by Martin Durst
‘I’ve spoken directly with their Senior Leader. They want to make a deal.’
The room erupted in nervous murmuring.
The President of China stood clearly agitated. ‘You can’t possibly be serious! The Hiver’s obliterated our defenses! We can’t survive another attack. What if this species is bluffing and is simply a scout party sent to investigate our defenses? I say we blast them out of space! –Leave nothing to chance!’
‘Please! Everyone remain calm.’ The Prime Minister waited patiently. ‘Further dialogue with them will be necessary, but allow me to share the facts: We continue to be threatened by the Hive and are at war with them…. But, so are they.’
‘That got their attention,’ Stone leaned over and whispered to the Secretary. ‘Maybe they’ve got a weapon that can defeat them.’
The same thought must have occurred to others in the room as the murmur suddenly died down.
‘Repeated attacks,’ the Prime Minister continued, ‘on their home world have forced them to flee. Unless we want to suffer a similar fate, then we need to listen to what they have to say.’
Stone looked around the room. Every face was solemn and silent. No one seemed sure how to react.
‘I’ve just received notification,’ the Prime Minister added, ‘prior to this meeting from the President of the United States that the surgeon aboard the Carthaginian confirms they are no biological threat to humanity. However, thousands of their race have succumbed to the mutation and are now part of the Hive. As far as these beings know, they are the last survivors.’
The entire room remained silent, though no one looked surprised.
‘Gentlemen, martial law is again in effect by all Nations to preserve order. It will remain in effect for the next forty-eight hours while we issue a series of press releases.’
He paced the floor slowly allowing his words to sink in.
‘The other news is that they have intelligence. –The Hiver’s are still here.’
The room erupted in chaos. Everyone was yelling and talking at the same time. The Prime Minister patiently waited for almost a full minute before calling them to order.
‘Gentlemen! Gentlemen!’ The climate of the room slowly settled down. ‘It seems that the Hiver’s have confirmed what we’ve always suspected: That there’s a habitable planet in the Alpha Centauri System. They’ve colonized it. The Shu’kan detected their presence there; which is how they eventually found us. Come to find out, this is the Hiver’s modus operandi. They commit only enough resources to procure food specimens for their collection ships. These are used as a food source or allowed to mutate to fill their ranks.’
‘For the past twenty-four hours, I’ve been in almost constant communication with their Supreme Leader, Bro’na. We’ve discussed many things to include an alliance. I formerly accepted their offer of mutual cooperation, and offered them asylum. As we speak, they are in route to a settlement we’ve already begun constructing in the tropical forest of Brazil.’
All eyes diverted to the president of Brazil. Though not a formal member of the Security Council, he was clearly attending at the invitation of the Prime Minister. He bowed his head slightly in recognition.
‘Why weren’t we consulted over this decision?’
Stone turned to the Security Council table. The President of China was standing defiantly and demanding an answer. ‘You have no authority!’
‘According to the World Defense Agreement signed by every member of this Council, I have the authority to make decisions without Council approval in all matters that relate to Earth defense. The Shu’kan have offered to share military intelligence and technology that may aid in our war against the Hiver’s. I think that makes us the winner of this arrangement.’ His sarcasm was clearly evident. ‘Their technology is formidable. They have FTL drives on those ships that are powered by antimatter.’
The excitement level was building. FTL was considered impossible till the Hiver’s came and demonstrated otherwise. Now the Shu’kan were willing to share the technology? –And with antimatter? Humans have created antimatter for centuries, but only through large complex particle colliders. Was it really possible to power antimatter ships?
The President of China finally remembered to sit down. He still looked unsatisfied but refrained from further comment.
‘We are fortunate,’ continued the Minister, ‘to still have our home planet. They are here because they have nowhere to go. What you see may be all that’s left of their race. And though their life spans are somewhat longer, they too are running out of time. They have spent the last six months on the fringe of human space, just beyond detection, absorbing our cultures, and our primary languages. –All this in an effort to communicate with us. They want our help with two things: Safe haven and destroying the Hiver’s.’
‘At what cost, Prime Minister?’ Everyone now noticed that the President of the Russian Federation was standing. ‘Why should we expend the effort when we have enough on our plate defending our own species?’
All eyes moved back to the Prime Minister. He walked slowly and deliberately back and forth under the holoscreen. This approach was his trademark. He was well known for being an articulate and thorough thinker.
‘You’re right,’ he slowly began. ‘There is more. They propose we work together to try stop the Hive. The Shu’kan have great technology, but they lack numbers. They also have limited weaponry. Our technology is far superior in this area. Bottom line, we stand a much better chance of survival if we work together. Ask yourselves, how many attacks can we endure? We have to assume the Hiver’s will be back. Do we let them keep breaking down our defenses? –Because eventually, they’re going to win. No, gentlemen, I say we even the odds. We’re going to work together to develop a weapon that will eradicate the threat once and for all: A bioweapon.’
After the Security Council meeting ended, Lieutenant Stone was summoned to the Prime Minister’s office with Secretary Sadim and Fleet Admiral McConnel. The difference between the Council Chamber and the Prime Minister’s private office was unexpected. The Council room was stark and functional. But here in the Minister’s quarters, opulence dripped from the walls. Long tapestries complemented the over-sized windows. Large bookshelves covered two full walls that held a library’s worth of antique books. A beautiful ornate walkway that was accessible by a sliding ladder split the shelves into sections. Large antique chairs helped complete the old European décor. Two of these chairs were positioned in front of a large oak desk that was the centerpiece of the room. Here, Secretary Sadim and Admiral McConnel sat smoking cigars while an aide brought an additional, less ornate, folding chair for Lieutenant Stone to use.
The final discussion during the Council meeting had only gotten more heated. Immediate opponents of the agreement argued strongly against it. In the end, the Prime Minister closed the debate by ending the Council session.
‘Lieutenant Stone. Sit down,’ the Prime Minister began. ‘I know you’re wondering why you’ve been asked to come here.’
Before he could respond, the Minister continued.
‘You’re an Intelligence and Security Officer. We are in need of your services. As you’re now aware, our new allies, the Shu’kan, have a proposal on the table. Unfortunately, it will take several days for a decision as to whether we will officially continue to cooperate with them or not. –One of the hazards of Democracy. However, I believe the decision will eventually be in favor of working with them.’ He tossed his reading glasses on his desk and rubbed his eyes. He looked weary from hours of debate. ‘It’ll take further discussion. The prospect of forming an alliance with another species is a big pill to swallow for humanity. But, ‘he sighed heavily,’ I believe we have little choice. Meanwhile, I’ve given them permission to land their ships. They have close to five thousand people, so it’s a monumental challenge building a settlement this quickly. Their home planet was apparently much warmer and mostly fauna, but this is as good as it gets.’
Stone watched w
ith fascination as the Prime Minister swung his feet on top of his desk while simultaneously lighting a long dark cigar. The room now belched cigar smoke causing Stones eyes to itch. –As if the first two weren’t enough. It reminded him of the sick feeling he’d sometimes get from his father occasionally smoking a cigar.
‘Earth Fleet ground forces will provide security with a full Battalion,’ the Minister added. ‘Their senior leadership and scientists will be given the flexibility to conduct diplomacy here and scientific research at Earth Fleet facilities. They’ll also be joined with a team in Iceland specifically for genetic research.’
The Minister leaned back in his leather chair. He turned and gazed outside his office window. ‘We’ll have resistance,’ he said turning back toward Stone. -His steel gaze boring a hole straight through him. ‘But I need to ensure that –one, if we jump into this, humanity doesn’t get screwed again. –And two, we keep the moral high ground here. We’ll continue attempting to communicate with the Hiver’s. There’s got to be a way to talk to them. But we’ll move forward with developing the bioweapon. If forced to, we’ll exercise that option. –But only if we’re forced to. There’s too much at stake. Admiral, let him know what we got planned.’
Admiral McConnel, who’d been quiet since the meeting started, rose from the chair he was sitting in and walked around to stand beside the Minister’s desk. ‘What we need Lieutenant, is someone to be close to this. –Someone inside and working close with the Shu’kan; and we want you to be that person.’
‘But Sir,’ he protested, ‘I’m going to be needed aboard the Carthaginian. I’m due to report as the new I&S officer. I worked hard for this assignment.’
‘Lieutenant, we will find another officer to take your place. This assignment is more important. Our options are limited. We lost hundreds of seasoned officers during the Hiver’s invasion. You are the best available choice.’
Stone paused to keep his composure. He wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or flattered. Either way, he was sure years of work were about to amount to nothing. He’d worked hard for the prime position of being assigned to the Carthaginian. It was the most powerful ship left in Earth Fleet. He wasn’t giving up without a fight. ‘Sir, There have to be other options. Surely we can train up a more junior officer for this baby-sitting job. My expertise is going to be critical to any military strategy executed by Earth Fleet. No one has studied the Hiver’s tactics and weaponry more than I have. I was the first to implement full studies of the new doctrine as a cadet.’
‘Look Lieutenant,’ the Minister replied, ‘we feel that’s the very reason you are the best suited for this task. We’ve reviewed you academy records extensively. Your efforts to become the subject matter expert on the Hiver’s make you the prime candidate. We need you to ensure that whatever the Shu’kan intend to do are in the interest of eventually defeating the Hiver’s. We simply cannot be taken advantage of by another alien species. Another failure for humanity results in probable extinction. Furthermore, you have some background in biology and genetics as an undergrad, if I’m not mistaken. This is also an asset.’
‘Sir, I still-’
The Admiral cut him off with a gesture of his hand. ‘I’m afraid the decision is final. You fly to Reykjavik, Iceland in three hours. Its location has been chosen for its obvious isolation, but also because it has the world’s leading genetics program. Provide a list of personal items you want from your quarters, and they will be forwarded to you. See the receptionist on the way out for your flight details. You’re dismissed.’
Chapter Two
Stone closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. His hangover had blossomed into a migraine. It’d been over an hour since he left the Minister’s office, and now he was being jostled mercilessly in a Negrav Pod by an over anxious driver. The smell of cigarettes permeated every stitch of fiber in the vehicle. Stains, large and small, dark and faint, covered the seat like cheap copy of Jackson Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm. The sight of it combined with the strong cigarette odor gave him nausea. If he was in any condition other than hung over, it wouldn’t bother him. But the effort to not throw up on the desk of the Prime Minister took a lot out of him. He leaned his head back on the seat trying to find some relief. The cheap upholstery soon chaffed his neck. Negative gravity transportation offered perfectly smooth rides, but the technology had no control of side to side motion. He relented and opened his eyes to see where he was at. He decided to chip through the data file he was given access to. He flipped aimlessly from file to file until he found something interesting. The possibility of combining Negrav tech with FTL and antimatter drives looked promising. The file was a brief feasibility report on the applications of Earth and Shu’kan technology mergers. If he was reading the information correctly, Earth space capability was about to take a whole new direction.
‘Are you a full-timer at the U.N.C?’
Stone suddenly realized the driver was talking to him. ‘No. Why do you ask?’
‘All the uniforms that work there are an aide to some dignitary or another,’ he said with a grin. ‘-Just thought you were too.’
‘No,’ he replied with effort. His head was pounding. ‘I’m just a Lieutenant. Only the big brass works there.’
‘Reminds me of my service days,’ the driver began. ‘-Course then our uniforms were…’
Stone closed his eyes and tuned the driver out. This was turning out to be a bad day.
Ten minutes later, he was entering the airport terminal. Like many public buildings, it held a strong odor of chemical cleaners. Long wide corridors dominated the architecture; a trademark of air transportation for centuries. Life-size models of planes centuries past hung from the massive rafters. The airport proudly served as an aviation museum also. Usually, he’d have to wait in line prior to boarding a flight, but today he was on U.N. business. Instead, he accessed the dignitary entrance to bypass the throngs of travelers. At least people were calm and moving in an orderly fashion. The first time Earth had a visit from extraterrestrials, transportation networks collapsed under the strain.
He stopped at a small service counter that had one attendant. She checked her holoscreen to verify his chip was broadcasting. He nudged it to send his credentials.
‘I’ll need to see your identicard as well, Sir.’
He handed it over. He couldn’t help but notice that she tried to hide a small mole near her right temple with makeup. He thought for a moment then said, ‘You know, a girl as pretty as you shouldn’t have to hide a little mole like that. Why don’t you get a quick laser treatment?’
She looked shyly away then finally stuttered while nervously playing with his identicard. ‘My boyfriend says it’s a waste o’ money. –Won’t let me, and all. Y’know?’ She finished with a nervous smile that spoke volumes. She was the type of girl that hooked up with the wrong kind of guy and never escaped. He felt sorry for her but kept his comments to himself. ‘Well, maybe he’ll change his mind,’ he said trying to cheer her up. ‘After all, you are a beautiful girl.’
She blushed slightly, and scanned his identicard into her holoscreen. ‘Have a nice day, Sir. You should be receiving the trip manifest momentarily.’
He acknowledged the data was received by his chip. She smiled warmly as he walked past the counter through the terminal doors.
On the tarmac, a sleek white Negrav Capsule was waiting. Its shiny hull reflected the bright afternoon sun. Negrav Pods for ground transport were pretty common these days, but only the wealthy, or important government officials, got to travel in a private Negrav Capsule flyer. Maybe being a desk jockey wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Negrav technology was breakthrough for mankind. Research into neodymium magnets led to a leap in modern negative gravity mechanics. The key was generating magnetic fields in a localized area in proportion to the mass being moved; or the exact pull of the Earth’s gravitational field on that object, or mass. The result is zero or near zero gravity. Minute adjustments allow manipulation to the exact elev
ation desired for any mass. Negrav Pods are all manufactured with a standard six inch surface clearance. Negrav Capsules, or flyers, don’t have restrictions, and are even used as space vessels; though ships that are space-capable are specifically designed to be so. Regular Capsules never leave the atmosphere. With Negrav, weight is no longer relevant, only mass. The technology has been perfected so well, that magnetic fields can now be generated within other magnetic fields. Extremely tight miniscule, yet powerful, fields create artificial gravity in capsules and space vessels that allow for more natural environments and a greater degree of flight control. They also help dampen the effects of inertia. The hope is that Negrav will greatly improve the Shu’kan’s FTL technology.
Stone moved to observe the capsule more closely. The vessel had retractable landing struts that gave it a smooth streamlined look. It was fashioned in a glider design more for emergency reasons than necessity, but it could still glide to a landing if power was lost. The front gathered to an apex that allowed for maximum aerodynamics. It was hard not to appreciate the engineering.
He was about to embark when a loud shrill suddenly split the air. High above him, a craft was rapidly descending. It wasn’t any capsule he was familiar with. Its design was stark and geometrically rigid. –Nothing like human Pods. –Must be a Shu’kan shuttle. The hair on his neck stood up and he could feel his pulse rate double. It was landing just to the other side of the Negrav Capsule. Its struts had extended. A torrent of air generated by the thrust pushed against him. He leaned into it to keep his balance.
‘Lieutenant Stone!’ He barely heard his name over the roar of the aircraft. An Earth Fleet Officer stepped from a Negrav Pod parked behind him.
‘I’m Commander Gain. The vessel you’re watching approach is here to rendezvous with you. –A female scientist.’ He was almost yelling now.