Pest Control, Part Three

September 4, 2245
London, England

In a cafe in the downtown section of London a twenty something woman was having conversation with a nearly forty man, a former mercenary, over cups of tea.

“They’re using you.”  The older man said.

“My late aunt Diana wanted to regain the British Throne.”  The young woman said.

“It’s over, isn’t it?”  The young woman asked.

“Yes, it is.”  The older man replied.

At a crime scene in a hotel an elderly white haired man lay dead.  Detective Liz Bishop held up a playing card in an evidence bag and asked a question of her partner Detective Sergeant John Kane.

“What is this?”

Detective Sergeant John Kane answered her question.

“It appears to be a death card.  The St. Andrew’s Cross in white over a black field is the symbol of the Central Security Agency of the Ursa Major Confederation.”

“So the Freyans are accepting responsibility?”  Asked Detective Bishop.

“Yes, they appear to be.”  Replied Detective Sergeant Kane.

In a London hotel room Mr. Green was packing his bags.  He wanted escape from the Freyans.

I need to leave the system.  Mr. Green thought.  Maybe I’ll find sanctuary on the Catholic world of Veracruz, the Freyans hate the inhabitants.

Buenos Aries, Argentina

The city was rebuilt after being nuked by the United States Air Force after the foundation of The Federation. In a cafe in the downtown section of Buenos Aries, Alissa George, a woman in her mid-fifties, was having conversation with Melinda Fernandez, a reporter, over cups of coffee.

“I was a member of a ‘Pest Control Team.’” Alissa said.  “On Freya all children are taught the story of Socrates, you’re heard of him?”

“Yes.”  Replied Melinda.

Alissa spoke.

“From our perspective Socrates was a man in his early seventies living in a society that didn’t even have running water and his family was lethally threatened by the mob.  From his perspective drinking the hemlock appeared to be a good idea.”

Alissa asked a question.

“You’ve heard of Evelyn Stone?”

“Yes.”  Replied Melinda.

Alissa spoke.

“One of the stories we were taught on Freya was that when Stone was a teenage boy he rode across country on an ancient motorcycle to air out the head of the false phophet Robert Lee Herald.  Herald had ordered the murder of Stone and as a result a close fiend was murdered in turn.  Stone personally responded to the act of murdering a close friend by lethal force.  Four decades ago a preteen girl was kidnaped by the state that ruled Kennedy in the Alpha Centauri system.  The naval task force that was sent out to rescue her came out of the Nuclear Closet.  In the Armed Forces and the Central Security Agency we’re taught to do anything necessary to perform our mission.”

“And what is the mission of the CSA?”  Asked Melinda.

“The fundamental mission of the CSA was to safeguard our planet.”  Answered Alissa.  

New York City, Manhattan Borough
    
In the Metropolitan Correctional Center Amy Martin had two visitors.  Detectives Greeley and Logan were visiting Amy Martin.

Amy Martin spoke.

“They’ve put me in the cell Jeffery Epstein was murdered in!”

Jeffery Epstein died before the New York City area was placed under siege during The Reformation.

“The idea that Epstein was murdered is a right wing conspiracy theory.”  Said Detective Greeley.

 “The Freyans can’t get you here.”  Said Detective Logan.

“Someone can get me here!”  Amy Martin shouted.

“You’re safe in here.”  Said Detective Greeley.

Later, over cups of coffee in a donut shop (some things never change) Detectives Greeley and Logan had a conversation.

Detective Greeley had a question for his partner Detective Logan.

“Why did the reformers believe Epstein was murdered?”

Detective Logan answered.

“Again with the history lessons.  It’s impossible for anyone to commit suicide in the MCC.  But the county Medical Examiner ruled the death of Epstein a suicide.  Even Michael Shermer, a professional sceptic, wasn’t convinced it was a suicide.  On top of the official ruling of suicide, all of the video cameras on Epstein’s cell were out, and the guards slept then forged their own logs.”

Detective Logan continued.

“The reformers hated Democrats and really hated those who advocated Gun Control.”

One of the consequences of The Reformation was that New York City police officers couldn’t arrest anyone, even gang members, on firearm charges.

Detective Logan again continued.

“The senior Senator from New York, Charles Schumer, sought refuge in Israel.  All the reformers, from Evelyn Stone on down, were willing to nuke the Israelis as a result.”

“Is that so?’  Asked Detective Greeley.

Detective Logan answered.

“Stone even had a decades long relationship with the Israelis.”

Buenos Aries, Argentina

Alissa George was still having a conversation with Melinda Fernandez.

Alissa spoke.

“We constantly ask ourselves the question of why The Holocaust happened.”

“Why did The Holocaust happen?”  Melinda asked.

“There’s an answer, but you may not like it.”  Alissa replied.  “The perpetrators of any horror, including The Holocaust, believed themselves to be good people.  Even psychopaths, especially that Dirlewanger guy, believed themselves to be good people.  The opponents of The Reformation believed themselves to be good people and their opponents to be evil.”

New York City, Manhattan Borough

Detectives Greeley and Logan continued their conversation.

“Bishop Paul Clark was declared a martyr and then a saint.”  Said Detective Logan.  “The only reason The Vatican still stands is that the Freyans don’t want a war with The Federation, although the incidents with the Martins and the Fremantle congregation way provoke it. Other worlds may leave the Nuclear Closet and join the Freyans.”

“So the Freyans don’t actually believe in freedom of religion or philosophy?”  Asked Detective Greeley.

“No, not as long as it impacts on them.”  Responded Detective Logan.  “The Freyans are constantly hanging missionaries with a noose made of steel wire.”

Detect Greeley pondered what he just heard.

Omaha, capital of The Federation

in her temporary office in the basement of the Freyan embassy Judith Stern, the Director of the Central Security Agency of Ursa Major Confederation, had a meeting with her subordinate, Ed Foster.

“It looks like the Pest Control teams are rolling up The Committee, ma’am.  The Federation are letting us do the dirty work, ma’am”  Said Foster.

“Good.”  Replied Director Stern.

States follow their own interests.  If a means is available to pursue their interests, they’ll use it.

Phoenix Starport, Earth

Douglas Green purchased a one way High Passage to Veracruz on British Spaceways.  Even though The Committee had allocated a starship for him, Green decided not to use her.