History: Project Blue Book

Part 1

Author's note: this work is based on the current running television series "Project Blue Book". And, it begins with the ending of that show's final episode (so, if a reader isn't up to date on the show, then this story may be a little confusing)...and so...

I've always had a fascination with the unknown, the questions, the idea of what really is, and what's really happened in history during certain situations. I guess it could be said that I don't necessarily take "Authority's" answer or explanation for everything.

Anyway, following the tv series I've notice that the writers have taken a few liberties with the canon that is actually out there, and I understand. It can be difficult to be entertaining and informative when it comes to this subject matter. There are so many questions still waiting...

************** Questions ***************

How could he start this, how could he begin? He had been keeping a file for a while now, a secret file, a file that he thought no one else knew about.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, (professor, astronomer)...it was his character, in his nature to do these kinds of things. Store and release information as he saw fit, data, knowledge. He felt that it was his obligation to share the curiosities of the world. Share them with the people, with his fellow scientists, the unknowns, those oddities that didn't add up. The public would want to know about those things, right? Maybe he was wrong.

Most people, in this this day and age, didn't want to concern themselves with things like flying saucers or UFOs...and why should they, had they ever seen one? Most likely the answer was...no. That was science-fiction wasn't it? Some dreamed up reality from some fevered writer's imagination in an attempt to sell books or funny-books. There were more important things to consider in one's life. Things like...work, children, spouses, and a myriad of others problems and concerns. The unexplained really didn't carry that much weight. There was no urgency for anyone to spend their precious moments thinking outlandish thoughts of spaceships, or little green men. This was the 50ties; could those things even be real?

Humanity had discovered the answers to much of the world's questions already. All one had to do was read a book on any particular subject to get the answer about something, right? And the libraries were full of them, books.

Still, ironically, your average "joe" did know that there were abundantly more questions than answers, questions about the world, questions about time, about the Afterlife, about who we were and where we came from? Yes, there were many more unknowns to consider.

With Project Blue Book Dr. Hynek, had been given an opportunity to explore those mysteries, and his idea had been that if he found something, that he would be open to share it with his colleges, news organizations and the public. However, now he was learning that that wasn't true. There were other forces at work, forces that he did not understand. He quickly became aware that silence is sometimes better than giving away knowledge, for free. Saying too much could get you in trouble.

One must consider the universe, and our place in it. Humanity was smart, the smartest creature walking the planet. However, the earth was just one little dot in a vast cosmos of millions, billions, maybe even trillions of dots, and we weren't even the biggest. We may think of ourselves as the king of the hill, but possibly it was only an anthill, and that didn't make us the masters of the all we could see. How arrogant of us to even think that we could be.

********* The Day After Washington *******

Yes they had been seen, seen zipping around the Washington D. C. area, those crazy bright balls of light zooming around the skies. People had become confused and panicked. How does authority react? How do the people in charge return the public to its tranquil, peaceful calm?

Evidently the military's way was the blame it on our adversary, the Russians. However, how would that stop the panic? It wouldn't.

Dr. Allen Hynek wouldn't stop, he couldn't. He had been working with Captain Michael Quinn on Project Blue Book for some time now, and they had been through a lot. Lying to the people went against every fiber of the Doctor's being...

Still, watching the civilians running around on the "Mall" gave him a reality check. Something had to be done. Some kind of stability had to be brought back to the masses.

The truth needed to come out, but it could come out later. And the one thing that needed to be told was the truth, if one knew the truth. However, who really knew it?

After the Washington Flap, Hynek and Quinn had been brought before an "Inquiry Panel". Even the higher-ups were confused and wanting answers. How was this going to go? His friend and cohort (and yes even with their heated disagreements Dr. Allen did still consider Quinn his friend), had just put his career and his professional integrity on the line. The military pilot had given chase to the objects in the sky in an aircraft and had failed to come back with an account of what they were. The Captain had actually given the panel an answer that made him look like he was suffering from stress.

In that moment, that instant in time, Hynek realized that he had to do something, something to save his partner. His answer came, and it came quickly. He didn't have to lie; he could just state his opinion. When someone didn't know something, and yet they were being pushed for answers, giving a personal opinion might suffice, even for a scientist. It was simple.

Hynek saved his buddy. He had saved Quinn by sounding-off about him in a somewhat-negative manner (The doctor's excuse for Quinn had been that he had suffered from oxygen depravity). Not that his reasoning was meant to be hurtful or derogatory, it was just an opinion, and as such who was to say that it was wrong? Dr. Hynek could see that his explanation had worked. The inquiry committee had swallowed his account. Both men had been release and neither were, worse for the wear.

Walking down the streets of Washington Allen knew that Michael was aggravated with him, he could tell. However, it wasn't the first time, and Allen was sure that it wouldn't be the last. Until he became more knowledgeable himself, the doctor knew that he needed the army pilot. Quinn being replaced by another, and maybe worse "yes man", was certainly not the route that Hynek wanted to take. They needed to remain together.

Smoothing things over with the Quinn shouldn't be too hard, he'd done it before. Still, for them to move forward (with "Project Blue Book"), there had to be a continuing development of trust. Both men were of considerable moral quality, so it was felt that the players needed to remain the same. There were other mysteries to be explored, more unknowns. And, if Hynek wanted to find answers in the future, it was best if he did it with his partner, Quinn.

End Part 1