Chapter 7
2503
01/12/2503
09:14
Max and I had apparently slept for almost fourteen hours. We were both exhausted from the trauma that we both incurred over the last forty-eight
hours. We were given orders by General Salinas to not wake up before we felt like waking up. Who wouldn't be tired after being transported to
another time, being arrested by soldiers appearing out of thin air, being interrogated, learning that the Earth you knew no longer existed, having a
new form of government that controlled all of the Earth under one flag called the United Earth Directorate, you got a posthumous two rank
promotion to Colonel, and to find out that you are twenty-nine "calendar" years old one minute and five hundred and eleven "calendar" years old
the next while still remaining twenty-nine "physical" years old. It was all very exhausting.
-Fifteen hours earlier-
01/11/2503
17:34
"Since your credentials check out and everything, we are going to issue standard identification to you. However you won't be able to access some
areas yet because we haven't conducted any retinal scans for you. We are going to be conducting numerous tests on you, but that won't happen
until the day after tomorrow." General Salinas explained. We had finished the basic tour of the base so I would at least know my way around. We
then made our way to the officer's barracks in building 2104 where the general said I would be staying for the next few weeks or so. When we got
there we turned to the right and walked down the long hall. "We'll put you in this room, number 102. 101 and 103 are occupied but their occupants
are currently deployed. So you shouldn't be disturbed. I already took the liberty of having some clothes delivered. They are our uniforms but they
are the style from your time. I suggest you try to get some sleep after I show you around." He pressed his thumb against a plate next to the door.
The color of the plate before the general pressed his thumb against the plate was red. When pressed his thumb to the plate, it flashed yellow and
did a series of rapid high pitched beeps. After two seconds the plate turn green, made steady, medium pitched tone and a computerized voice said,
"WELCOME GENERAL SALINAS." The general then said, "Computer, Close Room 102." The door then closed and the thumb plate turned red. It was
then that I noticed that the design of the door was the same as the door from my prison cell. The frame, overhead light, the whole bit. The general
then asked, "Press your thumb to the plate just like I did." So I pressed my thumb against the plate. The plate flashed yellow and beeped. It then
went back to red, and made a short, low pitched buzz. The computer voice said, "ACCESS DENIED." The general then said, "Computer, Record next
thumbprint for room 102 access. Authorization: Salinas Alpha Sierra 227529." "AUTHORIZATION ACCEPTED. PLEASE STATE NAME OF INDIVIDUAL
BEING RECORDED." The general then whispered, "press your thumb to the plate and say your rank and full name." I pressed my thumb to the pad
and said, "Colonel Thomas Eugene Radford." The thumb pad beeped and flashed yellow for about five seconds and then turned green and the
computer voice said, "RECORDING COMPLETE. WELCOME COLONEL RADFORD." The door then opened up and the general then entered the room
and said, "Come in, Colonel." I walked in to the room. It looked like a single hotel room from my time. When I first walked into the room,
immediately to my left was a kitchenette. It had a small two burner stove, sink, and a compact dishwasher. Going further into the kitchenette was
a door that led to the bathroom. Behind the kitchenette was a small walk-in closet that had a washer-dryer unit in it. Going past the kitchenette
was the main room. There was a twin sized bed next to wall that was closest to the bathroom. About three feet from the bed was a J-shaped desk
that wrapped around the two walls. If the desk was stretched out straight it would extend about eight feet. On the other side of the desk was a
window that looked over a small obstacle course. On the side opposite the desk was a small table with two chairs and next to it was what looked
like a TV. There was also a little alcove next to the sink. Above that was a control panel. Next to the bed was a doggie bed for max. All in all, it was
cozy. The General then said, "Normally we don't allow pets, but in yours and Max's case, we'll make an exception." "Thank you sir." "Now this won't
take long but let me explain a few things about the facilities. For example, that alcove next to the sink?" "Yeah?" "That's a food replicator."
"WHAT?" "Yeah a food replicator. Back in your time there was a show called 'Star Trek©' right?" "Uh…Yeah there was." "well we made that
technology possible about fifty years ago. All you do is walk up to it say what want and it will dispense it. Want to try it?" I hesitated because I
didn't want to get wrong. "Um… why don't you do it first so I know what to do." "Okay." He walked over to the replicator. He then turned toward
me and asked me, "Do you like coffee." "Ye…Yes. Um… Black" He then nodded and turned back to the replicator and said, "two coffees, one regular
with cream and sugar; the other decaf, black; both hot." The was some humming and particles in the air swirled around and in about one and a
half seconds there were two short mugs the appeared in the alcove filled with coffee. The general handed me one of the mugs. It was hot. He
started to drink his coffee, so I followed suit. It tasted like the coffee I remember. After we finished the general said, "You better get some sleep.
We'll start the tests the day after tomorrow so you can have time to recover form your ordeal." "Thank you sir." I said. He started to walk out but
then stopped before the door and said, "Oh, if you want music or TV, just say 'computer, music or TV.' Okay?" "Okay thanks." He then walked out
and the door closed behind him. I then decided that I would take a shower and go to bed. Max had already fallen asleep on the doggie bed. The
bathroom was like one of the ones in one of my old houses back in 2018. The difference was that there were control panels next to the shower
door, bath, sink, toilet, even the mirror. I couldn't find the light switch, so I walked in a said, "Um…Computer, Bathroom Lights Up." –Beep-beep-.
The lights came up and I could now see. I took off my clothes and walked up to the shower door and pressed the hot button on the control panel.
The water started running and the door opened. I stepped in and to my surprise, the water was just the right temperature. There was a control
panel on one of the walls in the shower. There were three buttons, the middle one red, the bottom one blue, and the top one half red, half green.
After about ten minutes of just letting the water splash on me, I pushed the red and green button and the water turned off. I stepped towards the
door and it opened. I grabbed a towel off the rack and stepped out of the bathroom. I walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer of
the three drawer dresser. Inside there was underwear, socks, both white and black, and under shirts. I grabbed some underwear and an
undershirt. I then opened the second drawer which contained PT clothes such as Grey T-shirts with the Letters UED on top and the word ARMY on
the bottom. It also contained PT Shorts and more socks. The bottom drawer contained Advanced Combat Uniform Jackets and pants. I wondered
why the soldiers wore that full body armor instead of the BDU. Anyway, I grabbed a PT shirt and shorts, put them on and then climbed into bed. I
then asked, "Computer, Time and date, Please." "Current time is 1742. Current date 01 11 2503." I then asked, "Computer, please play any kind of
music that's classical." The room was then filled with the sounds of a piano playing. It sounded very soothing. I then drifted off to sleep.
Fifteen hours later
After I woke up I felt something warm beside me. It turned out to be max. Apparently he had climbed on to the bed in the middle of the night. The
music was still playing. I then asked groggily, "Computer, Time." "Current time is 09:15" "Computer, One cup of Columbian coffee, extra strong,
hot." –Beep-Beep- I got out of bed walked to the kitchenette, grabbed the mug, and chugged the drink down. I then walked into the bathroom,
took a shower, went to the dress and put on a BDU. I was just putting on the socks when there was a knock at the door. "Come in." the door
opened to reveal the general. He was wearing a set of ACUs. He walked in and said, "Good Morning, Colonel. Did you sleep well?" "Yes, Sir. We
both did." Max was stretching and I heard bones crack. The general continued, "Well, I came by to drop off a few things for you. I see you found
the ACUs." "Yes Sir." "Well, I brought you some boots, a name plate and some birds." He then handed me a pair of boots, which I took and set
down on the floor he then handed me my nameplate which I promptly pined on my right breast pocket flap. Finally he handed me a Silver Eagle Pin
which represented the Colonel rank, he also handed me a pin that had a tank over two swords, which I guessed represented Armor. The General
continued, "Colonel, I was wandering if you wanted to do those tests today?" I thought for a second and then said, "Sure why not." "All right come
with me."
16:12
After many test, such as blood, urine, strength, IQ tests, and something called a TP/TK test, the general said that it was to test me if I had any
telepathic or telekinetic abilities. I was a little surprised that these technologically advanced people would believe in psychics. He said that the
regular tests results would be ready tomorrow, but the TP/TK Test would take about a week to get the results. Anyway the general was kind
enough to take me to dinner with his daughter after we were all done. I wondered why he did that. We talked about various things regarding both
the years 2503 and 2018. But all this time, major Salinas was very quiet. I looked over to her. She was blushing, and was acting very nervous. I
then asked her, "Is something wrong, major?" She responded, stammering, and blushing ten more shades of red, "Uh…UH…N…No…sir." I Then
asked, "Major, may ask your name?" "…Madison…sir." "That's a very nice name." "Thank you." She said it very timidly. After she said thank you, the
general started chuckling. I was confused. I thought "If this was an anime, I would be having a big question mark floating over my head." After a very
hearty meal, I asked the General if I could go and see the RX-01. He said it was okay. So the three of us went to the base's main hanger. When
we got there we all showed our IDs to the guards and they let us in. When we entered I had a feeling of wonder. Due to the fact that I had
accepted that I was stuck here in the future, I decided that if I could get permission from the UED to restart the MS Project, I could use all of the
advanced technology and materials of the twenty-sixth century earth. When we entered the major squealed and ran for the RX. She stopped and
gazed upon it with amazement and what looked like joy. The general then chuckled again like he did at dinner. I asked, "Something wrong
General?" he took a few seconds to look at his daughter and then the RX-01. "My daughter is finally able to see it." "Huh?" "When she was
younger, she was fascinated with MS Project. About twenty years after your disappearance, they made everything regarding the MS Project public.
After you disappearance, several people in the 1st R&D wanted to continue the MS Project in your honor, but your government decided that it was
too dangerous. In fact, your government decided to hold a world meeting with all of the countries of the world to tell them the results of the MS
Project. That was when the MS Project was made public, at that world meeting. Every world leader was there from every single country including
the third world countries. The United States passed all of the information around to every person at that assembly and by unanimous vote; every
country agreed that they would not start any project similar to the MS Project. Along with them coming together for that purpose they also decided
that they were all there because they wanted all become unified for many reasons. And twenty years after that meeting is when they dissolved
there political borders and decided to become one unified nation ." I decided to finish his sentence, "The UED?" "No, the UPL, United Powers
League." "So my failed project brought the world together." "Yes, it did. But something happened about fifty years later. The major superpowers
decided that they would eliminate those who were, How should I say this, 'Insufficient,' in other words those who had were not suitable for military
or any kind of work, were hunted and killed. It was a genocide that resulted in over two billion people dying. After fifty years of this, everyone
decided that they couldn't do that anymore. They had another world meeting and in 2139 and UED was formed, three hundred and sixty-four years
ago." "I see…" After hearing his explanation I was grim. After a minute, I continued, "...But that still doesn't explain why you were chuckling a
minute ago." "Well, you see, every detail regarding The MS Project was put into the history books. When Madison was ten she started reading
history. She happened to come across the MS Project. After reading that she did every type of research into the MS Project. Suffice to say she was
fascinated by you and your project. When she first entered the military, she wanted to go to a branch that might allow her to restart the MS
Project. But because she has a minor mental condition, she was put into her second choice, medical. She is a doctor, but her hobby is studying
everything she can about you and the MS Project." "Well that explains the amazed look on her face right now and it explains the reason why she
darted out the cell with a heavy blush on her face. What's her condition?" "She has Attention Deficit Disorder." "General, I have ADD." "the
standards of your military for certain fields were different then what they are now." The general and I stared up at the standing RX for a little while
Madison stood right up next to it looking like she just wanted to reach out and touch it. I asked the general if it was alright if I went up there. He
said yes. So I went up to Madison, who was entranced by the RX. I stood next to her and said, "You studied it all your life knowing that you would
never see one and now here you are looking at the very first mobile suit with its creator. Amazing isn't it?" "…um…yes sir. It is amazing." I then
walked to the right foot to where there was a control hatch. I opened the hatch and pushed a button. The cockpit hatch opened and the extension
arm came out and the pilot wire, which allows the pilot to be lowered to the ground or raised to the cockpit. Just as I was about to ride up to the
cockpit, a captain came into the hanger and announced, "Excuse me General, Colonel, Major, I have an Urgent Message for the General from UED
GHQ." The General said, "Go ahead." The captain said, "It reads 'to Brigadier General Salinas, Los Andares, from GOA Hayward, Washington.
Message: GOA, General Staff, Sect. of Defense and Civ. Dr are arriving at Los Andares in two hours to investigate report of possibility that Colonel
Radford of the MS Project has appeared at your base.' End message. Message transmitted at 1529." The general said, "Thank you, Captain.
Dismissed." I then said, "Well, here we go."
(A/N: the back story about the UPL and the UED are made up. whether that's how the got their start, i don't know.)
