Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [179]
‘I didn't make you into a moron, and I don't think your parents did, either. It's going to take more than being grounded for a few days to make up for what you did. A court martial and a couple of weeks in the brig might teach you all some respect for authority.' She gestured to the guards. ‘Take them into custody and let Lieutenant Commander Brindle deal with them in the lead Manta. While they cool their heels in an EDF cell, they can reflect on how kind and gentle my occupation's been - until now.' Willis growled at the three boys shivering in their boat. ‘Thanks to you, I'm going to have to change, my tactics.'
* * * * *
The next day the Admiral demanded to see Hakim Allahu, as well as the heads of the Company Works, the reef quarry, and several of the larger homesteads. She brought them all to stand before her command hut like scolded children.
‘Let's cut through the bullshit. Maybe you don't like what the Chairman's doing, but you provoked him in the first place. What the hell did you expect to happen if you spit in his face? You're damned lucky he sent me instead of somebody a lot worse.' Willis had specifically staged it so that the men had to stare into the bright sun as they faced her. ‘When my ships first arrived, I didn't expect you to welcome us with flowers, but I did expect you to be sensible. Have you any inkling how much slack I've cut you? If one of the other Grid Admirals had come here, Rhejak might well be a prison camp now. I thought we had an understanding. Now, would someone please explain the nonsense that happened last night?'
Drew Vardian, still florid, said, ‘Nonsense? How can you not understand what those young men did? It makes perfect sense to me, and I'm the one they hurt.‘
‘A lot of people on Rhejak will support them,' Allahu added. ‘You can't expect us to like being invaded by EDF bullies. You've already hurt our economy. We know of at least nine legitimate trade ships that your.Mantas scared away.'
‘You're no better than pirates,' said one of the fishermen homesteaders. ‘We produce valuable commodities, and you come here with your battleships to steal it all from us.'
Willis began to grow angry. ‘You're making some awfully big assumptions there, Mister. We haven't sent a single shipment back to Earth. In fact, nobody has even attempted to discuss trade terms with me, yet you're ready to complain about it, even blow up one of your own factories. Does that make any sense?'
Allahu blinked in disbelief. ‘Are you saying you actually intend to pay for the assets you seized?'
‘And at a fair price?' the Company man added.
‘I'm saying, gentlemen, that we're at a watershed here. You forced me into a choice. We can either reach an accommodation, or I can crack down on your asses and run this place like a military academy. You choose. Can you keep your own people under control?' She studied their faces. ‘I have to tell you, I kind of like this place, and I'd just as soon keep its special flavour intact. I won't make drastic changes unless you force me to.'
Neither Allahu nor the other representatives knew how to react to her offer.
Willis sighed. ‘I see the cat's got your tongue. Let me start off with a few points of discussion. I'll hear your grievances and do my damndest to administer a peace. To begin with, I'll allow the reopening of outside trade with Roamers or whomever you want - for non-vital items, only. You can sell your reef-pearls and seafood, a percentage of your kelp extracts, and non-essential metals. The Earth Defence Forces and the Terran Hanseatic League will, however, retain priority on materials we deem necessary. And the Hansa will pay you for whatever we take - at a wholesale rate, of course,‘ she quickly added. 'Are those terms you can accept?‘
‘We can accept them.' Allahu looked at his colleagues. ‘Maybe not happily, but it's better than being run as a military state.'
She turned to