Chapter 3: Beneath the Chancellor’s Smile

Emma was standing off to their side, twenty feet away. She had been listening for a minute or two before reflexively voicing her feelings. She hadn't meant for her presence to be known, but there it was—her emotions had slipped out, a trace of the human essence passed on to her.

"Emma, is there a reason for this interruption?" Scott asked.

"Yes, it's so sweet."

A moment later, another voice chimed in, "Ew," said his grandson, Marshal.

"You'd hug your grandmother tightly too, if you'd known her," Scott said with a grin.

"No! Is this my grandson?" Emma asked, parting slightly from Scott and looking over at the young boy standing nearby.

"Yes, and Emma is teaching him her navigation controls," Scott added.

Sasha broke the embrace and quickly moved to scoop Marshal's hands in hers. "Look how big you are. How old are you?"

"I'm thirteen," he answered.

Sasha bent slightly, lifting him off the ground in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry I wasn't around to see you grow up. I wish I could have been there for it," she said.

"Ugh, I'm too old to be lifted like this," Marshal grumbled, instinctively wrapping his arms around her. Even though she didn't know him as anything other than her grandson, he could feel her warmth, her love. It was odd, but it was also comforting. "I know you're my grandma, but I have to get used to this."

She set him down and placed a hand on his head. "You look so much like your dad at this age. How is your dad?" she asked.

"He's Dad. Okay, I guess," he answered, shrugging.

"You talk just like him too," Sasha said. "We'll have to spend some time together. Too much time has passed, in so many ways."

"Eh em," Emma interjected.

"Emma, is there something you need?" Scott asked.

"Yes, I need both of you on the bridge now," she said. She turned toward the bridge as she spoke.

"I've just picked up an unidentified craft heading our way," Emma continued.

"Unidentified? You can't tell what race designed it?" Scott asked.

"I have not updated my database since docking here, except for occasional flybys. My sensors are restricted to a two-hundred-mile radius from this position due to the nearby mountain ranges," Emma replied.

"I hadn't thought of that. Can you analyze the composite materials of the ship and make an educated guess?" Scott pressed.

"The ship is made from Earth's common elements and some unknown alloys. The alloys would not be inconsistent with the projected technological timeline based on my landing here," Emma said.

"Have you been able to identify the offensive capabilities of the ship?" Scott asked.

"I found no offensive weapons," Emma answered.

"Even considering the time that has passed?" Scott asked.

"Yes. There are no energy signatures, no lock-on, or supporting systems that would activate if they had any offensive weapons trained on us," Emma confirmed.

"Then take a defensive stance only and hail the ship. Until we update your database, scan every ship in your range, log them, and classify them the best you can. Once we have everyone we can find, we'll review them together," Scott ordered.

"Still no answer. It's slowing its approach," Emma said.

"Continue hailing them," Scott urged.

"I'm getting something now. It is Chancellor Bilmore," Emma said.

"Hello, Emma? This is Chancellor Bilmore calling Emma. Can you hear me now?" the voice came through.

"Chancellor, this is Commander Scott. We can read you," Scott replied.

"Oh, that is great. We were trying to hail you with our modern systems, but it only now occurred to us that you were probably using the old communication systems. We regret the situation that has caused this incident. We hope we can come to some arrangement that works for both of us," Bilmore said.

"I am open to an arrangement, provided it does not compromise the security of this ship," Scott said firmly.

"We never intended to cause such a reaction. We believe that with our current technology, and the alien technology in your ship, we can enhance both systems far beyond what they are capable of alone," Bilmore explained.

"What kind of advances were you hoping to attain by merging both technologies?" Scott asked.

"It's all hypothetical at this point and beyond my understanding. Suffice to say, by combining our knowledge, we could boost both technologies far beyond anything we could do alone," Bilmore replied.

"In some respect, I can see that. It took a few alien species to combine their knowledge to build this ship," Scott said thoughtfully.

Emma's image appeared on the view screen. It was clear she was perturbed. She couldn't believe Scott was considering Bilmore's suggestion. She tried to get his attention as he continued to speak, seemingly ignoring her. She couldn't understand why he wasn't acknowledging her.

"Yes, that's my point. By combining our knowledge, we could enhance both beyond our limitations," Bilmore reiterated.

"I don't understand one thing," Scott said, his voice cutting through the conversation.

"Yes? What can I explain?" Bilmore asked.

"You say you want to combine the technology for both of our benefits, but you were starving Emma of energy. Did you not think that would kill her?" Scott asked sharply.

"Kill? Surely not. She's only a machine. Once she was weakened enough, we could learn from each other. Once we knew how, we'd be able to enhance both systems, and Emma would receive all the energy she desired. Even if she were turned off, once powered again, she'd be restored," Bilmore explained.

"I would like to believe your explanation was innocent, but this was a direct breach of contract. There's no overlooking that she was guaranteed a safe haven here at the memorial, which was broken by such an attack," Scott said.

"Attack? No, no, please believe me, it wasn't an attack. We never meant her harm," Bilmore protested.

"You didn't mean her harm, and yet you just said she would not receive power until she agreed with you. That, to me, is extortion or blackmail," Scott countered.

Emma saw she wasn't going to get a response from Scott. She had received an incoming message from Tiny. His family had been out when the lockdown took effect, and they were now surrounded by authorities at a local restaurant. Her shuttle hovering above the establishment was the only thing stopping their advance. She didn't expect the pause to last much longer. She decided to send a message below Bilmore's image.

"Chancellor Bilmore, I would give your words more credence if you weren't harassing the family members of my crew. I suggest you withdraw your men," Scott said.

"Please, you are mistaken. We are making sure the families of all crew members are safe. We are offering them protection," Bilmore said.

"Thank you for your concern, but I've sent a ship to each crew member and their families to ensure their safety," Scott replied firmly.

A message appeared on the front viewer: "They are advancing on Tiny's family. What shall I do?"

Scott didn't care if Chancellor Bilmore heard his reply. "Emma, stun anyone advancing on their location, and put a barrier up between them and the authorities," he ordered.

"No! Please, this is all a misunderstanding!" Bilmore cried.

"I suggest you stop this misunderstanding before anyone gets hurt. We can use passive defenses only for so long. Once our crew's family members' perimeter is breached, the lethal force will be used to defend them. Chancellor Bilmore, we will secure the crew and their families until further notice. All attempts to 'protect' them will be considered an attack, and the appropriate response will be taken. Please cease all protective efforts now," Scott said.

"Cease all activities to secure Emma's crew and their families," Bilmore instructed.

"Thank you, Chancellor," Scott said. "Once we have secured our crew and their families, I will contact you for negotiations." He signaled to Emma to cut communications.

"What plans do you have for further negotiations?" Emma asked.

"At the moment? None!" Scott replied firmly.

"None?" she asked.

"Yes, none. Emma, he said he tried to contact you using modern communications systems. Are you aware of any new systems they're using that you don't have?" Scott asked.

"It's possible my communications systems aren't as advanced as theirs, but nothing I've monitored suggests they have anything I'm unaware of. I also didn't pick up any transmission readings from them before they contacted us on regular channels," Emma said.

"Keep monitoring them and any communications from all known authorities. See if you can find any proof of an advanced communications system. Start updating your systems with any new technology you come across too," Scott ordered.

"Yes, Commander," Emma responded.