by Ira Tabankin
Chapter 7
Kalteck smiled, “Here is my next gift, open it. Your people need this information in order to modify your experimental aircraft attempting to break the sound barrier. The sound barrier is the first step you need to take in order to breach your atmosphere. I ask nothing in return for this information, only that you accept it knowing I am really here to help you survive. If these modifications aren’t made, the plane will go into an uncontrollable spin when it reaches the sound barrier.”
Everett slowly reached to the middle of the conference table where what looked like a blank piece of paper sat. “There’s nothing on this paper; it’s blank.”
“It is until you touch it. Go ahead, it won’t harm you.”
“If you had this, why did you need me to get you a notebook before?”
“Because I can’t allow this into your society until you’re ready for it. Remember, inserting advanced technology into your society before it’s ready for it could cause massive repercussions. Many will wonder if its technology or magic, those are discussions we don’t have time for.”
Everett reached for what he thought had to be magic paper, as he began to hold it up to look at, he was shocked that the blank paper began to fill in with formulas and writing. “Simple process of heat transfer from your body to the material you’re holding. It makes it impossible for anyone to look at papers on a desk they’re not supposed to see. Later, when you have advanced further, I will show you how to encode the paper so only the person you addressed it to would be able to read it. My writing instrument can also be tuned to only become visible to the person whose DNA has been programmed to receive it. I forgot you do not know what DNA is yet.”
Everett looked at the formulas and writing, “This says a modification has to be performed to our X-1’s engine, or it may stall when the pilot crosses the sound barrier. There’s some sort of air smoother in front of the engine? I wasn’t aware there were vibrations and stresses approaching and breaking the barrier.”
“There are many. Your craft is currently unprepared to survive the flight. Please send these in your own handwriting to your engineers, then we should discuss how we are going to advance your technology hundreds of years in less than one hundred. Your people have much to learn and to do if they are to succeed.”
“We do, and it’s going to be very difficult because if our people learned today that we were not alone in the universe; it would cause mass panic. Many believe we were created in our God’s image and we alone are his special creation.”
“The creator of all has brought forth life across the sky. Look up tonight at the mass of bright lights. Each is a star, almost all have planets orbiting them, and many of those planets are teeming with life. Most completely different from you or me, but it is life. How could any being look up while understanding those are stars like your sun and think you’re alone?”
“Many say it’s because those life forms haven’t visited us, so there’s no proof of life out there.”
Kalteck laughed, “We have listened to and seen the signals you sent out into space. I don’t think you realize every one of your radio and television broadcast antennas sends its signals into space where they travel across the stars at the speed of light. Most of the races who have faster than light drives have visited the Earth and decided there wasn’t anything of value here. Many came away thinking the best thing for the universe would be to either quarantine you or destroy you. Humans aren’t loved by most of the other races in the universe.”
“Why?”
“Have you ever taken a step back and looked at your people. I once thought my people were bad. We fought for a reason. We fought against tyranny. You fight for what most of us think is for sport. You kill for sport. You are cruel to each other. That’s not to say there isn’t war out there. In fact, there is more war than you can imagine. There is terror and bloodletting. There is pain and suffering. However, we don’t fight for sport.”
Everett sat across the table, stunned into silence. “I don’t know how to respond. I need to spend some time thinking about that. Right now, why don’t you give me a few minutes to transmit the information you supplied us to the test crew planning on breaking the sound barrier. I thank you for this information.”
“When you return, we should discuss our trip to meet Chairman Stalin, I have a feeling from speaking with him that he doesn’t trust your President or me. I am not sure how he is going to respond to you coming with me. He will most likely assume I have been corrupted by the Americans. We need to think this through very carefully.”
“You are correct in your feelings.”
“I suggest we travel in my pod. It will make an impression on Chairman Stalin and give you an idea of how far your people have to advance. I will handle the Chairman. Please follow my lead and do not interrupt me. Do not say anything unless I have asked you to speak…”
“The Chairman would see that as you are controlling us and thus, he won’t ever trust either of us. I suggest you allow me to speak. I am smart enough not to get us into a war with the Soviets.”
“I suggest you wear your new rank. I do not think a mere captain will impress Stalin. A general might.”
“Do you realize I’m not really a general yet? I was frocked by the President…”
“I am not familiar with that term, what does it mean?”
“Frocked means I can wear the rank, but I don’t get paid for the rank until the Senate approves…”
“Isn’t President Truman your Commander in Chief? Doesn’t he command the American military?”
“He is. However, we are a country of laws and he has to follow them the same as anyone else. In America, our Senate has to confirm promotions for general officers.”
“I understand, our ruling council approves our promotions to key ranks. I assume it’s a similar policy. In my society, the promotions are usually handled very quickly. How long does it take here?”
“I really do not know. I will wear my new rank. How long will it take us to fly to Moscow? Shouldn’t we prepare to leave? Should I tell the Chairman we need to postpone?”
Kalteck laughed a deep rumbling laugh which shook their beer bottles, “I will enjoy our time together. Our flight will take only forty minutes. We will fly a suborbital flight.”
“Wait! We’re going to fly into outer space? Oh, my God! Really?”
“It is the quickest way to travel from here to Moscow.”
“Will I need any special training for the flight?”
“Why would you need any special training to fly into space?”
“Will I need to get fitted for a spacesuit? Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m going to be the first man into space.”
Kalteck laughed, “Oh, you are so funny. I haven’t laughed so much or so hard in so many years. I am going to enjoy working with you. You don’t need any special training, that is unless you don’t know how to stand inside a lighted circle. You won’t require any special uniform or whatever a space suit is. Your normal uniform will be fine. I do suggest you wear your medals. From what I’ve seen of the Soviet officers, they are very fond of wearing their awards and medals on their uniforms. I understand that they like excess in their uniforms.”
“Do you have awards for your service? Do you have your own military uniform?”
“Ours a little different than yours. I will show you mine one day. Unlike you, we don’t wear them all the time. If you are ready, we will leave in ten hours, so get some sleep. Should we will meet back here?”
“Yes, where do you stay? Where do you sleep?”
“For now, I stay in my pod and sleep there too.”
“It looked a little small to hold a bed.”
“I will explain it to you when we are in the pod. I don’t sleep in the normal manner. I sleep in what you call a state of suspension.”
“I’m confused, what does that mean?”
“I will show you one day. You should go home and get some rest. I believe we’re going to have
a stressful meeting with the Chairman.”
“I can’t wait to fly it.”
“It flies us, as you will see. We are merely passengers for the trip. The AI will control everything. One last item, as you are a pilot, I assume you do not get airsick, am I correct?”
“Yes, never have. I enjoyed pulling high-g maneuvers. I liked it when we pulled 2 and 3 gs.”
Kalteck broke out laughing, “That is so funny. I can’t even figure out the words to express how funny what you just said was. I shall one day explain it to you in a way you will understand. I will ask the ship’s AI to give us an interesting flight profile.”
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Shortly after Kalteck and Everett left the President to begin working together, Truman quickly wrote up an action plan to begin changing the aviation and military of America. The first thing he did was to draft the National Security Act, which he ended up signing in July, which among its many provisions was one which stated that the soon-to-be established the United States Air Force “shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned.” This wording allowed the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps to retain their aviation forces upon the establishment of the independent Air Force in September 1947. Truman knew, based on his discussions with Kalteck, America needed to focus on aviation. And the best way to do so was to separate the air force from the army, which wasn’t happy to lose their air branch.
Truman also knew he had to begin increasing the air defense capability of the United States. He’d use the threat of Soviet nuclear-capable bombers to push for the development of surface to air missiles and anti-missile missiles. Truman asked his National Security Director to look into how to set up a national military office for advancing technology development.
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The shimmering pod silently launched vertically from Camp David. The pod quickly reached into outer space within moments of taking off. Everett was shocked at how quickly it rose and how smooth it flew. He remembered his flying. His fighter was loud, cramped, and was easily bounced around in the air. Everett looked around the pod, and the floor, which all had turned into monitors showing the ground fell away, and the ship rose above the curvature of the Earth. Everett asked, “I don’t feel weightless. I don’t feel any g forces and I don’t hear any engines. How is this possible? What drives this ship? How are we breathing? How did the walls and floor become some kind of screen? Cameras? How large are they? How are we flying without you touching anything? Who’s been talking to us? I thought we were the only two in the pod.”
Kalteck laughed, “I like you. I like inquisitive minds. This is a very good sign for the survival of your people. The pod is run by my AI…”
“You’ve used that term before, what is an AI?”
“It means artificial intelligence, AI, say hello to General Yahnig.”
“Hello General, it is my pleasure to meet you. I hope you are enjoying your short trip. I understand you’ve always wanted to go into space. I am going to do the following: first, I’m going to zoom my imagers on your moon which will fill the wall monitors and next, for an instant, I’m going to turn off the gravity generator which will put you in zero gravity for a moment so you can feel it.”
“Hello to you AI, do you have a name?”
“Kalteck simply refers to me as AI. Are you ready to experience zero-g? Here is comes…”
“Oh my God, I’m floating. Look at the moon, it’s so large and clear. I can’t believe this. I wish I could tell someone about it.”
Kalteck shook his head, “Everett, you know you’ll never be allowed to tell anyone about the pod, me, or going into space. You’ll never be able to tell anyone about being the first human in space. Someone else is going to take that title and you’ll have to allow it. You’re going to be much more valuable to me and to your people in your current position than trying to become a pilot of a spaceship. I will make it up to you, trust me. I have something in mind which will make you very happy.”
“I report to the President who has asked me to command the new agency. I am very proud he selected me and I’m over the moon excited to have gotten promoted so early and to have the opportunity to work with you and have a chance to help save the Earth.”
“Good, this makes me happy. We will be landing in three minutes. You won’t feel anything until we land.”
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The pod silently landed in front of the Kremlin which caused panic from the military guards who were charged with not allowing any unauthorized visitors. Five of the guards lost their lives when they opened fire on the pod and the automatic self-defense system returned fire. All five of the guards were vaporized, only their boots, burnt rifles, and small smoking patches of their uniforms remained. The wind blew their ashes across the Kremlin. There were small smoking holes where the guards used to be.
Two of Stalin’s personal guards rushed to the main plaza where they escorted Kalteck and General Yahnig to Stalin’s private office. One officer asked, “Is there a way you can hide your ship? We don’t want people talking about it.”
A moment later, the pod shimmered a pale yellow and disappeared, “It's still there, only it’s behind an optical shield that confuses your optic nerve. You, therefore, can’t see it. Keep away from it. If you touch the ship while it’s masked, it will burn your unprotected skin.”
Everett whispered, “I didn’t know you can make objects disappear. This is like magic.”
“Magic has nothing to do with it, its basic science. My science is so far ahead of yours that mine appears to be magic. It is the same across the universe, magic is usually nothing more than either an optical illusion or advanced technology.”
Stalin greeted them and told his guards, “Leave us and no interruptions. Forget everything you’ve seen and heard. If you don’t, the best you can expect is to be counting trees for the rest of your lives.” The guards swallowed, knowing the Chairman meant it. They didn’t want to be sent to Siberia and freeze to death, so they saluted, closed the large door to his small private office, and prayed Stalin would look kindly on them.
“So, you are the alien who came from Mars and is now here to help us, but you show up on my door with an American General? Why should I trust you when you bring my enemy here to my front door?”
Kalteck leered at Stalin, he replied, “You don’t have to trust me. General Yahnig and I will leave, and I’ll share my technologies with the Americans who will quickly zoom past you. If you think they are your enemy now, just wait until they are a generation or three ahead of you. I came in good faith. It appears you didn’t meet me with the same good faith. General, let’s leave, I don’t see any way the Chairman and I will be able to have a civilized discussion.”
Everett looked at Stalin, who was puffing his pipe and back at Kalteck, who said, “By the way, Mr. Chairman, smoking is very harmful to you and others around you. I find it very disrespectful of you to smoke in front of us without asking us if we minded…”
Stalin pounded his desk, “Do you know who I am?”
Kalteck smiled, knowing Stalin had taken his bait, “Yes, of course. You are the Chairman of the Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. You kill your own people. You rule with an iron fist and are proud of it. None of your advisors trust you. Most of your people are scared of you. Such a nation won’t succeed or last. I have seen it happen many times. I won’t counsel you on changing because I know it would be a useless conversation. You believe you know what is right for your people. As such, I will leave you with this thought, if you continue on your current path, you will be defeated by the Americans and then by my enemies. I suggest you give serious thought to what you want the future of the USSR, I believe that is the correct abbreviation of your country.” Kalteck looked at Yahnig, “Come, we might as well leave, this one is too thick-headed to know how to guide his country.”
Stalin pulled a pistol from his desk. Kalteck spoke without turning around, “Mr. Chairman, if you aim that toy at us, you will be vapo
rized before your finger could pull the trigger. Not only you, but I will lay waste to your country and not give it a moment’s thought. I will then assist the Americans to take what they want from your country, your technology, your factories, everything you stole from the Germans, so decide well because I mean every word, I just told you.” Kalteck whispered, “Chairman Stalin, does your head all of a sudden pain you? Do you feel the nanite I programmed to enter your brain? You don’t, you never will, but you will remember the pain, the pain which will one day, within five years cause you to fall over dead.”
Stalin’s head felt like it was going to explode, his hands rubbed his forehead, “I think we should start over; I may have acted too harshly,” said Stalin as he placed the pistol back in his desk drawer.
Kalteck turned around, “I am not one of your people that you can intimidate or order around. I came to assist the people of Earth. You will have to decide what’s more important to you, your ego, or the nation’s survival. I can assist both you and America or just America, which is easier for me. President Truman has already appointed this general to be my interface to the American government and industry. He has already begun putting plans into action. If we have to argue every time we meet, then it’s not worth the effort. There is too much to accomplish and not a lot of time to do it. I’m not sure the Earth can complete the giant leap that’s required in the time you have left unless both you and the Americans work together. You don’t have to trust each other. You can compete and continue your fighting through intermediaries.”
