The Voting Species (4 page)

All were asked to sit, Senator Cantrell took
his place last and started his opening remarks. ‘Ladies and
gentlemen, if our guests will forgive us, we need to establish a
basis of trust before we can enter into meaningful dialogue, that
is to say, we know very little about each other…’

The
Ambassador, adjusting his translator, interrupted with a warm
smile, ‘What you mean Senator, is you cannot believe that there’s a
species in the Galaxy equal to your own. I concede that this may be
so, but the evidence we have on this matter needs to be
discussed.’

The Senator stuttered, ‘No, no…..that’s not
what I meant.’

‘Senator, feel free to speak your thoughts, I
state only what my people know as a matter of fact, we are not
guided by politics on our planet, only by evidence. Therefore I
suggest you ask any questions you like pertaining to our fitness as
a trading partner. Please be direct, we will reciprocate.’

Cantrell
fidgeted uneasily, his team was startled. ‘I’m sorry to be so blunt
Ambassador, but our cerebral gene expressions are significantly
different!’

‘
Ah, cerebral
gene expressions, thank you for your candour Senator. We are
prepared to make allowances for your slower evolution, we see no
reason why humans couldn’t accelerate their learning at
least.’

Team Earth
looked aghast at each other, Senator Goring took over, ‘How could
you say that?’

The
Ambassador waved his hand, his signal for someone else to continue.
Another mop haired, slightly younger colleague, dressed in light
blue reacted to the cue, ‘Good morning everyone.’ He had a friendly
manner. ‘We have had your people visiting our planet for three of
your months. We obviously thought it prudent to check your
evolution. I am sure your scientists will confirm that the
differences discovered include our greater cerebral gene
expression. Thus we have evolved a little further than you, I trust
this clarifies the matter. Now I ask you all to pay special
attention to what I am now going to say: Based on nothing but
evidence, evolutionary timescales recorded in your DNA, and of
course the history of your people, the following transpires: Your
species evolved to your present intelligence level about a hundred
thousand years ago, your years of course. You started to learn the
science that has just brought you to us about a thousand years ago.
I’m sure you agree with this!’

The lady Senator Delaney from Frontier
interrupted, ‘How long have you had your present intelligence?’

‘
That’s what
I was about to tell you, again from evidence: thirty thousand years
and then three months to conquer space, measured in your
time.’

Team Earth
was stunned by the answer. ‘Was that conquest over the last three
months?’

‘Yes.’

‘Was it us that taught you space
science?’

‘There was an exchange of knowledge.’

Senator Goring blustered his way back in,
‘What did you teach us?’

‘
Offensive
and defensive military technology, I assume that is what interests
you the most.’

‘
How could
you learn so fast?’ Senator Goring persisted.

The friendly
demeanour continued. ‘The main difference in our two species is due
to our difference in empathy. It is our greater concern for our
own, and other species, that has allowed us to learn relatively
quickly; I will explain why this is so: The gods eventually
discovered a mutation that offered this gift, and we were the ones
they blessed most with it. On an organism’s life journey their
struggle is with their own and other species, this is inefficient
evolution. Empathy conserves the energy at all levels, that would
otherwise be wasted by less efficient mutations that lead to
conflict, this does of course include cerebral energy. Therefore,
the more energy saved, the more there is available for our
evolution, and thus the inevitable learning that results from
it.’

‘
That sounds
like sentimentality to me,’ rasped Goring.

‘I will not labour the point Senator, it’s
just one of many evolutionary paths that aids a species’
survival.’

The rest of
team Earth were deep in thought and chose to keep quiet, Senator
Goring tried just once more, ‘Surely you are not saying that you
are genetically programmed?’

‘
Certainly
not, your own research agrees with our conclusion that intelligent
life is gene expression and choice.’

‘Does this mean you do not fight?’ asked
Senator Kienzle from Gardenia.

‘No, it means that we have more energy with
which to fight if we have to!’

In the quiet that followed, Senator Cantrell
continued, ‘I think we can now move onto communications and
business matters.’

The Admiral
and the Commander made sure they were seen by the Senators as they
came thoughtfully from their discussions into the spacious foyer.
The alien delegates moved cheerfully like children escaping from
school. Senator Cantrell was hooked and weaved his way to the
straight backed military intelligence officer
, while Commander Kronstein discreetly drifted
away.

‘The day went well Senator?’

‘
There’s lots
of common ground Admiral, plenty of potential for our mutual
benefit. I would be grateful if you could check out their
credentials.’

‘Credentials? Senator.’

He lowered his voice, ‘Yes, are they as
advanced as they say they are? Rumours are that they run around
naked and live in caves.’

The Admiral smiled. ‘They see no reason to
wear clothes in their temperatures, the so called caves are malls,
to keep them out of the sun.

‘What technology do they have?’

‘Militarily, defensively their technology
renders them invisible to those who trespass on their planet. As
for their offensive capabilities, their weapons can outshoot our
lasers.’

‘What about their commodities?’

‘I already have survey reports that show
ample uranium and platinum deposits. What else there is, we can
only guess, it’s a large planet.’

‘It is indeed, what’s the legal view of doing
business with unclassified aliens?’

‘Unenforceable contracts!’

‘
Admiral,
your closer to these aliens than the Senate, what are their views
on our alien issues?’

‘
They
understand, they’ve got their own alien issues
now...us.’

‘Suppose somebody on Earth reneges on a
contract?’

‘Their wallets would be hit hardest Senator,
the aliens also have commercial prowess.’

‘How do we know they would honour our
laws?’

‘
They
understand laws are influenced by our evolution, put concisely,
empathy. This also makes them aware of your preoccupation with the
voters.’

THE
POWER OF THE
PEOPLE

‘
At last
Commander, not least because the cat’s genes are out of the
genetics bag, the Senate in its infinite wisdom have set a date to
debate this issue. We now need to do our sums, we may still end up
with nothing.’

‘
We have to
assume Goring and the four we now know he’s bribing are against the
motion, Cantrell may be a pompous ass, but all the signs are he’s
neutral.’

‘So we’re five nil down and the game has only
just started!’

‘Winning the argument with good witnesses is
not the problem either, it’s getting them into the Senate!’

‘
True,’ said
the Admiral, his cool grey eyes exuding his thoughts.

The Commander
sighed. ‘We need to ensure that of the remaining nine Senators,
those that aren’t bought are not bigots either. In fact the more
integrity they have the less likely they are of being persuaded by
anything other than…dare I say it, evidence.’

The Admiral
smiled. ‘Thanks to Elena, we now have the evidence to persuade the
corrupt instead!’

‘
Blackmail
Admiral, surely not?’ The faint smile was once again on the
Commanders thin lips.

The Admiral
continued, ‘We also need to choose at least one witness, one that
could be regarded as unbiased and knowledgeable. Their logic being
only part of the larger image we wish to project to the whole
Galaxy.’

The Commander
added,
‘Better still if it’s somebody who
has also been a ravager of planets and who has since seen the error
of their ways; and of course…one who likes an argument.’

The Admiral
finished,
‘One who can put pressure on
the Senators through popularity with the public…through their
heroic deeds.’

Both officers smiled at once.

The
Gala
ctic media was fed a diet of these
heroic deeds, carried out by paragons of science and virtue who
travelled in their little ship called the Prospector. How could the
voters resist those that had cleared the heavens of smugglers who
were people traffickers and thus merchants of death? What was this
compared to the heroes’ former minor indiscretions of ravaging
mostly dead planets for their mineral treasures.

The Senators
and witnesses sat around a large circular table within an arena of
tiered seats, all overlooked by a gallery. Immediately behind the
Senators were other seated personnel that were their aides. The
media
with its paraphernalia, and the
public, crammed the thousand or so seats and any standing room
available.

‘
As one of
those who could have been accused of ravaging the planets Mr
Denton, in your own words, what made you change your mind and start
feeling more sympathetic towards alleged intelligent aliens?’
Senator Cantrell, the Leader of the Senate, fixed his hard stare on
Denton’s softer dark blue eyes.

Alan Denton
stretched his tall slim
frame, covered by
a black jumpsuit. He soaked in the moment of being in the glare of
the whole Galaxy, he felt privileged. ‘After years of ravaging, as
you put it, I met a family, a tribe, and then got to know a whole
people.’

‘
How much
time did you spend with these…people?’

Denton smiled. ‘An introduction lasting a
whole afternoon, then their constant companionship for weeks.’

‘How could a man in your line of work fail to
notice intelligence earlier if it was always there?’

‘
Not least of
all was the fact that I had been brainwashed as a kid that aliens
usually came with three legs, and were of course the standard
colour…green.’ All those in the Senate chuckled, as Denton intended
they should, but many eyes glared at him.

‘
So, what
caused your awakening Mr Denton? Is this what stopped you clearing
aliens out of the way of humans?’

‘An absurd parody Senator Cantrell, I never
saw anything that resembled a humanoid in all my working life, my
business partner and I did fight a lot of rock, but never a single
living organism.’ There were more chuckles. ‘Rock that later
uncovered fuel based minerals that does of course keep the whole
Galaxy going.’

Denton was
warming to the challenge, it wasn’t so much that the eyes of the
whole galaxy were on him, but that he was fencing with one of those
political minds that he detested. His reason reined him in, the
reason that forced all selfishness out of his mind by reminding him
that this was about the enslaved of the Galaxy, and not about his
enjoyment. He did however allow his pride in science to prevail.
‘At the risk of softening science with art, I am going to challenge
the whole Galaxy as well as the Senate with evidence of both. I
will even give the sentimental version as some would call it, by
way of balance, if of course the Senate agrees.’

Senator Cantrell released a faint smile that
surprised Denton. ‘Please go on Mr Denton.’

‘
The genetics
evidence is indisputable, but you know this. I can show you
holograms of their engineering projects, homes built out of rock,
water supply systems and smelting plants. They rival our own
engineers. I have recordings of some of the most exquisite art, art
that has been on a cave wall for eight thousand years and lifts the
soul, as well as the veil of time covering their
history.’

‘How productive do you think aliens are?’

‘I have worked with them; those I have the
most knowledge of have more energy, including mental energy, than
humans; but before human panic is aroused, they are the kindest of
people and have already helped humans in the most productive of
ways.’

‘
But how can
you tell they’re not just ingratiating themselves?’

Denton sighed, still well short of contempt.
‘I have seen them risk their lives to save the lives of humans, and
there are other witnesses to back me.’

The Leader of the Senate looked thoughtful as
his eyes scanned those seated around him. ‘I’m sure the Senate
would like you to include the sentimental version you
promised?’

Denton saw a
glorious opening, he wondered if this man had intentionally passed
the ball to him to tap it over the line. His eyes softened still
further, he still couldn‘t resist a joke: ‘Grab your tissues!’ he
started, ‘I saw two sets of pleading eyes from parents whose child
had got trapped below a grating. In rescuing the child I had to
pick it up, the child told me the one thing that any bigot would
ever need to know.’ He paused to perfection, then tapped the ball
clearly over the line. ‘I knew through the child’s eyes that I had
something special in my arms, really special.’