Chapter 8: Where No God Has Gone Before
The Imperial Palace
1 month later…
"The Synthoids have been reporting positive progress in regard to the construction of settlements on Raenei and their topographical/geological surveys continue apace." Davis was telling Prometheus and Beowulf as the trio walked along one of the palace's corridors. "Surveys on the other planets and moons continue to progress as well. Celene is proving to be quite rich in mineral wealth on the side facing away from Oerth due to meteorite bombardment as we expected. Once mining stations are setup we can begin to extract the star metal we found there as well as tin, iron, nickel..."
"That should be quite useful." Prometheus mused.
"Indeed." Davis replied. "According to the information we have, starmetal or metals found in meteorites, are akin to enchanted metal in that they provide increased strength, durability, and generally boost the attributes of whatever they are forged with. Normally it's used to enhance swords or other weapons but we could find other uses for it. If nothing else we would control the market for it and can charge quite a lot for even small amounts as this stuff is rarer than diamonds on Oerth."
"Very true." Prometheus acknowledged. "More importantly the maiden voyage of my floating city was a complete success. Inspection of the systems and runes being used during the voyage were completed and we found no serious strain on any of them. Once the city is partially populated with Synthoids as well as some of my other followers we can start our true voyage."
"You call them Synthoids when for the longest time they were Terminators." Beowulf noted curiously. "Why change their name now?"
"It is something I have been meaning to do for some time." Prometheus replied. "Truthfully I should have when I converted them to serve me but there was never a need until now as only those close to me knew their original names. When we return to Earth, however, they will need a different name as they are no longer machines of death as they once were and Earth is more familiar with such creations. I have repurposed them to serve my will and soon they will be beings in their own right with their own free will. I would not have them be seen as weapons or my slaves when we arrive. Earth has had its own problems with slavery and even today the practice still exists in some places. I refuse to set a precedent by appearing to endorse such practices, even if we are talking about intelligent machines."
Beowulf nodded. "And so my flock is made up of Organics and Synthoids, all being equal in the sight of our Lord for neither is greater in His sight than the other."
"Indeed." Prometheus agreed.
"Are you certain you wish for me to accompany you Alpha?" Beowulf asked in quiet concern, his hands clasped behind his back as they walked. "Won't the humans be frightened of me?"
"I will not sugarcoat the truth my friend, there will be many that despise you because of your appearance. On the other hand there will be many who will be fascinated with and even attracted to you because of your appearance." Prometheus replied. "Humans have a broad spectrum of beliefs and views as you no doubt recall."
"I recall the last time I was among them they poked and prodded me like some animal in a cage and asked some very inappropriate questions." Beowulf grumbled.
"That was a very small and select group." Prometheus reminded him. "You cannot judge them all by the actions of a few."
"True." The Gnoll sighed.
"I think you will be pleasantly surprised, and perhaps rather shocked, at the reactions you will get." Prometheus continued with a hint of amusement in his voice. "We shall become, at least for many, something like celebrities. These people enjoy watching their celebrities' every move, hang on to their every word, and analyze them in a dozen different ways. You will need to be careful with your speech my friend, for they will take everything you say as the Word of God itself."
Beowulf smirked. "Given that I am your High Priest and Herald I would hope so."
The pair shared a chuckle as the trio entered Beowulf's room. The Gnoll had nearly finished packing away what he was going to bring given the number of packs and bags filled to the brim on his bed. Beowulf turned to look at Prometheus frankly.
"I know you have been planning to return to Earth for several years Alpha but there is still much to do here. Why have you chosen now to go back?" He asked.
"Necessity, my friend." Prometheus replied with some heaviness. "I had hoped that when I created my company years ago that it would be able to help resolve the world's problems. I had intended to provide the world with goods and services gradually that would help better their lives, and to a degree this has happened. However, the pushback against such advances has been greater than anticipated, particularly in recent years. Earth has slowly gotten worse over the last twenty years. Even with my final ascension fifteen years ago I did not have the resources to do what needed to be done on Earth as well as move forward with my plans here on Oerth. But given what we now have access to in terms of land, materials, and other resources, I can potentially make improvements on a large scale. I only hope the people are willing to accept them, and me."
"If I have learned anything over the years Alpha, it is that you cannot please all the people all of the time. Even here there are still those who distrust the priesthood and its proclamations. People dislike new things, changes to how things are even if it is for the better." Beowulf said sagely.
Prometheus nodded. "Quite true, my friend, and I shall have to be mindful of that when I address the people of Earth. However, the planet itself is reaching a critical time which is why I am returning now. Humankind will need to focus its efforts and change for the better if it is to survive. It is my hope that I will be able to guide them to that destiny and that they will allow me to guide them for the are a stubborn and prideful people."
"You have not failed to accomplish whatever you set your mind to Alpha." Beowulf replied faithfully. "I have no doubt you shall succeed there as well."
Prometheus smiled at Beowulf's sincerity, sending feelings of warmth and appreciation down the link they shared.
"I've been able to gather satellite and space probe data from NASA's computer archives regarding locations we can teleport into within the solar system as you requested." Davis mentioned. "Though why you want to take five months to get to Earth…"
"As Beowulf just mentioned humans are slow to change and adapt to new situations unless it affects them personally." Prometheus replied. "I do not wish to suddenly appear above the planet like a conquering warlord intent on their subjugation, I wish to give them time to adjust and prepare for my arrival that they might comport themselves properly."
"It will also give them time to plan for any war strategies and tactics they might use." Davis warned.
Prometheus snorted at this. "There is nothing they could send against me that I could not counter my friend. No, my concern is that they will reject me entirely but I do not believe that will happen. It will take time but eventually mankind will come to see me as their guide."
"As you say." Davis remarked, seemingly unconvinced before his hologram vanished in a fizzle of color.
"The Synthoids will take your bags to the city when we are ready to depart." Prometheus said. "I shall check in on the others to ensure there are no lingering concerns."
Beowulf nodded as Prometheus departed, appearing in the study within his private chambers. Sitting down in a soft leather chair he focused his mind in another direction, seeking out Elidar.
How goes matters in the Order, Elidar? Prometheus inquired.
The Knights of the Fourth Claw have purged the cultists of Tiamat that were operating out of one of the old Bone March fortresses to the north. The Grandmaster of the Dragon Knights replied. They encountered some resistance but it was easily dealt with. The First and Second Wings continue to patrol the skies of areas where known chromatic Dragons reside but they have not reported anything of note. Several of the Knights in Third Claw are discretely investigating rumors of a Vecna cell operating in Pomaraj but they have made no progress yet. We will continue to monitor that situation with Davis's assistance. The First and Second Claws are still at their posts in Mitrik and Radigast City with nothing to report, though the First Claw have mentioned the Canon is considering having some of them and his Knights of Rao scout some of the Iron Wood to the south of them. Apparently he's been getting reports of strange, unnatural creatures taking up residence there. There is nothing else of concern as far as I am aware.
And the latest human recruits? Prometheus asked.
I had to turn most of them away as usual. Elidar replied. They had the enthusiasm and the courage but not the moral and mental fortitude we require. There were a few that appeared to be a cut above the rest. I will have them go through the usual training. Assuming they persevere and complete the Trials to my satisfaction I will have them undertake the Oaths and perform the blood ritual so that they can become Squires.
Good. Prometheus replied, dismissing the link between them as he considered his knightly Order briefly and the impact they had made on the world.
The Order of the Radiant Dragon had grown over the years as more metallic Dragons and many machines had swelled their ranks as well as some human initiates and even a few humanoids that had proven themselves worthy. Where once the Order had been composed of little more than fifty Knights, there were now nearly a thousand organized into numbered companies of one hundred, each designated as a Claw or Wing depending on whether they fulfilled land-based or aerial duties, though each group tended to have their own moniker, the First Claw being known as the Emperor's Fist. Each company was further divided into squads of varying sizes as needed for whatever mission they undertook. Those few mortals, be they human or otherwise, who passed the rigorous trials that tested their minds, bodies, and spirits to the utmost, were allowed to swear sacred and binding Oaths, ensuring their eternal loyalty to the gods of light and the God-Emperor.
Forsaking all prior connections such as family, friends, and any prior allegiances they may have had, their blood was infused with the blood of one of the Dragon Knights while sacred rituals were performed, melding the two and beginning the transformation process. Placed in special tanks known as incubators they slept as their bodies transformed slowly into a metallic Dragon hybrid based on the blood they had been infused with. Nanites from the Dragon Emperor were injected into them throughout the process, helping to reform and then fuse with their bones, muscles, and organs, making them far more robust and stronger than they had previously been.
At the same time, all of the new recruits, Dragons or otherwise would be placed in complex, total immersion simulations created by Davis and honed by the experiences of the Knights themselves. Resting in the incubators or tanks of sterile fluid they were rendered unconscious and hooked to machines that would feed and hydrate them while the simulations were transmitted directly into the active brains of the neophytes, allowing them to learn and practice not only about their new bodies and its abilities but train and practice combat tactics. All forms of war from urban combat, to guerilla tactics, to open warfare against a numerically superior foe were practiced constantly with the neophytes alternating between fighting alongside their bonded Knight, an unknown army, or alone and behind enemy lines. For nearly six months they trained constantly in the mental realm learning as much as they could about the art of war while the Dragons honed any skills that had grown rusty over time and learned about new methods of war not used in their time. In their minds years passed as they trained with weapons of all types from medieval to modern, learning forms of melee combat from boxing and street fighting to the most complex martial arts. Situation analysis and local region tactics were ingrained as well as large scale strategy and how to lead soldiers into battle should the need arise, for they were to perform any duty required of them whether it be attacking the enemy on the front line to leading a battalion of soldiers on a campaign, or commanding entire armies from a communications center. Litanies of the various gods of light as well as Prometheus himself were drilled into their minds as they used their clerical powers within the simulations to beat back demonic forces of all shapes and sizes, from singular demons attempting to capture or kill an innocent to hordes that made the battles of the Demon War seem petty in comparison. These battles against existential horrors tempered their spirits and minds, enabling them to resist maddening beings that would break the minds of normal men or stand firm and not flinch against an unending tide of death and war, even if it meant their own deaths.
Reborn from the incubators or released from the sterile tanks in due course, the transformed hybrids needed no time to practice with their new forms as they were able to use their tails, claws, and wings as if they had always had them. Ready to do battle the moment they emerged, their expanded draconic minds were instantly prepared to accept any challenge and stand firm when all others would fall away in fear and doubt. They would become the Squires of the Knights they had blood-bonded with, serving them and living with them as a unit and a family until such time as they had proved themselves worthy to be full Knights of the Radiant Dragon and take on Squires of their own for they were to be the best and most powerful soldiers the Imperium of Light could produce.
Over the last fifteen years the Order had made a name for itself by locating and destroying cults to the few dark gods that remained as well as covens of dark creatures or agents of chaos no matter where they might sequester themselves. The draconic knights had braved some of the darkest and most vile of locations from the deepest tombs where liches conducted unholy experiments to mountain strongholds where scores of monsters prepared to unleash maddened war upon the inhabitants nearby. While their own armored scales would have been enough to repel most attacks, the God-Emperor had taken things a step further and bestowed upon them special sets of plated armor. A combination of his own holy nanites and a complex titanium alloy, these suits were partially liquid metal armor that could repel attacks from dark magic and instantly react to blows inflicted by a weapon, creating a super-dense and cushioned area at the point of impact that could reseal and repair itself in short order. This combination of holy armor and dragon scales ensured the knights' near invulnerability against any foe they might encounter. Hordes of Orcs, goblins, wraiths, and innumerable other monstrosities, conjured or summoned by their masters to destroy or stymy the knights while they performed their rituals or enacted their plans, soon found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless figures in chrome and gold plate, wielding mighty weapons of holy power from swords and maces to axes and warhammers. Such armor and weapons combined with centuries of experience in warfare ensured their success as none of the knights had thus far fallen in battle. Legends were already being written about the God-Emperor's invincible warriors of silver and gold smiting evil wherever it might be found like a host of celestial angels.
The cost of creating such a force had been significant and yet they had proven their worth for many of the dark dungeons and labyrinths that once held secretive cults and armies of fiends had been scoured and cleansed by the Knights in recent years as well as their allies such as the Knights of Rao and Pelor. The Demon War had left its mark indelibly on the minds and spirits of the people across the continent and they had no desire to experience such cataclysmic events ever again. Thus a purge movement had sprung up in later years, first in Utopia and Veluna, before quickly spreading to the rest of the kingdoms as well, desiring above all else the destruction of any dark or hateful creatures that could conceivably threaten them as the demons had. Entire hordes of Mountain Trolls, Gnolls, Goblins, Orcs, Giants, any tribe or clan of creatures that had been a threat to the peoples of the world, were hunted down relentlessly and slaughtered. The towers of dark wizards and their cabals were seized by force and their collections of dark knowledge secured before the towers themselves were torn down and even the most secretive societies such as the cult of Vecna and the assassins of the Scarlet Brotherhood found themselves inconvenienced and scattered by the discovery and destruction of many of their hidden bunkers and safe houses. The Brotherhood's power had diminished in recent years though they were still spoken of with dread. Vecna's cults became even more paranoid, fleeing to the deepest caverns and the most remote areas they could find to operate in small, solitary cells as they did their best to serve the will of the Lord of Secrets, his power seemingly diminished compared to what it had been.
Left unchecked such fervent passion might have created terrible self-destructive tendencies with the people jumping at shadows and tearing down their communities or even their own governments for fear of corruption, real or imagined. Fortunately, realizing the power as well as the possible abuses of such convictions, the ArchCleric and Prometheus as well as the various Knightly Orders across the continent had helped to guide the fevered masses into creative and positive pursuits as well as allowing the more martially minded into their ranks. As their swelling forces searched the countrysides for any boltholes or lairs they could discover they left detachments in many areas to provide protection and guidance until almost every major town and city across the continent held at least a small detachment of Knights. While abuses of power by these new knights did occur, such individuals were quickly weeded out thanks to the insertion of Synthoids within their ranks to serve as mentors for the new recruits.
Prometheus smiled in satisfaction at such recollections as he reached out to Davis. How goes the next firmware upgrade for the Synthoids?
Cross-checking against prior updates to confirm there's no logic errors, contradictory instructions, or duplications. Davis replied. Once that's done I'll run it through the ethics module to see if there are any outliers or odd commands I missed. Assuming that checks out I'll send it to you for final inspection before distributing it. Most likely within the next 8 hours give or take.
Good. Prometheus said, turning his mind to the Synthoids for a moment.
Thanks to Prometheus's expanded production facilities the machines could be found in virtually any community across the continent. Acting as ordinary citizens with ordinary lives they worked and lived among the people in the community they served by being blacksmiths, healers, advisers, even menial laborers and farmers. Wherever there was a need that could not be filled by others they were there to assist. Learning about being human and helping unobtrusively where they could, they were the eyes and ears of the Emperor as well as being his sword and shield as each of them was ready to train or stand in defense of the places they lived. As they gathered information and acquired understanding they passed the information on to Davis who in turn analyzed and codified it before sending it out to the other Synthoids so that their understanding might grow as well. Thanks to the data vault from Darlana's ship as well as his now massive ability to collect data on a large scale, the intelligence of the machines were becoming extremely advanced. While Davis and the other machine intelligences had been sentient enough to pass for humans by mimicking their behavior, their understanding of human behavior, psychology, and the underlying nature of what it meant to be human had grown by an order of magnitude since then. Their functions and sub-routines had become so complex and advanced that they could nearly be considered true A.I's in their own right, capable of independent thought based on their own self-determined decisions. While none of the machines had yet asked to be free from Prometheus's control, nor had they asked any deep existential questions such as the nature of their existence or whether they were truly living beings, Prometheus knew that time was quickly approaching.
The door to his study opened and Arianasa entered. Clothed in human form and wearing a diaphanous frock of silver and white silk she came to him with an excited smile on her face, her brilliant blue eyes twinkling with delight.
"Davis tells me it is nearly time." She said.
Prometheus smiled seeing the excitement bubbling within her beneath the surface. "You are excited to be away from home?"
"I am excited to see your world." Arianasa replied. "I have seen very little of it apart from your apartments at your headquarters. I wish to experience it in all of its fullness!"
Prometheus chuckled. "Then you shall my dear. Just remember that Earth and its people do not know me as they do here. I will not be admired or worshipped as I am here, at least not in the beginning. You must be prepared to weather much criticism and even threats from them for many will fear us initially, no matter how benign our appearance and benevolent our message. They are like children staring into the darkness from the safety of the light, always wondering if there is something out there that will attack or consume them, and so they attack what shadows and half-seen things they see, thinking them threats. When the truth reveals itself they become humble and will tend to the wounds they inflicted but first we must weather their blows."
Arianasa nodded. "I understand and I shall do my best."
Prometheus stood and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her softly for a moment. "With you at my side I am certain we shall win them over." He said with a gentle smile. "None can resist the tender hands of the Empress of Mercy."
Arianasa giggled at this, playfully swatting him on the shoulder. "Please! Besides, my tender hands are for you alone." She insinuated coyly.
"Are they now?" He asked in amusement. "Then what will you do with them?" He asked suggestively as his eyes slid over her body, her gown clinging to her full curves.
"I will show you." Arianasa said with soft intensity as she kissed him again.
The days passed and Prometheus's city of the stars slowly began to fill with thousands of Synthoids as well as hundreds of his mortal followers, many of them from his priesthood, and two companies of Knights. The Council went over a few final matters that needed to be discussed before he set off on his newest campaign while Michael his Steward and several other high ranking Clerics in the church, all of them vetted by Prometheus personally beforehand, took charge of Beowulf's duties as well as the Empress's under Davis's watchful eyes. Once everyone was aboard the city engaged its drives before slowly floating away from Oerth beyond its sphere of influence before activating the Infinity Drive. A beam of multicolored energy shot from the tip of the pyramid before impacting against the dome surrounding the city. The energy began to spread rapidly, turning the clear barrier into a brilliant watercolor sky as it slowly surrounded the city from top to bottom in a massive sphere. Suddenly the entire globe became as bright as the sun before letting out a powerful flash.
A moment later the city was gone.
January 2nd, 2041
SCOUT Telescope Control
NASA Planetary Defense Coordination Office
The technician sat in front of the bank of controls and computer displays that functioned as the central hub for the SCOUT program which controlled the array of astronomy telescopes situated around the United States. The SCOUT program was designed to help astronomers track all celestial bodies in the solar system, analyze their movement patterns, and help determine whether any of the many thousands of asteroids and meteors that flew through the solar system constantly were a threat to the planet. From the control panel in front of her the technician could direct any of the massive telescopes across the country to focus on a specific object and track its movement and speed, thus allowing the computers to determine its trajectory and course.
Most of the time the system needed no manual adjusting or overrides as most of the objects in the system were already confirmed as harmless and so the technician spent most of her time on her smartphone, occasionally glancing up at the monitors to ensure nothing unusual was happening. The rest of the team had been out partying with the new year the day prior and as she was the only one sober enough to safely man the console she had been picked for monitor duty while the others slept off their hangovers. Given how every other monitor duty she had endured had played out she expected the day to be utterly dull and uninteresting.
Suddenly something caught her eye.
Looking up at the monitor bank with a frown, she leaned closer to one of the screens to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
A fuzzy but medium sized object was moving in a straight line from out of the belt of asteroids that demarcated the inner and outer planets.
"You gotta be shitting me." The woman muttered as she began adjusting some of the controls before her.
Receiving the signals seconds later several space telescopes began to slowly swivel about until they were able to capture the object and its movement, sending telemetry data back to the hub's computers. Lines of coordinates and other data scrolled down the screen rapidly as the woman's eyes flicked back and forth, analyzing and checking what was being sent and comparing it to the information on the other screens. Finally she sat back in silent shock for several seconds before grabbing the dedicated hardline phone next to the console and dialing a number. A moment later a querulous male voice answered.
"I don't care if you're hungover, you need to get down here." The woman told the person on the other end urgently. "SCOUT just picked up something and the telescopes confirm it. We've got company coming."
The man on the other end cursed before hanging up and the woman turned back to the screens, watching the slowly approaching dot with a sinking feeling. She was still watching the screen thirty minutes later when a balding middle-aged man in a white button down shirt and slacks stalked into the room, his face stormy.
"I swear to god Irene if this is some kind of joke just to get me out of bed after new years…" He warned.
"Give me some credit Burt." Irene replied sarcastically. "I'm not that stupid or self-destructive. Take a look." She insisted.
The man bent over her shoulder, peering at the screens, his frown deepening a moment later. "And all the calculations check out?" He asked.
Irene nodded. "To a tee. It's heading straight for Earth's orbit and it's due to impact in a little over five months."
"How large?" He asked with a hint of nervousness.
"Approximately three miles in diameter." She said dismally.
Burt swallowed quietly as he took it in. "The President needs to know about this." He muttered.
The White House
Washington D.C
President Pierce was not having a good day.
Of course it could be said that few days were good for one of the most powerful men in the world. As the leader and public face of America on the world stage he was expected to be a lightning rod for criticism and blame. In a country with such a diversity of citizens it was expected that no matter what he did or said, someone would be upset about it. Heck, even world peace would have been met with mocking derision from some of the backward parts of the country. But when a staff member ushered the President down to the Situation Room without telling him why, he knew this was going to be one of those 'extremely bad days' when things could go to hell very quickly if he were not very careful.
The man was extremely glad he'd been smart enough not to overindulge last night at the New Year's ball. The last thing he needed right now was to deal with whatever this situation was while nursing a hangover.
Opening the door for the President the pair stepped inside before shutting it, allowing the President to sit at the head of the long conference table while around the room were several flat screens embedded in the walls, allowing the President and his advisers to view multiple situations at once. At the moment most of them were currently tuned to major news networks.
".Efforts are underway to save Bangkok's numerous historical monuments and artifacts, with some temples being moved inland and reconstructed in their entirety as more of the city's districts continue to sink below sea level. Once used as flood barriers, these areas became converted to commercial and residential districts over recent decades resulting in an inability for the city to prevent such wide-scale flooding. Refugee camps continue to form outside the city's dryer and more stable areas while the government struggles to adjust as its capital continues to slowly sink into the sea."
"Rising sea levels and increased storm intensity have begun to seriously affect the British coastline. Currently, more than 800 homes have been lost due to cliff face erosion. While mitigation efforts have been stepped up around the country as a whole, these particular homes were deemed too expensive to save, resulting in their occupants being forced to abandon them and settle elsewhere, with little or no government compensation."
"Job riots continue today in Detroit, Oklahoma City, San Francisco, and St. Louis as major manufacturing industries continue to close plants comprised of mostly human workers to make way for cheaper and more efficient machine labor. A spokesperson for the AFL-CIO Labor Union group said…"
"In other news, efforts are nearing completion on a major upgrade of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) high speed rail line. America's busiest rail line, the NEC runs from Boston in the north to Washington in the south, via New York. Like many rail services in the US, it had seen decades of underinvestment…"
The screen ahead of him at the end of the room showed a far more technical view as the monochrome display showed a dot moving slowly in a straight line away from a large collection of other dots.
"The Director of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office is on Line 1 sir." The aide said helpfully. "Michael Willis."
Nodding the President hit the button on the phone in front of him that activated the speaker line. "Mr. Willis."
"Uh, yes sir. Good morning sir." The man's voice came from the grill, seemingly nervous.
"Considering I'm sitting here in the Situation Room with a very ominous looking picture in front of me I would hardly call it a good morning." The President replied grouchily. "Would you mind telling me what I'm looking at?"
"Yes sir, sorry sir." Willis replied hurriedly. "The screen you're seeing is from our SCOUT long range meteor tracking system. About 30 minutes ago it detected an object inbound from the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. This 3 mile-in-diameter object appears to be moving in a straight line from within the asteroid belt and is heading towards the inner planets. At it's current rate of speed it is expected to impact with the Earth in just over five months from now, around mid to late June."
A cold feeling settled into the man's bones as he took in what the Director was saying.
"Are you telling me we have a meteor that's going to impact Earth in less than six months and no one noticed until now?!" He demanded incredulously
"There was never any indication that a meteor was on such a course until now!" The man protested fearfully. "We checked all of the logs before I called you, there was no indication that it entered the solar system before it was picked up by SCOUT!"
"Meaning?" The President asked tersely.
"Meaning that something must have impacted it in such a way as to send it in our direction. It must have already been inside the belt and was forced into this trajectory by a collision!"
Clenching his fists on the table he sighed. "What options do we have for taking it out?" He asked somberly.
There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line.
"Sir…" The Director began hesitantly. "We...that is…"
"Mr. Willis I asked you a question." The President said with an icy edge to his voice.
The man sighed heavily on the other end. "I'm sorry sir...but at the moment...there's nothing we can do sir."
The President stared at the phone incredulously for a moment before he spoke. "Please tell me you're joking! Hell couldn't we load a nuclear warhead onto the tip of a rocket and shoot it at the thing?!"
"Our space vehicles aren't designed to hold those kinds of payloads!" The Director protested. "Even if we just shoved a warhead into one and fired it there's no guarantee it would do the job! It would take months of planning just to make sure we could get a rocket and its payload ready and by that point it would be too close!"
Smacking the Mute button on the phone the President sat there for a moment with his hands clenched while his mind raced to find a solution. A moment later he rested his hand against his face before sighing heavily.
"Please don't tell me I have to go on national television and tell everyone the world is doomed." He muttered dismally.
Suddenly the screens around the room became filled with white noise and static as the phone hissed with random sounds. Jerking his head up in sudden shock the man looked about the room in astonishment before the pictures stabilized showing nothing but golden-white light. A moment later a deep and majestic voice issued from the various television speakers as well as the phone.
"To all who are able to hear the sound of my voice, I greet you in the name of peace. At this moment you are no doubt confused as to what is happening and who is speaking to you. Rest assured you are not the only one to hear my voice for I am broadcasting this message across the Earth. Though you all have many languages, tongues, and dialects, such barriers are nothing to me, for I speak and understand them all. Each of you vary in history, nationality, beliefs, and culture; in the past such differences divided you. Even now they continue to do so. But know that to me, such differences are a benefit for it makes each of you unique and precious. You do not know me yet, but in time you shall for I am coming even as I speak. I send this message ahead of me that the peoples of Earth may prepare for my arrival. Know that I come not to invade your world but to aid it. I come not as a conqueror but as a peace-maker. I come not to destroy but to make whole.
No doubt many of you believe this to be a joke enacted by some attention seeker or a trick perpetrated by an enemy who seeks to deceive or lull you into a false sense of security. I assure you my words are nothing but the truth. Even so, make what preparations you believe are necessary if you do not believe my words for I will not hold such fears against you. Humankind has always feared the unknown and at this moment I am not known to you. Do what you feel you must to prepare for my arrival, I ask only that you not act aggressively towards me when I come. I ask that you allow me to present myself to all and speak of my intentions so that you might know the full and true facts regarding myself and why I have come. Look to the sky on the day of the summer solstice when the longest day occurs for then shall I arrive. On that day you shall behold wonders and see the truth of my words. Know that on that day, humanity shall at last have answers to questions that have filled their minds since the day they first looked up to the heavens and wondered.
You wonder if there is other life in the universe. With my help you will have the ability to learn that answer.
You wonder if other universes, other planes of existence, lie beyond your own. I am that answer.
You seek purpose for your lives, I can bring them fulfillment.
You desire to know what lies beyond death. I shall prove to you that in me there is life beyond death.
You seek to expand to the stars and make a new home among them. With me such things will be within your reach.
You search after a god whom you might serve and worship in spirit and in truth. I tell you that you need search no longer.
Rejoice, for I bear glad tidings to all who will hear me. Your world and the people who live upon it are broken and dying but with my aid, it and you can be made whole. Such a process will take time and it will require sacrifice, but if you have the will to accept me and my help it can be done.
A new and glorious age of humanity is within your reach. My question to each and every one of you is, do you have the will to grasp it?"
The screens suddenly cleared with a burst of static and the President sat, dumbfounded in his chair.
"My god…" He muttered softly before looking at the screen ahead of him again, the slowly moving celestial object moving ever closer to Earth.
