"In a little more than two years, Santiago will have their planetary elections. Politicians are cannibals; they eat their own. Despite the widespread bipartisan support we had at the start, I and my compatriots will be run out of office in disgrace, and will be replaced by candidates from the opposition party."
He saw Jessica's expression and his professional smile became genuine. "Yes, I can imagine that this will not distress you. Yet I think your celebration of our downfall may prove premature.
"Your attack on the home planet revealed to all the emptiness of our government's policies, and has forced us politicians at the top of the ladder to take a hard look at ourselves. I and several of my council have decided that though we must go down in disgrace, we will spend our remaining time in office working only for the benefit of the people of Santiago."
Jessica shook her head. " Senor Presidente, I neither believe nor care about your claimed epiphany, and even if I believed your claim about the people of Santiago, I would have to be remarkably gullible to believe that this newfound nobility can serve the interests of the people of Ilocan. Can we get on to substantive discussions?"
Calderon's smile finally slipped. His expression became earnest. "Believe it or not, Madam President," he replied, "I actually do have the interests of Ilocanos in mind. I beg your patience for only a few more minutes.
"My remarks were prefatory," he said. "I wished you to understand my perspective. I have come to realize that among many tragedies, the worst tragedy of the war will be its legacy. On both sides, many will hate and blame the enemy for the loss of sons, of husbands. Even loss of pride. Each of these will contribute to passing the hate along to their children and grandchildren. The hate may go on for generations. And it's all my fault!" he ended in a cry of anguish."
He struggled to regain control of himself. "If we can find a way to cooperate, however," Calderon continued to a now-attentive Jessica, "it might be possible to teach our peoples to forgive, and let the dead past bury its dead."
"And you know how to perform this miracle?" Jessica asked skeptically.
Calderon shook his head. "No, madam, I do not. I am told that it was accomplished following several major wars on Old Earth in the days before spaceflight. Of course, without spaceflight, there was no other place to escape to, but still, it is apparently possible.
"I ask that you work with me; join me in studying the history of Old Earth, and in working together to defuse the legacy of hatred that will otherwise consume both planets.
"Make no mistake. The people who will take over the government will be elected on a platform of hatred and revenge. They will rub the peoples' noses in the defeat and humiliation we have suffered. Reparations will be characterized as excessive, and blackmail. They will characterize any efforts at reconciliation as treason. And when they take office, you will find yourself dealing with hostile, hating officials, who will have promised their people that they will rearm and teach Ilocan a lesson. They will make it a point to display anger and contempt at every contact, and will reject any attempt at moderation or reconciliation. Anyone daring to preach moderation, like me, will be derided, and ridiculed. It is possible that in a decade or two, you could very well face another war with a rearmed and vengeful Santiago. I know these things as well as if I had seen them; they are what I would have done myself. Yet, I am in hopes that in two years we may be able to moderate or even break the cycle of hatred. I hope, I beg, that you will help me in this effort."
Jessica was looking thoughtful. Villain or not, Calderon was making sense. She had plenty of experience of the type of politician he described. Oh, she was not ready to buy this whole altruistic, humanitarian rebirth; but she vaguely remembered that wars on Old Earth sometimes made allies a few years later. "All right, senor Presidente. I will give your points some thought, and will do some homework. I suggest we reconvene tomorrow morning, to discuss these and the more substantive issues facing us."
Calderon looked grateful as he hurriedly agreed, suited up, and clumped into Cheetah 's airlock.
As soon as he was gone, Cale came into the lounge from his cabin. Jessica looked up. "What do you think, Cale? Did he mean any of that crap?"
Cale hesitated before answering. Tess had displayed the entire meeting for him, and Jessica was apparently aware of it. He had asked Tess the same question, and she replied much as she had before; that Calderon's body language and demeanor showed him to be sincere. Cale parroted Tess's conclusions, and Jessica nodded. "That was my feeling, too. He really hit home with that 'legacy of hate' stuff."
"Madam," Cale began, "the main reason I volunteered Cheetah for this mission is that she was originally an Old Empire Viceroy's yacht. Her archives contain a whole library of history from a political viewpoint, and something called 'political science'. They're probably not up to date, but I would be happy to have Tess make those files available to you and assist in your research, if you wish."
Jessica smiled at him wonderingly. "I'd appreciate it, Cale. You know, you are something of a miracle man. You always seem to have exactly what I need when I need it!"
Jessica studied long into the ship's 'night'.
" Senor Presidente," Jessica said firmly as they met again in the morning. "I wish you to understand that I do not like you, and I do not completely trust you. You have been the kind of politician I have opposed all my life, and I find your sudden conversion suspect and convenient.
"All that said, however," She continued, "I find that after considerable research, I cannot dispute your logic and your conclusions. As I mentioned, I have fought that kind of politician all my life, and your predictions sound all too plausible. So, I find myself reluctantly agreeing with your suggestion. Insofar as possible, I will cooperate with you over the next two years to overcome the anger and hatred. In that spirit, I offer these terms": She picked up her tablet.
"First, of course, all offensive action will cease, and all Santiagan forces will immediately depart Ilocano space.
"Second, Santiago will, at its own expense, rebuild the city of Homesafe to previous or better standards.
"Third, reparations will be required; however, given the pastoral nature of our planet, I doubt they will be onerous. Mostly, they will consist of victim compensation and rebuilding of facilities. I have been out of contact with Ilocan for some time. I cannot be specific.
"Fourth, Ilocano representatives will be assigned to Santiago, to monitor your armed forces and watch for clandestine rearmament.
"Fifth, a team of advisors will be sent to monitor your government's operations and to advise the Presidente. They are to have easy access to and have frequent and personal contact with that personage.
"Sixth, research will be conducted to determine the feasibility of trade between our peoples. Efforts will be made to find Ilocano products that might be of interest to the people of Santiago, and vice-versa.
"Seventh, Investigations will be carried out by the Ilocano government of any complaints of atrocities or war crimes, and trials under Ilocano law will be held after extradition from Santiago. Santiago shall have no right of veto over extradition for war crimes or atrocities, though they will have the right to examine the evidence, and may provide legal counsel. The standards applied will be those agreed between the Old Empire and the Alliance in 4253AE.
"All of these, except the first, of course, will be subject to negotiation and possible modification by special commissions appointed by each government over the next two years." she laid down the tablet. "Any comments or counterproposals, Senor Presidente?"