by John Walker
Getting a chance to see the technology at work outside the simulations appealed to her. She took a deep breath to dispel the nerves working her over. Showing herself as jittery to a military commander wouldn’t go over very well, especially if she was supposed to be taken seriously once they began working together.
The shuttle set down and she steadied herself one more time before disembarking. Military personnel rushed about the area, weapons at the ready. People to her left policed bodies and it made her stand up straighter. She’d seen dead bodies but never in a battlefield before, never recently killed.
What happened here? How did these aliens cause so much damage?
A young man in uniform approached. His shaved blond hair had been growing for maybe a week and his blue eyes made him look terribly young. He offered a salute but didn’t look very certain.“Um… Miss Alexander?”
What is it with the Miss stuff? Cassie ignored the faux pas and smiled instead.“Yes. This is crazy.”
“Yes, ma’am. They came from nowhere, hitting us hard. My name’s Lieutenant Simon Walker. Please come with me.” He stepped away from the platform and down the stairs. Cassie followed, really cursing the heels as they nearly got stuck in the grating of each step.“Are you here to help us analyze the attack data?”
“Um… something like that,” Cassie replied.“I’m not entirely sure what I’m supposed to talk about yet. You understand.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Is it safe here?”
“Sentinel troops from the Gnosis came down and helped secure the area,” Simon replied.“I have to say, we didn’t know how they’d perform in that power armor. We heard rumors, sure, but seeing it in action? They came down here like angels of death er … I don’t mean to sound like I’m using hyperbole, ma’am. But seriously, it was impressive.”
“I’m sure it was.” Cassie had seen videos of training simulations for the armor. They impressed her then and seeing the carnage, just imagining what they faced, improved her confidence in their technology. Practical application beats theory every day.“Where were you during the conflict?”
Simon gestured to one of the gun emplacements.“My crew manned that weapon. We were one of the lucky ones because the other turret was taken out by a high yield explosive. Melted the metal completely.” He bowed his head for a moment.“We lost four people to that.”
“I’m sorry to hear it.” Cassie sighed. Thinking about the deaths dampened her excitement about the situation. Knowing their equipment worked didn’t matter nearly as much as the lives they lost. Painful as it was, if they broke into a full-on war, many people would die. One of the best things to come from discovering the Orb was relative peace.
And instead of killing each other, something else has to show up and cause trouble.
They went up the stairs to the front of the facility and through the double doors usually meant for heavy equipment. The personnel doors seemed to be sealed off and guards protected each one. Cassie passed by two men in power armor who saluted Simon. They must’ve been from the Gnosis.
We’ll have to outfit the standard guards here with this stuff now that it’s been proven to work so efficiently. Early tests of the armor had some of the researchers convinced it might explode. The power cores on the devices were shielded but potentially unstable. They put them on meat covered dummies at first and moved them remotely, testing what they might do to a human body.
The first units did explode but they corrected the problem and continued trials. Eventually, the fourth-generation units were considered safe enough for humans to try out. After six months, the production version went live and those were the ones that boarded the Gnosis.
Simon escorted her down a bland, metal hallway and to a conference room located near the Orb control room. She’d been there plenty of times to observe and work with the peripheral interface but the device itself was kept much deeper into the facility. Somewhere down there, a fight broke out and the creatures trying to break in were killed.
I wonder who I’m meeting now.
The door opened and several people turned to look at her. She recognized them from dossiers. The older uniformed gentlemen at the head of the table was Admiral Reach, in charge of military operations and the Gnosis project. To his left, Captain Bradford was seated and across from him, Lieutenant Salina Gold, a scientist, sat with perfect posture.
The lead researcher, Doctor Lisa Harper, stood near the window, pacing nervously. Simon stepped back as Cassie entered and the door closed, leaving her alone with the others. She put on a smile and approached.“Hello, I’m Agent Cassandra Alexander of the AIA. I’ve been asked to attend this briefing and assist.”
“We know,” Admiral Reach replied.“I assume you know everyone in the room already since you spooks have files on the world, right?”
Cassie’s cheeks flushed but she nodded.“Yes, I’m familiar with all your records and names.”
“Good, then please have a seat and we’ll get right down to business. We’re dealing with an alien threat who came straight for the Orb. This concerns the entire world, especially since none of us here are naive enough to believe they won’t be back for another shot later. My people are combing through the different bits of alien tech and we have a prisoner to interrogate.”
“Sounds positive,” Cassie said.“Has the… er … creature said anything? What’s it look like?”
Doctor Harper tapped her tablet, bringing an image on a wall screen before answering.“We’ve performed a medical analysis and found him to be surprisingly similar to human beings. Same parts, same nourishment requirements and coloration. Some of their faculties seem to have developed differently but not significantly enough to matter.”
“Such as?” Captain Bradford asked.
“They see better than us but their sense of smell is diminished.” Doctor Harper shrugged.“Their tactile senses are also enhanced, perhaps to a hyper level where they might be able to feel vibrations and know what is causing it half a mile away. However, beyond those points, they are pretty much human beings.”
“How does this even happen?” Admiral Reach asked.“What are the odds of such a similar species developing far from Earth?”
“Long before the Orb was discovered, we theorized about precursor races which may have seeded several planets. It didn’t explain human evolution, however, which is a generally agreed upon point. Perhaps they influenced us all in subtle some way, nudging the development process, but we have no definitive proof of such a thing.”
Doctor Harper continued,“in any event, our Orb is unlikely to be the only such device in the galaxy. Perhaps they put one on several habitable planets, waiting for the sentient races of those places to discover them. I’m speculating, of course. Wildly in fact.”
“Of course,” Admiral Reach muttered.
The implications of what Harper suggested made Cassie frown. She turned to the screen displaying the physiology of the enemy. The image could’ve been anyone she ever met.“So this is first contact. A species nearly indistinguishable from our own with different but not insurmountable technology. May I ask what the military proposes we do about it?”
Admiral Reach scowled.“These aliens have declared war on the human race. My inclination is to finish what they started. Determine where they came from, what they want and end their ability to make war.”
Doctor Harper cleared her throat.“I’m not sure hostility is our best option, Admiral.”
“They wouldn’t even answer our hails,” Captain Bradford said.“They came with the express intent of gaining access to the Orb and they planned on killing or destroying whatever got in their way. Something tells me that peace isn’t exactly an option and believe me, I’d much rather pursue that than the alternative.”
Lieutenant Gold held up her hand before speaking.“I believe we need to determine why they want the Orb. Depending on the answer to the question, we may know whether or not war is even necessary. For example, there’s a possibility that this a
ttack was one of desperation, something to save themselves from some kind of destruction.”
“Meaning,” Admiral Reach said,“that they might’ve brought everything they had for the effort.”
“Nothing’s impossible,” Lieutenant Gold replied.“I wouldn’t rule it out. Likewise, just because this particular faction did not feel like playing nice doesn’t mean they represent their entire species. We may find there are more amiable individuals within their ranks. Diplomacy may still be an option.”
Captain Bradford looked at Cassie.“What’s the AIA assessment of this situation?”
“We’re reserving any official opinion until the interrogation with the prisoner has been concluded.” Cassie tried not to look like a deer caught in headlights. The question caught her off guard.“Has he been spoken to yet?”
Admiral Reach shook his head.“No, we performed the medical exam through his cell door and he has been in restraints since we took him prisoner. He hasn’t uttered a sound as of yet and technicians are accessing the Orb for translation services. Assuming this thing can speak at all.”
Doctor Harper glared at the Admiral.“I think we’ve established the prisoner as male. You can at least give the prisoner some dignity.”
Captain Bradford hummed.“I’m pretty sure he or it doesn’t care what we call it. Our notions of decency might be totally lost to these people. The best we can hope for is an explanation for what we’re dealing with and why.”
“I’d like to be in on the conversation,” Cassie said. Her heart beat a little faster as she spoke, fear tickling her stomach.“I’m certain I can get something out of it… er … him. Would that be okay?”
“AIA has jurisdiction,” Admiral Reach said.“At this point at least. When we determine whether or not we’re dealing with a total monster or a bunch of potential war criminals… well, the military can take over from there.”
“Understood.” Cassie nodded, gesturing for the door.“Shall we start now? Something tells me we would like to get this underway as quickly as possible, especially if we’re worried about a second attack.”
“Indeed.” Captain Bradford stood.“All things considered, the quicker he talks, the sooner we can plan our next move. Lead the way, Doctor Harper. I think we’d all like to see what this person has to say and whether or not we have to worry about a full-scale war breaking out between our people… and aliens from beyond our solar system.”
Chapter 3
Desmond had only met a few members of the AIA in his time. They tended to be much older than Cassie and not half as attractive. He found their choice of representatives surprising. They always seemed stuffy to him but even in her fancy white uniform, he sensed a defiant soul beneath. Someone that didn’t necessarily adhere to the typical restrictions of her organization.
Perhaps they recognized that the situation they were in called for someone who thought outside the regimented box of rules and regulations. He was making assumptions, of course, and he knew judging the book by the cover never turned out well. How strict would she be about toeing the line?
I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
They all went down to the security center where their holding cells were kept. The prisoner had been in one of the interrogation rooms for hours, enduring observation and hands-off medical examinations. No one had spoken with him yet but the guards stated he didn’t respond when they handled him roughly.
Stepping up to the security glass, they peered in at their prisoner and the tension in the area rose noticeably. If the man sitting in that room were not wearing a uniform and had been identified as an alien, he would never have known the truth. Brown hair, pale skin, regular eyes… he could’ve been one of the Gnosis crew members.
“And we’re sure he’s not human?” Desmond asked.“That these people aren’t some kind of separatist faction that just spent time away from the planet long enough to build up the appearance of an alien invasion?”
“As I said,” Doctor Harper replied,“they may appear to be the same but there are differences. While we were unable to perform any invasive checks on this one, we did perform an autopsy on one of the dead ones… one which was mostly whole. This allowed us to confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are not human.”
Desmond nodded, thinking of the ramifications of the enemy’s appearance. They could’ve been patient, infiltrated the planet and made their way here without the attack. Perhaps they felt a sense of urgency to get it done quickly. Maybe they were incapable of speech. Regardless, he dreaded the idea of a situation involving spies.
Admiral Reach drew a deep breath.“I was informed by command that my interrogator was to give the AIA representative first crack at the prisoner.” He turned to Cassie.“Are you prepared?”
Desmond watched her closely and noted only a brief hesitation before she nodded.“I am.”
“Are you armed?” Reach asked.
“No, sir. I only have my computer with me right now which I can use as a translation device.” Cassie tapped the screen on the tablet.“Hopefully, we’ll be able to find a common method of communicating.”
“Very well. Go ahead. The guard will be with you with orders to react should anything strange happen.”
“Understood.” Cassie moved over to the door and nodded at the armed man waiting for her. He opened it up and they stepped inside. The alien didn’t look up but Desmond detected a little tension increase in his face. Perhaps he was prepared to be hurt. The thought didn’t bode well when considering what their culture might do to prisoners.
Desmond leaned close to Salina and whispered,“What’s your take on all this? You’ve been pretty quiet.”
“Considering what we’re seeing with these aliens, I understand everyone’s concerns. However, I’m worried about what this one might say if we can talk to him. Surrendering to the enemy is one thing but to creatures you know little about?” Salina shook her head.“He would have no idea what we might do to him or how badly this could go.”
Desmond thought about the motivations of the alien. Survival might be too obvious but then again, reading too far into the situation might be just as dangerous. Either way, he bit his tongue and decided to simply watch the attempted interrogation. Could the young AIA officer get through to him?
Cassie put her tablet on the table, sat down and tapped a button. A beam of light shot from a sensor and ran over the alien’s head. He flinched but didn’t move. When it finished, she cleared her throat and began.“Hello. My name is Cassandra and I’d very much like to talk to you. This device has scanned you and will attempt to translate my words to your language.”
A few moments passed before the device began to speak in what sounded like total gibberish. The syllables represented Japanese but none of it seemed familiar to Desmond. He looked at Salina who shrugged. It took a bit longer to repeat than when Cassie spoke it the first time but when it finished, she continued.
“You can speak plainly and the device will repeat your words in my language.”
Again, the speaker pumped out more strange words. The alien looked up at her and smirked.
“We’ve studied your people and have a vague understanding of your… language.” The translation device took a moment to translate the odd grunts and quick syllables. Having the words come out in a computerized monotone made them seem eerie and all the more alien.“Speak.”
“I see,” Cassie said.“Would you mind telling me your name then?”
“Revik,” he replied.
“Why did you attack our planet, Revik?” Cassie asked.“What did you hope to accomplish? Were you after the Orb?”
“What you call the Orb, we refer to as Trindisha. They are powerful artifacts.”
“Artifacts…” Cassie’s eyes narrowed.“So you believe there are more of them. Does one exist on your planet as well?”
“Yes…” Revikchewed his lip.“There are many. They belonged to a race called the Trind. Have you not discovered this on your own? The histories should be present in e
very Trindisha.”
“We haven’t uncovered any histories,” Cassie replied.“Why are you telling me all this?”
“If you are able to talk to me then my unit is dead and the attack vessels are all gone. I am alone here with no hope of rescue. They tasked us all to die before speaking but I could not obey.” Reviklooked away.“I dishonor everything about myself, my people and my family but I… I do not want to die.”
“Coward then,” Admiral Reach said.“Lucky for us, we got one that’s so afraid of pain.”
Desmond didn’t buy it entirely. Perhaps the alien was scared and didn’t want to be tortured but he didn’t hold out at all. Did his race truly lack any discipline? He spoke of honor so they must’ve had some kind of code. Surrendering to avoid death seemed understandable but immediately talking? It felt like he might be offering up some misinformation.
“Do you think he’s lying?” Desmond asked.
Doctor Harper checked her computer.“If he is, then the telltale signs of dishonesty don’t apply to him.”
“Tell me more about your people,” Cassie asked.“What do you call yourselves?”
“We are Pahxinfrom well beyond your galaxy. Millions of light years away.”
“Can you give us coordinates?” Cassie leaned forward and moved the tablet toward him. She tapped it a couple times and Desmond strained to see. She showed him star maps.“Where is your home in relation to ours?”
Very good. We can plan an assault that way if necessary.
“I…” Revikleaned to look at the screen.“You see… it would be…” He lifted his hand and let out a horrifying scream. Cassie very nearly fell out of her chair as she scrambled away from him. His hands slapped his forehead as the guard raised his weapon and aimed it at him. Doctor Harper opened the door and rushed in.