Earth is Quarantined

The Earth is Quarantined

By

Glenn L. Erickson

Copyright 2019 Glenn L. Erickson

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not buy it, or it wasn’t purchased for you, then please return to Smashwords.com and get your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

I wish to thank Ricardo Midence for his beautiful cover art. Should anyone also want to avail themselves of Ricardo’s talents, you can contact him at:

Ricardo.midence@gmail.com

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1: Our First Close Encounter

Chapter 2: Confrontation at Neptune

Chapter 3: We meet our Hosts

Chapter 4: Conflict

Chapter 5: New Neighbors

Chapter 6: The Council

Chapter 7: Confrontation

Chapter 8: Jess

Chapter 9: The Next Meeting

Chapter 10: The shuttle

Chapter 11: Moving Day!

Chapter 12: Betrayal

Chapter 13: Memoriam

Chapter 14: Welcome Mat

Chapter 15: Honor

Chapter 16: Remembrance

Chapter 17: New Beginnings

About the Author

Prologue

Humanity has always had a sense of an existence larger than our perceptions. Ancient peoples attributed profound significance to natural events like earthquakes, volcanoes, and storms. We feared what we did not understand, such as unexplored places, dark caverns or the depths of the seas. We looked at the night sky in awe, seeing patterns in the distribution of the heavenly lights. Early humanity did not even realize why women became pregnant!

Later on, early people attributed the control of these forces to invisible spirit-beings. They created images of these imagined beings and worshiped them. Priests plied them with delicacies and burnt sweet incense to them. Some adherents would sacrifice the lives of animals or even their neighbors to appease imagined slights or offenses against their gods.

Today, we have outgrown most of these early beliefs. Even so, many still believe we were visited over the millennia by beings from other places in our solar system, or from other star-systems. We see where ancient peoples built huge objects like the pyramids or Stonehenge, or carved images in the plains of high deserts. We marvel at the accuracy of the placements or designs and speculate on how they could build them with the primitive hand tools and simple machines we imagined available at those times. Since we cannot reproduce their efforts without falling back on modern technology, we attribute their feats to outside help. Aliens.

The debate about the existence of these aliens has raged for centuries. We have imagined these extraterrestrials in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. They fuel our literature and entertainment. Unfortunately, since much of the so-called evidence for the existence of such beings was actually of human origin, many people are ready to denounce the entire concept as hogwash or the vain imaginings of the weak-minded.

It didn’t surprise us then to find out aliens do exist, and they are watching us!

Chapter 1: Our First Real Encounter

It is 2134. Humanity has populated the Moon and, to a minimal extent, Mars. Explorers are scavenging the asteroid belt for valuable metals. There are scientific outposts on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Private corporations have sponsored the construction of a pair of Space elevators and several large orbiting space habitats. Nearly one million people live in zero-gee continuously. Nuclear Fusion now exists, replacing most other forms of electrical power generation. Fusion powers our space vehicles around the solar system. Global Warming is a fading memory. Governments have sponsored massive reclamation projects at our earlier waste dumpsites. Some claim we are on the threshold of a Golden Age in human history.

What we have not done is reign-in our population growth. Earth strains under the burden of 21 billion human inhabitants. Increasingly efficient farming methods and vast complexes of hydroponics have allowed us to postpone the inevitable outcome of over-population, but now we face real limitations to further growth.

Mars is a dead planet. All of our efforts to Terra-form it has yielded little success. The atmosphere is still mostly thin carbon dioxide despite the efforts of the atmospheric generators. It is freezing all of the time, seldom even rising above zero degrees Fahrenheit. Only the hardiest of individuals can survive there. With time and considerable effort, the underground facilities housing those few rugged individualists will grow into small villages, then towns and then to small cities. However, they need to devote large areas of their tunnels to farming, air production, and recycling, limiting their growth.

The Moon has extensive networks of tunnels and other underground structures. It now hosts a population of several million, but it too is facing limitations and the growing envy of the earth-bound humans. The Loonies (as they call themselves) enjoy an independent way of life, mostly free of the overcrowding and political dissonance earthlings or Grounders have to put up with daily.

The outposts on Europa and Titan are entirely dependent on Earth for support. They are too close to their parent planets’ radiation fields to be colony-sites.

The governments of the Earth are a fractious lot. They seldom agree on anything, except on preventing the preeminence of any other government. Realizing that their governments were unwilling to expand to the stars, some of the wealthiest people on the Earth and Moon formed a corporation to build huge generational-ships. Their dream was to carry humanity to the stars.

Many governments tried to discourage these dreamers. They publicly chided the few believers about their obsession with star-travel while Earth still had problems that needed the money they were spending on this frivolous effort. Fortunately, the dream spread, capturing the imagination of ever-larger swaths of humanity. The ground swell of vocal support eventually overwhelmed the naysayers.

We mined the Moon for raw materials and launched finished-goods and raw materials to the Earth-Moon Lagrange-points 4 and 5. There, two mighty ships slowly took shape. Most of the benefactors that had pooled their resources to build these leviathans never lived to see them completed. The rest were now too old to partake of their gift to humanity.

A vast screening of the people of the Earth, Moon, and Mars selected those privileged to carry humanity to the stars. Millions died in the months following the release of the Selection Committees’ list. Scandals screamed from the headlines as insiders revealed the actions of an unscrupulous few trying to buy or finagle their way onto the list.

Periodic violence rocked the areas around the training camps. The security forces forcibly ejected the infiltrators. Many an evenings’ newscast showed instances of extreme violence near the camps. There were rare scenes of great selflessness as bystanders protected the injured from the rage of the rioters.

All eyes turned to the skies as the two ships, completed within weeks of each other, fired their massive engines and slowly accelerated towards the unknown. As the months passed and contact with the ships became more difficult, they slowly faded from the news and people’s minds.

A few months after humanity’s attention had returned to the mundane, everyone was astonished to hear the following message:

GENSTAR 1 TO EARTH-CENTRAL: OUR ENGINES HAVE SHUT DOWN, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO RE-START THEM. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL REASON WE CAN FIND. OUR FORWARD MOTION HAS SLOWED, AS IF WE ARE MEETING WITH RESISTANCE. LIFE-SUPPORT REMAINS UNAFFECTED. PLEASE ADVISE.

Soon afterward, GenStar 2 reported the same mysterious failures to its engines. All efforts to restart the engines failed. Since life-support was unaffected in either ship, no one was in a panic for a solution.

Earth authorities empaneled scientific boards of inquiry, who questioned respected engineers and propulsion experts about possibilities. Experts debated theory after theory and transmitted possibilities to both ships. The crews of both ships were in a constant communication, as one crew would try one solution while the other ship’s crew would try alternatives. All they could report was failure after failure to Earth. Crowds nearly lynched the designers of the engines when they stated they had run out of theories and ideas.

The real reason shocked everyone when Earth received the following message: WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ALIEN BEINGS AT THE ORBIT OF NEPTUNE. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE CAUSED OUR ENGINE-FAILURE. THEY TELL US WE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM. WE ARE, IN EFFECT, UNDER QUARANTINE. MORE TO FOLLOW.

The reaction around the solar system was the same: Aliens? Are they kidding? Then, when follow-up messages supplied more details, anger blossomed everywhere.

It turns out the aliens had learned of Earth’s existence when they intercepted a powerful transmission we aimed at M13 in 1974. They had visited Earth and flown past Mars and the outpost stations on Europa and Titan.

We were confined to our solar system until we had developed socially as well as we had technologically. The text of their message read, You have achieved in about 200 years what has taken many other species millennia. Moreover, while the rest of the galaxy is mostly peaceful, you humans, as a whole, are a violent lot. You have outgrown your home planet, and we feel you threaten the rest of us with your ambition and rapid growth.

We mean you no harm. We also will not interfere with your growth, technology or social progress as long as you remain within the orbit of your outer-most planet; Neptune.

Rage resounded from every public and most private venues. How dare anyone take it upon themselves to limit our right to explore and expand! was the common theme heard around the world. For the first time in human history, nearly all governments and peoples universally condemned the imposition of limits on human freedoms. Only a tiny, mostly-silent minority agreed with the aliens.

Small scout ships were equipped with enough supplies to sustain the crews for extended periods and launched at high speeds towards the marooned ships. They too slowed before they reached the alien-imposed boundaries. It was only when one of the scout ships turned about to head back to Earth that its engines functioned again.

Chapter 2: Confrontation at Neptune

Captain! Radar shows an object approaching us from the alien ship at low velocity.

Captain Yuan acknowledged the message and touched a control on the arm of his chair to transfer a copy of the radar display to his screen. He eyed the approaching object, wondering if it represented a threat to their ship, GenStar 1. Not for the first time, Captain Yuan wondered why the alien ship was staying just beyond sensor range.

The small size and slow speed told the Captain that, even if it actually hit them, the damage would be negligible. Graphics overlaid on the screen showed the computer tracking the object, and a thin yellow line showed its estimated trajectory

Sir! Radar projects the object is headed for the forward docking ring.

Have the Master-at-Arms muster an Honor Guard of unarmed junior ranks at the forward docking port.

Yessir! The Radar operator keyed his mike and spoke quietly. Master-at-Arms acknowledges. He questions the lack of personal weapons sir.

The Captain replied A show of civility!

Aye-aye sir. The Radar operator spoke into his mike again and then smiled wryly at the short comment the MAA made.

The Captain thumbed a switch and said, Attention all ships’ personnel! A small-craft or shuttle from the alien ship is approaching our forward docking port. Everyone not on duty is to clear the area. The Master-at-Arms is in command locally until the Executive Officer arrives.

The ship was already at emergency stations with critical systems on standby and with most hatchways closed. The civilian area was sealed off from the operational areas and running on its own reactors and support systems. Should anything happen to the ops areas, the civilian areas would be safe.

The Captain turned to watch the scene at the forward docking port via a security camera facing the air lock. The Honor Guard was rapidly assembling, standing stiffly at attention in their dress uniforms. The MAA was inspecting each man or woman for regulation haircuts. Finished, the MAA took up his post at the controls to the inner pressure hatch as the XO strode into view. The MAA saluted the XO, and they spoke briefly. The Captain caught snatches of their exchange in his headphones.

Both men turned to face the inner hatch as a nearly silent bump announced the arrival of the alien shuttle. The MAA bent to watch their efforts to seal against the docking port through a small viewport, and then stiffened with surprise when a faintly glowing ring emanated from the hatchway of the alien ship and touched the hull around the port. The hatch on the alien ship moved inward with a slight puff of air, then slid to one side, revealing a dimly lit area inside. The MAA ensured the recorder was running, for good or ill. He happened to glance at the pressure gauge and commented, They have pressurized the area! He quickly glanced at the analysis screen and added, Earth-normal readings for O2 and nitrogen!

The wait was interminable before a sudden glare of light appeared on the screen. A humanoid figure was revealed once the camera adjusted to the sudden change in light levels. The figure stepped out of its own hatchway and into the waiting chamber on GenStar 1. The MAA closed the outer hatch, and then released the lock on the inner hatch. He pulled it aside as the XO stepped forward to greet their guest.

The figure that stepped out of the docking port and into history was very human. He looked at the Honor Guard with amusement and then extended a hand to a startled XO.

Hi! My name is Ted.

The XO slowly extended a hand, the shock plainly written in his posture. Remembering his manners, the XO responded, Hi, Ted. I’m Commander Robins, second in command of GenStar 1. Welcome aboard! When they released their grips, the XO dropped the formality and added spontaneously, How do you speak our language so well? He looked Ted up and down as Ted replied with a chuckle. Because I’m from Earth. I haven’t been there for quite a while, but I’m just as human as you are. I hail from Canada.

The XO and the Captain were stunned. Their imaginations had run wild speculating about their alien hosts. What did they look like? Did they breathe the same air as humans did? What languages did they speak? Where were they from? To find their first contact was a human from Earth was both a shock and a letdown.

The XO quickly recovered and asked, Why are you here, Ted? Why are you on an alien ship?

Ted chuckled again. "I am here because my friends are afraid of how you might react to meeting them. They’ve seen our television shows, movies, and programs where we portray meeting and dealing with aliens. They are afraid what they saw was our real attitude towards the unknown. I will act as a go-between until they feel you will not be a threat to them. He glanced at the Honor Guard, then turned back to the XO and said, Commander? I notice your people are not armed. Thank you for that. Ted glanced at an old-fashioned analog pocket-watch and asked, My time is limited for this first trip, so may we go somewhere and talk for a bit? I’m sure you have a lot of questions for me."

The XO told the MAA to dismiss the Honor Guard and then guided Ted to the conference room the Captain had designated as their meeting place. It was equipped with 3-D video recording cameras and sensitive microphones discretely placed in recesses. The Captain had ordered sensors ranging from infrared to x-ray embedded in the entrance to the meeting room.

The XO ushered Ted into a comfortable chair and then sat across from him. Ted eyed the room and then produced a pen-like device from a breast pocket and swept the room with it. He returned it to his pocket without looking at it. Seeing the XOs’ interest, Ted shrugged and said, It’s a scanner of some sort. I don’t know what it looks for or how to read it. I will turn it in once I return, and they will use whatever it recorded.

The XO was boiling over with questions. Ted was looking at him with a wry grin. Finally, the XO settled for asking the leading question raging everywhere, Why did you, or rather, why did your alien friends stop this ship?

Ted nodded as if he had expected the question. He leaned forward and clasped his hands on the table. Like I said; they’ve been watching Earth for some years and fear humanity will carry its violent tendencies out into the rest of the galaxy.

Commander Robbins replied somewhat puzzled, But we haven’t had a war or serious conflict in nearly a hundred years! How can you say we are still violent?

Ted straightened up slightly and replied, Actually Commander, humanity has had ongoing conflict throughout its history. There has never really been a time, even if not actively at war, when a conflict hasn’t raged somewhere. From isolated villages striving with their neighbors, to nations maneuvering for advantage in trade, your history has been one of near-continuous conflict or outright violence.

The XO shrugged and stated, somewhat puzzled, Ancient history. Now we try to resolve our differences diplomatically or seek compromises to avoid conflict.

Ted had been nodding his head as the Commander spoke. He sighed. What you say is true, Commander. However, you are not aware of the history of the rest of the civilizations throughout this galaxy. Once you learn more about your neighbors, you may begin to grasp their concern.

Ted sat forward again as if to deliver a rehearsed speech. The early histories of nearly every civilization throughout this galaxy, shows violence and conflict. Their histories started as Earth’s did, with raids and violence between tribal communities and grew as they grew. Eventually, all of these civilizations developed nuclear power. Sadly, some actually used nuclear weapons on their neighbors. Some nearly or entirely destroyed their planets’ ecology, thus destroying themselves. Some managed to restrain themselves after seeing the horrifying aftermath of their first uses of such weapons. A very few managed to not use their nuclear weapons at all. They became the vanguard of space-faring civilizations exploring this galaxy.

As Ted paused, the Commander replied with some asperity, Earth overcame the need for nuclear weapons well over a century ago. True, we seem to thrive on conflict, but we call it a competition. It stimulates our progress!

Ted grinned as if the Commander was following a script. He nodded and replied, "That is the reason we have stopped your ship here. If you had still been warring on Earth, we would never have let you build these ships in the first place."

Ted placed his forearms on the table and laid his palms open, facing up and said, You see, Commander, my hosts arose from the same styles of conflict humanity has. However, they outgrew the need for conflict in the millennia since they joined the Federation. Those who achieved space flight earlier have monitored each civilization achieving space travel. If the people reaching for the stars had mostly shed their need for competition as you so quaintly put it, they would be subtly guided until they were deemed ready to join a galactic civilization.

The emerging species would be contacted by a species living close to them and gradually introduced to the notion of peaceful cooperation. The new neighbors would be guided towards the resources they sought and to planets suitable for colonization if that was their goal. Only after this ‘probationary’ period would they be introduced to the Federation.

This method worked successfully, most of the time. Sadly, some species just cannot seem to get along with their neighbors and have to be contained or ‘fenced-in’ for the protection of the others.

Commander Robbins jumped in at this point and asked, What happens if the ones you fence in, resent your interference and try to break out?

Regret clouded Ted’s features as he sat back in his chair. He eyed the Commander as if wondering how to answer the honest question. Sighing silently, Ted replied, They are contained within their own solar system, by any means necessary, to safeguard their nearest neighbors.

With a grim look, the Commander replied sarcastically, In other words, you don’t want them to upset your carefully-sheltered existence.

Ted nodded and replied, That is one way of looking at it, sure. He sat forward and looked intently at the Commander. We represent literally hundreds of civilizations scattered throughout this galaxy. The members of our Federation have all shed their tendency towards competition because we have learned two things: One, there are enough unpopulated planets for raw materials, so competition for resources isn’t necessary. Two, we found life went forward better and faster if we helped each other to succeed.

Because of that perspective, the galaxy hasn’t seen a serious conflict in a collective memory stretching back millennia. The only dark spots are when a species achieves spaceflight and refuses to shed their aggressive attitudes. We are then forced, as you say, to ‘fence them in’ until they become calmer, more civilized if you will.

Do you have to use force to corral these belligerents? The Commander asked with wary concern.

Ted looked relieved and replied, Any species performing an interdiction doesn’t have to use force. They can over-ride most electronic systems selectively, stopping a ship remotely. If the ship wants to return to their home planet, the interdictors allow their systems to work. Eventually, most of the emerging species approach their guardians with curiosity and try to establish a dialog. They eventually realize we could have undertaken stronger measures. Most of these species opt to join us.

A very few, however, remain aggressive. In those instances, we sometimes have to confine them to their planets until they either destroy themselves or learn peaceful ways. Few such species succeed in becoming peaceful.

Commander Robbins looked relieved. He realized they had a chance to prove themselves. He looked at Ted and saw he was being scrutinized in turn. Coming to a decision, he sat forward and said, Then, thank you for stopping us. It will take a while to adjust to the knowledge we are not alone in the universe. I need to consult with the Captain, and he with Earth. He paused and added, Would you like me to pass along any messages to anyone back home?

Ted smiled with genuine warmth this time and replied, No one to leave messages to, Commander. My close family died out long ago, and I don’t really know any of the more distant relations. I have been away for so long now even the memories are fading. But thank you for asking.

Ted stood up, and Commander Robbins stood as well. He came around the table, shook hands with Ted, and then escorted him back to the docking port. As Ted was preparing to enter the airlock, he turned back and asked, Do you think your Captain would like to come to dinner sometime?

Commander Robbins was stunned. He quickly sputtered, I’m sure the Captain would be delighted to visit you. Give the word!

Ted grinned with delight and stepped into the chamber. The XO closed the inner hatch. After checking the atmosphere between the ships was still present, he cycled the outer hatch. Ted stepped across to the shuttle and then turned to wave. The hatch on his ship closed and the faintly sparkling force field snapped off. The shuttle glided away without any visible exhaust-glow or other visible means of propulsion. As the small vessel faded in the distance, Commander Robbins pondered the revelations he’d had. Learning they were not alone in the galaxy was now a smaller leap of acceptance than the fact highly-advanced species out there were taking an active interest in Earth.

Robbins secured the hatch and locked the controls. The MAA saluted and left. The XO headed towards the bridge in a thoughtful mood.

As he requested permission to enter the bridge, Robbins noted the Captain was watching a recording of the meeting with Ted. Yuan’s face was a study in astonishment and concern. The other watchstanders were straining to catch glimpses of the screen and overhear the conversation. Robbins moved to stand beside the Captain and was able to note the Captain’s reaction to Ted’s invitation to dinner and the XOs reply.

The Captain paused the recording and swiveled to face the XO. He said nothing but spoke volumes with a raised eyebrow. Robbins cleared his throat and said, It seemed the right response.

The Captain continued to stare at the XO and then nodded once quickly. You were right of course. I wonder what I will see over there. The XO knew a rhetorical question when he heard one, shrugged, and so turned to look at the blip on the radarscope representing their captor’s vessel.

The Captain stepped down from the chair and waved the OOD to take his place. The Officer of the Deck said, I relieve you, Sir! The Captain replied, I stand relieved. Carry on.

The Captain headed off the Bridge, but the XO hesitated, unsure what to do. A meaningful glance from the OOD spurred the XO to head out. He strode along the corridor from the Bridge and towards the hatchway leading towards the civilian sectors. The guard on duty there passed him through, and Robbins pushed his way politely through the throng of civilians crowded around the hatch hoping for a glimpse of the aliens.

One tall young man stepped into the Commander’s path and asked loudly, Well, Commander? Have we met the aliens? What can you tell us about them? He said this last while waving a hand to take in the now-quiet crowd. Robbins eyed the man and hesitated. He considered his reply, thinking the news ought to come from the Captain, but the civilians had a right to know something.

I don’t know what or how much the Captain will tell you about our recent meeting with the aliens. All I can say is we are in no danger. The Captain will tell you more, later. He adroitly stepped around the man and managed to make it to his apartment without further confrontations.

His wife, Becky, met him at the door and hugged him fiercely. Her eyes were red and puffy. She turned away to wipe her eyes and then blow her nose into a handkerchief. She then looked at her husband and asked, What happened, Jack? Did you meet the aliens? What are they like? Are they going to let us go or what?

Jack put his hands on his wife’s shoulders and gently squeezed them. She sputtered to a stop, and he said, I did meet one of them, and they are not going to harm us. They want to meet with us. That’s all. They even invited the Captain over to their ship to meet with them for dinner!

She drew back with surprise. Dinner! Are they going to eat him?

Jack laughed uproariously and hugged his wife. No dear, they are not going to eat him. They just want to establish friendly relations with us.

Becky looked up at him and asked, Well, what do they look like?

Jack shrugged and said, I don’t know. They sent over a man from Canada who had volunteered to join them many years ago. He stated they do this so the people they contact will see a familiar face until they determine it is safe for them to reveal themselves. So, I have no idea what they look like.

Chapter 3: We meet our hosts

Captain Yuan headed to his day cabin to