The Gravity of Anti-Gravity (39 page)

“You mean
the
Cromwell, the first planet we helped through their anti-gravity transition almost two hundred years ago?” Stella asked.

“That is correct,” the Chancellor answered.

“Judging from the reaction of the crowd, Chancellor, there’s got to be more to the story than that.” Stella said as she demanded to know more. “From what I could see outside, our people were genuinely terrified of that aircraft. So what’s really going on, sir?”

“First let me apologize to our visitors for our digression but I think they will quickly see the importance of your question and my answers.”

“About eighty years ago,” the Chancellor continued, “the Cromwells successfully discovered how to manipulate space-time giving them the ability for deep space travel and exploration. Our own explorers ran into them in another system about forty years ago. The system was not habitable but we found out that the Cromwells were there doing mining and mineral extraction on two of the planets. They had built a gigantic vessel to transport the minerals back to their home planet. As you know from our history, Cromwell does not have as hospitable a climate as Velador or Earth for that matter. And its modest supply of easily mined, basic raw materials has long since been depleted.”

“At the time, we didn’t think much of it until about a year ago when the first vessel from Cromwell visited our planet. They said that they were exploring other systems for raw materials and didn’t realize this was Velador; the people who helped them transition through anti-gravity. They left but had discovered Velador’s rich supply of the exact materials they needed. About six months ago they returned wanting to trade for our raw materials.”

“There were two problems with their offer. The first was that they had nothing to trade that we value or need. The second was that we mine only the minimum required to maintain our planet’s population and lifestyle. So we respectfully refused.”

“Everything quieted down for awhile. Then a month ago, a high ranking member of Cromwell’s world government met with me right here at this table and demanded we give them the materials they needed or suffer consequences.”

“I explained to Cromwell’s representative that on Velador, with our government structure, I didn’t have the power to trade anything to anybody but I would bring his mandate to the Chief Executive Officer of each State and get their input. That’s where it was left and everything was quiet until their vessel flew over just now. One of our World Guidelines is to fully inform all our people about everything our government does and encounters, so everyone outside in our welcoming crowd as well as everyone on the planet is aware of this new danger. That’s why the people responded as they did.”

A
n aide to the chancellor came over, interrupted our discussion and showed the Chancellor a message on a paper thin electronic tablet he had. From the look on the Chancellors face, considering the little I understood of Veladorian facial expressions, it was not good news.

“We have to stop this discussion for now and get to our question and answer period with our new friends from Earth,” the Chancellor explained as he began to regain his composure. “The people of Velador are anxious to see you and listen to your questions. It’s something like the people of the
United States bringing your Founding Fathers into your twenty-first century and seeing what questions they might ask. That would be an interview that every human would want to watch. Even though we are from different planets, the concept is the same.”

“Chancellor Blofmoklirum,” Stella jumped in and asked. “Quickly, before we get started, what was in that memo you just received?”

“For the moment, and until we can determine the best way to communicate this to the public, this information must remain in this room.” Chancellor ‘B’ cautioned “Our scans have determined that the vessel that flew over was armed with a number of neutron style bombs. Ones similar to the weapons we outlawed and dismantled almost two centuries ago!”

The question and answer session went off smoothly. Joanna asked the most questions. She was curious about the governmental organizations’ control over the people or lack of control as it turned out.

“As I understand Earth,” Chancellor ‘B’ explained. “Your leaders regularly create laws to address small problems narrow in scope. They fail to consider the long term ramifications to the public as a whole and too many times end up doing more harm than good. Since we have begun our mission on Earth, I have taken a keen interest in your history and realized it is quite similar to the Velador of several hundred years ago.”

“Much of our planet at the time was democratic, but in our politicians’ zeal to cultivate loyalty among their constituents, supported laws that ended up being self serving rather than helpful to society as a whole. We like Earth, ended up with tens of thousands of questionable laws that did nothing but shackle our progress.”

Not being a political person, the conversation began to get a little dull so I jumped in and changed the subject. “How do you control space-time and travel across thousands of light years in just a few minutes?” I asked.

“Bill, that is something you will have to figure out for yourself,” Chancellor ‘B’ answered. “One of our Guidelines is to not accelerate any other planet’s technical progress. Earth needs to evolve like Velador did – on you own terms. After you incorporate anti-gravity into your everyday life, your scientists will turn their research toward controlling space-time to accomplish long range travel. In our experience, it takes one to two hundred years to transition from anti-gravity to time-space manipulation.”

“It appears that like Veladorians, you people have varied interests.” Chancellor ‘B’ commented. “May I suggest Joanna meet with Assistant Chancellor Kralnotet. He also has an interest and knowledge in politics and political structures. Bill, why don’t you meet separately with Assistant Chancellor Blagnowidly who is our resident techno wizard who can enlighten you on the general scope of our
technology.”

“Is there a way to shorten your names?” I asked. “For us they are long and cumbersome and I’m trying to memorize them but I’m failing.”

Another man who was an assistant to Chancellor ‘B’ stepped up and answered “We anticipated your request when we designed your translation device. Simply say the name you want to change followed by the word ‘bok’ followed by the name you prefer to call the person. For instance my name is Assistant Chancellor Hoklerponmaz and I am the coordinator of worldwide mining and production resources.”

Jerry
, who had been quiet up to this point, entered the conversation. “I get it. I say Assistant Chancellor Hoklerponmaz ‘bok’ Digger and you hear your full name when I say Digger, correct?”

“That is how it works,” Digger answered.

“And it’s changed inside my friends devices too?” Jerry asked.

“True, if they are within audible range,” answered Digger.

“Okay” Jerry went on. “Chancellor Blofmoklirum ‘bok’ Chancellor ‘B’. Assistant Chancellor Kralnotet ‘bok’ Clinton. Assistant Chancellor Blagnowidly ‘bok’ Einstein”

As Pops and I
were entertained at Jerry’s choice of names, Chancellor Blofmoklirum, now Chancellor ‘B’ mentioned that there were two additional Assistant Chancellors that we hadn’t met. He motioned to an assistant to have the two people come into the room. We were told they were the only two permanent members of the Council Directorate. The first was Assistant Chancellor Holtimorkum and it was explained that he was the Minister of Planetary Defense and Space Exploration.

“Assistant Chancellor Holtimorkum ‘bok’ Rambo.” Jerry said.

Then Chancellor ‘B’ continued. “Assistant Chancellor Prilactrontis is the Ultimate Judge on our Planetary Supreme Court.”

Assistant Chancellor Prilactrontis appeared to be the only woman on the World Council. Below the neck she had a cute figure that was apparent through the monochromatic gun metal gray pantsuit she was wearing. Without the belt she wore to pull her clothing tighter to her waist, her outfit would be appropriate for a local auto mechanic. Still trying to understand what constitutes an attractive Veladorian, I figured she was one of the ugly ones.

Jerry then interrupted again. “Assistant Chancellor Prilactrontis ‘bok’ Solomon. Gruslimock ‘bok’ Stella” Jerry was the only one who wrote down the names of the Veladorians when they were introduced to us so we were happy to allow him the privilege of naming them.

“Rolf what’s your name in your language?” Jerry asked.

“Rolf,” was Rolf’s answer. “In the State where I was born, short names are preferred.”

“Chancellor ‘B’,” Stella interrupted again. “May we meet privately with you and discuss our return to Earth. I’d like to include Rolf, Jerry, Bill and Rambo if it’s OK. Pops, Grandma, Joanna and Brenda can go to their residence and relax.”

I suspected Stella’s suggestion was really a desire to get more information on the threat to Velador. Discussions on our trip home would be the subject for a later time.

Chancellor ‘B’ motioned to his assistant to escort Pops group out, said farewell for now to the citizens of Velador and ordered the cameras, wherever they were, shut down.

“
How grave is this threat from Cromwell?” Stella asked

“I didn’t believe they were serious a month ago but considering the armament on their ship, it looks like they
are very serious.” Chancellor ‘B’ answered.

“What is your plan to defend Velador?” Stella asked.

“Right now we have no plan.” Chancellor ‘B’ continued. “As you know we haven’t experienced a threat of any kind either internally or externally in almost two hundred and fifty years. We determined that since we were the first planet in the quadrant to discover long range space travel, no other world could be a threat to us. We have obviously miscalculated.”

“I know about your wave gun,” Jerry commented. “Tell me about the other offensive and defensive weapons you people possess.”

“Jerry, I am sorry and a little embarrassed to tell you that, except for laser cannons on some of our aircraft, we don’t have any anymore. During our hundred year civil war, nuclear weapons were used and decimated large parts of our beautiful planet and killed millions of our people. When the war died down, we eliminated and outlawed all remaining weapons of mass destruction.”

“So to recap and correct me if I am wrong,” Jerry began. “You are being threatened by a power who is demanding you give them what they want; in this case, raw materials and possibly more. This race of people has the ability to annihilate you and you have no way to defend yourself
!”

“Unfortunately true,” Rambo admitted. “But what else could they possibly want besides raw materials?”

“Your planet sir,” Jerry said and paused, “Your planet!”

Thanks for Reading!  Tim Blagge

P.S.  And if I can ever figure out how to get my new blog working, I’d love comments on either or both of these novels. The site is www.thegravityofanti-gravity.com/blog