by Ira Tabankin
“I can’t believe we’re even discussing this. If you say it’s safe and you’ll help, then I’ll do whatever I can to help save my planet. Isn’t fixing gambling a crime? Couldn’t I be arrested?”
“You won’t win enough in any one casino to raise eyebrows of their security, and if I have to, I can place a small device in your pocket, which will blank out their cameras.”
“As long as I don’t get arrested or taken by the mob into the desert and never seen again.”
“You know I won’t let that happen to you.”
“Then I’m in.”
“I knew I could count on you. Now let’s have some beer.”
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McCone was briefed on the Tsar Bomba—its yield, its location and everything the CIA knew about the weapon. The spy chief wondered, a super bomb too large to transport over the pole and too large to be a missile warhead. Uses too much plutonium to make a lot of them. Why was it made and why there? What could be on that island worth destroying because whatever was under that explosion is gone? That monster dug a massive hole…yes, a hole. It dug a damned hole. What if there had been something buried there the Soviets needed or wanted to destroy. When was the General in Moscow? Let’s see if our alien friend or the General helped them make that bomb and I’ll retask a bird to look at the island target? I want to see how deep a crater it dug. My gut is telling me the alien wanted something destroyed and he had the Soviets build him a monster bomb to do it. It’s the only thing that makes any sense. I got a message from Hoover that the alien is coming to Camp David, I’ll issue the orders to shift the overhead birds.
Three days after Kalteck and General Yahnig left Camp David, McCone couldn’t wait to rip into the Top-Secret Envelope with the images from the overhead bird. He held the images and shook his head, nothing, not a damn thing. How is that possible? Hoover told me the alien and General were with the President. Their agent reported the ship landed and took off from the field behind the President’s cabin. Why didn’t our birds overhead, which are the most sensitive on the planet, not see them coming or going?
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Everett reviewed the aviation progress made in the previous two years; he was very pleased with the flight of the X-15, which Kalteck said was going carry a man into the edge of space. A few of the unique first plane and space events that were happened in 1961-62 were,
— Tupolev Tu-28.
— North American X-15.
— Lockheed F-104G Super Starfighter.
Kalteck and Everett were very busy in 1962. They guided the Americans to catch up with the Soviets in the space race. America was finally able to place a man in orbit and to begin the planning for the moon mission. In early January, NASA announced plans to build the C-5 rocket, which became better known as the Saturn V Moon rocket. The Saturn V launched every Apollo Moon mission.
In late January, NASA launched Ranger 3 to study the moon. The space probe later missed the moon by 22,000 miles. Both the USSR and the USA had missed the moon on their initial attempts which caused Kalteck to shake his head and grab a case of beer before leaving in his ship. “I’m not sure you people can count past your fingers and toes.”
In July, the Americans exploded what they called The Starfish Prime High-altitude nuclear explosion. Unknown to most, this was an early test to plot the effects of a high-altitude explosion. Also, in July, the first transatlantic satellite television transmission began. Kalteck explained this would usher in a massive change in how the Earth handled communications and would lead to what he called instantaneous comms for something he called voice, data, and video, the three keys to keeping the population, governments, and military-connected. Everett wondered what Kalteck had meant by connected and why he called them comms.
Kalteck didn’t forget the Soviets since they were ahead of the Americans in their space program. He assisted them in the design of space suits and taught them how their people could operate outside of their capsules. In early August, the Soviets launched the Vostok 3 ship, which enabled the first cosmonaut to float in the micro-g environment, known as microgravity of outer space.
Everett thought back about what Kalteck had told him was coming when on the 14th of October, what would become known as The Cuban Missile Crisis began. A U.S. Air Force Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance plane flew over the island of Cuba. The U-2 took pictures of Soviet missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads being installed on the island only 90 miles off the coast of Florida.
One of the projects, Everett was most proud of was the first flight of the Lockheed A-12. (precursor to SR 71) in mid-December. He’d worked with the famous Lockheed Skunk Works to carry technical questions and answers back and forth with Kalteck so the large plane could become the world’s fastest, a record it held for many years. Kalteck has said the SR71 was important because it taught the Americans how to use titanium and how to conquer the heat the plane would encounter at speeds over three times the speed of sound.
Also, in December, Everett made his first trip to Las Vegas wearing a disguise with the hearing aids that connected him with Kalteck’s ship’s AI. At the end of three days, Everett had won three hundred thousand dollars from six different casinos. Kalteck told Everett he wouldn’t return to gamble again for a year, in the meantime, the money was going to be invested by the ship’s AI.
Chapter 9
1963 stared on a sour note since President Kennedy was angry with Kalteck for the help he continued to give the Soviets. Kennedy also suspected Kalteck knew about the missiles that had been installed on Cuba and kept it a secret from America. Kennedy never trusted Kalteck or General Yahnig. He had asked his brother, the Attorney General, to hire agents to spy on both of them. Kennedy also forced the Director of the Secret Service to add different agents, ones he trusted among the crew keeping track of Kalteck’s coming and going in Area 51. These agents were to report directly and only to Kennedy. He wanted to know what they saw and heard. He wanted detailed logs kept of the ship’s landings and take-offs from the base and where the General went when he was off duty.
One of the new agents reported that the General and the alien secretly communicated through a small glowing box that the General never let out of his sight. Kennedy ordered his spies to learn everything they could about the device and, if possible, steal it. A second agent reported they’d followed General Yahnig in a very good disguise and watched him gamble and win over one hundred thousand dollars in Las Vegas. Kennedy wondered if the General was winning based on special knowledge or technology the damned alien gave him.
Kennedy wondered if Yahnig was winning money for Kalteck and, if so, what he was doing with it. Why would the aliens need American currency? Kennedy wondered how much Yahnig had won in the previous couple of years. He checked with the Pentagon who informed him the General should have reported any such winnings to the IRS. Upon checking he learned the General hadn’t, which was a federal crime. Robert Kennedy continued to build his case against General Yahnig so he would have the choice of a long time in a federal prison or following every order the President gave him which would include turning over all of the alien’s technology to the President.
In May, Kennedy requested a meeting with Kalteck and General Yahnig at Camp David. Unknown to Kennedy, the compromised Secret Service agent had reported to Hoover that the alien had landed at Camp David and he’d brought General Yahnig with him. He was told to keep his eyes and ears open and find out why they were meeting with the President. The agent didn’t have to worry about spying on the President because anyone close to the President’s cabin could hear him screaming, “Kalteck, why do you continue to assist the damn Soviets! I told you to stop giving them an advantage over us. I expect, I DEMAND, you stay here and do everything necessary to help us place a crew on the moon by the end of the decade.”
“Mr. President, you know the agreement. I am helping the people of the Earth, not a single nation. None of your nations, not even America, could hope to defeat what’s coming. The original agreement s
tated I would provide most of my support to the country that pulled ahead.”
“I’ve heard this before. America is the most powerful country on this planet. If you’d focus your efforts and assistance here, we could leapfrog every other country. We have the companies and manufacturing infrastructure to build whatever is required. Why won’t you share with us all of your secrets?”
“Mr. President, if I handed over all of my technology, you’d destroy your planet in war as my people did to my planet. You’ve seen the pictures of Mars. Is this what you want for Earth? A dead burned out ball that orbits its star? If you continue on your current course, that’s the way you’ll end up.”
“I can manage the technology. In fact, I’ve decided that if you don’t turn over your technology, I will announce your existence to the world. Next month I plan to address the General Assembly at the United Nations. There I will make the announcement we’re not alone. I will show the pictures of your ship and you. I will announce we captured you when your ship crashed in ’47. I want a device like you gave General Yahnig so I can contact you at any time. Yes, I know about the small blue, glowing box which enables him to contact you wherever you are. Not this crap about sending a radio signal and waiting for you to receive and respond.”
“You did not capture me I offered my service to America and the Soviet Union so you’re prepared to defeat the coming invasion of the enemy who hopes to enslave you. I do not trust you or any politician with the device. You would attempt to open it with devastating results. You have no idea of the power that small device contains. In a manner of speaking it is alive and will defend itself. Some on my planet call it a ‘mother box.’”
“What kind of fool do you take me as? There’s no way a small box can be alive. I demand you give me a box or I’ll announce your existence to the world. You will be responsible for tearing the Earth apart. We both know countless millions will die and it will all be on your spiked head, not mine.”
Kalteck got angry, “You should not disclose my existence. If you move ahead with this plan, I may have to take drastic action I would prefer not to.”
“Alien, are you threatening me? I am the President of the United States of America. I am the most powerful man in the world. With one word, I can issue the order to destroy entire countries.”
“That does not make you a good President, it only makes you a good mass murderer.”
Kennedy leered at Kalteck, “You seem very attached to your pet. What if I fire General Yahnig and replace him with someone of my choosing? Would you then agree to do as I ask?”
“The General is an officer of your Air Force. As such he reports to you. If you wish to retire him, that will be your decision. I, of course, can make my own decisions. I won’t work with another officer. If you retire General Yahnig, then I will take my leave from Earth, and I may take the General with me.”
“You would leave us defenseless?”
“You just told me how powerful America is. Surely with you as her leader, you can crush any enemy. I have grown to call the General my friend. I am loyal as I’m sure you are to your friends. Would you continue on a path if the friend you started down it with was taken from you by another or would you strike at the one who removed your friend?”
“That has nothing to do with the current situation.”
“My question goes to the very heart of our discussion. I don’t understand why you announce my existence to the people of your planet? Doing so would cause many problems. Your people aren’t mature enough to accept the truth that you are not alone.”
“I’ll decide what they’re mature enough for.”
“If you create panic, and you will, you will lose any chance you have of being prepared when the enemy arrives.”
“The enemy this and that, I have not seen any proof of an enemy. I want to see the proof.”
“You appear to have already made up your mind. Do you have anything else you wish to discuss? If not, I will take my leave.”
Kennedy motioned with his hand over his head. Two Secret Service agents appeared behind Kalteck who smiled. “Don’t touch me. I have no quarrel with you. If you attempt to restrain me, you will cease to exist.”
Kennedy nodded his head towards the agents. Both reached out to restrain Kalteck. Everett took three steps away from his friend, knowing what was coming. As soon as the first agent laid a hand on Kalteck a small gray box on his belt glowed. The agent screamed. His hand had been severed as if a sharp scalpel has sliced it off. Yet his stump didn’t bleed. The agent went into shock and fell on the floor, screaming.
“It’s called a laser, I warned you not to touch me. That’s part of my self-defensive weapons. It sliced his hand off, and the intense heat cauterized his wound. I would recommend the agent raising the weapon behind me put it down or I will be forced to terminate him. He will be vaporized before his finger could tighten enough to pull the trigger. The choice is yours. I won’t be hurt, but every agent you send against me will.”
Kennedy nodded and the agent put the weapon down. “I have nothing else to discuss with you. Why don’t you take your pet with you and I’ll call when I have made up my mind what to do with the two of you.”
“He’s not my pet. He’s a two-star general in your Air Force…”
“If he knew any better, he’d retire because he’ll never see his third star. His career is finished. No one will ever promote him.”
On the short flight back to Area 51, Kalteck said, “AI monitor the President’s calls and meetings. I want to know if he continues with his plans to make an announcement at the United Nations.”
Everett looked at his friend, “You can do that? You ship can monitor his meetings even if we’re not there? How?”
“I left behind some small sensors. One day you’ll understand how to make them. They are in the White House, Camp David, the Kremlin, and Khrushchev’s dacha. They listen and record everything said, done and they then transmit their data to my AI who summarizes it to me. They are very simple devices, really not much above a toy. Would you like to see and hear what your President is doing right now?”
“How long have you been spying on them?”
“Since our first meetings with both governments. I won’t be taken by surprise by your planet’s silly politicians and tinpot dictators. I will protect myself and now you to the best of my ability.”
“I’ll give in to my curiosity. Let’s see what he’s up to.”
The wall of the command room turned into a large monitor showing the inside of Kennedy’s cabin. They watched him speaking to the Director of the CIA, McCone. The president told McCone about Kalteck, who pretended to be shocked by the news. “I want the alien, and the General kept under surveillance twenty-fours a day. I want to know what they’re doing and where they’re going. If they leave in his flying saucer, I want to know when they leave and when they return. If they show up in Moscow, I want your agents to let us know as soon as they land. I want you to position snipers overlooking their little base in the Nevada desert. If I give the word, I want you to take them both out.”
“Sir, the CIA’s area of responsibility, is outside of the borders. The FBI is responsible for activity inside the borders…”
“We both know Hoover can’t be trusted. I want you to set this up. You have agents and contractors. The dots don’t have to point to Langley. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir. How long do you want the surveillance on them?”
“Right up to the moment I make the announcement at the UN, or I give you the order to take them both out. Needless to say, nothing about this will ever be put on paper.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kalteck shook his head, “Everett; I’m sorry I am going to have to arrange a change of leadership at the top of your country. I don’t do this lightly. I don’t have a choice. We both know that if Kennedy tells the world about me, then your world will explode. He wants the pandemonium. He’s counting on it. I can’t figure out why he wants to upset what you call
the apple cart. He’s after something that I can’t figure out. What does he have to gain from the forthcoming panic?”
“I don’t know what he’s after. None of it makes any sense. How are you going to manage the change? You can’t make yourself known and you can’t use the power of your ship. The ship would be seen. Just the sight of the ship would cause the pandemonium the President wants and both of us know will cause the deaths of millions.”
“Leave that to me. I have the means to carry out actions. All I can ask is you trust me. What’s going to happen is going to shake your country. I don’t like or trust your Vice President, but at least I know he can be bought off not to announce my existence. I must leave you now. The trip I take has to be taken only by myself, I don’t want to involve you in my plans. I will be gone for only a couple of days. I am asking you to trust me.”
