Jack wondered at his anxiety. He hadn’t turned a hair that first night when Sargon whistled up the Strelka globeship from its hiding place in the trees below Mt. LeConte, nor when he had first seen a true alien in Life-Who-Is-Song, the ship’s pilot. Weirdest damned centipede bugger he’d ever seen! And Colleen, who’d been shocked at the appearance of Sargon, had just whispered “at least he’s not a snake!” and gone to work with her sat-vid imager.
Tommy was expecting him to show up with a vidcube that had a first person interview with the shadowy head of the Russian GRU military intelligence. The skimmy was that this guy would confirm the latest influenza pandemic was a recombinant DNA biowar virus mistakenly released by a deranged Russian skipper from a Perseus-class sub perched off New Bedford. The need for secrecy and no previewing had been justified by the GRU chief’s need to make his defection to Australia. Plus, Tommy had accepted his warning of a likely prior censorship by the NSA if the word got out before the broadcast. The vidcube was scheduled to go live worldwide. He was here ‘cause he owed Tommy and CNN the first break at the story of the millennium. They’d been good to him over the years. While Sargon said he could easily access the various comsats in orbit, and make sure the interview made it onto YouTube, ChatTube, Yik Yak, Whisper, Facebook, Tinder and the restricted national nets of China, Iran and Russia, still, he preferred to do it the old-fashioned way. Live, in a way, from the now fully-digitized Atlanta HQ of CNN. Plus, he and Colleen knew the best place to be if the Feds came calling was directly in the bright glare of a sat-vid broadcast stage.
Newsome welcomed them into his office, which had a glass wall that gave a clear view of the live newscast stage. The slightly jowled, crew-cut International Desk Manager held out his hand for the vidcube. Instead, Jack shook his hand. Beside him, Colleen walked over and handed the cube to Newsome. Who shrugged, looked at the vidcube, then set it by the vidcube feeder unit on his desktop. His boss looked through the glass wall at Lesley Ann Jacobs, one of CNN’s best international reporters. She’d done time in Mongolia, covering the deadly border fight between Russia and China in ’43. She had come back with a limp in one leg, some scars and a reputation for following the news no matter what the cost. Tommy looked back to Jack and Colleen.
“You two do know how to make me do things outside of the standard rules!” Tommy said, his tone irritated. “The corporation wants every sat-vid broadcast to be previewed by one of our lawyers, you know.”
Jack sat in a flexchair next to Tommy’s desk and gave him the smile that he always gave to bosses and interview subjects. “Yeah, I know it’s not kosher. Or standard. But my source had to get to Australia. He should have landed there 15 minutes ago.”
Tommy gave Jack a lifted eyebrow look, as if to say “I know when you’re bullshitting.” But he didn’t say that. Instead, he shrugged and gestured at the glass wall. “Like you, I don’t much give a damn for corp rules that get in the way of telling the story. Lesley will go to it shortly. Give her a wave.”
Jack and Colleen both waved at Lesley Ann. Who was checking her makeup and hair in the reflection from her desk LinkPad. The younger woman gave them a nod, a quick smile and then turned to face the ceiling-hung sat-vid camera.
The day, Saturday, August 27, 2050, was about to pass into the history books.
“Good morning, viewers from around the world,” said a smiling Jacobs. “We are proud to bring you an exclusive Jack Harrigan interview with a Russian official who can shed new light on the recent influenza pandemic that has been contained in the Northeast.” The blond looked off-camera at Tommy. Who now fed the vidcube into his desktop unit. The wallscreen that filled one side of Tommy’s office lost its image of Lesley Ann and was filled with Jack.
“What the fuck!” muttered Tommy as the image details became clear. Lesley Ann looked shocked.
In the wallscreen, Jack was standing before a pair of plastic chairs in a room with reddish metal walls, his left hand holding some papers, with a large porthole next to him. The blue-white globe of Earth was bright in the porthole, along with a view of stars. The fact that the entire Earth was visible might tell some viewers that he was talking from well above low Earth orbit. Without any preamble, the recorded Jack sprang his surprise.
“Viewers from around the world, I’m pleased you can join me for a truly once-in-a-lifetime news event. And yes, I am reporting from far above Earth!” Jack said, smiling broadly. “While I do not have the interview on the influenza pandemic, I do have something even more important—the first interview by any human with alien visitors from the stars!” On the wallscreen, Jack turned to his right and held out an open palm. “Let me introduce my interview guests, Watch Commander Arix Sargon Arax and his pilot, Executive Aide Life-Who-Is-Song. They are here peacefully and with remarkable news about other worlds and other forms of life in this small part of our galaxy. Commander, let’s have a seat and talk.”
During his introduction, Colleen’s sat-vid imager had widened its field of view to take in the coiled up, centipede-like shape of the Strelka. Who sat at the Control Nexus pilot basin in the metal floor of the globe-ship’s Control Room. The green toga-clad figure of Sargon stood beside an adjacent Communications block. The Horem moved toward Jack while Life waved its two flexarms at the camera, then turned attention back to the courier ship controls. The broadcast image narrowed to focus on Jack and Sargon as they sat facing each.
“Thank you Jack,” Sargon said as he folded clawnail-studded hands in his lap. “Humans of Earth, I extend greetings to you on behalf of the eight sapient races of the multi-species asteroid starship Hekar, now parked in the Asteroid Belt of your system. Our ship is even now moving out from behind the asteroid 10 Hygiea so your planetary authorities may be convinced this vidcast is not a ‘special-effects’ Hollywood production,” Sargon said with a more practiced grin.
“Let me reassure you and all of Earth about several things.” Sargon’s yellow eyes stared out of the wallscreen at an audience that would soon exceed four billion. “First, we are peaceful peoples come to visit you for Trade in technology, ideas and isotope resources. Second, we will not again land on Earth without the explicit permission of a nation-Clan authority. Third, we arrived in your system in 2049. We spent the last year observing and monitoring your many cultures so we could make this First Contact for you a positive and profitable one. Fourth, we have landed on your planet three times—once in 2049 to land a four-person Probe team in Chennai, India, once to pick up the team two weeks ago, and most recently to contact Jack Harrigan to arrange this interview.” The video image of Sargon paused, caught his breath, and crossed brown-furred legs. “Fifth, we prefer to be known to all nation-Clans and all peoples of Earth. We hope to Trade with as many nations, peoples and transnational businesses as possible. Therefore, we did not choose to land in one nation-Clan and be affiliated with only one culture or political system.” Sargon, unlike a Human, didn’t use hand gestures to emphasize his words. Instead, he just sat relaxed, dressed in an informal toga outfit, four-toed feet clearly visible. “Lastly, we did not contact you by radio or television while on our way here because our First Contact experiences have shown the value of advance preparation and study of the species before we make Contact.” Sargon turned back to face the video Harrigan. “Now, feel free to ask your questions.”
Lesley Ann came storming into Tommy’s office, her expression furious even as she watched the wallscreen. “Jack! I will not be part of a joke like—”
“Quiet,” he said firmly, gesturing at the wallscreen. “Watch the vidcast. Which the feds may try to kill at any moment.”
“Oh.” Lesley Ann caught sight of Colleen seated next to Jack and, while keeping her eyes on the wallscreen, walked over and sat in the last empty chair.
Tommy looked quickly at Jack. “What happens if the satellite link goes dead?”
Jack patted the golden comdisk stuck to his vest. “Got a direct audiovisual link with this Sargon. He’ll tell me if all the CNN sat-links go
down. At which point he will pre-empt other comsats and run the rest of the interview. These folks are real. They have a star-traveling spaceship. And their tech is way better than ours.”
Tommy scowled darkly. “You coulda warned me!”
Colleen laughed. “Tommy, cool off! Or you’ll blow a gasket. For Heaven’s sake—sit and watch. And be glad you got the scoop!”
Tommy joined Jack, Colleen and Lesley Ann in watching the rest of the vid-interview that was already shocking the world, and causing high anxiety in national power centers.
♦ ♦ ♦
Three minutes after the start of the CNN sat-vid broadcast, U.S. Air Force Major General Jeremy Watkins was on National Military Command Center duty at the Pentagon’s War Room sub-sub basement facility. Upon viewing the start of the live CNN broadcast, he acted. He picked up a scrambled satphone that connected directly with the White House second floor residential quarters, spoke briefly to the Navy Lieutenant Commander in charge of the “Football” containing the codes and communications necessary for control of America’s strategic military forces, and then spoke directly to a dripping wet President Heather McDonnell. McDonnell spoke tersely, profanely and to the point, hung up and then began dressing for the National Security Council SITREP meeting she had just ordered to begin in ten minutes at the White House Situation Room.
Brigadier General Jane Howard, sitting before her multi-screen desk in Building One, Peterson Air Force Base, Air Force Space Command, home of the 21st Space Wing, got working on orders encrypt-texted to her by Major General Watkins. She put the 21st Operations Group on DEFCON 3 alert and demanded reports from the GEODSS sites at Socorro and Maui, SSPARS phased array radar, the MOSS system at Moron, PARCS, Cobra Dane and finally, their NASA Deep Space rep at Kennedy, who should be able to verify the alleged new asteroid by orders to their Mars Space Track system.
Minutes later her people confirmed the absence of any unknown space vehicle in Earth orbits lower than geosync. It would take 13 minutes or more for the report from Mars to come in. Acting on the assumption there really were aliens in the solar system, she ordered the nearby 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group to kill the various CNN comsats now broadcasting the Harrigan interview. In two minutes the IRSG people used ‘back door’ software patches to shut down the CNN satellites. She picked up her satphone and spoke to Major General Watkins.
“General, my people have disabled the CNN vidcast satellites. But the CNN people can use fiber optic cables to connect with other overseas satcom carriers. Including the Russians and the Chinese. I do not control those extra-national assets,” she said bluntly.
“Understood,” Watkins said. “Activate our ASAT unit at Peterson and tell them to launch four Auroras! Two into polar orbit and two into equatorial. Do it now!”
“Orders understood,” she replied calmly. “Contacting the 302nd Airlift Wing now. The Auroras will launch shortly. With armed payloads I assume?”
“Damned right,” Watkins yelled, then took a deep breath. “Yes, launch the Auroras. Tell them to destroy anything that attacks them. But any space object not known to us will be observed by the Auroras. Is that clear?”
“Your orders are clear to me,” Jane said, glad for the clarification. “Shall I also activate the First Space Brigade? If I do, its activation may leak to the news media.”
“Fuck . . . uh, rather, yes, activate the First Space Brigade. Their ASAT planes may be needed for continental defense. And anyone who speaks to the media is to be put in your basement secure records lockup!”
“Orders understood, Major General Watkins,” Jane said, a chill going down her spine as she realized the enormity of the duties that had landed in her lap. “The Auroras will launch shortly. When I get a report from NASA on the alleged new asteroid I will contact you. The 21st Space Wing is now on DEFCON 3 footing and all absent personnel are being recalled. Any further orders?”
“No,” Watkins said more calmly than before. “But let me know if that CNN interview does show up on other comsats. You have your orders. Carry them out.”
And with that Brigadier General Jane Howard carried out her orders.
♦ ♦ ♦
Jack’s comdisk buzzed against his vest. Tapping it active, he said “I’m here, Sargon.”
“Liaison Jack, the CNN comsat links have been disrupted by your national military authorities. My courier ship is switching the vidcast to other comsats above Earth,” the alien said in a low growl.
Jack ignored the surprised looks of Tommy, Lesley Ann and Colleen. “Uh, that’s great. But won’t your ship be detected by our NORAD and Space Command folks at Peterson? And maybe by the Russians, Japanese and Chinese?”
A growling chuckle came over the comdisk. “This is a Strelka globeship. It is quite stealthy and invisible to all sensors. And since its hull is colored black, it will not show up on the smart telescopes used by your military people to track satellites. Later, we will tell them where to find us.” Tommy grimaced at the news of the disruption. “And I see your Mr. Newsome is looking upset. Please reassure him that the vidcast will continue worldwide, with the CNN logo prominently displayed.”
Jack grinned at his boss’ reaction. “Hey, this comdisk thing is like a super LinkPad. It picks up all nearby images, besides linking me with Sargon’s spaceship. And also with the Internet, YouTube, ChatTube, Yik Yak and every other social network in the world.”
Lesley Ann brushed back her long blond hair. “Wish I’d had one of those in Mongolia.”
Colleen chuckled. “Maybe you will, in the future, if CNN enters Trade negotiations with these aliens. Tommy, you like that idea?”
Jack saw his boss brighten at the idea. “Very much so! But now, let’s keep watching this vidcast. We may be cut off from our sats, but nothing can block this desk’s vidcube imager.” The man tapped his digital desktop. “I just switched the imager feed over to our optical fiber cables. It’s going out nationwide and to other nations by way of the undersea cables.”
And with that they continued watching the world’s first interview with an alien from another star system.
♦ ♦ ♦
Four minutes after the start of the CNN broadcast, the Russian general in charge of the Pushkino phased array over-the-horizon radar and carbon-dioxide laser ABM defense site just 28 kilometers northeast of the Kremlin picked up a scrambled satphone. It connected him with the National Defense Management Center located at Frunze Naberezhnaya. He received specific instructions from the Chief of General Staff on behalf of a sleeping Minister of Defense. He then activated the target acquisition component of the laser’s PAVE/PAWS system, and began scanning the Russian space environment from the Baltic Sea to the north Siberian coast. At the same time he sent an alert command to the Aerospace Forces and to the Strategic Missile Forces. Finally, he sent signals to the orbiting Russian space station and the Moon base managed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. All were ordered to report on any unknown spacecraft and to shoot it down if it came within range of any Russian forces.
♦ ♦ ♦
Six minutes after the start of the CNN broadcast, Brigadier General Howard contacted the American Space Defense Operations Center in Building Two at Peterson. In concert with NORAD’s reactivated Cheyenne Mountain facility and in coordination with the 21st Space Wing, the NORAD command ordered the PAVE/PAWS early warning radars for the Bangor, Kings Bay, Kirtland, Eglin, Washington D.C. and Groton ABM-SDI complexes activated. NORAD and USSTRATCOM had just observed the Russian activation of their own ABM radar systems at Nenoska, Pushkino, Vladimirovka, Sary Shagan, Abalakova-Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk. NATO High Command in Brussels was advised of the action but no request to increase the readiness of the Fast Response reaction force was made.
♦ ♦ ♦
Eight minutes after the start of the CNN broadcast, the available members of the Leadership Council of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party gathered. Rulers of Japan since the 1950s, the all-male group met in a ba
sement communications complex of the old Dai-Ichi building in Tokyo. They watched with rapt attention the unrolling Harrigan-Alien interview that each had earlier begun viewing on their Sanyo wrist TVs. The Minister for Trade was momentarily not watching. Instead, he was in contact with the Tanegashima spaceport facility. He inquired about the feasibility of replacing a comsat destined for geosync orbit, and scheduled for launch later that day, with a Shikazu Moon shuttle. He was told it was possible to do and the rocket could launch within four hours. Thereby giving Japan its own independent means for meeting any alien spaceship.
Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroto Arioshi, watching the show with both eyes and one ear, learned via an bud in the other ear that the CNN vidcast was being received in Europe with French voice overlay, in India with Hindi and Tamil subtitles, in China with Mandarin subtitles, in South America with Spanish voice overlay and in Russia with Cyrillic subtitles. That was in addition to the Japanese kanji subtitles currently displayed on his watch image. Thinking about this unique vidcast the old trader, who had made his fortune in the Mitsui shipbuilding zaibatsu and was now helping export Japanese supercomputers equal to the American Cray IX series, got a far-away look on his face.
Retread Shop 1: First Contact Page 17