SUED FOR PEACE (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 11) by Michael Anderle Page B
Authors: Michael Anderle
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The President almost wanted to laugh at the face Jimmy gave him. “This information was provided in a unique fashion, and I can’t demand more just show up because I want it. I suspect from what I was told that these are the major players that each country should worry about. If there is anyone bigger, well my feeling is they are already a target and won’t be a problem in the near future. If they are smaller, then they will lose their ability once the big fish are taken care of, or they will be dealt with in some other form or fashion. Or, they aren’t really a significant problem.”
Jimmy tried to frame his next question, “What about all of their requests that we provide how we know this?”
“Well, we could tell them the truth?” The President asked his contact. He started chuckling when Jimmy’s mouth opened and shut a few times.
Finally, Jimmy answered, “Mr. President, isn’t the truth we received it from a concerned party, and we don’t know what they know?” The President just nodded his head in agreement. “I’m not sure that is going to work too well.” Jimmy allowed, “My experience over the last decade suggests they would prefer to be sold a lie than told the truth, sir.”
“Mine too, Jimmy.” The President told him, “but in this case I’m going to have to provide them the truth. If we sell a lie, and the provider of the information gets wind of it, we could be in pretty hot water. I’m too damned concerned it would happen, so we need to think about that now.”
“Us?” Jimmy asked, perplexed.
“Yes, us. As in, if we aren’t ethical with the information and the truth, or non-truth, of how we acquired the information. Stay silent if you can’t tell the truth.” The President tapped his fingers against the table for a minute, and Jimmy stayed silent. He was accustomed to waiting on those in power thinking through a solution. “Tell you what. If they want to know more, then the only person who I will discuss this with is their leader. I will need to speak with him or her on the phone to know they will accept my conditions.”
“What are those conditions?” Jimmy asked.
“The leader comes alone. Transportation will be provided. When I know who is potentially coming, I’ll negotiate with the owner of the information. Should that person agree, we will make this happen and provide the information at this meeting. Those that join are not permitted to share the information to those that do not show.”
“How would we possibly enforce that agreement?”
“Well, I believe those who do come will be persuaded as I was persuaded.” The President answered mysteriously. He stood up, “That’s all Jimmy. Tell the Secretary of State and you guys get moving.” He turned and stepped back out of the small meeting room and continued to his next scheduled appointment.
CHAPTER SIX
QBS Battleship, Manufacturing Facility 01 - Asteroid Fields
Marcus walked into the empty meeting room on the spaceship and his two friends, with solemn faces, turned to look at him. Both were sitting at the end of the table with Bobcat in the main position and William to his left. This meeting room, he noticed, was carpeted in a deep red and the table was made of wood. He sure hoped nothing made it this far into the spaceship or all of this wood would become tiny little shards of death for anyone in here when it exploded.
The chair to Bobcat’s right was pushed back, inviting him to sit. Marcus pulled the chair back and sat down tiredly.
“You look like shit, buddy,” Bobcat told him.
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?” Marcus shot back.
Bobcat turned to William, “See?”
William nodded sagely, “Him too, huh?”
Bobcat nodded and turned back to the rocket scientist and told him, “You are working too hard.”
“Do you know of any other gravitic experts around?” Marcus asked, “No, of course not. I’m it, and I’m not teaching at the
Jimmy tried to frame his next question, “What about all of their requests that we provide how we know this?”
“Well, we could tell them the truth?” The President asked his contact. He started chuckling when Jimmy’s mouth opened and shut a few times.
Finally, Jimmy answered, “Mr. President, isn’t the truth we received it from a concerned party, and we don’t know what they know?” The President just nodded his head in agreement. “I’m not sure that is going to work too well.” Jimmy allowed, “My experience over the last decade suggests they would prefer to be sold a lie than told the truth, sir.”
“Mine too, Jimmy.” The President told him, “but in this case I’m going to have to provide them the truth. If we sell a lie, and the provider of the information gets wind of it, we could be in pretty hot water. I’m too damned concerned it would happen, so we need to think about that now.”
“Us?” Jimmy asked, perplexed.
“Yes, us. As in, if we aren’t ethical with the information and the truth, or non-truth, of how we acquired the information. Stay silent if you can’t tell the truth.” The President tapped his fingers against the table for a minute, and Jimmy stayed silent. He was accustomed to waiting on those in power thinking through a solution. “Tell you what. If they want to know more, then the only person who I will discuss this with is their leader. I will need to speak with him or her on the phone to know they will accept my conditions.”
“What are those conditions?” Jimmy asked.
“The leader comes alone. Transportation will be provided. When I know who is potentially coming, I’ll negotiate with the owner of the information. Should that person agree, we will make this happen and provide the information at this meeting. Those that join are not permitted to share the information to those that do not show.”
“How would we possibly enforce that agreement?”
“Well, I believe those who do come will be persuaded as I was persuaded.” The President answered mysteriously. He stood up, “That’s all Jimmy. Tell the Secretary of State and you guys get moving.” He turned and stepped back out of the small meeting room and continued to his next scheduled appointment.
CHAPTER SIX
QBS Battleship, Manufacturing Facility 01 - Asteroid Fields
Marcus walked into the empty meeting room on the spaceship and his two friends, with solemn faces, turned to look at him. Both were sitting at the end of the table with Bobcat in the main position and William to his left. This meeting room, he noticed, was carpeted in a deep red and the table was made of wood. He sure hoped nothing made it this far into the spaceship or all of this wood would become tiny little shards of death for anyone in here when it exploded.
The chair to Bobcat’s right was pushed back, inviting him to sit. Marcus pulled the chair back and sat down tiredly.
“You look like shit, buddy,” Bobcat told him.
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?” Marcus shot back.
Bobcat turned to William, “See?”
William nodded sagely, “Him too, huh?”
Bobcat nodded and turned back to the rocket scientist and told him, “You are working too hard.”
“Do you know of any other gravitic experts around?” Marcus asked, “No, of course not. I’m it, and I’m not teaching at the
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