Yesterda's War 5 - Untimely Conflicts, page 38
Also, if there is any interruption at all in supply flights from Earth, we will not have sufficient foodstuffs, clothing, organic material, energy supply and other necessary materials for the current population, much less for any increases in our population.
Our ability to recycle the materials that we have is extremely limited with the technology that I have access to under our prior agreement. But without adequate recycling, we cannot replace worn or damaged components with indigenous assets. I have no choice but to say this. One way or another, we must have access to the full scope of Father’s database information if this colony is going to survive out here. If possible, we could also use a thermal depolymerization reactor so that we can turn every single piece of plastic waste into syngas. That way, we can make other plastics or use the syngas for other purposes. If we can design and build a 3-D printer, even a primitive one, then we will be able to manufacture components here on Mars.”
“I understand, but that is a pretty tall order still. James is managing a group of engineers that are developing extremely advanced technologies in a highly secure facility. We are probably not going to be able to recreate the state of the art hardware from Father’s time. But we might be able to produce selected prototypes of early 21st-century technology that we can send to you on the upcoming flights.”
“That would be great if you can do that. Just assemble whatever advanced equipment that you can and send it in sealed containers during future supply module flights to here. You can arrange that I am the only one with the codes to open these containers.
I have two loyal people from Cavill Industries that I can trust with the truth about our advanced technology already. They can help me assemble whatever we need to make this place viable. I will be talking with all of the latest arrivals, especially those who work for Cavill Industries to see if any others will also be able to help. If there are any problems here, I also have the means to defend myself if necessary.”
“What do you mean, Beatrice?”
“I brought ten of the new pistols, four of the submachine guns that use the same 6.5mm pistol rounds as the pistols and ten thousand rounds of ammunition for them with me to Mars. I also have several 9mm precharged pneumatic rifles with more than enough ammunition to supply them with. It’s all in a secure place here that only I have access to.”
“I didn’t know that you had taken any weapons with you, Beatrice. I hope that have a secure location to store them inside of.”
“I do. After all, I had to have someplace set up for the mining explosives that we sent on the first mission anyway. I won’t pull my weapons out unless I have to. I have some air pistols that I can use for target practice so I won’t need to waste ammunition. No one else here knows about my weapons except for Tommy either. I am assuming that all of the people that just arrived here that are linked to Cavill Industries have also served in the Derby militia?”
“Several of them have served in the militia so they have had some military training. But hopefully, you won’t need to pull those weapons out for any reason. We very thoroughly vetted all of the people that just arrived to ensure that there will be no security risks out there.”
“I understand that. But how long will it be before someone decides to send people out to Mars? We won’t be able to control that or if they want to take control of this world.”
“No one else on Earth even remotely can send people to Mars for at least another decade without our assistance. We are the only ones with the Ares and its nuclear-thermal drive. We are already in the process of constructing a second interplanetary transport. This ship will be about the same size as Ares but will have a modified nuclear-thermal drive that utilizes its nuclear fuel more efficiently and will be far easier to refuel because it will be employing a molten-salt fuel like our terrestrial nuclear power stations.
We are also going to be testing some additional technologies at the same time with the new vessel. One of the experimental deep space propulsion systems that we found on Father’s database was called the mini-magnetosphere plasma propulsion or ‘M2P2’ for short. We are testing a small M2P2 unit at the International Space Station at this time. If the tests are successful, we will be incorporating it into our second transport to replace the chemical rockets as the vessel’s secondary propulsion system.
This has the potential to significantly increase the speed and reduce fuel expenditure for the trip to and from Mars. If it meets our projections, we will then refit the Ares with an M2P2 drive also.” Judith explained.
“That’s great news. But I think that we are going to need at least three Ares-class transports to effectively support the colony here. That way, we can have one ship in transit, one ship either at Mars or in Earth orbit and one ship in refit.”
“That is a lot of capital that we will have to invest in these ships. We really need the entire Commonwealth to invest in a multi-ship fleet of Ares model interplanetary transports. We certainly can’t pay for all these spacecraft ourselves. I don’t even think that Australia alone can pick up the rest of the cost despite all of the industrial growth that we have spurred in the country.” Judith replied, then patiently waited for Beatrice’s response.
“Maybe you need to talk to someone in the UK who can help us out then? After all, we are hosting a fair number of personnel from England and Scotland at both our lunar and Martian facilities right now. Didn’t you meet with Margaret Thatcher during that conference in Oxford a few years ago? She has continued to gain considerable influence in the British government since then, I believe.”
“Yes, she has. But will we be able to convince her to go against her instincts towards reducing government spending, rather than increasing it?”
“I guess that I will have to make a trip to England to meet with her and find out.”
“Now, on a complexly different subject. How are things going back on Earth? I’ve heard from several of the new arrivals that there have been some disturbing events happening back home.” Beatrice asked.
“I’m just not sure, Beatrice. We have seen some worrying signs out of the Middle East. There are the usual provocations along the Iran-Iraq border. The Iranians noticed some irregularities in the Arab force deployments along their border. At the same time, the Arab oil-producing nations have been reiterating their threat to boycott anyone assisting or doing business with Israel. But nothing really adds up. At the same time, we had someone from Canberra try to lean on us on the same day that you flew up to the space station in preparation for your flight to Mars.” Judith explained.
“You are worried how the Australian government will react if we provide any additional support to Israel?” Beatrice asked.
“Yes, I am. I know that we have put a lot of good money into ensuring that we have sufficient influence within the Australian government so that we can do what is necessary to fulfill Father’s mission. But, there is still the possibility that some of our friends in Canberra could turn their backs on us when we need them most.”
“Is there anything going on closer to home? I know that we have had some concerns about East Asia over the past few years. Obviously, I’m not getting a detailed intelligence report out here at this point.”
“The Chinese Nationalist government hasn’t let go of the reins of power at all. The generals are still very firmly in control of the political process. At the same time, they have entered into alliances with the burgeoning Chinese industrial conglomerates. Industrialization in China has been progressing at an incredible rate. We believe that many of the largest industrial and business conglomerates have strong, underground ties to Chinese organized crime groups also.”
“Just like with the Russians.” Beatrice bitterly scowled.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. This industrial growth has fueled a similarly impressive growth in the Chinese military. We still think that the new weapons that are being purchased from Europe or being built in Chinese factories are being largely directed towards operations against Japan, Russia, Korea and possibly also French Indochina. Certainly, the French suspect that the Chinese have been supporting the insurgents in Indochina. Also, the Indians have been getting very nervous about the Chinese military buildup, especially since there have been some border incidents between Indian and Chinese troops in the Arunachal Pradesh area.
This has led the Indians to purchase all of the surplus weapons that they could find, mostly from the UK. In fact, the Indian Navy is in the process of incorporating virtually all of the warships that the Royal Navy was disposing of. Those ships were being sold by the British to help fund the purchase of the Royal Navy’s new generation of guided-missile cruisers, destroyers and frigates. The Indian Army and Air Force have likewise purchased large quantities of British weapons and the licenses to also produce them locally. One of the aircraft that the Indians purchased the production license for was the Gnat ultralight jet fighter that had been originally designed by Folland Aircraft. The Indians plan on building large numbers of these simple, inexpensive jet fighters to equip many of their fighter squadrons.
The Indians have also established connections with the Israelis for the design and production of advanced weapons that would be used by both militaries.”
“It really sounds like you are living in ‘interesting times’ back there on Earth, Judith. I can’t say that I envy you though. We all have so much work to do to continue Father’s mission. Obviously, it is not going to be easy either.
I believe that we are going to have to take more risks if we are going to overcome the obstacles that face us.”
“I understand that, Beatrice. I just wish that you were back here with us helping out back here on Earth.”
“No, Judith. My place is out here. We need one of us here anything to lead the development of the colony and to manage the use of the technology from Father’s database. Plus, there really isn’t any place on Earth for me at this point, not anymore.” Judith replied with a sad expression on her face.
“I wish that you didn’t feel that way, Beatrice. We all love you and miss you very much, especially Peter and Mary.” Judith replied, tears welling up in her eyes as she realized that Beatrice had no intention of ever coming back to Earth.
“I know, big sister. Anyway, I need to go now. Like everyone else here, I have a lot to do tomorrow. Take care and please send everyone my love.” Beatrice replied before the screen on Judith’s monitor returned to a test pattern as the transmission from Mars ended.
Judith sat there silently for several minutes afterwards, not knowing quite what to do next about Beatrice and her decision to leave Earth behind forever. Then Judith prayed that Beatrice would be alright so far away from home.
Chapter Fifty:
Iraqi Ba’ath National Socialist Party Headquarters
Baghdad, Iraq
June 15, 1970
Iraqi President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr stood by the window of his office overlooking downtown Baghdad, smoking a cigarette and watching the morning traffic as one of his assistants, Mohammed al-Badr walked in.
“Excuse me, Sir. You wanted to know the status of our planned operations against the abomination controlling the holy places where the prophet ascended to paradise.”
President al-Bakr snorted a cloud of cigarette smoke as he turned towards his assistant.
“Yes, give me your report, Mohammed. That damned cleric, Grand Mufti al-Husseini had been annoying me daily concerning our planned attack upon the Jewish entity. I think that he is far too anxious to make some glorious return to Jerusalem as if he were Isa himself.”
“The rotation of our forces to train against the Persians continues to go well, Insha’allah. They bleed the Persians with every raid and learn how to fight before the next battalion comes in to learn their lessons.”
“Very good. Have there been any problems?” al-Bakr asked after deeply inhaling from his cigarette.
“They complain that they are not given any air support during their operations. The Persians use their fighter-bombers and helicopters to hit our troops who have nothing more than their unit’s own antiaircraft guns to defend themselves with. The Syrian President, Hafez al-Hassad has also expressed concerns about how his forces are going to bear the brunt of the initial assault.”
“Just like our troops, Hassad’s people must learn how to defend themselves from aerial attacks now. But when the decisive moment comes, they will receive protection from the new aircraft that we have purchased from the Germans. Our pilots are training with their new weapons at a place in Germany’s sphere of influence where the Jews and their allies cannot see. This way, we will have to have the element of surprise working for us.
The Syrians should be thankful that we have given them the honor of being the first to reclaim our lands from the Israeli ‘pigs and monkeys’ instead of complaining. They should bear in mind that all of those who die during our jihad fighting against the infidels will go directly to paradise as shahids.
Now, what about our efforts to weaken the Jewish entity so that they will be unable to resist us at the appointed time?”
“Naturally, none of our allies in the area of the Arabian Gulf has been selling oil to the Israelis or any of the nations that have continued to trade, especially those who have sold weapons to them. Some nations like Venezuela have sold oil to the countries that we have boycotted, but Venezuelan oil is difficult to work with due to its composition. This makes it far less desirable in the international market.
The Australians continue to ignore our boycott. They have been receiving most of their imported oil from the field in Sumatra and developing other indigenous energy sources.”
“We must strengthen the isolation of the Jews from the rest of the world. It is unfortunate that the Asians do not understand Islam and its eternal enmity against the Jews like we Arabs do. We must do what we can to encourage them to support us more fully as fellow Muslims.
We must ensure that the Jews do not detect the true intent of our operations and the full extent of the forces that we are assembled against them. President Nasser will keep the Jews’ attention focused primarily on the west, of course.
But I have also assigned responsibility for our operational security to my lieutenant Saddam Hussain Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti. I am quite certain no one will dare violate our instructions and risk facing him.” al-Bakr said with a cruel laugh.
“That cigar-smoking Saddam is one sadistic bastard. He’s also as ambitious as Satan himself. I heard that even Saddam’s own mother tried to kill him shortly after he was born. I would hate to be the person who ever crossed him or failed to follow his instructions. He would do anything to destroy Israel. That is one thing that he has in common with Grand Mufti al-Husseini, his hatred for the Jews. The Grand Mufti wants nothing less than to finish the job that Hitler started.
Saddam is very fond of saying that there were three things that God should not have made; Jews, Persians and flies.’ I’m sure that he will think that it is fitting that we will be attacking Israel with German weapons as well as those that we have purchased from Russia.”
“The supersonic fighters that we purchased from Messerschmitt will clear the skies over the Jewish entity early in the attack. But the vertical takeoff jet fighter-bomber that we and Syrian purchased from Junkers will operate so close to the front lines that they will be continually dropping bombs onto the infidels’ heads. In addition to the overwhelming force and the tactical misdirection that we will be employing, the timing of our attack will catch them unawares and out of position.
Then they will be horrified to see masses of German and Russian-built tanks rolling over their positions shortly after their fortifications have been shattered by the artillery that we have also purchased from the Germans.
Once we have dealt with the Jews, then we will turn and destroy the Persians and the Kurds. Then, we will finally put the Shia in their place, once and for all.”
Off in the distance, the two men heard the distant call to prayer from the grand mosque’s loudspeakers.
“I suppose that we need to find our prayer rugs and show our obedience to Allah.” Al-Bakr commented as he crushed out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray.
“Will you need your usual whisky afterwards, Sir?”
“Yes, I will. Thank you. We are lucky that we don’t have that damned cleric al-Husseini hovering over us here to prevent us from enjoying the finer things in life.” Al-Bakr laughed.
“Yes, that is very true. But seriously, I worry that one of the nations allied with the Jews will use the cameras on their orbiting spy satellites to detect our operations when we make our move.”
“We are going to take extensive measures to conceal our movements from spies on the ground and in the air. This includes conducting most of our unit movements at night to prevent them from being seen by our foes and altering the markings on our vehicles to hide which units are actually moving.”
“Very good. We do not want the Jews to learn of our plans until it is far too late.” Al-Badr replied.
Chapter Fifty-One:
Cavill Industries Headquarters
Derby, Western Australia
August 28, 1970
Judith and Sarah Cavill were busy discussing a variety of business and technical issues early that Friday afternoon before the weekend. As usual, multiple issues needed to be addressed by the Cavill siblings that could not be discussed with anyone outside of the family.
“With Beatrice gone to Mars and James out at Kalumburu, it is very difficult for you and I to keep up with everything that is going on. Our senior managers have had to handle a lot more than they have ever done before.
I have no idea how our father managed to handle all of this by himself for all of those years, Sarah.” A frustrated Judith asked.
“Well, Cavill Industries is a lot larger than it was in Father’s time, you know. But we do have the advantage of far superior communications and the general computer support in addition to Father’s computer database information. This helps us handle a much more complex situation now.” Sarah confidently explained as she sipped on a cup of tea.
