by M. D. Hall
‘We don’t usually keep such images displayed when travelling at these speeds,’ she reassured him, ‘this was purely for demonstration purposes.’
‘Consider the demonstration successful!’ To say he was impressed would have been an understatement of monumental proportions. ‘I’ll rephrase my earlier question, when do I start?’
‘Immediately.’
He nodded and, instantly, they were once again standing in the barn, I didn't see any of those posts, he thought.
Looking directly at Tala he said. ‘When I return, I’ll need to tell Liz, and inform my partners of my decision to leave.’
‘You don’t expect resistance from your partners?’ she asked.
‘I’ll cushion the blow,’ he smiled softly, imagining their response. Despite his reassurances, he knew they would take it hard. The legal position was not the issue, he had become a cornerstone of the practice, in more ways than one, but his influence was about to increase to unfathomable proportions. They would never be short of lucrative work, whether by direct referral, or by attracting clients wanting to be represented by the firm associated, however tenuously, with the most powerful man in the world. He was about to become that man.
As to how they would replace him? The upturn of fee income would comfortably pay for a small army of the best negotiators and litigators. ‘They’ll be all right. I’ll use them to set up the corporation, and the detailed minutiae that goes with what we’re about to do.’ Tala said nothing. ‘After all, that isn’t why you came to me. My hands will be full, lobbying and making sure you get what you want.’
The Te’an inclined her head, and Hugo took that as tacit agreement.
Within three hours he, and his clients, although the term seemed inadequate to describe their relationship, were outside his office building. Tala and Beron remained seated as Hugo stepped out of the car. As with the outward journey, there had been no conversation.
Tala leaned forward and spoke through the open door. ‘You’ll find an email waiting for you. It will have attachments, including your appointment letter, and the whereabouts of your new office. Our list of requirements is comprehensive.’ Almost as an afterthought, she added. ‘Your joining fee has been credited to your bank account.’
Hugo had not anticipated any inducements, but before he had time to ask for more specifics, she simply said. ‘We’ll contact you in three days,’ and with that, she smiled at him then sat back in her seat. Beron reached beyond her, and pulled the door closed. The driver had already returned to the car, which glided away silently, leaving Hugo alone on the sidewalk to contemplate his future.
Ω
Three minutes into their journey Beron broke the silence, looking sideways at Tala. ‘Involving the woman is a mistake. We don’t know enough about her. The man’s ego guaranteed he would take the offer, this we knew. Her presence injects an unknown factor into the equation.’
There was no immediate reaction from Tala, the snub being further evidence, if needed, that she held him and his opinions in contempt. ‘I know you don’t value my opinion, but I’ll have to report the deviation from plan, to Garnoth.’
This last statement had the desired effect, Tala knew that the concession to include Black’s assistant would have to be reported, but it needed to be she who informed Garnoth, not Beron who would, undoubtedly, present the scenario in an unfavourable light. ‘Of course I’ll report back on the change, I’m sure Garnoth will see the logic of my action.’
Tala fell silent, she had no intention of explaining the rationale behind her decision.
To anyone else, Beron’s face remained impassive. Tala, however, knew him well enough to discern distrust of her motives, but he was powerless. As his superior, he was forced to accept her word that she would make the report. His father would have berated him for speaking too soon, but then, Vaaris should have allowed him to remain with the ST Corps, where his heart truly lay. He was not like his brother, subterfuge was not his strength, and he had always found it difficult to confront Tala, she had made it clear how she felt, long ago. Moving on was well overdue, perhaps when this mission was over.
Turning away, he looked out of the window, gazing in quiet fury at these creatures going about their meaningless lives. He was one of a growing sector within both the military, and the Agency who believed that where the use of force was expedient, it was unnecessary to seek justification. The old fears of three thousand years ago held few terrors for them, convinced, as they were, that a liberal political elite had probably manipulated history to suit their own ends.
He was one of an even smaller group who wondered whether the Custodians actually existed. Of course, he had never shared these thoughts with Tala, she simply would not understand. For all her talents, she was a product of her environment, incapable of thinking for herself, but he would watch and wait. She would make a mistake, and then it would be down to him to rescue the mission. Having proven himself, perhaps his father would then permit him to go where he belonged.
For the remainder of the journey there was no further conversation.
Δ
Hugo walked towards his office, ‘Please hold all calls, Liz, then join me in fifteen minutes.’
Sure enough, everything Tala had told him to expect, was in the email. The time scale they allotted was tight, to say the least. After speed-reading the documentation, he checked his bank account, eyebrows raising at the sight of the figure staring back at him. Firmly of the view that nothing, concerning money, could faze him, he had just discovered how wrong he could be.
Precisely fifteen minutes after entering his room there was a knock on the door.
Eighteen months ago
TeCorp headquarters
Δ
Hugo received the call he was expecting, from the President’s Chief of Staff. ‘Hugo, how are you?’ Gerry Wye asked, in an affable manner that was completely out of character.
‘Better for hearing from you, Gerry,’ was the best Hugo could muster.
‘The President was wondering whether you had made up your mind.’
This was a crude reference to the Presidential ticket, and the question on most people’s minds, or at least those who thought longer about politics than the time it took their for cereal to get soggy, would Hugo throw his weight behind the incumbent President, Michael Conway? Whoever he backed was a shoo-in for the office, as Gerry Wye was all too aware.
Hugo would back Conway, and Wye knew it, but it would suit him to have it announced sooner, rather than later. He had already gone as far as he dared by asking the question outright, he could not risk pressing the matter further.
The CEO of TeCorp answered by way of an aside. ‘I thought you were about to tell me, the President’s looking forward to attending the Golf Day on Wednesday, and announcing his support for our urban redevelopment program. All the boys and girls of the press will be there.’
This was code for: ‘You and I know that the President will publicly endorse the technology, as it will be seen as yet another incredible advancement for mankind, during his watch, and in return, I’ll publicly pledge my support for his campaign.’
The message was received, and understood. ‘The President wouldn't miss it for the world,’ and content in the knowledge that his man would remain the President of the United States, the election now being a mere formality, Wye made the appropriate meaningless noises, before ringing off.
Hugo found the President’s Chief of Staff inhabited the worst caricature of a politician: insincere, shallow and venal. While he held the man in contempt, he hoped it was heavily veiled. The President, on the other hand, was a good man, genuinely thinking only of his people and, unlike some of his predecessors, did not think the rest of the world existed to serve his needs. His philosophy was taking hold on the other world leaders, so that meetings between them, increasingly achieved more than sound bites and platitudes.
He liked Michael Conway, and was happy he would be the beacon to a future with the Te. An image f
ormed in his mind of a suitably proud President standing before TV cameras, telling the world it stood at the threshold of hitherto undreamed of advancement, and fulfilment. Gerry Wye lurked in the shadows, almost comically looking around, as he schemed to make his boss the first President of the World! Hugo shook his head, stopping his banal train of thought dead in its tracks.
Swivelling round in his chair he looked out of his office window, thirty floors above ground, with another sixty levels below that, and pondered the last eighteen months. As expected, the rise of TeCorp had been monumental. Liz had taken to the change with an enthusiasm he, at times, found dizzying, she had even supervised the building of their headquarters, ensuring that the authorities were steered clear of anything hinting at the pre-existing underground structures. Even that part of the building did not escape her attention, as she insisted upon redevelopment to incorporate Tellurian involvement.
All of the major airlines had succumbed to the new anti-grav drive and, within another eighteen months, there would be very few, if any non anti-grav flights.
None of the world’s major governments attempted to exercise any control over the transition. In the absence of any test results proving the technology to be safe, at least to their satisfaction, a couple of European countries made an initial effort to restrict the use of the craft in their airspace. When it dawned on them that they stood alone, a rapid re-evaluation took place, and more pragmatic counsel prevailed. Protectionism might also have raised its head, but for Hugo ensuring that affected companies were bought out, on very generous terms, with all employees being re-employed by TeCorp.
In time, it was announced that all private transports would use anti-grav drives, so ensuring safe, cheap and speedy transport across the globe. Of course, the new drives would not undo global warming, and this was Hugo's ace. He arranged a summit of the heads of government of the most powerful nations, no one turned down the invite. Before a room containing the most powerful people on the planet, he casually announced that TeCorp could undo the effects of global warming, giving them only enough information to stimulate their interest, and garner unconditional support. The solution involved the use of twenty-four TeCorp satellites in geo stationary orbit around the Earth, releasing nano-like particles, which would have the effect of selectively reflecting harmful rays back into space, while at the same time, reconstructing the ozone layer itself.
Initially, the idea was met with more than a little incredulity, until he pointed out that if they had been approached prior to the introduction of anti-grav drives, they would have found the suggestion equally far-fetched. With no one wanting to be the odd one out, there was unanimous agreement. He insisted they all monitor the operation, with each head of government having the power of veto, before completion. The entire exercise would take no more than seventy-two hours.
The process began six days after the summit. All satellites were launched simultaneously, into an orbit over a hundred kilometres above the Earth. Within an hour of the deployment, their cargo was released, falling towards the stratosphere before activating. Not only were there no detrimental side effects to the planet below, but definite signs of a rejuvenating ozone layer were reported, almost immediately. Shortly before the expiration of the seventy-two hours deadline, all observers reported that the ozone layer was intact. They had witnessed the impossible.
This achievement pinpointed the exact moment of Hugo Black’s stock becoming international currency. Everyone wanted to be his new best friend, and his influence around the globe, was absolute. He was still amazed that no one had seriously pursued the obvious question, how is it all done? It was the most extreme example he had ever known of pragmatism trumping legal process. No patents were ever filed, not that there was any need for them when no Tellurian scientist, or technician could back engineer any of the technology. Not one of these achievements had been challenged, but he quickly realised that people were simply grateful, and perhaps a little afraid of it disappearing if they looked too closely.
For years, Tellurians had become increasingly worried about threats to their very existence, unable to find answers, or even agree the questions. So, when they were given the solution, and everything worked as promised, they never questioned how it was all achieved. After all, this was science not magic. No one raised the possibility of extra terrestrial origin, that would be almost as absurd as magic.
Governments understood that TeCorp would be unhappy if the designs of their technological marvels became public knowledge, but that did not stop them asking. Their initial curiosity was tempered, however, when Hugo explained that if they were to press the point, TeCorp would simply withdraw the technology, and destroy the blueprints. Realism won the day.
Of course, there had been official visits to the TeCorp plants, but as the Te'an workers were human, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Hugo knew that only when everyone on Earth had accepted Te'an technology would the Te announce their presence. There would be sceptics arguing that it was a case of Greeks bearing Gifts, rejecting any suggestion of altruism, but he knew they would be in the minority. Whatever the outcome, he was uncomfortable with the deception and, not for the first time, was impatient for the façade to be dismantled.
He was drawn back to the real world by a light tap on the door. It would be Tala, she preferred to knock rather than use the intercom. He thought it ironic that a being from such a technologically advanced race, would prefer to announce her presence in this way. ‘Come in Tala.’
The door opened, and in walked the female Te'an operative he had met in his old office only a year and a half ago. Back then, she was warm and approachable, now her demeanour was even more relaxed.
He recalled a conversation they had six months earlier when she invited him around to the Te'an suite of offices, for coffee - a drink that was totally new to them. After some unnecessary conversation over performance targets in the plants, she changed topic. ‘This is my maiden diplomatic mission, Hugo,’ it was the first time she had confided in him, on a personal level, and he was more than a little bewildered. ‘There was some doubt, back home, as to whether I could carry it off. I was under a lot of pressure when we first met, you probably noticed me being on edge.’
‘Quite the contrary,’ he replied, ‘you seemed supremely confident.’
Tala looked genuinely surprised. ‘The success of TeCorp has convinced my superiors they made the right choice. It’s made things a lot easier for me, I don’t feel as though my every action is being appraised.’
From that time, the format of their meetings changed. Beron was never present, and once they had swiftly disposed of business, talk moved on, effortlessly to free expression of their thoughts and personal histories, or so Hugo believed.
Back in the present, Tala settled into a chair next to one of the panoramic windows, Hugo had already walked around his desk to join her. His taste in office décor had changed very little since his relocation, save for the addition of easy chairs that enjoyed the views afforded by the sheer glass walls, now on two sides. Other than the views, the office reminded him of his former life, he liked to think it grounded him.
‘Hugo, we need to discuss your golf day.’
Golf day
Δ
TeCorp’s golf day was not the usual corporate affair. Firstly, there were only two players, and it was never intended they would play more than one hole. Secondly, it was the only golf day TeCorp intended hosting. The event was to be screened across the globe. The purpose? To showcase the highly advanced nanotechnology that would soon be used throughout the world, although calling it nanotechnology was an injustice, as the watching billions were about to discover.
The demonstration would take place three miles from TeCorp headquarters, on arable land belonging to the corporation. Observers, exclusively the press corps, were brought to the site by anti-grav craft, which left immediately following disembarkation. Power supplies were provided for the broadcasting equipment, and a dais quickly erected.
&n
bsp; Representing TeCorp were Hugo, Liz Corcoran and the two Te’an agents, both looking sleek, efficient and calm; a technician dressed in TeCorp emblazoned coveralls, stood at a console, positioned behind, and to the side of the representatives. The President's retinue included his chief of staff Gerry Wye, three aides and a couple of dozen Secret Service men and women.
For TeCorp purposes it was critical the transformation was seen from bedrock. The denuded area, deeper than the height of a man, stretched away before them. At ground level in the top left hand corner were two small structures. No explanation was given for either the condition of the land or the presence of the structures, but in the early hours Te’an ships had, with considerable difficulty, created a teleportation field covering the entire area, extending to the upper boundary of the exosphere; it was in place for all of three nanoseconds, and all material down to the bedrock was jettisoned into space. As for the structures, they would be unveiled later.
Four black anti-grav ships glided into view, and hovered above the prepared zone. A panel, on the bottom of each ship, slid open and disgorged a golden cloud that gravity drew downwards. Over the space of a few short seconds nothing happened, then the yellowish mantle began to swell outwards, in all directions. When it reached the boundaries the Te had clearly marked, the two-dimensional expansion abruptly stopped, and the blanket began to rise until the denuded area was completely covered.
The process had taken only nine seconds!
The ships sped away, and when those on the ground were quite alone, save for the billions around the globe watching live TV feeds, Hugo turned to the technician and nodded. The cloud began to assume recognisable shapes, in some areas rising in columns, growing to take on the form and colour of trees, each one different. Some small areas changed colour only slightly, acquiring the texture of sand, as central parts sank and outer edges rose to form bunkers.
