The three-way conference between Chief Strategist Tan of the Guardian Fleet, the Advisor of Ganymede and the Controller of Europa. Subjective time: twenty days after the cyborg missile strike of Callisto. Held via a dedicated laser lightguide-link.
TAN: Gentlemen, I’m glad you agreed to meet with me. The situation has become dire. The cyborgs have gathered an appreciable concentration of warships and presently move on a hard intercept course for Io. We cannot afford to lose the mining colonies there.
ADVISOR: I dearly hope this is not another attempt to move the Combined Fleet out of its excellent, defensive position. I’ve already informed you of Ganymede’s total rejection of such thinking.
CONTROLLER: Before we speak about that, let us be clear on one critical certainty. The cyborgs are cunning. We have learned this to our eternal disadvantage. Callisto—it is too difficult to put into words the horrors that occurred there.
TAN: We are the leaders of the Jovian System. If you cannot put the situation into words, I suggest the governors of Europa find someone who can.
CONTROLLER: Have a care, Chief Strategist. There are no more arbiters or philosopher-run spy agencies on Europa. We are thus free to think, do and speak as our hearts wish.
TAN: Perhaps that is so. My question for you is. For how much longer will you enjoy these freedoms if you ignore the cyborgs?
CONTROLLER: The Dictates died with Callisto and this isn’t a dialogue of the old school. You will not cajole or intimidate me. Know, that I agreed to this meeting for one reason only. I demand that the new, Combined Fleet protect Europa as strongly as it protects Ganymede.
ADVISOR: (sneeringly) How do you suggest this occur?
CONTROLLER: We must split the fleet into equal parts, with one half stationed at Europa and the other at Ganymede.
TAN: That still leaves Io open to bombardment.
CONTROLLER: Such an occurrence would be a terrible tragedy, and I would grieve deeply. All Europa would grieve. However, reality demands that we defend the key, strategic posts. Using population levels and industrial capacity as the rubric, Europa and Ganymede are clearly the critical locations.
ADVISOR: You have a point concerning strategic targets, Controller. Still, your thinking is faulty on two counts. One, Ganymede has four times Europa’s population and five times its industrial capacity. That mandates our moon as the primary defensive establishment. Two, splintering our fleet in the face of the enemy is military suicide. I’m sure the Chief Strategist would agree with me on that.
CONTROLLER: (with his voice rising) I demand equal protection.
ADVISOR: To what end do you make these demands? Is it in the interest of Jovian Civilization? Or do you make these demands through a selfish desire for personal safety?
CONTROLLER: I make the demand for the same reason you do.
ADVISOR: Surely you jest.
CONTROLLER: Eighty-five percent of the Jovian System’s water originates on Europa. Can you survive without water?
ADVISOR: I abhor the thought of the loss of your moon. That is understood, and we obviously need water.
CONTROLLER: Then send us half the fleet. Guard Europa and guard the water supply.
ADVISOR: There is a flaw in your reasoning. In the unfortunate circumstance that the cyborgs bombard Europa and destroy you, tankers will still eventually be able to land there and mine the ice.
CONTROLLER: Irradiated ice? Is that what you wish to drink?
ADVISOR: The water companies will use distillation systems to purify the liquid.
CONTROLLER: I deem your thinking as unreasonable and Ganymede-centric.
ADVISOR: (laughs) There are no philosopher-boards to hear your complaints. Ganymede is the supreme moon, and we control the fleet. You would do better to adjust yourself to the new realities. Instead of berating me, you should try to cajole me. What can you offer Ganymede? Come, Controller, what is your continued existence worth? If Europa decided to become our largest fiefdom—
CONTROLLER: Are you mad? We have just won our freedom from Callisto.
ADVISOR: You have won nothing. This freedom was granted you through the cyborg missile strike.
CONTROLLER: The same holds true for Ganymede.
ADVISOR: That is completely false. Ganymede citizen-guardians within the fleet boldly took charge of their vessels and—
CONTROLLER: (shouting) We won’t crawl on our knees to you! Send us warships! Without Europa and with irradiated water you will all die!
ADVISOR: Calm yourself, sir. Your tirade is unseemly, and it suggests to me that you’re unhinged.
TAN: Gentlemen, please—
CONTROLLER: I warn you both. Europa controls a meteor-ship, and—
ADVISOR: (scoffing) One meteor-ship—you are the weak sister.
CONTROLLER: We wondered if this day would occur. We had hoped we were wrong, but we’ve long distrusted you.
ADVISOR: Insults are unadvisable, and in your situation, highly dangerous.
CONTROLLER: (laughs harshly) Do you believe so? Then let me inform you both that patriots of Europa have planted secret bombs in the warships.
ADVISOR: This is madness you spout, the fantasies of a deranged mind. You cannot be serious.
CONTROLLER: Doubt me at your peril, Advisor. We long suspected your trustworthiness. Therefore, we decided to create insurance, giving you good reason to treat us in a civilized manner.
ADVISOR: How do I know that your statement is true?
CONTROLLER: Twice you have impugned my good name. I am the Controller of Europa, a governor of tested integrity. You know this to be true because I have spoken and I am an honest man. More insults will result in—
ADVISOR: No, no, this is a dire thing, you say. A cunning man could make your claims, acting the part of an honest broker. In this, you must confirm your statement.
CONTROLLER: You mocked me earlier. Now I begin to question your reason. What you ask, I cannot verify it for a simple reason. By its nature, a confirmation invalidates the threat of a secretly-placed explosive. You will have to accept this on faith or face the destruction of your fleet.
Three seconds of silence ensues.
CONTROLLER: I repeat my demand. Send half the fleet to Europa.
ADVISOR: I can understand your desire. You are a true guardian, a valiant servant of your state. However, I would beg you to reconsider. From a purely strategic standpoint, Jovian Civilization can afford to lose Europa. Naturally, we would all deeply regret it. And I hope you did not take my small joke earlier to heart.
CONTROLLER: That Europa became Ganymede’s prized fiefdom?
ADVISOR: Hearing you repeat the joke causes me to wince. My humor was definitely ill-advised. Now that I’ve admitted that, I ask you to reconsider your ‘demand’. We must examine strategy in light of future Jovian Civilization. Our system cannot afford to lose Ganymede, to lose its highly-trained population and nearly sole heavy industrial basin. Therefore, to protect the system, we must ensure Ganymede’s survival. Then we must carefully husband our strength to defeat the cyborgs when and where they attempt another decapitating strike. That means, naturally, that the fleet will do everything in its power to protect Europa.
CONTROLLER: Yes, by parking warships in mid-Europa orbit.