Bright Horizons (20 page)

“You
mean the surrender demands,” the Iltia’cor said in a crumbly, choppy voice.

“Not
in the demands, Ambassador, but in the provisions for self-governance, appeals
to the Galactic Council when faced with a dispute over demands from our
representatives, and for the cooperation of the Iltia’cor in the joint
oversight of rebuilding your defenses,” Thomas replied calmly.

“Indeed?
If that is so, then you are much different than the military leaders I am used
to dealing with,” said the alien.

“General,
may I introduce Ambassador Kurval, the highest ranking Iltia’cor that still
lives.”

Kyle
gave Thomas a sharp look clearly not understanding what that meant.

Thomas
shrugged a little and answered the unasked question. “Seems the military
leadership who were to sign the surrender documents took their own lives last
night in a mass suicide. We landed only hours later and were informed of this
by Ambassador Kurval.”

“They
were cowards, willing to leave the rest of us to your cruelty when it was they
who should have suffered,” Ambassador Kurval said. He then threw his head back
and laughed. “And then you show mercy and bring us hope for a future. Not only
cowards, but fools as well. Iltia is well for having lost them.”

Kyle’s
eyes widened at this hostility shown to the Iltia’cor leadership, but he didn’t
fully understand how the Iltia’cor viewed each other. Considering what had
befallen them, maybe this wasn’t so unusual.

“I
hope that our people can work together in the future, Ambassador Kurval,” said
Kyle as he noticed the Junniji approach them.

“I
would very much like to speak with you at length, General. But I see that you
are needed by another.” Ambassador Kurval bowed slightly. “I must go now and
address my people as to what this day means.”

Kyle
nodded as Ambassaor Kurval spoke some short, guttural words to the other
Iltia’cor on the dais and turned to leave the room,

“General
Martin.” The Junniji spoke as he approached Kyle and Thomas. “A’nacal sends his
greetings and a copy of the Treaty of the Stars for the people of Earth.”

Thomas
smiled at the Junniji and took the offered treaty tablet. “I will have my
people start going over it right away. Please thank A’nacal for us.”

“I
will, Chancellor,” said the thin alien. “He requests that you decide whether to
sign or not within twenty Earth days.”

“We
will work as quickly as we can,” replied Thomas.

The
Junniji turned back to Kyle. “Will you follow me, General? I have some instructions
for you from A’nacal.”

Kyle
looked towards his sister and saw she was holding court with several of his
friends. He turned back to the Junniji and nodded for him to lead.

A
door right off the platform led into a small room with a low table and a couple
of narrow benches. The Junniji sat and motioned for Kyle to take a seat on the
opposite side. After Kyle sat on the surprisingly uncomfortable bench, the
alien took two small silver discs and sat them on the table. He pressed the
side of one of the disks and a holographic image appeared above it.

“Ah,
General Martin. Good, good, glad to see you are well,” A’nacal said after his
image solidified. “I heard about your little side-trip and hope all went as
planned?”

“Yes,
A’nacal, I was able to get my sister back along with the rest of the crew of
the Endeavor.”

“Wonderful,
so glad to see stories with happy endings. Now, let’s get down to business.
When we last spoke, I told you there would be another condition laid upon you
at the conclusion of the Iltia’cor surrender.”

“Yes,
I remember that.”

“I
lied. There is a condition and then an extra request. But the request is
honestly just a request. Not a request backed up by those who can enforce it.”

Kyle
smiled at the re-assurance. “That is fair A’nacal. What is the condition
first?”

“The
condition is this. Since you have so seriously decimated the Iltia’cor’s
military ability, Earth will take the Iltia system into their realm of
responsibility. They will be your concern and you will protect them as surely as
you protect your own system. Is that clear?”

“I
don’t have the authority to approve that.”

“No
you don’t,” said A’nacal. “Which is why every member of the Earth Council will
be informed of this condition. I just wanted you to know of it before we
informed your people’s leaders.”

“I
appreciate the courtesy, A’nacal, but why should I be informed before the Earth
Council?”

“Because
it may affect how you respond to the request.”

“What
is this request?”

“The
Higher Council has determined that the Earth system should replace the Iltia
system on the Lower Council, and I have determined that you should be seated as
Earth’s representative. Will you accept this appointment?”

Kyle
was at a loss for words.

“I
can see you are not able to make this decision right now, General. The second
communication device is for you. Please take it regardless of what choice you
make.”

“How
long would I have to be away from Earth if I accept?” Kyle asked.

“Oh
no, General Martin,” A’nacal laughed. “You can represent Earth from anywhere with
that device. We do ask that you wear the traditional robes when you appear to
hear debate or when you vote, but you could stay on Earth or be travelling in
warp if you wanted to.”

“I’ll
do it,” said Kyle suddenly. “I think the Earth Council would have to approve of
my appointment, but I want to represent Earth.”

“I
want you to as well, General Martin. You have it in you to help us all reach a
greater age, and I am truly glad to have you agree.”

Chapter 21

26 August
2044

Kyle was
lying on his bunk on board the Enterprise holding the communicator A’nacal gave
him above his face when Cindy came back in the room. He was staring at the
little silver disc that would allow him to communicate across the galaxy at a
touch.

“How
are Mom and Dad?” he asked without moving.

“They
are great! Bill was late, as usual, so I didn’t get to speak with him, but I
will see him this weekend when we get back.” She sat on the bed next to Kyle’s
and sighed.

“What’s
wrong, sis?” he asked as he sat up and looked at her.

“So
many things have changed, Kyle, and I don’t know where I fit in. When I was
captured, I was an astronaut, one of a couple of dozen in space at any given
moment. Now there are thousands of people in space all the time. I had an understanding
of advanced engineering theories back then, and now I am like a child full of
wonder every time I see something new. You don’t even blink an eye at any of
it,” Cindy said as she fell back across the narrow mattress.

Kyle
patted his sister’s leg as he stood up. “Don’t worry about it. In three months,
I’ll be asking you about everything again.”

“Maybe.
Probably,” she said as she sat back up. “How did General Kitch take it?”

“Pretty
good. She’ll be fine without me, there are plenty of good officers for her to
choose from to replace me. McKendree would be my recommendation.”

“I
can’t believe you resigned your commission, Kyle. Isn’t that going to be weird
for you?”

Kyle
nodded. He had been a marine for twenty nine years since he graduated from the
U.S. Naval Academy. It was the only life he had known, and to say it would be
weird was just scratching the surface.

“I’ll
get to spend time with Sara, and Mom and Dad could use my help around the
house. Plus, I can travel and see you in Florida and Bill in New York whenever
I want a change of scenery.” He held up the small silver disc. “Besides, I’ve
already landed another job.”

The
door to their room opened and Alex walked in. “Hey, just heard why you were in
there with General Kitch. Is it true, sir?”

Kyle
nodded. “Yep. Better start getting used to calling me Kyle.”

Alex
shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that. What about the other
part? Are you really going to be Earth’s rep?”

“As
long as the Earth Council approves.”

“You
are the most famous human in the galaxy and even India will be glad to let you
have this job. I bet it’s going to be a ton of reading and a bunch of boring
meetings. Glad that you will be there, though,” Alex said.

“Thanks…
I think,” Kyle said. “What do you know about the dinner NASA is going to
throw?”

“Yeah,
I was going to tell you about that. They are setting up the exhibit at Kennedy
for us. They are going to have busts put up of Donovan, Nestor, Greene and
Jennings. They rest of us are going to have have our photos put up. The plan is
that when each of us die, they will replace the photo with a bust. Maybe we
should have a Tontine.”

“What
would we put up?”

“A
bottle of Cognac from 2042?”

“That
might work, see what the others think,” said Kyle. “We need to have Lon included
in the memorial. Maybe Firtulm and Giric as well.”

Alex
nodded. “That’s something we could talk to NASA about. If we have an exhibit
for Earth’s first contact, we should have the aliens that were there as part of
it.”

“Do
you know what they are going to do with the Fletcher?”

“As
far as I know it’s going to be kept in service until we can design our own
short transports. After that, maybe they will put it as part of the exhibit at
Kennedy.”

Kyle
walked over to the display console in the room and looked up the itinerary for
launch. He had nothing to do with it, but it was a habit after so many years of
command. “How are you doing, Alex? Are you going to take some time off when you
get back?”

Alex
shrugged uncomfortably. “Williams is going to put in for retirement when he
gets back and K-man is looking forward to having his own command. I don’t know
what I will do.”

“Command?”
Kyle turned quickly. “How is he getting a command?”

“General
Davies gave him a commission last night after he read the reports from Salazar.
K-Man is now Lieutenant Colonel Kiskaliski, or will be once he has Senate
confirmation.”

“Definitely
the right time to get out,” muttered Kyle. “But back to my original question,
what about you?”

“I
don’t know. I have a couple of weeks of leave coming, so I might head up to an
old cabin in Montana that my Dad owned. Guess I own it now. Fishing always
relaxes me. I still have three years until I can retire, so I guess I can serve
out the rest of the time quietly, unless you plan on starting any wars in the
near future.”

“No
more wars, Alex. No more wars.”

The
door to the room opened again and Williams stuck his head in. “Sir, we have
about an hour before we go to warp. A bunch of us are heading to the bridge to
do ‘Kirk’ poses in the Captain’s chair. Come on.”

Cindy
jumped to her feet with a little squeal and Alex started out the door. Kyle
stood still and watched them leave. A few seconds later, Alex stuck his head
back in the door and looked at Kyle. “Are you coming, sir?”

“No,
I think I’ll try to grab a quick nap.”

Alex
walked back in the room and looked at him silently for a few seconds. “You
already have pictures of you in the captain’s chair of the Enterprise, don’t
you?”

Kyle
smiled and shrugged. “About a dozen or so the day before she was commissioned.”

Alex
laughed and turned back to catch up with the others.

Kyle
walked to his bunk and sat down on it. He reached down and undid his boots and
put them out of the way so Cindy wouldn’t trip on them when she came back. He
thought briefly about heading down to the mess and seeing if they had something
to eat, but dismissed it as he realized he was more tired than hungry.

Tired.
He had been tired for a long time. Since Hyderabad, maybe earlier. He was good
at his job, but he hated it. He hated that it had to be done and he hated that
someone had to do it. But he had a duty, and he had honored that
responsibility.

He
pulled the small silver disc back out and looked at it again. This was a new
duty, and he would carry it out just as devoutly. He hoped if he were as good
at this assignment as he was at being a marine, he would be able to prevent
Alex from being in any more wars.

He
turned the disc over in his hand as he thought back to what A’nacal had said to
him after he had accepted the position: “The Junniji testified before the
Higher Council about you. Their considered opinion was that while Ambassador
James Thomas was a thoughtful and wise man, you were better suited to sit on
the Lower Council. They said you showed mercy in your judgments, both low and
high. This element, mercy, is rare among Earthmen; rarer still among most other
races. It is mercy that empowers your actions; which allows you to make
judgments that others would run from. It is mercy that we need on the Council.
You will lead us into a merciful age. That is what I believe and why we need
you on the Council.”

A
heavy burden.

A
sober responsibility.

Kyle
realized at that point he would have to resign his commission. He could not in
good conscious represent all of Earth while carrying the flag of an individual
Nation. He loved the United States and would defend her with his life. He
already had. He could also not care for and guide an entire planet when he had
a daughter at home that needed him. He had neglected that part of his life for
too long and would not accept that behavior any longer.

When
he got back home he would have a party with his family to welcome Cindy back
from the dead. He would then travel to Kennedy in Florida for the unveiling of
the first contact exhibit. Afterwards, his parents and Cindy would join him and
Sara hitting the parks in Central Florida. Then off for a trip to Sicily and
the ruins of Syracuse. It wasn’t fair to think that he could make up for twenty
years of lost time in just one quick burst, but he was going to try. And never
again would he fail to be there for her.

He
put the silver disc in his pocket as he felt the ship’s main generators kick
in. It would be thirty minutes before they warped out and he still needed a
nap. He didn’t know what his future held, but he knew that he would face it
with more integrity and more honor than he had so far. Kyle closed his eyes and
slept peacefully.