Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight (31 page)

The prime minister considered that Australia was still a friend of the USA, but he would not be led by the nose by them considering the odour with which they were regarded in southern Asia. Ian had just been on the phone talking to the US president, and he liked and respected the fellow. However at one stage the tone between the two men had been cold. The Australian insisted that any US forces in the area would not take any unilateral action against the aliens in Australian waters or territories.

The US president had mentioned that the US military were considering further action, and the prime minister had come out heavily against this action occurring. Ian had managed to later lighten up the US president by agreeing to have US troops on standby in Perth for a possible joint mission. But he highlighted that the Australian government would decide if and when the mission was to occur and what the objectives would be. He next sounded out the possibility of several scientists and negotiators meeting with the aliens, and the US president stated that he would get a team of advisors on the matter immediately. The phone conversation ended on polite terms with an invitation from the US president for Ian to visit the White House later in the year.

Ian Ridge had already discussed his concerns with senior colleagues and they had all agreed that the recent American action could have been potentially lethal, despite the fears of contagion. The foreign minister was already in Washington to discuss the aliens, and had been particularly strident in the press in his condemnation of the US 5
^thfleer attacking the aliens. Most of the world’s media also were having a field day criticising the actions of the Americans. The prime minister considered for several minutes the talented Australians he would recommend for negotiating with these aliens.

So who in the extended series of government contacts he knew would be able to handle this type of situation?

His thoughts turned to the Foreign Affairs department and then to the Royal Australian Navy.

***

Samantha quickly rechecked the sick bay after being advised by Dan that Steve was in the water south of them with an injured alien. She considered that life had now gone from everyday and exciting, to the realm of the surreal and unknown, with the discovery of two races of aliens.

All these latest changes had occurred she realised before they had taken their ship on even the third aid trip, and hence before the second aquaculture delivery trip to Malaysia. Despite the excitement of recent events, Samantha and Rebecca had still made a point of conducting their research and revision of the work they had conducted over the last few years on the pandemic. She was hoping that the research work they were performing would allow an improved understanding of how the pandemic family of illnesses progressed. Samantha and Rebecca were perplexed about the transmission vectors of the disease in a healthy human population.

Why was the disease so dangerous to anyone other than older children and healthy young adults?

Why did the pandemic virus attack the large populations in Asia so aggressively, yet function like only like a bad flu in lower population densities?

These questions Samantha knew had troubled human researchers since the pandemic and perhaps these aliens could help to find a greater understanding about what had actually occurred. Samantha made sure the research notes were locked away and now turned her attention again to Steve returning with the alien. As always Samantha was practical, and she knew about the size of the alien from Dan was telling her about being unable to pick up the alien with the helicopter winch. So this also meant that the alien was probably too large to come below decks easily.

Rebecca had taken two crew members with her, and was already setting up a makeshift medical station in the rear engineering office that opened out onto the rear lower deck of the ship. Samantha placed another two boxes of medical supplies by the door, the portal X ray machine meant for the next health team mission would be taken out of the cargo hold and setup in the makeshift medical station as well.

Samantha found a long box towards the back of her cupboard that held bone splints. She then considered that given the supposed size of the alien she would have to probably use a leg splint on the broken arm it apparently had received. The box of splints also was placed by the door for the returning crew men to carry over to Rebecca. The news of the strange blackening evident on the alien left her cold as she considered the full ramifications of another disease outbreak.

Samantha was thinking frantically as she went looking for a generic broad spectrum antibiotic cream, and for good measure grabbed several vials of anti viral medication.

What would they do if the alien was a vector for an unknown but lethal disease?

And what if something on our planet was making the aliens ill?

***

Steve was aware of the sound of the runabout approaching from the Aurora Discovery well before he actually saw the boat. He checked discretely into the space suit and the alien appeared to be either asleep or resting. Steve again considered the black discolouration on the cheek and neck of the alien with concern. He decided that a human with a burn or infection of that scale would be seriously ill at least. Steve knew that the alien had pulled himself up from a considerable depth along the heavy cable with a broken arm.

‘If this is any indication of how tough they are we should stay on their good side, especially given their level of technology.’

Steve thought grimly to himself.

Dan gave a call over the marine radio from the helicopter.

‘Steve, how are you two going down there? The runabout will be here in a few minutes, and the helicopter will have to land soon as we are well into our fuel reserves.’

Steve gave Dan a thumb up sign and added over the microphone.

‘I am doing okay but I am concerned about our new friend, as there appears a significant illness could be present as well as the broken arm.’

Steve then gave more thought on getting the injured, ill and space suited alien into the runabout.

Garendestat dozed fitfully as he was drained beyond his endurance by the recent events in this planet’s oceans. As he dreamt he remembered pieces of his younger life growing up on a massive space facility, one of several that the Traders had built and hidden well in the more remote outer parts of the galaxy. He could remember like it was just yesterday, the times he and his two younger sisters had raced down the massive hallways of their home.

But he realised with a start that it had been over one hundred years ago since that time, and that the chopping drone of the strange human aircraft overhead had lulled him to sleep for what must have been several minutes. By the fires of the unholy and damned races did his glimmer tattoo burn, and he uttered a low groan, his first noise he had made in the presence of the human.

Steve looked around from watching the runabout approach their position. The alien had roused in his sleep and had made a low noise, the first Steve had heard from him in the entire time. The alien then raised his good right hand to his throat and chest area and groaned again. Steve tightened his grip on the alien’s good shoulder, checked to ensure the lifejackets were still secure, and tried to reassure him a best he could.

‘The boat will be here soon and we will do what we can for you.’

Quietly he wondered what would happen to both himself and his crew if the alien died during the rescue.

***

The story continues in part two, Maveen Offer…..

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Traders’ Scourge