Barry Morris Goldwater - 37th President of the United States
The Oval Office - The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
03:09: 16 ATC / March 9th, 1969 - 8:27 / 8:27 AM
"Even though we're in a war economy currently with rationing and have emplaced tariffs on extraterrestrial products, we've been making significant gains." The Secretary of State, Jesse Alexander Helms, Junior, grinned. "Interestingly, demand for Twinkies and other pastries, sodas, and like-minded goods are especially high and the denizens of the galaxy are willing to pay any price for them."
"Good to know." The President smiled. "It is just amazing that we're even seeing a booming economy under these circumstances, not to mention other nations are seeing an increase in prosperity."
"Would it be funny if as a result poverty is completely eradicated here on Earth?" One of the economic advisers, Milton Friedman, mused.
"By the way, Mister President, never in my lifetime did I ever consider that Pyongyang would one day be labeled as the capitol of a superpower by an alien news agency."
"But it goes to show that the globally coordinated misinformation campaign to the rest of the universe is working for us as the Sith Empire has to continuously sort fact from fiction." Barry smirked before turning to the Secretary of Defense. "Omar? What's the status of Operation: Red Herring?"
"Our coincidentally named, Pre-First Contact designed Lockheed F-104 Starfighters that the Luftwaffe and other forces including ours retired back in '65 and replaced with F-106 Delta Delts, Mirages, Lightnings, and other aircraft are all currently being filmed with special effects to portray them as being outer space capable when they are obviously not. They will be described as the most advanced starfighter in the entire universe with the astonishing speed of forty-six hundred miles per hour courtesy of a specially designed hyperdrive/jet engine hybrid and it will be armed with four twenty millimeter GAUs rotary cannons to augment the completely fabricated heat-seeking 'Zeus' missiles and once the Sith taskforce heads to the location where they are being 'produced', it should be a Kuat Two Point Oh."
"Technically a Third Kuat but the sentiment is there and if they thought that the SR-71 Blackbird used for reconnaissance purposes only was fast, then this will blow their minds." Goldwater grinned, the former United States Air Force Reserve Brigadier General knowing the irony with the actual specifications in mind. "A small elite team of their utmost, especially this so-called 'Empire's Fury', or another armada, the Empire are just wasting themselves against our creativity."
"All credit for the special effects goes to the new startup firm called 'Lucasfilms' of course. I can't believe William Shatner agreed to do the voice-over for the disinformation and bait."
"Not our fault 'Star Trek' became mildly popular in the other galaxy." The President chuckled.
"Space...Our common frontier." The voice of Shatner began in a background completely reminiscent of the intro for each individual episode of 'Star Trek'. "We have found ourselves new friends and unfortunately a new enemy."
Footage of Imperial troops in their black armor and gray fatigues marched in Napoleonic parade ground procession as they entered the capitol of an unknown conquered world the Sith Empire have successfully annexed with the chained prisoners being hauled away to the fate of in all certainty enslavement.
"The Sith Overlords of the Empire however will soon learn about the might of our highly advanced and ambitious F-104 Starfighters. Its purpose: To assist our allies in the common cause of liberty. To seek out and destroy facilities that are vital to their warmongering machine. To boldly go where no group of liberators of slaves has gone before!"
In the clip, a squadron of F-104 Starfighters streak by in the background of the dark vastness of space going slightly faster than the SR-71 Blackbird but much more sleeker and unlike the Blackbird: Clearly Armed.
The scene immediately cuts to President Barry Goldwater, Secretary of Defense Omar Bradley, and General Curtis LeMay of the United States Air Force clinking glasses as they watch the 'prototype' being rolled out into the hangar.
The entire footage ends with lyrics from Johnny Cash's 'Ragged Old Flag' and a joint statement from two friends and a recognizable figure of liberty.
"Back in 1960, in my inaugural address, I asked people to ask not what our nation could do for them but instead what they can do for their country. It was unfortunate that there were those who were deaf and decided to be against the last war we were in." The previous and former President of the United States with a mixed legacy due to his chaotic second term but here at the invitation of his friend, Kennedy, declared. "Right now, our very own nation and every nation on Earth is dedicated to the fight against the Imperials. You know who you are. There will be pardons for the evaders of the draft who change their minds and report for induction but those found evading service will be shipped to basic then report to a court-martial hearing."
"This isn't the time to argue between upholding the New Deal and Conservatism. We are not black or white, but each and every one of us is an American at heart." Goldwater added. "May I remind you that those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on Earth. And let me also remind you that they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies."
"The Sith don't care about any of our freedoms as they do not believe in equality nor do they care about our ways. I urge those who believe that this war to be unjust to change and volunteer for service." The renowned reverend, Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior himself pleaded to those who would be watching. "May the Almighty Father be with us all and liberty perpetually continue to shine brightly in this land. 'Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty'!"
"Mister John Wayne also kindly allowed us to include a poem of his to finish our presentation." Kennedy smiled. "God bless America "
When the trio sitting humbly behind desks faded away and John Wayne's voice began to be heard, images of Old Glory along with past conflicts began to be shown, even a scene of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence at Liberty Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Why Are You Marching, Son? I'd really like to know!
Is it because of Valley Forge, or perhaps the Alamo?
Or, "One if by land, two if by sea,"
A trumpet's call...the will to be free?
And what of a man who stood straight and tall,
Who wept silent tears when he saw brave men fall?
No matter-no difference-the blue or the gray,
All were his brothers...how often he'd pray.
And what of Antietam-that now peaceful stream
Where the water, blood-red, glittered and gleamed?
Appomattox...Chickamauga..Vicksburg...Bull Run...
Cumberland...Gettysburg...and then Washington.
Why Are You Marching, Son?
Stills of Daguerreotypes taken by photographer Matthew Brady during the American Civil War appeared as a flood with the aftermath of Antietam and Gettysburg being an intentional reminder of the price for Freedom was not cheap in between painted portraits of men duking it out for either the Union or Confederacy.
Then came pictures of World War One with a much younger George Patton in his uniform then ranked as a Colonel and Doughboys charging over the top to engage the Huns before a field of flowers was symbolically shown after the carnage.
In Flanders Fields, how proud were they
Whose forms beneath the poppies lay.
Men who saw Verdun...
And died at the Marne...Soissons...
And those who tried the fearful foe at Chateau-Thierry,
Who fought and bled...whose hearts grew weary,
But in whose minds one thought kept churning-
That the torch of liberty keep burning.
Why Are You Marching, Son?
Next was the U.S.S. Arizona and the aftermath of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii were still fresh in the minds of the survivors, the attack that Sunday morning of December Seventh remaining a Day in Infamy alongside photos of the fighting in the North African Campaign, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and little known islands across the Pacific.
The planes swarmed in, and the rising sun
Glowed fiercely on the evil done
To men whose blood runs through our veins,
Men who died, and whose remains
Life forever locked in waters deep.
Now, is it right that they should sleep
While the warm sea laps at a twisted hull
And see the torch of liberty grow dull?
Anzio...Cassino...and the Po!
St. Mere Eglise...Le Mans...St. Lo!
Gardelegen...Buchenwald...
On and on the roll is called!
And why?...Why Are You Marching, Son?
And images from the Korean War with the landings at Inchon, the struggle of Pork Chop Hill, even the frosty fighting at the Chosin Reservoir.
Bugles shrilled in the frozen night,
And at first dawn, the awful sight
Of seas of men...row after row,
Left to die on blood-stained snow!
Pusan...Pyongyang...Suwan...Kyongju!
And blood-red ran the swift Yalu!
In South Vietnam the big guns roared,
And once again we fought a war
To honor a pledge our nation gave
To help that little country save
Her people from the certainty
That she'd be ruled by tyranny.
In never before seen footage due to a wartime censorship policy enacted, the discovery of mass graves and evidence of a massacre inflicted on civilians by the North Vietnamese Army at Hue recorded by Leathernecks of the United States Marine Corps after stumbling upon it was shown with the caption of: 'This is What Our Boys Discovered at Hue Just Like How Their Fathers Came Across the Concentrations Camps in Europe' included above followed by 'Never Forget!' below.
No matter where the big guns roar,
Our fighting men, like those before,
Take the torch we all hold dear
And face freedom's enemies without fear.
Our fathers died from sea to sea,
And blessed the torch of liberty.
Why?...Why Are You Marching, Son?
George Walton Lucas, Junior - Film Director and founder of Lucasfilms
Andrews Air Force Base - Camp Springs, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
03:10: 16 ATC / March 10th, 1969 - 22:00 / 10:00 PM
"What do you think, Mister President? Mister Kennedy? Reverend?"
"Young man, I think the Dark Council is going to have another round of regrets in their next session." Goldwater grinned.
"That speech could've been used against Tojo, Mussolini, and the Fürher back in the day but I think those brats of the type from Berkeley will reconsider after they see this." Kennedy upheld.
"Let's hope so as while I didn't believe in the war in Vietnam, this conflict is a completely different matter entirely." King inputted. "The Empire needs to fall and the society rebuilt from the ground up like Germany and Japan."
"Good to know." Lucas smiled despite himself technically being one of the 'Berkeley types' but the revelation of what reportedly occurred at Hue made him regret falling in with the wrong crowd. "If I didn't have diabetes, I would've enlisted myself. In fact, I was seeking a commission as a United States Air Force officer two years ago, come to think of it."
"Son, Governor Reagan served in the United States Army Air Force during World War Two stateside producing training films." Goldwater reminded the young director. "If you're still interested, there is a way for you to be commissioned. Besides, diabetes is no longer disqualifying due to the medical technology being capable of curing the condition completely."
George considered the advantages and disadvantages of resurrecting his earlier decision before deciding on aiding his nation in its time of need. "Mister President? My only request is that, unlike Ronald Reagan, I would like special permission to head to Coruscant to conduct research for my planned Star Wars movie. Afterward, I'll be here in America doing training films for the duration or whatever the Air Force decides is best for them."
"I'll see what I can do, son, but if you're getting commissioned as an officer of the United States Air Force, you're going to have to start following orders."
"I perfectly understand, sir."
Barry nodded at the resolve of the young man before turning to one of his personal friends. "John? I know it's late but is it alright I talk to you in private."
"Of course, Barry." The previous President of the United States acknowledged even though Jack wasn't sure what the subject of the conversation was about.
Two months later...
Second Lieutenant George Walton Lucas, Junior - Public Affairs Officer (AFSC 35PX), United States Air Force Reserves
RNS Admiral Cede - Wanderer-class transport: En route from Koda Space Station to Coruscant
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 8:01 / 8:01 AM
"Welcome aboard the Admiral Cede." One of the crewmen greeted the inbound passengers. "We'll be en route to Coruscant within the hour."
"I can't believe that I'm finally going to be able to make my dream a reality." George smiled at his patron, Gene Roddenberry as they and Sailer planned to visit Coruscant to conduct additional research on Revan and his journeys on the Ebon Hawk before making a proposal with a major production firm back on Earth.
"Well, George, it's certainly going to be interesting to learn about life in the rest of the universe." The originator of 'Star Trek' smirked at the young, aspiring filmmaker. "Though it is still too early to tell about how successful this movie about Revan and the Ebon Hawk will be."
"True but we and Sailer all agree that it's well worth the risk financially." George countered. "That book was enlightening to say the least."
"Just curious, George, have you thought about any actors to cast yet?" The lead script-writer asked.
"I think Charleston Heston would make for an excellent Revan and James Earl Jones could easily be Jolee Bindo but it's too early to tell."
"Hmmm...James Earl Jones is a natural choice, come to think of it, especially with the deep voice that Jolee was described as having." Roddenberry agreed with the decision. "May I suggest Carrie Fisher for the role of Bastila Shan?"
"Any reason why, Gene?"
"She's young and high-spirited, which makes her perfect for the role."
"Shame I can't use Mark Hammil or that carpenter, what's his name…" Lucas paused as he tried to remember his name before recalling it. "Harrison Ford! Yeah, Ford, but it's a shame I can't use either Hammill or Ford for the role of Carth Onasi and Canderous Ordo respectively as they're in the Army Corps of Engineers for the duration."
"I honestly don't know why you thought Hammill would be Onasi but Ford is an unconventional choice. Why him?"
"He honestly looked like the roughneck, space cowboy type, which made him perfect for Canderous Ordo."
"I stand corrected then." Gene conceded, seeing the wisdom only for the problem of availability. "Well, I guess we'll wait until we learned more at the Coruscant Museum of Galactic History and then Tython before making any alternatives."
"Sounds like a plan."
Darth Nox - Sphere of Ancient Knowledge and Dark Councilor
Aboard the INS Annihilator - Harrower-class Dreadnought: Expansion Regions, Grid Coordinates J-15
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 9:45 / 9:45 AM
"If I may be so bold, my Lord, but why do you believe this Gene Roddenberry is important for us to take captive?" Lieutenant Drellik wondered as the Annihilator and two other Harrower-class Dreadnoughts waited patiently to ambush the convoy that the Admiral Cede was assigned to and board it to capture the HVTs.
"He's a cultural icon on Earth, the one who created this 'Star Trek' franchise." Nox revealed in a loud tone for the entire bridge crew to hear, much to their disgust.
"Blasphemy!" The lead engineer shouted instinctively in rage after hearing the revelation. "That horrendous show produced by barbarians doesn't even portray hyperdrives right!"
"And photon torpedoes are a poor knockoff of proton torpedoes." The lead Gunner's Mate seethed.
"Respectfully, My Lord, we already tried kidnapping famed archaeologist Professor Indiana Jones and it failed." Talos noted. "What makes you believe that this attempt will be more fruitful?"
"Because there's no protection detail this time around, especially a protection detail of Earthlings." Nox grinned. "This is too good of an opportunity to waste."
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry - Screenwriter, Producer, and Creator of 'Star Trek'
RNS Admiral Cede - Wanderer-class transport: En route from Koda Space Station to Coruscant
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 10:30 / 10:30 AM
"Imperial ships off our portside!"
"Take evasive action!"
"We can't, sir!" The helmsman shouted, panicking as he attempted to get the controls functioning."We're stuck in a tractor beam!"
"George! Come quick and bring the camera!" Gene shouted to his friend as he overheard the exchange between two of the Republic crewmen. "We got some action occurring here!"
Lucas unpacked his 35mm movie camera from the case and sprinted to the scene of the action, watching as the gray hulls of the Imperial ships began firing broadsides at the Republic corvettes escorting their ship.
"We need volunteers in case of borders!" A Republic soldier pleaded.
"This is going to be interesting, Mister Lucas." Sailer smirked as he unpacked his M1911A1. "Boarding just like the pirate movies."
"Shiver me timbers!" George laughed. "This is one experience I will never forget."
"I don't think any of us are going to forget, George." Gene corrected. "In fact, maybe just like for 'Star Wars' there could be influences for 'Star Trek' here."
Lieutenant Hoder Wheca - Imperial Marine detachment, Imperial Navy
Boarding the Republic Wanderer-class transport RNS Admiral Cede
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 10:57 / 10:57 AM
"Alright, you know the HVT. Everyone else is expendable."
"Aye, sir!" The marines acknowledged as the boarding pod latched onto the side of the targeted vessel.
Wheca just only smirked as he activated his blaster and heard the door decompressing.
"For the Empire!"
Jacob Sailer - Scriptwriter for the planned film 'Star Wars'
RNS Admiral Cede - Wanderer-class transport: En route from Koda Space Station to Coruscant
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 11:00 / 11:00 AM
Sailer emerged from cover and fired his M1911A1 handgun and watched as the 230 grain .45 ACP hollow point projectile punctured the breastplate and presumably expanded within its intended victim. As a civilian acting in self-defense, the New Mexican didn't have to abide under the Hague Convention of 1899 prohibition on the use of expanding rounds warfare but hollow points, including the ones used in hunting game like deer and bear, were meant to end a life quickly.
"Oh Force, this kriffing hurts! This hurts more than karking blasters!" The incognito black armored goosestepper wailed as the blood spluttered out of an artery and immediately went into shock, his screams demoralizing his comrades who were facing the much more prevalent Tibanna-firing weapons.
"Moko! Stay with me! We'll get you to the infirmary soon."
"He's done for! Don't worry about him!"
Jacob glanced around the corner and shot off his second aimed projectile at another one of the boarders, striking this time at the leg which in human anatomy had more arteries than the average joe realize and the American watched as the firing from the enemy gradually decreased as the combined efforts from the passengers and crew cordoned off any possible attempts of taking over the vessel.
"Cease fire! We surrender!"
Second Lieutenant George Walton Lucas, Junior - Public Affairs Officer (AFSC 35PX), United States Air Force Reserves
RNS Admiral Cede - Wanderer-class transport: En route from Koda Space Station to Coruscant
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 11:40 / 11:40 AM
"Ha! That was awesome!" George laughed after capturing everything on film, even the counter-boarding action with a quick firefight. "I feel like John Ford at Midway!"
"Well, I'm sure Intelligence will appreciate the footage here when we get back to Earth." Gene grinned. "It's just like 'Star Trek' with the space battles."
For the hell of it, Lucas made the Vulcan sign to recognize the victory. "Live long and prosper."
"I'm kinda surprised that the Jedi are more stoic than the fictional Vulcans though but I'm sure we'll have everything clarified." Roddenberry chuckled.
Coruscant Museum of Galactic History - Galactic City, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"
05:04: 16 ATC / May 4th, 1969 - 16:30 / 4:30 PM
"I cannot thank you enough for the private tour." Gene appreciated the curator as the Bothan showed the trio around the Mandalorian Wars and Jedi Civil War displays and the archive specific to the period.
"It's no trouble at all, Mister Roddenberry. You, Mister Sailer, and Mister Lucas were the first to show interest in making a film about Revan and the Ebon Hawk, though I cannot fathom why no one had the idea of making such a feature holofilm in the first place."
"Their lost."
"Gene! Jacob! Get a load of this." George smiled as he gazed at the representation of some alien creature called 'Gungans' from some planet called Naboo. "Is it just me or do they look...clumsy-looking?"
"Err…" The Bothan curator stuttered. "They are quite clumsy in...well, characteristics to say lightly."
"There's no way that they would exist in the 'Star Trek' universe." Gene proclaimed. "I wouldn't allow it!"
"You're right. In fact, I probably wouldn't portray them in the 'Star Wars' universe either, though the thought of those Teddy Bears called Ewoks fighting Imperials on their home planet of Endor sounds like a fine idea for a comical cartoon."
"But we're not making cartoons though the animators at Walt Disney might be interested."
"They can have it. 'Star Wars', on the other hand, will not be the property of Disney." George declared with determination.
"If this film is successful, it would probably make Disney insignificant as a powerhouse." Jacob grinned. "Think about having 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars' themed amusement parks, maybe hosting both franchises on the same grounds."
"I have a good feeling about this." George smiled.
May the Fourth be with you, everyone!
As a surprise bonus, this is a special for STAR WARS Day and there's no better way to celebrate than to have something centered around the one and only George Lucas himself :)
For those who are unaware, I can confirm that the F-104 Starfighter is an actual historic Cold War-era fighter jet and before you ask no, it is not space capable in the slightest.
Instead, as has been portrayed, the capabilities are being greatly exaggerated here as disinformation so the Empire could have another headache, courtesy of the magic of George Lucas himself no less! :D
And ironically, I'll go ahead and reveal that Lucas will be touring the galaxy he himself envisioned long ago in reality ;)
After graduating with a bachelor of fine arts in film in 1967, he tried joining the United States Air Force as an officer, but he was immediately turned down because of his numerous speeding tickets. He was later drafted by the Army for military service in Vietnam, but he was exempted from service after medical tests showed he had diabetes, the disease that killed his paternal grandfather.
In 1967, Lucas re-enrolled as a USC graduate student in film production. He began working under Verna Fields for the United States Information Agency, where he met his future wife Marcia Griffin.
Working as a teaching instructor for a class of U.S. Navy students who were being taught documentary cinematography, Lucas directed the short film Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, which won first prize at the 1967–68 National Student film festival. Lucas was awarded a student scholarship by Warner Bros. to observe and work on the making of a film of his choosing.
The film he chose was Finian's Rainbow (1968) which was being directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who was revered among film school students of the time as a cinema graduate who had "made it" in Hollywood. In 1969, Lucas was one of the camera operators on the classic Rolling Stones concert film Gimme Shelter.
And that was a purposeful cliffhanger there involving the chat between two friends i.e. Barry M. Goldwater and John F. Kennedy, the subject of which will be revealed not in the next chapter but in a flashback.
While admittedly I'm still a heretic for including Star Trek (*proceed to grab Emergency barf bag*) and having George Lucas be a patron of and somewhat of an apprentice to Gene Roddenberry…
Mark my words, Trekkers, the superior franchise of Star Wars will still be striking back with a vengeance! That is the open secret of what will transpire when the time comes and I'm not deviating from it. Muh-hahaha! :D
*cough*
Anyways, my sincere devious promise to devout Trekkies of making sure Star Trek isn't treated well in this tale at all aside, it's official: George is touring the galaxy he himself has envisioned in RL for the sake of making a movie about Revan ;)
(And choosing to not incorporate either Gungans or Ewoks into the lore either).
Who says breaking the fourth wall isn't fun?:P
And yes, that statement about Disney is intentional.