Between 1947 and 1991, the US and Russia were in a state of Cold War. Nuclear devastation was a very likely outcome, and, if it were to happen, would utterly annihilate humanity. As a result of the cold war, the US began heavy and extreme research into technology with military applications.
At Nellis air force base, or as it is more popularly known, Area 51, a group of Scientists researching military technology for the US made several breakthroughs.
A group of physicists discovered how to make a hand-held energy weapon through the use of plasma research. As part of the ORION project, the group also created a disc shaped aircraft that could use micro nuclear explosions to propel itself into outer space. They also created a cannon that shot a small nuclear missile that would cause a small, but very significant, nuclear blast.
A group of plastic surgeons, who at the time took part in human experimentation, discovered a surgery that allowed them to drastically change a human being. The surgery was to be used as a terror tactic, in which a soldier would be converted into a monstrous figure, scaring enemy combatants.
Due to the US government's extreme paranoia of any important technology falling into the wrong hands, the scientists research was made so secretive that only the scientists themselves knew the existence of the technology they made.
Dr. Allen Leighton, a married man with a son on the way, fears the oncoming nuclear devastation of the cold war, and is able to convince his fellow scientist to go rogue and takes part in a plan to save humanity. During his High School years, Dr. Leighton was infatuated with ancient military history, but most of all, he loved reading about Genghis Khan. He read how Genghis would stage attacks on warring factions to unite them against the Mongolians, and would use the threat of the united factions to unite the Mongolians. Genghis would keep this up for years, like it was some kind of team-building exercise. This tactic would be called a Genghis gambit.
Leighton, who was inspired by the Genghis gambit, wanted to create a common enemy to unite all of humanity.
Leighton planned to create an alien enemy. The reason for creating an alien enemy is that it would be perfect; they have all the technology needed to create an advance alien creature, and an alien race would be too much of an unknown for humanity.
The plan was simple: one of them would fake their death, take the surgery to appear as an alien creature, take the ship to fly into orbit and back into earth, then they would fly to a United Nations assembly, and shoot the place up with their energy. The person who would volunteer, however, would lose their humanity, and their life. For this, Leighton volunteered.
The plan was enacted, but their was an accident. Leighton crash landed in a forest, and was shot and killed by hunters. The Scientists covered everything up, destroyed the technology but hid blueprints. They did not continue their plan ever again.
After a few years, the Soviet Union collapsed. The Cold War ended.
Peace was established, and it reigned supreme.
For now at least.
Years later, tensions grew even hotter than it was during the Cold War.
A growing ISIS takes over Syria, getting a hold of chemical and biological weapons. They staged attacks on all middle eastern countries, killing thousands. Their attacks reached western countries as well, such as Britain and Paris, and eventually the US.
Russia, now a reformed Soviet Union, begins nuclear testing once more. Due to close proximity to the mid-east, they threaten to retaliate against any nuclear strikes, for fear of the radioactive fallout reaching Russia.
North Korea reveals, through several terrorist attacks throughout South Korea, that they have been slowly setting up sleeper cells throughout the years in isolation. South Korea, now having little patience left, gears up to invade North Korea.
The US, now very close to a police state, fires a single small nuclear missile at Syria. Thousands are killed.
Russia, backing up their earlier threat to retaliate, fires a nuclear missile at the pacific ocean near the United States as a warning. An oil platform and a couple fishing boats are completely destroyed.
All across the US, militias start to form, calling for State independence. They stage bombings on government buildings, and is dubbed a terrorist organization.
The US begins diverting all funds to military weapons research. The Scientists from the original conspiracy, become involved in these research teams.
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Disclaimer: Fanfic of The outer limits episode, Architects of Fear. I do not own the Outer Limits or the episode Architects of fear.