The long view, p.17
The Long View, page 17
part #2 of The Long View Series
"All right-record what you get, and feed it west when you do get the trunks. Clear?"
"All right." She hesitated. "Tregare-will you let me join you?"
"You'll have your chance. But why now? You think I've already won?"
She shook her head. "I don't know-but if you don't win, I'm dead. Forbisher called-cooperation, even under your guns, is treason."
"Typical stupid UET policy," said Tregare. "But you're safe where you are."
"No. And-I might as well go all the way-neither are your ships, here."
"What do you mean? UET has a hideout fleet someplace?"
"Not the way you mean. But I know how Forbisher thinks. At Hokkaido there's at least one ship-maybe more. He'll have it sent here with a suicide crew and-"
"Sure-ram dirt and blow the drive! Hold it a minute." He switched circuits. "Kickem-and all ships and scouts now
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aloft! You see anything of UET's, armed or not, heading into this continent-give it one chance to turn back or surrender, then blast. Got it?" He listened to the acknowledgements and returned to Hannulan. "Okay-I've alerted my people; it should be all right. And thanks, Hannulan."
When he cut the circuit, Rissa said, "Here, as on Stronghold, UET drives its capable persons into your fold. And perhaps that is the Committee's undoing."
"Let's hope. Now one more thing." He called Ragan. "The Underground-you have any contact yet?"
"Not yet-I'm working on it."
"All right-keep me posted, when you can. Now it's time for our bunch, here, to scatter." He gave orders, sending his five remaining ships each to a major administrative complex. With two he sent accompanying scouts; the other three smaller vessels he kept with him.
"And now," said Rissa, "we go to the heart of this monster?"
"The top HQ? Call it the head-UET has no heart and never did. Here we go."
UET's headquarters were vast; buildings soared and sprawled, and among them Rissa saw signs of missile installations. She said, pointing, "These are less likely than most, to be neutralized by infiltration."
"I know. That's why the scouts are going in low-to scrub a few of those without damaging much else-before I start talking."
High enough to dodge, low enough to strike fast, Inconnu moved back and forth, never repeating a pattern. Rissa saw the scouts converge, then separate again. They rose-barely clearing a concrete cube, monolithic, windowless-and dipped again to paint fire across the launching sites. Several exploded; one missile lifted to fall away and crash outside the complex. A second shot toward Inconnu, but halfway up, bloomed flame.
"Another pass." he ordered, and the scouts turned and repeated their attack. Meanwhile half a dozen missiles had launched; Inconnu's projectors spat until the last warhead exploded. "Too close, that one," said Tregare. "Now I'm cutting Channel J in, and-"
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"No!" Rissa saw a turret's searching flare reach from the grey cube and wave across a scout's path. For a moment the small craft sought to evade; then its drive blew and the wreckage fell.
Without words, Tregare shouted; Inconnu dipped and the ground seemed to leap upward. Rissa saw his hand reach and said, "Not the bombs, Bran!"
"All right-a countermissile, then." Ahead loomed the gray cube-then a corner and half its top fragmented and sprang away. Inconnu rose and turned. "The red building, all spread out-executive wing-there!" Full-out, full-firing, Inconnu cleared buildings by mere feet as its turrets cut smoking swathes. The wing Tregare had pointed out erupted into smoke and fragments, dimming vision as the ship drove through it. And now Tregare pulled up again.
"Hannulan! Did that get on the Tri-V?"
"It-yes, Tregare, it did. You-that was Headquarters! The exec wing-"
"That's right," said Tregare. "And unless the rest of HQ wants to surrender, right now, that's just for starters."
"Wait-you knocked out their communications center; I'll try to reach the backup."
"Just tell them I'm not much for patience."
above any projector's range in atmosphere, Inconnu circled. A screen lit, and Bernardez said, "Tregare, you're looking at Committee Police command base. You might well take a good look, for its commander declines to surrender."
Tregare activated Channel J. "Get this on Tri-V, Hannulan. Committee Police command-about to give up, or go up." Then; "Ask them once more, Kickem-just for the record." He grinned. "They can't check with Headquarters, you might add-the exec wing isn't there any more."
"You've just told them; you're patched through, here. Well-you, down there-you've heard what my boss did to some of yours. Now then-is it necessary for Bernardez to do the same to you? Or will you see reason?"
Another voice, fainter. "Tregare? This is Kilgain, commandant. It's true I can't reach Headquarters. You've wrecked it?"
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"I've made one pass, only. I'll make some more if the rest don't surrender damned fast. And Bernardez is ready to do the same, there. You want to live, give up."
"Go to hell!" From groundside, toward the Hoover, fire spurted.
"Ah, the sneaky ones!" said Bernardez. "They've been holding their turrets at low power, hoping to lure me down- and now they've tried to bag me. No luck, they had, as you see. But, Tregare-unless you say otherwise, I'm making an example of these."
After a moment, Tregare shrugged. "Kickem, Bernardez!"
On the screen, relayed, Rissa saw the same kind of swoop Inconnu had made. But Bernardez had cleared no missile sites, and now retaliation sprang at him. The view jerked and swung as the Hoover dodged through the barrage; it jarred as he took a hit. And then the entire command base vanished in a ball of flame that swung offscreen, leaving only sky showing until Bernardez switched views to face them himself.
"Primary warhead," said Tregare. "Wasn't that a little excessive?"
"Well, you see-it struck me they had more missiles than I'd thought, and that even if I made my pass successfully they might put one in my drive, going away. So not wishing to deprive this underprivileged world of the rare talents of Bernardez, I-"
"All right-I see your point. Now-check how your other ships are doing with their bases. Surrender might look a lot more appealing there, now, than it did five minutes ago."
"As you say, Tregare. Bernardez will apply himself diligently. And by the way-two ships did appear, on course from Hokkaido to the port."
"What happened?"
"Ressider got one of them. The other tried to ram him, and crashed."
on Channel J, Ingrith Hannulan waited, "Tregare, I've got somebody on circuit, speaking for what's left of Headquarters. He wants to know your terms." "Show me him." The picture wavered but Rissa saw a slim
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man, not young. Tregare said, "Who are you and what's your job?"
"Albert Kybel. I'm-so far as I know-you made a pretty mess of things here-I'm the senior surviving administrator. I'm unable to reach the Committee and I can't speak for them -only for myself and the personnel under my supervision."
"So speak."
The man ran fingers through longish wavy hair. "You're demanding our surrender. On what terms?"
"I could say I don't have to give any-except quit or die- but I'll make it easier. Amnesty-you keep your lives, and for the time being, at least, your jobs. There'll be a lot of reshuffling later, but not punitive."
"You mean- this isn't just a raid? You intend to replace the Committee?"
"Stick to administering, Kybel. Now then-do you surrender or don't you?"
"1-I don't seem to have a choice, do I?"
"Sure you do-you can go up like the exec wing did, and Police command base."
"Then I surrender-myself and this entire Headquarters. And now what happens?"
"1 land. And there's one catch to the amnesty."
"Perhaps I was premature? You weren't telling the truth?"
"Sure 1 was. The catch is only this-amnesty's for past actions. Treachery-resistance of any kind-means death. Death right now, no questions. You got that?"
"1-I will see that all personnel are informed. You realize I can't vouch for each of several thousand people, not to take ill-advised action?"
"And 1 don't vouch to hold down the scope of retaliation, so we're even." Tregare waved a hand. "All right-we know where we stand so I'm coming down. I'll land in the square- alongside where the exec wing used to join the main complex. Get some circuits ready to connect this ship with your main computers. I've got a lot of work to, do in a hurry. And as soon as you can, report here in person-bring an aide or two if you need any."
The screen dimmed. Rissa said, "You mean, we have a lot of work to do."
"I know. I get carried away sometimes, Rissa-but I'm not
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really dumb enough to think this is going to be any kind of one-man show." "Of course. And ! suppose we may as well land now."
hain deverel led the first landing party, Anders Kobolak the second. Rissa watched as guards put down their weapons and were herded inside. Kobolak's voice came from a speaker. "As soon as all these are rounded up, Hain's taking over their weapons control and I'll salt the prisoners down in the bottom sub-basement. No stairs to it-all we have to do is control the elevators." A tiny figure on the screen, he waved to the ship and followed the rest inside.
Now, as Anders' party or Deverel's encountered other groups, only occasional remarks were heard. Once a shot sounded, then a volley. Deverel said, "The foo! cost two other lives along with his own. And missed, besides."
Albert Kybel called. "Tregare-would you ask your technicians if your computer inputs can handle twenty megabit band-width? Or fifty? Perhaps a hundred? And your antennas, also-running cables would take longer, so the men are hanging a dish out a window for you. But we need to know your capabilities, so if you'd ask-"
"I don't have to ask-I know. Use fifty." He grinned. "And in case anybody has a bright idea, the input I'll use deletes command codes."
"Why-I wouldn't think-I-"
"Somebody might. Somebody better not, though-because the deletion process also brings up an alarm, and I'd have to .. . talk to somebody."
"I-I'll go make sure." The screen darkened.
"He goes to change the plans, Tregare."
"I figured-and warning's less work than punishing." He turned to the intercom. "Galley: send up a couple of lunches and a pot of coffee." And to Rissa; "Might as well snack here, I guess."
they had finished eating when Ragan called. "I have Laje Markine for you, speaking for the Underground. The pic-
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lure's not half bad for a bootleg circuit. Incidentally, don't bother asking where he is; he won't tell you."
"All right." The picture shifted; they saw a gaunt, balding man who wore a patch over his left eye. "Markine? Bran Tre-gare here."
"Yeah." Gap-toothed, the man grinned. "I caught your act on the Tri-V. Not bad-but what do you plan for an encore? And where do we fit in?"
"That's going to take some figuring. 1 don't know what you can do because I don't know how many you are or how you're organized." Markine frowned. Tregare said, "Hold it! I'm not asking for your secrets-not until you decide they're safe with us. We'll do it the other way-tell you our ideas, and you can say if they'll work. But we've got a lot of talking to do, I think. Can you come here-not right away, but in a few days?"
"If I decide to, sure. Now what's your plans?"
"I want to round up the entire Presiding Committee. Can you find them for me?"
"Locate them, yes-but you'll have to dig them out yourself, physically. Or arrange for the New Mafia to do it-that's probably better."
"Agreed. Now this next is your pitch, Rissa. Markine-my wife, Rissa Kerguelen."
"Kerguelen?" Markine frowned, his single eye narrowed. "Yeah-the millionaire Welfare Kid, the one they never caught. You any relation?"
"I am still remembered here? It has been a long time."
"What-? Oh, sure-you must have been in space a lot. Straight time, here, you'd be-oh, seventy-five, maybe." He shook his head. "Who'd have thought it? Well-what's on your mind?"
She paused. "Assume that we overcome UET-on this continent, at least. The problem-what to do next-is not simple. Much as we would like to, we cannot merely open the Welfare Centers and release everyone. At the start we can work only through the existing structure, changing its worst features as quickly as possible. I know this may disappoint you, but-"
"Disappoint me, hell! I'm glad you know you can't just barge in and kiss it and make it well-snap, like that. Seventy percent of the country in Welfare, five percent in UET, in the
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repression business-and the rest, nominally free citizens working to keep the wheels turning. I-we hate to admit it, but a iot of Welfare clients won't ever be fit to run loose. It's too late to teach them." His face twitched. "Hell-it's too late for some of ms."
"Do not be so certain. What we cannot accomplish quickly, we may eventually. We intend to put programs on the Tri-V, to teach illiterates to read, for example. And I have thought- those who were Welfared most recently-we can begin releasing them as soon as we control and understand the administrative apparatus. We-"
"Right." Markine nodded. "A lot of them are doing the same work as before-not getting paid for it, is all, and quartered in those damned Centers. But that's nothing we can help much with. So-"
"Another problem," said Rissa, "is that we cannot abolish the Committee Police, outright. But we can command them, change their functions and practices. Of ourselves, we are too few to monitor these changes. But you-carrying ID as free citizens-can perhaps manage that supervision."
Markine grinned. "You've got it. And we have files on the worst of the bastards-the ones that really need killing."
"Hold it," said Tregare. "I feel the same as you do. But we can't punish anything-no matter how bad-that wasn't a crime under existing law. I don't like it, but I have to give amnesty on those terms if I don't want to have to fight for every inch of this planet.''
"Our people aren't going to care much for the idea."
"Can't help it-that's how it's got to be. And another one you may not like. The amnesty for your people-it covers all activity against UET, of course. But if a man's hiding out for -say, rape or murder on the civilian side-he'd better stay hid. Because if it's on the record, sure as peace he'l! stand trial."
Markine stared. "Trial? There's no real courts any more."
"There will be. It may take a while, but there will be."
Markine spoke slowly. "That takes some thinking about. Not just our few really bad apples, but-we've done things, sometimes-the only way to strike at UET was terrorize the folks who do their work for them. Might be hard to justify, if you didn't know the circumstances."
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"I am certain," said Rissa, "that such matters would be taken fully into account."
"Don't forget," Tregare said, "we grew up under UET, too."
"All right-I don't promise anything but I'll put it to the Council. I can reach you again through Ragan?"
"Right. And-as soon as you can, Markine?"
"Sure." He smiled. "Wait'll I tell 'em ! talked with the all-time Welfare Kid herself!"
A few minutes later the computer terminal blinked a light. "They've got the circuit up," Tregare said. He looked at a screen showing the outside view. "And here comes Kybel, I'd guess-he's got two others with him. Look-you want to make the first data searches? I'm overdue to check groundside here, make sure our people hold all the important spots."
Rissa said, "Of course. I am curious to see how accurate Markine's information is."
"Then I'll send someone up to stay with you."
"Why?"
"I doubt they'd try anything here, Kybel's people. But just in case-well, it is three to one and you'll be wanting to concentrate."
She nodded and he left. Shortly, Anse Kenekke entered. "Skipper says you can use a bodyguard, Ms. Kerguelen."
"A precaution, merely, Anse. I hope you were not taken away from important work."
He laughed. "Fact is-if I checked drive balance once more, when we haven't used it since last time-well, I was getting bored." He looked behind him. "Here they come now. I'll sit over there, out of the way but in good position."
Albert Kybel, Rissa saw, was not much taller than herself. Behind him came a younger man, plump and breathing heavily. And finally-Rissa gasped. The slim girl wore a gray-blue jumpsuit, and her pale hair was clipped to plushlike stubble.
