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The next morning over breakfast, the council discussed all the options we would care to present to CS. I waited until everyone had finished eating and no one was taking a drink before I spoke. I didn’t want anyone having to perform the Heimlich because of my news. “I know this sounds crazy, but I was visited by Sumiko last night during an OBE.” Seamus’ head swiveled toward me and I thought for a moment he might attack. “She says to tell you she misses you.”
His entire countenance softened. “When are we going to rescue her?” he asked for what seemed to be the hundredth time.
“I confirmed she does wish it so. I also learned some very informative news which we will be using to our advantage.” I continued, filling them in. “Now, what other options do we want to consider?”
“Is the aerial bombardment still an option?” Seamus asked with a grin.
“Yes it is, in fact Bea will be preparing our bomber as soon as we’re finished here. After yesterday’s flagrant demonstration of abusive power, we must retaliate.” I let that sink in.
“We may also use it as the distraction we’ve been searching for during the rescue mission,” I clarified. “It’s extreme, and I didn’t want to commit us to violence unless there’s no other way. But the attack can’t go unanswered. However, as no damage or injury was caused, it will be a dummy bomb. Bea is fabricating something suitable to at least make CS think it’s an EMP device.”Grins erupted around the table.
“Sampson suggested we voluntarily separate from the remaining Minsa population permanently and immediately. No further contact,” Sherry stated. “I agree with one exception. We must allow the continued migration of any and all supplicants.” She paused, considering. “Surely CS doesn’t see the migration of three to four hundred people as a threat to the continuation of their civilization.”
“Surely they do,” Terse countered. “They still expect every one of the people to return for reprogramming. The components for the large teleporter station arrived at dawn.”
“Or we may be able to establish a quota of supplicants. Perhaps it would agree to a one-for-one exchange with new assimilants from Earth,” Sampson responded. “Sherry had a brilliant idea, if it’s possible. Show CS how to rearrange existing Minsa physiology to allow them once again to give birth.”
The silence in the room was overwhelming as all present contemplated the results of such an action. “That is, without a doubt, the most innovative idea we’ve had yet. If I had money I’d give you a huge bonus,” I grinned at her.
“I don’t know if it’s even possible,” she explained. “We may have to use human physiology. Then CS would have to make some creative interpolation to determine feasibility. I’m fairly certain nursing will be out of the question. That’s an entirely different endocrine and pituitary process than they may have ever had.”
“So, you don’t believe they nursed their young?” Sampson asked, perplexed.
“No, not so,” she replied. “I just don’t know if the process humans developed will be anywhere near what evolution did for the Minsa.”
“We’ll also continue to support the religious preferences of all supplicants,” Sampson added.
“As our olive branch, we might encourage the preparation of the vessel to start the migration of willing human assimilants,” Sari interjected.
“Very well, I suggest we prepare for our next contact,” I said, drawing the meeting to a close. “The flyers have four crew positions and I feel like I might need some additional support. Dr. Semican, you and Seamus will accompany Terse and I. Chain of command, should something happen, will be Sari and Sampson.” I had designated differently before because it had been a tactical situation. Now I was thinking about the management and leadership of the colony.
I paused, hesitating as to whether I wanted to reveal my secondary plan. When it became obvious from the expectant faces that the council was waiting for something else from me, I decided. “Bea has volunteered to take another flyer in at treetop level and penetrate their population center airspace during our conversation with CS. I want them to sweat like we did for at least a little while.” All heads nodded in agreement, although Terse gave me a peculiar look.
What I didn’t tell them was Bea had Yuri and Raven with her. We expected CS to put everyone on lockdown, leaving the hub abandoned. After they dropped the dummy bomb, the plan was to land and have Sumiko lead them to the access panel she had discovered. They had orders to stun any Persuaders encountered. They also expected the Persuaders to return fire, or perhaps even initiate it. They would be carrying heavy, long-range weapons. Bea and I had talked long into the evening, planning for every conceivable possibility.
A radio-controlled explosive would be placed inside the panel. Then it would be booby-trapped to detonate if any attempt were made to disarm it. Finally, the access panel would be fused shut. This was to be our ace-in-the-hole in case CS should become uncooperative in the future.
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THE SECOND TIME WE went aloft, CS responded immediately. It was almost as if they’d been expecting us. We pitched all of our ideas, culminating in our offers of one-for-one exchange and support to resurrect the reproductive process of the Minsa. The system was silent for long enough we began to discuss whether it had simply hung up on us. We had decided to land when CS responded.
“Operational protocols can be created for the process. The raw materials are available for a select number of conversions,” it stated. “Many citizens responded affirmatively when the general option was relayed. What time frame will be necessary for the Doctor to begin the procedures?”
“Do you mean surgical procedures?” Sherry asked. She sounded uncertain as to whether CS had misunderstood the recommendation.
“Of course not,” it replied primly. “Surgery is a primitive and barbaric process. The procedure refers to the doctor detailing to Central Service the requirements necessary to perform the adaptation.”
“Of course,” Sherry replied, no longer disconcerted. “I can begin immediately. Where will I need to be to affect this informational transfer?”
“Assimilant Sumiko will meet you at the same location from which Terse departed your vehicle during his last visit. We will also require one male human to scan for reproductive replication data uptake.”
“None of our males wish assimilation,” I informed it quickly. “Neither do any other members of our party.” This was beginning to sound like a ploy.
“Assimilation is not required,” it informed us. “Only physiological and essential biological scanning is needed. It can be done in public to allay any suspicions.”
“Does Central Service have any record of the Minsa from when they were capable of reproduction?” Sherry continued. “Or of the people nurturing their infants with sustenance produced naturally by the mother?”
“The production of gametes by Minsa is shown in the history, although the makeup is unavailable,” CS responded. “Sufficient analysis of human gametes should suffice for the data required to modify the DNA of Minsa who wish to reproduce. There is only referential data on natural nourishment. This process will be accomplished by Central Service until such time as the offspring can be assimilated.”
The silence in the flyer was palpable. “Assimilate the offspring?” Seamus was first to speak. “We’ve recommended helping the Minsa begin reproducing again. This should mean you will no longer have to assimilate your populace,” he said. “These new Minsa will also be capable of reproduction. That would negate your population concerns, would it not? Why assimilate? Furthermore, do you intend to keep the offspring isolated from the population until they’re physically mature?”
“The Minsa share a common awareness,” it offered. “Until the offspring are mature, they will be educated by Central Service. This will assure continued compliance with Central Service directives.”
“Now, hold on...” I began, but Terse cut me off by gently laying his hand on my forearm.
“Joacim, consider that you have just successfully convinced an entire planet to alter their current awareness of their reproductive cycle. You’re about to introduce an entirely new process into their civil society,” he explained softly. “Surely you wouldn’t expect them to adopt your societal standards? That would require them to abandon their culture in exchange for species survival?”
“Just so,” I replied after a moment’s consideration. “I will be the male sample for the process. When would Central Service like to begin?”
“Captain,” Sherry began.
“Joacim, no,” Seamus blurted.
I held my hand up for silence. “I am the least essential of all the crew to continue our survival. I have no specific training or skill set. I’m just an inventor and physical scientist. I will not allow any of my crew to be jeopardized in any fashion.”
“Very well,” CS confirmed. “We shall coordinate...Alert! Planetary threat protocol has been declared,” it said. “All Minsa will move to their designated interior protection zones. Repeating...”
We decided we might as well land until Bea’s shock-and-awe campaign was over.
And so we had begun our negotiations.