Darlene was angry and frustrated. How could she negotiate with him?
So, BG is in orbit, she thought. Maybe he’ll start blasting this place?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Beta-Prime, can you figure out where the location of the Izod Government?” BG asked.
“Yes. The location of the Izod Government is on the other planet in the Izod system. They broadcast much information.”
“Good, hammer those frequencies with this message,” BG directed.
“Izod Government. This is the Earth Starship Burlington. We brought your representatives back to your system, and our Captain has been kidnapped by people on the planet we are orbiting. If our Captain is not returned, we will open fire on this planet and surrounding spaceships.”
“Keep transmitting that until we get a response,” said BG.
“Acknowledged,” responded Beta-Prime.
“Find me some targets,” BG directed.
“Acknowledged,” responded Beta-Prime.
European Government Comes online
“Mr. President, I have an interesting phone call that I think you’d like to take,” said Eddy, the president’s chief of staff.
“What is it,” President Patterson said with some fatigue in his voice.
“I have a man on the phone who says that he is representing the European States,” said Eddy.
“The what,” responded the president.
“You heard me, right sir. He says they have formed some kind of government that represents most of western Europe.”
“Sounds interesting, connect him up,” responded the president with some renewed vigor in his voice.
“This is President Patterson, to whom am I speaking?”
“Mr. President, my name is Pierre LeBlanc. I am the acting leader of the European States.”
“Mr. LeBlance, I have to admit, that’s a new one on me. Please continue.”
“Sir, we’re starting to recover from the virus. We’ve got a piecemeal government body put together that has elements from just about all the old governments. With the little we have, we are trying to get organized and finding ways to help people. I called you to let you know that we’re here and we’re looking forward to working with you.”
“Mr. LeBlanc, have we met before?” the president asked.
“Yes, sir. I was the Transportation Minister for France, and we met at a luncheon two years ago. We spoke for only a few moments.”
“I thought that I recognized your name. It’s good to have you guys up and running. Has someone on this end briefed you everything that we know?”
“Yes sir, I spoke with your chief of staff Eddy for a while before he connected us. I do have some questions about this Earth Defense Force that is using the alien craft. We have some highly qualified people that might be able to help. With whom should I coordinate with?”
At first President Patterson was reluctant to commit to much. Controlling the most important resource Earth had was a great responsibility and spreading command and control could be risky. He quickly realized that it had to be done. Earth needed to use all its resources.
“Pierre, I’ll have Eddy connect you with my Vice President. He is Nial Hagerly who used to be our Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs. He, in turn, will connect you to Admiral Monson who is now wearing two hats. He is the new Secretary of Defense and the leader of our military including the space resources.”
“Excellent Mr. President. We’re looking forward to working together.”
“Pierre are you the president or what title are you working under?” President Patterson asked.
“Sir, we’re being a little flexible. Some prefer to call me President, and for others, it is Prime Minister. I respond to just about everything.”
“I understand, good talking to you,” responded the president.’
“Same here, Mr. President.”
President Patterson sat for a moment thinking. “Eddy connect this guy up with Nial and see what can be worked out. Tell him to be a little cautious. We don’t know him, we don’t know what’s happening in Europe and just to be safe we don’t know anything about these ‘highly qualified’ people that he talked about. It might be a good idea, for him to take a trip and meet them face-to-face.”
Response from Izod Government
“Captain, we are receiving a transmission,” announced Beta-3.
“Route it through the translator and play it,” directed BG.
“Earth ship Burlington. This is Carot speaking to you. I am a representative of the Izod Government. I am near your location. I received your transmission. Can we speak together?”
BG hesitated for a moment before responding.
“This is Commander Boggs. I am the acting Captain of the Burlington. Izod on this planet have kidnapped our ship’s Captain. She must be returned, or we will take aggressive steps.”
“Commander, may I come aboard your vessel, so we may talk?”
“Yes, you may,” BG responded.
“Beta-3 give them approach instructions.”
“Carot, we have sent our location and procedures to follow as you approach us. When will you arrive?”
BG was expecting an answer, but there was none. He waited then said again.”
“When will you arrive at our location?”
“Commander Boggs. I should arrive at your vehicle as we change orbits. We sensed an unusual vessel entering the orbit of this planet, and I was sent to investigate. Apparently, I am speaking to that vessel. Please state your origin.”
BG was a little uncertain. Things obviously weren’t going according to plan.
“We are from Earth,” BG transmitted.
“Earth? I’m not familiar with that corporation.”
That statement caught BG totally unprepared. Corporation, what is he talking about? BG wondered.
“I am from the planet Earth. We returned Izary to your solar system, and during that encounter, our Captain was kidnapped and taken to this planet.”
BG expected some kind of response, but there was none.
“Carot, did you receive my transmission?” BG asked.
“I’m not sure how to respond,” Carot said.
Again, BG was confused. What is going on?
“Sir, there is a ship beside us. Should I open the shuttle bay hatch?” Beta-2 asked.
“Yes,” BG responded.
“We are opening a hatch. You may enter. It sounds like we need to talk.”
Again, there was no response, but once the shuttle bay hatch was open, the ship maneuvered to enter the Burlington.
“Tell me after the hatch is closed and the bay is pressurized,” BG asked.
“The bay is pressurized,” Beta-Prime announced.
“I guess, I better go meet him,” BG announced.
BG popped the pressure door into the shuttle bay and approached the alien ship on the deck. The ship’s hatch opened, and BG waited to meet Carot.
When the hatch finally opened, an Izod stood in the opening with a very concerned look.
“You are not Izod,” he said.
Then, when the ship’s computer translated to the Izod speech into English, he looked even more concerned.
“No, I am not Izod. I am human,” BG said to the confused Izod.
BG’s voice seemed to add to his confusion.
“Follow me please,” BG said to Carot in a comforting manner.
The hesitant Izod followed BG into the command area and then into the small briefing room. As they passed through the command area, Carot looked around with large eyes, which got bigger as he saw the Beta units. Beta-Prime was standing in the middle of the room, and the Izod had to move around him to get into the small conference room. The Izod was taller than BG and almost equal to the large Beta unit.
BG paid attention to how the Izod was acting, and it was obvious that the ship and occupants caught him completely off guard.
“You have questions?” BG asked after they sat.
“I don’
t know where to begin,” the confused Izod responded.
“Then I suggest that you start,” BG responded.
“I thought you were an Izod ship and there was some confusion about a kidnapping or something. We saw your ship enter orbit and we thought it was too large for one of our ships, but we thought one of the corporations had built it. We never thought that creatures from some other star had arrived. We’ve never met creatures beyond our system. How is it that you can speak our language?” Carot asked.
The questions seemed to be out of context to BG, and he wasn’t sure how to answer.
“Carot, there is something missing here. An Izod ship entered our solar system, and we met with them. The ship had an Izod named Izary on board, and when we were meeting with them, a Terest ship appeared and destroyed the Izod ship and attacked ours. We destroyed the Terest ship, and we brought Izary back to this system. When we entered the system, our Captain went along with Izary to another ship. When she docked with that ship it destroyed its companion ship then came to this planet. We want her returned,” BG said.
“How do you understand my language,” Carot asked again.
“We previously met with some Terest and Izod, and our computer worked out a translation. Why have you not heard of our meetings?” BG asked.
“It appears that you have been dealing with Izod from the Illiod Corporation.”
BG sensed that he was wandering down a strange path.
“Do your corporations work independently of the Government?”
Carot seemed confused.
“Of course they do, why wouldn’t they?”
“Please explain, how your Government and corporations work together?” BG asked.
“We are independent, of course. How else would we work together?”
BG had to step back a little and think before he asked the next question.
“Can you interact with the corporation on this planet to secure the release of our Captain?”
“Perhaps,” responded Carot with an uncertain tone.
“Perhaps what?” BG said with increasing frustration with the Izod and situation.
Carot sensed that he needed to provide an explanation.
“We have a balance. Our Government provides some services, and the corporations provide others. We work together for everyone’s benefit. I can attempt to talk with the Illiod, and they may respond.”
“May respond?” BG said, trying to suppress the feeling to rip the Izod’s head off.
“Beta-Prime, what targets have you found?” BG asked in a loud voice so as to be heard in the command area.
“There are five unmanned cargo ships in orbit, within our rail gun range. Also, there is considerable open space around the building where we think Captain Drummond is being held,” responded the Beta unit.
“Okay, take out one of those supply ships and put four rail gun slugs into the ground around that building,” directed BG.
The expression on Carot’s face changed, and he looked around after BG gave the command.
Within a short time, there were seven small vibrations as the huge ship expelled the rail gun slugs. The three aimed at the cargo ship went out first and then the four aimed at the planet.
The amount of energy in the slugs was huge. The four impacted the ground first, and each caused an eruption of tons of soil and stone. The three slugs slammed into the cargo ship, and they turned red, then white as the structures absorbed the huge amount of energy momentarily before they disintegrated.
“Sir, we have communications from the planet,” Beta-3 announced.
“I thought we would hear from them. Fire two more slugs into the soil around the building.”
“Acknowledged,” responded the Beta unit.
The two slight vibrations occurred, and Beta-3 announced, “Sir, there is another transmission from the planet.
BG just sat and relaxed. Carot looked stressed and didn’t know what to do.
“Sir, they are transmitting again,” announced Beta-3.
“Transmit this,” BG directed.
“This is Lieutenant Commander Boggs. Captain Drummond will be placed on a shuttle and brought back to this ship immediately, or we will continue the bombardment.”
“Sir, they are responding,” announced Beta-3.
“Play it,” responded BG.
“This is Telorr, and I am the leader of the Illiod Corporation. I would like to discuss this situation,” the voice said through the translator.
“Sir, there are two of the larger ships in orbit changing their paths and approaching our location,” Beta-3 announced.
Doesn’t seem like a discussion to me, BG thought.
“How large are those ships?” BG asked.
“They appear to be the same configuration as the one which was destroyed during the attack on the Chevesky,” answered Beta-2.
BG gave Carot a quick glance as he considered his options.
“If you want to avoid a major confrontation, is there anything that you can tell me about the capabilities of those ships?” BG asked Carot.
“I am a politician, not a military expert,” responded the overwhelmed politician.
“Fire a slug in front of the closest ship,” BG ordered.
“Sir, another transmission from the surface,” announced Beta-5.
“Earth ship this is Telorr, do you wish to talk?” the voice said.
“Rail gun discharged,” announced Beta-3.
“Sir, the ship is still approaching,” announced the Beta unit.
“Fire another slug into it,” commanded BG.
“Rail gun discharged,” announced Beta-3.
“Approaching vessel, has been hit and appears to be powering down,” said Beta-3.
“What is the second ship doing?” BG asked.
“Sir, it has changed course away from an intercept,” said Beta-3
“Sir, there is another transmission from the surface,” announced Beta-5.
“Translate it,” directed BG.
“This is Telorr; we are willing to negotiate this …”
“Sir, the transmission has been terminated,” said Beta-5.
“Perhaps he has been informed of the ship that you fired upon,” added Carot.
“Perhaps so,” said BG.
Friday, November 3, 2051
Drummond Taken onboard Shuttle
Darlene was almost asleep. The room where she was being held didn’t have much. She had some water, which tasted horrible and a mat on a small platform. The mat was impressive; it was at least eight feet long and 5 feet wide.
Well at least I can be comfortable for a while, she thought before she closed her eyes.
Just as she was falling into a slight daze and thinking about her empty stomach, there was a loud commotion outside her room. Without any other warning, the door burst open, and two large Izod rushed in and grabbed her. For a second, she thought of resisting, but the Izod was so much larger than her, she knew that would be a dumb move.
They picked her up and carried her out of the room. She looked down and noticed that her feet were at least three feet off the ground. For some reason, Darlene didn’t focus on the thought they might be taking her someplace to kill her, she just looked around and tried to accept what her fate would be, after all, there was likely very little that she could do about it. These guys are huge, she thought to herself, and they don’t smell very nice either.
Captain Drummond’s captors moved quickly, and within a short time she was deposited in a shuttle, and while they were binding her into one of the seats, she noticed that Telorr was in the pilot’s seat in the front.
I guess we’re going for a ride, and I wonder what BG is doing about all of this? She thought.
The two guards that carried onto the shuttle fastened themselves into two seats behind her and Darlene thought, will anyone ever know what happens to me?
Within seconds the shuttle powered up and moved up through an opening in the room of the hanger bay. It accelerated quickly, an
d Darlene knew that she could only sit, watch and wait.
Burlington sees shuttle leaving
A few moments later, Beta-Prime announced, “Sir, there is a shuttle departing from the location where Captain Drummond’s captors took her.”
Great, now what? BG thought to himself.
“Carot do you recognize that shuttle?” BG asked the Izod diplomat.
“It appears to be Telorr’s private shuttle,” he responded. “If I may offer some advice?”
“What,” BG said, cutting him off.
“Negotiation is an art; both sides give and take and finally meet in the middle. You destroyed one of his ships,” said Carot.
BG didn’t believe what he just heard. Was he at fault for defending the ship?
“That ship was being aggressive, and they’ve kidnapped the captain of this ship. That isn’t what I call negotiations,” responded BG a voice well above normal volume.
“Perhaps, he just wanted to engage you in meaningful discussions. I doubt that he intended to harm your captain,” said Carot in a tone that can only be described as diplomatic.
“Follow that shuttle,” BG directed, knowing that he had to take a gamble.
“Sir, the shuttle has left the planet’s atmosphere and is accelerating faster than we can,” clarified Beta 5
“Follow it, and project its course.”
“Acknowledged.”
Fernando meets with Military in San Diego
Fernando and six of his friends drove their truck slowly towards the huge parking lot of Petco Stadium. The sun was up, and it was a typical beautiful day in sunny San Diego.
“Why are we meeting these guys?” Said Lorenzo who was Fernando’s best friend.
“Because they’re here and we’re here,” was his simple reply.
“Did they give you an award for saving those two?”
“Nope.”
“Then why did you do it?”
“Would you rather deal with the Navy or MS-13?” was Fernando’s reply which was met with a shrug.
He pulled into the parking lot and slowed, looking for the military vehicle.
“There it is, over there,” said Lorenzo as he pointed to the lone vehicle.
Earth II - Emergence Page 15