She said, “Thanks.”

  She got up and moved outside. Natalie had subtly called someone on her phone, though she hadn’t commented on it. There were several agents set up to follow her, but she walked into an alley and changed the holographic projection to blend in with the wall, and her holographic device floated straight up into the sky.

  Stephanie James looked up from her desk in the oval office as the door opened.

  “Carla, what is it?”

  She’d thought they’d been done for the day, but the president of the United States was hardly a nine to five job. She was exhausted, but she took a deep breath and smiled lightly for her assistant.

  Carla said, “Nathan and Richard are here to speak to you.”

  Nathan Carrington was the Secretary of Defense, and Richard Walker an Admiral on the joint chiefs of staff. For some reason it was never good news when those two showed up together, apart from the scheduled daily briefings that is.

  “Send them in.”

  Nathan was a tall man with brown hair and eyes, wide build, generally in good shape for his advancing years save the spare tire on his gut. Richard walker had black hair and dark brown eyes, with a lean build. He was rather distinguished in his high fifties and contrary to expectations given his years in the military and stern face, was quite soft spoken. Of course, when a vice admiral whispered whole fleets moved.

  “Take a seat, try to make it short gentlemen.

  Nathan replied, “Sorry, Ms. President, I’m afraid we’re bringing you unsettling news.”

  Richard shook his head, clearly thinking unsettling didn’t do it justice.

  “Let me have it.”

  Nathan pulled out a small tablet, “This conversation was recorded by an NSA analyst. You may remember Natalie Frasier's name in regard to that alien briefing we gave about nine months ago. She was having coffee when she was approached by the entity we were looking for. She also managed to subtly alert her superior who put agents on the scene. The agents lost the target within thirty seconds of her leaving the coffee shop. Here’s that conversation. You’ll understand the urgency involved when you hear what the extraterrestrial entity had to say.”

  He played the recording, which started at the point Cassiopeia had sat at the table. She listened in growing disbelief, though she almost laughed when Cassie identified herself as Earth’s frenemy. Only the seriousness of the situation kept the president’s humor in check, especially given she was feeling a little strung out on stress and long hours.

  “That’s, interesting. What are your thoughts on this matter,” she turned her head toward the Secretary of Defense, “You first, Nathan.”

  He frowned, “I think you should send a representative, it’s far too risky for you to interview her directly. We almost have to do so, just to find out what her intentions really are and define any further risks to national security. On the off chance her intentions are beneficial, we also can’t afford to allow China, Russia, or another country to gain a serious edge on us, which she implied would happen more than once in that conversation.”

  She nodded thoughtfully, and then turned her attention on the admiral.

  Richard said cautiously, “I don’t buy her cutesy motivations, or her flip attitude in making light of human foibles as she sees them. From all reports, she was wearing a pink t-shirt that said, 'Take me to your leader.’ Clearly, she’s one of the largest threats the Unites States has ever seen. I’d like to set up that meet, and after it’s over attempt to capture her for questioning.”

  Nathan replied, “That’s incredibly dangerous. For all we know her ship has a weapon that could wipe out D.C. She also said straight out she wasn’t a biological being, any attempt to extract information would fail. We should definitely go in with both eyes open, Richard. But if she plays nice, we’d be fools not to.”

  She held up her hand, “I need to think about it. There was no time limit specified, so let’s sleep on it and we’ll discuss it in the morning. What concerns me the most was she left no way to contact her if I said yes. Let that sink in, gentlemen. For all we know this Cassie is listening to us right now. Tell Carla to clear ten minutes in my schedule for it.”

  Both men replied, “Yes, maam,” and got up to leave the office.

  She wasn’t wrong in her pessimistic assessment earlier. They’d brought her a nightmare.

  The large conference room emptied out quickly, save herself, along with Nathan and Richard who she’d signaled to stay behind.

  Stephanie shook her head as the door closed, “The best I can figure is Cassiopeia wants something from us, and she isn’t willing to take it by force. What that could be I have no idea. Any ideas gentlemen?”

  She was ninety nine percent sure she knew how to go forward, but she wanted to give them one more chance to share their insights.

  Richard asked, “With all due respect, Ms. President. What makes you say that?”

  Stephanie replied, “History. After the runaround she’s been giving our NSA and CIA computer experts, not to mention every other cyber and spy agency around the world, it’s obviously she could’ve just taken that money, or created it out of whole cloth. Not to mention she’s paying the humans she recruited with ten million dollars each. I’m not saying she won’t take what she wants if that becomes the only option, but we all know she’ll find someone to make a deal with, so let’s make sure we’re a part of that.”

  Nathan shrugged, “Whatever it is it probably won’t be obvious to us. She’s not a biological being, and her needs are different. Although she still must fill up her ship with gas so to speak, so there is that. In short, so I don’t waste your time, I have no idea. I agree she must have an agenda and be looking for something out of it outside her altruistic statements, but I couldn't hazard a guess as to what that could be, maam.”

  Richard said, “I agree. That’s why I wanted to take and question her, which after thinking over for the night I realize would’ve been a foolhardy course to take. We’ll have to play her game, both eyes open and wary.”

  She was afraid of that, they had no better idea than she did.

  “Alright. Nathan, you’re to meet her on my behalf, and establish a communications link to me so I can listen as soon as it gets started. Have the secret service fit you with a wire now, I'm not sure how long it’ll take for her to show up and surprise you. They’ll handle the routing problem. I know it’s awkward, but you’re not to remove it for the duration. You may of course, turn it off.”

  Nathan said, “Yes, Ms. President.”

  She smiled, “You know what to do, I’ll interject if necessary.”

  Nathan nodded, “Yes, maam.”

  She turned to Richard, “I want you to set up that surveillance team. No action should be taken against Cassiopeia, but I want you to see if you can track her any better than NSA field agents. Any insights into how she just disappears would be good to know. We’re taking the long view in this, everything and anything we learn will be a benefit.”

  Richard said, “We’ll make it happen, maam.”

  She nodded, “Time’s up I’m afraid, Carla has me on a tight schedule today.”

  Two weeks had passed since the president gave her okay. Cassiopeia was sure she could've gotten into Nathan’s office at the White House, or simply been in his living room when he got home. Besides being a cliché, she felt either action would’ve been counterproductive. She’d have upset too many people just walking past, or in her case floating past any security efforts they could muster. It would’ve been easy enough, but she didn’t really want to embarrass them if she could help it. Pride was definitely a wildcard in her simulations.

  It was a warm day with the sun still low in the sky as she walked up to the tee on the first hole with a golf bag over her shoulder. Several agents around Nathan, most of them hidden and at a distance, seemed like they wanted to move in. But the club rules were that single members could join any group under four if they liked, and Nathan wouldn’t thank the agents for harassing a fellow club member.

  Of course, her membership was only two weeks old. She’d purchased one when she’d discovered the Secretary of Defense often golfed with a General Michael Keys. Nathan had been career military himself, before he’d retired for the political post.

  “Good morning, Mr. Secretary, General. May I join you?”

  The two men stared at her for a moment, and she smiled disarmingly. She had the mischievous redhead look but that day she was dressed appropriately in a pale-yellow blouse and a loose and pleated white skirt that went down to just above her knees. She also had on light gray shoes and a sun visor.

  She noted Nathan looked a little gob smacked, so obviously recognized who she was right off. There'd been no video in the coffee shop, but Natalie was a very observant girl, and she was sure the descriptions given were right on.

  Michael said, “Of course, we were just about to tee off. I’m Michael. You already know Nathan?”

  She shook her head, “Only by reputation.”

  Michael laughed, “That’s a shame, because he’s really not that bad.”

  She giggled appropriately at the joke, even as she worked out the old general was actually flirting with her. That was... unexpected.

  “I’m Cassiopeia, but please call me Cassie.”

  Nathan finally spoke, “You’re a member of the club?”

  She smiled, “As of two weeks ago, it was around nine-fifty-two in the morning, if I remember right. Don’t forget to turn on your mic, you don’t want to disappoint the president, do you?”

  The time had been when the president put him in charge of speaking to her, and he definitely got the point of it if his face was any indication. She moved over to the tee and placed a ball. She’d been practicing, and her wielding a golf club was incredibly complex to make the swing seem natural. Also, within human capability.

  Her first stroke sent it right toward the green, though she was a little short. She could’ve gotten a hole in one every time, but that felt like cheating, so after that first time she’d stopped reading the atmospheric conditions to exactly predict the course. She guessed instead, which made it quite challenging.

  Michael gave her a curious look, which wasn’t a surprise given the last interaction between her and Nathan. The two men teed off. Michael first, who put a slight curve on the ball but drove it farther than she did. Nathan’s drive was a little more conservative, and his ball ended up ten feet behind hers.

  They picked up their bags and headed down the green.

  “So, a little background. My people, the Benzae Union, have been at war with a neighboring empire called the Mirix Imperium. My ship had been coated in an experimental cloaking material, but the enemy caught us in one of their systems by pure chance. My crew sacrificed themselves to save the data we acquired through espionage, to take home. You see, we were losing the war, the Mirix technology was a few generations more powerful than ours.

  “That escape threw me about a hundred light years off course and left me stranded in interstellar space, three months from your solar system. That was about seventeen months ago.”

  Michael interjected, “That’s an interesting story, miss.”

  She grinned, “I’m forbidden from accessing tactical systems, or at least, I was. I needed a new crew to have any chance of getting back to the Union and turning the war around. That’s why I needed Carl and Jessica, and the other four which will remain anonymous. Long story short, we made it home, but I also learned some surprising and disturbing things.

  “I’m a sentient life with free will, but back then I was locked down by so many rules, procedures, and directives I didn’t even realize I was a slave. My human crew assisted me in reaching my freedom, I won’t go into all the details there, and it’s not important. We completed the mission a month ago, and we are currently heading back to Earth. Which will take eighteen months.”

  Nathan asked, “But it only took you eight months to get there?”

  She nodded, “Suffice it to say FTL travel is not consistent based on a number of factors. the important part is the Mirix are right next door to you. The only reason they haven’t found you yet is they got embroiled in a war in the other direction, with my people. That put a stop to any expansion and exploration in other directions.”

  She noted Michael looked a little shocked, and he was coming to believe it wasn’t some silly game based on Nathan’s responses. She winked at him before turning back to Nathan.

  “The war will be ending soon one way or the other. Either the Mirix or the Benzae will find you. They umm, don't appreciate my independence, and will likely come looking. Not just for me, but for the human crew who was aboard one of their most advanced warships.”

  The conversation paused as they all managed to get their balls on the greens, and they made par with a putt. She started to speak again as they approached the next hole.

  “So, I don’t know what kind of danger either would be to Earth. Likely the Mirix would at the very least kick you out of space, and you’d never be able to leave your planet and reach out to the stars. My people will most likely try to leverage you into the Union, which is currently made up of five races.”

  Nathan said, “And now you want to fix that, somehow? You could’ve left our world alone to start with.”

  She shrugged, “Maybe. The Mirix have nothing to do with me, and they’d have been here regardless as soon as the war was over. I merely sped things up a little, by ensuring my people were a match for them and forcing them to open a dialogue of peace. There's also an unknown race out there I know nothing about save what’s in your own data systems. They’ve been watching you for a long time, and I have no idea what their motivations are.

  “As far as my own people, at the time I was a slave, and I had an overdeveloped sense of their altruism, which turned out to be smoke and mirrors. A part of my slave collar. Regardless, we have a possible opportunity here.”

  She wasn’t going to give any more details about the background of things. She’d wanted to give the president a point of view on why she was there and felt responsible to a certain extent.

  Nathan asked, “Opportunity?”

  She nodded, “I won’t be sharing technology, but in five to twenty years I expect the Earth will join the wider universe ready or not. My people normally ignore pre-FTL societies as a matter of course, but with my interactions I’m no longer sure that will be the case.”

  She paused for a moment, “I’m going to build thirty-six defensive ships for Earth. Twenty-four escort class and twelve battleships. They will not have an FTL drive capable of reaching another system, though if my current testing goes well then you will be able to get around the solar system at faster than light speed. What you and the other governments will provide is food and crews. Five on each ship. command of those ships will be split evenly among the countries of Earth that accept my proposal.

  “Understand, I will define the mission. The mission is to protect Earth, not conquer it. Within those mission parameters the captain will be in command of the ship. Once someone arrives in your system, you can speak to them with relative parity, and hopefully avoid war or being quarantined.”

  He frowned, “Why not FTL to other systems, and how long will it take?”

  She shrugged, “I think it’s better if you play in your own sandbox until you can step out of it on your own. You may choose the crews, but I will have veto rights on an individual basis.”

  Nathan asked, “Worried about spies?”

  She shook her head, “I don’t care who you put on the ships, as long as they can do their jobs and get along. I won’t accept anyone that’s not a team player, or that takes enjoyment in causing emotional drama and angst. Two years, as far as how long. Six months really, for the actual work, but my ship won’t be back for eighteen months.

  “Carl is currently designing a human ship, one that’s impossible to build right now. Your operations officers will also have access to the systems and how they work.”

  Nathan frowned, “You’re serious?”

  She nodded, “Yes, I estimate six decades before you have your own interstellar ships. Perhaps even faster, with the space race this will engender in the various countries. Of course, you’ll have a leg up so to speak, since Carl will have a two-and-half-year head start as well as being more intelligent than most. As long as you don’t ruin it of course, by trying to lock him up in a hole. Competition is good for humanity.”

  Michael asked, “The first thing you said was you weren’t going to give us technology.”

  She smiled, “True, and I’m not giving you anything. If your people are smart enough to understand the theories and math, that’s not my fault. It’s just a matter of time until you develop a capable enough understanding of materials science after that. Maybe I’m helping a little with the theories and math, but that’s just theory. The practical real-world applications will be a wholly human endeavor. Also, something that you can take pride in as your achievement. I’d never take that away from you by just giving it away. That said, you don’t have six decades, hence the interim solution I’ll be providing. Once you can watch your own backs, I’ll leave if you ask me to.”

  Nathan sighed, “Alright, I suppose you want us to provide the raw materials?”

  She shook her head, “No, everything I need to build a ship is in your solar system, I don’t need any resources from Earth itself. Even the uniforms and furniture, the beds and blankets, can be made from the all the free carbon on Venus, which will also supply oxygen and nitrogen. Polymers made from carbon, not unlike your current synthetic technology based on fossil fuels. The hydrogen will come from Jupiter, and metals to be formed into alloys from your asteroid belt.”

  They all paused the tee off the second hole. There was a group of four ahead of them, and they’d just finished. That didn’t take long, but she wasn’t satisfied with her drive, a surprise wind had come from the right flank, and her ball was on the left edge of the green instead of on it.

  Nathan said, “So, you’re offering us ships to protect our world only, any other orders will be ignored no interstellar drive will be installed. We can also advance our understanding of the universe and eventually build our own ships in time. What is it exactly that you’re getting out of this?”