Shroud of Doom

by William Manchee

  Chapter 32

  Hope for the Future

   

  On the way back to Liehn, Artis connected with Threebeard and told him what had happened. He was upset and promised to call Baldrige and try to talk some sense into him. When she arrived at Liehn she went straight to the nanomite cube and explained what had happened.

  “Why do the humans allow Bruda to live,” the Speaker asked. “If he acts detrimental to the human race, he should be killed. We don’t allow individual swarmmasters to do what they want. Everyone must act in concert with the collective will.”

  “But how do you determine the collective will?” Artis asked.

  “The swarmmasters confer and discuss the situation until a consensus is reached.”

  “But doesn’t that take time?”

  “No. Since we all have the same goal, the welfare of the swarms, most decisions are obvious and there is nothing to argue about.”

  “Yes, but it is much more complicated for humans. Humans often have different personalities, values and objectives, so it’s easy for conflicts to arise.”

  “Is there anything you think we should do?” the Speaker asked.

  “Yes, you need to warn the other swarmmasters about Bruda and his intentions. They need to know what he is capable of doing. Can you do that?”

  “Not without getting close to them. Our communication ability is instantaneous, but we have to be within a kylod or so of the other nanomites swarmmasters.”

  “Do you think the other nanomite smarmmasters will talk to Rupra Bruda if he tries to connect with them?”

  “They might if he has as strong a gift as you and Threebeard. Some human’s thoughts are so weak we cannot hear them very well.”

  Artis sighed. “I’ve been told he has a strong gift. So, they might hear him.”

  “Can you go to the other sites and warn our brothers?” the Speaker asked.

  “I guess that’s what I’ll have to do.”

  “Do you think Bruda would try to harm any of us?”

  “I don’t think so. Central Authority wants the building projects to go forward. It wouldn’t make sense for him to harm you. He just wants to control you.”

  “Then there is probably nothing to worry about. We’ll be alright, Artis. You’ve done all you can to help us. Now it is up to God what happens.”

  “I hope God can protect you. I’m so worried.”

   

   

  During the night following Artis sudden departure from the science lab, Bruda had a fumigation tent placed over the new warehouse. Fumigation tents were used to eradicate rodents and insects that had so infested a building that ordinary spraying techniques weren’t effective. Bruda figured this would work well enough to rid the building of its nanomite population. The job was done at night so nobody at the lab would know that a mass murder had taken place right under their noses. Since nobody was left at the lab who could speak to the nanomites there, Bruda was sure his secret would be safe. The Nanomite swarms were asleep when the toxic gas began invading the structure of the building.

  “Swarmmasters. A strange fabric is being constructed on all sides and over the top of our warehouse,” a sentry advised. “We just noticed it while we were securing the perimeter for the night.”

  “Who has placed it there? And for what purpose?” the Speaker asked.

  1“Six men are just finishing putting it in place and are now sealing the corners. I don’t know what the purpose is but I have a bad feeling.”

  “Artis warned us about this human named Bruda. He is a murderer,” the Speaker recalled. “Perhaps we can flee through the foundation.”

  “Yes, Speaker, but I don’t think we will have much time.”

  “We will commence evacuation now. It is our only option.”

  As the evacuation commenced the swarmmasters complained bitterly amongst themselves. “The humans are evil, we should never have trusted them...What can we do?...Evacuation will take too long...There isn’t time to get everyone out of the building...They must plan to kill us...A toxic gas, no doubt...But why would they do this?...Because they want to enslave us like they did the Seafolken...But Artis wouldn’t allow it?...Artis is probably dead...Yes, if they kill us our nanomite brothers won’t know of the danger they are in...I smell something...Yes, it has begun...It is very bitter...It’s making me sick...Oh, God! Save us...We must escape!...I can’t feel my feet...What’s happening to me?...You’re dying brother, just like the rest of us...Oh! My arms and legs feel so heavy...I can’t see...Why is this happening? We were trying to help the humans, why would they betray us?...The humans are evil...They kill for sport...We were foolish to trust them...They will pay for their treachery.”

   

   

  Artis tried to make good on her promise to warn the other nanomite swarms about Rupra Bruda and the Purists, but much to her despair Central Authority would not allow her access to them. They told her she had done much damage to the program and they couldn’t let her disrupt their efforts any further. When she complained to Threebeard he attempted to persuade Baldrige and Central Authority to allow her access, but his requests were flatly rejected.

   

   

  Once the details of the Tarizon Repopulation Project had been agreed upon the difficult task of implementing it began. Because of the enormity of the task it was decided that most of the delegation would stay on Earth to help the CIA with the necessary preparations for the arrival of the first hundred thousand guests. Since Rammel knew that Commander Brunns had his own agenda on Earth he decided to stay and send Brunns back to Earth to present the accord to the Chancellor and the World Assembly. Brunns wasn’t happy about this turn of events but there was nothing he could do about it since Rammel out ranked him.

  This left Commander Kulchz, as the highest ranking Purist on Earth, with the task of planning Phase One of Operation Conquest Earth—the forcible overthrow of the U.S. government in order to pave the way for the arrival of twenty million settlers from Tarizon. It would be Kulchz job to make this happen and he had roughly two cycles to get it done.

  Of course, Rammel knew of the Purists agenda due to Aerial Muri’s spying, but there wasn’t much he could do about it other than keeping a close eye on Kulchz and his extra-curricular activities. In order to make sure Threebeard and Loyalist leaders on Tarizon got the complete picture of what was happening on Earth, he sent Aerial back there with Commander Brunns. He knew she could connect with Threebeard telepathically and he thought it was more important for her to be on Tarizon providing intelligence on Videl Lai and his cohorts rather than on Earth where her unique skills would be wasted.

  As a further precaution against Kulchz’ activities Rammel decided to advise Mo of the threat. He did it at Mo’s office at Langley on the day before Earth Shuttle 26 was about to takeoff on its return trip to Earth.

  “Thank you for agreeing to meet,” Rammel said.

  “It’s always a pleasure, Mr. Ambassador, but I was a little surprised you didn’t bring this up at our last joint meeting.”

  “Yes. Well, what I’m going to tell you is off the record, as you say here on Earth.”

  “Off the record?”

  “Yes, I’m going to tell you something about our political situation on Tarizon since it impacts the TRP.”

  “Okay.”

  “As you may have observed there is some tension between members of our delegation.”

  “Yes, you and Commander Brunns don’t always see eye to eye.”

  “Yes, that is because he is a Purist and I am a Loyalist. It’s like being a Republican and a Democrat here on Earth except the stakes are higher due to the crisis we are in.”

  Mo nodded.

  “We have told you about our Supreme Mandate which is similar to your Constitution. The difference between the situation here and on Tarizon, is that everyone on Earth supports the Constitution. I don’t think I have heard anyone say they wanted to abolish it.”

  �
��No. It’s the framework of our political system and everyone is sworn to defend it.”

  “Well, on Tarizon even though the Purists have sworn to uphold the Supreme Mandate, their real goal is to abolish it. They think that due to the crisis Tarizon faces, all civil liberties should be abolished and martial law be imposed on the population.”

  “Really. I didn’t know that.”

  “It’s true and you need to understand that in dealing with Kulchz and the other Purists who will be staying on Earth. I will try to keep him in line, but he is like a snake and I can’t guarantee I will be successful.”

  Mo took a deep breath. “What do you think he will be doing?”

  “The Loyalist want to bring all 20 million citizens to Earth, so he will be soliciting support among your people to allow that. He’s already been spreading around gold and diamonds to your military officers in hopes of gaining their loyalty and support.”

  “What? He’s bribing U.S. military personnel?”

  “Yes, absolutely.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I have my spies. I will give you a full report.”

  “Yes. Do that. We can’t have that kind of thing going on. It could subvert the entire program.”

  “But now that you know about it, perhaps you can enlist a few of your own spies so you will know what Kulchz and the Purists are up to.”

  Mo shook his head slowly. “Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ll look into it.”

  “Please don’t tell the Ambassador or the President about this. I don’t want them to kill the accord. We must move forward as planned. I’m sure between you and I we can control the Purists.”

  “Okay. You’re probably right and neither I or General Stout want anything to jeopardize getting the technology we have agreed upon.”

  “No, I wouldn’t think so.”

  “Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Mr. Ambassador.”

  Rammel nodded and then got up to leave. “So, I will see you tomorrow for the take off.”

  Mo stood and smiled. “Yes, I’m anxious to see your ship.”

  “I’ll give you a personal tour. It’s quite extraordinary.”

  “I can imagine. I can’t wait.”

  Mo escorted the Ambassador out of the building where a limo was waiting to take him back to his suite. He was ambivalent about leaving. He was anxious to see his wife and children and bring them to New York since, for security reasons, he hadn’t seen them in six months. They hadn’t dared go back to the ship for fear someone would follow them. But he was also a bit sad to have to say goodbye to Ensign Muri. Although he’d remained faithful to his mate, he had fallen in love with her and it had taken all his strength and will power to resist her. Fortunately, she had respected his situation and, except for a little flirting for show, hadn’t pressured him to do anything compromising. He knew it was a good thing she was leaving as Petrina would sense his feelings if all three of them were in the same room.

   The next day Rammel and the delegation led Mo, General Stout, the Ambassador, and several of their aides out to where Earth Shuttle 26 was buried. Captain Shilling and her crew came out of the main hatch to greet them. It had been agreed that there would be no personal cameras at the site as what pictures were to be made would be kept by the CIA at Langley.

  Rammel and Lt. Sincini took Mo, the Ambassador and General Stout on a tour of the shuttle. They toured the bridge, the engine room, galley, and sleeping chambers. They were particularly interested in the FTL drive and Lt. Sincini’s brief explanation as to how it worked.

  While the touring was going on, Captain Shilling and the crew assisted those who were staying on Earth with their personal belongings and said their goodbyes. Commander Brunns and Ensign Muri reported back to the ship and got settled in their quarters. Since there were so few returning to Tarizon, Commander Brunns and Ensign Muri elected not to travel in the sleeping chambers but to remain awake on the long journey home.

  When it was time for the shuttle to leave Rammel led everyone to the perimeter of the meadow to watch the ship take off. At the appointed hour the ground began to rumble as the ship began to rotate and screw itself out of the ground. A cloud of dust rose as the ship began to gradually rise out of its subterranean home. Rocks and dirt were spit outward forcing the observers to turn away to protect themselves from flying debris. When the ship had cleared the ground it rose quickly in the air and shot upward through the clouds. Rammel watched it disappear and wondered if there was any way they’d be ready when fifty spacecraft just like Earth Shuttle 26 came back in just two short years with a 100,000 passengers.