John

If it isn't This, Then it is That

6:00pm PST

It is the same stark white conference room that the highest ranking officers were in when they were greeted by the blue planet Earth when they first arrived. Tonight however, you can feel deep foreboding in the air. The higher ranking officers are here now to listen to what happened when Mike Donovan had taken images of their people in their true form. The shock after learning of this has still not left them.

John grimaces, and looks towards the doors. 'Where is Diana? She should have been here an hour ago.'

Thomas the officer in charge of communications and protocols for the interaction with humans stands, "Sir, would you like to see the posters that we will be placing tomorrow morning?"

John simply nods.

Thomas is a very tall and quite thin gentlemen. He walks quietly to the platform, and the first image is displayed. The picture is of a Youth Corp member holding his hand out. The poster reads, FRIENDSHIP IS UNIVERSAL. "You will notice I have used a younger, more Youth Corp figure. Also, keeping it simple leaves for...less to try...as they say; to read between the lines."

John cocks his head slightly, but shows no reaction.

Thomas shifts his thin frame forward a bit as the next image is displayed. This one shows an older staff member who is standing with much older humans. The poster reads, OUR FRIENDS. "Note this image gives the feel almost of a grown son with his parents. Again we are trying to keep it simple. Just enough to give that certain feel."

The last image reads, THE FUTURE TOGETHER. The image is of an officer, and human children. He is holding a young boy on his shoulder, and a young girl standing next to him. Thomas shows no emotion and his voice continues in a monotone that he has been using. "Note the image here is of an officer of the appropriate age to be the father of these children."

Tomas stands quietly for a moment, but there is not a sound in the room. "These will go up as posters, and each has been altered for the correct racial profile to that particular country. Are there any questions?" No, one speaks so he walks back to his seat.

John stands, and faces the quiet room. "This is a first I must say, I am not used to the quiet. Thank you Tomas. For the rest of you, I understand the anxiety you are feeling. The Mike Donovan debacle that has happened is going to cause problems no matter what we do! At least they were not released to the general human population. For now, we just try to manipulate as best we can. Also, I know that you are all interested in what is happening with the Whipelli clans since four of the clan leaders were charged with treason."

Suddenly everyone begins to speak at once and the hostility rages through the room as though the anger can no longer be contained. Some want to know where Mike Donovan is. How could this happen on the same ship that John The Supreme Commander is using to control the invasion. Others are demanding to know about what has happened to the Clan Leaders, and more information as to why. What will happen when the Youth Leaders and other Youth Corp members find out?

John clears his throat, and looks around the room as he comes to his feet and leans forward abruptly with his arms firmly braced on the small table he has had set before him as a stern look graces his face. "If you remember we have always understood this to be a risk with the humans seeing our true selves. Its why most of our Youth Leaders are Whipelli; if some accident occurred they are as close to human as we are going to be. And yes, this is the ship the Mike fiasco happened on. However, it could have been any. ANY ship, with any of their journalists indulging in their whims." His eyes shift about those sitting in the room. We are going to the next stage. Starting now as you know we are enacting the next phase. The takeover of their governments!"

Harry the commander of the Chicago ship stands, "Sir we understand this could eventually happen. However, it was stated previously that human resistance will follow if something like this occurred."

John, shakes his head and a hint of snarl appears on his lips as he speaks firmly. "Yes, we understand a disaster like this will build resistance to our occupation. We know this as a possibility, because if this was happening to us we would resist as well. We will use the conversion process on those in their governments that we have identified as central in controlling the humans. We will also, continue to bring their young people into the Regime. Most certainly, we will continue to take their scientists, and those we identify as potential resistance leaders."

Harry for some reason chuckles. "Why, was it ever thought that this would go easily?" He shakes his head from side to side as to display how absurd to think that disaster was never looming over them.

The room is quiet, but most are staring at John or Harry. The rest whisper amongst themselves.

John says nothing for a few moments. There were twelve ships who had not sent a commander or representative, but he is able to see the commanders from the monitor in front of him. From the audio device he can catch comments from time to time in the background. He is undecided how to address Harry's remark. He takes a deep breath trying to maintain a tone of composure and command, but still imply he is not amused. "Not sure why you think this is funny. It was never going to be easy."

Harry glares, "It was represented as being that easy. Trust me, we all knew it would not be. There were so many emergency plans, and protocols prepared if ever needed. I am now wondering, how many of our people may die at the hands of human resistance. None of this makes sense as to why we are truly here. If we are not going to leave the Youth Corp and colonize, then we should destroy the planet, take whatever we are here for; and be done with it. Does any officer believe it is for water?"

John returns Harry's glare, but he takes a deep breath. Then he smiles slightly, and sits slowly into his chair. "Nothing is ever easy. If it were that easy the Bateen would have been here already. With every mission there will be casualties."

Harry shakes his head as he leans forward in his chair. His face is hard, "It is because of our presence that that the Bateen have not come. We have never tried to take another world from its people. EVER!" He looks around. "Why this planet?"

John sighs audibly he feels like he is now giving a history lesson, "We have had this conversation so many times to have it again. The planet Avena that we are currently colonizing, or at least trying to, had no intelligent life forms as far we know. The other two that we have personally seen are far superior in technology, whether we like that or not. Their civilizations have been around far, far longer than ours. We have no advantage in trying to take their planet or their colony planets. Our people are barely older than humans. We were just lucky that we had the power source that we have. One may I remind you the Bateen know of, and want for themselves; and likely others that we do not know of. Our power source is as we now know is rare."

From the look of the officers they are not happy; he must try and get them to rally together. He stands once again before speaking, "We stick to the protocols, we adapt the emergency plans when needed. We are prepared and have the staff needed to adapt and implement what is required." John pauses for a moment, "We will work on subverting humans against those we know will cause problems. As for Mike Donovan how long can he hide? Eventually we will find him; and either use the conversion procedure on him to bend him to our will, or execute him secretly or in some fake trial. If that is not to be, than a scripted news broadcast will be used to feed further fear in humans." He nods to Oliver the Chief Security officer.

Oliver stands; as John sits and looks again towards the door wondering why Diana has not arrived.

The Security Commander leads the discussion for an hour going over the protocols, and emergency plans to be put in place. He has images brought up on the large screen, and makes comments. Questions are taken, and discussed. Just as he finishes the doors opens and Diana enters. Following her is Steven and Martin. Diana takes her place next to John, and Steven and Martin remain standing at the doors.

A woman with short dark hair, and average build stands with her hands on her hips. Kathy is the commander of the Seattle ship. Her voice is hard, "What of the Youth Leaders? One of my Youth Leaders is a son of one of the Whipelli Clan Leaders who was charged. We were told we would finally get the information at this meeting."

John leans slightly forward, "Yes, and a plan is in place. First, further information has finally been released to me, and has been decrypted."

Kathy and the others in the room stare at John in anticipation of the news.

John shakes his head as even he is still in disbelief. He keeps his voice calm and simply stares ahead as he speaks. "All mountain Clan Leaders have been taken into custody. Not just the four previously named. Most of their Clan Council as well. Torture, and execution on the first four taken to show what happens to those who do not serve Our Great Leader with the devotion he deserves. The rest have been simply executed. The families of those executed have been taken into custody, and this includes young children. The names of those taken will be released to you. It will be your responsibility to give the information to the other officers on your ship." He turns his head scanning the faces of those in the room trying to read their faces.

There is a long moment of quiet in the room, before a few begin inquiring with what is happening with the Youth Corp members; especially the Youth Leaders.

An officer in the back stands his tone and stance stiff, "Almost all Youth Leaders are Whipelli and are now being given extensive training in specialized fields. Too, much time and effort has taken place to get them to this point. How can we replace them? How can we trust them?"

Kathy looks directly at John giving him a hard look. "You do understand this is a dangerous situation. This may actually be worse than any human resistance that may come against us. These young people have been selected not only for intelligence. Some have superior innovative thinking, others are noted for the ability to convince even those fiercely against some idea to join them. Others are sure to become gifted military strategists. This list goes on and on. Selected, trained and placed now in positions that can make them very dangerous. On my own ship the very Youth Leader whose father was tortured and executed, is an aide to our military strategist. One of the most noted strategist on our planet. This is frightening. We need to sadly deal with these young people. I am sorry they are so young, but we cannot compromise this mission."

"We are not going to be compromising anything." Johns voice has taken on a hard edge and he is shaking slightly with a difficult problem that must be addressed, but done in a way that does not cause further alarm. He continues speaking, but the sharp tone has not left as he speaks. "Plus if we did remove all of the Youth Corp, this would cause concern among the crew. Therefore, Diana and Eileen have made changes to the bonding procedure. It will now become more like a conversion session."

Another ship commander stands, his voice has a whispering timbre to it as he speaks, "I hope you don't mind. Conversion? I don't want to have some fearful robots on my ship, individuals who are supposed to be training to take more commanding roles for the mission. Later if things go as hoped, we will be leaving selected individuals for colonization...ah, something that they have not been notified of. I rather they are not looking to be told what to do or not be trusted with controlling the planet when most of our ships leave."

John smiles slightly, and he nods his head. "Diana as I said is currently working on this. Diana," John waves to her, "Please tell us how this will work."

Diana stands, and walks over to him. John also stands and taking her hand he whispers in her ear. "Where have you been?"

She smirks, and whispers. "Oh, that. I finished that."

John stares at her unsure if this is true, or if she is talking about something else.

She gives John a final glance, then shrugging she turns to those in the room. "I have good news for all of you. We have finished what is not a bonding, and yet not conversion. They will still be able to do their free thinking, and command others as needed. Just as they are learning to do now. Their complete devotion to Our Great Leader will be unwavering." Diana holds up a hand. "If you are fearful if there are those it will not work on, they will all go to their counselor immediately after the session. Not only will they go through a very long session with them, but a test to ensure they are not lying. We have records on each, which indicates when they are lying. You will not lose them; you are gaining even more dedicated Youth Corp members. They will be as you discover more devoted than ever."

Several questions are answered, and all appears to be going well when Ivan of the Moscow ship stands stiffly. John knows that Ivan will support him, but if something bothers him, Ivan won't let it go. All John can do is brace himself. The short, stocky man looks to the others, and then turns to John. "Exactly why were the Clan Leaders sentenced to death for treason? It cannot be for not fulfilling quotas. The mountain people work better as their own community, whether we like it or not. We have a child from nearly all of the Clan leadership, I am certain they would not endanger the lives of their children." Ivan simply sits awaiting John's response.

"Martin I must ask you to leave." John shrugs, "We must keep this confidential, even though you know so much already."

Martin simply nods, and leaves the room.

"This information is going to be sent in a confidential report to you. So I am not going to give a lot of detail, besides we are all aware of how the power crystals are formed. Anyway as you know the large, flying wetthi lives on the northern mountains. How this lizards endures the sub-zero climate of their winters is unnatural. After they defecate, the small budion eats the feces after it dries. For some reason when the budion urinate they do it in the same place. The cold winters freezes this warm urine very quickly. It stacks up and the beginning of crystallization begins, and we are to this day unable to duplicate the crystals this creates. Something due to the animals, the food they eat, or the what we don't know. Let's face it all we care about is the crystals it creates and that we utilize to power our ships. One of the reason's to take the mountains was for the crystals so many years ago."

John pauses, he dislikes what he is going to say. "After The Whipelli surrendered their mountains to Our Great One, they then volunteered to mine and give up freely the crystals. We have used the crystals to navigate space, to come here; and also so we could use them to colonize Avena. It turns out the Whipelli have been smuggling wetthi eggs, and young budion to Avena. Originally we gave permission for them to begin sending all of their priesthood to Avena, and this is how they were able to hide what they were doing. They have been doing this from the beginning. At the time we were happy to rid the planet of their priests, and a religion no one understands. The more Whipelli that left, well the less mountain people we had to deal with. Then it was discovered that they had been smuggling the eggs, and young mammals."

Again he pauses. "We believe they had been prepared if they were caught to poison all of the wetthi, and all of the budion that they were able to find. We don't know what possessed them. We do know that none of their children knew, for obvious reasons. These children have given themselves freely to the Regime, and would have turned their parents in..." A hard look crosses John's face, "Of, this I am quite sure."

The room is silent. Even Diana looks stunned.

Harry is the first to speak. "Suddenly I know I am not so sure I want the Whipelli breathing, if this is true. No, matter how gifted they are, or good at fulfilling their assignments."

Diana has calmed herself, and with a small laugh says in a condescending way. "Again we have an extreme bonding procedure. We may not even need it. Remember these young people would have turned their parents into the Regime long ago if they knew. However, we will ensure all is in place. For those that fail any of the safeguard tests. . . Well they will be executed quietly."

John raises a hand, "You will get the results after the testing. If you question one of their loyalty. Let us know. They will be sent here, and Diana will decide if another bonding should be done." He shrugs, "Or something else should be done."

Diana and John answer further questions. Finally, Diana holds a hand up indicating discussion is over. "Tomorrow your Youth Corp counselor will arrange the schedules to each of the Youth Corp members. For us a Youth Leader named Brian is one ours, he has been very dedicated to our cause and he, I promise you he will be first to undergo the new bonding procedure. We will know for a certainty that all is working as expected.

Kathy stands suddenly, "Has this been tested, or not?"

All eyes move to Diana. She smiles, "Of course, it has been tested. We wouldn't be doing this if not."

John stares at Diana. He doubts very much this new bonding procedure has been tested.

Finally the meeting ends. He watches as they file out. The look of fear, or concern is on more than half of their faces. He shrugs. Just another obstacle is all. He smiles. This will of course all work out. Mike Donovan will be found, and dealt with. Human resistance found, and including any resistance on any of their ships. Yes, they can't fail. They were meant to succeed. After they have completed their mission here; Avena will be dealt with next.

The Great Leader was meant to rule all. Therefore, they cannot fail. He can feel the strength of his Great Leader surrounding him. All is good, there will never be anyone or anything that has the strength and divine power of the Great One. He sighs he is so thankful to serve, and show his devotion. If the ancients existed and were truly guiding his world...then the Great One was created to lead not only his people, but the Universe. John nods and places his hand to his chest. 'Thank you Great One for including me in your divine design.'