Askarjan, p.40
Askarjan, page 40
He turned to Belor. “My understanding is that your Confederation is more flexible, evaluating all aspects of a society, not just interstellar flight, before you make a decision about contact. You have made contact with species barely into the industrial age, and refused contact with species possessing interstellar flight on the basis of your analysis of the species in question. Correct?”
“Yes. If we think the contact will harm a species, or cause them to harm others, we stay away from them. If we think they will benefit from it, we don’t care what their level of development is, we go to meet them.”
“But you expect them to have some level of world-wide cooperation before you make contact, don’t you?”
“Absolutely. It’s the one place we are inflexible. We want to see some level of a planetary government, even it’s nothing but an informal agreement to work together, and a strong regard for personal freedoms. To us, both those issues are more important than interstellar flight. We don’t want to get drawn into a planetary war, advance one faction at the expense of another, or make the mistake the old Empire made and end up trying to force religious values or other debatable standards on people because we allied with a government guilty of intruding too much into people’s lives. Those are problems each species should work out on their own. Until they have, we don’t have any desire to be drawn into their conflicts. Your United Nations, weak as it is, is enough to make us positive most of you are willing to work together.”
Apiaphil said, “I’ll have to bring that point up to the Council. It might be worth rewriting the Non-Interference Laws to include it.”
He turned back to Andrew. “That doesn’t explain why you don’t want to join either of us. You have a rudimentary planetary government, and cooperation going beyond what it requires. You worked together in your first interplanetary war on a level many species with strong planetary governments would envy.
“While it’s true that you didn’t develop interstellar flight by yourselves, you do have it. At least, I think you have a few of the Grathorkian ships you captured.”
“We do. We offered to give them back, but Vercer Belor said we should keep them. Even if we gave them back, we’ve learned enough from studying them to make interstellar craft of our own.”
Belor said, “Given what you say I would submit that you have met both the Confederation standards for admission, and those of the Council. Like Ambassador Apiaphil, I see real advantages to your people in joining one or the other of us. You haven’t said why you’ve decided not to.”
“No, I suppose I haven’t. You see, we agree with the standards you’ve set for admission into your organizations. We have, at least superficially, met those requirements. The trouble is; most of it came because of the influence of the Council of Planets and the Grathorkian Confederation.
“We want to maintain friendly contact with both of you. We hope to learn from both of you. At the same time, we don’t feel we’re ready to take our place in either of your organizations. We have too much to learn first. We have a huge amount of work to do on earth, overcoming xenophobia, superstition, and prejudice. We haven’t learned to get along with each other as well as we should, so, at this point, expecting our people as a group to get along with other species is asking too much.
“Some day, in a generation, or two, or ten, however long it takes, we’ll be ready to join you. Not yet. Not until we feel we can bring as much to the table as we take from it, and join as fully contributing members. When we feel we’ve reached that point, believe me, we’ll let you know.”
Apiaphil said, “Your attitude proves to me that you already qualify, but I won’t debate the issue. Tell us when you’re ready. We’ll be waiting.”
Belor said, “As will we.”
Andrew said, “That’s another thing. Here we are, primitive little earth, in between two galactic superpowers. At least in my country, it’s an unsettling position to be in. We’re used to being a superpower, not one of the little guys.
“At the same time, this can work out well for us. We’re guessing the Council of Planets and the Confederation will have plenty of things to talk over and work out. It might be better for everyone if you could do it on neutral ground. Why not here? We’re about half way between your centers of government. Given our location it’s in our best interest to have your people at peace with each other.
“Who knows? By the time we decide to join up, we might not have to choose between the two of you. You might have merged into one organization. You’ve both talked about the benefits earth could have by joining with one of you. Think about the benefits we could have if we were all working together.”
Apiaphil nodded. “What you say sounds reasonable. In fact, it sounds excellent for all concerned.” He exhaled through his spiracles in a chuckle. “It will also give you far more power and status than any other solution I can think of.”
Belor held up his right hand and examined it closely. He nodded as if satisfied and lowered his arm until his hand was back on the table. He smiled. “Very good. I still have all seven fingers. I wasn’t sure I would.”
He smiled at the puzzled expressions of the others at the table. “Think about it. We have a planet, which, up to a few weeks ago, lacked anything but the most rudimentary interplanetary flight and now has interstellar flight. That same planet is about to put itself into what will probably become the most important diplomatic and political situation in the known galaxy. Because of its location, it will soon be sitting on the major trade route between Grathorkian Confederation space and Council of Planets space. I have a feeling Earth will take full advantage of the opportunities their location will offer. It has just been casually agreed, if agreed is the correct term, to become the home of the most deadly fighting force in known space. Before long, both the Council of Planets and the Grathorkian Confederation may be asking to join with Earth instead of the other way around. I think, from now on, I will have to count my fingers and be sure they’re all on my hand whenever I shake hands with someone from Earth.”
He smiled broadly and sincerely. “It is an excellent plan, Andrew, one we can all benefit from. As for our merging with the Council, we shall see. We have tens of thousands of years of hate propaganda to overcome, and the Council has little reason to love anyone who was ever associated, even in the most peripheral way, with the old Empire. Still, if your people can learn to live with the various bug-eyed monsters from outer space, I think we bug-eyed monsters should be able to learn to get along with each other as well.”
CHAPTER 58
“You sure this will work, Billy Bob?”
“I have spoken with the Lord, Chester. He assures me it will. No one will suspect an ambulance of carrying anything dangerous. You will be able to get to the UN building without any problem. One of our allies will be pretending to have a heart attack. When they call for an ambulance, it will be you, not the ambulance they expect, who responds. The Ambulance will have the nuclear warhead our Middle Eastern friends obtained for us. It is small and weak as nuclear weapons go, but it will suffice for our purposes. It will be enough to destroy the alien invaders, the humans who’ve sold out to them, and everything else for at least five hundred yards in every direction.”
“You’re sure I’ll have time to get away?”
“I wouldn’t ask you to go otherwise. The bomb will be set to go off twenty minutes after you leave the vehicle. Twenty minutes should be enough for you to be well clear of the blast. We are taking a risk, because the authorities won’t expect an ambulance to sit outside the UN building for so long, but I consider the risk acceptable in order to protect you and the other people involved in the attack.
“There will be a car waiting for you an easy five minute walk from where you’ll leave the truck. With fifteen minutes to drive, and obeying the speed limits, stopping for lights, everything else, you should be at least a mile outside the blast area even if something delays you or there are other problems. If all goes well, and I’m sure it will, you’ll be two or three miles outside of the blast area when the bomb goes off.”
***
Andrew smiled. It had been an interesting, and sometimes difficult, few weeks. First visits by aliens, followed by earth’s first, and hopefully last interstellar war, and now a peace treaty presenting two major galactic powers with an excellent chance to become good friends, and putting earth in a position to benefit from all of it.
From a personal standpoint he couldn’t complain. As the first earth Ambassador to the Council of Planets he and Mary would travel farther into space, and see more of the galaxy, than any living human from earth could rationally have dreamed of doing.
His friends were famous, and were coping well. Winston and Betty had announced their wedding plans, as far as he knew the first case of a human marrying an alien. He doubted it would be the last.
With the treaty signed, the stress would be reduced. Who knew? When he got back to earth maybe he would hunt turkeys again. Besides, Major Karash said that on his home planet they had a flying reptile about the size of a turkey and filling the same ecological niche. Karash loved to hunt them, and Andrew was willing to give it a try.
***
Doctor Celthorion, Ambassador to Earth, supposed she should be with the Council delegation. She stole a glance at Sam Chui, who was standing next to her. He was looking at her, not at the other dignitaries. They probably shouldn’t be holding hands, but she didn’t care.
***
Ambassador Apiaphil wiggled his antennae in disbelief. A few weeks ago he’d been an aide to the First Councilor. Then he’d been the Ambassador to Earth. Now he was the Ambassador to the Grathorkian Confederation. He was nervous about his new position, but mainly because he wanted to do a good job. He felt more confident about himself and his abilities than he ever had before. He was confident enough that, when he returned to the Council planet, he’d do what he’d wanted to do and been afraid to do for years. He’d ask First Councilor Helgearth to have dinner with him. Somehow he was sure she’d accept.
***
Quazlan Belor smiled at Flathen Vabol. “Everything looks good, old friend. Wemade a complete mess of things, but it eventually worked out.”
“Thanks in large part to these Earth humans. They are a remarkable people.”
“They are indeed. Do you have any future plans?”
“I do. I’m well past retirement age. I’d like to travel. I’ve talked it over with my husbands through transspace. They’d like to see Earth. After we spend some time here, I think we may take in some of the Council planets.”
“The idea of your retiring disturbs me. I’m not sure I can function without you.”
“You can, but you’ll need an aide. You know, your aide doesn’t have to be a noncommissioned officer. It could be commissioned officer.”
“True, but I can’t imagine who I’d chose.”
“What about that intense young Adjunct from the flagship? He could use some guidance, but there’s a huge amount of potential there. He reminds me of another young officer, one I was assigned too many years ago, and who turned out very well indeed.”
“We will see, Flathen. We will see.”
***
Agent Charles, the FBI agent in charge of those in the UN building, spoke into his headset. “It’s going down now. Colonel Miskaren checked the so-called heart attack victim. He’s faking it. Knowing it’s a ruse gives us enough evidence to be sure. Move in now.”
***
Reverend Billy Bob Laban smiled as Chester and the men posing as medical personal with him prepared to get into the ambulance. He’d miss Chester. The man was a good friend and a better tool. Unfortunately, he couldn’t risk anyone finding the bomb in the ambulance and finding a way to deactivate it. It would go off three minutes after it arrived at the UN building and Chester started the timer saying twenty minutes.
He didn’t suspect a problem until someone kicked his legs out from under him and he felt a knee in his back. He could see enough to know Chester and the men with him were also down. The people handcuffing them became visible. There were army Rangers, civilians who were probably FBI, and one of the disgusting, dinosaur -like aliens.
A Ranger and a woman who was probably an FBI agent yanked him to his feet. The Ranger spoke to the alien. “This should be it, Colonel. I think we got them all.”
Another alien emerged from the ambulance. “No problem, Colonel Siskric. The bomb was easy to defuse.”
The alien Laban realized must be Colonel Siskric said, “Good.” She looked at the FBI agent. “Your people will honor the treaty, will you not?”
The woman said, “I don’t like it, but yes.”
Laban said, “What treaty? What are you talking about?”
“The treaty our President is signing right now. You and your playmates are being charged with several counts of murder for the Grathorkians you killed, and several thousand counts of negligent homicide for the war you helped start. You’ll be tried, and if there’s a God in heaven you’ll be convicted.
“That part’s all fine with me. What I don’t like is the fact the Council doesn’t have a death sentence. Neither do the Grathorkians except in times of war, and, although I’m sure you’re disappointed to know it, the war is over. Both the Council of Planets and the Grathorkian Confederation consider death sentences barbaric, but much worse, counter productive. They have something else to deal with people like you. The Council of Planets has a prison planet, apparently with conditions much like earth. They send incorrigibles there for life. Kobolan robots and Askarjan guard it, so no one gets off.
“According to the treaty, if anyone is convicted of a capital crime against a Grathorkian Confederation or Council of Planets citizen, the person can be tried under our laws, but if convicted must be punished under their laws. In your case they’ve decided to go with the Council of Planets laws.
“Although I’d personally rather see you skinned alive, salted, and slow roasted over a low fire, there is an ironic justice to this. You, a psychopathic xenophobe, will spend the rest of your life on a planet with a million hard core criminals from over a hundred and twenty alien species.”
It took several seconds for her words to work their way through to Laban’s conscious mind. When they did, he started to scream.
***
President Chui smiled and looked at the cameras. “Today, our planet should rejoice. Today we have signed a treaty taking us into a new age, which I am sure will be the best and most productive age in the history of our species.”
***
Ruth Freeman was talking to her friends on the porch of her house. Tommy saw them first. He smiled and pointed in their direction. “Ruth, it looks like you have company coming.”
She turned and saw them, the two greatest heroes she ever expected to meet. Her brother, a hero who’d help fight the alien invaders to a standstill, was walking toward the house. Next to him, and although it was the first time she’d seen him without body armor she knew him at once, was Ulthran Tragen Hixil, a Grathorkian hero in the war against earth. Laughing and smiling she ran to meet her brother and the Grathorkian she knew she’d eventually marry.
THE END
Robert Clark, Askarjan
