CHAPTER EIGHT

President Butu was sitting in the cabinet conference room. She was surrounded by several staff members and a couple of Earth Security commanders. A few hours ago, Earth Security reported what appeared to be an exodus of TERRA personnel leaving the planet. It was twenty-four hours after Butu was re-elected as president when TERRA officers began departing Earth. With the elections now over, she was resolved on finally reigning TERRA in and making the council answer for their actions.

Commander Merrit, who had been listening to the chatter of his officers over his ear piece, spoke up. “Madam President, we finally have confirmation that TERRA has ordered all their people off Earth. They’re abandoning their installations here and heading to Luna and Mars.”

“No coincidence that they’re leaving after I won reelection,” remarked Butu. She and her administration were aware that TERRA had conducted a propaganda campaign against her on Luna and Mars. The citizens on both those worlds overwhelmingly voted against her. Luckily, Earth still comprised the majority of the human population and the residents here supported her, ensuring her victory.

Charles, her chief-of-staff, spoke up. “Madame President, there’s a transmission coming in from Luna. It’s Admiral Donalds.” After two years of refusing to speak with the president, Donalds was finally granting her an audience.

“Put it through.” Butu was a little surprised to be hearing from the admiral now. She activated the terminal in front of her. The display flickered and there she saw Admiral Donalds. “Admiral, what’s the purpose of you contacting me now?”

“To tell you to not interfere with TERRA’s evacuation of Earth.” Donalds was blunt and not wasting any time. “If Earth Security tries to stop us, we will respond.”

Butu wasn’t surprised by his brazen attitude. “Enough, admiral. You have overstepped your bounds. I’m ordering you and the council to resign your positions and submit yourselves to government jurisdiction. Earth Security will assume control of TERRA.”

“I’m not taking any orders from you,” replied Donalds.

“I’m your commander-in-chief…”

Donalds cut her off. “TERRA doesn’t recognize your authority. You think my officers will listen to you? They know we’re the only ones who’ll protect humanity from the Screen. It’s you who will submit to us.”

“Or what?” asked Butu. “You’ll initiate a coup? I can’t believe that the men and women in TERRA would consider such a thing. But if they did, don’t forget we’ve spent the past year building up Earth Security, many of them from your academy. They will fight to protect this government. All you’ll accomplish is civil war. Is that what you want? To weaken humanity for the Screen to swoop in?”

Donalds didn’t immediately reply as he considered her words carefully. She had already threatened to fire upon TERRA personnel during the Bolivia incident.

Butu waited for Donalds response but never got one as he terminated the transmission.

“What do you want to do?” asked Charles.

“I won’t antagonize him and risk him doing something stupid,” said Butu. “Commander Merrit, instruct your men not to interfere with TERRA’s withdrawal.”

The commander nodded as he continued getting information from his field officers. “Madame President, we’re getting an anonymous message on a covert TERRA channel. The message is requesting a team to converge on a set of coordinates.” Merrit checked his DAT for the location. “The coordinates is a location of a suspected secret TERRA facility.”

“Why would someone from TERRA make such a request?” asked one of the president’s advisers.

“We don’t know if it’s coming from TERRA. It could be someone using their links,” explained Merrit. “I’d like to send a small strike team to investigate.”

“It could be a trap,” cautioned Charles.

“If it is, TERRA would only create a catalyst to plunge us into civil war,” said another advisor.

Butu nodded in agreement. “I’ll let you make the call, commander.”

“I’ll have my team ready to go in ten minutes,” replied Merrit.

********

Billy and David were sitting in their cell. Neither had any idea how long they been there as no one told them the day or time. About an hour ago they watched as guards and personnel began rushing back and forth in the corridor. Bots walked or rolled by carrying boxes.

“What’s going on?” David asked his friend.

“Don’t know,” replied Billy. Since being arrested both officers had been interrogated extensively by security. David was certain his father would come and bail them out but Admiral Block never showed up. Neither were allowed to contact any friends or family.

For fifteen minutes they watched as officers passed their cell. Soon the foot traffic ceased and there was silence.

“What the hell’s going on?” asked David but Billy was just as confused.

Suddenly, they heard a door open in the detention center. “Clear,” they heard someone. Moments later two Earth Security officers appear. They pointed their weapons at Billy and David. Both instinctively raised their hands.

“Don’t shoot!” pleaded David. One of the officers held up a device and scanned them.

“David Block and Billy Pedia,” announced the soldier. TERRA never announced their capture or made public that they were the ones who were distributing PHOENIX’s transmissions for fear of creating a resurgence in the PHOENIX movement. But Earth Security learned through their intelligence that the boys were responsible.

“Yes,” confirmed Billy. One of the officers fired on their cell’s lock control, terminating the energy field.

“We’re with Earth Security,” explained the soldier. “Come with us. We’ll take you to safety.”

“What’s going on?” asked David. “Where’d the TERRA officers go?”

“They’re abandoning Earth,” revealed the soldier. “You’ll be apprised of all developments later. We need to go now.”

Billy and David were not about to debate the issue further. They were glad to be free. They followed their rescuers out of the detention center.

Outside, someone stood at the edge of the nearby forest and watched as Earth Security evacuated the detention center. Admiral Vespia smiled. Her plan was moving right along.