by John Pearce
The Voting Species
The Voting Species
Midpoint
[Type text]
THE VOTING SPECIES, JOHN PEARCE
COPYRIGHT © JOHN PEARCE 2013
SMASHWORDS EDITION
CONTENTS:
FROM WAR TO WORDS
THUMPING THE TABLE
SOMEBODY’S OUT THERE
EVOLUTION TO REVOLUTION
ACTIVE MINDS
THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE
FROM A SCHEME TO A DREAM
OUTSIDE THE LAW
INSIDE THE LAW
PREDATOR AND PREY
THE ART OF THE STATE
THE ALIENS LAST STAND
FROM WAR TO WORDS
The jungle dwellers looked through their tears and out across the battlefield, they were crying to drown the tragedy of their victory. Laying before them in the usual bloody contorted positions of post-battle were twenty thousand of their enemies; thirty thousand more had fled from the edge of their jungle back across the plains from whence they’d came. They had protected their jungle home yet again, this time with an army of four thousand. Now, with two hundred less, they lined up to lament the predicament they had been put in by another people similar to their own. A people that would not talk or trade, but kept trying to take their fertile jungle by the force of greater numbers. They dared hope that their latest victory would convince their enemies to take a more peaceful path to their mutual salvation.
They were now free to concentrate on the new threat they’d lived well and truly under. For many of their days now, two large objects had flown over their heads, sometimes landing, with yet another people alighting and wandering all over their land. One object would shoot bolts of thunder and lightning at them from the vantage of the sky, whilst another would fly about aimlessly and occasionally hover over them. The jungle dwellers did not elevate these people to the level of gods, but deduced they were from another world much like their own. They used their knowledge to keep out of sight of these flyers; they knew well how to run and hide, but thought it prudent to fight back only when they had to. They wondered how long it would be before they too could explore the stars, was there a chance that they would ever reach out to each other, but most of all they wanted to know why others were so different from themselves?
Some of these others had now found fourteen other planets to their liking. Forty billion humans, along with the ten billion at home made up the Galactic Federation; flexing their democratic muscles by electing fifteen senators every five years to the senate established on Earth. As of now, there had been no intelligent extraterrestrial life recognized, there had been a few humanoids scanned and dismissed as near misses. Not everybody was disappointed by this. Gene scans allowed the transparency that suggested to humans their past, present and future, suggested to and not dictated to because of the mellowing affects that choice had on their behaviour. One of evolutions more dubious mutations, politics, thus evolved on Earth and spread out across the Galaxy.
It took the best part of the twenty first century before the human race realized that their planet could afford their genetics, but not their behaviour, especially if they all wanted to share the same joys as the platinum plated few. This motivator drove them out into the heavens so that they could spread their genes throughout the Galaxy and onto the planets they assumed were obediently waiting for them. Evolution had already visited these luxuriant prizes and repeated its wondrous welcome, you still do it my way! Despite this, the Prospector was cutting its way through space back to Earth, leaving the space-time fabric swirling in its wake.
The invisible forces fired by their genes had driven some into reaching out across the DNA gap as well as the Galactic sized constituency. Twelve green clad alien warriors and four khaki clad human scientists had now adapted to become a team that had won the .latest round of gene and jungle warfare.
The humans were drawn to the uncomplicated way their alien friends always behaved. Whether it was a matter of life and death as demonstrated in the jungle, or the social niceties of a shared meal, they were always direct in comments that were never warped by human like pretensions. All eight males were roughly the same height and build as Denton, tall and slim, but their chests were a little larger. The females were about twenty five centimetres shorter, the same athletic chests made it difficult for them to hide their gender, even if they saw any point in doing so. Their skin and its tone were indistinguishable from slightly tanned human skin. There was a meagre covering of fair hair below their necklines, which the Professor observed had nearly evolved away. All their faces were clear of hair and both sexes didn’t need to succumb to the ritual of daily shaving. Their eyes were mainly lighter coloured and set above higher cheekbones, the males had a harder look than their females. For both sexes there were various shades of a mop of brown hair on their heads that could be mistaken for the creativity of any expensive salon back on Earth. They did in fact look like the fittest of humans, who hadn’t let their gym memberships lapse
Denton’s dark blue eyes narrowed from under his black hair. ‘Just for our dangerous curiosities Prof, what else is going on? A view from you and the warriors would be most appreciated. We may even forgive you for risking our necks.’
The little man peered through his light blue twinkly eyes, set in a face made pinker by the sun over the jungle they’d just fought in. His ruffled grey hair and beard contrasted with his three younger charges, all now tanned. He was dwarfed by Mick from the Origins Society who was broad even for his two metre height. Atop which was a clean shaven head with hard looking eyes. He and the fourth human, James Tubary, Denton’s friend and business partner, had met before this adventure in an unarmed combat bout. Both had received the training for this sport, but had learnt how to kill should they get really grumpy. Tubary was a miniscule average height by comparison with Mountain Mick, his fighting name, but broad; his speed was his edge. He was always the man of action, his hazel eyes often sparkling from under his tousled sandy hair when danger threatened. Denton on the other hand preferred exercise only for health objectives, and tried to use his brain to keep himself out of trouble, he didn’t always succeed in this ambition. They all looked on as Professor Anton Devereaux spoke.
‘As I see it the Admiral’s working at a number of levels, I can’t read him, which is probably why he’s Head of Intelligence. He’s got to close the net on the bastards behind Cyan’s problems. One chink in his black uniform is that he appears to want intelligent aliens recognized as such.’
‘Why a chink?’
‘He has the Senate refusing to acknowledge the existence of intelligent aliens!’
‘Is he ramming the genetics evidence from Planet 2374 down the Senator’s throats?’
‘I don’t think so, he’s trying something different this time.’
‘Any idea what?’
‘No, have you got any idea Boss?’
Boss and the other warriors shook their heads.
‘As for Cyan, only the gods know what else can happen there!’ lamented the Professor.
Denton sighed. ‘That last come home order we received was about moving from genetics into politics!’
THUMPING THE TABLE
‘Here it comes Commander, this is a case of the nuclear waste hitting the Cyan fan, a real explosion!’ The grey alert eyes of Admiral Maltravers narrowed as he spoke to Commander Kronstein, who allowed his customary faint smile to escape his thin lips. ‘They’re even honouring us with a visit.’
Just minutes before, the Leader of the Senate along with the Senator for Cyan and his legal adviser had demanded a meeting with the Admiral. They had flown the short distance from the Senate to the Europa Military base and barked at the nearest receptionist to take t
hem to the boardroom. Job done, the receptionist had to move herself rapidly from the doorway, for fear of being trampled by these august middle aged visitors. She just managed to get the customary formality of an unnecessary introduction out of her panting lungs, towards the two tall military men standing in their immaculate black uniforms. The Admiral smiled from under his tidy short grey hair, the Commander did the same from under his slicked down black hair.
‘Thank you, that will be all,’ said the Admiral coolly. ‘Coffee Senators?’
‘Yes,’ hissed Senator Cantrell, the Leader of the Senate, a large dark haired man who wore the usual grey business suit, but felt his office allowed him the latitude of wearing a dark red polo neck shirt. The other two were no less conventional but wore different shades of tan suits, the slim sandy haired Senator Goring choosing the lighter one with a mustard shirt. His legal adviser Mr Stanford, short and rotund, making a safer statement with a darker tan suit and a dark green shirt.
‘Please sit down gentleman,’ the Admiral continued, ‘I understand you have concerns about security on Cyan.’
Senators Cantrell and Goring shuffled into the chairs to his left while Stanford sat next to the Commander, both to his right.
Cantrell was the Senator for Earth, but allowed Goring to start the complaint. ‘Our research lab was attacked yesterday by a group of hooligans calling themselves health researchers. There has been no interest shown by the military despite several complaints made to this base directly from the Cyan Government.’
‘Anything new on this Commander?’ the Admiral asked.
‘No Admiral, as you are aware, we tried to get inputs from reliable witnesses by way of encrypted quantums. We received the most incredible account of what appeared to be a confrontation between aliens and guards who were concealing an unlicensed nuclear project.’
‘The application went in an hour ago,’ rasped Stanford, ‘CY589834.’
‘Better late than never Mr Stanford,’ the Admiral said, ‘now at least we’ve something solid to go on. As this matter appears to have wider implications than just hooliganism, somebody senior’s account of what happened would be most welcome.’
Senator Goring continued robustly, ‘Cyan funded guards were ambushed by a health research group, most of the guards were shot with twelve injured.’
‘How many attackers?’
The Senator hesitated. ‘At least seven, three humans were around somewhere.’
‘How many guards?’
‘About twenty.’
The Admiral made the point of looking at the Commander incredulously. ‘There must have been a glitch in the quantum, our information says one hundred and twenty.’ Then he looked back at the Senator. ‘Not very proficient your guards!’
‘The attackers were aliens, the like of which had never been seen before.’
‘With or without intelligence?’
‘This isn’t funny Admiral, first they used bows and arrows, injuring twelve guards, and then they shot the others with laser rifles.’
‘What makes you think they were aliens? Were they scanned?’
‘They must have been aliens, they used bows and arrows.’
‘They sound like intelligent aliens to me.’
‘Are you taking this seriously Admiral?’
‘You must forgive me Senator, but I’ve already had feedback from Cyanese witnesses. How many guards were killed?’
The Senator hesitated again. ‘None, the rifles were obviously set on stun.’
‘Is there anything else you wish to add Senators? Mr Stanford?’
‘Yes,’ interrupted Senator Cantrell pompously, ‘an expensive gunship was destroyed, its engine was blown apart by a laser cannon.’
‘Ah, you must have some form of evidence from detecting this ship, I assume it was a ship.’
Now it was Senator Cantrell’s turn to hesitate. ‘Er…no evidence, it must have been a ship, what else could it have been.’
The Admiral looked around the boardroom thoughtfully before clasping his hands together. He glanced at the Commander who was now struggling to contain his faint smile. ‘If I understand you correctly gentlemen, you now wish me to spend a significant amount of my ever decreasing budget on hunting down and capturing three humans and at least seven aliens. A tough enough job finding humans, with all aliens looking alike I suggest that finding them in the Cyan jungle would be close to impossible. Which of course begs the question, what do I charge them with? Could you help me out here Mr Stanford? What do you think the Galactic Prosecutor would say if I took a case like this to her?’ The Admiral thought it prudent to adopt his formal manner. ‘The case would be: A group calling itself health researchers, made up of three humans and an indeterminate number of aliens, total about ten, attacked with bows and arrows about twenty or one hundred and twenty rifle carrying guards. These guards were covertly protecting an unlicensed nuclear project. The aliens started the battle with bows and arrows which they had mastered, then went on to finish it with laser rifles which they had also mastered. This resulted in twelve wounded guards, the rest were floored; after the battle they all stood up and walked away. Further to this a gunship was downed by something, there being no evidence of another ship in the area at the time. The evidence against the humans suggests they defrauded the guards of two meals and subjected them to a prank. As for the aliens, they cannot be charged because they are not humans.’ The Admiral paused and after glancing at all three he completed his statement. ‘Under all these circumstances gentlemen, could the Prosecutor even regard the guards as reliable witnesses!’
The Admiral leant back in his chair whilst looking at his visitors. ‘I trust you see my dilemma gentlemen.’
Their faces had softened as the Admiral unveiled his legal predicament. ‘Surely you can see our problem Admiral?’ Senator Goring asked. ‘We can’t have important medical research interfered with.’
‘I think you must see my problem Senator, after our quantum feedback it appears there may be a case of vivisection for the Cyanese authorities to answer!’
‘How come?’
‘It appears this research was conducted on native Cyanese, clearly against the law.’
‘Not at all Admiral, we had only set things up in anticipation of a licence.’
‘I would like to help Senator, but we can never coexist with intelligent aliens unless the law is changed to give them the same status as humans.’
‘Who said they’re intelligent?’
‘Oh I forgot, the Senate doesn’t recognize genetics tests.’
‘That’s the same old cry we’re getting from the bleeding hearts Admiral.’
‘I know, but as for this other species who could win battles when outnumbered by two to one,’ he glanced in turn at the three of them, ‘maybe even ten to one, you should be making sure they’re on your side…just a thought Senator.’ The Admiral felt he had turned the righteous tide in his favour as he faced his screen and waved his hand over assorted icons. ‘Now, what was that reference, CY589834, ah…I see that the research does involve about a thousand natives. I take it they were subjected to questioning only, their biology was not affected in anyway?’ he looked at Stanford.
‘That’s correct Admiral.’
‘In that case, why the uranium?’
‘Are you questioning us?’ Senator Cantrell asked, reverting to his pompous manner.
‘I’m just doing my job Senator, there’s no telling what affect nuclear poisoning would have on these natives! As I asked, why the uranium?’
‘So far, there was no use of uranium, no doubt you will read our application in full,’ Senator Goring continued, ‘we need to expand our efforts in the field of native conservation, it is only right that we research cheaper medical techniques to conserve such an interesting people.’
The Admiral had heard this excuse before, usually in the cause of cheap labour. ‘Suppose you get your sums wrong and you over populate Cyan with natives?’
‘We will have to come t
o some arrangement with them regarding their breeding habits. After all we have birth control, why not natives?’
‘If the Senate refuses your licence, what then?’
‘Then we’ll have to honour that decision, and find other ways of conserving them.’
The Admiral had to ask the question of his betters. ‘Why don’t you give them the vote!’
Senator Goring squirmed a challenge. ‘You do realize Admiral, that if natives ever get the vote it would be easier for them to form their own armies in the name of protecting their planets, then where would the military be?’
‘In exactly the same position as we are now, according to our quantums it appears there are already a thousand angry natives in the area of your research lab, if that’s not an army, what is?’
‘You can’t blame hooliganism of that scale on humans Admiral.’
‘I have to ask another question Senator, what part did your guards play in this hooliganism?’
‘They have a right to protect themselves.’
‘Not very well it appears! Should I need to expand my ranks Senator, I would use those aliens that were so outnumbered.’
‘You inferred that you had found our complaint incredible!’
‘No I didn’t, I stated that you didn’t have a legal case. Warriors of that calibre would be worth looking for.’ he paused, ‘I would recruit shiploads of them, providing it was legal of course.’
By the look in their eyes, the three august visitors got the Admiral’s point. The Commander’s face remained expressionless.