Bright Horizons by Wilson Harp Page B

two humans
waiting for him and took a seat near them.
    “Ambassador
Thomas and Colonel Martin, there is much sorrow for what has happened to Doctor
Troy and Alex Ramirez. My superiors have commanded that I have our ship
rendezvous with an Iltia’cor Cruiser and allow them to arrest you and your
delegation. I have refused. I have told them that I will be taking you to Earth
since we are your hosts on the Station. The Iltia’cor have become infuriated.
They are making plans to punish you and your people. I do not think this will
change by handing you over to them.”
    Both
Kyle and Ambassador Thomas sat quiet for a few minutes.
    “Lon,
how do you think the Iltia’cor will punish us and our people?” Ambassador
Thomas asked.
    “They
will attempt to conquer Earth by force and enslave all humans,” Lon replied.
    “For
a few dead scientists and soldiers?”
    “They
have done it before, and for much less,” Lon said calmly. “They have fifteen
planets that they control. Five are in the Iltia system. The other ten are of
races that have insulted them and they have conquered.”
    Kyle
sat forward and asked Lon “Why are you doing this?  Won’t you get in trouble?”
    “When
I first met you, Colonel Martin, you seemed to me a person who was used to
getting what he wanted because he had the authority to command it. After I have
known you for some time I realize that you are a person who is used to getting
what he wanted because he knew he was correct in wanting it. Your authority
comes from your belief that what you are doing is right.”
    “I
will be punished, imprisoned even, when I go back to Kortit. If I am right
about you and humans as a whole, I will live long enough for my actions to be
justified. If I am wrong, I will not have to worry about a life in prison as I
will have doomed my world to the Iltia’cor as well.”
    Kyle
saw Thomas lean back. The time for diplomacy was over and now it was up to Kyle
to gather the information that Earth would need to fight back against the
Iltia’cor.
    “Lon,
how will they attack?” Kyle asked.
    “They
will take out your military first. Then they will land and start enslaving your
people in the cities,” Lon said.
    “But
they know we aren’t affected by mosar based weapons, right?”
    “Yes,
Colonel Martin, they have older weapons that they still use for… primitive
races. Mosar based weapons are expensive to use, they consume much energy.
There are other energy weapons that they use as well. You have started working
with them I believe.”
    “Lasers? 
High burst energy weapons that burn?”
    “Yes,
I believe you call them lasers. They also have some supplies of weapons that
use nuclear fission, but they haven’t used them in over a hundred years.”
    “Good,
hopefully most of their nukes have gone inert if they haven’t kept them up.
With luck, they won’t think of them. Ambassador, we will need to make a list of
people to start contacting as soon as we get a com link set up. Lon, you have
been very helpful, your personal risk will hopefully save many human lives.
Thank you.”
    “You
are welcome Colonel Martin, I know you have much work to do and I need to
explain to the crew that they will not be held responsible for my actions.”
     
     

 
    Chapter 9
     
    10 January
2043
     
    “Yes
General, the report I sent you is real. It is not a joke. The timetable has
been clarified within the last hour. We are looking at the invasion fleet
nearing earth within forty hours. Yes. That is correct. No, we recommend that
you abandon your military bases and heavy equipment. Yes… well… I know. We
think they will bombard the military bases from orbit before landing near our
cities. I know, but you can check your reports and see that we are doing the
same. Thank you. Good luck to you to.”
    Kyle
switched off the phone and rubbed his eyes.
    “Do
you think he will do it Colonel?” Major Kitch asked.
    “I’m
not sure Kitch, I hope so. General Moseved seemed to