Free Starting from Scratch by Bruce George

line the Prime Minister of
Great Britain, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of
Australia and the Governor-General of New Zealand. Gentlemen, this
man is Mr. Theodore Hurst, formerly of the United States and
now…well, I guess you’d call him an independent citizen of the
world.”
    “Mr. Hurst, I give you the podium, so to speak.”
    “Thank you mister President. Gentlemen, I am not a
politician and I’m neither familiar with, nor comfortable with the
procedures of diplomacy, or statecraft. Many years ago, I was a
Sergeant in the American Army. I was serving in Iraq, back
during…”
    He gave them a brief background and explained how an
alien had kidnapped him. Their disbelief was not diminished in the
slightest, when Jo was put on the screen.
    The Prime Minister of Australia complained, “Is this
some sort of sick joke? Hollywood could come up with a better
monster than that. Really Mr. President, I must object to using
this meeting to show us some movie trailer.”
    Mike was not angry in the least. He had expected
resistance to the facts. They were, after all, very hard to
believe.
    He told them, “Gentlemen, I can assure you that this
is all true and that I will be visiting you soon with gifts and a
request for aid in defending our planet. Also, I’m going to send
you a video that goes into far more detail about what is known
about the threat we face.
    “The men who currently advise the President and are
aware of the greater details will tell you and your confidants what
they know and of their own concerns about me. You, I dare say, will
have your own doubts.
    “This is merely the first of many meetings that will
be needed to get the English speaking nations involved in a solar
defense force. In soliciting your aid, I will bring gifts of great
wealth, also I shall deliver technical knowledge that is of far
greater value.”
    Again, the Prime Minister of Australia interrupted.
“Are you openly admitting that you intend to bribe us to do what it
is you wish? You certainly are a cheeky bastard.”
    There were several voices that agreed with him.
    “Yes sir, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m trying
to get your attention, by making you see that I’m not in this for
the Money. I’ll be back to Earth, carrying gold and platinum by the
ton and it will be in its purest form. Also, I’ll bring you medical
units that can cure diseases and repair severed nerves and grow new
limbs.”
    The doubt and awe in their mumbled responses was a
little quieter, as they began to want to believe this could be
true.
    The President decided to add, “Gentlemen, I must tell
you that I have read through this man’s extensive military record.
This man did, in fact, lose both of his legs and an eye, in Iraq. I
have seen him in person and I can tell you he is nearly a foot
taller than our records indicate and currently he has both of his
eyes and both of his legs. Perhaps the most amazing thing I can say
is that he is seventy one years old. I cannot vouch for his other
claims, just yet, but there does seem to be some validity to what
he has told you.”
    “No!’
    “I don’t believe it.”
    “It can’t be true.”
    Mike allowed their surprise and disbelief to fade
away, before he continued.
    “Gentlemen, I make you the same offer I gave
President Stassen. You may each select between one and ten people
to travel back with me to the Mother Ship. I insist that they are
all volunteers and are given every bit of information, before they
have the upgrade. They will undergo the upgrade process and be
returned to you.
    “They will still be your men; although there will be
a significant changes in their attitudes towards the defense of
planet Earth. I will have their motivations slightly tweaked. They
will be compelled to defend the Earth and to neither attack nor
hinder, in any way, the efforts of the Terran Space Navy to protect
the planet. Otherwise, they will obey your commands and provide you
with as much