Grand Theft Planetary & other stories

  ***

  “This extra-terrestrial object is the most important discovery in the history of mankind.” Above Trent was a 15-foot image of the y-shaped artefact, slowly rotating on a plinth. The dark amphitheatre was electrified as the unseen scientists and officers soaked up every word, every morsel of information that Trent served them. He continued. “The field is activated by stroking anywhere on the metal ring, and deactivated by a second stroke. The field itself is an impervious shield, a uniform 4mm thick which branches off at 45 degrees, 6o millimetres from the base. Although it is impossible to penetrate, heat and electricity passes straight through it. How that occurs, we don’t understand at this time.

  “The intended use for the artefact is still a mystery. The winning theory so far is that it is a support for a hazardous object – nuclear rods or similar, especially considering its unique thermal properties. Another theory is that it is a part of a bigger machine, to trap gas or foreign objects. We are unlikely to know.”

  A voice rang out. “Can we copy the technology?”

  “Glad you asked that.” A murmur. “The long and the short of it is no. There is an unknown element within the ring, something we cannot liken to anything we know. In order to get to it, we need to break the artefact, something we’re not prepared to do at this time. Sorry folks.

  “But as a treat for you all, I do have the artefact here. Yes, you will be able to touch the antlers today, the thing which will probably start world war 3.” Trent could sense the motion from the darkness as he took the antlers out from his pocket and held it up. He looked at the field in awe, the mystery of it, the silent power of its purpose. Imagine an army protected by this kind of field! They would be unstoppable!

  Others reached out and stroked the object, loudly suggesting how it worked. Trent allowed it to be taken from him and watched it pass amongst the geniuses. Some waggled it on a finger, some tried to bend it. Others grabbed each antler and pulled. One even licked it; despite how magnificent a technology was, there would always be one who tried to lampoon it. Immature. His smartphone beeped, followed by everyone else’s in the room. With a sinking dread, Trent knew that war had finally broken out.