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  Later that day, Hawk met with Clover and Jade again. “You should know that Tuath had a disconcerting visit from the Friend. It made the elders realise that they could not presume to know what course of action would please the Friend, and constantly trying to please it was counter-productive. The new President advocated strongly for Tuathans to do things according to our own perceptions, that trying to please the Friend as the only motive for our existence would result in poor decisions or inaction. He was very persuasive. As a result it was decided to commit again to the recognition of our roots. Apparently, once it was announced, the populace met it with unexpected joy and relief,” said Hawk.

  “It is not so surprising,” said Clover. “We cannot be hurt on Tuath and we love it, but there has been a suppression of our true identity that is not healthy. We have two homes where once we had none. This one is still very tentative but we are here and have a right to be here.”

  “You should be warned that although we will be rapidly expanding our presence here we have in place an evacuation procedure. The natives have changed little in the past few thousand years. The latest AI extrapolations have them vanishing as a race in the next 500 years and being unable to sustain a reasonable level of technology in 200,” said Hawk.

  “The Prime Minister of this country is aware of the population decline. The consortium has been asked to prepare a report and some recommendations. It is only a matter of time before Mark asks me if we can help. How the elders will respond to that is going to be amusing,” replied Jade.

  “That will pose a real moral dilemma. The reducing population takes a lot of pressure off the land-grabbing mentality, reduces pollution, improves supply and demand and makes it easier for them to stop competing. The competitiveness is still a part of their nature and it comes at the expense of others.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  NOVEMBER 2035

  Mark was pleased to see Kana and Richard again. Paul had invited them to speak at a meeting of delegates from the Southern Alliance in Canberra. Representatives from the Tuathan community were also present. Barry had brought Barbara who was more intent on shopping than politics. Jade and Clover had met up with Hawk who they had not seen for six months. Richard and Kana had been showing graphs and extrapolations of population growth for various geographic regions.

  “The reasons for the decline are as follows. In the more sophisticated technological countries, such as China and Japan people refuse to breed. This is because they want a better quality of life. Government incentives have been unsuccessful in changing this perception. In Western nations, the low fertility rate caused by past environment pollutants has added to the problem. Disease in Africa and most of Asia is still unchecked because of the lack of political will. DNA degradation in Africa and the Middle East is at a very critical level. Added to all this we have a situation where warfare by right wing ‘Christian Crusader’ armies are plundering what’s left of the old caliphates while Muslim extremists are using terror tactics in China to try to re-establish themselves. The Consortium does not see any prospect of the fall in population reversing. Its root cause is ideological.” Kana and Richard sat down. Mark smiled because he noticed Kana was pregnant and drew it to Barry’s attention. They both congratulated Kana and Richard and Kana said she was only just three months into the pregnancy. It was now the turn of their old friends Daniel and Jack to speak on the impact of Tuath on other countries.

  “In general, they are seen as allies of the Southern Alliance and regarded as evil by all religious denominations. At best they are resented in the north and would be annihilated if they had the capacity to do so. The Tuathans themselves are integrating slowly but surely with us here in Canberra. The reservation is developing into a self-sustaining environment and within six months will require almost no resources from the outside world. Islam is no longer a threat to the Tuathans as they have no capacity to launch an offensive. Right-wing Christian extremists are a possible threat and are being monitored as their governments in the West are losing control of them. The Americans are trying to develop weapons systems to take out the array, other nations show no interest in doing so.”

  Paul talked at length about the positive co-operation between the countries of the Southern Alliance; food shortages were a thing of the past. South American delegates expressed their concern that migration from their countries to Australia and New Zealand was having a negative impact on economic growth. Paul agreed in principle to the curtailing of permanent migration from South and Central America. The Southern Alliance was still experiencing negative population growth, although it was not as pronounced as in the north.

  The conference ended positively and the delegates left getting everything they had hoped for from Paul. He stated later in private that the Alliance was easy to deal with as the objectives were mutual. His concern was that stagnation was setting in among much of the north and economic progress was faltering. The attempt by the Americans to counter the array had the support of the Christian right but other technological advancements for peaceful purposes were being shut down. The Chinese and Japanese were the main players in the north now. Paul saw an alliance with the Chinese as his next major objective on the world stage. The Japanese had warned him against such a move. They felt that once the Chinese had eliminated the Islamic threat in the east they could become a threat to the rest of the world simply because they were becoming the world’s ethnic majority.

  A state banquet was held the next night at which the Tuathans were very popular with the South Americans. Paul took the opportunity to ask Hawk his impressions of the conference. “I’m afraid Prime Minister, nothing of particular interest came out of it for us. You see, we have been observers of your race for three thousand years and nothing has changed for you. We do not stagnate, we do not make war, we evolve and adapt. You are facing a dwindling future. We on the other hand, are enjoying our present and looking forward to our future. Tuathans have reconciled ourselves to the atrocities committed against us on this planet and see it as having earned us the right to be accepting of both your fate and ours.” Paul looked shocked, he had never had a Tuathan speak so candidly before and recognised it as a symptom of their new policy in dealing with the ‘natives’. It was almost smug. Paul was also not afraid to be candid. “What is it about you people that makes you so sure that we won’t survive?”

  “Your lack of ethics.”

  Paul again was on the back foot and feeling himself getting angry. “Then teach us! Show us what we need to understand.”

  “Very well. Send Mark to Tuath. He can return with Jade and live there for one year. Let us see what he learns. Of everybody on the Earth he has proven himself to be worthy of this. I am sure the elders will accept and welcome him.”

  Paul was taking a deep breath, his mind racing, but it was too good an opportunity to miss. “Hawk you have really thrown me off my guard, but yes, it is a wonderful suggestion. We have never dared ask for such a privilege in the past. This new approach to diplomacy has me confused and pleased.”

  “Mark has earned this offer. I can offer it to no other; neither could I have made this offer a year ago. But we all evolve and we cannot deny you, who have acted honourably towards us, this chance. I have full authority to make this offer, you may convey it to Mark whenever you wish. Jade and Clover will have suspected the time for such an offer was close and he had intimated some time ago his willingness to take on such an adventure.”

  “There is no time like the present. Let’s us go and find him together,” said Paul anxious as always to close a deal before it evaporated.

  CHAPTER TEN

  JANUARY 2036

  The fleet that January consisted of another three ships. The Pride and the original three were to return to Tuath. It was to be like old times, Hawk was returning to take leave with Clover. They had become close in recent months. Hawk would be a ship’s captain once more and was looking forward to shedding his diplomatic status. Clover had to accompany Jade as per her instructio
ns and was very happy to do so as it enabled her to make vacation plans with Hawk once they arrived. Mark was both excited and nervous. He would be an alien once The Pride lifted from the surface and would need all his skills to adapt to new stimuli.

  The Pride left early January and was in place at the coordinates three days before the portal opened and the three replacement ships came out. Both of the fleets let their AIs do the data exchanges for two or three minutes before exchanging their own vocal greetings and best wishes. Mark had been briefed on what would happen once The Pride made its run for the portal. Mark was just a useless passenger and sat back and watched as the crew silently and quickly made preparations for the leap and jump as they fondly called it. The AI was working hard and the crew were monitoring its status. Mark felt nothing as the leap towards light speed took place. The stars outside the ship winked out and the monitor showed the golden circle rushing towards them. A split second of blackness and the stars shone once more.

  “Is that it? Can I stand up now?” Jade came over to Mark. “Come on I’ll show you the neighbourhood. What you can see out there is the planet we call Gateway. We will do a fly-over so you can see more of it. Gateway was Tuath’s equivalent of Mars but it is much more industrialised.” As The Pride swept over the rocky landscape evidence of mining and smelting operations could be seen. They were on the daylight side of the planet but the colours were mainly violet shades with purple shadows. Bright pinpoints of artificial light shone from the buildings, directional beacons and searchlights shone in tight laser beams into the sky in green, white and orange. The entire affect was of a surrealistic fairground. There were even monorails with ore carts shining on a silver rail looking at this distance like a roller-coaster ride. Small disc ships plied their way carrying personnel between the various facilities.

  “It’s fantastic Jade. Do people live permanently here?”

  “No. It is much more pleasant on Tuath. People work here because the pay is better and the government on Tuath finds it is approved of by the populace. You see, we have found that some industries are better kept off-planet even if it increases production costs. Our government is democratic and our society and economy is capitalistic in nature. There are some major differences between our system and yours. One is the right to work when one chooses and walk off the job when we choose. Work contracts are always very short term, no more than a year. Non-contracted labour is on an hourly basis. All pay is negotiated on an individual basis with the employer. People tend to be able to organize the work lifestyle in collaboration with their employer. Everything is negotiable on Tuath. It makes for less regulation and more individual freedom. Your governments keep making laws to control behaviour. Ours is a planetary government that measures its success by how few laws are required to control behaviour. The industrialisation came about by a silent consensus and has been growing rapidly.”

  The Pride rose up out of Gateway’s orbit and set course for Tuath. Mark wondered if the future of Mars would be along these lines. Perhaps the Consortium was already seeing things that way? Mark was very fond of The Pride. It always made him feel safe and secure, maybe it was the crew or maybe it was the design. They were moving at a slower pace now as the AI was talking to Tuath and preparing for a landing. Mark watched as Tuath came closer. If Earth was a sapphire then Tuath was a ruby. But it wasn’t the red of Mars, it was a soft, pink-tinted colour where the light shone strongest. They were to land in the capital at the major spaceport. There would be no welcoming committee, instead he would be taken to a quarantine station, then to an interview with the elders. Jade asked the AI about the lack of formal greeting. The AI responded candidly. “The general consensus among the population is very favourable to the Reservation and its expansion ninety-eight percent. Greater contact with natives on Earth by the settlement has seventy-six percent support. Allowing a native to come here fifty-two percent support.”

  Jade shook her head. “Not exactly overwhelming, is it Mark?”

  “No, a bit disappointing. Still, maybe I can win some hearts and minds over the next year.”

  “Hmm, I think you are certainly going to have to go out of your way to be very diplomatic. This is not just a study mission for you, it is mainly about Tuath judging your capacity to adopt our philosophy of life. Be prepared for a grilling when you do a sit down with the elders and the President. Some are bound to be antagonistic toward you. There will be empaths present and every type of sociologist and psychoanalyst you can imagine.”

  After the quarantine they were told to go to Jade’s home where they were to await a summons. A small hover-vehicle shaped like an upturned plastic transparent bowl was made available. It was, as Mark found out later, Jade’s personal possession. Jade steered it to the singles’ units where she had a two-bedroom apartment in a mainly glass tower twelve storeys high. The city was circular in design and was just simply named Capital City. The centre was the administrative hub, then a commercial and retail ring . Further out were what was known as the singles district, then schools and university and medical centres. Roads were only used by foot traffic. An underground metro system serviced the inner city. Industrial centres were located elsewhere on the planet.

  From the hovercraft, Mark could see homes spreading out in circles into the distance, each set on a large piece of land. Short well-trimmed grass seemed to act as roadways connecting them. Jade said they were not strictly roads but more a combination of parkland, hover road and an open area so that short-distance transport facilities could operate. She promised to demonstrate how the transport system worked at a later date.

  Jade’s apartment was on the eighth floor. They parked their vehicle on the roof and descended in an elevator. The apartment was spacious and open-planned. It was furnished in what was, for Mark, reminiscent of Japanese zen-style. The view from the full length floor to ceiling windows was soothing as the light on Tuath was never harsh. Mark felt at home even though the surroundings were not what he was used to. Jade used a replicator for making dinner, which she apologised for. She promised a properly cooked , romantic dinner once they found time to do some shopping.

  In the morning, the summons came to attend a reception lunch followed by a more formal discussion with the elders. Mark was not sure what they wanted from him and took the attitude that he would only speak when spoken to. He was anxious not make a fool of himself. The lunch was very pleasant but the questions came thick and fast, later.

  “What do you hope to achieve in your coming year, Mark?” asked an elder named Drift.

  “I seek to know and understand our differences. I want to find out about what has made you successful in order to avoid the constant conflicts and disasters we seem to afflict on ourselves at home. On a more personal note, I am bonded with Jade and I am pleased to have this opportunity to see her in her ‘natural surroundings’ so that I can understand her better also.”

  Drift looked satisfied with this. The questions went on for an hour. They mainly wanted to know about Mark’s attitude to the religious conflicts and why humanitarian aid had not been offered to the conquered Islamic nations. Mark answered truthfully and the elders looked appalled at his answers. He thought they were being a bit hypocritical considering they refused to interfere themselves. He made the point and was amazed by the reply.

  “Many centuries ago we would have gladly helped the natives. All attempts to integrate were disastrous, or to even live side by side. Can you see the parallels between yourselves and Islam? Even Christianity has an inherent antipathy to democracy. A theocracy is not humanistic, it is hierarchical and preservation of the status quo is the name of the game. If you demonstrate altruism you may be made a saint, but you will definitely be made a martyr.

  “You have the keys to the city, as you would say. Jade will instruct you fully in our history and you will find out what truly motivates us. We are going to keep only some of our technology secret. Our philosophy is to be laid open for your full examination.”

  Mark expressed hi
s gratitude for their openness and eventually he and Jade returned to Jade’s apartment. Jade had made up an itinerary of things for Mark to do and see. First on the list was a visit to the Museum. This was going to be a big undertaking as the Museum was immense and held the entire history of the Tuathan people. The public pronouncements of the elders and the Book of Laws were kept the Hall of the Elders. The government buildings were strictly administrative and all business was recorded and stored at the Museum. On entering the main portico of the building Jade guided Mark to a small room. “This room is a teaching space. It is connected to the Museum’s AI. This is the quickest way to learn about us as the AI will tell you our entire history using an updated holo programme. It will take about two weeks watching for eight hours per day. It will instruct you where to go in the building to see any physical artifacts relevant to the period you are studying. I will leave you in peace, my love, to take this journey as I am sure you will find it can be an emotional experience. For us, it is quite traumatic and to be honest I would much rather not be involved. You should hold back any questions you may wish to ask me until the end.” Jade showed him how to operate the room and a plan of the sections of the Museum so he would be able to find his way around. They then went home after a little shopping and cooked the romantic evening meal Jade had promised.

  The days passed rapidly. Mark was caught up in the saga of Tuathan development. The constant striving to be accepted and equally constant violent rejections were heartbreaking for him to watch. The willingness to embrace adaptation was the divider between the natives and the Tuathans. Their philosophy had made them vulnerable and the perfect victims. They had survived by means of incredible sacrifice and a form of adaptation that had no boundaries. As the centuries rolled on before Mark’s eyes he saw the way the differences grew. The First and Second World Wars had been the last straw. The inevitability of the extinction of the natives was set in stone by these two events, but the possibility of discovery and genocide was also a present, so they left. They arrived at Tuath and set up their society. They returned through the portal to retrieve those monitors who had been left behind. Apparently it all went smoothly apart from the facility on Mars failing to be destroyed, which was a very human accident.