Introducing a little intrigue and dissent can boost the interest.
This Sci-fi novel has a lot of satire and a firm social footing:
Chameakegra had watched the broadcast from the bridge of the Neff with a critical eye, trying to imagine how it might be impacting the Hydran population. No sooner was it over than her communicator buzzed. The image of Grrndakegra appeared floating in the air before her. She was smiling broadly, though not in a manner Chameakegra found particularly pleasant. The tilt of her jaw and set of her eyes seemed to betray a mocking air. The image hung in the air grinning at Chameakegra for long seconds before she deigned to speak.
‘I watched the broadcast,’ she finally sneered. ‘Very reassuring. I am certain the Hydrans found it suitably uplifting.’
Grrndakegra nodded her head slowly, the grin fading into a steely stare.
‘Just to keep you informed; operation extraction begins in one hour.’
The image hung in the air for a second or two more before fading without Chameakegra able to respond.
‘What do you reckon to that then?’ Foxy muttered, nervously glancing round at the others as the screen faded to black.
They’d all assembled at the Ashley Arms to watch the broadcast. As one might expect, there was a strange atmosphere about the place, a tension like the air was full of electricity. Everyone was terrified but attempting to put on a brave face.
Out on the streets the eerie reptiles with their plastic uniforms and stun guns had faded into the background, but they were still there. Many of the craft had landed, though some still hung in the sky. For the Ashley Arms gang it felt as if they were trapped in a scary hiatus. Nobody knew what was going to happen next. The tension was palpable. Something was about to happen. It felt like they were sitting on a heap of gelignite and the slightest movement could set it off. Everybody spoke in hushed tones with sly glances in all directions. There was no getting away from the fact that they had been invaded. What was uncertain was what the lizards’ next move might be. They’d been hoping the broadcast might shed a little light on that.
The Ashley Arms had seemed a good choice for them to get together. At least when they were together they felt more secure. They were thankful that Nobby had opened up for his regulars. They needed a refuge. Nobody wanted to be on their own. No news was coming through the normal channels, which only served to make things worse. The radio and TV had stopped broadcasting. All you could get during the day was static. It was far too frightening a time to be isolated. They’d grabbed the kids, contacted their parents and relatives to reassure them, to let them know where they were, and comfort them with the thought that it would all be OK in the end and they weren’t to worry, and headed for the safety of togetherness at the Ash. All they could do now was wait.
The alien broadcast might tell them more. They had very mixed emotions – hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
‘I don’t know,’ John muttered despondently. The whole world had come to a stop. His bus was no longer running. The shops were all closed. Nobody was going into work. Everything was at a standstill holding its breath. He did not know what he was supposed to do.
‘All bullshit,’ Billy stated angrily. ‘They are trying to keep us fucking quiet while they tighten their control.’
‘Where the fuck’s the army?’ Denby snarled. ‘Why didn’t they at least try to blow those bastards to kingdom come?’
‘They say they’re coming in peace,’ Debbie said rather hopefully.
‘They all say that,’ Denby muttered morbidly, taking a swig. ‘What’s all that stuff about removing people? Who are they removing? And taking away our countries. I tell you, these fuckers are up to no good.’ He waved his glass in the air.
‘Have you seen the size of those fuckers?’ Foxy looked aghast. ‘They’re bloody ginormous.’
Cheryl glanced nervously out the window. ‘There’s not much any of us can do. I reckon we just have to grin and bear it.’
‘That’s all very well,’ Charlene remarked, drawing her shawl tightly around her and sipping her chardonnay, ‘until the friggin’ food runs out.’
‘Maybe everything’ll open up tomorrow?’ John remarked hopefully, looking round at everyone with hopeful eyes. ‘They’ve messaged me from work. Everything’s on standby.’
‘They never said anything about when we’re going back to normality in that fucking broadcast,’ Foxy remarked.
‘Well the shops better be opening soon,’ Charlene remarked, drawing herself up haughtily, clutching her shawl to her and tilting her head. ‘They’ll be nowt to eat.’
‘Stopped serving food here,’ Foxy remarked with a wistful look at the bar.
‘Be grateful that you got your beer,’ Kathy remarked. ‘Might not have that for too much longer.’
They all went quiet, contemplating the future and wondering.
‘We’re bloody English,’ Billy suddenly spouted. ‘You know, never ever ever will be slaves. We shouldn’t be sitting here doing nowt. This is a fucking invasion. We should be out there doing something! Protesting and kicking up hell!’
They all stared at him.
Fortunately Beheggakegri had not mentioned the Judge again. Perhaps he had forgotten? Sang knew he could not be so lucky. Beheggakegri never forgot. It was merely that the Judge had not come to his attention for a while and he’d been focused on other issues. When she did loom back into his attention it would likely elicit another explosion that Sang would find himself in the impact zone of. He searched around for a solution and came up with a possibility.
Probably a long shot, but one that might possibly prove tempting enough.
‘Judge Booghramakegra, we are in grave need of a Judge to preside over an extremely exacting judgement in Extol 3. You may have heard of the complicated situation regarding the conflict between two advanced civilisations, both individually worthy of entry into the Federation but both showing loathing and aggression towards each other – a very complex and difficult judgement. The case has featured very prominently in the galactic media. As it is such an intriguing situation I am certain that you have been following it.’
‘Unfortunately, Judge Forcasi has unexpectedly died leaving the judgement hanging. We require an experienced Judge to pick up the threads and solve the impasse. You appear to be the only available Judge capable of dealing with the issue. – Sang – Deputy Head UFOR.’
The Cleansing – (The Sequel to Judgement): Amazon.co.uk: Forsythe, Ron: 9798278910817: Books
Judgement: Amazon.co.uk: Forsythe, Ron: 9798267855549: Books
