Beelzebub
November 18, 2041 -- 5:05 a.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command reports the detection of a plume of ion emissions consistent with the estimated breaking maneuver requirements for a large interstellar vessel traveling at a high sub-light speed. Sentinel Command has selected the code designation Beelzebub for this vessel. Preliminary tracking data suggests Roland will intersect the course of Beelzebub on May 20, 2042. Roland has responded to a command for a crew wake up on April 15, 2042."
May 11, 2042 -- 7:55 a.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. The invaders have destroyed Roland. Roland detected the separation of a smaller vessel from Beelzebub and immediately deployed four Camsats. Data received from the Camsats confirms the destruction of Roland by an energy beam weapon fired from this vessel of the invaders. President Miller has released a statement of sorrow over the deaths of Admiral Susan Markham, Colonel Margarita Garcia, and Commander Wilma Ahmadi. The President also nominated each of these brave women for the Congressional Medal of Honor."
May 13, 2042 -- 9:12 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command has just announced that analysis of their tracking data regarding Beelzebub's trajectory confirms that zeta one RET is this vessel's likely point of origin. They now predict that the aliens will arrive on September 17, 2042. This is the same date foretold in the message from Brian, the elder which suggests that the rest of his message was accurate as well. However, I am certain that these damn Z-RETS will come to rue the day they decided to attack us!"
Moletown's P.A. system, June 28, 2042 -- 3:53 p.m.
"May I have your attention please? May I have your attention please? Major General Amanda Johnson Butler, the Commanding Officer of Moletown, will present her weekly briefing at sixteen hundred hours today."
4:00 p.m.
"Good afternoon. A few minutes ago you heard the announcement that identified me by my new rank, a reward for my thirty-four years of military service I suppose.
"This has been an eventful week and I have several items to relate concerning our continuing preparations for the invasion. This morning, along with my promotion, I also received orders, effective July 1, to assume command of the newly created Military District of Oregon. Lieutenant General Thomas Cassidy will relieve me of this temporary assignment on 15 July. Fortunately, they mentioned nothing about relieving me of my promotion.
"We have received official notice that President Miller will declare martial law on the first day of August. The last contingent of the Verne Moon Base crew is currently en route to Earth via the Asimov Orbital Station. Evacuation of Asimov will begin after its crew arranges a warm welcome for these Z-RETS. A very warm welcome.
"At noon today, Fort Gates switched over to the primary micropile for our power requirements and we will rely on our internal resources for the duration of the invasion. All the personnel assigned to Fort Gates and their dependents now live on post and after July 1 the security checkpoints will require written authorization for all off-post travel. The First Special Forces Group has assumed responsibility for the external security of Fort Gates and they continue to prepare for their challenging mission of capturing Z-RETS.
"Many of you have asked about the recent vibrations that have interfered with our sleep at night. In the hills north of the zoo, three teams of DOD contractors are boring twenty, relatively large diameter holes to a depth of two thousand meters. While I am unable to divulge the purpose for these holes, I can tell you they will complete their work by 1 August.
"Currently, OP Net's official services utilize less that 50 per cent of their broadcast day. Therefore, in response to viewer criticism, OP Net has just announced they will soon include a broad spectrum of entertainment programing in their broadcast schedule.
"Before I close this briefing, I want to say that we can expect nothing but bad news after the arrival of the Z-RETS. It may take many years for us to defeat them, but in the end, we will prevail. Please do not become discouraged by the setbacks we will suffer, as each encounter will provide more information that we can use against them. Remember the advice of the late General Gates, keep your eye on the ball."
Moletown's theater, July 15, 2042 -- 1:15 p.m.
"This concludes the reading of my orders." Lieutenant General Thomas Cassidy then did a smart about face and returned Mandy's salute while saying, "I now assume command of the Military District of Oregon."
With an expression of both relief and gratitude, Mandy responded with, "I stand relieved."
General Cassidy began his address with, "I want you all to know that I stand before you now because I requested this assignment. I sincerely believe that Fort Gates is uniquely staffed with the perfect mix of units and personnel required to defeat the invaders. I also firmly believe that we will be the authors of their destruction."
When the last smattering of applause died away, he said, "I now want to address a flagrant violation of military etiquette I have observed since my arrival. Major General Amanda Johnson Butler has blatantly ignored a long-standing military tradition by encouraging everyone to address her by her first name. However, after taking a close look at the record of her impressive accomplishments over the years, I have decided that everyone can address me as Tom."
A tension-breaking outburst of laughter followed with a hearty round of applause interrupted his presentation. As quiet returned he said, "And now, we can get down to business. Before the month's end, I will visit each unit to conduct an inspection and receive an in-depth briefing on its mission readiness. Mandy, please present your comments and introduce the various unit commanders."
"Thanks for endorsing my unorthodox style of management Tom, and thank you for your positive message regarding our forthcoming victory over the Z-RETS. Though these Z-RETS may not have a butt for us to kick, it will be our mission to find a way to kick them where it hurts. When we do, we will make them wish they had never been born." After the second round of spontaneous applause ebbed away, Mandy continued with her presentation.
"I made the initial selection of Portland, Oregon as the site for the HEP One facility some twenty-six years ago. Now, our original facility has grown into a huge underground complex housing more than four thousand men, women, and children.
"I will now introduce the leaders of the key units assigned to your command. Please stand as I call your names. First, I would like to introduce Dr. James Wright and Dr. Sylvia Parker who serve respectively as the director and operations officer of the Ames Research Center. Representing the First Special Forces Group is its CO, Brigadier General Rick Ayers, and his XO, Colonel Eldon Barnes. For the Sixty-second Medical Group, we have the CO, Colonel Karen Lee and her XO, Colonel Bruce Hopkins. Finally, I wish to introduce my husband, Doctor Brian Butler, the director of HEP One. Thank you. Please take your seats.
"Now I would like the senior representatives of each of the tenant activities to stand in turn and identify yourself and your organization. To avoid confusion, try to maintain an alphabetical order. Excuse me? Yes, please use the first letter of your organization's title."
Upon the completion of the introductions, Mandy continued with, "I have another issue I wish to address before I return the mike to Tom. We completed the implementation of our Redundancy of Critical Facilities Plan on schedule last week. I would like to thank everyone for his or her contributions to the successful conclusion of this important work. If, God forbid, we lose part of Moletown to enemy action, our redundancy plan should prevent the total loss of the vital components of our organization. Tom?"
"Thanks Mandy. Moletown stands well prepared for the coming battle thanks to your wisdom and devotion to duty. You can be justly proud of your achievement."
September 17, 2042 -- 1:35 a.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command reports that Beelzebub has assumed a geostationary orbit above the northern shore of Lake Victoria. All attempts to communicate with Beelzebub have failed."
September 23, 2042 -- 3:18 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command reports that two vessels recently departed Beelzebub and approached the Asimov Orbital Station as expected. The thermonuclear device aboard Asimov detonated well after the enemy vessels entered the kill zone of the weapon. Camsat data suggests that an immaterial force field surrounding each of the Z-RET vessels protected them from our ambush. Currently, they are destroying every object in orbit above the Earth."
October 5, 2042 -- 8:01 p.m.
"Welcome to OP Net for our Saturday night summation of this week's events. On the twenty-ninth of September, Sentinel Command received numerous sighting reports of Z-RET warships, Sentinel Command code name Buzzard, from all points of the globe. These reports suggest that the Z-RETS possess a minimum of ten Buzzards and probably more.
"A Buzzard flight over Los Angeles prompted the controversial minister, Russell Simba, to call a news conference. Simba's so-called news conference opened with an ambiguous monologue in which he proclaimed that the time of the heavenly 'Rapture' was upon us and ended with his refusal to take questions.
"On the first of October, a Buzzard provided a clear demonstration of the advanced state of Z-RET technology and their intentions. The vessel departed Beelzebub, stationed at an altitude of 35,840 km above Lake Victoria, and arrived over Los Angeles at an altitude of 275 km twenty-seven minutes later. From that point, the Buzzard dropped like an elevator until it reached an altitude of one and one-half kilometers above the city.
"While the Buzzard hovered at this altitude, our experts obtained their first close look at this impressive vessel. At one hundred meters in length by twenty-five meters in diameter, the Buzzard resembles a section of gray pipe with blunt rounded ends. Its cylindrical hull is totally free of external features and it hovered silently with one end pointed toward the Earth.
"Soon after its arrival, the upper end of the Buzzard faded into transparency and it released two, featureless globes of approximately twenty meters in diameter. The selected designation for these vessels is 'Raptor.' After hovering in formation with their parent ship for a few moments, the Raptors dropped away to the city below.
"A Raptor arrived at the intersection of Hope and Temple Streets and traveled eastward along Temple at an estimated altitude of fifty meters. Those who survived the Raptor's visit reported seeing people instantly disappear with a loud popping sound while leaving their clothing and possessions behind. By the time people became aware of the danger they faced, the Raptor had departed leaving behind more than one hundred piles of clothing.
"The second Raptor visited an elementary school in Irvine during recess time and left behind more than two hundred piles of children's clothing scattered about the playground. Witnesses to this tragedy also reported hearing a popping sound as each child disappeared. Apparently, air rushes in to fill the void left by the victim's instantaneous departure and creates this popping sound.
"The second of October began with the arrest of Clarence Weems, the Governor of California. Previously, he refused to carry out the recent martial law order requiring school closures until the intentions of the Z-RETS became clear. Weems had insisted that allowing the mere presence of the Z-RETS to deny our children an education was an unreasonable surrender to fear of the unknown.
"Later in the day, a local Tri-D station broadcast offered Russell Simba's explanation for the disappearance of the children taken by the Z-RETS. As the actions of this influential figure are newsworthy OP Net has reluctantly decided to include Simba's statement in our news report.
"Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ. I say unto all that follow me, children were among the first chosen for the Rapture as the Lord seeks those who are pure of heart and free of sin. Those of you who have accepted the Son of God as your savior can now join the chosen in the ascension to heaven. The Lord calls upon the faithful to set aside their material possessions and gather on hallowed ground to await their salvation. Knowing that a multitude will respond to his holy call, God has sanctified my consecration of Elysian Park as a gathering place for the faithful.
"I have confessed to the sinful ways of my early years as a self-serving political commentator and God has called upon me to serve a challenging penance. The rapture is not for me, as I must remain behind to bring the holy words of God to the unrepentant sinners who may yet earn salvation. All those who respond to the call of God and seek the rapture should consider the donation of your worldly assets to my ministry and its holy work. For unless I can fulfill my penance, I too will suffer the torments of the damned as revealed by the holy words of Saint John, the Divine. Remember also the words of Jesus; 'I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.' Please pray for me even as I pray for you while we all pledge our trust in God."
"In response to Simba's statement, the martial law authorities announced they would not interfere in the religious beliefs of adults. However, they went on to say they would not permit unaccompanied minors to enter the park. They also expressed doubt that anyone would believe the words of Simba.
"The third began with several thousand people arriving at Elysian Park seeking the salvation touted by Russell Simba, a man noticeable by his absence. Nearly a dozen recreation vehicles were positioned to intercept the faithful before they could meet their destiny represented Simba's Church of the Holy Rapture.
"The nervous people staffing these vehicles encouraged the rapturous to sign legally binding documents donating their material possessions to the Church and its Holy Mission. To mollify the cautious, these documents of divestiture included a cancellation waiver for those not accepted for the rapture.
"By midday the Z-RETS had discovered this smorgasbord of humanity and dispatched a second Buzzard, also bearing two Raptors, to serve the faithful. By nightfall, approximately 6,500 people had departed this plane of existence and the net worth of the Church of the Rapture had grown considerably.
"In the past week the Z-RETS have taken more than fifty thousand people according to estimates compiled by OP Net. The first week of Z-RET activity against the people of Earth holds the promise of an ominous future for humankind."