Many expectant gazes focused on Zheng. Of course, Zheng knew exactly what many of these people were thinking. As Martians, they want to separate themselves from the rule of the Terrans. Many of them preferred to not be under the Kasvallian Republic’s orders either.
Zheng could only sigh as he recalled his meeting with Grand Elder Enine, along with the incident with that nexarm pilot named Xeight. He recalled Xeight arriving on Mars to demonstrate the nexarm’s capabilities prior to the war.
“The T3ST pilot named Xeight did not appear at all interested in the war,” Zheng set his jaws as he told the truth about the nature of Xeight. “I am not certain how he may respond to our… approach.” From Allira’s two-dimensional footage, it seems that the resistance against Syned’s viral attack came from Xeight’s nexarm.
“Vice-admiral. Allow me to correct you on one point,” Minister Williams said as she raised a finger. “Our war is over. This new war is between the Kasvallian Republic and the Earth Federation.”
“This is but a… Resistance,” Minister Williams continued as her eyes raked the other attendees. “An independent existence.”
Murmurs broke out among the many holographic figures and factions. What could such an insignificant force achieve, really? Most could not see the point of Minister Williams’ suggestion. However, a few stared at Minister Williams with expressions of rising curiosity. For her, that was enough!
Zheng was one who beheld this woman with a curiosity in his heart. The others are not wrong-- even if they form such a resistance, it is likely to amount to nothing. But. There is meaning to such a resistance. Overtime, critical interventions could rally support. The actions of the Earth Feds and the Kasvallian Republic in the impending war could alienate some.
And that small resistance, given time… would absorb these dissenters, as long as they remain in the dark. This elevated the significance of Xeight and the T3ST colony’s resistance against Syned Vezna’s viral attack in that final battle.
Without the T3ST colony… a ‘resistance’ would easily be tracked down and destroyed by either the Terrans or Kasvallians. This is, after all, an age of technology and interconnected digital world. Their neuro circlet, neuro devices, are all susceptible to Syned Vezna, or the potential AI that might exist within Earth’s sphere!
Another man stood up to speak, and Chancellor Boateng slammed his gavel to silence the murmurs.
“Thank you, chancellor,” the man said. “I am the head of the Martian Intelligence Division. You do not need to know my name. And I come with certain news on the T3ST colony.”
“They have sent fifty to join the Kasvallian Republic, with ten of these fifty joining Kasvallian’s Hydra Forces.”
The many eyes returned to Minister Williams as she raised a hand to attract attention.
“Many asteroid colonies are quite hesitant. They are in some ways like us, on a much smaller scale-- Uncertain of their future. The T3ST colony has likely allowed certain Kasvallian supporters to satisfy their desire. It is nothing more.”
Quite a number of attendees scoffed at her explanation. Some frowned, unsure of what to think. The Martian forces had lost contact with most asteroid colonies by now. They honestly have little-to-no data on the internal sentiment of these colonies.
As for the larger resource gathering points such as Ceres? They are just business centers. They traded resources, regardless of which faction controlled said point.
At this point, Zheng stood up to speak. The gavel sounded again.
“I am Vice-admiral Zheng,” he said. “This is Khan, a commander of the Martian forces.”
Khan stepped forth, and presented the footage of her pursuing the Kasvallian cyborg.
“My father was recently murdered by this cyborg,” Khan explained as the footage began at the unit where her father was taken care of. “This man? Man-machine? His name is John Chapman. Some of you may have been introduced to him as a deliveryman of Kasvallian resources during our war.”
The holographic footage elicited small gasps in the attendees, when Chapman’s cyborg form was revealed in the footage. All soon became aware of the Kasvallian cyborgs, their durability, and their ability to switch forms.
“I will admit that I am not impartial,” Khan stated. “After all, my father’s death was caused by the Kasvallian Republic’s hands. I know not why. “
“But some of you might have known my father. He was healthy before being severely injured by unidentified forces, sending him into a coma. And during his coma, doctors could not identify the cause of his continued slumber, despite advanced modern technologies. Did some being… manipulate or obscure data that could have resolved his coma?”
“I bid you all to consider the implications. Of what serving the Kasvallian Republic may mean.”
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The attendees understood what Khan implied with her words. That it was Syned who had interfered. The next question would be, had Syned always interfered in Martian society…?
That thought set a deep fear into their minds. Their war against the Earth Feds… was that truly a Martian desire?!
“I will have to request all of you to cease suspecting the Kasvllian Republic here,” the unnamed man from the Martian Intelligence Division spoke once again. “In fact, I have some… rather interesting information.”
“Our supposed Admiral Sullivan… the Kasvallian Republic has handed him into the Earth Fed’s hands.” This sent the chamber into an uproar.
“Does that mean Sullivan has taken Terran's side?” Chancellor Boateng banged his gavel once more.
“Too naive… forgive me for saying this but…” the unnamed man replied with a sigh. “Sullivan has always been an Earth Feds agent. He was bribed to start the war.”
“That is…impossible.” Zheng had a complicated expression as he recalled all of his interactions with Sullivan. Either this was false information, or he had always been blind!
Minister Williams was less surprised, the primary reason being that she is a member of Caitlin’s Angels. This faction was formed as a result of too many female colonizers escaping back to Earth at first chance, the very cause of low trust in female contributors within the Martian society.
Though this happened more often with women, there are men who would abandon all to return to Earth as well. Sullivan must be such a man. Working his way up the Martian military ranks, before trading his influence for a life on Earth!
The more she considered this possibility, the more Williams believed the Intelligence Division’s words to be true.
“We have already examined all his accounts and movements,” the intelligence officer continued. “He was meticulous. He never made any moves until he became a vice-admiral. Once there, it was quite easy for him to protect himself from proper surveillance.”
“As for his bribery, none even entered the Martian sphere. Admiral Sullivan often traveled to the outskirts of the Martian sphere and visited some of the asteroid resource points. It is my suspicion that only if we scour records on those resource asteroids, will we fully understand how Sullivan might have guided his monetary gains back to his new home, that is Earth.”
“Some of you may think this to be a ploy by the Kasvallian Republic, to send Sullivan into Terran hands to rouse our anger towards the Terrans. However, a thought occurred to me when I came upon this information, which I find quite convincing myself.”
“Some of you may not understand Earth-- but I do. Surely, you all recall how the EFSF always lacked the necessary military presence in the asteroid belt to deal with pirates?”
“The reason for this was that many nations on Earth feared a totalitarian Earth Fed, and thus sought to limit their forces. By now, you should be able to connect the dots, yes?”
Khan’s eyes widened. It seemed obvious now.
“The Earth Feds must have bribed Sullivan to fan the desires for Martian independence in our populace and military personnel. With a war against Mars, the nations of Earth will no longer be able to limit the development of Earth Fed’s military forces!”
Many faces displayed incredulity. Is it true that their push for independence was exactly what the Earth Feds wanted? The deaths of the many soldiers… just a means to allow the Earth Feds to grow their military forces without the opposition from Earth’s nations?
Zheng’s heart sank to the deepest point of the Vastitas Borealis. He wished to reject the intelligence officer’s conjecture. After all, no clear proof existed. No… it is, in fact, the lack of evidence that proves Sullivan’s betrayal!
Sullivan had climbed the military ranks for many years, until he became admiral. Surely, at least some small irregularities should exist with his Martian accounts’ records. But it is completely clean!
He is blind after all… Zheng never felt as pathetic as he did at this moment.
Khan, on the other hand, had her mind occupied by the Kasvallian Republic’s assassination of her father. Why? As the wheels in her head turned, she came upon one singular possibility.
“My father,” she said. “He must have discovered Sullivan’s actions in some way. The Kasvallian Republic… They must have wanted a war between the Earth and Mars! They were simply… opportunists!” Is it possible that there might be more? After all, why would the Kasvallian Republic finish off her father? Unless… the cyborg agent John Chapman did so just to complete a half-finished mission?!
These repeated revelations naturally sent the chamber into silence. Yet… they still needed to take a side.
“Since everything’s going to shit, I will be joining the Kasvallians. Fucking Terrans! Good luck to you all!” Vice-admiral Laurent simply declared his position and no longer cared for the assembly. To think he had been played by the Terrans all along! To think he was but a tool for the Earth Feds to grow their military unopposed!
“Vice-admiral Laurent!” Chancellor Boateng smashed his gavel. “You can’t--”
Vice-admiral Laurent’s holographic form had already faded into nothingness.
This was the start of the chaos within the assembly. Many attendees began hollering at each other, and no matter how Chancellor Boateng smacked his gavel, he was ignored.
He understood, of course. These people’s hearts and minds are in turmoil, having just discovered that they had been played like a fiddle by the Earth Feds. Their desire for independence… Was it even their own?
When Zheng swung his head across the Grand Assembly… he knew deep in his heart… the Mars that he knew? It had fractured. The colonization effort would still continue, yes. In a few centuries, Martians would breathe the open air.
But… the Martian heart… perhaps it never existed, and was but a transient state of their society prior to the full development of Mars. Nothing but a silly dream.
Zheng shared a look with Minister Williams and both disconnected themselves from the Martian Grand Assembly. The two already knew that they had become allies. Khan and Allira left in the same fashion.
As for Chancellor Boateng? His eyes roamed across the many hysterical leaders within the attendees, and his heart was swayed. He hated having been played for a fool, having no agency. All his actions had been manipulated onto one path.
Under the Kasvallian Republic, he would remain in the very same position, his actions fully controlled by the overarching Syned. But with the Earth Feds… perhaps… he would have some form of control! He desired it. He did not want revenge. He only wanted …agency!