“I hope they’re not cutting the power again,” Lisa’s father said with a worried expression on his face. “It was out the day before yesterday for nearly six hours.”
“I don’t understand why they can’t fix the power problem,” complained Lisa’s mom. “How am I supposed to cook with no electricity? I don’t think our government has any idea how hard they’re making our lives. Why, just the other morning I couldn’t even vacuum.”
Lisa didn’t reply. Her mother paid little attention to the news and didn’t understand the state of the country’s power grid.
In the American northwest power shortages had become more frequent in recent years. As nuclear power plants shut down and the switch was made to wind and solar, the lack of sufficient power for the power grid had grown. Also many environmentalists didn’t want wind or even solar plants constructed in most areas. The general idea seemed to be, yes, we need the plants but not in my area.
Hundreds of projects were tied up with environmental red tape slowly working its way through the EPA. Politicians claimed in another few years sufficient wind farms would be operating to provide additional power and the power shortages should come to an end. However, for most people, the numerous brownouts were a sign the politicians were more worried about themselves than the average person.
The three sat quietly, waiting for the president’s speech. The timer continued to count down until it reached zero and then the emergency broadcast symbol vanished to be replaced by the American flag and a voice introducing the President of the United States.
On TV screens around the world and on every radio and media station President Drummond’s voice rang out.
“I come to you tonight with a stupendous announcement. The question as to whether we are alone in the universe has been answered. Earlier today our satellites and telescopes detected a group of mysterious objects in the outer regions of our solar system. These objects have been identified as spacecraft which are on an intercept course with Earth.” President Drummond paused, gazing steadily at the camera.
“So far we have not been able to establish contact. Our linguists are working on this problem and expect to communicate with our visitors in the next few hours. Our military is on alert but I don’t expect any problems establishing peaceful contact with these new friends from space.”
President Drummond paused once more and, after a moment, began again. “We can learn so much from them and them from us. The inbound spacecraft will arrive in Earth orbit early tomorrow morning. We will have made contact by then, and the next time I speak to you I will be announcing our new visitors. As I said earlier, there is no danger. Head to work tomorrow as normal and go about your regular routines. This is an amazing time, something we will all remember.”
With those final words the screen went blank and then returned to its regular programming to be almost immediately preempted by newscasters ready to discuss what the president said. It was obvious they had been provided some information by the government about the inbound spaceships.
“Aliens!” said Lisa’s father in disbelief. “I never expected this.”
“There are no aliens,” spoke up Lisa’s mother, sounding aggravated. “It’s just an excuse to turn off our power more often. Let’s eat dinner before it gets cold.”
Before Lisa could say anything her cell phone rang. With surprise, she saw it was Professor Wilkens. “Yes?” she said tentatively, not sure why the professor would be calling her.
“Lisa, in a few minutes you will receive a recall order from the military. I’ve arranged for you to be assigned to a special unit as my representative.”
“I don’t understand.” She hadn’t spoken to Professor Wilkens for several months.
“All is not as it seems,” Wilkens said in his fatherly voice. “We have known about these aliens for quite some time. You cannot reveal to anyone, not even your family, what I am about to tell you. These aliens are not coming as friends but as conquerors. We have made a few preparations for their expected arrival but we’re not ready yet. They came too soon. I need you to act as my eyes and ears and to learn everything you can about the capabilities of these aliens and what we can do to defeat them. Once you have you’ll be brought to me.”
“Yes, Professor, I understand.” Lisa felt a cold chill run down her back at the professor’s words. She didn’t know what else to say.
“I am going to hang up. You will receive your recall orders shortly. You have also been promoted to the rank of captain. At some point in time I will have you report to me with your findings and then you’ll help me with a project I’m working on. Just remember the words ad astra.” With that the phone went dead.
“Ad astra,” she whispered. Lisa recognized it as a Latin phrase meaning, to the stars. At that moment her cell phone rang once more. Looking at it she recognized the number from the military base she normally reported to. First Professor Wilkens’ call about a possible war with invading aliens plus his mysterious reference about ad astra and now the military’s call. With a deep sigh, she wondered what other surprises they had for her as she answered her phone again.
-
The next morning, in orbit, Battle Commander Balforr gazed upon the planet he had come to conquer. Like so many other inhabited worlds, it was blue-white in color. He was surprised at the number of satellites in orbit as well as the large quantity of space junk. All this would have to be cleared before the colony transports were summoned.
“Commander,” said Second Officer Jaltor. “The Humans are still attempting to contact us. Should we reply?”
Balforr gazed at some data on a computer screen near him. He was astonished at the sheer number of nuclear weapons detected on the surface of the planet and even on oceangoing vessels. Some of these vessels, containing nuclear weapons, moved beneath the surface of the oceans. It was as if this planet was on the brink of an all-out nuclear war. He couldn’t allow the use of those nuclear weapons as they were dirty warheads and would release large amounts of radiation, making the planet useless for colonization. The nuclear weapons of the Trellixians were designed to limit the release of radiation and what radiation was created faded away within thirty hours.
“Open up a communications line to the planet,” ordered Balforr. “I will speak to them and offer to establish discussions on how this first contact can be mutually beneficial to both our races.” As with most races at this stage of development, the Humans would be anxious to learn from the Trellixians. Contacts such as this had been done hundreds of times in the past and would continue in the future. It greatly simplified the future invasions.
If everything worked as the dictates of the High Command had suggested Balforr would position his battlecruisers over the most important targets in prelude for the attack. It would take days or possibly weeks to locate all the weapons on this planet. Once that was done, they would come up with a battle plan to conquer this world with minimal losses to the Empire as well as a method to quickly eliminate this planet’s nuclear arsenals.
“We’ve established contact with an entity on the surface known as NASA,” reported Jaltor. “I believe it’s responsible for this planet’s space operations.”
Balforr nodded. This NASA would be a prime target. Touching an icon on the computer screen in front of him he prepared to address the representative of this world on his viewscreen. Showing his teeth he knew this world could have no idea of its future. Looking at one of the viewscreens, he surveyed the large amounts of water and the major landmasses evidencing this world as prime colonization territory. Several billion Trellixians would soon be brought to this planet. Not only that, a large number of moons and asteroids were suitable for mining. In the not-so-distant future this star system would become an important part of the Trellixian Empire.
-
In silence, President Drummond listened as NASA talked to the orbiting spacecraft. Their commander was adamant about making peaceful contact, even mentioning they had certain advanced technologies they were
willing to share. Their commander explained they were part of the exploration wing of their space force tasked with the responsibility of establishing peaceful contact and trade with other species.
“They’re really laying it on thick,” muttered General Mitchell with a deep frown. “They’re selling everything except the kitchen sink.”
“Give them time,” replied Dwight Meadows. “It’s coming.”
Commander Balforr mentioned they also had some advanced medical technologies which could eliminate many Earth diseases and finally signed off.
“I told you,” said Meadows smugly. “There’s the kitchen sink!”
President Drummond turned to General Mitchell. “What’s your analysis of this conversation with Commander Balforr?” As had been previously arranged, all communications had been done through NASA.
“It’s been cleverly orchestrated to ensure we won’t turn it down. Hell, better sources of energy and a cure for most of our diseases, how could anyone tell them no?”
“So what do we do?” asked President Drummond.
“What they expect us to do. Say yes,” Mitchell answered with a shrug of his shoulders. “We’re buying time to finish up some key installations. Construction is being rushed as much as possible but there are only so many hours in the day. We also have to bring in personnel unobtrusively. We need four to six weeks to finish getting everything in place.”
President Drummond’s eyes widened. “Four to six weeks?” he muttered. “Is that possible?”
General Mitchell forced a grin. “You tell me. You’re the politician. I’m just getting ready to fight a war with a race that’s hundreds of years more advanced than we are.”
President Drummond let out a deep sigh. He greatly feared he would be the last president and would go down in history as being in office when the United States of America ceased being a world power; when it ceased being anything but the ruins of a great nation. “I’ll find some way to get you that four to six weeks. Just make sure it’s worth it.”
“It will be,” promised General Mitchell. “The Trellixians won’t realize what we’re doing until it’s too late. We’ve been preparing for this day for years.”
President Drummond nodded and stood, walking to gaze out the window. He had set plans into motion which had been worked on for over eighty years, since the UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico. The alien ship that had crashed there had been fleeing a Trellixian invasion of its world. Over the years many of the systems on that crashed alien vessel had been reverse-engineered. Drummond just hoped they had learned enough to allow part of the human race to survive.
Chapter Two
Stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia, Major Mark Dolan gazed with confusion at his orders. His battalion of the 75th Army Rangers would transfer to an out-of-the-way location in the Colorado Rocky Mountains for special training along with several hundred soldiers from other units. While training in the Rangers was strenuous, this was the first time he had been involved in such a large-scale maneuver in the Rockies.
“What do you think’s going on?” asked Sergeant Braden Anderson, standing next to the major and watching the loading of the transports. Braden was a twenty-year veteran and often spoke to the major. “Do you reckon it’s due to the alien spaceships that arrived a few weeks ago?”
“No one’s saying much but you know it must be connected,” answered Mark, nodding toward the back of Colonel Karl Branson, his commanding officer, who was going into one of the operations buildings. They were all preparing to board transport planes to fly to Colorado and from there trucks and buses would take them deep inside the mountains for their maneuvers. Mark was surprised—and yet not—at the number of planes and the amount of equipment on the airfield. This had all the makings of a major long-term deployment.
Hunter Army Airfield featured an 11,375-foot-long runway, and the military facility could deploy soldiers and cargo anywhere in the world. Even as he watched, several planes took off while a number of others were still loading. Supplies of every type were stacked up, waiting to be put on the aircraft.
“All our Rangers are loaded and so is most of our equipment,” Captain Juan Garcia reported as he stepped up and saluted Major Dolan. “We should be ready to leave in twenty more minutes.”
“Right on schedule,” replied Dolan, glancing at his watch. “Any problems?”
“No, sir,” answered Captain Garcia. Then a confused look spread across his face. “Sir, those cargo planes on the far side of the runway are being loaded with pallets of ammunition and other weapons. What’s going on?”
Mark looked across the airfield, seeing numerous forklifts carrying munitions pallets to the cargo planes. Even a few armored vehicles waited in line to be loaded on the larger transports. He felt a cold chill run down his back. It was evident they were preparing to fight a war! Today their only enemy was the recently arrived aliens. This worried Mark as his parents lived in Houston and his sister was a nurse working at one of the larger hospitals just outside of Dallas.
Addressing Captain Garcia, Mark asked him a question. “Is that alien spacecraft still sitting on top of Dallas?” Mark knew Garcia kept up with all of this. He was highly interested in the arrival of the alien ships.
“Yes, sir,” replied Garcia, nodding his head. “It’s twenty thousand meters above Dallas. Also thirty-two other alien spacecraft are hovering above other major cities across the planet. Sounds hauntingly similar to one of the more popular alien invasion films from a few years back.”
Mark didn’t like hearing that, particularly since he knew which movie Garcia referred to. That one hadn’t ended well for Earth’s cities. Mark knew from the latest presidential announcement the aliens had requested to bring their spaceships closer to the surface, the explanation being they could better examine and assess the current technologies used on Earth. That in turn would help them evaluate which parts of their advanced technology could be adapted for human use.
“There’s something else, sir,” added Garcia hesitantly, looking around to ensure no one else other than Sergeant Anderson was listening. “I was talking to an Air Force friend of mine and a full squadron of F-22 Raptors are in those concrete hangers on the far side of the base. They’re fully armed, fueled, and ready to take off at any moment. Hell, he even claimed some of the pilots are sitting in the cockpits.”
Mark’s eyes widened at hearing this. Now he really grew concerned for his parents and his sister. It sounded as if the president wasn’t telling the public everything about the aliens. The fully armed fighter jets standing by to take off and the massive amounts of weapons, ammunition, and soldiers going to the mountains all indicated a dangerous situation was developing. “Garcia, do you have your cell phone on you?”
The captain glanced around, and Sergeant Anderson looked the other way as if he wasn’t listening. “Yes, sir,” answered Garcia. He reached into his pants pocket and casually handed the phone to the major. They weren’t supposed to have cell phones with them when they were out on maneuvers, though a number of the Rangers always managed to take theirs along.
Mark walked over behind a fuel truck and quickly called his parents’ number. His dad answered after just four rings. “Hello?”
“Dad, this is Mark. Where are you and Mom right now?”
“We’re home. Why do you ask?”
Mark hesitated. He could get into a lot of trouble over this. “I want you and Mom to pack up a few things and go out into the country, somewhere away from any large city or town.”
His dad was silent for a long moment and then he finally spoke. “Mark, your mother hasn’t been feeling well. I don’t think she’s up to traveling right now.”
Mark wasn’t sure what else to say. How could he tell his parents that he was concerned the aliens might be readying to attack? It was just the opposite of what the president was telling everyone. If Mark said anything he might be violating national security.
Then his dad spoke. “You don’t have to tell me what
this is all about. I’ll load some clothes and food into the pickup as well as a few extra cans of fuel. I promise, if something happens, we’ll be gone from here just a few minutes later. Now don’t you worry about us. Just keep yourself safe.”
Satisfied his dad and mom would leave Houston at the first signs of trouble, Mark tried his sister next. She didn’t answer but he left her a message suggesting the same thing. He knew by using Garcia’s cell phone like this he was putting his career in danger. But then again, when was the last time the world faced a possible invasion from aliens?
-
Upon reporting to base, nearly two weeks passed before Captain Lisa Reynolds was then flown to an undisclosed location where she was to attend a briefing on her new job responsibilities. Going inside a heavily guarded building, she looked around in astonishment. There were many young officers in the briefing room, some of whom she recognized as research assistants at major colleges and universities as well as a number of prominent science centers. A few people were even from the Large Hadron Collider research facility in France and Sweden. All wore military uniforms with the rank of captain. Lisa sat down, turning her attention to the front of the room.
“I’m Major Leslie Lorre,” began a tall woman, standing in front of the seated group. “I am with the DOE and will be heading this operation.”
“What’s going on?” asked a young man, who looked just as confused as everyone else.
Major Lorre took a deep breath, nodding toward the two Marines guarding the door who promptly stepped outside. “All of you have been sworn to secrecy and signed nondisclosure forms. If anything you hear today is repeated outside of this room, it will be a violation of national security and you will be brought up on charges of treason. There will be no trial, no phone calls, nothing. You will be put in a military prison and held there until this crisis with the Trellixians is over.”
The large room grew silent as the men and women looked at each other, stunned. Several looked uneasily at one another as if wishing they were somewhere else.
Earth Fall: Invasion : (Book One) Page 2
