Last edited 2022-09-26. [05] GP'd. "Screenplay/verbal storyboard" by Roland Stoller; rjmlstoller-gmail. UPN 6361 1-2, preceded by ClarionQuests 1-2, followed by ClassMPlanet 1-2.
"UPN6361-Chapter2" [05] - a chronicle of an alternate/parallel universe, different from EarthPrime,
a translation into EarthPrime language made by Roland, ambassador without portfolio.
Characters within alternate, parallel universes are similar to and different from their counterparts.
Readers are encouraged to be, or become, familiar with:
- Star Trek, The Next Generation [ST-TNG], especially planets Romulus, Vulcan, Qo'noS/Kronos (Paramount).
- The Owl House (Disney). Episodes and extracts from Disney's The Owl House.
- Episodes and extracts from The Twilight Zone (Viacom-CBS and Warner Bros).
- WWII carriers, battleships, ships: supply, medical, troop, etc. (Discovery and History channels).
There are many M-Class planets within Quadrant One, planets with oceans, seas, islands everywhere, continents, and peninsulas. Planets with a wide variety of sentient beings, mostly humanoid, living within nations, countries, unclaimed territories, and city-states.
General Quarters has long since ended.
Active fighting, offense, and defense have ended.
For almost all folks, both theaters of war are over.
Headlines and taglines abound:
"Medal and mettle defeat metal-heads!"
"No "water balloons" have touched any shore, anywhere!"
However, for some, even after all active fighting is done, war is never over.
For the many wounded, their families, and their friends, for all of them - the war continues, albeit differently.
For the many families and many friends of the dead, for them also - the war continues, albeit differently.
For a relative few, wars are crosses of gold, silver, ribbon, and commendations.
For far too many, wars are crosses of flesh, blood, bone, and soul.
Those who claim an Abrahamic Faith, a Rabbi, an Imam, a Minister - not only standing by; instead, they are busy consoling and counseling. All three also have been trained to console those of non-Abrahamic faiths, other Beliefs, and other Philosophies.
In the conference room, CO and XO are busy doing one of their most complex, emotional responsibilities - writing letters. First, making ship-to-shore phone calls, writing, and sending electronic mailings. Then, followed up with letters. Letters, phone calls, and electronic mailings inform spouses, children, parents, and guardians of loved ones' death or injuries.
Some bodies of those will be formally buried at sea. Others will be transported to any one of several designated NCTO or SCTO regional medical centers. There, they receive complete preparation for burial on land, and their Escorts begin their journeys - accompanying the bodies from the medical center to their final funeral and burial destinations.
Those who were wounded will also be transported to any one of several designated medical centers. Then, they begin their respective lifetimes of surviving, moving on to residences, neighborhoods, and rehabilitation centers, accompanied by their injuries.
As the four N/S-TO members watched from an observation deck, a giant SCTO ACH-4726 helicopter hovered above the helipad.
Pilot: "SCTO ACH-4726 Unit 7, requesting permission to land." OOD: "UPN6361 granting permission to land."
It landed, just barely fitting on the provided helipad. On both sides was the name: Ranphel-Kamgoba [named for two African doctors: Namfela Ranphel and Gapuru Kamgoba.]
A civilian nearby, clueless, exclaimed: "I just don't believe it; they - those people - made this?!" In a low, quiet voice, Augustine sighed, then murmured: "Yeah, we made them in grass-roofed mud huts." [Augustine has worked quietly yet firmly for years to knock down illusions held by many from all walks of life.] That tiny bit of humor quickly gave way to the somber scenes before them on the deck.
One after another, specially sealed containers, insides with bags of dry ice, were carefully carried from the makeshift morgue to the ACH-4726. Ground crew and aircrew would quietly exchange papers for every container. Finally, all are carefully fastened down inside.
The other civilian of the two standing nearby, upon learning the helicopters were headed for the helicopter carrier and then onto one of SCTO's leading hospitals, Haniris Naragwante Medical Center, voiced another unreal belief: "There are hospitals - medical centers - there?"
Augustine, wearily, warily, mumbled: Yes, our hospitals have lions in the hallways." The two civilians dropped it, went quiet, and decided to watch the action on the main deck silently. [Augustine succeeded again in quietly yet firmly knocking down more illusions.]
Just like before, this tiny bit of humor quickly gave way to the somber scenes before them on the deck.
As SCTO ACH-4726 Unit 16 approached from a distance and hovered in the distance, Unit 7 was ready to leave. Pilot: "SCTO ACH-4726 Unit 7, requesting permission to depart." OOD: "UPN6361 granting permission to depart."
Pilot: "SCTO ACH-4726 Unit 16, requesting landing permission." OOD: "UPN6361 granting landing permission." After landing, the aircrew and ground crew respectfully and carefully escorted the first group of wounded into the helo. And they made sure everyone was gently seat-belted. Pilot: "SCTO ACH-4726 Unit 16, requesting departure permission." OOD: "UPN6361 granting departure permission." Two more helos, for the same purpose, came and went.
Someone was quietly playing "All Gave Some, Some Gave All", written by Billy Ray Cyrus and Cindy Cyrus. [Devices using a YouTube account often temporarily download, play, then eventually deletes the downloaded afterward.]
The same thing happens with Unit 23. Such picked up those who would accompany the bodies of those killed in action, from the Haniris Naragwante Medical Center morgue to the respective funeral homes or internment places. Some would accompany and remain until after services or internments. Earlier, in the conference room, they were given instructions and short video clips of what each of them was to do from start to finish. [An excellent sobering EarthPrime movie: 'Taking Chance'. A Marine officer volunteers for an assignment to escort the body of a young Marine home. After receiving instructions on the expectations of attitude and behavior, he begins and makes the journey. His life is never the same. Starring Kevin Bacon and others. Directed by Ross Katz]
Later on, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared NCTO NHC-9018 Unit 5 helicopter. After seeking and receiving permission to land, an aircrew officer exits.
Crew Officer: "We are here for [N/S-CTO ST/S&S] Delta OPs: Amitae Breiltran, Luseda Aprencia, Forrest Pollmer, Augustine Suubonna."
As the ship's bursar gives the four their rings, quietly yet firmly shakes their hands, XO goes up to the necessary observation deck, greets, and then escorts the four down onto the deck, to where the crew officer was standing.
Crew Officer: "Augustine Suubonna, Forrest Pollmer, Amitae Breiltran, Luseda Aprencia?" They each acknowledge who they are. "I am authorized to transport the four of you, your tools, your gear, to a pre-determined rendezvous point, eventually ending up at some 'Alliance Demilitarized Zone station'. Please say yes while it's still a request and not a command." Again, they acknowledge their willingness to go.
They gathered up all their tools and gear and returned to where XO, CO, OOD, and the Crew Officer were standing. CO, XO, and OOD highly complimented and enthusiastically shook hands with the four, who returned the compliments and handshakes.
Once all five were aboard and belted in, after seeking and receiving permission to depart, NCTO NHC-9018 Unit 5 could be seen climbing higher and higher, moving further and further away until no longer visible from the ship. Those onboard the helo looked out the small helo portals until they could no longer see UPN6361.
