Chapter Two: Global Defence Initiative
/GDI Control Centre, Arlington Virginia October 10th 2029
"On this day, fifteen years ago." Locke spoke into the microphone in front of him as he looked over the hundreds of people gathered around the Washington Monument. "We were faced with a threat which poised to wipe us out. It was the day that, as a species, we came together to combat the threat; and came out on top." He looked across from him where several other people were sat facing the crowd. "Now, I wish to give my personal thanks to all those who fought in Two-K-Fourteen War, -Some of which are here today." He gestured to those sat to the side of him. "Captain Wilkes and Dr Ishiro Serizawa."
The crowd began to cheer and applaud the two as they stood. Captain Wilkes saluted to Locke, who mimicked the gesture out of respect. "Again, a personal thank you to you two gentlemen. But also, a moment of silence, please for those who are no longer with us." The President said as he bowed his head. "Those who put their lives on the line and never returned and those who have since passed on the torch; will forever be in our memory. For were it not for their sacrifices, we would not be here today."
He looked back up to the crowd. "Today is the beginning of Victory Week; the anniversary of our triumph over forces which strove to make us extinct." He said. "Fifteen years down the line, we still stand, ever vigilant, working together; person alongside person, nation alongside nation, we strive to make this world the best it can be." As Locke finished his sentence, a group of jets arced in formation overhead, trailing colours of the American flag behind them as the crowd cheered again at the spectacle.
….
"Where to now, Mr President?" the driver asked as Locke climbed into the back seat of the car. "Mrs Cage is waiting for you at Congress." He added. The man shook his head. "Nah, take me to Arlington, please." Locke said. "GDI Centre." He said. The driver nodded. "Yes, Mr President." Driving up the road from the monument, the car made its' way west across the Potomac River to Arlington.
….
The Global Defence Initiative was an international effort dedicated to locating and tracking of monsters and protecting cities from them. Due to the organisations' size, no exact headquarters were ever set, instead, control centres were established in hundreds of major cities worldwide, forming an international network. The Arlington GDI Centre was a gigantic building that covered a large portion of the local area. Though not particularly tall, the structure was massive in terms of surface area covered.
Pulling up outside, Locke got out of the car and headed up the steps as his bodyguards struggled to keep up. As he stepped through the glass doors of the building into the lobby, there was a brief moment of quiet as staff stopped in their tracks as they spotted the President before several of them eagerly rushed to greet him. Within seconds, a large crowd of staff had formed around Locke, pushing each other out of the way to say hello or ask for an autograph. "Everyone, please!" Locke grinned, "I'm just an ordinary guy; your work is more important than mine."
Gradually, the group began to disperse, going back to what they were doing, though many kept glancing back at Locke as they worked. "Hello, Mr President." A voice called out from across the lobby. Locke smiled as he recognised the woman who walked across to meet him. She was the GDI Director of Operations in the US, who oversaw the organisations' scientific, military and political endeavours. The woman was tall with long black hair and blue eyes and the youngest Director in the history of the GDI, barely escaping her twenties.
"Dianna Storm, long time no see?" Locke said, grinning. "This is a surprise." Dianna replied. Locke simply shrugged. "Felt like having a break from politics and besides, you know me; I like to mix things up a little, -be unexpected." Dianna nodded. "I see. If you want to come this way," She gestured away to somewhere off in the building. "We've got a live video feed launching our new prototype."
Eventually, the two came into a large control room packed with screens and consoles. At the far end of the observation room stood a large digital map of the world with the locations of every GDI Facility on the planet, from Control Centres to bases and airfields to outposts. Locke crossed is arms as he observed. "Wow. So this is our network?" He asked. "Yep." Dianna replied. "Quite a sight. Our Control Centre in San Francisco is bigger than this place, though."
"So what were you saying about a prototype?" Locke asked. "After introducing the F-55 Megaguirus as our primary fighter jet back in '27, Our R&D Team on the West Coast decided it was also time to update our troop-carrying capabilities." Dianna explained, "It took Dr Harrington's team years to develop and construct it, but we finally have a working prototype." She picked up a small computer tablet and turned it around to show Locke the picture of a futuristic VTOL Aircraft that looked like it belonged in a science fiction film. "The V-36 Varan." Dianna said. "The test flight will have the aircraft take off from San Francisco, refuel at Honolulu and continue on to Janjira." She explained.
"Now that I like." Locke said, gesturing to the picture of the Varan. "How much would it cost for mass production?" He asked. Dianna bit her lip as she hesitated to tell him the price. "Close to four hundred and fifty million per craft." She said reluctantly. "Excluding additional armament and flyaway costs." Locke raised his eyebrows as he averted his gaze elsewhere. "Yikes. Not many aircraft that expensive, is there?" He exclaimed.
At that moment, Locke felt something slam into the side of him, almost knocking the man off of his feet. He yelped with fright as he quickly regained his balance and spun to see what had hit him. It was a man about his age, with spiky dark hair and unshaven wearing a labcoat with a blue Hawaiian shirt underneath. "Sorry about that! Didn't see you there." The man panted in a strong Australian accent, catching his breath as if he was running. Looking up to meet Locke's confused gaze, panic shot through the stranger as his face went a bright red. "Oh my god! You're the President! I'm so sorry!" He began to frantically apologise.
"Max! What the hell is wrong with you?" another voice, with a similar accent, called out as another man approached him. From what Locke could discern, the two were clearly brothers, as the second man looked almost identical, but clean shaven with curly hair and thick-rimmed square-ish glasses. "You just ran face first into the President of the United-Bloody-States!" The second man then immediately turned to Locke and stuck out his hand. "Maz Marsh. It's such an honour to meet you sir, I'm a huge fan." He said awkwardly as his sibling, Max, finally got to his feet. "Terribly sorry about that, Mr President. I was just trying to catch up with my brother here;" he explained. "To talk to him about why he decided to completely wreck my car in an experiment involving explosives and um… a hydraulic press." Locke nodded his head slowly. "I see…" He said. "And you're not too happy about it are you."
"Nope-uh… No, sir." He replied, elbowing Max in the gut, prompting the two brothers to descend into a heated argument. Locke was about to step in when Dianna leaned in on the conversation. "I wouldn't, sir. It's best just to leave them to it; they'll sort it out between each other." She explained. "Besides, the Prototype will be launching any minute."