Believe in Me Chapter 4 –Options-

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“Is it true? Are they dead?”

Heero nodded slowly, “I’m afraid so.”

Relena turned her head and drifted into a blank stare. ‘Not again.’ She thought.

“I’ll arrange a security detail and give you two some time alone.” Duo said stepping out of the their bedroom back out into the main part of the suite. Heero closed the door and walked over to Relena. She seemed lost in thought and completely withdrawn.

Finally she spoke, “An accident?”

“It looks that way, although a full investigation is probably just now getting underway. I’ll make some calls back to Earth and see what I can find.”

“I’ll call my brother.”

“Duo is arranging for a security detail for you.”

“Guess your leaving?”

“Relena, I have to go.”

“I know… But everything in my mind right now is telling me this couldn’t be coincidence.”

“It’s not.” He said firmly.

She finally turned her head back towards him. Then came a knock on the door

“Heero.” Duo opened the door slowly just sticking his head through. “Sorry but a group on Mars just claimed responsibility for the shuttle.”

“What?” Relena’s voice pushed Duo for more detail.

“They’re saying its no accident. This group the Mars Independence League said they destroyed the shuttle on purpose.”

“Why Duo?” she pressed.

“According to the information headquarters gave they are saying they did it to make a statement about ESUN representation on Mars. Specifically, they won’t tolerate direct Governmental control.”

Relena stood up and reached for the videophone, “This isn’t right, ESUN would never try such a thing. Why would they think…?” Then she stopped mid thought and started punching in numbers franticly.

Milliardo Peacecraft’s face popped up on the phone’s view screen several seconds later.

“Milliardo!” Relena exclaimed.

“Relena, I’ve been trying to reach you.” He said relieved.

“I’m on L2 with Heero.”

“Good! Heero is with you.” Milliardo relaxed a little more now. Himself and Heero had found a mutual admiration and respect for each other than went well beyond words. He had known for a long time Relena loved Heero, and Heero loved his sister. It took time for both of them and a push along the way to finish the job they had started years earlier.

“What’s going on with Mars?” She asked franticly.

“I don’t know this is the first I’ve seen of the Mars Independence League claiming responsibility for this mess. I keep watchful eyes on everything that goes on here. None of our colony construction representatives have heard anything of our people troubled Mars would just become a large resource satellite with no Representation in ESUN. You know we’d never tolerate that but I did hear of some rumblings from a few members in Congress about sending in temporary representation since we have been behind schedule. Seemed to be an empty push by a few power hungry people.

Relena looked back at Heero.

“We may have an idea on what’s going on, but this line isn’t secure.” Milliardo read Heero perfectly. “Understood, just take of Relena.”

“You can count on it.” Heero responded

Milliardo allowed a small smile to reach his face then continued speaking. “I have my people out trying to find anything and everything they can now. I’ll investigate this personally don’t worry”

“Roger that, we will be in contact shortly.”

Milliardo nodded and terminated the connection.

“I’ve got to get a hold of all the Mars support I have right away. I need to call Maggie.” Relena said worryingly.

“No need she’s out in the living room, I had your security detail pick her up.” Duo said.

Heero leaned in and kissed Relena on the cheek then pulled back far enough to look onto her eyes. “Don’t worry.” His voice was shallow but she knew what he was trying to say.

“I’ll worry for the both of us.” She grabbed him and gave him a hug.

“Be careful.” she whispered. He nodded breaking their embrace.

“You too Duo.”

Duo smiled, “No worries here Lena.”

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“What’s your status?” Une asked the two men calmly.

“The Foreign Minister is safe and we’ve made contact with Peacecraft on Mars. This is the first they’ve heard of the Mars Independent League.” Duo answered.

Heero allowed his body weight to rest on an adjacent wall from where Duo sat speaking to Une. He allowed his eyes to close briefly.

“Have you made any contact with your objective at this point?” Duo shook his head no, “Not yet. We we’re waiting until the Foreign Minister and Campbell had completed some late meetings they had scheduled then things took this turn.”

Une nodded her head in understanding and spoke, “Our intelligence up to this point has no traces of a Mars Independence League.”

Heero opened his eyes and moved over to the videophone. “That’s because it doesn’t really exist.” Duo nodded in agreement and then picked up where Heero started. “We assumed Campbell knew we had Jamerson and were fishing around here on L2 for a reason, that’s why we’re guessing he pushed Relena for a formal Defense Committee seat. When she turned him down… he reacted.”

“And now two members of Congress are dead.” She followed Duo finishing his train of thought.

Heero spoke again, “Setting up two empty seats on the defense committee and tipping the balance of power to his side.”

“That is if he’s confirmed.” Duo added, as he happened to glance over to the televised news feed covering the shuttle assassination. Heero watched his partner’s eyes move to the television screen and he moved himself to get a better look. Congressman John Campbell was moving in front of a podium and a frenzy of media and press.

“Campbell is giving a statement.”

Simultaneously both parties on their end of the videophone turned the volume up on their televisions and listened intently.

He was dressed in a pair of dark blue dress pants and a white shirt minus the tie, his face was slightly red and his eyes puffy, he paused once he reached the podium then spoke.

  “First, I would like to express my deepest sympathies and regret to the families whom tragically lost loved ones this evening. There is no excuse for this loss and I’m sure no words I could ever find could begin to comfort them in this there time of need.” He paused soaking up the moment and allowing his words to hand in the air then continued.    "Why our ESUN Preventer agents we’re not able to stop this tragedy I do not know. But I would like to assure the people of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation and Mars that this act of cowardice will not be tolerated from the Mars Independence League or any other terrorist organization. We will not live in fear of terrorists! You can rest assure that I will personally help lead the cause to bring these cowards to justice... Again to the families that lost loved one tonight, my prayers and thoughts are with you.”

Campbell lowered his head slightly and allowed questions to flood the floor from reporters, he answered just one. “Congressman, are you placing blame on the Preventer organization also for not stopping this group before hand?” Campbell refrained from grinning ear to ear. “Blame?” He questioned. “Blame is too soft a word, I want to know why we knew nothing of this terrorist group, and why no warning was issued to the members of Congress traveling to Mars. I have a slew of questions I’ll get answers to for us and the families who lost loved one tonight.” Campbell sensing victory then left the room.

“That was Congressman John Campbell sending his sympathies to the family members….” Heero turning the television set down cutting off the news reporter recapping Campbell’s comments.

“He’ll get confirmed after that speech tonight. It’s a damn witch hunt for us.” Duo said sighing.

“The Congress will be in a panic and they will demand answers of Mars we can’t give now without proof.” Heero said pausing while the most obvious solution entered his head. “What if we eliminate Campbell? Now would be the most opportune time. Thus destroying the Mars League at the same time.”

“That would make us no better than him and could give way to another person to rise in his place.” Duo protested.

“Not if we choose someone else to take his place.” Heero responded.

Duo stood up and looked at Heero cautiously. “We can’t do this! We shouldn’t even be considering this!”

Director Une stayed quiet throughout the entire exchange then spoke. “Make no doubt about it, Congressman John Campbell will be placed on the Defense Committee and I don’t have to tell either of you what this means. I’ve known you both for many years, fought with you and against you. The decision that is made tonight may or may not haunt us for the rest of our lives.

“The question is… does one life justify the stability of billions of others?” Heero asked the question slightly unsure of the answer he would now give.

“No Heero you’re wrong! The question is, can we live with ourselves now by doing what we would have done five years ago without hesitation? I’m not the same man I was then and I thought you weren’t either.”

Heero looked straight into Duo’s eyes then spoke, “The man you knew five years ago would not be having this conversation with you now, and to a point I agree with you we don’t know Campbell’s true intentions. But they are not hard to put together."

Heero turned his attention back to the videophone screen. “How long until the Defense committee will start confirmation hearings?”

“A few days… a week at most perhaps, considering they we’re scheduled to meet next week. They will have to fill the empty seats in short order according to the ESUN charter.”

“Understood, we will have results before the confirmations take place.”

Une nodded and made one final comment before terminating their connection. “Discretion is in your hands Commander Yuy.”

Heero turned and faced Duo, “He murdered a shuttle full of people tonight, and he will be stopped one way or the other.”

“Fair enough Heero. I just won’t sink to his level… not again, not in this lifetime.”

Heero contemplated Duo’s words; flashbacks of him holding the gun over Mariemaia flooded his mind. He shook his head pushing the memories away. “I have another way. But should we fail I will finish what Campbell started before it is too late.” His answer to Duo was firm and his voice final.

“That’s why you’re in charge.” Duo responded flatly.

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Campbell sat in his study listening to a few of his aids dictate his schedule for the next day. Katrina came in and dismissed them leaving only herself and Campbell in the study.

“Late night polling shows your numbers up thirty-five percent. Also the Congress has responded warmly to your comments tonight.” Katrina said sitting down the poll information on his desk.

Confidently Campbell leaned back in his chair. “And to think Katrina, what started out as disaster ends with us holding the deck of cards.”

She smiled, “You will make the committee and from there anything is possible.”

“Speaking of the committee how long until confirmation hearings start?” Campbell asked her.

“Three days according to the ESUN charter. I have already made contact with our strongest supporters. Minister Darlian is rallying support also, but her case against your confirmation doesn’t look strong at all.”

“Darlian.” Campbell seethed her name through his teeth. “It’s a shame really she wasn’t on board that shuttle tonight. I’m sure the people would not have minded if she would have given her life for our little revolution.”

“General with all the turmoil that will surround her due to the Mars assassinations I would expect her to fade into the background soon.”

“Careful not to underestimate her Katrina, now that we are so close to achieving our goal. I’d suspect she’s shaken and perhaps a little scared but nonetheless foolishly determined.”

Katrina nodded her head in agreement. “Minister Darlian has made preparations to return to earth first thing in the morning, I have made our reservations for tomorrow also. Also word in from our Preventer friend, the two agents that were here earlier have been re-assigned to Mars for investigation.”

“Interesting… are we certain our friend has not been compromised?” Campbell asked wryly.

“All of the proper codes and frequencies were used. On the same note confirmation of Jamerson’s demise has been sent.” Katrina handed a memory disk and autopsy report to Campbell.

“Excellent, and I take it all traces of the Mars Independence League have been erased.”

She nodded, “Yes sir, erased until further needed. If at all.”

Campbell laughed. “We will walk straight onto the defense committee why they all chase their tails."

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End Chapter 4. Thank you for your comments and thoughts.  

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