Gail Thayer
Over the Skies of Korriban - Horuset System, Sith Worlds, Sith Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"
05:04: 20,054 YAR - 14:00
Weeks following the collapse of the Sith's invasion of the Galactic Republic and with the apparent death of their vainglorious leader, Naga Sadow, Republic forces earlier in the day had commenced an operation to end the threat permanently but conscientiously there were those who held reservations over Pultimo's explicit directive and among them was a scrupulous even if at times impetuous human Padawan aboard the R.N.S. Comet with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Gail was sick in her stomach as she looked down below, still perceiving the fear and terror as Republic forces went house to house to put those to the sword and strafed any survivors from the air, it was appalling and to the Rhinnelian who grew up in a culture which valued honor this campaign ordered by the Supreme Chancellor, Pultimo, was inexcusable.
"This is still wrong, master." She contended as the hypocrisy of this depredation was not just sanctimony but rather an act of eradication.
"Padawan." Dankrad Bast looked at the Rhinnalian and sensed through their Force bond how his Padawan was contemplating leaving the Order as she saw this action as a contravention of the Jedi way, a perspective he could understand. "I know how you feel."
"Do you!?" She snapped suddenly, uncharacteristically lashing out. "If you did then you would put a stop to this."
"I can't, Gail, my hands are tied."
"'Can't' or 'Won't'?" She glared as another Jedi approached, this one being a Jedi Shadow.
"You're confined to quarters." The Shadow decided before extending his palm. "Your lightsaber, Padawan."
Gail stared at her Master and the Shadow with expressed defiance, feeling perturbed and wondering where their conscious lay and a trio of Republic soldiers arrived to reinforce the Shadow, they were prepared to haul her away but at last she relented, reluctantly.
"I'm only doing it under protest." The daughter of a Rhinnalian chieftain declared. "And consider this my last act as a Jedi prospect."
Gail Thayer
Over the Skies of Korriban - Horuset System, Sith Worlds, Sith Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"
05:04: 20,054 YAR - 15:00
Even though she was isolated in her quarters, the Padawan could still sense the abhorrent actions transpiring below as Republic foot-troops went door-to-door to put the natives to the sword.
Almost isolated that was as a protocol droid with no prejudice in its matrix entered with a sandwich and an option of drinks on a tray.
"Would you care for refreshments, Miss Thayer?"
"No, thank you, Bee-Four." She let out a small smile as this droid may be the only one aboard who could explicitly sympathize with her plight. "I'm just conflicted."
"If I may be so candid, this expedition is not exactly… scrupulous."
"I know, I know."
Dankrad Bast - Knight of the Jedi Order
Over the Skies of Korriban - Horuset System, Sith Worlds, Sith Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"
05:04: 20,054 YAR - 15:00
"Your Padawan seems rather obstinate." The Shadow noted.
"It is a flaw of hers but I believe her heart is in the right place." Bast sighed as he indirectly defended his Padawan's actions. "Her contention is not wrong."
"Their entire civilization is tainted with the very essence of the darkside, Dankrad, don't forget it."
"I'm not, Master, what I'm saying is that our forces may be overzealous." Bast noticed that the Shadow however was expressionless as if the fact that pogroms were occurring was of no concern to him but their conversation ceased as the two Jedi sensed danger.
"Enemy ship at our port side!" A Republic crewer exclaimed. "They're going to ram us!"
"Brace for impact!"
Bast felt the vessel shake upon impact before it slid past them and he was knocked down but not unconscious. "Pursue it!" He directed after regaining his footing.
"But they put in random coordinates!"
The fact that the Sith decided to input random hyperspace coordinates instead of utilizing the jump beacons was insane to say the least as it was virtually a death sentence. While plotted hyperlanes were clear of obstacles that could destroy a ship, by jumping blind into hyperspace instead, the ship was almost certain to be obliterated. Still, before Bast could reconsider his order, the Shadow overruled him.
"Input the numbers exactly." The specialized Sentinel directed.
"But, sir-!"
"Do it, crewer, that's an order."
Christopher Meyer - Crossbowman, DiendeBrudern, Teutonic Order
Lithuania Minor - State of the Teutonic Order, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, July 28th, 1278
Christopher couldn't help but to feel some deep regret as they finished slaughtering the inhabitants and cleansing the surrounding area; it did not have to end up this way with the Sudovians at all but first was the uprising which ended only a few years prior and now this, the most abhorrent of transgressions?
They have gone from collaborating with Herkus Monte to by all appearances inexcusably seeking refuge with the enemy of the creator himself, Satan, and the suspected demonic presence must be eradicated thoroughly unless the world desires to become the exclusive domain of the literal Devil himself.
The German Crusaders including the elite Knights of the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem therefore unhesitatingly confronted the demonic incursion as the tribe somehow summoned in a futile attempt at self-preservation.
"Burn it, send them back to where they belong!" Von Giesbrecht roared, supervising the torching of the village and there was no looting as everything thriving in this village was tainted by Lucifer, the pious Crusaders not questioning the wisdom of the prohibition in the slightest. "Leave not a speck of their unholy filth behind!"
"Broder?" One of the Knights spoke in Middle Low German after kicking the hacked corpse of a Baltic Prussian that was still clutching a sword, formerly among the very same surviving Sudovian tribesmen who were fighting alongside the spawns of Hell. "Do you believe that this is the last of them?"
"Ne." The man turned around and gazed directly at an old friend of his even if they were from different stratum and the fact that he was wearing a light gray jupon with a Tau cross marked him as one of the DiendeBrudern and therefore was not a fellow Ritterbrüder. "Meyer? Scour the wilderness and see if any Dämonen, heretics, and their cambion remain."
It was not long before a commotion caught the attention of the main contingent.
"Over here! The Demons are right there!"
"After them! Send them all back to Hell!"
Christopher turned to the direction of the commotion and heard distinct hissing, watching as a dozen red blades ignited in the woodline.
Hitar
Prussian Tribal Lands, Erde, Unknown System, Unknown Galaxy
Unknown Date and Time
"Who are they?"
"Isn't it obvious? They're the Teutonic Order, officially the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, wherever this Jerusalem is."
"Regardless, they're zealots, ruthless zealots like the Jedi." Chajtsâsh gasped, still catching his breath. There wasn't much when the Force was ineffectual against the tide - not to mention that it wasn't present among the natives, the surrounding environment, nor was it in this region of space at all - and there was little they could do physically other than using weaponry and fists. The entire ambience was against them, they didn't belong here, and in hindsight they should have never settled on this planet in the first place but they were forced to after being shot down over the planet but not before making sure that the Republic ship was also damaged with the Sith watching it fall to the surface below approximately thirteen hundred and forty-six kilometers from where they crash landed but with the polar regions there was the chance that none of their previous pursuers survived yet even here under different circumstances the Sith had unwittingly found themselves being hunted in the name of religion.
"The tribespeople weren't exaggerating about them in the slightest." Usahi snarled, the Sith woman was enraged by the acts and the sentiment was shared by them all. "They're unrelenting, remorseless butchers!"
"I guess we were fated to be extinguished but I never expected it to be through coincidence and irony."
The Sith were unaware of how long they had been awakened from stasis and they went from surviving the genocide on Korriban to this, being hunted down once more for who they were… More like who they were not if the tribesmen were to be believed.
They were found by local tribesmen sometime after the uprising led by the late Herkus Monte failed to expel the outsiders from their native land and upon journeying to their encampment and meeting the village elders the tribe thought the stranded Sith were their saviors.
That chance meeting was a standard year ago - literally one year prior - And the Sith couldn't refuse and took advantage of the opportunity to present themselves as their protectors, intermarrying into and becoming part of the tribe. Appearing noble but in reality it was selfish as they hubristically believed they could conquer this primitive world with their superior technology.
But now in a cruel twist of fate they were being hunted down incessantly once more and eradicated completely by those who conquered these lands and launched expeditionary purges claimed to be baptisms, more like conversions at the point of the sword in this Holy War of course yet in reality the Sith knew that it was in actuality what they themselves fled: Extinction and replacement with settlers.
But the protectors were overwhelmed, not to mention suspected of being Demons and there was no way to convince the Crusaders otherwise as they believed that they were fighting in the name of their monotheistic God, meaning the choices were simple:
Just like the remaining native Prussians they could either run or fight and either way it seemed their fate was inevitable; that of annihilation just like the retaliation after the failure of Naga Shadow and there was no way to reason with the overzealous Crusaders, that it was a misunderstanding.
"We need to return to the ship and get off this world, find refuge somewhere else."
"And if not?" Another questioned as he was skeptical that the Zuguruk repaired it due to them preferring to construct burial mounds.
"We die fighting."
"Hier drüben! Die Dämonen sind genau da!"
"Nach sie! Schickt sie alle zurück in die Hölle!"
Overhearing a pair of the footsoldiers hollering to the main contingent, the twelve Sith heading to regroup with the remaining survivors of both pursuits activated their lightsabers and prepared to defend themselves once more.
Christopher Meyer - Crossbowman, DiendeBrudern, Teutonic Order
Lithuania Minor - State of the Teutonic Order, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, July 28th, 1278
Although apprehensive and uncertain of their entire capabilities, Christopher unhesitatingly fired another bolt from his crossbow and struck the torso of one of the Demonic knights who went down from the impact but unfortunately there were still more to put to the sword, and yet the Christian Crusaders were determined to exterminate these Demons until not one of them roamed God's green Earth and God was seemingly on their side as the Almighty was shielding the Crusaders, protecting them from their sorcery and tried as they might the spawns of Lucifer were incapable of utilizing their unholy lightning and what else they attempted to conjure against them.
"Für Gott!"
"Come on! You heard him! GOTT MIT UNS!"
Meyer charged forward, concurrently unsheathing his Hirschfänger to dispatch the demon right before him.
Hitar
Prussia Tribal Lands, Erde, Unknown System, Unknown Galaxy
Unknown Date and Time
Hitar watched as a clean-shaven dark blond-haired man with dark blue-gray eyes and gritted resolve confronted him, unsheathing his blade and running directly at him.
The snapping of twigs signaled that more were behind him and he was surrounded at all sides, his battery pack failed as one of the footsoldiers managed to cut the cord with his poleax.
'So this is how it ends. By yet another purge.'
The last thing Hitar ever saw was being pulled downward by three of the light gray cladded foot soldiers with 'T' on the center of the chests from behind and tackled by the one in front, grasping his throat with his freehand and thrusting a dagger into his armpit.
Christopher Meyer - Crossbowman, DiendeBrudern, Teutonic Order
Lithuania Minor - State of the Teutonic Order, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, July 28th, 1278
"Scouts spotted where they're fleeing, towards a castle deep in the wilderness." Christopher reported nonchalantly as he used a rag drenched with holy water to wipe the cursed blood off the blade.
"A castle?"
"Yes, Jorg, a castle but I don't like the sound of this." The crossbowman sighed, still processing the confusing confrontation against the tribal remnants and their particular friends who were determined to be from Hell yet why weren't the demons pushing them back? "They are not putting up much of a fight, just running from us or conducting delaying actions."
Jorg understood his insightful perspective, the unanticipated encounter as well as their fated meeting seven years ago at the Battle of Pagastin, one that forged an unconventional relationship beyond nobleman and commoner, cementing a cordial friendship between the two from opposite backgrounds, the only commonality was coincidentally hailing from the same region even though they grew up five miles apart.
Jorg was surrounded by the Bartians and Pogesanians, cut off from his fellow knights, and had fallen from his mount but when it appeared the gaggle of heathens were about to kill him, a crossbow bolt was sent to the first target and emerged from the wilderness, picking up Jorg's sword and despite not used to such a weapon, managed to fight through the assailants.
Now here they were unintentionally being a vanguard against trespassing entities, to vanquish the demonic minions of the literal Devil himself.
"There are different spawns of demons, Meyer, at least from what I heard, and surely this is yet another breed of their unholy filth. We'll discover the reason soon enough."
"Vorwarts!" von Giesbrecht ordered, seeing it as a personal mission to prevent Lucifer from conquering the world. "We're going to hunt them down until not one Dämon, collaborator, or their Cambion remains! We must be thorough!"
Christopher Meyer - Crossbowman, DiendeBrudern, Teutonic Order
Lithuania Minor - State of the Teutonic Order, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, July 28th, 1278
"So, this is where the Demonic rats were fleeing to." Jörg von Giesbrecht from the Prince-Bishopric of Minden, Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire growled as he led twenty of his brother knights and sixty of the Order's foot soldiers in pursuit of their quarry. "To their castle thinking they would be safe from us. They sure are cowardly, having to conspire with the Sudovians to even gain a foothold but no matter, just like their pagan allies who somehow evaded us for four years they will be cleansed from the Earth."
"Not to mention that is a monstrosity." von Frydag agreed. "Only Satan himself would create such an ugly fortress."
Jörg nodded at the assessment as the castle was of an odd but presumably unholy design with the architecture being befitting for the followers and spawns of Satan. "Meyer? I need you and your crossbowmen to find an advantageous perch to support the assault."
"Jawohl." The DiendeBrüdern acknowledged, wielding his windlass crossbow.
"You trust that peasant?"
"With my life." von Giesbrecht firmly declared assertively. "Peasant birth or Noble birth, he proved his loyalty here in the Baltics."
"If you say so, Brüder." The fellow RitterBrüder relented as the catapults were brought forward near the woodline, the crews preparing to bombard the structure from Hell.
"We will show Lucifer that his presence is not welcome." von Giesbrecht declared, waiting for the catapults to set up before leading a charge on those on the outside
"GOTT MIT UNS!" The RitterBrüder cried as they pointed their lances directly at the red-skinned enemy with tentacles underneath their chins.
"Balistas!" One of the knights warned as red bolts streaked toward them, forcing the Teutons to scatter.
Von Giesbrecht's steed was hit by one of the infernal flaming missiles but the Westphalian watched the Demons manning the artillery being struck by well-aimed crossbow bolts.
"Looks like there's few of us left." Christopher noted as he scanned the horizon, there were slain Kamerads lying on the ground, their armor pierced like a hot knife through butter and yet the pious Christians believed God was on their side as they dealt with this incursion from Hell.
"Unfortunately but we'll have to make do." Jörg lamented. "Come on Broders! It is time to finish them!"
Christopher ventured wearily through the catacombs of the odd castle, noticing flickers of lights and strange cables which sprouted lightning but in spite of his unease, the crossbowman intermingled with RitterBruder of the Teutonic Order continued the relentless pursuit of their quarry as they sought to eradicate the presence of Satan on Earth.
"I still disagree with having these peasants among us."
Meyer chose to ignore the sneers while Von Giesbrecht and von Frydag alike had enough of their bickering brother and Frydag decided to convince him to venture elsewhere. "If you so believe that they are incapable of being little more than catapult fodder, then veer off."
"Very well." The grumbler accepted and peeled off three knights to follow him.
"He needs to learn humility." von Frydag seethed. "See a thing, Meyer?"
"Nothing-" He paused as thuds, more like monstrous stomps sounded. "Do you hear that?"
"Je." Giesbrecht confirmed, having his longsword drawn at the ready.
"GOTT MIT UNS!" The Germans' battle cry uniformly echoed as they charged down the cold hall inside the enemy castle, attacking any of the demons on sight.
Two of the Sergeants part of the assault cried out in agony as they felt the odd lightning from strange fire weapons striking their chainmail before completely disintegrating to ash.
"There's the Swein!"
Meyer aimed his bolt at one of his demonic equivalents, inflicting vengeance on the red-skinned humanoid devil spawns for the demise of his Kameraden.
"Gah!" Was his last cry.
"Why do they sound like de Waliesch?" One of the Knights wondered after hearing the similarities of the accents shared between the Dämonen and the Gwynedd Welsh.
"Ik do not know, Broder. Perhaps the Adversary is trying to confuse us?"
"That may be so. Now I would not be surprised if Herkus Monte bargained his soul with the dark prince though his damn reinforcements were late." A third reasoned before a great thud was heard.
Seeing the monstrosity, Meyer knelt down and aimed his crossbow toward the enemy beast, much bigger than the previously encountered humanoids, firing his bolt and striking the being's snout but it still kept charging.
"Ik got him!" von Giesbrecht vowed as he used his longsword against the Devil Spawn. "Find where they're coming from and seal it off!"
"Ne!" Not willing to allow his friend to sacrifice himself just to bide time, Meyer picked up one of the strange weapons and aimed it at the beast, cautiously squeezing the unfamiliar firing mechanism rearward with his index finger out of a mixture of uncertainty and not wanting to accidentally kill the Knight.
The commoner from Minden watched as the lighting streaked out like a bolt and struck the beast's back, instantly vaporizing the monster just mere seconds later, causing the Knight to glimpse at the resulting dust with curiosity.
"Perhaps Ik should use this for a while." The humble crossbowman grinned at the nobleman and fellow Westphalian.
"You better cleanse yourself afterward, mein Fründ. That ist a heretical device after all."
Christopher nodded reluctantly, almost as if he wasn't permitted to end the incursion in the most efficient way available.
'Du ar nicht lustig (You're no fun).'
"This must be it. The portal to Hell." Giesbrecht surmised before making the sign of the cross.
"We must stop them from venturing out of their imprisonment."
One of the brothers stepped in only to cry out in pain as he was burned alive in retaliation for trespassing into where he didn't belong.
"His soul will always be remembered." Frydag asserted.
No one expected the immediate demise of their brethren by a mysterious power and curiously nearby there were wheels like those of a blacksmith forge which did not seem necessary for this vortex to function yet it did appear to be a weakness to be exploited in order to avert the end of days.
"Wait, let me try something."
Seeing a nod, Meyer brought the strange weapon to his shoulder and aimed before firing at the shimmering and eerily blue portal, collapsing yet it apparently was not the only collapse as immediately pillars and debris began falling all around the trio.
"The cave-in must be retaliation from the Prince of Darkness himself!" von Frydag reasoned. "We must go! Hurry broders!"
The three were at a safe distance from the collapsing enemy castle, being burned from within.
The cold breeze of the Baltic provided odd comfort for the trio who tackled what they suspected was a demonic incursion into the mortal world and bought time for humanity and up until this fateful day neither von Giesbrecht nor Meyer encountered any Satanic creatures and only believed them to be resided for scripture but here they were stumbling across this scene by astronomical chance.
But they believe that their discovery was not accidental but rather it was a sign that they were at the right place and at the right time to prevent Lucifer's scheme.
"We did it." Frydag wheezed as he lay on the ground, catching his breath. "We closed the Gate of Hell."
"And nothing survived the tainted village." Giesbrecht laughed. "Not one of Lucifer's followers, Demons, nor any of their cambion lives."
"Gott mit uns." Meyer declared.
"I would like you to return to the Prince-Bishopric of Minden and be one of the gamekeepers at the family estate." He smiled. "You'll have my recommendation as well as my endorsement."
"But the Crusade isn't over."
"You mentioned that you wanted to return home and settle down." His friend brought up, attempting to persuade him. "You did good work here."
Six Hundred and Eighty-Two Years Later…
Major Carlton Bellachelo Wainwright - Project Blue Book, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency, United States Air Force
Headquarters of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency - Lackland Air Force Base, Bexar County, Texas, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Wednesday, January 4th, 1961 - 12:41 PM
For ten years Wainwright had been vigorously and meticulously investigating sightings of supposed UFOs only for every lead thus far to be nothing more than a rational explanation. Despite his disappointment in the lack of any evidence of alien visitations, instead of transferring, he still wanted to believe that humanity was not alone in the universe but Wainwright was reaching the point where even he must concede in defeat and recognize that as far as science was concerned, there was no life outside of Earth at all.
"Still, the fear of Flying Saucers could be useful." Another Blue Book investigator smirked, snapping Carlton out of his negative reverie. "It could indirectly influence the public to keep an eye out for Commies."
The Major snorted."What sounds better to you, Bob? I could either type 'As of this time, there is no concrete evidence supporting the validity of extraterrestrial visitations' or 'For fourteen years through Projects Sign, Grudge, and presently Blue Book, the United States Air Force has without question thoroughly investigated the testimony of eyewitnesses only to conclude with sufficient proof that they are in most instances seeking the limelight of fame including through fraud and therefore with no exception elaborate hoaxes'."
"Why not both?" Robert shrugged. "It couldn't hurt to mention that particular case in Sarasota from May of last year as well."
On Wednesday, May 4th, 1960 in Sarasota, Florida reportedly a yellow, elliptical object with four evenly spaced window-like openings was observed at ground level by an architect yet it became another instance of disappointment when it was discovered to be literally the body for an experimental hamburger car inspired by the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile but later abandoned, something that caused Stan to snort but regardless they were like all of the others before them: Either misidentification or an instance of Kooks and/or Scam Artists seeking the spotlight. It was unthinkable but people would do anything for attention regarding the latter.
And by this point Project: Blue Book was evolving away from honest-to-goodness frivolous spending on a wild goose chase for little green men and their flying saucers to becoming the unofficial cover for a black budget with the majority of the funding provided to Blue Book instead being repurposed by the United States Air Force for more serious concerns such as development of the XB-70 Valkyrie.
In other words: legalized fraud as additional funds to supplement the legitimate allotments and the Department of the Air Force has been doing so for quite some time now.
"Say, Carl, why don't we take a break? The Mess Hall is rumored to be serving Chow Mein today."
Wainwright sighed and decided to pause from his typing. "I suppose a fresh head couldn't hurt."
Captain, First Rank Sergei Rustem Vadimovich - Proyekt Zvezdnaya Pyl / "Project Star Dust"
Hangar One - Kaliningrad Chkalovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, the United Soviet States of Russia
Wednesday, January 4th, 1961 - 12:41 PM
Normally Sergei would have been in Moscow at his post being what the American military derided as desk jockeys, supervising the progress of agents abroad, specifically those who were related to naval forces but he was instead tasked with overseeing the progress of researching some extraordinary discovery that would be beneficial for the Motherland, one that was discovered back on Monday, November 7th, 1960 and Vadimovich was selected over other prospects to replace his predecessor who was tragically killed in a vehicular accident en route to debrief the Kremlin.
The Captain, First Rank assigned to the Main Intelligence Directorate - Glavnoje Razvedyvatel'noje Upravlenije or GRU for short - was dumbfounded when he was first debriefed on the fortuitous find made during the initial construction of a naval air base at Kaliningrad Chkalovsk and he initially dismissed it as some elaborate joke but his superiors were adamant about appointing him to oversee the site and research less their KGB rivals sought jurisdiction on what was clearly a military matter, fifty-eight days of progress that would be wasted under the eyes of a rivaling agency investigating what was clearly a naval starship.
Sighing, Vadimovich continued to read the file on what was labeled officially as Project Star Dust with Biweekly reports to be forwarded to the Kremlin.
"We're here." The voice of his driver revealed, causing Vadimovich to look up and see a detail of Spetsnaz GRU posted as sentries, all those visible being armed with belt-fed RPDs that would in time be replaced by the recently adopted RPK and seventy-five round drums instead of the expected AKMS Rifles with folding stocks, the sentries being allotted heavier than usual firepower was a clear sign that the Kremlin was taking extraordinary precautions for what was a precarious and delicate environment. In fact, Vadimovich honestly would not be surprised if there were concealed sniper teams targeting him and anti-armor teams hidden in the brush with RPG-7s zeroed on the vehicle at this very moment, the pencil pusher suspected as such.
"Step out of the vehicle!"
Without hesitation, Sergei as well as his driver both stepped out and presented themselves to be searched by the guards with dogs sniffing the car for anything suspicious.
"What's the Password?"
He remembered the code phrase to be uttered, a creature from Slavic mythology. "Bannik."
"Welcome to Proyekt Zvezdnaya Pyl, Comrade Captain!" The lead guard greeted with military courtesy.
Vadimovich returned the salute and then gazed at the surrounding terrain. So far all he could see were pines and snow but he was only currently outside the established perimeter and not at the crash site concealed under a hanger yet. "Well, let's see how fruitful this discovery proves."
Six years and four months later…
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Bravo, Third Squad, Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 4th, 1967 - 9:00 AM
For the most part. Jake and the other Military Policeman appeared indistinguishable from their fellow Leathernecks but to clearly identify their role and authority they were wearing the red and yellow brassard armband over their cold weather uniforms as well as the Cap, Field, Pile M-1951 with the USMC MP Visor Cover to clearly identify the officers as 5803s and enlisted men as 5811s respectfully but even so they were all ultimately Marines regardless of their Military Occupational Specialty.
And although some of them were nominally assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the MPs presently on TAD - Temporary Additional Duty - were aware of the fact that they could very well be 'Field MPs' at some point instead of being 'Garrison'.
"How come you're not freezing?" David wondered as he and Jake as well as Henry and Quincy patrolled the perimeter of the encampment and were tasked with bear watch.
"I'm unphased by the cold." The former reservist from the Hoosier State and a veteran of the recently concluded Vietnam War shrugged. "And I actually enjoy winter."
Indianapolis and the surrounding communities rarely registered below twenty-eight degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and the coldest location in the entire Hoosier State at around thirteen degrees Fahrenheit minimum was the seemingly ironic named county seat of Angola located in Steuben County which was the northeast corner bordering Michigan and Ohio but even then it still rarely went below zero on the thermometer.
"That's funny as you were born in July." Quincy snorted at Jake's explanation as it was humorously ironic but the Greek-American still shivered in the arctic chill.
The Marine Corps was on the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier near Finse, Norway participating in field maneuvers and the MPs had been tasked with securing an area for the MEF Headquarters to coordinate the overall exercise, an action which would simulate the II Marine Expeditionary Force and possible reserve units sent over in the defense of the northern periphery of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization upon the outbreak of hostilities.
While ordinary blanks would be used in their M14 Service Rifles, Polar Bears caused the temporary issuance of live ammunition and the OPFOR was notified to not launch any rehearsed raids for the duration of forty-eight hours until the area was clear of the Bruins, and their weapons had the excess oil removed and minimal or even no grease applied in order to function reliably in the below-freezing weather per FM 23-8 U.S. Rifle 7.62-MM, M14 1959-12.
"And I'm envious of you being posted to Kehone Bay, Jake, but at least it's not a blizzard." Quincy griped, still not used to the weather.
"Ah, quit your bellyaching." David interrupted. "'Every clime and place', remember?"
The quad continued walking two hundred yards away from the camp to establish a perimeter and posting pickets but as they reached their positions Henry winced after accidentally kicking a thick sheet of ice.
"Careful, ice can be rock solid." Jake deadpanned.
"I don't think it's just ice Captain Obvious…" The Washingtonian snorted. "And I think I saw something inside." Curious, Henry decided to brush snow only to reveal something quite unexpected. "Whoa…Is that a ship?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Guys, seriously, look." Henry pleaded as he pointed to the object inside. "It's literally encased in there."
"It doesn't look like any cargo ship." Jake mentioned before looking at the remarkably preserved and still legible lettering. "And that's not German… Japanese maybe?"
The characters were distinctively representative of the Asiatic script yet at the same time unknown.
"I don't think it's Jap, not Korean either." Quincy opined, making it more baffling to the four Jarheads.
Second Lieutenant John David Cox - Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 4th, 1967 - 9:45 AM
"Lieutenant? I would like you to send a detail to board that unknown vessel and investigate, perhaps retrieve the log if available."
The temporary Provost Marshal was effectively the man in charge of all Jarheads in this sector until the arrival of the Commander of the MEF and his staff as well as the remainder of the Command Element were presently delayed by an unexpected bout of weather that made traveling to the Glacier hazardous and Major Mark Wood managed to contact his platoon leader by radio after they discussed the matter in length.
"I'll get on it immediately. Should we alert Norwegian authorities on the matter?"
"We'll sort it out once we arrive."
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Bravo, Third Squad, Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 4th, 1967 - 4:46 PM
Jake and his three fellow Leathernecks of Fireteam Bravo were unsure what to expect as they prepared to search the derelict and athough boring a hole took time for the Marine Corps engineers as well as SeaBees of the United States Navy including a few who back in '62 helped construct the PM-3A nuclear power plant at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, the Americans managed to drill a man-sized tunnel to what appeared to be the nearest hatch.
"There's a hatch here for some reason…" Quincy mentioned as he tried but failed to unseal it.
"Help him open it." Staff Sergeant Hoffman ordered them and Meyer as well as Hillerman aided Katsos in prying and physically exerted pressure to unseal the door which had been last opened in lord only knows when and when they at last made headway the Marines were greeted quite unexpectedly by a remarkably functioning robot.
"Thank the maker!" The brass-colored robot exclaimed in flawless English. "We're saved!"
"What are you?"
"I'm B4-Z9, a steward droid from Automata Galactica." It revealed to them without missing a beat as if it was rehearsed.
"This is getting weirder and more absurd by the second." Quincy griped.
"You're coming with us." Hoffman determined. "Meyer?"
"Yes, Staff Sergeant?"
"I want you and Blackwell to scour the ship." The E-6 directed. "The rest of you are with me."
"Aye, Staff Sergeant."
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Bravo, Third Squad, Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 4th, 1967 - 5:00 PM
As the two 5811s of the United States Marine Corps continued to search the mysterious and unknown derelict the Jarheads gradually realized that this was not by any means an oceanic liner but rather something not from this world and their initial encounter with that robot only reinforced the notion.
"Well, at least now we know for sure that we're not alone."
"If Clark was here he would be saying 'I told you so' to me." Jake groaned as he touched what he thought was a circular brass table with a glass top but after touching it the Leatherneck heard a beep followed by either whirring or humming then a transparent blue light which gradually projected something unknown and in response Jake unhesitatingly decided to demolish the object with the butt of his M14 Service Rifle, not wanting to risk his life over faulty and unfamiliar equipment.
"What was that?"
"The heck I know? It could be some security system." The studious farm boy speculated. "I don't think we should touch anything else until someone more knowledgeable arrives."
But the Hoosier and his fellow Marine from Washington State began to hear a hissing sound somewhere behind them, as if pressure was being released and the two Jarheads watched as a crane retrieved a slab of what appeared to be granite and placed it right in front of them but there also was the anatomical outline of a human figure, one that was female no less.
"Is that a girl?"
"I have a bad feeling about this." Jake remarked as the face of the slab melted and out emerged, for the lack of a better word, a frozen girl who fell to her knees and began to cough.
"Call the Corpsman!"
"Staff Sergeant, we found what appeared to be an abducted individual and freed her from some container." Henry disclosed in the AN/PRC-6. "We need a Corpsman to check on her condition, acknowledge?"
While Henry updated the NCO and attempted to get a Navy Corpsman sent over, Jake immediately reached into his pocket and flipped through his English-to-Norwegian dictionary to look up the phrase 'Are you alright?' before querying. "Går det bra med deg?" The Marine asked only to not receive an acknowledgment and next he tried standard German instead of Plattdeutsch as it was more common even though there was always the possibility of her knowing Schleswigsch or Frisian, it could even be Dutch but of course he knew squat 'Swamp German'. "Geht es dir gut?" He still failed to get an affirmation and Jake attempted Schleswigsch before uttering English. "Bist du goed? Hey, I said are you alright?"
"I'll be fine." She said at last upon hearing English. "It's just hibernation sickness…Wait, the Force, I can't feel it."
'I'm sorry but the Force?' Jake was confounded by her rambling yet he felt brotherly concern and consciousness of the significance, it made him wonder what these extraterrestrials did to her.
"You know, come to think of it, she could easily be mistaken for your sister." Henry remarked as he noticed the brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous." Jake snorted.
"I'm serious. There's a resemblance."
"Fair but aside from Beverly, my sisters didn't inherit brown hair and hazel eyes." Jake snorted before pointing to another obvious difference which put a hole in Henry's scheme. "There's also the fact that none of us have freckles, even Heather doesn't."
"Touchè."
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Bravo, Third Squad, Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 4th, 1967 - 6:20 PM
Although still baffled by this 'Force' gibberish which was nonsensical gobbledygook to him, Jake took it upon himself to make the adolescent feel as comfortable as possible even though there were no accommodations for a girl estimated to be around fifteen years in age and to him Gail sounded like she was from Wisconsin, which of course reminded him of the Altvater's and Leah Luke Altvater was still a diehard, overzealous Green Bay Packers fan girl.
"Here." Jake prodded as he handed her a warm mug of apple cider, this one made from a powder mix and of course boiled water.
She momentarily hesitated from drinking the concoction then took a sip and felt euphoric. "What is this? It's delicious."
"Apple cider." He revealed. "We're out of hot cocoa."
"Oh, well, it's still delicious." She smiled. "I'm Gail by the way, Gail Thayer."
"Jake." The Marine divulged as he sat down on a chair nearby. "No one mentioned 'Send the Marines' in case you were wondering, we only found you by chance."
"Sorry? Marines?"
'Are you serious?' Jake thought she was joking as even former President Harry S. Truman irkly noted due to his intention to abolish the branch that the U.S.M.C. had 'A propaganda machine bigger than Stalin's' with widespread recruitment adverts to Toys for Tots but the Hoosier noticed that she was serious and it caused him to consider the possibility that perhaps she was from somewhere deep in the backcountry of northern Wisconsin as there were still areas in the United States without electricity. "You know, the United States Marine Corps?"
"Never heard of the United States Marine Corps." Gail snarked passive-aggressively. "High Galactic Standard? Military Police I assume?"
"That's my job but every Marine is a rifleman first and foremost."
"I - I don't understand, the Force-"
"Look, you just emerged from a difficult situation, I'm sure it's confusing and disordinating."
"You may be right. My senses are off, I don't sense you and my immediate surroundings."
'Poor girl must've been very traumatized if she's rambling nonsense.' Jake figured and then there was the fact she could be no older than seventeen. "Look, Gail, if you can see and hear me, if you can taste, I'm sure your senses are fine."
"I don't understand, even if I'm only a Padawan, I'm still a member of the Jedi Order."
"There's no Jedi Order." The Hoosier said at last.
"That's preposterous!" Gail scoffed, clearly dumbfounded. "Why wouldn't there be!?"
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Bravo, Third Squad, Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 4th, 1967 - 6:47 PM
"How is she holding up?"
"Honestly, sir, I believe she's confused and disoriented, not to mention slightly eccentric, a psychological evaluation may be warranted." Jake informed the Provost Marshal straightforwardly.
"Whatever they did to her and how many of our citizens they abducted I think we'll find out." The Lieutenant was resolved to determine what exactly happened to the abductees and to put an end to it. "You're right, we should bring in Project: Bluebook investigators to unravel this nonsense."
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Bravo, Third Squad, Second Platoon, Delta Company, Second Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, May 5th, 1967 - 8:00 AM
Now regretting the previous recommendation to his superior, Jake was currently inside the mess tent where he and his fellow Devil Dogs were being held comically by The United States Air Force Security Police including those from the Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, not to mention Case Officers and Analysts from the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency despite the fact that there were 5811s including himself present while Lieutenant Colonel Wainwright of the United States Air Force debriefed the Jarheads who were present or indirectly witness to the discovery and these Airmen were making even the Military Policemen of the Marine Corps wary of their overbearing attitude when by birthright it should be the converse.
"No one speaks of this matter."
And from his seat in the front row, Jake glared at the bureaucrat defiantly, still skeptical of the necessity for any major Federal Law Enforcement agency to have broad powers such as how the Federal Bureau of Investigations evolved from being librarians of fingerprints to becoming conceited 'instantaneously this is our jurisdiction!' braggarts and thankfully the United States Military, for the most part, reminded the Bureau that their equivalents held jurisdiction at every military installation, namely the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Naval Investigative Service, United States Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division, and Coast Guard Investigative Service respectively.
"Meyer? You're a member of the John Birch Society, right?"
"I am but what does that have to do with anything?" He didn't show it but mentally he was shocked as he didn't publicize his membership outside of a close circle. Eyes were now on him due to the revelation, some sympathetic and others having second thoughts on the Hoosier who was already known to be quite the archconservative and possibly off the charts on the far side of the political spectrum, Far-Right specifically.
"We are willing to ruin your life and make it quite difficult, even to the point of committing you to a psych ward."
'Like Edwin Walker, huh?' Jake thought. "Hate to break it to you but my eight step-cousins are zany." The Hoosier deadpanned, and then there was Clark of course but at least his younger brother was more stable despite his fervid beliefs in conspiracy theories and enjoying blowing up tree stumps, the copious usage of dynamite was actually quite commonplace in rural America.
"Trust me, Meyer, you don't want to test us." Wainwright seethed. "And that goes for every one of you Jarheads! This never happened!"
Lieutenant Commander Donald Burdick - Clinical Psychologist, Naval Support Activity Philadelphia, United States Navy
Naval Support Activity Philadelphia - Lawncrest, Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 11th, 1967 - 2:09 PM
"I will be perfectly honest with you son, Gail is clearly confused and should be sent to Byberry as she is in no shape for foster care."
"Foster care?" The Marine from Central Indiana was confounded as he and his partner were sent here on the pretense of securing a mentally disturbed patient generating havoc and mayhem only for his partner to be sent to the lobby while Meyer was pulled into the office. "What's the meaning of this?"
"We need to keep a lid on this and we've been unable to track down her parents or guardians so tomorrow expect a news report courtesy of Stars & Stripes mentioning you and your detachment finding her adrift on a liferaft and you are going to call your parents and convince them to take her in."
"This has to be some joke, sir."
Burdick could understand the loathing for Wainwright and the Department of the Air Force had no jurisdiction over the Department of the Navy yet the Major did have a writ signed by the President of the United States himself.
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - MOS 5811 Military Policeman, Military Police Detachment, Marine Barracks Philadelphia, United States Marine Corp
Naval Support Activity Philadelphia - Lawncrest, Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Thursday, May 11th, 1967 - 2:22 PM
"To the contrary, Bircher, it was agreed upon by the President himself." Wainwright countered. "Welcome to the New Frontier."
'Goddamn liberal elitists!' Jake gritted his teeth as he held the handpiece of the rotary phone and dialed the number, hearing clicks as he rotated the dial and then held the phone before hearing the voice of his stepmother on the line.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Mom, I'm doing fine but there's something I have to discuss with you."
Gail Thayer
Meyer Farmhouse - Acton, Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Saturday, May 20th, 1967 - 1:20 PM
It had been two weeks and two days since she had been unthawed from carbonite and yet Gail was still confounded by the ambiance and disconcerted by the nonexistence of the Force as she could feel neither the Cosmic Force nor the Physical Force and certainly not the Living Force but even the Unifying Force was lacking and despite the handicap the stranded padawan could still at least perceive the fact that she may be outside the known galaxy altogether but the puzzle remained:
Where was she and why was there a population of humans disconnected from the Force thriving on a Forceless World?
"How does heading to the mall sound?" Valerie inquired.
"Alright, I guess." The hapless padawan shrugged.
"Don't forget to put on your makeup."
"Do I have to?" Gail wondered with an exasperated sigh only to watch as Valerie squinted and scrutinized her as if she mentioned an inconsiderate and unbecoming remark.
"You really are a tomboy, aren't you?" Valerie stated.
"I'm not a farmer's daughter and may as well be a gabal herder." Gail muttered only for the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed yokel to overhear it, more like misheard it.
"'Gabal herder'? Is that some peculiar slang for shepherd?" Valerie inquired. "But then again I never heard of it and Wisconsin is not exactly a sheep state."
Gail Thayer
Glendale Shopping Center - 6101 Keystone Avenue, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States of America
Saturday, May 20th, 1967 - 3:14 PM
Although Gail was not expecting a shopping trip with a normal girl of her age, at least what was seemingly normal without the Force around her, she nonetheless took it in stride and accepted her predicament but it did not make it exactly normal.
"This dress might look good on you." Valerie remarked as she picked up a baby blue dress.
"I don't think I need any formalwear, Valerie." Gail deadpanned.
"It's a shirtwaist." There it was, the same glint of bafflement as if they were speaking different languages. "What are you? An alien?" Valerie teased.
But Gail glanced down at her shoes as she knew the truth but she did not desire to unwittingly get Valerie's brother reprimanded. "Maybe I am." She muttered. "Say, is there a place for refreshments? I'm starving."
Valerie Jenner Meyer
Edward's Drive-In - 2126 South Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States of America
Saturday, May 20th, 1967 - 4:09 PM
The undisclosed goddaughter of United States Senator William Ezra Jenner was thoroughly dumbfounded by her foster-sister as each passing day brought forth a new peculiarity or nonsensical rambling from Gail and despite it all, Valerie overlooked it as a response to her traumatic experience and took her to Edward's Drive-In which since opening in 1957 became a beloved restaurant on the southeast side of Indianapolis with arguably the best jumbo hand-breaded pork tenderloin ever fried in the State of Indiana as well as the delectable homemade root beer which should.
"Thank you." Valerie said as the waitress placed the black trays holding the blue paper baskets containing their meal with the aforementioned pork tenderloin sandwiches and fried pickles but of course she also ordered the root beer which came in chilled glass steins. "You want any mustard?"
Gail shook her head. "Is there Miasra sauce?" The brunette enunciated in her 'Wisconsin' accent.
But Valerie gawked as she was well aware that there was no such thing as 'Miasra sauce' up in the Badger State and it was becoming apparent that something was quite not right. 'Exactly how squirrelly are you?'
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - MOS 5811 Military Policeman, Military Police Detachment, Marine Barracks Philadelphia, United States Marine Corps
Provost Marshal's Office - Marine Barracks Philadelphia, Philadelphia Naval Yard, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Saturday, May 20th, 1967 - 5:25 PM
"I'm worried about her, Jake, Gail should honestly be in a psychiatric hospital such as Central State, not our house."
Jake groaned as the usually level-headed Leatherneck was becoming more resentful towards Major Wainwright of the Air Force by the hour and the concieted officer who felt he knew better was still not a licensed psychologist. "I know, Val, but shock therapy may not help after what she's been through."
"I suppose given how she was found on a life raft in the Arctic." Valerie sighed. "Elke and I are doing our best but she keeps rambling about this 'Force' nonsense as if it's some religion."
"I'm not saying this is the case, Val, but perhaps her parents were Beatniks who adopted Buddhism earlier than the Hippies." Jake deadpanned as it would make sense if it was the case and there was also the fact that Force gibberish sounded straight out of Eastern Spiritualism. "As this complete Farce she's rambling about does sound similar and she could also be suffering from marijuana withdrawal. I know that you and Elke are doing your utmost to accommodate but give it time, I got to go."
"Love you."
"Love you too, sis." Jake then hung up the rotary telephone and turned his swivel chair to the bulletin board as earlier this morning a pair of sailors from the Forrest Sherman-class destroyer U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) had gone AWOL - Absent Without Leave - and Shore Patrol, Master-at-Arms, as well as of course Military Policemen of the United States Marine Corps were on the lookout but they could be anywhere with Swabbies and Jarheads alike on Shore Leave but as he gazed at the posters with mugshots and the descriptions, Jake overheard a commotion and turned around.
"These two were going at it at McGullin's."
Jake knew that his fellow Gyrene was referring to McGillin's Olde Ale House, Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern since it first opened its doors over a century ago in 1860. "Alright, I'll get the keys for the holding cell." The 5811 nodded despite not being a 5831 Correctionsman yet then again this was not a Brig, only processing.
One of the apprehended bluejackets got rowdy and struggled but the Hoosier intervened and gave the detainee a right hook, knocking the seaman to the floor. "Nice try, sailor, but for your sake I'll assume you're only drunk out of your senses."
Gail Thayer
Meyer Farmhouse - Acton, Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Monday, May 22nd, 1967 - 10:14 AM
Gail physically hauled the sack from Wanamaker Feed & Seed to the trough but before she poured the contents into the tray she sat it down closeby and drew a knife from its sheath to cut the sealed top open.
"Here chicks, chicks, chicks." Valerie cooed, calling forth the Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorns to eat the seeds and oyster shells.
Gail, however, began laughing as one of the hens decided to fly past Valerie before turning around and seemingly heading towards face only to land just in front of her.
"Not funny."
"Sorry, it's just surreal."
Major Carlton Bellachelo Wainwright - Project Blue Book, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency, United States Air Force
'Extraterrestrial Crash Site Number One' - Hardangerjøkulen Glacier - Finse, Ulvik herad Municipality, Hardanger District, Hordaland County, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Monday, May 22nd, 1967 - 10:14 AM
Carlton felt gleeful since at long last a literal honest-to-god spaceship not of this Earth had been found. Roswell in July 1947 was a weather balloon of the United States Army Air Force Project: Mogul's and an independent Air Force as envisioned by Billy Michell wouldn't be reality until September of that year. Then there were the supposed goblins of Kentucky but the Kelly–Hopkinsville Encounter and little green men turned out to be owls shot at by drunk rednecks and most insultingly to the UFO Investigator Barney and Betty Hill were hoaxers but now at long last Project: Blue Book had legitimacy instead of being yet another instance of frivolous government spending.
"How long you think until we're able to get this ship out of the ice?"
"Weeks, maybe months." The Norweigian Naval Officer and lead engineer of the joint Norwegian-American effort, Orlogskaptein Vebjørn Haagensen, speculated. "This is approximately the size of a pocket battleship and won't be easy to transport, I don't even know if it's seaworthy or if we could find a heavy-lift large enough to haul it. Talk about an engineering challenge and, how do you say it? A conundrum? Yes, it's also a conundrum!"
Either way those two options did come at the risk of word getting out and the less people who knew the better. "What we could do is investigate here and make the entire glacier a restricted area." Wainwright suggested.
"I'll have to speak to my government." Haagensen declared after some mulling but even he was aware of the fact that this joint American-Norweigian venture could be fruitful as it was the discovery of a lifetime.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy - 35th President of the United States
Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister - Akersgata 42, Regjeringskvartalet, Oslo, Eastern Norway, Norway, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Monday, May 22nd, 1967 - 10:14 AM
Although unexpectedly Kennedy was forced to wait at a chair outside in the lobby while his counterpart the twenty-second Prime Minister of Norway, Einar Henry Gerhardsen, convened with his cabinet on another issue and just before the current President of the United States glanced down at his watch to check the time, the door at last opened.
"I apologize for the wait, Jack." Einar said apologetically.
"It's quite alright, Einar." John accepted. The Irish-American was skeptical of the suspicion that the present Prime Minister of Norway was some agent for the KGB and although Gerhardsen did participate in a strike organized by the Left Communist Youth League in 1924, he went on to become head of the Labour Party which was a democratic socialist party and Kennedy was looking at Norway for inspiration for the New Frontier, if he could salvage his initiative of course.
"You know, this ship contains, forgive the pun, technology lightyears ahead of our own. Perhaps we should announce this discovery to the world for the benefit of all mankind."
Kennedy, however, shook his head 'no'. "I don't believe now is the time for such optimism as there are many who would use it for ill. We cannot afford word of this from leaking out, the less who know the better, and besides..." The 35th President simpered as this could become the perfect duopoly. "The United States of America and the Kingdom of Norway would leapfrogged ahead of the rest of the world."
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev - First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Kremlin - Red Square, Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Eurasia, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Monday, May 22nd, 1967 - 12:26 PM
Khrushchev was not anticipating having a spontaneous lunch meeting with Semichastny and the leader of the Soviet Union had to at the last minute request for two additional bowls of Solyanka and cups of Kvass as well as rearrange the furniture before receiving the head of the KGB as well as a dignified senior statesman, one who went back to the time of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov himself.
"Comrades, I have grave news." The Chairman of the Committee for State Security, Vladimir Yefimovich Semichastny, proclaimed after tasting the soup before setting the spoon down and going straight to the point. "According to Comrade Gerhardsen, the Americans have stumbled upon another starship."
"Bah, it's of little consequence." The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and one who had served the higher echelons of the Soviet Union since Lenin, Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan, dismissed after wiping his face with a napkin only to toss it. "We have six years of progress over them, not as much as we like admittedly but six years nonetheless, nevermind our dominance in this space race and I'm sure we'll head to the moon long before the Yankees."
"Don't forget how our discovery is from another, likely more advanced civilization than the capitalists." Khrushchev reminded the senior official with some cockinesss as he was confident that the USSR's find was far superior. "But at the same time, our valuable Norwegian asset should continue to provide updates as it may help speed up our research, assuming it is of the same make and model instead or somehow better of course." Nikita then had an afterthought. "We might as well, to use an expression, cover our bases and have Harold Wilson look into it as well." The Harold in question was none other than the present British Prime Minister of course and Nikita as well as Vladimir were fortunate to have Harold and Einar as prime sources of information. "Kennedy is still naive since the '61 Vienna Conference and looked where it got him! Bunch of cowboys believing he took acid but only if the American people knew of Max Jacobson, I mean 'Doctor Feelgood' and their President's undisclosed ailments!"
The three Communists laughed as the whole New Frontier imploded right before their eyes and while it was unfortunate that the exploited American proletariat instead of embracing Marxism openly brawled activists of Students for a Democratic Society in the streets back in April, the USSR could at least take advantage of the turmoil as reconciliation did not happen overnight.
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - MOS 5811 Military Policeman, Military Police Detachment, Marine Barracks Philadelphia, United States Marine Corps
Military Police Station - Marine Barracks Philadelphia, Philadelphia Naval Yard, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, June 16th, 1967 - 1:00 PM
One month and twelve days after Norway and inside the Provost Marshal's Office at the Marine Barracks reading a book to pass the time was the aforementioned native-born Hoosier of six foot two inches in height with dark blond hair and gunmetal blue eyes.
Previously a 2111 Small Arms Repairman with Headquarters Company, 24th Marine Regiment stationed at the Heslar Naval Armory in Indianapolis, the 5811 who had laterally transferred to the Regular Marine Corps from the Reserves and literally graduated from the Military Police School at Fort Gordon over a year prior and fresh from the recent War in Vietnam, Jake Gregory Meyer was a sixth generation German-American whose ancestral roots lay primarily in the German region of Westphalia with his paternal lineage traced to the historic Hanseatic City of Minden and maternally it was nearby Petershagen.
Although many would see his affiliation with the John Birch Society as deplorable and few were aware of his families activities with Robert Boliver DePugh's Minutemen, Jake nonetheless considered himself to be patriotic and he was not just a proud Patriot but was literally born on the Second of July back in 1947, the same day as when the delegation within the halls of the Second Continental Congress approved the resolution by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia all the way back in 1776 which declared: 'That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved' while by contrast the Fourth of July was the day when the final wording of the famed American document, the Declaration of Independence, was approved and in fact, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that: 'The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.'
Regardless if the true day of American Independence was the Second or the Fourth of July, many Americans celebrated it as a weekend instead of a single day.
As he read the book he borrowed from the library entitled Origins of Prussianism: The Teutonic Knights by Heinrich G. von Treitschke, Jake could not help but to wonder how long the Templars would hold out against those of the black cross.
The Teutonic Order, known formally as the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, was regarded as the most militaristic of the three main orders during the Crusades with an organization and discipline ahead of its time.
In addition to the regular monks, there were three distinct groups of Brethren: the RitterBrüder, the Diendebrudern, and the HalbBrüdern.
The RitterBruder and HalbBrudern had to be from nobility with the RitterBruder being the monastic Knights who were the Elite of the Order and the HalbBruder being temporary augments.
Conversely, the Diendebrudern was open to anyone of military experience with their military role being lesser men at arms forming the rear ranks to the RitterBrüder and HalbBrüdern or as infantry.
And the warrior-monks were the best-equipped order in all of Christendom with the full weight of the Holy Roman Empire backing them in addition to the Papacy, something that the other two major orders, the Hospitallers and Templars could not claim.
'And people say the Templars are plucky but they're ignorant of the Teutonic Order. I mean they never became bankers and remained militaristic throughout their entire existence during the Middle Ages and created their own country, eventually evolving into Prussia, as in Frederick the Great! The Templars are overrated wannabes in comparison.'
His musing, however, was interrupted when Henry burst into the Provost's Office.
"You need to see this!" The E-3 exclaimed excitedly as he turned the television to the live coverage.
"You gotta be kidding me? They think Star Trek is a documentary?" Jake snarked, not fond of the show by Roddenberry in the slightest. "Are they Communist space kitties by chance?"
"We know you're a far-right John Birch nut, Meyer."
"You're just in denial." The PFC from the Hoosier State deadpanned and countered simply instead of quoting something from an issue of American Opinion. "And besides I'm not a nut as I have eight eccentric step-cousins, a psychotic step-grandfather trying to relive the glory days of the frontier army and San Juan Hill, nevermind a brother engrossed in conspiracy theories while also enjoying 'volatile chemistry', and of course there's now a foster-sister espousing this Force nonsense. Maybe I should have my stepmother invite you over for dinner."
"Err, no thanks…"
"You gotta be shitting me!" Lance Corporal David Hendricks cursed as he watched the broadcast live on CBS. "Fucking aliens?!"
"Tell me about it." Private Zachary Katsaros grumbled. "America has landed on the moon only to greet aliens. Our flag just became a welcome banner."
One of the other Marines couldn't help but to notice the similarities between the spaceship being covered live and their unforeseen discovery during recent field maneuvers. "It looks familiar…Remember Norway?"
"What? Thinking they're planning on conquest?"
"There's only one way to find out that we're destined to become their litter box." Jake added jokingly just as the door slammed open.
"Alright, Marines!" Sergeant Donald Walker announced as he arrived. "We're heading to Philadelphia International! Full combat gear and load but keep the white helmets and have the armbands on your left arms!"
Meyer followed his fellow Jarheads to the arms locker and grabbed his M14 off of its unchained rack and a rucksack, quickly placing one of the straps over his shoulder
"Leave the rucks behind." Walker clarified. "We're going to be meeting them on the runway, not in some cornfield, and besides have you ever noticed how ridiculous those packs look with your Service Charlies?"
"I was wondering why we were wearing the rucks with our-"
"I was being rhetorical!" Donald snapped. "Double time, Devil Dogs! We don't have all day."
'Now I understand why he helps cement the idea of MPs being hardasses.' Jake thought unamused as he proceeded to exit the office and join the assembled convoy of M151 Jeeps and Deuce and a Half Trucks. "So which Jeep are we taking, Dave? I believe Quincy and Henry are using motorcycles."
"We'll be right behind them and Sarge is riding along with us."
"Ah, lovely, and we'll be making cupcakes and sipping on sweet tea and doing some crochet." Meyer griped. "I hope the LT transfers him soon as he's more suited for DI duty."
"Believe it or not, he's heading to Parris Island next week. I overheard Lieutenant Morris approving it."
"Thank God." Jake praised as he hopped into the passenger seat and Hendricks sat behind the wheel.
Corporal Sara Kelrein - Republic Army SpecForce Squad 149 "Chaos Squad"
En route to a so-called 'Philadelphia Airport'
06:16: 15 ATC - 13:00
"So, I can't understand how you're speaking English fluently." Commander Michael Collins of 'Apollo 11' questioned. "Are you using some sort of translating machine?"
"We don't need translators, Commander." Krasul gruffed. "And in the galaxy, we call it 'Basic'."
"Basic? Sounds corny."
"Corn- What?" The Senator assigned as an ambassador went on. "Nevermind, Collin, how about we discuss…"
'How did he get to be made an ambassador again?' Kelrein asked herself about Krasul before thinking of Collins. 'Just wait until he learns that humans are widespread across the Galaxy.' The 'Corellian' trooper could somewhat understand why most of the crew didn't reveal their faces, a matter of pragmatism in order to both prevent possible contagion and not shock the soon-to-be newcomers to Intergalactic society until the time was right but the downside was being confused for a droid, something the 'American' or 'Earthling' referred to as 'robots' apparently.
"Still, this is a nifty vessel." Michael complimented. "A little too refined for a simple officer of the United States Air Force that was loaned to NASA."
"Which explains the emblem with the High Galactic Standard letters on your vacuum-suit." The Cathar realized. "What does it stand for, if you don't mind me asking?"
"In English." The 'Astronaut' emphasized the Earthling terminology for the language. "It stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."
"National?" Krasul noted as he heard the term. "As in nation-states?"
"Or countries but Earth currently have over one-hundred countries and I'm from the United States of America, which is a collective of fifty states united in a federal system and also is a republic form of-"
"A Republic?" Zorin smiled. "Your people believe in democracy?"
"Now, not every nation does as we also have monarchs, despots, and Communist bastards-"
"Communists?" Krasul wondered before dismissing the question for now. "Actually, I'm rushing you so take your time."
"No need to apologize but anyway, Communist bastards but the U S of A was founded on the core principles of 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'."
"Most peculiar." Zorin mused, stroking his chin from the opposing side of the 'Quarantine Room'. "I'll be honored to meet your leader but is there any way to meet the other heads of states?"
"Perhaps after talking to President Kennedy, he can direct you to the 'United Nations' building."
The redhead noticed that the entire time Collins divulged information about his homeworld with a disregard for security. "Pardon my interruption, sir, but why tell us everything about your planet?"
The 'astronaut' was slightly taken aback by the feminine, almost Tennesean-sounding, voice yet Michael answered. "To be perfectly honest, Corporal was it?" The nod reassured him to continue. "This isn't exactly a warship from what I could tell based on the exterior and interior. Not to mention that some of the folks aboard are not in combat gear or act like technicians and the fact that I was being asked diplomatic questions that in no way hinted at revealing classified military information led me to conclude that there is no ill-will to humanity."
'If only you knew.' Sara grinned behind her tinted visor. "Perhaps there will be a mutual understanding between our races and civilizations, then."
"I hope so, Corporal, for the sake of us all."
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - MOS 5811 Military Policeman, Military Police Detachment, Marine Barracks Philadelphia, United States Marine Corps
Philadelphia International Airport - 8500 Essington Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, June 16th, 1967 - 3:42 PM
"Move it, move it, set up the blocking positions!" An Army Specialist Seven from a combat engineer unit ordered his subordinates to carry out as his detachment clutched the barbed wire but regardless of their Military Occupational Specialty and ranks the soldiers, Air Policemen, sailors, and Marines were setting up cordons of fire as a precaution if First Contact went south and an alien invasion commenced.
"You think we'll even stand a chance, Jake?" David asked as he manned the M60 machine gun on the M151.
"I honestly don't know." The Hoosier simpered as knelt behind the Jeep and placed his left elbow on top of the hood before aiming his standard-issue M14 service rifle, peering through the aperture. "But if possible, I'm sure that I can strike some of them down. Remember those Weather Underground terrorists I was forced to shoot a while back?"
"The ones who decided to take three hostages, including a stepcousin of yours, and demand Uncle Sam to free the traitorous whore as a 'peaceful protest' only for them to not realize that your female relative is a communications specialist?" Hendricks recalled. "Say, didn't you nab Jane Fonda in the first place?"
"I'll tell you all about it, including Nikki's antics, later. Right now, we should be concerned with a possible incident with extraterrestrials."
"You don't say." Dave gulped, realizing the need for focus.
Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin, Junior - Apollo 11 astronaut
En route to Philadelphia International Airport
Friday, June 16th, 1967 - 3:42 PM
"Can you believe that an alien race of talking space cats enjoy Star Trek!?" Buzz's fellow astronaut, Virgil Ivan Grissom, better known by his nickname of 'Gus', laughed. "They thought it was a documentary and I can't believe they initially mistook the Indiana state flag for the United Federation of Planets."
Although Buzz, like many, was surprised by the fact that Gus decided to plant the blue and gold banner of his home state next to Old Glory, the very one with a gold torch surrounded by an outer circle of thirteen stars, an inner semi-circle of five stars, and a nineteenth, larger, star at the top of the torch, crowned by the word 'INDIANA' in gold which represented Indiana's official admission to the Union as the nineteenth state and the Hoosier who became the first man on the moon decided to remind the world that it was not just an American who walked on the lunar surface but one who also hailed from a underrated state.
"The joke is on them." Edwin shrugged. "So far, Collins has been clarifying everything well enough but hopefully the High Brass realize that they don't have hostile intentions."
"Unfortunately we have no way of communicating with Houston or even Washington after leaving the capsule behind."
"At least we've beaten the Commies to the punch." Aldrin upheld.
"True but this is going to be one hell of a return trip." The small-town Hoosier from Mitchell in Lawrence County, Indiana who became the first man in history to walk on the lunar surface smiled as the door opened.
"Lieutenant Colonel Grissom? Colonel Aldrin?" A masculine voice interrupted from the doorway. "We're fifteen minutes out."
"Noted and understood." Buzz acknowledged. "We'll be ready."
The door automatically closed and the two American astronauts faced each other once more.
"So...showtime?" Gus asked.
"Showtime."
Master Casivir "Cas" Therin - Battlemaster of the Jedi Order and Hero of Tython
En route to a so-called 'Philadelphia Airport'
06:16: 15 ATC - 15:50
"I just informed them." Cas told the Cathar Senator. "Now...about Star Trek."
"Not again." Krasul groaned as the two Jedi attached to the Diplomatic Party grinned.
"It's not a documentary." Cas continued before his cohort finished for him.
"And we told you, Senator Evran, and the Chancellor so."
"No need to gloat over the obvious further, Knight Carsen." Zorin harrumphed. "We'll continue as planned except we head to this state known as Washington, D.C., and proceed from there."
Walter Leland Cronkite, Junior - CBS News
Philadelphia International Airport - 8500 Essington Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, June 16th, 1967 - 4:00 PM
Although the revelation of inbound extraterrestrials who proclaimed that they came in peace was still mindboggling, the news anchor like many across the world held their breath as the unidentified flying object landed on the tarmac and hoped that this was not some false pretense, not some prelude for invasion.
Walter and the other members of the media were behind the rope as they watched the first individual to step outside the spaceship, none other than NASA astronaut Gus Grissom followed by Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, the commander of the lunar mission then the delegation emerged.
"Right behind me, you can see that quite remarkably it appears that these aliens are felines, and yet we are unaware of this time if their physiology is similar to cats or it is only by appearance."
Then the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, approached to extend his hand to greet the lead extraterrestrial feline in recognition of the historic moment.
"Welcome to Planet Earth, ambassador. As a representative of the free world, I wish us luck in the peaceful exchange of our two cultures."
"The pleasure is mine, Mister President." The talkative tiger smiled. "Come. Let us discuss our civilizations."
The President of the United States and the ambassador started to walk away from the vessel and Walter turned around to report on the development only to notice that the guard had taken off its - no - her helmet and the anchorman was taken away by the unexpected sight of a young redheaded woman staring at the crowd and even the onlookers and American military personnel were astonished.
"Umm...It seems that this isn't just a race of space cats. I'm honestly not sure what to say about this newest and perplexing development as of this moment."
Corporal Sara Kelrein - Republic Army SpecForce Squad 149 "Chaos Squad"
'Philadelphia International Airport'
06:16:15 ATC - 16:05
"Take your helmet off, Corporal."
"What?" Sara asked as the Ambassador walked off with the leader.
"Just do it." Jedi Knight Carsen ordered the Corporal. "I think it's time to make heads spin."
"Fine, but you owe me big time for getting all of the attention on this planet." Kelrein muttered as she removed her helmet and allowed her shoulder blade-length mahogany-colored strands to be swept by the breeze before answering the earpiece. "Happy?"
"It could've been less dramatic."
Sara rolled her eyes. "You still owe me as you probably made the entire planet speechless."
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - MOS 5811 Military Policeman, Military Police Detachment, Marine Barracks Philadelphia, United States Marine Corps
Philadelphia International Airport - 8500 Essington Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, June 16th, 1967 - 3:58 PM
"Listen up, Marines!" The barking of their immediate supervisor, Staff Sergeant William Carson, even heightened the pair's attention further. "We are going to assist the Secret Service, Army, and the Chair Force in securing the area! We do not know who exactly our astronauts met, but we're going to be on alert, especially with the President greeting them!"
"AYE, STAFF SERGEANT!" The subordinates in the Military Police detachment enthusiastically responded as four additional Jeeps stopped two hundred feet away from the extraterrestrial spacecraft and twelve Marines hopped off the vehicles while four others remained on the turret, keeping vigilance with the M-60s.
"Clear left!" Lance Corporal Andrew Petersen shouted as he aimed the M1897 shotgun to the left.
"Clear right!" Another 5811 called out.
"All clear!"
Carson nodded at his Marines and spoke into the radio of the closest Jeep. "Baseplate? This is Bravo Two-Four. All clear in our area, over?"
"Roger that Bravo Two-Four. The Eagle will be out shortly."
Jake prepared himself as the hatch to the ship opened up with a cat-like being stepping down the ramp and the Presidential motorcade paused with some agents of the Presidential Protective Detail getting up out of the main vehicle first and checking the surroundings before the men of the United States Secret Service permitted their protectee, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, to extend his hand and greet the newcomers, the extraterrestrial felines in a historic moment.
"Welcome to Planet Earth, ambassador. As a representative of the free world, I wish us luck in the peaceful exchange between our cultures."
"The pleasure is mine, Mister President." The talkative tiger smiled. "Come. Let us discuss our civilizations."
The President of the United States and the ambassador started to walk away from the vessel, but the American servicemen, the press, and the other Earthlings' eyes widened after the guard wearing white-colored armor with yellowish-orange markings that was moments prior standing behind the feline took off its helmet, more like her as she was actually, to the astonishment of them all, HUMAN! A human woman with dark red-hair and pale green eyes! It was discombobulating and unanticipated, not to mention out of this world.
"Hey, Jake?" David questioned. "Who's the doll?"
Meyer stared at the highly attractive redhead for a few moments before facing Dave.
"I don't know, but I believe we'll find out." The Hoosier declared before glancing back at the redhead, who was now looking at him curiously. 'God help my soul.'
Corporal Sara Kelrein - Republic Army SpecForce Squad 149 "Chaos Squad"
'Philadelphia International Airport'
06:16:15 ATC - 16:09
'He looks awfully cute.' Sara thought before mentally facepalming. 'Now's not the time for a relationship, Sara.'
But Kelrein couldn't help to note the glint of the dark blue-gray irises gazing at her and the outwardly tidy handsomeness even if he was obviously wearing fatigues, the man catching her eye. A man who happened to be tall, lean, and muscular, but not overly so. Clean cut. And young, around her age, holding a rifle of some sort with competence as if it was an ordinary everyday implement. Yet even though he was clearly armed alongside his compatriots, it was out of caution as this was First Contact and they were unaware of the Republic's intentions.
'And one I need to unravel myself.'
Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - MOS 5811 Military Policeman, Military Police Detachment, Marine Barracks Philadelphia, United States Marine Corps
McGillin's Olde Ale House - 1310 Drury Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Friday, June 16th, 1967 - 6:27 PM
Inside the historic establishment, Jake was sipping another one of his usual alcoholic beverages, a Schiltz brewed beer, reflecting on the unexpected discovery in Norway then the encounter of the third kind as well as the hot dame when his reverie was shattered upon hearing the voice of a fellow small-town Hoosier albeit one who hailed from a different community two hours to the southwest and one day would unexpectedly become cemented in the history books as not only the first man to walk on the surface of the moon but the American astronaut who also officially greeted extraterrestrials.
"Well, I'll be darn." Virgil smiled. "It's good to see you, Jake."
"Likewise, sir."
Virgil snorted at the formality from Grant's nephew but without a word the astronaut sat down on an adjacent barstool. "Say, what are you drinking?"He inquired.
"I'm the one who should be buying the beer, Mister Grissom." Meyer countered.
"Wait? You know Gus Grissom?"
Jake turned to face David and decided to humor his fellow Leatherneck. "What? Uncle Grant is employed by the Monon and one of my former girlfriends is from Mitchell." The Hoosier shrugged as if it was no big deal. "Come to think of it, it was his sister Wilma who introduced me to Claire in the first place."
"What are the odds?"Dave sighed.
"It's a small world after all." Gus sighed as the significance of today could not be brushed off and he was not referring to the unsanctioned planting of the Indiana state flag on the moon either. "And it just became smaller."
While admittedly the inclusion - or last-minute addition if you prefer - of an anachronistic OC may seem frivolous, I figured that having someone who experienced the Great Hyperspace War as portrayed in the Tales of the Jedi comics firsthand could be an interesting twist. Oh and by the way, since the calendar(s) in use before the Treaty of Coruscant, the Great ReSynchronization, and of course BBY or ABY haven't been created by the design team at LucasFilms or Dark Horse Comics or whoever was responsible for it, YAR here simply means Years After the founding of the Republic aka Years After Ratification (of the Galactic Constitution) and hopefully I did the math correctly.
Another change of course was to have First Contact, well, the official one known to the world at large that is, occur in Philadelphia which will be expanded upon and covered in a future prequel. The exact reason why is to my knowledge no one has written anything about having a visitation of extraterrestrials with peaceful intentions or otherwise occurring in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it is a wasted opportunity as come on for a peaceful visitation there's the world-class University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology full of ancient history and rivals the British Museum in Ancient Egyptian artifacts, Independence Hall, the Franklin Institute, the Betsy Ross House, the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, and of course as an honorable mention: Pat's King of Steaks, the birthplace of the Philly Cheesesteak!
Oh well, first come, first served I suppose despite not being from the area yet I promise any native Philadelphians who so happen to be reading this that as an obligation, for the specified prequel, that I will do my utmost in portraying the city on a semi-frequent basis because Philadelphia will of course be the location where first contact officially occurred even though in reality the Republic Embassy will inevitably be located in New York City because, well, that's where the Headquarters of the United Nations is. While the coverage was short in this chapter, it will be expanded upon later on and instead of, actually let's just say that hopefully if I play my cards right there is a chance that it may go as far as having Philadelphia surpass The Big Apple as what is thought of as being the quintessential All-American city with maybe Indianapolis second as honestly the NYC-Chicago Duopoly East of the Mississippi River needs to end :)
Also, to be transparent with you all, I did consider having it occur in Indianapolis instead but since the Crossroads of America will be showcased more than once anyway I decided not to.
Yes, I know, I know, it's still Americancentric but at least it's neither New York City nor Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles as well as Hollywood for that matter and rest assured that in a few chapters from now a certain Sith character in this story will be having an unintentional detour as compensation and just to make things fair even though as already revealed Norway covertly was the sight of the first meeting (and in reality the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier was used as a filming location for The Empire Strikes Back by the way) and at least I'm trying to broaden the horizons so to speak but I digress.
Furthermore, another character, Jake, was intended from the outset on day one to be an only child as there are too many first cousins running about why would he even need siblings? Still, in retrospect, while I wouldn't say completely unfounded per se as there are always bound to be exceptions to the rule for varying reasons such as the mother having secondary infertility, the decision was flawed and admittedly an anachronism because horse-drawn plows were still being used in rural America even into the 1950s, even the father of my paternal grandmother and my maternal grandmother's maternal grandfather were still using plowhorses at the time. Of course, extra farm hands were the explanation to balance it out per se but now instead of being an only son he's the eldest brother with the headaches to go around that only firstborn siblings can understand.
Gus Grissom was reportedly considered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to be the first man to walk on the moon instead of Neil Alden Armstrong but tragically Virgil Ivan Grissom as well as fellow astronauts Edward Higgins White II and Roger Bruce Chaffee in reality perished in a freak accident and the inferno inside AS-204 which was retroactively designated as Apollo 1 was a horrible lesson for the engineers at NASA.
Grissom was not only the commander of the ill-fated AS-204 (which would retroactively be redesignated by NASA as Apollo 1), he was also the second American to be in space after Alan Bartlett Shepard, Junior, and Grissom was even the second American to fly in space twice, preceded only by Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker with his sub-orbital X-15 flights.
This is not to say I have some grudge against Commander Armstrong, to the contrary since this story is partly an alternate history tale it is only fair to bring to light an individual who only became obscure circumstantially and to showcase what could have been if that tragedy did not occur on that fateful day.
And since it is on topic, The Monon Railroad, also known officially as the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway, was a beloved railroad in the State of Indiana that was even promoted as a 'Hoosier Line' and although passenger services except for briefly the Thoroughbred were discontinued in 1959 the defunct train company is still in the hearts of those rode the line as well as the communities which were once stops and railroad enthusiasts.
As the saying goes, it is a small world and the odds are that you the reader could even be just five people away from someone who could be considered famous as anything is possible.