The Khruellian Encounter Read online

  The aliens preceded Jon and Captain Russell into the spacious wardroom and took seats on the same side of the table without waiting for the humans to sit down. When Jon and Captain Russell were seated, they simply stared at the aliens across the table. Finally, Jon said, “I must comment on the similarity between you, your spacecraft and reports spanning several thousand years of visitors from outer space to our mother planet, Earth.”

  Ruuhr again bowed his head slightly and answered, “And you would be correct in your assumption that we are one and the same, Captain McKinnah. Perhaps it would be best if I related the history of our two species so you will be better able to understand the message I have for you to deliver to your Confederation.”

  “By all means, please proceed,” Jon said, wanting to get to the bottom of one of Earth’s most intriguing mysteries.

  Ruuhr performed his small bow again and started in a monotone voice as if he had practiced what he was about to say many times before. “Our name in your language could be translated as ‘Those who listen.’ For convenience, we will assume the name you have given us, the ‘Alphans.’ We are an ancient people who have reached a condition your scientist would call ‘stasis,’ a static state of existence. Our numbers have stayed the same for the last million years. Our resources are in balance with our needs, and we have no ambitions other than to study all the great mysteries around us.”

  When Ruuhr paused slightly, Jon used the silence to repeat his earlier question, “Are you indeed the source of all those reports of visitors from outer space that are described in our history?”

  The alien bowed his head and simply said, “Yes.”

  When he didn’t elaborate Jon asked him, “Can you tell us why you visited Earth for so long without making contact?”

  “It would have been unfair to your species if we had exposed you to our advanced society so early in your development. You would have become dependent on our abilities instead of developing your own. We needed you to become strong and innovative.”

  Jon got the impression the alien was waiting for him to ask key questions to use as openings to tell them the message they were supposed to take back to the CIP. He was glad to oblige. “Why did you need for us to grow independently strong?” In the back of his mind, he thought of the great advances in human development made possible by the intervention of the Ares. There would not be a CIP, or a CSF, or interstellar travel if Talo did not help his grandfather years ago.

  Ruuhr looked from Jon to Captain Russell and back. “We need your help,” he said. This time he didn’t wait for Jon to question him. “We are a peaceful society. War is unknown to us, perhaps because we had ample resources and no competition when our peoples developed into an advanced society. When we first studied your species in the time of your Egyptian Empire, we saw a robust society that was extremely innovative, one that could adapt quickly to changing conditions and one that could fight effectively when threatened.”

  Jon had a sudden insight into what Ruuhr was getting to. “You want us to fight for you.”

  Both aliens’ expressions changed slightly. Jon would learn later the new expression was the equivalent of a human smile. Ruuhr bowed more energetically this time and said, “As I said, we need your help.”

  Jon was getting a little tired of trying to get his visitors to open up. “Why don’t you just tell us the situation and what help you need.”

  Before Ruuhr spoke, the other alien took a small coin-sized object and placed it on the table between the humans and the Alphans. Immediately a holographic image of a rotating galaxy appeared in the air above the table. Jon recognized it as their galaxy, The Milky Way.

  Ruuhr waved his hand slightly, and a small cluster of green dots appeared in one of the minor band of stars situated between the two major spiral arms in the galaxy. From his astronomy classes, Jon recognized it as the Orion-Cygnus cluster where the CSF was located. Ruuhr explained, “These green dots represent the stars comprising your Confederation of Independent Planets.” Another wave produced a small cluster of blue dots further out the Orion-Cygnus cluster. “This is Alpha Tau Alpha, where we are now.” He waved his hand again, and a very large cluster of red dots appeared in the giant Perseus spiral arm that paralleled the Orion-Cygnus cluster. This new cluster of stars extended from the end of the Perseus spiral arm to a point almost parallel to Alpha Tau Alpha in the Orion-Cygnus cluster. In cosmic term, they were close. This red cluster of stars occupied a full ten percent of the Perseus spiral arm. A chill went down Jon’s back.

  “That,” Ruuhr said pointing to the large cluster, “Is the Khruellian Hegemony; a hundred million solar systems, one-hundred-thousand inhabited planets.”

  Jon stared at the cancer-like cluster and came to a conclusion. “Those are conquered worlds, and you are next.”

  Ruuhr stared at Jon through the holographic display and said, “Not next, but soon and so are the planets of the CSF.”

  The four of them sat staring in silence at their home galaxy, one hundred thousand light-years across and comprised of more than four billion suns. As much as they may have wanted to, they could not keep their eyes from returning to the web-like spread of red dots bordering their small cluster of stars, their home.

  Jon spoke first, “What the hell can we do?”

  Ruuhr waved his hand, and several clusters of dots appeared around and between the CSF and the Alpha Tau Alpha position. Several more clusters of dots appeared beyond Alpha-Tau-Alpha close to the edge of the Orion cluster. Those stars were even closer to the Khruellian Hegemony. Based on what Ruuhr had said, Jon assumed all of them including the CSF would eventually fall victim to the expanding Khruellian Hegemony.

  Ruuhr said, “These are other species we have been monitoring for many thousands of years. They are more or less in the same state of development as your society. We consider them potential allies in a common defense alliance.”

  Jon was intrigued with the Alphans’ story, but instinct told him there was more to it than they were telling. “How long have you been aware of this impending danger?” he asked.

  Ruuhr’s pause before answering would have been imperceptible had Jon not been looking for it. It told him to be careful, to dig a little deeper.

  Ruuhr said, “We first became aware of the danger about forty thousand of your Earth years ago.”

  Captain Russell had been content to let Jon do all the talking. Now he asked the question Jon was about to ask. “Is that the reason you came to Earth?”

  Both Ruuhr and Broyenn turned in unison to look at Captain Russell. This time, Broyenn spoke. “It was one of the reasons, Captain Russell. As Discipline Leader Ruuhr said, our name means ‘One who listens.’ We explore all the worlds around us. Your world was especially interesting because we perceived you humans could potentially become allies in the conflict we knew was coming.”

  Jon watched the two Alphans carefully as they described their interest in Earth. He realized they were anxious. He wasn’t sure how he knew that, but something about their body posture suggested a defensive attitude. He decided to dig a little deeper. “Did you help our development along with the idea of preparing us to be your allies?”

  Both sets of alien eyes traversed back to Jon. He knew this would be a tricky question to answer. If they had intervened in any of human’s historical events, especially if it involved a military incident, Earth’s historians could argue they were responsible for the lives lost in that incident.

  Ruuhr took the lead, “Yes, we did occasionally ‘help’ gifted individual humans to explore a different path to solving vexing problems.”

  Jon was instantly reminded of the tales his grandfather had told him about finding Talo when he was a young man on the McKinnah clanboat. That accidental encounter had resulted in massive changes in the course of Human development. He was not about to be the one to judge the Alphans’ efforts to affect the course of human development.

  “Have we lived up to your expectations?” Jon asked, really curious abou
t their opinion of humans.

  Ruuhr and Broyenn both nodded their heads several times. Ruuhr said, “You have far exceeded where we expected you to be at this stage of your development.”

  “We had help,” Jon said simply. He did not elaborate. He wanted to find out how much they knew about recent human events.

  “The Ankh,” Ruuhr said in a soft, almost inaudible voice.

  “Yes,” Jon said. One of their Ares took an interest in my grandfather.

  Ruuhr’s eyes grew in size, which Jon interpreted as a sign of surprise. “Did the Ankh approve of the Ares’ actions?” he asked, leaning forward to hear Jon’s answer.

  Jon smiled recalling the stories of the epic struggle between the Ankh and the Islandians. “After a while, yes, they did,” he said, downplaying the conflict. “In fact, the Ankh invited my grandfather and grandmother to join their society whenever they are ready.”

  The shock on the Alphans face was unmistakable. Ruuhr just stared at Jon for a full half minute. Finally, he gathered himself and said, “Captain McKinnah, you should understand how great an honor that invitation is. In our recorded history, only one Alphan has ever been invited to join the Ankh society.”

  Jon was impressed that they were impressed. As a McKinnah grandson, he was somewhat used to the magnitude of his grandparents’ contribution to humans’ recent advances in space and took the Ankh’s invitation as a natural order of events.

  “What’s the next step?” he asked, not sure what the aliens were expecting.

  Ruuhr made a little noise and sat back in his chair. Jon got the impression that this was what they had been waiting for.

  The alien sat back up straight and said, “We would like you and Captain Russell to visit our central world to see for yourself that we are a peaceful society and to listen to the Leaders of the Disciplines about the extent of the dangers both our societies face. If you are then satisfied the danger is genuine, we would like you to convey that message to your central governing body.”

  Jon considered the request. Missing from all this was a timeline. He recognized the Alphans, and the humans might perceive the concept of an “imminent threat” differently. After all, they had been tinkering with human development for three thousand years trying to create a potential ally. He was about to ask for a clarification when he remembered the Admiral’s instructions, “Find out what the hell’s going on.” That was clear enough.

  Jon looked at the two Alphans in turn and then said, “Agreed. Do you want to drive or shall we follow you?”

  The Alphans completely missed his attempt at humor and said in unison, “Please allow us to take you to our assembly.”

  Jon looked briefly at Captain Russell who nodded his head in agreement and then said. “Let’s get started.”

  Chapter 20

  On the planet Vajrashila

  Annika was not particularly happy to be back on Vajrashila. The memories of the nightmare from her last visit were reinforced by additional nightmare during their first night on the surface. The science team from Gruenwald had provided all the Confederation personnel with headbands to reduce the effects of the mental assaults by the bat-like creatures that patrolled the nighttime skies above the complex around the Yogamundi tree.

  She had been included in the initial landing party because she was the only person aboard the CSF Enderson who had been to the planet before. Cleric-General Bradley-Kinsley had recognized her immediately and had addressed her as if she was the leader of the expedition. Annika had introduced him to William Bonnett, the leader of the science team and explained the team was here to find ways to block the physiological attacks by the native plants and animals.

  The Cleric-General got a worried look on his face, and Annika had to explain that their research was only to protect the visitors to Vajrashila. He relaxed and explained his initial concern had been that the scientists were there to protect the natives from the local flora and fauna. “We are now natives of this planet thanks to Yogamundi,” the Cleric-General explained. “We are comfortably in control of the situation and would be lost without the daily battles with our adversaries. We are much stronger for the conflict.”

  Annika shared the conversation with Bonnet who made the observation, “That would explain the very strong alpha waves we’ve been recording. I would hate to be in a debate with one of these people.”

  The second night on the planet Annika took refuge under the Yogamundi. It was the only place that was free of the incessant thoughts that keep penetrating her subconscious mind. When she had a chance to analyze the attacks, she realized they were doubt-oriented. The bat-like creatures were urging her to give up, to concede defeat. As a test, she moved away from the tree and then back again to test the strength of the attacks. In a final effort to measure their effectiveness, she took her headband off while standing a hundred meters from the tree. She almost didn’t get her headband on in time to block the attack on her psyche. “Wow,” she thought when she got back to the safety of the Yogamundi. “I would not want to fight these creatures.”

  On the fourth day, she was rotated up to the ship, and another officer was assigned to take her place on the surface. She filled him in on what to expect and ended with the admonition, “Don’t take your headband off, especially at night.” The next few days were filled with the ship’s routine. Annika took the time to get to know her crew. If there was any resentment at a Terran Federation officer coming in to assume the XO’s role, she did not sense it. She got the sensation that most of the Confederation personnel viewed Earth with curiosity. In their minds, ninety-nine percent of human history had occurred on Earth. Many of them were fascinated with the history of the North American old west, which resembled many of their own planet’s recent history. The mixture of people from five different worlds made the conversations unusually interesting. Running through all their conversations was the awesome respect they paid to Jonathon McKinnah Senior for starting the CSF and giving them a way to travel through interstellar space. Annika knew the complete story behind the discovery of an FTL drive from her visit to Islandia and from talking to Jon McKinnah. She knew that Talo was the one responsible for giving Michael Lewis the necessary clues to create the drive, but in the minds of these crewmen, it was Jonathon McKinnah who was ultimately responsible for this planet-liberating development. The impact of that invention on the human race could not be measured.

  Her first Ships-Status conference with Vice Admiral Estes went well. He listened to her verbal report and followed up with five or six questions mostly concerning her relationship with the crew. “I don’t anticipate any problem I can’t handle, Sir,” she answered firmly. “They are professionally trained as I am. They appear willing to follow my lead in any situation.”

  Vice Admiral Estes nodded his head and said, “I agree. The unofficial scuttlebutt speaks well of you.” He put away the report and asked her, “Tell me your impressions of Vajrashila.”

  Annika gave him a general overview and related her experiences from her first trip. She omitted the part where she spent the night in Jon McKinnah’s arms, but the memory triggered a rush of emotions she had to bring under control. When she related her experience under the Yogamundi tree and her experiments with the “Devil-bats,” he sat up straighter and asked her several follow up questions.

  “Do you have any idea how these ‘devil-bats’ project this aura of hopelessness?”

  “No Sir, but I do know the effects diminished the closer I got to the tree and were blocked completely when I was directly under it.”

  Vice Admiral Estes thought for a moment then touched the intercom button and said, “Lieutenant Loochen, please report to the Captain’s wardroom.”

  Annika was mystified. Lieutenant Loochen was the medical officer. She was about to ask the captain what he intended when there was a knock on the door.

  “Enter,” the captain said, and Lieutenant Loochen came in the door.

  “I was right down the passageway when you called, Sir,” th
e petite officer said, explaining her rapid appearance.

  Vice Admiral Estes smiled and said, “Sit down, Betty. I have a project for you and Captain Masterson.”

  Lieutenant Betty Loochen was tiny, barely topping forty-five kilograms and one-and-a-half meters tall. Her nickname among the crew was “Mooching-Loochen” because she frequently snagged a treat from somebody else’s plate. The nickname was given affectionately because her medical skills were excellent and appreciated by a crew that might someday depend on her to save their lives. She was as curious as Annika was and looked over at her new XO with a question in her eyes. Annika’s light shrug told her she was equally in the dark.

  The Captain observed the exchange between the pair, and it told him the two had a good working relationship. “I want you to go with Captain Masterson the next time she goes to the surface. She has observed the planet’s physic warfare up close. She will fill you in on the details of her experiences. I want the two of you to study how Vajrashila’s plants and animals use this psyche ability. If possible see if you can learn how far they can project this influence Captain Masterson experienced. ”

  Annika had an idea of what the Commander was looking for, but decided to ask for clarification, “Are we looking for something different than the science team from Islandia?”

  A brief smile crossed Vice Admiral Estes’ face before he answered. “The science team is primarily interested in developing a method of blocking the psyche effect of the native fauna and flora and shielding the mental projections of the Vajrashilans from the rest of us. I’m interested in seeing if these abilities can be used as weapons.”

  Annika and Lieutenant Loochen nodded their heads in understanding. The possibilities were clear. Their initial studies on site would go a long way toward determining if it was a practical idea for the scientist on Gruenwald to explore.