Dea Amoris

Prologue: First Contact

1st of April, 2100

Mars, Sol System

It was cold, it was sandy, it was dry, but then that was life on Mars. No shining edifices, no blazing fast surface trains, nothing but a whole lot of dust. The sun would be setting over the horizon in a couple of hours, its final light shone golden rays upon the outpost. The Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES)’s Martian watchpoint was a remarkable sight. More than one hundred scientists, researchers, and soldiers called it home. At least for the time being. Lieutenant Marie Blanchet sat at her console. She was in the Signal Detection and Analysis (SDA) wing of the outpost. That particular evening, she was filing a report back to the Paris European Space Agency (ESA) headquarters. Her report was on the effects of a particular strand of radioactive wavelengths. Specifically, how they affected potato plants. It wasn’t the most thrilling work, but Marie could definitively say that she was part of a new age of human exploration. Besides, the Wiki list of humans who had set foot on Mars was still under one hundred fifty, which made her famous. Everything had been quite dull on Mars for more than a month now. On Mars, of course, this was a good thing. After all, the most exciting Martian events involved cataclysmic dust storms. Storms that could rupture a part of the outpost.

Marie pondered this then and thought back to how the first humans on Mars must have felt. They would have been far more affected by those storms. The outpost was a marvel of modern engineering, a rupture was rare and never deadly. But those first few explorers? They would have been in constant threat. She was scanning through line after line of her report, and then proofreading, to ensure nothing would blemish her precise record.

It was around this time that the SDA notification line sounded, indicating the detection of a new signal. Marie sighed, knowing this would require her to rewrite that report, and she likely wouldn’t be able to send it off until tomorrow. Reading through this new notification, however, she couldn’t help but crack a smile. Jacques knew when she was feeling down and had decided to lighten the mood. The signal read,

We mean you no harm. This message was sent by the people of Venus. Contact us.

Marie began digging into the signal. She was running a quick analysis of its origins when Jacques entered the room.

Hey, what are you doing here so late? Shouldn’t you have finished that report by now? Jacques asked. Marie's lip twisted in a half-frown as she glanced up at him; any trace of amusement having left her face. After scanning a few more lines, she turned to Jacques: You know something about this? she asked, gesturing to the screen.

Jacques crouched down and took a look at her display. His brow furrowed after examining the text for a moment.

I don’t know what this is, but we had better run a complete diagnostic to find the source. Marie sighed punching in a few more keys, That’s the problem, Jacques, it’s like it came from nothing.

Jacques’s frown was deepening now, That’s impossible, Marie, our scanner must have missed something. His voice betrayed his own disbelief, as anticipation took hold of Marie’s eyes.

Jacques, I think this could be real.

Jacques looked into his friend’s eyes and knew she was already certain. We need to stay calm, and contact Earth.

1st of April, 2100

Earth, Sol System

Paris had been a beautiful city, but that was before the bombs. Dupont was proud of how much his nation had managed to survive after the Second Dark Ages. After all, they had started the whole damn thing. President Dupont was widely believed to be the most popular French politician in all of history. Ever since his cell of the resistance had toppled the dictator from his seat. Ever since The Enlightenment had destroyed the Regime’s military. The people had rejoiced under his now 6 years of leadership. He sat at his desk in the Élysée Palace, a position that even now he still wasn’t occupying in comfort. If it had been up to him the whole place would have been set ablaze. The South Americans had overruled him on that particular issue.

That night President Dupont was awaiting a report from the CNES team on Mars. Something about another one of their water preservation experiments. Personally, Dupont didn’t have much of an interest in space. He believed that humans should at least finish cleaning up the last mess on Earth before venturing out. But the EU had ordered this mission and so it would be. He was finishing up filing away that particular report when his assistant strode in.

Mr. President, the Chief of CNES is here, she claims it to be a matter of great urgency, the assistant said. Dupont sighed, There go my chances of getting out early tonight. Send her in, he replied.

His assistant nodded and left the office. A moment passed and then the Chief of the French Space Agency, Madam Martin, entered.

What can I do for you this evening, Madam? asked Dupont. Martin looked around the space with worry. Is this office completely secure? asked Martin, fear now present in her voice.

Secure? replied Dupont, his brow rising in question, of course, it’s secure, what’s this about?

Madam Martin stopped pacing, and with a look of resolve turned to face the president. We’ve found something, sir. We believe we have discovered evidence of life on the surface of Venus.

President Dupont frowned; his Chiefs do not normally waste his time.

I am a busy man, Madam. Are you positive? he asked. Yes sir, we have run every test we could possibly think of. We believe we have received communication from another world.

Dupont’s eyes grew wide. I... I thought we had already been to Venus. The Soviet program, yes? We already verified no life could survive such a climate. he said.

We were under the same impression sir, but it would seem we were incorrect. I have the scientist on Mars who made the discovery ready for you if you’d like to speak directly.

Dupont nodded, a sharp and definite motion, on the screen, he gestured to the wall.

Martin swiped her tablet and the image of a very tired-looking woman in an ESA-CNES uniform was onscreen.

Mr. President, it’s an honour to meet you, sir. I’m Lieutenant Blanchet. Marie Blanchet said.

Good to meet you as well, replied Dupont, what is this message you received?

Marie cleared her throat, It’s all in perfect English sir, it reads as follows:

We mean you no harm. This is transmission number 789. We hope this message finds you well. If you are reading this, do not panic. This message was sent by the people of Venus. We mean you no harm. Please attempt to contact us on DMC 173, it is kept open for you at all times. Again, this is the people of Venus, waiting for your response, end transmission 789.

Dupont’s fear was evident as his hands began to shake. And... and you’re absolutely certain it is real? he asked, a trace of hope vanishing from his voice.

Yes sir, replied Marie, The message seems to have originated, well, from nothing. We have absolutely no idea how it arrived on our system, just that it did. Dupont’s eyes went far away, Thank you, lieutenant, that will be all. He muttered and terminated the connection.

President Maxime Dupont was no stranger to challenge, nor to fear. He had been the war leader of the French section of the resistance to the Regime. He had fought and bled and watched many comrades die in many battles. He knew fear, he knew desperation, and he knew how to keep his emotions in check until circumstances allowed their presence. He turned to Martin, resolve in his eyes.

Call a general assembly of the ESA, we have much to discuss. Martin nodded and hurried out of the room.

President Dupont leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window to the city he had promised to protect, and wondered once again if this post-regime world would stand the tests of time.

3rd of April, 2100

Earth, Sol System

It was mid-afternoon two days later when all the various leaders of member-states to the ESA had arrived in Paris. The air was tense, no question, as Dupont entered the meeting chamber. He took his seat and gazed around the table at the room full of annoyed heads of state. Once everyone had settled, he spoke.

Welcome everyone, I’m sure you must be wondering what warranted such a late-notice meeting. Before we begin, however, we must ensure total privacy. Guards, clear the room. he announced at a raised volume. 

The security guards stationed around the chamber filed out, the final two leaving after finishing their sweep for listening devices. The delegates were looking concerned now, as well as they should be to Dupont’s mind.

He cleared his throat. What I am about to share with you is of the utmost security, to your nations, and very well to your planet. This drew questioning glances, but the others held back from speaking, so he continued. The CNES Watchpoint on Mars has discovered definitive proof of intelligent life on the surface of Venus.

He had expected a laugh at this, perhaps even sighs of relief. What he did not expect was the silence. The total, unwavering silence and the looks not of amusement, but genuine concern around the table. After what felt like an eternity, the Latvian President spoke up.

You are not a man for simple games, Dupont. You have our attention; do you have a suggested course of action? she inquired. Dupont paused for a moment to consider.

We must act swiftly, and yet cautiously. We are not the only presence on Mars, and it is only a matter of time before the world knows. I believe the first stage is to draw up bills of protocol for first contact. We cannot allow our history of discovery to repeat itself.

The Italian Prime Minister spoke up at this,

I concur with your sentiment Mr. Dupont; however, I feel discussions of such law should not be limited to this room. To begin with, we must bring the Commonwealth Alliance together to discuss.

Dupont sighed at this, though he knew it would be coming. He had no particular reason to distrust the vast majority of the Commonwealth members. In fact, he had no reason to distrust any of them. Despite all logical reasoning, however, he couldn’t help feeling fear at the prospect of introducing this communication to the Baliza of Brazil. The other heads of state then piped up, each one agreeing with the Italian PM’s suggestion.

Very well, said Dupont, I shall put out a call for an emergency assembly here in Paris. I trust you can all stay until the rest of the Commonwealth arrives? He received various assurances from around the table. Then, we are adjourned. From darkness unto peace, he said, standing. From darkness unto peace, the motto of the Commonwealth echoed from the rest of the chamber, as delegates began to file out.

♦  ♦  ♦

It had been 5 days now since the initial receipt of that fateful transmission. But at last, all members of the International Commonwealth Accord had arrived in Paris for a general assembly. As was customary, Queen Victoria II was the first to arrive, and Baliza Silvia of Brazil was the final attendee to be seated in the Grand Hall of the Accord Depot. As the quiet chatter came to a close, President Dupont took to the podium. There had been a great deal of care taken in orchestrating this meeting. If their spies were to be believed, any nation not a member of the Commonwealth is none the wiser of this event. Almost every leader here had their personal security teams sweep for listening devices and the entire chamber was now sealed to any electronic interference. Dupont paused a moment to collect himself, then activated the microphone.

Members of the Accord, he began in a confident tone. "I have called you all here on such urgent notice due to a discovery of not national, not international, but planetary security." He stopped briefly, casting his eyes over the room to try and determine the initial reactions of his audience. It occurred to Dupont then, that this was a very unique situation. Not only due to the meeting’s subject, of course, but due to the members of said meeting. Looking around the hall, Dupont acknowledged his supreme luck at being a world leader directly after such a disaster as the Second Dark Ages. Every single person in this chamber had come to rule over their nations, not by dodgy political maneuvering, not through bribery, intimidation, coups, or any number of unsavoury methods of the past. No, thought Dupont. Every last one of them was a leader, a true leader. Leaders who had been at the head of the fight to topple the Regime. Leaders who respected each other and whose people respected them. Dupont smiled to himself then. No, these people, he would not have to worry about bringing threats to other intelligent life. And they would understand the importance of ensuring their successors didn’t either.

I must begin by assuring the chamber that I am of sound mind. My next assertion will surely throw up that question. The CNES Watchpoint on the surface of Mars has received definitive proof of intelligent life on the surface of Venus.

Dupont paused as gasps and light chatter filled the chamber, he waited for the initial shock reactions to die down.

Members of the Accord, we have been contacted by another World, and we must decide how to respond. This is a monumental moment in the history of the human species. The actions we take today will be remembered for generations, and we must ensure they are the correct ones. Before we go further, I would like to show you the message we have received, that message I have not yet even shown to the rest of the ESA.

Dupont turned then to the giant screen wall behind him and swiped at his tablet. A massive image of Venus filled the screen, the sun behind its beauty, and text began to scroll down from the top.

We mean you no harm. This is transmission number 789. We hope this message finds you well. If you are reading this, do not panic. This message was sent by the people of Venus. We mean you no harm. Please attempt to contact us on DMC 173, it is kept open for you at all times. Again, this is the people of Venus, waiting for your response, end transmission 789.

As the final line of text left the screen, and Dupont shut down the display, the wondrous hushed talks of the leaders around this hall quieted, and steady resolve took its place in their faces.

Our foremost duty is clear, we must enshrine a new bill into all of our highest laws, one which can secure protocol for first contact with extraterrestrial life. Only then can we begin to ponder that question most exciting; how do we get there?

Dupont left the podium then, returning to his seat. As members conversed