The whirling thoughts from the Zeta conjured up a dormant memory from college lectures on the types of civilizations, and how they can be classified according to the quantum of energy they create. Humanity is classified a Type Zero Civilization, as it is reliant on extracting energy from dead plants in the form of oil, coal and its petrochemical derivatives.
The ranking goes on to describe a Type 1 Civilization, which has the capability of harnessing the energy output of an entire planet; whereas a Type 2 Civilization is able to exploit the total energy output of a star, which is 10 billion times the energy of a Type 1 Civilization.
The very prospect of being able to create a wormhole was beyond what Jake could imagine. These guys must be a Type 2!
The scene was surreal. The purplish-silver ring encircling the portal gave the impression of a window looking out to the Voyager space probe. In the background the breathtaking beauty of the Jovian system loomed.
The probe’s 12-foot wide parabolic high-gain antenna dish now dominated the view through the portal. Jake couldn’t tell if he was peering at Voyager 1 or Voyager 2. It wouldn’t matter, however, as Jake’s plan would work with either probe.
The Zeta Reticulian already knew what the next question was going to be.
Jake swallowed. “Can we get closer? Can we go through to the other side?”
“THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JOURNEY WOULD BE A PROBLEM.”
Visions accompanied the words entering Jake’s mind. A carbon-based body such as a human’s would have sufficient strength to withstand the gravitational shearing forces induced while entering the portal. However, the other side of the journey would be a problem for Jake as the exposure to deep space would be fatal.
“Wow, who would have guessed? A sense of humour!” Jake said, glancing at his host.
The small creature stared at Jake, its penetrating gaze seemingly able to peer into the depths of Jake’s mind. Although there wasn’t any change in its facial expression, Jake sensed that his host seemed to be mentally cocking its head quizzically at Jake’s attempt at sarcasm.
The visitor gestured again with its hand over the arm of the central chair and turned to the portal. Jake followed its gaze.
The metal ring, along with the portal captured within, both grew in size. More astonishing still was that the barely visible walls of the control room were also seemingly growing in size. Jake watched in mute disbelief as the control room he was standing in grew to accommodate the expanding portal.
Now wide enough to encircle the entire probe, the spacecraft with its three outstretched arms carrying an assortment of sensors and power supply was fully visible. The Voyager slowly moved through the portal into the control room, rotating as it gracefully hovered before Jake, its main antenna dish coming to rest facing the barely visible domed ceiling above.
Jake looked impressed and stepped toward the hovering probe. “Okay, Not exactly what I was thinking. But this can work.”
Attached to the side of the Voyager spacecraft was a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk.
Jake had no illusions about what he now needed to do.
CHAPTER 82
The United Nations complex in New York is located in the Turtle Bay area of Manhattan. Perched between First Avenue and the East River, the complex serves as the UN’s headquarters and consists of three primary buildings: the 39-story Secretariat Building, the General Assembly Building and the Conference Building that looks out onto the East River between the General Assembly Building and the Secretariat.
A lone individual stood at the corner of East 45th Street and First Avenue across the street from the UN headquarters. His eyes climbed the gray facade of the Secretariat Building, then swept across the curved lines and domed roof of the General Assembly Building to finally focus on a collective of media vans parked at the complex’s entrance. Equipment was being unpacked from the vans and hauled into the General Assembly Building.
The individual was oblivious to the heavy traffic that crammed the intersection, and seemed unnoticed by the pedestrians that streamed in all directions. His face sported a three-day growth. In his arms he clutched his jacket, which was wrapped around a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk.
*
Dr. Charles Reilly labored to step onto the podium before the General Assembly of the United Nations. Hesitantly, he looked out over the myriad of curved desks that arched around, and radiated outwards, from the central podium. With the sea of seats filled by representatives of the member nations, the scientist felt the eyes of the world waiting for him to speak.
Having no further use for Mr. Sabre, the scientist, Natasha and Mark had been released from custody. Dr. Reilly then set out to fulfil the task that Dr. Steven Greer was unable to complete. In the lead-up to obtaining the metallurgical report on the extraterrestrial sample provided by Reilly, Greer had made arrangements to address the General Assembly of the United Nations to present compelling evidence on the existence of an extraterrestrial presence in an effort to nudge the United States Government toward full disclosure.
Dr. Charles Reilly had contacted Dr. Steven Greer’s office and offered to take Greer’s place at the scheduled UN briefing. It would seem that the scientist had one last hand to play.
*
Jake Marcel held his jacket, holding the gold-plated copper disk firmly to his chest as he traversed the busy street and made for the gathering of media vans. Crews were carrying camera equipment and mixing components past the security gates toward the General Assembly Building.
Trying to blend in, Jake placed his jacket on top of a freshly unloaded crate, lifted the crate, then followed the procession of support crew through the security gates toward the General Assembly Building.
The procession entered though the main entrance into the grand foyer then filed into an auxiliary corridor in the back-of-house area, bypassing a second security checkpoint.
Twenty seconds later the procession approached the end of the corridor that met the entrance of the main assembly arena. Standing at the entrance was another security guard.
The guard seemed to be focused on Jake as he approached, his expression of concern growing more intense as Jake drew near. Instinctively, Jake slowed his approach as the media crew filed through the entry.
Jake now noticed the guard had been looking over Jake’s shoulder.
“S…S…Sir,” the guard stammered, “you can’t smoke in here.”
Jake froze in place. He felt his heart drop as he slowly turned to find Mr. Sabre flanked by a battalion of expressionless Special Forces gorillas. A surge of apprehension ripped through Jake as he placed the crate on the ground and picked up his jacket.
Sabre closed in. A satisfied smile slowly crossed the agent’s lips.
CHAPTER 83
Dr. Charles Reilly wavered as he looked out into the cavernous expanse of the UN assembly arena. The loss of friends over the last few weeks weighed heavy in his bones. Searching the attendants for a familiar face, he found comfort in Natasha’s soft features.
She gave him an encouraging yet pained smile.
The scientist drew an agonized breath. “An extraordinary man had been scheduled to give this address to you all today. However, in his pursuit to gather compelling evidence related to what I’m here to brief you on, Dr. Steven Greer had his life taken from him.”
An air of uneasiness rumbled through the crowd.
Reilly glanced over at Natasha sitting at the side of the arena. Despite the aching sadness in her eyes, she gave a nod of encouragement as if to say, “Keep going.”
Finding his breath, the scientist continued. “The recent discovery of an abundance of water on Mars has raised hopes for finding life elsewhere in the universe. Scientists do expect to find simple bacteria dwelling deep within the Martian soil. Even so, the discovery of just a single bacterium elsewhere beyond earth’s skies will force humanity to revise our understanding of where we fit into the cosmos. The revelation, when it comes, will be as controversial as when Copernicus, in
the early 1500s, proclaimed that earth was not at the center of the known universe.”
*
Jake Marcel stepped back toward the entrance with caution, grasping the object hidden by his jacket tight under one arm.
Sabre’s penetrating gaze bore into him. “Welcome back, Jake. I trust you found the answers you were looking for.”
The question startled Jake. “How did you…”
A harsh laugh escaped Sabre’s lips as he extinguished his cigarette beneath his shoe. “These are trillion dollar secrets that you are now a party to. The keepers of such secrets have access to unlimited resources to track you and your friends’ movements. There is no limit to how far they will go to maintain the status quo… That is, this consumer-based, oil-addicted, celebrity-obsessed reality that you call life.”
“People need to know,” Jake replied with more hostility than he intended.
The agent’s tone was fierce. “People don’t want the truth. It’s too daunting. Too scary. The human race wasn’t ready for it in the 1940s, and they’re sure as hell not ready for it now. They’re too self-obsessed with their own lives to realize there is more to our petty existence than watching TV and buying the latest fashions.”
Creeping back closer to the entry, Jake focused on the assault weaponry being held by Sabre’s escort, then the hip bulge in the agent’s jacket. The guard by the entry stood terrified, trying to process what was happening.
“There are two versions of reality that can unfold from here. One is where you go home, back to your life and stay happy in ignorance. The other is where you walk into the General Assembly and help bring on the destabilisation of all orthodox religious systems of the world. You will then threaten our way of government and send the political systems of every country back to the Bronze Age,” the agent said, making no effort to hide his annoyance.
Jake’s unease sharpened. “I’ve come this far. You’ll have to kill me to stop me.”
Sabre’s eyes shone with a determination Jake sensed he would be unwise to test. “It may be morally indefensible, but absolutely necessary if it means protecting the population from realities they’re not ready for.”
Jake was defiant, as if tapping a hidden reserve of power. “Who are you to decide what the population is ready for?”
Sabre never raised his voice, but its intensity tripled. “You could not begin to fathom the gravity of what is to come. Do you really want to uncover revelations that will challenge our understanding of the fabric of reality? To twist the origins of the human condition? When we learned we were not alone, we also realized we were technologically inferior, hopelessly outgunned and tricked into signing a treaty with the wrong side. The most profound discovery in human history simultaneously became the most dangerous.”
Jake took another hesitant step back toward the entry to the General Assembly arena.
“You keep a very, very dangerous secret, Jake.” The agent’s tone left no room for debate. “You’re making a mistake.”
Jake’s eyes burned with a hardened determination. “No, I’m correcting one!”
Jake turned his back to Sabre and made for the entry. The sound of the agent’s holster unclipping and his side-arm’s safety being released caused Jake Marcel to instantly freeze in place. Jake heard the agent chamber a round.
Behind him Sabre’s lethal-looking side-arm was trained at Jake’s head.
Jake stopped breathing as he waited for the inevitable.
CHAPTER 84
Inside the control room overlooking the General Assembly of the United Nations, Mark was fumbling through his bag. Standing over him was an impatient Operations Director, whose eyes were darting between Dr. Reilly’s address to the assembly on the floor below and Mark hunched down rummaging through his backpack.
“Are you sure you have it?” the Operations Director said, visibly irritated. “We’re about to miss our cue.”
“It’s got to be here somewhere,” Mark said into the backpack. “Here it is.”
Mark fished out an unlabeled USB drive and placed it into the waiting hands of the Operations Director.
*
Dr. Charles Reilly paused to cough, sounding sick. As he gave his address to the General Assembly, the ill scientist was looking increasing frail.
The scientist pressed on. “The evidence regarding this subject has been clear and overwhelming. There are, however, some very powerful interests that don’t want the truth to come out. Regardless, we need to follow the truth no matter where it leads us.”
*
Grasping the object hidden in his jacket, Jake Marcel took another nervous step toward the entrance to the General Assembly arena.
Behind him the agent had his side-arm trained at Jake’s skull.
Jake took another step.
There was no gunshot.
Jake was now walking, picking up speed, through the entry.
Behind him the agent slowly lowered his weapon and watched on as Jake Marcel disappeared inside.
*
Dr. Charles Reilly tried to steady himself as he took a long pause. Hushed murmurs spread through the crowd as the scientist composed himself.
“Sorry,” Reilly managed, forcing a pained smile. “These lights are a tad bright.”
Charles took another moment to gather his energy. “Physical, irrefutable proof of life elsewhere in the universe has always been elusive. Footage of alleged UFO sightings has often been explained away as hoaxes or other natural phenomena. And when there is footage captured of exceptionally high quality, it’s dismissed as being doctored.”
Dr. Charles Reilly paused again, blinking as his vision blurred. Elevated on the wall behind the speaker’s podium hung two enormous projector screens, which now blinked to life. The large screens flanked a circular United Nations emblem on the wall behind the podium that dominated the assembly arena.
Guilt ripped through him has he struggled on. “The footage being played was procured from my former employers; it was filmed three days ago in the Nevada desert. It is genuine, authentic, and captured by cameras mounted on NSA and military assets. I will leave it to you to form your own opinion.”
Dr. Reilly steadied himself as the video played overhead. Not being able to bring himself to watch the footage, he observed the mixed expressions on the seated faces before him. Murmurs of confusion now spread through the crowd as a video of a number of black SUVs chasing a motorbike was projected onto the two large screens. It was quickly evident that the footage was shot by a chasing helicopter.
The confusion of the crowd seemed to deepen.
The scene now cut to a different angle that was zoomed in on Jake Marcel, his face shaky but clearly discernible. Now cutting to a third angle, the speeding bike was tearing toward a deep cliff face. The armada of pursuing SUVs, however, had commenced braking and skidded to a stop.
The entire assembly sat in a silent mix of astonishment and horror as they watched the bike, along with its rider, catapult over the edge into the canyon below. The crowd gasped with disbelief when the crisp image of a silver disk flying in the canyon appeared.
Natasha watched the footage with difficulty, feeling the shockwave that flowed through the crowd.
The video now cut to a tighter angle; the silver disk looked approximately 100 feet in diameter – much larger than the bike and rider catapulting into the canyon – and appeared to have changed its course to intercept the rider.
Gasps of disbelief quickly intensified in the crowd.
As the footage played from another angle, the rider was now falling; the bike exploded on impact with the silver disk at the moment of interception. The silver object, however, appeared unaffected by the collision.
A millisecond later the disk became illuminated from within, its bright flash completely saturating the footage in brilliant white. In a blur, both the silver disk and rider instantly disappeared from the frame, leaving burning bike fragments to plummet to the bottom of the canyon.
More gasps of asto
nishment came from the assembly. Natasha watched through watery eyes.
The sequence was replayed slower from another angle, again showing the bike and rider going over the edge of the cliff, the silver disk moving to intercept, the blinding flash, then the disk accelerating away at an impossible speed.
*
Jake Marcel approached the speaker’s podium of the General Assembly from a side aisle. With the object hidden within his jacket clasped under his arm, he was transfixed by the grim yet spectacular scenes being played before the crowd.
From varying angles the sequence replayed on a loop, each playback showing new detail or a closer view. Whispers of recognition rippled through the crowd as Jake reached the podium. Jake’s resemblance to the doomed rider in the footage was uncanny.
The scientist coughed, faltering at the podium. The images being played were overpowering, their implications frightening. The scientist knew he had to deliver his next words very carefully.
His breathing was labored as he continued his address: “The question is no longer, ‘Are we alone in the universe?’ The question now is, ‘How do we, as a United Nations collective, disseminate this new reality to the citizens of our globe in a calm, scientific and evidence driven manner?’ And not by militaristic, alarmist, xenophobic or frightening means.”
The scientist caught the outline of an approaching figure. Murmurs and whispers radiated through the crowd as the individual drew closer.
Dr. Reilly could barely focus. “There is no reason to believe that the extraterrestrial presence poses a threat to national or world security. If hostility or aggression accompanied their purpose here, it is likely that…”
The scientist again faltered, losing his train of thought. He felt himself drifting toward unconsciousness as the outline of the approaching figure materialized into a familiar face.
Am I hallucinating?
The scientist tried to shake off the apparition. “It is likely that events congruent with hostility would have transpired long before now. It is our assessment that the extraterrestrials are not hostile, but are…”
Disclosing the Secret Page 34
