[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
slowly, he was being won over.
Now, with evidence mounting to suggest that maybe it wouldn t have needed to
be the freak occurrence that had at first been supposed, the question that was
Page 114
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
coming to be asked was how likely it might be for something similar to happen
again. Already, Athena had come close enough to
Venus to transfer enough momentum to lift Venus outward several million miles,
and future intercepts could creep even closer. One set of possible ways the
orbital equations could evolve produced another three-body resonance, this
time with Athena in the role previously taken by
Venus, and Venus being hurled outward farther to enter into periodic
encounters with Earth.
Nobody was saying at this stage that it would happen; but at least one family
of mathematical solutions said that it could. Damien wasn t sure if Earth was
ready to undergo another series of
Mars-type encounters just yet. Maybe it was just as well, he reflected, that
some of the first of the new AG-based technology, capable of cutting and
building massive structures out of native rock, was on its way with the Aztec.
They-or maybe their successors who would one day take over later spells on
Earth-might well find they needed it.
A buzz from his wrist compad interrupted. It was Mya Feehn, another of the
group, calling from elsewhere in the Surya. What s happening, Damien? Do you
know? she inquired.
I ve been working. What are you talking about?
The image on the tiny screen looked away, as if wary of being overheard.
Something strange is going on. A pinnace from the Varuna docked with us a
while ago. And now outgoing communications are blocked-I thought you d have
known.
Damien could only shake his head. As I said, I was working. But as head of
the group in
Sariena s absence, it would be up to him to find out-which was what Mya was
really saying. I ll go to the condeck and see what it s all about, he said.
You ll know more as soon as I do.
He cleared the call and got up from the chair, pausing to let the touch of
dizziness pass that came from changing attitude too quickly in a small ship.
It would mean riding the booms to another module. He set off toward the
elevator. But even before he had exited the section that the group s work
space was in, a general call over the address system preempted him.
Attention. This is the
Captain. All ship s officers and designated group and project heads, assemble
immediately in the
Command Module Control Deck. Officers and group heads, come to the condeck
immediately.
Thank you.
There was some congestion at the boom capsule interchange point as persons
from different places converged. Nobody knew what this was about. The capsule
to the condeck was full, and
Damien had to wait through one round-trip before he could board. During
transit he saw the pinnace, docked with the Surya at a center port. The Varuna
itself, he was told, was at present out of sight, somewhere on the far side of
Earth.
He arrived to find the Command Deck crowded. But strangely, as he looked
around for some clue as to what might be going on, he saw that the Captain and
ship s officers didn t seem to be in charge of things at all, but were
standing in a huddle to one side, looking agitated and subdued.
Occupying the center of the floor was a blond, athletically built man in the
uniform of an SA major
. . . wearing a sidearm!
That was when it hit Damien that other armed figures, brandishing
close-quarters automatic infantry weapons openly and ready for use, were
positioned around the entire floor. Some were wearing SA uniforms; others,
not. Two, standing immediately behind the Captain and officers, were holding
unholstered pistols. Damien looked bemusedly at another Kronian next to him.
What s going on?
Page 115
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
I m not sure. It looks like they re taking over the ship.
With guns? Such a thing was unthinkable. Damien shook his head and indicated
the SA
colonel in the center of the floor. Who s he?
I don t know.
Another man in front of them turned his head. His name s Kelm. Executive
Officer from the
Varuna.
An amplified voice spoke from a speaker to address the room. Remain calm. It
is not our wish to harm anyone, but if resistance is encountered we will not
hesitate to do so. A proclamation will be read on the main screen that should
answer most of your questions.
At first, Damien thought it was Kelm who was speaking, but then he saw that
the colonel was standing alert but motionless. Before he could ascertain where
the announcement had come from, the large view screen facing the commander and
chief officers stations activated. Gasps of amazement punctuated by
exclamations of disbelief sounded on all sides. Looking out from the screen
was the familiar figure of former General Claud Valcroix, and in the picture a
few feet behind, his political partner, Ludwig Grasse. Also in the background
were faces that Damien recognized from the political campaigning of recent
times as those of prominent former American names from the Pragmatist camp.
What?
But they were all on that trans-orbital that was lost on the way to Iapetus.
Where s this coming from?
Wait, Kelm called out sharply.
Valcroix began speaking. I will make this brief, since our position has long
been known to everyone. If you are watching this recording, you will already
have been made aware of the situation of unilaterally declared sovereignty
that it has been our decision to establish over the territory of Earth. The
Pragmatist Party of the Kronian world system has endeavored, through the
constitutionally approved Kronian political process, to obtain a distribution
of representation that would be just and equitable for all its members,
regardless of origins, or of beliefs of principle that might differ from those
expressed by the present holders of policymaking privileges. We were rebuffed
and denied in that endeavor. Therefore, we find ourselves left with no other
option but to assert forcibly those rights which we sought to have
acknowledged lawfully, but which were refused.
If the Terran presence in Kronia is to be denied lawful expression, then by
the same standard, the Kronians cannot claim to exercise lawful dominion over
any territory of Earth. As the representative of, and speaker for, the sole
surviving body qualified to exercise authority within those said territories,
I hereby do proclaim the existence of the Terran Planetary Government,
inaugurated under me as the uncontested President, to take effect as of now.
And by that same authority invested in me, I declare all territories,
installations, ground works, and other facilities introduced to Earth in the
course of the current Kronian invasion of that territory, along with
associated spacecraft, air and ground vehicles, and all forms of ancillary
equipment and materials, to be rightfully the property of the Terran Planetary [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
slowly, he was being won over.
Now, with evidence mounting to suggest that maybe it wouldn t have needed to
be the freak occurrence that had at first been supposed, the question that was
Page 114
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
coming to be asked was how likely it might be for something similar to happen
again. Already, Athena had come close enough to
Venus to transfer enough momentum to lift Venus outward several million miles,
and future intercepts could creep even closer. One set of possible ways the
orbital equations could evolve produced another three-body resonance, this
time with Athena in the role previously taken by
Venus, and Venus being hurled outward farther to enter into periodic
encounters with Earth.
Nobody was saying at this stage that it would happen; but at least one family
of mathematical solutions said that it could. Damien wasn t sure if Earth was
ready to undergo another series of
Mars-type encounters just yet. Maybe it was just as well, he reflected, that
some of the first of the new AG-based technology, capable of cutting and
building massive structures out of native rock, was on its way with the Aztec.
They-or maybe their successors who would one day take over later spells on
Earth-might well find they needed it.
A buzz from his wrist compad interrupted. It was Mya Feehn, another of the
group, calling from elsewhere in the Surya. What s happening, Damien? Do you
know? she inquired.
I ve been working. What are you talking about?
The image on the tiny screen looked away, as if wary of being overheard.
Something strange is going on. A pinnace from the Varuna docked with us a
while ago. And now outgoing communications are blocked-I thought you d have
known.
Damien could only shake his head. As I said, I was working. But as head of
the group in
Sariena s absence, it would be up to him to find out-which was what Mya was
really saying. I ll go to the condeck and see what it s all about, he said.
You ll know more as soon as I do.
He cleared the call and got up from the chair, pausing to let the touch of
dizziness pass that came from changing attitude too quickly in a small ship.
It would mean riding the booms to another module. He set off toward the
elevator. But even before he had exited the section that the group s work
space was in, a general call over the address system preempted him.
Attention. This is the
Captain. All ship s officers and designated group and project heads, assemble
immediately in the
Command Module Control Deck. Officers and group heads, come to the condeck
immediately.
Thank you.
There was some congestion at the boom capsule interchange point as persons
from different places converged. Nobody knew what this was about. The capsule
to the condeck was full, and
Damien had to wait through one round-trip before he could board. During
transit he saw the pinnace, docked with the Surya at a center port. The Varuna
itself, he was told, was at present out of sight, somewhere on the far side of
Earth.
He arrived to find the Command Deck crowded. But strangely, as he looked
around for some clue as to what might be going on, he saw that the Captain and
ship s officers didn t seem to be in charge of things at all, but were
standing in a huddle to one side, looking agitated and subdued.
Occupying the center of the floor was a blond, athletically built man in the
uniform of an SA major
. . . wearing a sidearm!
That was when it hit Damien that other armed figures, brandishing
close-quarters automatic infantry weapons openly and ready for use, were
positioned around the entire floor. Some were wearing SA uniforms; others,
not. Two, standing immediately behind the Captain and officers, were holding
unholstered pistols. Damien looked bemusedly at another Kronian next to him.
What s going on?
Page 115
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
I m not sure. It looks like they re taking over the ship.
With guns? Such a thing was unthinkable. Damien shook his head and indicated
the SA
colonel in the center of the floor. Who s he?
I don t know.
Another man in front of them turned his head. His name s Kelm. Executive
Officer from the
Varuna.
An amplified voice spoke from a speaker to address the room. Remain calm. It
is not our wish to harm anyone, but if resistance is encountered we will not
hesitate to do so. A proclamation will be read on the main screen that should
answer most of your questions.
At first, Damien thought it was Kelm who was speaking, but then he saw that
the colonel was standing alert but motionless. Before he could ascertain where
the announcement had come from, the large view screen facing the commander and
chief officers stations activated. Gasps of amazement punctuated by
exclamations of disbelief sounded on all sides. Looking out from the screen
was the familiar figure of former General Claud Valcroix, and in the picture a
few feet behind, his political partner, Ludwig Grasse. Also in the background
were faces that Damien recognized from the political campaigning of recent
times as those of prominent former American names from the Pragmatist camp.
What?
But they were all on that trans-orbital that was lost on the way to Iapetus.
Where s this coming from?
Wait, Kelm called out sharply.
Valcroix began speaking. I will make this brief, since our position has long
been known to everyone. If you are watching this recording, you will already
have been made aware of the situation of unilaterally declared sovereignty
that it has been our decision to establish over the territory of Earth. The
Pragmatist Party of the Kronian world system has endeavored, through the
constitutionally approved Kronian political process, to obtain a distribution
of representation that would be just and equitable for all its members,
regardless of origins, or of beliefs of principle that might differ from those
expressed by the present holders of policymaking privileges. We were rebuffed
and denied in that endeavor. Therefore, we find ourselves left with no other
option but to assert forcibly those rights which we sought to have
acknowledged lawfully, but which were refused.
If the Terran presence in Kronia is to be denied lawful expression, then by
the same standard, the Kronians cannot claim to exercise lawful dominion over
any territory of Earth. As the representative of, and speaker for, the sole
surviving body qualified to exercise authority within those said territories,
I hereby do proclaim the existence of the Terran Planetary Government,
inaugurated under me as the uncontested President, to take effect as of now.
And by that same authority invested in me, I declare all territories,
installations, ground works, and other facilities introduced to Earth in the
course of the current Kronian invasion of that territory, along with
associated spacecraft, air and ground vehicles, and all forms of ancillary
equipment and materials, to be rightfully the property of the Terran Planetary [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]