The Independent Worlds (The Sixteen Galaxies Book 2) (7 page)

A stout man with an impressive beer belly nodded to Robert. “Bobby, how you doin’?”

Robert smiled. “Pretty good, Drifter, and you?” Robert relaxed as all the pleasantries were exchanged. He ran his eye over his old crew. In the Vietnam war, Robert had volunteered for one of the most dangerous occupations there was; he was a ‘Shotgun Rider’, officially called a door gunner, on a Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter gunship. It was a very hazardous occupation, with all the risks one would expect to be associated with half-hanging out the side door of a helicopter above a war zone, held in by a harness bolted to the chopper, and operating an M60 machine gun. The life expectancy of a Shotgun Rider was rumored by some to be as low as 5 minutes, although there was no official figure. Robert Markham had defied that statistic, along with his entire crew.

Dunstan “Drifter” Hall was the Aircraft Commander, a tough man to work for, cranky, harsh and demanding. But, he was also arguably one of the best chopper pilots the 1
st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile) ever had in the Vietnam war. His exploits had taken their toll, though, and he leaned heavily on bourbon to keep him going these days. He kept himself to himself, and all Robert knew about Drifter was that he lived outside of a small town in Arizona, where he said he kept birds, of all things.

In contrast to Drifter, the Co-pilot, Magnus “Karl” Marx was tall and thin. Quiet and unassuming, Magnus had copped hell from everyone around him for his unfortunate surname. Dunstan always argued they would never get shot down with Karl on board. Because, he argued, ‘Ain’t no Commie in his right mind gonna shoot at a chopper with Karl Marx in it.’.

Across the table from Robert was Graham “Bear” Fullerton. Short, with a wiry build, Fullerton was the Crew Chief, a position which saw him responsible for the maintenance and repair of his aircraft, as well as operation of the right hand door gun.

In theory, both Robert Markham and Magnus Marx were not assigned to a particular chopper, but were rotated around the aircraft in their squadron as they were needed. However, when Drifter saw how well both of them did their jobs, he managed to have them with him on nearly every mission he flew.

Robert relished this annual meetup. With Drifter in Arizona, Karl in Wisconsin, Bear in Kentucky and himself in DC, once a year was all they could manage. They rotated the city for each meet, to even up the travel costs. This year they were in DC, and bunking at Robert’s place. The other three had flown in today, and they were to have a few drinks before heading to the Markham’s house.

With her usual panache for such things, Margaret had gone to visit her sister in Florida. It was the kind of thing Robert cherished about his wife. She understood that he needed this time each year, and never once showed any resentment.

They took their time as they caught up; each drink, each tall story, each and every memory savored. They were all a year older, of course, but the years faded away with the hours that passed.

They were just into their third round when a voice interrupted. “Excuse me, sir.”

The table fell silent. They all turned to regard the tall young man who stood there, his pals watching from three tables away.

All four of the veterans stared at the youth impassively, but their bodies were tensed. Here we go, Robert thought; another young punk gonna give us a pile of attitude to show his buddies how tough he was. How many times do we have to put up with this crap? he wondered.

They all goggled in disbelief as the young guy put a modest pile of notes on the table. “The boys and I just wanted to buy you a round, to thank you for your service, sir.” He gave a sketchy salute and went back to his table. The four veterans waved their thanks at the other table, and the young men raised their glasses in acknowledgement.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Drifter muttered.

“Huh,” Bear snorted, “I was just about to start in on what’s wrong with youngsters these days, but that feels kinda wrong, now. I guess the times are changing.”

Karl pointed his beer at the television behind the bar. “You ain’t wrong they’re changing, man; we even got aliens on TV.”

Robert called out to the barman, and asked him to turn the sound up.

“This is Becky Carver live in the studio…”

*****

TV studio, New York City

“…with a representative of the Independent World’s galactic society. Mr. Kestil, welcome to Earth.”

Kestil gave Becky a smile. “Thank you, Becky. Although I have been here for some time, this is, indeed, the first opportunity I have had to be welcomed to your planet. I have been too busy due to some rather unfortunate circumstances.”

“Yes, let’s start with that attack on your ship; it must have been terrifying to be so outnumbered.”

Kestil nodded. “Outnumbered and outgunned, yes, but not outwitted. It was a close-run thing, though, let me tell you.”

“Mr. Kestil, why were you attacked?”

Kestil held up a hand. “Just Kestil will be fine, Becky, please. The reason for the attack on my research ship is simple, really. I came to your planet to make humanity aware of the true nature of the Sixteen Galaxies. They did not take kindly to my interference with their plans.”

Becky frowned. “The other alien, Nuthros, claimed that the Sixteen Galaxies is a peaceful society; that they exercise complete unity among their people. You’re saying that is not the case?”

“Becky, if you were to ask the leader of North Korea whether his country is a peaceful one or not, what answer do you think you’d get?”

“I guess he would say it was. Very true, Kestil. So, what is the Sixteen Galaxies really like?”

“Well,” Kestil replied, “I don’t want you to get the idea that the Sixteen Galaxies is some dark and evil empire, bent on secretly eating your brains, or some silly notion like that. However, they are not all love and harmony, either. Nuthros painted a rosy picture, but it was very one-sided, I can assure you. He also grossly exaggerated your current situation, doubtless because he feared our society might intervene. He wanted to get you to commit to them as fast as possible, hence the dramatic entrance and outlandish statements.”

“So, you’re here to ask us to join your society, instead?”

Kestil leaned forward. “For the moment, I’m just here to offer some guidance, Becky, no more. A little helpful advice while you rectify your current situation. The Earth is in need of remedial treatment to ensure its longevity, and that is our primary concern. Of course, I’d be lying if I said we didn’t want you to join us, somewhere in the future, but we are anxious that you do so as, dare I say it, an independent world.”

Becky gave him a warm smile. “But, you also hold concerns about us having any dealings with the Sixteen Galaxies, is that not so?”

“That’s correct, Becky,” Kestil replied. He spread his hands. “Under the auspices of the Sixteen Galaxies, humanity would throw out the baby with the bathwater, as you people say. You don’t need to destroy your entire way of life just to save your planet; nor even close to that extreme. It is quite within humanity’s power to rise to the occasion, I promise you. Look at what you have already done, since Nuthros arrived.”

Becky nodded. “You’re referring to the Vincent Generator; the first of which is due to go online very shortly.”

“Precisely. But, I have been told your scientific and industrial sectors are all hard at work on many projects dedicated to cleaner energy at this time. You know, humanity is the most creative, inventive and industrious people in the known universe, and you should feel justifiably proud of that. I would hate to see you wasted on the Sixteen Galaxies.”

“Wasted?” Becky asked. “In what way?”

“Well, let’s say you did agree to join the Sixteen Galaxies. First up, you would need to work towards that aim for a couple of millennia, until they decreed you were good enough to join them.”

Becky frowned as she thought that through. “Millennia, you say? You mean it would take
two thousand years
before we could join them?”

“Oh, at least that long, I would think,” Kestil replied. “The Sixteen Galaxies would be there, at the helm of Earth’s affairs, the whole time, too; to ensure you were headed in the right direction. You see Becky, their society is not one with any black and white, so to speak. Theirs is a world of grey. It’s bland, unimaginative and dull. They hate creativity, and they try to ensure everyone fits the one pattern.”

He held up a hand. “This is not hearsay, either. I have personally experienced what happens when you are different. I was born into the Sixteen Galaxies, although it was only the Seven Galaxies, then. I saw many inconsistencies in the policies of what I then thought of as the rulers of the society; the councils.”

“What you
then
thought of as the rulers?” Becky interjected. “Has that changed? I mean, who really runs the Sixteen Galaxies, if not the councils? We certainly weren’t aware of any higher authority.”

Kestil smiled at her. “Nothing gets by you, does it, Becky? I have only just learned that the councils are not the leaders of the Sixteen Galaxies.”

Becky held out a hand. “So, who is really at the top?”

“There’s no easy way to say this, I’m afraid,” Kestil replied. “The Sixteen Galaxies Society of Worlds is led by a machine.”

“Wow,” Becky said, “that’s a revelation, for sure. We’re just going to take a quick break to give our audience a chance to think about that; we’ll be right back.”

Escape Capsule, Sol System Perimeter

Truly sealed the entry port to the little escape pod and ejected it into space. As soon as it was clear of the ship, she set course for an immediate return to Earth orbit. The two conscious occupants of the little spherical craft watched the ship hurtle away from them. It was lost to sight in seconds.

Hiram sat quietly; he didn’t want to intrude on Christine’s thoughts. She had clung tight to David until the last possible moment. Her eyes were puffed and red, and her pale complexion underscored her emotional state. Hiram felt no such emptiness, just anxiety. The roller-coaster ride of his position as a council member seemed to promise no relief; no end to the constant crises they had to avert. Truly was convinced that Kestil’s AI would take any and every opportunity to reconnect to her, which meant she was, as she had predicted, effectively cut off from any meaningful contact with Earth. She could observe, analyze and possibly execute the odd portal, but even that was only at high risk. A connection to any point on Earth near modern technology presented risk of another infection from Kestil’s AI.

David would have to go to Earth and stay there; just him and his two companions. David’s connection to Truly, and therefore the Entity, was apparently unbreakable and impenetrable. He would therefore act as a conduit through which the Sixteen Galaxies might be able to continue to influence events on Earth. But, Hiram wondered, to what end? Right now, he had no idea. David would have to wait to return to Earth, though, until at least Ron Baxter was ready. Truly was to enhance Jack Short in the same manner, if he agreed to go with David. She was confident he would take little time to adjust, as he was so highly trained to begin with.

Hiram gazed at the Milky Way. He laughed to himself; who would have thought he would ever find himself here, cast adrift in space, to await transportation to another planet? This was to be his second visit to Kareetha, the capital planet of the Sixteen Galaxies. Somehow, it felt more permanent, more final. He shuddered. Would he ever see the Earth again? With the way things were headed at the moment, he wasn’t so sure. Could Truly, Nuthros and the others really do that much to prevent Kestil’s manipulation of humanity? Kestil looked very likely to succeed in his campaign to get them to join the Independent Worlds.

Kestil was no fool, and he played the game well. When he looked back at Nuthros’ approach to humanity, the direct and blunt way in which he had laid it all out, it was little surprise to Hiram that Kestil succeeded where Nuthros failed. Kestil simply tailored things to suit mankind. His way posed no great challenges; he could slip the required technology to humanity without any dent to their prodigious pride at all. His covert manipulation of the world’s leaders was done in such a way as to force the leaders to keep it hidden, to protect their own positions. From the outside, Kestil appeared to offer no interruption to the existing way of things at all.

Nuthros had alienated the world’s rulers with his open and honest approach. He had left them with no dignified way out; submit or perish. Although the Sixteen Galaxies’ council and the Entity both understood humanity perfectly, they were simply too honest to succeed in saving mankind from itself. Truly had assured him that Kestil’s agenda did not include the preservation of the Earth. But, then again, Kestil didn’t need the planet, per se. He just wanted humans in his society, to harness their creative and inventive talents. The clones Prestern had made from the ancient Earth’s dead, with which they had founded their whole Independent Worlds society, had failed to produce the same qualities as their distant forebears.

So, Kestil needed original stock, as it were, to properly harness the properties which made humanity unique, and precious. To achieve that, all Kestil had to do was stroke their pride and provide the means by which they could put up an appearance of progress. Hiram drew a deep breath. He wished he knew what their slippery opponent would do next, because time ticked away.

*****

TV studio, New York City

Becky Carver smiled at the camera. “Welcome back. Tonight, we’re privileged to have Kestil with us; a representative of the Independent Worlds; the galactic society which is trying to help us save our planet. So, Kestil; before the break you told us about a machine which you claim rules the Sixteen Galaxies. Can you tell us more?”

Kestil gave Becky Carver a small bow. “Thank you, Becky, I certainly can. Perhaps the word ‘machine’ is a little misleading. The Entity, which is the name the council gave their creation, is an AI, or artificial intelligence. It is actually a network of such intelligences; which includes every AI their society possesses. Every ship, every building, every device they use, is part of this thing. The only time any part of the Entity is disconnected is when it travels at faster than light speed. This network is incredibly intelligent, and that is where the real danger lies. Its inherent mental capacity means it is way smarter than any individual within their society.”

“So,” Becky interjected, “it could mislead, or deceive, if it was so inclined?”

“Quite,” Kestil replied. “It has total, and I mean
total
, control of the entire society of the Sixteen Galaxies. The councils defer to it in every decision they make. In my opinion, that is unbelievably foolish. We have a brain for a reason, and I seriously doubt that reason is to allow a machine to think for us.”

“It sounds pretty scary, to be honest. Why do they let this thing control them, do you think?”

Kestil shrugged. “I wish I knew, Becky. They seem to think its inherent intelligence makes it best suited to control them, I guess. My biggest concern is what it may have planned for the days ahead.” He raised a finger. “Remember, a being that intelligent will have plans that extend way into the future; much farther than you or I can see.”

“So, what do you suggest is the best course for us, now, Kestil?”

Kestil leaned forward, and the camera zoomed in. He looked straight into the lens. “I would say this to you all. Keep going, keep your eyes fixed down the road you are on. Your leaders are a good group of people, but they have much work ahead of them. They will need your cooperation in the preservation of your way of life. Yes, some changes will be needed, but humanity should be free to make those changes as and when it sees fit. You are the most creative and talented race of sentient beings in the known universe; make the most of that.” He sat back.

“What kind of changes are you referring to?”

“Well, Becky, I’ll be blunt for the sake of time. Your planet’s population lacks unity. You live on one planet, yet you have divided that planet up into so many pieces it takes one’s breath away.”

“Do you mean we must restructure our entire political system?”

Kestil laughed. “I am not saying you
must
do anything, Becky. I am merely here to offer some advice, that is all.”

“Very well,” Becky replied, “are you
recommending
we should change our political structures?”

“Indeed,” Kestil said. “You have more levels of government on this one planet than we have in our entire galactic society.”

“But, our political structure has been developed over hundreds of years, Kestil. Surely, it must have some value after all this time?”

“Oh, it surely does, Becky. Please don’t get me wrong, the democratic system you have here in the United States has many merits, in principle. However, humanity should have just one type of government, really. Instead, you have all kinds of different systems. And, those systems are incredibly cumbersome and complicated. Why, there are levels upon levels of government in this country alone, and look at the confusion it causes, never mind the expense.”

“So,” Becky asked, “are you suggesting we should make a new kind of government, one that rules the entire world?”

Kestil leaned forward and tapped Becky’s desktop. “You already have this government, Becky; you’ve had it in place since 1945. Though, at the moment, it encompasses only 193 member states.”

Becky couldn’t completely stifle a laugh. “You mean the United Nations?”

Kestil spread his hands wide. “Why is that so funny? You’ve spent untold amounts of revenue and effort on the United Nations. You’ve even progressed some way down the road toward unification. Political crises that involve member nations are taken to the security council. Food shortages, medical aid, and all sorts of problems are addressed by this body. Even hazardous goods across the globe are controlled by their UN number. Why stop there?”

Becky nodded. “I’m sorry, it’s just that the UN has always been, well, a bit of a toothless tiger, so to speak.”

“But,” Kestil replied, “Have you ever stopped to wonder
why?
”

Becky shrugged. “I guess every country wants control of their own destiny. The idea of just one world government is…I don’t know, scary, I guess.”

Kestil sat back and folded his arms. “But, you don’t know why that scares you, do you? You see, it’s all about trust, in reality. The establishment of a true one world government is hampered by your inherent distrust of one another. Any member country might gain too much power, to another’s detriment. The secret to success in this, Becky, is to give it time; a lot of time, to be honest. People need time to adjust their mindset and accept that it just might be possible to come together on this.” He flicked at an imaginary piece of dust on his immaculate suit. “I must remind you, though, that time is limited. You have a planet to save, and that cannot be fully achieved with the current political structures in place; it’s just too slow, wasteful and awkward, I’m afraid.”

“Well,” Becky replied, “I guess we all have a lot to think about on that subject. It’s certainly going to see a lot of comment in the days to come, I bet.”

“In the end, Becky, it is all up to you people. The Independent Worlds is keen to assist, if we are asked, but we can do naught but suggest. I can promise to be open, honest and frank at all times. However, the counsel we give may, at times, seem rather unpalatable. Humanity must choose whether any change is worth the cost. Otherwise, we would interfere in your development, and that must not happen.”

“Unfortunately, Kestil, that’s all we have time for tonight. I’d like to thank you for agreeing to talk to us, and I hope we’ll have the opportunity to have you back in the near future; I’m sure there’s a whole raft of subjects our viewers would like to hear about.”

Kestil smiled his thanks. “I’m more than happy to help wherever I can, Becky. Thank you for having me here.”

*****

Nuthros’ ship

Truly put the ship back into its previous orbit of Earth. She scanned the space around the planet, but detected nothing out of place. Reception of broadcast signals presented no threat, so she could still monitor activity there. Her sensors were more than capable of deciphering which signals should be replicated and passed through the ship, so to speak, and which could simply be absorbed. It did not take her long to pick up a relay of the broadcast of Kestil’s interview; it was on high rotation in whole, or in part, right around the world.

She replayed it for those on board. After it finished, Jack Short shook his head. “And I thought I was good at deception; this guy is a damned master at it. The two-faced lying son of a bitch is so twisted he must have to screw his hat on.”

“He is playing a multi-level game,” Nuthros said. “On the one hand, in public, he wants to give the appearance of a simple ambassador, here to help in whatever way he can. On the other, behind closed doors, I have no doubt he will threaten the world’s leaders to conform or get squashed, in order to force them to restructure politically. When he required governments to purchase Vincent products, he had no qualms in the use of a strong arm in both China and a number of other recalcitrant countries.”

“The question is,” Truly said, “How will he do this? To eradicate so many levels of government and absorb them into the United Nations could take centuries. I doubt he wishes to wait that long. Every minute it takes is another minute we have to calculate a counter. He is on a tight time frame, and he knows it.”

David sighed. “I guess we ought to focus on preparations for our activities on Earth; perhaps then we can get some answers. With Truly unable to connect to Earth’s technology in any meaningful way any longer, we’re impotent while we sit up here.”

“Well,” Jack said, “you can count me in.”

Ron smiled at him. “Looks like I got me a partner, then.”

Jack shrugged. “It was you that changed my mind for me. Well, that and seeing Kestil’s smug face again. The next time I see it, it’ll be down the sights of a weapon, that’s for sure and certain.”

David gestured for Jack to follow him. “Let’s get you ready for your enhancements, Jack. They will take some getting used to, and we’re on a tight schedule, too.”

*****

Global News Update

“…The growing political unrest that followed calls from the Independent Worlds galactic society representative Kestil to globalize world governments has been inflamed even further today by mass protests from anti-globalization activists in New York, London, Paris, Madrid and many other state capitals around the world. Riots erupted between police and protesters in seven major cities. New York City saw injuries and bloodshed on an unprecedented scale as riot police were deployed to control protesters who threatened the security of the UN headquarters there. The Russian government has gone so far as to declare Kestil a global terrorist. The Chinese government is also in uproar, as hardline communist government officials express growing frustration at the lack of any real protest towards unification from the Chinese president.”