Government Men by Gary J. Davies
CHAPTER 29
DECISIONS AND COMMITMENTS
The die was now cast; I had passed the Rubicon. Swim or sink, live or die, survive or parish with my country was my unalterable determination.
- John Adams
It was another unusually warm night. Bates stood outside the campsite, listening to nature's night sounds and trying to unwind. He carried a flash light, but didn't have it turned on; a crescent of Moon illuminated the area effectively. In a Team meeting an hour ago, he and Barns had each made arguments for their very different plans for the Team.
Despite the interesting information discovered from the Ra cubes and their experiences with the ghost of Geronimo, even Bates couldn't argue that they were really any closer to solving the Dannos problem. They had some fuzzy leads to follow on aliens, but there was nothing concrete. With such limited progress to show, Bates wasn't optimistic about how the Team vote in the morning would come out.
Bates heard someone approaching from the camp and turned to see Mel. "Bates! There you are! Look what Elizabeth found just now!” Mel was holding something. Bates shone his flashlight on it, then jumped up and back about three meters. It was a big fat rattlesnake, perhaps a meter and a half long. Mel held it behind the head and further down its body, which still left about half of it to freely squirm and twist. The snake was almost as thick as Mel's thin arms, Bates noticed.
"Sorry to startle you that way, Bates," apologized Mel.
"That's OK, Mel, I'll survive. I just haven't seen one of those things in years. It's not even the right time of year for them. Where did you say you found it?”
"Elizabeth found it in your sleeping bag. You know, the one you were laying down in a few minutes ago. She showed me how to hold it. It's an excellent specimen, according to her; she was pretty excited about it.”
"Not as excited as I would have been to find it myself!” replied Bates. So much for romantic notions about roughing it under the stars, he reasoned. The Bus floor would be fine with him. Did snakes like nice warm busses though, he wandered?
"I wanted to talk with you privately about some things Narb.” Mel took a step closer to Bates, who took an equal step away from him.
"Mel, could you get rid of that thing first? Reptiles and I never got along.”
"Oh sure!” agreed Mel, as he stepped away from Bates and the camp. In the moonlight Bates could see the snake twisting, trying to break Mel's grip.
"Do you know what you're doing, Mel?”
"Never did this before, but it seems straight-forward," replied Mel. "Elizabeth explained the basics to me.” When he was about 30 meters away, the little scientist tossed the snake gently to the ground and away from him and ran back to Bates rather rapidly. "Elizabeth was quite explicit about the running part at the end," explained Mel, in the midst of some heavy breathing.
After he caught his breath, Mel came right to the point. "Business first. Your son Don says that while we did our little séance, Barns made some persuasive arguments with the people left in the Bus.”
"Well, I suppose that was to be expected," said Bates, "though everyone, including Barns, is supposed to still be doing my research assignments."
"Also," continued Mel, "I've been talking to Janet about Dannos and to Flood about Bus performance and working out rough flight trajectories.”
"OK, Mel," asked Bates, "so when would the Bus have to leave Earth to match trajectories with Dannos?”
"About two weeks ago," answered Mel.
"I was afraid of that," sighed Bates.
"Also," added Mel, "we would have to either totally obliterate Dannos, which would require perhaps a hundred thousand megatons TNT equivalence, or divert its path, which would require a hundred megatons now, and more as time goes on. But such large charges could also bust Dannos into big pieces, some of which would still impact Earth with devastating effect. In fact, damage could actually be increased by breaking the asteroid up. It would be rather like getting hit with hundreds of shotgun pellets instead of a single high powered bullet. Not to mention the fact that those pellets would now perhaps be radioactive."
"In summary then," concluded Bates, "it's too late to think of nuclear devices anyway?"
"Yes, Narb. A well-placed megaton a year or two ago would have worked out perfectly fine to divert it away from Earth. But if we took off at top Bus speed today with the required multi-megatons of bombs required for diversion, and collided them with the asteroid, such a device could also be enough to blow it into big dangerous pieces. Many pieces would still strike Earth. At this stage it simply can’t be diverted. That’s why its total destruction using even more megatons would be the only conceivable bomb-based solution.”
"Well Mel," said Bates, "we don't have any such devices anyway, so I guess it's academic. But thanks for the analysis."
"Now for the other subject, Bates. I've been talking with Elizabeth. She says she's disappointed that you and her mother aren't hitting it off better. Don said something similar.”
"I haven't seen the woman in twenty years Mel, what can they expect?”
"Basically, I gather that they hoped for an improvement over their other dad. He and Janet divorced about three years ago, you know.”
Bates hadn't known. He hadn't even asked. It was obviously yet another case of his addled brain underperforming.
"I've been talking to Janet about this too, Bates, and piecing things together. Apparently, her marriage had actually decayed far earlier, but was kept in place until the kids were mostly grown up. In retrospect, Janet thinks that was probably a mistake, since her husband was never that close to the kids anyway."
"Did he know I was the father?" Bates asked.
"Strangely enough, not until they were about twelve, according to Janet. The kids found out five years later, and their reaction astounded Janet. She says they were actually relieved. They apparently had always felt that something was wrong. Something besides the guy that was supposed to be their father being an a-hole, I mean."
"Since then, they pestered Janet for information about you. Janet hopes that they might get something from you that has been missing in their lives for a long time.”
"What do the kids say?" asked Bates.
"Elizabeth says they want to get to know you, but that they mainly hoped that you and their mom would get back together for a final fling.”
"A fling! What does Janet say about that?" Bates asked. A fling before being killed by the asteroid sounded pretty good to him right now. Not that he had much time or energy for such a thing.
"I didn't ask her Bates. I think that's for you to find out.”
Bates sighed. "Thanks Mel. I'll take it from here. But please! I want you to focus on Dannos, not my ex-love life!” He patted Mel on the back and walked back towards the camp. He had dreamed about reconciliation with Janet for twenty years. But now that he had that chance, he just couldn't afford to even think about it. There was simply no time. Not for him, or her, or Mel, or anyone. Dannos was coming!
Janet was sitting alone by the campfire. Bates sat down next to her. "Janet, I know this wasn't what you had in mind when you called me a few days ago, but we all just have to make the best of it. Right now the mission has to be the most important thing. More than anything else, I'd like to get to know the kids, and I'd even like us to get to know each other again, if possible. But there just isn't time."
Janet opened her mouth to speak but Bates wouldn't let her. "No, we can't even try to work anything out this week. There is simply no time; I'm all booked up. Earth to save, you know! And I need you to help us. And the kids, too. I need all of us. But I do find that there is something that I must ask you now Janet. Remember where we talked about going twenty years ago? Why don't we all go there after the holidays?"
"You mean Scotland?" asked Janet?
"Yup," answered Bates. "Loch Ness. I heard it's still a pretty place. If we survive this lets all go visit Loch ness together.” He held his breath.
"OK then, it’s a date!” she r
eplied, after a few moments of thought. She reached over to give him a friendly kiss on the cheek, but he happened to turn his head towards her at the last moment. The kiss turned out to be lip-to-lip and far friendlier than she expected. When it ended, they both stared into each other's eyes for what seemed to be a long time, but may have only seemed long because of the intensity of the moment. Then they mumbled good nights awkwardly and left the scene with more on their minds than the Ra or Dannos.
Early the next morning Carbuncle took it upon herself to preside as everyone gathered inside the Bus. "I believe everyone should be given a few minutes to say what they wish. Then we will vote. She passed out a small piece of paper to each person. Bates?”
Bates stepped before the others. "Yesterday I think we got off to a good start. Geronimo may not have been the ideal spirit to contact, but the results do lend credibility to the notion that the data cubes do hold good information, and can be used as the key to finding the help that we need. I suggest that Elizabeth continue that line of inquiry, assisted by Chief Winnebago, who has kindly volunteered his services."
"Humph! Especially when he found out that we were leaving the state!” interjected Barns.
"Elizabeth assures me that they will be able to consult his spirit independent of geographic location, which leaves us free to pursue our second and still primary line of inquiry: that of locating space aliens other than the Ra who may be disposed to helping us. The Galactic League Mel mentioned sounds ideal, but right now, any non-Ra alien contact is sought. I suggest we fly to Utah as soon as possible to try to pick up on any leads we can salvage from the visit Mel was involved in. At the same time, we will continue to analyze the cubes for other leads on friendly aliens. They might have the technology needed to stop Dannos and the Ra.
"Well, that's the plan so far. I won't repeat last night's arguments, but let me close with an antidote. I heard on the news this morning something interesting about Web Woodrith, the famous jazz musician and song writer. It seems that a lot of his fans and friends got together and decided to pay tribute to him by getting musicians to serenade him with some of his most famous musical works. So yesterday morning they surrounded his house with a hundred and fifty musicians, rang his doorbell, and started playing."
"Must have surprised him!” commented Mel.
"And his girlfriend too!” continued Bates. "In a minute the two of them came running out the door dressed in bath robes yelling obscenities at the serenaders, with Web waving a shotgun and shooting it up into the air.
"Anyway, this seriously disturbed the concentration of the musicians, and they screwed up the tune they were playing quite a bit. That and the sight of a hundred fifty jazz musicians scrambling for cover from the shotgun finally got to old Woodrith, and the next thing you know he was rolling around on the ground laughing.”
Several of Bates' listeners were smiling now, glad for a happy ending.
"Unfortunately, he then had a massive heart attack and died on the spot.” The smiles disappeared. "But as he was laying there on the ground dying, he whispered to those gathered around him 'Thanks, that was a good one!' right before he died! End of story.”
Most of the group was puzzled now. "What a tragically sad story," commented Sandra at last.
"And totally pointless," added Barns.
"Well, it doesn't fit our situation exactly, I suppose," replied Bates. "But don't you see the parallels? Web Woodrith was 80 years old, and he died from having a sense of humor and a twenty-three year old girlfriend. He went out kicking. And in the end he appreciated the efforts of his fans, even though their little serenade didn't end up quite how they figured it would.”
Everyone was staring at him blankly.
"Well, I thought it was inspirational," Bates maintained. "We just can't quit, even if the whole thing goes sour. We still have to try! Saving a hand full of people would be unsatisfactory, even if it were possible. We would still lose too much: our culture, our friends and loved ones, and our self-respect. So we still have to try! And I need as much help as I can get. But if any of you really feel there is no chance at all and aren't willing to give 110% to our mission, maybe you should quit now. I want no slackers.” He thought it was a pretty good finish. He sat down.
Barns, clapping, rose to take his place. "Not bad, Bates. But then a man hand-picked to be Head of DOD should be inspirational shouldn't he? Oh, sorry, I forgot, you were actually hand-picked by the Ra weren't you? Why, I wonder? So that you could lead us on a wild goose-chase after ghosts and missing space aliens, while we lose our only chance to preserve something of humanity?
"Let’s face facts, people: in less than five days from now this planet will be a burning cinder. And four and a half days from now, if you follow Bates, you'll still be chasing ghosts and other nonsense. Now does that make any sense? Many of you are scientists and engineers. Is there any conceivable way to stop Dannos? No! There isn't! That's been obvious all along!”
"But, is there a way to save humanity? Yes, there is! If there was any chance at all to save Earth, I'd be in favor of trying it, damn right I'd be, but there just isn't. So let’s cut our losses and do what we can do to save humanity. No one here hates the Ra like I do, but they have won this round and the war altogether if we don't save some of us. I salute the courage and good intentions of our friend and colleague Dr. Bates, but we've wasted enough time on riddles and fantasy."
Barns sat down. Bates looked around. Most people still wouldn't make eye contact with him. That wasn't a good sign, Bates realized. Barns had sound reasoning on his side; Bates had an anecdote about an old man who died laughing. He had the sinking feeling that he had lost the argument.
"Any more discussion?" Norma asked.
To everyone's surprise, Flood, who had been silent until now during the debates on this subject, stood up while glancing at his watch. "People, I have three points that should help you decide this issue once and for all. Please turn on your VISICOMs to any channel for the first point.” Flood said something into his VISICOM transceiver.
On everyone's screen, the face of the White House press secretary appeared. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled programs for an emergency public announcement from the President of the United States," he announced.
The stern face of President Wright appeared on every screen. "People of the United States and the world, I bring you dire news. In recent days there have been sightings of unusual flying objects over our country. I regret to inform you that these are spacecraft of extraterrestrial beings known as the Ra. Further, I regret to inform you that these Ra are enemies of Earth that would do us the greatest harm.
"However, though the Ra have an advanced civilization, elements of the Ra have recently been successfully engaged and defeated by brave Department of Defense forces of this nation. The Ra are by no means invincible or infallible.
"Be assured that your Government is doing everything possible to ensure public safety. In that regard, I wish to announce that a Team of dedicated Government scientists is at this moment preparing to defeat the plans of the Ra. Doctor Narbando T. Bates of our Defense Department, by order of his Commander in Chief, is to lead his talented Team on a mission to protect all United States citizens and our world. Proceed with all speed, Dr. Bates, our fate is in your hands.
"There is evidence that in attempting hostile acts towards Earth, the Ra are acting in defiance of a confederation of races known as the Galactic League. We have enemies in space, but we also hopefully have friends. The United States of America hereby formally and urgently requests immediate assistance from the Galactic League to stop the destructive activities of the Ra.
"Finally, I want to talk briefly about what you, my fellow citizens, can do to help in this emergency. First, and perhaps most important, on this critical Sunday morning in our history, I urge you all to pray in your places of worship. Second, I urge all citizens to remain calm and maintain your normal routines. I have every confidence that our Team of scientists will find a s
olution to this problem. Take heart, my fellow Americans.”
The view of the President disappeared, to be replaced by an array of flabbergasted news forecasters, whose job it was to now paraphrase, confuse, and obscure the rather clear message that had been just been given by the President. It was a job that required more comprehension than they had at the moment. The events at hand were simply too momentous to fathom.
Flood turned off all Bus VISICOMs using a master control at his pilot station, and turned to face the rest of the Team. "OK, listen up troops. That was your Commander in Chief talking. So now we all have official marching orders. Last night I took the liberty of calling my commander in chief, and that announcement was the result."
"You COMed President Wright?" asked Bates.
"No," responded Flood, "I called my boss Jigs. Then I imagine that he COMed Wright. I still have two more points to make. Jigs confirmed my orders. I am to do anything I can to see that Dr. Bates' mission is successful. Vote or no vote, that's my marching orders. Period."
"You mean to say that regardless of the outcome of our vote, you would not pilot my mission?" asked a flabbergasted Barns.
"Not only that, sir, but I would stop you, using any means at my disposal.” Looking at steely eyed Flood, the company could not doubt his commitment and ability to carry out his word. "Anyway, direct orders from the President should nullify the need for any vote.” Flood looked around at the Team, most of whom were nodding affirmatively. Even Barns looked uncertain.
"Final point," continued Flood. "Last night I also COMed General Therman, and he assures me that key aspects of the report in the data cube on the two extraterrestrials are false. He thinks the extraterrestrials may still be on Earth and that if they are, he thinks he knows where they are right at this moment. We are to fly north to meet the General this morning in Utah. After we collect Winnebago, of course. That is, if Dr. Bates agrees. He is in full charge."
"I agree with everything you said, Commander, with just two minor exceptions," said Bates. "After thinking more about Goyahkla, I think that before we pick up Winnebago, we need to pick up one more crew member."
"Who?" asked Flood.
"The Governor of Arizona," replied Bates. Exclamations arose from the assembled Team.
"Why, Bates?" exclaimed Mel.
"Actually, it's Don's brainstorm," admitted Bates. "Why don't you explain it Don?”
Don, a little nervous, stood and spoke. "Well, we need someone that Goyahkla will respect and listen to, so I naturally thought of Governor Latanna. If he can convince Goyahkla that the Indians already have inherited the Earth, or at least Arizona, maybe Goyahkla will help us try to save it!” There were murmurs of approval, and Don, smiling, sat back down. Latanna was probably the most respected and influential American Indian in recent history.
"Well I for one don't see the point of continuing to court ghosts, now that you apparently have a strong lead on the aliens," said Barns.
"It's called hedging our bets, Barns. Frankly I don't know what if anything will work, or who might prove helpful," said Bates.
"Finally, Team," concluded Bates, raising his voice, "I still want a vote."
It was certainly the last thing that Barns expected to hear. "Why?" asked Flood.
"For lots of reasons," replied Bates. "Because this is too big a decision for a president or even a billionaire to make for us. Because Barns' idea has a great deal of merit, and deserves very serious consideration.
“But most of all because I want any uncertainty put totally behind us. I want every Team member one hundred percent committed to accomplishing this task from now until Christmas, without exception. No hidden agendas. No more alternatives. No more bickering. No more votes. No turning back. If we go down trying, then that's what happens, we go down defending our world."
He motioned Norma Carbuncle to pass out her slips of paper. They were quickly returned and counted by both Norma and Mel. "The Bates plan is adopted!” announced Carbuncle. "Unanimously!”
They all looked at Barns with surprise. The scientist shrugged and explained. "Bates is right. Whatever we do decide to do will require full commitment. I could see that my plan wasn't going to happen. Besides, I just can't bring myself to disobey our President, even if she's not a Republican.” Bates reached over to Barns and the two smiling men shook hands firmly.
"OK then, Commander," said Bates, "let's head back towards Phoenix for the Governor. Quick but stealthy. The Ra are still out there somewhere.”
"Yes sir," responded Flood, as he powered up Bus systems. Bates gave Flood a pat on the back. After ten years without a US military force, it certainly felt good to be working with a military officer again. On the whole, he had found them to be damn good and capable men and women and patriots to the core, and Flood was certainly no exception.
"Sandy, aren't President Wright and Governor Latanna close friends?" asked Bates.
"Affirmative," she responded.
"Then get me the President on the COM ASAP," ordered Bates. As long as the Bus was Earthbound, it was determined that it was safe to use the COM, though only for vital calls. Meanwhile, the Bus lifted a few inches off the ground and headed towards the Governor's mansion in Phoenix.
****
DECISIONS AND COMMITMENTS
The die was now cast; I had passed the Rubicon. Swim or sink, live or die, survive or parish with my country was my unalterable determination.
- John Adams
It was another unusually warm night. Bates stood outside the campsite, listening to nature's night sounds and trying to unwind. He carried a flash light, but didn't have it turned on; a crescent of Moon illuminated the area effectively. In a Team meeting an hour ago, he and Barns had each made arguments for their very different plans for the Team.
Despite the interesting information discovered from the Ra cubes and their experiences with the ghost of Geronimo, even Bates couldn't argue that they were really any closer to solving the Dannos problem. They had some fuzzy leads to follow on aliens, but there was nothing concrete. With such limited progress to show, Bates wasn't optimistic about how the Team vote in the morning would come out.
Bates heard someone approaching from the camp and turned to see Mel. "Bates! There you are! Look what Elizabeth found just now!” Mel was holding something. Bates shone his flashlight on it, then jumped up and back about three meters. It was a big fat rattlesnake, perhaps a meter and a half long. Mel held it behind the head and further down its body, which still left about half of it to freely squirm and twist. The snake was almost as thick as Mel's thin arms, Bates noticed.
"Sorry to startle you that way, Bates," apologized Mel.
"That's OK, Mel, I'll survive. I just haven't seen one of those things in years. It's not even the right time of year for them. Where did you say you found it?”
"Elizabeth found it in your sleeping bag. You know, the one you were laying down in a few minutes ago. She showed me how to hold it. It's an excellent specimen, according to her; she was pretty excited about it.”
"Not as excited as I would have been to find it myself!” replied Bates. So much for romantic notions about roughing it under the stars, he reasoned. The Bus floor would be fine with him. Did snakes like nice warm busses though, he wandered?
"I wanted to talk with you privately about some things Narb.” Mel took a step closer to Bates, who took an equal step away from him.
"Mel, could you get rid of that thing first? Reptiles and I never got along.”
"Oh sure!” agreed Mel, as he stepped away from Bates and the camp. In the moonlight Bates could see the snake twisting, trying to break Mel's grip.
"Do you know what you're doing, Mel?”
"Never did this before, but it seems straight-forward," replied Mel. "Elizabeth explained the basics to me.” When he was about 30 meters away, the little scientist tossed the snake gently to the ground and away from him and ran back to Bates rather rapidly. "Elizabeth was quite explicit about the running part at the end," explained Mel, in the midst of some heavy breathing.
After he caught his breath, Mel came right to the point. "Business first. Your son Don says that while we did our little séance, Barns made some persuasive arguments with the people left in the Bus.”
"Well, I suppose that was to be expected," said Bates, "though everyone, including Barns, is supposed to still be doing my research assignments."
"Also," continued Mel, "I've been talking to Janet about Dannos and to Flood about Bus performance and working out rough flight trajectories.”
"OK, Mel," asked Bates, "so when would the Bus have to leave Earth to match trajectories with Dannos?”
"About two weeks ago," answered Mel.
"I was afraid of that," sighed Bates.
"Also," added Mel, "we would have to either totally obliterate Dannos, which would require perhaps a hundred thousand megatons TNT equivalence, or divert its path, which would require a hundred megatons now, and more as time goes on. But such large charges could also bust Dannos into big pieces, some of which would still impact Earth with devastating effect. In fact, damage could actually be increased by breaking the asteroid up. It would be rather like getting hit with hundreds of shotgun pellets instead of a single high powered bullet. Not to mention the fact that those pellets would now perhaps be radioactive."
"In summary then," concluded Bates, "it's too late to think of nuclear devices anyway?"
"Yes, Narb. A well-placed megaton a year or two ago would have worked out perfectly fine to divert it away from Earth. But if we took off at top Bus speed today with the required multi-megatons of bombs required for diversion, and collided them with the asteroid, such a device could also be enough to blow it into big dangerous pieces. Many pieces would still strike Earth. At this stage it simply can’t be diverted. That’s why its total destruction using even more megatons would be the only conceivable bomb-based solution.”
"Well Mel," said Bates, "we don't have any such devices anyway, so I guess it's academic. But thanks for the analysis."
"Now for the other subject, Bates. I've been talking with Elizabeth. She says she's disappointed that you and her mother aren't hitting it off better. Don said something similar.”
"I haven't seen the woman in twenty years Mel, what can they expect?”
"Basically, I gather that they hoped for an improvement over their other dad. He and Janet divorced about three years ago, you know.”
Bates hadn't known. He hadn't even asked. It was obviously yet another case of his addled brain underperforming.
"I've been talking to Janet about this too, Bates, and piecing things together. Apparently, her marriage had actually decayed far earlier, but was kept in place until the kids were mostly grown up. In retrospect, Janet thinks that was probably a mistake, since her husband was never that close to the kids anyway."
"Did he know I was the father?" Bates asked.
"Strangely enough, not until they were about twelve, according to Janet. The kids found out five years later, and their reaction astounded Janet. She says they were actually relieved. They apparently had always felt that something was wrong. Something besides the guy that was supposed to be their father being an a-hole, I mean."
"Since then, they pestered Janet for information about you. Janet hopes that they might get something from you that has been missing in their lives for a long time.”
"What do the kids say?" asked Bates.
"Elizabeth says they want to get to know you, but that they mainly hoped that you and their mom would get back together for a final fling.”
"A fling! What does Janet say about that?" Bates asked. A fling before being killed by the asteroid sounded pretty good to him right now. Not that he had much time or energy for such a thing.
"I didn't ask her Bates. I think that's for you to find out.”
Bates sighed. "Thanks Mel. I'll take it from here. But please! I want you to focus on Dannos, not my ex-love life!” He patted Mel on the back and walked back towards the camp. He had dreamed about reconciliation with Janet for twenty years. But now that he had that chance, he just couldn't afford to even think about it. There was simply no time. Not for him, or her, or Mel, or anyone. Dannos was coming!
Janet was sitting alone by the campfire. Bates sat down next to her. "Janet, I know this wasn't what you had in mind when you called me a few days ago, but we all just have to make the best of it. Right now the mission has to be the most important thing. More than anything else, I'd like to get to know the kids, and I'd even like us to get to know each other again, if possible. But there just isn't time."
Janet opened her mouth to speak but Bates wouldn't let her. "No, we can't even try to work anything out this week. There is simply no time; I'm all booked up. Earth to save, you know! And I need you to help us. And the kids, too. I need all of us. But I do find that there is something that I must ask you now Janet. Remember where we talked about going twenty years ago? Why don't we all go there after the holidays?"
"You mean Scotland?" asked Janet?
"Yup," answered Bates. "Loch Ness. I heard it's still a pretty place. If we survive this lets all go visit Loch ness together.” He held his breath.
"OK then, it’s a date!” she r
Early the next morning Carbuncle took it upon herself to preside as everyone gathered inside the Bus. "I believe everyone should be given a few minutes to say what they wish. Then we will vote. She passed out a small piece of paper to each person. Bates?”
Bates stepped before the others. "Yesterday I think we got off to a good start. Geronimo may not have been the ideal spirit to contact, but the results do lend credibility to the notion that the data cubes do hold good information, and can be used as the key to finding the help that we need. I suggest that Elizabeth continue that line of inquiry, assisted by Chief Winnebago, who has kindly volunteered his services."
"Humph! Especially when he found out that we were leaving the state!” interjected Barns.
"Elizabeth assures me that they will be able to consult his spirit independent of geographic location, which leaves us free to pursue our second and still primary line of inquiry: that of locating space aliens other than the Ra who may be disposed to helping us. The Galactic League Mel mentioned sounds ideal, but right now, any non-Ra alien contact is sought. I suggest we fly to Utah as soon as possible to try to pick up on any leads we can salvage from the visit Mel was involved in. At the same time, we will continue to analyze the cubes for other leads on friendly aliens. They might have the technology needed to stop Dannos and the Ra.
"Well, that's the plan so far. I won't repeat last night's arguments, but let me close with an antidote. I heard on the news this morning something interesting about Web Woodrith, the famous jazz musician and song writer. It seems that a lot of his fans and friends got together and decided to pay tribute to him by getting musicians to serenade him with some of his most famous musical works. So yesterday morning they surrounded his house with a hundred and fifty musicians, rang his doorbell, and started playing."
"Must have surprised him!” commented Mel.
"And his girlfriend too!” continued Bates. "In a minute the two of them came running out the door dressed in bath robes yelling obscenities at the serenaders, with Web waving a shotgun and shooting it up into the air.
"Anyway, this seriously disturbed the concentration of the musicians, and they screwed up the tune they were playing quite a bit. That and the sight of a hundred fifty jazz musicians scrambling for cover from the shotgun finally got to old Woodrith, and the next thing you know he was rolling around on the ground laughing.”
Several of Bates' listeners were smiling now, glad for a happy ending.
"Unfortunately, he then had a massive heart attack and died on the spot.” The smiles disappeared. "But as he was laying there on the ground dying, he whispered to those gathered around him 'Thanks, that was a good one!' right before he died! End of story.”
Most of the group was puzzled now. "What a tragically sad story," commented Sandra at last.
"And totally pointless," added Barns.
"Well, it doesn't fit our situation exactly, I suppose," replied Bates. "But don't you see the parallels? Web Woodrith was 80 years old, and he died from having a sense of humor and a twenty-three year old girlfriend. He went out kicking. And in the end he appreciated the efforts of his fans, even though their little serenade didn't end up quite how they figured it would.”
Everyone was staring at him blankly.
"Well, I thought it was inspirational," Bates maintained. "We just can't quit, even if the whole thing goes sour. We still have to try! Saving a hand full of people would be unsatisfactory, even if it were possible. We would still lose too much: our culture, our friends and loved ones, and our self-respect. So we still have to try! And I need as much help as I can get. But if any of you really feel there is no chance at all and aren't willing to give 110% to our mission, maybe you should quit now. I want no slackers.” He thought it was a pretty good finish. He sat down.
Barns, clapping, rose to take his place. "Not bad, Bates. But then a man hand-picked to be Head of DOD should be inspirational shouldn't he? Oh, sorry, I forgot, you were actually hand-picked by the Ra weren't you? Why, I wonder? So that you could lead us on a wild goose-chase after ghosts and missing space aliens, while we lose our only chance to preserve something of humanity?
"Let’s face facts, people: in less than five days from now this planet will be a burning cinder. And four and a half days from now, if you follow Bates, you'll still be chasing ghosts and other nonsense. Now does that make any sense? Many of you are scientists and engineers. Is there any conceivable way to stop Dannos? No! There isn't! That's been obvious all along!”
"But, is there a way to save humanity? Yes, there is! If there was any chance at all to save Earth, I'd be in favor of trying it, damn right I'd be, but there just isn't. So let’s cut our losses and do what we can do to save humanity. No one here hates the Ra like I do, but they have won this round and the war altogether if we don't save some of us. I salute the courage and good intentions of our friend and colleague Dr. Bates, but we've wasted enough time on riddles and fantasy."
Barns sat down. Bates looked around. Most people still wouldn't make eye contact with him. That wasn't a good sign, Bates realized. Barns had sound reasoning on his side; Bates had an anecdote about an old man who died laughing. He had the sinking feeling that he had lost the argument.
"Any more discussion?" Norma asked.
To everyone's surprise, Flood, who had been silent until now during the debates on this subject, stood up while glancing at his watch. "People, I have three points that should help you decide this issue once and for all. Please turn on your VISICOMs to any channel for the first point.” Flood said something into his VISICOM transceiver.
On everyone's screen, the face of the White House press secretary appeared. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled programs for an emergency public announcement from the President of the United States," he announced.
The stern face of President Wright appeared on every screen. "People of the United States and the world, I bring you dire news. In recent days there have been sightings of unusual flying objects over our country. I regret to inform you that these are spacecraft of extraterrestrial beings known as the Ra. Further, I regret to inform you that these Ra are enemies of Earth that would do us the greatest harm.
"However, though the Ra have an advanced civilization, elements of the Ra have recently been successfully engaged and defeated by brave Department of Defense forces of this nation. The Ra are by no means invincible or infallible.
"Be assured that your Government is doing everything possible to ensure public safety. In that regard, I wish to announce that a Team of dedicated Government scientists is at this moment preparing to defeat the plans of the Ra. Doctor Narbando T. Bates of our Defense Department, by order of his Commander in Chief, is to lead his talented Team on a mission to protect all United States citizens and our world. Proceed with all speed, Dr. Bates, our fate is in your hands.
"There is evidence that in attempting hostile acts towards Earth, the Ra are acting in defiance of a confederation of races known as the Galactic League. We have enemies in space, but we also hopefully have friends. The United States of America hereby formally and urgently requests immediate assistance from the Galactic League to stop the destructive activities of the Ra.
"Finally, I want to talk briefly about what you, my fellow citizens, can do to help in this emergency. First, and perhaps most important, on this critical Sunday morning in our history, I urge you all to pray in your places of worship. Second, I urge all citizens to remain calm and maintain your normal routines. I have every confidence that our Team of scientists will find a s
The view of the President disappeared, to be replaced by an array of flabbergasted news forecasters, whose job it was to now paraphrase, confuse, and obscure the rather clear message that had been just been given by the President. It was a job that required more comprehension than they had at the moment. The events at hand were simply too momentous to fathom.
Flood turned off all Bus VISICOMs using a master control at his pilot station, and turned to face the rest of the Team. "OK, listen up troops. That was your Commander in Chief talking. So now we all have official marching orders. Last night I took the liberty of calling my commander in chief, and that announcement was the result."
"You COMed President Wright?" asked Bates.
"No," responded Flood, "I called my boss Jigs. Then I imagine that he COMed Wright. I still have two more points to make. Jigs confirmed my orders. I am to do anything I can to see that Dr. Bates' mission is successful. Vote or no vote, that's my marching orders. Period."
"You mean to say that regardless of the outcome of our vote, you would not pilot my mission?" asked a flabbergasted Barns.
"Not only that, sir, but I would stop you, using any means at my disposal.” Looking at steely eyed Flood, the company could not doubt his commitment and ability to carry out his word. "Anyway, direct orders from the President should nullify the need for any vote.” Flood looked around at the Team, most of whom were nodding affirmatively. Even Barns looked uncertain.
"Final point," continued Flood. "Last night I also COMed General Therman, and he assures me that key aspects of the report in the data cube on the two extraterrestrials are false. He thinks the extraterrestrials may still be on Earth and that if they are, he thinks he knows where they are right at this moment. We are to fly north to meet the General this morning in Utah. After we collect Winnebago, of course. That is, if Dr. Bates agrees. He is in full charge."
"I agree with everything you said, Commander, with just two minor exceptions," said Bates. "After thinking more about Goyahkla, I think that before we pick up Winnebago, we need to pick up one more crew member."
"Who?" asked Flood.
"The Governor of Arizona," replied Bates. Exclamations arose from the assembled Team.
"Why, Bates?" exclaimed Mel.
"Actually, it's Don's brainstorm," admitted Bates. "Why don't you explain it Don?”
Don, a little nervous, stood and spoke. "Well, we need someone that Goyahkla will respect and listen to, so I naturally thought of Governor Latanna. If he can convince Goyahkla that the Indians already have inherited the Earth, or at least Arizona, maybe Goyahkla will help us try to save it!” There were murmurs of approval, and Don, smiling, sat back down. Latanna was probably the most respected and influential American Indian in recent history.
"Well I for one don't see the point of continuing to court ghosts, now that you apparently have a strong lead on the aliens," said Barns.
"It's called hedging our bets, Barns. Frankly I don't know what if anything will work, or who might prove helpful," said Bates.
"Finally, Team," concluded Bates, raising his voice, "I still want a vote."
It was certainly the last thing that Barns expected to hear. "Why?" asked Flood.
"For lots of reasons," replied Bates. "Because this is too big a decision for a president or even a billionaire to make for us. Because Barns' idea has a great deal of merit, and deserves very serious consideration.
“But most of all because I want any uncertainty put totally behind us. I want every Team member one hundred percent committed to accomplishing this task from now until Christmas, without exception. No hidden agendas. No more alternatives. No more bickering. No more votes. No turning back. If we go down trying, then that's what happens, we go down defending our world."
He motioned Norma Carbuncle to pass out her slips of paper. They were quickly returned and counted by both Norma and Mel. "The Bates plan is adopted!” announced Carbuncle. "Unanimously!”
They all looked at Barns with surprise. The scientist shrugged and explained. "Bates is right. Whatever we do decide to do will require full commitment. I could see that my plan wasn't going to happen. Besides, I just can't bring myself to disobey our President, even if she's not a Republican.” Bates reached over to Barns and the two smiling men shook hands firmly.
"OK then, Commander," said Bates, "let's head back towards Phoenix for the Governor. Quick but stealthy. The Ra are still out there somewhere.”
"Yes sir," responded Flood, as he powered up Bus systems. Bates gave Flood a pat on the back. After ten years without a US military force, it certainly felt good to be working with a military officer again. On the whole, he had found them to be damn good and capable men and women and patriots to the core, and Flood was certainly no exception.
"Sandy, aren't President Wright and Governor Latanna close friends?" asked Bates.
"Affirmative," she responded.
"Then get me the President on the COM ASAP," ordered Bates. As long as the Bus was Earthbound, it was determined that it was safe to use the COM, though only for vital calls. Meanwhile, the Bus lifted a few inches off the ground and headed towards the Governor's mansion in Phoenix.
****