Damage Control (Short Story)
Here's one I wrote as a direct response to the story I wrote yesterday, The Speaker. I can't get the idea out of my head, which is usually a good thing when sitting down to write a piece of fiction.
Ahren Carthen had been hearing news reports all month about something happening on New Hybris, but, he didn't know whether these stories were based on facts or whether they were unfounded lies, blown out of proportion to scare people and ensure that the media had a heavy dose of viewers, while they continued to cover the story. It was only when he received word of an emergency meeting, with other key members of state, that he started to think there may have been some validity to what was going on.
"An independence movement they are calling it, hah!" General Brom Rosek scoffed, as he was greeted with the information. "Independence? Why aren't they happy? Why would they feel the need for independence?" He continued, complaining from his seat near the head of the table. Everyone stayed silent until Zechial Maille looked up from the tabletop, to then let his eyes fall on each member in attendance. "I don't care why they aren't happy. I am only concerning myself with the implications, if this fire turns into an inferno we may not be able to extinguish it." He stopped talking to look around at everyone once more, this time the stress and confusion on his face seemed to blend into one emotion; hate. He stood up, shaking his head as he did, and stood with his back to everyone as he stared at the screen. The volume had been turned down, but, the writing was still there as the broadcaster spoke.
He raised a finger and pointed for a long moment. "I want this to stop." He whispered. One of his assistants raced for the controls and switched the screen off and he could only shake his head. "Not the screen. I want them to stop covering this story. Go, put the word out, release a statement."
Ahren cleared his throat, which attracted the attention of Zechial. He knew that wouldn't be a good idea. "Sir, if we tell the media to stop broadcasting the story, we could fan the flames." "Well, don't. Don't outright tell them to stop covering it, say we are waiting to hear all the facts, we're looking into it." Zechial said. "We're negotiating?" One of the assistants asked. "No! Don't tell them we're negotiating with them! A bunch of upstarts think that they can threaten to claim one of our worlds, and we negotiate with them? No, think of something, some reason, just go." He pointed to the door and with that the assistant ran, leaving the room and quickly shutting the door behind them.
"In saying that, we probably should organise some sort of negotiation with these people, an envoy. New Hybris will come back into the fold, we just need to find out what they want." Zechial said, continuing to stare at the closed door. Ahren was taken aback by that, as was everyone in the meeting, especially Brom Rosek. "Excuse me? With all due respect, we don't need to negotiate. It is our world, instead of an envoy, we need to send carriers. I could have those mobs dispersed in days, and a heavy dose of executions should be enough to quell any more dissidents." Zechial seemed to think about that idea for longer than Ahren felt comfortable with. "Maybe that is a bit extreme. Negotiations would be the best method, the only way to quell civil unrest is to give them no reason to be angry." He said.
"This could be bad, when I first brought this to the attention of everyone, the idea of it was laughed off with shrugs and jeers. But, no. I warned that this could happen." Zechial had a look on his face as if he had just swallowed venom. "Yes, Takach Laux, you have foreseen this. I will not have people basking in their own prophecies. We need action, ideas, suggestions, what we don't need is people expecting praise for something they said weeks ago." Zechial sounded fed up like he had heard enough, with a look on his face that said he needed to sleep. "I have to present the conclusion of our conversation here to the Director of Hybris, so please, can we continue."
The room was silent and everyone seemed as though they were afraid to speak, or perhaps they were lost for words. If there was one thing Ahren knew for sure, it was that this problem had almost gotten out of control and had to be resolved as soon as possible.
"If we send in armed forces, we could risk stirring this nest up even more. With them all whipped into a frenzy, who knows what could happen? I think Zechial is right, we need to negotiate, send an envoy, to sit down with the leaders of their movement, if any, and talk. Find out what they want, what they are willing to settle for. Put this to rest, then double the garrisons on the planet, as Brom Rosek said, he could have the protests stopped within days. But, we cannot execute anyone, until we have a force strong enough to withstand the first onslaught; the backlash to the first executions will be relentless." Ahren hadn't paid much attention to Artur Catlow, who was leaning back in his chair, as if he was watching some show. Zechial nodded to that and then leaned back, attempting to follow Artur's composure by the look of it.
"Demonstrators feel safe in their crowds, but, when facing a large military presence, they will surely lose their nerve. The negotiations will serve a secondary purpose of course. Our envoy will be presented with the leadership of this movement, and with that information, we will know who to focus on first. We may be able to persuade them to join our ranks and shed their previous allegiances, if not, well, they would serve no purpose other than a public execution, publicised and shown to all worlds in our dominion. We have to use a strong hand in these matters, total annihilation of any and all opposition. As was mentioned, this fire could turn into an inferno. If that fire was to spread to Tantulas. If we have two worlds rebelling at the same time, we could lose everything we have worked toward, and all of our desires and hopes for the future will be for nothing." Artur spoke slowly, coldly and with intent, his calming voice was enough to hold the attention of everyone in the meeting.
Ahren couldn't deny that there was a lot of weight to his words, and neither could anyone else in attendance. "How fast could you get a force mobilized?" Zechial asked Brom, who scratched at his chin. "A full-scale force? It could take a few weeks. Yes, I think within the next two weeks I could have seven capital ships ready to make the journey." He replied. "Good, start preparing them. Without the Jump Lane complete, it could take three weeks to arrive. Ahren, would you be willing to make the journey?" Ahren was shocked to be asked. "Me? I, I could, but." "When?" Zechial asked, this time he wore the face of a man with a mission. "I could be ready to leave within the next two days." Ahren didn't even have time to think, to prep, to plan, to make arrangements, surely two days would be enough time.
"I will see that you have a personal guard, who will escort you, I want you to head for New Hybris as soon as you are ready, I want negotiations held and I want you to be at the head of the table, I want names of each member and a daily report of everything you see, read, hear, everything. The military will arrive two weeks into your stay, until they arrive, you and those sent with you will be our eyes and ears." Zechial spoke like a man possessed; flustered and in a hurry to get the words out. "Artur?" Artur didn't have to answer, he just nodded, knowing that he was to be sent too. "I will report to the director of Hybris this evening and put her mind at rest, she will be grateful for having a plan in place to settle this situation." Zechial stood up, with him, everyone else in attendance joined him in standing.
The meeting was adjourned and Ahren had a lot of work to do before leaving, he had never visited New Hybris before, and all he could do was wish his first time being there wasn't under better circumstances.
Zechial was the first one to reach the doorway, before he opened it, he turned back to the room. "The extent of our meeting here does not leave this room." Nods of silent agreement followed his words.