“I tell you, their jobs are much, much harder than ours.”
Many of the women in the crowd had looks of horror on their faces. So, too, did some of the men, but most returned his look with grim expressions.
“I told you the Chessori were likely working on improvements to their ships and weapons,” he continued. “But from a military standpoint, the solution to their problem is much simpler. Earthmen and women are the most powerful weapon in the Empire’s arsenal. They need to eliminate us.”
His eyes moved from camera to camera. “They’ve found us.”
His eyes continued moving from camera to camera as he let his words sink in, then he said softly, “Actually, I think they’ve known about us for a long time. What if some of those alien abduction stories we’ve heard about are real? I suspect the Chessori have been trying to figure out why we’re immune to this mind weapon of theirs.
“I told you I would speak only the truth. I tell you now that we suspected this from the very beginning. We knew that our decision to go out among the stars, to take the battle to the Chessori, might bring retribution to Earth. We also knew that if we did not go, Earth’s future would depend on the whims of the Chessori. That’s like being face to face with a lion without a weapon. Our very survival would hinge on whether or not the lion was hungry. If you choose to judge me and your leaders harshly, that is the basis for your argument. But I tell you this, as well: from the very beginning, we strove to protect Earth and we have done so. We very nearly failed last week, but that failure was not one of planning or effort, it was a failure of command, a failure of vision for which I am to blame. I’ll come back to this and explain it fully in a minute.”
He stared into the crowd. “I know: the very existence of aliens frightens some of you. Already, we have seen riots. Already, we have seen people jumping from the tops of buildings to their deaths. Your leaders feared just such responses, and they were right. It was for these reasons that we chose to recruit our warriors secretly.
“From the time our ancestors learned that our planet is not the center of everything, we have been wondering if other civilizations existed among the stars. That question is answered. We are not alone.”
He studied a few spectators. He waited, giving them time for those words to sink in.
“We are not alone,” he said again, this time more gently. “The Empire is made up of hundreds of thousands of worlds, trillions of intelligent beings. They are real, they are alien, yet in most ways they are just like us. I hope you will get to know them before you judge. For those of you with strong faith, you are going to have to decide in your own minds if, in terms of your faith, are they saved? Are they damned? Are they infidels?”
He stared hard into the cameras, almost glaring, challenging. “I won’t answer these questions for you. You have to answer them for yourselves. What I will tell you is that these people, however you feel about them, exist. They are real, they have hopes and desires just like you do, they have families and loved ones whom they hope to return to, and they are here to help us.”
He considered his next words carefully. “Earth is at a crossroads. Today will go down in history as the day we chose to live, or as the day we chose to die.” He gave them time to think about his words, then said softly, “Is that such a hard choice?”
He stopped talking for a while, just letting his words sink in. When he resumed, it was as a father rather than as the military leader of Earth’s space forces.
“I hope you will learn to call these people of the Empire friends. I have, and I’d like to introduce some of my friends to you.”
He turned and stretched an arm out toward the ramp behind him. “I’ll introduce you, but first I want to tell you a little about the battle we just won. We faced thousands of enemy ships. You know that hundreds of ships secretly hidden here on Earth by the Empire joined with the enemy. I came from far across the galaxy with reinforcements, and we dove right into the battle. As you can imagine, we were severely outnumbered and stretched to our limits with the fighting.
“And now we come to this ship and its crew. The Empire is led by a Queen. This is her personal ship, though she is not aboard. This ship and its very special crew have seen a lot of action, fought many battles, and they have, all by themselves, produced much of the intelligence that has led to our successes. While far across the galaxy, this crew discovered the purpose of the enemy fleet here. They raced to Earth with the knowledge that the main enemy fleet I was fighting was just a diversion for a small, seemingly insignificant group of enemy ships coming from the opposite side of the solar system, a small group of ships I did not even know about. This small fleet carried the weapons with which the Chessori intended to wipe out all life on Earth.
“Our planet lives today because of this ship and its crew.”
He gave the crowd time to digest his words, then leaned into the microphones and said clearly, “You can imagine the terrible risks this crew has taken during their many voyages. You can imagine, as well, that they are survivors. They know the sad reality of the situation here today: they know that anyone on this platform is a prime target of terrorists. Because of that, for the rest of my visit here to Earth they are providing security in the form of Empire Protectors. These Protectors will be your first view of aliens. I hope their presence does not offend.
“To anyone out there who wishes us ill, I caution you: the Protectors you are about to meet are lethal. Engage them at your peril. They have complete freedom to act, and there will be no doors closed to them.”
He turned and looked to the opening of the ramp. Six Great Cats wearing equipment belts sprung down the ramp and spread out, followed by six of Washburn’s men. Two Terrans mounted the stage to stand behind Trexler, and the rest spaced themselves out in front of the crowd, their attention focused outward. Since Trexler was standing beneath the ship, he couldn’t see them, but another Great Cat and a Terran Protector emerged from a hatch on the top of the ship with long blasters in hand to scan the crowds from a height.
Trexler turned back to the crowd, many of whom had backed as far away from the barrier as they could get. The humans they could accept, but the Great Cats – they appeared to be lions on the loose, lions with four hands and the long snouts and vicious faces of baboons. The eyes of these creatures glowed fiercely, and they carried weapons.
“The cats are known as Great Cats, possibly the most lethal creatures in the Galaxy,” Trexler explained. “But do not let their looks fool you. They are known as Protectors, not killers, and they are the good guys. They not only protect, they serve as diplomats, advising leaders at the highest levels. The human Protectors you see are from Earth, but they have been trained and equipped by the Great Cats. You do not want to test their skills.”
He motioned to Borg who padded up the steps of the stage to stand beside him. His body was still encased in bandages from his encounter with the gleason on Orion III. “As you will see,” Trexler continued, “some of the crew of this great ship still bear the wounds of previous engagements. I would like to introduce Borg, the senior Protector.”
Though he spoke Galactic High Standard reasonably well, Trexler clipped a translator to his ear. He did not want to misrepresent any of the speakers today. Borg spoke, and Trexler translated.
“I am pleased to be on the home world of my brother warriors whom I call friend. I am told you might be frightened of me. Do not be afraid unless you bear ill will, in which case you will be well-served to fear me. As a representative of the Empire, I look forward to meeting more of you, and for good reason: one of the first actions by your recruits from Earth was a battle to save my home planet. Though only novices, they performed valiantly and vanquished the enemy. My people have long memories, and we will not forget what you have done for us. I thank you in the name of my people, and I am honored to have reciprocated in any small way that I could.”
Stven was next. He struggled down the ramp, his left front leg still encased in a cast. His broken wing
was secured to his body with a harness. Purple scales, their edges a bright yellow, glinted in the sunlight. His head towered above his body, constantly weaving back and forth as he walked, studying the crowds. Though alien, he somehow managed to convey a feeling of excitement and discovery.
“Please meet Stven, captain of this fine ship and crew,” Trexler announced. “He is a Rress, one of the most ancient and revered civilizations of the Empire. Across the galaxy, his people are known as teachers, as peacemakers. Only rarely do you encounter one of them in the military. We are fortunate to have him.”
He interpreted as Stven spoke. “Greetings. I am informed that my words are heard around the planet, and I am pleased. It is my great honor to stand among you.”
His head lifted above the microphones to search the crowd. He nodded that great head up and down, saying, “I sense wonder, but I also sense fear among you. A dragon in your midst does not sit well. I understand. You need not fear me or my Empire, but we all know that words are easy, and sometimes words are not true. Let me prove to you that my words are true. Let my Empire become your empire. Give us a chance to prove to you in deeds that our words can be trusted.
“The first step is the hardest. You will have to see beyond my frightening exterior if you are to know the person that I am. You will have to see beyond the frightening technology before you if you are to accept the Empire as your partner.”
“Earth is classified as an emerging world, and for good reason. It is too early in your development to be exposed to the Empire. If circumstances were otherwise, you would not know of our existence. Sadly, there is no alternative.
“Know this: the Empire, and particularly our Queen and her Knights, will not forsake you. Our very existence threatens your way of life, and in some cases we threaten your ancient beliefs, your religions. We know and understand that certain forms of Empire knowledge could be disruptive to economies and to ways of life. I speak here of certain technologies and processes that will, ultimately, lead to change in many forms here, some unforeseen.
“You will be challenged. You are challenged. We understand. The Empire will help you through these difficult times, and we will do so carefully and through you. We need you, but we will do whatever it takes to help you emerge on your own terms.
“Or, if you so choose, you can refuse to emerge. We will never force you.
“On the other hand, there will be opportunity, great opportunity in the coming years for new markets: perhaps medical improvements, improved crops, new transportation systems and power systems, the list is endless. This will not happen overnight, and it might not happen in your lifetimes. That is up to you.
“What can happen, right now, today, is dialogue. Philosophies, religions, rights of individuals, nations, and worlds, all of these things will lead to great debate. I hope that debate is peaceful, and I hope you will let us participate.
“I will not try to change your beliefs: I embrace our differences, and I call on you to do the same. The universe is large beyond measure, and we have barely tapped it. There is room for all of us, and there is room for different beliefs and philosophies.
“It takes only one thing to start the process: an open mind. Accept differences, for there will be many. Know that we of the Empire are all emerging, still, just as you are. You will add to the wealth of our knowledge, and our knowledge will become yours.” He stared into the crowd, his head moving up and down and side to side, challenging. But he was done speaking. He stepped back from the microphones and cameras, then limped around Trexler to stand to his right side.
M’Sada was next. “I know what you’re thinking,” Trexler said, as M’Sada started down the ramp on his ten short legs, each ending in a hand. “Captain Stven asked you to keep an open mind, and I hope you can. Lieutenant Commander M’Sada is a Schect, a species recognized across the Empire as excellent tacticians. I was trained by a Schect to command fleets, and I can tell you that they are truly great thinkers. Commander M’Sada is no exception. His plans and ideas have served his crew well.”
M’Sada flowed up the steps to the platform and lifted his head to the microphones, his upper hands preening. Then those hands stilled. “Hmm,” he grumbled, his head panning the crowd. “No fire breathing dragons and no intelligent insects among you. I’m disappointed.”
There was a great shifting of feet among the crowd, and a few smiles, but who could smile at a giant insect?
“I know what you see,” he said, “and you will encounter others even stranger than us. As my captain said, it requires an open mind to accept beings not of your own species. Some never do. Some have chosen to remain separate from our Empire, and we accept that decision without hesitation.” He paused, then said, “Most have not. I hope you do not. Those I have met from your world bring great credit to you, and through them you have earned a place of honor within the Empire. I hope you will accept your place among us.
“The battle has been won, but the war is far from over.”
He paused, giving them time to think about the fact that the war was far from over, then said, “This war will not be won without your assistance.” His gaze moved again from one side of the crowd to the other. “Think about what I just said: this great Empire, an empire that spans a large portion of the galaxy, needs your help. I hope you will not abandon us. Even if you do, I promise you that the Empire will not abandon you.”
He backed away and stepped to the side of his captain, and it was Krys’ turn. She had argued strongly against appearing in public: she was blind, and the image she would present would not serve the Empire well. Trexler, in response, argued that the Queen’s only representative here must speak, and she had listened. Dressed in a shiny black cloak with a hood covering her head, she started down the ramp with Washburn’s huge bulk dwarfing her.
“Major Washburn, a Protector from Earth, is escorting Lady Krys,” Trexler said to the crowd and the cameras. “You see before you a young woman, but do not be fooled. She is a Knight of the Realm, one of the Great Ones of Empire. She answers only to the Queen, and as a Knight of the Realm, her word is the Queen’s command on all worlds of the Empire.”
The crowd hushed. Trexler leaned into the microphones so that he could be heard clearly as he spoke softly, almost reverently. “Her heroism knows no bounds. I am told that tales and songs will be sung of this woman when this war is over, and if the secrets of her actions ever become known, I believe those songs will be sung here, as well. She was blinded during a recent engagement with the enemy. Her sight might be restored, but the longer she waits, the less certain that becomes. She believed her presence here was more important than her sight, and she was right. It is because of this woman, this Knight of the Realm, that you and I stand here today. She saved Earth. I do not hesitate to bow before her.”
He turned his back on the crowd and went to one knee with his head bowed as Krys came onto the platform. Behind him, some in the crowd followed his example. Following the example of those few, others went to a knee, and by the time Krys mounted the stage, many had gone to a knee with heads bowed.
She spoke strongly. “Stand, Admiral.” Trexler stood up and took her arm from Washburn. He led her to the microphones, making certain to position her properly. She pushed the hood back from her face and lifted her head to the crowd. In a strong voice, she said, “If any of you have chosen to kneel before me, I command you to stand. I am the Queen’s servant, and your servant if you will accept me. The actions of your people have brought great honor to you, and no one from Earth need ever kneel before me. For the actions of the warriors already sent from Earth, I bow to you.” She lowered her head and kept it there for a long time.
When she straightened, she reached out with her mind to sense the crowd. It was not a vision, but she felt great energy emanating from them.
“Did you know this is the second time this ship has landed on this planet?” she asked. “Probably not,” she said, answering her own question. “The first time was three years ago, and the
Queen was aboard. Then, she was fleeing for her life. A man from Earth by the name of Michael Carver rescued her. Most of her crew and all the pilots were dead. They hid out while he learned to fly this ship, and they fought their way through two enemy fleets within your system here before reaching deep space. The ship was severely damaged, its main computer dead. Michael Carver managed to bring the ship some 800 light years across the galaxy without that computer. Since then he has twice given his life for the Queen, only surviving because of luck and some advanced medical capabilities of the Empire.”
Her blind eyes stared out over the crowd as she gave them time to think about Michael Carver, one of their own. Then she spoke strongly. “The Queen has named him First Knight, the highest position in our society beneath herself.”
She suspected that her words raised more questions than they resolved, but that was okay: answers would come later. “Think about it,” she said. “A man of Earth holds the second highest position of authority in the Empire, outranking politicians and admirals. Do you think the Queen knows about you? Do you think she cares about you?
“General James Waverly, under the command of Admiral Raymond Trexler, leads the ground forces you have sent to help us. He and his men have successfully cleared the Chessori from two of our 47 sector headquarters. He, too, has been Named a Knight of the Realm. Do you think the Queen knows about you? Do you think she cares about you?
“Rebecca Morrison, daughter of your Senator Morrison, has also been Named a Knight of the Realm.” She turned her head toward Trexler. “I’ve been away for a while. Are there any others?”
Voice of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Three) Page 6