Mars had developed into an independent human outpost since men first set foot there in the early part of the 21st century. But it hadn't been easy. Sure, the lethal atmosphere, the unceasing rain of radiation, the need to supply everything that made human life possible were challenges. But the greatest challenge the Mars settlers had faced was bureaucratic in the form of the aging and increasingly irrelevant United Nations.
After Mars was settled, the UN determined that any Mars colony was under the auspices of its Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Considerable effort was made on the part of UNOOSA to make this known to the Mars settlers. But the Mars settlers also made considerable effort to ignore everything the UN office announced.
Men had settled underground on Mars because of the protection it offered to human physiology. They had also chosen underground settlements because of their defensive advantages. The Mars settlers had no delusions that the UN would do its best to stir up obstruction and even confrontation for the colonists if it could. It wasn't long until the Mars colonists were discussing freedom from interference. When war started on Earth in the middle of the century, the colonists seized the moment to declare their independence. With such a belligerent UN, they had nothing to lose.
The UN immediately began a public relations campaign to lure the Martians into subjugation. Secretively, the UN leadership used their authority as an extra-governmental agency to offer any country or any person that would bring the Martian colonists to heel a lucrative land grant and contract for managing Mars.
No person or organization took them up on their offer, at least not in public.
Kwaya Sinchi had connections. Through one of those connections, he was in touch with the head of UNOOSA; through another, he was in touch with an underground movement of hackers and criminals. These were people who would do anything for money and who had the agility to avoid serving time for their illegal deeds. Kwaya had the money to pay, inherited from his ancestors. And like his more famous ancestor, Kwaya believed that “Mars represents the main obstacle to a stable and just world order.” The UN had planted the seed that Kwaya, with his underground connections, hoped to bring to fruition.
Kwaya welcomed the unofficial envoy from UNOOSA to his Mediterranean villa. The envoy was there secretly to discuss the latest incident on Mars.
“You are sure, Mr. Sinchi, that there can be no connection between the recent incident on Mars and the UN? After all, we haven't exactly been secretive in our wishes for the future of Mars.”
“I can assure you. The person I have engaged has complete anonymity. This is not the first large-scale political action he has taken part in. You will remember perhaps the United States and Mexico border skirmishes of a few years ago.”
The envoy nodded.
“He contributed to their instigation,” said Sinchi. “The 'Society for Open Borders' had almost convinced the American government at the time to remove border restrictions. The Mexican and South American cartels would have been greatly harmed had this occurred. They hired him and a few others, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“Very well,” said the envoy. “And you are guaranteeing that the UN will not be connected with this Martian incident?”
“Again,” said Kwaya, a bit exasperated. “Yes, absolutely.”
Sinchi continued, “We all know that a government, any government, can only claim legitimacy if it can protect the territory it governs. I intend to show the colonists of Mars, and by extension the countries here on Earth that have shown their support for the colonists by quitting the UN and joining the Mars-backed Solar Federation, that their Federation cannot protect them. This particular target was chosen because of its relations with Mars activists here on Earth. Incidents will continue until they are convinced, and I assure you no one will connect any of these incidents with the UN.”
No comments:
Post a Comment