"He's dead," said Ketkar. "His body was recovered in Lianzhou five days ago. There was such admiration for the man, the Chinese made a concerted effort to find him and handle his remains respectfully."
Shenzu said, "So I speak to the press and tell a flagrant lie about my former commanding officer. What good will that do?"
"You'll say more than that," said Ketkar. "You'll praise General Sima for his foresight, yes. But you will also call the development of the counteragent a shining example of two nations unifying under a single cause to defeat a common enemy. The whole world should emulate this pattern. We must all stand united."
"You're making this a political speech," said Shenzu. "I am not a politician. Nor can I speak on behalf of my government."
"You won't be speaking on their behalf," said Ketkar. "You'll be speaking on your own behalf. As a liaison officer, as a husband, as a father to your children."
Shenzu regarded him skeptically. "What does my family have to do with this?"
"Everything," said Ketkar. "Their safety motivates everything you do, Captain. We know you better than you might think. We know, for example, that you are one of the Anonymous Twelve."
Shenzu didn't move or respond.
After an awkward silence, Mazer looked at the others and said, "Am I the only one here who doesn't know what that means?"
Ketkar said, "The Anonymous Twelve is the name the Chinese military has given to the unknown Chinese military personnel who gave you MOPs the nuke you needed to destroy the lander. They are, in that sense, traitors to their country. Captain Shenzu here was critical in orchestrating that entire effort."
Mazer turned to Shenzu. "Is that true?"
Shenzu took a deep breath before answering. "What I did, I did for China, its people, and my loved ones. Action had to be taken."
"You helped get us the nuke, and then you arrested us?" said Mazer.
"I arrested you under Sima's orders," said Shenzu. "Well, actually he had given the arrest orders to another officer, but I intervened and requested that he give them to me instead. I wanted to ensure you weren't harmed in the process."
Mazer turned to Wit. "Did you know this?"
"No," said Wit, "but I suspected."
Shenzu faced Ketkar. "So you intend to blackmail me, Major? Is that it? If I don't say what you want me to say and perform for the cameras, you will reveal my crime to my government and keep me from my family forever?"
"We don't have to blackmail you," said Ketkar. "We don't even have to ask you to do this. You will do it because you know it's the right thing to do. This is more than just two countries putting aside their differences for the greater good, Captain. This is the beginning of a new Earth, a new way of operating, one that can only lead to greater peace among all nations. This is what we should have done before the Formics arrived."
Ketkar put a hand on Shenzu's shoulder. "Now is the time, Captain. General Sima has started a movement. You can give it life. Your words could be the first intelligent approach to this disaster that anyone has heard."
"You seem to have a very specific idea of what I should say. Is there a speech written?"
"Someone wrote one, yes. It was excellent. I told him to burn it. This has to come from you. It has to be genuine."
Shenzu was quiet a moment. "Show me the counteragent. Then we'll talk."
Ketkar smiled and beckoned them to follow. "This way."
He led them to a small structure in the center of the plaza that turned out to be a set of elevators. They climbed in, and Ketkar slid
back a concealed panel and entered a code. The elevator descended.
When it stopped, they stepped out into a bright, immaculate corridor. Through the windows to their right and left, Mazer saw technicians and scientists in blue biohazard suits working with various machines, scanners, and diagnostic equipment. Ketkar kept moving, leading them deeper into the complex down a series of corridors. Finally they stepped into an observation room with a vaulted ceiling. The wall to Mazer's left was solid glass. The room beyond it was mostly empty save for a metal table to one side atop of which sat various plastic boxes and liquid containers.
A short Indian man in his late sixties was standing in the observation room at a computer terminal. The sleeves of his blue oxford shirt were rolled up past his elbows. Gloves made of reflective sequined fabric covered his hands and forearms. His face brightened when he saw them. "Captain O'Toole. We meet again."
"Dr. Gadhavi. A pleasure, as always."
Gadhavi approached, and Wit introduced Mazer and Shenzu.
Gadhavi bowed. "Welcome to India, gentlemen. I am sorry we are meeting under these circumstances. Please, won't you stand here behind this line? I'm told everyone's ready and we can begin."