Chapter 10: Second Contact

It had to happen. The television that afternoon was full of speculation as to what the unplanned exercise at RAF Drwsnesaf could be and one of the channels speculated on a secret space voyage returning in distress, or a UFO landing. It had a poorly focussed shot of the visitors’ ship in the process of arriving which had been taken by a local man on a mobile ‘phone. Out of focus and shaky though the image was, it was clearly something landing on rocket propulsion, and that ‘something’ in no way resembled any spacecraft of the terrestrial nations.

When he saw it, Huw turned to William and said, “I expect our guests can leave now. This is too good a set of pictures to be explained away.”

“I agree,” said William and he gave orders for all the internees, including Bronwen’s colleagues, to be released.

Then the door in the side of the spaceship opened and a much larger box on wheels, about the size of a very small golf buggy, which drove over to the outer door of the building they were in. It had no windows but was obviously transport of some kind.

Huw’s immediate reaction was that he and Bronwen would investigate what seemed to be an invitation into the aliens’ craft. Both the assessment of the aliens’ intentions and Huw’s proposed action met with the approval of William and the authorities on the other end of the loudspeaker.

“I can’t permit you to take a woman into that situation,” said the Brigadier, “If you are determined to go instead of allowing myself to perform that hazardous duty, one of my Sergeants will go with you, armed and ready for anything which might present itself.”

Bronwen and Huw spoke simultaneously. “I can take care of myself...” she started.

“I’ll make decisions like that,” said Huw, “and you are not going anywhere, and we are not going armed, nor escorted by armed goons.”

The Brigadier spluttered and then said, “I shall declare martial law and a national security alert if you don’t do as you are told.”

Huw looked very sad at this threat, and Bronwen thought for a moment he was caving in. Instead he produced an envelope and passed it to the Brigadier, who opened it and read the paper it contained. “You may wish to verify that at your leisure, Brigadier,” he said, “I did not want to use it, but now I have done so there will be an inquiry afterwards. Doubtless your people will require a court martial also.”

Raising his voice Huw said, “Take note, everyone here and at headquarters, by the power vested in me by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, I have relieved Brigadier Peter James Martin of his command. I have no idea who now reports to me in command of the army detachment here, but doubtless I’ll find out soon enough, and my order to the military to do nothing but keep sightseers away still stands,” turning to Bronwen he said, “It’s a nice afternoon for a ride in a little buggy even one with no windows. Are you coming?” and with that he strode towards to the door.

As Bronwen followed him she heard an almost apoplectic Brigadier muttering about subversives and trying to order his men to arrest everyone in sight, and to open fire on what he described as “the enemy”.

One of the other officers present said, “Actually, I am now reporting directly to you, sir, Lieutenant-Colonel Frobisher, and I have already set up a three mile exclusion zone round the RAF perimeter fence for sightseers. There is TV direct from apparently inside the perimeter fence using telephoto lenses, so they can get a better view at home.”

“Exactly what is needed, Colonel. Well done.”

The Major-General added, “One further item to my previous briefing, Lieutenant-Colonel Frobisher is a battlefield promotion to Colonel Frobisher.”

As they moved outside to the alien vehicle a door opened revealing a bench seat and as soon as they sat down it closed and the vehicle started to move. There was a small TV screen which showed where they were heading, which was straight to the door in the space ship.