Ephialtes (Ephialtes Trilogy Book 1) (44 page)

Cortes
snorted.  “Well the precedent has been set now, and it’s made us look
stupid.  What are you doing about it?”

“Well,” said
Farrell, “we’re looking at all our options.  I have two teams who are
going over it right now and we hope to have a report ready for you by the end
of the day, sir.”

“Great,” said
Cortes.  “They’ve turned us over just how they said they would, but at
least we’ll have a report by the end of the day.”  Cortes shook his head
disappointedly.  “What does defence have?”

“Mr
President, I can update you on the progress of
Ephialtes
.  The
mission is proceeding smoothly and as planned.  We hope to have the ship
in Martian orbit within ten days.”

“What about
the missile platform?”

“We are
prepared to take the platform out as soon as it’s in range.  That’s a
mission priority.”

“And we have
the capability to do that?”

“I’ve been
assured we have, Mr President?”

“Should that
go disastrously wrong, can I have your assurance that you will be able to
provide me with a ‘report by the end of the day’?”

Andrews was
not quite sure how to respond to the president’s sarcasm.  “Militarily
it’s a straightforward operation, sir.  We are not anticipating any
difficulties.”

“Good,” said
Cortes.  “It’ll be nice for something to go right for a change.”

Cortes and
Brennan drafted a statement to be given to the news media.  The USAN
rejected outright
Venkdt’s
buyout, which was not
recognised in law.  Shareholders of Venkdt, as far as the law was
concerned, had been given a generous gift by Venkdt Mars Corp, but the status
of their shares remained intact.  The statement went on to mention the
illegal manner in which the money had been transferred and hinted darkly at the
nefarious means the Martians had used.  It restated that Charles
Venkdt’s
Martian government had absolutely no legitimacy
and was not recognised by the USAN, nor any other country on Earth.

The statement
also touched on where the USAN saw the whole situation going.  It was
absolutely not acceptable for the Martian insurrection to stand.  The
strong hope was that an agreement, possibly generous to Martian requirements,
could be brokered.  But if that was not possible force would be used.

The statement
mentioned
Ephialtes
by name, also giving its estimated time of
arrival.  As far as the USAN was concerned the clock was ticking down for
the Martians.

Venkdt
regarded Kostovich’s office almost as a separate land.  He had been there
before only rarely.  On this day he knocked gingerly on the door before
walking in.  He noticed Kostovich was not at his desk.  He wondered
if he might be in a lab somewhere, but then as he walked further into the room
he noticed the sofa to one side and the snoring Kostovich laid upon it.

He coughed,
quietly at first then louder, but Kostovich did not stir.  He tried
tapping the desk.  “Dan?” he called.  It reminded him of waking
Christina when she was a child.  “Dan!” he called again, this time much
louder, and Kostovich jumped up with a start.

“Jeez!” he
said.

Venkdt
couldn’t help but smile, though he felt slightly guilty at startling his star
protégé.  “I’m sorry, Dan,” he said, “I didn’t mean to wake you. 
Well, I
did
mean to wake you, just not quite like that.”

Kostovich had
collected himself a little, and he sat up.  “What is it, has something
happened?” he said.

“No,
no.  Nothing like that,” said Venkdt.  “I just wanted to drop by to
thank you for everything you’ve done over the last few months.  I heard
about the money going through.  Terrific stuff, really terrific.  And
all your help with the military kit and hardware, it’s all been really helpful,
Dan.  I just wanted to come by and thank you in person.”

Kostovich’s
head was clearing now, but the words didn’t quite make sense to him. 
“Thank me for what?  It’s just my job.  I’m a Martian too, just like
everyone else.  I’m happy to do my bit for this project.”

“That’s good
to hear, Dan, but I still want to thank you.”

“Well,”
Kostovich shrugged, “thanks for your thanks.”

Venkdt looked
around the office, noting small knick-knacks and action figures. 
“Listen, Dan,” he said.  “This big ship they’re sending,
Ephialtes
. 
We have enough defences to block it, don’t we?  I mean, in a chess-like
sense?”

“Sure,” said
Kostovich.  “And we have the missile defences and field artillery, should
they land any dropships on the surface.”

Venkdt
winced.  “I don’t like that kind of talk.  Obviously, we’ll never let
anything get that far anyway.  What I want to know is that we have enough
of a plausible defence to stop
them
using
Ephialtes
against us.  We have that, don’t we?”

“I’d say we
do.”

Venkdt
thought.  “If you were them, and you were coming at us with that big ship,
is there anything you might do or need to do before you got here?  You
know, communications stuff or logistics or anything like that?”

Kostovich
thought.  “The ship is a self-contained unit.  I’m guessing
they have enough supplies for years.  What they’re trying to do isn’t
dissimilar to a medieval siege, except we’re never going to run out of food or
resources.  We have or can make anything we need right here.  We
could bear the siege indefinitely.  In fact, the only thing they would be
able to stop us doing would be exporting minerals back to Earth, and that’s
exactly what they need us to be doing.  So the siege actually works
against their interests, rather than ours.  It makes you wonder if they’ve
thought it through, really.”

Venkdt
nodded.  “Unless they’re not planning on a siege.”

Kostovich
picked up his meaning immediately.  “I don’t think they would attack
us.  Public opinion wouldn’t bear it, and we have all the expertise and
equipment necessary for extracting deuterium.  All of that could be
destroyed in a fight.  However pissed off they are at us, they need to
keep us onside.  It wouldn’t make sense to do anything else.”

“Well, Dan,
you can’t rely on people to always do the sensible thing.  They’re nothing
if not unpredictable.”

“I guess
that’s true,” said Kostovich.

“If they were
planning on landing a military force, what would be the first thing they’d
do?  And what could we do to stop them doing it?”

Kostovich had
run some scenarios in his simulators, so he had the answer readily to
hand.  “Well, if I was sending a dropship carrier to a distant planet with
the intent of landing drone squads on the surface, the first thing I would want
to do would be to make sure the carrier itself was safe.  If there were
any off-planet defences I would have to take them out before I put my
prized ship in orbit.”

Venkdt
nodded.

There was
something familiar but unfamiliar about the former USAN garrison on Mars when
Bobby Karjalainen entered.  The garrison had been built by the USAN but
was now occupied by the Martian Security Service.  The style of
architecture and many of the fittings were familiar to Bobby from his time in
military installations on Earth, but there was something slightly off about the
personnel.  It wasn’t just the uniforms, which were broadly similar to the
USAN’s but subtly different, it was the way they carried themselves.  On
USAN Army installations on Earth they would have been berated for being
sloppy.  He wasn’t sure if what was going on here was that they were poorly
trained or just doing things differently.  He had to keep reminding
himself that this wasn’t the USAN Army, it was the Martian Security Service,
and that was a different thing entirely.

He had made
it through the checkpoint, presenting his identification to the guards and
being patted down and scanned before being allowed to enter.  They had
called back to the main building for someone to come and escort him.  The
escort was a bright young woman who smiled politely and made small talk as they
walked.  As she led him to Foveaux’s office she asked him what he would be
doing for the MSS.  He answered honestly that he did not know.

He waited for
a few minutes in an anteroom with Foveaux’s personal assistant until he was
waved through.  As he entered her office Foveaux rose to greet him with an
outstretched hand which he shook firmly.  “Please, take a seat,” she said.

“Nice place
you have here,” said Bobby.

Foveaux
nodded.  “We’re working on it.  Okay, let’s get straight to it.”

Bobby
smiled.  “Yes, let’s.”

Foveaux knew
of Bobby by reputation and had read his service record.  She had an idea
that he might be trouble, but from what she had read it seemed likely the
trouble would be worth it.  She decided she would let the flirty undertone
of that last remark pass.  After all, at this point Bobby was still a
civilian and a guest at her installation.  If he decided to join them then
maybe later on would be the time to try to rein him in.  “You know all
about the situation we’re in, of course.  Everything here has
changed.  As I’m sure you’re aware the former USAN garrison, which was
based here, was the de facto Martian police force.  That job has now been
taken over by us, and by us I mean the MSS, the Martian Security Service. 
I was formerly head of security at Venkdt Mars Corp and I was offered this
position, Commissioner of the MSS, based on the work I had done there.  My
remit was and is to form the new security service and oversee its development
into a dedicated Martian police force and a dedicated Martian military. 
It was originally thought that the two branches would grow apart organically
over time.  It was also assumed that the military branch would fulfil a
mostly ceremonial role.”  She paused.  “However, we have been
overtaken by events to some degree and it now seems that the military side of
things is more pressing than we originally anticipated.  Venkdt have been
terrific in providing us with equipment.  We have uniforms, armour and
weapons.  What we don’t have is the training and discipline necessary to
use them.”

Bobby stirred
in his seat.  He had a good idea what might be coming next.

“That’s where
you come in.  I don’t need to tell you about your record in the
military.  It speaks for itself.  You have something we don’t, and
that makes you very valuable to us.  What I would like to ask from you is
that you join us on a senior military rank and oversee our training
program.  You’re the most qualified person on the planet for that role,
and it would be a peach of a job.  We would pretty much turn the whole
thing over to you so you would be able to organise the training as you saw
fit.  You would be able to organise the entire military, using your
personal experience and your knowledge of Martian needs.  What do you
say?”

Bobby shifted
in his seat again.  “First of all I have to say I’m very flattered that
you would offer this to me.  But the second thing I have to say is
this.  The military was supposed to be symbolic, sitting around polishing
their brass and turning up for parades, right?  Now you need them to be
trained in a hurry.  What’s that about?”

“There are
certain things I can’t discuss.  As a military man I’m sure you understand
that.  But you will have seen in the bulletins that the USAN is sending a
dropship carrier to us.  That is something no one anticipated.  Well,
another thing no one anticipated is that we will have military capability here
waiting for them.  Do you see?”

Bobby spoke
slowly.  “I
think
I see.  The most powerful military force
that has ever existed is sending a state-of-the-art attack
ship, and you want to fight them off with a band of ex-security
guards.  And the only problem, as you see it, is that the ex-security
guards need a bit of training?”

Foveaux was
irritated by Bobby’s levity but she hid it.  “It’s not quite like that,”
she said.  “We don’t really intend to fight anybody.  But as a
student of military tactics I’m sure you will know that it will give the USAN
great pause if they think that we’re prepared to put up a fight.  I guess
you would call it a bluff, but any bluff worth a damn has to have some
substance behind it.  I’m not saying that we can mould a force capable of
taking on the USAN.  But what we do need is some credibility.  Are
you up for that?”  She quickly rephrased the question, hoping to bait
Bobby into a positive answer.  “Are you
capable
of that?”

Bobby sat
back in his chair and thought.  He looked over Foveaux’s head and noticed
the hole in the plasterwork.  He nodded towards it.  “What’s that?”
he said.

Foveaux
turned in her chair and looked at the damaged wall.  “Bullet hole,” she
said.

“Do you have
many firefights in your office?” asked Bobby.

“I’ve only
been here a few weeks,” said Foveaux.  “There’s only been one so far.”

Bobby leaned
around in his chair and scanned the wall behind him.  There were no bullet
holes there.  “So you didn’t return fire?” he said.

“Of course I
returned fire,” said Foveaux, “I just didn’t miss.”

Bobby nodded
appreciatively and a smile broke across his face.  “Sure, I’ll help you
out,” he said.  “When do I start?”

“Start Monday
after next.  Give us some time to find you an office, sort out the paper
work,” said Foveaux.

“Terms and
conditions?” said Bobby.

“Within
reason you can write your own terms and conditions,” said Foveaux.  “As I
said to you before, we’re starting out from scratch.  Essentially, you
will be founding the Martian Army and it’s up to you how you do it.”

“So what
would my title be?” said Bobby mischievously.

Foveaux
thought.  “I don’t know.  It’s your army, so I guess that would be up
to you.”

“
Obergruppenführer
?” suggested Bobby?

Foveaux
frowned.  “Are you going to be trouble, Bobby Karjalainen?”

“I hope so,
ma’am.”

“Let’s be
clear on this from the beginning.  I’m not ma’am, I’m sir.  And
though you will be in charge of the army, I’m still in charge of the MSS. 
When you start here with us, whatever you decide to call yourself, I will still
be your superior officer.  In answer to your question, no,
obergruppenführer
would not be an appropriate title for the
chief of the Martian Army.”

Bobby
grinned.  “You know,” he said, “you look great when you’re angry.”

Foveaux
smiled back at him thinly.  “I’m not angry.  And I’m not charmed by
the cheeky, irreverent work-hard-play-hard type either. 
I’ve asked you here to do a job for us.  It’s an important job and you’re
more than qualified to do it.  I’m glad you’ve accepted and I hope you
will give the role your full attention and the dedication it requires.”

“I hope so
too,” said Bobby, still smiling.

Foveaux took
Bobby on a tour of the garrison.  It wasn’t a particularly large
building.  Bobby asked many questions and stopped to chat with various
personnel along the way.  He asked about the organisational structure,
which was weak and temporary, and he asked about equipment.  He was shown
the new kit that had been supplied by Venkdt.  It was good stuff,
certainly up to the job.  Most of the personnel were keen.  Bobby
guessed they were fired up by the novelty of it all.  A few weeks ago they
had been security guards, probably staring at feeds from security cameras and
patrolling warehouses at all hours of the night.  Now, here they were in a
military facility with shiny new kit, all pumped up at the idea they were the
guardians of an entire planet.

He liked the
enthusiasm.  He thought it would be something he could work with when
trying to mould them into some sort of a functioning army.  But there were
problems, too.  There was a very wide range of ages.  Usually, the
foot soldiers in any military would be in their teens or twenties.  Here
there were many in their forties or fifties and a handful even older than
that.  It was something he would have to take into account, but like all
of the new Martian institutions he realised that the Martian Army was
provisional and subject to change.  At this point just having an army was
an achievement in itself.  He knew what he might like it to be at some
distant point in the future but he accepted what was available to him now, both
in terms of materiel and personnel.  One of the things that had been
impressed strongly on him in his own training was the importance of working
with what was available, changing the plan on the fly according to current
conditions.  There was no point in waiting for ideal circumstances, which
would probably never materialise.  A good soldier was able to adapt to
conditions as he found them and work with what he had.  Bobby was going to
apply that principle to the creation of the Martian Army.  There was no
other way of doing it.

At the end of
the tour Foveaux saw Bobby to the gate.  “Thanks for coming,” she
said.  “I’m glad to have you aboard.  And I really mean that. 
We need you, Bobby.  Thanks.”

Bobby nodded
and shook her hand again.  “I’m glad to be of help, Commissioner Foveaux,”
he said.  “I’ll look forward to seeing you again in a couple of weeks.”

“There’s one
other thing,” said Foveaux.

“Yes?” said
Bobby.

“I know
you’re not starting yet but it would be good if you could swing past Venkdt and
talk to someone called Dan Kostovich.”

“Kostovich?”

“Yes. 
He’s head of R&D there.  He’s the one who’s developed our uniforms and
hardware.  He also developed the missile platforms that are defending the
city.  Maybe you’ve seen some stuff about him on the bulletins?”

“Maybe. 
I don’t follow the news too closely.”

“Well, he’s
something of a genius and very high up in the Venkdt organisation.  He’s
our hardware guy.  I think it would be good if you got together with him
and talked over some of the kit we have.  If there’s anything you
need - modifications or additional kit or anything like that - he
would be the person to talk to.  At the moment he’s in charge of the
missile batteries he developed.  I’d like to think they will eventually
come under our authority.  Maybe you could talk to him about that,
too.  I’ll arrange clearance for you.”

Bobby nodded,
“Okay.”

Bobby and
Foveaux stood facing each other, each waiting for the other to leave or say a
final goodbye.  Bobby thought he had irritated her in their initial
meeting, but he felt that by being serious and sensible during the tour he had
won her round again.  He liked her and sensed he would be able to work
with her.  It was easy to see that she was strong, both physically and
mentally.  “Goodbye, then,” he said.

“Goodbye,”
said Foveaux, adding as she turned away, “
Obergruppenführer
Karjalainen.”

Bobby smiled
after her and called out, “Maybe you’re right.  That is a bit of a
mouthful.”

Foveaux was
smiling too as she walked but she didn’t look back or reply.

Foveaux had
arranged the clearance immediately via her comdev.  Before she had reached
the garrison building Bobby Karjalainen was cleared to enter Venkdt Mars Corp
headquarters and
its
R&D Department.

Bobby had
called ahead and been advised that Dr Daniel Kostovich was very busy at that
time and may not be available.  He decided to go along anyway.  The
R&D Department had even higher security than the rest of Venkdt Mars
Corp.  Kostovich himself had doubled the security detail in the last
couple of weeks.  The R&D Department was his personal fiefdom and at
the moment it was the nerve centre of the Martian missile defences. 
Kostovich thought the extra security measures were justified.