Unity should help break up that monster.”
Jack felt surprise at the words of a former Unity admiral. Hideyoshi had proven his personal loyalty to Jack time and time again. But to hear the man say what he said, in clear hearing of his crew, was a judgment he had not expected to hear. Publicly at least. He smiled his thanks. “The Unity is indeed a monster. It limits personal freedom, tries to demolish national heritages and claims the right to rule over all humans. It is also willing to violate any tenet of international law if it serves their survival. As it did when it used thermonukes against Mathilde.” Jack scanned the images of his other captains. “My friends, let us spend the next hour on the alert for mine fields, laser platforms and Hunter-Killer torps. While the civil leadership of the Unity is dead, its military hierarchy is still very alive. And very conservative. They will be the last to give up the Communitarian dogma!”
Elaine tapped at her lap panel. “Sensors say we are being scanned by multiple American air and land bases. No offensive actions. Yet.”
Jack sat in his Tech seat, locked his straps, put Old Roy on the floor and prepared to receive incoming messages from national leaders. Who would be first? Who would be last? And who would not call at all?
He doubted he would have long to wait.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nine minutes after his broadcast the first AV call came in.
“Captain Jack,” said Denise, her tone awed. “We have an incoming call from Emperor Hisahito of Japan! From him personally, not from an Imperial Household person.”
Wishing he could scratch his neck through the tough fabric of his vacsuit, Jack looked to the front screen’s motion-eye. “Put him through.”
A very old Asian man with white hair, thin face and sharp black eyes fixed on him. “You are Fleet Captain Jack Munroe of the Asteroid Belt?”
“I am.” Briefly he wondered at the energy of the ninety year old emperor.
The man who claimed a historical link to the first emperors of Japan more than two thousand years ago fixed on Jack. “The Empire of Japan today declares its independence from the Communitarian Unity. We have long felt uncomfortable over the Unity’s effort to enforce a uniformity upon peoples with unique heritages. Today we raised our national flag from Hokkaido south to Okinawa. Will you spare our space launch sites?”
Jack gave the man a slight bow. “Your imperial presence is appreciated. And your launch sites at Tanegashima and Kagoshima space centers will be left alone. Please assure that no Unity space vessel uses those sites.”
The man squinted. “Agreed. We have our own plans for those sites. It is time the land of Nihon put up its own space station. The Unity’s Tsiolkovsky Station has always been too crowded for my taste.”
He had not known the former boy emperor of Japan had ridden an H5 rocket to the Unity’s station. “Agreed. Let me extend an invitation to the Empire of Japan to send a delegation to Ceres Central for the establishment of diplomatic relations. Perhaps a crew of nihongin will join us in our future fights against Alien predators?”
The man’s expression grew intense. “Yes! This effort by Aliens to sully the lands and seas of Earth must be thrown back!”
One of his ship captains was waving at him. Ahhh . “Emperor Hisahito, may I invite Admiral Hideyoshi Minamoto of Mars to join our conversation? He commands our Mars fleet. And he has personally battled these Alien predators.”
The elderly Asian gave Jack a penetrating look. “Of course he may join us.”
Hideyoshi nodded his thanks, then looked aside at the repeater screen on his Command Bridge. “Glorious descendant of Amaterasu, may I ask that your Imperial Household burn incense at my parents’ cenotaph memorial in Osaka? I cannot do so. My duty to protect humanity prevents my visit to
Jack felt surprise at the words of a former Unity admiral. Hideyoshi had proven his personal loyalty to Jack time and time again. But to hear the man say what he said, in clear hearing of his crew, was a judgment he had not expected to hear. Publicly at least. He smiled his thanks. “The Unity is indeed a monster. It limits personal freedom, tries to demolish national heritages and claims the right to rule over all humans. It is also willing to violate any tenet of international law if it serves their survival. As it did when it used thermonukes against Mathilde.” Jack scanned the images of his other captains. “My friends, let us spend the next hour on the alert for mine fields, laser platforms and Hunter-Killer torps. While the civil leadership of the Unity is dead, its military hierarchy is still very alive. And very conservative. They will be the last to give up the Communitarian dogma!”
Elaine tapped at her lap panel. “Sensors say we are being scanned by multiple American air and land bases. No offensive actions. Yet.”
Jack sat in his Tech seat, locked his straps, put Old Roy on the floor and prepared to receive incoming messages from national leaders. Who would be first? Who would be last? And who would not call at all?
He doubted he would have long to wait.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nine minutes after his broadcast the first AV call came in.
“Captain Jack,” said Denise, her tone awed. “We have an incoming call from Emperor Hisahito of Japan! From him personally, not from an Imperial Household person.”
Wishing he could scratch his neck through the tough fabric of his vacsuit, Jack looked to the front screen’s motion-eye. “Put him through.”
A very old Asian man with white hair, thin face and sharp black eyes fixed on him. “You are Fleet Captain Jack Munroe of the Asteroid Belt?”
“I am.” Briefly he wondered at the energy of the ninety year old emperor.
The man who claimed a historical link to the first emperors of Japan more than two thousand years ago fixed on Jack. “The Empire of Japan today declares its independence from the Communitarian Unity. We have long felt uncomfortable over the Unity’s effort to enforce a uniformity upon peoples with unique heritages. Today we raised our national flag from Hokkaido south to Okinawa. Will you spare our space launch sites?”
Jack gave the man a slight bow. “Your imperial presence is appreciated. And your launch sites at Tanegashima and Kagoshima space centers will be left alone. Please assure that no Unity space vessel uses those sites.”
The man squinted. “Agreed. We have our own plans for those sites. It is time the land of Nihon put up its own space station. The Unity’s Tsiolkovsky Station has always been too crowded for my taste.”
He had not known the former boy emperor of Japan had ridden an H5 rocket to the Unity’s station. “Agreed. Let me extend an invitation to the Empire of Japan to send a delegation to Ceres Central for the establishment of diplomatic relations. Perhaps a crew of nihongin will join us in our future fights against Alien predators?”
The man’s expression grew intense. “Yes! This effort by Aliens to sully the lands and seas of Earth must be thrown back!”
One of his ship captains was waving at him. Ahhh . “Emperor Hisahito, may I invite Admiral Hideyoshi Minamoto of Mars to join our conversation? He commands our Mars fleet. And he has personally battled these Alien predators.”
The elderly Asian gave Jack a penetrating look. “Of course he may join us.”
Hideyoshi nodded his thanks, then looked aside at the repeater screen on his Command Bridge. “Glorious descendant of Amaterasu, may I ask that your Imperial Household burn incense at my parents’ cenotaph memorial in Osaka? I cannot do so. My duty to protect humanity prevents my visit to
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