“MacLeod.” James was in an at ease position, facing the hologram of Admiral Petrov. “You opted to not pursue the damaged martian S-class ship. Nor their damaged A-class ship. Why? You can easily predict their end-jump position based on the direction and energy release. Finish one of their flagships off for good.”
“Sir.” James bowed his head. “The enemy is also aware of this. They would have set a trap that my team might have jumped into. It was not worth the risk. Even then, on my side, I only had an A-class starship along with a barely-tested S-class starship.”
There was naturally a delay due to the distance of their communication, so James had to wait a while for the communication to reach Petrov. Then, the admiral’s reply would take some time to return to him. Still, the Euler Station was relatively close to Earth, so this type of communication was still possible if somewhat jagged
The other starships being prepped in the Euler Station were, in fact, not quite ready. If Admiral Laurent had chosen the course of a full-on assault on the Euler Station and with a bit of luck, evaded the additional mega-particle beams… the situation might have gradually tilted in his favor. Every single beam would have drained the ships a good ten percent of its energy. Hardly a weapon that could be fired too many times.
Laurent must have assumed from the firing of the mega-particle beam cannon aboard the S-class starship, that the other starships within the Euler Station had also been accelerated to a state of readiness. This was not so.
While waiting for Petrov’s reply, James was contemplating the scenario if the five martian starships threw caution to the wind and attacked Euler Station. He would have ten nexarms, an A-class starship, a barely-tested S-class, and the somewhat barebones Euler Station defenses.
The martians would have a damaged S-class and A-class ship with fully capable weapons, three B-class ships and whatever nexarms they should have brought along. Perhaps the breach to their S-class ships’ hull would be a weak point he could exploit.
In such a scenario, who would have won? James wasn’t entirely sure.
“Fair judgment.” Petrov’s reply finally reached the Euler Station. “Maintain your defense of the Euler Station until the fleet there is ready. After that, you know your mission. Engage the T3ST unit and prevent their interference in any conflict between us and the main martian fleet.”
“Yes, sir!”
_______________________________________________________________________
The Sector Chamber, Pacific City, Earth
Petrov interlocked his fingers and turned his wrists as he extended his arms upwards for a good stretch and exhaled, relieved that the starships being prepared in Euler Station were successfully protected.
He left the single meeting room attached to the Sector Chamber he had used to communicate with James MacLeod, and returned to the assembly.
The issue at hand? Neurorevo. Many of its weapons were in the hands of the enemy, the martian force. Naturally, the Earth Federation along with Earth’s nations demanded an inquiry.
At the very bottom of the room sat a toffee brown haired woman of tan skin and brown eyes. Her eyebrows fierce and staunch, her lips pursed under the eyes of the nation’s representatives. The current CEO of Neurorevo, Alexa Vergara.
“As I was saying. The neuro circlet system-- or as we have recently trademarked it as Neurorave-- has long been available to all those in the Solar System. Its importance cannot be understated, allowing us humans, especially those in the belt, to simultaneously control multiple devices to harvest resources.”
“You may wish to pressure us to deny the belt these systems, but let me ask you this. If we deny this technology to all the asteroid colonies that do not stand staunchly on this side.. The effect on the supply chain will be devastating. You all surely understand that many resources of these asteroid colonies do still reach our orbital colonies for manufacturing before coming to Earth.”
“The impact will not just affect us Neurorevo, but also all other companies operating in the ecosystem-- such as the other orbital colonies.”
Did the nation’s representatives know this? Of course they did. But, they had to ask these questions to ensure these words reached the citizens’ ears and to score political points for their parties. In some ways, it was a bit of a show.
“But many of the weapons you have built based on this…Neurorave are in the hands of the enemy. How did that occur?”
“You all know of the terrorist attack on--”
“We know that. How is it that you lack the security to protect such equipment?”
Alexa Vergara’s expression was that astonishment, her mouth agape. After a few seconds, she spoke. “If we, Neurorevo, used our own technology to build our own state-of-the-art defense systems controlled by ourselves… you nations would you then not criticize us for having a private army able to conquer the world? Our security of our many bases in space is dependent, and remains mostly dependent, on the EFSF, which you nations have historically opted not to--”
“No, no. Allow me to be more specific. The military equipment stolen is still being perfectly maintained by the enemy. How?”
“The hardware never belonged to us, Ms. Romero. We are not the ones who invented the X-alloy plates. Nor are we the suppliers of the E-cube energy system. Our sole control remains in Neurorave, supporting a user’s ability to manipulate as many neuro devices as their brains can manage.”
“The weapons themselves, such as a railgun, have existed for many many years. For God’s sake… the martian fleet was originally a branch within the EFSF. Is it suddenly our fault if someone chose to connect the operations of an existing railgun in the martian fleet to a personnel’s neuro circlet control?”
They had been questioning Alexa Vergara for hours already. Her answers always sounded reasonable, shedding any responsibility on Neurorevo’s end.
“Yet, some of your engineers have supposedly been giving support to the enemy!”
“Don’t exaggerate!” Alexa Vergara remained calm, but her tone sounded like a mother disciplining her children. “We, Neurorevo, do need to maintain control over our Neurorave technology.”
“Let me remind you, we had some defectors that spied on our technology secrets and even destroyed our inventory records during the terrorist attack. But, yes, some of our engineers do continue to provide support and maintain control over the Neurorave technology that all people in the Solar System use! Which is essential for the supply chain of the whole Solar System!”
“Ms. Vergara.” A representative lowered his glasses as he tilted his eyes at the Neurorevo CEO. “AS I understand, Neurorevo is under the control of the MacLeod Group. When traded war prisoners with the martians, Commander Zulu was returned to us. She stated that she saw Jennifer MacLeod with the enemy. Surely, that is excessive.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“May I invite a guest?” Alex Vergara asked with a broad smile.
“Go ahead.”
“Come in!”
The door to the Sector Chamber opened and in walked a woman that ignited whisperings and mutterings among the nation's representatives.
This woman was known to be Victoria MacLeod. She took the stand.
“I am Victoria MacLeod. I am Jennifer MacLeod’s mother. I can assure you that Commander Zulu is mistaken-- perhaps there is an imposter in the belt. Now, I opted not to bring my daughter here today. You may claim that I should have, but those close to my daughter understand her focus to be fully focused on neurotech.”
“I’m sure some of you… gossiping types are quite aware of the tantrums she used to throw when we attempted to involve her in our family’s philanthropic activities.”
“You truly expect us to just believe that?!” The previous Ms. Romero yelled.
“Do not slander me, Ms… Romero.” Victoria MacLeod voice quivered threateningly. “You believe that I, a mother, would allow my beloved daughter to participate in a war? Surely, as a woman, you should know better.”
Ms. Romero was silenced.
“Other major orbital colonies. Do you have anything to say?” Varoufakis had long been observing the inquiry on the side along with Petrov, who had returned from his communication with James MacLeod.
‘I’m sorry to say this, but,” A man in a flashy suit with the E-cube company logo on his left breast stepped forth. “If you were to demand my company to cease supply of the e-cube to the martians and the belt… the Wolf Coil would cease operation and the terra-forming efforts over the centuries would go up in smoke. Not to mention, the belt would likely turn on us, if not go full nuclear.”
“Oh,” he added, “I don’t mean to say that lightly. It’s quite possible they will actually return to nuclear technology.”
“We… we Blackrock own many assets in the belt. And on Mars.” An expressionless black-suited man simply added.
Other orbital colonies would soon add their words, none willing to condemn Neurorevo. Frankly, they all shared Neurorevo’s position. The Kasvallian Group, that showed up the least for these sorts of assemblies, also supported such a position.
The nations’ representatives soon understood that this inquiry would go absolutely nowhere. It was indeed, nothing but a show for the public.
___________________________________________________________________________
A Timber Chalet, The Alps.
The Hungarian President sat in her vacation home, sipping a spirit from a tulip glass. Her husband had taken their children to a number of activities.
She had opted to view the nation’s assembly by herself.
“President. The Polish President is here.” Her butler informed her.
“Let him in.”
She refilled her own tulip glass but also another one for the visitor, and moved out to a gazebo at the center of the garden in front of the chalet.
Soon the man walked in, led by her female butler.
“Welcome, President Zielinski.”
“President Varga.”
The two sat down in the soft cushy sofa-like seats in the gazebo. The holographic nations’ assembly played in the center of the gazebo, and the two half-listened to the proceedings.
“Palinka?” The man asked as he received a tulip glass handed to him across the hologram.
“Yes,” replied Varga with a smile.
They both sipped the spirit.
“Ah… a lovely taste,’ gushed Zielinski as he closed his eyes to savor the taste.
At length, Varga spoke. Her soft voice sounded… exhausted.
“Shouldn’t you be busy rebuilding Warsaw?”
“The same could be said to you,” replied Zielinski. “The nations’ assembly. I’ve known you for quite a number of years. You would not normally have missed such an event. As for me, I’ve already given the orders and passed a budget, with the Kasvallian Group’s support. It’s up to the people now.”
Varga opted not to reply and the two sipped Palinka, surrounded by the deep and thick pine trees that swayed in the soft mountain breeze under the azure sky.
“This is a lovely place, isn’t it? My husband and kids absolutely love it whenever we come here. And then there’s Phuket. Lovely place for beaches and scuba-diving. We have quite a few expats there. I know them personally. Old childhood friends that have opted to retire and live out the rest of their lives under the warm sun.”
Zielinski ceased sipping his Palinka, a sorrow within his eyes. Varga was by no means old, not even compared to pre-Solar Era human mortality.
“You’ve given up.”
“Hmm…” Varga refilled her glass of Palinka. “I’ve just grown wiser.”
“Miss Varga. We still have need of you. Those who share our beliefs, we--”
“Zielinski…I’ll be stepping down once my term is finished. Judging by the data collected on my population, they are hugely in favor of politicians devoted to the Earth Federation.”
What scared Zielinski the most though, wasn’t this information. It was the look of relief etched into Varga’s angular face as she said this.
“Zielinski. As a long-time colleague, you may not like what I’m about to say. But it’s best to comprehend this early so you can put down your burdens and live a good life…”
“For so many years, I wished to prevent the Earth Federation’s total control over Earth, fearing that their dominance would force nations into accepting policies that do not have the interest of the local populace at heart.”
“Did you see the assembly of nations? We can’t even pressure the orbital colonies. Nations died long ago, my friend. We were just blind to it.”
Zielinski’s mouth was agape, unsure of what to make of his colleague’s capitulation.
“Early on in human history, we lived in small tribes. Soon those individual tribes had to come together, accepting that part of their own individual tribal beliefs needed to be set aside in order for that larger society to function.”
“Then we nations of Europe warred amongst ourselves, until we chose to come together to form a united Europe, allowing our people freedom of travel. Our people’s culture over centuries melded together, and though some of our individual cultures were maintained…much of it was also lost across time.”
“The tribal cultures on certain continents unwilling to set aside the parts of their individual cultures to fully cooperate together? Wiped out.”
“Miss Varga,” Zielinski protested. “That is a gross simplification. There are many factors as well such as diseases and--”
“But you cannot deny what I have said to be true,” interjected Varga. “If there’s one thing I’ve come to understand… true unity and cooperation between people can create unbelievable achievements-- even if it is at the cost of certain individuals and their beliefs. Such as us.”
“And we strive to minimize that cost, is that not so?” Zielinski steadied his heart.
“You know,” she continued. “If those tribal cultures immediately united and aggressively defended their eastern coastline… history might have been very different. Or perhaps used guerilla warfare as a united force, similar to what the Vietnamese have done throughout history.”
“They might have still lost eventually. But they would have accomplished far more before fading into obscurity. More likely to have forced our invading European ancestors to accept an agreement of sorts.”
“Precisely! That’s why we, of similar beliefs, should continue our cooperation!’ Zielinski grasped at straws, hoping to convince Varga that they still had a chance.
“Zielinski.” Varga denied the man with a shake of her head. “Your new Warsaw is being funded by the orbital colony organization, the Kasvallian Group.” She waved at the holographic nations’ assembly. “Do you not see their position? Your new Warsaw… who’s control will it be under?”
When Zielinski left Varga's vacation chalet, his shoulders slumped. He had put up a bravado, hoping to drag Varga back from the brink. Instead, it was him who was sucked into a whirlpool of dejection.
He glanced around at the environment of the Alps. Perhaps, it wouldn’t be so bad to spend more time here…
______________________________________________________________________________
Sector Chamber, Pacific City
The inquiry had concluded and the nations had nothing to show for it. As was normal protocol, Varoufakis shook hands with all the orbital colonies present.
As he shook hands with Alexa Vergara, the CEO of Neurorevo, with an enigmatic smile, traced her middle finger in circular motion for a few seconds over the surface of his palm, eliciting a stern expression from the President of the Earth Federation.
He recalled memories of their university years together. Indeed, they had hit it off in the very first year of their undergraduate course.
He thanked all the representatives for coming, but when shaking Alexa Vergara’s hand, he instead gave her one word, “Cheers,” transforming her enigmatic smile into a grin.