Planet Wrecker

-40-

Several hours later, Hawthorne strode down a gravel path in a park outside a former coalmine. He was in the Joho Mountains of China Sector. Evergreen trees surrounded him, filling the area with pine scent. Captain Mune marched behind at a discrete distance. Other bionic soldiers walked well in front, to the side and in the back.

Hawthorne clasped his hands behind his back. He had spoken with Grand Admiral Cassius again. They had talked about particulars so Hawthorne had a good idea about Cassius’s plan. The Highborn was so dreadfully arrogant and yet so piercingly brilliant.

Thinking deeply, Hawthorne now debated with himself. He halted and glanced at the mountain peaks in the distance. Many were capped with snow. Clouds drifted in the sky, while lower down an eagle soared serenely.

Below him underground was the headquarters for Earth Defense. He’d commanded here on the dreadful day the Highborn had dropped their meteors. They had killed a billion people. The weather patterns were still disharmonious because of it, effecting crops negatively.

“Captain Mune,” said Hawthorne.

The bionic captain hurried near, the soles of his boots crunching gravel. Mune had saved him near here from PHC killers.

“Look up,” said Hawthorne.

Mune did so.

“For the first time in many years, near-Earth space will be devoid of Doom Stars,” Hawthorne said.

“Yes sir.”

“I thought I’d be rejoicing over that,” said Hawthorne. “Instead, I find myself wishing them luck.”

Mune lowered his gaze.

Hawthorne frowned. “I have critical decisions to make, Captain. What I choose…it might mean the death or survival of billions of people on the planet. Do I throw everything in support behind the Highborn to stop the asteroids from annihilating human life? Or do I attempt to practice subterfuge in order to wrest conquered territory from the Highborn?”

Mune shook his head. “I don’t know, sir.”

“You and I have been together a long time.”

“Yes sir.”

“You were my jailor once. Do you remember?”

A troubled looked crossed Mune’s heavy face. “Lord Director Enkov was a hard man, sir. He…he made me what I am.”

“You killed him later,” said Hawthorne.

Mune said nothing, but he gave the Supreme Commander a questioning look.

“Do I launch our painstakingly built Orion-ships?” asked Hawthorne. “If so, how many do I send at the asteroids? Should I hold some back to wrest near-orbital space control from the Highborn?”

“Are you asking my opinion, sir?” asked Mune.

“…I suppose I am,” Hawthorne said with a tired smile.

“Sir, I watched the meteors fall to Earth that day here. I would not allow you to act then. My sorrow over my actions—I live with that sorrow everyday.”

“Use everything I have to stop the asteroids?” asked Hawthorne. “Is that what you’re saying?”

“We’re talking about human extinction, sir.”

Hawthorne craned his head, looking straight up. He was a mote in the teeming cauldron of humanity named Earth. In the end, he wasn’t that important. Maybe it was time to risk everything. If the asteroids hit…everything else became moot. If they stopped the asteroids, then there was time enough later to resist the Highborn.

Rubbing his forehead, Hawthorne realized that he was tired to the core of his being. He had to throw everything into the fray to try to eke every percentage point he could. The cyborgs would obliterate humanity otherwise.

“Captain,” Hawthorne said, “I wonder if you’d be interested in directly helping the outcome.”

“Sir?” asked Mune.

“You’re the best soldier Social Unity has. Your fellow bionic soldiers…tell me which elite troops we have who are your superiors.”

Mune tilted his head. “I’ve never thought of it that way, sir. I’m not sure I know who those soldiers are.”

“I’m afraid I don’t either.”

“Afraid sir?” asked Mune.

“Afraid,” Hawthorne said, as he stared up at the clouds. If Earth was to remain serene like this, he had to act with everything he possessed. Anything else would be egotistical posturing. He’d overthrown other Directors in order to save the Earth. Now he had to risk totally or go down as the man who’d lost humanity its existence.