by Blair Wylie
“The message also included the exploration vessel’s scouting trip logs, and a full genome description of your species. That description confirms you are not like us. Your genetic material is very different from ours. We will not elaborate.
“Now, for our next question. What do you know of the Masters?”
Francis paused only briefly before saying, “Our only direct knowledge comes from a very brief encounter with a single living Master scout, presumably from the exploration spaceship you just mentioned. We exchanged samples of hair with that scout, peacefully. Subsequent analysis confirmed that the Masters are quite different from us, certainly in the genetic sense. The scout said it was sick, and it also said it was in a hurry to get to another location on our planet to recover an ancient Master exploration, data-log cache. It was using a sophisticated, tilt-wing aircraft to travel around.
“We have subsequently determined that this scout must have been heading to another southern continent on our planet. Furthermore, we believe it destroyed itself, and its aircraft, with a small thermonuclear device, very near a far more ancient and mysterious pyramid that we suspect you may know something about.
“Our indirect knowledge of the Masters is sketchy. We believe they tried to colonize our planet about six thousands of our years ago, but they did not survive the attempt for some reason. They left scattered ruins in a few places, of buildings, airstrips and plantations. And they left optical digital records in some places, on plastic strips. We were able to learn their written language by analysing those strips, and we were actually able to have a conversation with their scout using hand-written symbols. We seemed to have greatly surprised their scout at our ability to learn their language without direct contact.
“The Masters seemed to have been gene-splicers. It appears they deliberately modified plants and animals on the neighbouring planet to improve their usefulness. We are benefitting from some of their genetically-modified domesticated plants.
“But on the negative side, they also seem to have genetically modified an intelligent, quadruped, native, hominid species, to manufacture what they considered to be more useful slaves. We find the resulting hominid hybrid to be a kindly, peace-loving, family-oriented creature. We live in harmony with this intelligent species. But the species told us they felt threatened by our different ways, and by our advanced technology. So, we helped them all to resettle on the vast, arctic and sub-arctic, northern continent on our adopted planet.
“So, we believe the Masters were also slave masters, a practice we find abhorrent. Using slaves simply does not to fit into our notion of acceptable behaviour for an advanced, intelligent species.
“Our species is by no means perfect. In our distant past, we too engaged in slavery, and other abhorrent practices. Historically, we have had many horrible battles amongst ourselves, and harmed and killed many people and many animals, and damaged our fragile environment. Ultimately, a long sordid history of bad behaviour led us to want to leave our home planet.
“We arrived on the neighbouring planet about four hundred of our years ago. Our overarching mission continues to centre around the goal of getting things right this time, with respect to living in harmony with ourselves, other species, and with our new world. We view this fresh opportunity as a very fortunate ‘second chance’, and we doubt that we will get a ‘third chance’.
“But we believe that our success as a species largely stems from a strong, innate desire to survive, and to form stable, family and community-oriented, nurturing relationships. Our culture is ultimately what distinguishes us from other animals. Our culture is the means by which we get progressively smarter.
“We learn from each other within our societies, and we build upon the learnings of our ancestors. When we get it right, a nurturing, dynamic culture provides us with the time and security to think and to create, to critically ponder ourselves, and to try to rationalize our existence within the physical universe.
“In our present day culture, we actively use the scientific method, and we apply the scientific knowledge we accumulate to make our lives better. The method is basically to first theorize, then experiment, then observe, then analyse, and then either conclude that a theory is now a proven, scientific fact, or develop a new or revised theory.
“Now, to segue back to our prior discussion, the results of an intensive scientific or archaeological study of a mysterious ancient pyramid induced us to send a probe to a distant moon around a gas-giant planet in this solar system. As we all know, you destroyed our probe, and then initiated verbal intercourse with us.
“We also know the impressive, ancient pyramid is emitting two strains of viruses. These are parasitic, very primitive lifeforms that may create diseases in other, multi-cellular species by forcing them to host their procreation. Fortunately, these viruses and their mutations have very little, if any, effect upon us or the other native and imported creatures on our adopted planet.
“We have also estimated this pyramid is about one hundred and twenty-nine thousands of our years old.
“Now, for my next question to you. Did you, or your ancestors, build this pyramid in the very distant past, and if so, what is its purpose?”
After a much longer pause, the tenor voice said, “Yes, our ancestors built a pyramid on the planet you are now occupying. Your construction date estimate is approximately correct. That greatly impresses us.
“We built the pyramid for a number of purposes.
“Our clan was fleeing the Masters. Other clans fled in different directions, and we have subsequently lost contact with them. It seems we do not make willing or useful slaves. And the Masters view us as competitors. So when they encounter us, they try to kill us.
“We suspect they now view your species in the same way.
“At the time of our arrival, the neighbouring planet was perfectly suited to us. But it was also perfectly suited to the Masters. So we decided to use it as part of an elaborate deception plan. We hoped the Masters would conclude we had been there, but then we had decided for some reason to move on to another solar system.
“We have always been pyramid builders. We will not elaborate. And we have always been hopeful that we can meet up again with other clans of our species, or with another peaceful, intelligent, alien species. We hope you will fall into the latter category, but that has yet to be determined conclusively.
“We carefully placed a ‘pointing device’ in our pyramid, one that only an advanced, intelligent species could decipher. As you know, it pointed at a distant moon around a gas-giant planet in this solar system. We reasoned that if a species discovered the clue, and then was able to send an investigative probe to that distant moon, then that species would be ready to talk with us about a defensive alliance.
“We developed two virus strains to directly attack the Masters. Our intense fear and hatred of the Masters drove us to temporarily break our rigid rules against tampering with genetic material. The two viruses were specifically tailored to the Masters’ far different genetic material. In fact, the viruses actually unwind their double-helix genetic molecule.
“The two virus strains mutate quickly as they evolve, and travel down different, unpredictable evolutionary paths. But most of the mutations are equally as deadly to the Masters. The induced diseases can therefore take many forms, which adds to the terror they induce in the Masters. We are carriers of the viruses, but like you, they do not appreciably affect us. We will not elaborate.
“The pyramid contains a virus-generating device. We are pleased to hear that it is still working. We do in fact build things to last for eons, just like this facility we are both now using.
“We reasoned that if a scouting team of Masters managed to discover the secret of the ‘pointing device’, they would not be alive long enough to explore the distant moon, or this moon for that matter. And as you have probably guessed, the distant moon is itself a deception. We do not live there, but we closely monitor what is occurring there. And what is occurring there
is wonderful, and must not be interfered with, by you or any other alien creatures.
“Now, we are finally moving closer to the heart of what we really want to discuss with you.
“You see, while we were living on the neighbouring planet, or your new planet, we were also establishing our standard defence system. We built this facility, and hid it very effectively. It is much more than you know right now. We may get to that in time.
“But then we had a very intense, protracted conflict within our clan. One faction suggested that doing the same things we always did while expecting a different result was either stupidity, or insanity. The rebel faction argued that we must stop our endless cycle of re-settling and re-building in a new place, only to flee again when the Masters re-discovered us.
“We are not gene-splicers. We believe you are not either, although we know you cross-breed domestic species. We consider even that practice immoral. But we may be able to overlook that practice. We know we are not perfect either, and we at least strive not to be overly judgemental.
“Now, let us return to our clan’s highly significant historical incident. Thankfully, the rebel faction won the argument. We knew our bodies could adapt to different environs to some degree, especially over a number of generations. So, we chose to complete our deception, and complete this defence facility, and then move elsewhere in this solar system, to seemingly inhabitable and hostile places.
“We will not elaborate, other than to say we find the gravity field on this moon completely comfortable, whereas you are obviously struggling to even stay seated, and you might even be feeling a bit ill.
“But the subsequent self-induced evolutionary changes have weakened us. We now would be unable to survive very long on the neighbouring planet. And space travel for us must be made without prolonged periods of elevated acceleration or deceleration. We will not elaborate.”
There was a short pause, and then the soprano voice said, “You apparently know the Masters are totally selfish and lack any form of empathy. And you have determined correctly that the Masters are ‘gene-splicers’. But they are in fact much worse than you fear.
“They genetically modify their own species!
“The Exploration or Worker variant of their species, the only type that you have encountered, is designed for optimal communal living in space, and for performing most of the societal tasks in their everyday lives. They are hermaphroditic clones.
“When they successfully establish a new planetary colony, they create two other variants of their species.
“One is a taller, debatably more handsome, Ruling caste, with two sexes and a slightly longer lifespan. This variant may have equal intelligence, but that is also debatable. But of greater interest, the Ruling variant probably approximates the Master’s original form.
“The Warrior caste is the other variant they create when they have fully established a colony. They are brutish eunuchs, with much greater size and strength. They are also able to be placed into hibernation for eons. That is a very useful trait for a long space voyage, with some sort of physically demanding battle waiting for them at the end of that voyage.
“When they explore from their mother planet, or from a fully established colony, they select prescribed trajectories that target a series of prospective planets. They always send two generation spaceships along each trajectory, first a pioneer ship, and then a follow-up ship. They seemingly try to space the ships about six thousands of your years apart. But that depends upon many factors, and the actual gap varies considerably. The ships travel at about one-twentieth of light speed.
“Their two-ship exploration strategy is designed to either support successful pioneering colonies, or to identify new threats to their species when one of their colonies is found to have failed.
“When they find us, or some other perceived serious threat to their galactic expansion effort, they alert the closest fully-established Master colony. They use electromagnetic radiation to communicate, at light speed of course, using digital codes.
“All three variants of their species are arrogant, and they all believe no other intelligent species in the galaxy can break their codes, or ultimately defeat them.
“The alerted colony is obligated by their culture and overarching expansion strategy to send out battlecruisers full of hibernating Warriors to destroy the perceived threat.
“They always send out seven Warrior ships in an attacking Armada. Seven is the most important number in their culture. The reason for that is debatable, and moot for the purpose of this conversation.
“The Warrior ships are powerful and massive, but only half as large as their exploration generation ships. They function as motherships for smaller attack vessels. They employ mostly beam energy weapons, but they also have thermonuclear, high-energy kinetic and chemical, explosive weapons.”
The three astronauts were really struggling to stay seated suddenly. They were looking at each other with horror, and they were all clearly very uncomfortable. Then they heard the baritone voice say, “By your dramatic change in disposition, we suspect you are now reacting emotionally to the information we have just provided to you. You have reacted quite appropriately, and that pleases us.
“That is because you should be very concerned, and actually very afraid. We believe it is almost certain that seven Warrior battlecruisers are now either enroute to destroy you, or will soon depart when their colonial mother planet becomes technically capable.
“The only unanswered question is when they will arrive.
“Now, we may be able to help allay your newfound fears. If we choose to help you, we may also help ourselves. If we choose, we can provide you with the means to fight the incoming Warrior ships. And we have a well-developed, highly-detailed follow-up plan we can share with you so you can also find and attack the Warrior’s home planet. We have had many eons to develop this plan.
“We are no longer physically suited to such a struggle. We lost that ability many generations ago. But we deduce that you are physically capable of withstanding the high physical and mental stresses that will almost certainly occur during the upcoming battle. And we suspect you have the intelligence and technical awareness to learn to fully utilize our more advanced technology, through the use of language interface devices that we will provide.”
There was another prolonged pause, then the soprano voice said, “In conclusion, we have determined that you may be able to make use of the sophisticated physical assets located on this moon, and some selected but restricted aspects of our technology. If you use these gifts to save yourselves, we also may be able to continue living in peace and solitude.
“Bottom line, we want to coexist with you, but secretly, forever.
“And so, we have just decided to offer you some technically-advanced treasures, as gifts.
“But we have a few conditions that you must first agree to meet.
“Firstly, you must never talk about us on any electromagnetic frequency, or make any written or electronic records of us, or try to find us, ever.
“Secondly, you must openly claim within your society that the technologies we give you are your own, and that they were developed organically, with your own intelligence, and on your own initiative.
“And thirdly, you must never go back to the distant moon where you sent your probe.
“So, now for our final and most important question. Do you want our help, subject to our conditions?”
The three astronauts were now holding on to each other, and to the bench, which through their unintended motions was noticeably wobbling around in the low gravity field.
Maldonado looked carefully at Weismann and Knudsen. They both looked as worried as she felt. But after a few anxious moments, Knudsen forced himself to relax a bit. He attempted to smile back at Maldonado, and he flashed her a thumbs up sign. Then Weismann quickly and simply nodded in agreement.
So, Francis Maldonado answered for the team, and for New Earth. She said with a waver in her voice, “Yes, of
course we would like your help! And thank you very much for asking us!
“But we three human beings are just emissaries. We will need the leaders on our adopted planet, that we call New Earth, to somehow confirm acceptance of your magnanimous offer, and its three conditions. And furthermore, we hope they will authorize us to start learning your technology, and begin working within your defence plan.”
After a moment, the tenor voice said, “Yes, we had greatly hoped that would be your answer. It pleases us immensely.
“We observe that you have been digitally recording our conversation. That is very useful. Now, let us discuss how we can best inform and engage your leaders, subject to our constraints…”
12
Lieutenant Colonel Asher Weismann had been alone for three and a half days. To help keep himself mentally occupied, he had brought along his computer tablet from the Osprey lander. He could recharge its battery by clipping it to an alien device with a glassy surface. The induction coil beneath the glassy surface was able to sense and adjust the voltage required for optimum recharging.
Weismann’s tablet was filled with interesting technical and pleasure reading material, and also with his favourite music. Still, the tablet had proven to be a very poor substitute for human company, and he had been bored most of the time. He had also slept more than was normal for him.
But he knew the long flight home was finally about to get really interesting.
He was the sole occupant of an alien, lifting-body spacecraft. Everything about the highly-advanced craft was alien, but obviously also fully functional and very efficient.
He had been warned by the aliens not to meddle with anything, and he could only guess at what the controls actually did. The symbols and labels on the instruments were incomprehensible. But thankfully, the systems were fully automated, and they had been carefully set by the aliens to deliver him safely on to the main runway of First Town airport.
