Chapter THIRTY-ONE
Camari strode into the Conference Room, tookhis seat at the head of the long table, and staredbleakly at his advisors. The faces of the Ministersof Diplomatic Protocols and Intelligence were grim;the Commander of the Space Forces ready to explode.
"I suppose you've all studied Ram's report," Camarisaid in a low, angry voice. "What do you think?Selvin?"
"If they take the depot," Admiral Selvin said,"we're out of business. Even if we get the depotback undamaged, we'll be unable to make up thetime lost. The construction and launch schedulesare that tight."
"What do you suggest?"
"Stop them -- now."
"They'll know we're coming when our fleet lines upto enter the spunnel. The gateway can handle ourmilitary craft, no problem there. What we cannotcount on is INOR's failing to see us on the move."
"How do we get around that?"
"Diversionary tactics; draw their attention toa major initiative on our part in which all of INORhas role vital to its interests, if not survival.Risky, but we have no choice."
The Strategic Concepts Computer recorded, analyzed,and reported. They listened, then talked.
##
The Solar Spunnel Communications Control flasheda Category One Alert across the system. The Alertwas directed to all planets, satellites, stations,outposts, and all ships in space from Mercury todeep within the Oort Cloud far beyond the Slingshotconstruction sites.
Rymer Camari, President of the United InnerPlanetary System wished to address the citizensof all nations on a matter of extreme urgency, onethat affects humankind throughout the entire SolarSystem. The INOR Chiefs of State were urged toconvene their Executive and Legislative Councilsand to listen to the UIPS President.
Interplanetary comm-spunnel boosters were raised tomaximum power and range. The added power clearedCamari's image and speech for override into allopen aud-viz transmitters and receivers throughoutthe system.
When Camari's features formed in view tanks or onscreens his manner was grave, and his tone solemnand deliberate. The message was brief.
"Greetings to all citizens and Governments of ourSolar Community," he began. "We wish you well.I have chosen this time and this means to speakto you directly because the threat to all of use isreal and our peril increases by the hour. Unless weact immediately and in concert, disaster will befallus all.
"Not long ago two of our manned recon craft wereattacked and destroyed near Planet Pluto. Theseships were part of a small protective force thatthe UIPS maintains in the Plutonian Special Zonefor the safety of the Slingshot terminals and itslogistics depot.
"The Government of Planet Pluto has been familiarwith the patrollers' mission to protect Slingshotassets in the Construction Zone since the Programwas in its early planning stages. In these latestoperations, one of our patrols was known to bescouting the Plutonian outback for subsurfacetunnels and galleries where unscrupulousadventurers sneak off to hide after preying on ouroutposts and transports. The other UIPS patrollerhad identified a cache of contraband weapons inspace that presented a clear threat to Slingshot.
"The attack on the two UIPS ships could not haveoccurred without the prior knowledge, approvaland very likely, the direct orders from the highestauthorities in the Plutonian Government."
The President sat forward in his chair and his faceloomed larger across the system. His voice lowered,and increased its intensity.
"We cannot consider these incidents in isolation.Our transports to the Slingshot depot andconstruction site are being raided and harassedby terrorists and pirates who are directed byand provided sanctuary by both official andnon-official entities. We are compelled to concludethat INOR criminal adventurers and pirates act inthe context of agreements among their Governments.Doing so constitutes direct military and economicwarfare against the UIPS and is an attempt tosabotage the Slingshot mission.
"I must tell you now we are outraged by thisconspiracy and these attacks. The UIPS doeshave recourse. It can respond in kind.
"What then? Warships carrying weapons ofunprecedented destructive power are at the readyin both regions. Have we no choice but to keepescalating provocation, sneak attacks and reprisalsuntil our full military fleets are unleashed intheir fury against each other? If we get to this,citizens of INOR, do not rule out reprisals on yourencapsulated communities. Be aware: history clearlyshows us that there are indeed few, if any, realsanctuaries for civilian populations in times ofwar."
He paused to let the words sink in. His voicebecame crisp and forceful.
"I am now faced with this decision: Should the UIPSretaliate against Planet Pluto and all other membersof INOR that interfere with innocent passage of ourtransports to and from the Slingshot sites?
"That is one course open to us; it would bringdeath and havoc all across this star system weknow as our home. We must look to alternatives. Thecreators and wielders of weapons must demonstratereason along with valor. War, in any form and atany level, is a blind evasion of the real problemsthat confront humankind.
"When the old United Planetary System was replacedby the UIPS and INOR, the relationships amonggovernments and peoples deteriorated. We driftedapart. The few interregional agreements that didevolve supported special interests. Once ingrained,they became acceptable, even generally attractive,practices. Now we each have our spheres ofinfluence, and we guard them jealously -- and oftenwith apprehension.
"There remains, to this day, a deep distrust andfear that one nation or independent colony, or anycollective, will attempt to secure advantage overanother. Each of us, focused on our own interests,sees the danger and seeks to avoid being itsvictim. This infectious distrust and fear must becleansed from our system-wide community of nationsif we are ever to live in peace with each other.
"Misunderstandings have arisen over the centuriesconcerning the intentions for Slingshot facilitiesand personnel in place throughout what has nowbecome INOR territories or jurisdictions. We acceptour share of blame for these misconceptions.Let us dispel them.
"The Collector Terminal, as you all know, will bedisengaged upon completion and take its positionon the system's rim. When the launch windowopens, and it will be open to us for only a very brieftime, the Extractor must depart -- there will be nosecond chance for several centuries. The Extractormust fly as fast and as true as the missile didfrom the sling of David to the head of Goliath.The Extractor is our missile, Alpha Centauri isour target and, as David's leather sling was theinstrument to save an ancient civilization. Theorbit of Planet Pluto powers the sling that willsave our civilizations for the ages which extendbefore us, but only if we act in unity.
"What happens afterward? When the Extractorhas departed, we will no longer need the logisticsdepot, and UIPS citizens in the Zone will returnhome. All but a small portion of our facilities,equipment, and supplies will be transferred on siteto the Plutonian Government or INOR generally.Whatever is not wanted by its new owners wewill remove and help Planet Pluto to convert andreconstruct Coldfield and the rest of the planetto fit the needs of its citizens. We will providematerial support and training for transition toan infrastructure and administration of Pluto'schoice. We invite all of INOR to share in thistask."
Camari leaned back for a short pause. His eyeslooked beseechingly at his unseen audience. Hisvoice softened.
"That was the past and, admittedly, a poorfoundation upon which to build; let us now look toa more positive future. I make this proposal to allGovernments of our star system, the commonheritage of humankind.
"We are in disarray. As history has demonstratedtime and again there are no real winners incontests of military might, to the contrary. Ourresponse to the incidents off Planet Pluto is thatwe reject reprisal merely for vengeance, or forimposing ourselves on the Plutonian people. In thesame vein, we reject war against any Governmentwithin INOR. Not because we cannot wage war, butbecause war would annihilate cities and lives onboth sides. Further, Slingshot would be lost to us,and ultimately, the entire solar civilization wouldwane and d
isappear.
"I propose we meet in space, along the borderbetween our Regions at a place of mutual agreement.Let us convene as equals to examine our differences.We must give greater credence to each other's needsand aspirations and arrive at consensus on sharingin the responsibilities for this, our family ofplanets and satellites. Let us search for waysto combine our diverse interests into a new andmajestic pioneering spirit for the great leap tothe stars yet to come.
"This is the challenge and the opportunity."