Steven Gordon 3: The Modloch Empire

by J W Murison

  ‘At that time our sun was experiencing a rare period of low activity. By the time they reached our planet another few thousand were dead. If they had arrived during a period of normal solar activity, only a few hundred would have reached our planet alive. During a period of high activity, none would have reached it alive. Could you imagine a whole galactic battle fleet perishing before it even reached Earth? Yet you laugh.’

  ‘Mr President, is this a threat?’ It was the same one that had told him to go on speaking.

  The President bowed low, ‘No your excellency, merely a fact.’

  ‘What will you do if no one supports your bid?’

  ‘We will simply retreat behind the great barrier. There will be no trade of any description with those on the other side. To be blunt your excellency, you have nothing we need.’

  ‘You would not trade anything?’

  ‘Nothing. Any incursion into our space would be considered hostile.’

  ‘Yes, and most likely it would be. My territory lies very close to the borders of an area we call the Sparse Lands. There are a number of meat eating races that have advanced technology within the region. Many attempts have been made to flush them out and eradicate them. They actually have special spits where they can roast my people whole, and alive. If we ever went to war with your people, would the captured suffer the same fate?’

  The President visibly shuddered. ‘Absolutely not. Any Human partaking of such a meal would be incarcerated for the rest of their lives. We are a part of the Balang treaty on the treatment of prisoners of war. Regardless of what happens here or in the next few years, we will uphold the treaty. Any prisoners of war will be treated properly, regardless of race.’

  ‘I am glad to hear it, please go on.’

  The President bowed low again. ‘Let us now take a step back from what might be. Most treaties begin with two parties looking at each other and asking a few questions: “what have you got that I like? Can I take it by force or do I have to buy it?”’ That brought a few laughs from the gathered nobles. The President smiled. ‘Of course, if you can’t grab it, or afford it, you may well be able to trade for it. Our solar system is rich in all kinds of metals and minerals, none of which we can sell or trade because of galactic restrictions and other trade agreements. So what do we have left that we can trade with? We already have a trade agreement with the Modloch Emperor for our grasses; so that is off the table. What do we have left? The answer to that is simple. The resources of a whole planet that has never lost any of its diversity.

  ‘As you can see before you, we still have paper, and use it. The desks that hold them are made from real wood. Before me sit some of the most powerful and richest beings in the galaxy, but I bet less than a handful have any real paper in their library. How many of you have real wood in your palaces or residences? Neither have I seen a piece of real glass since arriving here. We have textiles that will make you weep with joy when you feel them next to your skin. None of these are banned by trade agreements, simply because they have either never existed here or have long since been lost to time and necessity.

  ‘So what do you have that we want? I will be honest, absolutely nothing. We can’t eat your food, your textiles are inferior and our technology is now on par with yours. There is only one thing you have that is of any value to us, and that is your endorsement to join this galactic federation of planets. With your endorsement, we will keep safe that which we value most. That, my noble friends, is the planet we treasure more than our lives. The planet Earth.’

  The President bowed low and he was applauded in many different ways. But he wasn’t quite finished. ‘Before I go, I would like to introduce to you a few of the other inhabitants of our world. Maybe once you meet them, you will understand our passion.’

  CHAPTER 32

  It had been a huge undertaking and a logistical nightmare. However, the ship named the Ark had arrived a few weeks previously. On board were a menagerie of animals from Earth.

  Horses were brought in to the hall first, from the Clydesdale horses of the guards to a Shetland pony. The noble guests were invited down to meet them. The tiny sheltie was the hit of the parade and the Modloch Emperor fell in love with the Clydesdales. The horses were followed by camels and zebras. The koala bears and kangaroos proved to be a big hit, but they seemed a bit wary of the monkeys and for some strange reason found the sheep hilarious. The largest reaction was to the big cats.

  The President asked them all to take their seats again. ‘So far you have met only a tiny proportion of the animal kingdom. All of them, like you, are herbivores. Some eat grass. Most eat leaves or fruit. There are, however, many predators on our planet. In their natural environment, they prevent the over-population of the other species. Even Humans are not safe from these animals. We are going to introduce you to a small selection of these predators. I would ask all of you to remain calm at all times. Please do not cry out or startle these animals. Even though they have been brought up in captivity, they are still, at heart, wild animals and predators. You can never truly tame a big cat. For your safety they will be flanked by rangers with dart guns. If they begin acting wildly we will dart them, which will render them unconscious. I implore you not to shout, jump about, wave your arms, or do anything that might startle them.’

  A pair of ocelots were led in first, bringing only a few murmurs from the guests. The President had been replaced by a beautiful redhead in a safari outfit who described the cats.

  A puma was brought in next and the guests seemed a little more impressed. They were even more impressed by the pair of cheetahs. However, when a single male Bengal tiger was brought in the atmosphere in the great hall changed dramatically; you could have heard a pin drop. Neither did the Tiger seem very happy. His tail twitched from side to side and he growled menacingly at some of the guests. His keeper scolded him soundly and the big cat apologised by rubbing his head against her. She gave him a big scratch behind the ears and he was happy enough to be led out. There was a loud sigh of relief as the door closed behind him.

  The redhead hid a smile. ‘Our last big cats are a trio of African lions. We call them the Marx brothers because of their playful nature. Noble guests, I implore you to keep calm at all times. Please meet the kings of the jungle, the lords of the great African plains, the Lion.’

  The appearance of the three black-maned lions sent a shock through every guest in the great hall. They sauntered in like they owned the place. None could deny their magnificence. When they reached the middle of the hall they decided it was playtime. There was a communal gasp as one swiped the feet from under his keeper and the lions all piled on top. The other two keepers had a hell of a time extracting their friend from the heap. When he was free he held up his hand to indicate he was OK. There was a communal titter of relief from the audience, which had an electric effect on the lions. They got to their feet and began to look round, as though noticing for the first time where they were. One began to cough, then the other two followed. It ended in full blown roars that shook the very walls. As the last roar rang round the great hall there was a long drawn out fart that could only have come from one of the gathered nobles. It was a moment that should have created a great deal of laughter, however they were too terrified to even twitch.

  One of the lions wrinkled his nose and sneezed in a manner that could not be mistaken for anything other than laughter. His brothers joined in and, deciding they had caused enough mayhem, let their keepers lead them out of the great hall. The moment the great doors closed the hall erupted in noise. A deep primal dread had been released, catching all by surprise. Some it titillated, others it horrified, but none were immune to the effects of the lions.

  The redhead keeper waited until the noise abated somewhat. ‘Noble guests.’ She immediately had their attention. ‘I can see by your reactions that you enjoyed the company of the big cats. Not all cats are as big though. There are hundreds of different breeds of cats. There are few places on our planet where they do not thrive,
and as such both Human and cat have had a very long relationship. For the most part this relationship has reaped benefits for both species. We have not only taken them into our hearts but also into our homes. Noble guests, may I introduce you to the domestic cat.’

  The doors opened and a host of keepers walked in carrying cats and kittens. The white Persian seemed to be the most popular, but the cute grey kittens also went down a storm. Some of them broke loose and decided to investigate the strangers themselves. A large black tom, shorthaired and sleek, took a particular liking to the Modloch Emperor. His face was novel as the black cat sunk its claws into him.

  Its keeper was mortified but too frightened to approach the Emperor. ‘What is it doing?’ He gasped through the pain.

  ‘He likes you sir. He is just getting comfortable.’

  ‘He likes me! Are you sure?’

  She flicked away a hair from her face. ‘Oh yes, positive. In a moment he will lie down and go to sleep.’ As if on queue the cat lay down and closed his eyes. ‘If you stroke him, he will purr.’

  ‘How do I do that?’

  She demonstrated and he followed suit. The cat stretched and began to purr. The Emperor then turned to the British King, who was playing with a grey kitten.

  ‘This is such a strange feeling. Are these comfort creatures?’

  ‘Yes, we call them pets.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘What you are doing is called petting. These are creatures you can pet, therefore pets.’

  ‘Do you have these cats?’

  ‘No. There is nothing more adorable than a kitten, however when cats aren’t sleeping or eating they are very curious creatures. They like to explore, jump up on things and rub themselves everywhere. Cats and palaces full of ancient delicate ornaments do not mix.’

  ‘Ah, I see. So what pets do you have?’

  ‘I have dogs and horses.’

  ‘Ah! I like horses. Have we seen dogs tonight?’

  ‘No, not a single one.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I have no idea. I will ask when I get the chance.’

  ‘Can I keep this one?’ The Emperor asked the keeper.

  ‘I am afraid not sir. You wouldn’t be able to feed it.’

  It took them a while to gather all of the cats together again. Once they were all removed from the hall the red head took her place on the podium again.

  ‘We have one final animal to show you. This animal is a herbivore, but I would ask you to please remain seated and quiet. My nobles, lords ladies and gentlemen, I give you the King of the great plains of Africa, Jambo, the African bull elephant.

  The great doors swung wide and Jambo lumbered in to view. There were gasps of surprise, and the redhead had to intervene. ‘Please remain seated and calm.’

  He filled the door, making his Human keeper look diminutive in comparison. Jambo’s great tusks swung low, close to the ground. A grey trunk tested the air and blew it across the olfactory receptors in his mouth. A great rumble began deep in his chest and filled the room. The beast then emitted a deep tone that the Humans could only feel rather than hear.

  One of the nobles got slowly to his feet and, as Jambo passed, emitted a tone of his own, not unlike that of the elephant. The elephant’s reaction was instant. He swung round and spotted the standing noble. His great ears flapped and he trumpeted. Behind him the escort readied their tranquilizer guns. The noble emitted the sound again and the great beast approached slowly. Even though they were sat high on a dais the elephant still towered over him.

  Everyone watched with bated breath as the giant reached out with his trunk. He took the scent from the noble and blew it into his mouth. Another deep rumble followed. The trunk came back and stroked his face. The noble reached up and touched the elephant’s trunk. Jambo responded by grasping the hand, while the noble reached up with his other; it was as though they were holding hands. It was a magical moment that showed on the face of the alien.

  Jambo’s keeper called to him and the elephant took a few steps back, flapped his ears and trumpeted loudly before turning away. The noble was still on his feet as the massive doors closed behind the lumbering giant.

  A great round of applause went round the hall and everyone got to their feet. The red head’s thanks were lost in the noise and she was replaced by the President once more.

  He waited until the din abated, ‘Emperors, Kings, Heads of State, Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen. This concludes the petition from the planet Earth. What you saw tonight was only a fraction of that which we fight to protect, which we will fight to protect to our very last breaths. I sincerely hope that this has changed your minds about who and what we are.

  ‘As a single race with a single planet, we are no real threat to anyone. We have no wish to conquer anyone’s planets. We simply wish to live in peace, not under threat from races we have never heard of from a different part of the galaxy.

  ‘We realise the commitment we will have to make to join this galactic federation of planets. We are prepared to pay that price. Thank you.’ He bowed low. ‘We have more entertainment for you soon, but our little friends have left a bit of a mess behind. If you would all like to retire to freshen up a little, the grand ball will begin in an hour and a half. We hope you will rejoin us then. There will be a small buffet and a selection of wines, beer and other drinks for you try out. We will entertain you with music, dancing, and a flavour of Human entertainment from a number of different races. Thank you again.’ He bowed low and was applauded.

  CHAPTER 33

  The Modloch Emperor sank into his couch and picked up a cherry brandy. He took a small sip and shuddered. ‘You have to try this, but only a little. Human drink is very potent.’

  His servants poured a tiny amount into the glasses of those present. As a unit, all of the rulers had retired to a room he had set aside for this very reason. They partook of the drink and seemed to love it.

  The Emperor noticed that one had made no comment. ‘Marcus my friend, you look very thoughtful and very far away.’

  The noble who had shared a moment with the elephant smiled. ‘I am far away Darrick. That great beast touched me somewhere deep inside.’

  ‘We shouldn’t get carried away by emotion,’ snapped another.

  His nearest companion turned to him, ‘You’re just pissed off because you shat yourself when those lions roared.’ The room erupted in laughter.

  ‘I did not shit myself,’ he protested, ‘it was just a bellyful of wind from those strange fruits.’

  The laughter increased, ‘I would still check my underwear before going out again.’

  ‘Did you see those damn things?’

  ‘We saw them, and felt their roar.’ the Modloch Emperor interrupted. ‘Hell my arse is still twitching.’ They all laughed.

  ‘It was a primal fear.’ Another added.

  The Emperor turned to him, ‘Grand Chancellor Serrivelli, it’s not like you to voice an opinion.’

  ‘I was a Professor of History before I rose to office, and as such I do not have the clout that those who were born to rule do. But this is my area of interest. I have studied carnivores and herbivores. There was a time on all of our planets that the two were in balance. Of course we herbivores rose to become dominant. As such, we could not let such creatures live. When we had eradicated every species that could do us harm our populations exploded. Our numbers were controlled only by disease and famine. As the Human said, this led us to look to the stars far quicker than they. I would presume they only reached for the stars as a curiosity rather than a necessity.’

  ‘I think you are correct,’ the Modloch Emperor mused.

  The chancellor continued, ‘There were meat-eaters on our planets, and at one time we were legitimate prey. When those big cats began to come in, I wanted to move closer to the person next to me. I felt the fear flow through me even though I had no idea what kind of creatures they were. The sight, the sound, the smell, triggered a primal reaction that all of us felt. I can still feel
the thrill of it.’

  The Modloch Emperor lifted a leg and farted, ‘I think we all do.’ They roared with laughter. ‘Still, the chancellor is correct. I know lots of people that would pay to be scared that shitless too.’

  That brought a few nodding heads, but not all agreed. ‘I think they should kill them all.’ Announced the whiner.

  ‘I would have to disagree,’ the Professor countered, ‘they are of no threat to any of us, and their magnificence was obvious to us all. Emperor Marcus, you obviously felt a connection to the grey creature?’

  ‘The Elephant, yes. My species has a similar way of communicating as that low tone that it emitted. I am sure you all heard it. It is a form of communication we hardly ever use now, maybe only as parents to children when they are out of sight. Many years ago someone dug up a skeleton of a creature much like that of the elephant. It even had tusks, although somewhat shorter. It was declared a hoax by all renowned sources, simply because no one could envision how it fed. Yet there it was, an extending nose as versatile as a hand. What a wonderful creature. I don’t care about what any of the rest of you do, the Humans have my endorsement. I wonder if they would like to visit my planet and show off the elephant to my people. I am sure they would love it.’

  The sceptic snorted. ‘You would let yourself be swayed by one creature?’

  Marcus eyed him with thinly veiled disgust. ‘That was only the final piece of the puzzle for me.’

  ‘The cats did it for me.’ The chancellor admitted. ‘To preserve a species, many species, that can do your people harm takes a lot of courage, and a lot of heart.’

  ‘I would never vote for any species of meat-eater,’ snarled King Vison of the Catataracs. ‘They are filthy and disgusting, and none of us should support them. You disgraces us all by your words.’

  The Modloch Emperor looked down his nose at the King. ‘You are a prick, Vison. If you weren’t part of the alliance I would have destroyed your puny race many years ago. Your people have no culture, no grace, no art. Your only motivation is greed and that crap you try and pass off as grass. You are also spokesman for the Albany, aren’t you?’