The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

“Oh, I understand it. And I want it to work.” Michael addressed everyone. “I do. Frances was right. I want to be on Hiebimini yesterday. But … I’m sorry, I gotta see it for myself.”

“Fair point, Third Lieutenant,” Nilsson said, his glare demonstrating impatience. “I’m sure the test will prove one way or the other. For the sake of argument, assume total success. How much longer would we need to remain here?”

Frances and Oliver shared an uneasy glance, as if they had not prepared for this question.

“Long enough to finish production on the pattern sleeves,” she said. “The raw materials for the Anchors themselves are more plentiful on Euphrates, but there is only one Void. And those sleeves use the quantum signatures of Void energy. I’ll have to consult my husband, but I would estimate another thirty standard days.”

It wasn’t what Michael wanted to hear, but no one seemed distraught. After all, what was thirty days to regain an empire?

Nilsson faced Forsythe. “Captain, I request we revise our security strategy. Frances confirms we will be here at least another thirty days. If the Tuvaan rogues are being supplied by outsiders, they will continue to put my team at risk. There are fifty Mongol corpses on the ridge as I speak. We need to be rid of them and gird ourselves against the possibility of a larger attack from the terrorists.”

Forsythe and Doltrice nodded, their faces grim.

“What is your assessment, Aldo?” The captain asked.

Cabrise shrugged. “The same as it’s always been, Delano. Do whatever it takes to protect this mission. I’m with Cooper. I’d like to be on Hiebimini yesterday, too. But Maj. Nilsson has a point. What happened this morning changes the game. Personally, I always took pleasure solving problems with energy slews. I ended the Hiebim civil war with the most beautiful barrage anyone ever saw. Not that I received proper credit.”

The long silence from Praxis gave Michael hope that maybe one problem was about to be silenced. And yet, in the seconds before the captain spoke, Michael saw the fear in his eyes.

“This is awkward, to say the least,” Forsythe said, his voice weary. “Earlier, we did not have a chance to complete our report. The subject turned to the Anchors instead. We had hoped to save that one bit of good news for last.”

“Apologies,” Frances said, with no hint of remorse.

“This next information,” Forsythe said with hesitation, “will be confusing for all of you, but far more difficult for others.” He looked Joseph square in the eye then he turned to the base staff. Michael thought their eyes met, but only for a second.

“I can do this, Captain,” Joseph said. “We have just learned of an unexpected ...”

“I’ll take it from here,” Forsythe interjected. “As Joseph reported earlier, interstellar commerce has crashed. Moreover, conditions on Earth and in orbit are near a tipping point. Earth Presidiums have halted repatriation of the eleven million Carrier residents. Among other things, most Carrier populations refuse to acknowledge the full citizenship of Solomons. Hardline elements are demanding Guard forces return to the colonies and establish martial law until the terrorist threat is eliminated. This realignment has done more than destabilize the colonies. Which is why I cannot say I am shocked by what has happened, at least not in retrospect.”

The room tensed as Frances spoke for them all.

“And what might be so shocking, Delano?”

“We learned that four standard days ago, a delegation from three Earth consortiums met with representatives from Salvation to open diplomatic talks.”

Reaction was immediate, a cacophony of disbelief and anger. Amid curses and words such as “never,” “impossible,” “insane,” and “treasonous,” Michael caught Cabrise out of the corner of his eye. The old commandant was studying him, as if he was privy to something dire, as if he anticipated the moment. Earlier, he whispered that Michael’s day was not going to improve “at all.”

“How did this happen?” Nilsson asked.

“Who approved this madness?” Frances added.

“When and where?” Alayna asked.

Forsythe waited for the voices to settle.

“Here is what I know,” he said. “Bouchet’s people initiated communication with Supreme Admiral Poussard. She approved the meeting without consulting the full Admiralty. The terrorists demanded no military presence, so she recruited three trusted civilians. They rendezvoused with a Salvation ship half a million kilometers from Mars. Salvation also sent a team of three, including one Chancellor and two unarmed immortals.”

Michael’s stomach twisted. One Chancellor. Could it be?

“Poussard will lose her stripes for this,” Nilsson said. “She gave in to the Solomons, and now commits outright treason. You said she did an end-run of the Admiralty. Are they moving against her?”

“I have no information on that count, Major. But as of six hours ago, when she spoke with me, Angela Poussard still held command.”

“Eh,” Cabrise said. “New boss, same as the old boss. Supremes come and go. The important question, Captain, is why?”

“Correct,” Forsythe said. “Why negotiate with terrorists …”

“Who have killed millions of our people,” Alayna interrupted to strong agreement from the others. Forsythe was undeterred.

“And why, given Salvation’s recent success, would they open lines of dialogue? Bouchet has publicly declared his goal: End Chancellory rule over the Collectorate, isolate Earth from the colonies, and establish a new center of power on Hiebimini.”

Frances asked, “Do you have the answers, Delano?”

“Yes,” he said. “Time. Both sides are playing for time. Salvation is stretched too thin. By our estimates, they number in the hundreds. Maintaining a stable relationship with the colonies while doing … whatever it is … on Hiebimini must be pushing their resources to the limit. And for Poussard? She sees this as the perfect opportunity to exploit that weakness. Both sides agreed not to initiate hostile actions against the other as long as talks proceed.”

“What?” Nilsson was beside himself. “A truce?”

“Words