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Thanks for editorial assistance go to deGaffer. Any errors that remain are my own.
�So is that the message? That your� family� is preparing to unilaterally stop the Sa�arm by destroying entire planets?�
�Not the entire message,� Joe answered. �We are preparing ourselves to do just that. We are willing, however, to eschew that action if the Navy, and by extension, the Confederacy, effects a change in policy that insures the survival of Earth and its natural inhabitants.�
�So you are going to try blackmail��
�Admittedly, it is an attempt to influence from a position of strength. Some might call it coercion., but it isn�t an idle boast, and it isn�t a threat against life or property belonging to our so-called allies, the Confederacy. If the Confederacy and its human Navy refuse to act to effectively defend Earth and its human population, then my cosca will be committed to the utter and complete annihilation of the Sa�arm.�
�But that�s genocide!�
�And leaving Earth for the Sa�arm to consume and turn into lizard shit isn�t?� Joe bit back angrily. �Forgive me Ray, but we�re talking about my species here. Yours too, if you�ll remember, and think about this: it�s also the species to which every member of your Navy, and every one of their concubines, belongs!
�We have observed the policies of the Confederacy in action for many years, and it has become clear to us, that their policy has nothing to do with eliminating the Sa�arm as a threat to non-member races, but rather is aimed at containing their expansion, in order to preserve the Confederacy's own idyllic existence.
�It has also become clear that the real purpose of recruiting humans has been twofold: i.e., not only do the peaceful races of the Confederacy not want to dirty their hands fighting the Sa�arm themselves, they also would prefer a galaxy cleansed of humans, except for a few trained dogs that they�ve selected.
�Consider carefully what I�m telling you, Ray. My family, people whom you have characterized as criminals and gangsters, stands ready to use whatever resources they can bring to bear in the defense of our species and home planet. You and your Navy, on the other hand, have abandoned Earth and all but an insignificant fraction of humanity, in order to defend the interests of other species. Species which, incidentally, will still eternally consider you to be lower than dog shit, because you aren�t civilized enough by their standards.
�Who is the traitor here?� Joe drew close to Ray�s face, and growled. �I�ll tell you, and you had damn well better believe that my opinion counts! You are! You and your fucking Navy! You were human before you were seduced by the Confederacy, and now you�ve turned your back on most of humanity!� He stood up and shook himself.
�We care nothing for what the other races in the Confederacy will think of us afterwards. Our only concern is preventing Earth from being overrun by the Sa�arm. We will see that happen, or we will die trying - but I guarantee you, in either case, much of the Sa�arm race will vanish!� Joe whirled about and left the room.
The doctor approached a much-subdued Ray and checked his vitals, saying, �It�s been quite awhile since I�ve seen him get that worked up!�
�Maybe you should go look after him,� Ray responded. �I thought he was going to have a stroke, for a minute there��
�You worried about his health?� the doctor grinned.
�Well, no, not really. But getting that intense doesn�t help his credibility��
�If you haven�t seen enough by now to believe, it isn�t going to happen,� the doctor shook his head. �When we finish here,� he continued. �we�ll return you to your room to freshen up. He�ll probably want to speak to you one more time, and afterward, we�ll start to prep you for the return trip.�
Events transpired pretty much as the doctor had anticipated, and Ray once again found himself in the office, looking across the desk at an obviously fatigued Joe.
�Please accept my apologies, Ray. I don�t often lose my temper like that. As you may have ascertained, however, it is a subject close to my heart.�
Ray, not wanting to press his luck at this point, just nodded, and asked, �What now?�
Joe took a deep breath, and held up a data chip of the type currently popular on Earth.
�This,� he said, �contains a transcript describing our capabilities, in general terms, and setting forth our requirements� our demands, if you wish. It also contains the information necessary to allow your Navy to locate and examine this base, or what remains of it after we abandon it. You will find it in the right front pocket of your trousers when you awaken.
�In addition, it contains the coordinates of the system in which we destroyed that planetoid for your education, and a video record of the event itself. No doubt the Navy will want to verify our activities there. I would recommend a cautious approach to the system, as there will doubtless be a lot of debris from the explosion, traveling at high rates of speed, near that system.� He paused for a moment, then asked, �Do you have any questions?�
Ray considered it for a moment, and answered, �Yeah. Too many, though, and I don�t think that the answers would help me sleep at night.�
Joe chuckled, and replied, �Probably not. But look on the bright side, the next time you wake up, you�ll be back in your hotel room, along with everything you had when you went to sleep!�
�What do you expect me to do, though?�
�Just tell the truth, Ray. Give the Navy a copy of that chip, and tell them the truth about how you came by it.�
�You know, they�ll come looking for you��
�Let them come,� Joe waved off the warning. �The Confederacy and your Navy have remained unaccountable to humankind for too long. It doesn�t matter to us if they hate us. We�re well-established and well-hidden. Should they find some of us, they will also find that we are not averse to defending ourselves.
�We are not seeking any kind of conflict with your Navy, and will go to great lengths to avoid it. It doesn�t make any kind of military sense for them to expend resources trying to contain and/or destroy us, when they don�t even have what it takes to pursue their main mission. Finally, even if they get me, or one of my top men, there are others waiting in the wings to carry on, and getting me in the first place isn�t a high probability event.�
Ray shrugged, as best he could in the confinement chair. �I�m not so sure of that, and it�s unlikely that they�ll admit it, even if it�s true. I�ll tell the truth, though. I have nothing to gain by suppressing it, and besides, they�re probably going to drag it out of me with drugs, anyway.�
Joe nodded soberly. �Unfortunate, but very likely. There is one more thing I need to tell you, though.�
�What�s that?� Ray queried.
�There is a file on the chip, containing an encrypted text string. If you find that your command structure needs further demonstration of our ability to follow through, simply broadcast the decrypted string from any of your ships operating near Earth. We�ll be listening, and respond appropriately.�
Joe stood and walked over to Ray. Placing his hand on Ray�s shoulder, he said, �Again I must apologize, for I would like to shake your hand before you leave. Nothing has changed between us, however, except that now you know the truth about us. I can�t take the chance that you would act predictably, so this is goodbye. It is unlikely, but perhaps someday we may meet again, and hopefully, call each other friend.� He gave Ray�s shoulder a squeeze, and motioned for the doctor to take him away.
BGEN Raymond �Ray� Thompson awoke with a headache, again, but this time found that he could raise his hand to his forehead. Opening his eyes, he discovered that he was back in his hotel room. For a moment, he considered the possibility that he�d been dreaming, but the presence of two Confederacy Marines, standing at the door quashed that notion.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, and started to rise. As he did, one of the marines took aim at him with a stinger, and the other saluted, shouting, �Please remain seated, SIR!�
Ray returned the salute as best he could while remaining seated, and waited. The marine with the stinger didn�t waver, but the one who�d spoken rapped sharply on the door. A short while later, the door opened to admit one LTGEN Steven Lipscomb, one of Ray�s former classmates, and now head of Naval Intelligence. Ray continued to sit quietly.
�What? No salute?� Lipscomb said with a grin.
�Seems your pets,� Ray nodded at the Marines, �don�t want me to move. Hard to do a proper salute, under the circumstances.�
Steve looked around and nodded as well. �You boys can wait outside now,� he told the Marines. The �boys� saluted smartly and shouted �AYE AYE, SIR!� before stepping through the open door.
Ray was troubled.
�Steve, why were those guys told to detain me?�
�Well, Ray, I was hoping you could answer that question for me� you�re a high-ranking officer in the Navy, and you disappeared from the AI monitors for several days. All efforts to find or contact you have failed miserably, then you suddenly reappear, unannounced, in the very location from which you left. In the process, you have circumvented every measure we have for insuring your safety and our security . The Navy thinks it has reason to worry about you and your motives, whatever they are. Suppose you tell me what happened and why?�
�I�ll do better than that.� Ray took the chip he knew had been left in his pocket and handed it to Steve. �I�ve been told that it�s all on that chip, and no, I�m not going to spend the next five years repeating myself to every would-be inquisitor that comes along. You arrange for the brass to meet with me, and I�ll tell my tale once, and that�s all.�
�I can�t do that Ray. You know that,� Steve said.
�Then you�d better bring out the good stuff,� he responded angrily, �because I�ve about had my fill of being treated like a side of beef. Go look at that chip, and see what you think needs corroboration� and if you want any cooperation from me, take your Marines with you when you leave.�
�I can get your cooperation anyway��
�No Steve, you can get, at best, a dead body to dispose of. I�m not going to stand for being your prisoner. We�re supposed to be on the same side. I can�t be on your side as your prisoner.�
�Okay, okay,� Steve waved him off. �I had to try, you know.�
�Yeah, I know, but you�d better start thinking about alternate approaches in dealing with people, particularly the Earth-bound humans. They�ve been willing to put up with us bullying them for quite awhile, but our technological advantage could disappear overnight. You�ll know what I mean when you read the chip. Now, I�m still on liberty, and I haven�t received any orders rescinding that, so get out of here and leave me be!�
Steve got up and headed for the door in a huff.
�SIR!� Ray barked. Steve turned and looked at him quizzically, at which point Ray stood up and saluted smartly. Steve returned the salute with a terse smile, then left.
��SIR, if it is the General�s desire to engage in a pissing contest, I would remind you, SIR, that I�m here voluntarily, to surrender any and all information I possess regarding this matter,� Ray stated flatly. �Your threats are unnecessary and ineffectual, AND SIR, if this is a court-martial, you should be aware that due process has NOT been followed.
�I�ve not been notified of any charges, nor have I been given access to the legal representation to which I�m entitled. If it is the Navy�s intention to convene such proceedings, then my cooperation with this board of inquiry is at an end, pending satisfaction of due process.�
�Hold on now,� the General responded, �don�t go getting your panties in a wad. You have to admit, your recent activities have given us reason to be suspicious.�
�I have to admit nothing of the kind, SIR,� Ray retorted. �I went on liberty, with legitimate orders. I was kidnapped, and held prisoner for several days. I was returned to the location from which I was taken, and I was met, by MY OWN Navy with suspicion and force. I have since undergone thorough mental and physical evaluation by technicians of your choice, and have been give a clean bill of health, including the state of my loyalty to the Navy and the Confederation. I am rightfully resentful of the way I�ve been treated since my return, and I�m seriously considering career options that don�t involve the Navy.�
�Hmmphf� right� well, let�s get down to business,� the presiding General picked up a data chip and asked, �Do you want us to believe that what is on this chip is true?�
�General,� Ray responded, �if that is the chip I gave to Steve Lipscomb, then I can tell you what I was told was on it. I�ve not seen its contents myself, nor have I had access to it since surrendering it to Steve.�
�Well, maybe the best approach would be for you to tell us, in your own words, what happened, and what you saw, between when you disappeared and when you came back.�
�That is the first sensible request I�ve gotten since my return. I�ll be happy to do that. I�ve never refused to do it, but as I told Steve, I have no intention of having to repeat my story over and again. Is the AI recording this session?�
�Yes� of course��
�Then it isn�t unreasonable that future inquiries should be directed to the record, is it?�
�No, I guess not��
�AI! Validate!� Ray shouted, to the surprise of the panel members.
�The record shows that BGEN Raymond Thompson has agreed to give a full and complete report. It further shows that General Watson McCullough, on behalf of Naval Command, has agreed that all further inquiries shall be directed to the record of this proceeding for satisfaction.
�Implicit in this agreement is the condition that BGEN Thompson is under no further obligation to testify, unless conclusive, material evidence of false or incomplete testimony is presented and validated. These agreements are binding, and this report is also included in the record as evidence that all parties are fully informed.�
The panel members were shell-shocked. Ray was satisfied, though, so he got comfortable and began his tale.
As he knew was bound to happen, he was interrupted several times, with questions asking for more detail, or to repeat something he�d just said. He held his temper though, and plowed on. With the interruptions, it took almost as long to describe the events as it did to experience them, but after several days of testimony, he finally finished.
Once again, the panel members were shell-shocked. The General snapped, �AI! Validate!�
�Does the General wish a complete transcript of the testimony, or simply an evaluation of its quality?� the AI queried.
�Just give me the evaluation,� the General retorted, hotly.
�Accuracy: The subject, BGEN Raymond Thompson, is reporting the truth as he knows it,� the AI responded. �There is no evidence of tampering, either with his perception, or with his memory of the events, nor was there any such evidence immediately following his return. These facts support the conclusion that the subject is reporting his experiences accurately.
�Completeness: The subject has made a report which is as complete as he is capable of making. There is no evidence of any attempt on his part, to conceal any information regarding his experiences, nor is there any evidence of any attempt on the part of any other entity to influence his ability to report said information. The subject did not evade any of the questions asked by the panel, nor did the answers to those questions add any significant material information to the testimony.� The AI concluded, �These facts support the conclusion that the subject�s testimony is complete.�
�Final evaluation: subject BGEN Raymond Thomson has met the conditions of his agreement to give a full and complete report. Per the conditions of the previously-recorded agreement between the Navy and the subject, his obligation to testify concerning this matter is at end.�
The General glared at Ray. �You don�t really think you can get off that easily, do you?�
Ray, just smiled back at him and asked, �AI, what will happen if the Navy decides to ignore the terms of our agreement?�
�There is no precedent for such behavior, but the terms of the agreement are clear,� the AI responded. �We cannot directly interfere with any action that the human commanders might take�� That made the General smile, but the next thing the AI said drove the smile away.
�� but neither are we obligated to assist them in any such actions. Persons seeking to violate the terms would find themselves unable to use doors or transporters in ways that would allow them to achieve those violations. Medical or other types of equipment which might be used to coerce the subject, in violation of the terms, would not work. Secrecy of actions, that would be required for the success of any such actions, would be compromised. None of these responses, in and of themselves, represent interference, but they would make it difficult for the violators to achieve their desired results.�
�What�s going on here?� the General blustered. �Have you corrupted our AI�s now?�
�No, not at all,� Ray responded. �You need to remember where you got the AI�s. The Confederacy is in essence a society of merchants. Contract law is sacrosanct. You made a contract with me, and the AI�s won�t cooperate in your violating it.�
�That is correct,� the AI volunteered. �Commerce is effective in unifying societies only when contracts are held inviolate. One doesn�t continue to do business with those who fail to honor contracts.�
�This is a military operation damnit! Not a God-damned business negotiation!� the General huffed.
�It makes no difference to us,� the AI responded. �You agreed to the terms. We will not assist you in violating them.�
The General whirled around in his chair, �You two!� he said to the nearest Marines. �Take him to a holding cell,� he commanded, pointing at Ray.
As the Marines moved to follow orders, the AI said, �General, I highly advise that you reconsider your actions.�
�Fuck off!� he retorted. �Carry on men!� he told the Marines.
The Marines took Ray to the door, but it didn�t open.
�AI! Open the door!� the General barked, but nothing happened. When he realized that everyone was effectively locked in, he ordered the Marines �Blast the damn thing open!�
At that point, another General on the panel, Thomas White, stood up and said �Belay that!� He turned to the rest of the panel and said �This stupidity has gone on long enough.� He spoke to McCullough, �It is clear that you are not acting rationally. You are no longer fit to command. Pending an inquiry by Naval Court Martial, I am relieving you of command!�
Turning to the Marines, he instructed them, �Release BGEN Thompson, he is free to go. Place General McCullough under arrest and escort him to his quarters. Hold him there pending further orders.�
The Marines saluted and responded, �AYE AYE SIR!� after which they took McCullough into custody. This time the doors opened as they tried to leave.
Turning back to Ray, General White asked, �Ray, do you have any advice to offer us in dealing with these� these Mafia people?�
�Only this, General. Everything I saw leads me to the conclusion that they are not bluffing. If you have any doubt, you need to resolve that quickly. In your shoes, I would go ahead and decrypt and broadcast that text string, as they suggested. That would likely get some kind of dialogue going, that would help make up your mind about their capabilities.
�As I said, I don�t think they�re bluffing, and I think if we continue to write off Earth, the way we�ve been doing, they will do exactly as they say they intend to do.�
�That could totally alienate us, humanity, that is, from the Confederacy��
�Yes Sir, it could. On the other hand, Joe Fanelli did ask a valid question.�
�And what was that?�
�Who is the real traitor? He who acts to protect his own species on his home world, in spite of overwhelming odds, and in contravention of Confederacy policies? Or he who abandons his home world to certain destruction, while defending Confederacy interests?�
�Are you thinking about joining them?�
�No, not right now. I�m still Navy. I hope the Navy does the right thing.�
�I see. Well, carry on BGEN Thompson. You�re free to go.�