Alien Empire

by Anthony Gillis

  “The public doesn’t have the sophistication to understand without, ah, help. In times like this, it is our job to frame it, to filter it for them so that they can. So there are no misunderstandings.”

  There was a pause.

  “Yes sir.”

  President Vhel’s eyes lost their usual vagueness, and looked straight at Wimier “Mr. Tarec and Mr. Karstens on the advisory team, several Councilors and the Speaker of the Senate are in agreement on this. Wimier, we’ve worked together a long time. You understand my vision for a better world. As you know, you serve at my discretion, so they can’t simply remove you, but I have to consider informed opinion, don’t I? I’m protecting you now, and if we are to, ah, continue to work together, this can’t happen again.”

  “I understand sir.”

  ///

  Elsewhere in the Capital, six people were gathered around a table for lunch, discussing what they knew, and making plans.

  “Elders sent instructions for the flight. Also the visit to their ship. The government printed up copies. I got mine this morning,” said Jat, “Not too complicated.”

  “And mine!” added Neem, “Thanks for picking me to go with you!”

  “Lot of technology there on that ship,” grinned Jat.

  Neem’s eyes beamed.

  “Would you mind if the rest of us saw those?” asked Karden, his curiosity piqued.

  Neem handed him his set.

  As they ate, Karden noted things he found in the instructions.

  “It seems they have artificial gravity on their ships… and heavier than our own. You were right about that. I imagine it will make movement a chore.”

  “I could use some exercise.” said Jat, who was amusing himself by making small knickknacks seemingly disappear, his hands moving in apparently aimless patterns.

  Karden watched him. “WHAT are you doing?”

  “Sleight of hand. Distraction and stealth. Tricks I picked up from street performers. It helps me focus my mind.”

  “I don’t think it is helping me focus mine.”

  “Bah. All right!” said Jat as he paused.

  Karden continued, “They don’t know yet what of their foods we can eat, or they ours, so they recommend bringing your own.”

  “Not going there for lunch,” quipped Jat.

  “Are you convinced now that YOU aren’t lunch?” said Karden, with an arched eyebrow.

  “Maybe. I see any cookbooks, I’m jumping off.”

  “It looks like you’ll be getting an extensive tour of that ship. They don’t seem very secretive. Well, that and I think they mean for you to be impressed,” observed Karden.

  Neem spoke up, “I already know I’m going to be impressed. This is absolutely amazing! The next few hours are going to be a long wait! But think about it, they don’t really expect us to understand what we’re looking at.”

  “Then, Neem, Jat, I think it is your mission to prove them wrong.”

  “And then some,” said Jat.

  Neem grinned. “The only thing I’m sorry about is that I’ll miss meeting their emissaries on the ground. Some of them are supposed to be scientists. But I guess that’s where you guys come in!”

  Harker chuckled. “Oh, they aren’t too interested in meeting with me, son. From what I got from our government middlemen, they don’t like private businessmen any more than it looked like in that video. And anyway, I’ve got a business to run, and that means I can’t spend the next few weeks in the Capital talking to aliens.”

  “And yet they are happy enough to collect the results of labor from their vassals and serfs,” said Viris in a sharp voice and with a sharper expression, “oh, I mean the people they guide and teach.”

  “Actually, of the rest of us, only I have an invitation,” said Karden, “though I would have imagined they’d be interested in meeting a linguist.”

  “They have plenty of highly skilled ones of their own.” said Tayyis, “And it might be that they are more interested in learning our language than in having us learn theirs. For all the talk about teaching and guidance, did you notice there was nothing in the videos about teaching their language to the natives?”

  Karden considered “There are some precedents in our own history. Gifts of technology, especially if they don’t come with knowledge of how to replicate it, tightly controlled trade, administration from above and afar… things of that sort don’t integrate subject cultures with their rulers, or with each other.”

  “A common language opens many doors, and it can be a unifying force.” added Tayyis.

  They ate, with thoughtful expressions.

  Viris brought up something that had been on her mind. “I was pretty surprised the government released those videos of the projections from the discs.”

  “It was Wimier specifically. Chief of Staff I mean,” said Jat.

  Harker looked up from his food, “I’d say that helps the Elders. It was a slick piece of marketing they gave us.”

  “I don’t think so.” said Viris, “Kinda depends on your point of view…”

  Karden considered that. “In short, on whether one wants to be a plantation worker.”

  Viris replied, “Plenty do. The debates are getting slagging fierce on the net. Divide and conquer?”

  “Perhaps,” said Karden, “But it also means, should we look for it, we might find help.”

  Tayyis had been listening to the conversation pensively. She looked around the table, “So… are we still in agreement?”

  Karden surveyed the others. “I think you know where I stand. It is my view that, however softly, we are witnessing the beginning of an effort by the Elders to turn our world into a colony or dependency. The entire history of indigenous populations under such efforts makes me confident I want to oppose what they plan to do.”

  Viris jumped in after him “I can’t imagine the rest of you have and doubts about me either. I am no one’s good little drone, farm animal, or pet, and I don’t like the idea everyone else becoming those either. I’ve fought that kind of thing my whole life, and I’ll fight this too, any way I can!”

  Harker looked like a cheerful warrior. “It is pretty clear the Elders don’t like free enterprise, and what they’ve hinted at so far sounds like something right out of the playbook of Vhel and all the other power-grabbing politicians I’ve always opposed. I built my business with my ideas and effort. The last thing I’m going to do is hand the controls over to yet another set of busybodies who want the power without having done any of the work. Count me in this fight!”

  Neem looked more solemn than usual. “I don’t see a place for creative minds in the world they are planning on making here. Their technology really fascinates me, but it looks like they don’t want to teach us how to use it, just give us gifts we don’t understand. We’ll be dependent on those gifts, and meanwhile they seem to think they already have all the answers. They want us to start thinking so too. I’m ready to do what I can to stop that from happening.”

  Jat snorted. “Think of the timing. They show up just when we might have our house in order. No big war in a generation, early space flight, and then by coincidence they think it’s time to come guide us with their superior wisdom. I think it is eliminating potential threats. Remember those beaked things and the war. I bet they do. No place for me in their world. Besides, they still might be planning to eat us. Count me in.”

  Tayyis reflected on what the others had said “I agree with what the rest of you are saying, and that we need to try to stop it. I don’t like the idea of having our world turned into a little piece in their vast machine either. But remember that not everyone thinks like we do. What they are offering will sound very inviting to a lot of people. It will sound like dreams come true. How can we fight that?”

  “I think the missing piece” said Karden, “Is what these Elders will do if we decide we don’t want to accept what they offer. I think it highly unlikely that they would simply smile, wave, and leave. They have those guns run out on their shi
ps precisely because it hasn’t always gone well. If we can find out what they plan, I suspect it will be the tool we need to start building an opposition.”

  12

  The Elder shuttle was descending with near-silent grace through the cool morning air. A crowd was gathered, waiting. Officials, diplomats, and vast swarms of journalists stood by. The heavy military presence of the first meeting was gone, and only a small honor guard of soldiers was on hand in their best dress uniforms.

  The President stood on his podium, this time surrounded by a large group of foreign leaders. The greater part of the world was represented. The presidents and rulers of thirty nations were on hand, and ambassadors from another fifty. On the tarmac stood a small team of diplomats, led by the Tadine Councilor for Foreign Affairs. Behind them stood a group of the world’s foremost academics, a handful of top military leaders, and Neem Ranacharandgan.

  Following instructions from the Elders, members of the delegation were wearing their preferred clothes rather than spacesuits, but each carried a bag with food and beverages for a meal, such snacks as they might want, and whatever medications or personal effects they would need for a ten hour visit.

  The ship landed with smooth perfection. The hatch opened. The delegation of the Elders appeared. Four guards, Ambassador Margaux, his two assistants, a group of twelve robed Elders, twelve generally younger-looking Elders in plain clothes, six more in black uniforms, and twelve levitating platforms stacked neatly with cases and bags.

  Neem looked ready to levitate himself, “Antigrav platforms! I want one,” he exclaimed, more than a bit too loudly.

  Jat looked at him, and with a certain relish, whispered, “Shhhh!”

  The Councilor of Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador walked forward at the head of each delegation, made gestures of salute, each in their own way. Signals were given, and the delegations passed each other on their way to their destinations. The Elders moved in formation, with solemn measured steps. The Grounders walked more or less together, but each at their own pace.

  As they approached the ramp leading to the shuttle, Jat felt a familiar queasiness. He looked over at Neem, “There it is. This is it. Here we go. Still sure you want to do this?”

  Neem looked tense, alert, energy barely held in check, “More than anything else in the world! If it wouldn’t create some kind of incident, I’d sprint there.”

  Jat snickered through his discomfort. “Probably wouldn’t go over well. Would be fun to see everyone react though!”

  As they ascended the ramp, they could see a cavernous staging area inside. To the left and right were rows of hatchways. To the front were great broad doors, big enough to accommodate vehicles, equipment, or troops in power armor.

  “This is a utility space, if you think about it,” said Neem, “but even it is decorated. Look at that colored and gilded scrollwork up on the structural beams, and the panels of… art of some kind built into the walls. It doesn’t add any efficiency or structural integrity. I just don’t get it. Say, are you ok?”

  Jat muttered something unintelligible.

  They reached the top of the ramp and entered the staging area. A pair of armed and armored guards stood by, along with a dark-featured female Elder in military uniform, and a pale, bronze-haired Elder in blue and silver robes.

  “I am Deputy Ambassador Hsien” said the pale one in robes. I have been attached to the embassy of his Excellency the Ambassador with subordinate diplomatic authority. This is Flight Lieutenant Maersk, commander of this shuttlecraft. My apologies as she does not speak your language. However, I will be your guide today.”

  Neem realized with a start that his was the voice in the videos.

  Hsien and Maersk gave nods to the Councilor of Foreign Affairs.

  “I am Darmin Vrir, member of the Council of the Republic of Tadine, in charge of foreign affairs. I have been appointed by the President of the Republic to represent my nation, and by vote of the Conference of Nations to represent all the people of Ground in this, our first formal delegation to the Galactic Protectorate,” Vrir tapped his fingers to his forehead in Grounder fashion

  “Welcome,” said Hsien.

  The others were introduced, slowly and with formality. Neem was studying panels along the walls and ceilings that he guessed hid the functional machinery – they must have loading equipment and such in the staging area, but kept it hidden. Once again he decided he was looking at a focus on aesthetics at the expense of utility. He began wondering…

  There was an awkward silence.

  “Mr. Ranacharandgan…” said Vrir, pronouncing his Southerner name with the usual Tadine difficulties.

  Neem turned in awkward surprise, “Oh, right!” and touched his forehead.

  Hsien led them through a door on the right. They entered hallway with doors and what looked to be compartments for gear or luggage. It was as richly decorated as all else they had seen. Forward from there, they passed stairs and a ramp side by side, going up, another door, and then entered a very long, bright hallway with windows on the right, and row upon row of seats.

  “A bit like an airliner after all, though you can’t see those windows from the outside, well and it is five times the size,” whispered Neem.

  Jat, consumed again by dread, glared at him.

  Hsien led them to the front, just behind a bulkhead and another door.

  “Oh! Specials seats, or adaptors for them, built for us! Nice!” Neem turned to Hsien “You guys, I mean, Elders, don’t miss details.”

  Hsien’s alien face gave what might be their form of a smile. “We transport passengers of many different physical forms. These are devices we keep on hand, and have been adapted to your needs. I will show you how to adjust them for your comfort.”

  They settled in, their minimal gear stored in small compartments. Hsien sat down in a seat behind them while Maersk passed through the door in front. The wait that followed was so brief that even having seen it before, they were caught by some surprise.

  The shuttle lifted into the air without a jolt or noise, other than the quiet hum of engines. Neem, who had managed to get a window seat, gasped. “Look how high we are already! And with hardly a bit of inertia…”

  Jat wasn’t listening. The color was draining from his face as he gripped the armrests of his seat.

  The great shuttle, gleaming in sunlight, rose to the sky, to the level of the Elder fleet, and then above. Neem leaned as far as he could into the window, trying to get as sweeping a view as possible. The bright morning sun, its light free of clouds and haze, gleamed on the hulls of the vast starships.

  “Jat, look at the weapon arrays! We can finally get a really good look at them! Even without knowing exactly how comparable they are to what we’ve got, the firepower of each of these ships must be amazing, at least in total, I mean they don’t actually look that heavily armed for their size, but still…

  Through gritted teeth, Jat muttered, “Let’s just… get there…”

  Neem continued, “And the landing hatch for the shuttle is on upper surface of the ship, which is very interesting when you consider that most of the weapons are on the sides and bottom. It all looks geared toward surface bombardment rather than ship to ship combat, which makes sense when you think about the absence of organized enemies in space, and…”

  Whatever Jat’s thoughts on the matter, he did not choose to share them, unless one considered a generalized hateful glare at the universe to be sharing.

  The shuttle flew toward a starship near the center of the formation. On the topside of the ship, gigantic hatchway doors opened, and the shuttle descended between them. Almost silently, and with nothing more than the slightest tap of inertia, the shuttle landed.

  Jat groaned, sighed, and then took a deep breath.

  “All right,” he said, “We’re here. Neem, don’t be so nervous. We’ll be fine.”

  Neem looked over at him, confused. “But I am fine!”

  “That was a joke.”

  “Oh…”


  13

  On the ground, Karden and Tayyis watched the shuttle depart. The Elder delegation, which had been making its formal presentation to President Vhel and the assembled diplomats, was now being directed towards the gathering of Grounder academics and scientists. Karden noted that, as he’d been told, each of the Elder emissaries had an assistant.

  “As you see Tayyis, it is quite in good form that I have an assistant in my interactions with the Elder delegation. Thus far I can say your services have been quite exemplary.”

  Tayyis shot him a baneful look. “You’re enjoying this a bit too much, Haral. But to get this close to them, I’m willing to put up with even you.”

  “I’m surprised, Ms. Lyr, that none of the others thought of the advantages of this arrangement. Don’t worry, I will try to avoid reprimanding you in public.”

  She pinched his arm. “Shhhh… here they come.”

  Ambassador Margaux strode grandly at the head of his team. He paused, looked the Grounders over for a moment, and began introductions. The Elders were in every case introduced by a title and a single name. Tayyis, thus far denied access to the Elders language, caught each name like a falling treasure, and added it to her hoard.

  Unlike the delegation to the ship, the Elder delegation on Ground had no clear end-point. They came with gear and provisions for a long stay. Arrangements had been made by the government to turn over to them use of a vacant building, the former Embassy of the now bankrupt and anarchic People’s State of Zrian. In addition, each Elder and his or her assistant were matched with one or more Grounder scholars in what were thought to be related fields.

  The Ambassador introduced Karden to one Historian Diplomat Anastasio, an Elder female in rich multicolored robes with long red and gray hairs growing from her head, tied into a pattern in the back like braided rope. Her assistant was a young-seeming olive-complexioned Elder male in simpler clothes, and was not introduced by the Ambassador.