MEEK Page 24

  “You get me to a direct line, I must talk to Jay. If I can persuade them to put on a big show for the UN maybe negotiations can resume. It’s a slim chance but we wouldn’t be able to look ourselves in the mirror if we didn’t give it a try.”

  The Pride of Tuath was stationary. The AI was working to capacity with the huge amount of data pouring in when Mark’s message came. Jay was drinking tea into which he was dipping a biscuit. “Jay this is Mark Crawford. I am asking you to help us avert a disaster, the war currently between the Islamic religion and countries such as ours is about to increase in ferocity, millions may die. I request you come to Earth and give a speech at the United Nations in three days’ time. I hope you will do this so that the ties we share in common can be recognised and built on. Think kindly of us, Aes sidhe.”

  “Captain, the last words are not a normal farewell they refer to–”

  “I know what they mean AI! Jade, come to the control area.” Jade ran as fast as she could to the control area. “Interpret the message Jade, you seem to have a special insight into the character of Mark Crawford.”

  “He appears to know that we evolved on Earth. He does not want to make it common knowledge. He wants this favour in return for his silence. He wants us to confess to our origins and make peace with the natives. These are all the possible interpretations.” Jade was looking far from happy.

  “So he repays us with blackmail, is that it? Well it will not work!”

  “Please Jay, let me do it. I am expendable and the opportunity is unprecedented. Maybe the secret can be kept. I will ask him if you wish. It is not like the old days, we have our own planet now and do not have to be the victims of their behaviour. The Pride can stay in space out of harm’s way. I trust Mark to protect me and that his intentions are worthy.”

  “No one is expendable, Jade. What are you saying? We cannot co-exist, it has always failed and we owe nothing to them.”

  “That is my point Jay, we are not asking to co-exist. We can live happily without them now, but for them to become extinct does us no credit. It is also a missed opportunity to understand ourselves better. We evolved on this planet Jay, we still have an emotional attachment to it. To deny that is to deny our own humanity and that is not the Tuathan way.”

  Jay saw only one real advantage and stipulated it as a condition. “I will allow you to go but you will follow my directives. You will return in two weeks. You will not discuss Tuath more than needed. You will certainly not divulge Tuath’s location or offer technological help. Your brief is simply to prove our existence, let them handle that knowledge as they may. You may explain briefly our origins if you feel there is no other option, do not dwell on it however. Make only one speech at the UN. Then leave. You are to transmit full visual and sound at all times day and night.” Jay felt in dire need of Clover’s talents.

  Paul was elated. He was in the War Room surrounded by all the major players. “We need time to prepare the Tuathan representative. Professor Crawford will be assigned to her. Timing is crucial. The attack on the Southern Philippines will be triggered by the termination of the Tuathan’s address. The invasion of New Guinea will commence six hours later. This will give the Islamics time to move forces north away from our offensive. The consortium will send an expeditionary force into Timor at the same time as we attack PNG. Their brief is to minimise their own casualties by not engaging full-on and be prepared to withdraw back to Australia and form a defensive stance. Basically a series of hit and runs, unless of course locals manage to take the island, then the consortium will dig in and defend Timor. If they land on the Australian mainland we will use one unit in the array. Then call for a negotiated cease fire. China and Russia are not aware of our plans but will be informed just prior to the Philippine operation so that they can alter their strategy if they choose. That’s it in a nutshell. Good luck everyone.”

  Barry and Mark adjourned to their favourite pub as usual. “Jade arrives in five hours and will spend the next two days being questioned. Then off to the UN to give her speech, not knowing she is being used as a smokescreen behind which is a plan to kill tens of thousands of people. A really great piece of diplomacy Baz, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I know how you feel Mark, I’m not happy about it either. My one hope in this is that Jade’s speech will actually change the game play in some way. To the rest of humanity the Tuathans are still pure bred aliens. If they are seen as some sort of subspecies we are sunk.

  “I will need to inform Jade not to mention that and will need you to make sure I get her somewhere secure to explain it.”

  “Walk her straight to my car, I will be driving. You will have five minutes only before we get to the ASIO safe house.”

  “OK. If Paul finds out the truth about the Tuathans what will be his attitude, Baz?”

  “I don’t think Paul will give a shit and the religious will think the Tuathans are heathens and infidels who need converting. They actually have more value to us as an alien race who didn’t need God to be successful than just a bunch of failed Earth men cursed by God to wander the stars.”

  The disc ship arrived and Jade was deposited, Mark felt his heart leap as she appeared. Jade was carrying a suitcase and looked like a small, slightly bemused tourist looking for a taxi.

  Mark bundled Jade into the car and before she could say a word blurted out the whole story apart from her being used as a smokescreen and the plan to ramp up hostilities. Jade expressed her relief she would not have to explain their origins and warned them that she was under constant surveillance by The Pride of Tuath.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  MAY 2031

  “Unity and diversity are a balancing act; necessary to a vibrant society.” Wisdom of the elders.

  The Assembly was packed, a brief statement had been sent to all delegates that Australia had formed a friendly alliance with a race of aliens. A representative of the aliens was to address the UN following a short introduction from the Australian foreign minister.

  The foreign minister began in a subdued tone:

  “Although no longer a member of the UN we recognize it as a forum suitable for our guest and the unreasonable request we have made of her. This is an appeal for peace, an appeal to our enemies to give back the territory they have stolen and negotiate a lasting peace. War is being waged in the name of God. We defended ourselves not in God’s name but in Humanity’s name. The voice you are about to listen to can be nothing but objective and comes from a strength and wisdom none of us can challenge because we are frankly not qualified. Our enemies have struggled with each other to hold the moral high ground. Today we all have to step down and acknowledge the following speaker as the sole owner of that moral high ground which, in our past, has been used to slaughter the innocent. I very humbly present the official representative of the planet Tuath. Ladies and gentlemen, Jade of Tuath.”

  Jade walked slowly to the podium. She was dressed in a gold-braided green dress uniform of the Tuathan Space Guild. She nevertheless looked like a diminutive fifteen-year-old schoolgirl. Her long jetblack hair was worn in a braided pigtail with gold wire twisted around it. She had meditated and was composed. The angry rumble left over from the foreign minister’s introduction subsided. Jade had their undivided attention and the entire world was watching.

  “I have come from the planet Tuath, many light years away. I have been asked to give you this message and I give it freely in the hope that those here who have open hearts, minds and good intentions will act on it.” Her voice was soft but firm, she looked out on the audience from an aura of authority and dignity.

  “We have no war because we respect logic and compassion above all things. These two qualities are in short supply on your planet. You have replaced your responsibilities to humanity by manipulation of the concept of God. Your various versions of God all have one thing in common. The requirement of the suspension of logic, you call it faith. Faith will destroy you because it can and is used as an abdication of personal responsibility.
You can say God wills it, then commit inhuman acts.

  “You will now want to know if Tuathans believe in God. The answer is I do not know the heartfelt beliefs of my neighbours. Does God exist? Define God. God is the individual perception of ultimate truth. I stress the individual; not a mass agreement to a set of rules, not a club or society, not a divisive social construct nor an excuse to steal or enslave. Above all it is not about handing the responsibility of your existence to others because you are weak-willed and ignorant.

  “Tuathans have no wars, no crime. We are not perfect, we make foolish mistakes, we struggle with our own motives at times because we are free individuals. We love our freedom and protect it. We get confused by what we call heart logic and brain logic. We can be possessive of the things and ideas we love.” Jade paused, she had their attention. “Yes we are not perfect, but we have survived and been rewarded and we know we are evolving in the right direction. Our system of government is based on democracy, the right of the individual to direct the government through voting for selected representatives. This is the best system we have been able to adapt to, yet we believe we will evolve beyond it. We also have a council of elders who direct the government in moral and social issues. They are chosen from among the intellectual elite. It is a meritocracy guiding a democracy. We rely on the continuity of their wisdom and they can veto the decisions of the government if they can get a mandate from the populace. Free enterprise is also favoured, however the individual has quite heavy responsibilities to the state and these take precedence over individual concerns. All are born with equal rights and responsibilities. Individual talent, ambition and intelligence will produce inequalities in wealth in our societies just as it does in yours, but individualism is still seen as a driving force to keep our societies dynamic and freedom-loving. Moulding of the masses into unthinking consumers is the opposite of our aspirations for our people.

  “People of Earth you are contaminated by the fear of individual responsibility. Make a pile of your religious beliefs. Put your weapons on top of the pile and set it alight with the flame of logic. I regret to say Tuath can never coexist with you until this is achieved. You are on a path of self-destruction that you may never return from and we are sorry for the loss of an opportunity to share with you the wonders of the universe. I personally wish you well and hope the stars smile on you. Thank you for your attention. Goodbye.”

  Jade stepped down from the podium and began to walk away. The assembly erupted in a wave of shouting some were calls for a question time, but they were drowned by screams of hostility from the fanatics. Mark saw things were getting heated and walked rapidly towards her. He had taken her by the hand when a throwing knife struck her in the back. Jade let out a cry and fell into Mark’s arms. Security had grabbed hold of the assailant. Mark carried Jade out and she was placed on a stretcher on wheels. Barry was there with ASIO operatives. “Barry, get the assailant away from here,” cried Mark, “bullshit them, say he is subject to our laws, whatever, just get him back to Australia!” Barry pushed his way through the crowd with the help of six large operatives. Mark ran off after Jade.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  2031 MAY

  “Failure is generally unpredictable. Even a computer will tell you that and computers are not infallible, either.” Wisdom of The Elders.

  Jade was recovering and her two weeks were up tomorrow. Mark was sitting with her in her room, she was holding his hand and watching the news on television. Mark had hardly left her side since the UN. He was full of guilt and regret. The Philippine front was holding. Brunei was being threatened. Timor was secure. Intense fighting in PNG continued but the Islamics were virtually surrounded. Paul was predicting four more days and it would be over. The Chinese and Russians were looking in a much better position now and were taking over the initiative. American debate was starting to shift. Fundamentalist Christians were smelling blood. Israel had survived by turning itself into a fortress from which it barely managed to exist on a day-to-day basis. Islam could have destroyed them but had held back due to fear that it could sway American and Canadian sympathy to such an extent as to tip the balance of power.

  “It was a waste of time wasn’t it, Mark? Jay was right,” said Jade sorrowfully.

  “Hhmm, it’s possible you have helped indirectly. The debate in America often hangs around your speech, more moderate Christians are using it against the hard-liners. The next couple of months may see a swing of opinion our way.”

  “Your people had already planned an attack even as I was giving my speech.”

  “Yes.” Jade was looking out of the window her back now towards Mark.

  “I have appreciated your kindness and concern for me Mark, I think Earth could be a paradise, but I fear for its future. I will miss you Mark and I worry for your safety in the years ahead.” She turned and walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders, he instinctively bent and she kissed him on the lips, standing on tiptoe to do it. He straightened, embarrassed. She had her arms around him and her head on his chest. He was aware of the smell of her hair it was the smell of sandalwood. He felt like he was melting and wanted to cry. Mark pushed her away and took a step back. Jade looked hurt and a little shocked.

  “I’m sorry did I do something wrong?”

  Mark felt foolish now. “It’s just that you are in your twenties and I am in my fifties and... I can’t really explain.”

  “If I were in my twenties what difference does that make?”

  “I don’t know really... it is a biological thing, I guess... you know, child rearing and stages of life, that sort of thing.”

  Jade was actually laughing at him now. “Mark I have lived forty-two of your Earth years.”

  Mark stared hard at her. She looked no more than twenty-five. “Jade, are you telling me you have a different biological clock to us? What is your life expectancy?”

  “We age at Earth-normal until puberty, then we are given an injection when we reach twelve years old; this activates a latent genetic code. From then on, we age at a little less than half the speed, our average life expectancy is 170 years.”

  Mark sat down. “Ohh, wow... I mean wow, that really turns things upside down.” Mark’s mind was racing, a million scenarios were forming in his head. “Jade please, please do not tell anyone else this information. I will tell them after you have gone. I am frightened they will not let you go if they knew.” He looked around the room nervously, but he knew there was only a non-auditory monitor focused on the bed. Jade walked over to him and sat on his lap. He still felt awkward.

  “You think of me as a little girl, is that the problem? I can sense you want me, Tuathans have an empathy sense that is quite developed in some of us, like Clover. We have to work very hard to disguise our feelings; on Tuath mostly we don’t bother.” She was smiling up at him .

  “It’s complicated, Jade. I think you are wonderful but I need a little time. There was someone in my past who was killed suddenly. I haven’t really looked at another woman since then. I’m just not sure I’m ready, I hate failed relationships and, let’s face it, ours would have some pretty huge obstacles to get over.”

  “It’s all right Mark, I understand. I will tell you this. I will wait for you because I believe we will meet under better circumstances in the near future. I also believe we will find true happiness together, call it Tuathan precognition.”

  “I think you are right Jade. I am a bit overwhelmed but I will also be waiting for your return.”

  The next day at the pick-up site they kissed and held each other until the very last second, then Mark stood back and Jade vanished. The disc ship rose and, in turn, rapidly vanished from view.

  Mark asked Barry to drive him to ASIO headquarters where the man being held for the attempt on Jade’s life was kept. He asked to see him as he had some questions for him and of course he had top-level clearance. Barry and Mark entered the cell and the man rose from his bunk. It was obvious from his demeanour that he bore no sense of guilt or
regret, he had followed his beliefs. Mark picked up a wooden chair and smashed it down on the man’s head, who collapsed unconscious. Then Mark walked out, Barry trailed behind but said nothing, he put it down to long awaited therapy and the days of political correctness were long dead, so there was little need to justify what had happened.

  They naturally went and had a beer. “What did you learn about Tuath during the initial interview, Baz?”

  “Not a lot, she was under instructions not to talk about certain areas. They can travel at close to the speed of light and use anti-gravity when landing and taking off. Their AIs are capable of running the entire ship. The ship has a force field around it when in flight: it has limitations, though. The hole out on Saturn’s rings they call ‘the Portal’. She would not discuss it. She allowed us to scan and e-ray her but not take body fluids or tissue sample. We did of course steal some. She is to all intents and purposes a small version of a human. The eyes are a part of an induced adaptation to the environment on Tuath. The science blokes seem to have swallowed the alien story but it all looks like a product of genetic engineering to me. As for the social construction on Tuath, her speech at the UN pretty much summed it up. We asked about Tuathan history. She said that they had developed in peace and had been a space-travelling race for nearly a thousand years and that they had built and used the facility on Mars to study us and had landed on Earth on numerous occasions. When asked if they had encountered other races she said yes, but refused to elaborate. That’s about it. Oh, and they are strict pacifists.”

  “Did you ask how old she was?”

  “Her physiology indicated she is twenty-four and in beautiful condition.”