As the Clone Wars rage across the galaxy, the Republic encounters a strange system in a supposedly uninhabited galaxy near their own. Making contact with this odd system reveals a world inhabited by... humans, yes humans! And this planet is named... Terra.
Set in an AU of Star Wars where the Republic discovers another Galaxy during the Clone Wars, in it they find Earth, named Terra in this timeline. Note: the Earth/Terra of this world is an AU which will be explained more at the end of this chapter. The US Military also uses some differently-named ranks here.
The Republic ship dropped out of hyperspace alongside two large blue planets. Gas giants, they were. It moved through the system towards a small blue-and-green world orbited by a single gray moon. A small landing craft was deployed, and as it raced towards the small globe, its radio began to crackle. "Incoming unidentified object, this is United States Air Command, identify yourself and prepare for interception! Failure to comply will result in you being shot down, over."
Jedi Knight and General Obi-Wan Kenobi reflected on this statement from this odd planet. They spoke Basic? How interesting. Kenobi pressed the comms button and spoke. "Excuse me? United States Air Command, we shall comply with your orders." Sitting next to Kenobi was his apprentice Anakin Skywalker, also a knight and general. "Master? We are letting these primitives order us around?" "Anakin, this is their world, I think they deserve a little respect."
A response crackled through the comms once more. "Copy that, you are being ordered to land at Eglin Air Force Base, you will be escorted. Deviate from the course and be shot down." "Very well." Kenobi responded. Two strange-looking starfighters appeared next to the lander, one on either side. Skywalker could see the pilots inside, wearing complex-looking helmets and flight suits.
As the trio of aircraft descended, both Jedi could make out the landscape of this odd world better. They were descending towards a short peninsula jutting out from a larger landmass. As they got closer, Skywalker took in the sights of the planet. He could see vast green areas, vast yellow areas, and smaller white areas on either end of the planet.
Within minutes, they landed in a large concrete landing area, with workers scuttling around and more of these odd starfighters parked around. Rapidly, men in green uniforms with blasters surrounded the lander, as a tall man in a black formal-looking uniform approached the ship. "Come now Anakin, we must show them we mean no harm."
Skywalker and Kenobi began to walk onto the ramp of the ship when they both heard "KEEP YOUR HANDS UP, XENOS! STEP OUT SLOWLY!" Not knowing exactly what a "xeno" was, both Jedi shrugged and complied. They were surrounded by these men with blasters, these same odd blasters aimed at their heads. "Greetings." Obi-Wan said in a friendly tone. The men looked shocked, and murmurs broke out in Basic and another language Obi-Wan didn't know, but it had a lot of "das", "ja" and various words with z in it.
The man in a formal uniform stepped forward. "Who and what are you?" He asked. Straight to the point, eh? Obi-Wan thought. "Greetings, I am Obi-Wan Kenobi of the Galactic Republic. This is my apprentice Anakin Skywalker. We come in peace to your beautiful planet." The man, who Obi-Wan guessed was in charge, cocked his head and stared at the new arrivals. Finally, he spoke, but not to them. In that weird other language, he barked "Jetzt den Präsidenten informieren!" Two of the soldiers -Obi-Wan assumed, at least, that was what they were- nodded and bolted off back inside the base.
The man turned back to Obi-Wan and Anakin. "What does your... Galactic Republic want with our world?" "We wish to speak to your planet's leader." Anakin said, in a surprisingly calm tone. "We don't have one." The man said. "Then, perhaps your planet's ruling council or body?" Obi-Wan asked. The man shook his head. "Our world is not united. Best you'll get is the President of the United States." "Ah, then him!" Obi-Wan said. "We wish to speak to him at once!"
The man narrowed his eyes. "Why?" "Because, sir, this involves the security and continued independence of your planet." Anakin said. "Commander Storm." A soldier said. "Yes, Dawes?" the man, Commander Storm asked. "President wants to speak to you now. And these new guests." Storm sighed. "Very well. You two, come with me, and if you try anything, you're both dead." A soldier racked his rifle for emphasis. "Very well, lead the way, Commander." Obi-Wan said, his friendly tone not wavering.
Anakin and Obi followed Storm into the base building, as aides and guards scurried about. Anakin took note of the flag hanging on the wall, alternating red and white stripes with a blue canton depicting... well, he didn't know how many, but he saw a lot of stars. "Is that your planet's flag?" Obi-Wan asked. "Our country's." a soldier answered. The man then saluted the banner, as did all others in the room.
The two Jedi were led into a small gray room of some sorts, with bookshelves and a tiny skylight showing the bright noonday sun. Anakin squinted. "You will stay here until the President arrives." Storm said. "When will that be?" Obi-Wan asked. "Lucky for you, he's in the state, campaigning for his successor. He'll be here in half an hour.
Two guards were left in the room with the Jedi. "So, aliens are ya?" One soldier asked. "Of sorts." Anakin said cryptically. "Ya look nothin' like 'em." The soldier said. Obi-Wan's interest was piqued by this. "So you have met other species?" "Not really?" the soldier said. "I meant more like, y'know aliens on TV." "Grays." his partner chimed in. Despite knowing nothing of what the two men just said, Obi just smiled and nodded.
Air Force One - 2:34pm EST
Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, sat in a chair aboard the President's plane, thinking intently about what he had just been told. With the end of the Third Great War not a year ago in 1987, the old President was campaigning for his Vice President, George Bush, as Bush was running for President in 1988. Reagan, meanwhile, was looking forward to retirement, and wished to help his loyal VP and friend as much as possible. Having just returned from a speech in the German Empire's capital of Berlin, in which the Kaiser toasted to the President and Vice President, Reagan had intended to fly to Florida and campaign before visiting Texas.
Alas, a single phone call from Eglin Base had scrapped all of that. Bush, meanwhile, was heading back to DC, where he would be briefed on the situation. As the plane approached Eglin, Reagan stood up, as Marshall General Norman Schwarzkopf also stood. "Mr. President, what do you think of this?" He asked. "I don't know, General." Reagan sighed.
Eglin Air Force Base - 1:42pm CST
President and General stepped off the stairway from Air Force One onto the tarmac. Army Commander William Storm approached them, saluting both. "Mr. President, General, welcome. As you know, the situation here is... complicated." "I want to speak to them." Reagan said. "Are you sure, sir? They could be dangerous." "I know, but, I have no other choice, Commander. Bring them to me."
Obi-Wan and Anakin walked down a hallway in the base, having been removed from the room and marched to a small office. In it sat President Reagan. Standing nearby was General Schwarzkopf, Commander Storm and about 15 soldiers. "Ah, I assume you are the President?" Obi-Wan asked. Reagan nodded. Obi-Wan and Anakin bowed, before standing upright. "Please, state your names." Reagan said. "Of course. I am General Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight and representative of the Galactic Senate. This is my apprentice, General Anakin Skywalker. And you?" "Ronald Reagan. President of the United States." Reagan said simply.
"It is an honor to meet you." Obi-Wan said. "We have an urgent matter to discuss." Reagan smiled good-naturedly, his usual manner. "Please, go on." "Thank you. You see, our home galaxy is not yours. We are currently embroidered in a terrible civil war with the treacherous Confederacy of Independent Systems. They have committed horrible, violent warcrimes, and we believe they have also found this galaxy, meaning they too might find you. Thus, the Republic would like to propose an alliance to your planet, to repel the Separatists."
"And why should we believe you?" Schwarzkopf asked in an irritated tone. "How do we know you won't just take over our planet for yourselves?" "We have no reason to. We both have a common goal, do we not?" "Sounds like your goal is to defeat this breakaway state. That's not our problem." Schwarzkopf growled. "It may not be, but rest assured, the Separatists are not willing to speak to you. They want to crush your planet and bring it into their empire."
Reagan sighed. "I will ask Congress about this, and they will vote on what we do. I must also consult Germany." "What now?" Anakin asked. "Our greatest ally, the Empire of Germany." Reagan explained. "Then, we must consult the other nations of Terra." "Very well." Obi-Wan said. "We will wait." "We will keep you here, for now." Reagan said. "Until we decide on a course of action, and if we decide we can trust you. But, I'd like to speak to someone... more in charge." "I can arrange that." Obi-Wan said.
Chancellor's Office - Coruscant - 5:34pm GCS
"They have requested to speak with someone higher up." Obi-Wan said through the hologram. Palpatine nodded. "Very well. I will send Senator Organa and Master Windu." Mace Windu, Jedi Master, who was also in the room, nodded. "Master Yoda will stay here with me until these... Americans trust us enough." Palpatine continued. "Yes, agree, I do." Yoda said, also in the room.
Obi-Wan nodded, and the hologram winked out. "Hmmmm, these Terrans, earn their trust, we must. Crucial to keeping the Separatists out, they are." "I agree." Mace said. "I feel these Terrans will need more, however, to trust us. We must find a way to prove ourselves to them." Palpatine said. "They are clearly a proud people, and will not be tempted by the Separatists, I hope." the Chancellor continued. "Well, we can only hope." Mace said. "Given their planet's system, it is possible these.. 'nations' may choose to side with the Separatists over us." "Then hopefully you can present a sound case to them." Palpatine said.
Situation Room - White House - 3:03pm EST
Vice President George H. W. Bush sat in a chair, watching and listening as the Grand Marshall of the Armed Forces, Arthur MacArthur IV, briefed him and the rest of the Armed Forces Council on the situation. "These 'Jedi' say that the Republic will be sending some representatives to Washington to talk more with the President and you, Mr. Vice President. Bush nodded. "Good, good. I don't trust these aliens... Keep all branches on DEFCON 3, understood?" "Yes sir." MacArthur said. National Security Advisor Colin Powell frowned. "Yes, I too distrust these things... but I believe we should listen to their case. These 'Separatists' do not sound friendly."
"I'd rather take my chances with them than these magic monks." Growled Marshall Admiral Carlisle Trost. "I concur." agreed Marshall Commandant Paul Yost of the Coast Guard. Bush frowned. "We will see what Congress thinks."
Air Force One - above Georgia - 3:10pm EST
Anakin sat in a cushy leather chair aboard the President's personal airplane. He had never been on one of these primitive transports before, but found it fun, and he enjoyed watching the ground far below. Obi-Wan meanwhile sat next to President Reagan, listening with rapt attention to one of the President's stories. Schwarzkopf sat in another chair nearby, watching both Jedi intently.
Both had learned a lot about Terra in a short period of time, and Obi-Wan had already borrowed 7 history books on the planet for later reading. Anakin grinned as he pictured his master with glasses, intently studying the books like a student at the Jedi Temple studying archives. Only time would tell how Terra reacted to this. Only time would tell.
So, to explain a bit more of this world simply: the US annexed Canada in 1812, and sided with Germany in WW1. Hitler never comes to power in Germany, instead WW2 is the US and Germany vs fascist Britain and France. The Cold War goes similarly, ending in 1987 with the Third Great War (1983 - 1987) in which NATO wins, making Russia into a rump republic under Yeltsin. No nukes were used. The US and Germany are great friends and Germany heads the Reichspakt, like the British Commonwealth. Finally, the US Military uses a different upper rank system, the Joint Chiefs of Staff is called the Armed Forces Council, and the Chairman is called the Grand Marshall of the US Armed Forces. Members are called "Marshalls" as a rank.
That's it for Chapter 1, Chapter 2 will cover Terra's reactions and the Congress vote.