Spiteri beckoned for them all to join him and the newcomers at the operations table, which was blank. It was an indicator of how little they had done in any efforts to quell the problem.
“Gentlemen, this is Councillor Armand who is here to oversee negotiations with the protestors. As a representative of the UEN, he has complete access to the site and is accountable only to me. Colonel Taylor of the US Marine Corps is here as an advisor to Armand. I expect you to extend all courtesies to the Councillor and his associates. Right, now down to business.”
A live satellite projection displayed on the table, showing both the vast breath of the prison, as well as the shocking large numbers of protestors which were gathering.
“The number of protestors is growing at an incredible rate. When it first began, we expected them to become tired in a day of the heat without supplies, and pack up and leave.”
“Why hasn’t that happened?” Taylor interrupted.
“Because of the aid they have been getting. Shuttles deliver supplies on an hourly basis, bringing them food and water, instant shelters, and mobile toilet and shower blocks. Somebody with big money is keeping this going.”
“Or many people with a lot of money,” Taylor added.
“It’s sad but true,” said Armand, “There are sizeable numbers opposed to what is going on here who would be willing to pour money into other’s pockets to oppose it for them.”
“And people used to protest against people being kept in these kind of prisons,” muttered Taylor.
“That’s right, Colonel. They protested about people being locked up, but this is an entirely different story. If you hadn’t noticed, aliens exist and want our planet,” said Spiteri.
Taylor wondered if the man knew who he was and his history in the wars, but before he could ask, attention was turned to the elephant in the room.
“And please can someone tell me what the hell he is doing in uniform, and with a US Marine?”
One of Spiteri’s men leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“Okay, so you’re that Taylor, a war hero. Well, let me tell you, I saw plenty of combat in the war myself, and I would never in a million years let one stand beside me and call a comrade.”
“Be thankful I am not you then, or we might not have won this war.”
Tension was getting to boiling point in the room, and no progress was being made, but Taylor didn’t travel there to make idle argument.
“The local government must be doing something to alleviate the troubles here?” he asked.
Spiteri shook his head. “I wish. The war destroyed the populace in this area, one of the reasons it made such a good prison. A few thousand have moved back into a nearby town, but they are little more than a frontier site, like something out of your history. A sheriff and his deputies trying to manage the locals; they can’t do a thing to help here.”
“And the UEN?”
They all turned to Armand.
“The UEN is willing to consider deployment, only if wide-scale violence is a likely possibility. Besides that, I am all that you’re gonna get.”
“And what are you worth?” asked Spiteri. “Can you talk this horde down and make them go back home and forget all of this?”
“I’ll give it a shot.”
“A group that says they are in charge out there has been calling for a representative to meet with them for the last few hours.”
“Good, that’s a start.”
“I’m not going out there, and I won’t risk my men doing so.”
What a fucking hero, Taylor thought.
“Fine, I’ll go out there. Two of my bodyguards, and I’ll take Colonel Taylor with me.”
“And what about his…friend there?”
Armand looked over to the towering alien and then over to Taylor.
“We can’t take him. He’ll only pour gas on the flames. He can stay here. I’m sure Colonel Spiteri will ensure his safety.”
Taylor almost laughed but held himself back.
Not his safety you have to worry about.
He nodded for Jafar to stay put, and it was a message clearly understood as he paced out into the blistering sun with Armand and his guards.
“You really have a plan here?” he asked.
“It’s all just a game, Colonel. Hear what they have to say, and find a way to oppose it.”
“Not really a negotiation, is it?”
“That’s exactly what it is.”
The inner gates opened and shut quickly behind them. They were sealed off from the base now, with only four of them soon to be heading out into an angry mob.
“We’re coming out to negotiate!” Armand shouted.
“Not with weapons you’re not!” one replied.
They looked out at the overwhelming odds. He looked back to Taylor for an answer and saw the Colonel shaking his head.
No goddamn way.
They stood there silently until the protestors at the gate accepted it was the only way they would see some progression. The gates slid aside, and they stepped out into the hostile crowd who seemed as if they wanted to kill the four of them as much as the aliens inside.
They were led through the crowd, hundreds of men and women who glared at them as if they were criminals. Taylor hated the way they peered down at him.
The only reason you’re alive today is because I fought for you.
But he fought the desire to say it aloud with all his fibre.
They eventually reached a structure. Internally, it was not so different to the operations room he’d recently left. A dozen men and women stood around a table, planning and discussing their actions.
“More like a military operation than a protest,” he said to Armand.
“That’s right, Colonel!” one of them replied, overhearing him.
“And you are?” he asked
“My name is of no consequence. You can call me X.”
You’re wearing the pants here, then.
“My name is…” began Armand.
“We’re not interested in your name. Our demands are this; the instant euthanization of all prisoners of this facility and all others like it. That is the only thing we ask. We will not accept anything less and require nothing more. Are you ready to provide what society is calling for?”
“I am willing to negotiate the matter, but there has to be some give and take. Let’s start from a middle ground and work this out,” said Armand.
“You heard what I said. What part did you not hear?”
Armand seemed speechless as she turned her attention to Taylor.
“Colonel, we know who you are, a great hero of the wars. You must have killed so many of the invaders, do you not want to see an end to this?”
“An end? Yes, I thought I saw this when we won peace on this planet. We, and those who fought for it,” he replied.
One of the protestors stepped forward, yelling at him. “I was there the day you killed Demiran and saw it with my own eyes. I served, I fought, I killed, and for what? It isn’t over. We want life back to the way it was!”
“Then I am sorry to say that this negotiation is over. We are wasting time if you are not willing to discuss the matter in a civilised fashion,” Armand replied sternly.
Taylor was surprised by his attitude. He appeared to have come there to resolve the problem, and yet seemed to have no interest in doing so.
“Then leave, and return to the living joke you call a detention centre,” X quickly responded.
Armand turned and left without another comment.
Is he gonna fight for this?