Guardian Stone 1: Stone Genesis (3 page)

"We also have a another class of station called the Type 2 Antoran Starship/Station. These are smaller. They are 90 miles long and are also 60 miles in diameter. The smaller ships can support about 92 million persons each. They, like their big sisters are completely self contained and self-sufficient. The smaller stations will play a big role in exploration. There are currently 80 of the smaller stations in operation.  We can build more as needed. Seven of these ships are currently out on exploration and mapping missions and are due back within the year. We can build more stations of the Type 1B or Type 2 as needed."

"All of the stations have stasis units. They are designed to provide for planetary scale evacuation if that is ever needed. This Station contains about 8.7 billion stasis units while the Type 1B stations contain about 5.8 billion individual stasis units. The smaller Type 2 stations have 1.8 billion units. This capability could be used to move entire planetary populations. We call this our Exodus capability. In addition, each Type 1 station has the genetic sequence and code for every creature on Earth and the other inhabited planets in this stellar neighborhood for the last 400 years. They can be reproduced at will or as needed."

"We expect that each of the Type 1's will be coupled with four of the Type 2's to form a unit of the fleet yet to be named. You can think of these stations as carriers because they each carry a large quantity of warships each of which is capable of more firepower than all the weapons built on earth during the last century including nukes. Each task force has a complement of 100,000 warships but has the capacity to carry nearly triple that."

Hank asked, "Why such massive firepower?"

"Let me get back to that shortly. Some of the active stations not committed to refitting or surveillance are busy scouting this arm of the galaxy to see who else is out here. So far we have located 5 civilizations that will be affected by the Glarin, none of whom can provide an adequate self-defense on their own. One of these is slightly ahead of Earth's level of development but that technology is controlled and misused by a very small ruling class. The other three are roughly on par with Earth. The fifth is in its iron age and we do not intend to disturb them if we can avoid it, at least until they reach their information age. The Type 1's and the Type 2's will be more than sufficient to handle the threat we face and the Exodus capability will assure the survival of our neighbors, if things should go sour. The trick will be to man those stations and train personnel for the fight to come."

"Actually, the real challenge will be what we do after we have won. That is not arrogance speaking nor am I being overly confident. The Glarin just does not realize what it is walking into. Frankly, I am not convinced that they would act any differently even if they suspected what damage our fleet will be capable of delivering. We have some suggestions to make but we first have to prepare for and defend against the invasion we know is on the way."

"It is critical that none of the Glarin reach our system or those systems that we have discovered and will protect. They contaminate those things that they come in contact with so there can be not direct physical contact with them. They must either be destroyed or neutralized. Destruction on this scale will be very unpleasant. We have the means to transport them a great distance and at a speed that they cannot match."

"Their current top speed is about 6 times the speed of light (6xSL). Barana tells us that the Glarin are unlikely to surrender but we will try to get them to do so. If they do surrender, the question is where do we put them. We have some ideas in that regard. It has to be remembered that this is a species of mass murderers. They will have to be effectively quarantined or destroyed."

"The stations will not be turned over to the various planets or governments we protect. The stations will become a part of a space-going people, the Antoran Fleet, independent of the people we protect. Our role will become that of guardians. We will not permit the governments of the various planets to carry their conflicts into space or to direct how we utilize our resources. We will likely take steps to prevent genocidal activities on the planets we protect even though we are considering such an act ourselves with regard to the Glarin. We will not accept orders from any government except that of the stations. We will offer some resources but only on our conditions, take it or leave it. That is the structure that your grandparents, Pete, your mother and I and others have been working on for the past forty years with Fador and Barana."

"We do not mine for our raw materials in populated systems or in systems with habitable planets. This leaves the systems resources available to the future generations that live there or will live there. These stations are essentially a military and exploratory operation. Its immediate purpose is to eliminate the threat posed by the Glarin. Beyond that we will be the policemen and peacekeepers of this part of the galaxy."

"In looking for other civilizations, we have also identified 11 worlds suitable for colonization. Two of those appear to be heading for developing intelligent beings on their own, so those will not be disturbed. Our intent is to see that those remaining worlds are populated and protected from external forces to the extent they want that protection. While we will not be providing the Station technology, we will be providing access to an advanced technology that will allow trade and exchange among those planets that want it."

"We will likely lease some of our commercial type ships at very reasonable terms but not release the technology on which they are based. Many of those that enlist in our fight will not wish to stay on the stations. Those that wish to remain on a station, can do so. Those that do not will be free to choose between returning home, or in homesteading on a new planet. They will be earning income while on station that can be converted to a pension on any world on which they wish to retire or provisions to colonize. The latter will be coupled with the ability to communicate with any station in system."

"Now the first step is to get your schooling started. In five weeks we want to have you up to a training level that exceeds that of any Earth general and more. Then we will ask you to start our recruiting efforts. This is an induced learning methodology applied while asleep, designed and created by Barana. I have used it extensively and have the equivalent of about 11 masters degrees and 5 doctorates. Your mother has 15 masters and 7 doctorates. After taking one of Barana's courses, you will be able to walk into any college and sit successfully for any test on the subject that they might select. You would have an excellent grounding in the subject matter. Your grandparents are just as much a show off as your mother and I. By the end of a week you will have a doctorate in military history and tactics. In addition you will probably know more about military administration than anyone of Earth. By the end of five weeks you will have considerably more than that."

"Well Dad, that is a lot to digest, but, if the family is putting this much effort into this and firmly believe in it as you clearly do, then I really have no choice, I will give it my best shot. I would like to spend a few hours with you all before I turn myself over to Barana's tender mercies, no insult intended Barana."

<
None taken
,> replied Barana.

Station 1 in Earth Orbit –

June 28 – C Day minus 63

Hank commented, "Barana, before we get started, I don't mind telling you that the concept of cramming all this stuff into this brain makes me a tad nervous. How am I ever going to assimilate all that you're proposing to give me? How do I recall any of it let alone use it?"

<
That my friend is a good question and I will answer it with a question. Did your Father appear to be acting normally today, aside from the subject matter he was discussing and the fact that you thought he was dead for the last four years
?>

"Well, yes."

<
and your Mother and grandparents
?>

"They all were very much as I remembered them, perhaps a bit more lively and engaged. They all look very fit and alive. They looked younger."

<
Yet your Father noted that he has the equivalent 11 Masters degrees and 5 doctorates. He also has the equivalent of 25 undergraduate degrees and can speak 20 languages fluently including 5 from other planets. And yet he appears normal. The human brain can absorb much and associate what it has in experience with what it is learning. I will also provide enhancements that will provide a quantum leap in your ability to process data and experiences without damaging your personality. While that is an oversimplification, you have substantial military knowledge and experience that we will help you associate with a much broader knowledge base and assimilate new data very rapidly. You do not like or enjoy killing but you do not hesitate to do what must be done to safeguard those you protect.>

>

### July 5 - C Day minus 56 ###

A week later, Hank awoke feeling very fit and alert. Barana said, <
You have done far better than I expected and we completed all of the physical enhancements but have damped them down to give you time to acclimate and accommodate the changes. I have set the physical enhancements to about 25% capacity so you can adjust to them gradually. Some of the sensory enhancements will be activated on different scales to assure you can accommodate them. I will tell you each time the enhancement's capacity is revised.  By the way, you are now a walking tank. If someone were to fire a bullet at you the round would be stopped about 12 inches from your body without any volition on your part and without any damage to your person. Even with explosive rounds. You will be able to laugh at grenades. The automatic feature is also fairly effective against laser weapons but not as effective as the defense against projectiles. If you know a laser is about to be fired against you, you can voluntarily trigger the shield and that is effective against all weapons. You will find that you will be hungry following use of the system for more than 15 minutes since the system is drawing on your energy reserves, however I would recommend that you not advertise that fact. I can provide you with supplements in pill or liquid form that will effectively resolve the energy loss issue. The shield system is very light and is installed at various points in your bone structure. It adds about a pound to your total body weight. This is done without surgery. It is another application of the teleport transport capability we use.
>

<
Now a little test. You see that table at the far end of the hall, I want you to go to that table as quickly as you can and bring back the device you see there and place it on the table by which you are standing. I want you to do this as quickly as you can when I say go. GO
!>  

Hank ran to the table, retrieved the device and ran back to the other table placing the device on it. Barana then said, <
How long did that take?
>

Hank replied without hesitation, "12.5 seconds."

<
What is the distance from this table to the other and back
?>

Hank replied, "220 yards, but, but that is not possible."

<
You have just conducted several tests. The first was for speed. You covered that distance in a time that no one on Earth has even dreamed about, a little over 35 miles per hour and you were operating at only 25% of your capability. Next you were able to say exactly how long it took and identified the distance with precision. These enhancements were part of you without even thinking about it until questioned. They are there at your call whenever needed. The same will prove true of the learning you have been undergoing. Do you feel any different than you did a week ago
?>

"I feel a bit more alert and my body feels very fit."

<
Good,
> replied Barana, <
that is as it should be. Are you ready to continue?
> Hank nodded affirmative. <
We will continue to use the same integration techniques and accelerate the learning as we do. You are going to need some additional languages, so we will include some that will likely be immediately useful. The way we will do this is to program your sleep/learning cycle for ten hours each day during the time span when you would normally be resting or sleeping. The time awake will be used to meet and greet people on the station, socialize and become physically acquainted with the station and your enhancements. So until tomorrow morning, have a nice nap.
>

### August 3 - C Day minus 27 ###

Four weeks later, Hank was feeling much as he had after the first week. He then went for a walk with his grandfather to look over a small portion of the station near their living space. He was due to visit with George Reever in about three weeks and had some thoughts to play with. "Gramps, what do you know about George Reever?"

His grandfather replied, "He is a good and ethical individual, no alarming hidden agendas and Barana has vouched for him, we were hoping you might recruit him for this little exercise. He would be a pretty good barometer for a number of the people you need to talk to. Besides, he may have a surprise or two for you. Trust your instincts, there have been some things built into your enhancements that will help you identify those to trust and those not to trust, but you already had that talent to a substantial degree. Let Barana ride along in your mind when you make your contacts to help you with information to which you might not have access or which you have not adequately assimilated. That will be a good collaboration and you will want all the tools you can muster to make it work well. When you get back, we will give you the grand tour of the station. You already know where everything is from the sleep learning you were going through but it does help to actually see it in person. Everything will click into place. In the meantime, I would suggest you go on over to the military training area. There are people there who will help you acclimate to those enhancements you are loaded with."

### August 13 - C Day minus 17 ###

Even though he was doing well with his adjustment to the enhancements, ten days at the training facility worked wonders. Barana suggested that he was easily ready for increased capability and had increased the physical enhancements to the 50% capability level and most of the sensory enhancements had also been increased.

### August 31 – C Day 1 ###

As Hank was preparing to return to Earth and considering how to approach George Reever, Barana Informed him that Fador had returned to the station and would very much like to meet with him. Hank said that he wanted to meet Fador and when would it be convenient. <
Fador suggested his quarters and now is a good time.
>

Hank was a bit nervous about this meeting but he put that thought aside and replied, "OK, now it is" and Barana transported Hank to Fador's study in his quarters. Hanks first impression was, this is awesome.

Fador rose from an easy chair in his study that looked like a transplant from 19
th
Century England and said, "Good day to you Henry, I hope you do not mind these surroundings, but I find them peaceful and most relaxing."

Fador was completely human in appearance, about 6' 1" tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was of moderate build and looked fit. As they shook hands, Hank replied, "Not at all, sir, this is really impressive. It looks like an old English library/study. The books look genuine and not what I expected to see. I like it."

Fador said, "That is good and they are indeed genuine, but come have a seat and we can chat in comfort. By the way, my name is Fador and that has the advantage of being short, formal or informal depending on the situation. Sir is not necessary. You and I must meet as equals and be equals. You have accepted a huge challenge from us and for that I and my people are most grateful."

"Very well Fador, but I am sure that I will slip into a 'sir' mode on occasion. Using the same train of thought, my friends call me Hank, particularly in informal settings. Excuse me for saying this, but you remind me a English stage and screen actor who was prominent in the early to mid 1900's, who…"

Fador interrupted, "let me guess, Basil Rathbone and next you will be asking me where my deerstalker hat is hiding." Saying that, he reached behind him and pulled a deerstalker hat from a shelf there and put it on his head.

Hank roared with laughter and when he finally recovered his composure, said, "You Sir Fador are a piece of work." To which Fador quickly and matter-of-factly responded, "I know." Hank knew, as he recovered from his second bout of laughter, that the two of them were going to get along just fine.

Fador said, "I have been wanting to meet you, and everything Barana has told me about you has been extraordinarily impressive. I thought you might want to hear some things directly from me because I can speak on behalf of the Antoran people. I think it might help your perspective if I personally told you a bit about what brings us to this point in time. Some of this you may already know or have reasoned."

"You have no doubt noticed that we Antorans are generally indistinguishable from the people on your planet. The genetic makeup of Antorans is an almost perfect match for Earth. This leads us to believe that Earth may at some point have been a colony seeded by Antor. Oddly enough, the other five planets we have discovered have a similar genetic relationship. That point of research may be difficult to ever prove for we have not located definitive records on the subject but it is at least a theory at this time."

"Just 515 years ago on Antor, we confirmed the presence of the Glarin and their nature. We also confirmed the fact that they were coming our way and would arrive in about 15 years. Antorans are not prone to panic but this was devastating news. When you know your demise is 15 years away you react differently."

Fador paused and said, "Ah, forgive me, I am a terrible host, can I offer you some refreshments, something to drink perhaps."

"Do you have Ginger Ale, or some soft drink?"

"Aha, a Marine asking for something that is not 'alcoholic' is an interesting anomaly that certainly goes counter to stereotype, yes I do happen to have Ginger Ale and I will join you."

After bringing out refreshments, Fador continued, "There are several things you should know about our people that impacted the decisions we made after that discovery. The first thing is that we are very much a peaceful people to the point of complete non-aggression. We have no crime but understand it in an academic sense. If we had been handed a weapon and told that by pulling the trigger, our enemy would be destroyed and our continued existence would be assured, we would NOT have been able to pull that trigger. It is our nature and we can do nothing about it. We tried and it did not work. We literally go insane when faced with that situation. I am not sure that we ever really wanted to change. We could create the weapons, we could provide support for the pullers of the trigger but the act itself was beyond us. Knowing that, we explored what we could do without damage to our psyche."

"The second thing is that we had and still have a very advanced technology base. It was possible for our people to escape to such a distance that the Glarin could not reach us for many years and if we did it in stages they could never reach us. As you have been told, the Glarin ships cannot currently exceed a speed that is six times the speed of light. We had at that point the means to travel at faster than light speeds in the range of 6,000 to 12,000 times the speed of light and some exploration ships had been previously dispatched for exploration at those speeds. We usually limit ourselves to 10,000xSL. We had the power source to drive a very large ship but we needed something that could move 1.5 billion people in the time left to us. Thus the concept of the Type 1 station was conceived. We felt that if we had two such station/ships we could move the entire population in one massive effort. We could place ourselves beyond their immediate reach and construct sufficient stations that we could then move on and never be reachable by the Glarin. We were aware of the existence of the planet at Tau Ceti via some earlier probes. So we determined that we would regroup there."