Covert Alliance
Page 25
“The allies I am referring to are the intelligent creatures that called themselves human beings during our only meeting with them. That meeting occurred a long time ago, on a distant moon in this solar system. But if you recall, these human beings settled on the third planet in our adopted solar system, and eventually on its moon as well, the same one where our meeting occurred. Their adopted planet is watery and rocky, and they only live on land.”
The Second Elder smiled pleasantly in the manner of their species. Then she sang, “Yes, First Elder, that is what the other Elders think, too. Except, two of our brothers think we should now send a brief ‘thank you’ message to our allies. However, all of the other Elders have spoken out strongly against that idea. What do you think we should do next?”
Without hesitation, the First Elder replied, “Second Elder, I will not agree to the sending of any message to anyone in response to this intercepted, widely-broadcasted plea to destroy a planet. We must remain, as always, completely silent!
“You see, we told our allies they would never hear from us again. And we asked them not to search for us, and they have complied with that request. Furthermore, we asked them to never visit the icy moon around the gas-giant, fifth planet in our adopted solar system, and they have complied with that request as well.
“So, our allies have proven to be as intelligent, trustworthy and brave as we hoped they would be. And they have learned to be much more careful about announcing their location, and by extension, our location.
“Since we first met them, they have reduced the density of their intra-planetary wireless communication broadcasts by at least four orders of magnitude.
“And with the many gifts we gave them, and our indirect mentoring, our allies are now almost as technologically advanced as we are. They can defend themselves properly, and by extension, unknowingly defend us as well from another Master attack.
“And they no doubt have also intercepted this message from the devastated Master colony, and they can determine what it means as well as we can.
“So, I say we must continue to leave our allies alone, in peace. And therefore we will all remain as we are just now, in blissful ignorance of each other. Their reward will be the same as our reward. We will both be free from Master invasion, hopefully for a very long while.”
“As always, your words are both wise and welcome, First Elder,” replied the Second Elder formally. “And as always, I completely agree with you. Your voice, when mingled with other supporting Elders, will no doubt sway the two dissenters on the Elder Council, to see it our way.
“So, we will send no message at all, and we will therefore not risk interception by old enemies, especially by other Master colonies.”
The First Elder simply nodded respectfully in response.
Then the two Elders sank beneath the surface of the comforting, warm water in the quiet, subterranean pool, and swam their separate ways.