TRTSS31: Martian Encounters! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, War of the Worlds and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre limited series.
Part 5
The first strike against Earth by the Martians was initially devastated. The previous Martian invasion force failed for two reasons. One, they arrogantly assumed that humans were not capable of being a credible threat, and, two, they didn't anticipate the fact that humans had, even their ranks, "extraordinary" individuals who were able to learn that the so-called invasion force was "artificial" (i.e. drones), and that they were being controlled by a central mainframe. That invasion ended when both the mainframe—and the craft that contained it—was destroyed. When that happened, all the drones were shut down, thus ending the invasion. Subsequently, the Technocratic Union suppressed documentation of the invasion out of fear that humanity was not ready to know that there was other lifeforms beyond Earth's "shores". Unfortunately, it was because of this arrogance that allowed the Martians to subsequently invade the Earth, yet again…
It was the 10th day of the Martian invasion. Dr. Forrester had determined that the aliens were indeed from Mars, and had brought to Earth new war machines. These appeared to be triangular-shaped vehicles that had flexible forward nozzles that were mounted on elongated necks towards the front of the vehicles. These vehicles traveled across the planet in packs of threes, but never seemed to be particularly "airborne ready" like a traditional aircraft. However, that didn't matter, since, thus far, nothing could pierce the invasion force's armor plating, if not the force fields that the Martian vehicles could produce at will. Compounding the matter was that there were no longer any meta-humans available this time around, due to the fact that many had died during World War II, and simply disappeared. The only heroes active from the so-called Golden Age were Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, and all three were stretched thin.
Still, all was not lost, when Dr. Forrester and Ranma, at the Pacific Institute of Technology, came up with a plan to at least slow down the alien invasion force, after the disaster nuclear counter-strike, even as Ranma was also preparing a report to present to his superiors based upon his analysis on the Martians themselves. "Hmmm," Ranma said, as he continued to examine one of the samples that were taken from one of the aliens, thanks to an accidental encounter involving Sylvia.
"Here you go, Ranma," Sylvia said, as she gives Ranma one of the cups of coffee in her hand. She took a glance at one of the armatures that had been torn from one of the Martian ships: a probe that ended with a tri-color lens…
"Thanks," Ranma said, as he looks up from his microscope to accept the hot beverage.
"So, what did you find anyway?"
"Well, from my analysis, I have determined that the aliens are indeed from Mars, based upon forensic evidence taken from various wrecked Martian war drones," Ranma said, as he took a sip of his coffee. "However, due to the lack of complexity of the genetic material, I say that these aliens are drones as well."
"How do you know this?" Sylvia asked curiously.
"All life forms, no matter the species, have distinctive individual characteristics, save for identical twins. However, even then, twins can have different recessive traits."
"That keeps the twins from producing essentially clones when having children," Sylvia said.
"Right. However, from my analysis of the Martian sample, both the dominant traits and the recessive traits are exactly the same."
"And that's a sign for cloning."
"Bingo. If you wanted to produce an army quickly, what do you do?"
"You eliminate the variation in order to produce the desired 'product' as cheaply as possible," Sylvia said. "Like an assembly line."
"Precisely. Creating an army of ready-made clones would be more expensive if there is any variation of the genetic code."
"Huh," Sylvia said. "So…the creature I ran into was a clone?"
"Looks like that is the case," Ranma said.
"You know, I never picture you as the scientific type."
"Well, I'm not; I'm more of an application guy myself, with the emphasis on engineering and aeronautics. But over the years, I had to learn such fascinating subjects like field medical techniques and bio-weaponry, in the course of executing my duties with the Feds."
"Which means that you had to learn life science, am I right?"
"Yep."
"You know, I never took you to be anything other than a handsome man with a nice 'disposition'."
"Thanks, I guess. But don't tell anyone that I'm actually 'well-rounded', or my fans will take away my 'jock' card."
Sylvia giggles at the self-deprecating humor, when-
BUZZ!
"Yes?" Ranma said, as he pressed the button on the intercom.
"Ranma, Sylvia, it's time," said Dr. Forrester via the intercom system.
"We're on our way," Ranma said, as he begins to put away his samples, even as Sylvia helps to assemble Ranma's notes. "Well, it's show time."
"Do you think Dr. Forrester's plan will work?" Sylvia asked.
"It better," Ranma said. "Otherwise, what I discovered about these Martians will be useless information."
"Oh?"
A short while later, Dr. Forrester and his team were assembled. With him was the military liaison assigned to the team…
"Dr. Forrester, are you sure that you're ready?" asked freshly-minted Lt. John Wilson, West Point Military Academy graduate. While he would rather fight on the front lines against the invasion, he did believe in the scientist's idea that a scientific approach to the problem was better than to simply sacrifice more lives and resources. Right now, Lt. Wilson was assigned by his superior, General Henry Mann, commander of the Anti-Martian Task Force, to oversee the development of the Marian counter-measures.
"As much as we can be," Clayton said. "My only fear is that the power being re-directed from the Hoover Dam might not be enough to pull off the desired effect."
"What is the point of all this again?" Sylvia asked.
"From my research, each Martian vehicle is capable of producing 'electro-shields'," Clayton said. "Each shield creates a barrier that renders artillery rounds and nuclear weapons useless…"
Pause.
"Essentially, we use the power lines in the area to create a polarized electro-magnetic field that will render the Martian craft's shield useless."
"And the craft's armor?" Lt. Wilson asked.
"The new artillery rounds and missiles will be tipped with processed uranium."
"How do you know, Clay?" Sylvia asked.
"Back when I was with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, we determined that the armor of the Martian war drones were susceptible to uranium, based upon Pierre and Madame Curie's work," Ranma said. "Strange couple, those two were."
"Wait, how do you know about them?" Wilson asked. "You act like you knew them personally?"
"You really should have read Ranma's dossier, Lt. Wilson," Clayton said.
"I suppose I should have…"
"But the Curries knew what they were doing, and had used that genius to formulate the means to pierce the armor of the probe drones," Ranma said.
"And now, the actual Martians are here, this time in person and with better technology," Lt. Wilson said.
"Bingo," Clayton said. "But, if we're successful, the military's chances against the Martian will be greater."
"I do want to add that the success of Dr. Forrester's counter-measures will enable the military to pierce the armor of the Martians," Ranma said forthrightly.
"What did you find, Ranma?" Clayton said.
"My initial analysis has been confirmed," Ranma said. "The alien samples have shown that the creatures are indeed Martians, but they are drone warriors."
"What do you mean?" Wilson asked.
"They are essentially like ants, but capable of cognitive thought."
"In other words, they are the perfect soldiers," Clayton said with a nod. "What about weaknesses?"
"Due to their anemic physiologies, normal germs will be hazardous to their health."
"Meaning…?"
"They are lacking in the kind of immunity to germs that would give us colds."
"Our weapon," Lt. Wilson said with a nod and a smile. "It may be tricky to mobilize the counter-response, even if Dr. Forrester's plan is a success, but it is better than nothing."
"Then, inform General Mann that we are ready to initiate our plan," Clayton said.
"Right," Lt. Wilson said, as he picks up the hotline phone. "Yes? Betty? Connect me to General Mann's war room…"
"Ranma, Clayton, do you think we can beat back the Martian invasion?" Sylvia asked.
"I don't know about Clay, but I think so," Ranma said.
"Let's just hope that you are right, Ranma," Clayton said grimly. "Let's just hope you're right…"
In spite of some close calls, Dr. Forrester's plan proved to be a success. And, with the Martian's shields neutralized, the military was able to use the modified weaponry to down the surprised Martians. And, as predicted by Ranma's analysis on Martian physiology, the Martian bio-drones proved to be susceptible to Earth germs, seemingly killing them. Unfortunately, the damage was already done; as it was in the case of any war, lives were lost, homes were destroyed, and families were torn apart. In one particular case, a young boy named Harrison Blackwood lost his parents during the initial skirmish. It was on the last day of the Martian invasion that Clayton and his associates had come across the boy, who was later taking in by Sylvia and her uncle Dr. Collins. However, in the aftermath, something odd had happened a week later, even as the American government and others had begun clean-up operations…
It was a busy day, as citizens in Linda Rosa begin to rebuild their torn lives. So busy were the people, that they failed to see an atmospheric distortion taking place in an alley near the heart of town.
"Oof!" said a red-haired girl, as she lands on her feet. She was quickly followed by two others: a younger man with longish hair, and a slightly older, bearded man with curly hair. They were all dressed as if they had been living on the streets for a while, and that they needed a shower to boot.
"We made it?" said the younger man, as he looked behind him, even as the spatial distortion went away.
"We should, if our intelligence was correct, Kincaid," the bearded man replied. He then turned towards his female companion.
"You remember anything, Ranko?"
"I just need to get my bearings straight, Harrison," Ranko said. "Neither Duncan nor I have been in this era in, well, thirty-five years."
"I really wish you didn't call me by my real name, Ranma," Kincaid said.
"Okay, 'John'," Ranko said mockingly. "It's not like there are any Martians around us anyway."
"We don't know that," said the man Ranko referred to as Harrison. "What we do know is that the Martians of our time are taking advantage of a rare, cosmological event that would enable anyone to travel through time. Now, we only have a 12-hour window of opportunity to stop whatever it is that their forwarding team is planning on doing."
"Well, it's obvious," Kincaid replied. "We know that the Martians lost the invasion, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Clayton Forrester and his team at the Pacific Institute of Technology. Going back in time would mean to undo what would happen afterwards."
"But why now?" Ranko asked. "Logically, they should have injected themselves at the beginning of the invasion, not the end."
"Unless there is something 'long-term' that is being planned," Harrison replied, as he took a peek out of the alley. "Come on…"
As the trio leaves the alley, they are unaware that a smartly dressed man was staring at their every movement.
"They made it to this time," said Malzor coolly, as he assessed the situation. He then turned to his assistant.
"Mana, I want you and two others to head for the home of Dr. Collins," Malzor said, as he adjusts his glasses. "Make sure to eliminate all that lives at that residence. Meanwhile, I will proceed with our primary objective."
"By your command," said the demure female named Mana. Everyone who was assigned to this particular mission was dressed in period clothing, even as the Martians used "flesh suits" to hide their inhumanity.
After Mana and two underlings began to walk way, Malzor keeps his eye on the Harrison, Kincaid and Ranko.
"Either way, we will have won this war, humans," Malzor said, before walking away himself.
Tbc.
Author's Note: I am using elements from the television series version of "War of the Worlds". FYI.