“My name is General Walker. I am here for two reasons. Firstly to protect you from those that would harm you. Secondly, to take you all to a secure location for debriefing on your experiences with the aliens. Transport busses will be arriving in thirty minutes. Gather your belongings and wait inside your buildings.”
George looks across to his wife and smiles. He now knows with absolute certainty that the government knew when the Gamin were leaving. The three of them head back to their room. It does not take them long to get ready. With the Gamin providing uniforms, they have added very few items to the clothes they were wearing that fateful day at the Statue of Liberty.
Though George and Lisa are a little nervous, Johnny is treating this as though it were some great big adventure. “I wonder where we are going?” He states with the innocence of the little boy he is.
George looks down at his son and smiles at his excitement. “I don't know son.”
They do not have to wait long before there is a knock on their door. George opens it up to see a young soldier. The soldier looks down at his clipboard as he runs his fingers down a list.
“Mister and Missus Stanton? And you have a young boy as well, Johnny?”
“That would be us.” Replies George.
“Please follow me.” The soldier turns and leads them outside to a waiting bus, one of many.
“Johnny, hold your mother’s hand and do not let go.” George is not too worried about them getting separated, as the boarding process seems very efficient. There seems to be many more soldiers than people actually being escorted. Perhaps they are concerned about folks running off.
The buses themselves, are all large touring buses with blackened windows. George looks to the city as he and his family obediently gets on board. Large military looking helicopters fly over the city, sirens can be heard seemingly everywhere. The great city of New York seems to be in chaos once again. Each bus has seats for only fifty people, but has plenty of room for luggage. Even before their bus is full, it pulls away to stop again a few moments later. Soldiers get onboard and occupy the remaining seats, including the window seat next to George. The soldiers vigilantly look out through the one way windows with powerful rifles in hand.
George looks across the aisle at his wife and son. He stretches his hand out to his wife's as she gazes out the window nervously. She glances back at him, he sends her a smile, which he hopes is comforting.
Once the convoy of buses move out, they are flanked with literally an armada of military escorts. Hummers lead and follow this convoy as it speeds, nonstop through the busy city streets. Police and military vehicles block every side road making sure this convoy moves on, unhindered. Once clear of the city and on the interstate, instead of slowing down, the convoy of vehicles picks up even more speed. Wherever they are going, the government means to get them there fast, that’s for sure. At better than one hundred miles per hour, the convoy blurs down the freeway. The only stops that are made are at temporary military posts where folks can stretch and use portable restrooms while the vehicles are refueled.
The next day is a blur for them all, as they are taken all the way to Colorado and into Cheyenne Mountain. Once again, NORAD is home to a group of civilians. Entering the facility, George wonders if they are really being kept from harm, or if they are just being kept.
It does not take long before people are singling George out as a 'spokesperson' for them. Most people do this simply to avoid any focus on their own activities with the visitors.
“So, you are George.” The investigator seems more like an interrogator to George, as he sits in a small room with cameras aimed at him.
“Yes, I am George Stanton.” He sighs, “You had to know that, you brought me here!” He is getting quite annoyed at the stupidity of the situation.
“How is it exactly, that you came into contact with these aliens?” The interrogator is sitting down on the other side of the small metallic table reading from a check list. He seems to have a long list of questions as he settles in, making himself comfortable. He has a pen in hand that he occasionally makes a note with, or just sticks in his mouth.
Ohh boy this is going to take a while. Realizes George, as he catches a glimpse of the many pages in the man's folder. “I came into contact with them when my neighborhood was destroyed and I had nowhere to go. The Government was not offering any assistance. However the Gamin did, they provided shelter.”
The session goes on for a long time. Somehow George does not get too exasperated at the idiocy of some of the questions. Eventually he is able to leave, though being treated like some criminal has not been a very good experience for him. As he heads back to his room to find Lisa, he wonders about the one detail he missed telling them. The translator is a very small unit indeed, and fits so well inside his ear that a casual observer cannot see it. He did mention both of his trips to the Regent’s command ship, which caused the man questioning George to raise his eyebrows in disbelief. George can still recall the look on the man's face when he replied. “Just ask the President, he was there!”
Location:
Planetary Orbit
Earth
Sharz looks about the bridge of his spacecraft with pride. The last few days have seen the installation of many extra components. Once empty weapon ports now bristle with armaments. Shuttles and ground vehicles line the main cargo area. All aboard have continued to work with greater diligence than normal, as they are running below optimum crew levels.
Once assembled, the fleet of twenty-four spacecraft banks away from Earth. Orbital thrusters are soon replaced by the glow of sub light engines, as the fleet accelerates further away. Far below, many telescopes watch the departing fleet. Barbara's team is just one of those that watch with trepidation. Will they destroy us as they leave? Or just go? Leaving us alone.
“Twenty-three, twenty-four, and they are all moving off, not really in any formation either, just as a group.” The man seated at his powerful telescope turns to Barbara with a curious expression. “Well now that they have gone, what the heck do we do?” Barbara is not sure what to say right now, so she just gives him a warm smile.
Regent Voknor looks around at not only his own bridge, but at the fleet with him. He is most pleased by the addition of a new ship and its prime, Sharz. Though he did want more ships to replace the losses from the disastrous trap they fell into to, he is still pleased with the results to date. Looking at the main screen, he watches Earth until it is just a small speck. The planet was quiet cooperative, and has been a fine restock and repair stop off for the fleet. With a single look to one of his bridge operators, the screen changes to that of the view ahead. His bridge crew knows him well, as they should.
“Instruct Sharz to test his weapons on the asteroid field as we pass.”
Twenty minutes after breaking Earth's orbit, finds the fleet approaching the fringe of the asteroid belt. One ship breaks off from the fleet and heads directly for the asteroids, while the rest of the fleet continues on a safer route, well clear of the field.
Sharz stands up from his command chair and heads to the main view screen.
“Weapons stations. Fire each pounder until acquisition scanners are perfectly aligned. Once all seventeen pounders have cycled through, fire each particle beam until all three are aligned. Once done, fire all weapons simultaneously. Begin.”
The two mile long spacecraft starts firing each weapon at various asteroids. The final crescendo rates like a great fireworks show, as seventeen projectiles and three beam weapons lash out, blasting twenty asteroids into smaller pieces.
“Pilot, return us to the fleet. Inform Regent Voknor that all systems are ready.”
As Sharz's ship returns to the fleet, the glow of hyperdrive engines engaging can be witnessed on the ships ahead. With only one system left to test, Sharz retires to his centrally raised chair and sits down. Though he does not show it, he is quite excited.
“Pilot, engage hyperdrive engines, pursuit plot.”
The
ultimate shakedown cruise is always the hyperdrive engine test. One mistake during construction and all aboard die. There is a perceptible hum throughout the ship, as the hyperdrive engines power up. In an instant, the ship is propelled beyond the speed of light. Sharz is pleased as his ship follows the fleet far off into space. He considers the planet behind, with its varied inhabitants, one more time.
Chapter Ten - Aftermath.
Location:
KGB Headquarters
Minsk, Russia
The Russian President strides into the meeting room to once again find Igor and Pavel highly animated as they debate some minor issue. The many other advisors are either engaged on one side or the other, as the debate rages on. The huge, centrally placed table within the room has seen many such meetings, especially lately. He glances over to the far wall, where a half dozen huge windows stand majestically. Heavy drapes with accents of red throughout, line these windows. Today is the first time he has really noticed the details of the room. It is an old room, full of history. How many meetings has he had here and never even been aware of the Persian rugs, or the paintings that line the walls? As those present become aware of their unusually pensive leader, they stop the debate and wait. Looking at those around the room, he considers his actions and words carefully. Gathering their attention, he breathes deeply and begins.
“My comrades, we have faced a powerful adversary, fear. These aliens, the Gamin, could have easily killed all of us. Instead, they let us bicker and fight amongst ourselves. They gave the French medical knowledge, the Chinese a power source. They made sure we were so focused on each other we would be distracted from what they were doing. Our own paranoia got the best of us. Look at how many cities around the world suffered major chaos as people panicked. I am pleased to say that our people conducted themselves well during these difficult times. Well, now we have some important decisions to make.”
The President gets up from his chair and walks with purpose around the room. He makes eye contact with each and every person in the room before proceeding.
“What I am about to propose would have only recently, been considered a treasonous act, or at the very least, one that would ensure the end of my political career.”
At these words, there is a rustling in the room as Russia's senior advisors can't help but be curious, and disturbed at the same time.
“We must open the forum for a world government. Russia cannot stand alone any longer, nor should any country. This would start with a few nations at first, and then expand. We must get the Americans along with Europe to concur, for this to work.” Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he awaits the repercussions.
“Mr. President.” Igor interjects “You cannot expect the Russian people to have an American leader. That is preposterous! Sir.” Igor looks steadfastly at the President, the idea stunning him.
“Igor, not at all, I propose that Germany leads this new world power.” He maintains a steady gaze back at Igor, he is very serious.
Even Pavel, the pacifist, blanches as the President paces the room, continuing on.
“Must I remind you all of recent events? Everyone on this planet was at the mercy of alien conquerors. No matter how you gloss it over, we are only alive because it suits them.”
The President points up into the air. “We launched every nuclear missile we had at their weapons and they did nothing. Do you think we could damage their ships, let alone destroy them?”
Walking about the room again, he lowers his head a little. “At least consider the idea, my fellow countrymen. I understand this cannot happen overnight, but I feel that our differences must be set aside if we are to prevail next time they, or another alien race comes visiting. Now that we have been discovered, I am sure they will be back.”
Igor shakes his head in disbelief, “Why do you say that with such surety?” He is indeed quite confrontational today.
The President smiles, a knowing smile, as he paces the room.
“Our own history guides us. These aliens have found a place where they can acquire resources easily. Hell, we even mine the resources they want and provide delivery. I feel they are not that unlike us, my friends. Yes, I believe they will be back and we must either fight them, or bow before their superior technology.” Standing with his hands clasped behind his back once more, he turns and gazes out the window before him.
The men at the table take advantage of the brief respite and start to whisper back and forth.
Pavel looks up and down the row of men in the room, gauging them carefully. He stands up to present his point of view. “Though I am well known for my peaceful initiatives, I too would support fighting. That is, if we had even the slightest chance of winning. But we do not have any chance, do we? Not to win such a war, thus, we should consider the idea of a world government. As a united planet we could boost our technology, and perhaps even partner with these aliens someday.”
Scoffs emanate from some of those seated, but only one has the courage to speak. Igor shakes his head as he stands up slowly. Staring Pavel down, he begins his condescending barrage.
“These aliens have technology so far above us, we would never be their equals. We are no better than slaves or servants to them. Fighting them, though an option, would probably be suicidal, perhaps even genocidal. Who knows what they would do if we resisted. On one more point however, I will not only agree with Pavel, I will support the initiative.” He pauses, either for effect or because there is no going back from his next statement.
The President’s eyebrows raise as all eyes look to Pavel, then back at Igor, as everyone in the room leans in to listen to this historic moment. Igor and Pavel both in support of an issue? Unheard of. Pavel tilts his head in surprise as Igor pauses.
“We should support the President and pursue the idea of a world government. However, we should consider carefully who we approach as the figurehead.” He nods to the President then even looks at Pavel, and also nods to him in respect while he sits back down.
The President, now with his back to the window smiles a little. Having Pavel and Igor in support means the others will follow. It is just a matter of time.
“I thank you both for your support. Now, we must all decide how to proceed.”
The talks continue on for a while, as all present work on the many nuances involved. At the end of the talks, the President retires to set plans in motion. Sitting down in his private chamber he looks at the Russian doll resting on his desk. Such a short time ago he was boasting to himself about plans within plans. These Gamin surprised him. Even when he and the Americans were caught red handed with their submarines hiding out under the ice, all their leader did was capture the crews and have them go to his flagship. The leader put on a great show of force, his fleet hovering over Earth. He then let the sailors go, at the supposed insistence of the civilian that was present. Yet for all their care, they killed hundreds of thousands in their initial attack. Was this an accident, or part of their plan?
Location:
White House
Washington DC
Seated in the oval office is the President of America, with the joint chiefs. Also present are quite a few additional people, making this room quite crowded. Barbara looks around the room at the many well dressed civilians and military men, wondering how she came to be included in this meeting.
A suit wearing individual starts proceedings from his chair. “I am the Speaker of the House, and have been instructed to run today's proceedings. We are gathered here today to discern what we really know of the Gamin. We will be discussing various technical and social aspects as we know them. I remind you all that this meeting is classified Top Secret. We understand that twenty-three space craft entered orbit shortly after the...”
He pauses and looks at Barbara, who has her hand up. “Yes.” He says, motioning to her in annoyance.
“I know the Aussies said there were twenty-three spaceships, but we distinctly counted twenty-four ships departing. They must have missed
one.”
The speaker looks to the President, who simply nods.
“We will have to obtain the data from the Australians to verify the numbers.” Continues the Speaker, “Barbara, will you contact the Australians and get us some definitive answers?”
“Yes, Mr. Speaker.” Barbara replies as she continues to follow the proceedings intently. As she listens, she discovers many aspects of the Gamin that she was not aware of. The medical and technical information they shared with the French, for instance.
“We are still unclear as to how the Chinese secured a functioning power unit from the Gamin.” The Speaker continues, “The Chinese, as usual, are not cooperating with us in this matter. They claim that with three more of these power units, they will meet all of their energy needs. This is an amazing and unsubstantiated claim.”
The Speaker hesitates as he looks at his notes, he glances at the President, who nods. “This next piece of information is an insight into Gamin psychology and is deemed as sensitive information.”
He pauses once more, then continues with deliberation. “The American Ballistic Submarine fleet met up with the Russian’s equivalent under the northern polar ice pack.” There is some minor disruption as some people in the room can't help but be surprised at this revelation.
The Speaker continues on, undeterred. “This plan was to counter any further hostile actions by the Gamin. The Gamin discovered the submarines, and either captured or destroyed them all. The Gamin released the survivors after a short period of time. They were not interrogated or questioned, merely held captive.”
Barbara considers this information while almost missing what would become a pivotal moment in history as the Speaker continues.
First Contact (Terran Chronicles) Page 21