Anomaly by Peter Cawdron

“This is a discovery we are sharing with the world. By virtue of the fact that we are providing transparency to all, we cannot allow exclusivity to a few as that would be prejudicial to everyone else. The United States is determined to share the anomaly research fully and equally with all member states and that necessitates avoiding partiality, even to close allies.”
    “But you have the privilege of direct access,” replied the German diplomatic representative. “Why should you be afforded that opportunity and not others?”
    “We can guarantee our own transparency. We cannot guarantee the transparency of others,” replied Mason bluntly. “We have accepted offers from ESA and several other national space agencies to form a scientific review board. Most of these foreign scientists will have on-site access to the anomaly, but they will be using our systems, reporting in accordance with our protocols and answerable to our authority.”
    “Why should we trust you?” snapped the Russian ambassador. “America has a reputation of being transparent only as far as it serves her own national interests. What transparency was there over your illegal activities in Cambodia during the 60s? What insights did you share with the world during the Iranian crisis in the 70s? What visibility was there into the War on Terror? Why should we trust you now, when the stakes are so high? When there is the possibility of harvesting radically advanced alien technology.”
    The Russian ambassador stood up, addressing his comments to the assembly at large. “This is the country that champions freedom and justice but will not ratify its membership to the International Criminal Court. And why? Because it fears its own illegal activities will be exposed. Because it protects its citizens from the illegal actions they undertake in the name of the United States. My fellow ambassadors, we cannot trust those that do not trust in the transparency of international justice.”
    A wave of murmurs arose through the audience as the translation teams passed on the message to the various representatives through their earpieces.
    “That is not true,” snapped Mason, losing his cool.
    “Oh, but it is true,” replied the Russian coldly. “The only American ever convicted of a war crime was Lieutenant William Calley for the massacre of five hundred civilians at My Lai, and your President Nixon ensured he only ever served one day behind bars as a convicted felon. Ha! You talk about freedom and justice, but only ever as it suits you.
    “And what about President Bush condoning torture following September 11th? What about when Private Bradley Manning held incommunicado for over a year in defiance of international human rights? Held simply because he aired your dirty laundry? You make a mockery of justice. You will not ratify the most basic provision of international law and yet we are to believe you will somehow honor us with unfettered access to the anomaly. What do you take us for, Dr Mason? Fools?”
    Mason went to speak, but the Russian continued.
    “The anomaly appeared here, before the gates of the United Nations, not in Washington DC. It is a message of hope directed at the world, not just at the United States of America.”
    He turned, addressing the assembly.
    “No, we cannot trust the Americans. They will abuse this trust, just as they have abused their world power time and again over the past century. The anomaly must come under the control of the United Nations.”
    The assembly broke into an uproar.
    Mason tried to respond, as did the President, but the noise within the grand hall was overwhelming. The Secretary-General calmed the delegates, allowing Dr Mason to respond.
    “This,” Mason began, pointing at the gaping hole in the side of the Assembly building. “This is not about the United States of America. This is not about the United Nations. This is bigger than politics, bigger than any of our petty disputes or the mistakes of the past.