Earth II - Emergence

by Ray Jay Perreault

  Mayor in NY, Staff Meeting

  Mondays were never Alan Hunt’s favorite days. When he was the director of social services for NY City, he always had problems with Mondays. There was something about them that hurt.

  Now that he was the Mayor of New York and in control of the island of Manhattan, he hated Mondays even more.

  The military tribunal held its trials on Fridays. Captain Dans and his men ran them with efficiency. He hated what had to be done, but law and order was the only way to survive. He tried to follow the older laws, but it was difficult. Society had devolved to a level where the priorities were to survive and to protect. His priority was to make the island safe for those who sought refuge. Then, he left the protect part up to Captain Dans. Hunt wasn’t comfortable with that arrangement. Like the others of his staff, he knew that Dans wasn’t a man to be trusted. But for the near term, he was the best one for the job. He had the stomach for it, and he got the job done.

  Hunt also knew that he would have to ‘resolve’ Dans someday. Today, he served a purpose, but tomorrow he might want more. That was a day that Hunt knew was coming and he would have to be the one who dealt with it. Dans’ small group of followers were another matter.

  Michael and Ruth go on Their Mission

  “Okay, now that we have a beacon on our visitors, we have more of a mission to accomplish. We’ll split up in teams and canvas the area. We’re looking for survivors or any gangs or significant damage to the infrastructure. We’ll meet back here in 4 hours. Any questions?”

  There wasn’t an immediate response until Ruth spoke up. “LL, we have another mission. It would be a good time for us to split off and see what we can do.”

  LL was a little nervous about members of his team with instruction from command that he wasn’t aware of. Yes, he was nervous, but the orders were from people above his pay grade.

  “Sarge, as I said before. Nothing that we’re doing will interfere with your mission,” pointed out Michael.

  “Okay, just stay out of trouble and stay away from our visitors.”

  “Will do, we’ll monitor the ops freq, and we should be back after mid-day.”

  Michael and Ruth picked up two large backpacks and found the two electric scooters that they had brought for the mission.

  They left quickly and the other on the team knew not to ask questions. Each part of the team had their mission and their orders. Working with other team members with different missions wasn’t too unusual. It put additional burdens on the team, but they had done it before.

  Michael and Ruth didn’t need to say much. They had dynamic maps in their comm gear which gave them specific direction to their destination. They weren’t headed for the Pentagon or any obvious part of the military. They were headed for a small office, in a discreet consulting company which was buried on the top floor of a nondescript building in Crystal City.

  Crystal City was home to many small, discreet companies. All of which had specific contracts. None of them knew of each other, but they all knew of the layer of highly classified programs that were run from either the Pentagon or Langley. Each was independent, well-funded, and SAR or Special Access Required.

  “Your destination is on your right,” the GPS tracker in their comm units said.

  “Here we are,” Michael added. “Let’s get in from the underground parking.”

  The first level of the parking garage looked more like a hotel lobby than an underground parking lot. There was a set of shiny glass and metal doors that had carpeting for the people who worked in the building. There was a small stand for the parking garage valet to marshal the cars that arrived and departed.

  Michael and Ruth took their small electric scooters through the doors and looked for a place to hide them near the exit.

  “Should be good here,” Michael pointed out.

  Ruth had her pistol out and was scanning the area while Michael put the scooters behind a corner.

  “Our target is on the fourteenth floor,” Michael mumbled and got no response from Ruth.

  They moved quickly to the elevators and were relieved to see that they still worked. “This makes it a lot easier,” Ruth pointed out under her breath, even though there was no one around.

  The ride to the fourteenth went quickly, and they exited the lobby into a plush reception area with a long mahogany desk with a prominent sign on the wall. “Blue Ridge Consulting,” was still lit up as if the receptionist had just left for a break.

  “Okay, we want area B-12,” Michael whispered.

  They left the reception area and were faced with a series of rooms — each with a safe vault door and large enough for perhaps a dozen workers. There were no names on the doors, just letters, and numbers. It was clear that even the workers on that floor didn’t need to know what was happening in rooms other than their own.

  “Here we go,” Michael said as he found the right door. To they dismay the heavy vault door was closed and the combination set. “Glad we brought our little match,” he added.

  Ruth gave him a concerned look. The match they had brought was a dicyanoacetylene torch, and they had never used anything like it before. All they knew was that they needed to take special precautions and that it burned extremely hot.

  “Will this do the job?” Ruth asked.

  “I’m told, it will burn between nine and ten thousand degrees. Should burn through these hinges like tearing paper.”

  Ruth still wasn’t comfortable with the device and the need for her to be at least 25 feet away.

  “I don’t like it either, but we’ve got to get in and get out,” Michael said as he reached down and removed his thermal suit from one of the backpacks.

  “Having to wear this thing, tells me that it’s going to get very hot, very quick,” he said with a reassuring smile.

  “Remember, I don’t want a hot dog for a husband.”

  “Trust me, neither do I.”

  “Help me close up the back of my suit, then move away and don’t look back until I tell you.”

  “Roger, to that. You may get cooked, but I don’t want to be blind,” Ruth said as she helped her husband fasten the back to the thermal suit.

  She patted him on the shoulder and moved away the prescribed distance and turned her back.

  When Michael lit the thing off, it didn’t sound too much different than a typical torch, but it did have a definite hiss.

  Even though it was daytime, the room lit up, and the wall Ruth was facing seemed to turn almost white as the colors were washed out by the bright lite of the torch.

  Within a very short time, she heard Michael, “Okay, that’s it. Get the crowbars.”

  They placed two crowbars near where each of the hinges used to be. Ruth knew better than to touch the metal. Parts of the hinge were still glowing from the heat.

  “Okay, on three. 1, 2, 3,” and they pulled on the bars, and the large door moved, rotated off the side where the lock was, then fell to the floor with a crash.

  “Good thing you weren’t under that,” Ruth said.

  “Got that right. Now help me out of this gear.”

  The thermal suit was lying on the floor in a few moments, and they went into the office space. For a second, they were surprised. Instead of a boring office with desks, it was a laboratory. It was full of scientific equipment and storage cabinets. There was only one cabinet that they were searching for. It was clearly marked, “Viral Inhibitor 234c.” It took only a few seconds to cut the security lock and pull out the vials of fluid.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Ruth said.

  CEO Of Izod Corporation

  Terrot’s flying vehicle descended and touched down on top of his command building. Even before the engines wound down one of his assistants ran across the open space and opened the door. Terrot slid out of the vehicle and walked across the roof. Terrot’s mind wasn’t on either his assistant or the vehicle; neither had any significance in his thoughts. His mind was occupied by the meeting that he was walking towards. Deci
sions must be made; actions must occur; results must be measured.

  When Terrot reached the edge of the landing pad, other assistants were waiting and formed a small group that he had to pass through. As he walked, they parted and were talking to him about projects, plans, and problems. He ignored all of them and kept walking.

  He entered the lift, and a few of his followers tried to fill the remaining space, but he waved his hand, and they knew better and didn’t enter.

  The lift descended while he took off his covering and when the door opened into the meeting room, there was another assistant to take it from him.

  All the attendees were already standing around the table at the positions they would be sitting.

  Terrot walked to his position at the end of the table and took a sip from the glass of steaming Lor root that had been placed at his seat. The bitter taste of the liquid felt good as it went down. He took his time looking around the table while he sipped.

  He remained standing while the other attendees endured his gaze. When he was satisfied, he sat; then they were allowed to sit.

  Chevesky Surrounded by Terest

  “Captain Herl there are five Terest ships within one light minute of our location. Apparently, they have received your transmission, as they are changing their trajectories towards us,” said Beta-1.

  “Transmit the same message again.”

  “Captain it has been transmitted,” responded Beta-1.

  “Continue our vector and keep our distance from their ships. I don’t want them to be able to use their weapons on us,” said Captain Herl.

  As the standoff continued, Joan Herl sat in her command chair and wondered what the best options were. Attacking five of the Terest ships was out of the question, she could do damage to them and probably take one or two out, but they would eventually win, and the Chevesky would be destroyed.

  “Captain, if I may remind you, they don’t know what your offensive capabilities are. The entire earth fleet is an unknown to them,” pointed out SIMPOC.

  “SIMPOC, do you think they know about the attack on the Izod ship?”

  “I received no indications of a transmission during the attack. Their ship’s destruction occurred quickly, and perhaps as a surprise to them. This current ship alignment shows that they in a defensive position, but not one where they are planning an imminent attack. This ship orientation may indicate they were aware of their ship coming to our solar system, but because it didn’t return, they may be unsure of the result of that encounter,” said SIMPOC.

  Joan took a deep breath and smiled; apparently, she needed to change her approach.

  “Transmit the following message to them.”

  “Terest ships, this is Captain Joan Herl. I have come on a peaceful mission. I do not want to destroy your ships. I have come to talk. If you do not respond to my transmission, I will be forced to attack you. Let me remind you, you entered my solar system and attacked a ship that we were communicating with. Your ship was destroyed because of that attack. I don’t want to destroy others. Respond immediately.”

  “Captain, the five ships have changed their vectors. They are now paralleling our course, and no longer on intercept trajectories,” said Beta-3.

  “We are receiving a transmission,” said Beta-5.

  “This is Captain Veenor. I’m transmitting coordinates to your ship. We shall meet there and talk.”

  “SIMPOC did you receive the coordinates?” Asked Captain Herl.

  “Yes, I have, it will take us 42 minutes to reach that point in space if we begin decelerating now,” responded SIMPOC.

  “Okay, if I come to a stop to meet with them? Then it will take a great deal for us to accelerate and exit the system. If they attack us, then we will be forced to fight them.”

  “That is correct, but it’ll be a show of confidence for us to trust them,” responded SIMPOC.

  “Okay tell them we will maneuver to that location in space, and we will meet with one of their ships. I want the other ships out of the vicinity.”

  Meeting with Veenor

  “Captain, we are approaching the single ship, and the others have continued to move from our location. If we slow to meet with the single ship, we’ll have enough time to accelerate and leave the area before any of the other ships pose a risk,” announced Beta-3.

  “Thanks,” Joan responded. “SIMPOC what do think?”

  “Captain, it appears to be the same ship that we encountered when we met with the Terest the first time. It is stationary in space. Let me remind you that we know very little about their weapons and propulsion. The sparse data that we recorded during our first encounter was inconclusive.”

  “That is true SIMPOC, but as you pointed out, they also know nothing about our capabilities.

  “Captain, we are within shuttle range, shall I prepare to launch our shuttle?” Beta-2 asked.

  Joan looked at SIMPOC and shrugged, “Might as well go talk to them,” she said.

  “Beta-Prime, you’re in charge of the Beta units on the ship while we’re gone. Please respond to Dr. Shappel,” directed Joan.

  “Captain, what happens if we’re attacked?” Dr. Shappel asked, with a note of concern in his voice.

  “Beta-Prime is familiar with all of the Chevesky’s systems and weapons. We’ll have to leave it up to him.

  The shuttle ride and landing within the Terest ship went as it did during their first encounter. SIMPOC was piloting the shuttle, and Joan sat back, watching and remembering that her husband Tom piloted it the last time. The thoughts made her sad and worried. Would she see him again? Was he still alive? she thought.

  She had to get herself under control, deal with the situation at hand and worry about Tom later.

  Joan and SIMPOC didn’t talk during the final approach and landing, nor did they talk as the Terest escort met them at the shuttle. The walk into the meeting room was the same as before, and the silence seemed to weigh heavily on Joan’s thoughts.

  When they entered the meeting room, it was set up like it was during the first meeting, but the room was empty. Joan and SIMPOC looked at each other and suspected that the Terest were following the old political method of making people wait, hoping to make them uncomfortable. It didn’t bother Joan, and she suspected that it would have no effect on SIMPOC. After all, a computer can wait a long time.

  Joan sat at the table, and SIMPOC stood behind her. The delay continued, and many thoughts were going through Joan’s mind. I asked for this meeting, but they’re playing games.

  “SIMPOC, we’re leaving,” Joan announced in a loud voice. She rose, turned and stepped briskly towards the door. The two guards that had escorted them in didn’t know what to do. They acted confused as the huge robot and human approached them. Just as they were moving aside to let them pass, the door in the rear of the meeting room entered, and the Terest entered.

  Joan stopped but didn’t turn around.

  “Captain Herl, I’m sorry that we kept you waiting,” Veenor announced through the ship’s communication system.

  Slowly Joan turned around and stared at the Commander with a blank stare.

  “Captain, please be seated,” Commander Veenor said again.

  “Commander, is this the way that the Terest treat their friends?” Joan asked with a cutting tone.

  Commander Veenor was a little taken back by her bluntness. He hesitated before responding.

  “Captain, ‘friends’ carries many meanings in our language.

  “Also, in ours,” Joan said as she reached the table and stood to look the larger Terest squarely in his eyes.

  He isn’t used to dealing with a female in a position of strength, SIMPOC thought to her.

  He’ll get used to it, she thought back.

  “Commander there is much we need to talk about, I suggest that we begin,” Joan said as she pulled out a chair and sat down, leaving the Commander standing.

  Commander Veenor’s eyes opened a little, and his nostrils flared as he pulled out a chair and
sat down.

  “Captain Herl, your arrival in our solar system, is a surprise,” said Veenor with a little bit of a snarl.

  He appears to detest weakness; I suggest you show a strong face, passed SIMPOC to Captain Herl through their connection.

  Joan Herl sat for a second staring back at the larger the Veenor. She took a deep breath, then said in a clear voice, “you sent a ship in our system, and it attacked a ship we were meeting with, explain yourself. It was destroyed during the attack.”

  Venoor’s response was hesitation, which may have indicated that he wasn’t positive that their attacking ship had been destroyed. Hearing it for a second time reinforced the possibility.

  “You were meeting with the Izod; they are enemies of the Terest. We sent a ship to investigate,” said Veenor with a little bit of emphasis.

  “We are not your enemies. We will meet with whom we please,” responded Joan as she starred at Venoor.

  Quickly SIMPOC passed to Joan; they might not know what happened to their ship.

  “The ship that we sent to investigate your meeting has not returned.”

  Honesty and directness might be our best approach, passed SIMPOC to Joan.

  “Your ship entered our system and attacked us and the ship we were meeting with. Your ship was destroyed. It was hostile, and we were forced to defend ourselves. If another ship enters into our system and attacks us, we will do the same.”

  That was direct, passed SIMPOC.

  Veenor’s reaction was a little unusual. His eyes opened, and his breath quickened it was obvious that he was searching rapidly for a response.

  “You destroyed our ship?”

  “Yes, we did.”

  The two representatives sat and stared at each other, neither moving and hardly blinking.

  “Our ship was sent to observe. It wasn’t instructed to attack you.” Venoor responded with some hesitation.

  “During battles, objectives change,” Joan responded. “We will consider that a lack of communication caused that confusion, and we are willing to leave our relationship with the Terest as it was,” Joan offered as a minor concession.