Lost in Magadan: Extraterrestrials on Earth

It was a short walk to the Senate building. The magnificent structure was a mustard-colored, 18^th century neo-classical building, with engaged columns partially built into the walls. Stalin led Nox into a large conference room. Unlike the outside of the building, which had been disguised to look unimportant, the conference room was a display of gaudy opulence. The walls were covered with thick, hand-carved wood, paneling arching up towards a vaulted ceiling. Gilded lamps sat upon marble-top furniture stationed against the walls. A large mahogany conference table sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by an army of high-back well-upholstered chairs. On the far side of the large room was a massive stone fireplace that reached up to the decorative ceiling. The floors were white marble, and the ceiling was hand painted with whimsical geometric shapes and colors.

Stalin walked to a chair near the door and pulled it out, “Please have a seat.”

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Nox said. Maybe this would be easier than he thought. Nox sat in a chair, it was a large with a high back and luxurious embroidery. The chair had to be strong, if his seven-foot frame clad in battle armor weighing nearly 500 pounds did not crush it.

Stalin sat in the chair directly across the conference table from Nox. Two guards with machine guns stood in the doorway, but the rest of Stalin’s entourage left the room.

Stalin, unaware of exactly how powerful Nox may be, was trying to be as polite and diplomatic as possible. “May I get you something to drink?”

“No, thank you,” said Nox, unsure as to whether Stalin would attempt to poison him. Nox’s battle armor could detect all known poisons, but there was no need to put that system to the test.

Nox continued, “I would like to form a treaty between your people and mine, a trade agreement of sorts.”

“I’m interested.” Stalin was sitting straight up, hands folded on the table, looking directly into Nox’s black eyes.

“I come from a planet far from here. I have technology that allows me to fly through space at incredible speeds. I possess weapons far beyond your wildest imagination. I can help your people build communication devices that will make your best radios and radars obsolete. I can assist you in rebuilding and advancing your infrastructure in a fraction of the time it would take you with your current equipment.”

Stalin nodded, “And what do you want in return?”

“I want to be appointed as General of the Russian Armed Forces, with access to all systems. I want to be the commanding officer over all the military installations in Moscow and I want all research and development under my command. I will operate in full secrecy; only a few of your highest-ranking officers will know of my existence. I will need to triple your research and development budget, and I will have sole discretion as to how to use it. My orders will be carried out by staff generals, so the rank-and-file are not aware of my existence. I will answer only to you, the supreme leader of the Soviet Union.”

Stalin took a deep breath. “You are asking me to turn over all control. You want to install yourself as supreme commander and make me a puppet. How can I trust you? How can I know that you will not overthrow me once I give you so much power?”

“A very good question, but there is a simple answer. I cannot rule your people. They would never trust or accept me as a leader. If they knew of my existence, they would revolt. That is why I must be kept in the shadows. I have no need for a regime change. I have no desire to enter into a world war. Hitler went against my wishes by pushing the world into a destructive war that destroyed much needed infrastructure. I want to build your planet into something new, something better, not decimate it with bombs.”

“How do I know you can deliver all of this?”

“For two hours, your air defenses were unable to stop me as I flew through your skies. What more demonstration do you need?”

“Your plane is impressive. I have no doubt that your craft is advanced far beyond anything in my air force. I can see your body armor is made of a substance unknown to me. I assume you did not walk into my Senate chamber unarmed, and yet, I see no weapon. Clearly, you are who you say you are, and I assume you have the means to inflict massive damage to my military. Yet, you are promising to deliver this technological advantage to me. Why?”

“It is true that I can assist you in rapid technological advances. But, I offer technology to you, not as a gift, but rather in trade. Botacoure is very far away, which makes resupply difficult. I have many craft, like the one sitting in your Square, but finding fuel and replacement parts is burdensome. I need to advance human technology and industry so that I can have the resources I need to maintain my equipment.”