Mike's War: Sequel to Jesse's Starship (2 page)

The realization of what Hetzel said stuck home and Yehao saw the change in the ones at the table. “You will leave and wait on our decision.”

Hetzel bowed, turned, and walked toward the exit. Mike and Tilly stood to go with him and Yehao said, “Don’t leave the building; I might have some questions.”

Mike looked back at him and lowered his head. He and Tilly joined Hetzel and walked out of the huge room. Mike whispered, “That went well.”

Hetzel turned to him and shook his head, “You’re using sarcasm again. You know I don’t understand you when you do that.”

“I’m serious. You could have skipped everything else and gone straight to telling them what was in it for them and saved a lot of time.” Hetzel’s eyes narrowed. Mike shook his head, “Humans are dreamers. Everyone in that room now sees themselves as sitting in your Central Chamber representing Earth and controlling more wealth than they could ever use. They’ll come to a way to make this happen.”

Tilly looked at Mike, “You’re being rather cynical.”

Mike shrugged, “I wish I were. I know politicians and people in power. They took that bait; hook, line, and very large sinker. I could see it in Yehao’s eyes. The only reason he rules the government is that very few countries can out vote the Chinese and there are too many old fears preventing them from working together. Yehao is driven by ambition and his ego wants even larger domains. I suspect he sees himself ruling the Alliance.”

Hetzel looked at Mike, “I hope you’re right about this. We need him to agree to help us.”

“I almost wish I were wrong.” Hetzel looked sharply at Mike, “I said almost.”

“So you think they’ll agree to rearm the planet?”

“No.”

Hetzel shook his head, “You are the most damnably confusing being I’ve ever encountered.”

“He won’t agree to anything that could remove him from power. Wait and see what they come up with. I think you’ll find it interesting.”

Tilly looked at Mike, “Do you know what they’re going to do?”

Mike smiled, “Get rid of the crazies.” Tilly stared at Mike and almost agreed with Hetzel.

• • •

Ten hours later, Hetzel was called back into the World Building. Mike and Tilly were also told to report and Mike took Adams and Jeanette with him.

Adams scowled, “Why did you bring us here?”

“I’m going to need your council.”

“Don’t you really mean someone to share the blame?”

“Same thing.”

Jeanette snickered. Adams looked at her with a frown, “Hey, this isn’t funny. I don’t like being anywhere near those people. I walk away feeling like I’ve been in a cesspool.”

Jeanette looked at Mike, “Tell him he’s not going to have to speak.”

Mike looked at Adams, “You won’t have to speak.”

Adams’ head went down and he said, “Then you won’t mind if I wait outside?”

Tilly said, “Shut up you big baby. You’d be mad if Mike didn’t have you here.”

Adams shook his head, “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Mike shrugged, “You never feel good about anything.”

“That’s not true; I feel great about my wife.”

“I stand corrected.” Mike glanced at Adams as they entered the huge room, “She’s here so you should feel great.”

Adams saw the forty rulers of Earth at the front of the room and shook his head, “They trump my good feelings.” Jeanette punched him in the ribs and he winced, “Well, they almost trump my good feelings.”

Jeanette mouthed, “That’s better.” Adams nodded and sat down beside Mike. Jeanette leaned forward and smiled at Tilly who leaned over Mike and Adams and kissed her on the cheek, “Good to see you, Jeanie.”

Mike leaned back and waited for Yehao to speak.

• • •

Hetzel stood in front of the forty Representatives and waited for them to start the meeting. Yehao finally looked at him and said, “We have discussed your proposal and have a few questions.”

• • •

Mike nudged Adams and said, “Here it comes.” Tilly heard him and wondered what he was talking about.

• • •

“What questions do you have?”

“It’s my understanding that you offered that young man, who stole one of your starships, a planet for him and the ones you were holding prisoner in your facilities to settle.”

Hetzel tilted his head, “I did offer to take him to an uninhabited planet if he would return our ship.”

Yehao looked at the three sitting to his right and smiled. He turned back to Hetzel, “He didn’t take you up on that offer.”

“No, he didn’t.”

“So that planet you offered is still uninhabited.” Hetzel nodded wondering where this was going. Yehao leaned forward, “We have agreed to give you what you want.”

Hetzel smiled and said, “Thank you so much…”

Yehao held up his hand, “Wait, there’s more.” Hetzel stopped talking. “You need our citizens to fight for you. However, our planet has lived in peace and most of our people no longer wish to live in a warlike society. We’ve decided that your offer of full citizenship in your community and a vote on your council is something that will benefit all of our species and we are willing to work with you to provide what you need…just not here on Earth.”

• • •

Tilly looked at Mike and saw him smile. How did he know?

• • •

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“We will send the necessary people to train and become the army you’ll need. We’ll also send those that build the factories that made those weapons we once used on each other. You will have to provide another planet for them and the necessary materials to build those factories.”

“But…but…”

“We no longer have the facilities to build them. We destroyed them when you imposed peace on us. Why should we take our natural resources to rebuild them? Your civilization will have to provide them what they need.”

Hetzel was at a loss for words. He finally said, “But the delay to start construction…”

“Would be just as long here. We would have to displace large numbers of our populations to build what you need. You will probably make it happen faster on a new world than we can here.”

• • •

Adams leaned over and whispered, “Just how are they going to get the needed numbers to leave Earth?”

Mike continued to stare at Yehao and said, “Watch and learn, Grasshopper.”

Adams scowled, “Learn what?”

“How absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

• • •

Hetzel stared at the Human Leader and didn’t like him. Mike told him he wouldn’t but he wasn’t given much choice. He couldn’t take longer to persuade them; time was of the essence. “No one is going to want to leave your planet and go to an unsettled wilderness.”

Yehao smiled, “They will not be given a choice.”

“What?”

“We’ve chosen those that would be perfect subjects for this army you want to build. Now decide. Are you going to accept our gracious offer or refuse it?”

Hetzel turned around and looked at Mike. He was going to refuse but saw the small smile on Mike’s face. “He wants me to accept.” Hetzel didn’t like the human leader, but he did like and trust Mike. He turned around and forced himself to look upset. “I have to accept if this is all you can offer.”

Yehao smiled and looked at the second Representative to his left, “Tell him who will go.”

Al Hussain lifted a page and started reading. “Anyone that is a former member of any former nation’s active military will leave along with their immediate family and any of their children’s family…”

Ben Drazek stood up on the left side of the horse shoe table and yelled, “That’s eighty percent of my society. We required military service of everyone before peace was imposed. If you include the second generation, almost all of us would be forced to leave.”

Yehao looked at Drazek and said, “You will remain silent. You are not allowed to speak here.”

Drazek looked at Al Hussain and saw the small smile. His anger was enormous. Al Hussain continued, “Any one that possessed a firearm in their residence before the Peace will also leave with their families.”

Jack Stanton stood and his anger was clear. Yehao said, “YOU WILL SIT DOWN!” Stanton sat but realized millions of Americans would be forced to leave along with the Israelis. Yehao looked at Hetzel, “You do still have the records of those homes that were forced to remove their weapons?” Hetzel nodded. “Well, we have the records of all the NATO forces and those in the Soviet Block.” Adams looked at the former Russian Premier and saw him leaning back in his chair. This discussion didn’t appear to upset him at all. Why was that?

Yehao said, “Anyone else who wishes to leave will be allowed to emigrate. All of the former weapon manufacturers and anyone who worked in their companies will also be asked to leave.”

Mike stood up and said, “May I speak?” Yehao smiled and nodded. “According to your decisions, I and my family will also have to leave.”

Yehao actually managed to look sorry, “Unfortunately, we can’t show any preferential treatment. I am truly sorry, Mr. Sanders.”

Mike stared at the Chinese Representative and said, “I would request one thing.”

“What is that?”

“That, when you announce this to Earth, I be allowed to tell what kind of hardship those that might choose to go will have to face. They should know what they’re getting into.”

Yehao stared at Mike and didn’t trust what he would say. Hetzel interrupted his thoughts by saying, “We don’t want anyone going who isn’t prepared to fight. He should be given the time to tell them. I’ll agree to your offer with no further resistance if you accept this.”

Yehao looked at Hetzel and then looked at Mike, “You will not say anything that would cause dissension.”

“I suspect you’ll have all the dissention you could ever hope for after your announcement whether I speak or not.”

Yehao turned back to Hetzel, “You will use the Hunters to enforce our edicts.” Hetzel stared at Yehao for a long moment and nodded. Yehao smiled a polished smile that all politicians have and said, “Your forcing peace on us has worked. The vast majority of our planet would never choose to go back to the way things were. This migration will only ensure we are worthy of membership into your society.” Yehao looked at Mike, “I will be making the announcement this evening at eight PM our time. Be here if you choose to speak.” Mike nodded and Yehao looked at Al Hussain, “Get the names out to the local authorities to be ready to start the process immediately after the announcement.”

Mike saw Ben Drazek leave the table and start walking his way. Drazek arrived and looked Mike in the eyes and quietly said, “Will you please make sure my people are among the first to go!”

“I was wondering if you were ready.”

“You’ve seen what we’re up against. Anywhere else would be better than this.”

“How do you feel about leaving your holy land?”

Drazek smiled, “We can always build another temple.”

“I guess you figured out that very few terrorists were ever officially in an army.”

Drazek nodded, “So they won’t be going. Tell me some more good news.”

“Most of the Christians in the former United States will also be coming along.”

“We can live with them. With them, what you see is what you get. That can’t be said for those we’re forced to live with now.”

“I want the former leaders of your special forces to be sent to the first transport ahead of the major exodus. Have them report directly to me when they arrive.”

“Do you want the former Soviet Spetsnaz Officers as well?” Mike’s eyes narrowed. Drazek smiled, “They have more in common with our warriors than those they have to follow in this current mess.” Drazek nodded toward the tall Russian sitting at the table watching them. “Carl told me they were going to force us to leave. He says it’s time to go.”

Mike looked over at the Russian and nodded. The Russian showed a small smile as he nodded back. Mike looked at Ben, “Have them report as well.”

Drazek walked back to the table and Adams leaned in, “You were expecting this.” Mike continued to watch Drazek and nodded. Adams’ brow furrowed, “Is this a good thing?”

Mike looked at Adams, “Can it be any worse than what we have here now?”

Adams shook his head. “Who is going to be responsible for bringing order out of this?”

Mike remained silent but Adams saw Hetzel looking at him. This looked like it was going to be Mike’s war to win or lose. He reached over and pulled Jeanette close. He looked at her and saw her fear for their son. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, “It will all work out.”

“Now I’m really frightened.”

“Why?”

“I’m the one that usually has to reassure you. This new role isn’t comforting.”

Adams nodded and smiled, “Ok, you can reassure me.”

Jeanette stared at Yehao and shook her head, “I really wish I could.”

• • •

All the news agencies on Earth announced a critical speech by the World Council’s Leader. The insider information on the speech was that hundreds of millions of citizens were going to be impacted. Speculation ran rampant and the planet’s fear approached the level when Earth was threatened with destruction. No one knew what was going on and no one was talking.

• • •

Mike watched Yehao tell the world that many of them were going to have to leave the planet to fight for Earth’s survival. Mike shook his head at what appeared to be genuine sadness coming from the Council Leader. Yehao called it a draft, which was an outright lie. You don’t draft women, children, and babies to leave Earth. He was eliminating any source of resistance to his edicts. Mike had to admit it was a good tactic. Dictators never liked anyone around that could offer a challenge. All of the World Representatives looked appropriately sad at what was being done except for Stanton, Carl, and Drazek; their rage was clear. At the end, everyone knew who was being deported to the new planet and they knew the Hunters were going to enforce them leaving. Most people were in a state of shock at the end of the announcement. Yehao told them that everyone would be notified on where to report. It was going to take some time for the support facilities to be built on the new planet. He then introduced Mike as the one who would be organizing the move.