Ben Bova - Moonwar

“He has tried to interest your board of directors in fusion for many years, to no avail. Now Yamagata Industries offers you a partnership in this new industry.”

“You want to take over Masterson Corporation.”

“A merger makes much sense. Cooperation is much to be preferred over competition.”

Lev spoke up. “May I interrupt?”

Yamagata turned his head toward the Russian.

“If you gain control of Moonbase, why do you want to pursue a cooperative partnership with Masterson Corporation? You will have the nanotechnology to produce fusion fuel on the Moon. Yes?”

Yamagata smiled politely. “Just so. But why not be generous to a defeated competitor? Masterson can market fusion systems in the western hemisphere while Yamagata markets them in the eastern hemisphere.”

Scratching at his beard unconsciously, Lev replied, “And when the market for Clipperships opens up again, you can resume manufacturing them despite the nanotech treaty. No?”

Yamagata shook his head vigorously. “No. Not at all. That point is clear. The forces arrayed against nanotechnology will not allow Clipperships to be brought to Earth. Not for the foreseeable future.”

Lev frowned, puzzled.

“You must realize,” Yamagata said, shifting his attention to Joanna again,’that not even I can openly flout Faure and the nanoluddites. Helium-three they will accept, diamond Clipperships are too obvious a symbol of nanotechnology for them to put up with.”

Joanna watched the man’s face as he spoke. Even though Yamagata maintained a bland mask that revealed almost nothing of his inner emotions, there was something going on inside him, she was certain. He’s not telling us his real motivations.

“You will maintain the nanotechnology laboratories at Moonbase?” she asked.

Yamagata avoided her eyes. “Yes, I think so. Although we will have to keep their work quiet, so that the fears of the nanoluddites are not aroused.”

“Including the medical research?”

“Of course.”

“But what good will the researchers’ work be, if their results can’t be used on Earth?”

He shrugged. “It is my belief that scientific research should always be encouraged.”

“Even if its results have no practical uses?”

Yamagata dipped his chin slightly.

“Or even if the results can be used only on the Moon,” Joanna guessed.

He seemed to freeze, like a small animal caught in the headlights of an onrushing car. Joanna saw something flicker in his eyes. Fear, perhaps?

At last Yamagata replied, “Yes, even if the results of the research can be used only on the Moon.”

Suddenly understanding, Joanna asked, “Mr Yamagata, do you intend to live at Moonbase someday?”

Yamagata had been sitting ramrod straight. Now he sagged back on his heels noticeably. He eyed Lev carefully, then turned his gaze back to Joanna.

“Perhaps,” he said, in a near whisper. “I may retire there, eventually.”

“So that you can have the benefits of nanotherapy without worrying about the reactions of the luddites,” Joanna said. It was not a question.

Yamagata did not reply.

“What is the problem?” Joanna asked softly. “Cancer?”

Still he did not reply. He sat rigidly on his heels, eyes staring now on infinity, looking stiffly at the wall behind Joanna and Lev.

“It is cancer, then,” Joanna said.

Yamagata’s earth-brown eyes focused on her at last. He sighed, then said tonelessly, “If you even hint to anyone on Earth—or the Moon—that I am afflicted with cancer, I will have you assassinated.”

Joanna stared at him from across the lacquered table.

“Do you understand?” Yamagata said. “I will not tolerate any insinuations or rumors about my health.”

Joanna’s mind was racing. He’s got cancer and he needs nanotherapy. He needs Zimmerman and he can’t bring him back to Earth for fear that the nanoluddites will find out and try to assassinate them both. That’s why he’s surrounded himself with all this security! He’s already tried nanotherapy. If the fanatics learn of that…

“There is no need for threats,” Lev said. “If you want Moonbase’s nanotherapy expertise and Moonbase’s nano-technology to ferret out helium-three for your fusion reactors, why not simply enter into a cooperative arrangement with us? Why the U.N. and this attempt to take Moonbase away from us?”

“The answer is obvious,” Yamagata said, looking squarely at Joanna instead of Lev. “I must be in control. Cooperation is fine—as long as I am in complete command of our cooperative efforts. That is why I must have Masterson Corporation, including Moonbase.”

“But if Moonbase wins its independence—”

With iron in his voice, Yamagata replied, That is why I am helping Faure to assemble a Peacekeeper force. Before the World Court convenes in November, Moonbase will be operated by Yamagata Industries.”

“Or destroyed,” Lev said.

“We will try to avoid that,” said Yamagata. “No one wants to see Moonbase destroyed.”

“Except the fanatics.”

“Yes,” Yamagata agreed. “They are a danger to all of us.”

“Then cooperate with us and stop this military confrontation!” Joanna urged.

Yamagata shook his head. “No. I will take Moonbase. I must take it. I cannot rest easily until Moonbase is in my hands.”

“So all your talk of cooperation is a sham,” Joanna said.

“Not so! I welcome your cooperation. And you will cooperate with me—once I have Moonbase.”

Joanna bit back the reply she wanted to make. Instead, she took a deep breath to calm herself.

Yamagata interpreted her silence exactly. “I know that very little of this pleases you. But I hope you can understand why I must act so.”

“I can understand,” Joanna replied, “without agreeing.”

Yamagata dipped his chin slightly. “Now that you understand, please tell your son that resistance is futile. If Moonbase resists the Peacekeepers again, the results will be very bad for all of us.”

“What do you mean?”

With an unhappy sigh, Yamagata answered, “If your son tries to fight the Peacekeepers, forces will be set in motion that not even I can control.”

“Forces?” Lev asked. “What forces?”

“You think that I control Faure. I thought so too, once. But he has the backing of fanatics, madmen who send out assassins and terrorists to accomplish their ends. Faure has turned into a monster,” Yamagata said bitterly, “a Frankenstein that I helped to create.”

“You’re talking about the nanoluddites,” Joanna said.

“The nanoluddites. Fanatics who are so frightened of nano-technology that they will destroy Moonbase if you try to resist the Peacekeepers.”

“How could they destroy Moonbase?” Joanna challenged.

“If your son tries to fight against the Peacekeepers, Moon-base will be wiped out,” Yamagata replied. “All its people will be killed. And there is nothing that any of us can do to stop it. It is too late to stop it. The forces are already in motion. That is why I urgently plead with you to allow us to take control of Moonbase. Cooperate with me, or Moonbase will be utterly annihilated.”

Doug’s helmet earphones chirped.

“Doug, this is Jinny.” Her voice sounded weak, faint. “Latest imagery from Kadar’s bird shows Gordette’s tractor parked outside tempo six.”

“Parked?”

“Didn’t move all through the satellite’s pass overhead,” Anson said. “That’s only five minutes or so, granted, but it sure looks like he’s either inside the tempo or out there on foot.”

Pushing the volume control on his wrist keyboard, Doug thought aloud, “Maybe his tractor broke down? Dust. Electrical malfunction.”