Their conversation was interrupted when someone started pounding on the front door from the outside.
A female voice on the other side of the door asked, “Maggie? Are you alright?”
Maggie walked to the door and opened it slightly.
“Is there someone in there with you, dear,” the woman outside the door asked.
“No Ellyce,” Maggie said. “I fell back to sleep during breakfast and had a nightmare.”
“Are you sure you’re okay,” the woman asked. She gave Maggie a look that told her she had some suspicions that Maggie’s home was being invaded.
“You look as if you have been crying and I thought I heard a man’s voice,” she said.
“Honestly Elle,” Maggie told her. “I’m fine. Please go ahead and I’ll catch up with you shortly. I have to grab my things.”
Maggie closed the door and ran into her bedroom. She emerged seconds later and handed a small device to Black Bear.
“If this still works after that EMP, John should be on the other end,” she said.
She grabbed her things and headed for the door.
“Don’t be here when I get back, Billy,” she told him. “Leave and never come here again.”
She opened the apartment door and stepped through, without looking back.
Black Bear looked at the personal locator that Maggie handed him.
“Son of a bitch,” he thought to himself. “I hope this got fried with the microwave ovens back on the continent.”
He pressed his thumb to the touch screen and the locator lit up. Black Bear swallowed hard.
“Shit,” he said aloud as he looked down at the display.
There was a single icon on the display. It went between dull grey and bright red repeatedly.
“Just like Maggie,” he thought. “No security pass code.”
He swallowed again and chuckled. His ribs were still smarting, but he barely noticed. His pulse quickened and he broke a sweat. Adrenaline was coursing through his body. He pressed his thumb to the flashing pictogram. After a short pause, the locator went dark and looked as if it had failed completely.
Black Bear was about to heave a sigh of relief when the locator lit back up and produced the familiar tone that all locators made when connecting to the tele-link network. He cursed loudly. He would have preferred not to find out for certain that Maggie had anything to do with Chamberlain’s disappearance. The knowledge made him even more of a danger to her than he was only having unsubstantiated suspicions.
The display indicated that a voice channel was established, but there was no audio.
Black Bear stared at the locator for an eternity before he decided to speak.
“John,” he asked. “Are you there?”
“Yes I am, Billy,” Chamberlain replied. “I’d like to say that this is a pleasant surprise, but I don’t have enough information to make that judgment, yet. What the Hell do you want, and where is Maggie?”
Part VII - Zhereveldonne
Chapter 33
17-April-2210
“How long had Chamberlain been in your custody before Calf Stealer and his commandos showed up, Azir,” Gupta asked. “And, how, in Heaven’s name, did you capture him?”
Buzami looked at the empty tankards on the table and motioned for a waiter to bring three more ales.
“Chamberlain came to us of his own volition, Vijay,” he answered. “He showed up in a small shuttle with a woman and a feline child. He circled the city once so we could get a good look at the craft to see it was unarmed as he blared out a request for asylum in broken Zunnuki.”
“He set the shuttle down about half a kilometer from the city wall and the three walked in slowly, with their hands on top of their heads. His Zunnuki was shaky, but it was good enough for us to understand him.”
“The woman and the feline child, a beautiful girl, came in with him, but Chamberlain sent them back to his people after five days. I never saw either of them again. He came just after the initial attacks on our cities. I guess he was here almost a year before Alphie showed up with his friends.”
“And he shared technology with you that enabled you to break into the Ark’s data and navigational systems,” Gupta asked.
“He took some of our technology and adapted it for his own use,” Azir replied. “He had full control of it through a sophisticated artificial intelligence he kept in a computer he brought with him. I had never seen anything like it before, and I hadn’t seen anything like it since. That is, until your people showed up. Your computers are similar and maybe more advanced, but you still have nothing that compares with his artificial intelligence.”
“So, he decoded the grids for you,” Gupta inquired.
“He supplied us with intelligence for a few specific purposes,” Buzami answered. “But, from the time he came to us, until we had accomplished what we could in the city and he led Alphie and the others back to New Phoenix to start the uprising, he held complete control of the computer that interfaced with our defenses.”
“We once tried to defeat his security,” Buzami admitted. “But, the artificial intelligence, made us pay for the attempt.”
“How so,” Gupta asked.
Calf Stealer laughed out loud.
“It is… embarrassing,” Buzami said. “Perhaps I will tell you later.”
“It broke into the Zunnuki municipal grid and took control of all the utilities,” Calf Stealer said, still laughing. “It re-routed all of the ventilation so the air removed from lavatories all over the city was sent directly to the war room. It also shut the cooling off for a week. It was the hottest part of the year and as I remember, even after the ventilation was re-routed and fresh, cool air was piped in, the stench stayed with the place for months.”
“Needless to say,” Azir grumbled. “John’s response was humorous and perhaps even poetic. We never tried that again.”
Gupta motioned for Azir to forget about it. He continued his line of questioning about Chamberlain’s purpose and actions while in the Zunnuki city.
“Colonel Calf Stealer,” he inquired. “What could Chamberlain have possibly done to convince you the felines were backing the wrong team during this skirmish? And, how did he think the seven of you could convince the settlers and other felines to go against Yuen and Black Bear?”
“We’re all friends here, General Gupta,” Calf Stealer replied. “You can call me Alphie or Alpha or just Alph if you prefer. Azir is the only other human who still calls me by my serial, or at least that part of it, but I really don’t mind. I consider myself lucky to have friends close enough to give me a nickname.”
Gupta apologized and deferred.
“Of course, Alphie, or Alph,” he said. “Whatever you prefer. Please, tell me about your time here. If I am ever to make sure that things are properly straightened out, I need to know as much as possible.”
“Of course, Vijay,” Calf Stealer continued. “It really took little to prove to my team and me that our allegiance to General Yuen and his benefactors was based on lies and deceit. Along with holographic video of Yuen briefing his upper command on plans to corral, disarm and euthanize us, Chamberlain had computer records that proved to us there was a group of non-Earth humans who were backing his takeover of the Ark. They were in some sort of pact.”
“You don’t really believe that do you,” Gupta asked. “As far as we know, the Zunnuki and we Terrans are the only human species in the galaxy.”
“Chamberlain proved it to us, Vijay,” Buzami responded. “He had a hyper-link communicator and allowed us to listen in to Yuen speaking with them. Chamberlain even knew the language the alien humans spoke. He claimed it was a proto-Sumerian language and the basis for a large number of the languages spoken on Earth.”
“I must say,” Buzami added. “The language spoken between Yuen and whoever he was communicating with was quite similar to my language. After we had listened in on a hundred hours or so I had no trouble understanding it, except for a few concepts I didn
’t have anything to relate to.”
“Chamberlain told me that my language also resembles his proto-Sumerian,” Buzami continued. “I also have to admit that once I was able to compare the ancient Zunnuki clerical writing with the Sumerian writing from Earth, the similarities made me wonder just how much of our ancient religion’s writings are based on some sort of historical fact. Our people claim to have come here from the third planet orbiting your sun in pre-recorded history. The last I heard, that was your Earth.”
“How sure are you that Chamberlain wasn’t playing at some sort of hoax,” Gupta demanded to know.
“To what end,” Buzami asked.
“If he could convince you the humans who removed his crazy ass from power were talking to space aliens who promised to give Yuen your planet, you might back him – as you did – in regaining control of his Ark,” Gupta explained.
“There is only one thing wrong with your argument, Vijay,” Azir told him. “Even if that was the case; we still ended up better off. With Chamberlain’s followers in control of the Ark, we never again had to fear attack.”
“I’ll grant you that, but what proof do you have of these communications,” Gupta asked.
Buzami and Calf Stealer exchanged uncomfortable looks. It was apparent to Gupta when he saw the expressions on their faces they had an answer but weren’t certain they should share it with him.
“What is it, Gentlemen,” Gupta demanded. “Out with it.”
“I have something in my possession,” Buzami said cautiously. “I think you will find it not only corroborates what we are telling you, but will give you information you need about other things that went on during the Ark’s journey here.”
“When can I see this proof,” Gupta asked.
“We must travel back into the center of the city,” Buzami answered. “It is under lock and key in my office. Nobody but Alphie and I know it even exists.”
****
It was late in the evening when the trio arrived at Buzami’s office. Gupta and Calf Stealer took chairs while Buzami fumbled with some keys he took out of a desk drawer.
He lifted a painting behind his desk and pulled it from the wall, exposing a wall safe with two keyholes and a combination wheel. He took one of the keys on the ring from his desk drawer and put it in the first keyhole. He then worked out a combination with the wheel and took a second key from his pocket to put into the second keyhole. He turned the two keys simultaneously to the right and the door to the safe popped open. He reached in and pulled out a personal tablet.
It looked ancient to Gupta, but he still recognized it.
Buzami set it on his desk and motioned for Gupta to come closer.
“This is the computer that John Edward Chamberlain brought with him when he came to my city,” he proclaimed.
“That’s remarkable, Azir,” Gupta said. “Does it still work?”
“Of course it does,” Buzami answered. “Only Alphie and I know how to activate it, though. There is important information on here you must see, Vijay. But first, I need to tell you some things.”
Gupta looked at Buzami. “Am I going to regret learning what is on this tablet,” he asked.
“It will most certainly change your mind about a lot of things you believe to be true, General,” Calf Stealer said. “We were hoping you actually knew about most of what is contained here already and you were just playing dumb on the orders of your government. We now see that isn’t the case. You might want to think about it for a while. You will have more questions than answers after you look at this. In our estimation, your government will not be happy to answer any questions that may arise as a result of our showing you this.”
Gupta’s head started reeling. Some of it was the Zunnuki ale he had been drinking for most of the day, but quite a bit of it was from the shock of knowing he was about to be given possible proof there were those in his government who knew about Chamberlain’s plan to come to Alpha Centauri A IV and refused to stop him.
Not only that, but the government may have actually hi-jacked the mission and sanctioned the attacks on Buzami’s people upon advisement from still another group of aliens. He fought the urge to have Buzami activate the tablet.
“Tell me more about what you know of the alien benefactors,” he asked the pair.
“We didn’t learn much about them,” Calf Stealer said. “Most of the communications between them and Yuen were progress reports. We did find out they called themselves Uh-Kee-Denz? Wasn’t that it Azir?”
“I believe so, Alphie,” Azir replied.
“From what I can remember, Yuen was communicating exclusively with a man called Koh-ZER-me? Koz-er-me? Go-zer-me,” Calf Stealer recalled.
****
8-October-2409
“Cozeremi,” the Historian exclaimed. “My God. This must be what Len Pedersen meant for me to find. How could this have been buried for so long? No wonder Gus wants to keep a lid on it.”
Zheng pulled out his personal tablet from his briefcase.
He logged into the Academy’s library network and searched for any information he could find on the Ekkidan family name Cozeremi. An obscure, but interesting entry came up for an Aro Zhereveldonne Cozeremi, who lived at about the time in question.
There was only a paragraph, but it was quite informative. Not for what it said, but for what the Historian felt it left out.
It mentioned that Zhereveldonne Cozeremi resigned as Ekkidan Prime Minister under suspicious circumstances and surrendered his family’s seat in the Ekkidan House of Peers.
“I definitely have something to talk to Cadet Non about,” he thought out loud, before going back to the antique tablet he now realized either belonged to General Gupta or; even more incredibly; Chamberlain himself.
Either way, any data that was in the holographic memory of the tablet seemed to have been erased and any secrets it might have held were gone. There was, however, a huge wealth of information on the memory cards that accompanied it.
Zheng picked the tablet up and went back to reading the depositions that were becoming increasingly intriguing.
****
“And the information I would need to prove this is here,” Gupta asked, pointing to the tablet that his new found drinking companions swore belonged to Chamberlain.
“Yes,” Buzami said. “Not only that, but it has information that will prove different national governments along with your global military had hyper-link and superluminal propulsion technology before Chamberlain left Earth.”
“So, you can see why we felt we needed to wait until we could trust you before mentioning any of this,” Calf Stealer added. “I still can’t say I trust your superiors… or your planetary government.”
Before Gupta could respond, he received a page on his personal locator. He pulled it from one of the pockets in his uniform jacket.
“Gupta here,” he said.
A voice came from the locator that filled Buzami’s office.
“General, Sir,” it asked. “Are you somewhere you can talk? I have a priority message for you from CEF Forward Command. Your ears only, Sir.”
“Excuse me, Gentlemen,” Gupta said as he left the room.
Calf Stealer and Buzami sat quietly waiting for him to return.
After a couple of minutes, Gupta burst back into the office, looking quite excited.
“Is something wrong, Vijay,” Buzami asked.
“I’ve been recalled to the Armstrong for an emergency briefing,” Gupta replied. “I need to leave this minute.”
“Is there a problem,” Buzami inquired, becoming concerned.
Gupta grabbed his uniform jacket and turned to leave.
“I’m not supposed to say anything,” he told Buzami and Calf Stealer. “But, you will find out soon, anyway. Our other superluminal battle group just checked in. They left Earth for Epsilon Eridani about a year before we left to come here. They were in a communications blackout for some reason. It looks as if they made contact with another human civilizat
ion, and possibly even a non-human one.”
The other two looked back at Gupta, not quite knowing what to say.
“Azir,” Gupta asked. “May I look at that tablet when I get back?”
“Of course, my friend,” Buzami answered. “But, I must ask you not to mention to anyone else I have it. I will be hiding it in another location from now on.”
“Understood, Governor,” Gupta said.
He then turned to Calf Stealer.
“Colonel,” he said. “I encourage you to join me. The shuttle back to the Armstrong is due to leave in fifteen minutes.”
“Yes, General,” Calf Stealer said as he grabbed his own uniform jacket and followed Gupta from the Governor’s office.
****
The Historian was giddy.
He had been pouring over the thousands of hours of open testimony contained on the memory cards from the evidence locker of the Armstrong.
He was at once, exhilarated by the thought of finally learning the truths they contained and maddened by the fact that this information he considered vitally important to the understanding of the origins of the League of Aligned Planets had been suppressed for so much time.
“The Bureau, or at least Cozeremi, had to have known that this was there,” Zheng thought.
It would soon be time for Zheng to get ready to head for the History Building and teach his classes for the day, but he was really in no shape to lecture. He had been up almost twenty four hours and he needed some sleep. It would also be impossible to keep his mind on his lectures. He would have to call off his classes for the day.
It hadn’t escaped him that the JAG officer, Gupta, was on a quest of his own to learn the truth about the Ark, Chamberlain and what really happened during that time.
“My Heavens,” he thought to himself. “This is the cloak and dagger bullshit that really campy paperbacks are made of. Perhaps my next book on this subject should be a novelization?”
Chamberlain's Folly (The Terra Nova Chronicles) Page 31