Federation does not stand against my family, I will protect it as I have done since the day I formed it. Remember that fact, Doctor. I formed the Ares Federation. Me personally. I could have just as easily killed every man, woman, and child on this planet. By myself. Do not ever question my motives again. Do I make myself clear?”
“Or what, General?” Verne asked coolly.
Cort stared at Verne’s image on the display. “Prime Minister, Administrator Dar has generously offered you ownership and control of the continent of Europe on Earth. As leader of the Ares Federation’s armed forces, I highly recommend we take that offer in order to secure a foothold on Earth. Ultimately, I believe our future is there. Now if you will all excuse me, I have to get back to my duties. Good day.”
When Cort’s image was gone from their screens, Rhodes spoke. “What the hell was that, Doc?”
Verne took a deep breath before responding, “I have to know how far I can push him. I have to know what the limits of his temper are. I’m turning him loose on the galaxy. I don’t want that blood on my hands, but if it has to be I want to know it’s justified.”
Rand shook his head and whistled. “That’s a damned dangerous game to be playing, Prime Minister. If you want to know how he will react, go over the security vids from previous attacks. I can even get you his military dossier from the twenty-first century. But don’t push him like that again.”
“Rand, I appreciate your loyalty to the General. But the reality is, humanity’s success probably depends on him. I have to know that he will not fly off the handle, and that he will not become a dictator. The only way to be sure is to push him.” Verne lifted a glass of water and drank from it before continuing, “Yes, it is a dangerous game, Rand. Except it is not a game. General Addison may be as cool and level-headed as anyone I have ever met. But he may also be a sociopath. I could care less what continent we have on Earth. Having Europe actually puts us in a better position to trade with the Asians.”
“Then why push Cort over this, sir?” Rhodes had the uneasy feeling that Prime Minister Verne was playing with fire.
“Chief, my first reaction to him saying we could have Europe was genuine. I think you missed something in that exchange. General Addison just declared that North America was becoming its own alliance. Once we take control of Europe, Earth will have four alliances. Our future is completely interwoven with that of his new alliance. So I am going to push him just as hard as I can to make sure that partnership is a safe one for us.”
“He’s right, Chief. Even I missed it," Rand said. “Grandpa just founded a government. And he made it clear that this government is secondary to his own.”
“Exactly. And if he is going to turn his back on us, I have to start preparing for that. If he is not going to turn his back on us, I want to be sure he is not a danger to us anyway. So I had to push him. I had to push him hard. To make sure that he is safe, and not a rabid cat.”
Rhodes said, “That could be a good way to get dead, Doc.”
“Better me than our species.”
Rand spoke again. “I won’t shirk my duties to this government, but I need to be clear about something. My loyalties lie with my family. If I am forced to choose between the Ares Federation and my blood, I have to choose my blood. That being said, I think you should start looking for replacements for both Mike Rage and myself. I’m certain he will feel the same.”
Verne nodded and thanked Rand for his candor before ending the meeting.
System S-102, Near the Galactic Center
“Doctor Black, come to the bridge immediately” The sound of the ship’s intercom woke Wynn Black from a deep sleep. He had been dreaming of the woman whose voice woke him. She was out of his league, of course, but that fact had no effect on his
“Or what, General?” Verne asked coolly.
Cort stared at Verne’s image on the display. “Prime Minister, Administrator Dar has generously offered you ownership and control of the continent of Europe on Earth. As leader of the Ares Federation’s armed forces, I highly recommend we take that offer in order to secure a foothold on Earth. Ultimately, I believe our future is there. Now if you will all excuse me, I have to get back to my duties. Good day.”
When Cort’s image was gone from their screens, Rhodes spoke. “What the hell was that, Doc?”
Verne took a deep breath before responding, “I have to know how far I can push him. I have to know what the limits of his temper are. I’m turning him loose on the galaxy. I don’t want that blood on my hands, but if it has to be I want to know it’s justified.”
Rand shook his head and whistled. “That’s a damned dangerous game to be playing, Prime Minister. If you want to know how he will react, go over the security vids from previous attacks. I can even get you his military dossier from the twenty-first century. But don’t push him like that again.”
“Rand, I appreciate your loyalty to the General. But the reality is, humanity’s success probably depends on him. I have to know that he will not fly off the handle, and that he will not become a dictator. The only way to be sure is to push him.” Verne lifted a glass of water and drank from it before continuing, “Yes, it is a dangerous game, Rand. Except it is not a game. General Addison may be as cool and level-headed as anyone I have ever met. But he may also be a sociopath. I could care less what continent we have on Earth. Having Europe actually puts us in a better position to trade with the Asians.”
“Then why push Cort over this, sir?” Rhodes had the uneasy feeling that Prime Minister Verne was playing with fire.
“Chief, my first reaction to him saying we could have Europe was genuine. I think you missed something in that exchange. General Addison just declared that North America was becoming its own alliance. Once we take control of Europe, Earth will have four alliances. Our future is completely interwoven with that of his new alliance. So I am going to push him just as hard as I can to make sure that partnership is a safe one for us.”
“He’s right, Chief. Even I missed it," Rand said. “Grandpa just founded a government. And he made it clear that this government is secondary to his own.”
“Exactly. And if he is going to turn his back on us, I have to start preparing for that. If he is not going to turn his back on us, I want to be sure he is not a danger to us anyway. So I had to push him. I had to push him hard. To make sure that he is safe, and not a rabid cat.”
Rhodes said, “That could be a good way to get dead, Doc.”
“Better me than our species.”
Rand spoke again. “I won’t shirk my duties to this government, but I need to be clear about something. My loyalties lie with my family. If I am forced to choose between the Ares Federation and my blood, I have to choose my blood. That being said, I think you should start looking for replacements for both Mike Rage and myself. I’m certain he will feel the same.”
Verne nodded and thanked Rand for his candor before ending the meeting.
System S-102, Near the Galactic Center
“Doctor Black, come to the bridge immediately” The sound of the ship’s intercom woke Wynn Black from a deep sleep. He had been dreaming of the woman whose voice woke him. She was out of his league, of course, but that fact had no effect on his
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