Planet Wrecker

-35-

At 8:31 P.M. that same evening, Supreme Commander Hawthorne began an emergency meeting of his Strategic Council. They met in the conference room on Level Three of New Baghdad. Director Juba-Ryder of Egyptian Sector joined Air Marshal Crowfoot of Earth-Air Defense, Security Specialist Cone, Field Marshal Mead of Missile Defense and Field Marshal Baines, Commander-in-Chief of Eurasian Defense.

***

From the Supreme Commander’s biocomp transcriptions, File #12:

The meeting opened with a presentation by Colonel Tong of Space Defense. He spoke in an otherwise silent room. Every eye watched the grainy pictures he presented slide by slide. Even Captain Mune watched, momentarily forgetting his preoccupation with protecting the Supreme Commander. Afterward, there were terse questions. Colonel Tong gave the best estimates. Impact time was predicted as minus forty-three days, a little over six weeks from now. Soon thereafter, the Supreme Commander began to speak.

HAWTHORNE: It is difficult to grasp the magnitude of the situation before us. The historians tell us that once dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Then a comet or possibly a stray asteroid struck the Earth. The Age of the Reptile ended with vast hurricanes as hundreds of species perished in something worse than a nuclear winter.

The Jovian information we received about the cyborg assault there almost two years ago I consider critical. This moon Carme, it shows us the cyborgs attempted this once before.

MEAD: Indeed, this is a catastrophic situation. But I fail to grasp this certainty that the cyborgs initiated the attack.

HAWTHORNE: I consider the proof conclusive, but it doesn’t matter. The asteroids heading at these unnatural speeds for Earth are all that matters. We must deflect or destroy them.

MEAD: Indeed, the dedicated scanning that allowed us to find these anomalies, these so-called asteroids—

TONG: They are asteroids, sir. Some are debris fields. Some are ice like the first asteroid.

MEAD: Please do not interrupt me, Colonel.

JUBA-RYDER: Is there any possibility the Jovians have fabricated this evidence?

HAWTHORNE: I believe the primary evidence originated with the Planetary Union and then from our own Mars Battlefleet.

TONG: That is correct, sir.

JUBA-RYDER: I find it suspicious that this—what are they called again, these Jovian warships?

TONG: Do you mean the Meteor-ship Spartacus?

JUBA-RYDER: Thank you. The meteor-ship’s approach to Mars is very suspicious, seeing as it occurs at the same time as these asteroids.

HAWTHORNE: I believe some of the Spartacus’s scanning data helped the Battlefleet discover the asteroid-cluster. Maybe as important, their sharing of information concerning the cyborg assault on Jupiter gave us reason to scan so thoroughly. I trust the Jovians in this. They fought off the cyborgs and have good reason to fear another attack.

JUBA-RYDER: The Jovians have a treacherous history.

HAWTHORNE: That is inconsequential now. Together with the sharing of information, the donation of the meteor-ship was an act of good faith. Its position may be of use to us.

MEAD: Respectfully, sir, it is too far out for that.

HAWTHORNE: (shakes his head) It isn’t only a matter of distance but of speed. They have built up enough velocity to enter the fight.

MEAD: I don’t understand that reference, sir. What fight?

HAWTHORNE: Weren’t you listening to Colonel Tong’s address? The cyborgs converted Carme to a weapon’s platform. We must assume the cyborgs have employed the same tactic again. My Social Unity Loyalists, this is a grim situation. The evidence is direct and solid. We face extinction on Earth unless we can deflect or destroy these asteroids. I am ordering Commodore Blackstone to head out to engage the asteroids.

MEAD: Colonel, didn’t you say the battleships couldn’t reach them?

TONG: (glances at Hawthorne) I did not say cannot, but they risk annihilation, and it’s doubtful they could stop such a mass.

HAWTHORNE: They must strike the asteroids by launching missiles and using their lasers for long-distance fire. Perhaps as importantly, they will gain critical data on the enemy. There is a negative to this, however. Moving the battleships leaves Mars vulnerable. But at this point, we have no choice and must risk it.

MEAD: What of the Fifth Fleet between Venus and Earth?

HAWTHORNE: This is our last fleet other than the warships at Mars. Fifth Fleet contains two battleships, a missile-ship and some secondary vessels. The warships are reportedly in poor condition and the crews are listless. But they are Social Unity fighters and are armed.

MEAD: Can they intercept the asteroids in time?

TONG: Conditionally, yes.

MEAD: What is the condition?

TONG: The presence of the Julius Caesar and the Genghis Khan in Earth orbit.

HAWTHORNE: (Pauses, and glances at each of the participants in turn) Now we come to the heart of the matter. The cyborgs are attempting to obliterate Earth. The evidence to my mind is conclusive. The cyborgs mean to crush Social Unity and the Highborn. We must face the facts, as grim as they are. If we consider the islands of Earth and the surrounding territorial waters, the Highborn control a greater surface area of the planet than we do. They cannot wish total annihilation here. Otherwise, they could have already rained the drifting habitats onto the planet.

MEAD: (laughs) The Doom Stars can crush the asteroids for us. Why didn’t we see it before? Our problem is solved.

TONG: May I speak, Supreme Commander?

HAWTHORNE: (nods)

TONG: The asteroid tonnage en route suggests the cyborgs can outfight the Doom Stars.

MEAD: How did you arrive at this conclusion?

TONG: It is logical given the cyborg armament history on Carme and the number of asteroids or tonnage en route to Earth.

MEAD: These are not known, absolute facts.

TONG: No sir, you are correct. The asteroid tonnage is an estimate. It may be off as much as fifty percent either way. Yet given—

CONE: We must call a truce with the Highborn.

JUBA-RYDER: (stares angrily) Those are seditious words. Supreme Commander, I urge you to enforce your edict of November Third. Anyone suggesting surrender or accommodation with the enemy is to be summarily shot on sight. Your bionic captain could take Cone outside to perform the action.

CONE: With due respect, Director, you are failing to grasp the gravity of the situation. Social Unity is doomed on two fronts. The Highborn are crushing us. Now the cyborgs wish our extinction. There is only one possibility. We must call a truce with the Highborn, attach the Fifth Fleet to the Doom Stars and attack the asteroids. Whatever asteroids fight through them, Earth Defense must destroy with merculite missiles and proton beams.

JUBA-RYDER: I find your words incredible and the idea unsustainable. Surely, you are aware that the Highborn are mass murderers.

CONE: It is better to fight with murderers against those practicing species elimination. The Supreme Commander is correct to tell us that the battle in the Jupiter System points to this truth. The Jovians united with the Highborn and achieved victory over the cyborgs.

CROWFOOT: Will the Highborn see it that way?

HAWTHORNE: That is the question. Specialist Cone speaks too pessimistically concerning the conclusion of our struggle against the Highborn. But I accept the logic of her last statement. If we are to save the Earth, we must unite with the Highborn.

JUBA-RYDER: The genetic supremacists have murdered billions. We cannot possibly trust them.

HAWTHORNE: I never suggested we trust them. It may be that our salvation will occur in the fight against the cyborgs. For instance: what if the cyborgs destroy the Doom Stars for us?

CONE: I doubt the Highborn will sacrifice their warships for Earth, at least, not until all our spaceships are destroyed first.

HAWTHORNE: They aren’t gods.

CONE: Agreed. But they have proven to be our superiors in every endeavor.

HAWTHORNE: Your words now approach sedition, Security Specialist. Curb them at once.

CONE: (nods)

HAWTHORNE: We have little time left. The asteroids move at outrageous speeds. Therefore, I will attempt to open direct communication with Grand Admiral Cassius. Are there any further comments? No? Director, I see your hand. Do you have anything new to add to your previous objections? If not, please do not waste my time with a reiteration of your qualms.

JUBA-RYDER: (lowers her hand and stares at a spot on the conference table)

HAWTHORNE: Good. Then I declare this meeting adjourned.