Homecoming Chapter 7 (Serialized Novel)

Chapter 7

The President promenaded into the room and took his place at the front of it. As he did so, his security detail found in his Marine guard surrounded him on all sides. They were all highly decorated four-star Commandant of the Marine Corps types. There were seven of them in total, all dressed in their royal blue suits topped off with their white and black caps. While this was all taking place, Craig Keeling recognized his own place, and he sat back down and took his seat back at the table. When the President came to the forefront of the table, he clasped his hands together and offered them all a welcoming beaming grin.

Stephanie could hardly believe what was happening. She looked around the table to see if any of the other members of the little group showed any signs of the same shock that she felt. For her it was like a dream that she was waiting to wake up from. She was thankful to find that she was not alone, with several others looking around the room as she had with similar expressions on their faces. Erich for one had his jaw hanging ajar as he did so in his own state of disbelief.

“Hello, and welcome. I want to start off and thank you all for showing on such short notice,” the President began with a slight pause for effect. The toastmaster that he was, he scanned the room with searching eyes, taking the time to lock eyes on each of the individuals in the room, pausing at each one as he did so. “Now, I know that all of you must have a lot of questions as to why you have all been brought here. I can assure you that all of these will be answered in time,” he continued in his sort of southern accent. “As I am sure that you are all aware, and are well informed of the fact, this is a matter of national security. What I can tell you is that the situation at hand is one that not only effects the United States, but all of the world. Bearing that in mind, this little scenario demands acting with a sense of the utmost urgency. What we are going to need from you is that you all come with us, and you will filled in and briefed on everything that you need to know along the way,” he finished motioning to the door by waving his free right arm in the direction of it.

The sound of seven chairs shuffling and scooting along the flooring filled the room as the group of experts unquestioningly obeyed the order given by the President of the United States. A few of the members at the table offered their last backwards glances at one another as if they too could hardly believe what was going on.

Two of the Marines secured the door by standing on either end of it, and the group of specialists converged with the soldiers now in the room as they opened the door and the President exited outside of it. One by one the Marines filled out of the doorway, with the two standing by the door motioning to the group to follow their lead.

It was like a pack of wolves following their alpha leader. The formation of the line was such that the unlikely assembly of individuals made up the tail end of it, with the two Marines following after them, like the omega leaders to the pack. At the middle of the pack was the soldiers filled three to one side of the hall and four to the other, as the President, their leader and alpha in the middle of these two columns at the front.

“Now, I am sure that you are all caught up and aware of the address on cosmic disclosure and how we are not alone in the universe that I gave last night,” the President started as they marched their way through the vast maze of hallways to the Pentagon. They made their way ever closer to the heart of it. Stephanie noticed the way that the substance of the walls had changed, for they were made of an elegant white plastic looking material that was atypical to the rest of the buildings design. “The reason that you have been brought here is closely related to that speech.”

“I knew it,” Erich whispered under his breath from the back of the line, more to himself than any one in particular, struggling to keep up with the brisk pace of the rest of the group.

“Despite everything in the contents of the speech last night, the reason that you all have been brought here has to do with a contingency plan that was drafted out during the Eisenhower administration in the late 50’s. It was during this period of time that the leaders of the world realized through various incidents that we were not alone in the universe. Not only that, but they found that there was a striking relationship between their activities here on earth and our own nuclear activities. It was also at this time that we began collaborating with these beings under different agreements between us and them. Originally, the terms were that of their technologies in exchange for ability to operate here, although things have gradually changed over time,” he continued as they rounded yet another corner. “In observing them in their ways, we have come to some startling discoveries over the years,” the President went on coming to a complete stop about halfway down the hallway that they were now in.

The small group watched as the President turned round about on his heel and face the stylish white wall that was to his left. “President Joseph Biden,” he said as if talking to some unseen presence which was a curious act to at least half the members of the group. At this statement, a section of the wall slid out in front of him revealing a secret compartment that had a screen located within it. The President placed his hand to this device, and the screen went green with a slight ping. Then he brought his face to the little apparatus in the wall which scanned the retina of his eye, again to a green screen and a slight ping.

“Welcome Mr. President,” said the machine in the wall, and to the astonishment of the Pentagon’s newcomers an entire section of the wall in front of them opened up that opened up to another vast white hallway. Above them bright incandescent flickered to life as he entered the contents of the new corridor.

“There was an incident in Nevada,” the President carried on as if nothing happened. “Back in the eighties there was a nuclear center stationed there. Several nights in a row the officials there reported Unidentified Flying Objects flying in their airspace. Not only that, but it was observed on those nights that these aircrafts took control of their panels just by being in their presence. They turned them all off. We wondered if it was a demonstration of the kinds of things that they were capable of. In another experiment, we decided to shoot a nuclear missile out into space and a similar aircraft dematerialized the nuke. This was the video footage that we showed during the address last night. We are astonished because in our observations, it has become evident to us that the technologies of these beings seem to operate off of a measure of consciousness, as if they are powered by their thoughts,” the President informed them in the entrance of the secret doorway, gesturing to the small group to follow after him with another wave of his arm.

Together the President and his guard made their way down the long, straight, and illuminated white hallway. There was a heavy silence that filled its contents as the assembled party followed in his wake. They had been hanging to his every word and were waiting for the moment that he would pick his speech back up. All of them looked round about them in amazement, hardly believing what they were bearing witness to. Stephanie was reminded of an adult version of the children’s book Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

“It is the way that they dealt with our nuclear forces that has made us conclude that they are not hostile in their interactions with us. Nevertheless, in realizing the possibilities of what they could achieve with such a power, we decided to draft a contingency plan. At the end of the Eisenhower administration, the thought was that in t he event that we come across other hostile alien intelligences that a group of experts would be gathered and brought in in order to interview these beings, to better understand them and the way that they tick, and ultimately to devise a counterattack against any threat to us,” the President went on, coming to a stop outside of a large sliding doorway that looked to be another elevator.

The elevator seemed to run off of facial recognition. There were CCTV cameras on either side of the sliding doorway, and the President looked directly into the one off to his immediate left, and the door slowly opened with a ping. His group of specialists were astonished at the experience that they were having, and how casually the President went about the whole thing.

“At that time, when the plan was being drafting, it was stipulated that we would need experts or specialists in certain fields or concentrations of study in order to achieve this goal. The thought then with the advances in modern Physics, was that science and mathematics was the language of the universe so that a Physicist would be needed to speak on this universal level. For a more militaristic approach, it was also decided that we needed someone who excelled in game theory, as well as an weapons expert. Naturally, the reasoning here was to devise said defense against an alien attack. It was also agreed upon that someone savvy in Psychology and in Communications would be required to better understand the psyche of these beings. Just as they thought that they needed someone that had experience in politics to act as a kind of diplomat to these species. Lastly, it was believed that whoever was leading the conversation pertaining to extraterrestrial life in the cosmos and about cosmic disclosure should be brought in to offer their unique insights,” the President told them as he entered into the large spacious access elevator. Its fluorescent lights flickered to life as he did so just as had been the case in the previous room.

Inside, the President took a step forward turning yet again on his heel so that he was facing the side of the elevator opposite to the sliding doors that he had just passed through. One by one, the other members of the team swarmed into the elevator after him. This was performed in the manner that there was a Marine per every individual that had been called in to the Pentagon. It made Stephanie almost uncomfortable to have this military presence on either side of her, and she showed it in the way that she looked on either side of herself. Like the others inside its contents, she held her tongue not wanting to interrupt the President’s briefing.

“This is where you all come into play,” the President picked up his drawn-out tangent, as he pressed the down button on the control panel next to him once they had all crammed themselves in the large metallic white box. “You are all specialists in your related fields and can help us to this means to an end,” he said as the elevator rattled to life and took them further and deeper underneath the basement section of the building.

Stephanie was starting to develop a case of butterflies in the pit of her stomach as this happened. She couldn’t take any more surprises. From what she remembered from her own tours of the Pentagon, was that it only had its five levels including the basement, and it felt like they were going much deeper: underneath the earth even. She could feel the hair stand on end on her hands and the goosepimples cover all of her skin in her angst at the suggestions and implications of what the President had just said. “Let me get this straight. The leaders of the world have known of the existence of extraterrestrials for the last seventy years, and they are capable of influencing things with their very consciousness alone? And our last-ditch effort was a contingency plan where a bunch of scholars and military personnel get together to make a defensive counterattack? And if I am hearing you correctly, by the sounds of it, you have met such and such a hostile alien intelligence if you have called us all together. If you ask me, it sounds like a half­-cooked scheme that’s a half a century year old,” Stephanie half bellowed out, feeling the pressure of the situation caving in around her, just as the elevator came to a halt.

“Stephanie, place,” Craig said to her, looking wildly at her with surprise glistening in his eyes. Just as the eyes of everyone in the elevator now rested upon her.

“Now, now. Everything is perfectly okay,” the President returned with a look of admiration. “In situations such as these, curiosity is a great trait to possess. It assists in solving the larger problems at hand. It is perfectly natural to be curious, and I was personally starting to wonder when you all would start asking your questions. And I have to admit that this plan does seem a bit outdated, but it’s what we have,” he replied in a tone of voice that denoted understanding and compassion even. It was at that moment that the wall on the opposite side of the original doorway to the elevator opened up, revealing the greatest spectacle that they had yet to see so far.

Underneath the Pentagon was located a series, or network of tunnels that were far-reaching in every direction, and at the center of this was what was like a militarized bunker or silo even. Its walls were made up of a strange looking rock-like material, that seemed to be of obsidian. As a whole, it glistened beautifully, although it occurred to Stephanie that obsidian of this likeness was not normal for the composition of rock to be found at this depth of the earth. And at the same time, there was something almost foreign or alien about it.

And it was here that the advanced weapons and technologies that one would expect from the Pentagon could be found. There were military personnel working at tables whose screens projected out in great holograms. Just as there were tanks that hovered and worked on anti-gravity gliding throughout the intricate web of tunnels that this hanger had to offer. What most fascinated Stephanie was what looked like a machine that could create for an augmented reality, for there was an entire section of the tunnels that looked to have the city streets of Tokyo, Japan projected unto it.

Aged and grey-haired though he was, the President made his way into the hanger with much vigor in his step. Stephanie marveled over the way that a man of his age could so casually lead them on such an excursion with so much enthusiasm.

“Unfortunately, it seems that the time calls for us to enact said plan. We are calling it operation Echo Tango 1. I’m sure that you can see the reason why,” the President started back up, stepping over some thick black cables that wound their way through the ground as he did so. “You see, we find ourselves in the midst of this little scenario. At 8:15 Pacific Daylight Time this morning, a rogue and hostile alien aircraft crash landed in our airspace. In an act of subterfuge, the location has been closed off by local authorities as to not create for a panic. We have, however, taken the being that we are calling Eba Two to an undisclosed location to conduct our own analysis and interrogation of this sentient life form. We are carrying this out and conducting things in this manner, because this sentience is describing an imminent war that is upon us,” the President continued, following the cables that ran the length of the enclosure. They lead to the center of the hanger where a great giant monolith was located. It was made up of the same obsidian material that the rest of the walls were made up of.

This stony edifice was rounded in its construction, like the archway to a door. The various cables running the length of the hanger did meet up with and link to it. There was a mystical or alien quality to it in that some plasma force did surround it and the contents therewithin so that the plasma was of a highly saturated purple color, and that this substance did permeate and surround all of the structure that they were drawing near to. It was so thick and radiant in its nature that one could not see through the hallowed archway to the other side for the middle of it was as dark as the abyss. Looking up at it, Stephanie was reminded of the way that people believed that an auric field surrounded the individual, and she wondered to herself what kind denotation a purple aura had.

“Um, quick question. If I am hearing you correctly, there has been an event that has brought you into the presence of an aggressive sentient lifeform, and you want us to question and examine this unfriendly being? If you don’t mind me saying Mr. President, I don’t think that half of us are hardly qualified. I mean perhaps the exo-politician is or whatever it is called. All I know about is theories and axioms pertaining to space and time. Okay, and perhaps I’ve watched a few episodes of Ancient Aliens, but that hardly makes me the person for the job. Also, didn’t the news mention something about how these beings could travel on the interdimensional level? What is to stop this hostile force from up and leaving the room at will? What is to stop it from attacking us with this innate ability of theirs? Then there is the point of an imminent war. What is all of that about?” Stephanie inquired of the President as they came to a stop next to the large circular black structure.

“General Watson, enter in the coordinates,” the President ordered of an officer that was stationed at a computer monitor that was next to the odd pillar in the middle of the hanger. The officer wasted no time in punching in the necessary computational input as he was instructed. If Stephanie wasn’t mistaken, more auxiliary power was being sent to the monument and the purple force that was around it began to glow brighter. “Stephanie, I am so glad that you are bringing these concerns to my attention. It is for reasons such as that that I am fully confident that this is exactly the team that I need for the mission at hand. In fact, I think it is your expertise as an Astrophysicist that makes you the ideal candidate that we need at this time,” the President assured her, placing his hands on her shoulders as he did so in a way that a father would comfort a daughter that he was proud of. “In fact, we may need you to engage with Eba Two first in this whole little ordeal. For, you see the thing is, in his exchange with us, he has been talking about the spacetime continuum and all of the universe in ways that we can’t quite understand. It is for this reason that you were brought in as a last-minute decision seeing that you are the leading expert in this area. And it is for this reason that we are going to have you engage with Eba Two first. I do want to caution you not to be afraid. These are highly telepathic lifeforms; something that can be quite startling at first. As for the answer to your other questions, I want you to take a look at the rocky material that is surrounding us. This is a rare mineral that comes from their planet. It has a vast repertoire of useful capabilities. One of them can be found in the way that it prevents them from phasing in and out of space and time as they see fit. Phasing is the terminology that we have given to their ability to travel on the interdimensional plane. Somehow this stone prevents them from being able to do it. It is even more remarkable to consider because it is this very same material that they use as portals to jump great distances of space. What you see before you is one such portal that we will be using to jump to the location of Eba Two.”

“Woah, hold on just a minute,” Craig interjected passionately. “I have to be candidly honest that I agree with what Stephanie is saying. I’ve heard rumors of these dealing with displacement of the conservation of mass and the process of isomorphism going awry. Not only do you want us to summon up the courage to interrogate a threatening extraterrestrial, but you also want us to go through some kind of alien portal to get there, just so that the Professor here can have a conversation about space and time. And what are the rest of us to do while we are watching this little interrogation?”

“Craig Keeling,” the President started turning towards the seasoned veteran, placing his hands around his shoulders in the same fond way that he had done with Stephanie. “I have heard nothing but good things about you, and I want to personally thank you for all that you have done in service for your country. What you are going through is perfectly natural. In terms of Puckman’s model of team development this can all be expected. In the early stages of team development, there is a sense of ambiguity and a lot of questions to be had as roles are established and a sense of leadership is established, which is what you are all going through, the very early stages of it in norming and storming. I can tell you that these ambiguities will soon pass, for each of you already has a specific task that has been assigned to you. You and Clint are going to observe the interrogation and taking the information that we have on their history, their weapons, and everything else that we have on them, in addition to your prowess and skillsets in your various areas of expertise, are going to develop a strategy relating to what you think their point of attack will be, the best defensive strategy and gameplan, and counterattack to any imminent threat possible. Nevertheless, I assure you that this conversation is an urgent necessity that the situation calls for at present. That and I’ll tell you another thing, but the portals are completely safe. In fact, I’ll have you know that I use them all the time,” he told the retired soldier and weapons dealer, turning to face the rest of the team.

“And what of the rest of else what would you have us do,” Erich asked him, his eyes set on the magnificent structure in front of him with a look of awe and astonishment on his face. “And where exactly is this portal of yours going to be taking us,” he continued in a tone of voice that were bordered on equal parts excitement and angst. It was with his second question that he turned his gaze from the monument to that of the President’s gaze.

“Erich, you have spent your life searching for proof of aliens on our planet, and there is not a person alive other than yourself that should know that that proof is in the documentation of facts. Whether that be in the case of artworks, artifacts, writings, or anything else of that nature. What I am going to need you to do is be the leading researcher on the topic that you are and document everything on our behalf for us. We are in a sense writing the beginning of our living history with these beings when you come to think about it. That is, in our initial relations with them. I sure that task should be much to your liking,” answered the President with a beaming grin on his face as if he had just made Christmas morning for a very small child in knowing how much it would mean for Erich.

“It would be my honor Mr. President,” Erich answered with a slight bow, it being more than apparent that he was ecstatic with everything that was going on around him.

“Meanwhile, Robert and Arturo are going to work closely together to see if they can use keywords and the behavior of the object in question to draft up a kind of mock psychiatric profile of the subject and its species. Think of it in terms of it is your goal to get in their minds in order to see what makes them tick. Like how police officers have to think like criminals in their line of work. We want to know how they think, and they say that sometimes the best place to start is in the words that they use. Again, I want to emphasize that this will not be the average conversation that we are used to with the degree of their telepathic abilities. For some it will come on subtle, for others it will be much stronger, and for still others, as if not at all. It depends on who they direct it and their sense of consciousness on. So, we will have to be as astute as possible. And finally, David will continue to act as our exo-politician between all sentient lifeforms, observing to the end of acting as our diplomat to them, and informing them that they have broken our accords and agreements in light of these recent acts,” he went in scanning the room as he informed them all of their various roles, responsibilities, and functions. “As for the location, the portal that will be passing through will take us to Area 51 where Eba Two is located. Consider yourself lucky that you get to be among the few to visit the sight,” he added looking to the portal and then to them with another one of his boyish grins. “Now, if there are no more questions, I think now is the time that we can make way for the jump. We are going to go in one group member at a time, occupied with one of my Marines. I will go first with my security guard, and then you will all follow after me one by one. Watson, activate the portal.

The man standing next to him pressed several buttons on the computer in front of him, and the portal in front of them hummed to life, and the pulsating light that emanated from it grew brighter, with its dark black pit at the center growing even dimmer.

“I will see you all on the other side,” the President said, raising his voice as he did so that it would not be drowned out by the humming of the great monolith that was next to him. With a faint wave he turned and faced the circle archway and stopped before it. As he stood here, two of his guard took their place at either side of him and together each of them stepped into the great archway, and with a great woosh, they all disappeared from view.

“That was the coolest thing that I have ever seen,” Erich said with a look of shock drawn out all across his face. “I’m next.”

“Can you believe all of this,” Craig asked, in a state of sheer disbelief.

“It’s like you said Craig. This is the strangest day of our lives,” Stephanie joked with him stepping closer to the Erich, the security guard, and the portal. Together each one of them took their places beside the Marines that had shadowed them, and passed through the alien veil two by two.