Chapter TWO
Rymer Camari, President of the United InnerPlanetary System entered his official residence'sconference room in a brisk walk, a loose, grayankle-length robe draped about his thin shoulders.He nodded perfunctory greetings to his Ministersof Intelligence and Diplomatic Protocols, and to theCommander of the UIPS Space Forces as he tookhis seat at the head of the long table. An abundantmane of white hair framed his aged features; hisstony glare reflected the rage they shared.
A panel in the wall slid upward to reveal atwo-meter square well. A cylindrical view tankfilled its available space. The tank cleared to theUnited Inner Planetary System's standard simulation.Colored and geometric symbols glowed the realtime positions of UIPS planets and their natural andartificial satellites and outposts, schema of spacetraffic lanes, space spunnel booster stations,the Asteroids, and the twenty Guardian Stationsequidistant along the Asteroids' outer perimeter.
Stroking a key embedded nearby in the table thePresident brought the Strategic Concepts Computeron line. "Computer," he said, "integrate theseproceedings into the database. Follow, analyzein depth across-the-board and display."
Turning to the Space Force Commander he said,"What's the situation, Jim?" His voice was flatwith the effort to control his anger.
Admiral Jim Selvin, shifted his stocky torso aboutto ease his discomfort. Battle-flinty eyes cast aquick baleful glance at his colleagues and turnedto face the President. Thin lips, slashed acrosshis rough-hewn face, twisted as he spoke.
"There's little to add to what we had an hourago," he said. "Two good pilots dead; twoimpossible-to-replace patrollers destroyed."
Rubbing his chin vigorously, he grated, "Weconfirmed that the bandit beamer drew back intoan underground tunnel that cuts into an ice gorgesouth of Coldfield. Their weapons' cache is evennow being approached by unidentified tugs. No doubtthat they're Narval's thugs and they're going toclamp a tow beam on the stores and haul them off tosome subsurface storage or assembly shop. Once theweapons are assembled, installed and calibrated wecould be on the receiving end of more nastiness."
Leaning forward over the table, he looked directlyat the President. His hand transformed into a fist,and he pounded the table in cadence with his words.
"Mr. President," he said, "the real hell of it iswe can't stop them, and we've got no one to blamebut ourselves. It's downright unrealistic to keepour self-defense forces in the Special Zone so farbelow what's needed to protect our vital interests."
"What do you suggest, Jim," the President shrugged,"break our treaties with the Outer Region? What'llthat get us?"
Jim looked directly into the President's eyes."But they're the ones violating the treaties,"he growled. "If we've ever needed irrefutableevidence, we've just had it rammed down ourthroats. We'd better get off our duffs and dosomething."
Allen Dynal, Minister for Intelligence, nodded inagreement, but did not speak. His turn was coming.
Selvin leaned back, turned his head to scowl at theview tank. Together, they contemplated the formingscene.
The Admiral's outburst had given subject matterguidance to the computer. The display shifted tothe Planet Pluto Special Zone. Two tiny red lightsflashed rapidly at the coordinates where theattacks had occurred. A steady blue light trackedthe hijacked stores.
Selvin continued. "The entire sector from whichthis attack was launched is honeycombed withutility passages and subsurface supply andmaintenance shops," he said. "They date back towhen our earliest construction cadres went in.The subsurface should have been returned to itsoriginal state when we had no further use for thetunnels and galleries. We did start to collapse theice walls and overheads; obviously, we didn't getvery far."
Selvin sighed, heavily.
"Understandable," he went on. "Hundreds ofjunctions and cutouts were dug to serve one-timeneeds. They were never mapped. The same can besaid for subsurface technical facilities. No questionthat many are still usable."
The view tank's image blurred, then cleared to showa broad expanse of Pluto's barren surface out tothe planet's horizon. A white, steady glow identifiedColdfield, the surrounding red and blue linesidentified scores of subsurface passageways andrutted trails that curved away from the domed cityin all directions.
"There's no doubt that the underground passagesand caverns are being used by Narval as maintenanceand operations hangars for his fleet," Selvin saidreturning his eyes to Camari. "Many have enoughroom to accommodate nuclear energy capsules, shipand equipment repair shops, and catapult launchers.Pseudo-gravity enhancers during constructionstabilized the floors. Foundations are secured deepin the frozen surfaces, and bonded well enough,so that even under the planet's low density, they'lltake the weight of battle wagons."
The silence hung heavily as Selvin glared at theview tank. His voice rasped. "They must haveinstalled heavy screens in the overheads. Manyof our penetration readings are dim, even withour most advanced sensors."
"That's all I have for now, Mr. President," hesaid, leaning back. Absently, his stubby fingersdrummed the tabletop. He caught himself andglanced about guiltily as he drew his hands backto the edge of the table.
Camari's eyes moved on to a somber-faced ancientwho gravely returned his stare. "Let's hear theintelligence review, Allen," the President said.
The Minister for Intelligence placed his claspedhands before him on the table and spoke. His voicewas hoarse, low and intense, and his eyes movedfrom the President to Jim Selvin, who faced himgrimly.
The view tank flickered, clouded and cleared to anoverview of the Outer Region. The scale reducedplanets, satellites, and stations to the coloredpinpoints of light with which they all were longfamiliar. The computer adjusted to focus ona magnified Plutonian sector. The Uranus andNeptune orbits, although contained within thetank displays, were cut out by the compression.The Slingshot Construction Site rode the rim.
"Updating, the latest reports of militaryconstruction, commitments and politicalrealignments among the Outer Nations are ominous,"Allen said. "They're pledging themselves to eachother through mutual assistance pacts and arebuilding military spacecraft, weapons and supportsystems to back up their agreements."
Pointing thoughtfully with his right forefinger athis left palm, Allen updated the military assets ofeach opposing nation, and correlated its potentialcapabilities to economic resources over the comingdecades and centuries until Slingshot reduced thesolar system's deficits. He wove into his analysisthe effects of orbital dynamics on normal andspunnel transit times from each Inner and OuterRegion point-of-origin to the Slingshot work sites.He moved on to the status of weapons researchand development, and identified the locations ofthe Outer Region's weapons manufacturing sitesand military training facilities.
"The long-term defense of Slingshot through purelymilitary means," he added, following a deep breath,"especially in protecting our routes and the LogDepot, is, as Jim stated, not possible given theprevailing circumstances. The so-called membersof the Independent Nations of the Outer Region areexpanding their field of operations, and they getgenerous support from satellite collectives andindividual sympathizers throughout the region.
"Our intelligence sources," Allen concluded,"report that many supporters of Plutonianobjectives are, themselves, descendants of theinsurrectionists that fomented the dissolutionof our first interplanetary union. Now, it seems,their intent is to destroy Slingshot, and us aswell."
Allen Dynal and Jim Selvin glanced at each other;they were not in disagreement.
Camari broke the hush that followed Dynal's words.
"We are well into an armed confrontation," he said."Nevertheless, whatever actions we take mustminimize destruction to life and property,require no diversions from resources allocatedto Slingshot, and in no way restrict Slingshot'sconstruction and launch schedules."
Turning his head slightly, he nodded at the lastof his three advisors. Chan Dahl, Minister ofDiplomatic Protocols, laid his massive forearms onthe table, palms down. His abrasive voice matchedhis heavy features and rotund body
. He spokerapidly in summary fashion: offering little thatwas new, Chan passed quickly over the diplomaticchasm that had formed between the UIPS andthe Outer Region after the dissolution of the firstUnited Planetary System. He summarized the complexalliances that had evolved among the independentgovernments beyond the Asteroids following thesecession, and moved on quickly to the initiativesof his Ministry to reconcile inter-regionaldifferences.
"The issue of the transit fee is critical," hesaid. "Each Outer Region nation has expressedvehement impatience to get on with its toll tax onthe UIPS for each transport or other vessel thatenters space contiguous to their planetary andsatellite orbits. They insist that such spaceis legally within their natural boundaries, andthat by merely passing through, we trespass.Restitution, they claim, is in order.
"Negotiations remain in limbo. The impasse will,quite likely, remain for some time. Our position isunchanged: the fees that they demand are withoutjustification, an extortion to which we cannotsubmit."
Throughout the discussions, the Strategic ConceptsComputer flashed a continuing display. As eachtopic was opened for discussion the view tankportrayed the corresponding regions, sectors,planets or satellites, shifting from one to theother as needed to clarify points under discussionor accompany the exploration for alternatives. Thelower section of the tank registered the computer'squantification of speculations by the President'sadvisors, and their probabilities towardrealization.
Finally, President Camari raised his hand. Hepressed a softly glowing disk on the table. Theview tank cleared. Resting his chin in the palm ofone hand, Camari gently rubbed his temple withthe fingertips of the other.
"Instructions to Strategic Concepts Computer," hebegan. "Summarize the facts adverse to our causeand our options for dealing with each. Arrange andrate the options according to their probabilitiesfor results favorable to the UIPS, and separately,favorable to the interests of the Outer Region'sNations. Consider UIPS limitations in nonrenewablemetals, minerals and other vital reserves untilSlingshot begins to produce. Take the options intoaccount and assume that Slingshot will succeedon schedule and will generate sufficient refinedmatter over time to meet the needs of both Regions.
"Project each option's draw down on resourcescommitted to Slingshot, and estimate their impacton schedules. We may need to gamble here. Crankin the latest estimates on the years it will takefor the Extractor to reach Alpha Centauri, getorganized around the job, go online, and begin toproduce. Compute out to the time that we willhave rebuilt stockpiles within the Solar System."
Leaning slowly back into his chair as he spoke,Camari lowered his hands into his lap. His eyesmoved from one advisor to the other. They returnedhis gaze, the bleakness in their eyes matching hisown. "Try different combinations within the optionsand rate them," he continued. "Examine our treatieswith the other powers and status of currentnegotiations and pending proposals. Show howeach option, which has statistical probabilityfor success up to exponent three can adverselyaffect those treaties or negotiations."
Camari drew a deep breath. "We need to takea fresh look at where we are. We've also got toavoid political irritations that may exacerbate thesituation further. On the other hand, revisions totreaties and to our positions at the negotiatingtables may be essential. Slingshot may solve ourdisagreements, but we cannot wait.
"Review our readiness and activation sequencesconsistent with our Quick Reaction Capability todeal with contingencies in the Slingshot SpecialZone. Work up details on what needs to be done andby whom to upgrade our QRC initiatives for eachcontingency that I keyed in as probable. Showcosts in still accessible resources separately andintegrate results with relevant commitments andschedules. Draft implementation plans and executiondirectives to commit resources. Update constantly,but keep all implementation directives on 'hold'until I direct otherwise.
"We meet again in two hours," Camari, said, risingfrom his chair. "Computer: be ready to give apresentation on each option and its variationswithin the parameters I specified and which surfacethrough your analyses. Double-check resourcerequirements and schedules, and tactical optionsand their possible effects on UIPS forces andassets in the Special Zone. Maintain current. WhenI select the course of action and authenticate themwith the Presidential Implementation Designators,release directives to implement the decisions.Monitor and report. This completes my instructionsto Computer."
The President turned toward the door from whichhe had entered. Pausing, he glanced back at theMinister of Intelligence.
"Allen," he said, "give me a rundown, within thehour, on our intelligence assets throughout theOuter Region. I am especially interested in yourability to intensify earliest possible infiltrationand disruption throughout Narval's domain."
The door slid shut as he passed through. Thewall panel across the view tank cavity loweredas the advisors departed.
The Strategic Concepts Computer presentedvisual displays accompanied by a gently modulatedaudio. The analysis was incisive, the coveragecomprehensive. At its conclusion, the Presidentscanned the faces of his Ministers and theCommander of the Space Forces.
"Comments?"
Scores of questions probed and tested thecomputer's logic and conclusions. Questions becameobservations, which, following discussion, becamerevisions that, were instantly extended tocorollaries. Often, objectives and programswere adjusted. Finally, it was done -- for thetime being.
Rising from his seat, the President's eyes tookin his grim advisors. Speaking softly, he passeddecisions on several recommendations to hisMinisters, Admiral Selvin, and into the Computer.Done, they sat silently for several moments,weighing the decisions' potential effects.
Rising and making his way toward the doorway,Camari motioned to the Minister of Intelligence."I've read your report on our assets in the OuterRegion, Allen. I have a special task for yourMinistry."
He motioned the Minister for Intelligence to joinhim. They passed through and the door closedsilently.