Guardian Stone 1: Stone Genesis (4 page)

"We used what were later to become the military sectors and part of the raw material storage for the storage of sufficient food to sustain our entire population for at least two years in addition to what the station could itself produce. We packed everything we could into those two ships. We initially built floors 694 through 774 of the inner habitat dwelling units, both stations, both habitat sectors as stasis chamber containers and then we packed in our people in stasis units to further reduce our needs for food and oxygen. Ninety per cent of our population was asleep in stasis units.  We built a third ship without any habitat area and that ship was a massive warehouse. Any tool, any device that could be of use to us, every technology, industrial, commercial, medical, all our data bases, anything that fit in that ship, we took with us. We made a substantial dent in the fresh water supply on the planet. If we could not get it on the ship and it might be useful to the Glarin, we made it unusable by reducing it to its component parts and rendered those non-repairable.'

"It sickened us to do this to our home but the Glarin were coming. We did stop at the point of poisoning the planet but there was nothing useful to the Glarin left. Even the metals in our buildings were removed and taken with us. Oh, mining was still possible and the minerals were still there, but all evidence of civilization was removed. That sort of thing takes a toll on your psyche. Our foundries and fabricators worked around the clock to make as much Herculenium metal as they could and we took it with us. Whatever space was left was loaded with historical records and technology records and we took it with us. All traces of our technology, we took it with us. It must have been very frustrating to the Glarin when they arrived and saw what we left them. Frankly, it gave me a bit of pleasure to frustrate them in this manner."

"The third thing about us is that we are a people of conscience. When we moved those stations to Tau Ceti, we seeded cloaked tracking devices along the way to see what was developing with the Glarin. We, in short order, found that they were moving in this direction and that your civilization and five others, a bit further on, were in their projected path. Had we merely regrouped at Tau Ceti and then moved on when we had sufficient stations, we would have been long gone. Knowing that we had left billions of people on five worlds to deal with the fate we were escaping was too much to bear. We would have been a damaged people. We at least had to make an effort. The notion that we could do little or nothing for the peoples in harms way pushed us down a path that is now reaching culmination."

"We want to become a source for protection of those people. But we had to have someone that could pull the trigger and yet not be so different in their belief structures that we were not compatible. We had several candidates but Earth was the most promising and is next on the Glarin's path. We were worried about your planet and still are to a point but then we saw the creation of your democracies and your rapid development, we became entranced with your potential. We realized that your people had many of the attributes we were looking for and wondered if we might be your conscience in a combined effort. You are also at an age where this plan might just work. We decided to take a chance and see if this horror could be halted."

"We have had many individual candidates in the past 20 years and you were among the most promising. We will let you know who the others were because they are good people who do not quite have your strengths but have a contribution to make."

"We have been stifling some of your talents and have been surreptitiously training you how to use them. We have been guiding you in a sense but have not touched your free will and will not. Some of these talents have not been fully activated but you will have full access to all your talents very soon. Barana will explain that when the time comes. Her judgment in such instances has been precise and accurate. We have provided protection for you at times, most notably at the Kajaki event. The guidance provided there and your actions assured us that you were indeed the person we have been seeking. Your Grandfather had told me years ago that you were the one we were seeking but we were not sure. Now we believe his view and most notably, so does Barana."

"Now that you have committed to do this, I must tell you that my people have decided that this is where we will draw the line even if it results in our demise. It is also time to transfer this Station and all the other stations built, to your command. I will stay on as a figurehead leader for as long as you need me and because you have much to do in recruiting the manpower to operate this tool we have placed at your disposal. You will be governed by our constitution that has been established here. Some of the strictures in our constitution forbid the transfer of any station and certain levels of its technology to any planetary-based government or society. There is much we can contribute to the success of this effort in addition to the hardware and our people. Now we have to start bringing that together. Thank you Hank for giving us a reason to hope."

"That is an amazing history. I will do my best to not let you down."

"That is precisely the kind of response that tells me that this partnership will work. Your people have an interesting saying that goes 'Power corrupts and absolute power, absolutely corrupts.' Your family, Barana and I will be your moral and ethical compass to help you avoid that problem. Also Barana has the authority and power to relieve you if you stray into misuse of that power and trust. I do not see that happening but it is a check and balance. Please do keep me informed, there are many things we can do to assist. You have had good experience and results in the past from your ability to build effective teams. Good luck and as your people say, Godspeed. There is much wisdom in your people."

Hank interjected, "Your point earlier about meeting as equals makes sense on several levels. The idea of a total transfer of power looks too much like a military dictatorship. I have no wish to be the head of a dictatorship even a benevolent one, that is not my cup of tea. For that reason I would much prefer a troika consisting of Barana, and the two of us, an equal partnership. My decisions on military matters will control on military issues. Barana's decisions on matters relating to station capability and capacity will control there and your decisions on matters relating to the inhabitants of the stations and their governance will control there. As partners we will be conferring on all matters of overlap, actual or in effect. I do worry about the 'power corrupts' potential and I do not want to be there. I hope that you or Barana will advise me if power is going to my head. I think that the three of us can create just what you want to accomplish while I alone could not. Is that agreeable?"

Both replied, "It is."

"Great." He was ready to go to work

Billings, Montana –

September 6 - C Day 7

Hank felt that his visit to Reever Enterprises could start a few days before scheduled and what better way than to visit George Reever at his home as Hank had been urged frequently to do. So he parked his car nearby and was preparing to exit the car when Barana said, <
Henry, I promised you that I would alert you to the changing of any of your capabilities. I am about to open one that has been blocked for a long time. You are a very strong telepath as you probably have suspected since Kajaki. Actually, exceptionally strong would be more accurate. I have known this since you were brought to the station when you were a child with a serious injury. I have been buffering, let's say blocking that talent while helping you to build mind shields to protect your sanity and to train that talent so that you may have full use of it. Your shields are formidable and pretty much automatic. You are the strongest telepath I have encountered. This talent will be invaluable since people cannot lie to you without you knowing it. I believe and expect you will find many other applications as well. It is time that all of your talents were available to you. When Reever's door opens, you will have complete control of all of your talents and capabilities and I can no longer damp any of them down without your specific request or approval. I can still act if you abuse the powers provided to you by the station, but that is it. I have been looking forward to this moment for some time.>

<
My friend
,> thought Hank, <
you keep throwing me surprises, what are you up to?
>

<
Ah, you continue to learn, you will see and I think you will like it.
>

Hank proceeded up the walkway to the door and rang the doorbell. When the door opened, Barana kept her promise removing all telepathic barriers, and standing before him just as stunned as was he, stood Sam. She looked no different than his mental image from years previously.

<
She too is a telepath, a very strong one, and now I will leave you to get reacquainted.
>

His first reaction was to say, "You're real" and hers was, "you bet, and it’s about time." She then embraced him and kissed him thoroughly.

Hank then whispered to her, "Will you marry me, please."

"This has to be the shortest courtship in history, of course, when?"

"Today." He continued telepathically, <
But there are some things you need to know about me. Things have happened in the past few weeks that are tough to explain. Easiest way is for me to just open my mind and let you see.
> and he did.

<
Wow and WOW again, but that does not change my answer
.>

<
Good!
>

George Reever called out from another room, "Sam, who is that at the door?"

"it's OK Dad, it's my fiancé."

After a slight pause, he reacted and bellowed, "You're WHAT?"

"Calm down Dad, we are coming." They entered the living room, hand in hand and saw yet another stunned expression.

George said, "Is this a joke?"

In unison they replied, "Nope."

His recovery was quick and he went on, "Well this is a fine how do you do, just when I was reconciled to the notion that my daughter was going to be a spinster she about gives me a heart attack by announcing her intent to marry one of my favorite people. Wow. Best wishes. When?"

"Today if possible" they said, again in unison. Hank thought to Sam, <
We are going to have to be careful about the speaking in unison. People will notice and begin to wonder
.> <
Agreed
> thought she.

George went on, "Miriam, you better come in here and see what your daughter has done. I think it might be a bit difficult to arrange a wedding in one day but we can try, this isn't Las Vegas and I don't suppose you would want that kind of ceremony anyway."

Hank said, "I have a solution to that if Sam is willing, and you can suspend disbelief for a bit." He sent a thought flash to Sam explaining his plan and she nodded affirmative with a grin.

As Miriam joined him, George said, "solution, what does that mean?". George explained to Miriam what had just transpired and Hank continued, "I have access to a clergyman on station and I think you may know him, Father Tom Whistler."

"Son, are you OK, Father Tom died five years ago in that explosion with your folks, and what is this business with a station?"

"George, Miriam, brace yourselves for a bit of a shock and a nice surprise, Barana, four to transport. Lets make it to that nice chalet in the park below Denali II and ask my folks and the padre to meet us there." In the blink of an eye, they were standing in the main room of the chalet with its view of the mountain in the window. Hank went on, "this is most certainly not what you were expecting and it is not something easily explained. You have to experience it. You are now aboard Antoran Starship Station One that is in a fixed-orbit about 1000 miles over my lodge at Juneau. The others should be arriving shortly. This station is a military base and habitat capable of housing a very large population. George, I am sorry to say that I will have to turn down your more than generous offer for work. The Station has put me to work. I can give you more information about the station and its purpose, but lets do that in a couple of days, better yet, let's let these folks give you the explanation and later the guided tour. I can fill in the blanks after that." At that point Hank's parents, grandparents, Uncle Pete, Father Tom and Fador arrived along with about 20 other persons.

George quipped, "Hank, you sure are loaded with surprises. I just hope this old brain can hold up to it all."

Hank took Sam aside and asked, "Sweetie, who would you like to have here for this, we will give them an invitation they can't refuse."

She named four friends and Barana said, <
I am on it
.> Barana told him that another hundred people were on the way and would arrive in about 20 minutes. Hank introduced Sam to his parents, grandparents, Uncle Pete, Fador and Fr. Tom. Fifteen minutes later, Sam's friends arrived looking a bit dazed but they each adjusted well. They each agreed to be bridesmaids and were outfitted by Barana who then asked Sam what she wanted her wedding dress to look like, so she described what she would like and Barana told her it was waiting for her in one of the rooms. Barana told Hank that his uniform was waiting for him in yet another room.

Barana then sprung another surprise, and told Hank that Colonel Joshua Adams, his former CO would be here in about 15 minutes and had agreed to be Hank's best man. He would be accompanied by most of his former unit from Kajaki, three of whom would also be his groomsmen. Barana had provided full dress uniforms for each marine attending with all medals and all appropriate accouterments. These uniforms were tailored to the Marine and fit better than their set back home. Barana informed them that they were free to keep the uniforms she had prepared. The rest would perform their duty as his honor guard, all in Marine dress blues with ceremonial swords. The situation had been explained to them and to a man they all came and promised that not a word about the experience would be shared until Hank said OK. Those Marines that were married brought their wives as well. Barana appeared to be enjoying her role as coordinator of the event and dressing up those that wanted to dress up.

Hank put on his Station dress uniform for the first time and liked its appearance, probably influenced by the fact that is was similar to his USMC dress blues. The service insignia was similar, the eagle and anchor were the same however the globe was replaced with a starburst. His rank was the same as that worn by Eisenhower, MacArthur, Bradley, and Nimitz and granted to eight others in US history, the ring of five stars. The uniform had no buttons and the seams were almost undetectable. The medals were all there as well.

Then the time came to start. Fador asked for everyone's attention and opened the ceremony with, "Good day to all of you. My name is Fador. This station and I are from the planet Antor and that is about 3,150 light years from here. It is my distinct pleasure to welcome all of you to this Station for a most happy event, the marriage of Henry Stone and Samantha Reever. I have not seen a more appropriate pairing than that you are here to witness. Many of you will have many questions about this station and its presence here at this time. I wish to assure you it is not here to interfere in the activities in which the people of Earth are engaged and intends only good will to her people. For now, I ask that you keep this station's presence secret until its presence is announced. The reason for this will become quite clear and I will personally brief all of you who are interested following the reception. Also we wish to avoid the panic that frequently arises from the unknown. I promise that all of you will be provided with personal contact as events come about and I sincerely hope to see each of you back to visit the station."

"At this point I would like to introduce the Supreme Commander of the Antoran fleet. I am assured he will have little to say because he is saving his words for someone else today. I give you the Commanding General of the Fleet of Antoran Stations, Henry P. Stone formerly of the United States Marine Corps. This brought about some "Oorah"s from the attending Marines and a startled look from Colonel Adams and the Reevers. At that point the processional music began and Hank took his place followed by Colonel Adams. They then took their positions for the wedding and the bridal procession filed out onto the chalet deck where the ceremony was to be performed with a clear view for all the attendees. The whole affair looked like something that had been months in the planning and preparation, not the less than two hours it actually took to execute.

The wedding proceeded quickly and was very much a traditional wedding. Father Tom was clearly having a good time and threw in a bit of humor at the appropriate times. Plain gold wedding bands were produced and they were a perfect fit. This was some more of Barana's doing. Following the wedding ceremony, there were ten pairs of swords to pass under, the traditional arch of swords for the newly wedded couple. As the couple approached each pair of swords, the swords were slowly lowered to the horizontal and the Marines holding the swords would announce that the price of passage was that Hank kiss Sam. Hank and Sam enjoyed this little piece of Marine/Naval tradition but it took them ten kisses to progress through the gauntlet. They, of course, were not objecting.

The reception was a joyous occasion as well. Hank and Sam had a chat with Colonel Adams and asked if they could meet the following week to discuss what this was all about. The Colonel agreed and said that he would get the rundown from Hanks parents while Hank and Sam were otherwise occupied. Similar discussions were made with others from his old outfit. After about three hours of the usual wedding reception events including the toast, the cutting of the cake, the feeding of it to each other, the dancing, etc., Hank and Sam felt it was time to take their leave.  They went up on the chalet deck and asked for everyone's attention, said their thanks for attending on such short notice. He informed the Earth attendees that they could transport here whenever they wished as Barana would provide implants that would communicate with her and transport when it would not be noticed. He told them they were free to continue to socialize at the reception and then they disappeared as Barana transported them to their quarters.

George Reever was heard to mutter to his wife, "I don't think I will ever get used to that vanishing act mode of transportation."

The Reevers, Marines and Sam's friends gathered with Hanks parents/grandparents and Fador to be briefed on why the station was there and Hanks role in the situation. Each of them wanted in.

All were told that they could stay as long as they liked and tours of the station would be provided for those interested. That was basically everyone that was there. Fascination with the station and it technology was high and the excitement level of the attendees was hard to miss. The visual impact of the horizon within a tube and the towering mountains adjacent to the lodge were causing considerable comment. Some were impatient to learn what the station was all about, how Hank had become involved with it, and generally, what was going on. It was all a bit overwhelming. Most knew that if Hank was involved, then by golly, they wanted in as well.