by Paul Phipps
“I’m trying to. It appears to be a copy of a copy of a copy of another document. This part here though is unambiguous, ‘We have arrived, the journey was difficult and most of us who started out did not arrive alive. All thanks to ##### who led us. The demon won’t feast on our children any longer.’
It’s very strange to me. Journey from where to where? This demon, the writing reads like it is a real manifestation. And it ate their children.
What do you think, Huang?”
“You’re right Greg, that’s how I translate it too. Are they giving thanks to the Anunaki?” Were there any more tablets with this one?”
“George says that the ground penetrating radar found two more signatures similar to the one that led to this tablet. It may take several weeks of careful excavating to get to them.”
“Greg, we don’t have weeks. Without protection and supplies we are going to have to leave here and soon. The best we can do is to cover the dig, to protect it for later work.” Professor Li said gently.
“Oh! Yes, you are right. Here…” He thrust a small package at his friend. “The Embassy said we were to use this in an emergency or if we had to evacuate. It’s a transmitter of some sort. They said help would arrive shortly after it was activated.”
* * *
“Emergency locator beacon GE-014 has been activated Commander.” Johan reported to Catherine Fuller as she was going through intelligence reports from the various IGD’s the Companion and her scouts had located around the nation of the IUR.
“What does the nearest IGD report, Johan?”
“It will arrive there momentarily… Ah yes, preliminary report is that it is an archaeological dig located near Haridu, Iraq province. No hostiles located in the vicinity. A spiral pattern will be initiated when an additional IGD arrives on scene.” He reported to her.
“Do we have anybody available to go there immediately? Or do I need to go myself?” She asked. As there were currently only two humans currently on-board the Companion she didn’t like to leave unless it was a necessity.
“Captain Johansson and his apprentice are currently at the Mediterranean Oil and garbage facility. Would you like to speak to him?” Johan replied.
“I’ll do it, Johan. I need the practice.”
Commander Fuller/ Comm Mode: “Captain Johansson, are you available for a quick trip?”
Captain Johansson/ Comm Mode: “Sure! What do you have for me?“
Christine Fuller briefed him on what little they knew and that it did not appear to be an emergency situation.
Captain Johansson/ Comm Mode: “I’m almost done here, I’ll give Bob here some stick time and we’ll go check on them within the hour.”
Commander Fuller/ Comm Mode: “I’ll keep a couple of IGD’s there to watch over them. If the situation changes I’ll have them notify you directly.”
* * *
“Huang!” Professor Anagnostis yelled from outside the trailer.
Professor Li heard him through the wall and came outside with his trademark coolie hat on. “What is it!” he said testily and then his mouth dropped open as he saw the bright Chrome shape floating ten feet off of the ground. There were two men wearing skin tight jet black suits standing in the shade of the other-worldly craft.
He walked slowly over to join his co-leader and the other members of the dig crew.
“Good Morning! I’m Captain Johansson of the Terran Space Navy. An Emergency Locator beacon was activated here. Do you need assistance?”
“Ah… Yes Captain, I believe that we do.” Professor Anagnostis told him and then proceeded to explain the situation.
“We can help you,” Captain Johansson told them warmly, “our standard procedure is to evacuate you to our Moon base. You will need to stay there for six months until you are certified as being medically clean. We and I’m sure you, don’t want to infect your families or home nations with this bio-war weapon.”
“Thank you Captain. Can you also take our results with us?” Professor Li asked.
“Let me look over what you want to take and I’ll let you know. Is that fair?”
“Yes, most fair.”
A few minutes later Gunnar and his apprentice were being shown the dusty and grimy glories of a Middle Eastern archaeological dig. Gunnar was only mildly interested in what he was being shown that is until the tablet in the Professor’s trailer was proudly displayed to him.
“What….” He said slowly, ‘I’ve seen this writing and not too long ago.’ He thought to himself. “Bob haven’t we seen this sort of thing before?” he asked his apprentice.
“Yes sir, those moon base records from E00-whatever it was. They had a writing that looked something like this.” Bob Harrison told him.
“You’re right, run back to Shoshone, get a holo projector and a portable terminal for Johnny to use.”
A little bit later a slightly breathless TSN apprentice came into to the trailer with two devices in his hands.
“Thank you Bob, set up the holo-projector here and let me have the terminal. Ok, Johnny can you see this clay tablet and the rest of the room?” Captain asked.
“Please move the terminal over to your left and angle it down about fifteen degrees... Yes, that’s near perfect.” Johnny Reb’s voice came over the terminal’s speakers.
“Johnny if you’re set, please display for the professors here some of the text that we recovered from the Moon Base Archives on E00342.”
Above the Holo-projector there was displayed several samples of the writing found in the records from the old moon base.
“Well Professor’s, does any of this look familiar to you?’ Captain Johansson asked them carefully masking any excitement in his voice.
“In a way…” Professor Li said slowly, “it appears to be Sumerian. But the context is very strange. But yes, some of these symbols are familiar. These here for instance are numerals.
Where did you find this?” he said with barely concealed excitement.
“These were retrieved from a Moon Base orbiting a dead version of earth. They were found around two hundred thousand years or so ago.” Captain Johansson told them.
“Really!” Professor Anagnostis said in excitement.
“A dead Earth? What happened did the people there kill it through war or pollution?” Professor Li said questioningly.
“No, it was invaded and the Human population was eaten as well as any other life form that had a central nervous system.” Captain Johansson said soberly.
The two men goggled at him as he said that in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Then he had an inspiration.
“Professors Li and Anagnostis, would you be open to a research contract for the duration of your stay at our Moon Base?” He asked them with a smile.
* * *
“We did them a favor and by using a neat little Sonic and Nano-machine cutter and debris removal device that Johnny had plans for, we retrieved six more tablets for them. And with Maude’s assistance we’ve set up the two Professors with their entire team of Graduate and under-graduate students in a dome of their own. They’ve got full run of the data base for E00342 so they are jumping up and down with joy at all of the discoveries to be made.
They weren’t too happy at the non-disclose and non-publish portions of the contract, but relented when they were told it wasn’t permanent. They also liked the fee portion of the contract. A cool one million each for their hard work and isolation doing exactly what they all love to do. Explore the ancient past and in comfort this time.” Gunnar finished telling Admiral Webster and the others at a quick briefing.
“Thank you for keeping us up-to-date Captain.” Admiral Webster said approvingly. “Two birds with one stone, I like that. Also, if this works out we can offer more contracts for Archaeological Research in the data base.”
“All right then does anyone else have something to pass on?” There were no takers, “Meeting adjourned.”
* * *
It was 7:30 P.M. at the White House, President Ri
chardson was having a private dinner party, Fleet Admiral Webster and Commander McAndrews were his guests of honor, the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff for America’s Armed Forces were there as were all of the Under-Secretaries for Defense; Defense Secretary Anderson on the other hand was not there. He had accepted an earlier offer from Senator Sachs of New York for a cocktail party with America’s Financial Elite.
On the Political Side, The Speaker of the House Thomas Paul, Senate Majority Leader Sean Edwards and Minority Leader Mikhail Unger were present as well as ten other prominent members of Congress.
All of those present were also proven to be free of Quarn parasitation which made the Secret Service detail feel very, very relieved.
“Delicious as always.” Mrs. Richardson told the head Usher. “Please tell everyone that I appreciate their hard work to make the meal come together.”’
“Yes ma’am, I’ll be sure to do so. Would you like a re-fill?” He said indicating her iced tea.
“No, I think I’m fine. Thank you for asking.” She said graciously. She always tried hard to show her appreciation for the men and women who ran the domestic side of the White House. They worked very long hours and she had never heard them complain. But still, it was a good thing to tell them that they were appreciated.
“Admiral Webster, if it’s not a great secret can you tell me how you managed that aerial display over Reykjavik?” Admiral Caparelli asked quietly as they stood off to one side of the Blue room.
“All I will say is that it was a hell of job doing it on the fly.” Admiral Webster said with a chuckle. “It did come together just in time though. That’s what counts in this business, right?” He said as he took in the other Joint Chiefs of Staff who were listening in but being polite about crowding him.
There were a series of knowing nods and a few grins among the men. Then the Marine Commandant General Cappielo asked the question that Admiral Webster had hoped would be asked. “Do you know why they tried to get Captain Thomas to surrender her ship?”
“Yes General, we do, and we know who ordered it too.” Admiral Webster said soberly.
“Can you share that information? President Richardson asked.
“I want to, Mr. President. “ He said giving the President a straight look that conveyed the unasked question, ‘Do you want me to bring these men into our circle?’
The president in turn got a serious look on his face and looked around the room. Once he spotted his head of the Presidential detail he gave him the high sign and motioned him to come over. “Terry, is the theater set up?”
“Yes Mr. President, it is. The Q detectors validated everyone and the special units are in the guard posts. We won’t be disturbed.” The head of the Detail told him quietly.
“Very good, Get your people in there and let’s move the party there then.” The President then clapped his hands twice. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please follow me to the Theater. I need to show you some things.”
There was a stirring of interest among the invited dinner guests. Now maybe they would find out why they were there after all. The food was good but Politics was played at all hours. And in the evening was some of the most productive of those hours.
Shortly thereafter the small theater was filled to capacity. All of the men and women of the Secret Service detail were present. That in itself was unprecedented as far as the visitors were concerned. ‘Who was manning all the normal guard posts?’
“Ladies and Gentlemen, now for some after dinner entertainment.” He then frowned slightly, “Too bad it’s not a Hollywood movie.” He then took a deep breath, “The existence of the Terran Space Navy has only been known to us for about two months now. They were an unanticipated factor and are now the new major player on the world stage of politics.
Sometimes it takes a new factor or a different way of looking at the world to throw long laid plans into disarray. That has happened to someone’s plans and now… and now we know about those plans and even now we may not be able to stop them.
Admiral Webster of the Terran Space Navy has been in communication with me on a regular basis. As he and his people keep saying over and over again. Their primary mission is to Nurture and Protect the Human Race. What occurs’ internally to each nation is that nation’s concerns. This is a good thing as far as I am concerned.
Now something from the United States recent past has come back to haunt us and the world.” The President threw his hands up in a disgusted manner, “Ok, fine! Now we know about it. We, that is, the Government of the people of the United States, are going to stand up and do our duty. Before we go any further and give you the information has been gathered, you have one last chance to walk out and remain in the dark.
If you stay, you are a target and in terrible danger. I need you, so I hope you will stay. But if you leave I can accept that too.” He paused and waited for anyone to get up and leave. He was pleased that they all stayed.
“Thank you for staying.” He looked at his Detail Head, “Terry please distribute their gauntlets.” The man nodded his head and in turn indicated to his people to start handing out to the participants a light flexible set of sleeves designed to fit person’s forearms.
“These gauntlets are going to be yours from now on. Once you put them on they will not come off. Don’t worry about them being seen though.” He pulled back the sleeve of his dinner jacket and showed his own forearm. I looked like a bare arm to everyone. “They have a nearly perfect chameleon effect.”
“What are these supposed to do Mr. President?” asked Speaker Paul in a slightly worried tone of voice.
“Mr. Speaker, these are communication devices and they have special detectors to help protect you from the threat we have discovered. And if you find yourself in a position where you are in ‘mortal danger’, they will prevent you giving up the knowledge you are about to receive.”
“Prevent? Mr. President, What do mean by prevent. Will they kill us?” Speaker Paul pressed hard.
“Only as a last resort, Mr. Speaker, they will generate a force field around you first. If that is breached, they will kill you to prevent you from giving up the knowledge you are about to receive here.” The President looked at each of the people in the audience as they received the gauntlets. Some slid them over their hands and onto their forearms with confidence, others looked at the gauntlets they held with a mixture of wariness and fear.
“It sounds scary doesn’t it? Well it is scary, what we are talking about is the end of the world as we know it. Now everyone, if you haven’t already done so, please put on your gauntlets.” He told them with a hint of steel in his voice. Once everyone was finished and paying attention to him again, he indicated that Admiral Webster was to speak.
“I admit that having you put on the gauntlets seems a bit theatrical,” Admiral Webster told them, “I apologize for that. Now let me tell you why this is necessary.” And so began one of the strangest briefings to have ever been given in the White House.
* * *
“Finally we come to the events of two days ago in Iceland. I understand that all of you have seen the video footage of the news crews that were in attendance?” He looked around to confirm that, “Here now are the decrypted recordings of the ‘Great Leader’ talking to the Prime Minister of Iceland and ordering him to commit suicide and his conversation with Defense Secretary Anderson.” Those were then played for the attendees; at that point there was finally a visual image of the ‘Great Leader’ sitting on his veranda talking to the Secretary.
There was a gasp from nearly all present as they finally saw with their own eyes who the ‘Great Leader’ was.
Senator Unger couldn’t help himself; he stood up and pointed at the image on the briefing screen. “That son-of-a-WHORE is still alive!” He said incredulously.
“Yes Senator Unger, he’s still alive and still pulling the strings behind the scenes. But it’s not just him now. It’s all of the people who are now under the control of the Quarn. He may be the ‘Master’ and all tha
t that means. But he is now known for who and what he is.
Let me be very precise here, Ladies and Gentlemen. The ‘Great Leader’ formerly known as the President-for-Life was apparently parasitized by the Quarn ‘Mother’ when he was a boy. He also was apparently a lone operator for most of his life. That also appears to now be at an end; the ‘Mother’ Quarn is starting to exert her control over him and wants him to join her.
We believe that this is starting to become an overwhelming compulsion for him. That means he will make mistakes trying to accomplish her demands. We need to be able to capitalize on those mistakes.
You all heard the change in the Ayatollah Al-Quds voice when he was parasitized, it was nearly instantaneous. Now you know why we insist on the protections for you. The information you now possess must NEVER be revealed to the Quarn. If they were to learn what we know then it’s all over for humanity. “Admiral Webster paused and then indicated he would take questions.
