Meeting at Alpha Centauri

A man and a woman sat in the wardroom waiting for word from the bridge. The room was silent. The woman had made all the predictions and had stated her case forcefully. Now it was his decision. She knew that decision rested on the events of the next few minutes. She held her breath as the seconds ticked by.
The silence was broken as the COM link came alive, "Sir, we are in the star's corona and we have detected the anomaly."
The woman let out a great sigh of relief. She stared across the table with a look that challenged the man to deny her request. Then the woman asked, "All of humanity is resting on your decision. Will you do it?"
The man could not deny the evidence, but the conclusion was hard to accept. He made his decision, "I agree. We will do it as you planned. You know, it is likely we are leading a great many people to their deaths. Should we survive, I will probably be looking for a new line of work in the near future."
"We will not die," the woman stated flatly, "and if we do not complete this mission humanity will not exist. At least not as we know it."

Dr. Marianne Shields called down from the balcony above the control center, "Peter, did you send that message priority one?"
Peter Mescara just finished his transmission. He turned in his seat and called up to his boss, "I just completed the redundant message. Both messages went out priority one. I expect an echo message from the relay beacon within the hour."
The research station Orion was a buzz with excitement. It had been sitting quietly in the Alpha Centauri system for seven years. Its occupants spent ten years in cryogenic sleep to reach the station. Peter had joked once that it was the longest commute in human history. They expected to spend their twenty-year term in quiet research as they studied the Centauri stars and their effects on each other. It was not to be. A small blip on their motion sensors shattered their tranquility.
Dr. Shields skipped down the stairs. She waved to her staff and they met at the conference table in the middle of the control center. She waited for everyone to take his or her seats then she started the impromptu meeting, "OK, it’s been over an hour since the sighting. You have had some time to study the recording and to analyze the data. What did we observe?"
Jamie O'Donnell was the staff astrophysicist. She looked over her notes carefully. She knew all eyes were on her waiting for her response. The redheaded Irish woman from Dublin reveled in the suspense. The quiet of the station was driving her crazy. This was the kind of unusual thing she was hoping for. She held their attention captive for an extra second before responding, "What we detected was a ship. Its surface was pure metal. It had significant mass, but not enough for its size. In other words it was hollow. Its fall star ward was not natural. It was controlled."
"What about the energy surge?" Peter asked, "If that was a ship, did it explode?"
Jamie shrugged her shoulders and simply said, "Could be."
Ivan Korodevech shook his head, "While you were studying the mysterious object, I was studying the energy surge. I wasn't an explosion. I was a light flux."
"A light flux!" Marianne couldn't believe what he was saying. "Are you saying that the ship broke the light barrier?"
"Exactly," Ivan answered, "if you remember several hours ago I reported a subtle energy shift coming from Alpha Centauri. That wasn't an energy shift and it didn't come from the star. Its energy composition and magnitude match the most recent occurrence. In my opinion the first flux happened when the ship came out of light speed and the second flux happened when the ship went into light speed. I know I'm just maintenance and engineering around here, but that's what I observed."
"Your observations are as valuable as anybody’s’." Jamie stated quickly, "I'm glad someone was paying attention to the energy levels."
Marianne made a decision. "Peter, I want to get another message out. Tell them that the UFO is likely to be a spacecraft with light speed capability."
Peter got up from his chair and turned toward the communication station. He stopped a moment, and then turned back, "Of course you know if that was a light speed ship it may arrive in the Sol system before the message does."
"I understand that Peter, but I am assuming that the ship is not going to Sol next. Send the message with a 'details to follow' caveat."
"Right boss." Peter waved as he turned toward the COM station.
Marianne turned back to the rest of her staff. "OK, I just made a wild claim to the Solarian Space Agency. The SSA has no sense of humor about things like this. I'm counting on you to back me up with solid evidence. Peter and I will work with the tracking data. Jamie; you and Ivan work on the energy measurements. If that ship existed in this system between the two energy surges then it was here for over five hours. Let's find more evidence of that."

Hours passed as the teams worked to identify the slightest trace of a ship size object in the day's recorded observations. During that time they received echo messages from the relay beacon indicating that their messages were on the way to Sol. After six hours of exhausting work they had their evidence. They tracked the ship from light flux to light flux. They studied data before the first light flux and after the second to make sure the ship only appeared in that time period. It did. Finally Peter asked, "What do you think they were doing?"
"Observing." Jamie answered.
"Observing Alpha Centauri?" Peter asked.
"No," Jamie answered, "observing us."
The statement silenced the room. The hum of the station's systems suddenly seemed deafening. The realization of just how isolated they were crashed upon their minds. A robot ship brought supplies once a year. They weren't expecting a cryo-ship carrying real living visitors for another five years.
They all knew why they volunteered for this job. It was a chance of a lifetime. An opportunity to study stars close up. To do work that had never been done before, in a place that no one has been before. They were being paid twice their normal SSA salaries and they wouldn't spend any of it for the forty years that they would be gone. When they returned the amassed salary and interest would be enough to afford them a comfortable life style for the rest of their lives. At least that's what the reporters were told when they were asked how they could spend so long isolated from humanity.
All that was true, but the real catalyst was the fact that these four people had been isolated from society almost since birth. Its not that they were shunned or driven from neighborhoods, it was just that they not popular as people. They were respected as scientists and engineers, but there was always a slight snicker behind their backs. They suffered from the last a still very powerful discriminator. In the year 2045 the planetary government was formed and national boundaries disappeared. A few years later nationality discrimination began to fade. Interracial marriage had become acceptable on a large scale and even popular by 2030. It was predicted that in 200 years the races of Earth might blend into one human race. During this same period the quest for beauty turned into an obsession. In 2028 the Ajera Institute opened its doors. They brought to each person the ability to remake their faces and bodies into beautiful works of art. It became the rage and then the standard. By 2050 it was a social requirement to beg, borrow or steal the money needed for the treatment. These four people bucked social law and refused to be made over. As Marianne Shields stated one time, when a reported had the nerve to ask about her subnormal appearance, "I am an ugly duckling and I plan to stay that way." They were ugly all ducklings. Not deformed, just not good-looking.
Marianne was a dark black-haired woman with a round pudgy face and blue eyes. Her crimes were that she was a bit too hippy and her wiry hair refused any styling.
Peter was a muscular man with Latin features. Some said too Latin. His nose dominated his dark face leaving his brown eyes hidden in the shadow, and his black curly hair was quickly moving away from his brow.
Jamie was a tiny woman with tiny features and a nonexistent bust line. Her red hair was wispy thin, but her green eyes sparkled like the Irish hills. Her face seemed just a little unusual. As if it was somehow put on wrong.
Ivan was a short broad man whose body shape reflected his inability to miss the dinner bell. He was also balding early and he had a genetic problem, a skin condition that the wonder creams could not cure. It gave him the appearance of a twentieth century teenager.
For these crimes of appearance the four spent many hours alone before they met. They were also deprived of family by various twists of fate, which made their isolations complete. Each of them decided on their own to make the most of their isolation and that was why they volunteered.

This event was the first thing to happen in seven years that made them wish that there were other humans in shouting distance. As they quietly pondered this thought the energy recording system beeped and put up a display. The beep startled everyone back to reality. They rushed over to see what new phenomena awaited them.
"It's another light flux." Jamie announced.
Peter jumped into the seat at the motion sensor console. Now that they knew what they were looking for he was able to find it quickly. "Got it." he announced.
As he spoke the energy system beeped again and again and again. In total seventeen light fluxes were recorded. Each time Peter correlated them to a ship sized object. The four humans stared at the computer screen almost afraid to pursue the investigation.
Marianne took control, "Peter, have you begun tracks?"
Peter answered without taking his eyes off the screen, I've got them all boss. They're all moving together. Suddenly he stopped talking and turned to Marianne. The fear was clear on his face.
"What Peter what?"
Peter's voice came out low and raspy, "The system has just returned a projected course for the UFO's. Marianne, they're coming here."
"What do you mean, here?" Jamie demanded hoping that her protest could change the facts.
"I mean right here damn it. Peter yelled his fear turning to anger, "Their course goes right through this room. They will either slow down and rendezvous with us or they will travel right through us at one-tenth the speed of light. Frankly I'm not sure which I prefer. There are seventeen alien ships out there and they're coming this way. What do we do now?"
Marianne searched her mind for a next move, "Well," She said with some hesitation. We have been trained in first contact procedure. We will prepare the prescribed welcome for our visitors."
"The prescribed welcome?" Jamie jumped to her feet. "Those are aliens. They're not visitors from the Martian colony. We have no idea what their intentions are. The people who made up that prescribed welcome never expected it to be used. They were just filling a specification in the station procedures. It’s a fairy tale. No thought has been put into it. It’s a bunch of holo-vids of politicians and pretty scenery. It’s a joke. Its not a plan for meeting aliens."
Marianne got up into her colleagues face. She her own frustration and fear exploded with equal force, "Have you got a better idea? We've got four to six hours tops, so if you can throw out the book and replace it with something better in that time I will be happy to yield to your brilliance."
Ivan pushed himself between the women. "Doctors get a grip. We need all minds functioning at a productive level. Reroute all the energy to the problem. The facts are if the aliens are hostile we are dead. We couldn't defend ourselves against one spacecraft and there are seventeen approaching. That leaves us with one alternative. The aliens will be friendly. In which case, we prepare a welcome. Let's get out the good food and drink and hope that they all don't want to eat. Let's get out the holo-vids of our grand Solarian Council Chairman. Let's face it; Amid Codolfo is a whole lot better at making speeches than we are. Pete can keep an eye on our friends while we get things set up. What do you say? Are we in agreement?"
Marianne and Jamie looked at each other. Jamie finally spoke, "So much for professionalism under pressure."
Marianne patted her friend’s shoulder and then began to chuckle, "You know I was just thinking. I bet the plastic faced beautiful people are going to be really upset when they find out that the first vision of the human form that an alien species sees will be ours." The statement brought roaring laughter that echoed through the isolate station.

The hours went by. Peter monitored the approach of the ships while his mates rearranged the station's spaces to handle as many guests as possible. Ivan walked over to the motion monitor system to give Peter a break, "OK Pete, take a break. Anything new on our friends?"
Peter stood up and stretched as Ivan sat down. Peter answered as Ivan got in position. "Not much. They have spread out in a nice orderly fashion. It looks kind of..."
"Wait a minute. Wait a minute." Ivan interrupted, "I know that formation. I've seen it in my twentieth century naval forces holo-vids. It's a battle group formation. My God, those are warships!"
"Come on Ivan, you're jumping to conclusions. You are looking at a formation made by a bunch of blobs on a computer screen. Those aliens have never seen a human twentieth century naval formation."
Ivan wasn't convinced, "Its more than that Pete. Look at the composition inside the formation. One large ship, two smaller ships, and fourteen ships about half the size of the large ship. The small ships surround the larger ships on all sides. That's a defensive position. The larger ships are called capital ships. They contain the most powerful offensive weaponry. The smaller ships are called escorts. They protect the capital ships. If this were a sea navy the big ship would likely be an aircraft carrier. Before the ships approached too close it would launch warplanes as a first wave attack or maybe smart missiles. The first ship we spotted earlier must have been a recon flight."
Pete stretched again. He refused to buy into Ivan's interpretation of the computer display, "Well let me know if the ship launches little spacecraft and I'll start getting nervous."
"Marianne called from their makeshift reception area, "Hey, what are you guys yakking about?"
Peter answered as he walked toward the women. "Our resident military historian has decided that is Pearl Harbor Day and our visitors are the Japanese fleet."
"I said,” Ivan yelled from his station. The aliens are moving in a military formation. I'm telling you that those ships out are warships."
Peter yelled back, "Like I said, show me some little attack ships and I'll get worried."

Marianne, Jamie, and Peter sat down at their reception table. They knew they could probably get some work done before anything happened, but they knew they couldn't concentrate on work. Marianne poured some drinks, "Let's talk about something, anything but our new friends."
Peter started with a question. "What made you guys decide not to get fixed up?"
"Get what?" Marianne asked.
Fixed up, you know new face, new body. The Ajera Institute. Come on, were all in the same boat. I've wanted to talk about it for a long time, but I didn't know how to bring it up."
"Well," Marianne said, "since you're so anxious to talk about it, why don't you start. Why didn't you get fixed up?"
I was going to do it. I had an appointment and everything. Then one day a man showed up at my door with a package. He said it was found in an old house in Catania, Sicily. He claimed the Info Net told him that I was the last of the Mescara bloodline and that he would be nice enough to sell me the package that belonged to my family. I paid him 500 credits, took the package, and punched him dead in the face for being such a mercenary. Well in the package were some really old pictures of my family. Some of them were from World War II. They showed women kissing American soldiers as they marched through their town. I looked closely at the people, my people. They had bent noses and pocked faces. Some were hunched over, and they all were too fat. I loved them. I thought they were the most beautiful people I ever saw. I tore up my appointment card and voided my credit transfer and I never regretted it. That's it, now how about you guys."
"Well," Marianne began, "I wish I could say I had the courage you had, but my decision was pure economics. When the time came my trust fund had enough money for either the Ajera Institute or graduate school. I suppose I could have gone to the institute and then saved money for graduate school, but there was a crying need for young physicists. I was afraid if I didn't go to graduate school first all the good positions would be filled and I would end up a robot technician. I just felt it was better to be a homely physicist than a pretty robot technician. OK Jamie, its your turn."
Jamie just looked down at the floor. She didn't offer a story.
Peter encourage her, "Come on Jamie, we're all in the same boat, but it really doesn't matter. If you don't want to talk about, that's OK."
Jamie looked up with a tear in her eye. She began to cry when she tried to start. She controlled herself and started again. "I did go to the Ajera Institute. This is the best that they could do. They tried their best, twice. Do you remember the Mary Roe Disaster?"
"You were on the Mary Roe?" Peter asked wishing he had never brought up the stupid subject.
Jamie nodded and continued her story. "I was fourteen when we boarded the Mary Roe. I was with Mom, Dad, my two brothers, and all my extended family. We all decided to immigrate to Mars at the same time. A flaw in the hull construction they called it. When the ship began to leave Earth orbit it came apart like a house of cards. Smoke was everywhere. I was screaming for my father when a big man picked me up and dumped me into an escape pod. An explosion blew the man apart before my eyes. A ball of fire roared into the pod just before the hatch closed and the pod jettisoned. When they found me I had no face and my arms were seared to the bone. It took years for them to put me back together. Believe me, compared to what I was I am beautiful, but I'm here. Mom, Dad, Tommy, and Steve aren't."
Marianne and Peter came around the table and hugged their friend.
"Hey Pete," Ivan yelled, "get your butt down here. I want to show you something."
All three moved down to Ivan. He waited until they had gathered around the screen then he pointed to the screen and simply said, "Are you worried now Pete?"
The screen showed seven tiny ships moving out of the largest ship. They were accelerating to twice the speed of the large ships. Ivan looked at Marianne, "I think we should considered destroying the station. Getting ourselves killed by aliens is one thing, but giving information that will point them to Sol is something else. With light speed ships they will destroy the SSA's defenses before they know what's going on. This group of ships could probably control the Sol system and who knows what kind of space to planet weapons they have."
"No, no I can't." Jamie cried shaking her head. I can't do it. I had one ship come apart around me. I can't take it happening again. Please promise me that if you decide to do it that you find a way to kill me first. Please!"
Marianne found a logical reason to reject suicide, "This station is not designed with a self-destruct switch. It is a science station, not an intelligence-gathering site. Even if we spent the remaining time trying to destroy every scrap of information chances are they will still be enough remnants for them to find out where we came from. With light speed ships they could zip in and out of the Sol system and get any data they needed to plan an invasion. No Ivan, I think you were right the first time. If they are hostile, we are dead. Are only course of action is to assume they are not hostile. Maybe they do use military tactics. Even if they are military that doesn't mean they are hostile. They may just be careful."

The station once again fell silent. Their eyes were glued to the screen as the tiny ships closed on the station. Jamie suddenly blurted out, "Call to them."
Her friends stared at her and she repeated, "Call to them. They should be in range. If we can tell them that we're friendly they may be able to give some indication of their intentions."
Peter shook his head, "Its highly unlikely that they are on our frequency, and if they are its even less likely they'll understand a word we are saying."
"TRY!" Jamie yelled, "What can it hurt?"

Peter tried. He tried on every frequency they had, but they got no response. The group fell silent again. The ships bore down on them at great speed and flashed by on all sides. Peter yelled in frustration, "Now what? Are they playing games?"
Ivan answered in voice of resignation, "It was probably a close in recon pass. They were testing our defenses. Defenses, that's a laugh. Now that they know they can do whatever they want they'll make their real move."

Again nothing above the hum of the equipment was heard. The minutes passed slowly. The tiny ships returned to their base. The group of ships approached relentlessly. Marianne leaned on Peter, and Jamie on Ivan. They held each other.

When the ships were in sight the group moved from the computer screen to the observation deck. The upper deck of the station had a 360-degree clear dome observation deck. It was just below their living quarters and it was the group's favorite place to relax. It got them away from the work atmosphere. They sat together on the large soft couch watching the ships approach.
The ships had been decelerating for the last two hours. As they watched the smaller ships moved away and the largest ship closed in. After a few minutes all of the ships reached rendezvous speed and direction with the station. From the station's perspective they had stopped.
It was an amazing sight. Seventeen ships hung in space before the station. The giant leader ship pivoted slightly to starboard allowing its forward port section to come into view.
"LOOK!" Jamie cried out, "The writing on the side is in Earth Standard. See is says SDD GALLANT." Either those ships are from Earth or we have a coincidence that beats some amazing odds."
Peter let out a cheer and hugged his boss, "Man, I can't believe it. I had visions of being dissected by some green alien with three eyes."
Marianne was not so sure, "I don't know. How did we develop light speed travel and build that many ships in just seventeen years? If they had the capability, why haven't they mentioned it in the regular messages? SSA seems really good at getting us news updates every six months. Besides, what the hell is SDD. Why would anyone put an SDD in front of a ship name?
Ivan pointed to the window, "Well it looks like we will be getting some answers soon. Here comes a boarding party. Do we let them in?"
"Do we have a choice?" Peter asked.
"Damn it!" Marianne yelled as she jumped to her feet, "We do have a choice. I am sick of cowering. We'll open the outer lock and let them in. Once we got them between the inner and outer doors we'll keep them their until we get some answers."
"What if they retaliate from the ships?" Jamie asked.
Then we die, but at least we'll take a few of them with us. Let's hope that they value their comrades' lives more than that."

The group moved quickly back down to the control center. They got there just in time to get beep from the station monitor. The ship had settled onto the docking pad.
"OK Ivan," Marianne ordered, "open the outer door and make sure the inner door access from the entrance way is disabled".
Ivan hit the button and the message appeared indicating pressurization was taking place. Ivan muttered, "Damn budget cuts. We were supposed to have a surveillance system for the entrance area. Now we'll have to do this blind."

In a few minutes the OUTER DOOR OPEN message appeared on the monitor. Everyone held his or her breath until the OUTER DOOR CLOSED message appeared.
Marianne moved to the communication station and waited. It didn't take long before the message tone sounded. Marianne was ready, "This is the Solarian Space Agency research station Orion. Identify yourself and state your business."
A voice came back; male strong, very human sounding and in Earth Standard. Dr. Shields, please open this door. This station is in danger and we have very little time to prepare."
Marianne wasn't impressed, "Identify yourself and state your business, or you will sit in that little room until you rot."
The voice had indications of an anger that was being subdued, "Doctor, we understand your position. We heard your call, but we were unable to respond. I am Commander Thomas Jackson first officer on the starship SDD Gallant. Are purpose here is to see that this station stays in one piece. I know this is all a shock to you, but a lot of things have happen since you left Earth. Please doctor, we're running out of time."
Marianne simply answered, "Stand by."
She then turned to her colleagues, "Well what do you think?"
"Let them in." Jamie answered, "If they aren't human, they're gone through a great deal of trouble to fool us."
Peter and Ivan nodded. Marianne held her breath and gave Ivan the OK. Ivan hit the button and the inner door began to open.

They were human. Six uniformed men moved quickly into the station carrying equipment. The senior member of the boarding party extended his hand to Marianne Shields and spoke rapidly as if he wanted to get the introduction over so he could get to work, "Dr. Shields it is a pleasure to meet you and your staff. Let me apologize for coming to your station unannounced. You see the standard communication links are now supraliminal sub space COMS. We hadn't used the sub light COMS for several years, and I'm afraid during our last refit the units were disabled. It seems SSA failed to advise us of the need for the units in order to communicate with your station."
Marianne stared at the tall muscular African-American speaking to her. When he finished speaking she was finally able to blurt out, "Who the hell are you, and what is all this junk you are bringing on my station? Where did you come from? Do you realize you people just about stopped our hearts arriving like this, and what was all that sneaking around before you showed up? We have sent messages saying we were observing an alien spacecraft. Let me tell you, I do not appreciate being made a fool of in front of the entire SSA."
Marianne's attack brought the officer up short. He put his hands up in surrender, "Please, please doctor. I really do apologize for the entrance, but no one has taken your messages as being foolish. Although we cannot transmit at your frequencies we still have the capability to receive at that level. We picked up your first message about ten hours ago. We relayed the message using our COMS to the Solarian Defense Directorate. They ordered the battle group to jump to this system immediately. The first spacecraft you observed was not ours."

"What do you mean not yours? This whole thing is absurd. How did Earth get interstellar capability in only seventeen years. There wasn't even money allocated for a program of study when we left Earth. Now your telling me in addition to Earth that there is other species zipping around out here. And what the hell is the Solarian Defense Directorate?"
The officer knew time was running out and so was his talent for diplomacy, "Doctor, I am sorry but I do not have time to explain the entire history of space travel since you left Earth. You will have to trust me a little. I am Commander Thomas Jackson, first officer of the starship Gallant. We are Admiral Barison's flagship for the sixth Solarian Fleet. The Admiral will arrive shortly. He also sends his apologies for this intrusion. What we are bringing onto this station is a light speed COM link and a hyperactive positron shielding system. We have very little time to install this equipment before our visitors return."
"Excuse me Commander, "Peter interrupted the impatient officer one more time, "Does the installation of a shielding device indicate that you believe the alien that visited us earlier may be hostile?"
Commander Jackson answered quickly, "Evidence points in that direction. Now if you will excuse me I must see to the installation." The commander moved away quickly before further questions could be asked.

"This is all very strange." Ivan said in a low tone, "In seventeen years Earth broke the light barrier, established a defense directorate, and built not one but six fleets of light speed ships. I'm sorry. Its just not possible."
Jamie leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "So what do we do, accuse them of being aliens and throw them out. I have a feeling that wouldn't work. The commander did know Marianne's name. It's all crazy. So many things prove that they are from Earth and so many things make it impossible for them to be from Earth. Maybe the Admiral will be more talkative."

The station monitor beeped to announce the departure of the shuttle from the docking pad. Peter speculated, "I guess they're going to fetch the admiral."

It took just a few minutes for the shuttle to return with three more visitors. They moved quickly through entrance way and into the station. The hosts move to greet their new guests at the reception table. Commander Jackson was on hand to handle the introductions. He introduced each member of the station staff by name and responsibility. This really surprised the hosts. Then he introduced the admiral, "Ladies and gentlemen may I present Admiral Roger Barrison, his aid Captain Essi Mesowa and Ms. Andrea Chen. Ms. Chen is from the SSA Office of First Contact.
Everyone shook hands and Marianne invited everyone to sit down. As they did she began to speak, "Welcome to the Orion station. We tried to set up a little reception for you. I am afraid we do not have a very large entertainment budget and quite frankly we didn't know what to expect."
"No apologies necessary," Admiral Barrison answered,” and let me say it took a great deal of courage to prepare a welcome in face of the unknown. Doctor, let me get to the point. Ever since our light speed communication net came on line we have been getting random messages from star systems in our local star group. The first few messages were impossible to decipher. When we didn't respond simple messages were sent. They were based on a mathematical code that was easy to break. After several more messages we began to understand what they were saying. They were warning us of a hostile species that was spreading war threw the stars. Several years ago the transmissions stopped. We can only assume that the species that they warned us of reached their planet. It is very likely that the ship you spotted was a scout ship from this alien species. Our information tells us that they kill without mercy and enslave those that are not killed. That's why we have been ordered to your station. Our plan to turn them away from our space requires that we use your station as a command center. With great regret I must take command of this station for the duration of this crisis."
Marianne was impressed with the Admiral's stature and control, but she wanted a few more answers even if she was just told that she was relieved of command of the station, "Well this is amazing. It seems the whole darn universe has radically changed in the last seventeen years. Aliens fighting wars somewhere in the stars, Earth controlling six light speed fleets. I honestly can't imagine how the SSA or I mean the SDD could build six fleets of ships from a technology they didn't even begin to have seventeen years ago. However, I can understand simple Earth Standard. My staff and I are now supposed to be quiet and stay out of the way."
Admiral Barrison smiled, "To tell you the truth doctor, we only have one fleet. We call it the sixth fleet to give anyone tapping in on our communications the same impression that you had. As far as staying out of the way that is the last thing we want. We need the help of all of you to prepare your station to become a battle coordination center. I know working with the military is the last thing you wanted to do. As I remember you refused military funds when the station plans were laid out. You didn't want to owe us anything. I admire that. I really do, and I'm sorry to trod on your independence."

It was clear that the admiral and everyone in his command was going to be sympathetic, understanding, and in charge until the incident was over. The civilians accepted the situation, but they still couldn't sort out all of the conflicts.

Once they were relieved the four civilians realized that they had been on their feet for twenty hours. They excused themselves and returned to their quarters and collapsed.

When the civilians returned to the control center they almost didn't recognize it. The number of systems in the small room had doubled and there were people crawling all over the outside of the station. Their new communications unit was just coming on line. The master chief had just turned it over to Commander Jackson. The commander contacted his ship. His superior Captain Linda Merriel appeared on the view screen and spoke, "Communication is well within specs. Good job Tom."
The Commander answered, "Thank you captain. The admiral has asked me to inquire about the CP point analysis."
"Tell the admiral that the solar analysis is complete and the CP points have been identified. I have communicated the CP points to the Titan and the Corsica. We are ready to deploy on the admirals order."
Admiral Barrison heard the conversation and stepped over to the communication screen, "I heard your report Captain. Excellent job. You are ahead of schedule. Please transfer my Takelvee experts to the station and handle the deployment when you are ready."
The civilians could only stand around and wonder what CP points were and what a Takelvee was. In a few minutes the shuttle once again approached the station. As it did the battle group began to split up. Five escorts moved with the Titan, five moved with the Corsica and four with the Gallant. When they were in three clear groups Captain Merriel contacted the admiral one last time, "Admiral, we are ready to jump to the CP points. We await your order."
Admiral Barrison stood tall before the COM screen. He answered, "Make the jump Captain and good luck to you."
"And to you sir" The Captain Merriel replied as she switched off the screen. A minute later the light fluxes flashed like a lightning storm in space. Suddenly the ships were gone.

Marianne made her way over to Andrea Chen, "Ms Chen, how did you happen to be on the Gallant. It seems to be a great stroke of luck for you."
"Not really," Andrea Chen replied, "the Gallant battle group has a standing order to seek out evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations. I join the admiral's staff whenever I can."
Marianne continued to question, "Your office must have a great deal to do with these alien transmissions. Have you figured out exactly where they were coming from?"
Andrea Chen seemed nervous when she answered, "We have a good idea, but I'm not a liberty to speculate in general public."
Several additional questions gained Marianne little except the feeling that there was more to Ms. Chen than she was willing to admit.

Marianne joined her friends by the energy measurement equipment. The unit was in the process of being modified, "Hey!" Marianne yelled when she got in range, "what the hell are you doing with that system?"
Commander Jackson heard her protest and rushed to the scene. "Dr. Shields, we found your energy measurement equipment an excellent substitute for our laser targeting system. It allowed us to set up two operational laser cannons without installing an entire new system. It will give us a last line of defense, if necessary."
Marianne was furious, "You told me you were installing a communications unit and some kind of shielding capability. You never said anything about screwing up my systems or turning my station into a stationary battleship."
The commander was clearly in no mood for complaints, "We have apologized for the intrusion. I know this is not business as usual around here, but the fact is this station may come under direct attack from alien ships. If we are attacked we will need every advantage that we can get to keep us all alive. Please be patient. We will return your station back to its original state before we leave. We have direct orders from the admiral to do just that.”

Marianne had no choice but to relent. She no longer had the authority to reverse the orders. Then she thought to herself, "Ah, a way to clear up a lot of things."
She marched up to the admiral and broke into the middle of a conversation with his experts, "Admiral Barrison, I want to speak to SSA Commissioner Matsuko please. Please ask one of your crew to patch me through on your communication equipment."
The admiral's eyes widened for just a moment. He shot a quick glance at Andrea Chen before answering, "I'm sorry, Dr. Shields, we must not transmit interstellar messages at this time. We have reason to believe that the alien force could jump into this system at anytime. We would rather not tip our hand in any way."
Marianne thought to herself, "Another evasion." Then she responded to the admiral's denial, "Fine admiral, but I demand to talk to Dr. Matsuko as soon as this crisis is over and don't worry, I will not forget."

Marianne returned to her friends fuming with frustration. She related what little she had learned and her friends related what information they had received from casual conversations with the crew.
Jamie nodded toward a young African man doing software checks on the converted targeting system, "You see that young man over there. He claims he was born at the turn of the century. I know the Ajera Institute is good, but they're not that good and what military would have an eighty-seven year old chief on active duty?"
Peter related, "I was told by a electronics tech that Andrea Chen and Admiral Barrison were old friends. He started telling how Ms Chen had been nagging the Admiral about some project, then he clammed up."
Marianne growled in continued frustration, "We'll ride this out, but I'm sure before its over we will come to the punch line of this whole joke."

Everything was ready. Each portion of the splintered battle group reported to be at their positions. Ivan had volunteered to assist with the laser cannon targeting if it became necessary. His friends moved back to the reception table where they took seats near Andrea Chen. They noticed that papers and drawings were quickly moved away as they approached.
Suddenly the energy measurement, now targeting equipment picked up five light fluxes at a relatively short distance from the station. The station's original communication screen suddenly came to life. The four residents of the station stumbled backward in shock at the sight of the Takelvee battle commander. He was a very broad creature with two short arms at the mid point in his rib cage, and two longer arms at the shoulders. The arms ended in hands with four long thin fingers. His flesh was a smooth and greenish blue. He had copper colored hair on his head, shoulders and arms. He wore a golden breastplate with an alien insignia outlined in black. His face consisted of two oversized deep green eyes with no pupils, a thin pointed nose, and a thin expressionless mouth. He spoke and his voice sounded like it had a metallic twang to it. Something that might have been heard in ancient science fiction movies when a computer was speaking, "This is Battle Commander Tyskl of the Takelvee Armada. I claim this system for the Taklevain Hegemony. You are now servants of the state. Prepare to be trained as such. You will power down all systems but your life support and access units. If you do not comply immediately you will be slowly put to death. You have one kiliop to respond. The screen went blank."
Admiral Barrison smiled as if he had been waiting a long time for this moment. He stepped over to his communication system and Commander Jackson haled the Takelvee flagship. Battle Commander Tyskl appeared on the Admiral's screen. Even through the alien features everyone could see the surprise on his face. The admiral did not wait to be greeted, "Battle Commander Tyskl, you and the Taklevain Hegemony have made a grave error. I speak to you in your native Takelvee to make sure you understand what I say and to help convince you that we are not the backward civilization that you think we are. The Solarian Defense Directorate protects this system, and the systems in this stellar direction for the next fifty light years. We yield to no aggressive power. I have a battle group at my disposal that will turn your strike force into space junk. You have ten kiliops to fire up your light speed and get out of human space."
The alien snickered, "Human, your attempt at a bluff is pitiful. We have sensors that have capabilities that you couldn't begin to understand. We know there are no ships anywhere in this system or beyond for a light year in any direction. You forfeit your life with this act. Pray I kill you quickly."
"It is you who is not understanding." The admiral countered, "We have cloaking methods that your science has not even dreamed of and we are not in the habit of advertising our power to your spy ships. We are well aware of your fleets, their dispersal and their weaknesses. If you insist on testing our power, I will see that the burnt out hulk of your ship is sent back to Warlord Rokshys as a warning."
The Battle Commander roared like an animal at the screen. The screen suddenly went blank. Next the entire station shook with the force of a blast from the alien ship. A young officer announced, "The shields are holding well."
Jamie let out a little whimper. Peter looked at her and saw that she was terrified. Her eyes were wide open and her hands had a white knuckle grip one the table. Pete put his arms around her and held her tight.
The admiral gave the word and the recall message was sent to all three splinters of the battle group. Commander Jackson ordered the laser cannons to target the lead ship. Ivan was almost jumping with excitement, "This is great!" he shouted as he singled out the Takelvee flagship. The cannons fired and struck the ship on the port side. The station rocked again from enemy fire. Once again the officer announced the shields were holding.
The next second the battle group flashed into existence and closed in on the enemy from three sides. The Gallant launched twelve space fighters while the rest of the group opened up with a murderous volley. After two passes by the fighters the admiral's screen flashed on. Battle Commander Tyskl no longer looked menacing. The creature looked beaten and confused. The destruction on his ship was evident behind him. In his twang voice he announced, "Admiral I would like to discuss the terms of our withdraw."
Admiral Barrison folded his arms as he stood before the COM screen. He stated his terms forcefully, "We will transmit to your ship the stellar coordinates of human space. You will contact Warlord Rokshys a tell him to transmit his personal assurance under the coded seal of the Hegemony that the Takelvee will stay away from human space. Tell him if the Takelvee breaks their word that humanity is prepared to lay waste to the Hegemony. You have three hundred kiliops to get the Warlord on my screen. In that time I expect you to transfer the crews of all ships to your flagship. You are to leave your other ships intact. If any attempt is made to destroy those ships you will all die. If you power up any equipment on any ship without my permission you will all die. Are my terms clear and acceptable?"
"They are." Tyskl said with a groan.

The next six and one hours were spent tensely watching every move the aliens made. The admiral did not expect treachery. History had told him that once a Takelvee force was defeated they accepted their fate, but he was not going to take any chances.

As the hours went by the four residents of the station had a chance to quietly slip up to their living quarters. They sat in Marianne's room evaluating all that had happened. Peter offered the first observation, "Things will never be the same. I always saw our view of space from the observation deck as being pure, almost virginal. Now I know the vastness out there is full of civilizations, warlords, and space fleets. I don't know it kind of ruins it."
"Yes," Ivan commented, "but it is also astounding and exciting."
Marianne gave Ivan a sideways glance and jabbed, "You sure enjoyed targeting that laser cannon. Maybe you are in the wrong line of work. We might be able to get you a bunk on the Gallant if you want it."
"No thanks," Ivan said, "I've had enough war."
Jamie had been quiet. She seemed deep in thought. Her silence drew her friend’s attention as if she were screaming. Peter finally got her attention, "Jamie, are you with us?"
Jamie came out of trance, "Oh, I am sorry guys. I was just thinking about something. Did you notice the unusual thing that all our visitors have in common?"
Her friends looked at each other then shrugged their shoulders. Jamie provided the answer, "None of them are plastic faces. Not one of them has been made over. Not even the kid who claimed he was eighty-seven. I checked very carefully. Believe me after two trips to that place I know what to look for. Granted some of them didn't need it, but some could have used a make over if you went by the standards I was judged by. Could they all be holdouts? Or is it that they spend all of their time in space."
"Now that you mention it." Marianne added, "I never got that pitiful stare that I was used to getting. Not from any of them. You know the one where people give you that look like it is painful for them to gaze upon you. They lean away from you when they speak just in case what you have is catchy. I think I like them better than any humans I have seen in a long time. Present company excepted of course."
"You're right", Peter commented, "There are more naturally human people on this station than I have seen in one place for a long time. Maybe the make over trend has ended. This is too crazy. So many things prove that they are human. They just defended humanity with their lives. Yet so many things indicate that they are not from Earth, at least not our Earth."
There was a sudden rumbling down below. The four rushed out of the room not wanting to miss the next act of the drama. They came down the stairs just as Admiral Barrison began to address the new alien who was on the view screen. "Warlord Rokshys humanity will issue one warning and one warning only. You have the coordinates of our space. Do not risk a devastating war by crossing them. We know that the Takelvee armada is now massed near a star you call Actifor. We have been tracing your movements. Please do not test our will."
The warlord relented. He sent a transmission coded with the seal of the Hegemony agreeing to the admiral's terms. The Takelvee flagship left human space and the crew of the Gallant began to dismantle their equipment."
Marianne moved over to the admiral, "Admiral, how do you know they will keep their word?"
The admiral sat back as his aid gathered up his papers. He responded with more confidence than Marianne expected, "They'll keep their word, at least for a while. The seal of the Hegemony is every sacred to them."
"OK, that's it." Marianne have had enough, "You all have been evading questions and out right lying to us since you showed up. Just a little while ago you were talking about some unknown alien threat in the stars. Now you know these creatures right down to their names and their traditions. Have you any intention of telling us the truth at least once before you leave?"
Admiral Barrison stood up and leaned over the table, "You are right Dr. Shields, we have been misrepresenting some of the facts, but you must believe me it is absolutely necessary, and now we are going to have to do one more disrespectful act. The admiral nodded and four crewman around the residents pulled small weapons from their uniforms. The admiral spoke one more time, "I really am sorry, but there is no other way." As his words ended green flashes came from the weapons and everything went black.

Dr. Marianne Shields' alarm went off. She groaned and made a blind grab for the cut off switch. After failing her third try she sat up and turned it off. She felt like she took a flying leap off the station balcony and landed on her head. She pulled herself out of bed to search for a pain pill. She got half way to her bathroom when she realized where she was and where she had been last. She darted out her door in her nightgown. She rushed to the balcony. There she found her three friends. They were similarly dressed and staring at the station's control center. Everything was back to normal. Even the tables were taken down a put away. It was like it never happened. Marianne looked at her friends in confusion, "It did happen didn't it, the light speed spaceships, aliens, and the battle. I didn't dream it did I?"
"If it was a dream," Peter commented, "then we all had the same dream."
Without further hesitation they rushed down to the control center and began checking the systems for recordings of the events. They found nothing after the sending of their second message to Earth.
"I have a feeling," Jamie said thoughtfully, "that we shouldn't expect any response from Earth anytime soon. Nor do I expect any more light speed ships to show up. I don't know who they really were, or why they did what they did, but they saved our lives and probably the lives of everyone in the Sol system."
Ivan checked the last system then he stated, "One thing is for sure; they do not want this event advertised."
As if on cue the station communication system beeped indicating an incoming message. Andrea Chen's face came on the screen, "This is a delayed non-recordable signal. Once again I would like to apologize for putting you through such stress. It had to happen just as it did. The Takelvee will stay out of human space for the next fifty years. Humanity has that much time to prepare a defense. There is one thing you must do; support Professor Amin's work on light speed travel. His calculations are correct. Back him and work with him. We have done what we could; the rest is up to you. Peter, I thought you might like to know this was all made possible by that solid right hook you landed on that man's face when you were eighteen years old. That man kept some of your pictures as revenge. That man was my great grandfather. The pictures led me to study your family history and eventually your writings and recordings. That personal recorder you kept on during these events has been temporarily borrowed. I promise you will find it when you return to Earth. Take care my friends." The screen went blank.

"There is only one thing I want to know." Marianne demanded, "Which one of those people put me in my nightgown?"