BROKEN PROMISES

-CHAPTER ONE-

First lady, Barbara Morrow sat in the back of the black limousine. It was cruising along on it's way back to the White House. She was trying to unwind having attended yet another charity event.

This time it was all about the environment, and how the Visitors could improve the state of the atmosphere, having been deteriorating over the last 100 years due to the use of fossil fuels.

Lead Visitor scientist Diana had headed a presentation with remarkable evidence that they had sent ships out with special stratosphere scanners to reveal the true extent of the damage.

Barbara sighed and rubbed her toes, it all went over her head and sometimes it felt like the Visitors were deliberately trying to overwhelm situations, deliberately making a situation seem far worse than it really was, then coming up with a fantastic 'cure' to answer everybody's dreams.

She looked out to the passing buildings as she thought about whether she could talk to her husband about all of this. He had to be seen as impartial. She pulled out the pass from her purse. she chuckled, she, the President's wife, even had to have a special pass to be out after Martial law warranted.

The car phone then rang and she knew that it was William calling her. She picked it up and smiled, "Hi...I'm on my way...I should be with you in about twenty minutes, it would be nice to spend some quality time together..."

VVV

William Brent Morrow sat back in the oval office, the low lamp was on - his phone to his ear, "I'll look forward to it - I've got John coming over so that I can inform him personally of my disapproval of the way he has handled things - Martial law is taking it's toll - and I'm starting to feel the pressure as you all well know..."

"Okay...lets just hope he doesn't stay for too long", said Barbara.

"See you soon honey...I love you", William gently replaced the receiver. He stood up and rubbed his temples - Jesus, what had become of the world these last few weeks? It was starting to look like, however much unintentional, that the human race was rapidly loosing it's grip of running it's own planet.

Suddenly he saw the bright lights flood outside on the lawn.

"What the..."

In the dim light of the shadowy office, he marched up to the French doors, but he paused when one of his marine body guards came running out from the blinding light outside waving his hand and yelling out, "No sir! Don't come out here!"

And then he was pounded by streaks of electric blue. The guard was on the patio area outside the doors lifeless.

William's heart pounded as he backed away towards the far wall of the office. He had been expecting the Supreme Commander, not this outrage. He went to make for the door when the French doors crashed inward and no less than 6 fully armed Visitor shock troopers came in aiming their laser rifles straight at him.

A sharp female voice rang out from the blinding light outside the twisted doors, "There is NO escape for you Mr President - I suggest you come with us quietly"

William recognised the voice as belonging to Sub-Commander Michele of the flagship, he squinted and held his hand out to shield his eyes from the bright lights.

"Where is John?! What is the meaning of this?!"

Michele's boots crunched over the broken glass as she came forward and watched as her troops surrounded the President.

"We are about to up-step our mission - and you will ask too many unwanted questions..."

William shook his head puzzled, "Your mission? But you have come here to produce this life saving chemical you need..."

Michele narrowed her eyes at him sharply, "we are here for far more than that Mr President...", she turned her head and stood aside, "...Rosa"

Rosa the science officer came in with a huge syringe in her grasp. William's eyes homed in on it, "What the hell is that!"

Rosa came forward as two of the troops forced the president down onto his knees and Rosa stabbed the syringe in his shoulder.

William became instantly drowsy. It was all a blur as he was dragged through the snow like a dog and hurtled into the dark interior of a shuttle before a flash of blue put an end to his ordeal.

VVV

The sky fighter came out of the darkness and cruised high above the road where the First lady's limousine was on the approach to the White House.

It was flagging up in the center of the target finder, and the pilot pressed fire.

Barbara screamed in terror as a flash of blue hit the road ahead of them and the blast sent the vehicle flying up into the air turning onto it's side and crashed, skidding along until it came to a stop.

Barbara couldn't move, she coughed and realised her driver was dead, the blood trickling from his open mouth.

She then heard the army of footsteps coming her way and from where she lay, she could see the black boots outside the car.

And then a laser-rifle was in her face...

VVV

The drizzle came down from a murky sky as Ralph Harrison was doing a special feature at the chemical plant at Baltimore. The Visitor media cameras were present as was Commander Gerald and key workers from the most successful plant in the US.

Ralph wrapped up his feature, "So that is an update of how we of Earth are doing our bit to help our Visitor friends plight, from all of us here at the Baltimore facility - back to you Kristine..."

Ralph lowered his mic and looked at Gerald standing behind him, "Was that satisfactory?"

Gerald clapped his hands in a gesture, "fantastic, as always Ralph"

Alex Fisher and Adam went back to work. Rosemary Kennedy who had been one of the guests today made herself heard above everyone else, "and my husbands speech was excellent too may I add..."

Gerald nodded as she clutched his arm, "...Gerald...dinner at our place tonight? We haven't had the pleasure of your company of late..."

The flagship commander smiled warmly at her, "I'm sure I can manage that, my dear..."

Rosemary beamed a smile in her over-glamorous for the occasion dress, "Ohhh good!"

Edward and Ralph followed them to the waiting limousine - the December gloom making the atmosphere oppressive.

"I will see you later...",said Gerald as he watched her slip into the back and closed the door after her. Edward turned to Gerald before he jumped in on the opposite side, "I have heard that the President is in talks with the Supreme Commander aboard the flagship?"

"Yes...I'm sure he will be back very shortly..."

Edward smiled and after he too got into the Limo, it drove off soon after. Ralph came to the Visitors side, "I was wondering...the information I supplied you about that building near me..."

Gerald met his eyes, "Oh yes...it was very informative Ralph...we stationed a surveillance team at the building and it was clearly being used as a safehouse for scientists...thank you Ralph"

The news-man swallowed down nervously, "You welcome...I'm at your service of course..."

VVV

Christmas was a sullen period as Martial Law continued to take it's toll on the population - and seasonal festivities were recommended to be a private celebration.

In the New Year - Toni Morrell accidently let it slip that she was a scientist to Kath Wagner. Kath bit her lip and watched Toni as she saw to Carla in the bedroom, then made a beeline for Sam in the lounge.

Sam sat back in the armchair and tossed the newspaper into the bin next to him, "more Visitor propaganda!"

"Sam - Toni's let it slip that she is a scientist!"

Sam looked up at her and nodded - it would've come out at some point, "yeah...she used to work at the research center at Memorial"

Kath was wide-eyed in surprize, that Sam could be so stupid, "But the Conspiracy!", she hissed at him, "She could be involved and you allow them to stay here!"

Sam met her gaze, "You really believe that this god damned conspiracy exists, do you?"

She shook her head at him, "YES...well...Maggie at work says it does"

Then the door opened and Ross Morrell entered with another guy close behind him. Kath stood up from the arm of the chair and frowned, "Who's this?"

It was Sam who answered as he stood up himself and went to shake the strangers hand, "This is Sean Steele - and he is recruiting, shall we say..."

Sean gave a her a reassuring smile, "Hi..."

Kath was puzzled, "recruiting? For what? Bus drivers?", she shot with some sarcasm.

Sam shook his head, "All in good time...now lets eat, we have a lot to talk about..."

VVV

Over the meal, Sam informed Kath that himself and Ross had been meeting Sean for over a week.

Sean, an ex-cop, was now organising a band of people who were either suspicious or fed up with the so called friendly aliens from Sirius - who were gradually commandeering control of the country, especially since Martial Law had been enforced.

"So - if anybody can offer Sean anything that would help us fight this thing - that'll be just swell!", finished Sam at the head of the table.

Kath, sitting at his polar opposite, wasn't very amused, "What things? I really don't get any of this!"

Sean looked up from his meal, "the Visitors - they must have some kind of weakness..."

Toni took a sip of her white wine, "Yes...what about this conspiracy - does it really exist, because the people that have been arrested for being involved, wouldn't even entertain in keeping back medical breakthroughs..."

Sean waved a hand to dismiss it all, "I think it's a whole bunch of crap...like everything else that comes out of their overly too pretty faces...I think that this whole thing was set up for a reason...I think they wanted to get rid any real threat to them, and the only real threat to them is our scientists, it's a no brainer"

Toni agreed, "Without scientists, the human race is pretty much vulnerable"

"Yes...scientists are a real threat to their plans, because out of anybody on our damned planet, it would be them who'd learn of their true intentions", added Sean.

Toni shook her head, it all really started to make sense now, "Yes...people I worked with...doctors...professors...biochemists and life-researchers, they have disappeared without a trace...there has been rumours throughout the country"

Sean looked at her, "yeah...I had access to state enquires when I was a cop - the amount of missing persons that came up - they were all scientists"

Kath had be listening intently, but really wasn't buying it, "Oh come on! Just listen to yourselves for a minute - the Visitors, if you've all forgotten, came here as our friends - WE are helping them process this chemical they need to save their world...if they were really hostile, wouldn't they just killed us right from the start?"

Sean looked to all of them in turn, "IF the chemical is what they are really after...believe me, these aliens haven't travelled 8.7 billion light years to make some stupid chemical...they have a secret agenda, I'm sure of it...

...and we have to find out exactly what it is..."

-CHAPTER TWO-

Kath Wagner looked up at the apartment block as she pressed the buzzer again. It was an icy cold late-February morning, the packed snow crunched beneath her shoes, "Come on Maggie! Where the hell are you...", she complained to herself.

Then a teenage boy came out. Kath noticed he had a glazed look about him, "Hi...", beamed Kath shivering in the cold, "...do you know Maggie Winters?"

The teenager looked at her, like it was the first time that he had actually noticed her, "Huh? No...No one...all gone...they're all gone"

Kath pushed the glass door aside and entered. The boy was obviously high on drugs or something. She climbed up the steps and was amazed about how silent it was. No shouts or cries, no doors banging and slamming...no nothing.

As she walked across the fourth floor landing, she noticed that a few of the doors were open. Nervously, she called out and pushed open the closest door to her. The apartment was empty, like it had been left in a hurry. All the apartments were the same...empty.

Kath found the teen boy sitting on the cold street outside. She asked his name and he replied Joey Carter.

"The Visitors...they took everybody...everybody to the roof...and I escaped...I hid down in the laundry mat"

Kath was shaking, and it wasn't just the winter chill in her bones - she was beginning to realise that her assumptions of the aliens good intentions were in question.

She reached out and grasped the boy's hand, "Come on Joey...lets go"

VVV

Sean Steele crossed the street and looked up and down as he pulled the collar up of his jacket around his neck, he then entered an empty shop and closed the door behind him. A police siren whined in the background as he looked about the gloom of the old shop and then coughed.

A man came out from the shadows. Sean stepped forward, "Duncan?"

The other man nodded.

"Hello again...sorry I'm late...and I'm sorry for giving you the runner around...but I had to be sure that I could trust you"

Duncan nodded, "you can"

The sun shone in through the whitewashed windows, "The last time we met you said that you wanted to tell me something...you know Sam"

"Yep...they took us...they took the whole neighbourhood"

Sean frowned, "took? The Visitors? Why?"

Duncan was shaking, "It was past midnight...it was like a dawn raid done by the cops and that...there was all these spotlights and stuff...it was so bright they nearly blinded us...me and my wife Shelley"

Sean leaned on the sill and glanced out to the street through the blinds, "and then..."

"They broke in...the Visitors...they were trained soldiers...they were...were...they just treated us like animals...herding us all like cattle onto these shuttles..."

"Shuttles?"

Duncan nodded, "Yep...shuttles, transporters...big white ones. The Captain said that there was some issue with the neighbourhood and we had to be taken to safety...that's what they said...but I managed to escape...when we got to where we went...the doors opened and we were forced out...it was like a world war 2 concentration camp...high mesh fences with bard wire...look out towers the lot..."

Sean turned, "where is this? Do you know?"

"Out of town...one of the older guys fell and there was all this commotion...I managed to slip beneath the shuttle, my wife didn't give me away...she saw me and then followed the others towards this warehouse...it was only when I got to the perimeter fence when I heard the screams...there was laser fire too"

Sean rubbed his beard, "What the fuck is going on? Why did they herd all of you there for...?"

Duncan was shaking, "I got out...God knows how, but I did...even with a spot-light going around...but I saw 'em...I saw them being wheeled out on trolleys to the shuttle...people...battered and bruised, hands on their heads...some were missing...I don't know if they were dead but...they were all loaded back into the shuttles and taken up there...", he motioned to the Mothership, "...I just ran...I crapped myself, I just had to keep on running..."

Sean reached out and rubbed the other mans shoulder, "It's okay...you're safe now...but we have to find out what's going on...why would they take people to the Mothership? What are they doing to them up there"

"I wish I knew...but whatever's happening, my wife is up there...it's happening over and over..."

Sean shuddered...but how would they find out? How could they?

"Chemical compound my ass", he whispered.

VVV

The Visitors raided a building in Maryland close to Sam Walkers apartment in early March - rebel activity had been suspected. In the lounge, Sean had gathered everybody for an emergency meeting - everybody was looking to him for direction, everybody felt that the ex-cop was a natural leader, "We can't stay here...we are getting too big"

Sam looked up, "So where are we gonna go?"

Sean looked at each face in turn, "the next building they could raid could be us...we need a proper base...somewhere they wouldn't look...something that might move so we can be one step ahead..."

The Resistance bus was born. The ever growing rebels had to be on the move - and have chance to fight back.

The rebel groups first priority was laboratory equipment for Toni Morrell and Amy Appleton, a friend and co-scientist she had recruited a few weeks back.

On a grey March day, Sam Walker and Duncan Rendall stole a truck from an abandoned car lot and took it to a pharmaceutical outlet in Delaware, to raid it. Microscopes, culture plates, drugs...you name it, they stole it, and donned up in black boiler-suits and ski masks, they were in and out in half an hour.

After, they drove the loot to the rendezvous point with the yellow bus that was parked up in a leafy suburb.

Children played in the street with toy shuttles and Visitor action figures. The truck parked up behind the bus and came to a halt with a hiss of the hydraulic breaks.

In quick precision, the rebel gang quickly shifted the lab equipment from the back of the truck and on board the bus. Ross Morrell stood on the bus steps and flicked away his cigarette - Sam came forward as Duncan closed up the back of the truck, "that's the science stuff taken care of - all we need now is the arms..."

Ross was concerned, "But how? How are we gonna do that?"

Sam smiled and climbed onto the bus and hopped into the drivers seat, "Don't worry - Sean has it all covered"

And with that, he fired up the buses engine and pulled it away from the curb, Duncan, at the wheel of the truck drove close behind...

VVV

Aboard the mothership over Washington, the Supreme Commander warmly looked over at Kristine Walsh, who sat on a comfy seat beside Diana.

"I am now at liberty to announce to you the topic I spoke of in Chicago last week..."

Kris looked up, she had been giving the nod that something exciting was about to be announced from the Visitors.

"Oh yes..."

John cleared his throat, "yes...and as I said, this will be a highlight of your career...when we will announce to the world the opening of the first healing center for your people, there will be no disease, however terminal, we cannot treat without success"

Kris was overwhelmed as she looked away from John and to Diana beside her who lifted her arm and stroked the news woman's shoulder, "you must be very pleased...what a privilege you have been entrusted with"

Kristine shook her head, her mother had died of breast cancer 3 years ago, "John...oh my god...that is so generous of your people...I really don't know what to say...how can we ever thank you for this!"

Diana smiled and looked towards John to answer.

He came forward as Kristine rose from the seat and took both of her hands into his.

"It's simple...

...our gift to you"

VVV

Ralph Harrison spoke to Kristine in the shuttle that took them up the eastern seaboard, on route to the New York studios.

"It's amazing...", she gasped, not quite believing what was going over and over in her head.

Ralph leaned forward intrigued, "What is? This special report? Come on Kris you can tell me...what is this special announcement anyway...?"

Kristine turned and laughed, "sorry Ralph...this one is a total exclusive for me"

She turned to the window and beamed a smile, her eyes twinkled...the white fluffy clouds moved past fast revealing the out-line of the east coast of the US down below.

VVV

Frank had arrived from Vancouver. His shuttle landed in the main docking bay of the Washington flagship.

As the door hummed open and the ramp extended, Gerald was fuming, "Was it really necessary to call Frank in?"

John was standing beside him in the hangar with his hands behind his back, he looked at him coldly, "yes...he has brought in a new task force along with him - the rebels here in Washington will not know what has hit them"

They both looked up to see Frank came down the ramp and bowed his head in respect of his Supreme Commander.

"At ease Commander Frank...welcome to Washington", smoothed John in a cheerful tone.

Frank smiled, his dark hair poking out of his cap and visor that he now removed as he shook both of their hands in turn, "It's good to be here...I hope you got my final report of how I crushed the growing resistance in Vancouver..."

John and Gerald walked alongside him as they made their way across the busy hangar, "Yes...and I hope you will be issuing more of the same here...in the US capital..."

-CHAPTER THREE-

The April night was cold and drizzly. The Resistance bus was parked up across the street from the district armoury. The rebels now had a secret hideout at the backend of a K-mart superstore, and only key members in the planned raid upon the armoury were aboard.

The armoury gates were laser fenced across, and Visitor shock troopers were standing on guard in the street, rifles slung over their shoulders.

In the darkness, Duncan Rendall and Paula Davidson were dressed in jet-black and were ready at the main power-point. On signal, they cut the power to the armoury.

Sean Steele, accompanied by Sam Walker and Ross Morrell made their way to the rear of the building where a tree gave away access over a high back wall, the only side of the armoury that was free from the Visitor constructed laser fence.

The three of them managed to gain access into the building through a skylight and managed to quite easily to get to the weapons store.

In fact this was all too easy.

Paula looked up to see a Visitor squad vehicle suddenly appear out of the dark sky and come to rest on top of the armoury's flat roof.

Duncan matched her glance of concern, "It's a trap - we are gonna need back up...", Paula put the walkie talkie to her mouth and hissed through it, "Sean! Sean it's a fucking trap!"

Inside the armoury's shadowy corridors, the three rebels hurried back towards the exit only to find their escape route blocked off by Visitor troops. Commanding officer Frank came forward, "stand still...there is no escape for you"

Outside, a group of rebels came tumbling out of the bus and went running across the street with a barrage of fire crackers, petrol bombs and home-made grenades.

Before the aliens could muster up their weapons to pick them off, they hurtled the petrol bombs into the armoury's glass facade sending out massive blinding explosions that sent shattered glass onto the sidewalk and steps.

Inside, the shock troopers that had barred the way of escape had been maimed in the attack and were rolling about on the floor. Sean noticed the green blood that was tricking away from a wounded soldier, Ross shoved him forward, "Lets go!"

Sean didn't need telling twice, and they hurried back up towards the shattered entrance doors, Sam was trying to catch up, he had a piece of shattered glass in his leg that hampered him, and that was the cause of a trooper grabbing him and pulling him back inside, both Sam and the trooper fell to the glass strewn floor of the armoury.

Frank approached, glass crunched beneath his boots, Sam looked up at him from where he laid in the troopers inhuman tight grip.

"Well, well...not all of you escaped I see...", he turned to the other troopers that had just come down the fire escape, "Take him to my shuttle..."

Up on the roof, Frank went to the perimeter and looked over to see the rebels clamber aboard the yellow school bus and it quickly rumbled off up the street.

Putting a communicator to his lips, he looked about him and hissed, "the school bus houses the resistance...make sure you miss your target..."

Sam was then dragged across the roof by two Visitor troopers to the ramp of the squad vehicle, he looked up to see a sky fighter glide over from the east and started to give chase to the bus.

It clearly was missing it's target, as each blue laser bolt that was blasted out from the sky fighter hit random targets - a station-wagon was blown to smithereens and a huge clapboard house that stood on a 4 way junction exploded and caught fire, vaporising it's roof.

Paula screamed out in terror because each blast shockwave still managed to rock the bus as Duncan tried to keep control, and keep it firmly on the road. Ross's heart began to race as his knuckles tightened on the cross bar to stop himself from falling.

Poor Sam...Sam's been caught...what will happen to him? Was death the best outcome for him?

Sean ordered them to abandon the bus. Duncan drove it into a Walmart car-lot where they junked it and ran for their lives in opposite directions.

The sky fighter pilot saw the fleeing rebels and then when he knew that the bus was empty, he found the target on the view finder, and pressed fire.

VVV

While the resistance went into hiding after their disastrous raid - Sam Walker was taken aboard the mothership where senior scientist Rosa was waiting for him.

Gerald clearly instructed that he wanted her to get the location of the rebel HQ. Rosa, one of Diana's pupils, looked forward in torturing the human male.

Sam's screams of pain rocked the small lab, but he revealed nothing -even when sat in the death chair with a blow torch in his face.

Gerald folded his arms across his chest and looked at Rosa, "he is telling us nothing that we already know..."

The door slid aside with a hum and Michele stepped into the lab, "has he said anything? Frank is waiting for the results", she barked with her hands behind her back and looking directly at Rosa - a hint of a smile between them.

Gerald jumped forward and snatched hold of his second-in-commands arm, "I command the flagship, not Frank!", he scolded.

Before Michele could reply, she stepped back and let Frank enter. He regarded them all and then went to the badly tortured Sam sat in the death chair.

Sam's eyes were both bloodshot. His skin was slightly burned and it looked like he had taken several beatings with all the cuts and bruises he sported.

"Let us not argue this out. Walker is to be converted - he can then be used as a pawn and purge the resistance...", he straightened up and turned to both Michele and Gerald, "he will unwittingly tell us EVERYTHING we need to know..."

VVV

Kath Wagner was distressed to learn of Sam's capture, and she sent herself into recluse- only muttering that their cause was pointless.

Sean knew that they needed to get out of their hiding place. He faced up to the reality that even if he didn't want to - the aliens would somehow make Sam talk and give away their location.

As the truck backed up to the store house rear of the K mart, the back shutters were forced up and Sean came hurrying out and watched the many rebel fighters jump aboard and secure themselves for the journey to the new location.

As the last of the rebels boarded the truck, Joey Carter brought out Kath, she stared up at the truck and the teenager helped her on. Sean flicked away his cigarette and watched as Ross lowered the shutters and rounded to the passenger seat in the cab. Sean was in the drivers seat and belted up.

"So where is this place...?", asked Ross

Sean fired up the trucks engine and turned to him, "there's this abandoned bank vault in Maryland...it'll do us perfectly...then we best fetch your wife and the others down from the smoky mountains...just in case Walker gives away that location as well..."

"You don't think he will...do you?"

Sean negotiated the road ahead - there was a mix of light traffic, "He may not have any choice..."

VVV

Caitlin Ryan walked up the street towards the college - the May sunshine hot and hazy. The bombed out Sky-fighter dumped on the grass in chards.

Angela, Ben and Beth came hurrying along towards her, "Hey Caitlin are you coming to help? The Visitor youth facility is moving to safer quarters", told Ben.

Angela ran a hand through her hair, "It's all due to these dammed terrorists!"

Caitlin paused and looked up, "why are they blowing stuff up? Surely they must know something about them to do all this damage...", she pointed a finger towards a burnt out car on it's roof that had been dumped onto the sidewalk.

Beth looked at her like she was stupid, "It's because they are all so ungrateful, that's why! The Visitors are doing so much for us and this is how they are repaid"

Angela looked all smug, "It's disgusting...my father works at the presidents office and he says that's why the Visitors have brought in so many armed troops - I just hope that it all passes, this martial law is really putting paid to my hectic social life"

Beth laughed, "Just like your mother!"

Caitlin rolled her eyes and turned to Ben in his brown Visitors friends uniform, "So what do you think? Are they terrorists or are they fighting for our future?"

Ben shook his head, "You know what...stuff what I asked you...it you are gonna bad mouth the Visitors, then you can take what's coming to you..."

And with that the teen was off across the grass towards the facility. Caitlin looked gobsmacked, "What's with him! He's acting like a total jerk!"

Angela shrugged as she removed her sunshades, "Don't get me wrong, I'm apart of the corps, but he's really sucking up to them..."

"And that's not all what he's sucking off...I mean up to", informed Beth.

Caitlin turned and frowned, "What do you mean?"

She shook her head, "Nothing, just something I heard..."

VVV

The Resistance spent the next two weeks avenging Sam - and went out on an explosive frenzy.

Squad Vehicles were targeted, charity raisers were interrupted, and two chemical plants outside Washington including Baltimore were blown sky-high.

Ross Morrell led that particular exercise and relished as a series of triggered precise explosions brought his former place of employment come crashing down.

Visitor Supervisor Adam could only watch on in horror as most of the cargo carriers were crushed under piles of concrete. A barrage of laser fire targeted the rebels, but they were one step ahead and more triggered explosions brought down a catwalk of 20 or so troops down to their deaths.

Ross was glad that there didn't seem to be any human deaths. In fact there was no human workers left, the plant seemed of being completely Visitor staffed.

Ross and his fellow comrades left the seen as quick as they came, leaving the aliens to somehow clear up the damage.

VVV

The White Visitor bannered limousine Cadillac drove up capitol hill towards the senate building. In the back reporter Ralph Harrison turned to the tinted window and viewed his eyes onto the various shops and buildings, and folks drifting about not sure what to do with themselves anymore.

He was off to interview somebody - god knows who - he just knew that these terrorist attacks were growing more and more, and they seamed real. WHY would they do it? Again and again?

Just lately, the aliens had been overly nice to him - trying to cover up the much bad publicity that hampered the Visitors now. Their once kind and friendly facade was crumbling back and it was getting harder to paper the cracks. The rot was setting in.

Ralph wasn't stupid. He was fully becoming aware that the aliens were more hostile than they were led to believe...as Gerald had once hinted to him - you are either with us...

The newsman popped a pill, he needed something to get him through the days now. It was either that or go completely insane.

-CHAPTER FOUR-

The late May air hung hot and heavy over Washington. Commander Frank was organising things at the Visitor security headquarters that was once the former district armoury.

Gerald stepped out of his silver Visitor bannered car and walked up the steps past the marble column's and into the glass foyer. He saw troopers fetching and carrying - and placing lasers and blaster rifles into metal carrier-containers.

Kyle was nearby with a check-off scan-pad, Gerald went striding over to him, hands clutching his belt, "What's going on?", he demanded, he hadn't been consulted about any move.

Kyle turned, "After the raid here, Frank had ordered all our fire-arms to be moved to a more secure location...", he answered with a pilot smile.

Gerald was fuming, he was fed up with Frank undermining his commands - a nice little plot against him wouldn't go amiss - there must be some kind of dirt on the so called victor of the rebellion -

- he just had to find it...

VVV

Sean Steele had been intercepted on route to the bank vault in Maryland. He had been hauled into the back of a van, where Commander Frank was waiting for him.

At first, Sean thought the worst and worried that he had been captured and was going to be forced into revealing the resistances plans and be made to betray them.

Frank stepped forward and removed his cap smiling at Sean, "You don't have to be afraid of me - I and my friends are apart of an alliance against our leader and his plans - we are helping the worldwide resistance to defeat us"

Sean was somewhat overwhelmed - and Frank told him that he had engineered the move of Visitor weapons to a safe location for use for members of the resistance.

Frank told Sean he would help them in anyway possible, but he had to keep a very low profile.

"...the commander aboard the flagship is watching me very closely, it is getting much harder to give him or his fellow aids the slip, and put them off the scent"

Sean's face was lit up by the vans orange internal ceiling lights, "Is Sam Walker still alive? Has he said anything?"

Frank shook his head, "Walker is still alive - as far as I know - and he knows nothing about the our plans...I cannot promise you anything - but I will do all I can for him, but in the grand scheme of things - he isn't a priority"

Sean understood - and although it felt wrong, he extended his arm and shook hands with the alien, wondering what Frank really looked like beneath that human body suit he wore...

VVV

Over the weeks, the resistance had made it's presence felt further. Frank, had been successful in putting the Washington resistance in contact with two other factions, one in Maryland and one in Delaware lead by a couple named McKenna. Working as a co-ordinated unit, they blew up the chemical factory at Petworth, and the nitro factory in Dover, East Delaware with in the same week. The Visitors were getting pretty much frustrated with these terrorist attacks.

Frank informed Commander Gerald in his private office aboard the flagship about a failed attempt in the resistance on attacking one of the newly opened Scientist processing camps.

"At last. That should taint their confidence. This is all good, especially with the new surveillance we have about their refuge"

Frank swallowed. This was news to him, "Refuge?"

Gerald nodded, "yes...an area of mountainous terrain the humans call the Appalachians . It is home to wanted criminal scientists and their families, a refuge where they've escaped the surrounding cities and think they are safe"

Frank smiled. He had too, he knew this was a devastating blow to the resistance, but he couldn't do anything about it, "I didn't know any surveillance had taking place, who...as your equal, I should have been consulted"

Gerald approached the door, "Oh? Like you consult me? I have no need too, this is still my ship...Rosa...she has risen through the ranks quickly over the last few weeks, especially after extracting revealing information from the human you captured from the raid at our armoury...she's now out ranked Michele...a worthy successor don't you think"

Frank was tight lipped. This Rosa had a reputation of being a real power hungry viper.

"Come Frank...she is in the conference room as we speak putting the last plans in place before we act"

Frank turned as the doors parted and the conference room was ahead of them. Rosa sat at the helm. Her dark eyes were alive at the sight of Gerald. Frank came forward and they both nodded a greeting without words.

Gerald smiled and pointed towards Frank, "Rosa, please enlighten my fellow commander here, about what is about to happen"

Rosa stood, "Of course, Commander...", She approached a holovid display on the wall and spoke, "...this area known as the Smoky mountains national park, hides the secret refuge where criminal scientists and their families hide out"

Frank glanced from Rosa's eyes to Gerald's, "Are you suggesting an ambush? Remember we raided a suspected area on the coast a few weeks ago and found nothing"

Rosa relished being in control here, "Obviously you didn't look hard enough, commander...Samual Walker was very enlightening during his torture...", Frank glared at her criticism, but Rosa averted her eyes from him,"...but this isn't just an ambush, we need to be more robust in our actions...this illegal refuge was obviously created by the resistance...they more than likely have their loved ones there to keep safe...whatever the case, it's a good cause of getting revenge for the horrifying terrorist bombing campaigns of late"

Rosa's eyes bored into Frank's.

Gerald sat at the conference table, "This all sounds very encouraging...it's about time that rabble were put in their place"

"Indeed"

VVV

Deep in the Smoky Mountains national park range, Ex Biochemist from Baltimore, Polly Steele collected logs from the forest floor. Her husband Donald approached her with an armful of his own logs he had collected that morning. His donkey jacket smudged in dirt.

"Beat you! I've got more logs"

Polly smiled, the low sun creating long shadows amongst the tree branches.

"Youuuu!"

They hugged making Donald drop all his logs, he stepped back and chuckled at her, "You did that on purpose!"

At the same time, Rosa entered the conference room of the Washington flagship and approached Gerald in his chair, "Attack squadron four have left the city, they will surprise the fugitives very shortly", she informed in glee.

Gerald met her gaze, "Good...this will cost them dearly...give them all an attitude adjustment they so clearly deserve"

The scientist rested her hand on his shoulder, "My sentiments exactly..."

Squadron four consisted of five attack class Sky Fighters that approached the Appalachian mountains.

"This is squadron four, Sub-Commander Michele, I'm going in shortly..."

"Copy 4"

VVV

At the refuge's communications tent, Toni Morrell was on the CB radio, "We've got plenty of food, we received our last rations last week...we even received the fresh water too to supplement what we can get from the snow melt...", she chuckled, "...we've even started to teach the men to hunt, it's like being back in the stone age up here"

At the Bank vault in Maryland, Paula Davison was sat at the receiver in the battered chair, "Great to finally hear you're getting everything organised up there, just needed a woman's flare huh? We are trying to keep communications to a minimum since we destroyed their chemical plant last week, but we'll try to get your medical supplies up there end of next week"

Whilst their communication continued, Polly and Donald Steele had their arms full of fire wood.

As they descended down hill towards their custom campervan they'd used to traverse the wood, Polly looked up to the hazy blue skies then focused on the 5 small dots on the horizon, she pointed, "Don...look"

Donald squinted , the suns rays were low, "Sweet Jesus...it can't be..."

Polly let her arms full of logs fall to the ground and quickened her pace to the van, "It's THEM isn't it...they've found us!"

Donald hurried to her side and then climbed into the campervan just as the five sky fighters glided by.

He grabbed the steer wheel, "The refuge...", he whispered.

In the communications tent, Toni was wrapping up the link with city HQ.

"I look forward to hearing from you soon..."

She jumped from her seat as the explosion rocked the area.

Paula Davidson's concern grew hearing the mayhem on the CB link, "Toni! Toni can you hear me!"

"Attack..."came Toni's panicked voice, "attack at the refuge..."

The link was cut and there was nothing but static.

Donald drove the camper van into the refuge just as the sky fighters completed their first reign of terror. As he hit the break, trees around him erupted into flame as blue bolts of laser struck them. The refuge itself was bedlam. Hundreds of Women and children screamed and ran for cover into the trees around them. Polly put her hand over her mouth at the grizzly sight of smoking chard bodies laying strewn ahead of them.

Inside the lead Sky Fighter, Michele reported back to control.

"I have started the attack on the refuge and am going back in for the second wave"

"Copy 4"

With Michele in the lead, the Sky fighters made a turn in the blue skies and came back over the trees into the smoking valley.

Inside the camper van Polly and Donald held one another as they saw the charred bodies and suffering around them. Others still fled into the burning forests around them. Toni Morrell came out of the communications tent and immediately gasped out loud at the terror before her. Suddenly the Sky fighters were above her and blasted their second wave laser bolts. She looked up and saw the camper van. She screamed for it to move but it was too late. A laser bolt struck it first hand and it exploded into a fireball of twisted metal that blew Toni right off her feet.

And above her, the sky fighters retreated and put distance between them and the destruction they caused. Mission completed.

Michele took the lead back to the Flagship, "Lead squadron four, mission completed...the refuge has been destroyed as instructed"

"Copy 4"

VVV

Some time later aboard the Flagship that sat high over the White house, Commander Gerald viewed the relayed images of the burning refuge on the monitor fixed to his desk. They had been recorded by Michele's on board camera.

Rosa came to his side in his office, "as you have seen, the mission was a complete success", she breezed proudly.

Gerald nodded and met her gaze, "indeed...the resistance will count their loss"

Listening in from a secret camera, Frank was appalled. He stood and made for the exit and entered the travel tube to get to the other side of the ship. All this unnecessary death and destruction. Something had to be done to stop it.

VVV

A panic stricken Ross Morrell informed Sean Steele about the attack on the refuge. Sean, Ross, Duncan Rendall a few other resistance members sat around the table in the old bank vaults main room.

"Are they all dead?", asked Duncan. Ross shook his head shakily, "Paula wasn't sure, some of them could have escaped into the forests, I'm so worried about Toni & Carla I just want to get up there"

Joey Carter jumped up, "What are we gonna do about this man?!"

Kath's laugh equalled her gloomy attitude, "there's nothing we can do"

Sean closed his eyes and put his back to them. He didn't know what to do. The folks up at the refuge thought they were safe. Now they were dead or dying. Ross wasn't the only one with family up there, his Ma and Pop were up there...were they alright? Somehow, he needed to get up there and quickly.

-V-

Aboard the Flagship, Frank had rode the travel tube to the opposite end of the ship where he went to the deep lower levels for a meeting.

Martin waited for him in the doorway of the dim lit corridor, wafts of humid steam came from the floor vents, "Martin! I didn't think you would make it"

The other Visitor smiled at him, "I accompanied Diana for her meeting with the Supreme Commander & the Secretary General, I have to be back in LA by 12 tomorrow so let us get this done...I have also brought along some new friends"

He ushered Frank into the dark store area where two other Visitors waited, one male one female, "this is Marc and Julia"

Marc's appearance was that of a human male in his mid twenties with short cropped dark hair. Julia was likened to a human female in her thirties with short curly hair.

Martin took the lead and began the conversation, "Now..." he started with a vibrated whisper, "...we are all here for the same reason...to make sure that our leaders mission doesn't go to plan...thanks to our co-ordinated efforts, we have managed to create the World liberation front for the humans, already their network is spreading across the globe"

Frank carried on the flow, "Yes...with their help, we can at last put a stop to all this unnecessary slaughter between our two peoples"

Marc nodded and looked up, "and right from the start I detest taking the humans as food...it's not right...we have never consumed intelligent life before"

Julia shrugged, "but we have to sustain ourselves...maybe this is the only way?"

"No! It's savage and it's barbaric...why must our race go to much lengths to survive", cried Martin.

"We need to survive, it's instinct, we were defeated by our enemy before, this time it's different", put in Julia.

"Those held in Capsule storage aboard this ship is up to 30 percent...I think the commander has plans for a quick harvest to get it up to at least 50 percent by the end of next month. In-fact another ship is on his way to replace this one when it does", stated Marc, a capsule storage supervisor.

Martin turned to Frank at this news, "You work in the Cent Com commander, do you know Gerald's plans?"

Frank shook his head in frustration, "Unfortunately he keeps his plans close to his chest, and Michele's replacement is always close by, but I suspect it will be somewhere in the suburbs...Silver Spring possibly"

Marc agreed with him, "makes sense, two northern suburbs were taken last month without drawing too much unwanted attention"

Frank sighed, "we just have to be vigilant, and I'm sure the humans will help us...I gained the trust of the leaders of the resistance here in DC..."

Marc nodded, "Yes...but let us hope that is not broken due to what we did to their refuge, they'll be counting their losses and will want revenge...and it might not matter if we are friends or foe..."

Frank knew that to be true, he just had to hope that they wouldn't blame him for what happened to the refuge...time would tell.

As they parted company with Julia and Marc, Frank accompanied Martin to the travel tube and they sat in transit to the other side of the ship, "I was meaning to speak to you in private Commander", said Martin.

Frank rise her eyebrows, "Oh?"

"yes...word has got to me that a crude mathematical signal as been transmitted into deep space"

Frank frowned at him in question, "from whom...?"

Martin sighed pushing his blond fringe out of his eyes, , "The humans...I foolishly informed Michael Donovan about our Leaders enemy that defeated him before"

"The Zedti?, he gasped.

Martin nodded as he looked ahead of him, "Their strategy is based upon the proverb, the enemy of my enemy is my friend"

Frank shook his head, "More like the enemy of my enemy is a far greater enemy"

Martin nodded as he rose from his seat when the travel tube slowed to a halt.

"I'm assuming that the human technology used to make this call is too primitive in making a successful call?", offered Frank with some concern of this revelation.

Martin shrugged, "I hope so...but if there is any chance of success, however slim those chances, it'll take a whole generation to reach them...and that's when the humans problems really begin..."

VVV

Gerald strode down the ramp of his shuttle and met Edward and Rosemary Kennedy on the grounds of their mansion.

"We've missed you of late Gerald", cooed Rosemary taking his arm.

He chuckled, "Just something I had to clear up"

Edward led them inside the mansion, "With some success I hope, you look quite pleased with yourself if I may say"

Gerald watched as he poured the drinks in the living room, "Oh yes...very successful now, the reason why I am here"

The Kennedy's glanced at one another as the Visitor carried on, "John would like to see you at the White House tomorrow..."

"Oh...?"

"Yes...the worldwide human-Visitor council have chosen you to be the next...President"

Edward frowned, "President? Of the council you mean?"

Gerald shook his head as he stared at him, "No...of the United States...", he extended his hand, "...congratulations"

Rosemary was beaming in her element and was running to the base of the grand staircase. "Angela honey, I have some fantastic news!"

Edward was troubled. This went against all official protocols and procedure . This was a democracy, you had to be elected to be President. Running Campaigns, the lot but...this could only be passed on to him as a senior member of the Presidents office, if something had happened to William Morrow and the vice president.

He couldn't remember the last time he saw them.

Gerald was staring at him and waiting, so he extended his arm and shook his hand, "thank you...", he managed to mutter, slightly feeling like he had no real choice.

VVV

Caitlin Ryan stood on the porch of her house. She sighed as Juliet came out with an ice tea for her, "You okay honey? You seen so sad lately? Is this about your falling out with Ben?"

Caitlin sighed and shrugged, "I just don't get him, that's all"

Juliet smiled as she saw Ben across the street walking to his house in his brown corps uniform, "Go talk to him, sort it out..."

She went back inside and just as Caitlin made the decision to go talk to Ben, she stopped in her tracks. The Visitor Greg was approaching Ben from his shuttle that had landed on the street and, lost in each other, they were laughing and talking as they went up the porch of Ben's fathers house.

Caitlin backed away behind a station wagon as she saw Ben take Greg's hand into his, and they went inside and just before the door closed she could see the alien removing his cap and gently kissing Ben's cheek.

Out with old in with the new as far as friends went it seemed. Or more.

VVV

Sean Steele was angry. It was confirmed now that the Visitors had totally destroyed the mountain refuge and managed to kill most of those who called it home. It had been two weeks since the horrifying events and Sean wanted revenge, especially when he had sighted his parents camper van and the charred remains that sat in the burnt out remains. Cold blooded murder.

Toni Morrell and a few others had escaped into the mountains and were brought back to the city. All of them seething with anger and frightened for the future. After all, if the Visitors had located the mountain refuge, then how long would it take to find the hideout in the city, it was only going to be a matter of time.

Sean entered the main room of the bank vault, Paula Davidson was on duty when Sean came storming in, he was a rush of blue being dressed in his baseball sports top, "They Goddamned did it...the refuge has been completely blown away", he cried in torment.

Paula was concerned as they sat down on the couch, "What? You finally managed to get up there? Is it as bad as we feared?"

Sean held his head in his hands, "Yeah...we managed to clear the road block, me, Duncan, and Ross...talk about a war zone, there's nothing left intact"

Paula suddenly realised, "What? Hey your Ma and Pop...are they..."

He didn't have to carry on, Sean's torn and screwed up expression told her all she needed to know. Paula snaked a hand over her boyfriends shoulder and pulled him close, "We'll make 'em pay Sean...you just wait, even if it takes us the next twenty years, we'll get even with those damned monsters and MAKE THEM PAY"

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CONTINUED IN TRUTH & LIES