Alien Empire

by Anthony Gillis

  ///

  In a huge, brightly lit laboratory, Neem Ranacharandgan and Darex Jat worked with staff in white coats on an array of humming equipment. Every person there was hand selected by the two of them under strictest secrecy. The facility had been hastily converted from an existing lab, and was funded by a consortium that only Neem and Jat knew included Harker Industries and Combine Defense Technologies.

  Tests were being run. Behind heavily shielded containment walls, a small gold disc was attached to various devices. Behind another, identical, wall, sat a large roughly circular device made of many layered parts. Cables ran from each back to other equipment and ultimately to the computers where they worked.

  “Jat, come look at this!” said Neem, “Its working!”

  “Ha! We did it! Neem. Ha!”

  As staffers gathered round, Neem boggled, “A working copy of the Elder antimatter power cell!”

  “Its crude,” said Jat, “and way too big. But it’s a start. Did I mention I’ve been thinking more about their FTL drive...?”

  ///

  In the wood-paneled living room of his townhouse near the university, traditional hanging lamps illuminated stacks of papers and books. Old tattered carpets sat, more or less centered, on the floor, and comfortable furniture competed for space with bric-a-brac accumulated over a long life and career. On a wide double chair, Karden sat with Tayyis, going over the Elder language.

  “Haral, you should take a rest.”

  “If it weren’t too improbable to consider, I’d guess you were saying I’m old, Tayyis.”

  “We both are. In your case though, you’re working on this after a full day of teaching.”

  “My students count on me. Although… I’d been thinking of retiring a couple of years ago. Maybe I should have.”

  “If you had, you wouldn’t have been invited to that conference at the Capital.”

  “True, I would no longer be PROFESSOR Karden. Ah, the power of titles to make one’s opinion more relevant…”

  “Haral.”

  “I know what you’re going to say, and the answer is no. Sometime soon, I hope, Viris is going to get that code transcribed. When she does, she’ll need your help to crack it. Shortly after that, we’ll need every eye we can spare to go through what is in their galactic map program, and those eyes will need to belong to people who can speak and read the Elders language.”

  “Shortly after THAT,” he continued, “we’ll be trying to decrypt their communications, which will be in, and I think you are seeing the pattern, the Elders language. I don’t see convenient stopping points for rest anywhere in that chain of events.”

  “Haral, will you be reasonable?” she said with an expression that managed to be half smile and half frown.

  “Oh very well. I haven’t taken a sabbatical in a long time. Perhaps that time is now.”

  ///

  At the outer reaches of the solar system, there was a flash. An Elder ship arrived, cruising at fantastic speeds toward Ground. It was a new kind of ship, smaller than the gigantic Warden Ships, but still huge. It had a shorter, fatter, shape, and large streamlined compartments along its sides.

  ///

  In the grandly appointed presidential office in the Capital complex of the Republic of Tadine, President Vhel sat at his desk, reviewing reports with mild interest. Staffers stood nearby. A tall figure entered.

  “Ah, Ambassador Margaux. I am always glad to have you visit, but this time I must say I was unclear as to the urgency in your request.”

  “Honored President,” Margaux said, towering over the Tadine leader, “I come to you with grave news. We have determined, beyond any doubt, that an item from our vessel, the Warden Ship Vigilant, went missing at the time of your delegation there.”

  Vhel’s attention sharpened. “I’m shocked, Ambassador. What sort of item?”

  “It would seem unimportant to you, a small gold disc not much larger than one of your coins. However, the item is in fact an antimatter power cell. Since I presume that whomever took it could have had no idea of what it was, they will be in great danger, as will all around them.”

  “Antimatter?” said Vhel, unable to hide his confusion.

  “It is a powerful energy source, and capable even in small quantities of tremendous destruction.”

  “Ah.”

  “Let me reassure you that I understand this incident was not planned, and represents the actions of some lone and unwise individual. You have no desire, I am sure, to spoil the harmonious relationship between our peoples, and endanger our support for your worthwhile efforts?”

  Vhel looked, almost, out of sorts. “No, ah, indeed!”

  “There were only a few individuals in your delegation, all of them now well known figures. I’m sure you won’t have trouble finding them. When you do, could you offer the courtesy of bringing them to our Consulate here for brief conversations? I’m sure we can clear this misunderstanding up quickly.”

  “Eh, hmm, yes…absolutely, ah, Ambassador.”

  “Thank you. Report to me as you find them,” and Margaux strode out of the room with measured steps.

  19

  Karden was closely following news from around the world. Events were developing fast.

  With the relocation of the Elder Embassy to the International Zone, the southern nations had come round to support for the Elders. All of them signed treaties, and some were already enacting changes in accordance with recommendations from Elder diplomats. There were signs that not all the population was as enthusiastic as their leaders, but for now at least, no one was listening to them.

  President Vhel’s call for a grand global program of disarmament was immensely popular with the political classes in the south, and they overwhelmingly praised its vision. They did not necessarily move with great speed to enact or implement it. However, little by little, reductions began.

  On the eastern continent, there was turmoil.

  Several countries had announced they would not disarm, but simultaneously expressed interest in receiving technological and if possible financial aid from the Elders. The leaders of other countries, greedier or more desperate, eagerly signed treaties and promptly began asking for the same kind of aid. Regardless of how much the governments asked for, there were protesters in the streets who demanded more, and other protesters, fearful of the aliens, who fought them. Some governments put down one set of protesters, some the other, some both.

  In the vast desert Republic of Bacchara, President for Life Hadeb had announced that the arrival of the Elders was a sign from his people’s gods that he was anointed to rule for ever. His people disagreed, and in a swift, bloody revolt, put an end to both his forty year presidency and his life. The new rebel government declared against the aliens, and offered sanctuary to anyone who planned to fight them.

  With the unexpected stand of Bacchara, a few other governments stated their skepticism about following the plans of the Elders. An improbable collection of xenophobic nationalists, and hereditary kings fearful of losing their privileges, declared what they called, with some irony, the Free World Alliance. It promptly began to fall apart as individual rulers hedged their bets by diplomatic contact with the Elders.

  Amidst it all, Ambassador Margaux announced that one of his people’s long-range transport ships was on its way, bearing a rich cargo of technological gifts for the people of Ground, personnel to help delivery and install them, and teachers eager to help the Grounders along the path they had chosen. Tadine, first nation to sign the treaties with the Elders, and one that was enacting legislation in accordance with their ideas at a rapid pace, was now to be the first to receive gifts from them.

  ///

  At the new landing pad at Capital Starport, a large shuttle was descending from the rotund Elder transport ship overhead, carrying a special cargo. A large collection of dignitaries waited, accompanied by a small party of Elders. Crews of workers and technicians stood on hand.

  President Vhel watched the descendi
ng ship with only partial attention. Close at hand were Wimier and Tarec. The latter was speaking to a group of journalists.

  “There it comes! A fully self-contained antimatter reactor sufficient to power this city and the surrounding suburbs for years to come! It runs cleanly, needs no maintenance, and costs us nothing! I think you can all now see how unreasonable the opposition’s position was on this…”

  When he wrapped up and the journalists moved on the next official, Wimier turned to him.

  “I am sure that device will need SOME maintenance at some point. It would be useful for us to ask the Elders to train some people on how to do it.”

  “Why? We have them for that. Besides, Wimier, you know the answer they’ll give.”

  “And that doesn’t concern you?”

  “Wimier, we’ve got other things to worry about right now. Who cares who maintains the machines? What matters is maintaining people. You need to adopt a more enlightened attitude.”

  “Gentlemen,” said the President, “please cease your discussion for the moment. I’ve just gotten word that neither Mr. Jat nor Mr. Rana… erm, his associate, the engineer from Combine, have turned up today despite their invitations.”

  He went on, “This is unlikely to be a coincidence. As you know, I need to speak with them. I believe it is time to, hmm, involve the Republic Investigative Service. Mr. Wimier, when you’re done with this event, please see to it.”

  Wimier paused, a repressed play of emotions momentarily visible on his face, “Yes sir.”

  ///

  It was a cool evening. Harker sat with his wife and a few business friends in a glass-walled room at the back of his sprawling home. Moonlight flickered on the lake outside, and small lights in the ceiling provided just enough light to see by, while retaining the view.

  “You’ve heard the news? A second Elder transport ship is on its way. Apparently it just popped in at the edge of the solar system!” said a short stout man, Emder Palisek, chairman of Eastern Arms Company.

  “As if we need more of them poking around,” said a very tall, lean woman in pale clothes, “I’ve had requests for walkthroughs at different facilities twice in the last month.”

  “I think they like you, Adis,” said Harker, “But then, you’re in Aerospace. They’d be more than usually interested in what you’re up to.”

  “What they’re interested in, if Vhel’s speeches are any guide, is to put me out of business.”

  Emder cut in. “It could be worse Adis, you could be managing a utility company. Sixteen new power generators went up just this week. Since they’re not showing us how to build them, or even maintain them, we’re pretty much signing things in that area over to the Elders.”

  Kimis Harker, matronly and beautiful, joined the conversation. “Have you noticed that they haven’t shown us much of anything, really? Advice on what we should or shouldn’t be doing with our time, yes, technical training, no. All those teams fanning out around the world, and what are they up to?”

  Harker chuckled. “You got that right. They call ‘em teachers, but they don’t seem to be doing much teaching.”

  “Something I’ve been wondering,” Added Nira Palisek, Emder’s plump wife, “is that although they’ve talked about joining the community of the galaxy, or things like that, no one here has gotten any invitations, well to go with them there. They just come here.”

  “More and more of them,” added Kimis.

  Adis Nesin had other things on her mind tonight. “All of which is connected to the political situation, and that is getting really bad. I shouldn’t have to tell you about some of the latest legislation in the works. Some of it is eastern-style police-state idiocy. My lobbyists are getting nowhere, and I doubt yours are either. I think we need to worry.”

  “I think,” said Harker, “we should do more than worry. Have you thought about what we can actually do about it? Here, let me pour everybody drinks…”

  ///

  Law after law was pushed through an increasingly docile Senate. The Council was quiet and seemed to have abandoned its historic supervisory functions. More and more power was centralizing in the hands of the administration. Public opinion was fiercely divided, but a vocal core of opposition was starting to grow outside the national government.

  Karden and Tayyis were discussing the disturbing chain of events in the sleek, artistic office she’d set up in Capital.

  “I think, my dear, things are getting dangerous,” said Karden.

  “What did you just call me?” was her reply.

  “Did I call you something? What I mean is that the new Investigative Detention Law gives them, in practice, authority to arrest us without any particular probable cause. It might be sufficient, for example, that we’re associated with Neem and Jat. It didn’t escape notice that all of us were on Jat’s team investigating the holographic disc, that we’ve been seen together at any number of places.”

  “I think they believed our story.”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t prevent us from being useful bargaining chips to draw them out of hiding.”

  “Haral, this is still Tadine, do you really think they’d do that?”

  “At this point, I think they might. I spent a lot time worrying about what the Elders might do to us, but underestimated what we could do to ourselves.”

  “Something like this was part of the Elders plan from the first. We all saw it.” She turned to look sadly out the window at the lights of the city, then back to Karden.

  “Yes,” he answered, “But I had no idea Vhel and the circle around him would be so enthusiastic, or that they would move so fast.”

  “Still,” she said, thoughtfully, “someone in government, high up, must have tipped off Neem and Jat that they were coming for them. And how did they get away with most of their equipment and all of their staff? Harker said he had nothing to do with it.”

  “The important thing is that they got away. Whatever is going on, it is a good thing that Harker didn’t have anything to do with it. There is a very good chance we are being watched now. Still, I wish I knew where they were.”

  “We might not want to know,” she corrected, “Not if they come for us. Haral, I know we talked about it, saw it coming, but I’m still not prepared for the reality. I can’t believe what’s happening in this country. I… don’t think I’ve ever been this afraid.”

  “Have you heard from Viris?”

  Tayyis took his hand. “Not lately, last I heard she was still hard at work. She’s good at lying low, better than you and I anyway.”

  “I’m sure of that. Somehow, I suspect we’ll find out soon enough where Neem and Jat are, and when we do, it might be wise for the rest of us to join them.”

  ///

  At a conference at the grandiose Hall of Nations in the International Zone, Ambassador Margaux prepared to speak to an assembly of leaders and diplomats representing most of the world. Dignitaries, staff, visitors, and journalists were packed in the concave tiers of seats, three levels high.

  “I want to thank all of you for the outpouring of support you have given these past months. The friendly greeting we have received from the people of Ground surpasses anything I could have hoped for. In particular, I would like to thank President Vhel of Tadine for his enlightened recognition, from the first, that our peoples could work together to build a better world.”

  “You have worked steadfastly to embrace the fellowship we offer with the other peoples of the galaxy, to adopt the technology we have given you, to accept the teachers we have sent among you, to discourage backward thinking in your nations, and above all, to reduce your armaments. I realize that much is still to be done, and note in particular air and nuclear forces still in operation. And as we all know, there are those few leaders who have chosen other attitudes, and have not joined us today. Let us extend our goodwill and hopes for the future to them.”

  “That being said, I can proudly announce to you that as you have done your part in the service of peace, we will
now do ours. Our squadron of Warden Ships is preparing to depart your solar system, for a voyage back to their distant home.”

  A murmur of excitement swept the cavernous hall.

  “Yes, friends, as I promised, we truly have come in peace. Our transport ships will continue to share technology and knowledge. One Warden Ship, the Vigilant, will remain as their escort. It too is a ship of peace, and even now its complement of fighter craft is being in considerable part replaced by transport shuttles. And, friends, more transport ships will come, to share and to exchange with you.”

  “A new age is dawning, a bright age of enlightenment and of brotherhood. We who live among the stars bid you welcome!”

  Cheers rose in a thunderous chorus, and drowned out every other sound.

  20

  The announcement by Ambassador Margaux had its intended effect. Across the world, those who favored closer ties to the Elders were encouraged. Those who opposed them looked increasingly unreasonable, paranoid. On the nets, groups sprang up predicting that the Ambassador’s speech was a trick, and that the alien warships weren’t going anywhere. Most likely, they said, more were on the way. However the squadron, all but the Vigilant and two unarmed transport ships, set course as promised, opened their wormhole tunnels, and left at faster than the speed of light.

  In Tadine, President Vhel made a broadcast publically denouncing critics of the new laws and policies. He mentioned some of them by name, and singled them out for personal attack. It was unprecedented. It was effective. Public figures and prominent leaders began to be reluctant to directly confront the administration. More and more aspects of public and private life were being regulated, controlled, and channeled. Rumors circulated of the next round of legislation, of the full nationalization of industries.

  There were rumors of widening use of the Investigative Detention Law, but the general public was less intimidated than its leaders. Ordinary citizens organized protests. Thousands, tens of thousands rallied with signs and banners in hand, to protest the new laws, while others put blame on the aliens as the power behind the administration. Vhel, for his part, called for counter-protests by those who supported his vision of equality, fairness, cooperation, sustainability, and enlightenment. Thousands answered the call.