Dacona's current vessel, a Rapier that had been in the Bahamut's bay, streaked through space at breakneck speeds towards Earth. It practically skidded to a stop in low orbit, and slowly descended down to a private docking bay. Corsair had evaded the mass of functionaries, and was waiting for him at the dock.
"Anderson," Syrias said coldly as he stepped out of his ship.
Corsair nodded, seeming unperturbed. "He's working for Diphidia now."
"We have a problem," Syrias noted. "Anderson is one of the few intelligent men to get caught by the Rebel's lies, and he's dangerous... very dangerous. I'm not sure if West and I together could take him out."
Corsair frowned deeply. "He's hit us hard. My uncle sent word from Maxwell's Purchase. The government there has made public a message he sent. It seems our request for surrender is now all over known space."
"If the aliens pick it up, tell me, will 'ya?" Syrias replied dryly.
"Very funny...seriously, though, we have a problem."
"Not necessarily. Corsair, as far as speeches go, you're the best, and you're also the best politician I know of. And just to topple the balance, we happen to be the good guys for once."
"...like anyone will believe that," Corsair sighed. "Everyone seems to prefer to think the Rebellion are trying to save us from oppression. We messed up, Syrias. We should never have organised the Confederation beyond this primitive fanatic stage. People start getting annoyed when we tell them they're allowed to think."
"The irony, eh? If we fall, the Rebels will eventually be forced to evolve into a real government, at which point another fanatic rebellion will spring up. The only way out, Lyat, is to eliminate the Rebels. And since we're so civilised, we can't just blow them up, because some independant governments will scream 'Oh no, you're not allowed to win!"
"I'll get to the reply," Corsair answered firmly. "And I'll get back to that hothead, too..."
With that, Corsair disappeared, and Syrias, grinning, got back into his Rapier and returned to Antares.
----------------
-Begin Hypercomm Transmission-
(From: Anonymous, Location Antares) No Confederation ties
(To: Morgan Anderson)
(Unencrypted)
(Copy: Confederation, Rebellion, Diphidia, Zaxted)
(Priority: Urgent)
'yo Anderson, I hear you've been playing around in interstellar politics again. I don't really know why you'd even bother - minors like me and you only get ourselves killed, you know. I've heard from the independant planets, by the way; nice work, very impressive. I'm sure the 'Feds will reply pretty soon with their usual response. You won't believe a word of it, of course, but you never were very bright.
It's been a while, and I have to say I've missed you somewhat. My leg's pretty much completely healed up from the bullet wound, by the way, thanks to the cybernetics of today. 'cost me an arm and a leg, but...I'm sure you'd be willing to pay for it, directly.
To when we next cross, eh? And by the way, I broke up with her -- she kind'a stopped loving me after the whole hostage scene you pulled. Next time, no hostages, no complications.
(end message)
(OOC - Mac, Anderson would know Syrias, but under a completely different name - he would also not know of Syrias Dacona within the Confederation ranks, most likely)
-Begin Hypercomm Transmission-
(From: Lyat Corsair)
(To: Morgan Anderson)
(Copy: All Space)
(Unencrypted)
(Priority: Urgent)
Enclosed is a reply to your statements against us. You are also requested to make yourself present at the Magistrate's Court, Antares City, New Providence, as you are tried for various crimes agreed to by all of known space, minus the Rebellion.
I am pleased that you are drawing your own personal conclusions, as that is exactly the type of behaviour we like to see. May I ask where your evidence lies that we are attempting to destroy democracy? I myself was voted into this position, so I find it rather funny that you believe there is no democracy within the Confederation. Point of fact, it appears to be that the Rebellion is much more based on a warrior society without representation than the Confederation, considering how their leaders come into power through "shady" elections.
Before I address your "proof", I would like to ask how you came about it. The former, obviously, came from the Rebellion. The message to the Rebellion was a confidential one to their highest level of hierarchy. Am I right to assume that you have access to this? I don't seem to recall you being the president of the Rebellion, so I can only assume that the Rebellion has failed to honour the confidentiality of the message. How...civilised of them.
As for the message itself, it appears you're behind on your politics. We call them "peace agreements", because an agreement is made. Typically, the first side makes it demands, and the second retaliates with theirs. The first side then cuts down its demands, and so on until an agreement can be made. This is recognised politics, and except in the case of military domination, peace has never been achieved in any other way. It is interesting that you are trying to conceal this fact and twist the truth to try and show the Confederation as "evil" once more. We offered an opening statement. Also, addressing our terms exactly, what we were requesting was in no way unfair. We ask that their leaders be held trial - justice. Are you suggesting that justice would be better served, and we would be less "evil", to let these murderers go free?
The promises we made to Diphidia were true. As for this "intercepted message" of yours, I would like to addressing the following.
The chances of a vessel picking up a direct message from one base to another is approximately one in a trillion.
Even an independant encryption code would take several years to decode.
This suggests fairly definately that you, Anderson, could not have picked up any messages. And there, unfortunately, we come to a point. Because in fact, you could pick up that message. You have the trajectory for an interception between New Providence and Earth, down to the signal stations. There are only three or four people in the galaxy who we know could have made such an interception, and you are the only one of them working for the Rebellion.
Plus there is the matter of your appearance in Zaxted. Interesting, I see. A scoutship. A scoutship was also sighted passing through Antares and crossing the intercept line. This scoutship was also seen flying off into the galactic south-west. Interesting.
The message was true - I will not lie with such things.
<<'need your help - suck up to Diphidia, they're a bit unstable lately.>>
Informal? Yes. Is the Confederation now held responsible for my choice of terminology in private messages? You must admit, the Diphidians have now proved that they are up to something -- you.
<< Quit with the waste dump for a while, go fire it under the star of Mentos to incinerate it instead.>>
I have no proof that Astex has been dumping toxins into Diphidia II's sea, but by necessity that had to be asked of them. I thus asked them to stop it (if they were doing anything). The process is nonsensical anyway, because incineration into Mentos would be cleaner and cheaper. The only side effect is a marginal lowering of the star's life - Mentos has sixteen billion years left of life or more. This is one of the "environmental concerns" which has been marked by everyone as acceptable.
<<Keep your eyes open, make use of the scoutships under your command to investigate Diphidia if you would>>
Such behaviour is followed by all governments on all other governments. The Confederation is concerned of Diphidian's rise in military power (of course we know about such things, all requests from Blazitron Industries are mentioned in passing to us through our recent ties with Blazitron), and is thus keeping an eye out on them. We do not want to see Diphidia declare war on Zaxted, as some rumous have suggested. We are peace keepers, and that is perhaps where this all started. Would you like to make peace keeping oppression again, Anderson? People are too clever for that this time, I'd imagine.
<<There's something going on that we don't understand, and it doesn't help that we lost trail of Anderson>>
Problem solved, I see. And you're still up to the same tricks.
<<Don't make any major moves against Diphidia before we can discuss the situation>>
I wanted to be sure that Astex would not attempt to take the Diphidian government to court for their suggestions before several matters could be seen to. It seems that the independant courts of New Istanbul need confering with before this could take place.
<< If you need to contact someone, track down West on Zaxted Starport. He's a dangerous man, but a good one>>
West of Zaxted starport -- I'm sure you've heard much of him, Anderson, as I'm sure he has of you. You're both legends in your own right, but opposed to each other. A pity that you're not as good as him, really. By dangerous, I was referring to slightly strange behaviour of some of the more legendary figures. I'm sure you'd understand -- you have enough strange behaviour for a city, like expecting people to really believe all this.
<< Syrias is also in Antares, and should be able to provide some help to you if you need any - just don't get him near West, I've yet to figure out whether those two or friends, or he has some personal vendetta. West isn't the only dangerous man around here...>>
No, West isn't. There's you too, and we know the type of things you're capable of. Syrias is the codename of a military officer under my command, who happens to know West from the past.
<<Oh, and apologies again for moving 3rd Fleet to Capella. Alpha Fleet has some work underway>>
I'd absolutely love to see you try to prove fair military action with another government who originally started the war is sign of the Confederate's oppression. I will not be dragged into explaining Alpha Fleet's presence in Antares, because that is confidential Confederation military information. Quite frankly, it's on a much higher level that the one you're struggling to work at.
I am also glad that you have shown yourself, Anderson. You have been a great concern to our government for a long time, due to not only your piloting skills, but also because of your political skills. I see they are in full flare. You lie now better than you lied before.
Your little interception proved much less than you think. It has proved that I have made every effort to stop any biological damage to Diphidia II, it has proved that you are viewed as a galactic scoundrel before you made this appearance, and it has proved also that you have been attempting to intercept personal messages between myself and my dear friend Luke of Astex.
<<The Rebellion desires an end to this war as much as the Confederation does. However, we will not bow to a demand for surrender when there is no cause to surrender, and when the terms are clearly meant to demean us and return us to slavery>>
We? Would that we be royal, or do you now act for the Rebellion? The Confederation has asked for peace, and made its first terms. I am awaiting the reply with the Rebellion terms, and have, in fact, already written up a counter-term response which is much more suitable for their liking. And what is this returning you to slavery? I do believe, Anderson, you are forgetting to back yourself up. But then again, your politics always was shady. I'm somewhat surprised not to hear; "Go Rebellion!" and a series of subliminal messages attached.
To justice, as it truly is, not as it is claimed.
Lyat Corsair
(end message)
Lyat sighed as he read through his message. For all he could do, Anderson was a very good manipulater, and in his anger from the Rebellion's murders, he had not phrased his message to Luke very well. If he was not careful, he would lose support very quickly. Tired, after having not slept for several days, he flicked through all the copies. New Cydonia, New Istanbul and New Bavaria should be safe, he hoped, as he knew the leaders of those places, and was to an extent friends. Blackthorne had always been neutral, and their leaders were far too wise to get caught in either sides words. The other planets, he was worried about.
Corsair, at that point, received another message, this one directly from a man he knew well. It had been sent by courier, and the location was on Earth. It seemed Syrias was ahead of him -- this way interception was absolutely impossible.
"Corsair, get some of that hothead's ships in if you can, discreetly. We need to eliminate Diphidia and kill Anderson. There's no other way to do this. Anderson is just going to spread his nonsense if we don't. I'm going to do what I can, but..."
----------------
Corsair returned to his quarters, to find Asriel gone. He quickly sent a patrol fighter to hunt him down and send him a secure message to get pirate ships in, discreetly but quickly.
Corsair then began to wonder how he was to see to this. He decided to message Zaxted.
-Begin Hypercomm Transmission-
(From: Lyat Corsair)
(To: Zaxted Starport)
(You do realise there's not enough time left in the universe to decrypt most encryptions, don't you?)
(Priority: Urgent)
We have a situation on our hands with Morgan Anderson. He's a dangerous man to society, and if he's not brought to trial...he's been told to go to New Providence to the trial, but we doubt he'll go. That should prove that he's unlawful, hopefully.
I need to talk to West. Where is he?
(end message)
-Begin Hypercomm Transmission-
(From: Confederation of Worlds HQ, Earth, Sol)
(To: Propus Republic)
(Encrypted)
(Priority: High)
Do NOT engage the Rebellion. We cannot currently give or sell you frigates, as our fleets are stretched as they are. An engineering team can be picked up at Polaris, and will help you build them.
(end message)
Confederate Navy
Battlefleet Status
Status Report:
None
Alpha Fleet (flagship: C.S.S. Bahamut) -- Antares
Beta Fleet (flagship: C.S.S. Triad) -- Farazon
3rd Fleet -- Capella
4th Fleet -- NGC-6564
5th Fleet -- Matar
6th Fleet -- Altair
7th Fleet -- Regulus
Scoutship Positions -- Curzon, Perseus, Gamera, Alcyon, Pelagon
------------------
-Lyat Esponer Corsair
(This message has been edited by SilverDragon (edited 05-18-2002).)
