Intro Chapter 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 . 07 . 08 . 09 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27
As we are flying for the province, we pow wow.
"Gunter, we can try to get you and Johanne back to the fleet on the ship that brings the Platoon Field Center. Failing that, I don't know when your next opportunity will come. We will be trying to open up off-world commerce...."
"You are determined to stay, commander?" Gunter acts as if he's hearing a nightmare.
In some ways, that is quite understandable. We who choose to stay are "going native", and that's as big a reputation ruiner as abandoning a first wave. Clearly Gunter doesn't want to be smeared by our choice.
"I am." I say, "Which brings us all to an exciting challenge.
"The problem is: how do we both get what we want? If a rescue comes and succeeds, we 'native goers' are going to look like ungrateful cads if we say we don't want to leave. If a rescue doesn't come, you and Johanne are marooned.
"If my plan to open space commerce on this world succeeds, we should be able to get you off some months from now, as civilians."
Gunter looks a bit sour hearing that, "That means months of cooling our heals, and we will be suspect for a while after we return."
"Adding to spice to this delicate mix," I say, "Is that if we five become a rallying symbol for a merc protest on the fleet, the flood of events at the fleet may sweep away any of our intentions. Frankly, if twenty mercs come bouncing down here saying they've come to rescue us, and they are backed by a substantial fleet in orbit... I'll say, 'Sure! I'm coming!'" I sigh.
Chin gives me a dagger look and moves away a bit. I look at her.
"Chin, if that happens, then it would be a very bad time to say we want out. Convictions or no."
She thinks, and sighs, "I guess you're right... If that happens."
"If that happens, we are all 'Oh, so grateful.', and this discussion never happened. Is that understood by all?" I speak sternly and look around, and wait for nods from all. "If that happens, our future lives will depend on our being seen as grateful when rescuers crash through doors -- I assure you that!"
"So... part of our challenge, but not yours, Gunter, is to discourage any rescue attempts.
"One way to do that is to get Gunter and Johanne off world quickly, so there are only three of us left behind. Which brings us back to the resupply ship.
"The problem with getting you on that resupply ship is our lack of control of the situation. I think we can find the resources within the province to send you up, Gunter, but the situation is so uncertain upstairs that you could easily end up vaporized -- those capital ships didn't leave because there was nothing to do upstairs. You know as well as I that the Platoon Field Center module will be making the last leg unmanned, so your craft will have to travel a long way to reach the blockade runner that launches that module.
I look him straight in the eye, "How much risk are you willing to take to get off this world?"
He looks straight back at me and says, "Commander, you may not be sensitive to it, but there is enormous risk in staying on this world. These are natives; you are not, and never will be.
"If you are going to be setting up space commerce, then you are going to be a high-profile player on this world. 'Kull' will not go away, and every native xenophobe crank assassin will see you as Target Alpha. Are you ready to watch your back 24/7?
"You are taking sides in a civil war. You could be picking a losing side; you are, for sure, picking a collection of associates that includes betrayers! This isn't like the mercs, your enemies will be close. Are you sure you want to deal with this kind of world?" He continues to look me straight in the eye. Gunter has a lot on the ball, he should go far, very far....
I count to ten, "You haven't answered my question." I reply.
He sighs and looks down. He's heard me declare my intentions formally, so he could finally address them with me and bring up his concerns. And he's tried his best to convince me to stay in the fold. For his own honor, he had to do that. Now he can worry about himself.
He looks up again, "I will take a twenty percent risk of death." he says.
"So be it. As soon as we get in secure communication range, we find out where we stand off world, and we see if we can arrange a rendezvous.
Intro Chapter 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 . 07 . 08 . 09 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27