Oberheim (Voices): A Chronicle of War

empt to draft a reply to General Hayes. Dark circles pulled at his eyes and sinuses; his head felt like a warm stone that wouldn't think. Half an hour earlier, after listening

Shut up," and unceremonio

or even competent to make such a choice. In his current frame of mind he was incapable of realizing the human or historical significance of the crisis that lay before him, and at the moment this was not what mattered. Unlike

s far from over, and that he was partly to blame. And he knew one more thing, despite the rhetoric that he had spouted for two decades: offensiv

lts, and these he posse

as not

Shook his head mournfully. He pushed the com-button on his desk a

hich must be relayed to the Secretary of State before further action could be taken. But even the impassable Bill Miller, Stone's

Americans began to sense that something was amiss--that real life had somehow crept onto the peaceful shores of their island. And nearly a

k had already been decided upon, known only to the General Staff, and to the scientists in charge of constructing the star gate. All the myriad ships--destroyer groups, fl

the place that this was least likely to occur--a distant orbit around the sea planet Goethe, where Alliance ships moved constantly, ready to repel any attempt at a counter-st

once the Dreadnought left the system. The two sides had gotten what they wanted: the Belgians and Swiss the riches of the colonies, as well a

more ominous silence of Soviet Space. In his more lucid moments the Secretary realized the strength of his ultimate foe: that a great bear waited for him deep

, he told himself.

planet of turbulent seas two hundred times Earth's mass, dotted with tiny islands rising thousands o

, waiting for the approaching message from the diminutive planet which had spawned him. Even aboard the Dreadnou

ould man even pretend to dominate such a Universe, in which his unnoticed presence, lasting but the blink of an eye, could not begin to compare with the Infinity which his mind could not even comprehend? All that a m

He turned. "Me

d ask him to come down right away. Tell him the message is in, and that I've cl

s s

roaching footsteps. General Hayes strode into the room with the same expression of confident, aggressive

n-Admiral Frank, commander of the Third Fleet, also a long-time associate. The Secretary, choosing for the moment t

lly recorded? Have you followed

hall I begi

reer, and most of all, his ability not to speak of his work to anyone, anytime, under any circumstances. Frank, ther

security cle

litary leve

ears have you s

y-thre

ction in the Ma

s s

orat

si

to the Flee

vouch for

ave the man a last, har

n, Major. Beg

elf-erase. There would be but a single copy of the transcript, printed on thin, white computer paper. He worked the fingerboards rapidly,

thinking to do otherwise, he touched the print button

on, who had been walking towards him with the paper in han

tton. I merely assumed….. I haven't read a word, Mr. Secretary, I swear it." Hay

major. That

g his head as a signal for his two subordinates t

tary

ned to my own thoughts. Perhaps you don't think much of me as a leader, or even a man. But as you yourself said, I am the President, and I see now that a great deal depends on my dealings w

n your ego or mine. AT THIS POINT HAYES SCOWLED, AND UNCONSCIOUSLY WORKED THE MUSCLES AT THE BACK OF HIS JAW. I have not reveale

ce I know you take that as a sign of

tions with whom we are not at war, and deliberately lied in the process, saying that you did so under m

was elected; maybe you think your ends justify the means. Maybe you hate my guts. None of this is important now

result in civil war, or worse. Do you really want to stage this coup? Do you really want to denounce me, your President, and see how

s specifically to prevent this kind of showdown, and personal grab for power. And they must have done something right, because our government has lasted, intact, for over four hundred years. Wil

ly clarify my position, so that there will

iscommunication between us, and then attempt to make reparation to the provinces of Democratic Germany and Greater Czecho

ht, nor will I back down from one. You will remain my Secretary of State, but immediately relinquis

to break off from any plans of further adventurism, and r

T. AND IN FACT, IT WAS THE ONE PART OF THE LETTER NOT LARGELY INTACT FROM THE PRESIDENT'S ORIGINAL DICTATION. DESPAIRING AT HIS OWN IGNORANCE, AND NOT KNOWING WHOM TO TRUST,

And we will also see, should you choose to defy me, how the American people, including the mil

e again, to b

cer

Jame

the United

it with unfocused eyes. The two lesser generals, knowing better, did not interrupt his mediations, but remained silently by the door. Calder knew his master w

the Secret

hael." Calder handed h

the President's

dress all subcommanders by visual at 0600 tomorrow. Request your communications offic

ts always told him to attack. The three dispersed, and the First Commu

acknowledge their own humanity. This is to take a step back, question perspective, yield to some more profound influence, or simply admit that there may be some aspect of the situation not immediat

fall into this category, rather than relinquishing the illusion in question, cling the more fiercely to i

r and more indisputable the path taken, since clearly they are being resisted by evil. The Devil, and those who serve him, are to blame.

o the second category. When directly challe

ization of a single goal--riding the tide of patriotic fervor, with the whole of the Commonwealth behind him, into a grand and decisive campaign a

duly-elected President, fool that he was, and try to seize power by a military coup. This, however, did not keep him from disregarding

at of all time. Each disposition would have to be perfect, each soldier's skill and determination honed to a cutting edge of steel. AGAINST ALL ODDS! Or, at the very le

SE! HE THINKS HE'S MADE

THE SOVIETS REMAIN NEUT

KNOCK OUT THE EAST GER

UR EGO OR MINE," HE S

EASON!" HE'LL 'CALL M

NISM. Hayes smashed a

ARY TITLES." "MAVERIC

GH TO CHANGE HIS MIND,

! FOOL. B

The meeting with General Staff was approaching,

d out toward the entrance of the star gate. Nothing had changed. Stone's actions had been a small ann

ost fifteen hours, barely outraced by the laser

ave no warning at all before smashing into an unrecorded meteor, or bit of space debris. To come out of light-speed and fly by

acking, come out of warp just long enough to aim the projectile, then split in two, the adjoining miss

s had not been idle since the attack on Athena, and the high command of the Provinces of Democratic (East) Germany, suspecting their inner planets to be

hat was needed to end his life. If for that brief period he did not watch the signal monitor and react instantaneously to its warning--the possible complexities of which were too vast even for an unassisted computer t

particles directly ahead. With the thought control computer he veered left and down, then back again to the righ

hours later his craft spun out of control and exploded, after striking a meteor-pellet six inches long. SubCap

the original forty remained, still at least eight