Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance Page 14

  “That would be a best case scenario then. What about worst case?” Cindy asked.

  “AI lock-out. Landree told us they were having trouble getting the AI to accept the programming they were trying to give them, so if they’ve stripped the AI controls over the ship, then the lock-out command should still work,” Goya explained. “Get the AI to lock-out commands from the crew, note their location, and we will send ‘assistance’.”

  “And if they’ve completely lobotomized the AI, so none of the commands work?” Cindy asked.

  “Destroy their hyperdrive engines, and move on,” Ian said. “There are civilians on those ships. I will not be responsible for their deaths."

  “Orders understood, Sirs,” Ty said. “We will begin as soon as we return to our base. We will start with the locations you've provided us from the prisoner. Will there be anything else?”

  “Nope, good hunting, Colonel,” Ian said. “Major, you should probably say hello to Jenny, Beth and the kids before you leave."

  “I was planning on it, Ian,” Cindy said, sadly. Her choice of profession had driven a wedge between the four friends. Cindy had moved out of their quarters when she left for Raptor training. Yes, they still had children, but Cindy was effectively no longer part of the family.

  Ian nodded to her. “Okay, I think that’s enough fun for one day. I’m going to go home and try to get some sleep. Good evening, Admirals."

  Fairchild Inn and Suites

  Suite 312

  Alamogordo, New Mexico

  North American Continent

  Earth, (Sol III) Sol System

  Sol Sector

  “Good afternoon, Admiral. Sorry it took so long to get this set up, we’ve been kinda busy up there,” Janet said by way of greeting.

  Admiral Hawkins opened the door for the two women. “That’s quite alright, Mrs. Laskar. It took me this long to get to a place where I could come and visit my grandkids."

  Janet smiled at the older gentleman. “Since this interview will involve a medical patient, I took the liberty to invite one of our doctors with me tonight. If possible, she would like to evaluate the young man in question. That way we’ll all know exactly what we're dealing with. Admiral Hawkins, may I introduce Doctor Shelly O’Halloran of the Terran Medical Corp. Doctor O’Halloran, may I introduce Admiral Hawkins, United States Space Command."

  After the two exchanged greetings and pleasantries, Janet got to the point. “Admiral, how did you see this evening proceeding?” Janet already knew what the plan was, but was told to try to hide her abilities. She didn’t know how it would turn out; the vision had been too fuzzy.

  “My wife is with my son’s family right now, or she would be here to meet you as well. As per our discussions, I haven’t mentioned anything about this to any of them. All I've told them is that we are having dinner with someone that I think can help Galen get better. Please, since you’re a civilian, and I’m off duty anyway, call me Isaac.”

  Janet nodded. “That’ll work. So, dinner in the suite then?”

  Isaac nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you’ll wanted privacy for this discussion, and the doctor will be able to take Galen into one of the bedrooms to examine him."

  “That would be great, Isaac, thank you,” Shelly replied, as Isaac led the two women into the lounge area of the suite.

  “Can I get either of you anything from the bar?” Isaac asked.

  “What do you have?” Janet asked.

  “Well, it’s a full bar, and I also have iced tea and a full pot of fresh coffee,” Isaac replied.

  “I’d like some tea, thank you,” Shelly replied.

  “Coffee for me please,” Janet replied. “Black is fine.”

  “My family knew something strange was up since I insisted on renting a suite this trip. We usually just stay with the kids,” Isaac said. “So, when I explained what I was up to, James was a little suspicious, but Galen and his mother, Jill, seemed hopeful. Even their youngest, Lynn, was excited. Although I don’t know if it was because someone might be able to help her brother, or if she was excited about the pool.”

  “How old is she? Isaac?” Shelly asked.

  “Lynn’s twelve, and Galen is fifteen; sixteen next month,” Isaac answered. “Do you have any children, Doctor?”

  “Please call me Shelly,” the woman replied. “Yes I do, Michael is ten this month. He wants to be a Marine when he grows up, just like his Daddy was."

  Isaac looked concerned. “Was?”

  “Martin was one of the US Marines killed in action at Talos,” Shelly said smiling sadly.

  “You have my sympathies. Those men were extraordinarily brave; it had to be a shock to realize you were fighting aliens,” Isaac replied.

  “Thank you. He was killed trying to rescue another soldier. One of the Talosian drones got him back to the aide station, but he’d lost too much blood to make it back to medical. The Commander gave him a medal for bravery. Michael has it hanging in his room, next to a picture of his father,” Shelly said.

  “So you didn’t blame the Terrans for the death of your husband?” Isaac asked.

  She shook her head. “No, I blamed the Caldarians. Colonel Anders and the people at Talos did everything they could for our troops, even breaking security and violating direct orders. The Terrans have a lot to offer the human race and seem to be going about it the right way. I wanted to be a part of that. Besides, most of the Marines from his old unit and their families are my patients. Even though Martin’s gone, they still treat me like part of their family.”

  “Semper Fideles. My son-in-law was your Martin’s commander. He is a good man, I’m sure he’ll make sure you and young Michael are always a member of the unit,” Isaac replied.

  Their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of the rest of Isaac’s family. Both Janet and Shelly were introduced by name, but no mention of their organization was made.

  As Jill pushed Galen’s wheel chair into one of the rooms with Shelly following, James Hawkins mixed himself a drink at the wet bar. “Mrs. Laskar, I noticed that Dad didn’t tell us what company or organization you and the doctor are with. Is it some kind of secret?”

  “Not really, it’s just that if I told you, I doubt you’d know what I was talking about,” Janet said. “Please forgive me, Captain, I’m a licensed Psychologist, and far too nosy for my own good. Before we get into this tonight, would you like to talk? Maybe just blow off some steam?”

  James flinched. “I’ve had a really bad day is all, then with the stress over Galen, it just gets a little too much to handle at times. I apologize if I seem short with you.”

  “Are they still riding you over those performance profiles?” Isaac asked. James just looked at him like he didn’t know what his father was talking about.

  “Relax, Captain. I rode down here in one of the craft that is giving you a headache,” Janet said, grinning.

  When he heard what she said, James stopped with his drink half way to his mouth. “Excuse me?”

  “Captain, I work for the Terran Defense Force as a Recruiter. I am here tonight to see if we can help your son to walk again, and see if you and your family would like a change of scenery.”

  “You can fix Galen?” James asked.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. That’s why Doctor O’Halloran is examining him right now,” Janet replied. “I’d be surprised if we couldn’t though, our Chief Medical Officer once told me that they could fix almost anything as long as the brain was still functioning.”

  James looked at his father. “So this is why you’re retiring? Because of these folks?”

  “Yes and no. My actions during the battle they have you analyzing have been questioned by the joint chiefs. They’ve already told me I’m going to be retiring," Isaac shrugged. “Once he heard about it, Commander Williams offered me a position with the Terran Forces. I haven’t decided yet, or even had a chance to talk it over with your mother, but the offer is very attractive."

  James sat his drink back on the bar with
out drinking it, and grabbed a soda instead. It was obvious his mind was going a thousand miles an hour.

  “Honestly Dad, I don’t know what to do. I swore an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States, just like you did. Wouldn’t joining the aliens be counter to that?” James asked.

  Isaac shook his head. “They’re not Aliens, James. Commander Williams was born in Denver. Look, there is a lot going on your not cleared to know about, but they have made it pretty damn clear they are not here to do anything other than what they've said. Even the President is starting to realize that. The UN has already accepted them.”

  “But what about our oaths?” James asked. “Our word is the most important thing we have. You taught me that.”

  Isaac nodded. “I did, and I still believe that. However, I don’t see how going to work with these folks is counter to that oath. The difference being is that we will be defending the whole planet, not just one country. The Terrans will not stage offensive actions on this planet unless requested to do so, and with the approval of the United Nations.

  “Do you remember that dust-up between Pakistan and India a couple of weeks ago?” Isaac asked.

  “Yeah, what about it?” James asked.

  “What the news people weren’t told was that they crossed the line this time. Full nuclear and biological attack.” Isaac pointed to Janet. "Commander Williams and his people stopped it. As I understand it, they lost a few Marines during that action, but they stopped the war before those weapons could be detonated.”

  “I find that incredibly hard to believe. How can someone stop a nuclear war after the missiles have been launched?” James asked.

  “I’m not a military person, Captain, so I can’t give you exact answers, but I believe we had our fighters shoot them down. I should mention that our Marines were killed in a separate incident that just happened to take place at the same time and place,” Janet explained.

  “Your fighters can outrun, and outmaneuver a smart cruise missile?” James asked.

  Janet shrugged. “I would imagine so, they are very fast. I know that the Commander brought the ship into close orbit over the conflict area. So some of them might have been shot down by that.”

  It was clear the James was getting more and more confused as time went on, so Janet smiled at him. “Look, in a minute, once Shelly is finished looking at your son, I’ll explain everything about us, and how you can fit in up there. I do have to ask you to swear that you will not report or otherwise confer the knowledge learned during this meeting to anyone not present. Can you do that for me?”

  James nodded. “I can, as long as it doesn’t conflict with any previous oaths.”

  Isaac shook his head. “Not good enough, James. Speaking as an active duty officer, superior to you in rank, I order you to keep everything you learn here tonight a secret. Peoples livers are at stake, Son.”

  James again looked at his Dad. “How is anyone in danger over this?”

  Isaac chuckled. “Don’t be slow. You know damn good and well the lengths our nation will go to in order to secure knowledge of advanced weapons systems. Some of the people that joined them still have family down here. Do you think for a moment that they won't be used as hostages?”

  “Not by our country! We don’t do stuff like that!” James said.

  Isaac narrowed his eyes at his son. “James, get real! You know better than that! If they feel it’s vital to our security, the powers that be will stop at nothing to gain that knowledge. You used to know that.”

  Although he didn’t agree with his father, James did accept the order not to talk about what he learned tonight.

  Further conversation was stopped by the bedroom door opening; Shelly pushed Galen’s chair out. Galen was grinning, and Taylor, Isaac’s wife, was holding a crying Jill.

  “Lots of work to do, but yes, we can fix this,” Shelly said, grinning. “You’re on, Janet!”

  “What? How? The doctors said his spinal cord was permanently damaged!” James replied.

  “Yes, they did, and if left the way it is, he would never recover. However, even though the spinal cord is considered part of the brain, at least to us, we have the ability to tell the body how to repair this. That’s why it’ll take so long, that, and he’ll have to learn to walk again, but that’s about all there is to it. Give him a month, he’ll be able to run faster than you can," Shelly explained. “Although I think I’ll have to make sure all the pretty nurses are assigned elsewhere, or he’ll start goldbricking in order to stay in medical!”

  “Dad, is this for real? I mean, is this... are these people for real?” James asked.

  “Son, I swear to you, everything these people have told you is the truth. I’ve even been on their ship,” Isaac said.

  James looked at his smiling son and crying wife. His daughter was looking around seriously confused since she had been on the balcony and hadn’t heard the earlier discussions. Finally, James sighed. “What do we need to do?”

  “There are choices for you to make,” Janet replied. “We can simply stage the deaths of your family, and move you all up to the ship together. Not an ideal choice since you'll probably want to return to the planet sooner or later.

  “We can take your family up now, while you finish your current commitment to the military. We’re not going anywhere, and it is a simple matter to send a shuttle for you. We would have to come up with a viable explanation for the disappearance of your family though.

  “Finally, we can simply wait until you have completed your current commitment, and take all of you up together. Of course we could also take just Galen and put him in treatment, but we would not be able to return him to the planet unless he could be protected from the intelligence folks. I would need approval for that, but it is a possibility." Janet explained.

  “Could you take Just Jill and Galen, then return them once he gets better?” James asked. “I really don’t want Galen going through all of this alone.”

  “I can do it Dad! Hell, I’ve made it this far!” Galen said excitedly. “Besides, I really don’t want to spend any more time in this chair than I have to.”

  “Galen, you’re only fifteen,” James held up his hand to stop the outburst from his son. “I know you can do it. The thing is, there is a major emotional stress factor here. I know I wouldn’t want to go through it alone, and I’m not going to ask you to do it.”

  Galen smiled at his Dad. “Wingman?”

  James nodded. “I will always have your back, Galen.” He turned back to Janet. “Why can’t you just fix him, and bring him back? Do we have to join you to get him treated?”

  Janet knew this was a much contested area between Ian and Beth, but so far, Ian had won the arguments. “No, you wouldn’t have to join us. However, consider what will happen to him once his doctors see he can walk, and the damage to his spine is gone? How are you going to explain it? If you tell them the truth, he will be put through so many tests that it will drive him insane. There is a possibility that he will be abducted in order to figure out how we fixed him.” Janet paused. “If you don’t believe me consider what happened to your brother-in-laws entire unit. After they helped us at Talos, and we healed them, the entire unit was made to disappear. In actuality, they were taken to Papoose Lake in the Nevada desert for testing and analysis. Captain, they were going to dissect some of them!”

  Isaac nodded. “It’s true, James. Once I lost touch with the unit and was getting stonewalled by command, I asked the Terrans to locate them. Once I found out where they had been taken, I asked for them to be rescued. To a man, the entire unit joined the TDF and from everything your sister and her husband are telling me, it was the smartest move they ever made.”

  “So, you’re refusing to heal him unless we join you?” James asked.

  “Not exactly. What I’m telling you is that we can’t treat him unless he is a Terran, so he can be protected afterwards. Considering the current political environment, the time is quickly approaching when we won’t
have to worry about this stuff anymore, and we can freely treat everyone. However, for now, this is the way it has to be, I’m sorry,” Janet explained.

  “James,” Isaac said. “Do you remember a woman named Doctor Nancy Tennison?”

  “Tinker? Yeah, I remember her. She was a really good engineer. I heard she got bored with NASA and left the astronaut program,” James said.

  “She did. Where do you think she went?” Isaac said.

  “No! Tinker is working for them too?” James asked.

  Janet nodded. “In fact, she’s our head test pilot for combat craft. Currently she’s living on the moon, but will be moving to Mars once the facilities finish getting built."

  “There are people living on the moon?” Jill asked.

  Dinner arrived, so they all sat down to eat. While they ate, Janet told them the story and where they now found themselves. The explanation carried through until well after dessert.

  “I was wondering what happened to James’ sister’s family. The last message I got from her said they were on a classified mission, but that everyone was doing really well. She sounded excited and happy, so I didn’t worry about it,” Jill said. “It didn’t even dawn on me that she didn’t say who the mission was for.”

  Janet smiled. “She and her family are living at the new colony on the planet Atlas in the Centauri system. The Marines are assigned as the guard for the new space stations we are building there.”

  “Alpha Centauri?” Galen asked. “The last I heard we didn’t know if there were even planets in the system!”

  Janet grinned at him. “Actually, there are quite a few. Two of them are habitable by humans. There are asteroid fields, gas giants, and moons galore. That’s the reason the decision was made to build our dry dock facilities out there; the abundance of resources is astounding."