Earth Afire (The First Formic War 2)

Victor exhaled. This wasn't going well. "I am grateful for the care I have received. But I would rather have a listening ear than a pill. I know what has crippled space communications. I know what's causing the interference. A near-lightspeed alien ship is heading to Earth. It's in our solar system already. It has weapons capabilities far beyond anything we've seen. It destroyed four ships of free miners and killed hundreds, maybe thousands, of people, including a member of my own family." He was trembling now but keeping his voice calm. "I saw the bodies. Women, children, all of them dead."

Mungwai raised a hand to silence him. "I've read your file, Mr. Delgado. I know what you claim to have seen."

"I don't claim anything. I don't have to. The vids and evidence speak for themselves."

"I've seen your vid," said Mungwai. "I also saw four other vids from the scientific community refuting yours as a likely hoax."

Victor opened his mouth to speak but Mungwai cut him off.

"However, rather than pass judgment, I forwarded your evidence to a friend at STASA."

Victor nearly leapt at the words. STASA, the Space Trade and Security Authority. Imala had been trying to get their attention for days. STASA monitored all space traffic and commerce and had deep ties with every government on Earth. If anyone could add credibility to Victor's evidence, it was STASA. Earth would instantly respond.

"What did they say?" asked Imala.

"My friend said he would pass the information on to the proper department. STASA apparently has a whole division dedicated to addressing these kinds of anomalies."

"Anomalies?" said Victor.

"Tricks of the light," said Mungwai. "Hallucinations. It happens all the time. A miner doesn't regulate his oxygen levels correctly or is suffering from fatigue, and he sees all sorts of things."

"These aren't hallucinations," said Victor. "This isn't based on testimony--"

Imala cut him off. "When will you hear back from your contact at STASA? Can we contact him directly?"

"You won't be contacting anyone, Imala," said Mungwai. "You are on administrative leave effective immediately. I'm removing you from this case. And don't look so surprised. You've been neglecting your other duties, and what's worse, you aided a criminal and uploaded his vids onto the nets."

"To warn Earth!" said Imala.

"That is not your job," said Mungwai. "Your job is to inform illegal entrants of their rights and to prepare the necessary documentation for their deportation."

"You're deporting me?" said Victor.

"You're an illegal entrant, Mr. Delgado. And a lawbreaker. I have decided not to give your case to the prosecutor, but I cannot allow you to remain on Luna. You will stay in the recovery hospital until the next ship leaves for the Asteroid Belt in four days. If STASA wants to contact you or request a stay before then, they may do so. Otherwise, you're on that ship. Once you reach the Asteroid Belt you'll have to find your own passage back to your family. I don't have a vessel going that far. As for the vids you uploaded onto the nets, I'm having them removed immediately."

"What!" said Victor.

"You can't," said Imala.

"I can and will," said Mungwai. "This department will not be held responsible for inducing a worldwide panic. You helped upload those vids, Imala, which makes us partly responsible for any adverse effect they may have on the citizenry. That showed extremely poor judgment on your part."

"People need to know," said Imala.

"There are protocols for this, Imala."

"Are you sure?" said Imala. "Because I don't recall reading 'How to Warn Earth of an Alien Invasion' in the employee handbook."

Mungwai stiffened. "You are dismissed, Imala. And you're lucky I don't have you fired outright. That is still a possibility. In which case, you would be on the first ship back to Earth. I suggest you don't push the matter."

Imala said nothing, jaw clenched tight.

"You saw the vids," Victor said to Mungwai. "How can you do this?"

"What I am doing, Mr. Delgado, is keeping the peace and maintaining order, what should have been done in the first place. Screaming 'fire' in a crowded theater will only get people killed, even if there is a fire. Informing STASA is the best course of action. Isn't that what you wanted? They're the best people to handle this."

"Unless they dismiss it," said Victor. "Unless they blow it off like everyone else."

"You are excused, Imal