by W. R. Hobbs
General Straka interrupted, “How are you certain that this evolution was not natural?”
“Well we found somewhat of an answer in the cranial fragment. We validated its age to be over 5.7 million years old…”
One of the officers interjected, “You are absolutely certain of the age?”
Courtney paused with an agitated expression.
“Yes. The fact that this fossil but more specifically the surrounding debris, sentiments and rocks were encased in amber offered an unparalleled opportunity for us to utilize varied methods of chronometric and radioisotopic dating to cross check and confirm our determination of its age. First we used a range of radioisotopic dating methods; lead 201, carbon 14, uranium series, potassium argon, uranium lead, and rubidium – strontium. Again because of the remarkable preservation, we were also able to use amino acid racemization to validate that conclusion.”
In an effort to unequivocally answer the perceived challenge to her credibility, the doctor continued.
“Our next battery of tests utilized an electron spin resonance, thermoluminescence, and optically stimulated luminescence. And finally we utilized paleomagnetic reversal methodology.”
Straka detected that the doctor had taken the question a bit personally and rhetorically commented with a smile, “Well, Colonel Hardy does that satisfy your inquiry? Please proceed doctor.”
“Well sir, as I was saying the cranial fragment is determined to be at least 5.7 million years old but likely less than six million. Not an astonishing determination in and of itself. However, the fact that it already possessed all 49 HARs with the 18 base mutations in HAR01 can lead to only one startling conclusion. At some point in that time period there was at least one modern human on this planet. Furthermore, it contradicts our own human lineage that took about six million years to develop the same mutations – which themselves are not explained in natural evolution.”
The panel members on the wall viewer were all looking at each other in silence. Straka’s eyes were noticeably growing larger with this last revelation. The general cleared his throat attempting to regain his composure and asked, “What are your findings from stage two of the project?
“After thorough evaluation of the HARs, we have in fact determined further Biased Gene Conversion manipulation is now viable with our new techniques, specifically in the top eleven.”
“Nice work Dr. Leroux. Please provide the director with your complete database of findings and suspend all further research on Project Splicer. You are dismissed,” Straka unexpectedly concluded.
Courtney was dumbfounded. The doctor and her team had just spent more than two years analyzing the virus and cranial fragment.
How can they just stop everything? It just doesn’t make sense to stop now, the doctor wondered angrily as she departed the conference room.
CHAPTER 06
Dugway Facility
Bracken reclined in his mesh office chair looking at the ceiling and organizing his thoughts. Suddenly he stood up and proceeded to close his door. As he sat back down, he pressed a button recessed above his desk drawer and the plasma window panes surrounding his entire office turned an opaque white.
Bracken swiveled his desk viewer to face him directly and established a secure channel to General Straka in Sacramento. “Eric, what are the results?”
Straka was sitting at Pennington’s desk which he had commandeered since the conclusion of Leroux’s presentation.
“Dr. Leroux’s results have validated our suspicions. It’s now confirmed that the Syova Virus was a deliberate culling procedure for the mass population. More importantly, Project Splicer confirms the presence of modern humanoids can be traced to over five million years ago. The findings also indicate that targeted HARs can be reactivated. I have directed our team to secure her database and transport her to your location,” Straka informed.
“Her importance to us has significantly risen. But we have larger concerns at the moment,” Bracken admitted.
“Is there a problem?”
“You could say that. GEO-0131 escaped the facility about forty minutes ago. He got out through the emergency lift and gained access to an XF-50 Griffin. Space Recon tracked him for about twelve minutes before the Griffin disappeared near Las Vegas. Presently we are unable to determine his exact location. I have sent out a team.”
“What are we going to do now?” Straka asked.
Bracken cleared his throat and leaned closer to the desk viewer. “I’ve decided we should convene a meeting among the unit leaders and discuss progression of the operation. With or without the GEO Project, we need to accelerate our next move. I cannot explain it but I have a gut feeling that our time is running out. Director Lindherst was adamant about achieving the GEO’s emergence within forty-eight hours. They are certainly maintaining a hard deadline for reasons I cannot determine.”
“Do you believe Hauer has been compromised?” Straka inferred.
“I’m not certain about him yet. I know he aided in the GEO’s escape but his motives are still undetermined. I'm having him brought here as we speak. I will talk to him after I contact command.”
“Acknowledged. I planned to leave here in the morning with Leroux but now I’m guessing you want us there before then,” Straka supposed.
“Actually, I want you to head up to JBLM (Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington State). I need you to begin coordinating the unit leaders in person. Let them know to be ready for a briefing at 2400 hours tonight. Do not disclose any of these developments to them yet. I have to get some more answers before our next move. You can have one of your pilots transport Leroux here immediately.”
“Yes sir. Straka out.”
Bracken was not looking forward to contacting the North American Union Command. In fact, he only tolerated the new command structure for as long as it took to progress his own group’s agenda. The escape of GEO-0131 necessitated an entirely different game plan and left Bracken with some very difficult decisions.
The viewer flashed back to the menu display. Bracken reluctantly pressed the menu and ordered Colonel Osborne to contact Director Lindherst on a secure channel. After a few seconds, the colonel’s voice returned informing him that Director Lindherst would be available in about five minutes. As Bracken prepared for his conversation with Lindherst, he welcomed his familiar disdain for the new command structure.
I never took an oath to follow this asshole.
The new command structure in the former US military had been in place for about three years. During the few days between the world economic collapse and the Mideast nuclear holocaust, the US, like many other countries, had instituted martial law as societies began to disintegrate.
Initially in the US, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security took control of everything by August of 2028 and Rex84 was initiated. While the military had been primarily preoccupied with its orders to maintain civil obedience through the Residential Occupation Centers, the CIA emerged as the apparatus controlling the country.
Within seven months from the declaration of martial law, the North American Union was formed under the New Earth Union and it assumed control of the government. The executive, legislative and judicial branches had already been suspended and disbanded. Former US President Pike had become the primary NAU delegate to the Council of Seven, which was now the controlling body of the New Earth Union. The US military, Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Secret Service, FBI and every other law enforcement agency in the country was now under one centralized command structure controlled by the former CIA which was simply renamed the NAU Command.
Discontent within the military ranks had been forming since the very first day that the new command structure was delineated and instituted. And at this point a great number of those in the service believed martial law was no longer necessary – at least not at its current level of implementation. These men and women swore their oath to the US Constitution but the Constitution was suspended and later discarded. And the idea of US
soldiers policing their own mothers and daughters stirred an increasing internal conflict with the majority of those that wore the uniform.
This is no longer the America of our forefathers, Bracken thought.
“Sir, Director Lindherst is on the channel.”
“Put it through,” Bracken ordered.
“Yes General Bracken, what is it?” the Director toiled.
“Sir, GEO-0131 escaped the facility at 0650 hours.”
“Bracken what kind of operation are you running there? Are you telling me billions of dollars and decades of research simply walked out the door? Are you tracking him?”
“His last known location was near Las Vegas.”
“Last known?”
“We tracked the XF-50 to that location and recon teams will be arriving shortly.”
“He stole a Griffin also? Bracken, you are a piece of work. You need to find his ass ASAP!”
“We are on it.” Bracken snapped back.
“Send me the last known coordinates and I will inform the C7. I’m not leaving this up to just you,” Lindherst lamented. The director shook his head in disgust, “Bracken, there is a reason you were given the new deadline. Now I have to deal with the consequences of your failure.”
“What exactly is the reason Director?”
“It doesn’t concern you Bracken. Contact me when you have made some progress.”
The viewer flickered back to the main menu.
Doesn’t concern me? We will see about that you irritating bastard.
Bracken was surprised by Lindherst’s behavior. He had always been an arrogant asshole in Bracken’s opinion but he had never really seen him that unhinged.
It’s time to get some answers.
“Bring Hauer in here,” Bracken ordered Osborne.
Bracken unlocked his door and held it open waiting for Dr. Hauer. The doctor came into his office maintaining eye contact as he passed by the general. Bracken shut the door and relocked it.
“Sit down,” he said as he walked around his desk to his chair but remained standing. “I’m not sure if I should have you executed for treason or just lock you in a cell for the rest of your life! Explain yourself!”
“General, Taon is beyond our control. It is better for him and all of us to be free to pursue his destiny.”
“Taon? I’m guessing you are referring to the escaped GEO by that name. And destiny? His destiny was to be genetically engineered to serve as our next generation soldier. But more importantly, the abilities he has demonstrated thus far are well beyond the GEO Project parameters.” Bracken paused and leaned over the desk toward Hauer, “Doctor, you’re rapidly eroding what little trust I have in you. What have you created?”
“General, the primary directive and purpose of the GEO Project pales in comparison to Taon’s true potential and purpose. And when you speak of trust, that sentiment is mutual.”
“Well his so called potential may have already come to a premature end. The XF-50 he took out of here went down about ten minutes ago near Vegas,” Bracken informed as he sat down and turned his attention to the viewer where he clicked through the file system until he found it.
“So Dr. Hauer, I am asking you to come clean with me. I realize that you have been working on this endeavor for decades. But I had no idea exactly how long until I came across this,” the general remarked as he pointed his finger at the viewer to a declassified file entitled ‘Operation Paperclip’. He ran his finger over the screen scrolling through the file until he reached an old photograph of over 100 scientists standing in front of a gated compound in Fort Bliss, Texas.
Bracken then used both index fingers to enlarge the photograph and focused on a man wearing large sunglasses standing near the back on the right side. Once the man’s face was almost as large as the entire screen, Bracken tapped a menu item on the bottom and a wire frame model superimposed over the face. It subsequently removed the sunglasses and displayed its extrapolated result. It was Hauer’s younger self.
“Can you help me understand this doctor?”
“It would not suffice it to say that I age well?” Hauer flippantly responded.
“That was over eighty years ago,” Bracken bellowed.
“There can be certain benefits to working in the field of genetic research - some of them personal,” Hauer answered, attempting to deflect the general’s query.
Bracken removed his hat and with both elbows on his desk he ran his bald head across his palms.
“Hauer, who are you really? What is your real purpose here?”
“General, my purpose is the same as yours – to protect,” the doctor hinted.
“I’m not sure if we actually do that anymore. Since the C7’s inception we have threatened and destroyed more than we have protected.” Bracken continued, “It’s time for it to come to an end. And that makes it vital for me to know here and now who the hell you are and where your loyalty lies.”
Dr. Hauer realized the General was probing for his support.
I know he has been planning some type of a logistical shift – maybe I was wrong to assume it was by direction of the C7.
The open minded doctor responded, “If the command structure of this base is concerned with the autonomy and sovereignty of Earth’s people, then my support lies here. But, if this command structure is simply interested in restoring the former United States, I suggest there is a larger picture.”
Bracken and Hauer now understood each other. Regardless of their mistrusts, they both just confirmed that they were opposed to the efforts of the C7. The general lifted his head after hearing the response and reclined in his chair. He rocked back and forth for a few moments before sitting straight up with his hands hooked around the arm rests.
“Hauer, I have a question that may give me more insight to this larger picture. We have just conclusively proved that the Syvora Virus was manufactured with intent to cull the population. It is something we suspected for a few years.”
“As have I general,” Hauer responded
“I see. Well, at any rate, Dr. Courtney Leroux at Jackson Laboratories has headed up a two year effort known as Project Splicer to analyze the human cranial fragment with which I know you are familiar.”
“I am aware of Dr. Leroux’s efforts.”
“Well, I just received a report this morning that she conclusively determined the age to be over 5.7 million years old and it possessed all the DNA characteristics of a modern human.”
Bracken stood up from his recoiling chair and walked about ten paces to a lithograph on the wall to the right of his desk that depicted the last battle of the American Revolutionary War at Yorktown. He pushed the bottom right corner of the frame and a tiny mini bar swiveled around from the back. He poured a glass of Scotch and gestured to offer Hauer a drink.
“No thank you.”
The general continued, “What do you really know?”
The doctor leaned forward, sensing for the first time that he may have misjudged the general and some of his ilk for far too long. It was a most encouraging realization.
“General, if you want the truth that will give you the necessary motivation to act in this planet’s best interest then here it is – your knowledge, or any human’s for that matter, about your history is fragmented at best. The C7 is only the tip of the iceberg.”
CHAPTER 07
Northern Arizona
The sun like a brightly glowing molten medallion was beginning its journey over the sweeping plateaus and towering mesas of Northeast Arizona. The endless vistas and rolling landscape caught the first rays of dawn painting the desert floor with brilliant variations of orange and yellow. Except for the occasional wisps of sands, the early morning ritual of Taiowa’s return to the sky was majesty in silence.
As she ran westward, the fine desert sand rose up behind her feet like miniature dust explosions. Her spandex silhouette against the morning sun displayed a slim and toned physique. Her glossy black hair whipped above her shoulders like a thoroughbr
ed’s mane in full stride. The reflection of Indn Route 9 rolling ahead appeared in her mirrored sunglasses covering a naturally bronzed complexion.
Mykah had made the eleven mile run every single day for last fifteen years. It was a habit she maintained with strict discipline since she was thirteen years old. Her skin tight jogging suit was quite out of place in Hotevilla; a Hopi village located in Third Mesa where she started and ended her run each morning. But she never really received any direct criticisms. Her people knew Mykah was special and being groomed for a great purpose.
The Hopituh Shinumu had occupied this land for over a thousand years. But, 'The Peaceful People' knew their ancestors dated back much further back than a mellennium. The Hisatsinom, or the ancient ones, where in this land at least a thousand years earlier. Mykah was one of the dwindling numbers of her younger generation that truly respected the traditions of her ancient people.
Kele Tawanima was Mykah’s mentor and was responsible for her great appreciation for the teachings of the Hopi elders. Kele was an elder that chose a life of isolation living by himself about five miles outside of Hotevilla.
When Mykah was twelve years old she came to live with her grandmother in Third Mesa after her parents were killed in a car accident. November of that year, during the Wuwuchim ceremony, she first met Kele. From the second he met her, he knew Mykah possessed a special spirit. The elder took her under his wing to teach her the prophecy – the entire prophecy. Even back then the 83 year old Kele knew the time was growing short and he needed to prepare a protege; even if she did have a strange name.
This December morning Mykah was running preoccupied with thoughts of Soyal; the first kachina which makes its appearance at the winter solstice. It was her favorite ceremony because it represented the rebirth of new life. She was thinking about how much she enjoyed seeing that turquoise helmet and watching the kachina walk like a toddler.
