President Camari stonily contemplated theincomplete communication and turned to IntelligenceDirector Dynal. Ram sat immobile, nearby.
"Allen?" Camari's raised brows posed his question.
"We couldn't get through directly to Hanno to findout why the message was cut short. So we wentspunnel to the Terminals and patched in to theDepot on coded conventional. Hanno reports hisspunnel transmitter was destroyed. He was certainhe was hoodwinked into permitting a saboteur aboardand screamed about a security breach on the SentinelSupport Plan. He said the 'saboteur' escaped beforethe alarm could be acted on. A damned lucky delay,I think."
"Did you enlighten Hanno?"
"No, sir. Too risky for Sentinel, and he has noneed-to-know. I did tell him to run deep backgroundchecks and truth verification tests on all Depotpersonnel. He objected, thinking he had alreadypinpointed the culprit. I told him to do it anyhow,slap into the brig anyone who didn't pass,and report the results to me under highestclassification through the construction site'sspunnel center."
"Good. No question they've been infiltrated. Wemust consider the depot compromised for classifieduntil Hanno assures us he's cleared the problemfrom his facility."
The President touched a button on his desk,running the message through again in its entirety.He switched the screen dark.
"The Outer Region's target might be the depot,but I wonder." Ram said. "Perhaps destroyingthe depot's spunnel transmitter is prelude toan attack. If it is, they must realize that theincident set off alarms throughout our defenses.They'll also know we can maintain spunnel contactand relay messages to and from our patrollersand other craft through the construction site."
"Considering Hanno's report on what happened,the attack on his spunnel transmitter focused onkeeping this message from getting through, not tomerely destroy the machine. That alone would nothave been worth the effort."
"We're down to one comm spunnel link in the SpecialZone," Dynal added. "The one we built on PlanetPluto is controlled by Narval's people."
"Does Sentinel have access to the transmitter atthe Terminals?"
"The sender would need to personally key inthe clearances as well as the text," said Ram,"otherwise the message would be compromised.Sentinel would be compromised. We do have thelast resort."
"Have you checked it lately?"
"We run random tests from this end to be certainthat it's ready to function. As you know, sir, ithas its uncertainties and imposes a high price."
"Back to the message," Camari sighed and rubbedhis temple gently as he pondered. "Their combinedforces, and the distances involved, place us at anenormous disadvantage."
"Without question."
"Ram, what's your estimate concerning the missingpiece?" Camari pointed to the message in his hand.
"The missing piece," Ram replied, "the one we needmost is Sentinel's assessment on where and whenwe can strike at INOR's fleet with maximum effect."
"Depends entirely on Sentinel? No other sources?"
"At this stage, none, sir."
Camari lowered his head, lost in thought. Aftera moment he raised his eyes to Ram and said,"We've got to get our thinking through to the OuterRegion, to all citizens as well as Heads of State.
"I want you to get out there, Ram. Be my emissary.Impress on whoever will listen the disasterthat all of us face, and why we must arrive at apeaceful solution. Concentrate on the leaders ofmajor nations; whichever way they go, others willfollow."
"I'll need the formal weight of our government,"Ram said.
"Of course. I'll notify them all that you are myAmbassador Plenipotentiary, and that you carrya personal message from me. Use the spunneland send me reports as you go along."
"Narval, too?"
"Of course. And while you're in his area, learn allyou can from whatever sources; but watch yourselfwith that bastard. He'd as soon cut your throat aslook at you."
##
"Category one message, spunnel-comm to Earth viaGuardian Station 4. Personal to President Camarifrom Ram Xindral. President Gelliman, Callisto,unchanged in his conviction that Slingshotwill benefit only the highly industrialized innerplanets. He repeated charges that the UIPSnon-renewables deficits resulted from poor controland excessive consumption of raw materials, plusbreakdown in recycling and conservation policies.He concluded that Slingshot is our internal problemand that it's being forced on INOR. Demands UIPShalt Slingshot construction, withdraw from theSpecial Zone, and resolve UIPS resource crisesinternally."
##
"Category one message, spunnel to Earth viaGuardian Station 4. Personal to President Camarifrom Ram Xindral. Prime Minister Manra, Io, says hewishes us well in building a bridge to another star.He makes an issue that transportation, constructionand operations for all phases of Slingshot,including ultimate storage of incoming raw matterwill be inside INOR jurisdictions; therefore, theINOR governments have a legitimate right toparticipate in apportioning Slingshot's benefits.Refuses to negotiate this point."
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"Category one message, spunnel to Earth viaGuardian Station 7. Personal to President Camarifrom Ram Xindral. Foreign Ministers Roab ofGanymede and Slega of Europa represented theirgovernments. At conclusion of meeting they issueda joint communique. Quote: it is only reasonable andproper that the governments of the Outer Region notbe excluded from an equitable share of the enormousfinancial and material resources being lavishedon the Interstellar Matter Teleport System(Slingshot). The UIPS can begin to remedy thisinjustice by agreeing to pay a transshipment taxon all materials, manufactured parts, tools andequipment, and personnel passing through theseparate INOR jurisdictions, space-ways, andcontiguous space generally. Passage feesfor individual vessels in transit also must benegotiated and included in the agreement. Unquote.
"It is my opinion that the positions taken bythe governments of the Jovian Federationare orchestrated. I suspect that reports onmy discussions with Heads of State or theirrepresentatives are being passed among them.I am departing for Titan to meet with ChairmanStabar. The Chiefs of Staff of the other Saturniangovernments and the governments of the Uranusand Neptune satellite unions have notified me thattheir views are consistent with those of ChairmanStraber. They state nothing is to be gained bypressing for separate meetings with them."
##
"Category one message, spunnel to Earth viaGuardian Station 9. Personal to President Camarifrom Ram Xindral. Chairman Staber's position is thesame as those summarized in my previous reports.Staber openly proclaims that INOR's intent is tocontrol the terminal that will receive and storeincoming substance and oversee its distribution.Insists a formal treaty be negotiated now,otherwise, the entire Slingshot Program willbe viewed as a threat to the integrity of INOR'slegitimate jurisdictions. I am proceeding to thePlanet Pluto Special Zone and will contact Narvalfrom inside the Logistics Depot's protectiveforce field. I will insist on President Narval'sguarantee of safe conduct prior to departingthe depot for Coldfield."