The Visitor

by Tony Harmsworth

  ‘Of course, sir. I merely wanted to express a view on the possible dangers of unnecessary secrecy.’ I’d no choice about complying. I didn’t fancy prison or being grounded. ‘Can I mention something else about the discovery?’

  ‘Of course. Go ahead.’

  ‘Just something to consider, sir. If news of the device were released soon then the world will be able to get used to the fact there are other people in the universe. Then, if we actually get to see or meet with them in the future, that can be introduced bit by bit, defusing xenophobia or horror… at their appearance, perhaps. Drip feeding information soon after it’s discovered could prevent more serious problems at a later date. Have you seen Arrival? I hope the military can be kept on a leash.’

  ‘Yes, I saw it as a youth and understand your concerns. You’ve a psychology degree, yes?’

  ‘My doctorate, sir.’

  ‘Thank you, Doctor Slater. You’ve made your points well, and we’ll consider them. If you can work with Peter Wright on this for the time being, I promise you’ll know before anything is released. You’ve made a great discovery and credit will be given to you and Captain Bulgakov when the time comes. Pass on my regards to him.’

  Yuri spoke, ‘Thank you, Mr Prime Minister.’

  ‘Excellent. I’m sure you’ll both get great satisfaction from this discovery. It’s exciting for all of us. What’s it doing right now?’

  ‘Just revolving in front of us. We’re both still in some shock, sir. It’s so obviously alien.’

  ‘Quite. Hopefully we’ll find a way to move forward with it. Thank you for your cooperation, Doctor Slater. Goodbye.’

  ‘Goodbye, Mr Prime Minister.’ The encryption static dropped off the connection.

  ‘Good God, Eva! Cannot believe you speak to your Prime Minister like that.’

  ‘I was polite.’

  ‘Yes, but how you question him. Gorelov would go into a rage. I would sure be vacationing a while in Siberia as soon as I return.’

  We both laughed, and it relieved the tension.

  ‘I have strong opinions about this, Yuri. The world has been fed lies and distortions by its political and religious leaders for millennia. I believe in truth in all things. I want this truth to be opened up and talked about,’ I lowered my voice conspiratorially, ‘and frankly I won’t stand by and allow it to be “covered up” if they try to do that.’

  ‘You cannot speak of it, Eva. Classified means classified.’

  ‘I’m also thinking about how to stay involved. I was glad he asked about my degree as now he knows I’m qualified to discuss cultural shock. Maybe I can get on a committee or something. Anyway, I’ll go along with it while it’s being investigated but, if it becomes a permanent secret, I’ll blow the lid off it.’

  ‘And you will be as all, how to say, conspiring theorists.’

  ‘Conspiracy,’ I corrected. ‘Yes, you’re probably right. “That nutter Evelyn Slater who believes the Earth has been visited by aliens.” Ha-ha. That’s exactly how they’d label me, but I’ve ideas up my sleeve.’ I winked at him.

  ‘Be careful, friend.’ He reached over and squeezed my hand firmly.

  ««o»»

  Débris collecting was off the agenda for a while as AD1 was sure to be the priority. There were so many questions mounting.

  What fuel was in those spheroids? What had been inside the cylindrical tubes? How come the wires didn’t require insulation? What caused the iridescent glow of the main hull? Why hadn’t the gold area been damaged at all by space dust? What was the purpose of the craft? Where had it come from? Surely there was no civilisation in the solar system which could have made this, yet it didn’t seem to be equipped to travel light distances. Could I believe Roger Clarke?

  Surprisingly, I did believe him. I’d never believed in UFOs and Area 51 having a flying saucer, but there was always a lingering doubt in the back of an inquiring mind like mine. How sure was I that NASA didn’t have something in Area 51? Might my outspoken approach even put my life in danger? These questions and many more ran through my mind. I was annoyed with myself for not making a better case for an early release of the news of what we’d found. More coffee was needed.

  I was floating with my face inches from the front windows, studying the detail of AD1’s interior, when Peter came online.

  ‘Good morning, Evelyn, copy?’

  I returned to my seat. ‘Copy.’

  ‘We want to use your small claw camera, so we need to stop the rotation. How can you stop it without damaging the nose assembly?’

  Yuri and I had already assessed possible places to hold the device. I didn’t dare grip the gold rod and there was nothing else to grasp at the front other than the melon-shaped node, which was probably going to slip through my grasp. It also had those thimble-like structures and I didn’t want to damage them.

  ‘I think it must be the back. What do you think, Yuri?’

  ‘Certainly. But want not be behind jets in case activated.’

  ‘Why not park off to one side? I could grip the jet nozzle closest to the two damaged spheroids. If they’re fuel containers it’d likely mean those jets would be unable to fire. We’d also be more than ten metres away from any trouble. I can’t imagine why anything would fire.’

  ‘No, but rather safely than sorry.’

  ‘Okay. Move us back ten metres and towards the rear of the object so I can observe the rear assembly again.’

  The Wagon’s thrusters fired and, within a minute or so, we were stationary once more. The alien craft was now off to the left of us and we were looking straight across its rear.

  I unfolded the left arm and pointed it forwards to maximum extent.

  ‘Forward a metre or so, please. I want the claw central to the rear assembly.’

  The Wagon moved forwards slowly and stopped exactly where I wanted it. I turned the mechanical hand in towards the craft and rotated it to match the object’s spin.

  ‘I can’t grasp anything but the central nozzle. Not ideal.’

  ‘I have idea, Eva.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘If park directly behind AD1, leaving ten metres, could put us in a spin to match it. Then you reach forward and grab any nozzle. Spin will be uncomfortable.’

  ‘Great idea.’

  ‘Ah. Problem! If it fires jet, we directly behind. Not good idea after all,’ he added with disappointment.

  ‘Okay. Do it in front. I can reach around and grasp one of the damaged rear jet nozzles.’

  ‘If it fired a jet, golden rod could pierce our front.’

  ‘No. Once I’ve got hold of it, it shouldn’t be able to move. As soon as we drop out of the spin, we can turn it sideways on.’

  I used my computer and calculated the stresses which would likely be applied to the joints.

  ‘Should be okay. With it being hollow, the mass can’t be too great. We just need to take care and stop the spin as quickly as possible so that we can move to the side.’

  ‘Right. Let me work maths a minute,’ Yuri said and began attacking his keyboard.

  The rear angle showed me the top of the inside of the object where there were bunches of the test-tube-type cylinders.

  There was an unexpected thrust from my side and the Wagon moved to face the alien object and pulled back.

  ‘Making us error space, Eva. Get NASA clearance.’

  ‘Okay,’ I affirmed and continued on the secure channel, ‘Peter, can we have a go for Yuri to put us into a spin along AD1’s axis? It’ll allow me to hold any part of the rear assembly. Yuri will use his thrusters to slow the spin, saving too much stress on the claw arm interface which I can lock solid during the manoeuvre in case it reacts.’

  ‘Give us a moment,’ said Peter.

  There was obviously quite a team at mission control now and they were double-checking everything to do with this alien object.

  About three minutes later, ‘Okay, Evelyn. You’ve a go for tha
t.’

  ‘Copy that, Peter.’

  ‘Right. This going to be for sure disorientating as put in angular momentum,’ Yuri said, tightening his harness. I did likewise.

  There was a distinct kick from underneath and behind. The effect on my stomach was worse than at any time since lift-off, and we started to spin. The Earth was rotating in front of us. We were no longer weightless and were being forced outwards. There was some nausea, but I managed to control it. I closed my eyes but that was worse. I concentrated on AD1 and tried to ignore the fact the entire universe was now revolving around us. Copernicus would have had a fit. I knew Einstein would have had no problem with it. What about Newton?

  ‘Not good sensation,’ said Yuri.

  ‘No. You okay, though?’

  ‘Yes. Can tolerate. You?’

  ‘Okay. Did you know Neil Armstrong got into a dreadful spin when they were trying to dock with an Agena during the Gemini program. He almost blacked out and someone else would have been the first man on the moon.’

  ‘No. Had no idea. How’d it happen?’ he asked.

  ‘Rogue thruster, I think.’

  Another two or three minutes passed with numerous small thruster adjustments and Yuri moved us forwards so that we were just a few centimetres from the golden rod.

  ‘Peter?’ I said.

  ‘Copy.’

  ‘Peter. Yuri has put the SDIV into the appropriate spin along AD1’s axis. Most uncomfortable but we’re almost there and I’ll be able to grab one of the thruster cones which is positioned by the split spheroids. Hopefully that’ll be safe.’

  About a minute passed.

  ‘God, this is uncomfortable, Yuri.’

  ‘Damn right,’ he said.

  ‘Go with that. Your call,’ said Peter.

  ‘How’s that?’ asked Yuri.

  ‘Perfect,’ I said. In relation to AD1, we were now stationary, despite our sickening spin.

  ‘NASA, I’m going to grasp it.’

  ‘You’ve a go for that.’

  I made some delicate motions with the manipulator arm to bring the claw in and around the object. I opened the jaws to about forty centimetres and extended the silicon grippers inlaid into the jaws. I hit the “instant grip” button which closed the claw upon one of the jet nozzles attached to a broken fuel container. Yuri must have the spin absolutely spot on as there was no transfer of any momentum.

  ‘Got it. Feels firm. Pressure five kilos per square centimetre. No sign of any distortion of the nozzle,’ I said to Yuri, then to Peter, ‘NASA. I have hold of the jet. Are we go to slow the spin?’

  ‘Go for that.’

  I increased the grip to ten kilos for security and locked the hand, arm, and joints rigidly into position.

  ‘Go, Yuri,’ I said.

  A kick from in front and behind reduced our angular momentum. I kept a close eye on the object. I thought it was dead, but I knew Yuri was worried about it reacting to us.

  ‘Slowly does it, Yuri.’ God, I felt sick. I told myself to control it.

  ‘Yes.’

  Gradually our spin reduced, and we all came to a halt, including our stomachs.

  ‘Spin halted,’ I reported and felt my pulse returning to normal.

  ‘Copy that. Can you reposition and get your high-res camera inside?’ asked Peter.

  ‘Roger that, but give us a minute. That was most uncomfortable,’ I said.

  Yuri and I relaxed and breathed deeply for a minute or two, then I relinquished my hold and Yuri flew us around to the gash. My right manipulator hand eased its way to the entrance. The top finger concealed a high-resolution close-up camera designed to let me undertake delicate electronic repairs to any satellite which might be worth saving during our mission. It was now dead centre of the hole.

  ‘What would you like to do, Peter?’

  ‘I’m sending you a profile of Doctor Reginald Naughton, Evelyn. Have a read.’

  ‘Will do, Peter.’

  Almost instantly my console showed a picture of a mid-thirties scientist. The blurb told me he was a professor emeritus at MIT in astronomy, exogeology, and theoretical exobiology. An expert in the study of the geology and biology of other planets. There was an extensive list of scientific papers he’d written and books he’d published.

  ‘Okay, Peter. I’ve got the gist and Yuri’s reading it too.’

  ‘Copy that, Evelyn. I’m handing over to him.’

  Damn it all – that was a bit of a surprise. I hadn’t expected him to hear me saying “I’ve got the gist” – it sounded dismissive. I should’ve been more flattering.

  ‘Doctor Reg Naughton here, Doctor Slater. I’ve got some checks I’d like you to make.’

  ‘Copy that, Doctor Naughton. Pleased to be talking to you. That’s an impressive profile you have.’

  ‘Pleased to be talking to you too. I’d like to change that theoretical exobiology into the practical version sometime and this offers the best opportunity. You can’t see any little green men inside, can you?’

  ‘Ha ha. Not a chance!’ I replied.

  ‘Ah, well. Back to reality. Can you see the broken cylinder hanging on the end of the purple and red wires?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’d like to examine the inside. We can’t make out what happens to the wires. They appear to blend with the surface of the cylinder, and I want to see if there’s any sort of continuation inside.’

  ‘Copy that. You’ve got a good picture?’

  ‘Yes, Doctor Slater.’

  There didn’t seem to be anything protruding into the inside of the cylinder. I moved the claw to the left and approached the broken tube, retracting the other fingers from the grip and telescoped the camera from the top finger. It now extended on a two-millimetre diameter tube which I pushed into the open cylinder and slowly scanned the interior.

  ‘Odd. Nothing. No hole or blister on the inside,’ Dr Naughton said quietly.

  ‘Yes. Strange,’ I agreed.

  ‘Doctor Slater. Can you come out of there and give us some close-up views of the outside of the complete cylinder to the right of the broken one? We want to examine where the wires attach to it.’

  I directed the camera to the next cylinder. The wires seemed to become part of it, unlike human hairs which emerge from a follicle. Even the colour of these wires blended into the cylinder’s base colour where they joined it.

  ‘Amazing,’ said Dr Naughton. ‘Can you close in on the node on the far side of the interior which has the huge cluster of wires emerging from it? Let’s call it the control hub for now.’

  ‘Copy that.’

  Avoiding trailing wires, I pushed the claw slowly into the cavity towards what was reminiscent of a durian fruit with dozens of pointed protrusions, each of them being the terminal for three or four wires of different colours.

  ‘Doctor Slater, using your eyes on the real thing, can you count how many different colours of wires there are going into that thing?’

  ‘No. Not with eyeballs. I’m about four metres away from it and from here not one wire is the same colour as any other. They all seem to be different. Any similar colours are our human inability to separate the visible wavelengths.’

  ‘Yes, I was thinking the same.’

  ‘The colours on the camera are pretty damn accurate, Doctor Naughton. Probably more accurate than our eyes.’

  ‘Yes.’

  There was a movement. Something had happened. My claw was being pulled in to the craft.

  ‘Back off,’ I shouted.

  Yuri hit a thruster and we pulled away, my claw hand ripped several wires with it as it came out of the gash and scraped against the opening on the way. I retracted everything in double-quick time to try to save the delicate camera shaft.

  ‘What the hell?’ I said.

  ‘It fired thruster,’ said Yuri.

  ‘What’s happened?’ asked Dr Naughton.

  Peter said, ‘Quiet. Let them
concentrate.’

  ‘What? It? The artefact fired a thruster?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes, it’s back to original rotation,’ said Yuri.

  ‘Peter. Are you there? Did you see that? This thing isn’t as dead as we thought!’

  ‘Yes. We saw it,’ said Peter.

  I moved my claw around to the other arm and checked the camera was okay. I eyeballed it through the window.

  ‘Peter, the camera is still usable, but we’ve damaged the stalk section. It won’t fully retract.’

  ‘Copy that.’

  ‘We also lost a cylinder. It’s floating away. Yuri, pursue it.’

  The Wagon turned and chased after the cylinder. It was amazing how quickly the gap opened, and it was difficult to see against the Earth. A few minutes and almost a kilometre later I managed to grasp it.

  ‘Got it, Peter.’

  ‘Well done.’

  ‘I’m going to tape it to our outside store.’

  While Yuri flew us back to AD1, I busied myself with both arms, collected some gaffer tape from the underneath store and taped the escaped cylinder next to the deorbules.

  ‘Secure,’ I said.

  ‘Copy that.’

  ‘What do you want to do now? Something in that thing realised its rotation had stopped and restarted it,’ I said, as we returned from our chase and took up a position facing the side of AD1.

  ‘Yes. Copy that. Sit tight you two.’ I heard the encrypted line cut out.

  Only Yuri’s quick reverse thrust had saved my right claw.

  The crippled alien artefact was fighting back. What other tricks would be in its repertoire?

  6 Capturing the Artefact

  It was a while before discussions began again. We were all shocked that the alien device was still active, considering its damage.

  I had an idea, ‘What if I reached forward and grabbed the top edge of the damaged side?’

  ‘It would put a lot of momentum into the SDIV, Evelyn,’ said Gerald, who was now back on duty. Peter had deferred to Gerald’s superior knowledge about the Wagon.

  ‘Could ride with it instead of resisting,’ suggested Yuri.

  ‘Wouldn’t it fire the thruster again?’ asked Peter.

  ‘We have to face the possibility,’ I said, ‘but if we hold on, wouldn’t it run out of fuel eventually?’