2175 C.E.

XIX: Calamity of Calamities

The Thoughts of Yong An-Hong: Translated by Alexandra Yuan: Copyright 2205, Centauri University Press: Hanson Harbor, Nova

08/01/2175

When I began to write in the night, I found myself unable to continue. I was overwhelmed. I chose to alleviate my fears in sleep medications. Now, perhaps, in the light of the morning, I can write what I have seen.

I have never believed in visions or prophetic dreams. But today, perhaps, I have experienced just such a thing. My Interlink is off, and I dare not reactivate it, lest Shen or someone else take notice of my thoughts and actions. Before today I feared mistrust and conspiracy; now I am certain of it.

The events happened in this way. On the personal request and recommendation of Admiral Nobuyuki Ito, I went to the office of the President yesterday in hopes of convincing him to end his mad ambitions to go to war with the Grushan Federation. I waited patiently as he spoke to the head of the American government over secure channels; I overheard little of the conversation, as my mind was preoccupied with understanding President Yan's sudden animosity towards the Federation and ambitions toward the recapture of the Nova colony. For a whole half-hour I was kept waiting before I was at last shown in to speak with Yan An-Sing. This was out of the ordinary, but my call was unexpected so I had no concern. I carried out some minor paper tasks while I waited; My secretaries usually carry out these tasks, but they have been slow of late, and I wanted something to occupy my body and clear my mind of the dozen matters which concerned me. Then, at last, I was shown in to see the President.

At the first, our conversation was normal, insofar as it has been since the arrival of the black ship. I asked him about the progress of his great expansion of the Interlink project. He was as enthusiastic as ever; more than five billion people have installed the fourth-generation device on Earth, and on the colonies, nearly 93% of the population have done so as well. Overall, 84% of all human beings in the Terran Hegemony currently have some sort of Interlink device, mostly fourth or third generation. Unrest in the Latin American and Middle Eastern provinces has dropped as installations have risen, though Africa still raises many problems. He was hopeful that soon all humanity would be united in the Hegemony and the Interlink.

Then I addressed the issue for which I came. I held up the communication from Admiral Ito and confronted him by saying, "An-Sing, my friend, I have been told of your military ambitions towards Nova and the Grushan. This gives me great fear for many reasons; first, I am surprised and concerned that you felt it necessary to conduct these plans behind my back and behind the backs of the legislatures and diplomatic corps. Plans made in secret are plans that cannot stand up to scrutiny or the crucible of reality. Second..." But he never let me finish the sentence I had begun.

"An-Hong," he said, "I know your mind. You believe that the Hegemony does not have the strength to contend with the Grushan and the Novans."

I said, "Not only I believe this, but Admiral Ito as well. I have here his words, which he asked me to bring to you personally.

"Yes, Ito," the President replied. "He has raised objections before today. It is ironic. He of all people should be able to understand what I am proposing." I asked him to clarify what he meant. "I intend to form a historic alliance between the Terran Hegemony and the Zaha-Katchem. You know as well as I do the potential that such a force could have. The Zaha-Katchem are indestructible in combat, and our armies are far stronger than the Grushan. Humans are two times as tall as Grushan, over forty-five kilos heavier, and can lift up to twice the amount of Grushan. Add to that the android army that Earth has invested its full power in for nearly a hundred years, where the Grushan barely have simple robots, and I give to you a ground force to be reckoned with. And that reckoning must be soon! The Zaha-Katchem must move on eventually, to find a world of their own. Our fleet has been on high readiness since their arrival, ideal for a surprise attack. The time is coming, and coming soon, An-Hong."