"Wiggins' arrival went safely I trust?"
"Of course."
"And he is at the old NASA building?"
"Yes."
"And he's been briefed on the mission?"
"Yes."
"And he knows the stakes?"
"Well..."
"What do you mean 'well'?"
"He's been told what he needs to be told."
"Does he know that this battle could decide the fate of the planet?"
"No."
"Did you not learn from our previous mistakes?"
"Of course."
"Then why haven't you told him?"
"His mental stability could snap under that pressure."
"He has to know."
"Need I remind you of Bonzo Madrid?"
"He has to know!"
***
Bean stared at Ender.
It was two in the morning and everyone else was asleep.
Ender had just asked a question Bean hadn't been expecting.
"What do I think's goin' on? They briefed you didn't they."
"Merda."
"Probably so, but since when do you ask for my opinion?"
"Since I know it'll be closer to the truth and I need to know what's going on."
"No interruptions?"
"Which one of us is the commander here?"
"Wrong answer."
"Alright Bean. No interruptions. Tell me."
"The group we're fighting is a group of China's best army officials. They will be able to attack from both sides and probably inside."
"China's funding this."
"That gives them opportunity to spy."
"So it's not a big deal? Why would they bring me back?"
"Conceited too?"
Ender glared, Bean smiled.
"Alright Bean, tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"Why is this a big deal?"
"Because if they defeat us, the only people qualified to lead a nation to victory, they can take the other nations."
"Russia?"
"They aren't prepared yet."
"South America?"
"I've been through every nation that could possibly do it."
"You're sure it's China?"
"I already said that."
"So we need to make them think they've won and sneak attack."
"I know."
Ender almost made a comment, but stopped himself.
There was no point.
"I'm turning in."
Bean didn't reply.
After a few moments Ender stood and walked toward the door.
After palming it opened Bean saw two guards lead him towards his room before the door hissed shut.
He remained seated for several minutes and then got up.
He crossed to the door and palmed it open.
Walking down the corridor, flanked by guards, he realized that they had two problems on their hands.
Once the information slipped out, as it surely would, that Ender was back on earth, it would cause a panic with every nation with any
shot at hegemonic power trying to find the Napoleon of 2070's before anyone else did.
That must be part of China's strategy.
With the nations of the world scrambling for Ender they would be off guard.
That meant China's forces, even though they were considerably smaller, could weaken the other nations.
Destruction wasn't needed.
All they needed was to have them bow down to them.
Ender's return would have it's advantages, but also it's disadvantages.
The question was which would outweigh the other.
They reached Bean's room and showed him in.
There was a bunk in one corner and a locker in the other.
His suitcase (if you could call it that) lay on the bunk and a computer sat on a small desk at the back.
He stepped in and closed the door, then set to work.
After searching for an air vent, he put the desk under it.
He doubted anyone would spy through the vents or barge into his room, but you could never be too careful.
He then turned on the computer and hacked his way into the mainframe where he deleted all networks, screen monitors and anything
else that might be used to spy on his work.
After he had done this he clicked on the button labeled "Nets".
The internet browsers came up and he chose one under politics, and then typed in "Demosthenes".
After a second of collecting files the data scrolled out on the screens and Bean sat back to read.
There was no point going to bed since it would be wake-up call in three hours and he wanted to know what Peter Wiggins had to say
about China's hegemonic position.
"Of course."
"And he is at the old NASA building?"
"Yes."
"And he's been briefed on the mission?"
"Yes."
"And he knows the stakes?"
"Well..."
"What do you mean 'well'?"
"He's been told what he needs to be told."
"Does he know that this battle could decide the fate of the planet?"
"No."
"Did you not learn from our previous mistakes?"
"Of course."
"Then why haven't you told him?"
"His mental stability could snap under that pressure."
"He has to know."
"Need I remind you of Bonzo Madrid?"
"He has to know!"
***
Bean stared at Ender.
It was two in the morning and everyone else was asleep.
Ender had just asked a question Bean hadn't been expecting.
"What do I think's goin' on? They briefed you didn't they."
"Merda."
"Probably so, but since when do you ask for my opinion?"
"Since I know it'll be closer to the truth and I need to know what's going on."
"No interruptions?"
"Which one of us is the commander here?"
"Wrong answer."
"Alright Bean. No interruptions. Tell me."
"The group we're fighting is a group of China's best army officials. They will be able to attack from both sides and probably inside."
"China's funding this."
"That gives them opportunity to spy."
"So it's not a big deal? Why would they bring me back?"
"Conceited too?"
Ender glared, Bean smiled.
"Alright Bean, tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"Why is this a big deal?"
"Because if they defeat us, the only people qualified to lead a nation to victory, they can take the other nations."
"Russia?"
"They aren't prepared yet."
"South America?"
"I've been through every nation that could possibly do it."
"You're sure it's China?"
"I already said that."
"So we need to make them think they've won and sneak attack."
"I know."
Ender almost made a comment, but stopped himself.
There was no point.
"I'm turning in."
Bean didn't reply.
After a few moments Ender stood and walked toward the door.
After palming it opened Bean saw two guards lead him towards his room before the door hissed shut.
He remained seated for several minutes and then got up.
He crossed to the door and palmed it open.
Walking down the corridor, flanked by guards, he realized that they had two problems on their hands.
Once the information slipped out, as it surely would, that Ender was back on earth, it would cause a panic with every nation with any
shot at hegemonic power trying to find the Napoleon of 2070's before anyone else did.
That must be part of China's strategy.
With the nations of the world scrambling for Ender they would be off guard.
That meant China's forces, even though they were considerably smaller, could weaken the other nations.
Destruction wasn't needed.
All they needed was to have them bow down to them.
Ender's return would have it's advantages, but also it's disadvantages.
The question was which would outweigh the other.
They reached Bean's room and showed him in.
There was a bunk in one corner and a locker in the other.
His suitcase (if you could call it that) lay on the bunk and a computer sat on a small desk at the back.
He stepped in and closed the door, then set to work.
After searching for an air vent, he put the desk under it.
He doubted anyone would spy through the vents or barge into his room, but you could never be too careful.
He then turned on the computer and hacked his way into the mainframe where he deleted all networks, screen monitors and anything
else that might be used to spy on his work.
After he had done this he clicked on the button labeled "Nets".
The internet browsers came up and he chose one under politics, and then typed in "Demosthenes".
After a second of collecting files the data scrolled out on the screens and Bean sat back to read.
There was no point going to bed since it would be wake-up call in three hours and he wanted to know what Peter Wiggins had to say
about China's hegemonic position.