Henry Gallant Saga 2: Lieutenant Henry Gallant (11 page)

Hepburn and Alaina sat quietly, drinking in the information

Gallant crossed his legs, put down his glass of wine, and thought,
I wonder where Junior is? Probably close by listening—which is unfortunate.

“Professor Hepburn will you give me a sense of the politics here?” Gallant tried to take the measure of the man, but his face revealed little. He could only hope Hepburn would be more open and honest than others he had met on Elysium, so far.

“Well, after our colony was abducted we spent thirty years on a Titan generation ship traveling to Tau Ceti. Once our colony was transplanted here, we were victimized by the Titans for experimentation until Wolfe miraculously produced his planet-wide force field blocking all Titan access. We have been under our own authority since then. Wolfe has been in charge, but there has been growing dissent.”

“What sort of dissent?”

“Well, corruption has been alleged, which is difficult to prove against a government that controls both the police and the judges. Nevertheless, groups of young people have been gathering and holding demonstrations.” Hepburn looked meaningfully as Alaina who had turned her head away, acting as if he shouldn’t be criticizing anything she had done.

“Oh, are they contentious remonstrations against the SSP?” asked Gallant.

“Are there any other kind, when you’re dealing with bullies?” asked Alaina. She rose from her chair and went to the front window. She swept away the curtain and looked around as if trying to catch someone sneaking about.

“We have advocated developing space technology to return to Sol, or at least communicate with Earth,” said Hepburn.

“Wolfe disagrees?”

“Of course. This is a tropical paradise for all of us, but especially for him. He practically owns the planet. Still I’ve maintained a vigorous political difference of opinion, always mindful to keep it peaceful and civil. As a result, he tolerates me. He recognizes that repressive governments that punish political opposition become isolated from the people and eventually vulnerable to revolution.”

“Does he allow organized protests?”

“Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to group demonstrations. Protesters as peaceful individuals have also been tolerated. Wolfe’s governmental policy has been to control the colony’s economics through a media monopoly. He runs our news media and communication stations. We do enjoy our entertainment channels. The net result is that he, his family, and cronies live comfortably while the rest of us work hard to grow our community.”

“How does he manage to get reelected?”

“There is little appetite to fight the status quo, especially since he has acquired a great deal of wealth within our tiny fragile economy. So he continues. Or he’s continued until your arrival. I suspect, he’s sweating, trying to figure out how to get rid of you without fomenting more dissension than he can control.”

“I’m interested in fashioning a working relationship between the people of Elysium and the
Intrepid.
We need to establish a mine for heavy metals along with a forge and manufacturing facility to conduct our repairs. Our scans have revealed possible deposits of heavy metal ores near the base of the giant volcano to the north. With your machinery and labor added to ours, we could get the
Intrepid
ready to return to Earth. Those willing to join us could come.”

“Perhaps,” said Hepburn.

Gallant was disappointed with the tepid response. “What can I do to influence Wolfe?”

Hepburn said, “You must appeal to his ego and vanity. Either you get Wolfe’s attention focused on you, and he responds reasonably, or else you leave your fate to his kind of consideration. Anyone who trusts Wolfe’s determinations deserves what he gets, which is not pleasant. It may sound calculating or devious, but otherwise you are left at his mercy which you will surely regret. Of course, you should realize, any deal you strike with Wolfe is likely to be subject to his revisionism, according to amorphous circumstance as he sees them.”

“I take it you don’t like Wolfe?”

“Oh, my feelings toward the man are much more complex than like or not like. It isn’t a simple animosity. I don’t trust him, but I do respect him. I must respect the man who found a way to unite our people on this colony in the face of a horrific threat from the Titans. I am glad he was able to use the force field technology to protect us no matter what he did to acquire it. I do respect his ability to dominate the colony for twenty years and to avoid sharing power while creating a faux democracy to shore up his image. I don’t fear him, but I am wary of acts openly against him. I know he spends much of his day thinking up logical lies to convince everyone he is only acting as we would each act to protect everyone’s interests. No, it’s much more than like or not like,” concluded Hepburn.

“I do dislike him,” contributed Alaina, emphatically.

Gallant looked at her and then back to Hepburn. “Does he have the support of the majority of the population?”

“Ostensibly, but it’s not a matter of support. The people follow his leadership for many of the reasons I gave. Actually, they’re ambivalent, but they are not about to cross him—not while he controls the planetary force shield. We have achieved an acceptable equilibrium of suppression and acceptance. Human tolerance for limited tyranny is exceptional, much like the lobster sitting in a pan of water as it is slowly brought to a boil.” Hepburn chuckled mildly at his own remark.

They spent another pleasant hour together. Hepburn talked about his voyage from Ceres and his family. Gallant told them about his life growing up on terra-formed Mars. Despite the comfortable relationship they seemed to be developing, Gallant still felt a heavy presence of something important left unrevealed. And notwithstanding Gallant’s most sincere efforts, Hepburn remained reluctant to commit to any concrete arrangement between them. He was reticent to openly cross Wolfe or to make an agreement with the UP binding the colony.

“I’m afraid my dissenting view has contaminated my granddaughter, who also acts defiantly, much to my concern,” said Hepburn.

Alaina said, “I’m convinced the worse thing one can do is to remain idle in the face of tyranny—whether it’s a petty dictator, or worse. So I’ve agitated continuously until I’ve become a real thorn in Wolfe’s backside. I’ve organized a small group of like-minded thinkers who occasionally join me in protests.”

“You’re going to get into trouble with the SSP,” said Hepburn sternly.

She smiled proudly, got up, and kissed Hepburn on the forehead. “Grandfather, you needn’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

Not the preferred response—Hepburn knew that—Gallant knew it, too.

When Gallant asked him to explain further, Hepburn said, “Youth!” He shook his head back and forth in disbelief, shifted his eyes from one to the other of the young people he had as his audience. “You open yourself to dangers beyond your understanding.”

“Dangers? What dangers are you speaking of?” asked Gallant. “We didn’t intend to disrupt your community.”

“Of course you didn’t. You didn’t even know it existed. And yet you have. You have shaken us to our core.”

Hepburn wasn’t a fool and Gallant could see something more beneath the surface.

“Can you tell me what the people of Elysium need to support the
Intrepid?”

Hepburn frowned. “It is not for me to speak of others. I’m sorry. I am.”

Gallant left the Hepburn residence, having learned much, but feeling perplexed.

Why shouldn’t we be allies? What am I missing?

The next day Junior and his men escorted Gallant to a prearranged meeting at Wolfe’s home on a bluff overlooking the colony. The home was the largest and most extensively furnished he had seen in the community.

He walked on a thick woven rug into the library where Wolfe was waiting for him. Junior closed the room’s sliding doors and remained outside with his security officers.

Wolfe was dressed in an old-fashioned black three-piece pin striped suit with extra-large lapels, which were so sharply pressed the suit appeared as if it might have never been worn. He looked rich, well fed, and distinguished, in a throw-back sort of way. His coiffed dark, gray-streaked hair was set-off by a white handkerchief peeking out from his breast pocket, highlighting a flamboyant style reminiscent of tough guys from twentieth-century Earth.

The peculiar costume was so inappropriate to the lifestyle of the tropical islands it caused Gallant to make the leap—Wolfe was role-playing for his own self-deluded reasons—beyond Gallant’s comprehension.

His chief of staff stood to his right beside a table, while off to one side of this well-lit room was a computer screen covered with small data columns, indistinguishable from a distance.

Gallant stood for a moment gazing at the overall effect Wolfe had created before he walked forward and greeted him with the obligatory handshake.

Wolfe rose from his chair as he shook hands. “Lieutenant Gallant, how good to see you again. I hope you’ve had an enjoyable day exploring our town, as well as a fruitful visit with Jim Hepburn.”

“Yes, thank you. I had a chance to look around the community and talk to several of your citizens. You’ve accomplished quite a feat in both resisting the Titans and building a colony in so short a time.”

Wolfe fairly beamed with pride. “Thank you. Thank you. I am pleased with my accomplishments. I took an unadorned hostile wilderness and molded it to my will. My story is one of courage, fortitude, and triumph—against overwhelming difficulties. I can close my eyes and see so much more ahead for Elysium. I’ve just begun, but rest assured, I will have my happy ending. This is a thriving community ready to accept the responsibilities of an independent planet.”

“Is that your personal story?” said Gallant, noting Wolfe’s exclusive use of the first-person singular pronoun to lay credit for the success of the colony.

“My story is the story of Elysium. My family circumstance began as I was growing up on the asteroid colony, Ceres. There were limited resources and competitive natures. I didn’t have as many friends as I do now. I studied hard and became a pilot for an ore hauler trucking raw material from mining sites to storage facilities and transport ships. Navigation through the asteroid field required the same skills as a fighter pilot, including using a neural interface. Something I’m sure you can appreciate.”

He stopped, apparently seeking, and expecting, Gallant’s approval.

There’s only one way to handle an egomaniac. Tell him what he wants to hear. “Piloting large ships through an asteroid field takes considerable skill.”

Smiling his gratification, Wolfe continued, “When the Titans arrived at Ceres, they overwhelmed us, and sealed thousands of us into transports for the sublight journey to Tau Ceti. They packed all our asteroids life support systems along with our hydroponic gardens and fish aquariums. We survived the grueling journey—well, most of us. At least enough of us survived for the Titans to start their experiments. They dropped us into this friendly environment and they left us mostly alone. I took advantage of the freedom, and before long, they had reason to regret not taking me more seriously. The people of this colony understand how important deploying my planetary force shield was. We’ve lived undisturbed ever since.

“I married while we were in transit and my son Cyrus Jr., was born shortly after we landed. He is a native-born citizen of this planet and it is to this planet he maintains allegiance—like so many of our young population. After driving off the Titans, I knew setting up the right type of government was a risk worth taking. Elysium has flourished under my guidance.

“Scan us. You’ll see we have a force field powerful enough to deflect any nuclear weapons the Titans can send at us. We are completely safe and protected. Don’t worry about it. We need no assistance of any kind and would not welcome any interference in the governing of our planet. You can even consider me your insurance policy. If necessary, your entire crew may find sanctuary on Elysium if the Titans return—as subjects of my government, of course.” The last words had a faint emphasis upon them.

“This informal discussion has covered our history and, I hope, given you an appreciation of our position,” said Wolfe, intent on maintaining his place of privilege.

Clearly, Wolfe was as stubborn as he was prideful. Gallant remained thoughtful, but was becoming disillusioned with his prospects for a positive agreement with his host. He raised his eyebrow. “You intend for Elysium to be permanently independent—independent of the UP as well as the Titans?”

Wolfe exhibited a poker player’s sense when holding the higher cards. “We are already independent.”

“I congratulate you on your hard-earned accomplishments,” said Gallant. “I assure you, the
Intrepid
is not seeking to disrupt Elysium’s way of life. We can accept your governing arrangement and agree not to interfere with your internal affairs.” Gallant thought the UP government might revisit that point.

Wolfe grinned.

Gallant continued, “I hope you are willing to discuss how we can work together. The
Intrepid
is primarily concerned about acquiring your assistance to effect repairs and replenishment.”

“I will have to confer with my council.” Wolfe scowled as if ready to end discussions immediately.

“The
Intrepid
needs massive assistance, and we have to act quickly before the Titans can recover from our last encounter. We are willing to fully respect your sovereignty in return for cooperation and any aid you can render.”

Wolfe shifted in his seat, as if reconsidering his approach. He leaned forward, in Gallant’s face, and asked, “Are you an honest man?”

“Yes,” Gallant said flatly, unimpressed.

“Good. Good. Then let’s be honest. We need to be honest with each other if we are to survive the Titans and continue to thrive. Don’t we?” said Wolfe.

“Of course I intend to speak openly and frankly,” said Gallant. He had hoped to put everything on the table and negotiate fairly, but that wasn’t going to happen. He was sure Wolfe meant he should be honest. He was equally sure Wolfe had no intention of doing likewise.