Earth: A Rendezvous with Destiny

by We'retheDesperateMeasures-ODST

The 1960s as a decade was just as memorable: The 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was never assassinated and Vietnam was a victory for the West. But not all was well on Planet Earth yet when threatened with conquest by the Sith Empire, the nations of the world became co-belligerents of the Republic, in a collision course that became a rendevous with destiny.

9. The Great Crusade

Leontyne Saresh - Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic

Supreme Chancellor's Office - Senate Building, Senate District, Coruscant, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:05:15 ATC/ Monday, August 5th, 1968 - 10:00/10:00 AM

Although the Galactic Republic was not only a federal union between worlds of varying cultures and societies but best described as a parliamentary-style representative democracy where the executive branch derives its legitimacy from and is accountable to the legislature, in this case, the Galactic Senate, Supreme Chancellor Leontyne Saresh has felt a new surge of confidence as her coalition and supporters within the Senate has without notice been successful in incrementally yielding and cementing her authority as head of state, more than officially authorized by the Galactic Constitution, but that was not the sole reason for today's optimism as she became enlightened to reports that indicated the tide against the enemy may be arriving sooner than anticipated.

Deciding to take a break from overseeing the inner workings of government and the bureaucracy, Saresh stood outside her office on the balcony to watch the beautiful Coruscanti sunrise. It was still difficult to comprehend that the war was gradually going well for the Republic with memories of the Sacking of Coruscant years prior still fresh. Additionally, there was the recent and remarkable discovery of a race of warlike humans and their natural resources were thoroughly impervious to the Force, the Chancellor had set in motion events that would hopefully bring the new world into the war on the Republic's side. It also brought forward newfound opportunities of constructing war machines for combatting the Sith and making the Jedi irrelevant, which was by no means an understatement but at present, it was only speculative and it was unknown if the negating effects would 'transfer' to the home galaxy or not.

'And with the help of the people of Earth, we'll strike a major blow against the Empire. Maybe even crush the Imps once and for all.' She thought, relishing the newfound opportunity.

But then her holo-communicator beeped and Saresh answered it only to hear that it was her Togruta secretary Zaraht Tano.

"What is it, Zaraht?"

"General Garza is waiting for you outside your office, your Excellency."

Saresh smiled with the thoughts of Havoc Squad pulling another victory. "Go ahead and send her in. I'm on the balcony."

---

General Elin Garza - Commander of the Republic Special Forces Division, Republic Army

Supreme Chancellor's Office - Senate Building, Senate District, Coruscant, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:05:15 ATC/ Monday, August 5th, 1968 - 10:15/10:15 AM

'Here's goes nothing.' Garza thought as she timidly walked up to the Supreme Chancellor, still wishing she did not have to divulge the news yet at times updates had to be given personally.

"Hello, Ellin! What a surprise! Did Havoc score another victory?"

The commanding officer of the Republic's SpecForce sighed. "No, Your Excellency..." With a deep breath, Ellin informed her of the contretemps. "There was a diplomatic incident on Earth and it appears that a member of Chaos Squad was an undercover agent for the Empire." Garza knew what the reaction was going to be and the Twi'lek politician's face went from excitement to disappointment and now anger. Preparing her ears for the hearing loss, Ellin, unfortunately, was too late to cover her ears at the outrage.

"Arghh! You're telling me…" The Chancellor paused as she was still fuming and feeling incensed. "That the Imperials had a spy, a literal plan within the diplomatic party the entire time!?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. Chaos Squad marksman Corporal Kelrein was, in fact, an undercover agent for the Empire. I wrote a full report and I accept all responsibility."

It was scary to the commander of SpecForce to watch the Supreme Chancellor recover from her outburst quickly. "Very well Ellin, but you do not have to resign. No one is blaming you... Hope you have a nice day."

General Garza gladly left the office as fast as she could and she looked over her shoulder, seeing Saresh lean against the balcony, depressed and disconcerted.

---

Nathrrya Therin-Palatine - Darth Avarice /The Empire's Wrath

Kaas City, Dromund Kaas, Dromund System, Sith Worlds, Imperial Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"

08:05:15 ATC/ Monday, August 5th, 1968 -10:00/10:00 AM

'You got to be kidding me!' Nathrrya thought as she read the holomessage she received. 'Invade Earth? What the kriffing hell are they on?'

It was now official. The Empire would like to conquer Earth despite Avarice's warnings of the semi-advanced nature of their fighters which would be problematic to deal with in atmospheric combat until defeated through attrition, not to mention the experience of their soldiers during not one, but two world wars! And while admittedly it was only in some areas the world was remarkably advanced for their civilization especially militarily on a planetary and not interplanetary nor even intergalactic basis, there was also the logistical hindrance for her to consider as well. Traveling with hyperdrives, no matter if traveling to a different sector or attempting to leave beyond the known galaxy, can be perilous if the navcomputers were incorrectly inputted and until recently the Circumferential Hyperspace Barrier impeded going beyond the home galaxy in addition to the fact that there was only one known route so far, traveling another route blind could lead the armada directly to oblivion and therefore pointlessly self-destructive, that was if they were not intercepted by a Republic taskforce first en route.

With the matter of logistics especially in mind, not to mention adding yet another inevitable guerilla war for the Sith Empire to fight on a planet in another galaxy entirely with plenty of unknowns, she slammed her hand down on the long-range holocom table in frustration as she began to call the Dark Council every colorfully vulgar expletive in ancient High Sith she knew and she knew quite a few.

With a sigh, Nathrrya turned and made her way to her quarters. After all, the call she was about to make was best not overheard by the others. For what she was about to do while technically treason was something she knew she had to do.

Once in her quarters Nathrrya took the secure holocom from her belt and tapped in her cousin's com code. It took a few moments, but eventually, the Battlemaster answered.

"Nat! What a surprise..."

"Cas. It's not a social call." She said cutting him off "If only it were."

Master Therin sensed that something was deeply troubling her."What is it, Nat."

Nathrrya sighed. "Cas, I believe the Empire is making a grave error, one that is rather short-sighted and foolhardy. The Dark Council wants to conquer Earth over my objections and they've lost all reasoning. I thought Marr and Vowrawn would have known better but they were forced to go along with the other idiots." She made a face. "The best part is I've been given the privilege of leading the invasion fleet." It was clear she was less than thrilled about that detail.

The Jedi massaged his temples. He wasn't surprised at the news since the Empire always thought of conquest when a new world was discovered. He was more surprised that his cousin would risk her hide to warn him that there was an invasion coming.

"Why risk this?"

"I might be loyal to the Empire, Cas, it is my home after all but that loyalty only goes so far when said Empire constantly makes poor decisions. We both know that the stability of the galaxy is at stake if this war drags on too much longer." Nathrrya said. "And who knows of the repercussions."

The Jedi nodded. "What would you like in return, cousin dearest?"

Darth Avarice grinned remembering how the Jedi owes her something. "How about those dynamic power couplings that you promised me?" She asked sweetly, with a hint of humor.

"I'll see what I can do Nat. No promises."

Avarice wasn't happy with that answer. "But you promised!" she cried giving her cousin the look. It was much the same as the look Kira gave him when she wanted something, though in Kira's case that something was usually Casavir.

Normally a Jedi wouldn't show any emotions, but his cousin knew his weakness. Kriff, even Kira knows it, and damn it, he wouldn't be surprised if his wife told her! "NAT!? Please don't give me that look!"

The Wrath, on the other hand, pressed the advantage and continued to give him the look. The pouty face made her seem years younger than she was and it amused her how Casavir could be ruffled by her Kath hound eyes.

"Alright! Alright! I'll send you those dynamic power couplings!"

"Thank you." Nathrrya smirked in victory. If only it was this easy to win the war with such a method.

The hologram faded out and now Nathrrya was satisfied that the dynamic power couplings would be shipped so that the Rose might be improved.

---

Walter Leland Cronkite, Junior - CBS New

The White House - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:09:15 ATC/ Friday, August 9th, 1968 - 20:00/8:00 PM

As Cronkite waited for the current President to speak, the anchorman could not help but to feel for the still youthful man even if he was now nearing middle age, the fact of the matter was that although the New Frontier did hold much promise, much energy, it inevitably imploded and now the polls suggest that the American electorate may not be voting for the Republican nominee and former Governor of Washington Daniel Jackson Evans who was nominated yesterday at the Republican National Convention nor would they seek the Democratic nominee George Stanley McGovern and the vicious infighting within the Democratic Party were already exacerbating the fact that the majority of American people saw neither parties as worthy of their votes and instead they were looking at the alternative.

But before Cronkite could reflect further, Kennedy stepped forward to the podium and began to speak.

"Good evening, my fellow Americans. Onescore and three years ago today, when the Bockscar and her aircrew dropped Fatman on Nagasaki following the Enola Gay's devastation of Hiroshima, these two atomic bombings convinced the Japanese to capitulate six days later, during which aboard the Battleship Missouri, General MacArthur in his address noted: 'A new era is upon us. Even the lesson of victory itself brings with it profound concern, both for our future security and the survival of civilization. The destructiveness of the war potential, through progressive advances in scientific discovery, has in fact now reached a point which revises the traditional concepts of war. Men since the beginning of time have sought peace. Various methods through the ages have attempted to devise an international process to prevent or settle disputes between nations. From the very start workable methods were found insofar as individual citizens were concerned, but the mechanics of an instrumentality of larger international scope have never been successful. Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. We have had our last chance. If we do not now devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past two thousand years, it must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.' But today we've learned about a great tragedy involving not just us, the American People alone but our world as a whole... We never wanted war. We never wanted to be dragged into a great conflict that we have no business in. But, unfortunately, this planet we all reside on, this world we for generations called Earth, all of our homes have been targeted. The Sith Empire has plans not for diplomacy but that of conquest... Conquest. That word is one we never wanted to hear and yet here we are standing today. We all know what Hitler and Tojo envisioned and wrought during the last great war. We all have heard tales of George Washington fighting against a vast empire. And all nations understand what it means to be in a position of being conquered by a foreign enemy...However, we do have one advantage and that is we know how to conduct war. The nations of Earth will never be their possession! We shall not let them! We shall not go quietly into the night! We will fight on! If they want war, in the name of the Lord Almighty, we will show them!... As of three hours ago, Congress approved my declaration of war against the Sith Empire. Mister Khrushchev and I, along with the other leaders of the world agree that we need to take this threat to our sovereignty seriously. The Dark Council will learn that the word 'Earth' is what nightmares are made of."

The news correspondents were stunned into silence as the Secret Service agents quickly ushered the leader of the free world off the stage, less someone decided to confront Kennedy and question his sanity or even threaten his life. Cronkite was among those whose eyes widened in surprise at the speech. It was not one Walter and his peers were expecting at the special news conference that President Kennedy called. Was this the same President who was blemished with the recent domestic unrest and almost faced impeachment who spoke? The one who became in effect not only a lame duck but also a glorified rubber stamp for Congress?

Regardless of the now mixed to even radioactive legacy of the once promising Camelot, Cronkite knew that without question they had been unwittingly dragged into a significant far-off conflict, one that was not sought for in the slightest."As you heard the President, we are now at war with the Sith Empire. May God help us all..."

---

Klaus Büchel - Former Captain in the Liechtenstein National Police Force, Colonel in command of the resurrected Liechtenstein Army

Vaduz, Liechtenstein, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:29: 15 ATC / Thursday, August 29th, 1968 - 14:00 / 2:00 PM

"Today, the Republic suffered catastrophic losses on Jabiim." The reporter announced. "The Sith Empire launched a full-scale invasion of the planet, outnumbering the defenders five to one and in the aftermath of the onslaught, the entire Jedi complement were beheaded by the Sith."

"Schisse." Büchel cursed. The former senior policeman who was appointed as the commander of the entire revived national army that was formerly nonexistent in the tiny European nation for literally a century, tiny as in the American state of Rhode Island, just realized the significant implications of being a part of this conflict. "Imagine just eighty men facing that onslaught. It might've well have been ants attempting to block a Category Five hurricane."

"We did declare war on the Imperials so there's no turning back now."

"Brightside is we're working alongside die Schweizer and be attached to their forces while serving under our banner. The bad news is the Swiss haven't fought in over a century and that was of course the Sonderbundskrieg, a short civil war."

"We might be small but at least we'll go down fighting." Another subordinate declared grimly as he wiped the cosmoline off of his Swiss surplus 7.5×55mm K31 Straight-Pull rifle.

---

Red Army Training Center No. 1242 - Pustomyty Raion, Lviv Oblast, Western Ukraine, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Eurasia, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:01: 15 ATC / Sunday, September 1st, 1968 - 07:00 / 7:00 AM

"Comrades! It is time for you to learn how to properly throw a grenade!"

"But these are potatoes, Comrade Commissar!" One of the inductees who hailed from Ufa, Russia questioned after picking up one of the vegetables from the cart. "Why are we using potatoes, Comrade Commissar?"

"Actual grenades are valuable! In fact, they are much more valuable than you, Private!" The political officer snapped at the disobedient. "And those Space Fascist scum hardly take any prisoners except those destined for slavery! If you have an actual grenade, save it for yourself and take out as many of the enemy as you can."

"Da, Comrade Commissar!" The platoon-sized detachment of trainees acknowledged.

"Now do as you are told as Mother Russia is calling for her brave and zealous sons once more. Prepare to chuck potatoes, I mean grenades!"

---

Moïse Kapenda Tshombe - 1st President of Katanga

Élisabethville - State of Katanga, Central Africa, Africa, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:03: 15 ATC / Tuesday, September 3rd, 1968 - 13:00 / 1:00 PM

The young independent and mineral-rich nation of Katanga was recognized by scant few nations with only the Kingdom of Belgium, the Portuguese Republic, France, the Republic of Rhodesia, the Republic of South Africa, and if the rumors were true then the United States of America would be next in officially seeing Katanga as a sovereign nation and it would have been sooner as there was support for Katanga in America and the donations from the American Committee for Aid to Katangan Freedom Fighters was welcomed but conversely President Kennedy and the State Department for whatever reason opposed it even though just like America back in the 18th Century Katanga was fighting for its independence. Still, it did not matter now as the inevitable incoming administration may be favorable and even if not then members of the new Congress could possibly be more receptive with hopefully enough seats in both chambers to override the veto of an unfriendly President of the United States but neither Tshombe nor his cabinet would known for certain until after the American elections.

Independence, however, did not come easy yet the Katangese Gendarmerie, against all odds, valiantly held the line always underestimated by the Congolese as well as their UN puppets and their success at apprehending A Company of the Irish Army's 35th Battalion at Jadotville while attending mass with only the lone sentry on watch that fateful day, Private Billy Ready, dispatched courtesy of a suppressed sniper rifle was a significant triumph for the Katangese while conversely becoming a public relations nightmare of the worst kind for the United Nations.

Furthermore, there was the crippling loss of Irish diplomat Donal Conor David Dermot Donat Cruise O'Brien, nevermind Indian Army Generals Dewan Prem Chand and Kottimukula Alagaraja Singaparaja Raja alike with the gunman responsible for their deaths remaining unidentified to the outside on the other hand knew that they had in fact been liquidated by Drake Meyer, an American from Acton, Indiana who was with the Whaling Group during the Pacific War and a Deputy for the Marion County Sheriff's Department before deciding to take 'a leave of absence' for the chance to fight against the United Nations but unbeknownst even to Tshombe, Meyer had ended another high-value target as the Hoosier was part of the ten-man team responsible for downing the plane carrying Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld through a 40 × 365 mm R Bofors anti-aircraft autocannon and the very one who aimed the piece as the Douglas DC-6B came into the 'spider' sight before firing the flak.

Then in '63 came the counteroffensive masterminded by American mercenary Mitchell Livingston WerBell III with the unvanquished Katangese forces successfully driving the United Nations Operation in the Congo out entirely including recently arrived Canadians after the UN reconsidered the offer of an entire Canadian Infantry Brigade and the then Prime Minister, John George Diefenbaker, had the first regiment, the esteemed and first in the order of precedence The Royal Canadian Regiment, deployed to the Congo immediately yet even The Royal Canadian Regiment saw the writing on the wall upon arrival and except for a platoon who got separated from the regiment in the chaos and were completely wiped out within minutes by American mercenaries led by WerBell personally the newly-arrived Canucks surrendered en masse without firing a shot in anger.

'Peacekeepers' was not only a misnomer for the UN contingents sent to face the Kataganese and aid the Republic of the Congo in reunifying the rebellious province by force, it was accurately described as a travesty since they acted akin to mercenaries for Cyrille Adoula yet the Congolese plea for UN intervention backfired spectacularly as the Congo Crisis became the first significant failure in the history of so-called 'Peacekeeping' but now the United Nations were ironically expecting the sons of Katanga to join their band for a struggle in a galaxy far, far away.

"Well, here we are, I believe we can make some demands." Tshombe smirked as he leaned back in his swivel chair while convening with two of his best military strategists. "Reasonable demands of course."

"Oh, I agree, Mister President." Roger Louis Faulques, a former Army Colonel turned hired gun and one of the most decorated soldiers in the history of France, concurred as he accepted the cigar from Tshombe. "And they better not make us wear blue berets or helmets."

"Trust me, most of the United States Armed Forces would mutiny if ordered to wear them." WerBell chortled. "Besides, the days of the UN being an institution are pretty much numbered yet those asinine idealists just can't bring themselves to vote to officially dissolve that worthless body."

---

Timothy Jones - Former Carpenter and Conscript for Her Majesty's Service

Widnes, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:03: 15 ATC / Tuesday, September 3rd, 1968 - 13:00 / 1:00 PM

"Name?"

"Timothy Jones, sir!" The carpenter produced his draft notice to the board.

"Welcome to National Service, lad. As there's a quota needing to be filled, the Royal Engineers should feel like home." The Sergeant of the British Army smiled warmly before metamorphosing into something straight out of Hell for every processed inductee present. "NOW GET YOUR BLOODY ARSES ONTO THE BUS AND OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

---

Sergeant Wallace Franklin Bradford - United States Army

Fort Sill - Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:04: 15 ATC / Wednesday, September 4th, 1968 - 19:00 / 7:00 PM

"EVERYONE GET YOUR ASS OFF OF MY BUS, NOW!" The lead Drill Sergeant screamed at the new arrivals after boarding the Greyhound that was shipping an inbound mixture of volunteers and draftees to be transformed into soldiers for the United States Army, not to mention be well cared for by their Uncle Sam.

The terrified recruits instantly hopped up from their seats and frantically retrieved their luggage and bags as three additional United States Army Drill Sergeants climbed aboard and shouted vulgarity at the recruits.

"MOVE IT, MOVE IT, YOU PATHETIC PIECES OF SHIT!" Bradford screamed inhumanly at the top of his lungs which was part of the official training process as was the infamous 'shark attack' they would encounter outside. "WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND HERE UNTIL THE EMPIRE INVADES YOU LAZY GOLDBRICKS! I SWEAR TO THE GREAT GOD IN HEAVEN THAT I'LL SMOKE YOU UNTIL YOU DIE IF YOU DON'T PICK UP YOUR PACE YOU WORTHLESS SCUMBAGS! FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, YOUR ASSES BELONG TO UNCLE SAM AND HIS GREEN MACHINE SO ENJOY THE HOSPITALITY WHILE YOU CAN!"

And on cue, his fellow Drill Sergeants immediately hounded the volunteers and draftees outside.

"MOVE, MOVE, DON'T HOLD UP THE RECEIVING AREA!"

"PICK UP THAT BAG!"

"DID I ASK YOU TO SPEAK!?"

'Welcome to the Army.' Bradford thought as after filtering the arrivals he at last stepped off the bus himself and added additional volume to the chaos occurring outside.

---

Chakravarthi Vijayaraghava Narasimhan MBE, ICS - 4th Secretary-General of the United Nations

Headquarters of the United Nations - 760 United Nations Plaza, Turtle Bay, Midtown Manhattan, Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:12: 15 ATC / Thursday, September 12th, 1968 - 14:30 / 2:30 PM

"It's such a shame that there's no recourse other than war." The Indian who replaced his predecessor U Thant, the very same Burmese pacifist who followed reports of UFOs with keen interest only to resign after the ruination in the Congo as the breakaway Katanga had managed to successfully evict UN Peacekeepers from the breakaway state, mourned and of course there were the disastrous reverberations with, for instance, the United Nations Emergency Force failing to avert another Arab-Israeli War and having to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip.

In other words, the United Nations as an organization had been torpefied just like how the Kennedy Family had been degraded and were no longer influential in American politics.

"Well, after quite the debate, we decided who will be overseeing the Coalesced Forces from Earth or C.F.E. for short'." The Soviet board member of the United Nations Security Council declared as he revealed the only viable name that everyone could agree upon. "Dwight Eisenhower."

"Eisenhower? As in 'I Like Ike'?" Narasimhan was flabbergasted. While not exactly surprised that his name would be mentioned, the fact of the matter was Kennedy's predecessor in office, the 34th President of the United States should be enjoying his well-deserved retirement and not be brought into yet another major conflict, no less one that was unprecedented in scale and all of Earth's history itself for all parties concerned.

"He was the only candidate we could agree on." The American board member revealed. "But Ike is undoubtedly qualified for the task and I'm certain that just like Black Jack Pershing during World War One, he will make sure that our troops will be treated as equal allies, not auxiliaries."

"Let us hope that this endeavor will not be a disaster waiting to happen." Narasimhan sighed.

"Anyway, the international 'Quarantine Policy' in full cooperation with the Republic will be in effect tomorrow, and the joint 'Global Misinformation to the Galaxy' board will host their first session next week. It's not going to stop the Empire from invading but it will potentially make their task much harder as they literally have to sort fact from fiction as they only had one spy who couldn't have seen everything and that so-called Wrath of their only toured one city for a day."

"It's amazing how every country voted yes and not a single one abstained or voted no." Narasimhan smiled before pouting. "If only it was one of peace."

---

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower

243 Eisenhower Farm Road - Gettysburg, Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:14: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 14th, 1968 - 13:00 / 1:00 PM

The former Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, 16th Chief of Staff of the Army, 13th President of Columbia University, the 1st Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and 34th President of the United States was hesitant to return to the colors after entering into a well-deserved retirement, moving away from the sphere of warfare and politics yet there was now a new war of an unprecedented scale on the horizon, one that was ongoing in outer space and in another galaxy altogether.

"No." Ike reiterated. "I can't do it, I shouldn't."

"Ike, the world respects you. You are the only candidate that everyone and I mean everyone could accept and I get the health concerns but the Republic has advanced medical technology quite capable of treating the ailment and after discussing it with them your heart may not be an issue but I understand if not so who else do you recommend?" The bureaucrat wondered. "We can consider an alternative."

Eisenhower was quite reluctant to take the reigns of leading a multinational force once again and even then this would be larger than the forces he oversaw pushing through occupied Europe but the former Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force acquiesced after realizing that for the time being he was the only clear and logical person to lead an international coalition without controversy, someone who had the experience and fortitude necessary to lead a motley band and keep them together, to keep the focus on the common adversary instead of each other.

Still, he felt that there was a pair of individuals who could step up after some needed mentoring, two men who were both equally qualified for the position if anything should happen.

"I'll accept on two conditions." The retired General proclaimed. "I want Harkins as my deputy and Brooks to be my Chief of Operations as well as an advisor for matters relating to artillery."

---

General Paul Donal Harkins - United States Army and Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial - Hamm, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

"It's been a while, sir, but I wish you were here."

The death of Patton was still shocking as it was something that no one ever expected, the famed hard-charging Bandito of the American Third Army dying in painful misery in a hospital ward resulting from a post-war traffic collision was unbefitting for the warrior.

While Patton was one of the greatest gods of war, Harkins was his Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and they were part of the team that stormed occupied Europe which collapsed the yoke of the Third Reich.

Yet Walton Harris Walker would have been an excellent alternative to him but he was killed in the chaos of the Communist Chinese intervention in Korea and while John Shirley 'Tiger Jack' Wood was another, the latter had passed on two years previously.

Still, Harkins held respectable credentials as he was Patton's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and served as the first commander of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam from 1962 - 1964 until replaced by Creighton Abrams and while the presence of Old Blood and Guts was sorely missed, his son was on Harkin's staff and although there were health conditions impeding the two old warhorses, Walter Kruger was coming out of retirement to be an adviser and Eisenhower was once more leading the whole affair. Plus there was also the fact that Harkins would be working in collaboration with Edward Hale Brooks, a man who was described at the time of his retirement by General Jacob Loucks Devers as the following: "Ted Brooks is a man of action. He accepts responsibility and then does something constructive about it - and he does it now, not tomorrow. He is a great fighter to have on your side, for he thinks only of the big objective and never of himself. He is quick and sound in his thinking - has tremendous courage - and will tackle any problem with new approaches until he gets the solution. His integrity is of the highest order, and he has great loyalty up and down. He knows when and where to disperse the workload, and when and where to concentrate it. His judgment is unquestionably sound. In addition, Ted has a wonderfully pleasing and dynamic personality. God has truly endowed him with wisdom and with an unfailing ability to understand his fellow man. A great soldier, a keen strategist, and a thoroughly capable administrator, Ted Brooks has all the qualities that would make him an excellent Chief of Staff of the Army."

Even Raymond Ames Spruance was brought aboard as the expert for naval matters and overall the old guard was going to have one last hurrah in a war for survival before the next generation stepped up and god-willing the bloodshed wouldn't last three decades like it already had over there but if it did, Harkins recognized the fact that his superior was attempting to choose a potential successor and the former right-hand man of Old Blood and Guts personally preferred that Brooks took charge yet it was no competition between the two newfound colleagues thankfully nor was there any animosity between them as of the present, it was rather an instance of a great leader looking at the strengths and weaknesses between two viable candidates and in time hopefully select the right man for the task at hand.

"You know, to be honest with you, your presence is sorely needed." Harkins sighed. "I know that you are turning in your grave about missing the opportunity and unlike Ike, you would've loathed retirement, you were meant to be a warrior and today we need men willing to embark on generating destruction for the sake of preservation."

What was left of the old guard with experience dating back to World War One and even the Spanish-American War in the case of Kruger were returning for one last hurrah and undoubtedly they would be at the forefront of conducting the war until the next generation could step up and take their place.

"Your boy is remarkable and I would go as far as to say that not only would you be proud, it is almost as if he is your reincarnation. I never understood the obsession but now in some ways, I think I can get the gist, sir."

Before departing, the former commanding officer of MACV gave his late superior a salute.

---

General of the Army Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower - Head of the Coalesced Forces from Earth

United States Military Academy - West Point, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

The graduating class of cadets in their gray uniforms and shakos sat down as the guest of honor stepped toward the podium to address them.

"Gentlemen, I have no need to introduce myself." The former Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers during World War Two and the 34th President of the United States stated to the assemblage. "And it is truly an honor to be among you today. A quarter of a century ago was the day when a joint force of men waded onto the shores of Normandy to form beachheads and drive the occupation into their heartland, liberating people who had been under their control for years. That was Nazi Germany and just like the Third Reich, the forces of the Sith Empire are driven by their ideological lust for conflict and power. We all should remind ourselves that there are times when history can repeat and those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Now with that in mind, I would like to quote myself, to reflect on the synonymous situation with the current enemy." Ike unfolded the very paper he held and then decided to wave it for emphasis before reading.."This is the very paper by the way." He revealed to the assembly. "Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely."

The former President paused with tears in his eyes as he remembered the cost paid at Omaha and Utah, American boys as well as those of the British Commonwealth who stormed the beaches codenamed as Juno, Sword, and Gold. It was a long road liberating Paris and Antwerp, to encounter stiff resistance in the Ardennes in the winter of 1944 - 45, and it was a hard-fought drive into the heart of the Third Reich itself. He shouldn't have been called up for this vast undertaking, history in a remarkable way shouldn't be repeated but once again Ike and many of the surviving American veterans of the European Theater as well as men who fought in the Pacific in the same conflict, around the 38th Parallel a decade later, or in the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam were all equally about to embark on yet another Great Crusade and not only GIs but Tommies and Ivans, the French, and ironically the Germans, Italians, and even by circumstance the Japanese as the Axis was not native to this world. There were newly independent colonies in Africa and Asia not wishing to be annexed and once more be exploited by a foreign power, actually, an extraterrestrial adversary, and yet despite previous differences, in spite of the recent grudges and disputes, an international, global coalition was forming and Eisenhower was for the time being the only man keeping it all together because he was the only one who in reality could.

"But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

He refolded the paper and placed it back in his pocket.

"And just like 1944, I have confidence that the tide is turning against the Sith Empire as just like the men before you, you are about to embark on your own Great Crusade where the eyes of not only just this world but other planetary civilizations are looking upon you. Good luck and Godspeed."

---

Elmer Merrifield Keith - Famed Big Game Hunter, Gun Writer, and holder of the world record involving the longest kill shot ever fired from a Revolver at 600 Yards

Camp Perry - Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

"Seven rounds rapid! Engage!" Keith ordered the trainees to fire their .45 caliber M1911A1 service pistols from the hip as fast as they could squeeze the trigger and the students did as was instructed on the buzzer, upon hearing the beep they drew their sidearms from their holsters and began shooting at their individually assigned silhouette targets placed at fifteen yards.

"Still got it." Keith grinned before turning to the quick draw. "What's your name, son?"

"Jerry Miculek, sir!"

"That's some fine shooting, Jerry." Elmer complimented the pupil. "And fast as hell."

"The boy certainly has gifted talent." Staff Sergeant Silas Merritt 'Si' Robertson chuckled. "Phil? Didn't you mention that he's a fellow Louisianan?"

"Yep. Saint James, a little farther south than us, Si." The former football player for Louisiana Tech informed his brother. "Us Duck Hunters and gunslingers from Cajun Country will make those Space Brits think twice."

---

United Nations Global Misinformation to the Galaxy Board

Headquarters of the United Nations - 760 United Nations Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

"So...which map do you think would be better?" The cartographer wondered as he showed the board ten different maps that portrayed Pangaea. "I know we already have sent a mishmash of mismatching global maps but these will have all of the landmasses combined into one supercontinent instead of mixing territory up."

The three board members shrugged as every one of the options seemed useful.

"Use them all. Does it make any difference to choose between combining India with Africa or having Mexico sandwiched between them?"

"The more confusion, the better." The committeeman sitting in the middle grinned as he concurred. "The Sith Empire thinks we're mere primitives, so we're using ancient history, mythology, folklore, and prehistoric creatures against them."

"The one in regards to the Easter Bunny is probably the most ridiculous of them yet." The one on the right snickered. "A mass-murdering giant rabbit with laser eyes that can also toss egg-shaped grenades from his basket. Or, ya know, just the harmless Easter Bunny that gives the kiddos goodies."

"And thanks to Master Casivir's suggestion, we're having Santa Claus be labeled as a confirmed Force user more powerful than Emperor Vitiate. He and his elf army from the North Pole mounted on fearsome reindeer will be at the vanguard of any global defensive efforts and the candy cane lances will blow their ships out of the sky, never mind poor Rudolph's red nose of nuclear devastation."

"Hopefully the Dark Council will kill themselves after taking too much aspirin due to their inevitable reading of our misinformation."

"If only but I'm not going to deny that there will be an epidemic of migraines occurring within Imperial Space."

---

Major Rane Kovach - Sphere of Military Offense (Covertly a plant of the Strategic Information Service as well as the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic)

Sphere of Military Offense - The Imperial Citadel, Kaas City, Dromund Kaas, Dromund System, Sith Worlds, Imperial Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

"Let me get this straight. There are at least fifty different maps that all supposedly represent Planet Earth?" Kovach asked the transferred Watchers who were tasked with gathering everything and anything the Republic knew about the newly discovered extra-galactic world called Earth for the benefit of the Empire's invasion plans but the processing was proving to be more difficult than originally anticipated, especially in regards to details that conflicted with the Wrath's own experience on the planet.

"We're also getting differing reports about the environment with one stating that the entire planet is an arctic wasteland with sugarplums guarded by these so-called 'Abominable Snowmen' and another that says it's hotter than Tatooine with giant man-eating desert spiders and the Mongolian death worm." Watcher Six revealed and despite personal accounts from the Wrath herself to the contrary, New Zealand and New York City were still just two locations on the planet among many. "Then in the one declaring Earth is about seventy-eight percent water there's some Japanese beast called Godzilla that supposedly was a kriffing nightmare for the United States Navy and Army to kill per the combat footage we found."

"Evidently these primitives are trying to fool us." Rane determined after snorting at the footage of this 'Godzilla', which upon closer examination the caricature was obviously fake. Besides despite her limited duration on the world and unfortunately not scanning the planet due to initially being a diplomatic visitation, the Wrath herself took note of the climate in this 'New York City' and mentioned that it was temperate while 'New Zealand' was more tropical, never mind reports from their former plant in the diplomatic party. Still, planetary geography was only one subject being forwarded to or intercepted by the Imperials as there were other matters to sort from exact military capabilities and census figures to potential influential hostages, collaborators, or high-level future guerilla leaders to neutralize with this John Wayne for instance being placed in the third category given his stances. "Quite ingenious in trying to throw us off but that means the invasion fleet will be going in blind without knowing what's truthful."

"So, should we inform the Council about these Werewolves and Chupacabras?" Watcher Two wondered. "Or the threat that this Easter Bunny poses to our forces?"

"For Force sake." The secret undercover Republic spy cursed at the headache even he himself was receiving courtesy of the newfound allies after reading the analysis about Werewolves being more dangerous than Rakghouls due to the ability to blend in as normal humans and the need to find some unknown yet toxic weed called 'wolfsbane' in order to counteract them but Kovach felt this to be fabricated as well. "If it sounds or appears to be too absurd, dismiss it immediately."

"Well, I think their slugthrowers are inaccurate over three hundred meters just like all other known examples so that's gone." Watcher Six determined as he deleted the relevant data about this 'M14' Rifle being capable of killing a man up to nine hundred fourteen meters plus while preserving the more realistic and feasible one about some design referred to as an 'AK-47'. "There's no way their primitive starfighters are faster than our own in atmospheric conditions either."

'Easter Bunny?' Rane asked himself. 'What the Kark is an Easter Bunny?'

---

Marcus Trant - Director of the Galactic Republic's Strategic Information Service

SIS Headquarters - Heorem Complex, Senate District, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

"Kovach reported that the Empire is confused about the conflicting findings about Earth. So far everyone within the Empire's power structure is not suspicious that their invasion plans have been discovered but believes that either the newfound world with our assistance is trying to impose security measures after being exposed to the galaxy or the Republic is using the discovery of the planet to its advantage despite not being our idea in the first place." Balkar reported. "Operation: Misdirection is proceeding as planned."

"Are you sure about the lack of suspicion?"

"Kovach has not only managed to infiltrate Imperial Intelligence and become a Keeper, he survived the disestablishment and had implanted himself to be on Darth Arkous's staff. If neither Arkous nor the Council is suspicious but receiving headaches, then what is there to worry about?"

"They're partially right about using this to our strategic advantage." Marcus grinned. "With Imperial Intelligence gone and with every surviving Watcher trying to sort through the puzzle means one less Watcher trying to gather Intel on the Republic. Then there's the fact that eventually we'll be working beside operatives of the British SIS."

"British SIS?" Jonas wondered. "You mean that these Imperial-sounding Earthlings have their own SIS?:

"More commonly referred to as MI6 for some reason but despite the ironic coincidence and invertness, we could use the closest example of Imperials that are not Imperials to our advantage."

"Krasul made some rather odd discoveries." Balkar snorted. "Next for all I know, I'm going to be mistaken for this Elvis Presley."

"You could impersonate him if you apply more grease to your hair, agent."

"Very funny, sir."

---

Sergeant Sara Kelrein- Imperial Army Commando Unit 421 "Reaper Squad"

Sphere of Military Offense - Ministry of War, The Imperial Citadel, Kaas City, Dromund Kaas, Dromund System, Sith Worlds, Imperial Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 15:45 / 3:45 PM

At first, the commando thought it was social even though her friend's inflexible schedule did not always permit such pleasantries and yet upon learning of the true nature of the visitation, she was initially perplexed than amused but the blonde Sith was not amused and wished for clarification on conflicting information no matter how trivial they may be as even the slightest detail may be crucial.

"Earth has a varying climate with some regions being purely desert, some being purely arctic, and some being a mixture of environments such as the United States. But most of the planet can be described as either temperate or tropical depending on how far from the equator the particular nation-state is precisely."

"There are also these maps." Her friend pointed out.

"This one is the closest geographical-" Kelrein paused as she dreaded the implications. "Lana? Do you believe that the Empire is responding to this correctly? They have not committed any grievances against us in the slightest, unlike the Republic. Earth wasn't even aware of our existence until recently."

"I honestly don't know, Kells." Beniko muttered, unsure herself. "But the Council believes that having a civilization of humans completely devoid of the Force is a potential future threat and if the Republic recruits them to their side, then we might as well capitulate now depending on how thoroughly immune they are."

"A future threat or just an attempt to exploit resources naturally impervious to the Force to make the Empire unstoppable in an attempt to wipe out the Jedi once and for all?" The black operations soldier wondered, speculating that there was more to it than a preemptive measure. "The nation-states on Earth already have been through two catastrophic global conflicts just twenty-five years apart and that was recent history to them, never mind the other minor wars, all taking place while our own parents and grandparents were engaged in the Galactic War and the early skirmishes of the Cold War. The fathers and grandfathers of the current generation have a high chance of being veterans of the two major conflicts or even both and from what I've encountered they are not interested in another world war. Entering our current war would be an inconceivable bloodbath in comparison to what seems petty to us but beyond imagination to them."

"Kells, I know you're not trying to be seditious here but talk like that would make you eligible to be killed on the spot with no repercussions."

"It needed to be said." Sara countered politely before revealing additional legitimate reasons why this venture wasn't going to be a snap. "But just because they don't desire another conflict, it doesn't mean they don't have the experience of making life miserable for our troops and I'm assuming that there's going to be Sith assigned to the invasion."

"Of course just like every other invasion, though how well that's going to work on a world where we can't sense anything native is questionable."

"I'm going to be honest. They need to ditch the lightsabers and fight as one of the grunts as Earth with its unique biosphere will make the partisans on Balmorra insignificant in comparison. Truth be told, the best option for the Empire is to just send out an armada and orbitally bombard every last living thing as it would be years before the planet is even pacified." Sara declared regrettably. "Just as an example, Jake told me about a belief called the Spirit of '76: As long as one American still believes in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, there's going to be hell inflicted on the so-called conquerors. Granted, it is my opinion that due to the nationalism, it's going to be one nightmare to integrate the populace of the planet into the Empire, assuming the-" Kelrein paused as she felt a lump in her throat when the thought came to mind. "-the natives are not marked for extinction due to their unique physiology."

Lana sensed the unease from her closest friend since girlhood, weary not just about the overall plan but dreadful of her suitor's fate as a result of this endeavor.

"You don't think that the Empire would be successful?"

"No, we would be successful eventually but the body count would be as if we invaded the Mandalore Sector. I'm informing you about this as it is, just because Earth has only just begun exploring their own system doesn't mean as a whole they're primitive. The simulated war game Krasul insisted on was an eye-opener to put it lightly. And even though Krasul was overeager to put on a show despite Major Lane's concerns over the tactics used to say mildly, it still was clear that we were encountering a competent military."

The blonde noted the irritated tint on her friend's cheeks at the mention of Krasul's overeagerness, the tone hinting that the politician believed that the forces could withstand everything that was thrown against them and he knew better than the experienced soldiers while the troops experienced in combat felt otherwise. 'Evidently another case of political meddling in military affairs.' "I'm not going to enjoy the result, am I?"

"Imagine an army of marksmen with rifles having slightly more than twice the effective range of our own sniper blasters and issuing range cards with the ranges predetermined as well as having well-coordinated artillery on standby, followed by waves of strategic bombers carrying a payload greater than our Extinction-class bombers and that explains just the United States military if they don't decide to launch nuclear weapons at our landing zones per their policy about this Fulda Gap." Sara divulged bluntly. "The entire Republic force was wiped out due to our visibility at the wargame and Chaos Squad was annihilated within the first few minutes when we were the spearhead instead of acting as a knife behind their backs. We couldn't use our blaster cannons to great effect at all, unlike their M14s and M60s. I never thought I would encounter slugthrowers that are capable of shooting slugs in excess of four hundred standard meters with ease. Some of them can even do two kilometers though those are the heavy support weapons, not the personal small arms."

Beniko frowned as she processed the revelation. "Nuclear weapons?"

"They have enough warheads to devastate their own planet ten times over. Then there's also the chemical and biological weapon stockpiles."

"By the Darkside." The Minister cursed softly. "My analysts so far have been underestimating them and you have provided clarification that shows the information about the slugthrowers at least are completely accurate, pun not intended."

"Is there a way to salvage the data?"

"That's classified but honestly no. The Watchers completely purged it."

"Well, I have the next best thing courtesy of my helmetcam."

"You know, I'm still denying that this slugthrower outshoots my blaster." Sara snorted as she aimed the M14 prone, the primitive sling for some reason was strapped and laced up snugly against her left shoulder.

"You're not doing bad for a thousand. Struck the tens consistently though I of course hit the V-ring."

Sara felt tearful as she watched the footage of Jake kneeling beside her and instructing the undercover Imperial on how to make adjustments on the rifle platform.

"Overconfident about yourself, Jakey?" The redhead smirked before resting her cheek back onto the stock to aim the service rifle.

"Is that Jake?"

Sara nodded reluctantly at the inquiry. "Yes...Force, I miss him."

"That...is pretty far distance-wise and I don't see an optic attached. I can barely even see the flimsiplast from your position."

"Didn't need it as it's an excellent rifle with just the metallic sights." Sara enlightened as she fast-forwarded the recording. "Apparently anyone with sufficient vision can be trained to strike a twenty-five centimeter circle at nine hundred fourteen meters."

"Five inches or half MOA. Not a bad grouping for one thousand yards. In fact, the match standard for the rifle team is at least three inches at three hundred yards so you're probably equal to the top competitors at Camp Perry." Jake determined after measuring the bullseye with a ruler."You want to keep the paper?"

"I don't know." Sara frowned."Would you get in trouble for this?"

"Sara, the Marine Corps can afford to dispose of shot-up targets as this is its purpose anyway. It's a memento of your first time shooting one thousand yards." Jake reassured as he detached the paper from the board. "I kept the first long-range target that I shot on the farm back home even though it's not as good as yours. Practice makes for perfection after all."

"Do you have it by chance?"

"Come to think of it, I do." Sara confessed hesitantly. "On the wall next to my father's trophies and the blaster racks."

"I'm not going to confiscate it if that's what concerns you. I just want to examine it."

---

Sergeant Sara Kelrein - Imperial Army Commando Unit 421 "Reaper Squad"- Undercover as a Corporal in Republic Army SpecForce Squad 149 "Chaos Squad"

Marine Corps Base Quantico- Quantico, Prince William County, Virginia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:15: 14 ATC / Tuesday, August 15th, 1967 - 2:45 PM / 14:45

"Wait, hold on, you're saying that the M14 is capable of shooting out to just under a kilometer?"

"Or twelve hundred yards in trained or skilled hands." Jake smirked at his steady as he carried the case and led her to the range. "And you don't need an optic either."

"No way." Sara scoffed, not believing the outlandish claim. "Even Sniper Blaster Rifles are only effective out to four hundred fifty meters."

"I guess it's a case of you gotta see it to believe it then." The Marine deadpanned as the couple paused behind the firing line. "Hope you enjoy the show."

"If you're trying to impress me, loverboy, this is one way of doing it beyond belief."

Meyer just shrugged and placed the butt of his rifle against his left hip to unfasten one of the steel buckles of the M1907 sling, adjusting the leather strap to form a 'loop' to slip over his left arm and tighten it snugly against his left bicep. Next, the Hoosier settled himself into the prone position before he flipped the hinged shoulder rest up and pressed the buttstock against his shoulder, his non-dominant hand was placed barely behind the front sling buckle and the Leatherneck's right eye peered through the rear aperture to gaze at the front post. 'Will have to bring up the dial to a thousand yards once I get my natural point of aim established.' The Marine kept his left elbow firmly implanted on the ground as he carefully adjusted the elevation knob and windage knob, listening to each individual click.

The redhead watched with curiosity as her boyfriend settled back into his shooting position and aimed the M14 once more. It seemed to be four minutes of nothing and Kelrein was about to tell Jake to stop when the first crack from the rifle was fired.

Jake relaxed his body after firing off the first 180 grain projectile from his M14, the Expert qualified Marine who was also classified as a Distinguished Rifleman due to competing in DCM sanctioned events breathed in then slowly exhaled before squeezing the trigger rearward.

Sara watched in utter amazement as her love interest calmly shot his weapon out to extreme range - impossible by galactic standards - and yet he was doing it seemingly naturally, with no magnification aid at all!

The Jarhead fired all twenty of his rounds and grasped the magazine, pressing the release latch and flicked the steel box out at an angle before retrieving the precious container and putting it back in his pocket as otherwise he would be charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with loss or destruction of government property by Uncle Sam even if it was in the midst of a firefight. "You want to check the target and see if there are any holes in it?"

"I'm still in denial but I hope this long walk is worth it."

"Trust me, it will." Jake smiled. "Plus it's a romantic view."

"Fair point, larel." Sara relented as she allowed him to wrap his arm affectionately around her waist and Kelrein placed her dark red tresses against his croon.

---

Sergeant Sara Kelrein - Imperial Army Commando Unit 421 "Reaper Squad"- Undercover as a Corporal in Republic Army SpecForce Squad 149 "Chaos Squad"

Marine Corps Base Quantico- Quantico, Prince William County, Virginia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:15: 14 ATC / Tuesday, August 15th, 1967 - 3:00 PM / 15:00

"Blast." Sara uttered, astonished by the groupings at nine hundred and fourteen meters.

"Twenty Vs." Jake stated as he counted twenty holes in the 'V-ring' of the Charlie target historically used for annual rifle qualification at eight hundred and one thousand yards by the United States Marine Corps from before World War I up until America entered World War II and even currently still in use for competition shooting, typically Director of Civilian Marksmanship events. "Today for some reason was my lucky day as I usually score 430-5V on average."

"I promise to never mock your slugthrowers again as you clearly demonstrated that they shouldn't be underestimated."

"You want to try it out for yourself?"

"Really?"

"I'll gladly give you some pointers if needed." Jake offered.

"I'm not confident shooting out to such an extreme distance."

"Hey, it didn't happen overnight for me either to be honest." Jake sympathized. "It's probably easier to start with the basics and set your sights on the twenty-five meter scaled targets followed by the current qualification course though that would take a week."

"You realize you're talking to someone who regularly practices out to four hundred fifty meters." Sara deadpanned, slightly irked at being equated to a new recruit.

"Well, zero at five hundred then see it correlates?"

"Seems fair." Sara nodded as her boyfriend handed her the rifle and explained the mechanics and intricacies of the weapon, plus how to use a 'loop sling' as the shooting aid but it wasn't long before she felt confident about placing the sling snugly around her arm and try it out for herself.

The redhead dialed in the range carefully, listening to each individual click as she adjusted the settings of the aperture to the five hundred meter mark.

"Make sure to check your windage." The United States Marine advised.

"Right as this isn't a blaster." The SpecForce trooper muttered as she gazed at the 'range flag', estimating the potential effect of the breeze on the primitive slug.

Jake watched as his sweetheart relaxed and settled into her shooting stance, preparing herself to fire off a 'cold bore' shot

"This is fun!" Sara exclaimed, absolutely thrilled and taken in by the newfound sporting activity. "If I knew this was possible, I would've signed up years ago!"

"Glad you enjoy it, babe." Jake chuckled.

---

Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - United States Marine Corps

Marine Corps Base Quantico - Quantico, Prince William County, Virginia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 17:30/5:30 PM

"KEEP IT UP, LADIES! THERE'S PLENTY OF UNOPENED CANS OF C-RATS AT THE END WAITING FOR YOU UNLESS YOU PREFER HOT COFFEE AND DONUTS WHEN YOU QUIT!"

Despite reminiscing about happier times, Jake still heard the devilish shouts of the Non-Commissioned Officers from behind as they berated those who didn't pick up the pace and enticed the volunteers to quit instead of making the cut.

'Out of everything idiotic I have done, this may top the list.' Meyer reflected on the choice of volunteering for the outfit, now somewhat regretting the decision even if he held some unintentional prior experience due to being coerced by some CIA spooks into doing a short stint with MACV-SOG back in Vietnam. 'But, unfortunately, I'm not a quitter, unlike the slackers. The instructors just want to test predominantly the mentality, not physical brawn.'

Two months prior the Leatherneck saw the official tacked notice proclaiming the re-establishment of the esteemed Marine Raiders, the first covert force formed by the United States of America during World War II before being disbanded in 1944 after the unit's purpose ended, in the Provost Marshal Office and just like how two of his uncles volunteered at New River and were interviewed by 'Red Mike' Edson personally before being approved for selection and avoided being washed-out, the 5811 immediately volunteered for the unit, only to endure the unexpected.

Jake hopped off of the wall and noticed barbed wire with fellow Marines manning M60s, presumably loaded with live ammunition, and paused with his peers, unconscious instinct unwittingly taking precedence.

"CRAWL! COME ON YOU FUCKING POODLES, CRAWL! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEVIL DOGS, YOU FUCKING PAMPERED AND STYLED EXAMPLES OF FRENCH FINERY! YOU DON'T HAVE ALL DAY, LADY DOLLS AS DIOR IN PAREE ARE BUSY CURRENTLY, MANUFACTURING SILK WHITE FLAGS FOR THE GALLIC FORCES!"

"They're going to kill us." One of the potentials stuttered, sounding like a fresh-faced boot instead of one who earned the acclaimed Eagle Globe and Anchor.

"Come on, this is nothing like Parris Island." Another reasoned before hopping down to the prone position and began crawling through the muck.

"You heard him, we shouldn't be labeled as poodles and unlike the vile French cockroaches, we don't surrender as we're United States Marines for God's sake." Jake encouraged before getting flat on his stomach to crawl through the course himself.

---

Sergeant Sara Kelrein- Imperial Army Commando Unit 421 "Reaper Squad"

Kelrein Manor - Dromund Kaas, Dromund System, Sith Worlds, Imperial Space, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 16:45 / 4:45 PM

"If this was an Imperial soldier, he would be dead." Lana determined after gazing at the patterned plasti officially designated as the 1,000 Yard 5V 'C' target. "Twenty slugs dead center at the chest."

"I know but we both realize that not many would take this seriously. Slugthrowers are obsolete to many yet in this case the Earthlings figured out a way to shoot them over four hundred meters, most likely due to the composition of the propellant."

"Hmmm...What's the velocity?"

"Most are easily capable of over seven hundred meters per second, which is astounding for not being railguns."

"Kriff. I'm not sure if the durasteel will withstand this as they're designed for slugs with the velocity of six hundred meters per second maximum."

"I'm just a mere Sergeant in the Imperial Army." Sara deadpanned. "My opinion doesn't matter to the Council and it will go unheeded."

"It matters to me as you know about it firsthand." Beniko reasoned. "And to be quite honest, Kells, I have been doubtful about this invasion from the start but unfortunately Marr and Vowrawn were swayed."

---

Sergeant First Class Aaron Johnson - Drill Sergeant, United States Army

Fort Jackson - Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 17:30/5:30 PM

"Nineteen Hundred and Forty-One, World War Two had just begun, Nazi Germans were mighty tough, Going to war was going to be rough, But back in the States, A combat team was being formed, It was mighty mean!"

"Nineteen Hundred and Forty-Four, The 101st went to war! And filled the skies over Normandy, 'Rendezvous with Destiny'!"

"Nineteen Hundred Sixty-Five, Vietnam came alive, Ho Chi Minh was mighty brave, But the 101st put the blazing son of a bitch into his grave!"

"Now in Nineteen Hundred and Sixty-Eight, Uncle Sam said it's gonna be great, America has entered a new war in outer space, And we'll add more to the lore as just like with Uncle Ho we'll put the Imperials in their place!"

Sergeant Johnson turned around and watched the recruits pressed on even if they were exhausted and in need of a hot meal.

"Imperials decided to test their luck, Well, they're not going to buck, And we don't give a single fuck, Washington and the Continentals showed us why, So their shit ain't gonna fly!"

"Louder!" Johnson encouraged, though while humanly impossible, he desired it to be loud enough for the damn conceited Jarheads over on Parris Island occupied with indoctrinating new members into their cult to hear the superiority of the green machine of the United States Army as while the Marines may kick open doors occasionally, it was the Army who overran the targeted building and take over the damn neighborhood while at it for good measure.

"The price for Liberty is high, Which means there will be those who will die, But the legend will be told, Of those who are bold, Ain't this going to be great!?"

"Excellent, absolutely fucking fantastic, recruits!"

"Thank you, Drill Sergeant!" The recruits responded enthusiastically with the proper address, not pansy-assed 'Drill Instructor' or 'DI' as the Corps prefers.

"It is the Army who will lead the way, not those forever damn Marines!" Johnson proclaimed. "Patton is running this show after all!"

---

Gunnery Sergeant Charles Edgar - Senior Drill Instructor, United States Marine Corps

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego - San Diego, California, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:21: 15 ATC / Saturday, September 21st, 1968 - 17:30/5:30 PM

"Gimme that old Marine Corps spirit, Gimme that old Marine Corps spirit, Gimme that good old Marine Corps spirit, Cause it's good enough for me!"

Edgar observed the boots as they continued running their required three miles, keeping pace with the cadence being led by his two subordinates.

"It was good for Chesty Puller, It was good for Dan Daly, It was good for Sergeant Major, And it's good enough for me!"

"It was good at Belleau Wood, It was good at Saint Mihiel, It was good in Paris, And it's good enough for me!"

"It was good at Wake Island, It was good at Guadalcanal, It was good at Iwo Jima, And it's good enough for me!"

"It was good at the Chosin Reservoir, It was good at Khe Sahn, It was good at Hue City, And it's good enough for me!"

"Excellent work, boots, and I'm sure our friends intermingling with the short-sighted draftees over in the Army will be envious of your singing but since it wasn't loud enough, you are to drop to the deck and give fifty to Dan Daly!"

"Now praise Dan Daly!" Master Sergeant Rodney added weight as the trio didn't see movement.

"What's the matter with you!?" Staff Sergeant Willoughby wondered with an inhuman snarl."Are you waiting for Jesus's second coming!? We have a war on in case you missed the newspapers, radio announcements, and broadcast by one Walter fucking Cronkite!"

"Make it seventy-five you selfish, arrogant, pieces of garbage! Dan Daly will forever be more manly than you gossiping ladies will ever be!"

"Aye, sir!" Even though they were exhausted from the run, the boots unquestionably dropped to the deck and immediately began cranking out push-ups in the name of the revered twice Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly.

---

Leontyne Saresh - Supreme Chancellor of the Republic

Beijing, China, Asia, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:22: 15 ATC / Sunday, September 22nd, 1968 - 17:30/5:30 PM

Primer Nikita Khrushchev and Chairman Liu Shaoqi were neutral as they watched column-by-column of the People's Liberation Army pass by, their AK-47 derivatives having the bayonets attached as part of the ceremony.

"It's going to be interesting fighting against Fascists in Space." Liu commented.

"Literal Space Nazis, comrades, and if everything we have heard about them is true, Adolf and Mussolini would've been ecstatic to greet this Vitiate." Nikita added with a huff but of course he neglected to include Franco on that list.

The Chinese soldiers instantly presented their Type 56 Assault Rifles as Ivan Stepanovich Konev, the soon-to-be official leader of not just Warsaw Pact forces but Chinese and North Korean troops as well, returned the salute.

"By the way, have you heard that catchy new song by The Beach Boys?" Saresh wondered.

"What song?" Khrushchev snorted, amazed that it was even brought up. "I don't listen to albums made by Capitalist Brats, not after being denied entry to Disneyland."

"Sorry, I forgot that you weren't fond of your fellow Earthlings." Saresh placated.

---

Ed Sullivan - Host of The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show - CBS Broadcast Center, 524 West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:22: 15 ATC / Sunday, September 22nd, 1968 - 20:15 / 8:15 PM

"Now we know whom you have all been waiting for." The host himself, Ed Sullivan, remarked. "For the final act tonight, with us are The Beach Boys with their nationally number-one hit song based on Barbara Ann: Bomb Kaas!"

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Kaas

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb

Bomb Kaas

Let's take a stand and make the land grow moss

Bomb Dromund Kaas

Our country's got a feelin'

Really hit the ceilin', bomb Kaas

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Kaas

We blew dams up in 'Nam and don't give a darn,

Now our girls are knitting GI socks with yarn

And please tell the Nox, "We're gonna put you in a box!"

Bomb Kaas. Bomb, bomb, bomb

Bomb Kaas

Our country's got a feelin'

Really hit the ceilin', bomb Kaas

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Kaas

Ol' Uncle Sam's gettin' pretty hot

Time to turn Dromund Kaas into a parking lot

Bomb Kaas. Bomb, bomb, bomb

Bomb Kaas

Our country's got a feelin'

Really hit the ceilin', bomb Kaas

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Kaas

Call the volunteers; call the bombardiers;

Call the financiers; better get their asses in gear

Bomb Kaas. Bomb, bomb, bomb

Bomb Kaas

Our country's got a feelin'

Really hit the ceilin', bomb Kaas

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Kaas

(Let's nuke 'em! Whoo!)

"Encore! Encore!" Some of the more bloodthirsty onlookers within the audience demanded from the band who were imminently getting inducted into the green machine under the United States Army's Special Services that would enable them to provide entertainment and remain intact as a band.

"The Air Force should drop recordings of this song in addition to the bombs!" Another one of the teenage female onlookers and fangirls hollered viciously, her tone was spiteful toward the enemy. "To tell them that we Americans mean business!"

---

Field Marshal Gotthard Fedor August Heinrici - Commander of the Bundeswehr

Bonn, Cologne District, North Rhine-Westphalia, Federal Republic of Germany aka "West Germany", Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:23: 15 ATC / Monday, September 23rd, 1968 - 13:00 / 1:00 PM

'Here goes nothing.' The man who was selected to be in command of the entire West German Military thought as he strode toward the podium, his treasured uniform that he wore as the premier defensive expert of the Wehrmacht against all odds was spit and polished, the reinstated tactician wearing it intentionally to make a statement and hopefully inspire the men, surviving veterans and fresh-faced conscripts alike.

"Soldiers of the Heer! Airmen of the Luftwaffe! Sailors of the Deutsche Marine! Servicemen of the Bundeswehr!" Heinrici began. "I know many of you do not believe militarism is the right path for us, particularly after how Deutschland was blamed for igniting the First World War followed by a painter from Österreich misleading us and bringing this land to ruin but we cannot afford to look on the past when our very future is at stake, our very foundation is being threatened, and our very existence is in jeopardy. What occurred under the regime of that Schwein is inexcusable as it rightfully should be judged and the very enemy we are about to engage is a reminder of that very blight!"

Heinrici paused momentarily as he allowed the words to sink in as he himself as well as his wife Gertude had experienced prejudice from Hitler and Goring. His steadfast refusal to join the Nazi Party and his deep adherence to his Lutheran faith made him detested then there was the fact that Gertude had a Jewish parent which made their children labeled as Mischlinge - partly Jewish - under Nazi racial law.

He would in time learn of the horrors of the Final Solution and was appalled like many but that was then as now there was a chance to prevent another instance.

"We're doing this not out of conquest but out of preservation for what little we have left. We have lost faith in ourselves and our families are divided by the Iron Curtain but right or wrong we still take pride that we are all residents of Deutschland. It doesn't matter what political views you hold or your religious convictions as we need to stand together as one against the common threat to our sovereignty, what scant remains of our sovereignty."

"General von Stauffenberg placed the briefcase not because he was a believer in Nazism but a staunch believer in Deutschland. Taking pride in one's nation shouldn't equate to loyalty to any particular political party or specific politician but to the people and your nation. We call Deutschland home and we love this land above all else. The Imperials are a reminder of the Führer wickedness and Himmler's policies. The Imperials have their Hermann Goering's, their Bernhard Rust's, and their Ernst Sauckels, and the Empire will continue their wars of conquest perpetually unless they're stopped and the Republik knows it! Für Deutschland!"

"FÜR DEUTSCHLAND!" The recruits shouted.

'Maybe there is hope for Deutschland after all.'

---

Thiếu tướng (Major General) Ngô Quang Trưởng - Army of the Republic of Vietnam

Hotel Majestic - Saigon, Republic of Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:23: 15 ATC / Monday, September 23rd, 1968 - 13:00 / 1:00 PM

"Just one year since Unification but now we're at war once more." Thiếu tướng (Major General) Ngô lamented. "And it couldn't wait until the remaining Viet Cong diehards were completely dealt with."

"At least the majority who denied our legitimacy are coming out and volunteering for this new conflict as they know what's at stake. It would be pointless to fight among ourselves when there are conquerors at the door after all."

Trưởng sat down his personal copy of their leader's memoirs, a signed first edition Ngô Đình Diệm had published last year on the table and leaned back in his seat, pondering on Diem's writings."Well, our President is likely wrong about one matter."

"What's that?"

"He predicted that if the Communists won, Vietnam would be forced to support either China or the Soviet Union once a war between them occurred. It's an open secret that China is now just another Soviet satellite state."

"Khrushchev is more conniving than he looks. Not bad for someone with a shiny, bald head."

Trưởng chuckled at his friend's assessment. "Bald or not, we have come full circle with imperialism and we must confront it now before it sets foot here once more." The Major General decided to quote a stanza from Tiếng Gọi Công Dân, the Republic of Vietnam's official national anthem. "We the People remain resolute in our hearts and minds, courageously we will fight such that everywhere, the Glory of the Vietnamese forever resounds."

"God help us all."

---

Major Audie Leon Murphy - United States Army Reserve

Kingston, Hunt County, Texas, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

09:23: 15 ATC / Monday, September 23rd, 1968 - 13:00 / 1:00 PM

"Howdy there, Mac." A seemingly unimportant wiry man and native of the town uttered before introducing himself to the expected guest. "Audie Murphy."

"John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill." The eccentric Briton greeted the most decorated American soldier of the Second World War. "But call me Jack or Mad Jack if you prefer, Audie."

The short man from Texas nodded. "Jack, meet Peter Ortiz." Murphy introduced the Leatherneck standing beside him.

"Never thought I would be meeting you in-person, Jack." The former French Foreign Legionnaire and one of the very few United States Marines to have officially fought the Third Reich in World War II under the management of the Office of Strategic Services before becoming a Hollywood star like Murphy grinned.

"Legends in your own right." The only Englishman to fight in World War II with a longbow and a Scottish broadsword complimented. "I'll buy the first round in recognition of the journey ahead of us."

"I'll gladly drink to it." Murphy beamed.

"It's on the house." The tender smiled. "Couldn't help to overheard ya and friends of Murphy are always welcome here for free drinks."

The trio shrugged and Churchill raised his bottle up for a toast. "This conflict should prove to be sporting and as this should be my last war…" John paused as he thought of a way to cement the toast before remembering a film Murphy starred in as himself. "To hell and back, gents!"

"To hell and back!"

---

Walter Leland Cronkite, Junior - CBS New

CBS Broadcast Center - 524 West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

10:30:15 ATC/ Wednesday, October 30th, 1968 - 18:00/6:00 PM

Walter felt sick as he read the horrific details on what was exactly inflicted upon the victims by the perpetrator and it was something aghast but that was not the disturbing part as ordinarily murderers don't make national news but what made this unique was not only the fact was the animal did these crimes around the country, he was additionally a campaign staffer for Daniel Jackson Evans before being apprehended, a man by the name of Theodore Robert Bundy, better known by his nickname of Ted, and he was only caught due to the fact that a fellow campaign staffer was going to hand him his draft notice.

"Good evening, this is Walter Cronkite reporting." The anchorman greeted his viewers. "We begin tonight with news that may be disturbing to some viewers and this segment is not for the faint of heart. If there are any children in the room, I advise you to send them to their rooms."

---

Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Alpha, Second Squad, First Platoon, C/Charlie Company, Second Raider Battalion "Carlson's Raiders", Second Raider Regiment, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps

Himalayas, South Asia, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:07:16 ATC/Tuesday, January 7th, 1969 - 15:00 / 3:00 PM

Until recently, Jake was uncertain why his unit kept heading to polar areas; Norway, the USMC's very own Mountain Warfare Training Center in California, the United States Army Northern Warfare Training Center in Alaska, nevermind trekking ever steeper mountains and at the Mountain Warfare Training Center he took the Mountain / Cold Weather Scout Sniper Course, heck the Jarheads even climbed Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Mount McKinley in Alaska but it finally became clear upon their final destination in the Himalayas where only fifteen years before man had reached its summit, the very towering behemoth being, of course, Mount Everest itself.

It was evident that Samuel Blair Griffith II was going to have them specialize in arctic as well as mountain warfare and be the top choice in conducting operations in cold weather environments but of course as United States Marines the men of Charlie Company were prepared for every clime and place.

Still, ten days away from reaching the summit or not, the Hoosier felt at home in the winter and he couldn't refrain from striking up a conversation with a modest sherpa by the name of Tenzing Norgay, a native of Nepal who appeared unremarkable.

"What was it like for you and Mister Hillary to reach the top?" He asked after taking a sip of his apple cider.

"Well, Jake was it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Jake, this mountain is not the sole experience, I have climbed my mountain, but I must still live my life, and if I know I make this much trouble, I never climb Everest."

Jake nodded as he could thoroughly understand Tenzing's perspective as fame was overrated and only fools sought attention, in fact the motivation for the sherpa was not because he wanted to become a celebrity, rather it was the fact that he did so only as a pilgrimage to honor his faith and his close friend Edmund Hillary was the same way, he only did it, in the words of mountaineer George Leigh Mallory: 'Because it is there.'

"Believe me, Mister Norgay, I feel the same way. Not everyone should be like Cary Grant and have columnists cover their daily lives." Jake concurred. "Would you like some apple cider by the way?"

"Cider?"

The Hoosier poured the man a sample into a spare mug and handed it to him and after taking a sip, Tenzing felt a sensation in his taste buds. "Delicious." The Marine then poured more and Tenzing nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem, it's the least I could do."

---

Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Alpha, Second Squad, First Platoon, C/Charlie Company, Second Raider Battalion "Carlson's Raiders", Second Raider Regiment, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps

The Peak of Mount Everest - Mount Everest, Himalayas, South Asia, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:17:16 ATC/Friday, January 17th, 1969 - 10:00 / 10:00 AM

It took a grueling forty-three days in total but, at last, the peak was within sight and although the United States Marines like those renown summiters before them were wearing oxygen-breathing apparatuses procured from the United Kingdom firm Normalair Ltd and these masks were also identical to the ones worn by the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition but just like their predecessors the air, masks or not, was still thin and their legs were like Jello.

"Come on, we're almost there!" One of the Jarheads implored his fellow Leathernecks, encouraging them to finish their trek and with renewed vigor they climbed forward.

As Jake reached the top and scanned the horizon, he could not believe that he was standing near Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Percival Hillary stood only fifteen years, seven months, and nineteen days prior and accomplished on behest of their compatriots in the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition and the Joint Himalayan Committee the first successful ascent of the tallest mountain on Earth.

"Congratulations, Marines, you are the first military unit in history to have conquered Mount Everest." Samuel Blair Griffith II proclaimed to the Leathernecks of Charlie Company, 2nd Raider Battalion.

Jake knew of the significance and a reporter from The New York Times who tagged along was prepared to spread the news worldwide.

"Say 'Oorah' as best as you can." The reporter smiled from underneath his mask as he raised the cameras.

"OORAH!"

---

James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, PC, FRS, FSS - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Office of the Prime Minister - 10 Downing Street, City of Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:18:16 ATC/Saturday, January 18th, 1969 - 09:00 / 9:00 AM

"Bloody Yanks." Harold cursed as he slammed the newspaper onto the table with the morning's headline clear as day and that was after learning that there was a vote of no confidence in his leadership which could mean a new election. "And I'm not speaking of that Bundy fellow nor that newly-elected shoot-first cowboy also known as Ted either. The Yanks may as well have elected Goldwater!"

U.S. Marines Conquered Everest!

"How weren't we informed of this publicity gimmick!?" The Prime Minister scowled, incensed that a contingent from the United States Armed Forces and not the British Military made history. It was unbefitting as the famed first summit by Hillary and Norgay coincided with Her Majesty's coronation! The gall of those Yanks! "And why did that Nepali sherpa decide to guide them?"

"Norgay must have been well-compensated, he bought a vintage Duesenberg and now owns lucrative stocks." The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Robert Michael Maitland Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham, divulged to the cabinet.

"Where did you learn this?"

"Coincidentally MI6 informed me last night that they suspected Norgay was recruited by the Chinese to spy on the Gurkhas."

"Say, what's a Duesenberg anyhow?"

"It was a luxury car manufacturer I believe before its insolvency during the Great Depression, headquartered and manufactured in some locality called Indianapolis, the Crown possesses one, a Model J."

"Ah, yes, a fine automobile from a state of yokels." The Baron Stewart of Fulham noted snobbily. "I dare say that the Indianapolis 500 is unworthy of race car driving just as how neighboring Kentucky is unworthy of fine thoroughbreds. We Europeans overall still know better than those crude Americans."

"You do realize, Robert, that the Queen does own barns in the Bluegrass Region and have a fondness for beer cheese." Harold deadpanned before shuddering, the colonials and some of the rubbish within their cuisine abhorred the leader of the Labour Party. "I'm having the Special Air Service tackle Mount Everest as we should not permit these upstarts from overshadowing our glory."

The proposition caused an aghast Denis Winston Healey, the Baron Healey and the Secretary of State for Defence, to exclaim his opposition. "Harold! You mustn't!"

"And let the Yanks receive the glory? Poppycock!"

"The SAS must remain covert." Healy insisted. "What about the Paras?"

Harold conceded to an alternative that could be a better choice without compromising the secrecy around the SAS. "Jolly good!"

---

Galactic News Network Building - Galactic City, Coruscant, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

01:20:16 ATC/Monday, January 20th, 1969 - 12:18/12:18 PM

"Good afternoon. I'm Zay Sneralda and welcome to GNN. Thank you for joining us."

"Our top story today is about the United States of America who will be inaugurating a new head-of-state and asfar as we know, Walker is a controversial figure in domestic politics as well as their first unmarried President since Grover Cleveland. While it is unknown as of now how his diplomatic relationship will be with the current Chancellor, it is assumed that he will be sticking with his principles."

"In other news, the Sith Empire has managed to successfully repel an incursion by Republic forces and Trandoshan Auxiliaries on the Outer Rim world of Pavia in the Tapani Sector after heavy fighting. While the defenders were estimated to have suffered catastrophic losses, our troops were only forced to withdraw when Imperial relief arrived."

"And there have been some recent developments in the arrangement of confining Prisoners of War. Some high-level prisoners will be confined on Earth in undisclosed locations to help ease the pressure off of the overstrained prison system and to also take advantage of the unique atmosphere."

---

Edwin Anderson "Ted" Walker - Major General, United States Army [Retired] and Presidential Elect from Texas

The Capitol Building - Capitol Hill, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:20:16 ATC/Monday, January 20th, 1969 - 12:45 / 12:45 PM

Although delayed by the heavy snowfall, it was cleared for the inauguration and Ted was feeling some pressure as the crowd and news cameras focused in on the soon-to-be sworn in Thirty-Sixth President of the United States.

For the first time in American history the nominee of a Third Party had won the presidency and Edwin was feeling some pressure as the crowd and news cameras focused in on the soon-to-be sworn in Thirty-Sixth President of the United States and the Texandidn't entirely expect to win in a landslide over the main parties yet luck apparently was on his side with infighting within the Democratic Party and then there was the Ted Bundy Scandal for the Republicans. The media had a field day over the revelations and what would have otherwise been an upscale battle for the nominee of a third party despite the chaos of the past three years had instead become the best case scenario with the American electorate fed up with Hippies and the elites of both parties with the Rockefeller's and the Kennedy's being among them.

'Right now I need to focus on the present and future.' The former Major General and ultraconservative spokesman thought as he held up his left hand and placed his right onto the Holy Bible.

"I, Edwin Anderson Walker, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God."

As the last word of the oath left his lips, the new President felt a sense of weight pressing down upon him. The eyes of the world were upon him, and the expectations of an entire nation rested on his shoulders. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead.

And after taking the oath, the United States Marine Band began to perform four so-called 'ruffles and flourishes' , followed by 'Hail to the Chief', while simultaneously, a twenty-one gun salute commenced using artillery pieces from the Presidential Guns Salute Battery, 3rd United States Infantry Regiment - The Old Guard - located in Taft Park just north of the Capitol and the firing would only cease until the traditional song concluded.

Of course the Inauguration ceremony was not finish as the newly sworn-in President had to deliver his address and unlike in previous years where everyone at least applauded out of respect for the office even if he or she disagreed with the office holder's agenda the reception was mixed as there were Congressmen - Republicans and Democrats alike - remaining seated and silent in protest or out of spite and instances of dignitaries not sent to attend - partially due to the weather and partly due to the fact he was elected - and the only six head of states who managed to attend Walker's inauguration were:

Moïse Kapenda Tshombe - 1st President of the State of Katanga

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek ONG OBSWS OST OBJ OPC OCB OBSHSAL - 1st President of the Republic of China

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Senior - 10th President of the Republic of the Philippines

Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Bolaños - 56th President of the United Mexican States

Charles Robberts Swart DMS - 1st State President of the Republic of South Africa

And

The Right Honourable Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID - 8th Prime Minister of Rhodesia

But regardless if there was a slight or not even from friendly powers and allies, Walker followed tradition and slowly walked toward the rostrum.

Walker nodded at the new Vice President, John Milan Ashbrook of Ohio, before proceeding to speak.

"Good evening, my fellow Americans. As I stand before you tonight, I am acutely aware of the weight of responsibility that comes with being your President. I am mindful of the challenges that lie ahead, and I am determined to meet them head-on. We find ourselves at a crossroads, a moment in history when the very soul of our nation hangs in the balance. We find ourselves at war with the Sith Empire. It is a war that will determine the course of not only our world but of the universe itself. It is a war that has already cost our Republic friends dearly, in lives lost and liberties surrendered. While we did not seek entry into this war in a galaxy far, far away, it is one that we must fight with every fiber of our being if we are to have any hope of preserving the freedoms and values that we hold so dear. As your President, I will not shy away from the responsibility that comes with leading our great nation in this time of peril. I will not stand idly by as our enemies threaten our very existence. I will not seek to appease them, nor will I bow to their will. Instead, I will draw upon the strength and resilience of the American people, and I will lead us to victory." Ted vowed, assuring his countrymen that he would do his utmost as their commander-in-chief during this conflict. "But with victory must come reconciliation. We cannot emerge from this conflict unscathed, and so it falls to us, as a nation, to find a way to heal the wounds that have been inflicted upon us. To build bridges where there once were only divisions. To forge a path forward together, as one people, united in our determination to ensure that such a catastrophe never befalls us again."

The Students for a Democratic Society and the Weather Underground Organization, the Yippies, the Black Panthers as well as the White Panthers, and other Marxist-Leninist as well as Maoist terrorists were all a scourge and Kennedy's apprehensiveness allowed them to fester unchecked and he as well as nepotistically appointed brother both hindered Hoover's COINTELPRO as the Kennedy's saw them as idealistic kids led astray instead of the unhinged hoodlums they were and while ordinarily vigilantism was inexcusable, Ted was glad that the American people themselves took punitive action against the subversives, a remedy spearheaded by former Kennedy ally William George Meany, the 1st President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations no less as well as veterans and patriotic organizations such as the American Legion and Minutemen respectively. Why JFK did not evoke the Insurrection Act that day, unlike Oxford, was beyond him but in any case the elitist from Massachusetts and their 'wise men' were out and a sensible Texan was in, one not of Johnson's ilk either of course. "This will not be an easy task, nor will it be accomplished overnight. There will be setbacks, and there will be challenges. There will be those who will seek to obstruct our progress, and there will be those who will try to sow discord amongst us. But I say to you now, with the confidence of a man who has fought in the Italian Theater leading the 1st Special Service Force - the Devil's Brigade - and emerged stronger for it, that we will overcome these obstacles. We will persevere, and we will prevail."

Walker intentionally paused as he allowed the words to sink in. "For the sake of our children, and the sake of future generations, we must. The fate of our way of life depends upon it. Our independence is at stake. We must not only defeat this 'Sith Empire', but we must also restore faith in our institutions, and in the Founding ideals that have guided us for centuries. We must be vigilant against those who would seek to divide us, and we must always strive to be the beacon of hope and freedom but we must remember that we are fighting for our independence, not for the United Nations, not for a one-world government nor the Galactic Republic or even some New World Order, and that we must always put the interests of our people, the American people first and be accountable to them, always."

"In this struggle, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must remain ever vigilant, for the enemy is cunning and relentless. We must strengthen our alliances here on Earth and beyond, for we are not alone in this fight. And we must ensure that our own house is in order, that our economy remains strong, and that our people are well-educated and well-prepared to meet the challenges of the future."

"This is a time for courage, for wisdom, and for unity. It is a time for leadership, and I pledge to you tonight that I will not let you down. I will not rest until our nation, our people, and our way of life are safe from harm whether of this world or beyond. And when this long and difficult war comes to an end, I pledge to you that we will emerge stronger, more united, and more determined than ever to build a better nation for our children and our grandchildren."

"So let us take up the mantle of responsibility that history has placed upon us. Let us face the challenges that lie ahead with courage and conviction. Let us honor those who have given their lives in defense of freedom, and let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals that they fought and died for. Together, we will prevail."

"As we wage this war against the Sith Empire, it is important that we remember the values and principles that make us who we are as a nation. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to justice and the rule of law. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are still fighting only for our independence, not for the United Nations nor the Galactic Republic but for the United States of America and America alone."

"As we work towards these goals, we must not forget the importance of diplomacy and negotiation. We must engage with our allies and adversaries alike, seeking common ground and building bridges where there once were only divisions. We must only be willing to compromise when absolutely necessary, while never sacrificing our core principles and we shall not pledge allegiance to any flag except for the Star-Spangled Banner and our respective homestates."

"Finally, we must remain vigilant against those who would seek to undermine our republic and our sovereignty. We must protect our institutions and our way of life from those who would do us harm. We must educate our citizens and ensure that they are informed and engaged in the decisions that shape our future."

"In the days and weeks to come, we will face many challenges. There will be setbacks and disappointments. There will be those who will seek to divide us and turn us against one another. But I have faith in the American people. I have faith in our ability to rise to the occasion and meet these challenges head-on."

"Together, we will build a brighter future for our children and our grandchildren, for the United States of America. Together, we will ensure that the sacrifice of those who came before us was not in vain. And together, we will emerge from this dark period in our history stronger and more united than ever before."

"So let us take up the torch of freedom, and let us light the way for a new era of peace and prosperity. Let us never forget the lessons of the past, and let us always strive to be the beacon of hope and inspiration that this world so desperately needs. For in the end, it is not our weapons or our military might that will determine our fate, but our values and our commitment to the ideals that have made us who we are: We are Americans."

"And so, my fellow Americans, I ask you to join me in this great endeavor. Let us go forward together, with courage and conviction, and with the unwavering determination to make our land a better place for all who inhabit it. The future of our nation depends upon us. Let us not fail."

---

Chakravarthi Vijayaraghava Narasimhan - 4th Secretary General of the United Nations

Headquarters of the United Nations - 760 United Nations Plaza, Turtle Bay, Midtown Manhattan, Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:20:16 ATC/Monday, January 20th, 1969 - 12:18/12:18 PM

Shock was an understatement to the Secretary-General as he was still in denial, that this man was being inaugurated to become the next President of the United States yet tried as he might, the unmistakable man of six foot three in height wearing his dark suit and trademark white Stetson was still present on the television screen.

Edwin Anderson Walker, the very man suspected to be responsible for the attack on the 5th United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Adlai Ewing Stevenson II, was now President of the United States and Narasimhan remembered the incident in Dallas, Texas clearly as back on Thursday, October 24th, 1963 - United Nations Day no less - Stevenson was scheduled to speak at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium and in response, Walker promptly rented the same Dallas Memorial Auditorium in which Adlai Stevenson would speak and advertised his opposing event as 'US Day' and he invited members of the John Birch Society, the National Indignation Convention, the Minutemen, and other right-wing organizations that were fundamentally opposed to the existence of the United Nations.

Although Walker was not present, his followers were instructed to buy all the tickets they could afford to the Stevenson speech, to fill the auditorium, to heckle Stevenson mercilessly, to bring their own prepared speeches to recite in the hallways, and generally disrupt the speech in any way that they could.

Walker additionally instructed his followers to hoist a banner on the ceiling of the Auditorium, fold it, and tie it with a long string so that when the string was pulled it would unfurl. On one side of the banner was 'US out of UN!' and on the other side was 'UN out of US!'

Stevenson was circumstantially forced to cease speaking before his presentation was finished and rushed out to his limousine but on his way there the Anti-United Nations demonstrators shoved, booed, beat and spat in the face of Stevenson with one female protester striking him in the head with her placard. The hitter was later identified and arrested as was Robert Hartfield after he spat on Stevenson and called him a traitor due to a tip. Hartfield was found guilty of aggravated assault and fined $200 at his trial in May 1964 yet there was another suspect - a perpetrator at the time estimated to be sixteen years of age - with dark blond hair, blue eyes, and only known by the first name of 'Jake' who 'helped him up' and was thanked by Adlai only for the culprit to shout 'Exile yourself to Monaco you execrable Un-American Benedict Arnold!' and he gave the helpless diplomat a right hook, breaking Adlai's jaw with the resulting injury crippling the former ambassador's ability to eat or speak for the rest of his life but unlike the other two the delinquent in question he was never caught whereasWalker was not charged at all although his role was well known at the time.

Still, the incident did cause then President Kennedy to reconsider his trip to Dallas only for him to still visit the city as scheduled despite the risks and Stevenson to resign from his position, and Stevenson would pass away from a heart attack in Geneva on Wednesday, July 14th, 1965 while attending the annual meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council as an honorary guest with supposedly his last, barely comprehensible words reportedly being 'I'm no Benedict Arnold.'

The Indian never thoroughly understood the American mindset and principally believed in the importance of the United Nations yet politicians such as William Ezra Jenner and organizations like the John Birch Society still anathematize the U.N. like its predecessor the defunct League of Nations despite the fact that extraterrestrials were now in the picture yet the American Independent Party retained leaving the United Nations in its platform.

Dan Smoot, H.L. Hunt, and even Joe Pyne. What was it with the United States of America and its citizenry? Narasimhan's cogitation was, thankfully, interrupted by a knock on his door.

"Yes?"

"Well, it's official, Walker has been inaugurated." The current Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, Carl Fredrik 'Ralph' Alexander Enckell, announced, but Narasimhan only nodded.

"Yes, I know, I know." Chakravarthi sighed after accepting the reality at last. "It's unthinkable, isn't it?"

"More like inevitable." Enckell snorted. "And Americans are such cowboys though I understand their zeal for independence, opposition to this forum, however, is confounding."

"Krasul's aide did not help matters with his advocacy for a one-world government." Narasimhan frowned.

---

John Fitzgerald Kennedy - 35th President of the United States

Room 419 - The Watergate Hotel, 2650 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:20:16 ATC/Monday, January 20th, 1969 - 12:18/12:18 PM

Due to the snowstorm, the departing administration could not leave D.C. quite yet despite yearning to leave hastily and now the former administration were forced to make last minute accommodations at Watergate, booking rooms 419 and 723 as they were the only rooms available and earning glares from the staff, even overhearing a cook wondering if they could use rat poison as a special ingredient for their last-minute guests which of course unnerved the outgoing officials but although John bemoaned it, the soon-to-be former President decided to watch the inaugural address only to come to regret it.

"And to think only yesterday that violator of the Hatch Act not only orchestrated a mob against Adlai, he pulled a stunt at Oxford the year before." Nicholas deBelleville Katzenbach grumbled and the United States Deputy Attorney General was not referring to the city across the pond in the county of Oxfordshire nor its prestigious University of Oxford but rather on the campus of the University of Mississippi and Katzenbach was still denying that fact that he and United States Marshals as well as deputized Border Patrol and Federal prison officers were besieged inside The Lyceum while escorting James Meredith and bringing him to register to attend classes at a prestigious public university which did accept international students but not Americans of African descent, a siege that was only lifted after Federal troops arrived hours late.

"Trust me, I know as does General Eisenhower." The downcasted Kennedy bemoaned. "I can't believe that son-of-a-bitch is now President of the United States. Where did it all go wrong?"

---

General of the Army Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower - Head of the Coalesced Forces from Earth

243 Eisenhower Farm Road - Gettysburg, Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

01:20:16 ATC/Monday, January 20th, 1969 - 12:18/12:18 PM

"That son-of-a-bitch." Ike grouched as he watched the inaugural address from Walker, the very same former subordinate the then President criticized for promoting his personal political views while in uniform, the same man who implemented the 'Pro-Blue' program for the officers and men of the 24th Infantry Division while garrisoned in West Germany, and the very same former senior officer who went from leading Federal Troops on Tuesday, September 24th, 1957 to enforce the integration of Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas to his six foot three frame wearing his now trademark dark and white Stetson leading his 'charge' at Ole Miss on Sunday, September 30th, 1962. In less than five years Walker has transformed from a fine military officer who commanded a subunit of the joint Canadian-American First Special Service Force - better known as the 'Devil's Brigade' and 'The Black Devils' - on the Italian Front to a particularly vocal wingnut and not of Goldwater's ideology either but another form of conservatism altogether as even Ike saw the difference.

Although Eisenhower was born in Denison in Grayson County, Texas, he was brought up in Abilene, Kansas and always considered Abilene to be home yet the 34th President of the United States could understand why this man was elected as the electorate were fed up with both parties - Democrats and Republicans alike - but Ike never envisioned Walker of all people becoming the 36th President of the United States, if anything he would have figured another Texan, Lyndon Baines Johnson, as more probable than Edwin Anderson Walker.

"Well, the American people made a choice and we'll have to live with it." Ike sighed and there was always the chance that Walker could be voted out after four years, if not impeached or he resigned before then whereas Eisenhower had a war to win.

---

Zay Sneralda- Host of The Sneralda Hour

Galactic News Network Building - Galactic City, Coruscant, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

01:20:16 ATC/Monday, January 20th, 1969 - 20:30/8:30 PM

"Good evening. I'm your host Zay Sneralda, and with me tonight is my co-anchor from the critically hit politically inclined Holonet show 'The Kaven Haven', and some say my rival: Kaven Skeloe.

"Very funny, Zay. You realize that we're live, right?"

"I'm perfectly well aware but we're not emotionless droids. Earlier today, I broke the news about Walker taking office and while dodging reporters he offhandedly mentioned a book of Senator Goldwater's titled 'Conscience of a Conservative'. Unfortunately due to the wartime quarantine policy enacted by the United Nations and every nation-state on Earth in which trade is only limited to selected goods, all ships are searched immediately even if the proper codes are given."

"Strict media censorship and tourism are prohibited with only selected persons of the government, officials from at least three contractors, and those under official military business being allowed on the planet. Those who fail to heed the travel restrictions are immediately treated as spies or invaders and the intruding spacecraft will be shot down on sight. Denizens will have to wait until the war is over to receive a copy but luckily for us Senator Krasul decided to hand his favorite news network an extra copy he bought during his time as an ambassador on Earth."

"Oh, we're definitely now officially criminals in the eyes of the Earthlings," Kaven chuckled.

Zay rolled her eyes at the quip and got serious. "So what are your thoughts on the book so far, Kaven?"

"Well, while I haven't read all of the book yet, Zay, I have at least managed to get to Chapter Four and I'll admit that I'm predicting some clashes of views up ahead, at least between Senator Goldwater and Saresh."

"Clashes?" The host inquired.

"You see, from our perspective the concept of nation-states died millennia ago; while Earth is still divided and just only started forming formal ties with the Republic last year. The point is though that Chancellor Saresh firmly believes that the Republic needs to step in to assist anyone's needs, while Goldwater on the other hand is firmly against what he refers to as 'handouts'."

"Handouts? As in public assistance measures?"

"That seems to be the case but the good news is that he is more supportive of private charitable aid that could be simply compared to what the Jedi did before the Sith returned to the galaxy and The Hyland Organization for Rakghoul Neutralization. Also known as THORN that was founded by Addalar Hyland, but that's not all. It's also an excellent chance that they will be against any suggestions for Earth to unite into a universal, single planetary government, and that's not even taking into consideration that the planet is technically having an ongoing cold war which is still unresolved."

"Speaking of the Jedi, did they offer to meditate?"

"At least three times only to have it shot down at the United Nations every time. The only nation that consistently voted for mediation was North Korea and that's only because they want to have their claim over South Korea legitimized."

"Huh? North Korea might be a theocratic powerhouse." Sneralda assumed. "Shame we don't know much about how this world is divided up overall as the exportation of maps is banned for, quote unquote, 'security reasons,' due to the current conflict."

"That's a reasonable guess as all we know for sure is that North Korea is Communist in ideology and South Korea isn't."

"Anything else you would like to share?"

"Again, I don't have enough information on the overall political situation on that world but based on what we know so far, their military might and creativity have been unmatched despite their technological limitations. Their slugthrowers are second only to Verpine railguns, and the planet is divided into cultural, ideological, and or religious lines. Still, even though I can only guess at what Goldwater is inferring, it is safe to say he as well as Walker are diehard advocates for Liberty and therefore while not Johnson, they'll support the war effort based on their values."

"Well, I appreciate your time on the show, Kaven but unfortunately that's all the time we have for tonight. Until next time, this has been Zay Sneralda of The Sneralda Hour, signing off."

"Cut!" the on-stage director shouted, "Zay? A word."

The brown-haired anchorwoman wearing a dark grayish-blue leather jacket and a white crewneck T-Shirt immediately sauntered over upon overhearing the holler. "You wanted to see me, boss?"

"You did an excellent job tonight, and ratings are up fifteen percent. We're still the most popular on the network but there's a problem."

"A problem? Look, if it's about my contract, I'm sure we can work it out. And I don't need a raise as the board did decide two years ago to increase my salary from four hundred thousand credits to twelve million, which is still overly generous in my opinion."

"It's not the contract nor a compensation issue but...umm, the thing is, Zay, the Board just decided to have Kaven handle anything political related from now on, and that includes the unofficial examining of books written by politicians."

"Is there any other restrictions that I need to know about?"

"No comedy as Torion got that covered but you're free to cover fashion, music, some culinary such as sneak peeks for the cooking show and a few other subjects. I'll have a memo sent to your datapad "

"Understood." Sneralda accepted.

---

Edwin Anderson "Ted" Walker - 36th President of the United States

The Oval Office - The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

02:09:16 ATC/February 9th, 1969 - 2:45 PM

"So, what's first on the agenda, Mister President?" The Thirteenth White House Press Secretary and in a move surprising to many, the first African-American ever appointed to the position, George Samuel Schuyler, inquired. "I know that we have a lot of work to do, ranging from attempting to reverse at least some of the New Deal and New Frontier initiatives without upsetting the moderates and streamlining the government for efficiency's sake, nevermind rooting out the communists inside the government and firing them then there's the war effort."

"And I'm sure the multitasking is manageable." The National Security Advisor, former Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and host of 'The Dan Smoot Report', Howard 'Dan' Smoot, deadpanned.

After taking a moment to ponder, including his desire to recognize the independent African state of Katanga as a sovereign nation even if the detestable United Nations still maintained the Congolese position, Ted decided to prioritize the current situation at the front as his social platform for the time being could wait. "Any undisclosed news on the theater?" The President and former Major General in the United States Army asked, wanting to know any developments that were not forwarded to the media and to have a better perspective on the overall situation from first hand sources.

"It doesn't sound good, the Republic and the Empire are currently in a stalemate." The Chief of Staff of the United States Army, William Childs Westmoreland, who was also the Chairman, announced as he showed the latest information they had on a cartographical map with blocks; blue representing the Republic and Red the Empire. "As you can see, aside from sporadic fighting around the southern Outer Rim such as near Tatooine, the brunt is occurring around the Mid Rim with neither side holding an advantage."

That caught the attention of Omar Nelson Bradley, General of the Army, the first appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the very individual who oversaw the United States Military's policy-making in the Korean War but Bradley was best remembered for his leadership during World War II and was even at one point Patton's subordinate before ironically becoming his boss but no one doubted his resume in the slightest and to Walker he was a perfect fit for the position as his insight and input was invaluable. "Well, by the sound of it, they are doing a broad front strategy." Omar recognized that it was a strategy he argued with Ike against during the Second World War yet Eisenhower went ahead with it.

"Broad front, sir?" Walker asked. Even though he was now the Commander-in-Chief, Edwin did it out of respect as well as habit.

"What Ike did during the war." Omar mentioned, referring to the Second World War of course. "The idea of a broad front is instead of concentrating our forces for breakthroughs, all armies advance along the entire front and apply continuous pressure against the enemy but it does and still goes against basic military logic, as if you're strong everywhere, you're strong nowhere. What you need is a 'narrow front' or more like MacArthur's island hopping, in this case 'planet hopping'." Bradley rearranged the pieces and slid them on a hypothetical trajectory. "By bypassing the more heavily fortified worlds for seemingly less desirable ones but still safe for human physiology, maybe one is colder or hotter but still bearable for human anatomy, just use it as a temporary staging area before moving on to the next world and leapfrog toward the heart of the Empire."

"Is leaving our flanks exposed wise?"

"Patton said that 'My flanks are something for the enemy to worry about, not me. Before he finds out where my flanks are, I'll be cutting the bastard's throat'." Omar deadpanned. "But while a risk, the fact of the matter is the Republic believes that taking this Dromund Kaas is the key to ending this war and they may have the right idea but are using the wrong approach. Now, please excuse me Mister President as I should call Ike and let him know to seriously consider not doing a broad front approach."

Walker nodded but not without reservation as this conflict was still unprecedented for them and factories across the globe were still in the midst of converting to wartime production, a process which could not happen overnight. "I trust your judgment, sir, and I hope you're right…For all of our sakes."

---

George Walton Lucas, Junior - Aspiring Film Director and Documentary Producer

The Frolic Room - Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

02:09:16 ATC/February 9th, 1969 - 20:30/8:30 PM

It had been four months since the musical fantasy film Finian's Rainbow was released to a mixed reception as while Fred Astaire was an American icon, and was persuaded to return to the big screen, it was clear that the film was produced by Flower Children and in The New York Times, Renata Adler described the motion picture as a 'cheesy, joyless thing' and added, 'there is something awfully depressing about seeing Finian's Rainbow ... with Fred Astaire looking ancient, far beyond his years, collapsed and red-eyed ... it is not just that the musical is dated ... it is that it has been done listlessly and even tastelessly.'

Nonetheless, it unexpectedly became a reprieve in the wake of domestic unrest and somewhat of an attempt at reconciliation, and now with a major war, Lucas as well as Coppola were fortunate to be exempted from conscription due to being in the film industry and could be contracted for producing training films, films for a conflict that he was unsure about especially after Vietnam.

But now George was in denial for another reason. After he and his friend, Francis, decided to hang out at the Frolic Room in Hollywood, the pair somehow ended up talking to the creator of Star Trek and a screenwriter, but after discussing his ideas and sharing a few scripts, the aspiring director now felt like he needed another drink.

"You know, George, I honestly like your idea and ambition." Gene Roddenberry declared. "But I think right now is not the time to produce a Buck Rogers film, not with the war which has actual space battles."

"I suppose you're right." The young, aspiring director sighed with disappointment. "Frank and I were going to document the fighting in Vietnam as well but we couldn't receive permission in time."

"Hey, Sailer. What book are ya reading?"

"Ah, just some promotional copy I got from the Republic diplomatic party a couple years back." The screenwriter shrugged, adjusting his glasses. "It's about this mysterious Jedi named Revan and his ragtag bunch of misfits. Here's the kicker: it's apparently all real."

"Ragtag bunch of misfits?" Coppola wondered. "And a true story as well? Say, George, does that sound like something you would like to do?""

"Honestly, I think you should do it, George. It's right up your alley. Kind of Space Western Opera if I say so myself," Sailer slid the book to George. "Give it a read, might give you ideas. Ah hell, I'm late for another meeting. I'll talk to y'all later. Buenos Dias, Mister Lucas."

"Um… y tu?" George replied.

"Bueno." Sailer smiled as the New Mexican screenwriter left the room.

Gene smiled and offered Lucas a way to get his foot into the door. "You know what, here's a proposal if you three can work something out. I'll be the benefactor, George can be the primary director, Francis the co-director, and Sailer could collaborate the script with you George as… frankly, your dialogue needs work."

"Actually, I will let George have at it as he was the brain behind the Buck Rogers film."

"You're sure, man?" George questioned, taken aback by the humbleness.

"I'm sure. Big productions aren't my thing really and I have a feeling that this will be a hit."

"Alright," Lucas relented. "But we need a name. As Gene will be helping, how about 'Star Wars'?"

"Ha!" Roddenberry laughed, slapping Lucas behind the back. "It took place a long time ago in a galaxy now not so far away as well after all."

---

Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Alpha, Second Squad, First Platoon, C/Charlie Company, Second Raider Battalion "Carlson's Raiders", Second Raider Regiment, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps

United States Naval Station Norfolk - Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

03:24:16 ATC/ March 24th, 1969 - 17:32/5:32 PM

Johnny, get your gun,

Get your gun, get your gun,

Take it on the run,

On the run, on the run.

Hear them calling, you and me,

Every son of liberty.

Hurry right away,

No delay, go today,

Make your daddy glad

To have had such a lad.

Tell your sweetheart not to pine,

To be proud her boy's in line.

'Well, who would have thought that we're going to fight in an intergalactic war.' Jake thought as 'Over There' by George M. Cohan played through the speakers. Meyer and his fellow Marines marched through downtown Norfolk heading to the nearest Republic transport craft that would take him and his comrade to the front. His father and uncles were recalled to active service for the war effort. His mother and many other women, on the other hand, headed either back to the factories to become Rosies once more or worked on the farm. Sam was surprisingly assigned to his father's platoon and with Commandant Chesty Puller reforming the Raiders he placed the formerly retired Brigadier General Samuel Blair Griffith II in charge of all four Raider Battalions, a man who served as Executive Officer under the legendary Major General Merritt Austin Edson, Senior before taking command of the 1st Raider Battalion in his own right. And Jake was proud to say after three months of hard training he and those who passed had earned the respect of the originals who fought on Makin Island and Guadalcanal.

Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word over there

That the Yanks are coming,

The Yanks are coming,

The drums rum-tumming

Everywhere.

So prepare, say a prayer,

Send the word, send the word to beware.

We'll be over, we're coming over,

And we won't come back till it's over

Over there.

"Eyes right!"Griffith himself barked. Jake snapped his head instinctively to the right, holding his United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14 at present arms as they passed the dignitaries reviewing the parade and Meyer even saw President Walker as well as Vice President Ashbrook giving them a salute.

Johnny, get your gun,

Get your gun, get your gun,

Johnny show the Hun

Who's a son of a gun?

Hoist the flag and let her fly,

Yankee Doodle do or die.

Pack your little kit,

Show your grit, do your bit.

Yankee to the ranks,

From the towns and the tanks.

Make your mother proud of you,

And the old Red, White, and Blue.

"Eyes front!" The command was followed instinctively by the Leathernecks and the Marines continued on their way to the ship. To think that it took less than a year from learning life existed beyond Earth to going to war against an Empire of Space Nazis. It still made Jake snort in amusement at the full-circle irony. And now with the fate of the planet on the line, the nations of Earth were literally throwing everything it has in an all-or-nothing preemptive strike against the Empire.

Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word over there

That the Yanks are coming,

The Yanks are coming,

The drums rum-tumming

Everywhere.

So prepare, say a prayer,

Send the word, send the word to beware.

We'll be over, we're coming over,

And we won't come back till it's over

Over there.

---

Mary Louise Fuller - Machinist, Guide Lamp Division, General Motors

"Guide Lamp Division" Manufacturing Plant, General Motors - Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

06:05: 16 ATC / Thursday, June 5th, 1969 - 08:15 / 8:15 AM

"Come on, Mary, you used the lathe like this." The recalled 'Rosie' informed as she demonstrated the resurrected machinery used to manufacture M3A1 Submachine Guns back in World War Two. "And Brenda is handling one of the rifling machinery so if you're uncomfortable handing them to anyone else, just give them to her."

"Yes, mother." The daughter acknowledged before taking over the machine used to produce raw barrels for the 'Grease Guns'.

---

Karl Schmidt - Assembler for Henschel & Son

Henschel & Son manufacturing plant - Kassel, State of Hesse, Federal Republic of Germany aka "West Germany", Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

06:05: 16 ATC / Thursday, June 5th, 1969 - 17:00 / 5:00 PM

"Nein, nein, not there." The mechanic pointed out to one of his employees after the factory converted to the manufacturing of tanks once more, this time Leopards instead of Tigers and Panthers. "You put ze rivet here, Karl."

"Ja, ja." Schmidt nodded as he placed the rivet in the correct position and used the air hammer to set it in. "This Panzer ist ready to tread on ze Imperials."

"Gut. Sehr gut, Karl. Now we have two hundred more to go."

"Damn quotas." Schmidt grumbled. "There should be time made for quality precision."

---

Helen Dortch Longstreet - Riveter

B-52 Assembly Plant - Dobbins Air Force Base, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

06:06: 16 ATC / Friday, June 6th, 1969- 11:00 / 11:00 AM

At an aircraft assembly plant in The Peach State was a remarkable woman and centenarian who just like World War Two was once more helping fabricating bombers for the war effort.

Best known as the 'Fighting Lady', Helen was a social advocate, environmentalist, suffragette, librarian, and newspaper woman who served as reporter, editor, publisher, and business manager. She was the first woman who tried to secure a public office in the state of Georgia by holding the office of Assistant State Librarian in 1894 and she also authored the 'Dortch Bill' which became law in 1896 to allow a woman to hold the office of State Librarian.

Additionally, Helen became a member of the Progressive Party and backed Theodore Roosevelt when he lost the Republican nomination to Taft in 1912 and she was in fact a delegate to the Progressive Party convention in 1912. In 1950, Helen ran for Governor on a platform of among other issues supporting desegregation and civil rights only to be defeated by the segregationist Herman Eugene Talmadge but the 'Fighting Lady' was also known for memorializing the Confederacy as well as defending the honor and reputation of her late and long-departed husband, as Helen was the second wife of none other than James Longstreet himself, the Confederate general and Robert E. Lee's very own 'Old War Horse'.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid I must let you go." The foreman announced.

"Sir, you do realize that this is Misses Longstreet, right?"

"Longstreet? As in General Longstreet?"

"That's right." Helen's co-worker confirmed. "She was in Life magazine building B-29s during the last major war and wants to contribute again."

"My eyes are still sharp and I have no rejections yet." Helen added. "As I said back in '43, 'I am going to assist in building a plane to bomb Hitler and the Son of Heaven to the Judgment Seat of God' and now I'm assisting in sending this Sith Emperor named Vitiate to the Judgment Seat of God!"

"I'll talk to the manager but I can't guarantee you'll remain on the assembly line."

"Well, have him check my work then!" Longstreet snapped but the man was already out of earshot and the socialite turned to her colleague. "Thank you, Betsy."

"No, thank you, ma'am."

Although her defense of James was still contentious in the South, no one denied that Helen was well-intentioned, and while The War Between the States had been over for a century and three years, Dixie's rebel sons would be joining Yankee rebels for the common 'Third War of Independence'.

---

Private First Class Corbin Dalton Meyer - 45B Small Arms/Artillery Repairman, Springfield Armory, United States Army Ordnance Corps, United States Army

United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield - 1 Armory Street, Springfield, Hampden County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

06:07:16 ATC / Saturday, June 7th, 1969 - 14:00 / 2:00 PM

Although in recent years Springfield Armory had become an R&D institution and was no longer the principal manufacturer of rifles for the United States Armed Forces, production had been ramped up everywhere, and in a total war leaving a purpose-built small arms factory languish was bonkers, therefore, this historic American institution was once again fabricating service weapons for the nation's fighting men and Corbin's assignment was to clean each rifle after being test-fired and in fact, some of them fresh off the assembly line were being fired on the Accuracy and Targeting Fixture.

"Range is hot!" The voice of one of the civilian employees, Hector Cason Frink, forewarned as he prepared to pull the lanyard after sighting it in. An intentionally overpressured Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, High Pressure Test, M60 used for proof firing of weapons during manufacture, test, or repair was fired first to check to see if the weapon was not going to be a pipe bomb and seeing that the rifle was unphased, Hector handed the rifle so a letter 'P' could be officially stamped on the stock to indicate that the rifle has passed and been 'proofed' but of course after receiving the stamp the rifles would then had to undergo a functioning test of semi-automatic, burst automatic, and sustained automatic fire followed by the accuracy test which Hector was about to do on one of the M14s.

"Clear! Now loading live ammunition!" Hector exclaimed as he now placed the stripper clip containing five rounds of 150 grain Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, M59 into the guide and used his thumb to push them downward into the magazine before discarding the aluminum clip and racking the bolt. "The range is hot!" He then fired one round at a time on semi-automatic and hopefully the newly-produced United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14 would meet the maximum standard of a five-shot group shot at one hundred meters falling within five point six inches yet if it went above that the rifle would be rejected.

"God, I love this job."

"I'll say, Hector." Corbin concurred with a smile even though he personally disagreed with the Ordnance Department's official standard as it should be more stringent, say, ten ten-shot strings of fire shot at one hundred yards instead of that Communist metric system and all having to be an inch at minimum or even less.

---

Private First Class Heather Alicia Meyer - Women Marines Detachment, Marine Corps Barracks Kodiak, United State Marine Corps

Kodiak Island - Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

06:07:16 ATC / Saturday, June 7th, 1969 - 14:00 / 2:00 PM

Heather was smiling as she sat near the shore and gazed out to sea, admiring the waves and watching Humpback Whales surfacing to breathe, forcefully expelling air through their blowholes, but for a young woman from a landlocked state over seven hundred miles away from seawater and fascinated with marine mammals as well as nature in general this may as well be paradise.

The B.A.M. - as in Beautiful American Marine and not the original, synonymous 'Broad Ass Marine' - sighed as she reached into her haversack and retrieved a photograph from her wallet, one where her brother Jake who was then nine helped seven-year old her reel in a Flathead Catfish which also happened to be remarkably her first catch. 'Of course, Valerie still loathes putting bait on a hook.'

Still, not everything was exactly tranquil and there was apprehension as this conflict was unprecedented and the fact that everyone knew someone or had someone in uniform with Heather being no exception as Jake was among the first being deployed, Corbin was at Springfield Armory, her fraternal twin brother, Cole, was deploying with the 3rd Infantry Division - 'The Rock of the Marne' -, and even her father had been recalled by the United States Army and received a commission even though he was discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant, not to mention having to requalify for jump status but of course, while the men not necessarily beholden to an essential occupation were marching off to war the womenfolk were freeing manpower for the fight and picking up the slack whether it was on the assembly line, at the cornfields, in the bakery, or even operating radar.

Her staid paternal grandmother may have deplored her decision to enlist three years prior while her paternal grandfather remained silent, her father may have felt ambivalent, Elke and Valerie may still question it, her brothers may take a dim view of it, and admittedly Heather did have reservations before signing the papers but then again it could be presently considered to be proactive and she didn't intend to have a career in any field anyways, only a stint to see locations she may otherwise never visit.

Dear Sis,

As I write this letter to you the ones who passed selection and I as well as the old salts of the old breed are preparing to ship out to a destination unknown but undoubtedly in another galaxy altogether. If circumstances were different I bet there would be some plant or critter that would catch your eye and when this war is over tourism would be in high demand and speaking of tourism I for one never anticipated climbing Mount Everest, nevermind speak to Mister Norgay in person, and who knows perhaps the Westbrook's would be generous so you would be able to visit Nepal? But I wouldn't take advantage of them. Now although I don't know what to expect upon arrival I have somewhat of an idea after the stunt at the worthless idealistic harebrained institution known as the United Nations but to all intents and purposes is nothing more than a change of name for the League of Nations yet when I intervened it was not for a New World Order, it was to rescue the woman I was going to propose to the following week but I suppose such situations are a sign that I will be a perpetual bachelor and I may have to acknowledge it.

Anyway, Toffee, I will have to stop here for the time being as I still need to finish packing my seabag but rest assured, opportunity permitting, I will send pictures to you.

Your loving brother,

Jake

P.S. How's Alaska?

Heather smiled despite the glaring fact the firstborn had irksomely mentioned that embarrassing girlhood nickname of hers due to her red hair as well as enjoying Heath Bars instead of Junior Mints or Sugar Daddies which were both created by none other than Robert Henry Winborne Welch, Junior himself - as in the literal co-founder, Chairman, and President of the John Birch Society - and although she did wish to reveal the fact that she was presently in a relationship with a suitor by the name of Mitchell Warner Hawthorne who was from Camden, South Carolina, she thought better of it, not because of the fact Jake's time with Sara had imploded but because given the fact that he like her father and Corbin were protective of her and her sisters, not to mention Clark and his felicity with explosives.

Still, she never foreseen herself becoming enraptured with a chivalrous, urbane Sandlapper who was educated at Princeton but then again the love at first sight felt recipcol. She was not a 'Columbia Club' Republican in the slightest and indisputably was from North of the Mason-Dixon while he had attended cotillions in Dixie. Perhaps it was the fact her maternal grandparents had a horse farm and he grew up in an area that encouraged equestrianism, maybe it was due to their shared agrarianism and enjoying bucolic scenery but no matter the reason the Hoosier who spoke a dialect of Low German fluently felt that she had met the love of her life.

And although the Meyer's may be dismissed by most as wingnuts, they were in fact sincere obstinate all-American patriots and in the words of German-born American statesman Carl Schurz:

'My country, right or wrong; If right, to be kept right, and if wrong, to be set right!'

For their country always came first, always.

---

First and foremost, I can confirm that the parody of the Beach Boys song Barbara Ann and the one John McCain himself referenced called 'Bomb Iran' officially appeared twelve years early per se in the story albeit of course under a different name and with different lyrics but honestly I just couldn't resist including something akin to it as Barbara Ann and Bomb Iran are both extremely catchy :P

The State of Katanga was a breakaway province in the southeastern region of the Congo, which declared its independence in 1960 under the leadership of Moise Tshombe. This move was seen as a threat to the newly independent Congo, as Katanga was rich in natural resources such as copper, cobalt, and uranium, some of which were supplied for the Manhattan Project during World War Two and used in the bombs dropped over Japan in Little Boy and Fat Man respectively. The central government of the Congo, led by Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, refused to recognize Katanga's independence and attempted to regain control of the region through military force. Furthermore, the United Nations, headed by Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, intervened in the Congo Crisis supposedly in an attempt to restore peace and stability to the African nation engulfed in Civil War and this was after the Congo made inquiries about receiving weapons and training from the Soviet Union.

Peacekeeping forces, known as the United Nations Operation in the Congo, were deployed to the region and the declared objective of these Peacekeepers was to protect the civilian population and help the central government regain control of Katanga. However, the situation on the ground was more complex and volatile than anticipated as the UN's intervention in the Congo Crisis was met with resistance from Katangan authorities and their foreign mercenaries including former Belgian soldiers and Rhodesians.

Like in actual history, the Congo Crisis already took a turn for the worse with the death of Dag Hammarskjold in a plane crash in 1961. Hammarskjold was on his way to negotiate a ceasefire between the central government and Katanga when his plane crashed in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). His death was a major blow to the UN's efforts to resolve the crisis, as he was seen as a skilled mediator and a strong leader.

U Thant, who succeeded Dag Hammarskjold as Secretary-General, was faced with the daunting task of continuing the UN's intervention in the Congo Crisis. He was met with criticism from some UN member states for being too aggressive in his approach. However, Thant believed that a strong and decisive response was necessary to end the violence and restore peace in the region, and under Thant's leadership, the United Nations were somewhat successful.

Of course this intervention was in more ways than one controversial at the time and is pretty much forgotten nowadays but now with the inclusion of Mitchell Livingston WerBell III as well as American mercenaries as well as the Siege of Jadotville being, well, not a siege at all it, among with other factors that will be portrayed in the future prequel the Congo Crisis instead of being a headache will become a debacle instead which of course will lead U Thant resigning from his position.

Also hopefully I weathered the storm with Heinrici's speech here as Patriotism does not equate literally to Nazism, not to mention the fact that the National Socialist Workers Party as a political party only came into existence in the 1920s. A united Germany existed for over fifty years prior to a certain Austrian Painter becoming the leader of Germany and Germany should rightfully be associated with Bach, Gutenberg, and Fahrenheit, not just the years of 1933 - 1945 and only the years of 1933-1945.

There are almost two thousand years of history including what Ancient Rome wrote about the region and the Holy Roman Empire yet only twelve years are focused on so it doesn't make logical sense to keep equating Germany with Nazism.

You should never forget just the past but everyone should never forget ALL the past.

"If you fail to learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it."

~ George Santayana

Oh boy.

Not only did the legendary Elmer Keith meet Jerry Miculek, not to mention Phil and Si Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame, which is awesome in its own right but...

In another location, Mad Jack Churchill met Peter Ortiz and Audie Murphy, which is fitting for these actual World War II badasses.

I also just couldn't resist the opportunity of including them :)

Last but not least I figured that having Ike overseeing things for the time being would be interesting as would having Edwin Walker be President as, well, he's overlooked today and surprisingly obscure despite being best known for Lee Harvey Oswald's first target MONTHS before the Communist gunned down John F. Kennedy.