At their posts, Masaryk and Wessenberg were struck dumb. Dubcek stood
still in the middle of the room. The chief scientist had taken out his
ear-piece and thrown it to the floor. All seemed incapable of
movement. Finally Masaryk stirred, shook his head and cleared his
throat.
"Colonel. A second enemy carrier has appeared. Bearing 01 to 02,
F-six. He's staring right down our throat."
Dubcek, shaken to the bone, somehow managed a short laugh. He turned,
walked toward his executive officer.
"Configuration?"
"Commonwealth Super-carrier. It's the Americans, Ivan."
Dubcek breathed out his final despair.
At that moment the communications officer turned toward him. "Sir.
It's the Commonwealth commander with. . .terms for our surrender."
"Bastard," he muttered beneath his breath. Then. "Put him on the
screen. And get me General Itjes with the Coalition reinforcements."
He quickly checked the time. They were due to arrive in another hour.
The large main screen of the battle room came to life. And there in
the midst of it, his face animated with tension, confidence and
self-satisfaction, stood, in military uniform, General Charles William
Hayes, Secretary of State for the United Commonwealth.
His fear submerged beneath a desperate, fey indifference, Dubcek turned
to Masaryk with a rueful expression. "This just keeps getting
better..... Yes, Mr. Hayes. What are your terms?"
"I want the immediate surrender of all your forces, and a complete
shut-down of planetary defense systems. In return I'll see that your
people, both military and civilian, are treated fairly and with
respect."
"Oh, I have no doubt of that. Unfortunately, I do not have the
authority to negotiate such a complete capitulation. I have contacted
both our President and the Assembly (a necessary lie), and also the
Coalition military representative. You will have an answer soon
enough. One question, though, if I may ask it."
"What is it?"
"How do you plan to run the occupational government?" He looked at
Brunner as he said these words, turned back to Hayes. "Who will be in
charge?"
"The Belgians and Swiss."
"While you carry the crusade elsewhere?"