Protocol, page 14
part #1 of Burns Series
'You call yourself citizens of the Accord. But nothing could be further from the truth. You don't even have democracy. Citizens? Don't make me laugh. You're not citizens. You are slaves. Slaves to the Commissioners who exploit you. Slaves to an ideology that will keep you slaves until you rise up and smash it, which you never will.'
I kept quiet.
'I'm not surprised you stand there, saying nothing, but I know what you're thinking, Alex--that I'm mad, that I don't know what it's like. That I have no understanding of the wonders your government brings. But you couldn't be more wrong. I've seen it all before.' She held out a hand to the three escorts. 'We have seen it all before. And we thank the stars we've banished it to history.'
'Admiral, I think it's time I joined Captain Le Seaux and Mr Chen.'
'I'm sure you do, but I don't want you to leave just yet. Maybe, Alex, I never want you to leave--never want to be apart from you again.'
She nodded at three remaining escorts. The one in the middle said, 'The laser beam port is open, Admiral.'
Octavia looked back at me.
'You think we want harmonious relations with government like that? Oh, I guess we could use them to keep everyone under control. The Commissioners are as deluded about the ideology as everyone else. Like you and Miss Le Seaux, they believed that up is down, ignorance is strength, and all the other nonsense they teach you. It has made the whole planet blind, and your military as useless as a neutered bull. So, yes, we could use the Commission, but they disgust me so much that I think we'll try it another way.'
She watched me as her words began to sink in.
'That's right, Alex. We're not here to shake hands, wave flags and praise your governments foolishness. You think we'd bring a ship this size just for that? Look out there.' She pointed at the edge of the great window where the black hulls of the various connected ships rose and fell like distant hills.
'What do you think we store in all those?'
Then she nodded at the three petty officers.
'Admiral,' one of them said. 'The beam is fired.'
'Admiral, no.' I said. 'My mother is down there. She's not part of this.'
Octavia said, 'The beam takes about four seconds, Alex.'
'Then, I'll do what you want. Switch if off. Cancel it.'
'There'll be time later,' she said with a singsong, flirtatious voice. 'Lots and lots of time.'
On the window, the image of the street filled with dust.
Octavia stepped closer to me, leaned near and whispered in my ear.
'The really tragic thing, Alex, is that your Commissioners will just put it down to cultural differences, all in the name of tolerance.'
I said nothing.
'I never told you the name of this mighty vessel, as Miss Le Seaux described it. It's not called a friend ship, Alex. It's called The Excidium. I won't translate what it means. They tell me you're a natural with Latin.'
29
THE NEXT MORNING we gathered for Le Seaux to read her message from the Accord Commission.
Over two hundred personnel were present in the stateroom, including a hundred of the enormous Marines dressed in their combat uniforms and armed with the same heavy weapons.
Le Seaux and Chen were already there when I was brought into the room. Overnight, I'd been billeted in one of the other shuttles. The petty officers had take me to a cabin furnished in pre-Accord era style with a bed that had a canopy and four posts. The three petty officers warned me not to leave the room. 'No oxygen will be outside,' they said.
I hadn't slept, which meant I had no opportunity to return to the windy deck of HMS Vengeance to ask serious questions of its captain. Instead, I'd spent a long night mourning my mother, and of thinking through what had to be done.
'Where did you go last night?' said Chen with wink. 'Last we saw, you were alone with Octavia, Drusilla and the all-female Roman cheer squad.'
'You didn't say anything about the Accord did you, Lieutenant?' said Le Seaux, her green eyes accusing.
'Listen, we're in danger,' I whispered.
'Who is?' said Chen.
'The three of us, the Accord, the Earth.'
'What?' said Chen.
'The Romans are not what they seem.'
'They were OK yesterday,' said Chen, 'after all the Goth stuff.'
'No,' I said. 'They are not OK. We're going to be invaded,' I said. 'We've got to warn the Accord.'
Le Seaux looked at me as if she had been expecting something like this.
'No,' she said. 'We're going to speak about the values, Lieutenant. That's our mission. That is the first and last most important thing. Not only that, we're going to live those values, right here and now on this spaceship with our new allies.'
'They don't care about the values,' I said. 'They know all about them anyway. They know all about our system of government, our history, everything.'
'Address me properly,' said Le Seaux, 'or you'll have yet another Navy Spirit code violation to add to the pile.'
At that moment, I couldn't care less about Navy Spirit. My mother was dead. An invasion was threatened. Octavia was mad and wanted to imprison me. Worse, no-one else realized it. Not Le Seaux, not the military command, not the Commission.
'OK, sir,' I said, humoring her. 'They don't care about the values. The Admiral told me herself.'
'Keep your mouth shut, Lieutenant,' said Le Seaux. 'Until we get back to the Accord, you are to talk about nothing except Accord values and how much you admire them.'
'We've got to get off this ship and warn the Commission,' I said. 'We've got to get our forces ready to defend ourselves.'
'Warn them? About what?'
'An invasion.'
'Lieutenant.'
'I'm serious. Admiral Octavia told me last night. This is not a case of using more tolerance. Tolerance will just end up in our defeat.
'Lieutenant,' said Le Seaux again. I could tell she was fighting to remain calm. She wanted me to shut up, but she knew she couldn't shout with so many others in the room.
'OK, Lieutenant,' she said. 'Your concerns are noted. But we must wait until the Accord values are read. Then we can talk about what happened to you last night.'
I could see there would be no convincing Le Seaux. All that mattered to her was the recitation, but as I was concerned, the values were increasingly becoming the problem, the impediment, the obstruction making us vulnerable and stupid. I would have to find a way of my own to either make the Accord listen, or to prevent Octavia from acting on her plans--if that were even possible.
At the other end of the room, Octavia, Drusilla and the officers assembled on a platform. They wore their robes again. Octavia looked across at me once without expression. She was back to being Admiral Octavia, the stateswoman, not Octavia the madwoman on the viewing deck.
A section of the giant window flickered. Up came an image of the Accord Commission chambers. The chamber was an amphitheater with seats for representatives of all the six hundred nations of Earth. A podium in the centre represented the centrality of the Accord values. The letters T.E.D were emblazoned on a plaque above it.
The Commissioners waited in their rainbow smocks. When they saw Octavia and Drusilla in their flowing robes, they almost gasped, especially the Commissioners who identified as female. The commissioners who identified as male were expressionless.
'This is going to make a great movie,' whispered Chen.
Admiral Octavia spoke to the Commission. The Chief Commissioner, Daniel Genet, responded. The Commissioners applauded.
Then, Le Seaux stood and read out the values. She mentioned tolerance, diversity and equality. She stated the quest to share prosperity among all the peoples of the Earth, and finally to welcome new, like minded peoples such as the Romans, our new galactic friends, who would enhance the diversity of the Accord even more, because diversity is our strength.
When Le Seaux had finished, she saluted both the Accord and Octavia's podium. Then she walked back to where Chen and I stood. Her face was beaming, her task completed at last. Everyone applauded. It was a great moment for intra-galactic harmony. All would be well from now.
Then Octavia stood and addressed the screen.
'On behalf of my people,' she said, 'we acknowledge the values of your Accord of Nations.'
More applause. Commissioner Genet responded with an invitation to visit Earth and join in the Accord Establishment Day celebrations in Hong Kong, in two days' time.
'We would be very pleased, Commissioner,' said Octavia.
More applause. Longer applause.
When all the clapping finally died down, Octavia said. 'Now, Commissioner Genet, with your indulgence, we would like to conduct a ceremony of our own.
'Certainly,' said Commissioner Genet.
'The ceremony will be what we call our punishments.'
'Punishments, Admiral?' said Commissioner Genet.
'Yes, Commissioner. We would like to punish Mr Chen, Captain Le Seaux and Lieutenant Burns.'
'Forgive me, Admiral, but punish them for what?'
'For the crimes committed by their ancestors against members of our crew on previous visits to your planet.'
The Commissioner was confused. 'Are you being humorous, Admiral? Are you making a joke?'
'No, Commissioner. I am serious. We tried Mr Chen and Lieutenants Le Seaux and Burns yesterday for their ancestors' crimes. They were all guilty.'
The Commissioner said, 'Admiral, naturally we would like to do all we can in the interest of tolerance, but...' He was interrupted by someone behind him. The sound cut out. Then he came back to the screen and said, 'What is the nature of the punishment, Admiral? If it's some light form of fun, then perhaps we can agree...so long as it's in the interests of tolerance and respect for our two cultures.'
Admiral Octavia's face was blank. 'The penalty for the crimes, Commissioner, is death.'
Commissioner Genet's mouth opened wide without a sound coming from it. It stayed that way for several seconds. Then it closed and opened again. The rest of the Commissioners in the chamber ceased moving, as if the picture on the screen had frozen.
'Death, Admiral?' he said.
'Death, Commissioner.' She turned to her right. 'Captain Drusilla.'
Drusilla turned to a crew member, a woman with dark hair in the blue Naval uniform, the first mate maybe. Drusilla growled an order. The first mate saluted and then growled an order of her own at high volume.
Instantly, four of the large Marines marched our way.
Le Seaux said, 'But Admiral, I thought we were not responsible for the actions of our ancestors.'
'You thought wrong,' said Drusilla.
'You told us.'
'Yes,' said Octavia. 'I know I told you. I was lying. No-one attacks our nation without punishment. Not the filthy Goths and not you.'
'But you just heard the values of the Accord. You heard Commissioners Genet's assurances regarding tolerance and diversity. You applauded them.'
Octavia stepped forward and looked stood opposite to Le Seaux, her white robes against the Army green. Her beautiful pre-Accord face against Le Seaux's modern one.
'Those values, Captain Le Seaux, are the values of slaves.'
Drusilla growled at two Marines who stepped forward and grabbed Le Seaux, Chen and myself by the shoulders and shoved us towards the back of the room.
The Marines pulled Le Seaux and Chen to one side. Two others brought forward two black frames. Le Seaux and Chen were clamped to them, their hands behind their backs. Then the Marines stepped back, leaving Le Seaux and Chen standing against the frames, their expressions ones of total astonishment.
Like prisoners about to face a firing squad.
Another Marine came forth and held out one of the large rifles we had used the day before against the Goths. He held it in two hands and thrust it towards me.
I looked at the rifle, then at Drusilla and Octavia, who stood to the side smiling. On the screen, Commissioner Genet was speaking, but making no sound.
'You can't be serious,' I said.
'Oh, but we can, Alex. We have decided that Le Seaux and Mr Chen will be executed for what their ancestors did.'
I looked at the rifle being held out to me.
'Is this something to do with last night?' I said.
Octavia looked at me, her beautiful face expressionless. 'I don't know what you mean, Lieutenant Burns.'
'Yes, you do,' I said.
'The court has decided, that you, Lieutenant Burns, shall be imprisoned on the Excidium at the Admiral's pleasure.'
'What court?' I said. 'What court?'
But Octavia ignored me.
'In the interests of intra-galactic harmony,' said Octavia, 'we are not going to perform the execution ourselves.'
'What does that mean?' I said.
'We are going to have you perform it, to execute yourselves.'
'What?' said Le Seaux.
'What?' said Chen.
'Take the rifle, Lieutenant Burns,' said Drusilla.
'No,' I said. 'No-one's firing any rifles. No-one's doing any executing.'
'So bold all of a sudden, Lieutenant,' said Octavia. 'It's as if I can hear your ancestor speaking and not you.'
'No-one's doing any executing,' I said.
'There it is again,' said Octavia. 'What happened to you overnight? A bad dream?'
'What are you trying to achieve, Admiral? Even the Accord Commission's tolerance won't extend this far.'
'I think you're wrong, Alex. I think the Accord will accept anything as long as I say it's part of our culture. All cultures are equal, after all.'
I put the weapon on the deck and stepped forward to Le Seaux and Chen. I reached for cuffs on Le Seaux's wrists. 'Do you believe me now?' I said to her.
But before I could begin to untie her, a Marine grabbed me by the shoulders and with astonishing strength, lifted me up and dropped me back at where the rifle lay on the deck.
'I'm not doing it, Admiral.'
'Well, I thought you might say that, Alex,' she said. 'So, to help you overcome your reluctance, I have an incentive. Look up at the screen, please.'
A second screen appeared on the window. This one showed a rural scene, a village somewhere in the tropics. It looked to be a town square. People were assembled for the Accord Anthem.
'This is the village of Manning,' said Octavia. 'It's named after one of your so-called social justice warriors.'
Here she stopped and nodded to Drusilla again, who growled at a uniformed staff member beside her.
'We have just fired a laser at the island,' said Octavia. 'Allowing for distance from our position here beyond the orbit of your moon, the laser should be landing just outside the village in a few seconds...about... now.'
On the screen the image of the village remained as it was. Then the blue laser hit, sending up plumes of earth and dust.
Octavia said, 'If Lieutenant Burns fails to execute his colleagues, we will send roughly a hundred of these beams in rapid fire all over the territory, and its three million people.'
The officers all turned to look at me, as must have the members of the Accord Commission.
'Take the weapon,' said Drusilla.
When I didn't reach out for it, she said. 'You have ninety-seconds.'
I still told myself there was no way I would be an executioner, no matter what.
Octavia said, 'Commissioners, do you give Lieutenant Burns permission. His action will save the life of a million people. Just signal with a thumbs up or down.'
On the screen the Commissioners turned and spoke rapidly. Arms were waved. Heads were shaken. Hands were held out in exasperation. Then, there was a raising of hands from about a third of the Commissioners. Then a raising of hands from about half of them.
Then Commissioner Genet's face came back on the screen, his face grim. Then he raised his thumb.
Octavia allowed herself a smile. 'Lieutenant Burns, you have fifty seconds to execute Captain Le Seaux and Mr Chen, or the beams will be fired.'
On the screen, the image changed to a street scene in Manning. People were running, children crying.
'Thirty seconds,' said Drusilla.
'What are you trying to do?' I said to Octavia. 'What does this prove?'
She said nothing.
'Twenty-five seconds,' said Drusilla.
I looked at the screen and the panicking crowds. I looked back at Le Seaux and Chen. 'Do it, Lieutenant,' Le Seaux said. 'Shoot me first. That might be enough. Spare Mr Chen.'
Chen was too shocked to speak.
I looked at the rifle, felt the weight in my hands. Closed my eyes. How could this be happening to me? It was an impossible situation to put someone in. Two deaths against a million. And there was no doubt that Octavia was mad enough to actually send the beam.
'Fifteen second,' said Drusilla.
I'd wanted a mission. Now I'd got one. And it had turned into the worst nightmare I could imagine. How could I decide? What would my ancestor do? How could I stop Octavia, this mad, evil...
'Ten seconds,' said Drusilla.
I raised the rifle and aimed at Le Seaux. Leveled the sights on her forehead. She looked directly back at me, brave and resolved, a true believer to the end. The Marines stepped back.
'Five seconds.'
Then I quickly swung the rifle at the group of officers, fixing the sights on Octavia.
And I pulled the trigger.
30
NOTHING HAPPENED.
No blast.
No recoil.
No deaths.
I pulled the trigger again.
Nothing.
Just a click of the trigger mechanism, nothing more.
I looked up from the sights at Octavia. She smiled down at me, eyebrows raised, enjoying watching me reach the terrible conclusion.
'Oh dear,' she said.
'Times up,' said Drusilla.
I looked down at the rifle and up at Le Seaux and Chen.
'You can't be serious,' I said
'Totally series,' said Drusilla.
'But there's no need. It's....it's inhuman.'
This time, both Drusilla and Octavia smiled, two non-humans enjoying the human squirm.
I looked at the screen. The Accord members were still. Several held their hands to their mouths. I saw one Commissioner crying. But others in front nodded slowly.
