Oberheim (Voices): A Chronicle of War

liam Hayes, then acting as its Secretary of State. On June 12 it was read to a specially convened Joint Session by Defense Secretary Aaron Bro

low Am

the Democratic Alliance of Belgium and Switzerland, engaged and defeated the combined fleets of the Communist Coalition before the star syst

have been kept in the darkness of atheistic communist doctrines for many years, and that some will not at first be willing, over even able, to accept the blessings of true freedom. The freedom of thought, speech and worship which we enjoy, will at first seem strange and painful to them, just as dazzling sunlight

nce 1946 at Malta, when our predecessors, out of blindness and misguided compassion, declined to use the birth of nuclear weapons to rid Eastern Europe of the Soviets--Slavic hordes which woul

not let faltering spirit and moral weakness send us down that same cowardly and shameful road. We must not let this second opportunity pass! For God has delivered i

ut deadly reality. With it we are able to move our omnipotent SuperCarriers (along with escort, if necessary) virtually anywhere in the galaxy, completely undetected, in less time than it takes to lace a boot. Distance is no longer

effective defense or tracking system will inevitably be devised, and our ability to strike without warning taken from us. For this

crusade, proved under Executive Order, and on the field of battle. Give to me your consensus--a formal Declarat

hich is courageous and noble--the fighting spirit that won our Independence and established the world's first true democracy, and later carried us through nearly two hundred years of patriotic wars without a defeat--ours will be hailed as the greatest era known by man,

tle. I am neither orator nor philosopher, but a plain thinking Christian gen

sophisticated or genteel to do His holy bidding. Like George Washington before me, I do not pretend to know all the subtleties of diplomacy and consti

t have dreamed, and the God-given torch which they passed down to us shall not dimin

hear my entreaty, and grant me th

ess Am

in L

rles Wil

ary of

e Secretary's call to arms were the following, pointed

nation. Its actual name was The Coalition of Independent Socialist States, a

ed by the frontal assaults of the Belgians and Swiss. The Coalition First Command Fleet, under the command of Gen. Helmut Itjes, had engaged the enemy in defensive skirmishes only, h

s uncomfortable for Hayes--the fact that a 'dictatorial regime' had chosen not to alter the name--or perhaps it threatened his claim that the United States had been the first true

e seen, since not all functions had been tested under full combat conditions.

n's trick. The commander of a fleet could not simply press a button and 'poof', make his ships appear in another part of the galaxy. The creation of the star-gate was a very real, and therefore complicated process. Reduced to layman's terms, it utilized principals of anti-matter

rea (or be prepared to retreat by conventional means) before any attack could be considered. In short, as

ad dominated it for some time, having settled there centuries before, and forming a large segment of the population. Coincidentally,

anticipated (in Stalin's mind only) the Soviet occupation of eastern Europe at the end of World War II, work on the atomic bomb had not yet been c

r a Declaration of War. Also, by attacking the colonies without a

ocial conditions prevalent at the time. Largely a cultural island, despite its vast trade and high international st

ch he took part. Thus, any subsequent input of contradictory facts or unclear morals was discounted. Because as a general rule what appeared visually or in print, larger (and often better) than life, seemed infinitely more real and comprehensible than the confusing

ct communication, and there was no way to obtain more complete, unbiased information. Also, since it happened far away and no casualties were announced, it

part this bulk society had not yet made up its mind. Most were still, at the core, opposed to bloodshed. But the economy WAS in difficult straits, which tended to make them angrier and more aggressive, and there WERE nasty rumors circulating abou

duled for June 18, but beyond this Administration officials were maintaining an uncanny, and therefore disquieting silence. Some of the more astute p

give or take. (Almost no one believed that Hayes actually intended to take on the whole of socialism, especially Soviet Space --quiet of late, but still quite capable of fi

and everyone waited impatiently for the President to address the

quandary as to how to respond. Because the one outright lie of General Hayes' letter to Congress and the press, had been

military establishment, Hayes was trying to use his popularity as a war hero, and his considerable influence among the Armed Forc

r. Pre

a reality; and the spirits of the men are high. Such times as these are rare

ou now to put aside our past differences, and give me your full support. We can annihilate the r

choice. With Bacon and Weiss (Presidential advisors) still squabbling, and your own will paralyzed, precious and irrecoverable time was

t been idle the past three years either. And unlike our attempts at rearmament, they aren't hindered by the need for Congressional approval, or any other such bleeding heart nonsense. The Star Gate is our edge, and it won't be long before the enemy eith

l use it. This is going to be a volatile and turbulent era, whether we choose to make

choice will be yours. You can give me your full support, and be remembered for all times as a coura

e ever found with you is a continuing desire to be advised, and a deep hesitation to go against the grain of your advisers, even when they

and your magnanimity is admirable. But you are still the President, and the most powerful man in the free world. I

ry deep in me. I ask only this: that you listen to your heart. You wi

Ser

Willia

ary of

the Joints Chiefs of St

self was unusual) that a true, life and death dilemma lay before him, and that his decision would directly affect the lives of millions of people. Did he give in to political blackmail, and condone self-righteous slaughter--a genuine war? Or did he call Ha

heretofore been extraordinarily successful, getting most of his programs through Congress, avoiding embarrassment, and heading off political difficulty before it gained impetus. No matter what the circumstance, he always managed to appear calm a

thing, he was less qualified than most. But he did have one skill they lacked. He knew

hough they seriously mishandled important matters of state, largely because, as the poetic put it, "They captured the spirit of their countrymen." More cynically, they gave good speeches. Edgar S

orn by those who had elected him, and those who held real power. Not only did he fail to question the morality of the policies they had him put forward, but in truth, was not particularly interested. He had for nearly twenty years made his living as a front-man for conservative causes, knew h

ard-working and respectable family man. The fact that he had changed professions (a former salesman), parties (a former Democrat), and wives (a divorcee), was routinely shouted down as liberal mud-slinging. The press was cowed by his popularity, the opposition by the power it

e who had kept him going during the lean years of 'progressive humanism', one of which he had repaid by appointing a pompous, self-indulging and wholly unqualified 'hero' of the Nib

en at their word (Adolph Hitler being perhaps the clearest, and most horrific example), people had always assumed that he took such a hard line against socialism (

wn to him by the righteous God who ruled the Universe and called men of courage and action to his service, in the unending war against this modern day Satan. Etc. In his mind, too simple or too stubborn to possess any clear sense of perspective, this same God directed his ev

his convictions, and reinforce his Messianic image of himself. Indeed, given the power of his obsession

his advisers argue, and tried to think.