Commandant (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 8) (26 page)

He followed that with the authorization code given to him by the AI.  This code would clear his message as authentic.

Above Ryck, the machine gun chattered away.

Shit!  What’s wrong?

He started to give the order again when the firing above petered out.  Silence took over.

He caught the former chairman’s eyes.  There was resignation in them and more than a little anger. 

“Gunnery Sergeant, please have the former chairman escorted to his quarters.  Ensure that no harm is done to him or his family.  And get a corpsman to ziplock the first minister.”

Ryck didn’t care one way or the other whether the first minister was resurrected or not.  He was too numb at the moment, but he knew he was under the spotlight, and benevolence might go a long way in calming the high officials for the short term and until they started plotting against him.

Ryck should have been feeling elation, joy, pride—something.  The battle was won, against all odds.  But he knew the war wasn’t.  One-and-a-half fleets were still out there, fleets loyal to the old chairman.  There were hundreds of thousands of FCDC troops just on Earth, and while Ryck may have stayed their hands for the moment, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t raise them again.  If the Navy or the FCDC decided to fight, then the war had just begun.

Chapter 43

The loyalist military and FCDC didn’t fight it, though.  Maybe it was because fighting the transfer of power meant it had lost the war if not all the battles.  Maybe it was because the letter of the law was clear, even if it was enacted under duress.  Maybe it was because Ryck promised no one would be charged with war crimes, and no one would be dismissed from the service.  Maybe it was because they understood the will of the people.

And the will of the people was pretty clear.  Survey after survey showed that, with numbers running as high as 80% in some planets that the former government had to go.  Most local governments had not openly declared for the evolutionaries with the shadow of the loyalist Navy hanging over them, but what many forgot was that the Navy was made up of the same people, and the individual sailor’s leanings were not much different from that of the population at large.

Twenty-two ships declared their defiance of the “illegal transfer of power” and fled Federation space.  As long as they didn’t carry on the fight, Ryck was happy to let them go.  Some independent world would undoubtedly welcome them—and the ships, as those 22 now constituted the 8
th
largest human navy.

The promise of no prosecution for military personnel was a tough one for Ryck to swallow, but it had been necessary.  No one, not even Commander Xhosa of the
Kravitch
, who had been willing to follow Admiral Kurae’s order to drop the planet buster on Ellison, would face charges.  The Federation was in disarray and needed its Navy, and history was pretty clear that when defeated armies were discharged en masse, trouble was always the result.  For the good of the Federation, Ryck had to let go of his personal desire for retribution.

The next three weeks were non-stop work with Ryck consolidating his hold on power and getting ready for the future.  Even Hannah’s arrival, which was deemed vital by the newly elevated Zeke
Montero, didn’t do much to calm Ryck down.  He was grateful for her presence beside him in appearance after appearance, but he felt the weight of the Federation on his shoulders, getting heavier and heavier by the minute.

The members of the CAG quickly made their way to Brussels, ready to start taking over the responsibility of actually running the Federation, something Ryck was anxious to let them do.  He was a warrior, a fighter, but not a bureaucrat.

To his welcomed surprised, the CAG had already worked out an outline for a new Federation after they had prevailed.  Ryck had been so involved with the military aspects of the fight since his escape that he’d neglected his duties as chairman, but the members of the CAG had kept working.

While the provisional government had already done so, the Federation Charter was to be officially amended, first abolishing the restrictions placed on women by the Fourth Amendment, and then with the Sixteenth Amendment, strengthening the protection of civil liberties for all citizens, no matter their gender, race, creed, or nationality—or species.  With the Trinoculars and Klethos now known, the door was being opened to them or any other species yet to be discovered.

Ryck thought that last was a little pie-in-the-sky, but it did set the tone for a new, accepting Federation where equality and freedom were paramount.

The new Council would be set to nine individuals:  representatives being appointed from the military (alternating between the Navy and the Marines), FCDC, and the Bureaucratic Corps and five members being elected from the population at large.  The ninth member would be the chairman, who would be elevated from within the Council by the other members and who would vote only to break a tie.

An interim council was put in place with the four surviving members of the CAG along with a fifth member who had not yet been appointed, a military member (the Chief of Naval Operations, which Ryck initially wanted to fight and put in Liam Hanata, but finally relented), the FDCD Commander, and the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs.  Ryck kept the position of chairman.  This council would serve for one year before a permanent council would be formed and sworn in.

Already Ryck could see the political game being played as new council members and others aspiring for the permanent council started to maneuver to position themselves for the future. Ryck had naively hoped that the Machiavellian political game of thrones would somehow disappear, but he realized it was probably something embedded within the human DNA.

Three days after the formal transfer of power, and two days after the chairman and his entourage (which had turned out to be much smaller than anticipated) had started their exile, martial law had been lifted.  Goods started to immediately flow, with the Confederation taking advantage of its favored nation status.  Ryck was grateful for the Confederation’s help, but he wasn’t about to let the Federation become subservient to the smaller alliance.  He quickly offered all alliances, planets, nations, and registered trade groups a six month holiday from tariffs and duties.  If he informed the Juliette Group of this a few days before the general release, well, that was just a “bureaucratic slip-up.”

Additionally, if Propitious Interstellar received a number of new contracts, displacing IGA Corp, well, that was because the interim council had to act quickly to get the Federation back on its feet.  That was what was being told in response to inquiries from reporters, at least.

After a whirlwind three weeks of nonstop work, and after a long night discussing the situation with Hannah, Ryck was ready for the next step.  He summoned the other members of the interim council to the Government Building’s knave, where he had the Charter Table set up.  The original Federation Charter had been signed on the table, and Ryck knew its significance.  The old table simply reeked of gravitas.

Ryck looked out at the other eight members of the interim council.  Arrayed behind those worthies were various staff members and representatives of various branches of the government and three news teams who were recording everything.  He surreptitiously reached one hand behind him, which Hannah took and squeezed, giving him her support.

“Citizens of the United Federation, we have just gone through a difficult period, probably the most difficult in our history since the signing of the Charter.  During this schism, we were split into ‘loyalists’ and ‘evolutionaries.’  But neither term was appropriate.  We all were loyalists, loyal to what we perceived to be the very basis upon which our great Federation was founded.  And the Federation has always been evolving, trying to improve itself.  Unfortunately, the difference in which way we wanted our federation to mature caused a temporary schism, a temporary split, which to our mutual horror, led to bloodshed.  That is behind us now, and we can’t let that interfere with the way forward.  We must, I repeat must, forgive.  Not forget those who gave their lives for a cause, but forgive.

“When I agreed to serve as the co-chairman of the provisional government, it was with the understanding that it was to be a temporary measure.  We are a federation of a broad and diverse population, a population of many strengths and capabilities.  One small part of the United Federation is its Navy, its Marine Corps, and its FCDC, second to none not only within human space but within the known universe.  And I have been proud to serve as a Marine for the past 38 years.

“But I feel that the military, as vital as it is, should not
be
the government.  It should serve the people, not issue orders.  Over the last 300 or so years, the military has slowly increased its hold on power.  I believe this has been with all the best intentions, but as I have learned, the skills learned on the battlefield do not necessarily translate into running a federation the size and complexity of ours.

“I only answered the call of the office because it was my duty.  I did not lead the provisional government in order to seize power for myself.  Consequently, I will be signing over a new transfer of power, naming Michiko MacCailín as your new chairman.”

The surprised expressions facing him warmed his heart.  They hadn’t seen this coming.  After staring at Ryck in disbelief, the council members immediately started covert glances at the others standing around them. Only Michiko kept her eyes locked on Ryck’s.

If the others think they can elbow her out of the way,
he thought,
or marginalize her, I think they’ll have a tougher time than they’d imagined
.

“In front of me, I have the transfer of power.  Chief Justice, will you please examine it?”

There was a glint in Justice Goldman’s eye as he picked it up.  It was no secret that the man was terribly upset with the change in government, and Ryck knew the old man thought Ryck’s resignation could only help the old loyalist cause.  Ryck also knew the old man was wrong.  Michiko was far more politically savvy than Ryck could ever hope to be.

The chief justice made a show of examining the document, undoubtedly conscious of the holocams, if the way he twisted himself so they could pick up his profile was any indication.

“I find this document to be legal and valid,” he said in a dramatically stentorian voice.

“Very well.  Councilman MacCailín, if you would come here?”

Ryck had previously asked her what her title should be:  councilwoman or councilman.  She had immediately said councilman, stressing that equality is also shaped by language.

Michiko approached the table, then took the transfer of power from the justice and read it over before placing it back on the table before Ryck.

“Will you accept this transfer?” Ryck asked.

“I will.”

With nothing else left to be said, Ryck took the stylus, and without hesitation, signed his name.  He stared at the sensor until it flashed green, accepting his retinal scan.  He pushed the document and the stylus to Michiko who signed it and recorded her scan as well.

Ryck felt a huge surge of relief.  It was done.

“Chief Justice, if you will administer the oath?” Ryck asked, even if he no longer had the authority to do so.

Ryck could see the man was happy to be in the spotlight, and his stage presence took over.

“Use this one,” Ryck said, handing a small card to the justice.

Justice Goldman glanced at the card, then looked back up at Ryck confused.

“Just use it,” Ryck assured him.

The chief justice nodded, then cleared his throat.

“Raise your right hand,” he told Michiko, “and repeat after me.”

“I, Michiko MacCailín,” he started, stumbling over her first name.

“I, Michiko MacCailín,” she repeated.

Do solemnly swear to be a servant to the United Federation of Nations and her citizens.  I will defend the Federation from all her enemies.  I will defend the rights of the citizens, ensuring freedom and liberty for all without exception.  I swear this with the last breath of my body and with every cell of my being.  So help me God.

Every other office in the Federation had a long and much more formal oath of office.  The new chairman’s though, put together two nights ago by Ryck and Hannah and signed into law only this morning, was far more direct and to the point.  The chairman was the servant of the people, the protector of the people, not a tyrant.  Ryck felt the powers of the simple words as he listened to Michiko.  Or Chairman MacCailín now.  He was confident that she would abide by that oath.

Ryck stepped back, taking Hannah’s hand in his.

Go with God, Michiko.  Go with God
, he prayed.

Chapter 44

“Are you sure about this?” the new Chairman of the United Federation of Nations asked two hours later after Ryck had briefed her on what he could after his own short stint as the chairman of all the Federation.

“Yes, ma’am,” Ryck answered easily.

“And you, too?” she asked Hannah.

“Hannah took Ryck’s hand in hers and said, “Yes, we be in this together.  We made our vows to each other for eternity, and this, well, this will just be the next step for us.”

“It just doesn’t seem right,” Michiko said, more to herself than to the other two.  “Look, I was surprised that you transferred the chairmanship to me.  Oh, I knew your heart wasn’t in it, and I hoped someday to fill the position, but now?”

“I told you, I did it for the Federation.  Yes, my heart wasn’t in the position.  But I’ve done many things in my career for which my heart wasn’t in it.  But I was a liability as chairman, waiting for things to boil over.”

“But you never really explained that.”

“I am an oathbreaker.  People can never truly trust an oathbreaker.”

“But it was for a good cause.  You saved a planet.”

“That doesn’t eliminate the fact that I broke my oath.  Sandy said I should have stayed and faced the consequences of my actions.”

“Yes, your friend, Sandy, Pe-Pel—”

“Sandy Peltier-Aswad.  He didn’t break his oath.”

And I killed him for that, with my bare hands.

“But if you had turned yourself in, what would that have accomplished?”

“It would have kept 30,000 civilians on
Prometheus Station
alive.  It would have kept 11,000 civilians alive on Watershed.  It would have kept untold numbers of sailors, troopers, and Marines alive.”

And Ben!

Hannah’s squeezed Ryck’s hand tight, and he knew she was thinking the same thing.

“But now we’re free.  In the long run, you have saved lives, not just those from Ellison.”

“Maybe.  That will be up to you and those who follow you.  I hope you’re up to the task.”

“You could have led the way, you know. There is time for me later,” Michiko said, seeming sincere to Ryck, not just a politician making nice.

“No, I couldn’t.  Before too long, people would remember the 11,000 on Watershed.  They would remember how I coldly killed the first minister just to cow the old chairman.”

“He’s in regen,” Michiko countered.

“But I did it.  And those who are now serving would wonder when I’ll kill them the same way.  No, it’s best like this.  You are relatively untouched, and this gives you a clean slate.”

“And there’s another thing, Chairman,” Ryck said, his voice quieter and more introspective.  “I said my heart wasn’t in it.  That’s somewhat of a lie.  Oh, my heart wasn’t in the day-to-day running of the Federation.  But, I’ve gotten use to the power, and it has already started to fill my heart, to change me.  If—I mean when—the people started to remember the deaths, remember that I’m an oathbreaker, would I be tempted to use my power to crush any resistance to my hold on the office?”  He reached out and Hannah took his hand.  “I think I’d be able to refrain, but as they say, ‘power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.’  As a Marine, I tend to see things as right or wrong, black or white, and I wouldn’t want to be tempted.  No, I’d rather step out now before that happens.”

“And what makes you think I’ll be any better?” the chairman asked.

“Because I think you can handle it better.  And I, well we,” he said as Hannah took a step forward to stand beside him, “trust you.”

The chairman looked at Ryck for a long moment as she contemplated him.

“I appreciate that,” she finally said.  “But in all candor, while I don’t think I’ll be consumed by the power, we won’t know for sure, now, will we?  Until I’m faced with a situation.

“But this plan of yours, why?  You could go back to Tarawa and stay on as commandant.  You could even retire and go back to Prophesy.  Why so drastic an action?”

“Because if I’m around, as commandant, or even as a gentleman farmer back home,” he said, “I’ll be a weight around your neck, a shadow that reminds people of what we had to do.  You’ll suffer for it.  It will be better if we’re just memories.”

“But this?  I can’t in all good conscience let you do it.”

“It’s not your choice,” Hannah said.  “It’s our choice, and we lost our own flesh and blood to ensure we have the freedom to do what we want.  We told you simply as a matter of courtesy.  You may be the chairman, but you do not have a vote in the matter.”

“But you, too?  Why?” Michiko asked Hannah.

“Do you really think I can live without Ryck, growing old in an empty home?” Hannah asked.

“But you still have two children.  Don’t you want to see your future grandchildren?”

Hannah’s voice got steely cold.  “And that be none of your business.  Until you marry someone, until you fall in love with someone, do not presume to understand.”

The chairman blanched under Hannah’s glare.  “Apologies.  I do not mean to presume.  And if this is your choice, yes I believe you have sacrificed enough to earn that right.  I will clear the ship for arrival and arrange for transport to the spaceport.  If there is anything else you need, please let me know.”

She stood up to leave, then hesitated.  “General, I hated you once.  But you still saved my life, and I am indebted to you.  And I know you have saved so many more, and at a very steep cost.  I am a free woman because of you, and I intend to use my freedom—and the position you have ceded to me—to make sure you are properly honored.  Thank you.”

The Chairman of the United Federation stepped up to Ryck and hugged him, long and hard.  She finally let him go, then spun around and walked out the door where her staff was already clamoring for her attention.

Four hours later, Hannah and Ryck were waiting in the government VIP lounge at Brussel-Zaventem.  Their ship was in its final approach. Ryck reached out and grabbed Hannah’s hand.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked her.

“If you be asking me if I want this, then no.  But do we have to do this?  For the good of the Federation, then yes.”

“But the sacrifice.”

“It be far less of a sacrifice than that of all those who died, Ryck.”

“Like Ben?”

“Yes, like Ben.  Do you want to waste that, Ryck?  Do you want all of what we’ve done to collapse?”

“No, of course not.  But what about the twins?”

“They’re old enough, Ryck.  They’re adults now, and they have their lives to live.  They’ll be fine.”

“You don’t have to do this, you know?”

“What I told the chairman was true, Ryck.  I can’t go through the rest of my life without you.  I’d rather spend every remaining moment I have at your side.”

Ryck had expected that answer, but he’d had to ask.  He had to be sure she was going through with this willingly.

The two sat in silence, lost in their thoughts.  Ryck had almost forgotten what it had been like when he was not a Marine.  His mother dying, then his brokenhearted father dying—killing himself, Ryck was sure, so his kids could get the insurance money. Myke leaving Lysa and him, his intention of joining the Navy, but ending up a Marine with Joshua—and how Joshua led him to the love of his life. He looked over at Hannah, realizing how lucky he’d been in love.

As a Marine, he’d lost so many friends.  Joshua, Donte, Hecs, Bert.  He’d killed so many men, two with his bare hands:  Coltrain Meyers and Sandy.  There was an immediacy to that which would never fade.  He could feel their blood on his hands even now, and Coltrain sometimes came to visit him in his dreams. 

Ryck had lived a full life, but one he was now willingly leaving.

He startled when Çağlar opened the door to the lounge and said, “It’s time, sir.”

“Well, I guess this is it,” Ryck said, standing up and offering a hand to his wife.  “Let’s get this over with.”

Çağlar led them outside to where a small hovercart waited.  He offered them the back bench seat before slipping in beside the spaceport driver.  In silence, they rode to where a stubby yacht was fueled and ready for launch. 

“Wait here,” Çağlar told the driver as he led Hannah and Ryck to the small lift.  It was crowded with all three, but it was only ten meters to the lock.  Çağlar entered the code; the lock opened, and he led the way inside.

The yacht was not a luxury model.  It was a workhorse with signs of hard use.  Çağlar showed Ryck the controls, not that Ryck would be flying it.  The yacht was self-navigating.

“Sorry that the fabricator isn’t working,” Çağlar said, pointing at the small unit.

“Well, it’s not like we’re going to be using it,” Ryck said with a forced laugh.

“Is that the—” Ryck asked, pointing to a large switch, obviously just added to the yacht.

“Yes, sir.  Just flip to red, and it’s activated. 

“Sir, are you sure about this?” the big Marine started.

“We’ve gone over this.  This is the way it has to be,” Ryck assured his friend. 

A few tears began to roll down the gunny’s eyes.  Ryck stepped up and pulled Çağlar down to his level and hugged him. 

“You’ve been a good friend, Hans, and I love you from the bottom of my heart.  Fair winds and following seas, my friend.”

“I love you, too, sir.  I’ve been honored to serve with you.”

Çağlar broke the hug and stood up, almost hitting his head on an overhead bin.  Hannah reached up and took him by the color, pulling him down and kissing his cheek.

“Thank you for watching over my Ryck all these years.  You’ve been like a son to him, but you were his guardian angel as far as I be concerned.”

Gunnery Sergeant Hans Çağlar stood staring at the two for a moment, his mouth working, but nothing coming out.  He suddenly wheeled about and stumbled to the hatch. A moment later, and he was gone.  They were alone.

Traffic control would launch the yacht, and then the ship’s AI would take over to get it out of Earth’s orbit, so the two strapped into adjoining seats.

“Flight 20ZD75, please prepare for take-off,” the spaceport’s AI informed them.

Ryck’s hand reached over to take Hannah’s in his.  They sat there in silence, holding hands, as the countdown commenced.

“I love you,” Ryck said as the ship rumbled to life.

Forty-five minutes later, out beyond the orbit of the moon, a bright light flared in a brilliant flash before disappearing.

Fifteen minutes after that, the government issued a news release that General Ryck Lysander, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and his wife, Hannah Hope-of-Life Lysander, were killed when the yacht taking them back to Tarawa exploded.  An investigation would be conducted to discover the cause.