Exodus: Machine War 1 Supernova. Read Free Page B

to
conquer us.
    I don’t think
that is their purpose , thought Mizzit Contena, the artist of the group.  As
advanced as they are, they must be peaceful.
    Like we’re
peaceful , thought the General.  The more advanced we’ve become, the
deadlier has been our military.
    The First
Councilman closed off his thoughts for a moment, wondering what course to take
with so many dissenting viewpoints.  He and his siblings were not a group
mind.  They, as the members of a single litter, could communicate mind to mind,
no matter the distance or the circumstances.  They could look through each
other’s eyes, hear through the other’s ears, even feel physical sensations if
they opened their minds to such.  But they were still individuals, with their
own minds and thoughts.
    What do you
suggest, Mazzat , he thought.
    Destroy them
as soon as they come within range of our missiles.
    But, you said
they would come back in force if we destroyed them , said the incredulous
Councilman.
    We will have
to fight them anyway.  So we might as well open the war with a victory.
    And the other
nations of Klassek?  What will they think if we drag them in an interstellar
war?
    We are the
leaders on this world , thought the General, his mindspeak almost a shout.  We
are the most powerful nation on Klassek.  It is up to us to make those choices.
    But all the
other nations will insist on having input , thought Kazzat, the financier.  As
soon as that thing is in orbit, every nation with a radio will be broadcasting
their strident pleas and demands up to them.
    The Councilman
looked over at the scientist, who returned his glance with the patient look of
one who understood what the leader was doing.  All of the dominant species on
the planet could do the same with those they shared the womb with.  The
scientific community thought it was an evolutionary development that had
allowed them to become the preeminent hunters on their world, and to have
developed the intelligence that led to sentience.  Only those who had lost all
of their siblings were cut off from this kind of communion, and most soon went
insane.
    Then I will
make that decision.  Thank you all for the input .  He severed the link with
a thought, cutting off his brother the General in mid-transmission.
    “Will any of the
other nations know about them?” he asked the scientist.
    “I wouldn’t
think so.  We’re the only ones with access to the deep space telescope.  And
therefore the only ones who have the capability of picking them up at a
distance.”
    “Then this
information is hereby classified as top secret.  Under pain of accusation of
treason, and possible execution, this information will only be disseminated to
those cleared by my office.”
    “But, the
scientific community?”
    “I know you want
the academic glory, Professor.  And it will be yours, eventually.  But right
now we need to be able to act without the interference of our enemies.”  The
First Councilman turned to a com panel and tapped the connect key.
    “Get me the director
of the launch facility,” he said into the com as soon as someone answered on
the other end.   Moments later he was connected to his nation’s spaceport, one
of only two on the planet.
    “How soon can
you get a bird into space?  I need it for a mission out to Jerratt,” he said,
naming the farthest of the planet’s two moons, which his nation had visited
several times in the last couple of years.  “No, not to Jerratt.  Just out to
that distance.”
    “We have a
launch for next week,” said the spaceport director.  “It is, in fact, a mission
to Jerratt.  Why do you want to launch early?”
    “That’s
classified.  I will be authorizing an information transfer that will tell you
why.  This is for your eyes only, and the commander of the mission.  Otherwise,
no one is to know.  And they won’t be going to Jerratt.  Only to the same
distance.”
    “But,” stammered
the Director.  “We need an orbital