The huge conference room had seen many momentous occasions over the years but this was something special, even in it's hallowed history.
There was a raised platform at one end of the room with a podium placed in front of it. The doors at the other end of the room had been removed temporarily to accommodate the vast crowd of reporters and camera crews here to witness this historic event and record it for posterity.
The side entrance to the room opened and a stir went round the media present as the security personnel who entered were followed by a disparate group of humans and Taelons. It had taken several years but there would be peace.
Since that fateful election those years ago the campaign of the Resistance to the Taelons' high-handed tactics had grown. Humanity as a whole had had a wake-up call, partnership with the Taelons and not servitude to them was demanded. The Taelons under the leadership of Zo'or had refused, at first that is.
A concentrated campaign by the Resistance and the exposure of several Taelon plots had taken it's toll on Zo'or's authority. The Jaridian threat was ever present, both the Synod and the leaders of Humanity knew that, pressure had been put upon the Taelons and the Synod had finally acted to overrule Zo'or' position on the future role of Taelon/Human relations.
Convincing the Resistance had not exactly been easy either, too many traps in the past had seen to that. In the end Jonathan Doors had been recruited for the task, as their former leader he had been judged the best bet to win them over. It had taken some time but he had managed it.
So now the scene was set. Not only would a treaty be signed between the two races, with the Taelons formally acknowledging their partnership with Humanity, the real leader of the Resistance would finally be revealed.
Nobody knew who had taken over from Doors. The Resistance had guarded that secret with their lives. Many had willingly died rather than betray their leader, their loyalty and devotion had won over the rest of Humanity. There were many who wondered what type of person could engender such devotion in their colleagues.
The Taelons and their personnel were seated on the podiums left side, besides the usual bunch of Volunteers there were the two most famous Companion agents in the world there too, Agent Sandoval and Major Kincaid. On the right side of the podium were Humanity's representatives. These included Jonathan Doors, the Secretary-General of the UN, the new American President and several military personnel. One of these caught the eyes of the media as he carried no identification on his uniform, this was most unusual to see. Why was there no name?
The Secretary-General of the UN acted as the mediator between the two sides and it was he that called each representative to the podium to sign the two copies of the treaty. Zo'or as leader of the Synod was there to sign on the Taelons' behalf with Da'an as their witness.
The Secretary-General called the witness for Humanity to come forward first, a stir went round the media when it turned out to be the unidentified soldier.
One reporter called out asking for a name.
The man faced the cameras and said quite clearly,
"Colonel Liam Kincaid."
Gasps went round the room. Zo'or and some of the other Taelons looked confused, not Da'an though, noted the reporters. All eyes were on the Taelon side of the table where Liam Kincaid just stood with a strange smile on his face.
The Secretary-General then said,
"Humanity wishes the leader of the Resistance to sign on our behalf. This is highly unusual but has been ratified by the UN General Assembly. I ask him now to come forward."
Silence fell on the room. Who was it? Several sets of eyes lingered on Doors thinking that his replacement as leader had been a clever ruse but he remained in his seat. So who was it then?
Stunned disbelief was the reaction as the Companion agent Liam Kincaid approached the podium and shook hands with Liam Kincaid!
Uproar followed. The treaty was momentarily forgotten the media clamoured for an explanation for the situation they were witnessing.
"As you are starting to realise, I am not Liam Kincaid. It was necessary for me to assume his identity to protect my own and before you ask I had his full backing to do so. Yes I am the leader of the Resistance and I'd like to thank them all here and now for their dedication to our goals and their incredible courage and commitment in continuing to fight against such incredible odds.
"We fully support this treaty and will abide by it. We simply wanted to acknowledge its importance by making sure it was not signed with a lie. That is why Colonel Kincaid is here as witness. For his sacrifice of his own name to me he will witness this treaty and I will finally be able to use my true name and reveal my heritage."
At this point he turned to Sandoval and smiled. This totally confused the reporters, more so when they saw him smiling in return.
An unusually quiet and meek Zo'or stepped forward and signed both copies. Then it was Liam's turn. Zo'or gasped at the name written beside his own. A smiling Da'an and Colonel Kincaid witnessed both copies.
The reporters again raised a clamour for Liam's real name and for the treaties to be displayed for pictures. As the treaties were being photographed and filmed the Secretary-General returned to the microphone at the podium and said,
"It is my honour and privilege to introduce the leader of the Resistance, one of Humanity's great heroes and the first Human/Kimera hybrid. His name is Liam Beckett-Sandoval."
A murmur went round the crowd that would not be silenced. Before approaching the microphone Liam turned to approach Sandoval and in full view of the crowd he hugged him and was heard to say, "I love you, Dad."
He then took his place at the microphone and after shaking the Secretary-General's hand he faced the crowd and said,
"My deepest thanks to those who kept my secret. Now I expect you all have a few questions..."