Chariot 3: Conception
Chapter 59 – Distrustful talks

“Fine, Captain. Let`s start from the beginning.” The Colonel broke the silence as the door behind him was slammed and then locked by the MP that remained outside.

“As you wish.” After being separated from his crew without receiving any explanation, Shoffer kept a serene voice, trying to display as much cooperation as possible as he reached his chair.

The clear sense of distrust was still felt by Shoffer and had not yet changed since the minute he stepped off that plane.

“Where do you come from?” The Colonel started his interrogation, placing two glasses of water onto the table.

Shoffer cleared his throat while staring at one of the glasses of crystalline water. “Our ship departed from a planet called Nibiru, our motherland…at least for most of us.” He could not remember when was the last time that anyone had offered him a simple glass of water, after he had abandoned Chariot 3.

The Captain`s hand made its move on the direction of the glass as soon as it touched the table while the Colonel raised his hand towards the cap on his head, both reaching the intended objects at the same time.

The Colonel removed his immaculate cap and placed it on the table while Shoffer finished his glass of water at a single gulp.

“And what is your mission here?” Without wasting time, the American officer chose to go straight to the point. His eyes did not blink and they would not do so until he had the answer for his question.

“We have been sent to Earth with specific instructions”…Shoffer dried his lips with his tongue…“to handle our ship and its technology to a trustful government agency based in Groom Lake which I assume you refer to as Area 51.” Shoffer was certain that his words would make perfect sense to his listener but instead, it only added more questions to the equation.

“Area 51? What are you talking about? We don`t have such a base! I have never heard of it! You better start telling me the truth otherwise things will get pretty bad on your side!” His patience proved to be much shorter than Captain Shoffer had anticipated.

The officer stood up and punched the table with both his fists.

Shoffer grabbed the second glass of water without a spill as it bounced on the table after the impact.

“I am telling you the truth. I have no reason to lie. We have the coordinates of the base.” Without hesitation, he finished the second glass wondering “Could Area 51 be of such secrecy that he does not have knowledge of it?”

“Fine…we will have it checked, but in the mean time, I have many more questions for you.” With a clear effort, the Colonel seemed to be trying not to lose control of that interrogation; he knew the future of his career as well as his country was literally seating on that chair.

“So, our intelligence advised me that your ship, what is it called?”

“Chariot 3.” Captain Shoffer quickly replied with an emotional tone.

“Yes, Chariot 3…funny name…was apparently in pretty bad shape when they found it…and not only due to your forced landing but some pretty heavy combat.” After a comprehensive report from the interrogation with the Grey that survived, the Colonel had much more information in his leverage than what the Nibirians could have expected.

“Yes, we have been attacked by a Grey squadron which I assume is probably one of the reasons we have been sent to Earth.”

“What do these Greys have to do with you and your crew being sent to Earth?” The Colonel could not resist his curiosity.

“They are a threat to your existence, to anyone`s existence, and from what I know, this is just the first of several threats Earth will face. Trust me, I have read reports and I have seen the current weapons you possess. The truth Colonel…”Shoffer paused“…is that they are not enough for what is to come.” Shoffer`s convincing voice brought up the cold reality that the Colonel did not want to hear.

“Well, well, well, Captain Shoffer, I have received similar information about a threat.”

Shoffer finally exhaled the air locked inside his lungs by the tension he witheld since the moment he walked into that interrogation room.

“My source states that you and your crew are the threat and that you would try to convince me of otherwise, and would even create stories of bases that don`t exist!” A vein popped on the right side of his temple.

“No Colonel! You are mistaken! I serve the N.S.A. and neither I nor my crew would ever do anything to destroy or even prejudice the long lasting alliance that the Nibirians established with Earth.” Shoffer`s sincerest words did not seem to cause much effect on the raged U.S. Air Force officer.

“What alliance you`re talking about Captain?!”

“Earth will become part of the N.S.A. how the Earthians always liked to call the Nibirian Space Agency and I am here to invite you to join it.” No matter how much Shoffer strove to explain his side and how he had an answer for every question, Colonel Exon just seemed to distrust him more and more as his words continued to add more questions to the tense conversation.

“N.S.A. Uhm. Interesting...”