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  “It seems peaceful enough, although I would be happier if it would communicate with us,” observed Mark.

  Suddenly, on the Martian surface a massive dust cloud formed. A plume of red dust rose into the thin air, then sank very slowly back to the surface. Barry turned pale as the hole where the antenna facility once existed filled with the settling dust. The huge disc turned and moved away very slowly. Barry pushed Steve and Jim aside and grabbed the microphone, “Computer transmit this to the alien vessel, ‘You have just destroyed life support equipment in the building needed for our survival. We beg you please help us.’”

  Barry gave an ironic laugh. “Shit a brick Mark, nice lie! But they don’t look as if they give a fuck to me, they blew it up now they are going home, mission accomplished, the arseholes.”

  Sensors had identified insect life forms as the reason for the self-destruct failure. Jay had given the order for the subsequent destruction of the facility . He had no inclination to engage in conversation with the natives.

  Jay’s intention was not to leave without a bypass of Earth. They would hide behind the Moon for a week or two, collect as much information as they could, then return to Saturn to await the portal. This was being agreed to when the AI interrupted. “Message from Earth craft states their life support equipment was in the facility. They request assistance or they will die.”

  “Give analysis of the situation AI,” snapped Jay.

  “It is possible they are in danger. They have a facility of their own but it is a long distance from the projector site. The craft they are on may not have the capacity to reach their base. There is a ninety percent probability we have compromised their survival.”

  “Suggest a remedy AI.”

  “We tow them to their base. Our protector force field can be activated and we can push them to the base. They then only have to land the craft.” Jay faced the crew, they were already nodding in agreement to the plan. The prospect of causing death to another human was not something that could be entertained. Clover was shivering with the thought of it. Trying to live with that on their conscience could lead to a life of therapy in order to avoid insanity. Jay gave the orders and The Pride of Tuath moved towards the shuttle and started to push it gently along.

  “OK... we stopped them from leaving and we have found out they can understand English and are basically compassionate. What we don’t have is two-way communications. I don’t think they are really very interested in us,” said Jim.

  “Yes, that’s definitely not a human response, where’s the curiosity factor?” replied Barry.

  “I have to get aboard that ship somehow,” grunted Mark, “they can’t just leave, are we even taking pictures of this thing?”

  “Yes, I have activated the external view camera, it’s picking up good visuals and projecting them to the colony,” said Steve. “Oh shit, this is all falling apart! Steve, get on to the colony, tell them not to allow any transmissions to Earth, we have an emergency that will become obvious very shortly. There are to be no communications with Earth at this juncture OK?” Barry was angry, control was slipping away from him. Mark knew Barry was capable of enforcing his demands if he had to. There would be a gun somewhere back at the colony. Mark needed to do something fast. “Let’s scuttle the shuttle,” he said.

  “Poetic, but an over- reaction mate,” said Barry .

  “We could all die,” said Steve.

  “I’m for it,” said Jim. “They have compassion, it’s their weakness, they will take us aboard if they possibly can.”

  Barry stared hard at Mark. “What’s your idea?”

  “We send them a distress call, then crash land. They rescue us.”

  “Oh, truly fucking brilliant,” said Steve.

  Barry thought for five seconds, hard.

  “Do it.”

  Steve shook his head.”No way!”

  “Do it, and make it look good or I’ll smash the controls.” Barry had a large adjustable spanner in his hand.

  Jay was not enjoying this and was anxious to get away from Mars and on to Earth. “The Earth craft is reporting malfunctions due to being pushed, they request we stop while they make some repairs,” said AI.

  “All right stop thrusters for five minutes,” said Jay. As soon as the thrusters stopped the shuttle started to fall from orbit.

  “The craft reports it is out of control and is rapidly losing altitude.” The crew ran to observation viewers. They looked on in horror as the small craft headed for the planetary surface. A foil air break opened above the shuttle and went some way to slowing the descent, but the inevitable impact was going to be too hard.

  “Get close enough for a molecular transfer!” shouted Jay. The disc ship, with its anti-grav coils glowing, descended within one kilometre above the stricken shuttle. There was no sign of life. Clover was shaking again.

  “They have to get out of the craft! AI transmit this message.”

  The four crew were alive but bruised with some probable fractures.

  “Now what?” said Jim.

  “Please exit the craft as soon as possible, stand or lay stationary outside as motionless as possible,” came a voice. Though obviously computer-generated, it had a pleasant soft quality. “You will be transferred onto our ship where you will be treated for any injuries.”

  “Oh thank God for that!” said Mark. They released the hatch after putting on a light environment suit. The four of them lined up beside the wrecked shuttle looking up at the huge silver disc glowing above them. Then they were gone.

  “Four native males are in the transport room. I am explaining decontamination to them,” said the AI.

  “Do it slowly AI. Then serve them tea and cake. Keep the transport room locked. Proceed slowly to their colony.”

  “Captain, two of them have sustained broken bones, they need to be reset by our ship’s doctor.”

  “I do not wish them to have direct contact with our crew. Suggestions please AI?”

  “Allow the patients to go to the hospital room, I will guide them. Have a sleeping pill or drink waiting for them. I will make sure they ingest it. Once asleep the doctor can administer a full anaesthetic then administer the treatment and leave before they wake.”

  “Very well. All crew are to help prepare for this drama and make sure they do not see you. I want them locked in the transport room on arrival. After treatment they are to be transported to the surface near their base as quickly as possible. We will send a message to the colony to let them know where they are.”

  Mark and Jim had sustained the injuries on impact. The ship’s computer opened a door and told them to go to the first door on the right where they were to drink the liquid in the glass beakers. Then lay on the operating tables. Jim had a cracked rib but Mark only had two dislocated fingers. They left Barry and Steve in the transport room and went obediently to the medical room. Mark pretended to drink the sleeping solution and then straightened his two dislocated fingers himself. They then lay down and waited. Within four minutes Jim was asleep while Mark lay with his eyes half closed and his pocket video recorder working away in his shirt pocket, pointed through a hole he had carefully cut before leaving the transport room.

  Mark’s heart was pounding as the door on the far side of the room opened and two shapes entered. He kept his eyes half closed as he wanted to get as much recorded material as possible before he was discovered. They moved first toward Jim and appeared to give him an injection. They then removed all his clothing. A scanning device was run over his entire body while readouts were received. Mark opened his eyes a little wider now that they had their backs to him. The aliens were small and slightly built, they were humanoid and apart from their height and slightly larger than normal eyes could have been mistaken for Earthmen. Mark judged their height to be less than one and a half metres. They appeared to be both males and wearing identical coveralls. They worked without speaking for a half an hour operating on Jim’s chest and attempting to reset the broken rib. When they had finishe
d one of them said something loudly and the ship’s computer replied. The language was vaguely familiar to Mark, but he understood nothing of what was said. They wheeled Jim out of the room and quickly pushed him through the door into the transport room, locking it behind him. Then they returned to Mark. He lay still with eyes half open, he noticed their eyes were not quite human, they were designed to function in low light surroundings. They were as large as his own which made them seem big for the small face they occupied. There was a slight catlike quality to them. One of them took his hand and lifted it up to examine when his companion screamed out something and they both ran out of the room, leaving Mark alone. Mark leapt to his feet and ran after them but the door had slid closed and locked behind them. Mark pushed the operating trolley and wedged the door leading back to the transport room open, then ran back to the transport room where the door automatically slid open for him. Mark quickly repeated the process of wedging that door also. Mark decided to get Jim back to the transport room, he did not like the crew being split into two groups.

  Jay was shocked the events had taken such a bad turn. The two doctors knew they had not been diligent enough and were looking downcast.

  “What’s done is done; we somehow have to retrieve this situation. Clover, I want you to get close enough to them to get me an emotional profile. Go! AI, visuals of the entire area under their control! The rest of you listen carefully. They think we are extraterrestrial aliens, we need to keep up that illusion.”

  At that moment the AI projected an image of the four natives into the middle of the control deck . One began to speak.

  “We are harmless and only desire to communicate with you under whatever terms or conditions you feel appropriate. You have demonstrated your compassion for which we are very grateful. Please allow us to converse with you. We will submit to your requests after that. It is imperative for our race that we at least attempt to gain some knowledge to take back with us. It could further the cause of peace and harmony on our troubled world.”

  Clover had been standing behind a wall and was physically less than two metres from Mark who was giving his address. She scanned them all and returned to Jay on the control deck. “The man who spoke was sincere and truthful. He is a person of integrity and wisdom. The others also emanate a desire for friendship although partially out of fear of death or injury. They have no ill intent towards us. The speaker has something he is desperate to find out, something to aid his people on Earth. His motives are essentially altruistic mixed with a strong curiosity.”

  “Thank you Clover; AI, tell the natives we wish time to consider their proposal. We will give them an answer in fifteen minutes.”

  Barry listened to the ships AI announcement and began pacing the room. Jim was sitting on the side of the operation trolley. “Mark, go through it for me, what did you see? Oh, and the speech was perfect by the way.”

  “They are small, about one and a half metres. I saw two males with short hair, one blonde the other brown. Eyes appear to be equipped to handle low light conditions. Slender build, five fingers, normal human features, light skin tone, not in the least scary to look at, quite an attractive race really.” Mark paused. “They use a language vaguely Earth–sounding, like it’s of European origin. Puzzling really, I’m trying to work it out. Mark, if they go for the conversation option you will be the only one to speak, it will maximise the amount of information we can get in whatever time they give us, is that OK? “

  “Yes, however if I get out of my depth I may need to bring you fellows in on the conversation.” Steve was looking apprehensive. “Why would they bother talking to us, why not kill us?”

  Barry answered that, “They have shown only compassion towards us . Their choices so far have only been based on a respect for life. If they believe we will leave quietly after a conversation then it is the sensible and, I might add, humane option.”

  Jay and the crew sat around the planning table. “Their summation of the situation is sound. We do not however have to converse with them in person. We can do it through AI.”

  Jade spoke next. “Our scanners discovered the projector was kept operable by the presence of insect life and then because of the situation we destroyed the facility without further investigation. Now we are rushing a brief interview with these people when we have an opportunity to gain huge insight into what is happening on Earth, which was the original reason for this expedition. I feel we need to re-examine our attitude here. They are not about to attack us, they are the ones vulnerable here and they are fully aware of their vulnerability. Let’s meet with them on a question for question basis. Both sides can have the right to refuse to answer without justification. Let’s put some dignity back into this encounter.”

  Jay stood up. “Firstly, those who feel we should have no further communication with them and allow them to go to the transport room when they are ready to leave, raise your hand.” No hands were raised. “Yes, well it would at the best have been a long drawn-out procedure,” said Jay.

  “Those for communicating through AI?” Jay and the two doctors put their hands up. “So it’s to be an historic face-to–face, is it?”

  Seven hands went up. “All right, obviously Clover and Jay and myself will take part, the rest of you are to be on vigilant standby looking for any sign of treachery.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  FEB 1ST 2031 THE MEETING

  “The stage is set, the players enter but the script is unwritten and no rehearsal is possible. The title of the play is Life.” Wisdom of the Elders.

  The AI announced the rules of engagement. They agreed to them and were told to exit the hospital room and walk down the passage until they reached an elevator. They were to step inside and they would be automatically transported. The elevator took them one floor upwards and they emerged in a very spacious control room.

  Three aliens were there to meet them.

  Mark stepped forward and offered his hand, his head slightly bowed in a gesture of deference. He did not smile as he had no knowledge of their culture. Jay shook it, and said in perfect English with a hard-to-define accent:

  “My name is Jay, I am the captain of this ship.”

  “My name is Mark I will be chief spokesperson. This is Steve the shuttle pilot, these are Barry and Jim who were assigned to investigate the facility on Mars that you destroyed.”

  Jay invited them to sit, fruit and water were laid out on the table. The fruit were a collection of standard citrus and berries common on Earth.

  “This is Clover and Jade, they are two crew members. Jade will lead our questioning.” Jade and Clover both shook hands with everyone. Both of the ladies were stunningly beautiful. Mark estimated them to be in their late twenties and Jay in his early thirties. Clover had short red hair cut with a large fringe while Jade wore her long, black hair loose almost to her waist. Both had green eyes and very pale skin. Barry was conscious of how ugly he and his companions must look to these perfectly groomed, perfectly constructed aliens in their neat green coverall uniforms. Mark and Jade took seats facing each other. Jade spoke in a soft melancholy voice. “Please partake of the food and drink, we have allowed one hour for this meeting. You as our guests may begin.” Mark was staring at Jade with his mouth open. The aliens did not show any sign of being uncomfortable with the situation, they just seemed anxious for it to end. Mark made an effort to stop staring at Jade. “Where are you from?”

  “We have arrived here directly from a planet hundreds of light years away.” Now it was Jades turn. “What is your life expectancy?”

  Mark was taken aback, obviously their questioning was not going to be what he would have normally expected in such an encounter. For Tuathans it was a crucial question. If the natives were still beset by a short lifespan it meant they were limited and had not realised the part that longevity played in civilisation.

  “I am healthy and am fifty-four years of age, I hope to live for another thirty years, at least. Did your race build the facility on Mars?”


  “Yes.” Jade was purposefully giving no more information than required. “Are there wars on Earth at this moment?”

  “Yes, and we were hoping you could help us end them.”

  Jay interrupted, “Question then answer only, please.”

  “Why did you destroy your Martian facility?”

  “It should have been destroyed a long time ago. It survived by mistake, we destroyed it because we wanted to preserve our anonymity.”

  “What causes your wars?”

  “The current wars are caused by ideological differences. A religious group that believes God wants them to destroy all non-believers is waging war against my people. Why did you not contact us before?”

  “We believe your race is corrupt and dangerous. Its future is limited.”

  Mark took a pause, Barry whispered in his ear briefly. Jade and Jay studied their guests’ physical reaction while Clover rode the waves of discomfort. It was Jade’s turn and she was not about to pull any punches.

  “Do you, personally, Mark, think murder is justifiable?”

  “Killing to preserve and protect the innocent is, in my opinion, justifiable. Have you no history of violence on your planet?” Mark felt sure of a yes to his question so that he could justify his race.

  “No, we do not kill others of either our kind or yours. For us it is impossible for murder is an insane act. Can you understand now our actions and how we view your race?”

  “I think you probably regard us as unstable killers who are unworthy of your interest. What do you call yourselves?

  “We are Tuathan and we are here to study your race. Everything in the universe is worthy of our interest. Do you, Mark, see my existence as a threat?”

  Mark smiled at that, and Clover sensed admiration and affection coming from Mark, the object was Jade. “No, I believe what you say and confess that we are the greater threat. I must ask you, plead with you, to take us to Earth and make yourselves known there. Earth must be made aware there are greater things in the universe than fighting over ideologies. You can help unify us and bring peace. Will you come?”