Dust Bunny (Rust Bucket Universe) Page 4

  ***

  Congress resumed deliberations that afternoon. Member after member got up to discuss the implications for the Union if the waivers were granted. It was nearly six in the evening when the representative from Leuion came running into the Congress. She slowed down only as she reached the main desk. She approached the congressional secretary to hand over the document requesting admission, a one-page affair that stated everything simply and economically.

  The congressional secretary took the document and handed it to the chairman. She took it and then announced, "I have a second issue to place before you. Seeing as it's so late now, I am willing to postpone this until tomorrow. Are there any objections?"

  Stephen stood up and waited for recognition. When recognized, he stated, "I object. At the very least, a copy should be afforded to all of us before we dare to vote on a postponement. Seeing that it is a simple document, it may not be necessary for us to postpone it, but we will not know until we have a look at it."

  His objection was noted and followed suit by Ivan, Stella, Garin, Rose, and Mikelia. Because it was not six o'clock yet, Ethel ordered the document copied and distributed. Hardly a minute passed after it was given out before Stephen rose again.

  Stephen, when recognized, said, "This is too simple not to vote on it now. They state that they will meet every requirement set forth by the Union for admission under our own supervision. What more could we ask for? To delay a vote on this request would be a direct insult to valuable allies. I recommend and ask that we vote on it now."

  Raymond entered the main floor from the spectator section. His livid face clearly showed that he was angry. He stood in the center at a marked location to get recognition.

  Ethel said, "Yes, Lobbyist Raymond Lordsman? I presume you have valuable input for us before we take the vote?"

  Raymond replied more calmly than he appeared, "Yes, I have, Madam Chairman. My planet submitted its application over a week ago. I consider it an insult that you would take a vote on another later submission before ours is fully considered."

  Ethel said, "Well, Lobbyist Lordsman, there is no insult intended. However, you are perfectly aware that your government submitted a complex document for our consideration. Because of that, it is taking more time than necessary to consider it. However, we are not obligated to pass up other business while we go about doing the proper research and discussion of your planet's application, especially when such other business brought before us is relatively simple to handle. Surely, you are not trying to tell us how to conduct our business. Just as surely, you will not hesitate to assure me that there is no intention on Serapha's part to take over the Union by means of subverting our own rights. I am sure that anything that concerns us in Serapha's application can only be an unintentional typographical error or something left in accidentally from an earlier draft. Am I correct on these assumptions of mine?"

  Boxed in, Raymond nodded quietly before he stepped away from the recognition zone to return to the spectator's seats. He knew it was useless to demand a vote now since that would probably sway one or two votes against acceptance of Serapha's application. Only six votes were needed to block admission. He knew that there were four certain votes in opposition and a few straddling the fence. He didn't want to be the one to knock them off onto the wrong side. He could only hope that Leuion's admission to the Union, if it happened now, wouldn't give the opposition the number of votes they needed. His government could figure out a way to deal with Leuion later when it was more convenient. Most likely it would be similar to what they intended to do to Pristine, Echo, and Edun. Once the Union was cleansed, then Opal could be dealt with unless they got lucky enough to deal with all four at the same time. Raymond could see some irony in having the military send troops from Pristine, Echo, and Edun against Opal to wipe them out or die trying while others took control of their home planets. Then there would be no more homosexuals, adulterers, nudists, and atheists to worry about.

  ***

  As Dave and Benz toured the base, a message arrived by courier and Dave accepted it. He opened it and read it silently while keeping a poker face. Then he handed the message to Benz, who then read it.

  Benz stated, "This is serious, Dave."

  Dave replied, "Yes, Benz, it is. Your entry might not be enough to block the Seraphans. I hoped it would be."

  Benz asked, "What would then happen?"

  Dave replied, "Happen? Hard to say. . . No, it's not hard to say. Just hard to accept. The worst case scenario is a civil war. Let's see, Echo, Edun, and Gabrielle would probably secede from the Union. The Navy would either be instructed to retake them from their local governments or to leave them undefended against the Malakins until they came to their senses."

  "Leuion would join them instead of the Union," Benz admitted.

  "I was afraid that you might. After all, they are your closest neighbors and friends. Units from their planets came to your rescue. They share much in common with you as to culture."

  Benz asked, "Would you lead your forces against us?"

  Dave suddenly realized that he hadn't given any prior thought to his own position. He didn't know whether he could lead the Navy against former Union members attempting to retain their rights, the same rights he was sworn to uphold. He looked at Benz and said, "I don't know, Benz. I didn't think about myself in the equation."

  "I do not envy you, Dave. You come out a loser on either side."

  Dave was already analyzing the possibilities. Either side he chose, he would be fighting against officers he helped train. No matter which side he was on, he would be killing friends of his. Either side he was with would expect to win, if only because he was with them. Not only that, but it would weaken the Union enough so that the Malakins would surely be able to retake some of what they wanted and keep it. Even the Ape-oids might benefit from the sudden conflict and confusion. They might use it to regain their position in space. If they did, the Union would be hard-pressed to survive at all.

  ***

  The news the next morning was even worse. Dave woke to find that the Seraphan navy had sent a task force against Malak. Their request for assistance, meaning please rescue us, came in while he was eating breakfast. He issued orders from his breakfast table assigning two squadrons from Edun, which was closest to their position, to race to their rescue. Then he ordered other squadrons moved up behind them to take their place so that Edun wouldn't be without protection. Already, Dave knew he was going to lose some more of his friends in the effort. They would die either by return fire from the Malakins or nervous gunners on board the Seraphan warships.

  ***

  Lobbyist Lordsman was conspicuously absent from the proceedings when Congress resumed its session the next day. Stephen stood up to be recognized and asked, "May we vote on Serapha's request for admission now? I'm sure that it would benefit them greatly to be able to order and instruct the rescue force now on its way to them in how to rescue their task force."

  Rose asked, "Rescue force?"

  "Yes, Rose," said Stephen. "The Seraphan task force ran into a fleet of Malakin warships and is getting beaten badly. They radioed and begged for assistance. Rear Admiral Oden immediately dispatched two squadrons from Edun to their rescue. He would have gone himself, but he was farther away. Those were the closest units he had to the Seraphan force. He's now moving up other units so that Edun won't be left undefended. I haven't talked with him, but I understand this will delay his offensive timetable against Malak considerably."

  Rose asked, "Where is Lobbyist Lordsman? I'd like his verification."

  Stephen continued to allow Rose's interruptions without comment and replied, "I would imagine that he's a bit embarrassed by this sudden turn of events. Personally, I am going to find it difficult to consider putting our Navy under the command of inexperienced Seraphan officers."

  Ethel said, "You are not to speak on how you are going to vote, Stephen."

  Stephen replied, "Madam Chairman, I didn't say how I would vote. I o
nly commented on one paragraph in their application. Personally, I would very much like to see Serapha become a member of the Union without the need for any waivers. I would like to see Opal join someday as well. However, that is all completely dependent upon them and their willingness to apply for admission. I don't see a need for any waivers. I don't see how any of us could possibly take the first step on such a slippery slope where we could lose much of what we have gained. Did you know that Serapha still uses the death penalty? Or that they have nearly as many prisons on their one planet as the entire Union? Does that tell us anything about living under their conditions? Still, I would like for us to put the matter to a vote now."

  Ethel said, "Very well, if we have enough votes to warrant voting on the application, then we will begin."

  Neeko, from Leuion, stepped forward from the spectator section to the recognition zone. She said, after being recognized, "Leuion has sent a rescue force to help the Seraphan task force. We are even closer than the squadrons at Edun. Our government considered it our duty to assist even though we are not yet members of the Union. I hope that no one is offended by our presumptuous action."

  Ethel cleared her throat and looked at the naked, blue woman. She said, "Ah, yes, that's a very nice gesture on your government's part. We will, of course, take that into account when we vote. Thank you."

  Neeko went back to the spectator section.

  Ethel asked, "Are there any more members who wish to see a vote on the Seraphan admission request?"

  Ivan stood and was recognized. He fixed his eyes coldly upon Ethel and then shocked everyone there when he spoke. "Gabrielle will secede from the Union if any of the Universal Rights are waivered or tampered with in any manner that weakens them. You may vote on Serapha's admission request if you wish. However, if the bill is weakened, Gabrielle will leave the Union of Planets. That is not my opinion, but the opinion of my world's government which contacted me and instructed me to pass on this information. We have no objection to Serapha joining the Union, but we will not tolerate anything that changes the Universal Rights Bill, which we have accepted as a contract. We view the entire bill as a contract. Knowing our culture, you can understand why we feel this way, even if you do not believe we will go that far. Yes, we may vote on the issue. Afterwards, I will either vote on Leuion joining as the twenty-third Union member or I will leave to return to my planet. There my political status will then become quite ordinary since by then Gabrielle will have seceded."

  There was some rumbling of voices within the membership and in the spectator area. It got worse after the representative from Echo stood up and stated almost the same thing.

  Then the representative from Edun was recognized and also spoke in defense of the Universal Rights Bill. Garin said, "My planet will have little choice but to join with Gabrielle and Echo in secession should the bill be tampered with. What's more, we have been approached by Opal, having learned of the waivers that Serapha is asking for, and asked if it could join with us in a new political endeavor. No decision has been made on that as yet. Everything hinges on this one vote. Edun is also prepared to vote on the issue."

  Ethel looked around for some more representatives willing to ask for the vote. No others asked. They were still in shock at the audacity of three members stating that their worlds would secede and possibly even join with another world in making a new government. Because of Opal's location, it was inconceivable that any of the inner planets could escape the calamity of war if they tried to force the three members to remain in the Union. They would have Serapha trying to bring the members back and using the Union Navy to wipe out their nemesis, Opal. It was obvious that Opal, with its own navy, wouldn't stand by idly.

  "Well," said Ethel, "since we don't have enough votes to initiate a vote for Serapha's admission, let's proceed on to voting on Leuion's request for admission. Do we have enough members wishing to vote on this bill now?"

  Ethel expected to see Edun, Echo, and Gabrielle all stand for recognition to push the vote for Leuion. Instead, they remained seated. Their action also caught the other representatives off guard. Most of the other worlds' representatives were willing to let the outer planets closest to Leuion have the honor of being the first, as Leuion's best friends, to ask for the vote.

  Neeko walked back to the recognition zone and waited until she was recognized by Ethel.

  Ethel said, "Yes, Neeko from Leuion. You are recognized."

  "Leuion wishes to be voted on after Serapha is voted on. We wish to see whether the Universal Rights Bill is weakened or not. If it is, we will withdraw our request for admission and ask to join with Gabrielle, Echo, and Edun in their new endeavor. Thank you." Then Neeko went quietly back to her place in the spectator section amid more quiet shock and amazement.

  Chapter 4

  The rescue force from Leuion arrived well before the two squadrons from Edun. Admiral Wund didn't tell Admiral Oden or anyone else that his entire navy went to the rescue, leaving Leuion totally at the mercy of any Malakin attacks. The Blue force went in hard against the Malakin ships that managed to block the Seraphan ships from getting to Malak and from retreating.

  The Seraphan ships were almost surrounded and getting hurt badly. Though they had studied the tactical rediscoveries that Admiral Oden brought back into use during the Ape-oids' War, they didn't know how to use them. They hadn't taken to heart the need for practice. Now that it was time for individual initiative, they were like sheep remaining in the flock waiting for one of their other ships to make the first move to strike back and break out.

  The Blue warships hit the Malakins in the rear, though not by surprise, since the Malakins were monitoring their sensors. Still, the Blues had enough speed and numbers to overwhelm the sector they hit, leaving open an escape route for the Seraphan warships.

  The Seraphan warships, made aware of the opening by the Blues, ran for it. They broke out of the trap leaving the Blues to fight alone.

  ***

  Dave replied to the Union squadrons' overall commander, "No, you cannot shoot at the Seraphan warships that are retreating, no matter how reprehensible and cowardly their conduct is. Considering the circumstances, I almost wish the Blues had. Proceed forward to assist the Blues in breaking contact."

  ***

  An hour later, Dave received the message that his squadrons were engaging the Malakin fleet and assisting the Blues to disengage.

  Two hours after that, another message informed him that the engagement had been successfully broken off. Both forces were returning to their sectors. Dave looked at the reports of heavy losses and wondered how he would explain them to the families. It wasn't just the families of the dead from this battle, but the additional dead he knew would be caused by the debacle the Seraphans put into action. He already knew the outcome of the congressional session that morning. Nothing was decided after the three member planets made their views and ultimatums very clear.

  Dave still hadn't decided where he stood if the secession took place. His career, thus far, had been dedicated to the preservation of the Union and its Navy. Much as he hated the thought, he knew that there was only one place he could be where he could do his best to protect all of humanity from the Malakins. If the secession took place, the only position he could protect both the Union and the secessionist planets from would be among the outer planets. He would have to join with the secessionists. They stood squarely between the Union and the Malakin Empire.

  Were he to stay with the Union, he had no doubts that the Union would order him to get the secessionists back in line first since they were the closest threat. The secessionists would probably also consider the Union the worst threat with him still in the Union Navy. The secessionists wouldn't be paying much attention to the real worst threat posed by Malak until it was too late.

  With the secessionists, the worst threat would be Malak. He felt he could somehow manage a stalemate with the Union forces, which wouldn't be too happy about tangling with him anyway. There might be an officer
or two who thought that they were as good as himself. Likely, there would be some bloodshed when they tried to engage him in a decisive battle. Still, Oden thought he could fend them off until Malak was neutralized as a threat. But it wasn't where he wanted to be.

  However, either way it went, the Union would be broken for centuries to come. One way might see it end completely. Another might see it split in two. It was a dilemma that Dave didn't relish being placed in and hoped wouldn't come to be.

  Then inspiration came to him suddenly. He could see a way out, though there was a steep price. Still, freedom was worth whatever it cost, even if it destroyed his reputation and career. At best, that would be the most in all likelihood to be hurt. To keep the Union together, Dave was willing to give up what he first fought for.

  Dave quickly contacted the different squadron leaders and admirals using a highly secret code. The squadron leaders and even the admirals would have to decode the messages themselves, but that was the price they paid for having a secure code for emergencies. Dave figured that this was one, if ever there was one.

  ***

  Later in the day, Dave spent an hour decoding the various responses. Most were terse, one-word answers that were easy to figure out after he received the first reply. Some had stipulations or questions that required a reply from Dave. Only two stated no. However, one of them said that he wouldn't actively oppose Dave even though he was saying no. That was some relief to Dave. He quickly put together his replies and sent them out.

  From the speedy answers, he guessed that the recipients were waiting for his replies. He looked those over and smiled. One career was such a small payment for preventing the Union from having an all-out civil war. Dave put together one last message and sent it off. Minutes later, he had assurances that the last holdout wouldn't actively oppose him, either. Now it would be bloodless when he played his trump card. He sent a message off to Admiral of the Navy Reason explaining what would happen and why. Dave hoped his father-in-law would stay out of it and not make the cost tally up to two careers.