First up I would strongly suggest that if you haven't read the earlier chapters please do so before reading this one, it will explain a lot of things...
Now, enjoy. BB1212
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All the resulting fuss that day was all about Androger, and yes if I am going to be totally honest I have to say that I was rather pissed off about that for quite a while.
The Mayflower survivors had managed to get to YW4597 and then back home, which was a huge feat on its own. Add to that the fact that we had also managed to defeat the much stronger YW's when we were on the ropes. We had survived the most testing mission that mankind had ever embarked on, and instead of being welcomed on our return we were unlawfully jailed and just left to rot.
That should have created a huge furore on its own, but it didn't.
The attack on, and intended murder of, Androger Spavl was the news of the day. He was already the most popular people's hero on the planet and his fans literally rioted when they saw what the authorities had attempted to do to him.
Added to that was the fact that there also were two violent and gruesome killings telecast live on the Spavl Show, and this all meant that Androger the highest ratings of his career. Twice. The live telecast had been promoted as 'a must not miss show exposing a cover up of massive proportions' and the promos had been running all day. The record audience got everything that they had been promised and much more, so three days later when the telecast was repeated there was such a massive level of hype that the number of viewers was fifty percent higher again. It was huge and unprecedented.
But to Androger and I sitting alone in the cell talking, it was incredibly stressful. Thanks to the data receiver in Androger's interface we knew that the huge number of calls to the government had brought down all voice communications across the country, we knew that the streets of every major city were clogged with demonstrators demanding our immediate release, and we knew that Androger's producers had put our location on the telecast and the complex we were in was totally surrounded by protesters.
What we didn't know was if that would be enough to guarantee our safety.
We sat there having a quiet but nervous chat, oblivious to the growing spectacle outside, just wondering what would happen next.
Dixscon Rickson came to us just over two hours after we locked the door. It would have been at least half an hour quicker if the crowds of Androger supporters hadn't blocked his access. Androger was regularly checking his interface for information, but because we were still telecasting live we didn't spend a lot of time looking at it. Even so we were still expecting our visitor.
"I'm Dixscon Rickson," a voice called from behind the door, "please let me in, you have my word that you will not be harmed." We looked at each other and nodded. I went and keyed in the code, and the door opened.
I'll give Rickson full credit for guts. He came in alone, knowing that we had a cell full of shock guns, and knowing how furious I would be with him. He shook Androger's hand, and then mine without saying anything, and then he looked at Androger.
"May I speak to your viewers?" he asked.
"Sure, er, Mr President," Androger replied, and Rickson turned to the wall. He had done his homework because he knew exactly where to look to be facing the hidden camera.
"I am Dixscon Rickson," he said, "and I am the President of the World Council of Nations" He paused, and then continued. "What you have seen today on Mr Spavl's show demonstrates just how necessary these shows are, even if they do irritate some of the people in power sometimes." He smiled, to show that he thought that was not a serious problem. "What has happened to Commander Scabbard and the heroes that made up the crew of the Mayflower since their return is thoroughly reprehensible. What has happened to Commander Scabbard and Mr Spavl here today is now a criminal matter, and the perpetrators will be held accountable." He paused again, and I had to admire his style. I could just imagine the millions of viewers looking at their interfaces in the streets, or at their picture walls at home were hanging now on his every word.
"Commander Scabbard said earlier that he had three priorities he wanted attended to. The first was the destruction of all energy weapons. We will pursue that end immediately. As of this moment they are outlawed and must be handed in to your local government enforcement station straight away. Owners will be given a receipt and we shall arrange for suitable compensation." Again he paused for effect.
"Commander Scabbard's second priority was the release of the crew of the Mayflower. Again we will implement this immediately, although I believe that most of them are in a very remote location so I cannot promise this will be achieved today. But it will be tomorrow at the latest." Again he waited for a moment.
"Commander Scabbard's third and final priority was that the people responsible for this 'massive travesty of justice' I believe he called it, and I have to agree with him, be held accountable for their actions. This will also be done, and this has already commenced." He stopped yet again.
"But," he said, "I know that after this debacle there are many of you who simply will not believe that we will do this properly as promised. To that end I must ask Mr Spavl a favour." He turned to Androger.
"Will you allow me to appear on your show again next week with Commander Scabbard? I will ask the two of you to confirm that our promises have been fulfilled to your satisfaction. I will also promise to answer any questions that you have in regard to this matter as long as they are not prejudicial to any resulting legal cases." Androger smiled in anticipation.
"Of course, Mr President," he replied, "we welcome the opportunity that you are offering." The fact that his ratings were going to go through the roof might have had something to do with his prompt acceptance.
"Tonight," Rickson said, "I request that both of you join me for dinner at The Dustings." The Dustings was the seven star restaurant in the World Council of Nations building that was only ever used for visitors who were heads of state. The invitation was totally unprecedented. Androger and I looked at each other in surprise. We nodded.
"We accept," Androger said, and after a brief wrap up by Androger where he thanked his viewers for their support, the three of us left the cell that had been my prison for seven months together.
It had been an incredible couple of days.
We had walked along countless dim and dingy corridors and had passed through three check points before we reached the outside door, and we heard the crowd when we were still a good distance away from it. They were chanting Androger's name. We had six security guards as an escort, and on the final approach to the door Rickson motioned them to stop and we walked far enough away so they couldn't hear us. Rickson addressed me.
"I know," he said, "that I am in no position to ask any favours of either of you, and particularly you Commander Scabbard, but I'm going to have to anyway. In a moment we are going out there and I would like us to present a united front. For the moment may we concentrate on your first priority, and that is to get rid of the energy weapons? Many members of the council simply did not believe my reasons for the ban and I did not get enough support to carry it through. I have made the announcement now and they either have to back it or remove me from my position. With your support I believe they will support me, without it they will not." I thought about this for a moment and it made sense.
"OK," I said simply, and he sighed with relief.
"The reason we are going to The Dustings tonight is for the three of us to discuss privately what action we need to take on all of the issues we face. I will listen to both of you and I will pay heed to what you say, can we please leave the more unpleasant topics until then?"
"Yes," I said reluctantly.
"Of course Mr President," Androger agreed. Rickson called his bodyguards back and we went down the corridor and through the door.
Over the years I had received more than my fair share of the 'rock star' treatment as an elite pilot, but even so I was completely unprepared for the reception we got when we left the prison.
Although the six original bodyguards were there for Rickson, and there was a much larger contingent waiting in an area they had cleared outside the door, it was Androger who was most at risk when we walked out. There were tens of thousands of people waiting to see him, and when they did they all surged forward to get near him. In the middle of the mayhem there was, of course, protected in the cleared area, a Spavl Show camera crew. Androger was very brief.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said to the camera, "in a totally unprecedented display of public unity today we have made sure that justice will prevail, even when the corruption comes from the highest places." The crowd roared its approval. "I want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to do something to achieve this result." He pointed to the crowd around us, in every direction possible, and then he pointed at the camera.
"You are my heroes," he shouted, and again the crowd cheered wildly. Androger whispered to one of his crew and the man walked to the straining security guards who were trying to stop us being trampled.
"You in the yellow shirt," Androger said, pointing to a woman in the front row of onlookers, please come over here." Reluctantly the security guards let her through and the crew member brought her to Androger.
