Exodus: Machine War 1 Supernova. Read Online Free PDF Page A

establish normal relations with these people first.  Then we’ll get into
the question of social engineering.  And besides, I don’t think they’re going
to have much time for fighting after we tell them what’s coming.”
    “That might be
the problem, ma’am,” said the Exec.  “These people may be so caught up in
fighting each other that they ignore the news we’ve brought.  Or just refuse to
believe it.”
    “That would be
insane,” said Albright, walking onto the hangar deck and looking at the
shimmering cold plasma field that separated the air filled area from space.
    “Wouldn’t be the
first time someone has gotten into space with a total lack of common sense,”
she admitted, stepping to the front of the small line of officers and senior
NCOs.
    The nose of the
shuttle poked through the cold plasma field, which moved out of the way,
sliding around the hull of the ship and preventing the atmosphere from leaking
out.  It took only a few moments for the ship to fully enter the hangar and
thud down on the deck.  Its grabber units were red hot, radiating their heat
into the hangar area.  The hull was cold, the ship having not penetrated
anything that would have caused friction.
    The upper doors
of the large shuttle opened up, revealing the alien space capsule.  A moment
later a hatch on the capsule opened, and the first of the alien astronauts
climbed out.  A couple of crew in shipboard armor rose up from the floor of the
hangar and landed next to the alien, then lifted it in the air and to the
deck.  A moment later a second astronaut joined the first, and they both stood
there and stared at their surroundings.
    “Welcome aboard
the HIMS Clark ,” said Albright, stepping forward.  “We are very pleased
to make contact with your people.”
    *     *     *
    “Our astronauts
have signaled that they are about to be taken aboard the alien ship,” said the
voice of the com center tech over the speaker.
    “Have they said
anything about the aliens yet?” asked the First Councilman.
    “We lost com
with them moments after that transmission, sir.  But we have one of Astronaut
Lamsat’s brothers at the spaceport, and he is saying that his brother is alive
and well, and that the aliens seem to be friendly.  Right now they are aboard
the cargo compartment of an alien shuttle, and are cut off from all sensor
reads.”
    Thank the
Gods the entanglement is still working.  There had never been a
circumstance where the connection between siblings had been cut off, save by
the death or severe central nervous system damage to one of the members.  There
had been some concern about the connection remaining when one of the siblings
had gone off world, but it had worked perfectly.  In fact, as far as the
scientists could tell, it had transmitted information from brain to brain
instantaneously.
    Do the aliens
have a similar mental capacity?  Or something even better?   There was still
a lot of debate in the scientific community as to whether entanglement was a
prerequisite for the development of intelligence.  This contact would have a
lot to do with proving or disproving that theory.  And was the least of the
leader’s concerns.
    “Make sure you
get every word and impression from Lamsat’s sibling.  I want to know everything
I can about them before we have them coming down here.”  And whether their
intentions are peaceful or not, I have no doubt they are coming down here.
    And you need
to be ready to blow them out of space , chimed in his brother, the General,
over the protests of the other siblings.
    If we need
to, then I will demur to you , thought the leader.  But I will not start
a war with someone with unknown capabilities because of paranoia.   The
First Councilman cut off the link, wondering what he should do with his
sibling.  The problem was, the General was his sibling, and, according to their
social structure, there was no greater loyalty than to your litter mates.
    The violet