by Ezra E Manes
“Has the decision to relocate people to Zilia been finalized?”
Once again, he received no answer; instead, the compartment abruptly changed direction, heading northward and down closer to the surface. He was surprised to feel a slight increase in weight the nearer he came to the surface. Soon he was zooming up the eastern seaboard of what appeared to be North America, although the large number of huge, enclosed structures along the coast was another surprise. Soon the compartment turned inland and landed in a barren field hardly visible through wind-whipped dust.
Carlos watched fascinated as a bubble of clear air grew around the compartment, effectively pushing the dust storm back away from a growing invisible hemispheric boundary. Then he heard the roar of an approaching aircraft, which hovered briefly, then landed nearby in the field.
A single individual climbed hesitantly out of the small aircraft and walked toward the compartment. Carlos felt a mental nudge to go greet the approaching man.
He stepped through a wall that appeared to be there but was not. A faint breeze blew around him, and he stopped abruptly upon smelling the putrid air. He was standing on Earth!
The man continued to approach, looking somewhat dazed. He was elderly, with thin, gray hair and slightly stooped shoulders. Even confused, he had the bearing of one having great responsibility. He stopped about three meters in front of Carlos.
“Geraldo!” the man said, and seemed to become even more confused. “No, not him, but the resemblance…”
“I am Carlos Geraldo Sepeda.”
“It can’t be!” The man suddenly stepped forward to within two meters of Carlos, peering at him closely.
“I am indeed Carlos Sepeda. Who are you?”
“Anchora Puchovi. I knew your great-grandfather well. But why am I here; why did I fly here?”
Carlos did not try to explain, for it would likely confuse the man more. “Mr. Puchovi, what is your role on Earth?”
“I was formerly president of the North America Union and am now its ambassador to the United Nations.”
Anchora Puchovi then seemed to gain better control of his faculties and plied Carlos with one question after another. Carlos answered several hesitantly, and then opened up more when it was apparent the AIB was not going to intervene. Answering the man’s questions was easy, and Carlos had many questions of his own.
Anchora Puchovi answered Carlos’s questions readily. After satisfying his curiosity about Anchora’s role on Earth and his relationship with Carlos’s great-grandfather, Carlos changed the subject to address Zilia. The first big surprise was learning that the Cheng Ho expedition had been the first to detect signals from Zilia and had reported this to Earth almost three decades earlier.
Anchora freely summarized events and decisions leading up to initial launch of large emigrant transports destined for Zilia, and the continuing, aggressive launch program. The public position was that the large transport ships were carrying people to the Messier Colony; however, those in command knew the final destination and what they must do.
Why is he being so open about these matters? Carlos thought. Ah, the AIB had loosened Anchora’s inhibitions.
The former president also told him about the surprise and consternation among Earth’s leaders when the Messier Colony independently discovered Zilia and made its existence public knowledge. He hesitated but then told Carlos about the martyr decision with respect to the team, should it become necessary, and it was looking more likely it would be. He next told about diverting the lead transports to the Messier Colony to give Carlos’s team time to work out a peaceful immigration solution on Zilia.
This information was numbing. The words blurred together: a dying Earth; launching large transports toward Zilia; forced immigration of Zilia; making his team martyrs, meaning dead; preserving humankind’s future.
Anchora abruptly stopped talking and came closer to put a hand on Carlos’s shoulder.
“I don’t know why I’m here or why I’ve told you all this. However, I don’t believe you can change what is destined to be. Being here is like a dream. I am truly sorry for what my actions may lead to for your team. Whatever happens, know it’s in the best interests of humankind.”
With that said, Puchovi turned and went back to his aircraft. Carlos stood numbly watching as it lifted off and disappeared into the dust storm. He returned slowly to the compartment and sat down, and it immediately lifted off through the storm. He didn’t worry about what former president Puchovi might do with the information exchanged in the short meeting; the president would not remember, he was sure of that.
Now he knew why Earth became so upset when notified about the mission to Democritus and discovery of Zilia. Why had Earth not notified the Messier Colony when they first discovered the Zilan civilization?
So much had occurred that neither he nor anyone at the Messier Colony knew about.
“The Zilans are not warlike,” injected the AIB, “and the planet has abundant natural resources barely tapped. In addition, they have constructed impressive infrastructure systems to support modern day habitation. An excellent global transportation system, modern, well-maintained cities, and an advanced global communications grid are in place. Airports exist near all major population centers. The investment by Earth to get the planet ready for colonization would be minimal.”
“Still, why doesn’t Earth focus on colonizing the planet Hope while searching for other habitable planets?” Carlos asked.
“Two suitable planets were located before discovery of Zilia. One is Hope, which has not evolved as far as Earth and will present major challenges for some time due to turbulent surface conditions. More importantly, it does not have the infrastructure to support the population Earth wants to migrate. They could make it work, to become a viable location for a significant percentage of Earth’s emigrating population, but Earth’s leaders do not share this understanding.
“The other planet is located almost twice as far from Earth as Hope and in an offset direction that places it about the same distance from Hope as it is from Earth. The Cheng Ho expedition arrived at this planet thirteen years before you launched toward Zilia. The planet is ideal for human colonization with respect to the environment and abundance of natural resources.
“However, its great distance from both Earth and Hope, and its lack of infrastructure, are major near-term negative factors. If Earth took this path, it would take several generations to bring the planet up to current expectations in terms of modern infrastructure accommodations and resource exploitation. A small colony exists there now, ironically named New Earth by the colonists, but its existence is not widely publicized.”
“But how could the will of the Zilans be totally ignored in the colonization decision?” Carlos found this hard to accept. “The Zilans have had a modern society for thousands of years. To have another major civilization dumped in on top of them would be disastrous. They would be totally dominated by Earth’s people.”
“That is why something must be done to alter Earth’s current plans.”
Carlos had reluctantly come to the same conclusion. He remained quiet as the compartment continued a survey tour of the planet’s surface. Vast wastelands were evident everywhere, with major metropolitan areas comprised of sprawling structures that were closed to the outside. Many had large domelike coverings. He saw considerable air traffic and wondered if those inside could see him in the transparent compartment. He smiled at the thought, for an entity that could transport him to Earth from Zilia could surely cloak his presence near the surface.
“I have seen nothing but wasteland outside the large city areas,” Carlos conveyed. “How do they produce enough food for the people?”
“Earth developed automated machines long ago that efficiently produce food substances from raw materials,” the AIB answered. “They can alter the shape and taste of the substances to be pleasing. In addition, they make widespread use of large, enclosed hydroponics gardens. Your Messier Colony has the same capabilit
ies but does not use artificial food production techniques much now. The colony was producing most of its food in hydroponics gardens and large surface farms by the time you visited the planet Hope’s surface.”
Carlos’s thoughts were reeling as the compartment returned to a stationary position in space close to Earth. He had viewed mining and industrialization carried to the extreme, and the negative consequences of this. No region of Earth’s surface had escaped exploitation and the adverse effects of a society fighting to find resources to survive. This had led those on Earth to make dire decisions with respect to his team. It made him sick to his stomach and sick at heart.
The appearance of a space station rising from the western horizon pulled him from his introspection. It was huge and in a near-Earth orbit. He could see arriving and departing shuttlecraft. He watched, fascinated, as the space station rapidly approached.
Tagging along behind the station were large space transports in various stages of construction, with robots crawling all over them. As the space station passed, he saw a large block of construction material rise through the atmosphere into orbit. It arced toward the station as if pulled along by invisible cables.
His felt torn between allegiances. He understood that if Earth failed to do something soon, a major part, if not all, of its inhabitants would die. They were making gargantuan efforts to build space transports, exacerbating conditions on the planet’s surface.
Why couldn’t someone have seen where conditions were heading long ago and taken steps to prevent or mitigate this happening? For that matter, why was the AIB only now getting involved?
“Were you monitoring activities on Earth long ago?” asked Carlos, putting his concern into focus. “Why was Earth allowed to get into this current condition without intervention?”
“An unsuccessful surreptitious effort was made starting centuries ago,” replied the AIB, “but not directly by my intervention. There is another sentient species whose individuals spend most of their lives collecting and analyzing data about other sentient beings evolving in this galaxy, and some in adjacent galaxies. They are the Keepers, who have lifetimes that are several thousand of your years. They are very advanced technologically and mentally. They occasionally intervene when the local sentient species is heading down a path to selfdestruction or untimely extinction.
“Such was the case on Earth over two centuries ago, and intervention stimulated rapid advances in technology to support space travel and solar system colonization. This intervention also stimulated a resurgence of efforts to restore and maintain the planet’s natural environment. This was soon abandoned as more intense resource exploitation was required to feed your ancestors’ insatiable appetites for new and better material things. You have seen the results.”
Carlos wanted to ask where the AIB was then and why additional intervention on Earth did not occur, but this would not solve anything with respect to the current dilemma. He could sense the AIB had provided about as much information regarding this as it was going to.
Earth was in dire straits, but he had also come to know and care for the Zilan people, perhaps more than he wanted to admit. He shuddered to think of a large part of Earth’s population descending on Zilia. It was a good thing it would take decades for them to get there. That should give enough time for a solution to evolve to mitigate the impact on Zilia.
“That is not so,” came the thought from the AIB, which was monitoring Carlos’s rambling thoughts. “Earth’s scientists have developed more advanced propulsion systems that enable travel at very high relativistic velocities. Transit time would be about eighteen of Earth’s years with these propulsion systems, and faster with expected advances. And they plan on redirecting to Zilia transports now approaching the Messier Colony.
“It is ironic,” the AIB continued, “that your ancestors had the solution to so-called faster-than-light space travel two centuries ago and did not capitalize on it. A brilliant young physicist named Peter Stearns theorized a solution based on his research of the universal gravity field.
“Faster-than-light travel is indeed impossible in this universe’s observable dimensions. What Stearns postulated was in essence dimensional windowing through the many unobservable dimensions, a theory requiring application of very complex multidimensional mathematics to gravity well physics.
“When Stearns and his family mysteriously disappeared while under tight government security, other scientists attempted unsuccessfully to verify his theory. The scientific community soon debunked the theory. It is a very challenging problem, but now that Earth believes an alien race has this capability, they will eventually develop this mode of transport through space.”
“You keep coming back to the point that Earth could do one thing or another if allowed,” Carlos replied. “Are you planning on keeping Earth’s inhabitants locked in distress, or do you plan on changing their minds about coming to Zilia and have them head to another planet?”
“Carlos, your reasoning ability repeatedly demonstrates you were the right one for this important interchange. The goal is to cause Earth to select colonization of the planet New Earth as their hope for longterm survival. The plan is to accomplish this by making Zilia appear very uninviting for any near-term visits by other humans. That is what having you and your team brought aboard my vessel is all about.”
“Your plan could result in the death of a great number of Earth’s people,” Carlos mused thoughtfully, “and this is very distressing to me. And the alternative could result in the same occurring for the people of Zilia. It’s very difficult for me to sit in judgment as to which alternative is the best one considering both sides of the issue.”
“I am not asking you to do that. The move to an uninhabited planet will be very trying for Earth’s people, but they will be stronger and wiser as a race for achieving the transition. Be assured intervention will occur to the extent necessary to ensure the resources of New Earth are not exploited in the manner they were on Earth. And efforts will be initiated to reclaim Earth to near its former self, which will take several millennium to accomplish.”
“You claim to not be a god, but you are playing God in considering the choices between Earth and Zilia, and in dramatically influencing the future of both civilizations,” Carlos reflected.
“No intervention would take place if Earth had no suitable alternative,” the AIB answered directly and firmly. “The two civilizations would be allowed to merge, and intervention would occur at a different level to influence the integration of the civilizations in a manner where the Zilans would not be totally subjugated. This would be extremely difficult to achieve.
“But it is in the best interests of both civilizations to have each grow strong independently. In the near future, they must collectively face the looming threat by another extraterrestrial civilization whose home solar system is close by in this galaxy. This race is very aggressive and continues to expand rapidly into space. A future alliance between two strong, human civilizations will increase the probability that they will survive that common threat.”
Carlos sat quietly for several minutes, finally thinking of his old friend Dr. Stavonoski. There had to be many other good people on Earth. They would surely resist the wholesale domination of another race. He started to ask this question, and the AIB provided the answer.
“Do you remember Anchora Puchovi’s parting words, apologizing for what he had done to you? You have deep in your brain the means for Earth to galvanize support behind its planned initiative to dominate Zilia. Can you imagine the effect it would have if the leader of the Earth diplomatic team to Zilia was suddenly struck dumb by some alien technique at a crucial juncture in negotiations?”
The neural implant with its two probes inserted into his thalamus; so that was what Earth had in mind. He shuddered at the thought, and made his decision.
“I have reservations,” Carlos said, “but you have convinced me that Earth’s plan to colonize the planet Zilia must be changed. I hope this can be done whi
le minimizing the negative impact on the people of Earth. What role do you envision for me and the rest of the team?”
Instead of an answer, the scene near Earth faded into the shimmering surfaces of the compartment, and he was on the way back to the vessel near Zilia.
SEVENTEEN
FREE WILL
Carlos rested quietly back in the opaque compartment, mulling over what had transpired. The trip to Earth must have taken quite a while, but then, he wasn’t sure time meant anything in the AIB’s frame of reference. Any time reference he had was back on Zilia.
Carlos expected the AIB to ask him to reaffirm his support for the intervention plan, but he was becoming unsure since he did not know the plan details. Perhaps the entity was giving him time to assimilate the information provided and observations made during the trip to Earth.
Eve, are you monitoring my thought projections, my communications with the AIB? There was no response.
Carlos shook his head in bemusement. It was ironic that an advanced artificial intelligence system with a highly developed sentient perspective was maneuvering to restrict what the people of Earth could do. Early in the twenty-first century, Earth had expressly forbidden automated systems employing adaptive algorithms that could evolve to even a basic level of sentience. The fear that caused establishment of that law had now materialized.
The compartment walls began dissolving without warning, pulling him from his introspection. The walls simply melted away, while the floor and ceiling remained intact. He could see the others of his team nearby as the walls dissipated.
Carlos moved quickly to greet Gloria and held her in a long embrace. A general commotion began as the others greeted each other with hugs and pats on the back.
“I love you,” Gloria whispered as she tightened her arms around him. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“I love you,” he whispered back. “Having you here is more comforting than you know.”
They continued to embrace, and he noticed the other partners were also sharing special moments. They were all wearing the same style light-blue tunic and dark-blue trousers he was wearing. They even had on identical slippers.
