VISUAL EFFECTS / CH. 27:SHAREHOLDER MEETING
COUNCIL ASSEMBLY HALL, DOME 2, MARS. 9AM, FRISOL 21ST MARCH
“Frank! Good to see you!” Alice exclaimed, “You're going to get a seat at the big table.”
“I do?”
“All shareholders holding one percent of votes or more get a seat there.”
“And I've got that much?”
“Of course.”
“I believe you.”
“What I don't want to do is be in Eloise's position of trying to work out exactly how many votes everyone else has. She's Council Secretary these days, and keeper of the big books.”
“Doesn't it just depend on land, then?”
“No, it depends on who is descended from whom and how many ways the vote is split.”
“Oh, right.” his eyes were sparkling, Alice noticed. There wasn't much wrong with Frank's mind, despite his ninety years. “Good job I brought the forest then.” He held up a little notebook.
“The forest?”
“Lots of trees. Family ones. Some things, you don't even trust to the Council. It's not very up to date, but I expect it'll help. I was Council secretary for a few decades, you know?”
“Eloise!” Alice called, “I think Frank's your knight in shining armour.”
Eloise had been desperately trying to work out what she was sure ought to be the cross-referencing system in the big books, cross-linking the record of parents and their children. It certainly had seemed to be it when she'd done some spot checks earlier in the week, but when she had started following the references for the first registrants it seemed to have fallen apart.
She'd just told Alice that she was thinking she might have to resort to trying to rebuild everyone's entire family tree.
Frank had been helped into the room by his son. Once his father was safely seated beside Eloise, and explaining the way that he'd obfuscated the records in the registers, Scaredy Jim asked, “Alice, just to be sure, there's no spies or assassins around are there?”
“Spies as in people who'd report details of that conversation there, for instance?”
“Or tell people who'd send assassins, yeah.”
“No assassins. There are some shareholder representatives who're arriving on very expensive flight plans in time for tomorrow's meeting. You won't want to tell your home address to them. Before you ask, none are planning any lethal force or carrying any bomb or poison.”
“What about plagues or kinetic energy weapons?” he asked.
“None. Nor are any of them capable of rigging a reactor to explode. And since that's just information which might be sent later, I've checked and there's no one in the Solar System who's planning to get them that information at the moment.”
“So, there are some bad guys, but they're not very bad?”
“Exactly. And in line with the restriction on reporting what happens here, we're going to have a ban on recording devices. Simon and some others from the university are going to rig up detectors to make sure no one brings them in.”
“They'll be detector-proof, surely.”
“Simon's going to have help. Have you ever met Cecilia, as in creator of the infamous Thornthwaite thunderbolt?”
“Urm, don't think so.”
“She's a lovely young woman but she's also very good at being scary. I expect the punk-rock haircut helps.”
“Hold on, you mean the Durrel's new daughter-in-law?”
“Yes, her.”
“Good voice, interesting hairstyle.”
“Ha! I should have known you'd not be thinking foodstuffs. She's going to be on one of the scanners, Simon on the other. Between the two of them I don't think anyone's going to get through.”
“Why not?”
“Feel free to ask her. I'm not allowed to tell you.”
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COUNCIL ASSEMBLY HALL, DOME 2, MARS. 9AM, SATURSOL 22ND MARCH
In the end, they'd put up notices and also had some volunteers announcing in loud voices: “In accordance with the rules of secrecy for this meeting and by decree of the Mars Council, no recordings, audio or visual, may be made of this meeting. Please hand all recording devices to the staff. If you absolutely must have your wrist unit with you then be aware that there is no network connectivity to outside the room, you are required to cover the lens with a tamper-evident sticker and have it beside a local noise generator which may damage the microphone. Tampering with the sticker will result in your detention. Attempting to smuggle in a recording device will result in its permanent confiscation along with any other suspect items.”
The representatives of the three major shareholders decided such rules didn't apply to them and ignored the staff waiting to accept their recording devices.
First they passed through the detectors. As the Indian representative entered, the detector bleeped loudly, and the man was led away by guards from the prison for further searches. The other two felt smug, and were surprised to be stopped by two people wearing blue-painted breather-masks and anti-glare goggles. Someone had written around the mouthpiece 'let no lie pass'. “You are required to swear before us that you have no recording device.” the woman said, first in English, then in passable Mandarin and finally in Russian. Cecilia hadn't got very good grades in international languages, but she had taken them.
“I have my wrist unit,” the Russian said, in impeccable English.
“Do you wish us to subject it to a local noise field reaching a hundred and forty decibels, (which could cause structural damage to the microphone and other sensitive parts) and put a sticker on the lens which might leave a permanent residue, or would you like to turn it in for safe keeping?” Simon asked from behind his mask.
“I'll hand it in.”
“I suggest you also hand in your other evesdropping devices. My colleague here has a very suspicious mind, and suggests that it is easy to conceal bugs in clothes.”
“I will also hand in my wrist unit and other innocent electronics devices,”
the Chinese man said.
“We don't mind the innocent ones,” Cecilia said. “Just the ones that might breach our privacy laws.”
[He's just thought of his tie pin, Cecilia.] Alice supplied.
[Heard him.] “If you'd like to come this way, sirs?” Cecilia said, turning the man and, putting some of the skills of her ill-spent youth to good practice, detached his tie clip with a quick motion. “This honourable gentleman has decided to hand in his wrist unit, this small spy device, and maybe some more things too,” she told the awaiting staff member.
[Simon says the Russian's briefcase is trustworthy in the same way your thunderbolt is as mild as a mother's milk,] Alice passed on.
[I pity the poor kid, then,] Cecilia thought back.
“Your briefcase should stay, shouldn't it sir?” she asked the Russian representative, pointedly.
“I do not know what you're talking about,” he bluffed, deciding she had no way to discover the microphone in the lining, and picking it up.
“You've just decided I can't discover the microphone in the lining.” She gave a whistle and some security guards jogged over, “Microphone in the lining of the briefcase. I am also quite suspicious of his shoes and his immaculately tailored jacket.”
“Right, sir, one full strip-search and scan. Anything suspicious will be permanently confiscated as will this briefcase. You were warned. If we find all your clothes suspicious, then we have some prison issue overalls you may borrow.”
The Chinese man removed his own shoes, collected some paperwork from his briefcase, and left it with the staff-member.
Watching it all from the doorway had been a reporter from the Mars branch of International News. His boss might be in the meeting room already, but he knew exactly how to submit his report.
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NEWS ARTICLE, FOR EARTH AND MARS PUBLICATION
Privacy rules bite MarsCorp shareholders
Having gone to extreme measures to turn up to the shareholder's meeting on time, you'd have thought that the shareholder representatives would have read the warning notices about not trying to invade the privacy of firster Frank Ghandi, and the other seconder and thirder shareholders. But no. Protesting his innocence, at least on his way towards his interview with truthsayers, the Indian delegate entered the room wearing overalls normally restricted to prisoners — some scoundrel had wired his jacket and trousers with a complete array of electronic devices. The gentleman from China quickly realized that the Council is fully able to carry out the threats issued and that no illegal recording or photography was going to happen. The Russian delegate tried to bluff and while he retained his clothes he was submitted to a very rigorous search after the confiscation of his briefcase.
The question of why they were so keen to record the meeting will no doubt be widely speculated upon, but it is clear that should other attempts be made at exterminating all the descendants of the brave firsters, a photographic record of their faces would be of great assistance to any would-be assassins.
Our readers who wonder why security inside the venue was so strict while there was no apparent security outside would do well to consider why so many people were milling around outside the meeting room and yet so few going in at the time the delegates arrived. The fact of the matter, of course, is that most of the shareholders were already inside, just in case, and those outside were volunteers. A number were recently rehabilitated crims, for whom we assume the five hectare thankyou from the Mars Council for being part of the crowd will be particularly welcome. Some among them found it particularly satisfying to see high officials of their previous regime, which had deported some of their fellow inmates more for daring to speak against the system than actual crimes, getting a little taste of even-handed justice on Mars.
Should the even-handedness of the system be challenged, I report that the following security incidents occurred:
A fourther tried to enter with a minature recorder — confiscated.
A locally based representative of an Earth government was forced to hand over his wrist unit.
A seconder tried to enter with a camera — confiscated.
The step-daughter of a seconder was initially excluded as having no biological link and so no vote. At her request (on the basis of private statements to her by her mother), paternity tests are being carried out. If confirmed then she will have a right of entry, as a seconder herself.
A locally based woman representing an Earth government was surprised and embarrassed to learn that, contrary to propaganda, her nation has no shares in MarsCorp. She later received confirmation that she had no right to attend and that it had been a mistake from a junior clerk to suggest she should try.
A locally based man was found to have falsely claimed to represent an Earth government.
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9.30AM, OUTSIDE COUNCIL ASSEMBLY HALL
“I hereby swear my Mum said I've got firster blood,” the woman said. She was about thirty.
“Truth,” Cecilia confirmed.
“But she didn't say who my biological father was.” the woman, Francine, said.
“Truth.” Cecilia confirmed.
“So, on that basis, and based on your age, you've got a chance that your mother was entirely truthful, but that you're a thirder with no vote yet, and another chance that you're Scaredy Jim's half-sister, again with no vote.”
Claudia Fedira pointed out. “I think you're still excluded until the results come back, sorry.”
“I wish I'd thought of trying to get the paternity test sorted out earlier. I was just reading that article about the journalist visiting Scaredy Jim's home that got me thinking of coming — you know, the bit where Jim asks Frank if the gold code was a list of his girlfriends? I thought, well, there's always a possibility that my mum was one. And there is my name, but that was my mum's grandmother's name too.”
“If you don't mind me asking, you've never wondered who your dad was?” Cecilia asked.
“I knew exactly who my dad was,” Francine replied, “I just didn't know who got my mum pregnant when she was young and stupid. She started dating Dad soon after I able to walk, so I don't remember anyone else.”
“Sorry. Bad question,” Cecilia apologised.
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COUNCIL ASSEMBLY HALL, 10.30AM, SATURSOL 22ND MARCH
“I believe,” Alice said calmly, “quite strongly, and indeed with evidence on my side, that that was the biggest amount of cods'wallop and jitsplurt I've ever heard, and now the three major shares-holders have said their set pieces, as dictated by their respective governments, I'll say mine. If the acting company secretary could please pass out the extracts from previous minutes my earthling government has collated, please? Thank-you. For the past sixty something years, my earthling government has been raising the issue of why the promises of self-determination made to Frank Gandhi and his colleagues have been missing from the MarsCorp plaque, and whether this implied a decision to deny those promises had been made. Each time the issue was raised, a motion to defer to the next meeting was made and carried by a majority vote, that is to say by the big three voting together, and after the first few votes the rest decided they might as well abstain for all the good it did. Let it be noted that this issue was first raised long before the firsters and seconders went into hiding. I think we all know who stood to benefit the most from their death or removal from the public scene. “So, I will say my piece. When I left Earth I guessed a number of things: Firstly, that MarsCorp was selling Martians gloop instead of imported biomatter; secondly that MarsCorp shipping was vastly overcharging MarsCorp manufacturing; thirdly, that MarsCorp manufacturing was treating Martians as an indentured labour-force of land-owning serfs, paying them with gloop-derrived biomatter, at a cost to the Corp of an amount well below what the United Nations has decreed as subhuman wages.
"These were guesses, understand. I felt they were well-founded but they were guesses. If the other divisions of MarsCorp hadn't been so critical to the life of almost a million Martians I'd have probably said the whole management ought to be in jail and the big three shareholders who've been running the Corporation as they saw fit and totally ignoring the views of the minor shareholders, brought before a special session of the United Nations court. Those were my surmises, my guesses. I also knew that attitudes on Earth to Martians were very negative.
“My earthling government has been working behind the scenes, doing what it could to encourage Martians to study on Earth, in the hope that this would help with the attitudes such as those recorded in the minutes of previous shareholders' meetings. It did, but not to the extent they'd hoped. They also granted the freedom of information request that helped me form a better picture of what was going on. “So, why did I come? Partly because I hate corruption. But mainly because God spoke to an obscure physicist and told him to tell me a message that turned my upside down life back the right way up again, and part of that message was that from God's point of view I had a job to do. A big one. I thought at the time it was freeing a million captives, but actually I think God wanted me to do something else. Not just expose lies and replace them with truth, not just free captives, but to make it clear that He is the one Martians should be thanking, not me, not my government. He is the one who has been working far more subtly and surely than any other. He is the one that allowed me to stumble across sources and information I needed to reach my conclusions, He is the one who has encouraged and strengthened me, He is the one who will ultimately judge those responsible for the diminished crowd we see today. He is the one who caused the first group of assassin's reign of terror to be halted by heart-attacks, infections and the like. He is the one who caused the second assassin to develop an allergy to the sabotage fluid he applied to breathers.
“Let it be understood by everyone here that the Martian currency is no longer so much gloop. Let it be understood that MarsCorp can be a profitable corporation, that MarsCorp manufacturing is inherently profitable, just not to the amount that the money-grabbing major shareholders have demanded. Let it be also known that according to sources I'm not going to reveal, the management of MarsCorp have in the large part bowed to the shareholder's demands grudgingly, and that some of the strange decisions we've seen, such as not having spare captains for the Jupiter-class vessels, have been a calculated ploy against the day that the shareholders demands for mass immigration become irresistible, and instead of a thousand passengers with cargo they pack in about five thousand per vessel as per the design criteria set out by the shareholder's meeting fifteen years ago.
“MarsCorp has not, I believe, been the consummate corporate bully that conspiracy theorists paint it to be. Yes, the chief executives have bowed to pressure from the big three shareholders, which they carefully applied away from the what limited scrutiny this meeting could apply, but I do not believe that the present incumbents believed they had any option other than resign and stay very quiet. Understand, shareholders one and all, that a country that sponsors assassins on Mars can be assumed to have no qualms aboutassassinating a few executives who threatened to kick up a fuss about what the big three shareholders wanted. So, how can I dare to stand up and accuse Russia, China and India of these terrible things, when they might have assassins to send after me? Firstly because I love truth, secondly because I hate corruption, thirdly because I know the one who judges empires and brings princes to nothing and I've discovered that I'm much much more afraid of disappointing Him than I am of death. I don't think I'm afraid of that at all, actually.”
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12.45 P.M., ANTEROOM OF ASSEMBLY HALL.
“Frank Gandhi,” Claudia Fedira said sternly, “your misspent youth lasted quite a long time, didn't it?”
“Uh oh.” he said to no one in particular, with the air of an unrepentant schoolboy, “I think I'm in trouble.”
“Meet Francine,” Claudia said.
“Hi. Do I know you? You sure remind me of someone.”
“That'd be my mum, I expect. I'm told I look like her.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Urm. Remind me of her name, will you?”
“Cosette.”
“Oh! Of course. Lovely girl, full of life.”
“Not any more,” Francine corrected, “fifteen years ago, she and dad were out at the other claim, and had a life support failure, then their breathers failed.”
“My deepest sympathies. I presume your dad was Theo?”
“Yes.”
“I was sorry to lose her, but she was right, it was too big an age gap. I couldn't keep up with her.”
“You mean she dumped you?” Francine said.
“Of course. I'd have married her if it was up to me. I don't suppose she mentioned me ever?”
“Only that she'd dated a firster,” Francine said, “Turns out it was you.”
“It's nice to meet you, sorry, memory glitch, what did Claudia say your name was?”
“Francine.”
“Oh, I remember, she said she'd got a grandmother called that. So, Claudia, what have I done wrong?”
“Not so much, I guess,” Francine said, “It clearly wasn't all your fault if mum dumped you.”
“Have a seat, Frank,” Claudia offered.
“You're gearing up to tell me something,” he accused.
“More of a question really, Frank,” Francine said, “It looks like mum named me after her grandmother and my biological father. Want to meet your grandkids?”
“I've got grandkids?” he sat down heavily.
“Only four so far,” Francine said.
“I've got a beautiful daughter and grandkids!” Frank said in wonderment, “Four?”
“Congratulations, Frank,” Claudia said.
“Grandkids! Where's Jim? Jim!” he shouted, “Come and meet Cosette's girl! this is Francine, Isn't she pretty!”
“I've got a girlfriend, Dad,” Jim said, and drew a breath so he could repeat his oft-stated gripe about not being into cradle snatching, unlike his father had been.
Frank interrupted. “You've also got a half-sister half your age.”
“Paternity test result officially recorded ten minutes ago,” Claudia offered the data crystal.
Frank waved it away. “I've got four grandchildren, Jim! Four!”
“Two boys, two girls,” Francine supplied.
“Well, that'll liven the place up a bit,” Jim said, “you'd better come and have a look at the family plot, sometime. Very nice to meet you. Maybe dad'll let up about me letting down the family line now.”
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3.45PM
“I have a technical question, from my son, who's recently gained his doctorate in chemistry,” Anna asked, “I'm not sure this is the correct venue, but I'll ask it anyway, if I may.”
“Go ahead,” Frank Gandhi said. He'd become the unelected chairman of the meeting after the MarsCorp official who'd been running it had left.
His leaving the meeting was probably because Frank had told people to pass round the crate of rotten vegetables that he'd brought, after the official had raised the topic of a vote of thanks to the Earth-based shareholders for sending representatives to Mars.
“It's in two parts,” Anna asked, “Firstly, why is MarsCorp importing nutrients, rather than using what's here? It's not like there aren't plenty of minerals and fusion reactors on this planet. Secondly: he has developed a profitable processing chain for improving regolith. His entire claim is now improved regolith, along with those of some friends as he's been perfecting the process. He has considered setting up in competition with MarsCorp, but given the size of the planet he feels that perhaps it might be advantageous to have MarsCorp as a business partner, and wonders what they'd offer for a hundred-year license to use his method. I think the question for this meeting is do we ask the MarsCorp directors of terraforming and on-planet operations if there are still strategic reasons that they are using almost the most expensive terraforming and regolith improving methods available?”
“When you say 'profitable', could you state what he's charging clients?” someone from MarsCorp asked.
“I meant profitable in the sense that at today's prices for the chemical products he gets from the process, he could employ someone to drive his contraption over unclaimed land and pay for another contraption in about three months, as long as the driver drove carefully and didn't break anything. Which I count as pretty unlikely, actually. I'd say it is a fragile money making prototype right now. But I see no inherent reason it shouldn't be a rugged money-making production model.”
“I'm only a junior manager in MarsCorp terraforming, but I think we'd be very interested, maam. Especially since at the moment we have to subsidise the regolith improving machines.”
[I hope you weren't listening at the key-hole, Cecilia,] Alice thought to her, [I almost heard that whoop from here.]
[I do not want Ben to decide he needs to dedicate his life to keeping that contraption working,] Cecilia replied. [And there's no key-holes, I'm just sitting at the desk, in case someone comes in. I didn't make it touch the metal of the dome.]
[Hmm. And whose thoughts are you listening to?]
[Anna's. She suggested it actually, just in case.]
[Hmph.]
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COUNCIL ASSEMBLY HALL, 6PM
“Alice, can I have a word?” Frank asked after the meeting had finished.
“Of course, Frank.”
“Did you mean it? What you said?”
“Which bit? Why am I asking? Yes, every bit.”
“Even the bit about not being afraid of death?”
“Yes, Frank.”
“Me, I'm personally terrified of it, always have been.”
Alice did a double-take. “Why are you on Mars, then?”
“Because I thought I'd try and beat my fear into submission, if you must know. I've been trying to pretend it's not there for the last seventy years. Why aren't you afraid of it?”
“Because I know God, Frank. He's let me go through some tough times, but he's always been there for me. He's disciplined me, and helped me grow through it, and he's real Frank. I know I'm not making it up, or falling for a convenient lie.”
“Jim's told me you've got a lot of unusual insights.”
“That's one way of phrasing it, I suppose. Any particular reason you want to keep on rejecting God's rescue package, Frank? Or is it just stubborn pig-headed rebellion against what you know is right, sensible, etc?”
“Maybe you ought to start at the beginning.”
“In the beginning, God made everything which is seen and unseen and set up the rules of the universe so you could be here talking to me... Like that you mean? Talk to my physicist husband for more details.”
“No, I mean, what's this about God's rescue plan?”
“Frank, I know you've heard people telling you about Jesus.”
“Yeah, yeah, good bloke, knew more tricks than you. What's this about rescue?”
“Frank, you do know you've got every reason to fear death, don't you?”
“I do?”
“Yes. I'm pretty sure that right now you do. And you trying to pretend you don't is rather silly. And you trying to do anything so you don't need to be afraid is no good either.”
“I'm too late now, you mean?”
“No, Frank, I mean that by the time you'd started eating solids it was too late. The bad news is you need to be rescued, your dome has a leak, and you've been trusting in a breather which is a dud. That much need of rescue. The good news is that just over twenty-two hundred years ago, God launched a rescue mission, and all you need to do is ask.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me this before? Oh, I remember. I wasn't listening.”
“So, why are you listening now?”
“I've got grandkids, Alice. Can you believe it? Grand-kids! Four of them!”
“That's more important than your eternal destiny?”
Frank looked at her for a while, before saying, “No, but it makes me sit up and listen. I mean, Henry, that's Anna's dad to you, was always saying it was a almost a dead cert that we'd all have grandkids and at least one of us would live to see MarsCorp keep their promises, because he'd asked his God for it so often. I laughed at him, oh, how I laughed, twenty years ago. Yet here I am, with grandkids and MarsCorp keeping their promises.”
“God is good, Frank.”
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MARS CORP PRESS RELEASE, 7PM, SATURSOL 22ND MARCH, 2272
Following policy changes brought in at today's shareholder's meeting and recent geo-political events and cultural shifts which affect MarsCorp operations, it is anticipated that the high rate of return on MarsCorp shares enjoyed by shareholders during the previous few decades will come to an end. Also, certain executives will find their pay reduced as a result of the dissatisfaction of the shareholders with the results of a number of policies and practices that have caused some concern.
The budgetary proposals accepted by the shareholders involve increases in investment and staff training, the cancelling of the proposed interim dividend to shareholders, and instead a new round of investments will be made by the corporation in a number of on-planet facilities which will eventually relieve the dependence of the colony on Earth-imports.
Furthermore, the risk to Martian society of a technical problem during comet handling operations was addressed. A comprehensive strategy of technical measures along with additional resources will be brought on line to aid with contingency preparedness for such a potentially devastating situation. One such resource might involve, for instance, a cluster of 'sheepdogs' and a cometary mass kept in Mars orbit.
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PAPER SUBMITTED TO ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH, FRISOL 27TH MARCH
_Strange phenomena of high frequency unshielded circuits in high vacuum: a preliminary summary_
In this paper the authors explore a number of strange phenomena associated with unshielded circuits in space-like conditions. It is proposed that the dangerous discharge events that they are known for is merely a side-effect of other properties observed in laboratory simulations. These properties include: development of an unusual multi-lobed force structure over a 10mm distance, capable of imparting a restoring force beyond the breaking strength of the circuit board; capture within this structure of baryons of numerous energies in a non-emitting configuration; release of these captured baryons as power is removed, at energies very similar to their initial state.
Physical probing experiments have determined that the structure that forms is a cluster of needle-like projections, approximately centered on the resonant circuitry, but that the structure is not merely magnetic or electromagnetic in nature. Tests using collimated beams of alpha-particles lead the authors to conclude that the multi-lobed force structure acts as a collecting area. Observations carried out during a radiation storm show the structure capable of storing high energy protons and neutrons. No distinguishable differences have so far been measured between capture and release energy. Electron beams show deflection but no significant reduction in intensity.
The (isotropic) radiation burst that follows release would clearly have disastrous effects on surrounding data-processing elements, and the force structure has been observed to cause physical deformation of surrounding materials during initiation.
The authors reluctantly conclude that it is necessary to propose these force structures are in some way mimicking nuclear capture processes, and the properties of the force structures observed do not match those of normal forcefields.
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NEWS REPORT, SATURSOL 28TH MARCH
Martian scientists discover new forcefield
After years of study and careful observation, attempting to disprove what they suspected, a team of researchers at the university of Mars have published their findings about a new forcefield that is not like any forcefield you've ever met. Firstly, it's not flat and slippery, instead it is a series of spikes. If you know your Earth animals, think of a hedgehog or porcupine. Secondly, rather than forming in the middle of two emitters, this field is single ended. Doesn't that sound interesting? If only our physicist friend could make it longer than a centimeter — a few hundred thousand kilometres would be fine, we don't want much — then we could whack any stray comets to one side from a nice comfy armchair on Phobos. Well, maybe not, but we can dream, can't we?
Getting back to reality, thirdly, this forcefield seems to act like a very efficient radiation collector. You might think that sounds great, but the radiation all gets out again in one burst when you turn the thing off. Hmm, definitely not what you want as a radiation shield, but possibly useful in radiation detectors, as long as you're in a vacuum. One intriguing possibility is what happens when you throw lots of protons and neutrons at the thing, if they're hanging around and kept in one place. Our physicist friend declared that there was no way it'd be forming a black hole, but he didn't rule out the idea that the hedgehog might turn into, say, a portable fusion generator. Wouldn't that be interesting? Research, as they say, is continuing.
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NEWS BRIEF FOR MARS PUBLICATION, MONSOL, MAY 12TH
Warning of immanent code orange
The Mars Council, having received a warning from the Institute for the Human Mind on Earth, passes on the following warning.
Extreme vigilance is recommended on board all ships en-route to Mars. A number of individuals on certain space transports (both colonist and tourist routes) have in their possession (cabin baggage) certain rare chemicals that are known to render a breather liable to fail at an accelerated rate.
The Council has been handed a list of the ships and how many individuals on board have the relevant chemicals. In keeping with the normal policy in such matters, passenger names have not been provided.
The chemicals are not directly poisonous, though some people are allergic to them, but the council is not aware of any use of them beyond certain industrial processes and the aforementioned sabotage.
Any person carrying industrial chemicals in their cabin baggage should report them to the ship's crew, along with their reasons for having them. Ships' captains or other crew members are invited to discuss such revelations with the council, for the convenience and safety of their passengers.
Ships' captains are asked to ensure that passengers are made aware that landing of such chemicals on Mars without prior approval is a criminal offence, and that possession of them will be considered by the Mars Council as evidence of an intention to commit invisible sabotage and murder.
Passengers on the relevant ships should expect significant delay as their luggage and, if necessary persons, are searched for this dangerous contraband.
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MARS COUNCIL OFFICES. FRISOL, MAY 24TH, 10AM
“Mack “, Alice warned, “Code orange. Shuttle piloted by Geoff Crow.”
“We got them,” Mack replied. Two men who were now on their way to maximum security jail, had each had had a vial of the deadly fluid.
“I guess an accomplice who didn't used to be a carrier, or maybe an innocent courier.”
“And you can't help more?”
“I just have, remember?”
“More more?”
“I recommend a luggage search, clothing search, strip search, and if you still don't find anything, a body cavity search and stink-stuff search.”
“Thank you for not much, Alice.”
“Sorry, Mack. I'm giving the warning, but I'm not going to using my gift just to make someone's life easier. There's a big difference. For the record, though, any ship with a carrier has three assassins, and there are no assassins on other ships.”
“So we might end up catching the carrier but have two assassins on the planet?”
“It's possible. But maybe they'll think again about their chosen life once they get here. Plus of course there's the possibility of intergovernmental cooperation.
“Eh?”
“The thing about Earth governments, Mack, is that in general they're quite aware of what the other is planning, who spends time with who, that sort of thing. I imagine the council could ask some relevant questions and get answers, pictures, histories, that sort of thing. If you want me to send some pictures home, for instance, I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard.”
“Like passengers on that shuttle?”
“What a good idea. No promises, but asking is free, and it's only, what, a half-hour round trip for light these days?”
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ORBITAL TRANSFER SHUTTLE, 10.15AM
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the pilot speaking,” Geoff Crow said, “In about fifteen minutes, we would normally be doing the deorbiting burn. I've just been told that we're not cleared to do that manoeuvre yet, because there's someone on-board with the same chemicals you've all just been searched for. So, if anyone picked up something or was given something by one of the men showing on your displays right now, please tell the flight attendant really soon.”
“This is ridiculous! They've checked everyone's luggage already,” one man protested.
“Mine, they did not search,” the elegantly dressed woman, who the passengers knew would be the ambassador from China to Mars said. “I asked why not and they said they had found their two criminals.”
“They didn't search mine, either. But they're saying that Father Boris is a criminal?” another woman asked.
“Yes, a murderer dressed as a priest,” the ambassador replied.
“He gave me some water from the river Jordan,” the woman said, in fear.
“He gave almost everyone some water from the river Jordan,” the first speaker corrected.
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SECURE RECEPTION AREA, MARS SPACEPORT.
“Would you come this way please, Maam?” the security officer said, after a number of people had been called for searches.
“An ambassador's person and baggage are not subject to search in civilised nations,” the Chinese ambassador stated.
“We know your status, maam,” the official said.
“And yet you persist?”
“And so I ask you to come this way, Madam ambassador.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then, madam ambassador, I would have to ask for advice. But I will make it clear that by accompanying me thorough that door, you are in no way accepting any kind of search.”
“I would not be?”
“No, Maam.”
“Then I will accompany you. My member of staff, also?”
The officer made a quick decision and said “Yes, maam. Please do bring your baggage, we will not be returning here.”
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“Madam ambassador, welcome to Mars,” Mack said, “as chair of the Mars Council, please accept our apologies that you are involved in this security alert.”
“Mr chairman, do I take it that you are not intending to search me?”
“Madam Ambassador, we have no desire of causing any diplomatic incident. I presume that you and your staff member are not planning to murder anyone?”
“Of course not.”
“Then there's no need to search you, is there? What there is a need to do is offer you welcome, and a cup of tea. I do not claim it is as good as you are used to at home, but what I have, I offer.”
“Thank you. You don't think the assassin you're after would say the same thing I did?”
“Personally, I expect the assassin would not come with diplomatic credentials from your country, Maam, since so far they've all come from one source.”
“All? I thought you'd only caught two so far.”
“The one who left, we're pretty sure where he came from, the two captured are from the same place, as are all the assassins we've identified presently en-route, yes, Maam. Quite why they should send us quite so many of their trained assassins to lock up, I really don't know, but if they really want to get rid of them then that's their business, I suppose.”
“I think the word you're looking for is pig-headed persistence. You plan to execute them?”
“For possession of a banned chemical which we're very deliberately not naming? No. For smuggling an industrial chemical without a good enough reason? We'll probably lock them up.”
“This tea seems so fresh.”
“I picked and dried them this morning,” Mack said with a shrug.
“Fresh picked tea? I am honored indeed! Thank you. You don't think the assassins will get instructions on what to claim is their reason?”
“Personally, I think our friends in MarsCorp would be rather unhappy to transmit such a message, don't you?”
“Surely you don't think the law abiding citizens of MarsCorp would interfere with people's messages, do you?”
“I have every confidence in MarsCorp operatives continuing to protect the interests of the corporation, and they do, after all, consider themselves a quasi-government.”
“Hmm. That's an attitude that is going to need to change.”
“You're on Mars, Madam Ambassador. Very little doesn't change.”
“Oh? What doesn't change?”
Alice entered just in time to hear that question, and answered. “As far as I know, Madam ambassador, old people still regret doing stupid things, young people still fall in love, and babies still keep their parents awake. Mack, urgent message via I.H.M.'s contacts — my husband's a truthsayer, maam, and I'll probably sign up too one day, too. Could the lady ambassador here please send a message home, there's an interesting debate on at the U.N., and while you're having a friendly chat, China are getting nervous about due courtesy, and so on.”
“Interesting debate?” the Chinese ambassador asked, typing a message home.
“Yes. Given that quote 'unknown actors' seem intent on ensuring that the Martian shareholders in MarsCorp either die or play dead, should the timetable for independence be brought forward? India are formally abstaining, but publicly stating that they don't know what the point is in having shares when all dividends have been cancelled. Russia declared it was all part of a smear campaign against them, and your country said they'd like to know what's happened to you.”
“And my wrist unit has been off since I left the space transport. I may tell of your ability?”
“I assumed you would.”
“I am curious why you speak of it so openly.”
“Because keeping it a secret would lead to suspicion, and my government do find it useful that when necessary they can discuss things with me faster than light.”
“I wish we had such capabilities,” the ambassador said, glancing at her assistant.
“I am Ai Chen, assistant to lady Ambassador,” the assistant said, bowing formally, “I also have hearing thoughts power, but is no one in our government with the Christian gift.”
“I hope you do not think I indicated there was in ours either,” Alice said, “I only meant that they know how to get in contact with such a one.”
“I think your country has more than fair share, and ours has none.”
“None?” Alice queried, “I would be very surprised if there were none. But perhaps the one or three do not want attention.”
“And those of your country do?” Ai Chen asked.
“Not particularly, but any government can contact the Institute for the Human Mind, and then contact can be made. Perhaps less official methods can also be developed as trust is built.”
“Language barrier makes explaining things difficult.”
Alice shook her head, “not at all. God knows all languages, after all. His gift is not limited in that way.”
“And you claim that they are entirely above playing politics?” the Ambassador challenged.
“Entirely? no. After all, they are human. But I will claim that they will not deliberately break confidences or state secrets nor put lives at risk.”
“You seem quite familiar with these unusual abilities,”
“I've had quite a few discussions with them, and with my government about them, yes.” She looked at the ambassador's assistant, “Would you wish to be contacted by one with the gift? I could pass on such a request. Would you wish it, madam Ambassador? If so, would you prefer it to be someone who is a subject of your nation's laws and understands sensitivities, or someone to whom any knowledge of your internal politics is second hand, so will perhaps be less emotionally involved?”
“Deep questions after a tiring day,” the ambassador said.
“Indeed,” Alice agreed. “I think any official response to these questions can wait,” she'd heard the assistant decide it would be lovely if Alice could put her in touch with someone from home, especially if the person could pass on messages to her brother. Alice decided she'd ask someone to contact Ai Chen, unofficially.
The conversation continued, for a bit longer, moving onto other matters, when Alice got a call from someone near the United Nations.
[Well done on getting the Chinese on board, Alice.]
[Hello Vivian! I'm not sure I can claim to getting them on-board, all I did was pass on the message. I've admitted to being a thought-hearer, but that's all. Ai Chen, ambassadorial assistant, is also in the room and would hear you if you've got more to say.]
[I have more to say. Hello, Ai Chen, Alice says you will hear me. Tell Alice if you wish me to listen to your thoughts also.]
[Lady ambassador might not want her to make that decision herself,] Alice warned.
[Or you may discuss it with your superior. But first I will tell the news: the Chinese government has stated that their ambassador has received an honourable welcome on Mars, and they look forward to friendly discussions with a new, independent trading partner, and as a gesture of friendship they cast their vote in favour of this state for Mars. But they ask if the planet can cope with such a rapid change, or would prefer a longer transition period.]
Alice indicated to Ai Chen to relay the message.
“One has spoken to me, to us.” Ai Chen said, and then spoke to the Chinese ambassador in excited Chinese.
“Interesting news, Mack,” Alice said, drawing him to one side, “Consider this your fifteen minute warning for boring old light to catch up with.” she repeated the message and then added, “so, I'd call together the council if I were you, so you can be ready with an answer. Do you want independence tomorrow, next week or next year?”
“Oh, let's not rush things, Alice,” Mack said, “I expect it'll take a few weeks to get things sorted down on Earth, and we're all going to be pretty busy until after the inrush, anyway. And we'll need to send an ambassador to the U.N. if nowhere else, I guess. Who do we do that to?”
“Don't look at me, I've got too many jobs as it is. How about an intelligent wanna, who's been avoiding going home for a few years, because she's pretty sure she'll hate it when she gets there with nothing to do, and has just decided she might get to like it here now she can get sugar?”