An Ecology of MInd (31 page)

“We also recommend that this information and our reasoning be passed on to the public. It may not be hugely reassuring to those with family and loved ones
within the barrier, but it may help calm fears in the general population. Concerns by other countries may also be calmed somewhat by this information.”

“This concludes the formal briefing from the overall task force, are there any questions?”

During his briefing, Michael had noted both that Collier’s face had gotten progressively redder and that the President had given Collier an irritated look
and raised an eyebrow.

Collier was almost gritting his teeth when he said. "Thank you Dr. Pearson. I think we can take it from here. I'll escort you to your car so you can get
through security."

"Certainly, I hope this made things a bit clearer to everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to present the information." Michael went and got his
briefcase and then went to the door where Collier was waiting for him.

He really doesn't hide his emotions well thought Michael. Once in the hall and out of earshot of the briefing room Collier stopped him and furiously said,
"I told you to stick to just the information and not make any recommendations. Policy is not your concern Doctor. You said you understood that. You are
fired. Give me your identification card for this project. I’ll have you escorted through security to the car, and it will take you directly to your hotel
room where you will check out immediately. I want you gone. You will not speak to the press or disclose any classified information to anyone, or I will
personally ensure that you go to prison. Am I clear this time?"

"Oh you've been clear all along. You and your cohorts have just been wrong. This is not a political crisis on the campaign trail. This is the single
largest critical point in the history of the Earth so far. It needs true informed leadership, not assessment for better sound bites and how the President's
actions will poll."

"I gave the information that I thought needed to be given and don't worry; I wouldn't go to the media. That would scare the people even more when they
discovered how incompetent their leadership is during this. I've done what I can and now have to put my faith in the aliens to keep this potential crisis
contained, because I don't have much faith in our current leadership."

“You son of a bitch, I will ruin you. You won’t ever work in another academic position."

Michael sighed. "Collier, it looks like you don’t know anything about me beyond the notes in the protocol to set up the task force if alien contact was
made. I wrote that protocol. I’m not just some academic; I'm a billionaire, and my interests' career wise are whatever I choose to pursue. Any blacklisting
you try to do with different universities won't matter a damn. The Redstone Foundation that I’m chairman of is fully funded by a trust fund controlled by a
board of trustees. That board consists of me. I’m the sole trustee. The trust was set up by my grandfather. Redstone has absolutely no dependency on
government funding. So you can’t do a damn thing to ruin my career."

"Here is my task force identification and security card. I expected you to fire me and to want it back right away. You don't seem to understand that I am
not the problem here. The problem is currently just north of Detroit. I'm only trying to make you, and the others understand that."

"Instead of wasting your time on how to blacklist or get back at me, if I were you, I'd put your energies and focus into dealing responsibly with the alien
situation before you become more irrelevant than you already are."

With that said, Michael turned and began walking towards the exit.

THE PROBE THAT WAS IN THE STAR had exhibited no major activity for some time. It had made and sent other probes to the planets within the system and then
had made some additions to itself. Since that time, it had been carrying out its purpose. It had not seemed overly active, but continued to absorb energy
at a high rate.

That began to change. First, it made some relatively small alterations to itself, nothing near to the scale of what it had built and added to itself
earlier, but important none the less.

Next it made five duplicates of its original smaller self with the new change incorporated. After a short pause, all five duplicates blinked out of
existence.

The probe then began working on a totally different project.

LEADER 1* WAS TAKING A BREAK from other ship duties and visiting the compartment where one of the crew and Leader 2* were working on teaching the entity
their language. It still found it disturbing to see this duplicate of itself and to observe its actions. What limits did this entity have when it could
make what as far as they could tell, was an exact duplicate of Leader 1* so easily? It was also an entity that they had not been able to detect in any way
other than its actions through Leader 2*. Even then, Leader 2* often seemed to be operating totally independently while the entity was apparently observing
and learning.

While observing the proceedings from the sidelines, Leader 1* was surprised to get the chemical codes on its sensors for a message that did not seem to
come from the crew member or Leader 2*. They seemed to originate in the air immediately in front of him. “Greetings sir, I have progressed to the point in
my language lessons that I can now communicate directly without using the duplicate of you. I apologize if my making a duplicate offended or violated any
sort of taboo in any way. It was merely an attempt for me to communicate with you. If you wish, I can destroy the duplicate, or I can leave it as is. Its
fate is entirely up to you. I no longer have a need for it, but I hold no animosity or ill will towards it either,” communicated Kim.

The crew member and Leader 2* shifted to observe him as they had sensed the chemical message as well.

A shaken Leader 1* replied. “I am glad that your ability to communicate has progressed so far, but we have no need or reason to destroy the duplicate you
refer to as Leader 2*. As far as we can tell, it is one of us, and we would continue to treat it as such unless something changed.”

“Very good, I confess I have actually grown rather fond of him and had hoped that would be your reply. He is such a handsome being after all.” There
followed the chemical identifiers for amusement.

“Leader 1* was not sure of what to make of that so it kept its reply neutral. “Yes, it is a fine example of our species.”

“As I had tried to convey to you earlier, what you refer to as the barrier was created by me as a form of quarantine. I wished to analyze some of the
potential risks from our different ecosystems on one another. I have been conducting numerous tests while learning your language. While I have so far been
unable to complete a total testing of the two systems, I have noted some organisms of concern with regards to both our ecosystem and yours.“

“One of the micro-organisms that exists in your bodies in a symbiotic relationship is particularly destructive to many vital micro-organisms in our
ecosystem. Steps would need to be taken to prevent contact between the two. I have also noticed that a common form of fungus that grows in some parts of
our planet is extremely deadly to your bodies. I have removed all potential risks from Leader 2* and your ship for now. Your methods of contact with
another space traveling species should work fine in controlling these.”

“Thank you for your information,” replied Leader 1*.

“You are very welcome, now for the next matter.”

This conversation was not going as Leader 1* would have wished. “What matter is that?”

“While I am the dominant entity on this planet, I am not of the species that has built the structures, and the civilization that you have noted. They are
not even fully aware of my existence. As a species they have just recently achieved primitive space travel, and I act as a sort of senior hatchling mate or
protector to them. I do not deem the time as being right for you to meet and have contact with them as equals. I believe they have to develop further
before they are ready for that to happen. I, therefore, request that you leave and place this star system under an indefinite quarantine."

“They can be of use to us in utilizing the resources of this planet,” stated Leader 1*.

“I am aware of your usual procedures with planets and species that you consider useful. The genetic altering of species to act as servants and a labor
source is natural to you. I will not allow you to do that in this star system. If the humans exit their star system, then interact with them if you wish. I
warn you though that I will protect them if you or any other species engage in any unprovoked aggression towards them. I will not necessarily protect them
if they are acting as aggressors to your species. You can work that all out between yourselves.”

Leader 1* was not following everything the entity was saying. He did not understand the part about the humans not being equal yet. Even the term the entity
used was one from mathematics as no such terminology existed in Leader 1*'s language for another species being equal to Leader 1*'s species. He felt he was
missing something important. What he did understand, however, was that the entity was assuming that it had a status above that of Leader 1*'s species.
While the entity had demonstrated impressive abilities, Leader 1* had not yet assigned that designation to the entity.

“I currently have no animosity towards your species and am very glad to have met you. Hopefully, I will meet more of you in the future, but I strongly
suggest you leave now and do not harm the inhabitants of this star system in any way. If your species did attempt to harm them, it would potentially be the
end of your entire species."

"It is not my intent to threaten or interfere with your species, merely to make you aware of some rules so you don’t inadvertently violate them. You seem
like a wonderful species and my contact with you so far has generated a great deal of respect in me for your species and for you yourself Leader 1*.”

Leader 1* was very wary now and carefully conveyed a reply to the air around him. “It is not our intent to cause any harm, but I cannot speak for my entire
species. The leaders who make decisions of that nature are far above me.”

“I understand this and for that reason a similar message has already been conveyed to the leaders of your species on your home planet. I coded the message
with the chemical signature for being of species survival importance. I also praised you and your crew highly to them.”

Leader 1* was shocked by what had just been communicated to him. “You have been in contact with our home world?” He had never been to the home world
himself or received communication directly from it, and this strange entity was claiming to have communicated with it. How would it even know where their
home world was located?

“Yes, they were very surprised to receive the message, and I’m sure they will want to communicate with you as soon as possible. I am fully aware that you
don't have a term in your language for a species equal to your own, and that is why I used the mathematical version. I would suggest very strongly that
you, and your leaders consider the possibility. I suspect it will take some effort on your part to understand the concept."

"Your leaders on your home planet were not accepting at all of my suggestions. In order to make clear that I should be taken seriously, I made some
alterations to the Central Triad's palace. Don't worry; I caused no damage to the three rulers or anyone else, just made it very clear that I could if I
wished."

Leader 1* thought he might go into convulsions. The Triad and their palace were at the pinnacle of his species society and culture. That this entity even
suggested the possibility of causing damage to either could not be allowed. He would have attacked it on the spot but there was nothing to attack.

"There are some things I wish you to understand Leader 1*, and to convey to your leaders. They are extremely important. Please try to understand what I am
trying to communicate."