Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance (8 page)

“So you are reserving the right to enter into your own treaties and agreements without our input?” The woman from France replied.

“For now, yes, that is exactly what I’m saying. Because, quite frankly, you have no idea what’s out there or how those politics work. I'm not saying we are experts in that area, but we do have more of an idea of what’s really going on out there than you do,” Luke explained. “We are currently considering treaties and agreements with two separate intergalactic ruling bodies to improve our defenses here.” Luke looked at Star who nodded to him. “I’ve taken the liberty to send each of you a report on the political structure of the galaxy as we currently know it. In a few days, delegates from one of those governments will be arriving to discuss those very issues.

“Before you get too nervous, they will not be coming to the planet. Instead, they are coming here to tour our facilities and discuss entering into a treaty assisting us in our defenses in exchange for servicing and upgrading their warships. There is also an issue they wish to discuss that claims ownership of Star Dancer, Terra’s only functional warship.” Luke held up his hand to prevent several of the Ambassadors from speaking out. “Rest assured they will have no better luck with that than you did. Even by their own laws and traditions, they have no legal claim.”

“What can you tell us of this race that is coming here, Councilor?” the Secretary General asked.

“All of the information is in the documents I sent to you, Mr. Secretary. However, the race that is coming here are human. They are called Talosians, and are the descendants of the survivors from the destruction of the Talos system Commander Williams spoke of earlier,” Luke replied.

“From what Commander Williams told us, are we not all descendants of the Talosians?” The Nigerian Ambassador asked.

“Not all of us, no, but a good share of us are. The surviving crew members escaped to our planet and added their genetic legacy to our own. However, there simply were not that many of them to influence the whole population.”

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“S
tar-Con, this is Borderlands. Both the Pakistani’s and the Indians have armies massed near their borders. We are detecting nuclear signatures, and have pinpointed them. There are also several hundred fighters and bombers down there. This is a hell of a mess, control.”

“Understood Borderlands. That’s why the Council wanted us there,” the controller replied.

“Yeah, I understand that, control, but I don’t think one wing is going to be enough to stop everything. We’re looking at cruise missiles and a very short range. I would like to request the rest of the squadron join us out here. I just can’t help but think no matter how good our technology is, we’re still only going to get one shot at this,” Fireball asked. His real name was Captain Grant Frie, and he was a seasoned veteran of aerial combat.

Chloe had been listening and monitoring the data feeds from the ships on patrol there. She agreed with Fireball, and approved the deployment. “Borderlands, this is Gamemaster, scrambling the rest of your squadron. Maintain stealth profile and continue mission. I know waiting games are never fun, but the diplomats are still doing their thing, so there's still hope.” Chloe replied.

“It’s only a matter of time before one of those fighters crosses the line and gets fired on. This is insanity. Their buzzing around down there like a bunch of angry hornets,” Fireball said.

“It’s been like that for a long time down there. Although, not quite this bad, I think. No one actually believes they’ll do it," Chloe replied. “Fighters are launched, ETA is ten minutes. I ordered them to get there ASAP.”

“Fuck! I knew it! All fighters drop to one-hundred thousand and arm weapons! Control, they just went hot. One of the Pakistani MiGs got too close to the line, and was shot down by an Indian ground to air cannon. The Pakistani’s immediately started shooting back, and now the whole border is opening up!” Fireball reported.

“Fireball, the Commander’s orders are very clear on this. If they toss any WMD, you are to shut them down. Not just the WMD’s, but everything. Understand?” Chloe said. She opened another channel. “Jenny, are you monitoring?”

“I have been since the alert, I assume they started shooting at each other?” Jenny asked.

“Yeah, no big firecrackers yet, but they have started killing each other,” Chloe replied.

“Okay, executing Operation Wet Blanket. Navigation, put us in Earth orbit, and park us right on top of those idiots. As close as you can get us,” Jenny ordered. “Tactical, raise shields, and wake up our Marines. Flight, prepare the evac shuttles and bring the rest of our fighters to standby. Medical, stand by for wounded.”

Chloe could hear the replies to Jenny’s orders, but didn’t actually feel the big ship start to move.

“I will inform the Commander, Colonel. We are still in session with the Security Council, but I am sure they would like to know as well,” Star said. She had split her hologram so she could be in two places at once. For her, it was a daily occurrence since she usually was in multiple places at once during the normal execution of her duties.

Jenny nodded. “Please do, then try to get us some audio from the fight if you would.”

“There are several hundred radio frequencies currently in use in the battle, Colonel. I will try to find a command frequency for you,” Star replied, looking concerned.

“Thank you, Major,” Jenny said, but her attention was on the tactical display which now showed the ground battle taking place on Earth. “Chloe, is Borderlands scanning for Chemical and Biological weapons as well?”

Yeah, but hasn’t found anything yet. That could simply mean they are still hidden since the rest of the planet has been searching for them for years,” the British woman replied.

“Colonel, I am seeing two separate nuclear devices in New Dehli that are not missiles. In fact, they are in very densely populated areas,” Star reported. “I believe they are intended to detonate where they are.”

“Chloe, it’s time for our Marines to earn their pay!” Jenny said. “Make sure they take shield units strong enough to contain the blast.”

“Understood, dispatching four squads, two per location. They will be taking a drone with them capable of removing the bombs.”

“Non-lethal force only, they can bring back anyone they feel needs to be talked to,” Jenny specified. “I swear, these idiots are going to give me grey hair!"

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“S
ir, the situation in the Middle East has gotten worse. Fighting has broken out, but so far it is limited to conventional weapons,” Star reported, leaning over and whispering to Ian.

Ian stood, getting Luke’s attention. Seeing the look on Ian’s face, he nodded to him.

“Please forgive the interruption, Ladies and Gentleman. War has broken out between the countries of Pakistan and India. They have not used their nuclear arsenals yet, but we thought you would like to be advised of the now open hostilities,” Ian replied. Ian turned to Star. "Major, could you display the live images from the Borderlands?”

Star stood, and without standing at the podium, she was heard by each delegate in their own language. “This image is taken from one of our long-range interdiction ships called a Centurion. This ship is currently in geo-synchronous orbit over the conflict area.”

An image taken from extreme altitude took shape in the air over the center of the circular tables. The image of the ground was at a level just below the edge of the tables, so everyone could see the same things. “The image is computer enhanced but only for clarity and has not been modified in any way. I will place a line denoting the current, border between the two countries. Disputed borders are broken lines.” The image zoomed in rapidly toward the southernmost area of fighting, which was currently near the village of Fazilka in the Punjab district of India. Star inserted what geographic labels she could so there was a frame of reference for the delegates.

The images showed armored vehicles, tanks and fighters engaged in violent and ferocious fighting. Several buildings that had been part of the town were nothing but smoking rubble. The view zoomed in far enough to see, if only barely, the small forms of dead civilians and soldiers. A woman in a brightly colored sarong caught the camera’s focus and it zoomed in as she hurriedly tried to herd a group of children away from the fighting. Smoke obscured the view momentarily, and a second later a huge explosion could be seen. When the smoke cleared the area had been destroyed, bits of brightly colored scorched cloth could be seen, as well as the mangled bodies that had once been children.

The image pulled back and focused on an exchange between two groups of tanks with infantry soldiers between them. In an effort to kill each other, the tanks killed more of the soldiers than they did of each other, however, in an act of defiance, one small group of soldiers fired a rocket that destroyed a Pakistani tank.

The view pulled back and moved north to another area of fighting. Where much the same was seen before the view again moved north.

“By order of Colonel Jennifer Williams, we are currently undertaking two ground missions within the city of New Dehli. Orbital sensors have detected two multi-kiloton nuclear devices within the city. Our Marines are to remove the threat of those two devices and withdraw. Only non-lethal force has been authorized, and they are allowed to detain suspects for questioning. Once they have neutralized the explosives, they will return to our ship,” Star explained.

“We must stop this!” the Ambassador from France said. She had tears in her eyes, from looking at the horror on the faces of the men women and children, soldier and civilian alike as they died.

“Madam Ambassador, this is the reality of war that most politicians never have the opportunity to see. This is why Commander Williams does the things he does, and why we have the rules we have. If we released our advanced technology to you, this would seem like a school yard scrap. I agree, this must be stopped, but force and violence will usually only beget more force and violence. Not that armed force does not have its place, but this situation, as I understand it, is not that place.” Star bowed her head. “My apologies, it is not my place to offer an opinion, here.”

“That’s quite alright Major, I hope it’s an opinion that many of us share. As informative as it is, could you please stop the video feed. We must decide how to act, and do so quickly. In light of current developments, I make the motion to approve the petition for a Terran delegation to be allowed to join us here, in an advisory capacity,” the Secretary General asked the Ambassadors. “It will cost us nothing, and will provide all of us with information we need to hopefully avoid more situations like the one we just witnessed.”

“I will second this motion, Mr. Secretary,” the Ambassador from Chile stood and said. “We need to become aware of more than just our planet now, or we will fall to a hidden enemy. We have enough enemies to deal with on this planet, but can no longer ignore those from without.”

“The motion has been seconded, please register your vote on this matter,” The Secretary General asked.

Ian and Star both took their seats in the guest area to await the outcome of the vote.

After few quiet moments, the Secretary General once again stood. “Thank you Ambassadors for your wisdom. The vote stand at nine in favor, two against, and three abstained. The motion passed. Councilor Belden, Commander Williams, please send your ambassador at your earliest opportunity. I feel we will be needing to call upon you to assist us in ending this current crisis to world peace."

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“A
rchangel! Get down there! The unit near Ludhiana is preparing to fire its missiles!” Fireball ordered.

“We have inbound Pakistani Bombers, Borderlands, sensors say they’re carrying nukes," another pilot said.

“What? You want an invitation? Take them out!” Fireball said. “They could be carrying cruise missiles, we’d have a hell of a lot of fun shooting them down before they get to their targets. All units, targets of opportunity! Both sides are starting to launch their nukes!”

“Borderlands, be advised, I had a bomber that was carrying a chemical weapon. I took out its engines, and followed it down. I have my shield over the crash site, but we need to get a drone down here ASAP!”

“Fuck, these people really are idiots!” Fireball said. “StarCon, did you copy last?”

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“A
ffirmative, Borderlands, we are redirecting an assault shuttle to Bronze four’s location. ETA is two minutes,” Chloe replied. “Harrison, are we close enough for hi-res, detailed scans yet?”

“Sixty seconds, Major!” the tech she addressed replied.

“Begin scanning as soon as we are in range. We need to locate every chemical, biological and nuclear weapon these people have,” Chloe ordered.

“Yes sir!” Harrison replied.

“Grave Digger to Operations, secure channel,” one of the Marine assault shuttles called in.

“Go ahead, Grave Digger,” Chloe said wondering what would make the Marines call in.

“We just took care of the device closest to one of the Capitol buildings, or whatever it is. And we did a passive weapons scan before we left, just to make sure we got everything. We’re getting a slight antimatter signature from the Capitol area itself. I think we might have found one of the recruiter’s ‘Dark Men’.”