THE BRINK - OPERATION DEEP FLIGHT

by Marshall Huffman

  “Yes sir. Thank you sir.”

  The connection went dead.

  “So?” Luke asked.

  “They are sending a B-1 to pick us up. We need to be ready.”

  “When?” Peter wanted to know.

  “As fast as possible.”

  “I guess there is nothing else for us to do but wait. I’m getting hungry. Anyone want to eat?” Luke asked.

  They went to the base officer's club and got a table away from the crowd. They got a lot of strange looks.

  After they had ordered, Peter asked, “Luke, do you know what happened to you after we left the boat?”

  “We started hearing a strange noise. It grew progressively louder. It apparently caused us to blackout. I remember holding my ears, but it didn’t help.”

  “What about later?”

  “We, all of us, were in a large room. It was very quiet. I remember seeing you come in with Marcus. Later you left. After that, the only thing I remember is getting very sleepy. At some point I woke up and I was instructed to follow a walkway to a different room and to lie down on a table. I remember us all being together for a while but I don’t know why. Then nothing, until I woke up on the Chameleon.”

  “That’s pretty much what I remember too,” Susan said. She then added, “I woke up and found you and Marcus. You had those strange things attached to your heads. I remember thinking that they looked really weird. Then I drifted off. We talked but I don’t remember what we talked about. I woke up later and like Luke, was told to go to a different room. When I got there you and the Admiral were lying on large white slabs. You had some sort of tubes and connections running from the devices on your head to the end of the slab. I remember lying on the table, then nothing. I woke up in the Chameleon. I feel like someone is walking around in my head. It is a very strange sensation.”

  “Hey,” Luke said suddenly. “What happened to the observer and Rawlings? I just now remember seeing them in another room with something attached to their heads.”

  “Me too, come to think of it,” Susan added.

  “Price and Rawlings have remained behind. I don’t know why,” Peter said.

  “Okeefer is back on board but he seems to be on some different mission. I don’t have a clue what that is all about do any of you?” Marcus asked.

  “He seemed to be in a trance like the others, but more alert and focused on us. I can’t say for sure but it seems I remember seeing him in a different room from us. It’s so hard to tell what is real and what I just think I remember,” Peter added.

  “I do remember us talking. At least I think I do,” Susan said to Peter.

  “Yes we did. I take it only the Admiral and I actually communicated directly with the Bhakktah.”

  “You mentioned that name to the President,” Luke said to Marcus.

  “Yes. The aliens are called Bhakktah. They are able to communicate with us through mental telepathy. They struggle with our language, but manage to get the message across.”

  “So what is the message?” Luke asked.

  “Trust me on this. You will know when the time comes. We were all chosen for a specific mission, of that I am sure. We have each been implanted with information that we will present when the time is right,” Marcus said.

  “And you actually talked to them?” Luke asked.

  “Talked isn’t the right word, as Peter pointed out to me,” Marcus said.

  “Yes, we did,” Peter told them.

  “What do they want?”

  “They will trigger all that we need to know when the time is right. I can tell you that each of us plays an important role in the fate of our world,” Peter told them.

  “Do any of you remember anything about the trip down into the trench?” Marcus asked.

  It was strange but none of them could remember what happened after they started down. They could all remember getting ready to head down and Marcus could remember giving the order to take it nice and easy, but after that, they all drew a blank.

  “So we don’t really know where all of this,” he said, feeling the device attached to his head, “actually took place," Marcus replied.

  "Man, that’s not going to lend much credence to our story,” Luke said.

  “I don’t think that is going to be a problem. Peter, do you remember what they said? I went to sleep at some point. Did you?” Marcus asked.

  “No. After they put you to sleep, I was taken to another place. They explained exactly what they had in mind. I don’t know what information each of you has, but I think I have a larger piece of the puzzle than the rest of you,” Peter said.

  “What do you know?” Luke asked.

  “I’m sorry but again, in the right place and at the right time. We will know when,” Peter told Luke.

  “Great,” Luke uttered.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  They paid after finishing their meal and returned to the Chameleon. The crew was going about the routine of prepping the boat for sea duty. Tanks were being filled and provisions stored on board.

  “They seem to know the drill,” Luke said to Marcus.

  Phillips was giving directions to the various crew members.

  “I didn’t give him any orders. He just seems to know what to do. Another piece of the puzzle, I guess. We certainly have a lot of them,” Marcus replied.

  There wasn’t much for them to do so they just kept busy going over the routine details on the boat. Peter asked Susan to review the video library and to see what was on the tapes. She went over every tape and it was readily apparent that the last thing recorded was just as the Chameleon started to drift out over the edge of the trench.

  They inserted the DVD and watched.

  “19,855 feet.”

  “Take us to 17,000 feet and level out.”

  “17,000 feet.”

  You could see the control man making movements with the control sick and adjustments.

  “Admiral,” Susan was saying, “I’m not sure this is the time but I have something I would like for you to try. It’s my own invention and........”

  Static filled the screen and it ended abruptly.

  “All of the rest are blank from this point on,” Susan told him.

  “I pretty much expected that,” Peter said.

  “So, you are going to take me to meet the President again,” Susan said to Peter.

  “Apparently so. I don’t understand what part you all have in this, but I guess it’s a waste of time trying to make sense of anything at this point. We just have to let it play out.”

  “I’m sure I will make a great impression on him with my bald head and tubes sticking out. I have had bad hair days but at least I had hair,” she quipped. “I didn’t say this earlier, but I do remember you holding me while we were with the aliens,” Susan said.

  “I got you into this. It was the least I could do. Besides, I think everyone has our relationship figured out by this time anyway. I know Marcus does. He pretty much told me what he thought was happening between us. Speaking of Marcus, he is a good guy but he was really struggling when we were with the Bhakktah. His military duty was conflicting with his duty to humanity. They picked up on that and put him to sleep. That’s when they took me to another area and showed me the future we have if we don’t change.”

  “You know what will happen?”

  “One possibility.”

  “Grim?” Susan asked.

  “Nonexistent. Susan, we have to find a way to stop our killing and we have to convince the President that no more missions to Bhakktahra or Titan can ever be allowed.”

  “Peter, we will never stop killing each other. It’s what we do. When has the human race not been killing each other?”

  “That’s exactly the point the Bhakktah made. They don’t want us on their planet. We are too barbaric for them.”

  “I can’t say that I blame them,” Susan said.

  Luke came over to where they were talking.

  “Anything on the video?” he asked.

&n
bsp; “Daffy duck,” Susan quipped.

  “Very cute. I take it they were all erased?”

  “You got it,” Peter said.

  “I thought so. There is nothing on the depth recorders or anything else after we drifted over the trench. It’s like it never happened. Only it did. Right? I mean we certainly don’t look exactly like we did before this adventure, encounter, or whatever the heck it was,” Luke said.

  “It happened,” Peter said looking at Luke.

  “I was just thinking. This could be a result of the deep depth dive. You know, nitrogen narcosis or something like that.” Luke offered.

  “I don’t think so. Not unless it was mass narcosis. That seems a bit of a stretch. Nor does it explain the tubes and wires sticking out of my head. I am pretty sure we didn’t do it to each other as a lark,” Susan said.

  “I know but it’s all so surreal, and you can bet they are going to suggest something like that when we get to the White House,” Luke said.

  “You know, you could be right. I’m glad you thought of that. Someone is sure to bring it up and I’ll bet I know who. I do think our strange headgear may help. It’s hardly subtle, or readily explainable,” Peter said.

  “Admiral Zoren, the one you were talking about, is he going to be trouble for us?” Susan asked Peter.

  “You can bank on it,” Peter said shaking his head.

  Just then the deck watch yelled down, “Sir. I was just notified that your flight is inbound and is due to arrive in one hour. They are requesting that you be at the flight line in 45 minutes.”

  “Thank you. Tell them we will be ready,” Marcus said and turned to the others, “You need to get anything you intend to take along. As you heard, we only have a short time before our flight arrives. I want to leave here in twenty-five minutes. Can you all be ready?”

  They each acknowledged that they could and set off to pack.

  CHAPTER SIX

  - B1B Bomber –

  “How much longer?”

  “You sound like one of my kids,” Marcus said to Luke.

  “Well, I’m not. How long?”

  “Our ETA is thirty-five minutes. We are being met at the base by a White House staff member. We are to proceed directly to the White House. A meeting has been scheduled for 3 o’clock,” Marcus told him.

  “I’m sick of this plane. It is certainly not very comfortable,” Susan said wiggling on the hard seat.

  “It wasn’t meant to be. It’s a bomber. It just happens to be a fast one. It was the quickest means of getting us all here. It won’t be long now.”

  “How much longer now, daddy?” Peter teased.

  “Kids,” Marcus snorted.

  Thirty-three minutes later the B-1 touched down at the north end of the runway and was directed to the ramp. A long limo was just pulling up. They were no sooner down the stairway, when their few pieces of luggage were loaded in the car.

  “This way please,” the driver said, opening the door.

  He did a double take as they got in. Talk about weird, he thought as he closed the door.

  They climbed in and were off to the White House. They were whisked through security in short order and were taken immediately to the private conference room.

  Everywhere they went; people would stop and stare at them. Some tried to be discrete but most just stood there with their mouths open.

  “The others will be joining you in just a few minutes,” the Marine told them.

  “Excuse me," Marcus said. "We have just had a very long flight. I think it’s safe to say that we could all use a head. Could you please show us to one?”

  “Oh. Of course sir. I guess no one thought of that. Certainly. If you will just follow me I’ll show you the way.”

  He led them to the restrooms with more intakes of breath and dropped mouths along the way. They returned a few minutes later refreshed, more comfortable, and ready to get on with the meeting.

  One by one the others came into the room and took their places. Introductions were made and small talk initiated. The devices attached to their heads caused a major stir. Everyone wanted to know what was going on and what they had found. It was apparent that they had found something. They told them that they would have to wait for answers. Admiral Zoren didn’t like it and let it be known. He was not used to being told he was going to have to wait.

  * * *

  “The President of the United States,” the Marine announced, opening the door.

  “Please, stay seated,” President Beland said and proceeded to take his seat. He looked up and his eyes got wide.

  He was taken aback by their appearance, but he tried not to let it show.

  “It’s a pleasure to have such a distinguished group of scientists join us. As you can well imagine, we are all anxious to know what you have learned. Obviously you have much to tell us. I assume the things on your heads have something to do with all of this. Admiral why don’t you begin the report?”

  “Yes sir. I know you all have a great many questions about the strange looking devices on our heads and much more. Let me begin by telling you up front that we have been directed to come here. You will need to be patient and let us tell the story. We will tell you all that we know and what we still do not know,” Marcus said.

  Suddenly his expression changed and he stood taller. He appeared to have slipped into a trance.

  He started to speak in a halting voice, “What you are about to hear is for the good of all mankind. We have sent your good humans back to you with a message after their contact with us. We are known as the Bhakktah. The moon you refer to as Titan, is called Bhakktahra. We have been visiting the planet you call Earth, for over 1000 of your years. We have been interested in how you are progressing as a species. We have been traveling through the universe for thousands of your years. Our desire is to learn about other life forms and civilizations. Over 100 Earth years ago we established a colony in your ocean to gain a better understanding of human existence. We have found you humans to be hostile, uncivilized, and aggressive. Since our first visits we have found you to be constantly at war. Every part of this planet is involved in the killing of other humans. You place little, if any, value on each other’s lives. We are disturbed that in all the time we have been here there has never been a time when you were not killing one another. We have encountered other species which have developed along this line but they have all realized the error of killing and made corrections. Other species have managed to expand their mental capacity, but yours does not seem to progress. You humans have developed a very small portion of your intellectual potential. You are preoccupied with power and killing. We have encountered others that kill but it has been in order to survive. You do not kill to survive. You kill for power and control or because you enjoy it. If you were in another galaxy this would be of little concern to the Bhakktah, but because you are so close to our home world, it is of grave interest to us. We see no advancement in your species except in the ability to kill in more efficient ways. This is not progress. We do not intend to let this continue,” Marcus said in a monotone voice.

  His eyes were glazed over. He sat down. Everyone sat there in stunned silence. The President didn't even know what to say or how to respond to such a statement.

  Luke stood up. It was apparent that he was now in the trance mode.

  “The Bhakktah were amused at this pathetic planet at first. That was before you began to explore worlds beyond your own. We have encountered others who have obtained star travel but all were on missions of knowledge. We have never encountered another race like yours. Your proximity to Bhakktahra places our world in danger. We are mightier and stronger than the human race but we are not conquerors of other worlds. Your desire is consistently to dominate and conquer. We have increased the surveillance of this planet in the past thirty of your earth years and are alarmed at your advances in space travel. It is obvious to us that you possess the ability to learn but you do not have the ability to empathize with other life forms. Your mili
tary has but one mission, to destroy. You are a childish and immature species.” Luke said in the same pace and tone as Marcus.

  He continued on, “Your planet is a frail and fragile world. It has not reached maturity. Your people huddle together and are co-dependent for survival. Your knowledge of construction is basic and unsophisticated. You are not the masters of your environment. Of all the worlds that we have explored, yours is the first to fail at harmonious existence with your surroundings and with one another. You choose instead to develop more powerful weapons for killing. Expanding your knowledge to eradicate illness is of lesser importance to you humans than developing weapons that could destroy your own world. You still have disease and sickness, but solving these problems is secondary to developing better methods of destruction. You have sent probes out into the solar system and we now understand that it is just a matter of time before you start to reach out to conquer other worlds. Bhakktahra is within your own star system so it will not be long before you travel to our world. The Bhakktah do not want to experience such a primitive race. Your hostile ways are not welcome on our world. We have initiated a procedure to deal with such an event, but our desire was to avoid using the drastic measure. It has become apparent that we are approaching a time that will force this decision. We have waited for you to contact us so that we may offer you one last chance to save your civilization. You sent emissaries to us and we have implanted them with information that is critical to your survival. You must listen and heed what they say. We will not make such an option available to you again. How you respond will determine the future of your species and of your world,” Luke finished his message and sat down.

  It was absolutely quiet in the room. No one moved or spoke a single word.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  - Washington -

  Susan began where Luke had left off, “Space exploration is a worthwhile venture for any civilization, as long as the explorers have the proper respect for the other species that they encounter. Venturing into space to conquer is not a worthy goal. Knowledge is all important. Because humans cannot be trusted with this simple task, we have been forced to respond. As long as you confined your killing to just humankind, while distasteful to us, it was not considered a threat. Now that you are obtaining the ability to travel to other worlds, it is a grave concern. Bhakktah do not kill other Bhakktah. It is contrary to our very essence. To your kind, this is a sign of weakness. To us, it shows respect for each other and for our Creator. It is our belief that all civilizations, all worlds, have the same Creator. The name may be different, but we know that even as uncivilized as you are, you have knowledge of the same supreme Creator of all things. In spite of this knowledge, you show continued disrespect for the Creator. It is our belief that once you obtain sufficient knowledge for extended space travel, within a short time your mission will change to one of conquest. Bhakktahra is mighty and will not allow such conquest”