April 5: A Depth of Understanding (35 page)

"I have mail from April. She said Jeff bombarded China when they refused to acknowledge the L1 limit. She said he bombed a dam way up a river that will cause a whole line of dams to fail below it, like dominoes. I worry where all this will lead. I don't like to see them hurting people, but I have no idea what any alternative would be. I don't know why the damned Chinese can't just go away and leave us alone."

"The intelligence of any human system is inversely proportional to the number of people in it," Deloris proclaimed solemnly.

"Who said that?" Barak wondered.

"I did! Oh, I imagine somebody has made that observation before, but I wasn't quoting a known source. It seems almost obvious if you study history, or just watch people."

Barak nodded. "I could stand to know more history. Detailed history, not broad facts about entire eras. There aren't enough hours to know it all."

"You have the inside scoop on a lot of the history being made right now. You should write the history of Home."

"Maybe I'll do that. So I can put in all the things I think are important. And tell what kind of people made the history, because I don't see that in most of the history I've read. The only history book I saw that did that was a military history about the American Civil war April's grandpa had. It told what the generals were like, smart, stubborn, quick to take offense, full of vices and short comings off the battle field in some cases, or cocksure that led to being dead."

"I said you have high powered friends. Not many people
could
write that book."

"On the plus side, my sister, Heather and all her people survived and dug themselves out at Central. Now they have to start building again and fill a
big
hole in."

"I'm glad. You can stop worrying about them so intently."

"Was it that obvious?"

"Yes."

"You're right. The immediate crisis is resolved and I can relax a little. It's hard knowing what is going on, but being so far away there's nothing I can do."

"Has Harold been nasty with you, training you for back-up to do lab work?" she asked, scrutinizing him closely.

"Not at all!" Barak protested surprised. "He jokes around and tells endless stories about himself. He
loves
telling stories about when he lived in Thailand and then the Philippines before coming up to Home. I don't have to say much at all, just grunt or look up once in awhile and he's as happy as if he had a big audience."

"It doesn't drive you nuts?"

"Not at all. It's like having music playing in the background. You can ignore it. Understand, I don't
believe
the stories, or worry about them. A few I've already heard twice or three times."

"I suppose they are all about him?"

"Mostly, although there are a few supporting actors like guys he worked with, or the bartender at his favorite open air bar in Manila. You know he's totally self absorbed, so why would you expect anything else? If he tells a story about a sports team it's about how he bet on one of their games. Or if he got drunk and thrown in jail, it's about how he avoided a much worse fate than he deserved."

"You have more patience than me," she acknowledged.

"It's only another year and a few months," he laughed.

"With that attitude, you are a natural for a starship," Deloris decided.

Chapter 23

The headline fairly screamed bloody murder:

The Independent News, London

Spacers Deliver on Threat – China Ravaged

The body of the article
did
mention they had attacked the moon and it
did
say they'd been served warning they must agree to stay out of deep space with weapons, but April wondered how many would read any more than the headline.

A Russian paper wasn't much better, not losing any love for the Chinese, but bitter over the targeting of their ambassador to the UN. They fell back on asserting treaties a hundred years old that gave Earth authority to parcel out anything beyond the atmosphere as the common heritage of mankind. Earth governments were big on sharing other people's property.

April wondered if she went back far enough, whether she couldn't find some document that would justify her to divvying up Russia up among her friends and allies. Maybe she could find some ancestors who lived in a neighboring country in conflict, or just have Heather grant her rights.

The video nets were worse. Showing the wave of water sweeping away classic Chinese buildings having the tile roofs with upswept corners everyone recognized. Cars tumbling down stream like toys and refugees, especially children, huddled in blankets waiting to be taken away in military trucks.

Nobody showed the crater at Central or the fact Home had children China was willing to blow to plasma.

The only news service that tried to contact Jeff was the Disney News Channel. Jeff offered an interview only if they ran  it uncut, including what he'd just said about it being unedited. They weren't desperate enough to take those terms. He issued a new letter.

Jefferson Moses Singh, Citizen of Home, Peer of Central's Sovereign 4/20/2087

To the People's Republic of China, Beijing, Earth: Through broadcast and news releases.

The People's Republic has still not satisfied us they will desist from aggression beyond L1. If no public repudiation of their actions is received we shall continue to make war upon them and make another major blow within approximately 48 hours.

No regulation of a telegraphy authority or agreement between Earth powers a century old has valid authority over free people who are living in conditions and environments unimagined a century ago. This makes as much sense as Spain trying to annex South America based on a papal land grant from the 1400s.

We are willing to reduce China to a minor unindustrialized nation with a vastly reduced population if that is what is necessary to make them acknowledge our right to self determination and freedom from aggression. Indeed I am prepared to reduce them to the point they are not a danger even if they never yield and make such a statement. Because they will not be able to project any authority or force beyond their own borders.

Think carefully if your neighbors will not divide you up and end your existence as a whole, if you are reduced to that point. We have no designs on your land. But you have others around you who have reason to fear you, may want China never to rise to power again.

Jefferson M. Singh

"Jon, what would you do? Should I hit another river system, or should I strike the naval base for the Northern Fleet?" Jeff asked. "The rainy season starts soon and the river flowing open and unimpeded is likely to give them a lot of trouble all by itself."

"Stripping out the dams and using the river as a weapon is very effective for hurting them financially. It is causing them a lot of trouble from the hydro power lost and it stripped out a lot of planted crop lands, but it only hit their military in a small incidental way. Public opinion will understand striking a military base a lot more than a dam. They may only see that as inflicting unnecessary hardship on civilians."

"OK. That's what I'll do. I have enough rods and small warheads to get through to a well defended target. I'm not sure I can do it twice though. Not in another two or three days. I have orders in for rods but everybody is busy. If I let up they may get the idea I'm faltering."

"If you hit a military target again after this one, I'll release militia owned rods for you."

"I'm going to adjust the weapon back to about eight or ten megaton and drop it right outside the harbor mouth, letting it sink to the bottom. Dave assures me it is sealed up water tight and good for two hundred meters. Otherwise it will completely remove the adjacent town. Why in the world do they build a big base right up against a huge city? It's stupid to make them one target."

"They both need the harbor," Jon explained. "You'd have to see Earth storms and how badly a ship needs protection near the shore to understand. There aren't that many places with a good natural harbor to split them up either."

"Thanks. When we vacationed on a ship we didn't see a big storm this time. April had horror stories about being in one. She'd probably understand better. Thanks Jon."

"No problem. Incidentally, there isn't much with UN blue on it left that's worth expending a rod. If we see any high ranking target in China we
will
take it out. But not just to knock down a building and risk killing some poor janitor."

"Thanks Jon. Heather and a couple more from Central will be back on Home for a few days. Then she feels she needs to be back even if they are roughing it again. By the time she gets back the short half life stuff will have eased off quite a bit. They'll at least start doing perimeter roads again. How we're going to fill the crater back in, I'm still not sure."

* * *

Margaret Detweiler was running the security station when the shuttle from New Las Vegas came in. The usual Earth tourists, Vegas workers taking a cheap holiday off station, who didn't have the funds to visit Earth, returning gamblers and travelers who connected through that hub came pouring out. What she did not expect was a Chinese officer in full dress uniform. The Earthie version, not a ship's uniform.

The fellow approached her with the oddest expression, then she realized he was terrified. How odd. She thought briefly of a suicide bomb, then dismissed it. The chemical sensor board in front of her would warn of all but the most exotic metallic explosives. The camera would tell the story to her boss if he blew himself up. Nothing he could fit on or in his body could significantly damage the station here, so she stopped worrying about it. He stopped at her security lectern and stood so rigidly that for an instant she thought he was going to salute.

"I'm not sure of your procedures. Do you want to see my passport?" he asked.

"No need. We don't use passports so we don't require them. If you'll just touch the DNA reader plate," she pointed to the gray ceramic plate, "and declare what name you wish to use, you are free to enter."

"Even with all the trouble between Home and China?" he asked, surprised. "I am grateful, but what if I were here for mischief?"

"Not to speak ill of your countrymen, but there have been a few here to conduct assassinations. It did not go well for them. We hope someone may eventually notice that and modify their conduct. I apologize. I'm not sufficiently informed of your service's insignia to address you by your rank."

"It has no value here," he said, shrugging and touching the plate, "and very soon it may have no value to me, so just be aware I am Jason Dia."

"Jason seems like it would be an uncommon Chinese name."

"My parents were artists and big fans of a painter, Jason De Graaf. If you have a western name that isn't overtly religious or political, like Moses Dia, or Abraham Lincoln Dia, the authorities are actually very tolerant of it."

"Can you legally change your name in China? Or does it just close doors to you?"

He smiled. "They will change your name for you! Upon your enlistment for example."

"Wow, sure you don't want to change it or add anything on? We don't care here."

"I am content with what my parents gave me, but thank you. I do need to ask your help on another matter. I am here with no authority. Worse really. I'm here in active opposition to my government and if the other conspirators fail in their part...It won't go well for me. I understand the head of your security division is a Mr. Jon Davis. Could you send word up your line of command in your organization, that Jason Dia requests an interview about a matter having some urgency? If he can also inform Mr. Jefferson Moses Singh of what I tell him, it is of vital importance."

"When this shuttle is empty and the crew either comes on station, or buttons up I can take you to Jon myself," Margaret offered. "Just plant yourself out of the way. It'll only be a few minutes." In zero G one place was as good as another and Jason found a place to hover.

Two more passengers checked in, burdened by luggage that made them slower. Then there was some clunking and thumps felt through the decking.

"OK," she said, powering down and packing up her equipment, "the shuttle decided to park off station until they do a departure in about six hours. I guess they didn't want to pay dockage or rent a hot slot for such a brief stay. I'm done here so let's go see Jon. I dropped him a text."

The young man handled himself with a confidence that said he wasn't new to zero G. He didn't offer any conversation however. Margaret decided it would be counterproductive to pump him, unless he asked for privacy, Jon would probably let her stay and listen.

They got a few curious looks along the way. You didn't see many people in any sort of uniform, much less formal Earth style uniforms. Ship's uniforms were all much more subdued and utilitarian. Gunny had drawn a few stares in his full dress USNA Marines blues the couple times he went out in them. They were pretty stylish. The Chinese uniform wasn't as easy on the eyes in her opinion, but the gold trim, bright scarlet shoulder boards and band on the ridiculous hat certainly caught people's eyes.

On the other hand the young man was getting an eye full too. There were quite a few locals out in the corridors and easily half were carrying arms openly. He showed no surprise at it until a fellow went past them the other way with an antique Browning Automatic Rifle slung across his back. Despite its age it looked like it was meant for business, not simply a curio. That finally made him look over his shoulder to get a good look at it.

Margaret palmed the lock-plate and took them in their offices. They had to wind through an outer office with desks crammed so close it was cramped passing through. That was even though the desks were compact compared to most on Earth. Jon's door was drawn open and Margaret stopped to announced them there.

"Well come in!" Jon gruffly bellowed. The officer hesitated like he might change his mind right there. Margaret quickly stepped in the tiny office to demonstrate it was safe. He followed, but timidly, then looked around with clear surprise on his face. Margaret wonder why, then realized it was because the office was so small and plain. In fact there was only one chair for a visitor, only
room
for one chair and Margaret being first in had taken it. He expected a lot more of a status display for the head of security. Jon however understood right away.