Theogony 3: Terra Stands Alone Read Online Free PDF Page A

situations to see how he would react, all in the name of some research project they were conducting. To say that their relationship was ‘strained’ was an understatement. A big understatement.
    Still, Steropes’ last conversation with Calvin had been to give him what appeared to be a sincere apology for everything he had done. Calvin decided to accept his call.
    “ Hi Steropes, ” he said, as the window changed to show a picture of Steropes. “ I’m kind of busy right now. What’s up? ”
    “ I know you are, ” said Steropes. “ I heard that the Terran president is holding a meeting to determine the diplomatic and military way forward. There are two things that must be decided today. The first is that you must accompany the Vella Gulf in its mission to the Archons. You must . ”
    “ Huh, ” said Calvin. “ I didn’t know that a mission had even been agreed to yet. I think the military command is trying to pull back all of our ships to defend the Earth. It’s obvious that the Drakuls have found us. ”
    “ It hasn’t been agreed to yet, ” said Steropes, “ but it will be. There is no way that you can hold off the Drakuls by yourself. Ask Solomon. I asked the artificial intelligence to run some simulations, based on all of the information we have. It’s all about ships; you don’t have enough, nor do you have the capability to make enough of them before you are overrun. I am hopeful that someone will see this, as your civilization will be destroyed if you do not seek additional aid. ”
    “ I don’t know, ” said Calvin. “ I haven’t been included in the planning, but I heard that the president is going to ask the Mrowry for aid. ”
    “ I talked to Captain Yerrow, ” replied Steropes. Captain Yerrow was the commanding officer of the Emperor’s Paw , the ship that had returned to Earth with the Vella Gulf on its last mission. He was also the crown prince of the Mrowry. “ He reiterated they wouldn’t be able to send aid. He plans to tell the president that at the meeting. ”
    “ I’m surprised he even spoke to you, ” replied Calvin. “ They don’t like you guys at all. ”
    “ No, they don’t, ” admitted Steropes. “ However, they do like their empire, and having you take some of the burden of defending it from them would be beneficial. I told him about the simulations I had run, hoping to get him to provide assistance to the Earth. He was greatly disturbed...but still did not believe that they would be able to do anything for you. ”
    “ OK, ” said Calvin, “ I got it. Convince the president of the world, who doesn’t even know me, to release one of only three ships we have available to defend our planet. We’re supposed to go on a journey to a star system that we have never been to, talk to a race that we have never met, and get them to provide aid against our common foe. Have I got all of that right? ”
    “ Yes, ” said Steropes, “ that is correct. ” Calvin shook his head, for a culture that had made so many tremendous advances, sarcasm usually went right over their heads.
    Calvin laughed . “ There shouldn’t be any problem, then. What’s the second thing? Get the Chinese to come along? ” To date, the only major nation that hadn’t joined the Terran World Government was China, who was holding out for a number of reasons.
    “ No, ” said Steropes, “ it is much easier than that. You must take me along with you when you go. ”
    “ WHAT?” asked Calvin. From the number of heads that turned to look at him, he realized that he had spoken out loud in his surprise. He made sure that he only spoke over the implant as he continued. “ You guys screwed us. Why in the world would we take you along with us? So that you could find out more of our secrets to use against us? You’ve got to be out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going to put you into that kind of position of trust again. Besides, aren’t you building up your media empire? Can you afford to