"As all members are now present, I declare that the Computer Council is now in formal session," said the computer brain Dr. Helix as silence descended over the dark council chamber.
I almost wish the Council was filled with trouble-making egomaniacal humans, like it was in my time, Buck sighed to himself. At the very least, people like that wouldn't hesitate to put forth diff-erent ideas.
"My colleagues," Helix began, "As you have no doubt seen in the summary report provided to you by Captain Rogers, we face a difficult situation on our planet that does not resemble one that any of us anticipated. The dominance of Anarchia by a non-human species."
"All the pertinent data has been downloaded into our data banks, Dr. Helix," Dr. Seraphim, the second computer brain from the left spoke up. "And it clearly defies logic. An intelligent race of...apes?"
"Yes, Dr. Seraphim. Apes. By far the most brutal species of animal life that existed on pre-Holocaust Earth. So brutal that no thought was ever given to taking any into our Zoological Center as a means of perpe-tuating the species in our society. And yet, we face the fact that if we are to go ahead with our long-standing goal of resettling Anarchia, we will have to deal somehow with this simian society."
"Dr. Helix," Dr. Brava, another computer councilman, jumped in, "I can safely assure you that we would support any military action needed to secure Anarchia for resettlement. And I think that goes forour population, does it not?" he scanned the rest of the computer brains seated around the table.
Some murmurings of assent went up from the majority of the members.
"We may as well dispense with all other formalities, Dr. Helix," Seraphim went on, "If you wish to place a motion before us authorizing military action against this hostile non-human presence, I shall im- mediately second it and we can go to the vote."
"Wait!" Buck jumped out of his seat. His thoughts drifted back to the time he'd spent with Zira and Cornelius. Had they really tried to hurt him? And what about Zira's nephew Lucius, who was more inter-ested in playing poker than in debating the superiority of simians over humans? Should they be punished for the fanaticism of Ursus and Zaius?
Buck approched the table where the computer councilmen rested. "Let's not be hasty here, fellas."
Suddenly, Buck Rogers found himself bathed in a sea of red light from the "angry faces" of the computer councilmen. God, I hope they find Theo soon, he thought. Maybe he can talk some sense into these tinheads.
"Captain Rogers, with all due respect, does any other viable option confront us?" Dr. Seraphim's sardonic tone remained unaltered. "We know enough of this simian society to realize that they are a total menace toward our ability to reclaim Anarchia."
"But is a sudden sneak attack justified under the circum-stances?" Buck committed himself, "Don't we at least owe this society the chance of some direct contact so we can fully gauge their inten-tions?"
"Their intentions seem self-evident, Rogers," Brava jumped back
in. "Your testimony was quite explicit as to their brutality toward humans."
"I'm not arguing with that, Dr. Brava," Buck said, determined not to show up any potential foes on the Computer Council. "I'll gladly take part in any decisive military action if it becomes clear that the apes aren't willing to talk to us and realize that they can survive by changing their ways and living with us in peace."
"It is a possibility to consider, Dr. Brava," Dr. Joscasta, one of the few computer brains on the Council with a female personality, decided to speak up, "Clearly, this simian society does not pose a direct threat to our own in that they are utterly primitive and in-ferior by our standards. Time therefore, is a luxury we can afford."
"Frankly, Dr. Jocasta, it is not a luxury we can afford as far as making a decision on whether Anarchia remains viable for immediate resettlement," Brava said, "The humans are anxious to finally be set free from this plastic prison they have been crowded inside for four-hundred years. The sooner we remove any impediment to that re-settlement, the better."
"I wouldn't put all my eggs into the Anarchia basket just yet, Brava," Buck held his ground. "Even if we didn't have the apes out there, we've still got the Draconians to worry about. And they're just as dangerous now as they were the day I arrived in your century."
"Please don't weigh us down with distractions, Rogers," Seraphim re-entered the discussion, "The issue before us is what to do with the simian society in Anarchia. May I suggest to my colleagues that we stick to that for now."
"I quite agree," a new computer voice spoke up, Dr. Avalon. "Because I must confess that I find that Dr. Helix's reluctance to admit the obvious, baffling to say the least."
If Dr. Helix had been a man he would've smiled. For years, he'd wondered when Dr. Avalon would finally go back to his old habits of speaking out with condescending sarcasm.
"So what's your problem Dr. Avalon?" Buck inquired angrily, "I've heard you're the original peacenik. Anytime a problem calls for a quick military solution, you're gung-ho to oppose it."
"But not in this instance!" Avalaon retorted, his lights flashing blue-to-red now. "For more than twenty years, I put up with Dr. Huer's insistence of how our destiny was to repopulate Anarchia, and that any talk of perhaps finding another home for humanity was unthinkable. Well, I learned to accept our human creators' way of thinking about our planet, Rogers. And now that we find that we are sharing it with another species, you are not willing to take the obvious step of doing what we inevitably must: Making Earth habitable once again!"
An uneasy air settled in over the Council table as all of the
members kept their electronic eyes trained on Buck and Dr. Avalon, pondering where the debate would go next. Inside, Buck felt relieved that he'd been trained to meet one's intellectual opponents with tact and diplomacy. He wasn't about to forget any of his lessons now.
"Dr. Avalon," Helix said, still with noticeable courtesy in his
voice, "I understand your objection. I'm sure the Defense Directorate would like to take the quick solution and eradicate a potential enemy that they are quite capable of handling. However....." he purposefully let his voice trail off. "However we face the disquieting fact that this race of simians, however repulsive they seem to the humans in their appearance and in their practices, is still a thriving society of living creatures. A society that evidently is unaware for the most part that they occupy a planet where a thriving civilization of humans also stands."
He paused and then prepared to drive the ultimate point home.
"I am sorry, but Captain Rogers is correct in what he says. To suddenly descend on this society with laser guns blazing and our star-fighters weaving a path of total destruction would make us no less guilty of the same crime that Draco himself perpetrates against in-telligent living beings."
Most of the members fell silent. Only Avalon let out a vocal reaction in the form of an electronic guffaw.
"Think of it," Helix went on, "A sudden sneak attack against a
thriving civilization only because it threatened our territorial
ambitions. Could any of us undertake such action without realizing the
moral consequences? I cannot believe that we are destined to become no different than our non-terrestrail adversaries."
"What are you suggesting then, Dr. Helix?" Avalon sourly in-quired. "What sort of gesture do we make to the apes to convince them that they must learn to accept us?"
Dr. Huer rose from his seat and approached the council. "If I may, Dr. Helix, I propose that a shuttlecraft containing myself, Buck Rogers and two representatives from the Computer Council along with represenatives of the Earth Directorate land in the apes'city and talk directly to their government. A starfighter patrol will remain overhead at all times to monitor our status. In the event we do not return within a proscribed time, or have not contacted our patrol to inform them of our safety, then," he briefly paused for effect and lifted his finger emphatically, "Then and only then will a military strike take place."
Buck felt butterflies churn in his stomach. Maybe I was too quick to defend those apes.
At the end of the Council chamber, where she'd sat passively watching the proceedings, Wilma suddenly felt her body lock up. Surely, Buck would want her to accompany him on a trip back to Ape City.
"Dr. Huer, are you are willing to put your life in jeopardy at the mercy of this brutal race?" Seraphim's lights flashed in amazement.
"We will not go unarmed," Huer said firmly. "Our troops, fully armed with laser pistols will be alongside us on the ground. The slightest hostile move on their part to capture us will not be diff-icult for us to overcome."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not," Brava cautioned, "Given the numbers that exist in this society that might be more than enough to compensate for their lack of adequate weaponry."
"May God dictate my fate, and the success of this mission,"
Huer stepped back from the Council's table, "Is there any one among you who wishes to volunteer for this delegation?"
A long silence permeated the chamber as Huer and Rogers stared into the "faces" of the nine male and two female computer brains who comprised the rest of the Council. Finally, to Buck's amazement, Dr. Avalon was the first to speak.
"I volunteer," he said coldly, "Because I want to be there when I see this attempt fail as I expect it too."
Almost immediately, Dr. Jocasta spoke up as well.
"I too shall go," she said, "Because I think it possible that Buck Rogers'judgment in this matter shall ultimately be vindicated."
"Thank you Dr. Avalon, Dr. Jocasta," Huer smiled and motioned to the door, "If you two will report to the main Launch Bay and stand by, we should be under way within an hour."
"Good luck to you, Dr. Huer, Captain Rogers," Helix said, "Your mission has the support and prayers of the people of the Inner City. I now declare this session of the Computer Council closed."293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNvAsHm3Bj
With all the reverence of a human funeral procession, the drones picked up their masters, placed them around their necks, and filed out. Soon, the audience followed. As they did, Buck looked back at the other end and noticed Wilma still standing with her arms folded and her expression locked into one of total self-control that he knew right away was an indication that she was trying to conceal anguish and tension inside her.
As soon as everyone had gone and the two of them were alone, Buck finally made his way over to her.
"Hey," he said reassuringly as he touched her shoulder, "It's going to be all right."
"I'm your superior officer, Buck. I could insist upon going with you, but......" Wilma's voice was firm but he could sense the
faint edge of apprehension that no one else would have noticed, "If you
have to risk your life, please let me risk it with you."
"I wouldn't want you to do that, Wilma," Buck said, softly but with equal firmness, "You're as important to the Intercept Squadron as I am. Risking the both of us in Anarchia would be a very foolish thing to do for the city's well-being."
"And if something happens to you out there, do you really think I'm going to have the nerve to lead my pilots?" her voice cracked.
"If you sense that I don't have any faith in you, Wilma, then go ahead, order me to take you along. I'll obey you," he didn't want any trace of anger to enter his voice, "You've got damn good command instincts. You have to be ready to use them if God forbid I'm wrong and theymeet us with violence."
She let out a forlorn sigh and lowered her head.
"You told me they threatened to lobotomize you, Buck," her tone grew pointed, "And they might very well have done that to Ardley by now. Are you really feeling so guilty about wanting to destroy them that you feel a need to put your life on the line to talk directly with them?"
"If they'd done what I wanted, I'd never have been able to live with myself again," Buck said, "Because if the values we've fought to preserve these last five centuries mean anything, then we can't start borrowing a page from Draco's handbook. I have to look the apes in the eye and have no doubts left as to what the right course of action is. I can't let your brother enter the equation at all, or I'm useless as a Captain."
She looked up into his green eyes and smiled weakly.
"Okay," she said, "But the split instant you realize that you're
wrong, you'd better high-tail your ass back into that shuttlecraft right away."
"It's a deal," Buck squeezed her hand. "I'm still the same
self-assured person I was five-hundred and four years ago, Wilma, but one thing I don't have is a death wish. I'm going to do what I have to do, and then I'm going to come back to my best friend in the whole universe."
Wilma lifted her mouth toward his and the two shared a long kiss
that lasted nearly two minutes. When he finally let go of her, the two
immediately straightened themselves out into business-like postures.
Meanwhile, Dr. Huer was in his office issuing instructions. "Notify our guest Major Brent that he's to report to the Main Launch Bay immediately. Also tell Major DeMoor to have his best strike team readied for the operation, and then see to it that Red Squadron patrol
is ready for duty as well." Huer's tone was completely that of a
commander addressing a subordinate.
"Yes sir," replied a female Directorate officer crisply who then started for the door.
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