Earth II - Emergence

by Ray Jay Perreault

  He passed through the front gate with a salute from the guard, and after a few turns, his car made the final turn onto the ramp between a couple of hangers and arrived at his destination.

  The two spaceships looked alien, yet they were his. That fact made them more like friends than enemies. They were two beautiful craft that would launch the future of the people of China.

  “Are these vehicles ready,” Keung asked the frightened Sergeant that met him.

  “Yes, general. They are all set, and the troops are loaded. Each craft has twenty of your finest troops. They have been trained, and they are also ready. Just as Chang promised you.”

  “Excellent. Tell the pilots that I’m ready to depart.”

  “Yes, General,” the small man responded.

  General Keung surveyed the two craft as he walked towards them. The craft on his right was already closed, and two of his soldiers were standing at attention by the open door of his vehicle.

  The two craft were nondescript. They didn’t look like airplanes or flying saucers. The thought of them being flying saucers allowed him a small smile. They were more like two airplane fuselages with no wings or tails. Their colors were hard to describe. In some ways, the colors seemed to change as he walked towards them and the angle of the lighting changed. They were dark, but not black. They had reflections, but not really. They looked hard and metallic but not solid. Truly strange vehicles, he thought.

  There was no sound, but there was a feeling. He could feel the power and a tingle on his skin.

  Intel showed that the Americans didn’t have that many people in their Earth Defense Force. Allowing the term ‘Earth Defense Force’ to pass through his thoughts reminded him of the lunacy of some people. How could the Americans defend Earth without his people, his nation?

  Once he met up with the Lieutenant’s team, the world would change. He would be in charge, and the leadership of China and the Eastern Alliance would recognize his leadership. Once the President of the United States was dealt with, there would be a power vacuum, and he would be the one to fill it.

  They saluted as he boarded the alien craft and the doors closed.

  General Quiang figures out Keung’s plans

  General Quiang walked out of the planning council meeting and wondered why General Keung wasn’t there. He wasn’t satisfied with the weak explanation for Keung’s absence by his assistant. He was up to something, he thought. The quote from Sun Tzu flashed in his mind, “To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.” What is he up to?

  Quiang motioned to his assistant Colonel Liu Jianguo. “Jianguo, follow Keung’s assistant. I want to know where he goes. Also, inform my guard squad that I need them,” directed the general.

  General Quiang was responsible for the remnants of the Chinese Navy, but he also had some ground forces. After the virus, it was clear that he needed good men who supported him to be close. There were some of his contemporaries that didn’t see that need quickly enough, and they disappeared. Some people disappeared due to the virus and others because of past grudges.

  The three trucks of Marines that comprised Quiang’s Guard Squad had simple orders. Enter the special forces base that General Keung was using and bring it under General Quiang’s control. He suspected that Keung wouldn’t be there and once Quiang had it under control and depending on what he found out he would decide what to do about Keung. Given the nature of politics after the virus, Quiang didn’t feel threatened by the government, but he did feel threatened by people like Keung. Now would be time for him to act.

  General Quiang was in the armored vehicle that trailed the three trucks of marines. He followed at a safe distance, but he wanted to be close enough to observe. He expected some resistance, but he knew that he had the superior force.

  After 30 minutes of sporadic gunfire, General Quiang got the ‘all-clear’ message, and he entered the front gate. About a dozen of Keung’s were lined up along one wall with their hands up, and six of the General’s men were guarding them. He wasn’t interested in the military members that were captured; he was interested in the civilians that were supporting Keung. They would have the answers.

  One person, in particular, was the focus of his attention.

  “Bring that man, I want to talk with him,” he directed.

  The man he identified was physically separated from the others and marched at gunpoint through a near doorway. The guards were rough with and pushed him in front of them.

  Once inside and the door was closed.

  “Lou, what’s happening?” The General asked his informant.

  The man had all the information that Quiang needed.

  “Perhaps you need to scream once or twice before you go outside. I’m sorry, but we’ll need to make it look good,” he nodded to one of his guards and Lou knew what to expect. The General turned and left.

  A quick tour of the facility and a few minutes with some of the key workers who were, after a little persuasion, more than willing to tell him everything he needed to know and to confirm what his inside man told him.

  Lieutenant Lee and the President

  “Chang, what is your status,” Lieutenant Lee asked with a definite edge in her voice.

  “Lieutenant, the more frequently you ask for my status, the less effective my efforts will be,” responded Chang while he stood facing the lieutenant with his hands on his hips.

  “Chang, I don’t care about your issues. You have made a commitment to General Keung, and I also have. Your performance impacts my mission, and I will not fail. Is that clear?”

  The standoff was getting tense, and Lieutenant Lee unhooked the clip on the revolver that she had on her left hip.

  “Lieutenant, you can threaten me, and you can have your men attack me, you can even report me to the General. Regardless of the option that you apply, my task won’t go any faster.”

  The two frustrated people stood, facing each other. Neither wanting to show deference to the demands of the other.

  Finally, Change responded, “Lieutenant, we are on schedule for this evening. I have approximately 8,000 mobile units moving towards the President’s location. Not all of them will arrive at the same time, as they are spaced out over 500 miles. There are 353 units in his immediate vicinity, and they are moving into position. They will be where you need them when you arrive. Are you satisfied?” Change asked with a final glare into the Lieutenant’s eyes.

  “Yes, I am satisfied. Have the units that are accompanying me been programmed?”

  “Yes, I have just completed their program. They have been loaded and will follow the hand-held device that I gave you. I am done, and now it is your turn to satisfy the General. My work is complete, and now it is up to you. Any failure from this point on will be yours.”

  Lieutenant Lee stood for a minute, staring at the obstinate little man.

  “In that case, I’ll save you the worry,” she pulled her revolver and put a nice three-shot grouping in the man’s chest.

  Okay, now it’s my time, Lieutenant Lee thought.

  “Everyone get ready, I want to be in the air on schedule.

  President Moves Back to the Capitol

  Sergeant Lenmore, Secret Service Agents Michael Dereaux, and Ruth Minor stood at the East Entrance of the United States Capitol building. Sergeants Dominiques, Bainbridge, O’Neil and Morgan stood as the color guards holding American flags. Beta-Zero, stood off to one side, watching the human ceremonies.

  The fall day was typical of Washington. The leaves had already fallen, but the cold winter wetness hadn’t settled in yet. The breeze was brisk, and the sun was warm.

  They were waiting. They weren’t dressed in formal clothes, but they at least put on the best uniforms that they could find. There was no ceremony planned or throngs of press people surrounding them. There was no group of dignitaries trying to get their pictures taken. There weren’t any helicopters in the sky or security people lining the streets. There was just a small group of people waiting for a small moto
rcade.

  “Here they come,” Michael announced when he saw the first SUV turn the corner on 1St Street SE. It was followed by another dozen vehicles. They were going slowly, but they had a purpose about them. The occupants were likely looking around and taking in the events. Their arrival was momentous, but hopefully uneventful.

  The first two vehicles passed where LL and his team were standing, and they stopped. The third vehicle slowed and stopped in front of the small group.

  A sole person from the second vehicle jumped out and ran back, carrying a portable video camera to record the event.

  “Attention,” Sergeant Lenmore announced in the clear voice of a military man giving a command.

  The door opened and the President of the United States, Arnold Patterson stepped out. He briefly looked around, then returned the salute.

  “Thank you, Sergeant,” he said to LL.

  The man with the camera filmed the arrival. Then out of respect for the event, he was witnessing he stopped for a moment and saluted. Then he moved into a position in front of the President to capture his remarks.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen. This is a huge day in our history. All of us have endured unimaginable loss. We as people and us, as a nation have lost loved ones. We have also lost our identities and national boundaries. Now is the time for all of the remaining humans to work together and help to build our futures.

  We have decided to move the United States Government back to Washington D.C. We have also teamed up with others from many countries to work together for our mutual futures. The Russian Navy has worked with us for our mutual defense, and portions of the Asian Alliance have joined us and is working with our Australian friends and us. We are also working with people from Europe and South America.

  Now is the time for people of all nations, nationalities, religions, and cultures to work together. We are no longer separated by anything but distance. We all must share in our mutual survival.

  As you all may know the alien society that invaded Earth gave Earth a huge number of resources that will help us to repair our world, defend ourselves and help us to become space travelers. We are working with all survivors to help us use the resources the aliens gave us.

  Now that the United States has moved its leadership to Washington, we are hoping that this move will be the beginning of Earth’s new phase.

  Please join with me to help create Earth’s future.”

  President Patterson waved to the few people who were applauding, and then he ascended the Capitol steps.

  Eddy, the president’s chief of staff grabbed the photographer’s attention and walked towards him.

  “Paul, did you get everything?”

  “Sure did. I wish I could have transmitted it live, but we just don’t have all the pieces set up. It will take me the rest of the day to get back to the studio and get it ready for transmission tomorrow.”

  “That’s fine. Let me know if you have any problems,” Eddy pointed out as he patted his friend on his back as they went their separate ways.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Lieutenant Lee sat in the cramped craft. It was her first time in the vehicle, and it unsettled her. Flying in an airplane was part of her job but flying in an alien craft was out of her box. She had a mission to accomplish, and she forced that to be the most important thought in her mind.

  As Lieutenant Lee looked around the cramped interior Sergeant Lou was the only other human. He was seated on the other side of the vehicle, and he looked as unsettled as she. The remainder of the occupants were the mobile units with their programming restrictions removed.

  The other members of her team were spread out through the other vehicles, and she wouldn’t see them until they landed, and the mission began.

  Normally the flight from Florida to the President’s location would take a couple of hours in a commercial airliner, but these alien craft had one thing going for them, they were fast. The ships would make the flight in about one hour, and land where she needed.

  Lieutenant Lee and her team of loyal special forces, along with the armed mobile units had a key part in General Keung’s plan. A perimeter needed to be set up, so the General could confront the president. What he was going to do to the man, was not Lee’s concern. That was up to him. Her job was to give him the time to do what he needed.

  Lieutenant Lee glanced at her communicator. The satellite connection gave her current information, and she was happy to see that the General was on schedule. Her job was to land at 15 minutes before the hour; then the General would land on the hour. The 15 minutes would give her time to use the armed mobile units to set up the perimeter and take care of any threats. The thousands of mobile unit approaching the location would create confusion and a diversion from their landing.

  Then, when the General received her ‘all-clear’ signal he was going to land at the President’s location. If Lee’s part of the plan went quietly, then the General would be able to surprise the President in his residence, and there would be only a few people to deal with.

  Lieutenant Lee took the time to close her eyes and imagine the world that General Keung would create. She shared the same vision as he, and once the Chinese people had control, they could begin to run the world in the only way that made sense, the Chinese way. Their history said that they were destined to be the rulers and the virus has given them a chance.

  Lieutenant Lee smiled and closed her eyes. She easily imagined how she would deal with the ‘westerners’ in her way. For too long, they had run the world their way. Now it was time to run the world her way. General Keung had already assured her that she would have a position of trust and control. She would have absolute power, to impose the ‘right way to do things.’ Maybe the General would let her have the Western part of the United States to rule. After her years at Stanford, it would be an amazing pay-back for the treatment she had received as a student. Now would be the time to show them that she should have received that scholarship for her doctorate in Eastern Studies.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  General Keung didn’t like the ‘things’ that he was traveling with. The alien ships that made up his part of the plan were loaded with the robotic-things that Chang had programmed before he left. They just sat there and remained dark. Keung was fortunate though and had assigned all his key people to ride in the vehicle with him. There were only six of those things on his supply ship. The other ships were loaded with them.

  General Keung glanced at his comm unit and was pleased that nothing went wrong for Lieutenant Lee and her part of the plan. The time was coming for him and his people to gain control of the world that they should have been in charge of for thousands of years. Their destiny had been denied them, but now it would be theirs.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The countdown timer on Lee’s comm unit showed one-minute to landing. She waved at her Sergeant on the other side of the vessel. He acknowledged it and completed checking his equipment. Her count-down continued, and at the precise time, she felt the alien craft jolt as it landed. Almost instantly, the rear door began to open, and Lee was on her feet. The mobile units near the door were activating and the instant the door was open they began to file out. Those on the right turning to the right and those on the left were turning to the left. Lieutenant Lee stood at the door, looking at her troops while she surveyed the area. She had been told that the craft was almost silent when it landed, so she was assuming that her presence wasn’t known.

  The other ships had landed at key points around the residence, and the other mobile units should be moving towards her location. The plan was for all of them to join forces and establish a perimeter around the president. If her landing wasn’t noticed by any troops in the area, then her part of the first phase of the mission might go quickly and easily. In a way part of her wanted action. She would rather prefer a wall of bullets, and maybe even a little blood. Then she would feel like she earned the victory.

  The mobile units converging on their location should kee
p any local troops occupied. They’ll spend their time looking outward and not pay attention to what was happening behind them.

  After six minutes, her communicator buzzed, and her other team members indicated that the circle of armed mobile units had connected the perimeter, and all was set for the next step in the plan.

  Lieutenant Lee smiled and took a deep breath as she sent the ‘all-clear’ message to General Keung.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  “All-Clear,” General Keung read from his communicator. He smiled. Now it was his turn. His landing would be quick; he would move into the president’s quarters quickly, taking care of any guards, then the man who used to be the most powerful man in the world would be his.

  Everything had gone so easily, and it almost wasn’t fair. The Americans never saw his robot army coming. They weren’t prepared for it, and now General Keung wanted to be present to watch the final event. The murder of the President of the United States. It was now time, for he and the Chinese people to take their place and rule the planet. That had been their destiny.

  He knew that killing the president wouldn’t really mean much. There was little of the old world left and having one dead president would be of little consequence. But, General Lee and the Chinese people, would appreciate the symbolism. The people of the world would also see its significance and know that China was now in charge.

  General Keung’s craft landed a jolt, and all the robotic devices came alive instantly. Keung knew, not to get in their way, but to stand back and let them leave the vehicle. The purpose was for protection. His protection They were going to set up an impenetrable circle near the president’s residence. Lieutenant Lee was too far away to protect Keung. She was there to make sure they weren’t surprised. The robotic units with Keung weren’t programmed to kill the president, that was going to be Keung’s personal job.