Chapter 14

The secret government base on the moon was the first to detect the incoming alien ship. Just mere weeks ago, it would have fired on it, but the situation had changed since the destruction of the meteor. Now, the base was listening to radio communications between its craft and the lunar colony traffic control center. The lunar colony gave the large ship instructions for coming into an orbit on the far side of the moon. They were putting them there because that was where the largest platforms and nearest shuttles were to transfer them to the colony surface.

Ever since the construction of Jebidiah’s Hope began, the colony has pressured LDC/Whitten to build a permanent space station and maintenance facility on the far side of the moon. For cosmetic reasons, they like their view of Earth and space to be visually unobstructed. The fact that it would help with outward-bound travel was the only reason Sean gave in to the request.

The ship, now in a stationary orbit, locked onto the platform and proceeded to complete the docking sequence. They were greeted by an awaiting shuttlecraft and were whisked down the colony surface. They had been granted a limited license to mine on the lunar surface for whatever minerals they would require, refueling their craft as a payment for the destruction of the meteor. Once on the surface, they were greeted by Sean, the President of the United States and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. All considered this a critical moment for the relations between different peoples.

The president’s advisors had been evenly split on their advice to him. About half thought that this would be his crowning achievement and would ensure his legacy of peace for generations to come. At the same time, others were telling him to expect deceit and to be on the defensive. To guard the freedom of the nation. All of the Senate and House of Representatives were telling him to get concessions and trade agreements, as well as assurances of being left alone and free of any imperial threats from conquest.

He wanted to meet the person responsible for saving the planet from destruction and personally thank them for their heroic actions. He also was very aware that he was the first president to have the privilege of officially greeting aliens from another planet. He, of course, had to keep in mind that any weapon that destroyed that meteor for a peaceful purpose could be, and probably was used for an aggressive and destructive means as well.

The rub was that he had seen the advance briefing from the lunar colony. His people had told him that those onboard were academy students who were on their final exam when trouble forced them to shut down most of their systems and search for an element that was supposed to be in great quantity on our moon; they were not invaders, per se. But if they were like our military academy students, their first loyalty would be naturally their home planet, and if we presented a target that was too weak, they might determine us to be a simple conquest. Presumably, academy students do not use their military’s most advanced or well-equipped vessels. So that left him with the problem: if their weakest, or presumably their less advanced ship, could do that much damage, what would an entire battle-ready warship be able to accomplish? He shuddered to think.

Sean and other dignitaries greeted the visitors when they disembarked. They offered them a quiet and comfortable ride to the reception planned for them. After the formalities of protocol had been met and after some libations and food had been served, R’Yclif asked to speak to Sean and the other leaders in a more private and less formal setting. They were ushered into a lounge with comfortable couches and made to feel at home.

R’Yclif became a bit less unguarded in his speaking. “First, let me thank you for the rights to mine the Inothorzium and for the use of the facilities to refine it into usable fuel. We understand that you don’t have the proper technology to tune the correct harmonics and frequencies, but we are grateful for your research on the subject. That means we will only be able to travel at the speed of light without any multiples, but that alone will cut a 300-year trip to a 2½ year trip. Let me tell you I believe that payment of some sort should be given to compensate you for the mineral and its processing. I know you offered this as a payment for the destruction of the meteor; however, that was indeed a gesture of humanitarian aid. I am not an official diplomat, but I believe that I can accomplish this because of my unique position as Crown Prince to the Obsidian Throne, Emperor in waiting to the Central worlds, and the Representative to the League of Free Systems.

Sean was visibly shocked by this statement. The president nearly choked on some water he was sipping.

“Secondly, I want to stress that we mean your planet no harm. We are not here for any scouting purposes, nor are we here to force you into slavery or anything else you may believe us capable of. We respect life and try to preserve all forms of it. We are not in a position to conduct warfare if we want to. My father has inherited a very near-bankrupt system.

We have emerged from a costly hundred-year war that many cannot remember why, let alone by whom, it was started. I am telling you this for simple reasons. You have to realize we honestly do not want a war or to rob you of your resources. Lastly, the political ramifications of this discovery will send ripples through the galaxy.

“What discovery!” Sean and the president both interrupted at the same time.

R’Yclif continued. “You don’t yet realize what the construction of that colony ship of yours means. In the simplest of terms, you will be able to jump off this planet of yours and colonize new worlds. Still, in the bigger scheme of things, you will finally be contacted by the League of Free Systems to be admitted on a provisional basis at first and then as a limited member. Still, if you continue and can develop FTL on your own, you’ll be given full membership; there are currently 100 full members out of the 250 member systems.”