ã€ŠWonders From Beyond the Skyã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Wonders From Beyond the Sky

    A Lords of the Stars Short Story

    Mattias von Schantz

    October 4, 2140, Europa orbit, Jupiter, Solaris system

    It was a historic day.

    Jenny O¡¯Sullivan, captain of the Sunguard Command Ship Wa??sa, looked out through the large window in front of her. Outside, in the emptiness of space above Europa, floated the 12th Army of the Sunguard. Of course, she couldn¡¯t really see the ships¡ªeven the largest War Cruisers were just pinpoints of light moving across the starry background, but she knew they were there. Two hundred thousand soldiers, ready to embark on what could be the most important mission since the ground invasion of Kelar.

    For the first time in sixty years, the Terran Federation was about to make first contact with an alien civilization. And the last time they had done that, things had not gone well.

    She glanced around the busy bridge and smiled as she counted three Kelar officers working beside her. Well, she thought, initially it hadn¡¯t gone well, but it had turned out all right in the end.

    The last first contact had been only five years after the initial encounter with the Etarians around Alpha Centauri A. That, on the other hand, had been a first contact that went well. The Etarians had turned out to be fully aware of the Terrans¡¯ existence, even to the extent of having already deciphered a handful of major Terran languages from leaked radio transmissions they had intercepted. They just hadn¡¯t been particularly interested in making contact. When the Terrans suddenly arrived at Etar in their first hyperspace-capable ship, the Etarians greeted them politely in passable English, invited them to land and look around, but also made it clear they had no interest in diplomatic relations.

    It had taken considerable effort on the Solar Council¡¯s part to coax the Etarians into cooperation, but eventually, they had seen the benefit of working with the Terrans. In the end, it was Terran engineers who sealed the deal.

    The Etarians had a technologically advanced civilization, roughly a century ahead of the Terrans in terms of scientific discovery. However, they were culturally predisposed to dislike wasting energy and resources. To a Terran, the Etarians could sometimes come across as a bit na?ve or perhaps even obtuse. They most certainly were not, but they often had a tendency to reason more literally than Terrans. This literal mindset extended to their industry: to avoid wasting energy, they simply consumed as little energy as possible, which meant they didn¡¯t need to produce much energy either. Minimal energy production equated to minimal waste. Their industries were quite advanced but not abundant.

    The Terran engineers saw an opportunity. ¡°What if,¡± they asked their Etarian hosts, ¡°you started to produce more energy¡ªbut still used all of it within your industries? That way, you still wouldn¡¯t waste much energy, but you¡¯d get much more work done.¡± It was a line of reasoning that only literal-minded Etarians would find novel, but it worked. The Etarians were impressed by the energy efficiency Terran engineers coaxed out of their industrial systems, even while expanding them to operate continuously.

    The Etarians enjoyed a rapid transformation through industrial efficiency and, in return, happily shared their more advanced science and technology with the Terrans.

    What the Etarians never disclosed was that they were not the only intelligent species in the Alpha Centauri system.

    Three hundred years earlier, the Etarians had made contact with the Kelar around Alpha Centauri B. At that time, the Etarians had only recently begun space exploration, while the pinnacle of Kelar technology was still the windmill. The first manned Etarian expedition to Kelar was conducted with a spacecraft propelled by nuclear thermal engines. After a 16 AU journey from Alpha Centauri A to B, lasting six years, the massive spacecraft entered orbit around Kelar, deployed unmanned probes, and eventually sent down a manned lander.

    It is a biological axiom that life on different planets is fundamentally incompatible. Life is complex. Even the simplest organisms rely on thousands of specific proteins to function. Some are used for signaling, others for energy transfer, and still others as components of intricate chains of interdependent biochemical reactions. The likelihood of life arising independently on two planets using the exact same proteins for exactly the same purposes is infinitesimally small.

    At best, life from one planet is biochemically neutral to life from another, meaning they can coexist but cannot interact biologically as food or hosts. At worst, they are biochemically negative, with benign proteins from one planet acting as toxins to life from the other. However, they are never biochemically positive¡ªnever compatible. Life from one planet can¡¯t consume food from another, and viruses from one can never infect the other.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    In fact, most viruses can¡¯t even cross species boundaries on the same planet. The idea that a virus could infect beings from another world and with a completely different biochemistry is simply preposterous.

    Because of this, the Etarians took only basic planetary protection precautions, primarily focused on avoiding the introduction of seeds or spores that might grow in the soil alongside native Kelar species. They never even considered the possibility that something they brought could directly affect Kelar bodies.

    The virus they carried was benign for Etarians, causing only mild inflammation in their paralungs. But three weeks after first contact, Kelar peasants living near the landing site began developing severe encephalitis. Within months, the disease became a pandemic, affecting roughly half the planet¡¯s population.

    When Etarian scientists, shocked by the outbreak, compared Kelar biochemistry to their own, they were stunned to discover that Kelar cells bore striking similarities to their own, using most of the same proteins for identical purposes. The explanation for this came too late: at some point in prehistory, a small asteroid impact had likely ejected microbe-laden rocks from one planet to the other. Protected within these rocks, microorganisms had traveled through space and seeded life on the other world. A lot of things had to go right for this to happen successfully, but asteroid impacts aren¡¯t exactly uncommon during the lifespan of a planet, and it only had to go right once for life to spread from one world to another. The biochemistry of Kelar life was compatible with Etarian viruses because they shared a common ancestor.

    The Etarian expedition of eight scientists and four crewmembers lacked the resources, knowledge, and time to treat an entire planet of dying Kelar. Back on Etar, their entire civilization united in an effort to find a cure, but it was too late. Constructing and dispatching a hospital ship would take over a decade, and by then the pandemic they had unknowingly brought with them would have already run its course.

    The Etarians were left with only one option: leave before causing further harm. Reluctantly, they departed, willing but unable to help.

    To the Kelar, the Etarians became known as the devils-beyond-the-sky. When the Terrans later made contact with Etar and began flying through the Alpha Centauri B system, the Kelar¡ªnow technologically on par with the Terrans and possessing rudimentary hyperspace capabilities¡ªmisinterpreted this as a renewed existential threat. To prevent another devastating first contact, the Kelar struck first.

    Six years and a hundred million lives later, the Kelar War ended with their unconditional surrender. The Terran-Etarian alliance had waged a grueling urban war through the bombed-out streets and buildings of Kelar cities, facing partisan resistance at every turn. The Kelar fought to the bitter end, still mistakenly believing that they were facing yet another existential threat from the stars.

    Captain O¡¯Sullivan glanced around her bridge again, this time appreciating the sight of Etarian and Kelar officers working side by side.

    No, she thought, it hadn¡¯t been easy. But in the end, all sides had recognized they couldn¡¯t hold the current generation responsible for the misdeeds of their ancestors. Now, they were all part of the Terran Federation. She was proud of what the Federation had accomplished and of her officers. The past was behind them. It was wise to learn from it, but this was a new day, and a chance to do better.

    Behind her, on a raised platform at the back of the bridge, Admiral Jian Ekberg was concluding his speech. The soldiers of the 12th Army were professionals; they didn¡¯t need his words to do their jobs. The speech wasn¡¯t for them¡ªit was for posterity. Millennia from now, it would still be remembered. Captain O¡¯Sullivan understood the importance of history better than most.

    ¡°Initiate pre-jump sequence,¡± she ordered. To her right, the Kelar hyperspace navigator currently on bridge duty immediately set to work.

    She turned to her left, where Alistair Oliveira, the Sunguard Special Agent assigned to the 12th Army, was sitting. He was a dark-skinned man in his late 40s, with short black hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. While Admiral Ekberg commanded the mission¡¯s military aspects, first contact itself wasn¡¯t a military operation. The Sunguard soldiers were there for support and protection in case something went wrong, but ideally, most of them would never see action. Special Agent Oliveira was in charge of the true mission: establishing contact with the alien civilization, learning about their history, culture, technology, and their perspective on the universe, and assessing whether they should, at some point in the future, be invited to join the Terran Federation. The 12th Army was there to support him in this. But while he would lead the mission, he would not be the public face of it¡ªthat would be her role.

    ¡°We have successfully connected to the spacetime bus,¡± the Kelar navigator hissed between blue lips. ¡°Handshake successful. Protocol established. We¡¯re uploading coordinate offsets now.¡±

    Using the ship¡¯s field generator, local spacetime had been melted and the intelligent computers controlling the jump were now rewriting some aspects of the local laws of nature¡ªspecifically, the coordinates of a volume of space encompassing the ship a few minutes into the future.

    What came next always made Captain O¡¯Sullivan nervous. Since, by necessity, the coordinate shift was created at a future point in time¡ªafter all, it took some time to upload the new coordinates to the fabric of spacetime, and that process had to be completed before the jump¡ªshe could never be absolutely certain the ship would actually be there when that volume of space suddenly exchanged its coordinates with an identical volume of space light-years away. The hyperspace jump was, at that point, inevitable, and if the ship wasn¡¯t there¡ªor worse, only halfway within the volume¡ªthe ship would not reach its destination. But she also trusted her crew. The position, speed, distance, and acceleration of the Wa??sa were known with extreme accuracy, and her pilots would make sure it was precisely in the middle of that sphere when the jump took place.

 Chapter 2

    The jump sequence had been coordinated across the entire fleet. At 17:15 UTC on October 4, 2140, the 1,142 ships of the 12th Army simultaneously disappeared from the space above Europa and, at the exact same moment, reappeared on the outskirts of the Tau Ceti system, 49 AU from the orange central star.

    On the recommendation of Special Agent Oliveira, the decision was made to position the fleet far enough away from the inner worlds of the system to make detection virtually impossible, unless the inhabitants possessed a level of technology significantly more advanced than predicted.

    Captain O¡¯Sullivan appreciated Oliveira¡¯s cautious approach to the mission. Predictions were one thing; reality was something else entirely. Just because both the Terrans and the Kelar had taken two centuries to progress from the invention of the radio to the field generator didn¡¯t mean that timeline was a universal rule. The pace of technological progress depended on factors like population size and how open a society was to sharing scientific ideas.

    During the Kelar War, several surveying expeditions had been sent by the Terran-Etarian alliance to the Tau Ceti system. The primary purpose of these missions was to search for signs of Kelar presence there. The expeditions cataloged the planets of the star and observed them from a distance, listening for radio signals of Kelar origin. No signals¡ªKelar or otherwise¡ªwere detected. Whether this was because the inhabitants of the system had not yet invented radio or because their transmissions weren¡¯t yet powerful enough to reach space with sufficient strength to be detected by the surveying ships remained unknown. However, this lack of signals provided a rough timeline for gauging their technological development.

    If no radio signals were detected during the Sunguard¡¯s last visit to the system half a century ago, the radar signals identified coming from the Tau Ceti system two years ago must have been the result of newly developed technology. This placed them at a technological level comparable to Old Earth during the 20th or early 21st century.

    All evidence, therefore, pointed to the Tau Cetians having just recently started to explore space using chemical rockets or not yet possessing spaceflight capabilities at all. In the latter case, the 12th Army would have been safe anywhere in the system. However, if the system¡¯s inhabitants were capable of launching primitive rockets into space, it was entirely possible they had also developed nuclear warheads for those rockets.

    Captain O¡¯Sullivan¡¯s face twisted into a dry smile. It was all too easy to dismiss primitive technology. But just because the Tau Cetians lacked hyperspace capability didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t pose a threat to the Sunguard. The detonation of a megaton-class nuclear device created with 20th-century technology would be just as devastating as a megaton-class nuke from the 22nd century. While the bomb itself might be clunkier and more primitive, the resulting explosion would be identical once triggered.

    <hr>

    The 12th Army hadn¡¯t rushed things. For weeks, they had remained in the outer Tau Ceti system, monitoring the inner worlds for signs of a technological civilization. The surveying expeditions during the Kelar War had identified the second planet as one hosting life, since remote sensing had detected oxygen in the atmosphere. At the time, it had been placed on a list of potential sites for military bases outside the core worlds, but beyond a few minor skirmishes, the Kelar War had never truly expanded beyond the Alpha Centauri system. Nothing had come of the plans to establish a base there, and the world had never been visited.

    That was about to change. From Tau Ceti 2, a multitude of radio transmissions streamed through space. They were all rather simple in nature, either in the form of unencrypted voice transmissions or radio telegrams. The linguists aboard the 12th Army, along with the intelligent computers assigned to the task, had dove into the problem of deciphering the planet''s major languages.

    As it turned out, it wasn¡¯t a very difficult problem to solve. With the large corpus at their disposal, sorting the recordings into different groups based on language and mapping the patterns within the sentences had only taken a handful of days. Once the linguistic patterns had been established, frequency analysis was used to sort words into likely categories. At the same time, maps connecting words to other words were created and used to begin inferring meanings for the different sounds. That had been the challenging part. But once the first words were deciphered, the floodgates opened. Just as a human listening to speech in a language they only partially understand can still grasp the gist and infer the meaning of unknown words, the intelligent computers working on deciphering the alien languages quickly started to produce dictionaries of new words.

    Now, the twelve largest languages on the planet were well understood by the Terran Federation¡¯s linguists. While fascinating, Captain O¡¯Sullivan had no intention of learning them all¡ªat least not initially. The three most important would do for now.

    She had spent most of her time over the past few weeks in the comfortable white chairs of the Neural Learning Laboratory. So had Special Agent Oliveira, Admiral Ekberg, and the soldiers of the Wa??sa¡¯s security team. The first language they had completed learning four days ago; now, they were beginning to grasp simple sentences in the second. The neural writers they had been hooked up to used precisely controlled electromagnetic fields to induce currents in specific neural paths of the recipient¡¯s brain. To the brain, a neural signal induced by the writer was indistinguishable from a naturally occurring signal. Essentially, the neural writer provided the sensory input needed to acquire a language, without the mental effort of learning it. It didn¡¯t exactly write new memories, but it induced the sensory input the brain could use to create the needed impressions itself.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    The door to the lab opened with a soft hiss, and Special Agent Oliveira entered the room. Today, he had had enough after six hours at the receiving end of the neural writer, so he had gone to the Wa??sa¡¯s radio room to check on the monitoring progress.

    ¡°Any news?¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan asked. She was curious about the alien world and eager for the chance to put their newfound language knowledge to use.

    ¡°Indeed we have,¡± Special Agent Oliveira responded with a grin. ¡°I got to see the first draft of the briefing dossier on the planet. It¡¯s quite fascinating.¡±

    ¡°Tell me the headlines!¡± she requested. ¡°Unless there¡¯s something in there the Sunguard feels is over the head of a mere captain?¡± she asked jokingly.

    Oliveira laughed loudly. It was certainly true that in a military organization such as the Sunguard, there were topics only Special Agents and Admirals were privy to. But the information in the dossier was for the benefit of the entire team. Without it, none of them would be able to do their jobs properly.

    ¡°So, we finally have a name for the planet,¡± he began, starting with something simple.

    Good, O¡¯Sullivan thought. She had hated having to say Tau Ceti 2 for so long. It didn¡¯t exactly roll off the tongue. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Jerr. They call themselves Jerrassians.¡± He had a guttural undertone in his voice when he said the foreign words. There was no hint of an English or Interstellar accent in his pronunciation, as if his brain was now completely comfortable with tasking his vocal cords to produce the alien sounds.

    ¡°The largest country is called United Jerr,¡± he continued. ¡°It covers almost half the land surface of the world and contains about 80% of its population. Though it hasn¡¯t exactly grown this large by peaceful means.¡±

    ¡°That sounds ominous,¡± O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°I guess there¡¯s some history there, context we need to understand them. Do we know what happened?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± Oliveira answered dutifully. ¡°At least on a large scale. The headlines, as you said. It seems that about ten years ago, a couple of the largest nations on Jerr banded together, united by a shared political agenda with similarities to communism on Old Earth. Together, they formed the seed of United Jerr. But apparently, they weren¡¯t content with the territory they controlled and launched a war on their neighboring capitalist states. From what we can tell, they don¡¯t have nuclear weapons yet, so I assume it was a conventional war, despite eventually involving most countries on the planet. It¡¯s an operation they¡¯re quite proud of, calling it the Great Patriotic War and still celebrating their victory over their neighbors. After the war, the defeated capitalist countries were forcefully annexed and incorporated into United Jerr, though from what I gather, they¡¯re not exactly treated as equals.¡±

    ¡°Are we sure it¡¯s this United Jerr we want to talk to?¡± O¡¯Sullivan asked, concerned. Communicating with an alien world divided into hundreds of nations would be difficult, if not impossible. If United Jerr was as large as Special Agent Oliveira said, it made sense to focus their communication attempts on them, but it made her uncomfortable.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m still thinking about it,¡± Oliveira replied. ¡°I only learned about this half an hour ago. But I don¡¯t think we have much of a choice. The next largest nation holds just four percent of the world¡¯s population. I don¡¯t see how we can carry on an authoritative first-contact mission with such a small part of the planet. Whether we like it or not, United Jerr is probably our only option.¡±

    ¡°So who do we talk to?¡± O¡¯Sullivan inquired.

    ¡°The communist government of United Jerr is called the People¡¯s Council. Their seat is in the capital, Kerrma-non. I should warn you, though, the name of their government is a bit of a misnomer¡ªthey don¡¯t exactly represent the people. In fact, they¡¯re quite autocratic, possibly even dictatorial. I¡¯d say they¡¯re no more democratic than North Korea or East Germany were back on Old Earth.¡±

    ¡°There are different levels of dictatorships,¡± O¡¯Sullivan said, feeling she had to play devil¡¯s advocate. ¡°Maybe this one isn¡¯t too bad.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up,¡± Oliveira replied. ¡°Sure, if you listen to the broadcasts from United Jerr, they¡¯re all about peace, equality, sunshine, and rainbows. But some of the smaller countries that haven¡¯t yet been conquered present quite a different narrative. Given the context, I¡¯m more inclined to believe their version of the story. They tell of work camps and summary executions, of people disappearing in the night, never to be heard from again. And apparently, the annexed regions aren¡¯t being invested in by United Jerr. There¡¯s talk about infrastructure and healthcare not being rebuilt after the war, and now starvation is starting to rear its ugly head in those regions as well.¡±

    O¡¯Sullivan was silent for a long time, considering their options. ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s you and not me making the decisions on how we should proceed,¡± she finally said. ¡°But like you said, we don¡¯t really have a choice here.¡±

 Chapter 3

    If the situation had been murky to start with, it didn¡¯t become any clearer after the first unmanned probes were sent into Jerr¡¯s orbit. Initially, they focused on mapping the planet and photographing it from orbit, providing visual counterparts to the stories the Sunguard had, until then, only been able to imagine from recorded radio transmissions.

    But the probes weren¡¯t just there for sightseeing. Alongside their visual recorders, they carried neutrino detectors specifically designed to locate any radioactive sources on the planet. And such sources, they found.

    ¡°So, what do we know, sir?¡± Admiral Ekberg asked from his position at the end of the conference table, its dark wood gleaming under the soft lights mounted in the ceiling. He directed his question to Special Agent Oliveira with an inquisitive expression.

    ¡°Mainly three things,¡± the Special Agent replied, eager to deliver the findings but dreading their implications. ¡°First, when they fought their so-called Great Patriotic War, they used conventional weapons. Nowhere in their radio transmissions do they mention nuclear weapons being used.¡±

    That should have been good news, O¡¯Sullivan thought. But apparently, it wasn¡¯t. She would soon learn why.

    ¡°Second,¡± Oliveira continued, ¡°and this builds on the first point: no one talks about nuclear weapons at all. Not United Jerr, not their enemies. From what we can gather, the practical concept is either unknown on Jerr or, at the very least, not public knowledge. If their scientists are aware of how to weaponize nuclear theory, they¡¯re keeping it secret. And I think we can assume they are.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°And the third point, sir?¡± Admiral Ekberg asked, curious to see where this reasoning would lead.

    ¡°It¡¯s the most damning one,¡± Special Agent Oliveira said grimly. ¡°We¡¯ve identified three distinct sites inside the territory of United Jerr where significant antineutrino emissions have been detected. These sites are being kept secret by their government; they¡¯re never talked about on the radio. Also, there¡¯s no natural explanation for such a concentrated clustering of neutrino emissions, or for any large-scale neutrino emissions, to be honest. Since it¡¯s not a natural phenomenon, we must conclude it¡¯s industrial. And the only industrial process that releases significant antineutrinos prior to the discovery of fusion power¡ªwhich they are nowhere near achieving¡ªis beta decay of Uranium-239.¡±

    Admiral Ekberg nodded, grasping the implication.

    O¡¯Sullivan tried to recall her physics. ¡°That gets us¡­ Neptunium-239, right?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Oliveira confirmed. ¡°Which then undergoes beta decay to become Plutonium-239. So, we¡¯ve effectively proven that they¡¯re running a covert nuclear weapons program. What we don¡¯t know is how advanced it is. But at the very least, we know they¡¯ve got fissile material ready.¡±

    ¡°If I may ask, sir,¡± Admiral Ekberg interjected, ¡°why have we ruled out the possibility that they¡¯re enriching plutonium for nuclear power instead?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll pursue that at some point,¡± Oliveira replied. ¡°But here¡¯s the thing: while no one mentions nuclear weapons, nuclear power is a frequent topic in their public discourse. And when they discuss it, they always frame it in terms of Uranium-235. That discussion is purely theoretical, though¡ªthey haven¡¯t publicly built any reactors yet. It makes little sense to have a covert nuclear power program while talking openly about theoretical reactors, unless that covert program is actually producing material for nuclear weapons.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯ll just have to ask them when we meet them,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan said, ending the briefing. ¡°No matter what their reply is, it will be interesting.¡±

 Chapter 4

    He left the phone booth on the sidewalk in a lousy mood. Vil would have expected him to come home directly after work, but plans had changed, and he would be home late today. And so, when Namir All had spotted the phone booth on his way to the meeting, he had entered it to place a call to his girlfriend. However, the operator must have been new at her job and connected him to the wrong apartment, despite him being very clear that he wanted her to connect him with Valor-bat 18, not Valor-bat 16. Not having time to place a second call¡ªand not trusting the operator to get it right the second time either¡ªhe walked quickly down the sidewalk and into a small backstreet.

    The dark, narrow alley reeked of rotting garbage and stale urine, its corners clogged with discarded newspapers blown in from the cobblestone street outside. Namir knocked on the nondescript wooden door at the end of the backstreet, its green paint peeling with age, eager to escape the filth. He was still wearing the sharp, tailored suit he had donned earlier in the day as First Assistant to the Minister of the Interior of the People¡¯s Council.

    A stern-faced man, short for a Jerrassian, opened a small shutter to peer at Namir¡¯s face. Satisfied, he unlatched the door, which creaked open with a sound much too loud for Namir¡¯s comfort. Namir stepped through the door and into the warm air inside. The dim room he now found himself in smelled of sweet beer and rank sweat, its cavernous darkness lit only by kerosene lamps hung from the wooden beams holding up the ceiling.

    ¡°Glad you could make it, All,¡± a gruff voice called from across the room. Moram Kor, a large woman with streaks of silver in her fur, stepped into the middle of the room and embraced him. ¡°Do you have any news from the People¡¯s Council?¡±

    Namir nodded a no.

    ¡°It¡¯s the same old debates every day,¡± he said. ¡°The same cowardly platitudes. The Council is selling us out to the capitalists. There¡¯s constant talk of rebalancing the budget to allow for the restoration of the annexed territories. I¡¯m doing my best to prevent that from happening, but the Chairman is insistent. If you ask me, the capitalists should be shot like the orvat-var they are, not catered to. They dilute the purity of our ideology. They¡¯re unworthy of sharing our motherland.¡±

    Shouts of ¡°Hear, hear!¡± rose from the back of the room. Namir All had always been something of an orator. He knew how to get people to follow him into hell.

    ¡°Are we ready to make our move yet?¡± Moram asked, eager for the Jerrassian Liberation Front to take action.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Namir hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t think we are,¡± he said, careful not to upset his compatriots. Despite longing to see the Chairman¡¯s skull pierced by a lead bullet, he couldn¡¯t let himself be swept away by his own rhetoric. ¡°I hate to say it, but right now, the majority of the people would rather live in the sham state the People¡¯s Council offers than in the true workers¡¯ paradise we could create together. Storming the Hall of the Political Bureau is only the first step. We have to prepare for what comes after the revolution. Without the people¡¯s support, we risk civil war¡ªand I¡¯m not sure we¡¯d win.¡±

    Holding his breath, he waited for the reaction. He could hear the unsettled rustling of paws on the wooden floor but, to his relief, no one voiced their objections. He still commanded the respect of his comrades.

    ¡°Well, where does that leave us, then?¡± Moram asked sharply. ¡°The Front was created to depose the illegitimate government. What¡¯s our purpose if we can¡¯t even do that?¡±

    It was a rhetorical question, and the room remained silent. ¡°We can¡¯t win the people¡¯s hearts without a platform to influence them. But we can¡¯t get that platform unless we¡¯re in charge of the government. And now you¡¯re saying we can¡¯t take over the government unless we¡¯ve first influenced the people! That puts us in an impossible situation,¡± she concluded.

    ¡°I understand your frustration, comrade,¡± Namir replied in a soothing tone. ¡°But let me propose another way.¡±

    He had spent months thinking about this during the tedious sessions of the People¡¯s Council where his presence was required but his help was not needed.

    ¡°The people follow the Council,¡± he explained. ¡°What if we let them continue to do so? But instead of replacing the People¡¯s Council, we force them to change their policies to align with ours.¡±

    ¡°That sounds all well and good,¡± Moram said, her voice laced with skepticism. ¡°But how do you plan to make that happen? Granted, you¡¯re the First Assistant to the Minister of the Interior, which gives you¡­ some influence over her. But she¡¯s only one voice in the People¡¯s Council, and not a well-respected one at that. She¡¯s the head of the secret police, after all. That doesn¡¯t exactly win her any popularity.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t intend to simply ask the Chairman to change his ways,¡± Namir replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to demand it.¡±

    ¡°At gunpoint?¡± Moram¡¯s irritation was evident. That was, after all, what she had been advocating all along.

    ¡°At gunpoint,¡± Namir confirmed. ¡°But not a gun aimed at the Chairman himself. I¡¯m suggesting we take hostages instead. Let¡¯s say we storm a school or hijack a bus, execute a handful of hostages, and then demand the People¡¯s Council change its policies. If they refuse, we kill the rest. No matter how much the people love living under the corrupting influences of the Council, they won¡¯t stand for the slaughter of innocents. When children are dying, they¡¯ll rise up. The Chairman will have no choice but to bow to our demands. The People¡¯s Council would remain in power on the surface, but it would be us leading United Jerr from the shadows.¡±

 Chapter 5

    January 9, 2141, Jerr, Tau Ceti system

    The time had finally come.

    Once again, Captain O¡¯Sullivan sat on the bridge of the Wa??sa, with Special Agent Oliveira at her side. Once again, she felt apprehensive.

    The Sunguard Command Ship was about to jump sunward into Jerr orbit, leaving the rest of the 12th Army behind. The remaining ships would stay in the outer system, waiting and watching undetected, like silent sentinels ready to be activated. Hopefully, that would be all they would ever have to do.

    But if the Jerrassian nuclear weapons program had reached the point of producing functional missiles, and if they intended to use them, this was the moment when the Sunguard would find out¡ªthe hard way. The Terran Federation was not here with malicious intent; it did not intend to impose its will on the world ahead. However, if push came to shove and it came down to a choice between Jerrassian lives and the lives of Terran Federation citizens, the Sunguard had a duty to protect the Federation.

    Special Agent Oliveira had ordered the 12th Army to ignore any attacks by the Jerrassians using conventional weapons. But should a successful nuclear detonation be detected, the Army had its standing orders. They would immediately jump into low Jerr orbit and deploy their space bombs, targeting the three known plutonium refinement facilities and the launch sites of any detected missiles. Once these sites were annihilated by the antimatter bottles the War Cruisers would drop from orbit, Sunguard troops would descend and pacify all military bases previously mapped during the survey phase of the mission.

    But that was the worst-case scenario, one Captain O¡¯Sullivan fervently hoped would not come into play. Ideally, the Sunguard should be able to protect both Jerrassian and Terran Federation lives without having to choose between them. It was a sentiment she knew Special Agent Oliveira shared as well.

    Despite this knowledge, she felt apprehensive.

    The jump clock ticked down to zero. Before her, the universe suddenly shifted. What had less than a moment before been only stars on the blackest of skies was now the radiant globe of Jerr hanging in space before her, its indigo seas and blue-green continents clearly visible behind the scattered orange clouds hovering above its surface. She felt a little bit queasy but knew this would soon pass. The gravity gradient here above Jerr was different enough from that in the outer system to mess with her vestibular system, wreaking havoc on her sense of balance.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    The Wa??sa drifted in its low transpolar orbit, carefully orchestrated to maximize exposure to the nations below, ensuring the Terran Federation¡¯s presence was known to any and all living on the planet. The altitude was low enough that the large Command Ship would be visible as a shining point of light even during the day; anyone with a moderately powerful set of binoculars should be able to make out its shape.

    Her bridge crew carefully monitored the radio chatter from the planet below. The reaction to their presence came almost instantaneously¡ªfirst in the form of a prominent dip in radio traffic as the various speakers on the ether went silent in shock, then as a rising cacophony of excitement when the people of the alien world began to realize what was happening. After that came the inevitable attempts by radio hosts, ham radio operators, and the occasional prankster to make contact with the Wa??sa. All of them were ignored.

    After four complete orbits of the planet, the time had come. It was early morning in the alien capital when the Sunguard ship began broadcasting its signal across all the commonly used Jerrassian radio frequencies, using the same modulations the aliens employed. With the power of the fusion reactors onboard the ship, the signal drowned out all local radio transmissions, preventing any government below from censoring the message and ensuring the Terran Federation¡¯s transmission could be heard by anyone on the planet with access to a radio.

    She spoke with her clear, bright voice into the microphone.

    ¡°Good day, people of Jerr! My name is Jenny O¡¯Sullivan. I am Captain of the Sunguard Command Ship Wa??sa, representing the Terran Federation, a civilization consisting of races from three worlds working together. We have come here from the stars you know as A Atore-rem and C Fovram-tar to learn about you and your world and, if asked, assist you if we can. We hope our presence is welcome here.¡±

    The message was intended to be short and easily understood. Perhaps it oversimplified some things, but this was just the first step. Further contact would involve more complex communications, and the more complicated the first message was, the greater the risk of it being misunderstood.

    The message had been spoken in the official language of United Jerr. Special Agent Oliveira had briefly considered sending the first greeting in the most obscure language he could find, to prove to the people of Jerr that the Terran Federation wasn¡¯t, as he put it with that wicked smile of his, ¡°space communists coming to help their United Jerr comrades.¡± But that would have prevented the three billion regular men, women, and children inhabiting the planet from understanding the first message. No matter what language they had chosen for their first global communication, some listeners would have felt left out, and since the Sunguard had to choose one, it made more sense to pick a language that could be understood by most of the population.

    In any case, the Terran Federation had introduced itself, and now the ball was in the People¡¯s Council¡¯s court.

    But the People¡¯s Council didn¡¯t answer.

 Chapter 6

    After a day of waiting, there had still been no official response from United Jerr. Several more attempts had been made by private citizens to establish contact, as well as attempts by minor nations to communicate with the Wa??sa, but once again, those attempts had been ignored by the Sunguard.

    The first response they had to act upon came thirty-one hours after the initial message.

    It was the survey probes orbiting the planet that first detected the missile launch. From behind the rim of the planet, an intercontinental missile had been launched without warning. Captain O¡¯Sullivan held her breath, waiting for the intelligent computers to analyze its trajectory, hoping fervently that the Wa??sa was its intended target. But until the analysis was complete, she could not exclude the possibility that a minor nation had decided to take advantage of the confusion during first contact to go to war with another country¡ªwith possibly devastating consequences, both for Jerr and for the Terran Federation¡¯s mission there.

    Two minutes later, she felt like she could start breathing again: the Wa??sa was indeed the missile¡¯s target. The Sunguard had not been responsible for starting a war on the alien world, after all. Now, the next set of questions were: who had launched it, and what was the composition of its warhead?

    At first glance, it seemed obvious the missile was launched by the country from where it had been sent into space. But O¡¯Sullivan knew national alliances could be complex. The country from which the rocket had originated could be an independent nation, attacking the Sunguard for its own reasons. Or it could be an ally¡ªopenly or secretly¡ªof United Jerr, making the attack a significant wrench in the gears of the mission.

    From the bridge, she monitored how the missile was closing in on the Sunguard Command Ship, its powerful chemical engines accelerating it faster and faster. As the distance measured ticked down, thousands of kilometers became hundreds, and still, she did not know the answer to their most pressing question. Then, after what seemed to have been an eternity, one of the intelligent computers onboard the Wa??sa finally spoke up.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°I have analyzed the emissions from the rocket and can say with almost complete certainty that the warhead is not nuclear. Despite its proximity, I detect no emissions related to radioactive decay.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Bluetooth,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan replied, relieved to know the crisis had just diminished in magnitude. This was good news indeed, but it also made the choice she had to make now much harder. Had the missile been carrying a nuclear warhead, shooting it down would have been her only option. Letting it explode would have carried significant risks to the safety of the Wa??sa, as well as triggering the standing order for the 12th Army. Shooting the warhead down before it exploded would have prevented both those outcomes.

    But this was just a conventional warhead. Probably a strong one, she thought¡ªotherwise, the sender likely wouldn¡¯t have gone to the effort of putting it into an intercontinental rocket. That meant she had to make a choice between shooting it down and potentially escalating the military confrontation, or letting it explode, hoping the ship could withstand the blast.

    She looked in the direction of Special Agent Oliveira. He gave her no indication of which response he would prefer, either not caring or simply trusting her to make the right choice herself. Perhaps both¡ªshe knew him well, having worked with him for many years as the Special Agent assigned to the 12th Army, and she believed she had his trust. But he also knew the technical specifications of the Wa??sa and had likely already assessed the probability that the ship would survive the explosion. Since he didn¡¯t seem to care, she guessed those probabilities were fairly good.

    That resolved the issue for her. If Oliveira was confident the ship would not be significantly damaged from the detonation, it was better for the mission to not respond to the threat at all.

    Twenty-six seconds later, the warhead exploded harmlessly against the hull of her ship. Some of the Wa??sa¡¯s ablative armor peeled off, taking with it a significant portion of the energy into space. The rest of the explosion was soaked up by the shock absorbers built into the hull, distributing it along the full volume of the half-kilometer-long Command Ship, diluting the energy into harmless vibrations.

 Chapter 7

    The third emergency meeting of the People¡¯s Council since the arrival of the alien ship was in full swing. The Hall of the Political Bureau was boiling over with voices trying to get themselves heard over the chaos.

    ¡°Silence!¡± Chairman Patek Lham shouted. He was a huge Jerrassian, with silver hair starting to show on his neck. ¡°Silence!¡±

    There was little reaction, until Tomar Felt, the Minister of the Interior, stood up next to him, waving her large arms into the air to get the attention of the participating ministers and their assistants.

    ¡°Silence!¡± she shouted as well. ¡°If there¡¯s ever a time we need to show a united front, it is now. Please calm down and let us talk about these events like adults.¡±

    It took a few minutes, but eventually the pandemonium ceased as the ministers, including the Minister of the Interior, returned to their assigned seats. Only Chairman Patek remained standing.

    ¡°Twice we have debated how to respond to the aliens,¡± he said, once his voice could be heard again. ¡°Twice we have been unable to agree. But things have changed with the Joless-kvar attacking the alien ship. We do not know anything about the aliens¡¯ psychology. We do not know how they will react to the attack. Do they understand it was the act of a single nation, or will they blame us all?¡±

    A murmur of agreement spread through the attending ministers. Despite his hatred for Patek, Namir All shared the sentiment. He found the aliens utterly fascinating. Their arrival, their technology, their very existence had the potential to change Jerrassian society for the better. Imagine how much could be learned from them! He assumed an advanced race like them had rejected all notions of personal wealth and had successfully implemented a universal utopia ruled by peasants and workers. This was the chance for United Jerr to learn from them and become the society of his dreams.

    ¡°I believe this situation presents us with a unique opportunity,¡± the Minister of Defense said, standing up from his seat. ¡°As we¡¯ve discussed before, the arrival of the aliens poses a threat to the continued rule of this esteemed body. Their presence here presents new ideas to the people, new ways to think. And a people who dares to think new thoughts is a people who might begin to think dangerous new thoughts. Thoughts that do not align with the policies of this body.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong, Namir thought. But he was right for the wrong reasons. While Minister Dareem feared the aliens were a threat to the People¡¯s Council because they might turn the masses into shopkeepers and business owners, Namir believed the aliens would turn out to be a threat to the Council because they would show Chairman Patek the errors of his ways.

    ¡°The Joless-kvar tried to shoot down the alien ship,¡± the Minister of Defense continued. ¡°Had they succeeded, we would not have needed to have this debate. The future rule of the People¡¯s Council would have been ensured.¡±

    That, Namir thought with an ironic smile, he should not be so certain about.

    Minister Dareem was about to finish delivering his argument. ¡°We could use a launch site in a friendly country on the other side of the world, and shoot down the alien ship using our own missiles. Having already been attacked by the Joless-kvar, the aliens would surely blame them, not us.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Namir was boiling over with rage. It was a stupid argument, for a multitude of reasons. Minister of Defense Dareem was not fit to serve the great people of United Jerr. In Namir¡¯s opinion, he was an idiot, and should be put out of his misery. If United Jerr successfully managed to shoot down the aliens, they wouldn¡¯t be around to blame anyone, whether they knew who the perpetrators were or not. And if the attack failed¡­ Well, they were smart enough to build ships capable of traveling between the stars. What reason did Minister Dareem have to believe they were stupid enough to just assume¡ªwithout investigating¡ªthat whoever shot at them the first time was also the ones shooting at them the second time, despite the rockets having different designs and being launched from a new location? And then there was the little matter of the Terran Federation. If the aliens were suddenly killed, surely someone from their homeworld would come looking, and that would not bode well for the Jerrassians. Also, beyond nationalistic hubris, what reason was there to assume United Jerr would succeed when Joless-kvar had failed with the same task?

    Namir All leaned forward to whisper a few well-chosen words in the ear of his boss, the Minister of the Interior.

    The debate that followed was intense, but in the end, Minister of the Interior Tomar succeeded in her argument. Minister Dareem backed down.

    ¡°There is another issue of significantly greater importance to the continued rule of this Council,¡± Minister Tomar continued, after Dareem Kvar had sat down. ¡°There are certain things we do as a country that the aliens would not benefit from knowing. I¡¯m mainly thinking of two areas: certain military operations we had to perform during the Great Patriotic War might not be correctly understood by them, and then there¡¯s our research into atomic weapons. It would be to our advantage if the aliens don¡¯t learn about these subjects.¡±

    From the benches, there was more than one voice of agreement. The Minister of the Interior laid out her plan. ¡°First of all, we need to ensure the aliens understand that our actions during the war were out of necessity. The special military operations in Fatar-mon and Toylar-var were conducted because those nations were planning to invade us. The Crimson Legion was sent in as peacekeeping forces, to protect our ethnic brethren from human rights violations committed by our neighboring countries. Of particular importance is that we never mention to the aliens the vacation villages we established in the pacified territories. It is imperative that they do not see us as aggressors. We do not know how they would respond if they got the wrong impression of United Jerr.¡±

    Namir sneered as he heard her words. No, the Minister of the Interior wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªit was important to protect the forced labor camps. But it churned his stomach to think of the motherland giving the capitalist pack interned there food, clothes, and housing. They had no place in the perfect society he and the Jerrassian Liberation Front were working toward. The labor camps should be rebuilt into extermination camps, and to do that, their existence had to be protected¡ªthe Minister of the Interior was right about that. Only then could United Jerr cleanse the new additions to the motherland from the capitalist vermin of Fatar-mon and Toylar-var.

    Minister Tomar continued her speech. ¡°In terms of our atomic weapons program, that is to be kept secret at all costs. Should our esteemed colleague, comrade Dareem, be right about the aliens, and the need arise to one day fight them, using atomic weapons might be our only hope of winning such a fight. Thus, our plutonium enrichment program must be accelerated, protected, and kept completely hidden from the aliens.¡±

    The Minister of the Interior was now reaching the end of her speech. ¡°To that end, I support Chairman Patek¡¯s position that United Jerr should respond to the aliens¡¯ message with one of our own, sending them a carefully worded peaceful welcome and an invitation to meet here in Kerrma-non. Furthermore, I demand that this body increase the funding and authority of the Committee for Jerrassian Security, to enable them to better monitor the citizens of our great nation during this time of crisis, and give us advance warning should we see signs that unauthorized information is being leaked to the aliens.¡±

 Chapter 8

    January 12, 2141, Kerrma-non, Jerr, Tau Ceti system

    The Wa??sa descended in silence through the early morning clouds, carried on the wings of local gravity gradients generated by its field generator. When it finally touched down at Kerrma-non Airport, Captain O¡¯Sullivan could see a vast sea of Jerrassians waiting beyond the cordons, their eyes filled with wonder as they eagerly tried to glimpse the visitors from the stars.

    It was a beautiful day, with only a few scattered clouds marring the otherwise clear sky. The morning breeze brought with it exotic and strange smells¡ªfragrances she would probably remember for the rest of her life. It was a perfect day for an event of this historical magnitude.

    She made one final check of her red dress uniform¡ªformal, tight, and adorned with medals¡ªensuring it was perfect for the occasion before stepping out into the orange sunlight. To her right, Special Agent Oliveira kept pace with her as they walked the runway toward the waiting Jerrassian delegation. Around them, Lieutenant Mikhail Johnson and his team of Sunguard soldiers kept a vigilant watch on the surroundings. Discerning threats from harmless behaviors, and deliberate acts from mistakes, was hard enough in a familiar situation. Doing so for the first time on an alien world was a monumental task. Captain O¡¯Sullivan didn¡¯t envy the Lieutenant, but he seemed to know what he was doing, and she felt safe in his capable hands.

    Jerrassian musicians lined the carpet that marked the path for the leaders of the People¡¯s Council. The Sunguard team waited at the beginning of it, as close to the Wa??sa as possible, allowing the Jerrassians to approach them. The music being played was soft and, to Terran ears, melancholic. O¡¯Sullivan assumed the Jerrassians likely didn¡¯t perceive it that way.

    When the two delegations finally met, the Sunguard security team¡ªcomposed of members from all three races¡ªfanned out, forming a protective cordon around the two groups. Lieutenant Johnson was certain the Jerrassians had their own security forces overseeing the event, but he wasn¡¯t willing to trust them. The safety of the Terran Federation delegation was his responsibility, and he took that duty very seriously, indeed.

    Chairman Patek was the first to speak. He was a large man, the tallest Jerrassian O¡¯Sullivan had seen so far. ¡°On behalf of the democratic government of United Jerr, we welcome our friends from the Terran Federation in peace. I am Patek Lham, Chairman of the People¡¯s Council of United Jerr,¡± he said.

    ¡°We thank you,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°On behalf of the Terran Federation, we express our gratitude for the invitation.¡±

    With the introductions complete, it was clear that the Jerrassians were not an overly formal people. O¡¯Sullivan didn¡¯t mind this aspect of their culture; she also suspected it must be one of the qualities Special Agent Oliveira found most appealing about them.

    ¡°We were intrigued by the message you sent,¡± Chairman Patek said, his tone inquisitive. ¡°Would you mind telling us a little more about who you are? I mean the Sunguard and the Terran Federation.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°But first, let me introduce Special Agent Alistair Oliveira.¡± She gestured toward the casually dressed man in his signature gray jumpsuit with red stripes, signifying his status as a Sunguard Special Agent. ¡°He is our advisor. Although a member of the Sunguard, he speaks directly for our government, the Solar Council.¡±

    Chairman Patek and his delegation gave a slight bow, greeting Oliveira in the traditional Jerrassian manner.

    Captain O¡¯Sullivan continued her presentation. ¡°The Terran Federation was formed seventy years ago¡ªthat¡¯s Jerrassian years, to be clear¡ªafter making contact with the Kelar and the Etarians. It is a direct executive democracy where every citizen casts a single vote to determine the makeup of the Solar Council. In the spirit of openness, I must acknowledge that our beginnings were not without complications. In fact, early missteps led to war. However, let me assure you that the Terran Federation places great value on learning from its mistakes. Despite the difficulties during the war, the Kelar are now valued members of the Terran Federation, as were the Etarians before them.¡± She gestured to the Kelar and Etarian members of the security team guarding them. ¡°It is our intention to do everything in our power to ensure history does not repeat itself here.¡±

    Despite her reassuring words, she was certain the Jerrassians would receive them with some apprehension. That was understandable. But the alternative¡ªkeeping the Kelar War a secret¡ªwould have been far worse when¡ªinevitably¡ªthe Jerrassians learned about it.

    She was not wrong about their reactions. Although she couldn¡¯t read their body language very well, O¡¯Sullivan could certainly detect a change in their posture and tone of voice. It was safe to assume it was not a positive one.

    ¡°The Sunguard,¡± she continued, ¡°is the combined military and police force of the Terran Federation. It is tasked with protecting the citizens of the Terran Federation from internal and external threats.¡±

    ¡°Do you then see United Jerr as a threat?¡± Chairman Patek asked, indicating the Sunguard soldiers with his hand. O¡¯Sullivan could tell he was troubled.

    ¡°Potentially, yes,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan admitted, striving to keep her presentation honest. ¡°Given our experience during our last first contact, we could not rule out that possibility. I¡¯m glad we were wrong.¡±

    That visibly eased the apprehension among the Jerrassian delegation.

    ¡°We believe in peace through a show of strength,¡± O¡¯Sullivan explained. ¡°Meaning the best force is the one that never has to be used. The best war is the one that is never fought. We save lives by preventing conflicts before they even start¡ªby demonstrating the futility of confrontation. That is the role of the Sunguard. It is not a threat¡ªit is a guarantor of peace.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Chairman Patek listened to her words but didn¡¯t comment further. Captain O¡¯Sullivan was certain they would be analyzed in detail by the Jerrassians as soon as the meeting concluded. She was also sure of the righteousness of the Sunguard¡¯s mission, regardless of what the Jerrassians might feel about it. It was not the Terran Federation¡¯s job to adapt to alien cultural sensitivities. She respected them, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to change to accommodate them. The Sunguard existed as it did because that was what the democratically elected Solar Council wanted it to be. Until the day the people of the Terran Federation voted to change that, it would continue in its role.

    Chairman Patek had one last question. ¡°What, then, is your purpose here? Why did you come to Jerr?¡±

    ¡°We came to learn,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan responded. ¡°To learn who you are. To learn about your world, your history, and your culture. We came to exchange ideas and knowledge. If we can offer insights that might help you, we are happy to work with you.¡±

    She had one final statement to make. ¡°And if¡ªat some point in the future¡ªyou wish to join the Terran Federation, and the people of the Terran Federation agree to your membership, we would be willing to extend an invitation for the Jerrassians to become our fourth member race.¡±

    ¡°That is something we will certainly consider,¡± Chairman Patek declared. ¡°Now, since you have been kind enough to tell us about your worlds, let me tell you a little about ours.¡±

    He paused, as if preparing himself for a great task¡ªor perhaps carefully considering what he was about to say.

    ¡°United Jerr is a proud nation with a long history of democracy, just like your Terran Federation,¡± he began. ¡°The motherland provides for its children. There is no need for individuals to own property¡ªthe state meets their needs. In United Jerr, the peasants in the fields and the workers in the factories stand shoulder to shoulder with the most prominent members of the government. We are all equal here.¡±

    Captain O¡¯Sullivan politely acknowledged his description of their country they were now guests of but refrained from commenting further. She had seen the orbital surveillance footage of the labor camps, the Crimson Legion soldiers digging mass graves, and the starving children in the southern provinces. She did not approve. But at this stage of the mission, approval wasn¡¯t the goal. The purpose was to learn about Jerrassian culture and history¡ªeven if that history included unspeakable atrocities.

    She tried to phrase her response as neutrally as possible. ¡°We appreciate your willingness to stand up for many of the ideals we also hold dear,¡± she said, without specifying which Jerrassian ideals the Terran Federation shared and which they didn¡¯t. That, she thought, would have to be a topic for another time.

    ¡°We do have one concern,¡± she added, both dreading and anticipating the conversation ahead. It would reveal much. ¡°As we approached your world, remote sensing detected that you are actively enriching plutonium. Could you explain the purpose of your plutonium enrichment program?¡±

    It took a few seconds before the Chairman responded. Though she couldn¡¯t pinpoint why, there was something different about his voice when he spoke again.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re mistaken,¡± Chairman Patek replied. ¡°There is no plutonium enrichment occurring within the borders of United Jerr. It is possible you have detected illicit activities by one of our neighbors. If so, we are grateful for the information. But United Jerr has never pursued atomic weapons, and it never will.¡±

    O¡¯Sullivan knew well enough that the detected sites were not run by other nations. One of them, in fact, was located just kilometers from where they were standing now, on the outskirts of Kerrma-non. She hadn¡¯t expected the Chairman to admit to a nuclear weapons program, given what she knew about United Jerr, but the way he answered her question was telling nonetheless. Without her even prompting him, he had immediately jumped from her inquiry about plutonium enrichment in general to discussing nuclear weapons specifically.

    Then, suddenly, she felt as if she had been punched in the ribs by an unseen force. She was thrown backward to the ground, and in the process, she heard a sharp boom. At first, she didn¡¯t feel anything. But as the initial shock began to wear off, she felt a sharp pain spreading through her chest. When she turned her head to look, she noticed a large red pool forming on the ground where she lay, seeping from a hole through her right lung. Seconds later, her world went black.

    Special Agent Oliveira reacted instantly, raising his gaser rifle to cover the crowd in the direction from which the shot had been fired. At the same time, he positioned himself in front of the unconscious captain, blocking the shooter¡¯s view and, if necessary, preparing to serve as a human shield for Captain O¡¯Sullivan while the Sunguard soldiers evacuated her back to the Wa??sa. With eyes sharp for danger, he scanned the now-panicking crowd for anything that might stand out.

    Meanwhile, Lieutenant Johnson rushed forward, pushing into the crowd with determined strides. By chance, he had been looking in the general direction of the shooter when the shot rang out. Now, he was pursuing the man through the sea of Jerrassians fleeing the sudden scene of violence.

    If Johnson had trouble navigating through the crowd, the same was true for the shooter. Panicked people were running in every direction, shouting in fear and tripping over each other as they scrambled to get away. In their haste, many left their belongings behind¡ªbags, empty strollers, and coats littered the ground, making it even harder to run.

    Just beyond the large concrete blocks marking the end of the tarmac, Johnson caught up with the suspect. The shooter was a fairly small Jerrassian male in his early thirties, dressed in simple, worn clothes. He no longer carried the weapon; at some point during the chase, he must have thrown it away. However, Lieutenant Johnson had an excellent memory, and he was certain this was the man he had seen holding the gun in the moments following the assassination attempt. With the strength and coordination of a soldier experienced in hand-to-hand combat, Johnson apprehended the Jerrassian.

    The hairy Jerrassian struggled to break free from his grip, using muscle groups that didn¡¯t even exist on a Terran. But Johnson didn¡¯t budge. As he held the man in a vice-like grip, he noticed in the corner of his eye a group of uniformed Jerrassians pushing through the crowd. Though unfamiliar with Jerrassian organizations, Johnson immediately recognized their role based on their behavior and the way the crowd reacted to them: they must belong to the secret police.

    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± the leader of the group said to Lieutenant Johnson. ¡°Olvar Rem, Captain, Committee for Jerrassian Security,¡± he stated with military precision. ¡°We¡¯ll take it from here.¡±

    The Jerrassian agents quickly secured the subdued man, snapping handcuffs onto his wrists and striking him in the process in a way that made Johnson uncomfortable. It was one thing to use force during an arrest and another thing entirely to do so afterward. However, it was not his place to comment on how the Jerrassians handled their criminals, so he held his tongue and allowed the CJS agents to remove the shooter from the scene.

 Chapter 9

    Once again, the Hall of the Political Bureau was in uproar. This time, fear was clearly audible in the voices of several Ministers present. The last time the aliens had been attacked, the missile had been launched from another country, and apparently none of the aliens had actually been hurt. Still, that had been bad enough. This time, the assault had very obviously come from United Jerr soil, and to make matters worse, the alien leader had been killed.

    There was a very real chance the aliens would seek retribution, Namir thought. He was deeply upset by the situation. The arrival of the aliens was perhaps the best thing that had happened to Jerr since¡­ well, he couldn¡¯t really think of a comparable moment. They should be welcomed and learned from, not attacked. But the attack had happened, and now they once again faced the uncertainty of how the aliens would react.

    ¡°Silence!¡± Chairman Patek shouted once more. Lately, that seemed to have become his primary role in the People¡¯s Council, as if his title had ceased to be a euphemism for ¡°Supreme Leader¡± and had suddenly taken on its literal meaning.

    ¡°We are, once again, at the mercy of the alien visitors,¡± he declared, as soon as his voice could be heard over the commotion. ¡°We know very little of what has happened. Apparently, one of our own comrades, a disgruntled factory worker from the looks of it, decided to make a statement of his own and assassinate the captain of the alien ship. It is now of utmost importance that we distance ourselves from his actions.¡±

    ¡°There is, however, one slim silver lining,¡± he continued. ¡°Before the assassination, the alien captain asked about our plutonium enrichment program. We do not know the technical details of how they came to believe we had one, but it seems they felt they had reason to suspect United Jerr was working towards producing atomic weapons. The good news is, before she was shot, I had the opportunity to explain to her that she was mistaken and that United Jerr is not pursuing atomic weapons. Now the aliens no longer believe we are enriching plutonium. With our atomic weapons program secret again, we are in a significantly stronger position.¡±

    Namir All was dumbfounded. Of all the idiotic statements he had heard Chairman Patek make from the pulpit, this one surely took the prize. That said, he wasn¡¯t exactly surprised. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time a national leader had fallen victim to the seductive practice of starting to believe his own lies. The particular untruth Chairman Patek seemed to have embraced was the lie of his own extraordinary oratorical abilities.

    The Chairman concluded his speech by leaving the floor open for suggestions on how to handle the anticipated alien response. The first to rise was Minister of the Interior Tomar.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°We appreciate the Chairman¡¯s contribution to national security, as he singlehandedly got the aliens to back down from their investigation of our plutonium enrichment program,¡± she began. Namir knew Minister Tomar well enough to recognize the ironic tone in her voice, though he very much doubted Chairman Patek picked up on it.

    ¡°There is, however, some information the Chairman is not yet privy to,¡± she continued. Now Namir¡¯s attention sharpened. This, he had not expected her to say.

    ¡°The name of the assassin is Jumrel Rem. He is thirty-four years old and holds the rank of captain in the Committee for Jerrassian Security. When assassinating Captain O¡¯Sullivan, he acted on my direct orders.¡± The last part of her statement was drowned out by the rising roar of voices in the hall.

    One of those roars came from Chairman Patek. As he stood, he towered over the other delegates, waving his arms in an instinctive attempt to intimidate them. ¡°What did you do?¡± he shouted to her. ¡°Do you understand what you have done?¡±

    ¡°I had very good reasons for doing what I did,¡± the Minister of the Interior replied calmly, though there was a hint of anger in her voice. ¡°During our last emergency session, this council decided to welcome the aliens with open arms. I believe that was the wrong decision. It should be obvious to anyone who listened to Captain O¡¯Sullivan that they do not share our values. They are not ruled by their peasants and workers, nor do they believe in the supremacy of the Party¡ªor any single party, for that matter. Yet our people already look up to them. If they stay, the aliens will spread their poison, diluting the integrity of our ideology in the process.¡±

    Namir All didn¡¯t quite know what to think. On one hand, he vehemently disagreed with her assessment of the aliens. No matter how hard he tried to see her side of the argument, he could not perceive them as an ideological threat. On the other hand, he was thoroughly impressed by her willingness¡ªand her ability¡ªto use violence to protect the ideological integrity he so highly cherished.

    Chairman Patek was still roaring in anger. Namir wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the confrontation turned physical. If that happened, it wouldn¡¯t be the first time the Hall of the Political Bureau had seen bloodshed between Ministers.

    ¡°I should fire you!¡± the Chairman shouted. ¡°I would have fired you, had we not been living under the scrutiny of the aliens. But in the current situation, the People¡¯s Council must present a united front, and firing you now would be tantamount to admitting responsibility for the assassination.¡±

    He glared at the Minister of the Interior with hatred in his eyes. ¡°Rest assured, once this crisis is resolved, we will have a talk, you and I, Minister Tomar, about how you had to step down from your position due to health reasons and how you want to spend the rest of your days knitting on the porch of your vacation cottage on the Tober Coast.¡±

    Minister of the Interior Tomar¡¯s only response, as she sat down, was a string of rather explicit words describing the surprisingly short evolutionary distance between Chairman Patek and the orvat-var.

 Chapter 10

    This time, they met in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Kerrma-non. Old, mostly broken machines stood silently in the room, covered by large, gray tarps. The dusty industrial floor echoed with their footsteps as they pawed to the center of the vast room. They were all there¡ªthe leaders of the Jerrassian Liberation Front. Eight men and women of imposing stature, all dedicated to the purification of the Jerrassian people and the ideology of United Jerr.

    Namir All was the first to speak.

    ¡°The situation is fluid,¡± he said. ¡°Things are changing very fast and could go wrong at any moment. I believe that provides us with a unique opportunity. The People¡¯s Council is busy tearing itself apart over the alien visitation. They¡¯re distracted, and their attention is no longer on us. This is the moment when we should strike.¡±

    ¡°Are we ready?¡± Moram Kor asked. ¡°Do we have a viable target?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± Latar Nol replied. He was a middle-aged man with a limp from an unfortunate encounter with a forklift several years earlier.

    ¡°Actually,¡± Namir interjected, ¡°I would like to propose a new target.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Latar seemed flabbergasted. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who suggested the hostage plan in the first place?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Namir admitted. ¡°And it was a good plan. It still is. But I think we can do better¡ªmuch better. Allow me to explain.¡±

    There were grunts of both support and opposition, though none were openly antagonistic. In the end, it was Moram who settled the matter. ¡°Let¡¯s hear your plan,¡± she said simply.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Namir smoothed his suit as he stepped forward to take center stage.

    ¡°As you know, as First Assistant to the Minister of the Interior, I¡¯m privy to certain pieces of information not intended for general knowledge,¡± he began. ¡°Among them is detailed information about a secret project to enrich an element known as plutonium for the purpose of creating what is called an atomic bomb.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    He looked at his comrades. While they listened intently to his plan, he saw little understanding in their eyes.

    ¡°An atomic bomb is a device that uses Paramat Kvar¡¯s famous equation to extract energy from heavy atoms by splitting them into lighter elements. It is a bomb powerful enough to obliterate an entire city,¡± he explained.

    That got their attention.

    ¡°A city like Kerrma-non?¡± Latar asked cautiously. With five million people, the capital was the largest city on Jerr.

    ¡°It might,¡± Namir answered carefully. He was not a physicist. His only knowledge of atomic bombs came from the briefings he received on behalf of the Minister of the Interior. But it stood to reason that an atomic bomb could, if designed for that purpose, obliterate a city of millions¡ªor so Namir thought. He kept his answer brief, not wanting to get sidetracked. His new plan had very little to do with atomic bombs, anyway.

    ¡°Like I said, to build an atomic bomb, you need heavy elements,¡± he continued. ¡°That is the plutonium I mentioned. It is a highly radioactive element our government is manufacturing to use when they eventually build their atomic bomb.¡±

    He paused for effect, then pressed on. ¡°I wish we could steal the plutonium and create an atomic bomb of our own, but that is, of course, impossible. The People¡¯s Council has spent untold billions of tomak-par on the project over years and has still not managed to create even a working prototype. What I propose is much simpler: let¡¯s consider putting fragments of plutonium inside one of our usual bomb canisters. When the bomb goes off, the plutonium will be vaporized and spread by the wind through the city, to be inhaled by the people living there¡ªpeople who would then die from radiation poisoning. A single plutonium-enhanced bomb might kill thousands or even tens of thousands. In the face of such a threat, the People¡¯s Council will¡ªno, must¡ªrelent to our demands.¡±

    The leaders of the Jerrassian Liberation Front were clearly impressed, and rightly so. If all went well, they would, within days, be able to mold the government like clay in their hands.

    ¡°And we can get this¡­ plutonium?¡± Moram asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be heavily guarded?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Namir answered. That was the weakest point of his plan. But with United Jerr¡¯s security forces now entirely focused on the aliens, he thought there was a good chance a plutonium heist could succeed. ¡°As assistant to the Minister of the Interior, I have access to the security arrangements around the transport of plutonium from our enrichment facilities. I know the timetables and the forces assigned to protect them. We can do this.¡±

    They discussed the details for another hour, but in the end, the decision was unanimous. The Jerrassian Liberation Front agreed to Namir All¡¯s plan.

 Chapter 11

    Captain O¡¯Sullivan sat down at the conference table with an involuntary groan. Her hand subconsciously reached out to touch the spot on her chest where the Jerrassian bullet had pierced her right lung.

    Unconscious, she had been rushed aboard the Wa??sa and immediately taken to the Medical Department, where her wound had been cleaned and filled with hormone gel to stimulate the growth of new cells and accelerate the healing process. What would naturally have taken weeks to repair had, thanks to the growth hormones, only taken days. At the same time, nanobots had been injected into her body. They directed the growing cells and wove the new tissue into a pattern indistinguishable from her undamaged self, preventing the formation of scar tissue. There would be no blemish to mar her chest, nor any calluses to constrict her lungs.

    That didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t hurt. The newly formed skin was still fresh and white, as no pigment had yet developed in it. But the pain would eventually subside, and in time, a little sunshine would surely take care of her skin coloration as well. Other than these two minor annoyances, she was as good as new.

    ¡°Are you alright, Captain?¡± Admiral Ekberg asked, his dark brown face showing genuine concern. ¡°Do you need anything?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you, sir,¡± O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°Just a little pain. Nothing I can¡¯t handle. It could have been a whole lot worse.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t deny that,¡± Special Agent Oliveira quipped.

    ¡°Well, what did I miss?¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan didn¡¯t like having lost days to unconsciousness and desperately wanted to catch up.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been trying to get permission from the Jerrassians to interview the shooter. It¡¯s been easier said than done.¡± There was a note of frustration in Admiral Ekberg¡¯s voice.

    ¡°They claim there¡¯s been a clerical error, and they¡¯ve somehow lost the prisoner,¡± Oliveira explained. ¡°I say he¡¯s either lying in an unmarked grave in some Jerrassian forest right now, or sitting in an expensive hotel suite, toasting with his pals in the People¡¯s Council. Either way, the Committee for Jerrassian Security clearly didn¡¯t want us to get the chance to talk to him.¡±

    Admiral Ekberg leaned forward. ¡°We¡¯ve been very clear that all we want is an interview. We¡¯re not going to extradite him. He¡¯s a Jerrassian prisoner and will be dealt with under their justice system.¡±

    ¡°Or whatever they have instead of justice,¡± Oliveira interjected. Admiral Ekberg shot him a dark look but quickly composed himself, realizing what he was doing. Despite not having a formal military title, the Special Agent was technically his superior, at least in matters outside the day-to-day operations of large-scale fleet affairs.

    ¡°And speaking of lies,¡± Oliveira continued, ¡°we also have the whole mess of their plutonium enrichment program.¡±

    O¡¯Sullivan groaned, though this time it wasn¡¯t due to the pain in her chest but the memory of Chairman Patek¡¯s cringeworthy denial. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± she admitted. ¡°It¡¯s like they don¡¯t get it. Or maybe they¡¯ve been lying for so long they¡¯ve started to believe their own propaganda.¡±

    ¡°There was a saying on Old Earth about big lies,¡± Special Agent Oliveira said. ¡°The bigger the lie, the easier it is to believe. I guess if the lie is outrageous enough, people assume no one would be brazen enough to make it up. Therefore, it must be true.¡±

    ¡°Good thing we know it¡¯s not true, then, ¡° O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°But it was embarrassing. I didn¡¯t know what to say.¡±

    ¡°You handled it well,¡± Oliveira complimented her. ¡°All we wanted was to hear his explanation. There was no need for you to answer it. And besides, the Jerrassians themselves took care of that,¡± he said, gesturing toward her chest.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued, ¡°I have some concerns about their nuclear program beyond their lies. After the assassination attempt, the Jerrassians pulled back their troops from the enrichment facilities and stopped transporting plutonium in armed convoys. Now they¡¯re using single, unmarked vehicles, trying to make the sites look like ordinary factories, with nothing suspicious going on at all. I¡¯m sure they have soldiers riding in those vehicles, but still, you can only fit a handful in there.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Right,¡± O¡¯Sullivan said. ¡°They got scared when I told them we¡¯d found their plutonium enrichment program. But they don¡¯t understand how we detected it, so they¡¯re incorrectly assuming it was through visual inspection. And they¡¯re reacting accordingly.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s incredibly dangerous,¡± Admiral Ekberg pointed out. ¡°It leaves their enrichment facilities and transport vehicles vulnerable to espionage, sabotage, or perhaps even theft.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s also telling,¡± Oliveira added. ¡°It shows they fear us detecting their nuclear weapons program more than they fear theft or espionage. That, if anything, is deeply concerning.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Admiral Ekberg said, trying to steer the meeting back on track. ¡°The main purpose of today¡¯s discussion is to determine what our current recommendation to the Solar Council is regarding extending an invitation to Jerr to join the Terran Federation.¡±

    ¡°Well, they¡¯d need to make significant changes to join,¡± Oliveira said. ¡°They can vote for communists to be nominated as Secretaries if they want to, or even send their own candidates to the Solar Council, but the People¡¯s Council would have to become apolitical. Politics is played on the interstellar stage, not on individual planets. The People¡¯s Council can stay, but it would have to transform into an administrative body, not a political one.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Admiral Ekberg said. ¡°They also need to be fully transparent with us before joining¡ªnot just after. And not only about their nuclear weapons program, but also their human rights violations. Those dark deeds must come to light first.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Oliveira agreed. ¡°I¡¯m considering proposing they establish some form of a truth and reconciliation commission.¡±

    ¡°Then there¡¯s also the issue of discrimination,¡± Special Agent Oliveira added.¡°They need to make a real effort to rebuild the nations ruined by their so-called Great War. It¡¯ll take time, but they must show they¡¯re willing to start.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s another thing I¡¯ve come across in my research on the Jerrassians that worries me,¡± he continued. ¡°They systematically discriminate based on size. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s weight, height, or both, but essentially, the bigger you are in Jerrassian society, the more important you are. Your opinions carry more weight, you get better paying jobs and health care. And if you¡¯re big, you have better odds of being acquitted if they¡¯re in trouble with the law.¡±

    ¡°Obviously, they¡¯d need to stop that practice if they want to join,¡± Admiral Ekberg said. ¡°But can they? How deeply ingrained is it?¡±

    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Oliveira countered. ¡°If they want to join, they¡¯ll have to change. Of course, joining hinges on a public vote among the three races first. But unless they change, it won¡¯t even reach that stage.¡±

    He paused, then continued. ¡°I think there¡¯s an apt analogy. For millennia, for nearly all of human history, we discriminated against women. We discriminated against people of color. But then came the Fall of Old Earth, and we had to scramble to avoid extinction. Most of us didn¡¯t survive. The rest of us, living in the domed colonies on Mars, had to band together to make it. We could no longer afford to treat three-quarters of our population as less valuable based on arbitrary divisions - everyone was needed. In that cataclysm, we learned that humans have equal value, regardless of gender or skin color. If we could change, so can the Jerrassians.¡±

    The three Sunguard officers sat silently for a moment, contemplating the difficulty of the task ahead.

    ¡°There¡¯s one final point I¡¯ll insist on,¡± Special Agent Oliveira stated. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will agree with this. It has to be Jerr that joins the Terran Federation¡ªnot United Jerr. The invitation will be extended to the entire planet, not to a single nation. In fact, if they want to join, they¡¯ll have to abolish the concept of nations entirely. Once they join, the only state they¡¯ll belong to is the Terran Federation.¡±

    Both Captain O¡¯Sullivan and Admiral Ekberg nodded. They had both assumed that would be a requirement, but it still needed to be said.

    ¡°Well, then,¡± Admiral Ekberg said, ¡°I think it¡¯s time we decide. Can we extend the invitation to them?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Oliveira answered quickly. He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Not yet. We¡¯ll have to do it in stages. And at this moment, we¡¯re not even at the stage where the Jerrassians want to join. They fear us and mistrust us. We need to work on improving relations first. Only then can we invite them. But even then, the invitation must be conditional, and at first only a declaration of intent rather than actual membership. They¡¯ll need to begin preparing for integration with the Terran Federation before being allowed in.¡±

    ¡°Very good, sir,¡± Admiral Ekberg said. ¡°But do we actually want them to join? Or would we be better off packing our bags and returning back home?¡±

    ¡°No, definitely not,¡± Oliveira replied. ¡°The second we appeared in their skies, Jerr eventually joining the Terran Federation became a necessity. Now they know we exist. They know it¡¯s possible to travel between the stars. If we leave now, while they fear and maybe even hate us, that fear and hate will fester and grow. Before long, they¡¯ll come knocking on our door with nukes in their pockets¡ªmuch like the Kelar did back during the war. Tau Ceti isn¡¯t that far from home. If we leave now, we¡¯ll be creating an enemy in our own backyard.

    But if they join¡ªif they take pride in being members of the Terran Federation, like the Kelar eventually did¡ªthe Jerrassians will strengthen us, and we will strengthen them. And we¡¯ll have defused a bomb that might otherwise have ripped our worlds apart.¡±

 Chapter 12

    The excitement of repeated emergency sessions was starting to wear off. This time, Chairman Patek didn¡¯t have to call for silence in the Hall of the Political Bureau. Or perhaps the relative calm among the Ministers was simply a consequence of him and the Minister of the Interior having kept the purpose of this meeting secret. That calm, he suspected, would soon end.

    ¡°Welcome to today¡¯s session, comrades,¡± he began. ¡°Sadly, events have transpired that require our attention once again. In the interest of expediency, I leave the floor to the Minister of the Interior.¡±

    If nothing else, the seemingly cordial relationship between the Chairman and Minister Tomar should have been cause for alarm. This was the opposite of the public animosity they had displayed during the previous meeting. But no one in the Hall seemed to pick up on it. No one but Namir All.

    ¡°Good day, comrades,¡± she said as she reached the pulpit. ¡°Let me be brief and to the point. Just after midnight today, one of our shipments of refined plutonium, in the process of being transferred from Refinement Facility B to the prototype bomb construction site at Holver, was intercepted by unknown assailants. The plutonium carried in the transport van has not yet been located. In coordination with Chairman Patek, I have already taken the liberty to instruct the Committee for Jerrassian Security to direct all their efforts toward finding and retrieving the stolen radioactive material. Chairman Patek has further agreed to grant the CJS what is essentially an unlimited budget for the time being.¡±

    The Minister of the Interior looked at the other Ministers seated in the Hall of the Political Bureau. Fear was apparent on their faces. This was not like the previous emergency sessions, where the threat the aliens posed had been mostly abstract. This time, their own lives might be at stake.

    ¡°Furthermore,¡± she continued, ¡°it is now of utmost importance that we consider how we can prevent the aliens from realizing what¡ª¡±

    At that point, Namir rose from his seat next to the now-empty chair of the Minister of the Interior.

    ¡°First Assistant Namir,¡± the Minister called out. ¡°Sit down! This is not appropriate behavior.¡± Having her own assistant break protocol in the Hall of the Political Bureau was the height of embarrassment, and she now had to try to save face.

    But Namir All would not give her the chance.

    ¡°Sit down and stay silent, Felt,¡± Namir ordered his boss. As he reached the pulpit, he pushed her to the side. ¡°Thank you for introducing me,¡± he said snidely.

    ¡°Tomar Felt is right,¡± he continued, addressing the gathered Ministers of the People¡¯s Council. ¡°Nine hours ago, we, the Jerrassian Liberation Front, came into possession of one of your shipments of plutonium. We thank you for providing us with that. During the morning, my comrades have¡ªat considerable risk to their own lives, I should say¡ªplaced those plutonium pellets inside the casing of the largest chemical bomb we have at our disposal. This compound device, which I would like to call a radiological bomb, has now been placed at a location within this city. I will not disclose where, as that will be up to you to find out¡ªif the time comes.¡±

    As expected, the Ministers displayed a wide range of reactions. Some stayed silent in fear, while others shouted in anger. Chairman Patek¡¯s voice was the loudest among them. ¡°Guards!¡± he screamed at the top of his lungs. ¡°Arrest this man!¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Namir said, spreading his hands in a fa?ade of cordiality. ¡°There is no need for that. If you try to arrest me or locate the bomb, I will detonate it remotely. Tens of thousands of people will die, and their blood will be on your hands.¡±

    The guards, who were already approaching the pulpit, hesitated. After one look at Chairman Patek, they turned and went back to their positions at the entrance to the Hall.

    ¡°The Jerrassian Liberation Front has two demands. You must meet them, or we will detonate the bomb,¡± Namir continued.

    ¡°The first demand is the immediate resignation of Chairman Patek and the transfer of power to Minister of the Interior Tomar.

    The second demand is an immediate change in policy toward the inhabitants of the former capitalist territories. Anyone with capitalist leanings, either in their own history or in their family, must be cleansed. To that end, the People¡¯s Council must immediately order the conversion of the labor camps in the annexed territories¡ªwhat you call the vacation villages¡ªinto extermination camps. To the glory of the worker¡¯s paradise!¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    His first demand was just for show, an afterthought added to sow suspicion and confusion. He didn¡¯t even like Minister Tomar, though he still found her a tad more impressive than Chairman Patek. The second demand was what really mattered: safeguarding the ideological purity of the nation. The People¡¯s Council had failed in this, and it was up to the Jerrassian Liberation Front to take up the mantle.

    And with that, Namir All left the pulpit, exited the Hall of the Political Bureau, and no one bothered him on the way out.

    <hr>

    ¡°I know nothing about this!¡± Minister of the Interior Tomar¡¯s voice was shrill with denial. ¡°That¡­ that orvat-var. He¡¯s worked with me for years. The CJS vetted him. I trusted him. We all trusted him. But he¡¯s a terrorist and a traitor to the nation!¡±

    The Ministers gathered in the Hall now showed visible distress. At any moment, their families, children, husbands, wives¡ªor they themselves¡ªcould fall victim to the invisible radioactive cloud silently spreading through the city. There were five million people living in Kerrma-non. Even with teams equipped with radiation counters, searching every building in the city would take months. And if even one of those teams were spotted by the so-called Liberation Front, the bomb would be detonated.

    Chairman Patek was furious, and once again, his anger was directed at Minister Tomar. She had¡ªknowingly or not¡ªbrought a traitor into their midst.

    In the chaos following the revelation, Minister of the Interior Tomar knew her only chance for redemption was to side with Chairman Patek, despite his vitriolic words. ¡°I will immediately retask the Committee for Jerrassian Security to locate this terrorist bomb,¡± she said, attempting to regain control of the situation. ¡°I will¡­ we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Chairman Patek demanded. ¡°How will you even¡­ where would you even begin? Even if we sent in the entire Crimson Legion to search the city, we would never find the bomb in time.¡±

    ¡°The Crimson Legion is our army, not an intelligence division,¡± Minister of Defense Dareem interjected. ¡°They¡¯re neither trained nor equipped for such a task. Solving this crisis falls squarely on the shoulders of Minister Tomar and her Committee for Jerrassian Security.¡±

    ¡°They can do it. I have full confidence in their capabilities,¡± Minister Tomar declared. ¡°The CJS is dedicated to the welfare of this nation. With increased resources, they can find the bomb without the Liberation Front noticing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all well and good that you believe in your own creation, Minister Tomar,¡± Chairman Patek replied. ¡°But I don¡¯t. It¡¯s one thing to say you believe they can do it. It¡¯s another to tell us exactly how they would do it¡ªand I have yet to hear that explanation from you.¡±

    She stood there in silence, trying to think, trying to find something to say. But every attempt at forming a plan to salvage the situation turned up nothing. In the end, she had to admit, at least to herself, that Chairman Patek was right. Her trust in the secret police would not be enough to solve this. The whole situation was getting out of hand.

    It was Palomar Tor, the Minister of Education, who eventually broke the stalemate. A comparably small woman, she rarely spoke up during meetings of the People¡¯s Council¡ªunless first addressed. She was the quiet thinker, the one who almost never said anything, but when she did, you¡¯d better listen.

    ¡°I know how to solve this,¡± she said in a low voice. Then louder, ¡°Let¡¯s ask the aliens for help.¡±

    The voices in the Hall turned once again into a roar. The aliens. Feared, mistrusted, with an unknown agenda. The Council still viewed them as a threat to the continued rule of the Party.

    ¡°Have you lost your mind, Minister Palomar?¡± the Chairman demanded. ¡°Just days ago, we¡­¡± He nodded, indicating with ¡°we¡± that he really meant the Minister of the Interior. ¡°¡­we assassinated the alien captain. Now you want us to bow, apologize, and ask them for help? And you expect them to just drop everything and come do our bidding? On top of that, you realize asking them for help means admitting we lied to them about our plutonium enrichment program?¡±

    It was Minister Dareem who came to her defense. ¡°No,¡± he shouted, ¡°Minister of Education Palomar is correct. This could be the solution we¡¯ve been looking for. The aliens have advanced technology: planes that can fly without wings, engines that can move them between stars. With such technology, they probably even have electrical computers small enough to fit into their ship. They might have the resources we need to locate the bomb.¡±

    Chairman Patek considered the suggestion for a few seconds. He didn¡¯t trust the aliens, but Minister of Defense Dareem was right. ¡°It¡¯s a very interesting proposal, Minister Dareem,¡± he said. ¡°Particularly in terms of how we might handle the fallout if the plan fails. If the aliens don¡¯t succeed and the bomb goes off, we can present the plan in such a way that it¡¯s clear to the people we did everything in our power to stop it, but ultimately, not even the aliens could prevent the disaster.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Minister Dareem responded. ¡°If the plan fails, we¡¯ll simply blame the aliens. And if it succeeds, we take the credit.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Minister of Education Palomar said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s not right. It¡¯s not how we should¡ª¡± But her voice was drowned out by the rising shouts of support for the plan from the gathered Ministers.

 Chapter 13

    ¡°I¡¯d say the Jerrassians were less shocked than I would have thought to see you alive,¡± Special Agent Oliveira said as he leaned back in his chair.

    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°They seemed genuinely happy to learn the assassination attempt had failed.¡±

    ¡°Probably because seeing you in perfect health after being shot just a couple of days ago reinforced their belief in our technology. It makes them more confident we have the means to resolve this situation for them,¡± said Oliveira, as cynical as ever.

    ¡°It¡¯s too bad something like this had to happen to create an opening to mend relations between our civilizations,¡± O¡¯Sullivan remarked.

    ¡°I see it as an opportunity we can¡¯t afford to miss,¡± Special Agent Oliveira said. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be callous. First and foremost, it¡¯s a matter of saving lives, of course. But if we can both save lives and entice the Jerrassians to change their opinion of us, I¡¯d say that¡¯s a good thing.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t disagree,¡± O¡¯Sullivan replied. ¡°But I¡¯d rather leave the politics out of this one and focus on getting the job done. The sooner we can disarm this bomb, the better.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, my friend,¡± the Special Agent said. ¡°But this is United Jerr we¡¯re talking about. Somehow, I doubt they¡¯ll let us leave the politics at the door.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of the door, come in, Lieutenant.¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan motioned to Lieutenant Mikhail Johnson, who was waiting in the entrance to the conference room. He was a large man with a well-trained body, his skin pale white, and his short blonde hair neatly trimmed. When he sat down in the chair opposite Captain O¡¯Sullivan and Special Agent Oliveira, his presence naturally dominated the room.

    ¡°What can I do for you, ma¡¯am?¡± he asked cautiously.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to commend you for your quick thinking after the assassination attempt. If it weren¡¯t for you, the shooter might have gotten away¡ªor worse, he might have had the opportunity to hurt more people.¡±

    ¡°Just doing my duty, ma¡¯am,¡± Lieutenant Johnson replied. For some in the military, that phrase was just a reflex response, but Captain O¡¯Sullivan had a feeling the Lieutenant truly meant it.

    ¡°If I may ask, how are you, ma¡¯am?¡± Johnson inquired. He hadn¡¯t seen Captain O¡¯Sullivan since the attack.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you,¡± she replied. ¡°Just a little sore where the bullet entered.¡±

    She glanced at Special Agent Oliveira, then continued, ¡°We¡¯ve, rather unexpectedly, received a request from the Jerrassians. It seems they¡¯ve lost track of some of their plutonium and need our help to find it.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°So they¡¯ve admitted to enriching plutonium now? What can I do to help?¡± Lieutenant Johnson asked, sensing where this was going.

    ¡°I¡¯m going into the city to help the Committee for Jerrassian Security locate the package,¡± Special Agent Oliveira said. ¡°And I¡¯m considering bringing you with me. We were both impressed with how you handled the Jerrassians after the assassination attempt, in terms of dealing with the crowd, the shooter, and the CJS.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve both seen your record,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan stated. ¡°But I¡¯d like to know a little more about you before I consider assigning you to Special Agent Oliveira.¡± Of course, if the Special Agent ordered her to, she¡¯d have no choice, whether she agreed or not. But he rarely used his authority if he could achieve the same goal through discussion.

    ¡°You have martial arts training,¡± she continued, glancing at his official record. ¡°Certification in Krav Maga and Jiu Jitsu. Traditional or modified?¡±

    ¡°Both modified, ma¡¯am,¡± the Lieutenant confidently replied. He could hold his own against members of all three races, not just Terrans.

    ¡°Do you have any family?¡±

    Lieutenant Johnson smiled broadly and pulled a photograph of a dark-skinned woman with long, flowing black hair from his pocket. ¡°Amanda,¡± he said proudly. ¡°She¡¯s from Mars. We¡¯re getting married later this year.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a lucky man. Congratulations, soldier,¡± Oliveira said. ¡°Assuming you¡¯re back from Tau Ceti in time for your wedding, of course,¡± he added with a dry smile.

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    ¡°The situation with the Jerrassians is a little more complicated than the Captain indicated,¡± the Special Agent continued. ¡°The plutonium isn¡¯t just lost¡ªit¡¯s been stolen by a terrorist group. They¡¯ve fashioned it into a dirty bomb and are threatening to detonate it somewhere in Kerrma-non if the People¡¯s Council doesn¡¯t give in to their demands. It¡¯s a dangerous and volatile situation. Do you feel ready for this?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely, sir!¡± The Lieutenant¡¯s answer came quickly and with conviction. He thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°How dangerous is this bomb?¡±

    ¡°The computer projections I¡¯ve seen suggest that, given the current weather patterns, between 230,000 and 260,000 people would die if the bomb were set off today. That¡¯s the total number, including predicted future cancer cases directly traced to radiation exposure from the bomb,¡± O¡¯Sullivan answered solemnly.

    ¡°This might be the most important mission of your career, Lieutenant. The stakes are enormous¡ªnot just in terms of lives, but also regarding Jerr¡¯s future as a member of the Terran Federation. You should also know I¡¯ve requested that the Jerrassians assign us a liaison team from the Committee for Jerrassian Security. Do you have a problem working directly with their secret police?¡± Oliveira asked.

    ¡°None at all, sir,¡± Lieutenant Johnson answered. ¡°I think it¡¯s practically necessary if we¡¯re going to investigate on their soil. Without help navigating their society, we¡¯d be lost, sir.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Special Agent Oliveira concluded. He looked at Captain O¡¯Sullivan. ¡°I think we¡¯ve found our man.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ll be sure to recommend you for a promotion after this, Lieutenant,¡± Captain O¡¯Sullivan added.

    ¡°If you survive,¡± Oliveira joked darkly.

    Johnson laughed, then said carefully, ¡°If I may, I don¡¯t hold much interest in rank. The important thing is getting the job done. Whether I¡¯m called Lieutenant or Captain is of less importance¡ªor Special Agent, for that matter,¡± he said, glancing at Oliveira.

    Special Agent Oliveira, holding no formal rank of his own, was impressed with the Lieutenant. This was a man with a future worth keeping an eye on.

 Chapter 14

    Orbital surveillance had tagged the building as one of many in the city from which a significant degree of radioactivity could be detected. It was an abandoned hospital, neglected and partially in ruins, overgrown with blue-green vegetation. The cement blocks it was built from were well on their way to crumbling into dust. Whether that meant they were old or simply that Jerrassian cement wasn¡¯t very good, Lieutenant Johnson didn¡¯t know.

    The team had been carefully sneaking closer and closer to the entrance for twenty minutes, doing what they could to avoid detection. As he neared the corner of the building they were hiding behind, Johnson could hear activity outside the old hospital. There were shouts, orders being given, and feet running over the uneven ground. Someone was definitely there. Lieutenant Johnson checked the readiness of his hand gaser once again.

    Special Agent Oliveira was just about to give the order to proceed with the assault when the Committee for Jerrassian Security liaison officer, Captain Montval Rek, broke cover and walked over to the two Sunguard men with quick strides.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sirs,¡± he said apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re in the wrong place. We should move on.¡±

    ¡°And why is that?¡± Special Agent Oliveira demanded, his voice laced with anger.

    ¡°This is not the place we¡¯re looking for,¡± Captain Montval replied. ¡°I¡¯ve just been informed that this is the site of an active Crimson Legion operation in the city. There is, of course, no way the JLF could have hidden their bomb here with the Legion present.¡±

    Not trusting the Jerrassian, Oliveira pushed forward anyway. Lieutenant Johnson didn¡¯t blame him. They had to see with their own eyes that this was not the site of the dirty bomb they were looking for.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The scene that met them outside the hospital entrance shocked Johnson to his core.

    Lined up against the wall were about twenty Jerrassians¡ªa mixed group of men, women, and children. They appeared to be in bad shape, ill or hungry. Some were coughing, and all were afraid. Their clothes were old and ragged. On their chests, they all wore symbols of a coin, stitched into their clothing. And all of them were wearing blindfolds.

    On the opposite side of the front yard, a squad of Crimson Legion soldiers stood in line, their rifles pointing directly at the assembled prisoners.

    It was too much for Lieutenant Johnson. This was not the mission he had signed up for. He was here to locate the Jerrassian Liberation Front¡¯s dirty bomb, not to be complicit in the atrocities committed by the United Jerr army. With decisive steps, he walked in front of the rifles, betting his life on the assumption that the soldiers wouldn¡¯t open fire on the aliens helping them.

    Johnson was just about to demand the Jerrassian soldiers lower their weapons when he felt Special Agent Oliveira¡¯s hand on his shoulder. The Lieutenant turned and looked into his superior¡¯s sad eyes.

    ¡°No,¡± the Special Agent said softly in English. ¡°No. We can¡¯t. Believe me, I wish we could, but the stakes are just too high.¡± There was pain in his voice when he spoke, a knowledge that he was condemning the prisoners to death.

    Despite wanting nothing more than to help the civilians about to be executed, Lieutenant Johnson knew Special Agent Oliveira was right. If the Sunguard mission to locate the bomb failed because they violated their agreement to cooperate with United Jerr, the Jerrassian Liberation Front would probably detonate the bomb. And if the bomb went off, these prisoners would likely die as well.

    Carrying the heaviest burden a soldier could shoulder, Lieutenant Johnson had to accept that the prisoners were dead, no matter what he did. With steps heavy from guilt, he followed Special Agent Oliveira into the dark corridors of the abandoned hospital, leaving the atrocious scene behind.

    As they entered the catacombs beneath the building, the sounds of gunshots rang from the world outside. And in the end, it turned out that the radioactivity they had detected had not come from the bomb, but only from cesium that hospital personnel had disposed of years earlier.

 Chapter 15

    As they left the second site they had investigated, Lieutenant Johnson had almost given up hope that they would ever find the bomb. Once again, the sensors had detected radiation, but this time, the readings had led them to a dumpster in a back alley behind the Physics Department of the University of Kerrma-non, where someone had carelessly thrown out a bottle of radium. Once again, they had lost hours chasing a lead that didn¡¯t exist.

    However, as they traveled aboard one of the Wa??sa¡¯s shuttles toward the third site, they had a lucky break. Orbital surveillance had been monitoring the area for the past hour, and now they had footage of Namir All entering the building. It was indisputable evidence that the Jerrassian Liberation Front had a presence there. Still, it might just be the site where the terrorists had prepared their weapon, contaminating the building in the process. But it was the best lead they had had all day, and Johnson began to feel hope again.

    The building was an old apartment complex, abandoned before it had even been finished. In front of the team, its skeleton of steel and concrete rose like a titanic scarecrow against the backdrop of the city. As they looked, a flock of birds¡ªor something very similar to birds, at least¡ªshrieked as they took to the air from the roof of the building.

    There were no guards outside, no one to stop them from entering. But Special Agent Oliveira and Lieutenant Johnson didn¡¯t dare take anything for granted. Chances were, there were JLF members watching the neighborhood from the windows on the upper floors.

    ¡°Random, give me a rendering of the view frustums from the windows facing the yard, and where they intersect the ground,¡± Oliveira asked the intelligent computer running support for the operation from the Wa??sa.

    It took less than a second for the computer to respond. The graphics were transferred to their headsets, which in turn used a neural writer to overlay them wirelessly onto the Sunguard soldiers'' vision, by inducing well-regulated currents in their optical nerves. Wherever they now looked, their reality was augmented with the information the intelligent computer provided¡ªin this case, the locations on the ground where they would be spotted if they walked.

    ¡°Captain Montval,¡± Special Agent Oliveira said, addressing the CJS liaison officer. ¡°Take your men and form a rear guard for us. Stay twelve tom-bar behind us, and most importantly, make sure your men only walk in our footsteps.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the Jerrassian replied, then walked over to his men to relay the order.

    Together, Oliveira and Lieutenant Johnson scurried across the open yard, careful to follow the directions Random provided them. The ground had once been covered with asphalt; now, grass was growing from the cracks in the pavement. When they finally entered the building, Johnson allowed himself to breathe again. They weren¡¯t exactly safe, but the part of the breach he had felt most nervous about was now done. From here on out, they¡¯d be able to spot the terrorists instead of having to avoid an unseen enemy.

    He brought up the wall-penetrating radar he was carrying, pointing it in different directions to map the floor they were standing on. At the opposite end of the room, two radar echoes indicated the presence of terrorists. But the JLF wouldn¡¯t guard the bomb with just two men. It was far more likely that these two were just on patrol. The bomb¡ªand its army of defenders¡ªwould probably be found on one of the upper floors. Ignoring the guards meant risking that they¡¯d come running when the firefight started, but that would be a problem for later. Apprehending them now would most likely alert the terrorists guarding the bomb.

    Silently, the team ascended the stairs. When they reached the top, the second floor turned out to be empty. Johnson pointed the radar upward, trying to see through the ceiling into the third floor, but he found it difficult to make sense of the image.

    ¡°Random,¡± he whispered, ¡°do you have building plans for the apartment complex?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the intelligent computer answered. ¡°The Committee for Jerrassian Security just provided us with a set of drawings for the building. I have scanned them and mapped them in three dimensions.¡±

    As it told him about the map, it added a wireframe view of it to his vision while simultaneously explaining what he now saw.

    ¡°The entrance from the stairway into the third floor opens into a large room, with windows facing the outside on the opposite side of the building. To the sides, left and right, are several smaller rooms. This is the only entrance,¡± it explained.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lieutenant Johnson replied. With the wireframe now overlaid on his vision, it was much easier to make sense of the radar images. Except for one of the rooms to the side, all of the small rooms were empty of guards. The remaining terrorists, eight of them, were all gathered in the main hall. Although he couldn¡¯t prove it, it seemed a reasonable assumption to make that this was where the bomb was.

    They walked up the second set of stairs, careful not to make any sounds, with the two Sunguard men in front and the CJS agents behind. Outside the large double doors to what was likely the bomb room, the team stopped. Special Agent Oliveira brought up his high-powered gaser rifle, adjusted the wall-penetrating radar strapped to it, and swept it across the wall. Up here, the images were much clearer. He counted his targets, memorized their positions, and opened fire. One, two, three shots echoed through the room as the coherent beam of gamma radiation pierced through first the wall, and then the flesh of the terrorists inside the room.

    The second the final shot had been fired, both soldiers flung themselves through the doors and into the room. They landed on the dusty concrete floor and immediately rolled to the side, trying to find cover. Special Agent Oliveira ended up next to a large wooden table, which he quickly knocked over and then proceeded to hide behind.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Lieutenant Johnson found himself in a more precarious situation. On his side of the door, there was no furniture nearby. He quickly scurried back toward the wall, then followed it to the right, further into the room, where a large green sofa was sitting, its dirty cover ripped open by time and neglect. He jumped over it to hide behind its large frame.

    Once the two Sunguard men had breached the room, the CJS agents behind them took up positions on the sides of the doorway, firing into the room. The ensuing firefight lasted only seconds, but to Johnson, it felt like an eternity. He was an expert marksman, and although he missed his first shot, the second hit its target. One more Jerrassian terrorist went down, screaming in agony. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t die from the wound¡ªany prisoners they could take would make it easier for the Committee for Jerrassian Security to dismantle the terror organization in the future.

    At that moment, a burning pain spread through his left shoulder. He looked down to see blood starting to seep through his uniform. But the shot had not come from the terrorists in front of him¡ªit had come from the side. With fear stemming from the realization that Oliveira had been right all along not to trust the CJS agents, he turned toward the door, only to see Captain Montval point his weapon at one of his fellow agents and then proceed to shoot him.

    In the pandemonium of the firefight, it took Lieutenant Johnson several seconds to realize what had happened. When he did, he gave Captain Montval a curt nod of thanks and turned back toward the remaining terrorists¡ªtwo of them, now. Despite the chaos of the situation, Special Agent Oliveira had managed to take down one more, and the team of CJS agents had done the same.

    The pain in his shoulder was agonizing, and he had to bite his lip to push through it. He would need treatment as soon as he got back to the Wa??sa. But he was right-handed, and for a few more minutes, he should have the strength to continue the fight.

    As he tried to pierce through the smoke and dust, Lieutenant Johnson saw the remaining CJS agents enter the room, shouting orders. There was a flurry of activity, and one more shot rang out. Then, only the whimpering of wounded men could be heard over the silence that had finally entered the room. The last terrorist knelt, his hands crossed behind his neck, as Captain Montval apprehended him.

    That left only the large bomb, sitting in the middle of the room, to be dealt with.

    A movement at the edge of his vision made Lieutenant Johnson turn his head. Too late, he realized what he should have remembered all along. There had been eight terrorists in the bomb room.

    But there had also been one in the side room.

    Namir All stepped out of the shadows, holding the remote detonator for the dirty bomb in his right hand, outstretched above his head.

    Lieutenant Johnson caught his breath. ¡°Random¡­,¡± he whispered, fearful he¡¯d alert the terrorist to the tactical advantage the computer aboard the Wa??sa provided.

    ¡°I hear you, sir,¡± the intelligent computer responded in a low voice, understanding what the Sunguard soldier was about to ask. ¡°I¡¯m looking at it now. I can¡¯t say for sure, but I don¡¯t think it has a dead man¡¯s switch.¡±

    The final decision was his, and his alone. If he waited too long, Namir would have time to press the button, and it would all be over. If he destroyed the detonator and Random was wrong, the bomb would explode, too.

    That left him with no choice. He positioned his hand gaser so it pointed at the detonator. With a press of a finger on the grip of the gun, he turned on the built-in laser sight, which painted a small red dot on the target, making sure he wouldn¡¯t miss. Then, he pressed the trigger and hoped for the best.

    Random had been right. The detonator exploded in a shower of metal and plastic, filling the air with the stench of burnt electronics, but the bomb stayed intact. Namir shouted in surprise and stared at his wounded hand. As he did, a second shot rang out, this time from Captain Montval. It hit the terrorist leader in his left leg, causing him to topple over and fall to the ground.

    Now began the process of sorting the wounded from the dead. The Sunguard team went from body to body, turning them over to check for signs of life, and giving first aid to those who had survived the assault. Meanwhile, the CJS agents were downstairs, engaged in a fight with the terrorists they had passed on the first floor while on their way to locate the bomb, having intercepted them as they rushed to help their comrades at the first sound of gunfire. Luckily, they had not reached the bomb room before the fight was already over.

    But when Lieutenant Johnson came to check on Namir All¡¯s body, he was gone.

    Johnson stood up and looked around. At first, he couldn¡¯t see anything in the chaos of the room. There were broken pieces of wood everywhere and blood on the floor. The air was thick with dust, swirling like a fog, making it difficult to see clearly. His ears were still ringing from the shots fired.

    And in the middle of the room, there was Namir All¡¯s broken and bleeding body, crawling on the floor toward the dirty bomb like a caterpillar from hell¡ªtoward the second detonator, built directly into the bomb.

    With Namir¡¯s hand raised, ready to strike the detonator button, Lieutenant Johnson screamed into his microphone, ¡°Now, Wa??sa!¡±

    In less than a moment, the bomb suddenly disappeared. There was a loud boom, as the air in the room rushed in to fill the vacuum that had replaced it. Namir All stared in dumbfounded silence at the empty space in front of him, realizing it was all over.

    As soon as the Sunguard agents had spotted the bomb when first entering the room, the coordinates for it had been sent to the Wa??sa. The hyperspace navigator onboard the Sunguard Command Ship had programmed their field generator to make a jump. But not a jump volume encompassing the ship, as they usually did, but rather one enclosing the bomb. At that moment, a spherical volume around the bomb had been exchanged with one identical volume in space outside the atmosphere of Jerr. They had been lucky. Although the volume to be shifted had been small, and thus its coordinates had taken very little time to upload to the spacetime bus, had it not been ready in time, things could have gone very differently. With both luck and skill on their side, the threat had finally been neutralized.

    But Namir All, who had only a week ago admired and welcomed the aliens, had now found a new target for his hatred: the Terran Federation¡ªand the Sunguard¡ªwhich had foiled his plot. For the duration of his life, he would not forget.

 Chapter 16

    The concrete walls of his small cell were tall and bare, meeting the ceiling where a metal grid covered the eternally shining lights above. The room was cold and damp, and there were no comforts in it¡ªjust a bedroll to sleep on and a hole in the ground to relieve himself in; that was his entire universe now.

    Namir All looked up as he sensed someone approaching his cell through the long, dark corridor leading to it. He squinted in the harsh light of his cell, trying to make out who it was. There was something familiar about the silhouette walking through the shadows outside...

    ¡°Hello, All,¡± Minister of the Interior Tomar Felt said. ¡°How are you doing?¡±

    Namir threw a string of expletives in her direction. ¡°Have you come to gloat?¡± he wheezed through hard lips.

    ¡°Hardly,¡± Minister Tomar said. ¡°I¡¯ve come to make you a deal.¡±

    He looked at his former boss in confusion, assuming this was one of her interrogation tactics, though not understanding how it was intended to work.

    ¡°Have you ever wondered how you came to get the position as my First Assistant?¡± she asked with a dangerous smile. ¡°You were vetted by the Committee for Jerrassian Security. My secret police. Do you really believe they missed all your contacts with the JLF?¡±

    He just stared at the Minister of the Interior, not knowing quite what to say.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°But you took it a bit too far,¡± she continued. ¡°You were just supposed to get rid of Chairman Patek for me, not kill a quarter of a million civilians with a dirty bomb.¡±

    She grabbed the iron bars separating his cell from the corridor outside and leaned toward him.

    ¡°I have a deal for you that I think you¡¯ll enjoy, ¡° she said, her voice low, almost like a whisper. ¡°You see, in the near future, a clerical error will be made by the Committee for Jerrassian Security, and you¡¯ll be lost in the system. Such things happen in this great nation of ours.

    Now, the question is, where will you be after you¡¯ve disappeared? You could be rising as smoke above an unnamed crematorium¡ªor you could be working for me. What do you say?¡±

    ¡°Obviously, you give me no choice,¡± Namir replied. ¡°What is it you want me to do?¡±

    ¡°I want you to attack the Terran Federation. I want you to drive them off from Jerr. You already have the organization you need in place. I can provide you with the resources and intelligence you need. All I want you to do is redirect the Jerrassian Liberation Front from attacking the People¡¯s Council to targeting the Sunguard and the Terran Federation.¡±

    Namir All smiled at the irony of the situation. The question was, who was using whom?

    ¡°Do I have free rein to carry out the attacks as I see fit?¡± he asked Minister Tomar.

    ¡°For the most part,¡± she replied. ¡°But no more radiological bombs. If you need to kill Jerrassians to achieve our goals, feel free to do so, but keep it within limits. I don¡¯t want to see any more weapons of mass destruction.¡±

    Those were terms Namir could accept. As the Minister of the Interior turned to walk away, he began to whistle a happy melody¡ªone he was sure sounded quite different to the ears of a Terran.

    With friends in high places, life would be good indeed.