Eyebrows arched in surprise and shoulders straightened. Several captains exchanged questioning glances.
Captain Bradley spoke up for the captains. “Lots are used to ship living and fear the wide-open sky. Look what happened on that water world, Poseidon. It was a death trap for those eager to land. A fair number on board are willing to take their chance back out in space.”
“I understand that many of you wish to continue the search for a more pristine world. Again, I urge you to evaluate the situation. This fleet traveled for hundreds of years, and Alysia is the best it found. A great deal of work is required before such a venture is possible, but the Alysian leaders have agreed to help provide water, minerals, plants, animals, and other supplies needed for those that want to leave. Also, most of the ships need repair. Preparations for such a venture will take time and effort. But we have that.”
Learning forward, Captain Naomi Johnson from Pilgrim’s Pride asked, “Elise, would you be fleet commander if we go?”
Absolute silence descended.
She needed to make her decision now. It wouldn’t be fair to James if she shaped the expedition to her dictates, and then dumped it in his lap. Whoever led the fleet into space should have the responsibility from the start, but she hadn’t made up her mind yet. She needed one more piece of information to complete her decision of whether to go or stay.
Inhaling deeply, she said, “I’ll be promoting Captain Bradley to co-commander. He’ll work in tandem with me in our efforts to get ready. As he has been doing, he will coordinate the fleet while I’ll maintain overall responsibility. I need a back up I can trust, and James Bradley is my first choice.”
She rapped the desk to focus their attention on what she was saying. “There will be people who will reject both options. For some, the station will be a temporary home until they feel more secure moving to the planet. For others, who don’t want to go into space or down to the planet, the station may become their permanent home. When a person is used to living a certain way, it’s hard to change and more comfortable to continue with what they know.”
She pursed her lips. “There are also the disenfranchised still in cryo who, by rights, should have a say in their future. We’ll need a timetable and procedure for their resuscitation.”
Jan Childes, Captain of the Storage Locker raised a hand.
Elise nodded.
“I’ll be needing more help than most to resupply parts and materials. I’ll want to add Alysian plants to the garden and native animal embryos to the cryo unit. The project will require an Alysian to help me.”
Elise smiled. “I expect I can find someone.”
Captain Takata from The Shangri-La leaned forward. “What about records from Alysian astronomers regarding this section of the galaxy?” he asked. “The more information we have, the better.”
“Captain Braden Steele claims to have recorded data about far-flung quadrants of space and is eager to share. In fact, he may want to join the fleet.”
She stood up and they craned their necks to watch her rise. Leaning inward, hands on the table, she said, “Now is the time for each person on every ship to decide his fate and the fate of his family. No choice is wrong, but every decision is fraught with consequences. What each person decides will affect the rest of their life. Ships will be torn apart and families scattered, depending on these decisions. And no place is guaranteed safe.”
An angry voice shouted, “How can we trust them to let us land? They have promised us entry before and then changed their minds.” Several voices added their agreement to the comment.
Furious at their reaction, she leaned forward and slammed down her fist on the captain’s table, causing it to shake.
“Because if they don’t follow through on their promises this time and let us land on that damned planet, I’ll personally lead an invasion, and they won’t like it,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
“We don’t need their consent. Let’s just nuke them and land any way. We have the weapons.”
“And live in a radioactive wasteland? Or who should we bomb? We can’t destroy all of them… and what enraged citizens would be left would far outweigh our numbers. They’d massacre us the minute we set foot on the planet after that. No, we need to play this smart and carefully.”
Murmurs greeted her statement.
She made eye contact with each of her captains. Took a breath and said, “Now is the time to decide your fate. And once you make your choice, there will be no going back. I want you to consider carefully about what future you choose, but I suggest you decide soon. Begin your preparations. Now is the time. We have waited long enough. Commander Fujeint out.” She tapped the button, cutting the links. Her captains winked out. Sitting back down, she sighed.
So that ball was rolling.
Chapter 35
Not According to Plan
On Alysia in his Tygel office, President Armstrong also pounded his desk with a closed fist. The in-box rattled and a few pens fell out of a small round container. Trace and Richard blinked, then shifted nervously in their seats.
“Since I loosened the regulations on limiting the allotment concerning alien immigration, the world has gone berserk. Not three blocks over, riots have caused extensive property damage. Three people were killed in an earlier demonstration, and scores were wounded. Tygel is one of the worst places for this insanity. What is wrong with everyone?”
Trace rubbed a knee and sighed. “They’re afraid. You only have to look up in the sky to see the fleet and know how much more advanced they are than us.”
Richard made a snorting noise. “Very few of the ships’ occupants understand the physics, much less the technology that drives the fleet. For decades, they’ve been passengers who focused only on their small part of keeping each ship functioning. Maybe Carter and his team understand the physics. The engineers like Jimbo might even be able to build a ship, but most Terrans haven’t got a clue. The majority are involved in the daily activities of growing food, making clothes, or raising kids. And no one reads minds, no matter what the ill-informed news reports.”
“Are you sure?” President Armstrong looked from one to the other in question.
“At least not in the Terran Fleet.” Richard lifted an eyebrow at Trace. “Braden’s crew is another matter.”
Armstrong merely grunted at the words.
Trace pursed his lips and tapped Armstrong’s desk. “The Terrans have the database and the people with the skill to exploit that knowledge if or when they think it’s needed. John Luttrell is light years ahead of our biological sciences. And there are others, like Carter Wright, who understand the jump engines. Their computer science is advanced… So, they are a threat.”
Gritting his teeth in exasperation, Richard said, “Elise acknowledged that she doesn’t comprehend the physics of a jump drive completely. She just knows how to operate it and fly the ship. She depends on others on the bridge to help her. Do you know how a car works?”
President Armstrong waved a hand. “Most people won’t get your point, Richard. They don’t see the ordinary Terran.”
Trace interrupted, “They only see people who can clean the atmosphere, shift a moon, fly ships across space, and that makes them afraid.”
“The Homestead worries them. More and more Terrans are living there, taking over the territory, expanding bit by bit.” President Armstrong slid over a tablet that had lurid headlines proclaiming the impending takeover of the Diechwrathe by Terrans. Another headline suggested a section of Tygel was growing an Earth enclave.
Richard tapped his electronic tablet. “Someone is using the news to create fake stories to scare everyone. I recently read an article that suggested the aliens have mind control. It’s ridiculous, but unfortunately, there are all too many frightened Alysians willing to believe anything they read and spread it as the truth.”
Trace scratched an ear and grimaced. “Disinformation is a growing problem we’re trying to get under control.”
> Richard frowned. “But to suggest mind control!”
President Armstrong pushed his Etab across the desk and flipped it around. More headlines warned of Terrans who were able to control Alysian minds. One article interviewed a woman who claimed she’d been taken over by a Terran and raped. A picture showed her holding a deformed fetus, which she insisted was the product of the union.
Silence descended as they studied the article. Richard’s face paled as he raised it to Armstrong. “John, this isn’t so. I swear this is a lie. They’re as human as we are.”
Trace’s father grunted and pulled it back. “You know it, I know it, but Alysians don’t. Half will believe this rot, and the others will wonder if it’s true. I’ll have to put a moratorium on them landing until things settle down.”
“You can’t,” Richard whispered. “Do that and you’ll invite a hostile invasion.”
***
So, after The Democratic Union slammed shut the open door and whisked away the welcome mat, a counter movement sprang up in support of the Terrans. The voices made it obvious that many Alysians supported the Terrans. They pointed out Carter’s success with the atmosphere cleaners and Elise’s saving of their world by moving the moon. This time, many demonstrations emphasized the diversity of humanity, advocated tolerance for all living beings, and encouraged welcoming what they looked upon as long lost relatives. They extolled the advances the Terrans offered the Alysians. Bogtown led this crusade but was no less violent in putting forth their opinions. More riots erupted and soon spread all around the world.
Frantic leaders called a world council meeting in the Democratic Union. As President of the Union, John Armstrong presided. Before the first session even began, the council was in an uproar.
Madam DeGuiole, Prime Matron from the D’Ankanque, pounded the podium with her fists so hard that her ample breasts threatened to burst out of her bright red and yellow print blouse. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and sipped from a glass of water. “Terrans are abominations,” she screeched at the assembly. “Those aliens are here to take over our world!”
Someone from the Union shouted, “You retrograde idiots will have us chiseling on cave walls if we listen to you. Terrans offer knowledge that will help us recover from the massive damage inflicted by the comet and aid our world. Do you want us to descend back into the stone age?”
Religion joined the conversation. The separatist sect proclaimed the Terrans were sent by the devil as a punishment for Alysian sins, while the Humanists exhorted everyone to love one another, regardless of race or planet of origin. In the tumult of voices, it became hard to hear any words until one desperate advocate jumped up on his table with a microphone and screamed, “Frag everything, why can’t you all just get along?”
There was a brief pause. Into the sudden quiet, President Armstrong banged a gavel. “Now, regarding…”
But immediately another voice started yelling and the commotion resumed.
Sitting next to Richard, Trace leaned in. “They’re enjoying this.” He surveyed the room filled with flushed, rabid faces. “Don’t they realize they’re tearing down our existing society because they are afraid of losing what they have? At this rate, nothing will be left after they’re done.”
Unsurprisingly, the conference adjourned without a resolution.
Trace tapped Richard on the arm. “You better get up to the station and handle Elise. She’s not going to be happy if the Alysians go back on their word yet again.”
Richard grimaced. “Not only another fun ride in space but a furious Elise as my prize at the end of it.” His shoulders slumped as he followed Trace out.
***
Elise whirled on Richard, lavender eyes sparking and auburn hair practically ablaze. “That conference was a joke. I watched it on the vids. President Armstrong has lost my respect. Only a weak leader would countenance such behavior from others. Has he surrendered all control?”
Tired from the stressful shuttle ride, Richard shrugged. “It’s the Democratic process. Everyone has the right to voice an opinion.”
She waved her hand in a circle. “But do they have to voice so many stupid opinions? Isn’t there an idiot quota?”
He collapsed into a chair, watching her pace back and forth. A large window looked out from the space station where her fleet orbited outside. They were alone in the observation room with the door locked, but it was obvious that no clandestine tryst was on her agenda. Rather, the goal of this meeting appeared to be how much verbal abuse he could sustain before dissolving into a pile of jelly.
She turned her back to the window, shoulders slumping. “You have to convince Alysia to honor its commitments.” She swung around. “I promised the fleet that we would be allowed to land. I gave my word.”
He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. She had a right to be angry. He was on her side… only he didn’t control the whole of Alysia. He paused in thought. Maybe he’d overstated his influence a bit if only to impress her.
She said, “I told them I personally would lead an invasion if the Alysians didn’t let them land this time.”
“An invasion?” The idea choked him. “Alysia won’t let you. They’ll fire on the ships.”
She laughed. “Your weapons are no match for ours. If you fire on us, you will be sorry, and I won’t be responsible for the devastating outcome. Tell your leaders that.”
“Elise, they may not listen to me. I, er, may not be as influential as I have led you to believe.”
“Oh, you have the influence. You’re just a coward.”
He stood up, straightened his spine, and walked over to her. “I’m doing the best I can. More than anything, I want us to be together, don’t you understand that?”
He went to put his arms around her, but she shrugged him off and moved away. Tears glistened in her eyes. She turned away from him. “I swear, Richard Steele… If you can’t get those people down there to allow us to land, I’ll leave with the fleet,” she took a large breath and whirled to face him, “and I’ll take our child with me.”
Stepping back in shock, he croaked, “Our child? You’re pregnant?” He grabbed the ledge, too dizzy to think.
Her anger collapsed. “I suspect so.”
Even though he pushed it aside, the article with the woman dangling the grotesque fetus flashed across his thoughts. Revolted, he blocked the image, replacing it with the memory of a beautiful daughter hinted at by the Timelab. He dreaded another trip there because he knew the future didn’t always turn out the way you wanted and changing events in the present could affect future outcomes. But maybe he should chance it. His child. He shivered.
“Richard, say something!”
Startled, he snapped out of his thoughts and pulled her to him, crushing her with his passion. He pushed her against the window and pressed his lips to hers.
Behind them, the ships circled.
Chapter 36
Gunshots
Richard gripped the cool metal knob in his hand and hesitated. He understood the risk, but desperate, he placed his hand on the identity pad and pushed the door open. The Timelab lights were on. Someone already occupied it, sitting in a chair and tapping a foot.
The intruder patted the empty chair next to him. “It’s about time you got here. I can’t keep waiting for an eternity. Here, take a seat.”
Sidling in, Richard slipped into the chair and stared at the rough aristocratic face he so often saw in the mirror. A bit sharp around the nose, a few more wrinkles, but the face looked essentially the same as his. His future self.
His older self adjusted a collar, then threw him a wan smile. “You know I can’t say much, or I’ll change the future. Right now, in your timeline, everything is in a precarious state and could go either way.”
Richard waved his hands in the air, agitated. “The conference is in chaos. Riots fill the streets. Both sides are angry enough to start a war that will end with a lot of unnecessary casualties on both sides.”
Richard crossed his arms. Recalcitrance combined with the forum’s equally obstinate refusal to offer the visitors a full welcome was driving him to his wit’s end. “What can I do? No one listens to me.”
His counterpart rolled his eyes. “If you want them to listen, do something to get their attention. That’s what I did.” He ran a hand through his own hair and stared off into space.
“Yes, and how did you manage that?”
A slow smile emerged on the other. “A gun tends to capture people’s attention, especially in a crowded room.”
“Who do I have to kill?” Richard leaned forward. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind shooting that De Guiole woman.”
A horrified expression lit his doppelgänger’s face. “Oh no, no, no. The last thing I want is to find myself in prison when I return. Just get their attention without killing anyone, make sure the guards and Armstrong are in on the act, and tell the Alysians what they need to hear.”
“What should I say?”
“You’ll think of something. You’re good at talking. Babbling a bunch of words is one of our strong points.”
Richard straightened up. “I showed her some backbone. It worked… for a while.”
The other inched closer. “Not as well as that other thing you showed her.” He offered Richard a lewd wink.
Richard felt a blush bloom on his face. “She’s leaving anyway.” He stared off into a distant future. After a pause, he felt a pat on his knee.
“Women only want one thing.”
Richard heaved a sigh. “Wish I knew what it was. They are so fragging confusing.”
The other nodded. “Yes, they are. But it always comes down to the fact that they want to be loved. Show her that you care for her, and you’ll win her over. Dismiss her, and she’ll leave.”
Somewhat Alien: The Station (Terran Trilogy Book 2) Page 26
