ROBOTECH: THE MISFOLD

               Part 7

          Written by Sean Hayden and Todd Hill

Todd.Hill@columbiasc.attgis.com  <----- (ha! Pre-layoff
address.  Geez, It's been longer than I thought!)
Sysop@newberry.edu

     The Secretary General of the United Nations was upset.
He'd gone through his tenth straight cup of cappuccino and
it was only nine thirty in the morning.  He had no idea that
the day would start so badly.  He despised surprises;  they
made him edgy.  Surprises in the job had been thankfully few
and rather subdued in the past.  In fact, throughout all of
his diplomatic career, he had been fortunate not to
encounter any unexpected events in the earth-shattering
category.  That is, until now.
     Late last night he had been watching CNN in his New
York office when all of a sudden an aide burst in handing
him a 'red-hot' memo from one of the member nations.  It
contained sketchy news of the REF's apparent 'occupation' of
Bosnia.  That's when the cappuccino started flowing.
     After recovering from the memo, he decided to convene
an emergency morning session of the General Assembly of
diplomats to try to deal with this new side of the REF.
Although most of the diplomats were not even in the
facility, those that happened to be there when he called the
meeting would have to do.  He doubted that the chamber would
be empty.  Something dreadful had occurred in their eyes,
and absenteeism was almost guaranteed to be nil.  They had
to deal with a new side of the REF, and they had to deal
with it immediately.
     The session had started out panicked and nearly
riotous.  The Secretary General had already fractured the
handle on one gavel, and it looked like #2 was about to do
the same.  It was indeed a full house, and the delegates had
refused to behave themselves.  Nothing constructive was
being accomplished.  The shouting went on for some time,
with no end in sight.
     The electronic address from the REF envoy to the UN
didn't help matters any.  Their statement was that their
aircraft "were acting under the orders from their supreme
commander on board the ROOSEVELT" and that they basically
had nothing else to say about it.  'THAT went over REAL
well...' the Secretary general lamented to himself.  He was
actually able to feel the air pressure in the Assembly
Chamber drop as everyone there gasped.  At that point he
merely slumped in his chair behind lectern, rubbed his
temples, and mumbled to himself "Why me?"  The chamber was
bedlam, and he wasn't sure whether he wanted to call order
or not.  The situation in Bosnia had been tenuous before
this happened, but now things had gotten a lot worse.
     Later on in the session some semblance of order had
been restored.  The Russian delegation, fueled by the
harshness of the REF's announcement, had been screaming it's
head off demanding several things.  First, a formal apology
from the REF to the Serbians on behalf of their Serbian
allies.  Second, they demanded that all REF mecha be
grounded on the spaceship indefinitely.  Third, they
insisted that a UN peacekeeping force be stationed on the
ship "to ensure that their mecha are used only when the UN
allows it!"  What struck the Secretary General as odd was
that the Russian delegate was pointing his finger at HIM
when every demand was made.
     Now in his office, he mulled the morning's events
through his mind in a dim hope that something could be
figured out of this mess.  The UN delegates had been hoping
that the REF would be good enough to just sit up there in
space and leave their war machines dormant.  However that
was but mere wishful thinking now that Captain Kranz had
violated his self-imposed 'non-intervention' pact.  The
reactionary leaders of the UN were now saying that the
world's future was suddenly at the whim of some spaceborne
alien!  The Secretary General could still feel the 'I told
you so' stares he had received from most of the delegates.
     His empty cup was clattering in his shaking hands.  He
forced himself to put the saucer down on his desk and take a
long, deep breath.  All of these events were happening at a
fearsome rate, and all of the UN was tense with expectation
as to what could possibly happen next.  'And here I am, the
one human on the planet with the 'authoritative' position to
do anything about it,' he mused to himself.  He rubbed his
eyes and sank into his reclining chair.
     Chuckling in spite of himself, the Secretary General
couldn't help but feeling that this was not a good way for
the newest 'nation' of the United Nations to kick off their
membership.  Indeed, the REF had only recently applied for
membership to the United Nations.  After a remarkable speech
by the REF's Commander Carter, and with the grudging
approval of the Security Council, they were accepted as a
provisional member.
     At first he welcomed the fact that the REF wanted to be
a peaceful participant in the planet's governing mass.  He
thought that something as unique as the Robotech Ship would
have a polarizing effect on the members, and maybe stop a
lot of the squabbles that the nations had been engaging in.
But he accepted their benevolence without considering their
capabilities.  Now in hindsight, he found it irksome that
they were not accountable to any other group or organization
than themselves.  Sure he had heard rumors that some 'shadow
organization' had been able to rattle the REF's cage.  But
this so-called 'ELITE' had done nothing more than piss off
the REF.  It was his strong belief that the member nations
of the  Security Council could do no better; so armed
confrontation with the REF out of the question.  That made
dealing with the REF on an equal level a very difficult, if
not impossible, task.
     'There HAS to be a way to keep the REF as an ally to
the earth, without having them becoming 'protective
overlords' of the planet,' he thought, trying to console
himself.  Deep down inside, he believed that there were
humans in that ship that were capable of listening to
reason. He hoped that they were also capable of expressing
compassion.  He would have to appeal to their human nature
if he were to stop their interference.
     And he would have to stop that interference quickly,
before some short-tempered national leader with an
overbearing sense of machismo tried to do something
unthinkable, like attack the REF directly.  'Perhaps,' he
mused, 'I can convince the United States delegates to work
with me to convince the REF of the folly of their actions.'
     Unfortunately, the United States delegation was being
curiously silent throughout the entire Bosnian development.
Throughout the session, they had nothing much to say. What
they DID say amounted to nothing more than a passive
acknowledgment of the events.  'It's almost as if they
didn't care about, or worse condoned, what happened today,'
he mused.  They didn't so much as stir when one of the
delegates suggested that the US, in it's frustration over
the whole Bosnian conflict, convinced the REF to attack the
Serbian rebel outposts.
     'It has been long known that the US has tried to keep
the REF to themselves.  While that posture did not appear in
their official policies, the United States' actions were a
clear enough indication of their position of support for the
REF,' he mused.  He couldn't judge the US government either
way because they were being so silent.  In fact, their State
Department spokesman was the only sign of life in the US
government.  And all he did was poke his head out long
enough to say "The White House and the Pentagon are
monitoring the situation in Bosnia and are keeping in touch
with the UN.  Neither the President nor the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs have any comment at this time."
     'Keeping in touch with the UN... Hah!' he thought
bitterly.  They had not answered any of the Secretary
Generals' queries on the matter, and constant attempts to
contact the leaders of the REF had gone unanswered.  His
frustration with both the US and the REF had increased
exponentially with every successive communication attempt to
the point where he unknowingly began to speak his thoughts
aloud.  "Perhaps cooperation with the United States at this
point is premature, or could it simply be that they are
already in a dialogue over the happenings in Bosnia?" he
said.  "I hope not..."
     "Did you say something sir?" a friendly feminine voice
called out from another room.
     "Nothing really Martha," he called back, slightly
startled.  "I was thinking aloud.  Oh, could I have another
cup of cappuccino please?"  He had a terrible headache now,
and he knew that it was going to be a long day.  He reached
for the phone that was supposed to contact the ROOSEVELT,
hoping that this time he would be listened to.

                                      <*>

     The communications tech on duty was busy coordinating
the retrieval of Lieutenant Walker and the Horizont when
another call came through from the Secretary General.
Standing orders had been thus far to ignore all ground
transmissions directed to the ROOSEVELT in the wake of
Walker's bombing run in Bosnia.  Kranz had been out of the
bridge for more than the announced half hour, and the comm.
tech was getting tired of hearing the UN screaming in her
ear.  She dialed Captain Kranz's cabin.

                                      <*>

     An annoying beeping sound was dragging Kranz away from
the comfortable nap that he had forced himself into.  In the
dark, he fumbled for the communications pad near his bed.
After successfully knocking several items from his night
stand, he reached the intercom and gave it a tired 'thwack.'
     "Kranz here," he said in a slow, tired voice.
     "Sir, I've got the Secretary General of the United
Nations on the horn, and he says that it's imperative that
he talk to you at once," announced the tech with perfect
emotionlessness.
     'Sigh'  "I guess I can't avoid them forever.  Let them
know to expect a transmission from me in the next hour or
so," he said.
     "Aye sir." The female technician coolly responded,
severing the link.
     Kranz turned the lights on in the cabin.  "Whew!" he
thought.  "I need a shower.  Better get that done before
something else tries to get my attention."
     Kranz walked towards the shower, leaving behind the
comfortable bed and forgotten dreams.

                                      <*>

     In a conference room on one of the lowest sub-floors of
the Pentagon, a crucial meeting was being held.  Behind
solid oak doors, raised voices could be heard, although too
many conversations occur at the same time for anything
coherent to be made out.  Suddenly a piercing whistle and a
pounding on the table end the cacophony of voices.
     "Gentlemen, PLEASE!," Dr. Lang fairly shouted.  "I
don't see what sort of constructive information can be
gotten from this meeting if we keep yelling!"
     One of the Joint Chief's stood up, glared in Lang's
direction, and spat out, "How DARE you assume to command us
about!  We've got the potential for a planetary-scale war in
our midst and all you seem fit to do is lecture us on how to
act in a GODDAMNED MEETING!  I resent..."
     "General Jefferson, sit down and SHUT UP!," the
Chairman commanded.  "Dr. Lang is here at my insistence, and
he is to be considered an equal during the course of these
proceedings!  Further, I want to hear no more panic talk
about 'planetary-scale war' crap from anyone at this table.
Is that clear? That's all we'd need is to have a leak to the
press that the Pentagon fears global domination at the hands
of the REF."  Headlines decrying global doom from ghostly
newspapers were mocking him in his imagination.  With an
effort, he pushed the phantom newspapers from his mind and
directed his attention to the professor.  "Now, Dr. Lang if
you would continue your presentation please."
     "Thank you, General.  As I was saying, intelligence
provided to me by General Mitchell's on-site reports, and
information that I was able to gather while on Admiral
Hayes' carrier leads me to believe that the REF is not bent
on world conquest as General Jefferson alluded to.  They are
very much like our own troops in temperament, and also seem
to hold values similar to our own.  I would like to add that
their actions are based on a note of beneficial assistance,
as opposed to something sinister.  However, I must admit
that since their history, and indeed their 'future' for lack
of a better term, are not the same as our own, I cannot
predict exactly what their motivations are behind this
attack.  Nor am I able to give any reliable guess as to
their future actions."
     "If you can't predict that, then what good is the
information?" Jefferson countered.  "We need to be
completely reassured that this is an isolated incident and
that the REF will not try to go beyond the Bosnian area.
The world's reaction to such movements by the REF are
incalculable.  As are the effects to the US."
     "I can only go with the facts that are given to me,"
Lang replied.  "What we know is that they appear to favor
us, and that to a point they have social backgrounds that
are similar to ours.  Also, the fact that they chose a
trouble spot on the planet instead of a peaceful location, a
FAR distance from the United States; and neutralized a very
bloody civil war as a result of their intervention seems to
indicate benevolence on the behalf of Captain Kranz and his
crew.  And to address your statement, General Jefferson,
that they pose a possible threat to the Unites States; I'm
sure that you'll agree that if they had designs on the US,
Bosnia would not have been a primary target."
     "It should be noted here that we have been trying to
contact Captain Kranz for the better part of an hour, only
to have our transmissions ignored.  Also, we cannot contact
General Mitchell who is still on board the ROOSEVELT, so I
am assuming that there has been a communications blackout
throughout their vessel," the Chairman interjected.  "I
don't think that this is a serious problem, YET.  For now I
recommend that we continue our attempts to reach the REF's
ship, and not try anything to thwart or otherwise upset the
current situation in Bosnia.  To tell the truth, this is
probably the best thing that could have happened to Bosnia
from a military standpoint.  That is my personal opinion,
however."
     Calmer now, General Jefferson waded through the sheaf
of papers at his section of the conference room table.
Intel reports and best guess estimates from some of the
Pentagon's most reliable think tanks were almost
contradicting each other.  He finally concluded that all the
reports were agreeing to disagree, and asked, "Dr. Lang, in
your opinion; does this action by the REF indicate an
attempt to usurp the authority of the United Nations?"
     "Again General Jefferson, I cannot be sure of their
exact intentions, but the REF commanders that I talked with
on the LINCOLN appeared to have respect for the governing
bodies of the UN.  That would seem to indicate that they
therefore have respect for the United Nations itself, and
until this point they have behaved in a way which
corroborates that assumption.  I'm not a master of
Psychology, so I defer to the experts in that field for a
better evaluation of their behavior."
     "I understand, Dr. Lang.  However, the government
considers you to be one of the foremost experts on the
planet.  Also, you are the only one in this room that has
had actual contact with the commanding members of the REF.
What I need is to be able to go into the Oval Office with a
set plan and a good estimate of how the US Military should
be characterizing this incident.  I know that this puts you
in the hot seat, but you are our current best source of
information, and I know you'll agree that we need to
expedite things in order to show a strong position in the
eyes of the global community."  He addressed all the brass
at the conference table.  "I'm not a political hack, but
I've got a Commander-in-chief who has been getting pasted in
the public eye, and if I don't have everything possible in
front of me when the time comes for that situation briefing
with him, we could wind up doing the absolute wrong thing.
Not just for the US, but for all of Earth as well."
     Heads were nodding all around the table, Lang included.
President Clinton's short temper and reactionary stances
were well known on the Hill and in the Pentagon.  No-one at
that table wanted to have the situation grow worse because
of a decision based on popular opinion which may contradict
military logic.  The meeting continued to drone on, this
time with a more purposeful tone.

                                      <*>

Sean Hayden 1:376/190@fidonet.org and
Todd.Hill@columbiasc.attgis.com (ha!)
Sysop@newberry.edu

     Carl Morgan's entry to the ROOSEVELT had gone quite
well for the lack of information he had been given prior to
the mission.  He had found someone on-board who had looked
similar to himself and had quietly disposed of the poor
Cadet.  It had taken more than the standard dosage of
ELITE's knockout compound to get the Cadet down for the
count.  After that, it had been a simple matter of tucking
the dozing Cadet away in what appeared to be a seldom-
accessed area of the ship.
     Lugging the Cadet around was difficult through the
passageways.  It wasn't a space problem as much as it was a
problem of being discovered.  He finally found an area he
deemed 'safe' and left the Cadet, bound and gagged, in a
closet in the far corner of a room labeled "Fold System
Maintenance Crew."  The Cadet should be sleeping like a baby
for about a day, and wake up with a terrible headache.  The
good part was that he wouldn't remember Carl, or how he lost
his clothes and wound up hog tied in a closet.
     Carl managed to find his way back to the Cadet's cabin,
and once there secreted himself in, and then had the
unenviable task of trying to make himself fit where he
inherently did not.  A Minmei poster was hanging on the
Cadet's wall.  'Who the hell is Minmei?' Carl asked himself.
An instrument resembling a stylized CD-player sat on the
Cadet's desk.  "Minmei's Greatest hits" was scrawled on the
'disc.'  He found the play button and was rewarded with a
very LOUD rendition of "Stagefright."  Carl's gag reflex was
to immediately turn the player off.  After 3 minutes of
unending torture, at the beginning of "To be in Love" Carl
gave up and stomped the player to death.  'Thank God that's
over!' he thought in relief as his ears stopped aching.
     After recovering from the Minmei Attack, he began a
quick crash course using the Cadet's study materials.  A
short time later Carl felt able to wander about the ship and
look like he belonged there.  The Cadet's duty roster showed
him to be on liberty for two days. 'It would be enough
time,' Carl thought.
     His orders had been thankfully simple--to recon the
carrier.  The only complicated part was that he had to
sabotage the ship somehow.  He wasn't given a reason why,
although they assured him that all would be explained upon
completion of his mission.  He was instructed to lay low
until he received a signal, then he was to 'break' the ship.
Ingratiating himself with the crew shouldn't be a problem,
as long as he was able to stay in character.
     Carl emerged from his cabin to begin his new, temporary
life as "Cadet Jimmy Marshall."

                                      <*>

Todd.Hill@columbiasc.attgis.com  (ha!)
Sysop@newberry.edu

     Showered and in a freshly pressed uniform, Kranz
stepped onto the bridge and asked for a situation report.
     The Officer of the Deck responded, "Sir we have
successfully retrieved Lieutenant Walker's Veritech from
it's low earth orbit, and the Horizont is preparing to dock
with the ROOSEVELT."
     Kranz responded, "Good.  When the Lieutenant is
onboard, inform him that I need to speak with him in the
main conference room.  Also advise Commander Anders to be
present for that meeting."
     "Aye sir," responded the OOD.
     "What is the current status of the UN Secretary
General?," Kranz thought to ask.
     "The Secretary General agreed to speak with you when
you are ready.  He said that he will be awaiting your call
from his office."
     "Are they equipped with visual transmission gear?"
     "Yes sir, they are.  The equipment was installed in his
office shortly after we applied for membership.  I don't
think that he knows how to use it, however.  He contacted me
on their audio-only link."
     Kranz thought for a moment and added, "Send him a
message on how to enable the remote control of the
communications gear.  We'll handle the operation of his
equipment if necessary.  Let him know to expect a video
conference within the next two hours, and tell him to bring
in the members of the Security Council if he wishes."
     "Aye sir.  Will there be anything else?"
     "No, I'll be in the conference room waiting for
Lieutenant Walker and Commander Anders.  If anything
happens, contact me there," Kranz said as he turned to leave
the bridge.

                                      <*>

Sean Hayden 1:376/190@fidonet.org &
Todd.Hill@columbiasc.attgis.com
Sysop@newberry.edu

     Carl was strolling aimlessly about the corridors of the
ROOSEVELT, when a pretty young woman matched his pace and
said, "Hi, you look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?"
     The name tag read Ford, Carl smiled. "I don't think so,
I'd remember a face like yours.  Name's Jimmy," He said
holding out his hand. "Pleased to meet'cha, uh... " Carl
said grinning hesitantly.
     "...Sarah," Lt. Ford replied smiling. "Listen, I'm on
my way to the chow hall. You hungry?"
     "Sure," Carl 'Jimmy Marshall' Morgan said brightly,
internally hating the alias.

                                      <*>

Todd.Hill@columbiasc.attgis.com
Sysop@newberry.edu

     Lt. Joe Walker's shuttle back to the ROOSEVELT arrived
without incident, and he was helping the crew with guiding
his Veritech out of the Horizont when an assistant to
Captain Kranz ran into the hangar area and made a bee line
for Joe.
     "Welcome back, Mr. Walker," the Major said in
greetings.
     "Glad to have the mission completed, Sir," Joe said
distractedly.  Internally he was wondering why the Captain
was sending someone to greet him in the hangar when the
communicators would have sufficed for any congratulations or
criticisms of the mission.
     "Your mission was very successful, Sir.  But it seems
that the Earth took more notice than the Captain
anticipated.  You are to report to the Captain's conference
room within the half hour," the aide said.  And with that he
saluted Joe, and left the hangar.
     "Well," Joe thought to himself, "I wonder what's
happened now."  He left the Veritech with the crew, and
headed to his cabin for a shower and a change.

                                     <*>

     The Oval Office was a house of chaos at the moment.
White House staffers and assistants were answering all of
the phones calling for the President's attention while Bill
Clinton sat at his desk nursing a drink, trying to calm his
nerves.  One of the aide's tapped the President on the
shoulder and said, "Sir, it's the US ambassador to the UN.
He says it's urgent."
     President Clinton entered a quick and hushed
conversation with the ambassador, jotting notes down, and
finally ending the conversation with "expect to hear from me
after I get done with the meeting with General Powell."

                                     <*>

     The Secretary General was sitting in his office,
looking at the piece of equipment that he still didn't know
how to operate.  He preferred the anonymity of the phones,
but figured that this might be the best way to get things
out into the open.  He sat at his desk and stared at the
display on the communications setup.  It was currently
showing a test pattern which was, unbeknownst to him, the
logo of the RDF.
     A rap at the door interrupted his reverie.  "Sir, the
members of the Security Council are starting to arrive,"
said Martha with her head peeked from around the door.
     "Go ahead and admit them, please," was his only
response.
     The United States, Russian, and Chinese delegates
strode into the room.  All the delegates were wary after the
Bosnian incident.  The Secretary General looked at them and
addressed the United States' delegate, "Where are the other
delegates?"
     "They wanted me to let you know that they are not
coming, but they will allow us to proxy their decisions in
this matter," the US delegate replied simply.
     That is HIGHLY irregular, as you well know.  Decisions
which would have worldwide effect should not be made by
only..."
     We are sure, Mr. Secretary, that you would agree that
the events of the past 24 hours are also `highly irregular'
and that we don't have the time to call a full committee,"
the Russian delegate said, delighting in cutting off the
rest of the Secretary General's remarks.
     With all of those papers giving the three men in the
room the ability to act as the mouthpiece for the Council
"in any negotiations with the REF," the Secretary General
threw up his hands in disgust and said "Well, it looks like
I have no choice but to accept these terms."  `Like I *ever*
have a choice' he added to himself sourly.
     He looked to the door of his office and called out
"Martha!  Could you please bring in something for the
delegates, and Cappuccino for me?"  This short meeting was
already starting to feel like a marathon, and unless he
calmed himself down, he would be in no shape to address the
REF.

                                     <*>

     The Joint Chief's Chairman pulled his glasses off, and
rubbed the bridge of his nose.  They had just completed the
full report that they would be delivering to the President,
and everyone in the room was exhausted.  Right now a nap
would be very enticing, but he still had to give his
presentation at the Oval Office.
     He decided to re-read the final report summation before
calling for a transport to the White House.

     Mr. President:

     It is the unanimous conclusion of the Joint Chiefs of
the United States Armed Forces that the REF is not acting in
a warlike stance, and that their policy does not threaten
the integrity of the United States.  Our analysis of the
tactics and the history that we have on the REF negates the
possibility of global conquest as their motivation.  We
therefore recommend that the US military hold off on any
punitive attacks or other form of retribution.  Instead, we
should continue to pursue the dialogue that we initiated
with the REF on the ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
     Furthermore, it is common knowledge among the
intelligence groups of the US Government that a group that
refers to themselves as `ELITE' were responsible for the
attack on the LINCOLN, and at Langley Air Base.  It is of
deep concern to the Joint Chiefs that this group has not
been investigated sufficiently, and to this extent we
recommend that the United States direct the bulk of it's
military and covert intelligence-gathering resources towards
discovering their base of operations and neutralizing them
completely.  It is also our concern that ELITE has possibly
placed personnel in key positions within all portions of our
governing body.  Steps need to be taken to plug the leaks
that appear to be plaguing all divisions of the US
Government.  In our opinion, the integrity and freedom of
the United States are more imminently in danger from that
organization than from the REF.

     Submitted by,
     Colin Powell
     Chairman:
     Joint Chiefs of Staff
     United States Armed Forces


     He wondered if it wasn't too short, but then he looked
on the other side of the table and reassessed that opinion.
To be included with the Pentagon memo were 1700 pages of
intel reports and psych assessment folders on all of the
personnel from the ROOSEVELT that have been in contact with
the US government.  His aides had weeded out all of the
contradictory information, `superfluous' Lang had called it,
and highlighted parts of documents that strengthened the
opinion of the memo.  Also included in that stack was a 450
page `threat assessment report' on the group called `ELITE.'
     He called one of his aides into the room.  "Please send
for a car to take me to the White House, and have Dr. Lang
meet me at the motor pool.  I want him with me at this
meeting.  Also, contact the White House and let them know of
our impending arrival."
     "Yes sir," replied the aide, saluting crisply and
hurrying off to complete the orders she was given.
     `Now comes the hard part,' he thought to himself as he
returned the salute.  `I have to convince the President not
to try to nuke the ROOSEVELT from the sky."

                                      <*>

     Fifteen minutes after that, the Chairman and Dr. Lang
arrived at the White House to begin briefing the President.
President Clinton ushered out the majority of the staff that
was present in the Oval Office leaving himself, vice-
president Gore, and Secretary of State Warren Christopher
remaining in the office with the two gentlemen.
     After Dr. Lang was introduced to everyone present, the
President commenced the briefing with "Well gentlemen, it
seems that we have a new enemy in the sky.  What should we
do to counter this new global menace?"
     With that, Colin Powell submitted copies of his memo to
everyone present in the Oval Office and awaited questions
from them.  He also instructed a Marine to bring in the
accompanying 1700+ pages of documentation and set it on the
President's desk.
     After five minutes of quiet contemplation from the
group, General Powell finally spoke  :Sir, as you can see,
we have extensive documentation that we were able to draw
from, and we also have several eyewitness accounts to add
credence to our findings.  In fact, that is the primary
reason that I asked Dr. Lang to join us for this briefing."
     "Your memo is rather puzzling.  Why do you say that the
Pentagon would not characterize the REF as becoming hostile
to the United States?  They've already demonstrated that
they don't care about national sovereignty with that damn
stunt in Bosnia."  The President's gaze became more ominous,
as the anger mounted in him.  "I find fault with that
assessment, especially in light of the small fact that they
are parked right on top of Washington, DC!  Explain to me
why you think that they're no threat when they have the
capacity to turn this planet into a wasteland at the
utterance of a single command," the President demanded,
having really worked himself up into a frenzy by this point.
     Unblinking and thoroughly unfazed, General Powell
indicated Dr. Lang with a gesture, and said "Dr. Lang can
provide the best answers to your questions, sir."
     "Mr. President.  As I mentioned in the meeting with the
Joint Chiefs earlier today, it would be anathema to them to
do such a thing to the earth.  They may be from `outer
space,' but that does not mean that they are alien to us.
They too are from earth, albeit from another timeline," Dr.
Lang said clinically.
     The President nodded slowly to himself.  Yes, that much
had been stated in several of the reports that he had
received upon entering the Oval Office.
     "Furthermore, the REF's stated goal is to defend the
earth from something called an `Invid.'  According to the
descriptions that they provided us, the Invid had occupied
earth in their timeline and it was their job to assist in
the liberation of earth.  If they were truly hostile towards
the earth, they wouldn't have been fighting the Invid in the
first place.  Also, they would have already owned this
planet if that was their intention.  And as far as the
United States itself is concerned, they appear to favor our
nation over all others.  Interestingly enough, Mr.
President, most of the personnel aboard the ROOSEVELT that I
have had the opportunity to talk with have behaved like
Americans.  Bearing in mind all of this evidence, I
seriously doubt that the REF would harbor any notion of
occupying the United States."
     General Powell was nodding his assent to Dr. Lang's
words as the doctor took his seat.
     Secretary of State Warren Christopher looked at a note
handed to him by the President, and then spoke.  "It has
come to the attention of the White House that the UN
Secretary General is convening a meeting between the
Security Council, and the commanding officers of the
ROOSEVELT within the next couple of hours.  The President
and I feel that we should have direct access to this meeting
and participate in it actively."
     Stunned looks from General Powell and Dr. Lang were all
the response that he got in return.  `We should have been
notified by the Pentagon prior to this briefing!.'  Colin
Powell made a note to himself to find out why they didn't
know about this before arriving at the White House.  Dr.
Lang, on the other hand, started fidgeting in his chair.
Even though it seemed out of place in this meeting, Lang was
starting to feel upbeat for the first time since all of this
began.
     The President stood and began to pace the room.
"Warren, I want you present at that meeting to represent the
Executive branch.  General Powell, if you can arrange it, I
would also like you there as the official representative of
our military division.  You can bring Dr. Lang along with
you if you want, I don't really care. I'm not yet satisfied
that the REF is `only intervening' in the Bosnian civil war.
I want to be assured that we won't have to be looking over
our shoulders every five minutes expecting an attack.  I'm
depending on you to convince them of our resolve, people."
President Clinton handed General Powell a copy of the
information that he had taken down during the course of his
phone conversation with the US Ambassador.  Then he returned
to his desk, and looked noticeably calmer.
     "Yes sir.  We'll be sure to attend that meeting,"
General Powell responded.  Now for a change in direction.
"What is your suggestion on our information regarding ELITE,
sir?"
     "We'll handle it somehow.  I feel that they are a lower
priority than the REF.  I feel that we must attack the
biggest problem first.  We should be able to put ELITE on
the back burner until we've resolved all of our current
differences with the REF, if that's possible.
     Colin Powell bit back his desired response, and merely
said, "Yes sir, I'll get right on it."  With that he saluted
the President, and he and Dr. Lang stood and left the Oval
Office.  Once outside the White House, he spoke.  "Doctor, I
know you'll agree with me that ELITE is not as overblown as
the President is making it out to be.  I have every
intention of removing the threat of ELITE from our
government, and I may require your assistance."
     Dr. Lang looked at him and said, "I agree with your
concerns over ELITE, but shouldn't we have the backing of
the White House before beginning a major campaign like this
one?"
     General Powell grunted slightly and stated, "You read
that threat assessment report.  If that projected timeline
holds true, then America's time is limited.  The only reason
that ELITE's been pushed back at all is due to the setbacks
handed them by the REF.  If the President wants to cling to
foolish hopes, then I cannot count on the assistance of the
White House."
     "I understand.  Count on me for full support.  Hmmph,
if things go well at the UN, maybe the REF will lend a
hand," said the doctor with a slight glint of hope.
     "One thing at a time Doctor Lang.  We still have this
meeting to get through,"  the General stated.  Even still,
he had already begun formulating ideas and making lists of
names.  He was determined to use whatever means he had at
his disposal to track down and destroy ELITE utterly.
     Back inside the White House, President Clinton
contacted the Secretary General's office; while outside
Warren Christopher joined Dr. Lang and General Powell to
await the Limo that would whisk them to Langley, where jets
were standing by awaiting the emergency flight to New York
City.

                                      <*>

     Moments later, an aide walked into the Secretary
General's office bearing a note.  After quickly opening the
note and doing several double takes, he motioned for the US
delegate to join him in the hallway outside his office.
Once outside, he handed the note to the delegate and bade
him to read.  After waiting impatiently for 2 minutes, he
asked "What do you think would be the best way to handle
this?"
     "Well sir, it's obvious by this note that the Pentagon
and the White House have been made aware of this conference.
They want to take part in the discussion, but I'm not sure
how the other delegates in your office will act when they
find out about this," the delegate responded coolly.
     "I have a feeling that they are going to ask for equal
representation, and what I don't need in my office right now
is a damned special-interests tent meeting with all of the
leaders of all of the military organizations from all of the
nations.  I know that you are capable of representing the US
adequately in matters of diplomacy, so I am curious as to
why the US government wants to have armed forces
representatives present during the discussion."  The
Secretary General's mind started thinking about collusion
occurring between the US and the REF.
     The US ambassador caught the troubled look on the
Secretary's face and said, "I understand your apprehension
sir, but I can assure you that the US government has no
intention of railroading these proceedings."
     "We'll have to notify the ROOSEVELT of the attendance
changes," the Secretary General said absent mindedly.
     "Yes Mr. Secretary.  I believe that the ROOSEVELT
should have no problems with who attends from our end of the
conference.  Who is being sent by the White House?" queried
the US delegate, hoping to allay the tension.
     "I don't know.  According to that note, the President
is awaiting a return call from me to iron out the details.
However, it seems to me that he has already chosen who he is
going to send," he replied.  "I assume then that there are
no objections on your part to the change?"
     No sir.  Let's get them here so the meeting can begin."
     "You know that we'll have to clear it with the two men
in my office first."
     The US delegate grinned and said, "Leave that to me,
Mr. Secretary."

                                      <*>

     Back inside his office, the Chinese and Russian
delegates were arguing over the last biscuit on the tray.
The Secretary General fought the urge to flee, and cleared
his throat before addressing the would-be combatants.
"Gentlemen, the United States government had made plain
their intention to include members from the Pentagon and the
White House in our conference with the ROOSEVELT."  The
Secretary General let his words settle, and awaited a
response from the Chinese and Russian delegates.
     The Chinese and Russian delegates looked like people
caught with their pants down.  After a brief flash of anger
from the two gentlemen, the US delegate walked to the two
men and entered a hushed, and long conversation with them.
After the US delegate stopped talking, the Russian and
Chinese delegates eyes were rather large, and the US
delegate had a very large grin on his face.  They assented
to the change, although the Russian had conditions.  "We
would like to have it stated for the record that we would
have preferred that a representative from our military
services had also been present.  Further, we would like to
make it clear that the US representatives will NOT be here
in a decision-making capacity.  They can have input, but
they should be forbidden from making world policy."
     The Secretary General responded with, "I have no
objections to that, Vasili.  Does the US have any problems
with that?"
     "No Mr. Secretary.  The United States has no
objections," was the terse reply from the US delegate.
     "Then if you will excuse me gentlemen, I have a couple
of last minute details to work out.  The conference will
begin in a few moments.  Martha will refresh the tray for
you in my absence.  I will return shortly."
     And with that, he sped out of his office and made for
the communications center.  He jumped on the hotline to the
White House to verify all of the details with President
Clinton.  He then rushed back to his office to await the
beginning of the conference.


<much much much later in [possibly] the same timeline>


Sean Hayden 1:376/190@fidonet.org

     Contrary to popular belief, the mega-corporations that
constituted the worlds aerospace industries were not the
benevolent grandfather companies that catapulted America to
fame and a leading position in the space race. Nor were they
without teeth; the political connections, the wealth and the
technological power of the secretly formed Lockheed-Boeing
consortium was a force even ELITE respected and kept at arms
length.
     Indeed, ELITE had contracted Lockheed and Boeing for
previous projects including the Dark Star project. A long
standing truce between the board of trustees and the high
ranking members of ELITE kept the two out of potentially
volatile "situations".
     What it also meant was ELITE had a large blind spot
that it was unaware of.
     For years Lockheed-Boeing tests had indicated as early
as 1983 that fusion practically speaking, as they knew it
was not possible. Instead, a relatively new procedure was
developed that concentrated on highly efficient nuclear
fission reactions.
     Instead of the conventional nuclear fission process, a
controlled and "easy" reaction was developed by Lockheed-
Boeing called 'quick fission,' or total conversion.
     Total conversion, unlike the popular show Star Trek of
the time, did not rely on Anti-Matter. Instead it was
literally a series of tightly controlled nuclear explosions
that translated into photons which in turn translated into
raw electricity. This technology had been designed and
researched during the multi-trillionaire years of the Apollo
Project. Each Apollo mission left behind supplies for a
lunar based research station.
     After the Apollo projects were done, and the public had
turned it's attention to the Space Shuttles to look
"forward" to; Lockheed-Boeing had begun working on
completing the underground Lunar Base for zero-gee
engineering work. Over the years, Lockheed-Boeing had
surreptitiously sent personnel and supplies disguised as
satellite payloads.
     After the twentieth anniversary of work, design, and
research, Lockheed-Boeing completed its first theories on
Nanotechnology, which were made possible through a low
gravity environment. However Nanotechnology was not the only
development.  Genetic research took place as well. Living
cells were redesigned to act as a bio-electronic components
thanks, in part, to the completion of Lockheed-Boeing's
private map of the DNA molecule.

     Several months ago Lockheed-Boeing's Chairman of
Trustees, Gordon Glenn looked about the boardroom. The other
trustee members looked at the Chairman in varying degrees of
shock and paleness.
     A report from Tranquillity Base had reported an
astronomic anomaly in the vicinity of Mars.  Spectrographic
analysis at the time of the incident showed incredible
warping stresses in the electromagnetic field and also
evidence of the same spectrum being bent as though a large
gravitic mass had suddenly and drastically altered the local
gravity constant.
     Glenn himself was a large man of gascon blood, dark
hair shot with the gray of age and equally gray penetrating
eyes. Normally an easy going sort, especially going through
school, an undercurrent of a shark like business ability
existed when he wished to call upon it.
     "Gentleman, please." The Chairman said in a commanding
voice. The whispered yet fierce voices of the board slowly
stopped and all eyes turned towards Glenn.
     "This report states that in the opinion of the science
department the anomaly is not a natural astronomical event.
An event on the magnitude of the anomaly reported may be
detected thousands of light years away, and in the history
of radio technology nothing remotely compares with it. End
quote. Gentleman, what we're facing then, is a possible
alien ship."
     Any other board, would have replied with cries of
"Nonsense" and "Bull", the trustees had not chosen Glenn to
doubt him however.
     "My suggestion is that we monitor it, and keep
Tranquillity base a secret. I also would suggest only
priority three transmission and security level orange,
constant monitoring and an update when visual identification
becomes possible." Glenn said, eyeing each board member
personally.
     So the Lockheed-Boeing consortium continued watching,
and waiting until one day a certain employee of theirs
brought in the plans for some of the alien technology.
     Within two weeks, Lockheed, Boeing and Northrop were in
production using alien designs to create their own weapon
systems.
     Several pivotal designs were built upon ideas that
previously had never been tested, the magnetic slug thrower,
or rail gun was one such. Other ideas, ideas straight out of
science fiction were being produced. The REF sensor array
was reverse engineered and with that knowledge a scanner
array was created that improved greatly on the original
design.
     The largest problem of the Lockheed scientists,
researchers and engineers was something referred to as
"reflex" technology which seemed to be based upon a
substance known as 'Protoculture.' For which there seemed to
be no substitute. Alternate methods, however, were designed
to circumvent the problem. Their only problem lay in
acquiring the necessary ingredients for a fold generator.
     All these designs paled in comparison however, when
fold technology was divined. One of the chaos mathematicians
looked at the fold mathematics, smiled and said, "I can do
better than that." Suddenly, the mathematics of fold
technology were rewritten by a field of study that had not
existed when Dr. Lang helped to decipher the fold
technology. It was theorized that a sort of "stealth" fold
could be made that would not create such a huge gravitic or
EM shock on exit or re-entry. It essentially "cleaned" fold
technology.
     Chaos theoretical mathematicians also theorized an
energy shield extremely similar to the "point barrier
shield", but instead a total energy shield randomly shifting
in detectable patterns that would act as though it were a
one-way mirror. Apparently it was similar, but more
efficient than the "Omni-Directional" barrier in that only
required a tenth of the power and had a better system of
handling power overloads by shunting it through a series of
quick radiators and power reservoirs.
     The resources of Lockheed, Boeing and Northrop were
suddenly stretched to the breaking limits as they produced
hundreds of new ships under top secrecy.
     Chairman Glenn, also used his personal resources by
calling in several valuable favors to acquire a squadron of
Top Gun veteran pilots who were put through a crash course
on basic space warfare tactics.
     The problem however, was that Lockheed, the aerospace
industry in general was not an army in any sense of the
word. A dilemma existed, if they sold the planes to ELITE, a
fanatical group of terrorists would take over the world,
easily. If they sold it to the US, suddenly ELITE would also
have that technology and would not be happy with Lockheed.
     Gordon Glenn mulled over these thoughts while relaxing
in his Virginia cabin sipping a whiskey.
     A thought, that Glenn had been considering, was
building his own military. He was a highly decorated Major
in the Air Force. He was unsure, and disliked the amount of
responsibility that would require. He would bring it up at a
trustee meeting.

                                      <*>

     "Am I correct, in the statement," a board member asked,
"that the stealth technology from not only the 'Shadow
Fighter' and the 'Dark Star' could be synthesized together
in such a fashion that it would be totally undetectable to
the REF sensors?"
     "You would sir. In fact, we also have theorized the
technology to bend light in such a manner that it would be
for all purposes 'invisible' to the normal and infrared
light spectrums." Lockheed's Chief Engineer of Research
replied.
     "Interesting," another board member said, steepling his
fingers and reclining in his chair, "then the problem of
supplies to Tranquillity base could be solved with a few
cargo ships outfitted as such?"
     "Yes sir, as a matter of fact some thought has already
been given to the matter."  Chief Engineer of Research Barry
Thurmond said.
     "How long would it take Thurmond?" Chairman Glenn
asked, also leaning back in his chair.
     "Production has already begun on a few different hulls,
the drive, stealth technology and life support have also
been completed. I would say about three to four weeks for
the initial design and about a month to complete
production."
     The chairman pursed his lips in thought, "All right,
begin the project. Pull a few X-15's out of storage and
update them with the new weapons, stealth and drive
technology to act as temporary escorts. It has also been a
concern of mine, and of yours as well, I'm sure, of what to
do with this technology. We could possibly sell to ELITE or
to the US"
     "I personally dislike the idea of selling to ELITE,
that kind of power given to those fanatics is quite
frightening." Thurmond said thoughtfully.
     "I agree," Vice-Chairman of the Board Wilson said
lifting his head from his laptop long enough to look at
Chairman Glenn.
     "I have a suggestion to put forward." Trustee White
said, "What if we approach this REF carrier. Offer them a
safe landing point on Tranquillity base? Perhaps they are
the ones who would best benefit."
     "An interesting concept," Chairman Glenn said after a
length of contemplative silence,  "I move we contact the
ROOSEVELT and speak with her commanding officer."

                                      <*>

     On board the ROOSEVELT an odd call suddenly came
through. "Roosevelt, this is Tranquillity Base, over."
     OS3 Boldin was on station when the call came in,
"Station Calling, this is Roosevelt, repeat your call sign,
over."
     "Roosevelt this is Tranquility base, Tranquility base,
over."
     "Tranquility Base this is Roosevelt, go ahead over."
     "Roosevelt this is Tranquility base, I have traffic for
your station, over."
     "Tranquility Base this is Roosevelt, Roger traffic, go
ahead."
     "Captain?" The operations specialist said, "I have
message traffic for you sir. It's from the moon, Sir."
     "The moon?" Captain Kranz said.
     "Yes sir." The OS replied.
     "Who is it from, Boldin?" Captain Kranz said,
bewildered.
     "Tranquillity base, sir."

                                      <*>

     Circling the Earth in a geosynchronous orbit was one of
the many communications satellites that make up much of
Earth's spatial traffic.  Also, like many of the regular
satellites that NASA had ferried into orbit, this particular
satellite carried three Mark IV Mod I anti-satellite nuclear
missiles.  The thorn of the REF in ELITE's side was about to
be removed in a spectacular event.

                                      <*>

     "Captain Kranz, allow me to introduce myself." Gordon
Glenn said from a tightbeam relay from his office on Earth.
"I am Chairman of the Board for the Lockheed-Boeing
Consortium. I would like to formally request an envoy from
your ship to land at Tranquillity base. We would like to
discuss a  landing treaty of sorts."
     Captain Kranz was in no mood for strange calls from the
moon where there should be none. "Now look here Chairman, or
whoever you are" he began angrily, " I have no idea what
this is about but if you think ..."
     "Captain!" Petty Officer Drayton said, "multiple
failures across the board sir! We've lost sensors and the
weapons board is down!"
     "Sir, the helm's not responding!" Commander Anders said
looking up from the navigation console.
     "What the hell?" Captain Kranz managed to say the
Chairman suddenly forgotten.  "Sound general quarters!
Scramble all fighters!  Drayton, find out what the hell is
going on!"
     "General Quarters, General Quarters, All hands man your
battle stations! Reason for General Quarters: Combat System
Casualty, loss of Sensor array, loss of Mounts 51, 52, 60
through 72. Engineering Casualty: loss of RTM One-Alpha, One-
Bravo, Two-Alpha and Two-Bravo" The intercom blared all over
the ship. "

                                      <*>

     ELITE headquarters was a similar scene of frantic
activity. Technicians hunched over consoles and a TAC-board
was alight with information tapped from NORAD's current deep
space radar which the ROOSEVELT was the current center of
attention.
     "Ready for launch in ten seconds on mark." A cool
disembodied voice said. "Mark."

                                      <*>

     Julie Marshall, second in command of Tranquillity base,
was monitoring several communications. One such caught her
eye.  "Chief," Julie said.
     "Yeah, what is it Marshall?" Chief of Operations
Michael Roberts  asked over a "cup" of coffee. He pulled
himself over to Julie's station.
     "I'm tracking some odd readings from NASA COMSAT
control. It sort of looks like an arming command."
     "Hmm." He replied intelligently, leaning, or rather
floating over Julie's shoulder to peer at the console.
"Indeed it does. I'm going to let the Chairman know.

                                      <*>

     A small, harmless looking mass of electronics, which
had ten seconds earlier been carrying MTV, the Weather
Channel and several phone lines suddenly opened a small
hatch and fired a ten kiloton nuclear missile.
     When the M-IV nuclear missile hit the ROOSEVELT the
explosion was short and violent, bulkheads were breached and
many crewman died from asphyxiation and explosive
decompression, space tends to be an unforgiving mistress.

                                      <*>

     Elite was similarly unforgiving, fifty of their best
powered suits and pilots flew towards the ROOSEVELT in a
manner similar to that of Carl Morgan's boarding. This time
however, they cared little about stealth, they cared only of
sweet dreams of revenge and domination.

                                      <*>
     Reports poured in from all over the crippled carrier,
the bridge was a bedlam.
     "Damage report!" Kranz shouted to the damage control
assistant.

     "Fire, Fire, Fire - "The intercom once again blared to
life, interupting the DCA, "Class Charlie fire in MER Two
Compartment Six Tack Three-Zero-Eight Tack One Tack Echo.
Away the DECOM Emergency Fire Party, Away the Damage Control
Party provided from Repair Five."
     "Decompression, Decompression, Explosive Decompression
reported in Compartment Four Tack Two Niner Eight Tack One
Tack Lima. Away the Damage Control Party provided from
Repair Three."
Hull breach port side, decks eight through eleven. Currently
assessing extent of damages." The DCA. said, strangely calm.
     Moments of tense silence were suddenly broken as Kranz
suddenly remembered the Lunar base. "Dammit! What's going
on? Did you order this attack?" He fairly shouted into the
screen.
     "I assure you Captain," the Chairman began, "we have
made no offensive gesture. I've just received an update from
Tranquillity Base, it seems you were hit by an anti-
satellite weapon. We also read fifty targets converging on
your position. Optical enhancement shows the targets to be
RA-3 power suits. They're going to try and board you
Captain."

                                      <*>

     If the ROOSEVELT had not been blinded, it might have
seen roughly a hundred targets launch from Nevada and
suddenly disappear as though they had never been there.
     What they were, were a hundred of Lockheed's newest
fighters built and tested in record time. Designed loosely
on the F-117A they incorporated a stealth suite that truly
rivaled anything mankind had ever seen, present and future.
     The X-133A "Berkut," so named after a Russian Eagle
used to hunt wolves, was armed with a gauss razorgun capable
of cutting through even the ROOSEVELT'S armor plating and
currently was armed with a dozen missiles, standard
configuration being two "anti-ship" TAC-nukes, and ten
standard REF plasma warheads.  For exoatmospheric flight,
the X-133A included a concept known as the ion engine,
something on Lockheed's drawing boards for almost a quarter
of century but for lack of an adequate power source they had
never been tested until recently.
     Captain Casey Schmitt, Experimental USAF pilot checked
his neural interface and spoke into his throat-mike in the
confines of his helmet. "Alpha and  Theta wings, prepare to
engage hostile targets. Epsilon wing, stand by for orders."
Several green "roger" lights lit up indicating the
commanders of Alpha and Theta wings understood. "This is
gonna be fun," he grinned sadistically.

--end submission--