The Wiggin Family Home, Greensboro, North Carolina, Sunday, 2171
Peter hadn't lied, strictly, when he'd told Topher he had homework to do. Sure, he wasn't entirely truthful about the meaning of 'homework' - that would have been stupid - but there were a few important things he had to do he'd been setting up for all last week.
Of course, his parents had insisted they stay at the Space Port Hotel last night, citing it was too late at night to drive back. That had meant sharing a hotel room with them, and thus having absolutely no time or space to work-- but now, back home, with his closed door walling him off from his parents (and his mother's mournful cleaning-out of Valentine's room), he could finally get around to one incredibly important mission.
The Battle School brats. They'd be released into the wild in a week. And it had all the hallmarks of becoming a disaster if they weren't careful.
He took a deep breath, and started typing.
To: Chamrajnagar%sacredriver@ifcom.gov
From: Locke%espinoza@polnet.gov
Subject: What are you doing to protect the children?
Dear Admiral Chamrajnagar,
I was given your idname by a mutual friend who once worked for you but now is a glorified dispatcher -- I'm sure you know whom I mean. I realize that your primary responsibility now is not so much military as logistical, and your thoughts are turned to space rather than the political situation on Earth. After all, you decisively defeated the nationalist forces led by your predecessor in the League War, and that issue seems settled. The IF remains independent and for that we are all grateful.
What no one seems to understand is that peace on Earth is merely a temporary illusion. Not only is Russia's long-pent expansionism still a driving force, but also many other nations have aggressive designs on their neighbors. The forces of the Strategos are being disbanded, the Hegemony is rapidly losing all authority, and Earth is poised on the edge of cataclysm.
The most powerful resource of any nation in the wars to come will be the children trained in Battle, Tactical, and Command School. While it is perfectly appropriate for these children to serve their native countries in future wars, it is inevitable that at least some nations that lack such IF-certified geniuses or who believe that rivals have more-gifted commanders will inevitably take preemptive action, either to secure that enemy resource for their own use or, in any event, to deny the enemy the use of that resource. In short, these children are in grave danger of being kidnapped or killed.
I recognize that you have a hands-off policy toward events on Earth, but it was the IF that identified these children and trained them, thus making them targets. Whatever happens to these children, the IF has ultimate responsibility. It would go a long way toward protecting them if you were to issue an order placing these children under Fleet protection, warning any nation or group attempting to harm or interfere with them that they would face swift and harsh military retribution. Far from regarding this as interference in Earthside affairs, most nations would welcome this action, and, for whatever it is worth, you would have my complete support in all public forums.
I hope you will act immediately. There is no time to waste.
Respectfully,
Locke
He sat back, clacked his tongue, and then opened up a communications window to one of his informants in the IF. After all this time, Topher's hacking work was still paying off...
[[ nfb due to distance. open to phone calls. email taken from Shadow of the Hegemon. The very first page, in fact. YAY, WE HAVE REACHED SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON. /nerd ]]
Of course, his parents had insisted they stay at the Space Port Hotel last night, citing it was too late at night to drive back. That had meant sharing a hotel room with them, and thus having absolutely no time or space to work-- but now, back home, with his closed door walling him off from his parents (and his mother's mournful cleaning-out of Valentine's room), he could finally get around to one incredibly important mission.
The Battle School brats. They'd be released into the wild in a week. And it had all the hallmarks of becoming a disaster if they weren't careful.
He took a deep breath, and started typing.
To: Chamrajnagar%sacredriver@ifcom.gov
From: Locke%espinoza@polnet.gov
Subject: What are you doing to protect the children?
Dear Admiral Chamrajnagar,
I was given your idname by a mutual friend who once worked for you but now is a glorified dispatcher -- I'm sure you know whom I mean. I realize that your primary responsibility now is not so much military as logistical, and your thoughts are turned to space rather than the political situation on Earth. After all, you decisively defeated the nationalist forces led by your predecessor in the League War, and that issue seems settled. The IF remains independent and for that we are all grateful.
What no one seems to understand is that peace on Earth is merely a temporary illusion. Not only is Russia's long-pent expansionism still a driving force, but also many other nations have aggressive designs on their neighbors. The forces of the Strategos are being disbanded, the Hegemony is rapidly losing all authority, and Earth is poised on the edge of cataclysm.
The most powerful resource of any nation in the wars to come will be the children trained in Battle, Tactical, and Command School. While it is perfectly appropriate for these children to serve their native countries in future wars, it is inevitable that at least some nations that lack such IF-certified geniuses or who believe that rivals have more-gifted commanders will inevitably take preemptive action, either to secure that enemy resource for their own use or, in any event, to deny the enemy the use of that resource. In short, these children are in grave danger of being kidnapped or killed.
I recognize that you have a hands-off policy toward events on Earth, but it was the IF that identified these children and trained them, thus making them targets. Whatever happens to these children, the IF has ultimate responsibility. It would go a long way toward protecting them if you were to issue an order placing these children under Fleet protection, warning any nation or group attempting to harm or interfere with them that they would face swift and harsh military retribution. Far from regarding this as interference in Earthside affairs, most nations would welcome this action, and, for whatever it is worth, you would have my complete support in all public forums.
I hope you will act immediately. There is no time to waste.
Respectfully,
Locke
He sat back, clacked his tongue, and then opened up a communications window to one of his informants in the IF. After all this time, Topher's hacking work was still paying off...
[[ nfb due to distance. open to phone calls. email taken from Shadow of the Hegemon. The very first page, in fact. YAY, WE HAVE REACHED SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON. /nerd ]]