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

The command staff exchanged skeptical glances, but no one seemed ready to tackle a response. As Michael anticipated, they posed no serious objections. These people were transparent.

“Any other conditions, Michael?” Poussard said.

“Just a handful of details. Very small. Just so you know I’m not a total asshole, we don’t want you to leave empty-handed. Aldo Cabrise has agreed to remain on Aeterna. He will not be living in JaRa, or wherever we expand. His mission is to learn the secrets of this terraformed planet. Most important, however, he is going to look for solutions to the Chancellor genetic decay.”

That consumed their full attention.

Aldo followed up. “That planet is where our problems began. There’s brontinium, and it’s not inert anymore, but its chemical composition has altered. We’re not going to mine for extract, people. Been down that road. Aeterna is like a combination of a hundred different worlds. It shouldn’t be possible, but there she is. I believe I can find the solution. Might take a few years. Don’t hold your breath.”

Alayna Rainier, a Presidium rep and one of the last to sneak out of Ericsson Station, spoke up.

“Aldo, if this is true, our caste can be saved. We can’t leave this to one man. At least allow us to send science teams.”

“No!” Michael didn’t permit Aldo to speak. “Fuck no. That’s step one to starting the whole damn process over again. Aldo will send us regular reports, and we’ll share them with you.”

“Fine,” Poussard said. “We will make the necessary arrangements on our end. Anything else, Michael?”

Ah. We’re on a first name basis now. You’re good, Angela.

“There are currently forty-five Chancellors onboard Lioness who have been working for Salvation the past year or two. Some were kidnapped, some volunteered. They’ll leave with you. When you return home, you’ll introduce them as heroes to the Chancellory. Restore their lives, reunite them with families, whatever you need to do. Your story will be that these people were held as slaves. They rebelled against Brother James and killed some of the hybrids. The other details, you make up. You’re great at propaganda.”

“And why would we take back these traitors?”

“Because I said so. Or maybe because that’s about the same number of people you condemned on Tamarind. Also, because if you don’t, we’ll never share Aldo’s reports.”

“Fine. And?”

“Maj. Aiden Nilsson. The truth about his mission never leaves this room. I want him posthumously promoted to Admiral. He has a wife and two kids. You do right by them.”

Michael leaned back and smoked while they contemplated. OK, time to watch these assholes bend over.

He unholstered his blast rifle and laid it on the table. His rapt audience stiffened.

“Aldo tells me you have not given up the GPNM coordinates for the jumpgate. You didn’t think we were gonna let you keep it? Or maybe you did.” He pointed to the holowindow hovering above Poussard. “It’s right there in the surrender terms. No jumpgate for the Unification Guard. Anybody?”

Silence, as predicted. Michael offered a theatrical sigh.

“Col. Johansson?”

The Praxis navigator eyed his captain then nodded to Michael.

“I’m sorry, Michael. They were lost when Praxis was destroyed.”

“You mean intentionally destroyed. And they weren’t lost. I know my way around a navigation cylinder. You have those coordinates on your stream.”

“Fine,” Poussard interjected. “Colonel, share them. The sooner we get this over with …”

Johansson opened a cube, retrieved the Galactic Plane locator beacons, and tossed the holowindow to Michael.

“Thank you.” Michael swiped it into one of his own windows.

“Admiral Kane, are you there?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Admiral, you have the coordinates for the jumpgate. Feed them to our Scramjets and send them on their way. Actually, belay that.” He faced Poussard. “How many ships are guarding it?”

“Just one. It’s not a threat.”

“I believe half of what you just said. Admiral, there will be one UG ship, probably a transport or command/control craft, near the gate. Have your people destroy it first. Then have fun with the gate.”

“Yes, sir.”

Poussard left her chair. “There are two hundred men and women on the Hummel. This is murder.”

“Really, Angela? Now you’re counting bodies?”

“I am the Supreme Admiral. I helped you and Samantha last year. I saved both your lives. You …”

Michael placed his hand on the rifle. “Didn’t we cover that earlier? Sit down, Admiral. At any rate, I think that’s a wrap. Once we receive confirmation about the jumpgate, we’re good to go. Yes?”

A few were stunned by his pronouncement.

Damn, these people have never played poker.

“If you’re ready, Admiral, insert your stamp in the Terms of Surrender. We’ll be sending you folks home on a ship called the Gemini. It’s big enough for your crew and the other Chancellors I mentioned. We’ll drop you off at a nice remote location on Earth and pop away before we’re tracked.”

The tension jumped as all eyes turned to Poussard. Did they think she’d really do it? What choice did she have? He gave her a cover story for losing ten thousand soldiers and a slim chance to saving the Chancellory from death. She might not be able to keep her job, but this was the only way she might avoid being tried for treason.

The arrogance drained from her complexion as she opened a cube, grabbed her holostamp and pressed into the document.

“Gorgeous!” Michael said. “We’ve got a deal. And the best part is, you didn’t even read that fucking thing.”

He grabbed the rifle and aimed it toward the ceiling.

“There’s no telling how many grammatical errors and misspellings. I was dictating so fast. But you don’t care about that. You don’t give a shit about the deal.” He glared at them all. “Every damn one of you thought you got away with it. Didn’t you?”

“Excuse me, Cooper?” Poussard rolled her eyes. “What now?”