by Ben Winston
It was getting dark, so Alan got a lantern from the replicator. “Can that thing really produce anything?” Dentin asked.
“Within reason - yes. It can’t, for example, create a car; it simply isn’t big enough. But we do have units that are big enough; we use them primarily to build the smaller ships we use.”
“Where do you live, now? I know you said you are from here, but…” He left the rest unsaid.
Alan chuckled, “Actually I do still live on this planet. I can’t tell you where though; that will still have to remain a secret. My two teammates that went with Doc used to live on one of our bigger ships, the Battle Cruiser Prometheus.”
Dentin just shook his head in wonder. “It all seems so hard to believe. For years we’ve been told there is no such thing as aliens, and we are all alone in the universe. Now it seems we’ve been deluding ourselves all along.”
“Well, we are kinda off the beaten track spatially. However, the universe is a big place. There are literally hundreds of thousands of worlds capable of supporting life. The odds that Earth was the only one to have developed an intelligent species are astronomically small. It was bound to happen sooner or later that you find out about the rest of the universe. Hell, there are plenty of other species in this galaxy alone. Once the fighters begin to arrive, you will get to meet some members of those other species.”
Dentin looked shocked and somewhat ill. “You mean that there will be real aliens here? In three days?”
Alan chuckled; “Relax Major, the Benesians are really pretty nice people. Not to mention extremely beautiful. All the ones you will meet here will be female, since their society is predominantly female. Did you ever watch the movie ‘Lord of the Rings’?” When the Major nodded, Alan continued, “Well, these ladies look very much like the elves from that movie. Until you get to know them, they kinda act like that too. But don’t worry; they are very much on our side in this.”
Chapter Five
TDF Star Dancer
Equatorial Orbit
Earth, Sol Sector
When they got back to the office, Ian sat down and began issuing orders to the various departments he would need to institute the changes discussed in the meetings. He had just finished speaking to General Anders about the Earth based weapons of mass destruction when Alex got his attention.
"Sir, I think you need to see this; CNN is reporting about us," the woman said and activated the big wall monitor.
The screen came alive with a scene from somewhere in New York City. A semi attractive blond woman was reporting…
“…currently very little is known about the strange occurrences now reported in several major cities all over the world. No one seems to know exactly what's going on, but we do know that the people doing the work are part of the Terran Defense Forces currently defending our planet from space-based enemies. A New York City Police Officer, John Patrinowski, attempted to approach one of the sites earlier today to investigated what they were doing."
“Weirdest damn thing I ever seen! It was like tryin’ to walk through a wall that wasn’t there. I don’t know who these people think they are, but that is a public hazard! I don’t care if they did put out warning signs and barricades!” a rather rotund man dressed in a police officer's uniform said.
“Officer Patrinowski was not injured in any way in the attempt to cite the supposed illegal builders. Workers from the utility companies arrived a few minutes ago and asked the police to move the crowds back, away from the construction site. A representative for the gas utility told CNN that since no building permits have been issued for this project and it is evident that extensive excavation is being done; the likelihood was that the builders would soon strike the gas main that runs under this location. Workers have temporarily shut off the gas to this area until these people can be stopped and any damage can be repaired. Shortly after Officer Patrinowski’s attempt, National Guard troops entered the area and pushed the crowds back even further. I tried to speak with the National Guard commander but all he could say was ‘no comment’.
"We have been told, by our affiliate stations all over the country, and some abroad that several other projects have been undertaken and since completed by the Terran Defenses. We still do not know what those installations are, or what they could mean to us. All attempts to contact the Defense forces have been referred to the local government. The only comments received were that the installations were necessary and of no danger to the population. No further information has been released. Reporting from New York City, this is Janet Humpfries, CNN.”
“Thank you, Janet. Military forces around the world have been surrounding and isolating these installations. However, they do not appear to be trying to prevent the construction, but more to keep people safely away. In New Mexico, the US Army has surrounded an area once occupied by the small town of Talos. Talos was destroyed completely two years ago during an attack by supposed aliens.
“From all reports, this appears to be another building site, although this one is much larger than all other so far reported. In all cases, reports indicate the Terran Defense forces are the ones doing the building, but we have no idea what it they are building or even how. Eye-witnesses report that whole walls just appear as if by magic. Sections of rock and soil simply disappear as strange hovering machine of some type passes over them.
“Around the world the response seems to be the same; military forces are surrounding, isolating and observing as many locations as possible. We have been told that there are several of these sites all over the United States as well as the rest of the world. We will keep you up to date as more reports come in."
Ian muted the television as a commercial came on. "Well, it's about damn time, we've only been building stuff down there for three months now. I guess it doesn't rate headlines unless it happens in a major city!"
"I don;t think that's it, Sir," Alex replied. "I think the government had a gag order placed on any reports like this. Obviously, that order has been released."
"Yeah, that would follow, wouldn't it? I really don't think those idiots down there were ever going to tell the people what was going on," Ian replied.
"Considering how people, as a group, normally react to news of this type, I can understand their reluctance, Sir," Alex began. "However, I think they might have made a mistake by not telling them right away. They should have told them immediately. That way, most of the trouble generated by it could have been dealt with by this point and we wouldn't have to deal with them now, when we need to focus on preparing the defenses."
"You're probably right, Alex. However, it is what it is and you'll notice that they still haven't actually said anything to the public yet," Ian replied.
"No, they haven't, but I think they are getting ready too. Why else would they lift the information blackout?" Alex replied. A soft beep was heard and she looked down at her terminal. "Sir, the Secretary General is calling."
"It's only been an hour since the meeting, I wonder what he needs?" Ian asked, rhetorically. "Put him through please."
The smiling face of the Secretary General of the UN came up on Ian's monitor. "Good Morning, Admiral. I'm sorry to call back so soon after the meeting, but I thought you would like to know that the General Assembly has reached agreement and is already acting on the information you gave us. Very soon, the Major world leaders will be addressing the people to begin telling them of the threat. They will be doing so in stages, the first of which should be very soon. They will not be telling the people an attack is imminent, but instead will be telling the people that our location is no longer a secret. Adding the bunkers and defenses you are building are necessary steps in the defense of the planet."
"Not exactly the truth, but not exactly a lie either. By the time the attack is close enough to evacuate to the shelters, the people will be to busy running for their lives to accuse anyone of a cover-up." Ian nodded, reluctantly. "While it's not ideal, I suppose it's the best that can be expected for now."
"I thought it was a step in the right direction at least," the SecGen agreed. "One of the other things they will be announcing is that your forces are not to be interfered with. DId you see the CNN report from New York?"
Ian nodded. "I did, it makes us look like invaders."
"I know, but that should be changing shortly. There will be a general order given that will tell everyone that your people do not need building permits, and as they will not be public installations, no inspection will be required. Military units will be dispatched to at least the more public locations to help protect them. I was asked to pass along to you that if you could equip those small units as well as the local police on the fly, that will certainly help," the man asked with raised eyebrows.
"We can do that. It will make it a lot easier. There's a lot of people we need to get armor and weapons too. I was in the process of writing up the guidelines for that order when you called. I can certainly add that to it," Ian replied.
"Sir, the President of the United States is about to make an announcement," Alex said quietly.
The Secretary General and Ian quickly said their good-byes as Alex un-muted the monitor displaying CNN.
“Ladies and Gentleman, In a few moments, the President will make a statement and if time permits, he will take a few questions after his announcement. As usual, please hold your questions until the President has finished speaking.” The Press Secretary said, giving the standard instructions to the White House Press Corps. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States."
The man stepped back as the assembled reporters stood and began polite applause.
The middle-aged man that was the current President of the United States of America walked out to the podium. He had a very serious expression on his face and looked tired even though it was early morning in Washington D.C.
He held up his hand to quell the applause and asked the reporters to be seated. "Ladies and Gentlemen, in an unprecedented agreement by all the leaders of the world, we are cooperating with the Terran Defense Forces in the construction of special civil defense shelters as well as other types of defensive installations in order to better defend our home from orbital attack.
"Three months ago, acting on the advice of Admiral Ian Williams as well as the Commanding Officer of the Alliance of Races, Admiral H'joles, we allowed the engineers of the Terran Defense Forces to begin the construction of these facilities in all countries of the world. Here, in the United States, these facilities are being built on public property where ever possible. In some cases, the Terran Defense Force has assume the purchase of the property required.
"Some of these installations will be purely defensive, such as shield generators capable of defending a city from nuclear attack or orbital kinetic attack. Other installations will, by necessity, be defensive weapons emplacements such as missile batteries and anti-aircraft guns. The shield generators and the weapons will be manned and maintained by Terran Defense Personnel.
"We are also allowing the construction of a fighter base in the New Mexico desert near the former town of Talos, New Mexico. That base will be one of six others built around the world in select locations for the sole and exclusive purpose of defending our world from non-Alliance forces.
"In the event of an emergency, the Terran Defense Forces will assist our own military by providing advanced weapons and armor so they may stand a chance of surviving an encounter with an enemy that makes it to our world." As was his tradition, the President sat aside the prepared statement and looked up at the reports directly.
"I know exactly what a lot of you are thinking; 'Oh my god! We're going to be attacked!'" He chuckled and shook his head. "Folks, as unprecedented as all this is, it's by no means a reason for anyone to panic. What's really going on here is that, we finally got a chance to finish analyzing all the data from the Caldarian attack. We realized how woefully unprepared we are for a large scale attack of that nature. Yes, it will mean the United States allowing what amounts to be a foreign power to station troops and fighter craft on American soil.
"I won't lie to you; the thought didn't set very well with a lot of folks. That being said, we cannot, in all honesty consider these troops to 'foreign' in this context even though some of them will not be 'human'. No, we will not have direct control of those defensive assets, that will remain with Admiral Williams acting under the orders of Admiral H'joles of the Alliance and the Terran Ruling Council.
"I've mentioned a few things that most of you have no idea what I'm talking about; What is this Alliance of Races? Who is this Admiral H'joles? And probably most important, how and why are we trusting them this much? You're questions about the Alliance of Races will have to wait a few days; we plan on preparing a broadcast that will explain all of that far better than I can do in this setting. For now, what's important is that there is a galactic Alliance of sentient aliens out there that has been protecting us from the knowledge of the existence of extra-terrestrials because there is a war going on out there; the nature of which will be included in that presentation I mentioned earlier.
"That policy was blown out the window by the arrival and subsequent attack of the Caldarian ship. At that point, they could no longer keep us hidden from the forces trying to conquer the rest of the Galaxy. Will we ever be attacked? I don't think anyone knows for certain, but the possibility does exist, and that is the reason for building of these defenses. That's all this is, nothing more, nothing less.
"In this action, as with all actions they have undertaken on our behalf, the Terran Defense Forces do not care what country we are from, what our religious beliefs are, or even what we think of them; they have always asserted themselves to be protectors of the entire planet. Nothing they have ever done has caused anyone to doubt that fact. We have nothing fear from them or the Alliance of Races, they are only trying to make sure we are kept safe. I don't think we can really fault them for that.
"The last thing I wanted to make clear was that our planet, Earth, is not a formal member of the Alliance of Races. However, the Terran Defense Forces are. Earth does not yet have a single governing body, which is a requirement for membership. However, as the Terran Defense Forces are and always have been supporting the Alliance, they have been granted membership. Because of their membership, the military might of the entire Alliance of Races has also sworn to protect us. We are effectively a protectorate of the Alliance, which means they will protect us, but we are not governed by them." He grinned. "That doesn't mean they can't offer advice; these defensive measure make sense.
"Now, as you can imagine, we're pretty darn busy, but I'll take a few questions before I have to get back." He pointed to one young women. "You're new here aren't you?"
The woman blushed. "Yes Mister President, Marissa Travis, Terran News Services."
The president looked surprised. "That was fast! You have a question Ms Travis?"
"Yes Sir; with the new level of cooperation between countries, as well as with our defense forces, has there been any indications of possible trade agreements of non-technology goods such as food stuffs or minerals?"
The President was surprised by the question. "Not presently, no. However, there has always been some very limited trade going on. There are several patents held by the corporation the was formed by the now-Terran people that are still legal and those goods, which are actually technology based, are for sale over the Internet world-wide. Beyond that, we just haven't gotten to that level of diplomatic relations yet. Perhaps, now that the ice has been broken so to speak, some agreements can be reached without violating your people's technology restrictions."
The President pointed out another reporter. "Mister Green."
The man stood. "Silas Green, Associated Press. Sir, does this mean that the United States will officially recognize the Terrans as a sovereign nation?"
"That is still being discussed and no decision has yet been reached. Other than to tell you that we are still discussing it, I can't really comment further," the President replied
.
The next reporter stood and asked her question; "Sir, have you been able to speak directly with the Terran Defense leaders or are they still insisting on using the United Nations as a go-between?"
"No, they are using the United Nations as a point of contact because to do otherwise would violate their neutral position in regards to this world. Yes, it's somewhat frustrating, but also necessary to maintain their neutrality. They are very careful to not show favoritism to any single nation no matter how large or influential they may be. Considering their mission here, that is very important to maintain the level of trust they need to do their jobs. I don't like it, but I can well understand it," The President replied.
Ian muted the monitor again. "Well, that was better than I expected. At least the President of the United States isn't painting us as the villain here."
"No, but I better get in touch with Janet Laskar so she can get her people working on the presentation the President was talking about. I would imagine the people are going to want to see it as soon as they can," Alex replied.
Site NY4
Central Park
New York City, Earth
Sol Sector
Late the next day, near the center of central park, Lt. Colonel Adam Wells was about to sit down to dinner when one of his troops requested entry into his tent. “Sir, the… uh, visitor… Sir, one of the visitors is asking to speak with you!”
“I told you that no reporters are allowed! Send them away!” Adam almost yelled at the man.
“Sir, it’s not a reporter. It’s one of The Terrans!” The private said excitedly.
