by Clyde Key
* * *
My fellow Earthians! No, that wouldn’t work. Earthians was awkward. My fellow Earthlings was even worse. My fellow humans didn’t work either. It still was not easy to think in interplanetary terms.
Then she was brought abruptly to attention when the amber light flashed and the studio director said, “Ten seconds,”
“My fellow Terrestrials,” began Arlene when the red light came on. “My dear fellow Terrestrials. That sounds strange, I know, but it is necessary now to think in different terms. Now that we share our planet with another civilization, a great civilization, it falls our duty to make that great effort that will help us achieve solidarity with our visitors. It is necessary that both Veezee and we contribute to meld our great civilizations into one.
“We will, if we but try, learn the secrets of harmony and peace from Veezee. We have naught to give them in return except some frail technology, but they are willing to accept that for their gift of knowledge of the perfect social order. What a wonderful trade that will be for humankind! But we must take the first step since it is the human infrastructure that already exists on the planet.
“Just hours ago, I spoke with President Litton and the cabinet concerning a request from the representatives of Veezee. There is agreement in the highest levels of our government that we should go forward with this, and we have assurances that the other governments involved will concur. For our part, AABC South-East Commissioner Lyle Guyson was appointed to lead our efforts, and to coordinate with the other governments.
“Fellow Terrestrials, we have been asked by Veezee to manufacture the voice translator disks that a few Veezee now wear. We need to make one each of the devices for each Veezee on our planet. I’m told that number is something over 800 million around the world and near 100 million in the United States. This will allow each Veezee to communicate with his or her, ah... its... human neighbors and to take part in the necessary interactions of daily life.
“Now the reason I must come to you tonight in this manner is that this is no small undertaking. It will involve huge costs in labor and it will involve tremendous financial costs as well. This project will even cause some hardships around the planet because it will use up just about the world’s total supply of some materials, primarily meaning paladium and some rare earths.
“But we must because the cost is even greater if we do not. The cost will be continued fear and misunderstanding. The cost might even be the type of armed conflict that some brutish people are even now trying to start. The Veezee cannot be truly free unless they can take part in our great institutions and they cannot take part unless they can communicate. And Veezee do wish to be completely free during their stay on Earth.
“It is not my purpose to tell you every detail of our task because that would take too long for this announcement, and also because the details have not been completely worked out. But it is my aim to ask your support and your help for the nation in this great task. I ask you tonight to pledge the labor and resources this project will require.
“And remember that AABC will be with you every step of the way, as we have for so many years already, until we have fully achieved all the great blessings that can be ours through interaction with The Visitors.
“Good night.”
