Defy the Worlds (Defy the Stars #2)(93)
Somebody else shouts, “Why should we believe you?”
To Abel’s surprise, Krall takes the module back. “Why shouldn’t you? There’s nothing to lose by checking for ourselves, and everything to gain. Since when do Vagabonds sit on their hands and refuse to act unless everything’s sure and safe? That’s no way to own the skies.” A few people raise fists; apparently “Own the skies” is a Vagabond saying, a way of claiming their homeless status with pride. Krall adds—in a more ordinary tone of voice, “Besides, some of my captains have been hearing rumors for a couple of months now. Whispers that Earth was going to make a move that would end the Genesis War, and to me, infecting Genesis with Cobweb sounds a whole lot like that kind of move. I believe her. So does Remedy.” With that, she nods toward Ephraim Dunaway.
Ephraim gets a strange look on his face as he realizes he’s become the spokesperson for his entire, leaderless group. Yet he doesn’t hesitate either. “If we travel to Genesis, we could get the proof that will turn the other colony worlds against Earth forever. That’s worth a trip through a Gate, don’t you think?”
Murmurs of assent fill the room. Concern is turning to enthusiasm. At first Abel finds it odd that they’re so easily convinced, but then he realizes, Only those inclined to believe the report made the rendezvous to begin with. The doubters will of course remain far away from any potential uprising.
Noemi gestures for the module, which Ephraim hands over with what looks like relief. “We don’t have much time. Genesis was already suffering terribly when I left—what, five days ago? Six days? I’ve been on too many planets to tell.” A few people laugh knowingly; this is a problem Vagabonds are used to. “My planet is weak, and Earth knows it. They must be planning to invade within a week or two. We can’t afford to wait.”
Krall claims the module again. “The longer we stay here, the better chance we have of Earth finding us. My Consortium declares itself for Genesis. Who’s with us?”
Cheers fill the room. Noemi smiles at Abel, elated. He understands her emotion, but is also very aware of the greater authority Dagmar Krall has just claimed. As long as Krall intends to help Genesis, however, he will not object.
Another voice from below rises over the last of the applause. “A fleet this big, Earth’s bound to see us headed for the Gate. What’s going to stop them from coming after us right away, before we can even get through?”
Noemi steps forward. “We’re going to give them their own problem to deal with. We’re about to spill the biggest secret Earth’s ever had.”
Crews assemble. Weapons are double-checked. Engines are put into overdrive. The signal goes out from the Katara, and within 2.1 seconds, every ship in the new fleet zooms straight toward the Genesis Gate.
Not long after the Gate comes within visual range, Virginia sounds the alarm: “Earth defense systems near Mars are starting to look mighty awake.”
“Let’s give them something to wake up to.” Abel nods toward Noemi, who settles herself at the comm station. He enters the codes that will patch them into pan-galactic communications arrays, then nods to Noemi.
It’s time to change the galaxy.
“Citizens of Earth and its allied colony worlds,” Noemi begins. “This is Noemi Vidal of the planet Genesis. The truth about the Cobweb plague—both on Genesis and throughout the galaxy at large—has been kept from you. Attached to this audio message are data files that will explain the disease’s origin, and the method Earth used to distribute the plague to Genesis, an act of biological warfare forbidden by all Earth laws and every pan-galactic accord.”
The Razers provided all of that information. One of those data files is a copy of the new, “improved” Cobweb virus unleashed on Genesis. Another is the assembled research Remedy’s moderate wing has on Cobweb, which goes back to within a year of its emergence.
Noemi continues, “Your leaders will try to tell you these files are forgeries—which is why you should also look at the files that provide the location of another Gate in Earth’s solar system—a secret Gate, one that leads to the planet Haven, a habitable world that’s been kept secret, too. It’s a dangerous planet, for a number of reasons; most human beings can’t land there and survive. But there are ways to make it safe for billions of people someday, ways Earth has hidden from us all. Find that Gate, and you’ll know Earth’s been lying to you. Find Haven, and you’ll know why Earth created Cobweb in the first place. Once you’ve done that, you’ll know this is the truth—about Haven, about Cobweb, and about Genesis. Earth is responsible for all of this. Earth did it all knowingly, and cruelly. But we can undo that damage. We can take back the worlds that belong to us. We have to do it together.”
Abel snaps off the comms. “Full message packet— distributed.”
“That’s it.” Noemi leans back in her chair, almost in a state of shock. “Do you think any of them will believe me?”
“Lots of them won’t,” Virginia says blithely. “But some people are going to investigate. Curious people, people already suspicious of Earth, even bored people. You don’t need many of them to follow the trail before word gets out. Trust me, the leaders of Earth are currently peeing their collective pants.”
Abel understands the colloquialism, but the visual image this presents is… peculiar.