Descending to Defeat

Admiral Kathy Tenka sat in the control room of her shuttle as it hung in orbit over the Earth. Within the next two hours she would be announcing that she was in complete control of the government of the Terran Republic. Her military dictatorship was at hand.

Tenka's coup had been meticulously planned. Her fleet would emerge out of hyperspace shortly and establish a planet-wide blockade of the Earth. A crack squad of navy special forces would break into Government House and seize the top government ministers. Another unit of marines would then surround the senate building. Supreme power was within her grasp.

A lot of things would need to change under her rule. The stupid multi-party parliamentary system was stuck in deadlock. Nothing ever seemed to get resolved. There was clearly a need for a new constitution. She and her most loyal officers would form a military council; with a few token civilians on the staff of course. After a few years of military rule, a suitable new electoral system could be set up.

The government called itself the 'Terran Republic' but it seemed to Tenka that planetary governments had too much power. It was time for Mother Earth to stamp its authority on these jumped up colonies. Some of those large corporations had too much power too. Half of them were corrupt and linked with organised crime. Once she had overthrown this amateurish government of civilians, there would be a tidal wave of arrests of those corporation people.

Most importantly, the military budget would be trebled once she was in charge. Tenka simply could not understand why the government spent so little on defence when the Republic was surrounded on all sides by alien civilizations. As if you could trust aliens to stick to their peace treaties.

Being president was going to be awfully fun.


"We have an incoming communication, Ma'am," said her pilot.

What was this? wondered Tenka.

"Put it through," the admiral replied.

"This is Commander Vaster of the Earth Defence Force," announced a voice on the comm. "Admiral Tenka, we have been informed of your coup plans. It is all over. Your fleet have stood down and are surrendering. Your special forces team have been captured and your marines are confined to barracks."

Tenka could not believe what she was hearing. Her coup had failed before it had even started! How could they have known what she was planning? She must have been betrayed.

"We have several gunships approaching your vessel. You will follow them to the co-ordinates that I will give you. You will not attempt any tricks. You will land your vessel as instructed and hand yourself into lawful custody. Is this understood, Admiral?" the commander continued.

The wheels of Admiral Tenka's mind began to spin. Her plans had failed! All her dreams were in tatters.

Could she escape? She could see the gunships appearing on the shuttle's scanner. It would be no use fighting them.

What would happen to her if she gave herself up?

She rather hoped that it would be the military authorities who dealt with her. The last thing she wanted was to be treated like a common criminal. She was ready to face a court martial. But a public trial in a civilian court was a real possibility. Being paraded before the media would be too much of a humiliation.

Perhaps she could make a deal. After all she had an exemplary record of honorable service in the navy. Maybe they might let her quietly resign her commission and go into exile on one of the colonies.

A lot depended on whether she was handled by the military or the civilian authorities. Perhaps she might even be placed under house arrest, instead of being locked up in jail.

**

The shuttle's descent seemed to take forever. As it lowered itself onto the landing pad, Tenka felt butterflies in her stomach. She was going to have to face the music.

Tenka straightened her uniform before stepping out of the shuttle. She wanted to look her best. She realised this was the first time she had ever surrendered in her whole military career.

The landing pad was some non-descript government facility. She was met by a group of civilians in plain clothes.

"I'm Agent Grant of the Public Safety Service," announced one of the officers.

Public Safety Service. That was bad news. If the PSS were involved, it meant any proceedings against her would be outside military jurisdiction.

"Admiral Kathy Tenka, I am arresting you on suspicion of attempting to overthrow the elected government of the Terran Republic. You will have the right to legal counsel, but we advise that you provide us with all relevant facts as soon as possible," said the agent in a sober voice. "Please hand over your sidearm," he added.

Hand over her weapon. She was defeated. A captive of these wretched civilians.

Tenka unholstered her laser pistol and handed it to the agent.

"But how did you know anything?" she blurted out. After saying this, she realised the question was practically an admission of guilt. She was not used to thinking through legal issues.

"I told them everything," came a voice.

Tenka turned her head to see a naval officer approaching from an aircar.

"Commodore Engel!" she cried in recognition. "How could you betray a fellow officer? We could have ruled together as dictators!" Tenka was well aware that her words would be recorded by the PSS men, but she could not help herself.

"My conscience could not live with the thought of overthrowing the legitimate government," said the commodore.

"More like you tried to save your own skin!" cried Tenka. It took every ounce of her will to keep herself from attacking Commodore Engel.

"Commodore Engel has been helping us with our enquiries, Admiral. But we were on to you a long time ago. We just wanted to catch you in the act. The game is up, I'm afraid."

They had been aware of her activities all the time that she had been plotting her coup?

One of the agents gently took her hands and placed a pair of handcuffs on them.

"Is this really necessary?" Tenka protested.

"You just tried to use violent force to overthrow the government. I think that makes you a little bit dangerous," said Agent Grant. "It's time to go."

"Where are you taking me?" Tenka asked.

"The Judicial Reception Centre," he replied. "You will be kept in custody there pending your trial."

The Judicial Reception Centre. So she was to be locked up like a common criminal.


**

Two female PSS officers led Tenka through the corridors of the Judicial Reception Centre. Its walls were a distressingly civilian shade of magnolia. They ushered her into a very functional looking side-room.

"We need you to take your clothes off," said one of the PSS officers, a dark-skinned woman.

She was supposed to strip off?

"I am an admiral in the Terran Navy. I do not take orders from civilians and I will not take off my uniform for you."

"You may be an admiral outside here, but inside here you are an inmate in our custody. You will be treated the same way as everybody else. Please take off your clothes."

Did they want a fight?

"No, I won't," insisted Tenka.

"Alright we do this the hard way," said the officer. At once, the two women pulled Tenka to the floor. Like any naval officer, Tenka knew unarmed combat techniques, but so did the two PSS women. They were younger too.

One of the officers began pulling off Tenka's boots, while the officer started unbuttoning her tunic. Tenka grunted in frustration.

Once she had been undressed, the officers pushed her into a sonic shower cubicle.

"Something comfortable for you to wear," said one of the officers as she handed Tenka a set of white pyjamas.

"A prison uniform," snarled Tenka.

"This is not a prison. It's a reception centre. We look after people facing criminal proceedings."

"Don't waste my time with your semantics," said Tenka with a shrug. She began putting on the pyjamas. There was no footwear provided. They expected her to go barefoot.


Tenka was then led to her cell, a bare room with just a bed and toilet.

Left alone, she collapsed onto the bed and wept.

After years of service in the Terran Navy she had been tossed in a jail cell. All those battles, all those victories and now she was just a prisoner.

Tenka had risen through the ranks faster than any of her colleagues. She had been the youngest woman to ever be promoted to admiral.

Everyone had told her that she deserved high office after she retired, but why should she accept crumbs from civilians? Why did those idiots have more right to rule than her? As far as she was concerned she had earned power through her service. What did votes in an election count next to that?