John
Watching Over Earth
"Sir, do you require anything else?"
There is a long pause. "No, I will call if I require anything."
The aide gives a quick nod and turns walking out the door leaving a weary John alone. He is becoming tired of this assignment; one he had expected so much more from. At the very least satisfaction in his dedication to his people and to the Great One. His mind refuses to concentrate on the work in front of him. He folds his arms loosely across his chest and listens to the silence in the room as though it will force him to leave his wandering thoughts alone.
He smiles and remembers this morning with Nancy. She and Jack were heading to the Houston ship for a seminar on the new bleaching and dying they were being asked to perform. The idea is to begin on Whipelli, but the hopes is to have a few higher ranking officers accept some responsibility. He smiles, she knew not to ask him as he did not allow bleaching and dying on several parts of his body. No, one touches under his eye or his private areas. Of course, Diana had most certainly declined. Many others as well, but Nancy...he chuckles. Nancy believes she and Jack can talk Martin into it. Martin may not be a higher ranking officer, but he deserves his rank. There are some like Diana who most certainly do not. She has her rank due to the project she is working on with the Great One.
John smiles, bleaching and dying. Bleaching is not really bleaching it is a chemical treatment to allow for the correct hue to be applied to the skin. Ranking officers generally just had their palms done. Those working at the plants and the Youth Corp had to endure this procedure to ensure that an accident did not betray their true selves. It was definitely a procedure one had to endure; at least for the first time. The process was painful; the individual was normally put to sleep when it was done the first time. The touch-ups were another issue. No one was put to sleep; numbing medication was applied and the procedure was done; after that the individual was walked to their room to rest awaiting the few hours of unbearable biting numbness to disappear. No, no one was doing this to him and he would never sign up for it.
As for this morning he had ambled down the hall as he felt he was doing with his life lately. He definitely is weary of this assignment and he has not been here that long. This is not war, nor protecting the home world, and this is not colonizing. War is hard, but you knew why you were there. This project is filled with too many secrets and the orders keep changing. Yes, he is tired.
He chuckles, Nancy for days had been relentless for him to come down before she went to the seminar. Once he got there of course she gave him a hard time about his skin care. Nancy then scolded him for not keeping to his maintenance schedule and to stop putting it off. For some reason he had enjoyed her nagging. He had told her, 'It's hard to maintain something as small as skin maintenance with my busy schedule'. She of course just shook her head and said, no more excuses. Now that he is back behind his desk, he now considers today's maintenance as a welcome time away from work. John looks at his device, in fact he wishes he wasn't back.
John remembers when he was very young. The Banteen had been tracking his people as they began to study other planets and to colonize three planets and a moon. It did not take long for the Banteen to capture a small colony ship and discover the crystals which powered it. Immediately the Banteen came and demanded the power crystals. This was when his people realized they had something not found yet on any other planet. In fact, there is nothing similar found on any other planet to this day. Well, except for the colony of Avena where mountain people have gone on a volunteer basis to what was considered a risky planet by most. Avena is not between Sullam Voe and Earth, rather Earth is in the middle of the path to Avena. It seemed like a good idea to have a planet in which exploration ships could dock and do what was needed before either moving on in their exploration or in their return to home. Then counting Earth as a docking planet as well makes things even better. The exploration that could happen seems endless. That is what he the young John and now the older John would like. To explore, to actually hold ones hand out in peace to another species and learn...learn so many things. He shakes his head, he is no longer young, time is no longer on his side. His life long dreams can never be, even when you think that you have every resource to actually reach your goal and fulfill that dream. No, there always seems to be someone or something that refuses to allow a life long dream to be fulfilled, and he knows he is not the only one to feel this way.
As for Avena he is surprised no other worlds have colonized this planet. Besides exploration there is another reason to colonize Avena. There are those like even the Great One's brother who can be banished and yet be useful to the cause and their people on the home world. Also, many Whipelli who are considered risks were asked to colonize or face trial and likely execution for whatever contrived issue was used against them. The Whipelli were not only allowed, but pressed to bring many of the small budion mammals and the lizard-like wetthi to the colony planet. These animals are the creatures who begin the odd process of creating the formation of the crystals. Those first crystals that were literally begun on Avena may be ready for use in fact. Their strength and length of usage will not be as long as the older crystals, but still Avena is on its way to having its own power. No, more need to send crystals to the colony or at least not as many.
There are reasons that many feel that Avena is a risky colony planet and are grateful that troublemakers and Whipelli are being forced to colonize. Fom their observations other intelligent beings have apparently explored, but left immediately. Also, it appears that the planet never produced its own intelligent life form, this in itself is odd. After all intelligent life could have died of various reasons, but no evidence has been found to believe this ever happened. It makes no sense and making it odder is the fact that even the Banteen have left the planet alone. Then again it may be that the planet is not a comfortable fit for most alien peoples. For all of their exploration the only aliens they have actually seen alive are the Banteen and the humans. John sighs and feels a bit of discomfort. Humans and his people are very similar; not just in the way they look, but the way they think and feel. Also, if not for the crystals his people would be no further along in technology than the humans. Hard to believe his people are not much older than the human race.
He scowls, the way they intend to use the humans as time goes by is not good. In a hundred years though how will his people and the humans deal with each other. Will the humans be gone altogether or will they become partners in keeping the Banteen away from their home worlds. From artifacts found on desolate planets where once a people flourished; those people were very different. He chuckles, who would think that humans are closes to his people. Why? Why, were his people and the humans so similar? Maybe the Great One is correct. There was or is an ancient people that have invested in some worlds and the animals that would once become the intelligent life form of those planets.
John, turns back to his device and sends out a meeting request for this evening with Steven about his current second. Steven, is growing unhappy once again with his second and is looking to move an aide into this position. He knows Steven has his own issues, his endless criticism of Diana is tiring. John knows that neither Steven or Diana seem to realize he knows of their constant undermining of each other. Once others may not have known of this, but they are so relentless that every ranking officer knows of their bickering. He hopes to use the meeting tonight to discuss the issues that Steven has.
Then he sighs deeply as he goes back to his thought's when his people had their first official meeting of an alien race. It was a difficult time with the Banteen threatening invasion if their request was not fulfilled. He may have been very young at the time, but the fear was something he could understand from each adults face. It is also a lesson they learned on things that would be needed when they came to Earth for their first official meeting with the humans. All must appear peaceful; nothing that can cause nervousness and fear. Humans have issues with their people being of different hues and religion. An alien race that comes with green skin and different eyes could cause humans to attack even if his people had come for nothing more than to initiate peaceful contact.
Somehow, his people had been able to discuss and offer to trade with the Banteen. Everyone was thrilled that the trade was made and they left. His parents had told him his people were still nervous, yet they had been hopeful. They prepared for battle, but nothing happened for years. The people had a democracy at that time and they went after the Whipelli who were not part of their government. In fact, his father held office in the Unified Lands of the People as their government was called before the Regime. The reason of course was to take control of the crystals, just as the Banteen had threatened to do. The Whipelli refused to capitulate and join the Unified Lands of the People. His people then dropped poisonous toxin on one of the clans. He hates this part of the story as he knows that the mountain people were not planning to bring the Unified Lands down. His father had tried to campaign against this move. He was voted down and the people in this clan died heinous deaths by the toxic poison. Those few that survived died years later and many in the second generation also died due to affects of this poison. Although he has heard the toxic poison spread around most of the mountains the other clans survived. He has been told it was due to their unique genes which were able to adapt allowing them to live on without any further effect. The Whipelli after this disaster immediately joined Unified Lands and agreed to fulfill quotas for the crystals and items from their communal farms. Each clan gave their ceremonial sword as part of their joining the Unified Lands. To this day the swords are displayed in the Great Hall of what was once the Unified Lands. The Whipelli were asked. No, not asked, they were told that the shields were to remain hanging in their own ceremonial halls. A true reminder that they must serve the ruling government, which is now the Regime.
Then the Banteen came back, as they could not grow or engineer the crystals. Only his people had them and this made them vulnerable and the Banteen did attack relentlessly. However, his people were prepared and they pushed them back. The Banteen then went after two of the colonies, both were destroyed completely.
As for Sullam Voe the devastation was bad, but his people had already done so much to destroy their planet environmentally. Earth is on its way to being destroyed as the humans are as blind as his people as they are doing so many of the same things his people had done. It makes him wonder if the Banteen had done the same to their home world. No one seems to know where this home world is. His thought is they destroyed so much of their world that they could not save it. Given time his people can repair their world and water will help in this process. Sadly, he knows they are not here for just the water as they could have gotten the water from other places and just sent their ships to Earth on some other excuse. He is now being asked by those who do not know the total reason for their being here. They question continuously if they need to get the water from here and if so why not fill a few ships with water and send them home. Enough ships to protect themselves from Banteen, but deliver some water home. Just keep doing this; sending a few ships home at a time. Then send them back as well and maybe allowing some crew to remain home and bring fresh crew on board. The hope that the crew can rotate and be with family for a few months would greatly improve morale. He sighs, what can he say...no, never happening. Not part of the plan.
John's thoughts shift again as he remembers the day he had volunteered for service as a young man. He took great pride when he went out to fight and although he had not finished his officers training he was quickly promoted. At first he had committed himself fully with no doubts. In the end, sending young men out in those fighters against the Banteen knowing the likelihood of returning was doubtful and from their faces they knew that their chances of returning were slim, began to wear his enthusiasm to an almost robotic emotional state. Their faces haunt him to this day. Now he feels like he was too young for his assignment, he has never been able to fully push away the memories of that war. He keeps these thoughts to himself, but this assignment is causing mixed feelings in himself.
It took time, but the Banteen had finally backed away. John was so grateful when he was able to go home, but home was not the same. The mountain people were basically under some strange house arrest. They still had food and power crystal quotas to fulfill if they did not wish to see further arrests. And the arrests of Whipelli women or as it is now called protective custody is still on going. He had heard rumors that these women had the gift of Future Dream and that this came about due to a combination of some gift and the banal organ that keeps the mountain people warm in their cold winters. These women have had their banal removed and they died. The Great One claims that he also posseses this gift and can guide his people to a future he has seen for them. The future he claims that was laid out for them by ancient aliens who have manipulated his world to ensure that his people become the caregivers and protectors of the known universe. John doesn't know what to make of this, but the Great One has not revealed this to many so he feels prevlidged to have had him share this with him.
Further changes had found that the Ibrea had begun to travel north leaving their desert villages; the deserts have become more of a land of the dead. Not just the Ibrea were finding their homes unable to support them. His people were struggling, the weather had become relentless in its destruction, it was making it difficult to grow crops and raise farm animals. The jungles were shrinking every year. Except in the northern mountains the air quality everywhere else made it difficult for those already struggling with health issues. The Whipelli were well suited for their cold mountains, and except for the Ibrea though, no one wanted to move there. Sixty below winters was not ideal for Dahax or Depol, you really needed that organ the Whipelli and Ibrea had to stay warm. Although from his understanding humans could endure the mountain environment and they didn't even have the banal to keep them warm.
John shakes his head remembering the world he came home to. All his medals and supposed acts of heroism seemed of no value. His world had not really changed much, but he was now more aware as were many others. This is when the Great One reached out to his people. His passion and his goals for their world united them all. Well, at least most of them. He joined the revolt which put the Great One in power. Things have improved and he knows his devotion to the Great One is without hesitation.
He frowns, then there are individuals like Diana and others who make it difficult to do what he feels is the correct way to commit to their project. The pods in the ship are to take humans back home as food, possible ground soldiers or slaves. In fact, Diana has decided to quietly introduce human meat into the diet of the Dahax. There are farm animals on Earth, there is no need to make humans into food. Therefore, he had forbid this project to move forward. Then came orders from the Great One to do as suggested by Diana as this will have their people embrace humans as not intelligent beings. All he can do is shake his head. If the Dahax find out, what feelings will they keep hidden; meaning anger. Anger and fear have a way of motivating people and if you have the right leaders things can happen. He knows, he supported the Great One's rebellion; unhappy people will find a way to strike back. John sees this as a bad decision.
Another bad decision is making someone like Diana, his second-in-command. She has no honor, knows nothing about people and their emotional needs and turmoil. Lastly, she is here for the project that she and the Leader are working on. It is getting harder by the day to keep himself upbeat and positive, but he must. Somehow he has become more a politician like his father once was than a military commander.
His thoughts return to the pods. Eventually, everyone will know that the pods are holding food that will be used here as well as home. He knows from some of the reaction of lower ranking officers that even taking humans as forced soldiers or slaves is creating some discord. He can't seem to get Diana or her followers to understand that this will cause a rift with not only the Dahax, but other crew members. Sadly, more monitoring may very well be needed. He shakes his head, at times he feels like he really isn't in charge.
John sighs and returns to his conversation with Nancy which he enjoyed. He is going to ensure that his maintenance is done on a far more regular basis. She gave him a moment of peace and at the same time brought those thoughts back to him, thoughts that he can't seem to grasp. Sometimes, you must face uncomfortable thoughts; if you don't, you can't really let them go or find a way to soften them.
John's device sounds. "Yes, Rita. I assume that Jack and Nancy have arrived."
"I assume as much. Martin is here as well. He and Sadie are going over some sort of pilot programs. I was disappointed that you did not join us. I would have enjoyed another meeting as I am sure our captain would have."
"I may need to go to the Washington D.C. ship and I must prepare. As you know humans are having a difficult time with the price of commodities going up. In fact, in some cases higher than some can pay. Some of this is due to us, unfortunately there are humans taking advantage of this situation as well. Not much I can do or any of us."
"I understand, a common complaint. If you go, I hope that you can find a way to resolve or find some humans to be given the blame for the problem." Rita is frowning and craning her neck as if to see if there are others in the room with him, which is funny as it is a visual of him and his room, she can't see anymore than what is right in front of her. "I am concerned though on some reports of...I am not sure what to say. We have Youth Corp members and crew reporting that they have heard rumors of groups of humans...Again, not sure how to say this. Resistance groups."
John shrugs and keeps his voice calm. "I am alone for the moment." He gives her a reassuring smile. "Resistance is expected at some point as well as opposition from our own people. However, with the new bonding done on our Youth Corp, we most certainly have living weapons at our disposal. The Youth Leaders were chosen for their ability to manipulate and read individuals. They are training the Visitor Friends to insert themselves into daily activities and get the names of problematic humans. As for the rest of Youth Corp their devotion is beyond question, I can't imagine them hesitating for anything asked of them. Again they are very well at reading not just humans, but others. What I can do is advise that they begin to watch for unhappy crew members. I will have to setup a task group for this to outline what to look for and who to communicate with when they have those names and what may have been said. We may have to create a small division for them to report to when they believe they have heard something. It will take a little time, but can be easily done. We have a department for that already so adding a small more secretive division for the Youth Corp to discreetly speak to will not take much."
Rita stares at him and shakes her head. "Thank you. We unfortunately have a lot riding on the Youth Corp and its Leaders honoring and fulfilling their responsibilities. I just wish they were not all so young, which is another worry, but that one is just me."
"I understand as there are many who feel the Youth Corp has nothing to do with the military; they see it as more of a club for children that has been turned into something else. They think we spent more time in training them for their current assignments rather than being trained as soldiers. They fail to understand these young people can do things that others twice their age will not be able to perform." He chuckles and Rita joins him, his goal is to not to form another group to monitor each other, he just wants her to ask for this idea to not move forward. He feels that he is close to dissuading her; this is not the first time he has people trying to hint at something similar. It is always best that people make the decision on their own if possible and it saves time in having to have detailed arguments with them. Then he loses the smile; one more stray comment to have Rita feel how wrong her idea is. "It is the Youth Corp that interacts with humans more than anyone else on our ships. With the new bonding procedure they have had, well you or anyone else will never question their loyalty."
She shakes her again and this time he can see an expression of worry as she winces. "I am not uneasy about the Youth Corp. I am not so sure of that blurred alien facial training they did, but yes their devotion as of late is amazing." Rita bites her lip for a moment. "I do disagree about asking them to watch crew and lower ranking officers for this may cause more issues. Crew will become uncomfortable around them. The Youth Corp are likely not the correct individuals for this kind of monitoring; it is almost like spying. As you said, they are like weapons. Let us not cause an issue later, at least that is my thought on their monitoring ship personnel. John, we have to be aware that we are allowing crew to take some relaxation time on Earth. Some work closely with humans and will form friendships. It is hard to have unshakable loyalties as the Youth Corp have. Everyone knows they are committed to Our Great One." Rita winces again. "The Youth Corp is everywhere is all, most don't talk to them as they feel like they have nothing in common with them I have watched people talking as though the Youth Corp member wasn't even standing there. That includes if it is a Youth Leader standing right in front of them...We don't want their trust to be skewed."
He had not thought about this. The Youth Corp wasn't really known for interacting with the crew. Actually, they weren't known with interacting with anyone but other Youth Corp members. "I will think more on this. We do need everyone to trust them due to their work." He chuckles as Rita may be right. However, Downstair Kids would be a better choice with the crew, who would be concerned of a child. Suddenly many little ideas come to him, but how many can you have that are literally monitoring people. "Looks like you may be correct on this one as far as the crew and finding a subtle way for monitoring. We like to think that we are all committed, but things can happen. Let us leave this conversation alone for now. Human monitoring is another subject and we are working on it and have long before we arrived. Your issue is..." John holds a hand out to her to continue speaking.
She nods her head to him. "Thank you, I do worry about the crew and the longer they associate with humans." Then she looks about again. "I am worried about the humans as time goes on and their putting together some secret army. They most certainly will not be able to win against us, but it may put thoughts in the crew that we don't want. I am not talking about the monitoring of the crew, but the influence of humans. Those humans involved with causing problems will not reveal anything to known Visitor Friends members, insurrection that even their own family will ensure is hidden from them. Our hidden operatives may never know of any of these plans until to late."
For a moment John looks away. "First, the blurred facial training as it is being called is good. They know they are with humans, but they don't truly embrace the difference. This is good as we all know for they will work with humans even...say, they are left as colonists. It is better for them. Makes it easier for them to work with humans. Now for the crew, they know they are among humans period and most have little interaction with them. Unlike the Youth Corp, they see humans as humans. Unfortunately, this means the crew has no difficulty with noting the difference between them and their human counterpart. I actually worry more about us as time goes on and comments occur more often." He smiles for a moment, how many times can he say the word human.
Rita shrugs, "Guess you can tell I am not so sure of the blurred facial training. If it wasn't for the fact the Youth Corp is so devoted I may have concerns about a people who could embrace a twelve foot walking purple creature with seven eyes, fourteen arms and that...I don't know what to call it. Ethnic, physical differences blurred into I see the differences, but I choose to ignore those differences. I suppose that behavior is a good one where the human populace has no idea of our true selves. Even if our objective was to give them all of our technology, they would strike out against us just because of what we look like. So, I guess it helps if we do not show our own disdain for their physical differences. Just nervousness I guess, something new and its consequence in the end is unknown." She looks confused as she finishes speaking.
John shrugs, "I believe it is beneficial. I have heard of more than one officer overhearing remarks from crew, for instance about humans as puppies slobbering all over the place. The Youth Corp however, work with humans as they would anyone. They know, but don't recognize; this is a good decision and training that I do not regret having them undergone. I wonder if we should try with some of the younger crew to go through that training. Anyway, I thought we were done with this conversation."
She nods. "I got off track. So many things that we knew and planned for, but you begin to understand that you may not be able to plan for everything and those things we did plan for..." Shaking her head begins again. "Now we are standing at the door hoping all works as expected. I will let that go for now." Rita shrugs. "Still human resistance, how do we recognize these groups? I can't image that they will be large. I know we are trying to integrate the Visitor Friends, but their families and friends know who they are aligning their allegiance with. They won't trust them to say or do anything around them about any support they may be giving to a resistance group, even if the Visitor Friend member is their child. I know from their World War two history that German youth turned in their own parents and family members to that regime."
What can he say. Resistance is something that is expected on both sides; crew and humans. Rita is correct you can't just count on one procedure for monitoring. Those resisting if they are as dedicated as he was in bringing down the government and placing the Great One in power will do the same. They will do as they did in the beginning; you keep updating your plans and learn how to hide until it is safe to rise up and rebel. For now he will just play politician. John smiles, "As for the resistance we have operatives out there who have been amongst them for some time. Hopefully they can keep us updated and allow us to identify and begin monitoring those that may begin any kind of opposition. The Visitor Friends won 't be dressed in uniforms at all times. We will finish training them and then move them to temporary locations to check on rumors that have been taken. They are like secret human spies; something like that. All will be good."
She is shaking her head. "You are just saying what I am saying, but with a positive spin. I will have to go with what you are saying about our spies...if that is a better word. We don't know where resistance will begin and a leader may not be the one you would suspect to take charge. Humans are as complicated as our own people. The Youth Corp may see the fear, stress, or what other emotion is crossing someone's face. However, they are reading people to lead the individual into trust; not as a way to drive hidden truths to come spewing out of someone's mouth."
"All I can tell you is that we are working on this. You know that the Visitor Friends group is one way for us to keep their people in check. Our spies or operatives have been here for years. We have one that trades being a homeless woman and then goes to the place called France and has worked herself into a high profile group of humans. Currently she is in New York City as a poor woman who helps the homeless. She is outstanding in her work as are the others. Our work on finding those that are likely to resist us will be found. Arrested quietly."
"What about the harassment and taking of the human scientists? Not, all of those arrests are silent. In fact, we have not just taken them alive, but executed these scientists before taking them. Humans will question this, or I would if it was happening to our people."
"The humans can't say that it was us, as it not really our people." He shrugs and bites his lip for moment. "We are allowing humans to strike out against the scientists."
"Again that is not really true, we have sent out SSG troopers to kill or take scientists. Eventually humans will become nervous. For now, they strike against the scientists. I am really nervous as to what may be next." Rita looks away from him for a long moment. When she turns back he can see her anxiety.
"I understand. We are following the strategy laid out for us by Our Great One. Let us approach this at our next meeting."
Rita shakes her head and then shrugs. "As you wish."
They speak for a few minutes more and she is gone. John, knows that the next call will happen shortly. It has become endless. He knows the Great Leader wants this to end well, but what is happening is difficult on everyone. At first they did as they have been trained. All of those endless exercises on how to act in this situation or that situation. This had worked out well, but now it is becoming harder. Not one wants to be on an assignment that makes them feel like they have become the Earth peoples Banteen. Eventually, he will need to find something that will bind his people to the Great Ones' will. Something that does not take killing a hundred of his own people so he can blame humans.
A feeling of dizziness and nausea comes over him for a moment. He knew this mission would be difficult. However, his people are not the Banteen. This is not what his people at home would want. Or maybe, maybe they would. He still feels that they can save their world. Maybe it is time to begin moving all of their people to the colony planet of Avena. This of course would leave Earth at the mercy of the Banteen. However, maybe this is the way to go. They can send messages that make it sound like Earth has the crystals. After all the only reason the Banteen have not come to Earth to destroy it for its resources is that his people have been keeping the Banteen away. In the beginning it was in order to go to Avena without continuous fighting so that they could continue their exploration. Now of course, they keep the Banteen away as they want Earth's water.
He smiles. Why not let the Banteen take Earth and destroy it. By the time they finish they should have many of their people moved to Avena or the other colony planet of Feron. Feron has vast resources although the planet has a limited water supply. The water supply though could be increased by simply harvesting water from asteroids; something they should be doing now for their own planet. John frowns, Feron sadly will need a lot of work. Still, increasing the population could actually make it more than worthwhile. The more people with no where else to go, they would work harder to increase fertile soil. The next generation would consider the planet as their home world and would fight to stay or at least in his perspective.
He is not sure why his people or the Great One seem to be against moving to Avena or to Feron. Avena on the other hand is a planet so similar to Sullam Voe and Earth. The planet should have been embraced long ago. Something about Avena though, why have the Banteen or other intelligent peoples not colonized the planet. It has water, fertile soil and the climate matches home and Earth. Yes, it is odd that no one but his own people have decided to settle as the planet is positioned in such a way to be an ideal place to repair problems with ships and restock needed supplies. Also, they have found it does people good for their moral to have time away from the ship. Yet, from what his people have found is that other intelligent beings have come and left as soon as they arrived from what has been learned from the temporary settlements and relics found. They came and left immediately never returning. Maybe there is a reason for other species not to want this planet. Something his people have not discovered that should discourage them from colonizing. Still there is something about Avena that he likes. For now though it is just the world to get as many Whipelli and Ibrea removed from Sullam Voe. Now the second generation that lives there embraces the planet as home.
John shakes his head, it is also the home of another victim removed from the home world to Avena. The Great Ones own brother Secoery. Secoery, also envisioned and created the Bonding procedure for the Youth Corp. He is lucky to be alive though as he was never happy about the rebellion that put his brother in power. Rumors said that the Mihee the Great One wanted his brother removed or dead. Dead would have likely pleased Mihee more, but Secoery has done a great deal in keeping Avena following the Great One.
His device goes off again, he faces his next conversation. Before he speaks he wonders again, why not let the Banteen have Earth. His people should stop guarding this planet and truly care about their own people. With a deep sigh he picks up his device...he must put away his meandering thoughts.
"Yes, Diana are you sure you would not like to discuss this in person." John sighs as he listens to her reply, he knows he is in for yet another long conversation. "I am ready why don't we go over..."