Part 2 continued...
Back to the tablet: the man then showed me some more of the final phases of construction: the teams working at high pace. I found this more interesting that the tech realm and I had seen this before in the military: a war mission. It brings out the best in everyone and it makes schedules happen. Excuses disappear. Missions focus everyone involved. And here it is now building a Jupiter-bound spacecraft. Unreal.
I wanted to be part of whatever this was.
It’s almost like I knew something like this was going to happen, I knew that my skills would be used again. But how, how on God’s Green Earth could I ever expect to command anything other than “Cool Boy.” And to be honest I was at peace with that. In fact, a few weeks ago my greatest concern involved replacing a failing freshwater pump. I had settled into a routine that I found surprisingly enjoyable. Sail a little. Read a little. Work out. Drink coffee. Go shooting. Occasionally I’d convince myself I was retired.
Unfortunately life has never shown much interest in my plans. More importantly, EarthGov had no intention of leaving me alone.I knew they were coming eventually. The only question was when. The media attacks had failed to destroy my credibility. Too many people knew me personally. Too many former subordinates remained loyal. Too many citizens had listened to what I said and quietly agreed. That made me dangerous.
The precedent already existed. A three-star Army general had resigned six months before I did. Thirty days later he died in a fiery vehicle accident that investigators immediately declared unfortunate and unavoidable. I have it on good authority it was neither.
My fate would eventually be similar.
I considered resistance more than once. Through encrypted communications I remained in contact with many allies, both active and retired. We discussed possibilities. We examined scenarios. We designed theoretical paths toward meaningful reform. Like me, they understood the system was broken. Unlike the official messaging, freedom within EarthGov increasingly resembled a product being advertised rather than one actually delivered.
I knew that technology recovered from non-human craft existed and we’d had it for some time (I was to learn more about this later btw). Technology whose existence I had repeatedly questioned during my Pentagon assignments only to receive the same polished non-answer every single time. I'd seen hints. Strange budget lines. Restricted reports. Cryptic references buried inside larger programs…enough to know something existed. As I’ve written here I did think of mounting my own armed resistance with my many allies with whom I stay in contact with. In encrypted comms we’ve even designed possible actions to effect real and needed change in this country. Like me, they know the system is broken and that “freedom” in EG is just a farcical notion.
Then at the end of this man’s video briefing she said something that a chilled me to the bone:
“We are not just asking you to come along. You’re our leader.”
I stared in disbelief and took a moment to let it sink in. Brody the Wing Commander always ready to lead the boys, now nearly knocked off his feet by the offer to lead an off-world space colony.
It seemed like 5 minutes but it was probably 20 seconds. I knew this team was serious and she looked it. They were offering me the CIC position, Commander in Chief of what they are calling the “Europa Break.”
They explained that I would give my life for this effort and I would have to sign a “mission oath” agreeing to these terms. Moreover all the people I would command would also do the same. None of us would ever return to Earth…it would be a one way trip. We could not say goodbye or talk to anyone about this information, under pain of death they said.
Then Reese drove the offer home in more real terms. “We we are asking of you is to give your life for this mission. You will leave Earth and never come back. All crew will eventually die in service to the mission. You will be tasked with training the Stella Captains, reaching Europa, establishing habitats and manufacturing on Europa
In fact, until launch “window,” all of us would be at extreme risk by EG interdiction, punishment, and even execution if caught.
“You have two minutes to give your answer.” Reese delivered the statement with a sense of inevitability.
In movies they create dramatic tension with the main lead always refusing like offers. You see our hero always saying “No way!” and then in a string of constant convincing, plot developments, the urging of supporting characters, our hero acquiesces and agrees in the end. That makes for a fun movie but this is real life. And in this journal only truth can reside here.
I agreed immediately.
He accepts
Then she said something that again made me laugh: “We knew you would.” Those bastards. Part of me resented how much they knew about me and how predictable I was to them. Another part of me understood they had no choice. If you're recruiting leadership for the largest unauthorized undertaking in human history, you probably do your homework. And I was to learn another of this Council’s talents: to find the perfect person for the mission. I had seen this at In N Out Burger but it’s never happened to me personally. To whit: the very “secret message” deliverer that stood before me right now.
A more unlikely person I could not imagine.
“What if I had said no?” At this point Nakita stepped forward and revealed a suppressed Glock 19…also what appeared to be very thin ballistic armor.
“She’s being dramatic. She does that. In reality we’d also offer a MW or memory wipe. Effective but would knock you out for about 20 hours. The other alternative…well it’s that.” She nodded to her cohort and then showed her own weapon: a Glock 48, also suppressed.
“Got an extra?” I quipped.
“No but I got some Mace if you need it.”
Yep, just like Mounds.
Then she handed me two encrypted communication devices unlike anything I'd ever seen before and informed me she would contact me within twenty-four hours. And then she just walked away. No dramatic farewell, no thank you, no secret handshake, no coded phrase. They had confidence in their technology I thought. Been there.
As they departed Reese then spun around and said:
“Oh and by the way, you didn’t have a year before they got you…try about another 30 days. You’d be dead by then. We have solid intel on this.
Suddenly I didn’t feel so brave for saying yes.
I stood there for several minutes processing this fantastical event, contemplating the technology, if it was real, and in particular why they would choose me.
In the Ocean Again
To make any of this possible, I had to disappear.
And do so without raising suspicion or activating detailed searches. And there could be no body. And all this had to be believable and in line with my life. The answer was docked at the marina and had been for years: “Cool Boy.” I imagine all of their recruited members somehow, someway will vanish from society. But I bet few would have such a dramatic and dangerous disappearance offered to them.
I was to be rescued by a Mini Submarine, of unknown origin, at pre-specified and EXACT coordinates. I would be “seen” drinking on my solo voyage to the Farallon Islands on a mostly good weather day. I would appear to be drunk and simply fall overboard, without a vest. Anyone who knew me would know this one point would be out of character for me. I always hooked up to CB went out of the Gate and often wore an immersion suit AND a survival vest. Once military, always military I guess.
An easy fix said my contacts. Stop wearing that shit, go out at least 4 times to be seen in nothing more than casual sailing clothing, topsides with a Hawaiian shirt….nothing else. This was done. And that was the exact clothing I had on when I jumped. Knowing the water temperature and understanding the onset of hypothermia out here, we get back to my assertion of terror on my leap of faith.
This theater was made necessary due to EGB surveillance placed upon me after resignation. EC told me that they were personally tracking my every move. Drones, cameras, pattern analysis, and satellite tasking were being used not to gather intelligence but to determine the most advantageous moment to eliminate me. This wasn’t for the purposes of intelligence gathering; they were just learning of my routine and figuring out the best way to kill me. I was an opinion leader with a sympathetic audience and that they will not tolerate. EC therefore probably saved me life with their offer…ironic.
The water was frigid. I've jumped out of aircraft, ejected from one, flown combat missions over countries whose names most Americans couldn't find on a map, and once ate gas station sushi in Nevada because I was feeling adventurous and apparently suicidal. But none of those experiences prepared me for voluntarily stepping off a perfectly good sailboat thirty miles west of San Francisco. With no vest, no fins, no wetsuit, and no capability to reenter my boat, I was committed. Significant shrinkage. I have never felt so alone.
I did have their comm device, called an Encrypted Regenerative Tracker or ERT, on my person…concealed of course. I had used it to confirm the sub was on station. I received a prompt reply that it was. Exactly at my position they had confirmed. My life depended upon it.
So here Brody was floating in the middle of the fucking Pacific Ocean in a Hawaiian shirt, right in Great White Shark hunting grounds, and I was getting cool. Within 60 seconds Cool Boy was over 100 yards from me. There was no going back: either I died right there and then or I started my new life as an off-earth Space Commander. I again laughed out loud to myself there in the ocean thinking of the ridiculousness of my situation.
BREAK
Pickup
As instructed, I alternated between swimming and periodically disappearing beneath the surface. To any observer it would appear I was panicking. An intoxicated sailor making progressively worse decisions. While doing my intermittent bobbing, about 5 minutes in (seemed like an hour) I felt a double tap on my calf, then on the other. This was the pre-coordinated signal. It was the rescue swimmers deployed for me. They did not surface. I had a wave of relief come over me. Sorry sharks you’re going to have to wait.
Giving me a mini DRAEGER, fins, and a mask we then dove 10 feet into the waiting submarine. It was an amazing craft: about 40 feet in length, black and dark grey dapple camouflage, a smelling conning tower, no propellers of any kind visible, a rounded ballistic nose, and what appeared to be retractable deck gun in a retractable housing. Impressed. The diver took us underneath into the entry of this craft. And now I’m here.
I am now in a small but comfortable crew quarters as we are traveling to destination. I’ve warmed up with the hot cider and wheat toast they gave me. I am now wearing a bright blue jumpsuit. Its arm patch says “Europa Break” and “Saving Humanity.” At first that seemed rather pedestrian to me but then I thought about it: yes that’s exactly what we are doing. The front patch says “Gen Brody Orion” “Commander in Chief” The had these patches already made and a flight suit in my exact size…all ready for me. Their confidence that I’d say “yes” emerges again.
There are 9 people aboard including me: 1 Captain, 1 First Officer, 2 First Mates/Combat Specialists, 1 Engineer, 1 Comms/Nav Specialist, and 2 Combat Rescue Swimmers. We feel confident my disappearance is “clean” and EG will not pursue further answers. They will probably consider the matter closed and welcome the effort I’ve saved them.
I have not been told where we are going and honestly I don’t care; it’s nice to let others make the decisions for a change. I am told the travel time will be 30 hours. I was issued this tablet on which I write and, knowing that I journaled, was allowed to do so (albeit encrypted for now). I feel an edge of both excitement and dread for what’s coming…I’ll write about that later.
I thought of my Cool Boy sailboat drifting alone up there, never to see his owner again. The boat carried me through some difficult years. Through my resignation. Through my anger. Through my uncertainty. He gave me refuge and was a friend. I never properly said goodbye. That boat represented peace, and protection in some weird way. Losing that brief moment in my life hurts. That and my kids. Never seeing them again, never seeing my grand children, never even having a chance to say goodbye.
Then a wave of sadness swept over me.