curves around the habitat toward Jove?”
“That’s easy. We could even grab the missile with the tractor/pressors and make sure it detonates where it won’t hurt anyone,” Peanut said excitedly.
“I’m thinking that we should move Svoboda without an explanation, not say a word to the colonel before it happens,” Christopher said, an evil grin in his face.
Most of the council laughed, but they quieted when Maxwell signaled he had something to say. “As much as I would love to mess with this nut, I think we should at least send him a text message explaining that we will not allow him to act the fool in our backyard.”
“What do we do if he fires a missile at us or Jove, assuming he has them concealed somewhere on the spacecraft?” Phillip asked.
“There will be repercussions and consequences,” Christopher said ominously. “I’m through tap dancing with Earth. And we’re going to have to address their nabbing Lucius and Julius immediately after we deal with the situation here. Peanut and I are looking into the quickest and most effective means of getting to Earth to back up the ground team. Fortunately, everything on the list has been loaded onto the whale. So the next thing on the agenda is getting our people back.”
Maxwell nodded, then added, “Peanut, if you’ll take a break from planning the rescue mission and have your people move Svoboda, I’ll draft a message to send to the colonel. Sydney, feel free to bring Jove up to date through John, if it isn’t an imposition.”
“Not at all. I kind of left him in the lurch when you all called me here,” Sydney said.
The conversation turned to the rescue of the ground crew, with Genesis bringing the assembly up-to-date on the latest. When asked by William how quickly a ship could make the trip, Peanut confessed that he didn’t really know yet, and that the calculation was the first item on his agenda.
* * *
“Mr. President, I have Paul Milton on the line.”
“Thank you, Sandra. Paul, what can I do for you today?” Laughlin asked.
“Have you checked your messages recently?”
“No, I’m quarantined in the bunker while the separatists are on Earth. Why? What did I miss?” he said, spinning his laptop around and looking through the messages in his inbox.
“This one from you? The one entitled ‘Levkov?’”
“That’s the one. Please play the recorded message between Svoboda and Jove and call me back,” Milton said.
“Will do,” Laughlin said, then hung up. He clicked on the audio file and listened with mounting concern as the file played. When it concluded, he forwarded it to the chief of staff and called for his security team to meet later in the afternoon.
He then had his secretary get Dr. Milton back on the line.
“What the hell is going on in Levkov’s mind?” Laughlin asked.
“All I can figure is that he’s got some other agenda, maybe from the Russians that the EU wasn’t aware of. What I’m worried about is that his ship might be armed in some way we don’t know about. He certainly sounded belligerent enough in the recording.”
“We’ve got nothing to defend Jove with. And since Mathews is in contact with the colony, I’m loath to have them break off just to satisfy this asshole.”
Dr. Milton couldn’t help but laugh at the president’s characterization of the Svoboda mission commander. Just then, Debra walked into the observation conference room and handed Laughlin a piece of paper.
“Paul, Debra just walked in with a note that says that the United Nations have lodged a protest with the head of the Russian/EU mission in Star City, condemning the threat of violence and the belligerent attitude on the part of Colonel Levkov. Quick work, someone’s on the ball over there. Paul, I’ll draft a statement agreeing with the U.N.’s condemnation, hoping that this unpleasantness was all a misunderstanding. I’m also going to leak the full recording to build public opinion against Levkov, maybe that will spill over in our favor. You’re free to issue whatever statement you want, no need for me to see it ahead of time. Say what you think you need to, Paul. Is there anything else?” Laughlin asked.
“Not really. I’m having the recordings between Mathews and Atkins encrypted and sent to you. Not much in them other than her stating they have no intention of dealing with us officially. There’s some chatter in the second one about their people being held in custody; but I really don’t want to know any of the details. I think any threat that John hears from them should damn well be taken seriously. We have no idea why their people are here, and I sincerely hope the reason is benign.”
“We’re doing what we can about the situation, that’s all you need to know. I’ll keep you in the loop if it looks like Jove is going to be threatened in any way.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
“Take care, Paul…”
Turning to Dawkins, Laughlin said, “I’ve scheduled a meeting with the security team for this afternoon, I’d like you to sit in on it.”
“Already on my calendar, Mr. President.”
“Good. So what do you think of this latest chestnut?” he asked.
“If their ship is armed, then it’s more than a bit troubling. If not, it’s just alpha male bravado. Remember he’s dealing with a woman, a black woman at that. Russians aren’t exactly the most enlightened people racially. It’s hard to read. By the way, I listened to the audio before I came down here. The people I really feel sorry for are his crewmates,” she said.
“You got that right. But the bottom line is that we have no real response to anything Levkov does out there, we can only put pressure on Russia and the EU here. Sadly, they can disavow anything the nut does, then where does that leave us?”
“You’re right, sir. I caught Dr. Milton’s mention of Atkins’ discussion of our holding their people here. It’s not surprising that they knew about it, nor is their warning. What I think we should be worrying about is any reaction they have as we hold on to their people,” she cautioned. “I think we should let them go, and leave them be. We gain nothing by antagonizing the separatists. They’ve made it abundantly clear that they will never knowingly share their technologies with us, and our stealing from them is immoral and unethical,” she said.
“And what about the national security argument?”
“Stuart, that’s bullshit and we both know it. If no one else on Earth has any of their technology, the issue is moot.”
Laughlin sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes in his familiar gesture of frustration. Moments later he said, “If it were just that simple I’d release the
m and give them cab fare. But politically, doing so is untenable. Too many people are invested in obtaining their technology, and if it looks like I’m not on board, let’s just say it would be political suicide. I’m screwed, Debra. At most I can stall anything harsh being done to those men; Christ, one of them is almost a hundred years old!”
“All I’m going to say is be extremely careful, what happens over the next few days is probably going to define your presidency; think about it. See you in a couple of hours …”
* * *
When Susan and Bianca rejoined the rest of the crew, the discussion naturally turned to what might happen if Colonel Levkov escalated his belligerence. As they were sitting down to lunch, a proximity alert startled them.
Harriet and Sybil took their seats in the cockpit, activating radar and laser ranging instruments.
Harriet announced, “Svoboda is on the move. They’re drifting around to the far side of the colony, and we’re closing with the colony.”
“Are the drive or thrusters active?” Susan asked, strapping in at one of the command consoles below.
“They are not. The drive is cold and there’s no activity from the thrusters,” Sybil confirmed.
“Closing to within eighty miles,” Harriet reported. “Passing through seventy miles.”
As the others took their seats and fired up all their instrumentation, the communications console signaled an incoming video transmission. John activated the comm system and saw it was Sydney.
When she saw who it was, Susan signaled John to take the call in his compartment.
Once inside he activated his system and said to her, “Hey there. Would this call have anything to do with the musical chairs going on in this part of the solar system?”
Sydney laughed despite herself. “Yes, it does. Sorry, I don’t mean to appear to be taking this lightly,” she began.
“Not at all. What happened?” John asked.
“We intercepted your communication with Colonel Levkov and were disturbed by his threats. That kind of behavior will not be tolerated anywhere in space. We’re moving Svoboda around to the far side of the habitat and pulling your ship in closer for your own protection. And I’m authorized to inform you that there’s a seventy percent chance that Svoboda is armed with missiles, although we cannot confirm it,” Sydney explained.
“They’re what? I have to tell Susan. Can I call you back?” he asked, already out of his chair.
Sydney chuckled and said, “At your convenience.”
In his rush, John burst out of the compartment in a slight tumble. Once he righted himself he pushed off toward Susan’s console.
“What’s up, John?” she asked.
“Sydney just informed me there’s a seventy percent chance that Svoboda is armed with missiles!” he whispered.
“How in the hell does she know?”
“I have no idea. But it was important enough for her to immediately call and tell me. Oh, and they’re moving our two ships on opposite sides of their habitat for our protection, she said. They monitored the colonel’s threats and they’re taking them seriously,” John explained quietly.
“Okay, I’ll brief everyone when we get situated. Thank you, John. If you’re done with Sydney for now, would you mind taking your seat?” she requested.
“Sure thing.”
Harriet announced that they were a mile off the curved side of the habitat and were holding steady. Everyone stayed put in case anything else would happen.
* * *
“Colonel, we are moving!” Chux said, pointing out the front window.
Everyone scrambled to take their seats and strap in. Gina announced that there was an incoming text message.
“Who is it from, the Americans?” Levkov asked.
“No, it is from the colony,” she said as he switched his screen to monitor the incoming communication.
They all read along as the message came in.
Colonel Levkov, we monitored your communication with the Jove mission. We will warn you only once. We will not tolerate any violence or other attack on anyone in space. We indulged your trip to our colony because we believe the solar system should be open to all. But if your spacecraft is armed with missiles as we suspect it is, then your brand of madness is unacceptable and will draw the harshest reprisals if you insist on engaging in any proscribed behavior.
Such behavior consists of attacks of any type, including the use of weapons, sabotage or even intimidation. You will not be warned again. Do not waste your time trying to contact us. We have nothing further to say.
You are free to return to Earth at any time, but you many not approach any closer to this habitat or the Jove spacecraft.
“How dare they? Who do they think they’re ordering about!” Colonel Levkov shouted.
“I believe they made their message abundantly clear, colonel,” Sophia said, with barely disguised glee. “And what’s all that about missiles?”
“Where is the American spacecraft?” Levkov demanded to know, ignoring her question.
“They are not visible, colonel. They must be on the other side of the colony,” Xavier reported.
“Activating thrusters,” Levkov announced. “Firing!”
Gina and Xavier were monitoring the ship. “No movement, Colonel,” Xavier reported, closely watching the radar ranging.
Levkov cursed in Russian under his breath. He then shut down the thrusters and activated communications.
“This is Colonel Levkov, calling Dr. Roscoe of the Jove mission. Please respond.”
When Susan came on the line, he heard laughing in the background.
“Yes, colonel. What can I do for you?” she responded.
“I do not find the current state of affairs amusing, doctor. What is your part in the commandeering of my ship?” he asked belligerently.
“Absolutely nothing. Why do you ask? And while you’re at it, how dare you arm your spacecraft with weapons, missiles, to be specific? Shame on you,” she said, fishing for information as well as provoking him.
“How my spacecraft is equipped is none of your affair. What collusion is going on between you and these black separatists? Is this some kind of colored conspiracy?” he asked, clearly trying to anger Susan.
Instead, she laughed and said, “How does it feel not having the biggest dick in the game, colonel? These blacks have exceeded any accomplishment a white man has ever made, that especially includes your backward-ass country. Clearly your belligerence has gotten your mission in trouble, and I would take them at their word that they will not put up with your nonsense. And yes, the message transmitted to you was also copied to us so we would know what the colony’s position toward you is. I suggest you quit wasting resources out here and begin your trip back to Earth. Clearly no one in space wants to have anything to do with you or your mission, and that includes us. Roscoe out!” she said, breaking the connection.
The Jove crew clapped and cheered when Susan disconnected the call.
“That’s telling him!” announced Peter.
Susan let them carry on for a few minutes, allowing them to get it out of their system, then reminded everyone that a crazy man was still right around the corner, so to speak, and might launch deadly force at their ship. She then extracted the audio of the conversation, included the written message the colony had sent Levkov, and sent an update back to mission control. At her console, Bianca was doing the same thing, sending her message directly to the secretary general’s office.
Harriet checked the spacecraft’s maneuverability and found that once they had been moved into a close orbit alongside the habitat, the ship had been released and they were free to move.
Chester and Peter were taking the opportunity to closely inspect the exterior of the habitat by high-resolution telescope.
“It looks like rock, maybe some kind of granite,” sai
d Peter, peering closely at the screen.
“Probably so, since the thing came right out of the lunar bedrock. It’s huge! It’s just under three kilometers around, and a little more than half that tall if the flat ends are top and bottom,” Chester reported.
“What I don’t understand is why we haven’t seen any sign of their ships. We know they sent one, actually two, to Earth. I can’t believe they only have the pair,” Sybil said.
“Just from the barest hints during my discussions with Sydney, I can assure you they have things on the other side of that rock wall that we can only dream about,” said John. “By the way, the colonel has been trying to get the colony to answer him by radio for the last few minutes. I can only guess what some of those words in Russian translate to in English! I’m recording, by the way.”
“Any response from inside?” Susan inquired.
“Not a peep,” John said, smiling.
“Good,” she said with a chuckle.
* * *
Peanut, Maxwell and Christopher were watching over the shoulders of the tech team as the two spacecraft were parked in their respective slots.
“You’re leaving them both outside the shield barrier, right?” Christopher asked Peanut.
“Yes. And we’ve got round-the-clock watch on both ships,” explained Peanut.
“Sir, the colonel is a little perturbed and is demanding to speak to someone here,” said the tech monitoring the radio, snickering. “I’d give anything to speak Russian. He sounds pissed!” Everyone laughed, imagining what the colonel was actually saying.
“I wouldn’t want to be a member of his crew,” Peanut declared, setting off a new round of laughter.
“We’ve got both ships situated, Peanut. It went slicker than owl—sorry,” the tech said, looking around at the mixed crew in the center. “Anyway, they’re both in place just outside the shields. We released Jove, but we’re holding Svoboda until they fire up their engines to go home.”
Christopher stepped out into the hallway and summoned Genesis.
“Are you any closer to determining for sure whether their ship is armed?” he asked
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