Escaping the Cradle - Part 42

Escaping the Cradle

by Karen Page

Part 42

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Part 42
DATE:FC+163

Over a two-minute interval, six ships appeared in orbit around Earth. Then another two appeared simultaneously. These last two weren't small scout ships. These would be regarded as floating cities.

Chinese, Russian and American assets in space, originally part of military escalation picked them up. They weren't hidden, like at the time of First Contact. They were large, obvious and just stationary.

Since what had become known as the Australian Event, space agencies were monitoring near Earth orbit. They wanted to know what was happening in their neighbourhood.

China were the first to report to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Activities, or UNOOSA. Their newer space command didn't have as many layers. The American and Russian entities were analysing what it meant and what assets they could bring to bear.

The initial six ships were unnoticed by the general population. When the two city ships arrived, the whole world knew. They were visible with the naked eye, like small moons with the luminosity to shine during the day.

Initially there was panic, but the press actually calmed things down. They'd invested in cameras situated on their building roofs and were zoomed in. They reported the ships weren't moving and the numbers weren't increasing.

The Prime Minister was being briefed in COBR when Rupert barged in. He went straight to the Prime Minister, ignoring all protocol. He whispered, "There are about a dozen aliens in your office."

"Any idea what they want?" The Prime Minister enquired, not fazed at the news of visitors. It wasn't new. Holograms of them had appeared periodically to discuss Earth potentially joining the alien group called the Rohastin Council

"Becky has disappeared and they are frantic. It isn't the Ambassadors, but the leaders of those species that are here. They appear agitated."

Georgina tried not to laugh and instead sighed. "Go tell them I'll be there shortly. I hope your Hytuna is up to spec. Do you know where Lewis is?"

"Lewis and Ron are on their way."

"Okay. Go!"

She turned to the table. "I have a delegation of aliens in my office. Please pass the word to other leaders that contact has been made. From what Rupert said, it appears to be a search and rescue mission. Plan for the worst but get word to the media that this isn't an invasion. Panic will kill more than any alien."

"SitCen," she called. "Is there any word of major issues in Gloucester and the surrounding area?"

There was a pause for a few seconds. "Police are responding to a kidnapping near to their headquarters. The building they are attending is flagged but we have no further details."

"Please find out. When Lewis gets here, make sure he is up to speed."

Sir John was looking at her, and she quietly updated him, "The Aliens are here because Becky Head has disappeared. How they know that, is something for a different day. She is the co-founder of Star Bright, the creators of Aurora."

"Wasn't it her daughter that was kidnapped?"

"Yes. I suggest you also tell Colin Hood. If this is because Becky Head has been kidnapped, I want her found. I don't want aliens getting boots on the ground."

"Any ideas who might want to kidnap her?" Sir John asked, unsure why she wanted Colin to know, but thinking that now was not a time to discuss that.

"Earth First. Earth Fist. Half the intelligence agencies of the planet. The Yvestigans. The list isn't short."

Sir John nodded. The government didn't normally get involved with kidnappings. Not unless it was political. But if the aliens were involved, that he supposed made it impossible to not be involved. "And I thought you had it bad. Go smooth things over with the holograms. We'll get Rupert to inform you if there is any changes."

The Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms were a suite of secure rooms. Other discreet discussions were held in them, but famously they were used for crisis discussions where up to date information was fed in, and decisions could be made. They weren't in Number 10, but in the Cabinet Office, which was a connected building behind. It was tiresome to make the trek, especially since she didn't feel it was appropriate to wear sneakers in the office.

She had to go through the Private Office to her inner office. Rupert was waiting, nervously clutching his tablet. "They aren't holograms. They're actually here."

The Prime Minister paused and glanced across. "So much for decorum! COBR should be updating you. There has been a kidnapping. I'm awaiting confirmation on who. I'll grab my tablet. Feed me via the Quick Updater. If you've not heard from COBR in ten minutes, I authorise you to find out."

He gulped in surprise. That wasn't usual protocol. Before he could respond, she was in her office and closing the door behind her.

Glancing at the mixture of faces, she spotted Vers'am, the Alphonian ambassador. None of the others she recognized. She'd only seen some of the species once. They were in a loose circle, leaving a small gap. This was what it had been like when she'd stood at the Rohastin Council and wondered if this was their preferred meeting format.

She joined them, completing the circle, and said in Hytuna. "You honour me."

Vers'am spoke, "The nanites in Becky's body have stopped reporting. This has caused concern."

"It is a great concern," agreed Georgina and decided to use their words so they knew she understood. "She is our saviour; she is one of the Trinity."

"You understand," said an alien from a species she'd never seen before. They hadn't been at the council meetings she'd attended.

"That is why I wasn't here when you arrived. Something has happened, and I'm trying to find the details. I don't have a communication implant. Details will appear on here," she held up her tablet.

On cue, it made a small sound and she looked.

"Becky Head and Ashleigh Thompson were ... taken." She didn't know the Hytuna for kidnapped. There might not be a word. "We are looking for them. Just because you can't see her nanites doesn't mean she is dead. Their signal might be blocked."

The aliens didn't seem convinced, apart from one. Vers'am and his Reginadde colleague had the most dealings with humans. "In some ways their technology is different to ours. And because Earth doesn't have a gateway yet, the nanites communicate via a weak relay."

"On Earth, if someone is taken by force, it usually means they are wanted alive. If they were going to kill her, they would have done so instead of taking her."

That logic seemed reassuring to them, the agitated moving seemed to calm. There was a concept that was alien. They understood killing because it still occurred. Rarely, but it was still there. Yet to take someone against their will was not something that happened.

"And Jenny?" asked Vers'am.

"Safe. If I may make a request. Your ships in orbit are causing some alarm. The concept of other species is still new. There can be fear of the unknown. Could you move them further away to ease public fear. Perhaps Vers'am can act as a liaison to you so I can make sure the people searching for Becky and Ashleigh are fully aware of the imperative."

Vers'am said some things in rapid Hytuna that the Prime Minister only managed to get some of, but in seconds they all disappeared, leaving her standing in the middle of her office, alone.

Taking a cleansing breath, she decided on a course of action. She left her office to go back to COBR. Rupert looked up as the door opened.

"Prime Minister?"

"They've gone. Please get Tom to organise the press. I want to make a live announcement regarding the aliens."

"Just to remind you, the delegation from the British Football team will be here in an hour. I've rescheduled the chancellor until later."

"Great. I think it's going to be one of those afternoons. I'm off to COBR and should be back in ten minutes."

When she got there, the composition of the room had changed. There were still a few military but less than previously. Seated were Lewis, the Home Secretary, Ron the Defence Secretary, alongside the heads of MI5 and SO15.

"Where are we?" asked the Prime Minister, not sitting.

"At 13:22, Rebecca Head and Ashleigh Thompson were grabbed after leaving the office. Five minutes after that occurred, there was a complete failure of the NPR system in that region impacting both sensors and cameras. The car was found abandoned and the working hypothesis is they have switched to a different car. Nobody else was injured or involved. It was very clean and professional."

"What is being done to find them?"

"Forensics are combing the abandoned vehicle for some ideas on who they were. We are back tracking the vehicle for clues where it has been previously."

"Keep at it. For those that don't know. Rebecca Head is the creator of Aurora and Eos. I can't stress the importance of finding Rebecca and Ashleigh. Rebecca has a daughter, Jenny. She and her friend were kidnapped recently. What is happening to her?"

"She is safe. Counter Terrorism are asking if anything strange has happened recently. Becky's colleagues are also being questioned."

"Good." She turned to the Director General of MI5. Are there any foreign teams back in play?"

"Not targeting Star Bright. Your last message is still resonating. They asked Signals to confirm security of Earth-1 and shared all their plans. They managed to change their concerns into support. Even the NSA are eager for its implementation."

"If they're that happy, someone must be distraught." The Prime Minister looked around the room. "Don't let the trail go cold. Find them."

When she left COBR, Rupert was waiting. "The podium is setup, and the stations are primed."

"Good. Please find out what the plan is for Jenny."

"Prime Minister?" This was an unusual request and caught Rupert by surprise. It wasn't her normal behaviour.

"You met her and saw what she was like while on the space station. I just want to make sure she isn't forgotten."

He gave a warm smile, remembering her. "I'll see what I can find."

When they got to the front door, Tom was waiting. After a few sage words of advice, she signalled and the door opened and she stepped out into a sea of flashing camera bulbs. The shouts of questions as she made her way to the podium seemed stronger than usual and she wondered if they were always this vocal after they'd eaten.

"Those watching the skies had a treat today," opened the Prime Minister. "We got an amazing view of what our future might hold. I'm told two of the spaceships are over three miles in length. I've just finished a conference with a dozen leaders of different species and reminded them to respect Earth orbit. They didn't mean to cause alarm and aren't here to invade. For those with the most powerful telescopes, you may still glimpse them slightly further out."

"When the aliens were detected, it was quickly reported to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The defence of the planet is not something any country can perform on their own, even if they think they can or think they should. Our first satellite capable of galactic communications is nearing completion and will soon allow us to coordinate more effectively."

"This is a new era, and surprises will come. But we have faced uncertainty before. As ever, I suggest adopting the old adage. Keep Calm and Carry On."

There was a barrage of questions. It always amazed her that they did that. You couldn't hear a distinct one, let alone answer it.

"Tim," she called.

Tim spoke loudly, his microphone near his mouth. "Will this impact the referendum?"

That wasn't the question she'd expected, but it made sense. It wasn't sensational, just wanting to know the impact at a political level.

"It shouldn't. The United Kingdom is going through the ratification stages, like most countries in the world. If they all live up to their commitments, then the population of the world will decide if there was an impact. Good or bad. Trudy."

"Our readers want to know if the aliens are pro or anti abortion."

That was a new one. Not a question she'd expected.

"That hasn't come up in any conversation I'm aware of. Archie."

"Did the aliens say why they are here?"

Hallelujah.

"Yes. The company who created Aurora and Eos have had the most interface with the aliens. The aliens have great respect for them and are impressed that the interdimensional drive they created is actually quicker than theirs. One of the co-owners was abducted today. Kidnapping isn't something the aliens are familiar with. This caused alarm and they came to offer assistance. I've reassured them that the police are treating this as a priority, like they do any other kidnapping. The aliens didn't search on their own, they asked if they could help. No aliens were on the streets of the UK or anywhere else in the world."

The Prime Minister headed back inside, faking the smile as she did.

"You've just outed them!" Tom said, sounding appalled.

"Not quite, but it will narrow down the areas of the country they will be looked for. It was needed though. I had to explain why the aliens were here. It will also help if the police make an appeal, there will be more concern. People feel invested in Aurora. It has given the country and the world a lift. Instead of the aliens helping, the citizens of this country will."

"You think that will help?"

"This Evening, Earth First have a rally in Birmingham. That will be your indicator."

After an hour of meetings, there hadn't been any new information about the kidnapping. She wondered if her speech might not have be enough. After writing out her idea, she picked up the phone and called Tom.

"Tom, I've put an idea down. It should be in our private communications."

"Let me have a look ... Got it."

There was silence for a moment as he skimmed it.

Fear Destroys Us All

On my first visit to the Rohastin Council, I was asked if humans didn't fear. I'd just stood in front of them and given evidence.

Fear is amongst us. Fear drives us. And today I'm writing this in fear for the human race's future.

There are those among us that fear the unknown. They fear change, thinking they will lose something fundamental. They fear someone when they have something they don't.

In March this year, a Pakistan General took over a nuclear silo and attempted to launch its weapons. Due to the heroic actions of those stationed at that silo, and the intelligence of those that designed it, he was unsuccessful. He feared the changes he foresaw and aimed the missiles at the United Kingdom.

During that event, which in the state of the world, is remarkably rare, we straightened our back and asked ourselves what we could do. Around the table the most talented people in the government had layer upon layer of plans. We talked with friendly and not so friendly countries around the world to make sure nuclear apocalypse didn't occur. We had plans so even if those missiles were launched, they would never reach the UK.

Fear didn't make us cower. Fear drove us to do better.

I see the same fear in Earth First. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of those different to us. I see similar statements. It's against my beliefs. What do I tell my children? I say: do what the kidnapped creator of Aurora did. She took her child with her to the alien space station. I met up with them for lunch. The eight-year-old girl got into a conversation with a Reginadde roughly her own age and they chatted non-stop for an hour.

In that moment, two children from different worlds showed us what our future could look like. Not fear, but friendship. I saw the better side of humanity.

Today that eight-year-old has had her one remaining biological parent and her almost stepparent wrenched from her. She will be finishing school, and they won't be there at the school gates to collect her. That is not humanity. That is barbarism. That is hate.

This government, with the support of the opposition, has set us on a path into a new Era. An Era of hope. An Era of exploration. An Era of becoming better people. An Era to shine not only in the light of our Sun, but in the light of thousands more.

Don't live in fear. Live in hope.

Tom scratched his head, trying to find the words to describe his feelings. "That's powerful. This is really destabilising to Earth First. Is that what you are trying to accomplish?"

"Yes. I want to drive them to the edge."

He choked back a laugh. "It will certainly do that. I'll put it on the wires. You should see it in ten minutes."

Next, Lewis came to see her.

He sat down opposite her and said, "It looks like it was the splinter group, Earth Fist. We are looking for a Tristan Mahoney. From what information we can get he is third tier in the organisation, but one of the joint leaders in the UK."

The Prime Minister saw a small shimmer behind Lewis but ignored it. "It can't just have been him."

"No, we also are after his brother Paul Mahoney and a Dominique Sylvester. There is another connection. Paul went to school with Becky. In fact, they were on the same football team. If he is aware of that, I've no idea.

"Do you think they'll try to do something at the Birmingham rally?" she asked.

"The trail led south. There was another car stolen at Exeter services. The one found abandoned there had Ashleigh's DNA and Dominique's. The car swap was not in range of any cameras. There were always going to be police at the rally, and there still will be. All rallies like that have some police presence just in case opposing sides come into conflict. The police aren't there to moralise, just to keep the peace."

"How much is known about Earth Fist?"

"Not as much as we'd like, "Lewis said. "Their structure is quite opaque. They act as small cells. Finding the actual people running it is difficult. Security Services have tried to infiltrate but haven't had any real success other than low level sympathisers. The upper levels are like ghosts in the wind. Have you thought more abo—"

The Prime Minister interrupted, "Don't go there. I'm not going to ask you to proscribe them as a terrorist organisation. The line between protest and extremism is too thin. You would end up arresting people for exercising their democratic rights and that just gives them the moral high ground."

"I know. I just feel impotent not doing something."

"Doing something just for its own sake is never a good reason. I'm glad you've got some suspects, but you still need to find Becky and Ashleigh."

When Lewis had gone, she called, "Vers'am, are you still there?"

His hologram fully materialised.

"Your human interactions are a lot more complex than ours," Vers'am said in English. "So many different emotions."

"It's one of the things that drives me. I potentially have to do something horrid, and I'm not looking forward to it. I hope you don't think too ill of me later."

"I can only judge based on what I see and know." Vers'am stated simply, with no emotion.

"Earlier, when you all left my office, was that some type of remote tunnel opening? The tunnel was opened from the ships to transport the leaders back?"

"Yes. Don't you do that?" Now Vers'am was surprised.

Georgina smiled. "I'm not sure. That would be Becky's area. So, if Becky and Ashleigh are found, you can extract them from the people holding them?"

"Of course."

"Earlier, I announced their kidnapping as part of a press briefing. My aim was to try and undermine the extremist group. The same with my press statement. I've pushed them into a corner, and the only solution will be using Becky and Ashleigh to try to shore up support. Play the hate game to the end. It brings Becky into sight to be rescued, but I worry they might expose Becky as trans. It might save her but also destroy her."

"There's more to it, isn't there?" Vers'am asked gently.

She couldn't look at Vers'am when she said, "I might ask for you to delay pulling Becky out if she is presented at the rally. Let them hurt themselves out of desperation. But it might cause humiliation to Becky, and I don't want that."

"Even for the Alphonians, leadership is hard and making choices sometimes even harder. Just make sure her child doesn't see. If Becky is in the open, we can monitor her. If it is going to break her, I will extract her. If not, I will await your word."

He disappeared, leaving Georgina to worry about her decisions all alone.

Receiving a buzzer from the Prime Minister, Rupert entered her office.

"Rupert, any news on Jenny?"

"Her Aunt is away. Laura Taylor has taken her in, claiming to have the best security."

"That's probably true. Can you please get Laura on the phone and ask if she can keep Jenny from watching the news. I don't want her seeing her parents potentially humiliated or exposed."

Rupert paled. He understood, having seen and heard her conversations. Becky had been taken by Earth Fist, but the Prime Minister was using her as a way of destroying Earth First and Earth Fist. He just hoped the Prime Minister's strategy included a way to save Becky and not use her as a sacrificial lamb.