Hard Duty By Mark E. Cooper

Copyright©2000 by Mark E. Cooper

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Earth, capital world of the Alliance, Year 2769

The council chamber was full this day. It was rare indeed to see every representative of the one hundred and four member worlds together in one place. Each councilman had at most two assistants sitting with him or her, but the chamber still felt crowded. It had been years since this many of the council felt the need to attend in person.

President Aleksander Bohdanko Dyachenko smiled to himself. He had made good use of their lack of interest more than once to further the welfare of the Alliance. Certain worlds were short sighted where the Alliance’s best interests were concerned. Bethany’s World was foremost among these. Where would they be now if his predecessor had not fought to maintain the 501st even in its present pitiful state? In deep trouble, that was where.

Finally, everyone was seated and the doors were sealed. Electronic scramblers were activated and Jerry McCartney, his chief of staff, gave him the nod that all was secure.

“Ladies and gentleman,” Dyachenko began. “I am glad to see you all take this matter as seriously as I do. As you have no doubt noticed, this chamber is now sealed. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but you will also note your recording devices and other such equipment no longer function.”

“Mister President?” The councilman for Thorfinni said.

“The chair recognises councilman Hartman.”

“Thank you, Mister President. I would just like to know one thing before you continue. Are we prepared for an incursion?”

That question caused some uproar. The council members began speaking amongst themselves and became increasingly agitated. Many were arguing the need to call for volunteers to augment Alliance forces, while others played down the threat.

“—Send in the navy. Wipe them out—”

“—Insane? For all we know they may be superior. You could bring them down on our heads!”

“Send an expedition to contact them—”

“Great opportunity here—”

“Yes, but what if—”

“An opportunity to see as all dead! Wipe them out I say!”

Dyachenko banged the archaic gavel down upon the plinth. “Ladies and gentleman please! Order please, order I say!” He roared and attained the quiet he wanted. “Thank you. To answer your question councillor; we have no reason to believe an incursion is imminent, but as always our forces remain vigilant. Now to the reason for this closed session of the council. I have invited Admiral Rawlins to brief us on he current situation.”

Dyachenko turned to the visitor’s area of the chamber where sat Rawlins amongst dozens of other high-ranking officers. The navy was the senior branch and had been since colonisation began, and so as First Space Lord, Rawlings was the highest-ranking officer within the Alliance military. There were Generals in dress uniform sporting dozens of colourful ribbons and medals, and sitting beside them were Admirals in their splendid white and gold uniforms or dress whites as they were called. All of them reported to Rawlins, who in turn reported to the President as the representative of the council.

Never had so much gold braid been summoned to the council at one time. During the Merkiaari war, officers of this calibre were kept in the field and the President’s chief of staff briefed the council. It was an indication of the seriousness of the situation that so many high-ranking officers were present.

“Admiral, if you would please.” Dyachenko said to Rawlins.

Rawlins nodded but as he stood, he said something to a man at his right hand. Dyachenko recognised the black and gold uniform as belonging to the S.A.G. This man was General Burgton, commanding officer of the 501st infantry and well known to all.

Rawlins took possession of the podium as if it were a target to be subdued. With both hands holding it in an unyielding grip, he began his briefing.

“Thank you, Mister President, councillors, and my fellow officers. I would first like to add my own assurance to that of the President regarding the readiness of our forces. Apart from one notable exception, we are as strong, if not stronger, than we were at the height of the Merkiaari war. We learned a great deal from that conflict, and I would like to reassure you all that we are more than ready for whatever may come. I have more to say about that single exception I mentioned, but that will come at the end of this briefing.”

Rawlins picked up the control wand and keyed the lights down. “What you are about to see has not been seen by anyone excepting myself and officers I trust implicitly. Approximately eight months ago, Earth time, one of our exploration vessels received signals that were later confirmed as originating from a new sentient species. As per standing orders, ASN Canada went to investigate. This is what they found.”

As Rawlins keyed the tank to life, a hologram of an alien appeared. Murmurs of appreciation sounded throughout the chamber and speculation as to the creatures similarities and differences to man. The external differences were obvious to all.

“This is a Chu’si male. The Chu’si are a twin sexed warm-blooded mammalian species that bear live young as Humans do. They are bipedal, though there is some evidence pointing to a quadruped origin, and omnivorous. They breathe an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere, of course, but there the similarities to us end. They have fur as you can see, and the four claws on each hand are formidable weapons. They do not wear clothes, excepting pressure suits for working in vacuum, and will normally wear the harness depicted here.”

Rawlins keyed the remote and another Chu’si wearing a harness appeared. The harness was for carrying various tools and pieces of equipment.

“They have two habitable planets within their home system—both are cooler than Earth. It has been suggested that the Chu’si evolved on the outer planet and colonised the second inner planet, but this is speculative at this stage. The fur does indicate an evolution in colder climes, but it cannot yet be confirmed. The Chu’si are a space faring species, but they have not yet discovered jump technology—”

Murmurs of relief swept the chamber as the councillors realised an incursion by the Chu’si was now impossible.

“ASN Canada entered the system under the strictest of first contact protocols, that is to say, Captain Colgan ordered maximum stealth and weapons hot. ASN Canada secreted herself within the larger of two asteroid belts and began surveying the system from hiding. I am pleased to report that I have received Captain Colgan’s final report and his request to open a dialogue with the Chu’si.”

“It’s too dangerous!” Councillor Banon of Bethany’s World shouted. She was deeply upset and her speech was impassioned. “We should never have allowed these ships to leave the Human sector. Who knows what they will bring back with them. The Merkiaari are out there for God’s sake! We might bring them down on us again!”

Rawlins’ expression turned sour. He turned to the President. “I will answer that if I may Mister President.”

“Certainly Admiral, go right ahead.”

“Thank you, sir. Councillor Banon, I am a soldier. As a soldier I would tell you that no one wins a war by staying at home.” He raised a hand to forestall further heckling from Banon. “I know we are not at war at present, but we all know the Merkiaari are out there and we surely know that they are not finished with us. You have all seen images of Merkiaari attacking our worlds. You have seen the devastation they left behind when they were finally driven off. Make no mistake, they did not leave voluntarily, they were driven off. They will be back.”

Shouting erupted as first one councillor then another tried to refute Rawlins’ words. It was fear talking, the Merkiaari had nearly defeated the Alliance two hundred years ago, and thoughts of a repeat performance were abhorrent and frightening.

“Order!” Dyachenko shouted over the noise. “Councilmen please! Let us hear the Admiral, order I say.” He banged the gavel repeatedly and gradually order returned. “Admiral, continue please.”

Rawlins thumbed the remote and the hologram dissolved to be replaced by a Chu’si ship. The design was sleek and powerful looking. Anyone with eyes could see it was built for war.

“This is a Chu’si heavy cruiser, it is heavily armed and comparable to our Excalibur class heavies. Canada has documented thirty in this class, and a further ten in our light cruiser range. They have no destroyers, dreadnaughts, or carriers, but they do have decent orbital fortresses. All this hardware is in system only. I repeat, the Chu’si have no means of leaving their home system. Danger to us is therefore minimal. I would even go so far as to say it does not exist.

“The fact of the matter is this: we need allies. The Merkiaari are out there as councillor Banon pointed out, and everything we know of them tells us they never give up. Three hundred years is a long time to us, but to them…? Who knows? In my opinion, the Chu’si will make excellent allies against the Merkiaari. As CO Alliance forces, I must therefore seriously urge the council to send a team to open relations with the Chu’si.”

“No!” Banon said. “We must not do this.”

“I disagree,” Hartman said loudly. “Admiral Rawlins has just informed us the Chu’si cannot leave their home system. What do we have to lose? Nothing I say, and we have much to gain. We cannot ignore the fact of alien existence, I believe it prudent to make friends now, rather than enemies later.”

“Here, here!”

“—Might be good for us to hear a different perspective.”

“You cannot be serious! Offer them membership?”

There was a good deal of agreement with Hartman, which pleased Dyachenko. He also believed the Admiral to be correct. Hiding in its own sector was not Humanity’s way. Humans were explorers; they delighted in solving puzzles and learning new things. It would be disastrous to try to limit Humanity’s expansion. The Alliance would stagnate, or worse, shatter altogether.

“—Warlike? Why do they have these ships if they are not?”

“I can’t answer that, Councillor Demkakova,” Rawlins said. “We will just have to ask them.”

There were chuckles from many members of the council, but not from all. Demkakova’s question had a serious point, one that needed answering.

“I would like to go back to that exception I mentioned earlier if I may.” Rawlins said. “We have among us one who fought the Merkiaari, he is of course General Burgton CO of the 501st infantry regiment.”

Murmurs arose at mention of Burgton’s name. He was well known as the hero of the battle of Thorfinni, and of Garnett. Both council members for those worlds were craning their necks for a glimpse of the great man.

General Burgton made his way forward and took the podium from Rawlins. He was a man of only medium height and build, but all knew what the black and gold uniform meant. If they hadn’t known, the patch depicting a snake with fangs bared ready to strike would have told them what he was.

“I protest!” Banon said with disgust thick in her voice. “This… man should not be here. I demand—”

“You demand nothing,” Burgton said stonily. “The Alliance is ruled by the consensus of its one hundred and four member worlds. Bethany’s World is but one voice among many.”

“Damn straight!” Hartman said. “I want to hear what he has to say.”

“We will hear him,” President Dyachenko said.

Banon made to protest again, but one look at Burgton changed her mind. It wasn’t that he had threatened her in any way; it was the sense of great age and power embodied within him that gave her second thoughts.

“I have fought the Merkiaari,” Burgton began in his quiet musical voice. It was always a surprise to hear such a renowned soldier speaking with the voice of an accomplished tenor. “I have fought the Merkiaari and won. I came to know them very well as I struggled to best them at the one thing they do so well. In their own language, the word Merkiaari means: those who fight. Think for a moment what it means for a race to name themselves thus.”

Burgton was quiet for a moment before thumbing the remote. The Chu’si heavy cruiser was replaced by the snarling visage of a Merkiaari. Hisses of shock came from all directions as Burgton replaced the image with another and then another. Each was worse than the last and brought the full horror of the Merki war back into the present.

“These images do not do the Merki justice. Until you meet one, and I hope to God you never do, these images will have to do. Merkiaari males are simply killing machines, and the females are breeding machines. Neither one has any compassion or mercy within them. They live to fight and die for the greater Merkiaari Hegemony. That is what they do; that is all they do.

“We had two thousand S.A.G units, hundreds of ships, thousands of Alliance marines, thousands of Alizon Rangers, thousands of every kind of soldier and weapon you can think of, yet still we barely survived the last Merkiaari incursion. How will we survive the next one? I promise you there will be a next one.

“I know these creatures. There will come a time when the Alliance desperately needs the Vipers again. Humanity needs the Chu’si as allies and not just them. We need as many friends as we can get, before the Merkiaari come.”

Burgton stepped down and walked silently back to his seat.

The councilmen were silent as they regarded the hologram showing a huge Merkiaari male ripping a Human soldier in two with his bare hands.

“Well,” President Dyachenko said to break the silence. “All in favour of opening relations with the Chu’si please cast your vote by pressing the green button on your control wand.” He said and repeated himself once more. “Green for in favour.”

There was a minute of silence before Dyachenko spoke again. “The vote is closed. Ninety-three votes in favour, eleven against.” He said and turned to Rawlins. “I want a list of our best people drawn up for the council’s approval as soon as this session is over.”

“Yes, Mister President,” Rawlins said. The list had been drawn up the instant Canada’s first drone had arrived at Alliance HQ.

*    *    *

Professor Brenda Lane stormed into her office to find it being ransacked. She had been informed just moments ago that a dozen people in uniform had descended onto the building looking for her.

“What the hell are you people doing?” She snarled upon entering her office. “You!” Brenda said pointing to a man with a great deal of colour on his chest. “Tell them to put those back!”

The soldier glanced at her then away without speaking. He was reading a page of notes from a compad and took no further notice of her even when she stood glaring up at him from just a pace away.

The items Brenda was referring to were her reference texts. Two women were stripping her shelves and placing everything into padded aluminium cases. She went forward and tried to take the current book the soldier was holding, but the woman was built like a gorilla and wouldn’t let go. She turned away only to find a man stripping her computer files.

“What the fuck is going on?” Brenda snarled into his face.

“Don’t worry ma’am,” the officer said. “I’m being real careful.”

“I don’t care! You leave that alone!” She said trying to shoulder him aside.

“Now don’t do that ma’am,” he said. “I have my orders.” He gently but firmly moved her aside and another man barred her from approaching her terminal.

“What orders?” Brenda asked but the man continued downloading her files. “Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” She shouted.

“If you will calm down Ms Lane,” A man’s voice said. “I will explain.”

Brenda whirled toward the door and found a better target. This man was a General or something, she thought noting all the flashy gold on his uniform. She stalked toward him to tell him off, but before she could get a word out, he spoke again.

“First things first. You are professor Brenda Lane?”

“You know damn well I am!” She spat. “Who the hell are you?”

“I am Commander Freylin. You are the Brenda Lane, professor of Exobiology, and Xenology.”

“I said yes dammit! Thanks to people like you there’s nothing to study in the field of Xenology any more!”

“People like me?” The man said in amusement.

“The Merkiaari are the only alien species we have encountered, but what do we do when we meet them? I’ll tell you, instead of studying them, we kill them!”

The man’s face turned to granite. “Six point two billion people were killed by the Merki, professor. People like me ensure people like you are alive to study.”

Brenda sneered. “That is a tired excuse. You damn militarists are all the same.”

“Perhaps so,” Freylin said. “But that goes double for civilians. You all want to be protected in your little lives, but when the shooting starts you protest that the military are warmongers. Why don’t you people grow up? Do you know how many soldiers die each year to keep you damn civilians safe?”

“That’s enough Commander!” Another man said.

Freylin stiffened to attention. “Sorry sir!”

Brenda turned her glare at a new target. “Are you this man’s keeper?”

“I am.” He said in amusement.

“Good!” She said. “You can tell him to tell his gorillas to put everything back the way they found it!”

“I’m pleased to meet you Ms lane.”

“It’s professor Lane to you!”

“And I am Admiral Rawlins. If you will come with me please?”

“I’m not going—hey!” Brenda shouted as two very large men laid hands on her. “Let me go or you’ll be sorry!”

The two navy ratings smirked and hustled her out the door to follow the Admiral, with two more as escort a few paces behind. Rawlins walked quickly through the corridors ignoring her squawks of outrage.

“Help! I’m being kidnapped, somebody call security!”

People poked their heads out of the classrooms and labs as Brenda screamed bloody murder. Professor Wilder took one step further though, he stepped out of his classroom to see what was happening. He confronted the Admiral and barred his progress.

“Where do you think you’re taking professor Lane? I demand an explanation!”

Rawlins frowned in annoyance. “And you are?”

“Professor James Wilder.”

“Professor of what might I ask?”

“Palaeontology.”

“Has that any links with Exobiology or Xenology?” Rawlins asked.

Wilder frowned. “With Exobiology certainly… in a way. Palaeontology is the study of life in the geologic past. It’s the analysis of plant and animal fossils. Exobiology deals with present day life on other planets, so you see there is a tenuous link.”

“Enough of the lectures, James,” Brenda called. “Can’t you see I’m being kidnapped?”

“Quite right, sorry Brenda.” Wilder said shamefaced. “I must insist you let her go.”

Rawlins appeared to ignore him. “Fossils? They are found on any life bearing planet?”

“Of course!” Wilder said wondering if the man had even heard him. “But I really must insist you let Brenda go right now.”

Rawlins nodded thoughtfully then shrugged. “Jones, Hopley,” he said to the two unencumbered navy ratings. “Professor wilder will be accompanying us.”

“Aye sir,” Jones said and moved to take wilder in hand.

Brenda shook her head in exasperation as James protested and tried to free himself. Hopley moved to take his other arm and then they were all hustled out of the building.

“See here, you can’t do this!” James said.

Brenda grinned even while thinking nasty thoughts at Rawlins. “I think they can James.”

“But! But I haven’t done anything!”

Brenda shrugged as she was able. “Neither have I, but they are ransacking my office and stealing everything not nailed down.”

“Not stealing, borrowing,” Rawlins said absently as they reached a huge car. “That reminds me.” He said, and spoke to his driver who ran off to order Wilder’s office ransacked similarly.

Brenda and James were bundled inside the car followed by their keepers.

“All right!” Brenda shouted. “Stop pushing me will you?”

“Do you promise to be good?” One of Brenda’s keepers said.

She fumed, but what was the point of struggling when she had no chance against the two muscle-bound gorillas. “I’ll be good,” Brenda grated between clenched teeth.

It went much easier after that. James was quick to agree when asked the same question, and Rawlins sat opposite them to await his driver.

“Where are you taking us?”

“Yes, and what’s it all about I would like to know,” James added. “You aren’t a subversive are you?”

“James!” Brenda gasped in outrage. “I have no idea what is going on.”

“All will be explained to you,” Rawlins said as his driver climbed into the car and started the turbine.

As the car pulled away, Brenda saw a van pull up and receive the aluminium cases containing her books. What the hell was going on?

“Am I being arrested for something? Deported?”

“Deported!” James blurted in shock.

“You’re not under arrest. The President needs your help with something,” Rawlins raised a hand to prevent questions. “That’s all I will say until you join the others.”

“What others?” Brenda demanded but Rawlins remained silent.

Brenda fumed in silence for the rest of the journey. Their destination was a surprise to both of them. The spaceport was an unlikely place to meet the President, she thought, but then this whole thing was pretty damn unlikely.

Rawlins climbed out of the car followed by James. Brenda hesitated but one look at her jailers was enough to make her climb out hastily. They didn’t lay hands on her this time, but they hovered close as if expecting her to try to run. She wouldn’t do that; electrified fencing surrounded the spaceport.

“This way,” Rawlins said and led the way inside the terminal building, but instead of heading toward one of the gates, he turned right and entered the V.I.P lounge.

Once inside, their keepers left them and joined others like themselves standing by the door. Relief swept through Brenda as she entered the lounge. James and she were not the only ones here against their will. Being kidnapped didn’t seem so bad when there were a dozen of you. It was silly, but she felt safer in a group. The second thing to pass through her mind was recognition. These people were all highly respected scientists in the fields of exobiology, xenology, linguistics, physics, astrophysics… Brenda knew them all, though James seemed not to. He was the odd one out, and was only here because he had intervened in her kidnapping.

“I’m sorry I got you into this James.”

“Not to worry,” James said full of false cheer. “This is the most excitement I’ve had in years!”

She smiled and patted him on the arm. “Let me introduce you around, we might learn something of what is going on.”

“Good idea.”

They mingled with the others listening for titbits of information. Nothing anyone said made the least bit of sense until an older woman was hustled into the room by two burly navy types.

“—Listening to me? I’m going to sue you!” Janice Bristow shouted through the door.

“Hello Janice,” Brenda said grinning.

Professor Bristow whirled and glared, but when she saw who had spoken her face lightened. “Brenda! It’s been too long. And who is this handsome fellow? A new man in your life?”

“Janice!” Brenda said blushing. “This is a colleague of mine. James Wilder, this is Janice Bristow. Janice was my mentor way back when I first decided exobiology was my thing.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Janice said and shook James’ hand. “Xeno, or exo?”

“Err, neither I’m afraid.” James said apologetically. “Palaeontology.”

“Palaeontology? That doesn’t make sense,” Janice said frowning.

“He tried to stop them kidnapping me and got swepped up as well.” Brenda explained.

“Ah! That’s more like it, I thought for a moment I had it all wrong!” Janice said in relief.

“You know what’s going on?” Brenda asked eagerly. “What?”

“It’s plain to see Brenda,” Janice chided. “She never could see what was right under her nose,” she confided to James.

“Janice! I can too see what’s under my nose!”

“Well then, you should have worked it out by now. The bloody navy waltzes in and kidnaps a dozen pre-eminent scientists from the fields of xeno and exobiology among others. All their work is stolen; all their possessions are packed up. It’s simple!”

“Janice,” Brenda growled. “Just tell me will you?”

“The Merkiaari are coming back!”

*    *    *

“They’re all here Mister President.” Admiral Rawlins said. “I still think you should have left this to me.”

“This is a momentous time for the Alliance, Paul, let me at least meet those who will meet the Chu’si.”

“As you wish sir, but if all goes well you will meet the Chu’si in person.”

Dyachenko nodded pleased at the thought. “I hope so. How are they all taking it?” He asked peeking through the crack in the door.

“About as you would expect. Most are angry; some are intrigued. All of them are planning to sue the navy!”

“I’m not surprised,” Dyachenko said with a smile. “I’ll make it a condition they drop the law suits, shall I?”

Rawlins laughed. “I think my budget can stand it.”

“Well I suppose I better go and face them. The materials I requested are ready?”

“Everything is ready. I have cordoned off the lounge and the scramblers are active. If all goes well they will embark the shuttle directly and be aboard ship before they can blink.”

“Good, good. Don’t want them to have time to change their minds!”

Rawlins smiled and led the way into the lounge. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called. “Ladies and gentlemen if you would all kindly take your seats, the explanation I promised will now be forthcoming.”

“Mister President!” Professor Bristow called as her colleagues seated themselves. “When are the Merkiaari coming?”

There was a stunned silence as everyone turned to Dyachenko to hear his answer.

“My dear lady,” Dyachenko began, but Admiral Rawlins leaned in to whisper her name. “Professor Bristow you are not here to study the Merkiaari. They are old news and let us hope they remain so. No, you are here at my invitation to see something I hope will be a boon not a bane to the Alliance. Now, if you will take your seat I’ll get started.”

Janice grumbled something inaudible and her two friends grinned. Dyachenko shrugged, whatever it had been was unimportant.

“You are all here because the Alliance needs your help. I apologise for the manner in which you were brought here, but secrecy is important. A while ago one of our exploration vessels received signals coming from ships of unknown origin. An investigation was undertaken and it was discovered the signals did indeed originate from an unexplored system.”

He turned to Jerry. “The first slide if you would.”

The room darkened and a picture was projected upon the wall. The room erupted into excited whispers as first one slide then another showed a schematic of the Chu’si system.

“Two of them!”

“Absolutely unheard of!”

“Both inhabited do you think?”

“Probably. Look at that atmospheric ratio—pollutants indicate industries!”

“My God, he’s right!”

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Jerry shouted. “Quiet down there! Please calm yourselves,” he said. “For goodness sake shut up will you! You won’t learn anything by jawing!”

“—Think he is, talking to us like that? If I was ten years younger I’d knock his block off!”

“Here, here. Damn whippersnapper!”

Dyachenko grinned as the noise slowly died. “I’m sorry for the primitive method for displaying this information, but time is short and the lounge is not equipped with a holotank. You can view everything we have aboard ship should any of you be interested,” he grinned and received laughter in return.

“Interested he says! My God, this is the greatest opportunity this century!”

“For the last three centuries!”

Dyachenko nodded. “It is a great opportunity, and a great responsibility. I’m sure you all realise why I cannot let you tell anyone outside of this room about the Chu’si.”

“Chu’si,” the name was whispered throughout the room.

“The fools would panic—”

“People can handle it, surely? We have known for centuries we aren’t alone.”

Dyachenko broke in before the whispers became a full-blown debate. “I can’t take the risk. The council has decided to keep this information secret until the Chu’si have been contacted. I want all of you to journey to the Chu’si system and learn all you can about them, with a priority placed upon learning to talk to them. We have much to tell them; not least, we have to warn them of the Merkiaari. If we could find them, then so can the Merki.”

“You would infect the Chu’si with Humanity’s prejudice regarding the Merki?” Brenda asked.

“I hardly think one could call it prejudice miss?”

“Brenda Lane.”

“The Merkiaari are dangerous Professor Lane. They attempted genocide in their war against us. Is it fair to leave the Chu’si ignorant and perhaps in danger? Do they not have the right to decide for themselves whether the Merki pose a threat to them?”

Brenda shrugged uncomfortably. “I suppose so,” she said unhappily. “As long as it is their decision and not one forced on them by us.”

“I have no intention of forcing the Chu’si to do anything. I want them to be our friends, Professor. For that to happen they need to learn to protect themselves. Every day that passes, their ships are broadcasting the whereabouts of their homeworld. That has to stop before the Merki find them. We all know what will happen if they continue as they are.”

“That is a purely militarist point of view.” Brenda said coldly. “There are those among the scientific community that support the idea of communicating with the Merkiaari. I am of the opinion that the Merki can be reasoned with, and should be!”

“That is your opinion Professor, but I could find millions who would disagree with you. I do not have the luxury of taking such chances with the lives of our people. I will not be the President who opened the Alliance to annihilation by the Merki. If they want to talk to us they know where we are, but I will not go to them when doing so risks lives.”

Brenda grumbled, but the majority of the scientists were more interested in speculating on the best method to communicate with the Chu’si.

“Now then,” Dyachenko said. “We come to the point where you have a choice to make.”

“What choice?” Janice Bristow asked.

“You can all volunteer to join the contact team we are sending to the Chu’si, or you can go with Admiral Rawlins where you will have all knowledge of the Chu’si wiped using hypno.”

“Outrageous!” Janice spluttered.

“Not at all,” Dyachenko said. “I have told you I cannot allow news of the Chu’si to leak out. You will not be harmed, I assure you. Hypno is a well-proven technique. Those of you choosing to go please rise and walk through the door behind me; you will be met and shown to the shuttle. Those choosing mind wipe please remain seated and you will be attended to.”

There was a moment of silence before the scientists stood and trooped out to the shuttle. Janice Bristow stood, but waited for her friend Professor Lane. Dyachenko did not know what the problem was, but that there was one between the Lane woman and her male companion seemed clear.

“What’s going on with those two?” Dyachenko said to Jerry.

“I don’t know, Mister President. Should I find out?”

“Yes please, I think… no wait. It seems to be solved.” He said as Lane and her friend stood to follow the others to the shuttle. “Well, we seem to have a full house.”

“I think the threat of mind wipe might have something to do with it, Mister President.” Rawlins said with a grin.

Dyachenko frowned. “That wasn’t supposed to be a threat, Admiral,” he chided. “Hypno is perfectly safe.”

“True,” the Admiral agreed. “But no one likes the thought of it.”

He supposed that was true, but the idea of coercing his contact team, no matter how unintentional was upsetting. He wanted them motivated by the knowledge that the mission was worth doing, not through some misguided fear of hypno.

“All will be well,” Rawlins said.

“I hope so.” Dyachenko said heading for the door. “How is that other matter we discussed proceeding?”

“Burgton will see it done, Mister President. The mission is close to his heart.”

“That is good. We need more like him desperately.”

“We do,” agreed Rawlins. “Let us hope we have time.”

*    *    *