Jack and Jill IV
Thankfully the website has corrected the problem. All 20 chapters should be visible to all now. Based on other stories having the same problem it would appear that my story was not the only one affected. Enjoy reading any story of your choice. Just remember most of us are not professionals at this. We write and post for the fun of it. Pick and choose as you please.
oOo
Chapter 21
They hadn't even gotten to Jack and Jill yet and the entire place was still abuzz over the dead bodies. Then someone floated the idea that they were fakes and the entire thing was all Hollywood. From there it took off and had a life of its own. Now even the countries that had been listening weren't any longer. If this was NATO what could they expect from countries that weren't friendly toward the United States? "Is it always like this?" Kate tried to whisper to Madam Secretary but she didn't hear her so Kate had to repeat it, only louder.
"Pretty much, unfortunately," Madam Secretary replied.
Kate had had enough of this shit. Maybe when the Weave ships got here she would ask to be relocated to a different planet. What was the saying? "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life here!" It sure fit this bunch.
"I've had enough of this shit!" Kate got up onto the table, jumped down into the center, and walked over to the dead bodies. She made room on one of the tables by pushing stuff anywhere including onto the floor, got on it, and stood up. FUCK DIPLOMACY!
Kate put two fingers in her mouth and whistled, loudly. Then she did it again just to make sure. "Are you people adults or two year olds? I mean what the FUCK!" Spittle actually came out of Kate's mouth.
"Do you honestly think that we came all the way here so we could sell you a fucking Hollywood movie? You people are stupider than you look and believe me that's saying something." Kate paused and looked around at all the people in this room. They had actually all stopped talking which was in of itself amazing.
Kate missed seeing the grin on Madam Secretary's face and the one on Rick's.
"You want to be captured by an interstellar army that wants to make sure you join their Purpose as a slave? BE. MY. FUCKING. GUEST. I for one am going to ask the Weave when they get here to be relocated to one of their planets. At least then I'll be surrounded by some intelligence.
"We have a saying in the States. 'Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life here!' Well there sure as FUCK isn't any intelligence in this fucking room.
"Enjoy your petty squabbles and your disdain for Hollywood. I don't give a fuck. We've got five dead bodies and you can have all five of them. We've got alien equipment that actually works that doesn't have MADE IN CHINA stamped on the back. We've got remnants of a fighter that tried to kill everyone I care about and each of you can have a fucking piece.
"Turn it into a GOD DAMN paperweight for all I fucking care. I DON'T FUCKING CARE WHAT YOU DO WITH ANY OF IT!" Kate had had it with the lot of them.
"We've even got two alien ambassadors that are willing to talk but you'd rather argue that it's all Hollywood just so that you can be what? RIGHT? Well you're WRONG. But if you idiots want to hand over the planet to someone else? FUCKING. GO. FOR. IT!
"We're out of here." Kate jumped down and started walking to Rick. "God damn, stupid, fucking, human race. YOU PEOPLE DESERVE WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET! ALL OF YOU!"
Kate climbed back onto the table that went all the way around the room and jumped down. "Come on, babe, we're out of here." Kate began pushing him, not waiting for him to use his motor.
She made it a little ways till she was blocked. "STORM, JAYNE. Get these two neanderthals out of my fucking way."
Storm and Jayne showed up and were all set to break some bones and demonstrate just who they were and what they could do.
Madam Secretary caught up to her. "Kate, wait."
"Why should I? They want to be part of the Purpose, let 'em. When the Weave gets here we're leaving with them. No one can reach these idiots," Kate told her.
"That's why." Madam Secretary pointed behind her. What Kate saw as Rick watched Storm and Jayne clear a path and have their two down and unconscious, was everyone else that had come with them, including Alexis, walking out to the very center.
Alexis was helped up onto a table and used her own method to whistle loudly.
"I am Major General Dennis Dowell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. This is Chuck Tillerman, Vice President of the United States. Deputy Commander Gary Johnson of Army Intelligence, and Admiral Chester Lotterer. You already know Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord.
"We did not come all the way here to sell you people a Hollywood movie. This is as real as real gets." Dennis had had enough and was impressed with ex-homicide detective Katherine Houghton Beckett.
"You people disgust me!" Alexis yelled. "Kate's right. We don't give a damn about your petty squabbles. But there's an enemy fleet headed for Earth and it will be here in nineteen days. Why my dad and Kate were chosen for this was pure luck.
"You don't want to listen to us? Fine, but when an Amplitur gets here, alters your mind, and turns you into a slave, just remember we tried. Not that you'll give a shit by then since your mind will have been altered for you.
"JACK, JILL, FRONT AND CENTER!" It was time to bring out the really big guns. "Down, please?" Alexis looked for a hand to get back down.
Both Jack and Jill appeared in their original forms. Meaning they glowed a little. Arteries and internal organs were visible. What wasn't seen was a face. If anything, what could be seen was a fluidic mass being held together that glowed a little. Then they switched to their more robotic form.
"Our names do not translate into English or any other of your planet's six thousand five hundred languages. As a result I am Jack and this is my partner Jill. We represent the Weave. We are what you call Artificial Intelligence," Jack informed them all.
Suddenly the four large screens that had been used to show dead bodies and various pieces of alien equipment revealed views of capital cities of every country that was part of NATO. That had people whispering to each other.
"Your technology is limited. You have no ships that can actually leave your planet's atmosphere. You cannot even reach the next closest planet. The Weave and our enemy have had ships with FTL for several millennia. This is the Milky Way as you call this galaxy." It showed up on all four screens.
Jill took over. "The blinking light is you. The blue is the Weave as we were when we first encountered what has become the enemy. Red is the space we believe is controlled by the enemy. The Weave was and still is a group of planets that had banded together to further each other. Call it Star Trek if you wish. However, the great difference between the Weave and your fake Star Trek is that most of our races had evolved beyond the need for combat.
"We no longer have any need to murder and kill either each other or any other race. Actually most of the galaxy has evolved beyond the need for combat to achieve anything. If it wasn't for the enemy, had an alien race of the Weave found you they would not have arrived to conquer and murder your entire race. It is more likely they would have wanted to set up a trade deal beneficial to both sides.
"This is an Amplitur." Jill pointed at Jack who changed his form to that of an Amplitur. "The Amplitur started out as an aquatic species. Hence to you they look like an octopus from one of your oceans. Over the years they adapted to breathing oxygen and can now walk on land. They do not physically speak. It is all done through telepathy. You will hear their words in your head. Everyone in this room would hear their thoughts all at the same time no matter how many people are in this room.
"Because of this they also have what we call mind control. They have the ability to Suggest something to you. This Suggestion is irresistible for the most part. You will instantly believe that what they Suggest is your idea and your idea alone. They did not force you to do anything. It was all your free will. Except you no longer have any free will. You are under their control.
"You will now fight for them to help join all the other intelligent races to join their great Purpose. Since no one is immune to their control even we don't understand just what the Purpose is except to make sure that you are their slave.
"What happens after every intelligent life form in this galaxy is finally a part of this great Purpose? We don't know. It is possible that even the Amplitur don't know. It is also possible that forcing alien races to join their great Purpose will never end. This galaxy isn't the only galaxy in existence. Simply develop a drive that will get you to the next closest galaxy and keep adding more and more alien races.
"It may never actually end. The Weave offer. The Amplitur will Suggest and once they have Suggested, your life will never be your own again. You will think it is but it will not.
"You have, we believe, nineteen days till their first fleet arrives. They will land their troops and the ground fighting will start. One or more Amplitur will come down and begin Suggesting. They don't care how long it takes. A century or even two. They don't care. This is why we have been fighting them for several millennia. It can take years to capture a planet or take back a planet.
"It can be a long time to conquer a planet. When you lose you will not even understand why you resisted in the first place. The Weave will offer to help. Help you build superior weapons. Build ships with an FTL drive. Show you how to grow crops where you presently cannot. Improve every sector of your life. From technology to medicine to agriculture.
"The Amplitur will do the same. But only after you have become a part of their great Purpose and lost your free will." Jack and Jill were done and switched back to glowing aliens and just stood there.
"Help me up?" Alexis asked people around her. "LISTEN UP! This is not a Hollywood movie. This is not some great hoax meant to deceive you into some stupid idea that some idiot somewhere has. Look around, this is as real as it gets." Alexis spun around and pointed out the dead bodies, equipment not made in China, as well as at Jack and Jill. "We have nineteen days to save ourselves from becoming yet another slave race even if after you become a slave you will never think of yourself as being a slave but you will be. A very willing slave.
"We do have a plan that even we haven't discussed with the people that brought us here and they are likely already angry at me. But, hear me out. When you look at the Earth from space what would you see at night? All the lights will be on the east coast of the United States and most of Europe. There are others but more spread out.
"Now keep in mind how WWII played out. Do you land right in the middle with your small force or do you land somewhere else and build up until you can break out? We think if they're smart that they'll land in say middle Russia and spread out from there. Or Brazil or the great Midwest of the United States. Anywhere they can gather their forces easily then spread out and start conquering.
"It's just that it's not their ground troops we want dead. Granted we do, but what we want dead most of all is all the Amplitur. We stop them and we simply mop up the rest and get ready for the next fleet.
"Don't forget just how big and vast and just how much of this galaxy the Amplitur control." Alexis pointed at a screen and Jack thankfully put up the Milky Way for all to see.
"Do you really think one lone, scrawny, little fleet is all that's ever going to show up? Get a life, people. Yank your heads out of your collective asses and wake up. This is reality now and it's going to descend on us in nineteen days.
"But I'm with Kate. Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life on this planet.
"So what's it going to be? Free will where we know it's our free will? Or slaves to the Amplitur? Because those are the only two choices you people have. Like it or not, believe it or not. An interstellar war is coming and if you decide to wait until they land then I want off this stinking planet," Alexis told them all.
"Down, please." Once off the table Alexis walked back toward Kate and the others. She only made it as far as Madam Secretary who hugged her tightly.
"You two are a real pair. Sometimes what people need is a good swift kick in the ass. Too bad I'm a diplomat and can't do that. Are you all willing to wait around?" The entire place was now a buzz of talking as everyone talked to whoever was closest. "Because I think you got their attention." Madam Secretary's smile was wide and she watched the hive of activity that was now taking place. It wasn't yelling and screaming and no one was calling someone else a liar.
Alexis looked at her dad. He was all she really cared about. Rick answered the question. "We'll wait."
oOo
All of the United States Military had stayed in the very center of the room and either talked or started answering questions. It didn't follow protocol but then nothing about this meeting was strictly protocol.
Jack and Jill in their glowing forms only ever moved a little and looked around at everyone. Though it was hard to tell given they had no face. Then once they each walked past each and every person at a table, took a good close look and got looked at in return, no mention of a projection was made and no one even tried to touch them. For all anyone knew they were just as solid as everyone else. Real live aliens that just happened to be AIs.
Eventually it was learned the United States had an alien shuttle but had not yet raised it out of the water intact. Everyone wanted to send someone to have a look at it once it was and every nation was assured that they would get their chance.
"We are not hiding anything. We are not stupid here. We might have the most advanced military on the planet but we can't do this alone. Worse, if Alexis is correct and they land in the middle of Russia, we're going to need help. Just imagine if they overran Russian Nuclear ICBM bases and use those nukes as bargaining chips? Surrender or we use these?" Dennis questioned them.
Chuck got their attention. "We're going to have to show a united front when dealing with the Russians and the Chinese and perhaps other nations. However, there is one more item we need to discuss before the end of today.
"The President believes and I concur that eventually this is going to leak out to the press. Probably as early as tomorrow morning. Someone either from this room or somewhere else is going to talk. Leaks are unavoidable; it will happen.
"Perhaps because you called your family and have warned them to get out of the city and to a cabin somewhere. Possibly right where the enemy will choose to land and they get to be the first that are Suggested.
"There will be panic and riots and it will be ugly. This will only make our job more difficult. The President has already ordered mobilization of the entire National Guard to help maintain order. We don't need to be fighting our own people while we fight the enemy. I wouldn't put it past him to order a curfew. It might be needed. Perhaps even Martial Law.
"Decisions need to be made today. We only have nineteen days. General." The Vice President was done. It was now mostly a military matter.
"We need to generate some planning. What we don't know is how close an Amplitur has to be to give you a Suggestion and forever alter your life. Killing the Amplitur is our top priority. Now is that by bombing, cruise missiles, artillery, or a ground sniper team?" Dennis, who was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, questioned those that were present.
"Sir." Kate raised her hand and miraculously the place became silent. "Jill, you were listening to us. Tell them our idea." Maybe they would listen if Jill offered it. Kate was hoping anyway.
"An idea was floated for you to discuss. The United States has or will have eleven operational Aircraft Carriers. Other countries have one or more. If you jointly place them so the you can cover all of the best locations for the enemy to land you can have aircraft there in minutes.
"Also several nations have submarines that can deploy underwater combat teams. Have an aircraft like a C-130 drop transportation for them and they can move inland quickly.
"And instead of using helicopters you could give your sniper teams ultralights. The enemy will have a harder time spotting them like they will helicopters.
"The idea is to follow where they might land and launch your forces to counter. As for the troop transports I will leave that for you to decide." Jill knew what Jack had found but they weren't sure just how useful an ASM-135 ASAT missile was going to be unless they launched a number of them per transport.
"Perhaps if you are fast enough, you can intercept the drop ships before they even land. It is unlikely, however, that an Amplitur will come down to the planet until the drop zone is secure. Keeping in mind that most all combat takes place on a planet and not out in space. Though it does happen on occasion," Jill offered.
If the use of ASM-135 ASAT missiles didn't come up they would offer it as an option to be discussed.
oOo
They all listened as AWACs were discussed including Hawkeyes from Aircraft Carriers as always being in the air waiting. Dispersal of aircraft to remote airbases was discussed. Moving around sniper teams for fast deployment was discussed. The use of ASM-135 ASATs against the troop transports was brought up.
They were just getting around to discussing where to station the Aircraft Carriers that these nations had was just starting to be discussed when Kate noticed Rick slumping. "He's tired. He tires easily." Rick just didn't have the fortitude to stay awake too long.
Madam Secretary looked at Rick. "Storm." She waved him over. "Gather up your friends. You will find a team of armed Secret Service Agents out front waiting to take you back to the hotel. You can rearm yourselves to your hearts' content once you're back in your rooms.
"Once you're back in your hotel don't leave it again till we leave early in the morning. It will take about eight hours to get back. We'll be landing at an Air Force Base this time instead of an airport. Word will likely have leaked by then making the airport too dangerous," Madam Secretary told him. "The rest of us may be sleeping on the plane." She was thinking they might be here all night long.
"Yes, ma'am." She had him at getting his hands on weapons again.
oOo
They were out of their hotel and headed for Air Force Two by 6:00 am, putting a strain on Kate since their hotel room wasn't meant for Rick.
Still they didn't have any trouble making it to the airplane or taking off. Kate waved Alexis and even Storm over so they all saw one of the now nine F15s flying escort all the way home.
"It'll be good to be home," Alexis sighed tiredly.
"The challenge is getting there before the riots start, Alexis," Storm warned.
Hearing that, Alexis returned to her seat and had her laptop in her lap. That was one thing about flying in Air Force Two. It didn't lack for connectability. She still needed to find a remote enough place to wait out the war that was coming. New York City could very well turn out to be too dangerous a place to stay.