There was a collective gasp at this statement, and the troops fell silent. Zahera’s hand squeezed his hard, and he felt she might be angry with him. He pushed the thought aside though; right now he couldn’t deal with that. “I know what they did for me isn’t definitive proof that we’re machines, but what they did to the President, I would say, qualifies as such. The fact that they know so much about us, and are explaining things about us that not even we knew is more than enough proof for me to give them the benefit of the doubt. It’s almost the year twenty seventy-three, and we still don’t fully understand human nature, have very little understanding of why we need to sleep, and to be blunt, how the hell we came to exist on Earth. Our own scientists have discovered that at one point the Earth was hit by what we thought was a meteor, which killed all life on the planet. There’s no disputing that; it’s our own science. The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary shows that all life on Earth was extinguished even down to bacteria, and up until the Omegas arrived, how we came to exist from that has never been fully explained. The Omegas confirm all of that, only they claim that they destroyed the planet as a way of terraforming it to better decompose our ancestors. It fits, and makes actual sense, if you choose to believe the Omegas.” he said honestly. “Maybe that’s enough proof for you, maybe it isn’t, but it is for me, and so I’ve chosen to accept the fact that we’re sophisticated alien machines, created by a technologically superior race, to perform gathering operations on conquered worlds. It’s a more realistic scenario to my mind than the, ‘we just appeared’ explanation our own scholars have given us. It’ll be up to each individual person to determine how much proof they need in order to trust in the Omegas. I cannot, and would not presume, to try to make that decision for you.” he finished.
Sergeant Parker nodded at him gratefully and retook her seat. The moment she did, dozens of new indications from the Air Soldiers popped up on his displays. Many others had questions, and Sergeant Parker had emboldened them enough to ask. He chose a person at random again. This time it was an older man with short greying hair and a chiseled jaw. He asked why the Omegas didn’t wear any clothes, or if what they saw on the outside was some kind of suit. Blackshade explained that the Omegas didn’t need clothes because their bodies were evolved enough to make them unnecessary. The next question after this was if they were really naked, why didn’t they have genitalia, and how did they reproduce. When he answered this question, there were more than a few shocked gasps and sympathetic groans. A few troops even made a few snide remarks about how they felt sorry for the Omegas for not getting to have sex. The mention of which reminded him of how close and warm Zahera was to him. She no longer leaned her head on his arm but still stood close to him, offering him her support with her presence.
The questions went on for some time. Why did the Omegas want South America? How did they cure his cancer? Are they nice? (To which he said they were; he didn’t mention Minder, though) How many of them are there? (To which he said he wasn’t sure because he had only seen a handful) Where did they come from? And, how long will they stay? The latter two questions he had to admit, he didn’t know the answers to. He did tell the troops he didn’t think the Omegas would ever completely leave the Earth, now that they had established a city here, but that he didn’t think that was a bad thing. The final question he fielded was from an old grizzled Chief. He had been silent for most of his speech and throughout the questions and answers portion. Now his indicator lit up on Blackshade’s display and went red to show his rank and that his request was urgent. Only senior ranking members had the ability to make their indications urgent, and because of that, Blackshade’s military training kicked in before he realized it, and he called on the Chief.
“Yes, Chief, what is your question?” he asked amicably. The Chief stood up slowly, giving everyone a chance to focus on him and grow silent. Blackshade was watching the man on the display and knew his question was going to be formed as an attack. The Chief was Caucasian, looked like a lifelong military man that was used to being respected and feared. He had a no non-sense attitude about him and appeared to have aged beyond his years. As a Chief in the enlisted force structure, he had to be in his late forties, but the man looked like he was well into his sixties. No wedding ring adorned his finger, which meant he was married to the corps, a fact that Blackshade could respect.
“Ambassador Blackshade, thank you for calling on me.” The Chief answered with equal parts respect and condescension. Blackshade didn’t like that one bit but held his tongue. He didn’t want this All-Call to be marred by a pissing contest between a former Colonel and a Chief. “You made a very pretty speech, Sir, talking about how these alien invaders are our friends, and indeed, even our creators, if you’re prone to believe such blasphemies.” he began, more contempt seeping into his words as he built up steam, “You even told these men and women that if the invaders were to lie to us and prove to be untrustworthy that we would show them, and I hope I’m quoting you correctly here, Sir… that we would, ‘show those motherless fucks that they messed with the wrong motherfucking species…’ is that correct, Ambassador?” the Chief asked, his eyes narrowing.
Blackshade knew where this was going and what this Chief was about to ask. Blackshade stood a little straighter and let his own ire paint his reply, “That’s correct, Chief. I’m pleased you were listening.”
The Chief puffed up a little at that, clearly this man wasn’t used to receiving what he liked to dish out. “Well, Ambassador, as a God-fearing man myself, I can’t condone your choice of words, but I like the sentiment you conveyed.” he motioned towards the Air Soldiers as if they were around him, which was obviously untrue, since they were all on a display screen, but Blackshade had to give the man credit for showmanship, “The troops definitely fell for it.” He said, now blatantly condescending. He looked back up at Blackshade, anger obvious in his eyes, “But what in God’s name would we have to put up against the alien invaders should we have to fight them? I know everyone saw what happened in Russia when they fired those incredibly powerful weapons at their ship, and I know everyone saw what happened to Moscow right after they did. Just like with South America, those Godless aliens murdered millions of people that were just scared and trying to protect their homes. The South Americans never even got a chance to fight. They just swooped them all up and scattered them across the globe, as if they were nothing more than bugs. And they killed millions of them just like they were bugs.” The Chief spat at him, he was almost panting now, the man had a lot of anger inside him. Blackshade wondered if he’d had any counseling sessions with local law enforcement in his past, because if so, he needed a lot more. “So, now you sit up there like a good little parrot to his alien masters. You tell us they’re our friends, and that they don’t mean us any harm after they wipe out an entire continent and the Russian capital. You tell us to trust them and that we aren’t God’s children, but machines made by these aliens, that were discarded when we were of no further use to them. And now they’re back because we’re interesting? What happens when they get bored with us again? What happens if they deem us to be a threat? What happens when they decide we’d be more use as compost than as a species? You say we have the ability to resist them, I say you’re a liar, and that if you’re not we should be using that ability to toss the Omegas out on their collective asses! So, were you just blowing smoke, Ambassador? Or do we really have the ability to fight these demons?” the Chief finished in a huff.
Blackshade’s initial urge was to go to the man and beat him within an inch of his life, then go half an inch further, but he wasn’t a fool, and this wasn’t the first time a self-important asshole had challenged him during his career. He looked around at the Air Soldiers on the display. Most of them looked angry with the Chief and were speaking in hushed tones amongst those around them. Everyone with him in the Command Center seemed to be of the opinion that the Chief was a fool, and should be treated as such; or at least, that’s what he hoped they were thinking. None of t
hem were undisciplined enough to give voice to their thoughts, of course, but with his ability to read their forehead displays, it was unnecessary. Zahera, however, was boiling. She stood next to him rigidly, her face red and her hands balled into tight fists. The words ‘Stupid cowardly old man’ scrolled across her forehead as she glared at him on the display. If looks could kill, this problem would have sorted itself out.
He turned his head to face the display of the Chief. He noticed that the man’s uniform was crisp, and perfectly in regulation. As he looked closer, he saw a gold chain around his neck that ran down his chest where something hung on it. Whatever it was, it was hidden from view as was required by regulation, but Blackshade was willing to bet it was some sort of religious symbol. Whether it was a crucifix, the Star of David, the symbol of Islam, or the flying Spaghetti Monster didn’t matter. Blackshade realized where the Chief was coming from and what had fueled his retort. The man’s belief’s had been called into question, and it shouldn’t have surprised him that a religious man would have trouble accepting what the Omegas were telling them. He peered at the man, who did not waiver under his gaze. It didn’t take a police officer to realize that the Chief was terrified and that his anger and lashing out was just his way of coping with it. He probably didn’t even realize he was scared, as it was probably an emotion he felt very rarely. He wished he could see the man’s forehead display, but apparently that information wasn’t conveyed when communicating through electronic displays.
“Chief, I understand your concerns and believe me, when the Omegas first arrived, many of us shared those concerns.” Blackshade began as calmly as he could. He wanted the Chief to know he was annoyed with him, and he wanted the troops to know that too, but he also wanted to show he could take the high road and not be so easily pulled into a pissing contest with a scared old man, posturing at being heroic. “However, during our many interactions with the Omegas, we’ve come to trust them and believe that they really are here just to study us, and figure out how we’ve come to be as we are. From what they’ve said, we are very unique in the universe, so I don’t believe wiping us out is on their agenda. They have done nothing to lead us to believe that they are aggressive in the slightest, and have treated us with respect and kindness at every turn. Yes, what happened in Moscow was terrible, but I do not blame the Omegas for that. If you watched the same video I did of the incident, you know the Russians fired their weapons at the Omega ship without provocation. I have no doubt that they were scared and acting out because of it, but being scared is not an excuse to act like an irrational child and attempt to murder the Earth’s first interstellar guests.” he said pointedly, hoping to drive the point home with the Chief. “The resulting destruction of Moscow was by their own hands. The projectiles they fired at the Omega ship had no effect, and due to their density and their volatile nature when they returned to Earth, they detonated and caused the destruction you would lay at the Omegas’ feet. I don’t believe anyone can fault the Omegas for what the Russians did to themselves, and you don’t strike me as a Russian apologist, Sir.” Blackshade replied disdainfully. The Chief was glowering at him, but said nothing, so Blackshade continued.
“As for the South Americans who lost their lives. That, as I said before, was a misunderstanding. We are just as to blame for their deaths as the Omegas are, and as I’ve also said, once brought to their attention, the Omegas immediately wished to make amends, which is why we are here. It is my hope that the Omegas keep their word yet again, and bring those that died back to life so that both of our peoples can get past this and move on to bigger and better things. Yes, we are all aware that they can’t return to South America, but our government is working with the other world Governments to find the displaced new homes throughout the world. Is it ideal? No… but as with any other pivotal moment in human history, change comes with sacrifice.” he told him, hoping to end the debate before it could fester into doubt and panic. “Now, what happens if the Omegas turn out to be untrustworthy and betray us? What can we do about it, that’s your real question, correct, Chief?” he asked, baiting the man.
The Chief saw it was a trap, it was obvious, but he had no choice but to answer him. “That’s correct, Sir…” he answered flatly.
Blackshade had him and he knew it, “Well, if that happens, and I highly doubt it will, just to be clear, we will hold them accountable, just like we’ve done with the deaths of the South Americans. If they refuse to see reason and end negotiations with us, then we will fight them, tooth and nail, until they either return to the bargaining table, or leave the planet in peace so that we may return to our regular lives. Even if they have superior technology than our own, we can resist their presence here through perseverance, ingenuity, and our own adaptability. There are many examples of those commanding weaker forces, defeating their oppressors throughout our own history. The Battle of Troy, Joan of Arc, The Alamo, William Wallace, and to get religious with you for a moment, David versus Goliath. Will the fight be easy? No! But will we give up before we even try? I say to you, no, we won’t. It isn’t in our nature to quit just because something is hard. We will fight if we have to, because it’s for our species, not just for land or resources, or power, but for our very survival.” he said, letting his voice slowly rise in volume and aggression until he was almost yelling at the Chief. Then, leaning into the podium and narrowing his eyes, he spoke pointedly at him, “And if you don’t think every single one of these men, women, and non-binaries would savagely defend humanity with their dying breath, well then you don’t know the power of their dedication to humanity or the human spirit.”
There was utter silence for just a moment, before another roar of applause and approval boomed from the Air Soldiers on the display. The Chief looked green by their reaction, but whether it was due to his own embarrassment, or his inability to accept this defeat, Blackshade couldn’t tell. After a few moments, the Chief nodded at him curtly and disconnected from the All-Call. It was an unprofessional move, and potentially a punishable offense, but upon seeing his display screen go blank and then removed from the board, the troops broke into a chorus of “Ooooooooh!” and sporadic laughter. Blackshade decided to let it go. The Chief had ruined his reputation plenty enough with his own actions; he didn’t need to pursue it any further. The cheering went on for a while, and Blackshade allowed it to. This was why he was here, and he was proud of himself for raising morale so much and bringing comfort and purpose to so many of his former troops. Once the cheering finally died down, Blackshade smiled at the assembled faces. All of them were smiling back at him with eager, excited looks on their faces.
“Does anyone else have a question?” he asked, wanting to make sure everyone had their chance. No new indicators popped up, but one young man spoke up, “No, Sir! We’re just looking forward to kicking some ass for you!” he said enthusiastically. His comment was met with a wave of laughter that Blackshade couldn’t help but join in on.
With a look down at Zahera, Blackshade stepped back and motioned for her to take the podium; it wasn’t his place to dismiss her troops after all. He could have, and he was sure she wouldn’t have minded, but he was just a guest here. She was in charge. As she took her place, she shot him an approving grin. When she turned to face the assembled troops on the displays, however, she was Colonel Vuloom through and through.
“You all know what is expected of you, and now we all know why it’s vital we don’t mess it up. Report to your duty sections and perform your details with precision and perfection. If you make a mistake, own up to it and get it fixed ASAP. Millions of people’s lives hang in the balance. DO YOU GET ME!?” she finished, almost like a war cry. The effect on the troops was galvanizing. As one they jumped to attention and saluted.
“WE GET YOU, MA’AM!” they responded in unison.
Zahera returned their salute, “DISMISSED!”
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The next four days were a blur. After the All-Call, Blackshade was swept aside, as Zahera’s aides flooded her with logistic reports, requisition requests, man-power needs, and a host of other issues a Commander in her situation had to address. Blackshade waited for a short while before quietly seeing himself out and going to find somewhere he could be useful. His speech had made quite an impact. Everywhere he went, he saw Air Soldiers running to complete their tasks. Their sense of urgency was palpable, and he couldn’t have been more proud of them if he tried. His first thought was to go to the receiving area and see if he could help out there. He had no trouble accessing the area. The guards at the ECP’s smiled when they saw him and gave him crisp salutes as he approached. He spent a lot of his time talking with the troops, answering any lingering questions they had, recounting his time spent with the Omegas, and giving them reassurances and even some light counseling when they needed it. He helped many of them, by encouraging them to post about what they were doing online, and how to best reassure their own families and loved ones that weren’t with them. He hoped that after he left those he got the opportunity to talk with, that they would feel better about the situation, and the Omegas. He told no one about the degenerating human condition. He hadn’t had a chance to verify it at the Unification Foundation, and didn’t see how talking about it would improve morale in the camp. It was a subject he intended to address with his superiors as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
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