Camari strode into the Conference Room, took
his seat at the head of the long table, and stared
bleakly at his advisors. The faces of the Ministers
of Diplomatic Protocols and Intelligence were grim;
the Commander of the Space Forces ready to explode.
"I suppose you've all studied Ram's report," Camari
said in a low, angry voice. "What do you think?
Selvin?"
"If they take the depot," Admiral Selvin said,
"we're out of business. Even if we get the depot
back undamaged, we'll be unable to make up the
time lost. The construction and launch schedules
are that tight."
"What do you suggest?"
"Stop them -- now."
"They'll know we're coming when our fleet lines up
to enter the spunnel. The gateway can handle our
military craft, no problem there. What we cannot
count on is INOR's failing to see us on the move."
"How do we get around that?"
"Diversionary tactics; draw their attention to
a major initiative on our part in which all of INOR
has role vital to its interests, if not survival.
Risky, but we have no choice."
The Strategic Concepts Computer recorded, analyzed,
and reported. They listened, then talked.
##
The Solar Spunnel Communications Control flashed
a Category One Alert across the system. The Alert
was directed to all planets, satellites, stations,
outposts, and all ships in space from Mercury to
deep within the Oort Cloud far beyond the Slingshot
construction sites.
Rymer Camari, President of the United Inner
Planetary System wished to address the citizens
of all nations on a matter of extreme urgency, one
that affects humankind throughout the entire Solar
System. The INOR Chiefs of State were urged to
convene their Executive and Legislative Councils
and to listen to the UIPS President.
Interplanetary comm-spunnel boosters were raised to
maximum power and range. The added power cleared
Camari's image and speech for override into all
open aud-viz transmitters and receivers throughout
the system.
When Camari's features formed in view tanks or on
screens his manner was grave, and his tone solemn
and deliberate. The message was brief.
"Greetings to all citizens and Governments of our
Solar Community," he began. "We wish you well.
I have chosen this time and this means to speak
to you directly because the threat to all of use is
real and our peril increases by the hour. Unless we
act immediately and in concert, disaster will befall
us all.
"Not long ago two of our manned recon craft were
attacked and destroyed near Planet Pluto. These
ships were part of a small protective force that
the UIPS maintains in the Plutonian Special Zone
for the safety of the Slingshot terminals and its
logistics depot.
"The Government of Planet Pluto has been familiar
with the patrollers' mission to protect Slingshot
assets in the Construction Zone since the Program
was in its early planning stages. In these latest
operations, one of our patrols was known to be
scouting the Plutonian outback for subsurface
tunnels and galleries where unscrupulous
adventurers sneak off to hide after preying on our
outposts and transports. The other UIPS patroller
had identified a cache of contraband weapons in
space that presented a clear threat to Slingshot.
"The attack on the two UIPS ships could not have
occurred without the prior knowledge, approval
and very likely, the direct orders from the highest
authorities in the Plutonian Government."
The President sat forward in his chair and his face
loomed larger across the system. His voice lowered,
and increased its intensity.
"We cannot consider these incidents in isolation.
Our transports to the Slingshot depot and
construction site are being raided and harassed
by terrorists and pirates who are directed by
and provided sanctuary by both official and
non-official entities. We are compelled to conclude
that INOR criminal adventurers and pirates act in
the context of agreements among their Governments.
Doing so constitutes direct military and economic
warfare against the UIPS and is an attempt to
sabotage the Slingshot mission.
"I must tell you now we are outraged by this
conspiracy and these attacks. The UIPS does
have recourse. It can respond in kind.
"What then? Warships carrying weapons of
unprecedented destructive power are at the ready
in both regions. Have we no choice but to keep
escalating provocation, sneak attacks and reprisals
until our full military fleets are unleashed in
their fury against each other? If we get to this,
citizens of INOR, do not rule out reprisals on your
encapsulated communities. Be aware: history clearly
shows us that there are indeed few, if any, real
sanctuaries for civilian populations in times of
war."
He paused to let the words sink in. His voice
became crisp and forceful.
"I am now faced with this decision: Should the UIPS
retaliate against Planet Pluto and all other members
of INOR that interfere with innocent passage of our
transports to and from the Slingshot sites?
"That is one course open to us; it would bring
death and havoc all across this star system we
know as our home. We must look to alternatives. The
creators and wielders of weapons must demonstrate
reason along with valor. War, in any form and at
any level, is a blind evasion of the real problems
that confront humankind.
"When the old United Planetary System was replaced
by the UIPS and INOR, the relationships among
governments and peoples deteriorated. We drifted
apart. The few interregional agreements that did
evolve supported special interests. Once ingrained,
they became acceptable, even generally attractive,
practices. Now we each have our spheres of
influence, and we guard them jealously -- and often
with apprehension.
"There remains, to this day, a deep distrust and
fear that one nation or independent colony, or any
collective, will attempt to secure advantage over
another. Each of us, focused on our own interests,
sees the danger and seeks to avoid being its
victim. This infectious distrust and fear must be
cleansed from our system-wide community of nations
if we are ever to live in peace with each other.
"Misunderstandings have arisen over the centuries
concerning the intentions for Slingshot facilities
and personnel in place throughout what has now
become INOR territories or jurisdictions. We accept
our share of blame for these misconceptions.
Let us dispel them.
"The Collector Terminal, as you all know, will be
disengaged upon completion and take its position
on the system's rim. When the launch window
opens, and it will be open to us for only a very brief
time, the Extractor must depart -- there will be no
second chance for several centuries. The Extractor
must fly as fast and as true as the missile did
from the sling of David to the head of Goliath.
The Extractor is our missile, Alpha Centauri is
our target and, as David's leather sling was the
instrument to save an ancient civilization. The
orbit of Planet Pluto powers the sling that will
save our civilizations for the ages which extend
before us, but only if we act in unity.
"What happens afterward? When the Extractor
has departed, we will no longer need the logistics
depot, and UIPS citizens in the Zone will return
home. All but a small portion of our facilities,
equipment, and supplies will be transferred on site
to the Plutonian Government or INOR generally.
Whatever is not wanted by its new owners we
will remove and help Planet Pluto to convert and
reconstruct Coldfield and the rest of the planet
to fit the needs of its citizens. We will provide
material support and training for transition to
an infrastructure and administration of Pluto's
choice. We invite all of INOR to share in this
task."
Camari leaned back for a short pause. His eyes
looked beseechingly at his unseen audience. His
voice softened.
"That was the past and, admittedly, a poor
foundation upon which to build; let us now look to
a more positive future. I make this proposal to all
Governments of our star system, the common
heritage of humankind.
"We are in disarray. As history has demonstrated
time and again there are no real winners in
contests of military might, to the contrary. Our
response to the incidents off Planet Pluto is that
we reject reprisal merely for vengeance, or for
imposing ourselves on the Plutonian people. In the
same vein, we reject war against any Government
within INOR. Not because we cannot wage war, but
because war would annihilate cities and lives on
both sides. Further, Slingshot would be lost to us,
and ultimately, the entire solar civilization would
wane and disappear.
"I propose we meet in space, along the border
between our Regions at a place of mutual agreement.
Let us convene as equals to examine our differences.
We must give greater credence to each other's needs
and aspirations and arrive at consensus on sharing
in the responsibilities for this, our family of
planets and satellites. Let us search for ways
to combine our diverse interests into a new and
majestic pioneering spirit for the great leap to
the stars yet to come.
"This is the challenge and the opportunity."