Nanomachine War series Box Set

by Don Viecelli

  He focused on Janice. “My people on Qum are enslaved by the Yoyka nanomachines. They are of service to the Yoyka masters. Your people have a chance to avoid that injustice. You can help us fight back.”

  Janice took both of Tumil’s hands in hers and looked him in the eye. “We will fight the Yoyka with your people, Tumil. We know what slavery does to the soul. We will fight the Yoyka even if it means our deaths. You must help us. We need to continue the search for a cure to the Yoyka nanomachines. We are close, I can feel it.”

  Tumil smiled for the first time anyone had seen a Qumru smile. It lit up the room. “Yes,” he said. “We are close.”

  Chapter 57

  White House

  President Mary Anderson was stunned. The last few hours had been unnerving, frightening, dreadful, exhaustive, hopeful and now sad beyond belief. The range of emotions varied for each individual still sitting or standing in the President's Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). Most people were just plain angry.

  “Is it over, General?” Mary sat next to General Bradstone watching the last big piece of the Yoykan Malee hit the surface of Mars on the large TV screen hanging on the wall.

  “The alien warship has been destroyed, Madam President. Perhaps Vice Leader Di can tell us what happens next.”

  Di was standing in the corner of the room next to Doug Martin. “My people will escort the Solruku back to Earth. First Chair Cleota will want a meeting on the Solruku, Madam President, with you and your generals to discuss war with the Yoyka.”

  President Anderson didn’t hesitate in answering. “Tell First Chair Cleota I will be honored to attend and discuss war with the Yoyka. It is clear the Yoyka is our common enemy. Please let us know the arrangements and we will meet her.”

  Mary turned to her Secretary of Homeland Security, William Straiter. “Bill, I want a complete report on the number of causalities in the cities. There must be millions who died.”

  Mary turned to Clair Sundry, Secretary of Health and Human Services. “Clair, find out how the CDC is doing on finding a cure for this nanomachine infection. See how long it will take for the Qumru nano-agent solution to protect our entire population. We need to be prepared for what comes next.”

  Mary then turned to Carlo Russo and General William Bradstone. “Gentlemen, we need to prepare our country for war. We were defenseless against a single enemy alien warship. We need all the help and technology we can get from the Qumru people. I will meet with First Chair Cleota and discuss how to achieve this before we face the Yoyka again. This attack was a warning. We were not prepared. We were lucky to escape complete subjugation to an alien race.”

  The meeting was over. President Anderson and Allison Conley stood up to leave the room. Mary walked over to Di. “Vice Leader Di, your people saved our world. We wish to return the favor. Tell your people we are grateful for their help. Our world is grateful. The destruction of the United Nations Complex leaves a big hole in our world government structure. I will meet with other world powers and try to get consensus on what to do next. It is clear war is coming. We will need your weapon technology and your spaceships in order to fight and win this war. We will provide military support and our people will help. Please tell your leaders what I offer, what Earth offers. We will be your allies in this fight.

  “There is much we need to learn and very little time. I look forward to meeting First Chair Cleota. It will be the first time I travel into space.” Mary smiled politely and shook hands with the android. The hand felt warm, which surprised her. Dealing with sentient androids was going to take a little more time getting used to.

  Mary faced Doug Martin. “You helped us a great deal, Director Martin. I assume you and the other colonists will want to return to Mars as soon as possible. I will instruct our people to help you if necessary.”

  “Thank you, Madam President, but Vice Leader Di has offered to help. We will use the Qumru spacecraft to transport the colonists who wish to return to Mars. Besides, we now have a lot of alien technology on Mars we can study and reverse engineer from the Yoykan Malee debris. Mars can still be the first line of defense against the Yoyka if they return, Madam President.”

  Mary smiled again in spite of the circumstances. “I hope you are correct, Director Martin.”

  After the President left the room, Doug spoke quietly to Di, “I need to leave Washington DC and you should return to your people. We will meet again before I return to Mars. I need to see my wife.”

  Di nodded his head. “I must meet High Leader Altek on his warship. He is sending a shuttle to pick me up. We will meet again on the Solruku with First Chair Cleota. It is important she go to Holtu and deliver the Qumru passenger minds. The Holtu must prepare for attack by the Yoyka.”

  Doug reached out an arm and shook hands with Di. They had become close friends over the last few weeks. He was confident Di had his trust now and that was going to be very important in developing a closer relationship with the Holtu in the future, Doug was certain of it.

  Doug planned to leave the room quietly and make his way to the nearest airport to get a ride to Atlanta when General Bill Bradstone stepped in front of him. “Director Martin, may I have a word before you leave us.”

  Doug was not surprised at the request, but he was hoping to avoid what he knew was coming before he had a chance to meet with Jan.

  “Certainly, General. What can I do for you?”

  “You served in the Marine Corps with distinction as a Captain before you left the Corps. We need you back, son; as a lieutenant colonel dealing with the Holtu. Can I count on you?”

  Doug didn’t hesitate in his answer. He was ready to fight again. “You can, General Bradstone.” The general smiled and shook his hand. “Good. Now go find your wife and see me when you get back.”

  Doug looked at Di and swore the android knew what he was thinking at that moment. Jan was going to be upset!

  Chapter 58

  Atlanta

  Doug hitched a ride on an Air Force military transport plane to the Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia just northwest of Atlanta. From there he paid a taxi to take him to the Atlanta CDC Headquarters building where Janice was still working with a team of scientists and medical doctors to find a solution to the Yoyka nanomachine threat.

  Doug was dropped off at the lobby entrance and waited impatiently for Janice to come down to the lobby to find him. It had been just over twelve hours since they had seen each other in Houston, but it seems days to Doug.

  Janice stepped out of an elevator and rushed to his side giving him a big kiss and hug. “I’m so glad you made it! I was getting worried, Doug,” she whispered in his ear.

  “I know, Jan. I’m here now. Is there somewhere we can go and talk?” Doug asked holding her tight.

  “Are you hungry?” Jan asked looking at his face closely.

  “I’m famished. I haven’t had anything to eat all day,” Doug said with a smile.

  “Good, so am I. There’s a nice cafeteria here. We can get some dinner.”

  Janice led Doug down a set of stairs to a large cafeteria room where people were getting food to eat and drinks. The room was well lit and furnished with comfortable tables and chairs. They entered a food line and picked up trays and utensils.

  “How are things going?” Doug asked as they walked down the line picking out food items to eat.

  “It’s been great having Tumil here with us. We have the quantum computers up and running now. It makes it much easier studying the nanomachines and working on a solution.”

  “You heard what happened to the people infected by the Yoyka?” Doug asked quietly.

  Janice didn’t answer until they left the food line, got their drinks and sat down at a table away from other people.

  “That was evil, pure evil! They killed millions of innocent people!” Janice looked horrified and sad at the same time.

  “I don’t think there was anything we could do to stop it, Jan,” Doug said reaching for one of her hands to hold.r />
  “I know, but it’s still unforgivable. The Yoyka must pay for this!”

  “They will, Jan, but it’s not going to be easy. More will die before it’s over.”

  They ate in silence for a few moments. They were both hungry. Doug asked, “Are you and Tumil making progress?”

  Janice looked up and said, “The Qumru preventive nano-agent solution works brilliantly. We will be protected from any Yoyka nanomachine infection in the future. But we haven’t found a way to cure infected people. Now we have no live infected people to study and run tests. They’re all dead!”

  “What does Tumil think?”

  “He says we will find some Qumru who are still infected and study them.”

  Doug thought for a moment. “You know, there are still some Qumru infected crewmembers on board the Solruku. Maybe we can study them before they go to Holtu.”

  Janice’s face lit up briefly as she thought about the news. “That’s a great idea, Doug. I forgot about them. It might just work.”

  Doug decided to change the subject. “How are you feeling, Jan? Is the baby alright?”

  Janice smiled in spite of all the bad news of the day. “I’m feeling great. The baby is fine. All my prenatal tests are negative or normal. I think the nano-agents in our system are actually strengthening our immune systems, Doug. I mean, think about it. We suffered few of the gravity effects from returning to Earth. None of us has gotten sick from colds or viruses. I questioned Tumil about any side effects from the nano-agents. He thinks the same thing as I do. Humans will benefit from the nano-agents even if we don’t need them to fight the Yoyka nanomachine infection.”

  “Is there a way to remove them in the future?” Doug asked anyway, concerned for the baby.

  “Yes, that will not be a problem according to Tumil. We can remove the nano-agent using an electromagnetic pulse machine to deactivate the nano-agents and flush them out of our system. For now, we should let them spread by contact to the rest of the human population.”

  They finished eating in silence; then Jan asked, “What’s going to happen next, Doug? What is the President going to do? What are we going to do?”

  Doug noticed the concern in Jan’s voice. He tried to respond positively. “The President is going to meet with First Chair Cleota on the Solruku soon. We will become their allies to fight the war against the Yoyka. The Yoyka warship was destroyed. A lot of the debris crashed on Mars. We don’t know for sure if the Yoyka leader was killed or not. Regardless, Vice Leader Di and the Holtu androids say the Yoyka will return to attack Holtu and then will return to invade us once again. There will be a space war and we must prepare to fight for our lives.”

  Doug paused to let everything he said sink in. He continued, “We need to return to Mars, Jan, and prepare defenses against attack. You and Tumil need to find a cure for the nanomachines so we can free the Qumru people who are already infected. Otherwise, they will all die too—billions of them!”

  “I know, Doug. Tumil told me his concerns for his people. They have a way to upload and transfer minds into new bodies, Doug. Do you know what that means? The Qumru could live forever if they wished. They can regenerate bodies with their technology. Think what that would mean for humans.”

  Doug had thought about this and worried about possible consequences. “They also created sentient androids, Jan. These androids can live forever too. They are stronger, smarter and can live in any environment. I have no idea if we can compete with such a new species. It’s difficult to comprehend. I don’t know how we are going to live with all these changes occurring so suddenly.”

  Jan reached for Doug’s hands and held them tightly. “It’s a new world, Doug, but we will adapt, won’t we?” She noticed something in his expression; something unsaid. “What aren’t you telling me, Doug?”

  Doug frowned. Jan knew him too well. “I have something else to tell you. I will just say it. General Bradstone wants me back in the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel to deal with the Holtu. I said I would rejoin the Marines. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you first, Jan.”

  Jan squeezed Doug’s hands tightly. “It’s okay. I knew you would find a way to join the fight after all we’ve been through. No matter what happens, Doug, I just want our baby to be born on Mars.”

  Doug was relieved. They stood up from the table and hugged each other. After another long kiss, Doug said, “Take me to your lab. I want to talk to Tumil and inform him he needs to meet with the President when we return to Washington tomorrow. After that, we head back to Mars. It’s time to go home.”

  Chapter 59

  Meeting on Solruku

  It was the first time President Mary Anderson travelled on a spacecraft headed into outer space. She was not frightened. She was excited. Mary looked at Allison seated beside her. “Are you afraid?”

  “No, Madam President. I’ve been told these Qumruku spacecrafts are one hundred percent safe.” Still, Allison had both hands griping the seat dividers tightly as the spacecraft bounced slightly through the last turbulent layer of Earth’s atmosphere.

  The Qumruku made its way straight towards the starship Solruku in stationary orbit above Earth. Next to the starship were two Holtu warships smaller in size at just one kilometer in length, half a kilometer in width each and more rectangular in design.

  “I thought we would experience some G-forces and weightlessness when we reached space,” Allison said casually looking around the cabin.

  “The Qumru have inertia negation and artificial gravitational machines on their spacecraft, Allison. At least that is what I have been told by our scientists. They are centuries ahead of us in space technology. That is one of the reasons we’re having this meeting; to discuss the sharing of their scientific achievements with us.”

  “I thought it was to get their weapons to fight the Yoyka,” Allison said quietly so as not to be overheard by the people on board the spacecraft with them.

  Mary smiled as she looked briefly at Allison. “That’s just one of the reasons. The most important reason for coming is to build an alliance partnership with the Qumru and the Holtu androids. Without their assistance, we have no chance of defeating the Yoyka when they return.”

  Sitting behind the President and Allison were ten other Government officials representing the United States and the United Nations World Organization. A bigger conference was planned on Earth for the rest of the world leaders as soon as the Qumru and Holtu could arrange a meeting. Included in this meeting were Carlo Russo, General William Bradstone, Susan Liang, Shoji Ito, Alejandro Garcia Lopez, Director Douglas Martin, Doctor Janice Martin, Doctor Chang-Woo Mun, Vice Leader Di and Tumil.

  The Qumruku was being flown by two Qumru pilots and safely approached the open hangar bay doors on the Solruku starship. It landed smoothly and everyone waited patiently for the doors to close and the hangar to repressurize. One of the pilots signaled it was okay to depart and that the atmosphere was set to Earth standards so the humans would not have to wear breathers. The Qumru did not seem to have any problems with Earth atmosphere. Even Tumil was breathing Earth oxygen normally now.

  “After you, Madam President,” Carlo Russo said waiting by the exit door so Mary could exit the spacecraft first.

  At the bottom of the ramp First Chair Cleota was standing between two Qumru guards dressed in a light blue two-piece uniform with the Qumru symbol of leadership, a small round gold patch with strange looking flowers on her left chest and a large gold medallion hanging around her thin neck. She was not wearing a breather, but she did have a small translator speaker device hanging on a belt around her waist with a small hearing device fitted in one ear.

  “Welcome aboard the Solruku, Madam President Mary Anderson,” Cleota said in a clear voice, which was translated with a slight Mars sounding English accent. It was obvious to the visitors that the language was picked up from Mars translations.

  Mary reached the bottom of the ramp and stepped onto the hangar floor. She stopped before the Qumru leader and of
fered her hand. “We are pleased to meet you First Chair Cleota. We have much to talk about.”

  Cleota took the human hand and shook it. Then she folded her right hand over her left chest and bowed in her normal form of greeting others. She looked at Vice Leader Di and Tumil and acknowledged their presence in the same manner. Then she said, “Please follow me.”

  Cleota led the group of visitors to an elevator, which took them to the Command Center on Level Two just under the Control Center Bridge. The group followed Cleota to a large conference room that could seat everyone.

  Doug recognized the room of course and couldn’t help but remember everything that happened since the last time he was on board the Solruku. He took a seat at the end of the long table.

  Cleota ordered water to be brought in and set on the table. Then she began speaking. “The people of Qum wish to welcome the people of Earth. We understand what your planet has been through and offer our services any way we can. We are truly sorry for the loss of your people to the Yoyka attack and their nanomachines.”

  Mary acknowledged the sympathy. “We are grateful to you and the Holtu for saving our planet and our people from the Yoyka attack. I have been informed by my people what you have done for Earth and Mars. Our people are indebted to you and offer our services in return in order to prepare for the next Yoyka attack. We need your help to protect us and allow Earth to fight back.”

  The meeting went on for almost two hours as the people of Earth, the people of Qum and the androids from Holtu discussed what must be accomplished over the next few weeks and months in order to prepare for the inevitable Yoyka attacks. Cleota described what had occurred on Qum and how they were caught by surprise. She even acknowledged the reasons why the Holtu androids were originally banned one century ago from living on Qum based on fear and distrust among the majority of Qum peoples of sentient androids living amongst them. However, there were also many Qumru people who trusted the androids and chose to live with them on Holtu. They were the ones who would be attacked next by the Yoyka. Now they were the ones who would fight alongside of the humans to defeat the Yoyka when they returned.