Landings
December 8, 2042 -- 8:23 a.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command reports that a Buzzard has landed on the Island of Penghu located near the coast of China in the Straits of Formosa. The island group of Penghu, better known by their Portuguese name, the Pescadores, supports a population of more than 200,000 people.
"A local ham radio operator reported that the Buzzard drove itself in the ground like a stake, created a large dome-like force field, and began popping people soon after its arrival. China immediately advised all people living near the Pescadores to take shelter until further notice suggesting that their intended response will endanger the people of the Pescadores."
December 10, 2042 -- 2:47 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. The Z-Rets intercepted a thermonuclear tipped missile fired by China at their dome on Penghu and returned it to its launch pad where it detonated. Our request for further information regarding this tragic turn of events has not elicited a response from the Chinese government.
"Meanwhile, Sentinel Command reports that two large satellites have joined Beelzebub in its equatorial orbit. They have assumed geostationary positions over Borneo and Quito, Ecuador. This equilateral orbital deployment in relation to Beelzebub leads to the unwelcome conclusion that an escalation of the current capture rate of our people is inevitable."
February 3, 2043 -- 8:26 a.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. A daring visitor to Penghu shot the video you are presently watching. He discovered this pile of human skeletal remains two kilometers east of the Z-RETS dome. Watch closely as the camera operator quickly responds to a sharp cracking sound. That sound announced the arrival of the remains of another twenty or so victims of the Z-RETS caught on camera just after they appeared out of thin air above this gruesome pile. This graphic evidence of the Z-RETS' activities should serve to refute the claims made by opportunists such as Russell Simba who seek to profit from this invasion."
First Special Forces CP, February 4, 2043 -- 6:45 a.m.
"Good morning Rick. Does your request for my presence mean that you have finally encountered a problem you cannot solve?"
"Mandy, it surely does. A mob of approximately three hundred men, women, and children entered the eastbound highway tunnel at Vista Ridge just before dawn. Their spokesperson identified himself as Timothy Adkins who claims to be a retired Navy captain. Upon their arrival, he went directly to the concealed video camera and ordered the duty officer to lower the elevator. When the duty officer refused to comply, Mr. Adkins demanded to speak with you."
"Okay Rick, I will deal with Mr. Adkins and seek to resolve this matter. Bring him up on the communications monitor and join me in the command booth."
Rick issued the necessary instructions and turned to follow Mandy as she walked up the short flight of steps leading to the command booth. They entered the elevated glass enclosed booth overlooking the work stations and data displays of the command post and closed the door.
As Mandy occupied a command station, the large monitor began to display a small group of men engaged in a heated conversation. They turned to face the camera when Mandy opened her mike and said, "Good morning Tim."
"Mandy, it is good to hear your voice again. Will you please order them to lower this elevator and let my family and friends enter Fort Gates?"
"Timothy, you know I cannot do that. We do not have the resources to support a larger population though we can provide your party enough food and water to last out the day. I am sorry Timothy, but you and your people must leave the tunnel tonight under the cover of darkness."
"That is a bunch of crap Mandy and you know it. We have enough thermite to burn our way through the elevator deck and rope to lower the women and children through the opening. I do not believe you will order your troops to fire on them or their men while they are watching. Just comply with our request before your unreasonable stance brings the Z-RETS down on all of us."
"Timothy, please wait while we discuss your demands. I will get back to you in a few minutes."
"Okay Mandy, I will wait for your call. But, while we wait for your decision, the thermite will be placed just in case your response is negative."
"Rick, it appears we face a real dilemma as we cannot comply with his demands. Can you suggest a way to achieve a peaceful resolution of this situation?"
"Mandy, just who is this Timothy Adkins and how did he come to know about the elevator in the tunnel?"
"Timothy Adkins is a retired U.S. Navy captain once assigned to their Civil Engineering Corps. He served Fort Gates as the resident officer in charge of construction from late '32 until early '35. The JAG office charged him with accepting a bribe from a contractor and he requested early retirement to avoid facing a court martial."
"He does not sound like a person I would invite to join us, but we cannot hold those with him accountable for his past. We cannot ask them to leave the tunnel before nightfall as two Raptors arrived over Portland a few minutes ago. Can we make room for these people?"
"Not while we lack the space to permit the parents and siblings of our assigned personnel to join them here at Fort Gates. I will not permit these people to enter Fort Gates simply because they threaten to use force if I do not comply with their demands."
"Many of the men in the tunnel bear weapons and I doubt that my troops could evict them without taking and inflicting casualties."
"That is not a viable option. A firefight would draw the attention of the Z-RETS. The only alternative we have is to release the hallucinogenic agent before they ignite their thermite."
Rick's response began with, "But Mandy," and quickly ended when he observed the grim look of determination on her face. He realized that his commanding officer had made her decision and intended to carry this burden of command alone.
Before he could speak again Mandy ordered, "General Ayers, release the safeties and assign my command station as primary." In response to his brief hesitation, Mandy continued with, "Carry out my orders Mister Ayers, now!" She then opened her mike and addressed Timothy Adkins.
His reaction to her refusal to admit his party to Fort Gates ran the gamut from rage to confusion as the undetectable hallucinogen swiftly erased his ability to reason. He soon joined the others of his party as they wandered out of the tunnel while completely oblivious to the danger posed by the marauding Z-RETS. They continued to walk aimlessly forward even as those in front of them began to disappear. With a shaking hand, General Ayers picked up his telephone to call Brian as Mandy, her face streaked with silent tears, abruptly left the command post without a word of goodbye.
March 23, 2043 -- 3:43 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command reports that they are currently receiving reports of Buzzard landings at many locations around the world. Of particular concern is a report that two Buzzards have landed near the Superdome in New Orleans. The significance of this landing is currently unclear, though we feel certain that they are not there to play football. Our reaction to this landing is currently under discussion."
April 1, 2043 -- 8:02 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Sentinel Command just released the following list of current Z-RET landing sites."
1. Penghu Island of the Penghu Islands (Pescadores)
2. The Island of New Guinea, near Port Moresby
3. Galapagos Islands
4. New Orleans, LA, (two Buzzards)
5. Andros Island in the Bahamas
6. Santa Catarina Island off the Brazilian coast
7. Canary Islands
8. The southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula
9. The southern end of Madagascar
10. The northern end of Sri Lanka
"Simultaneous sighting reports of four Buzzards in flight while eleven remain at their landing sites confirms that the Z-RETS possess a minimum of fifteen Buzzards. Reports from landing site observers suggest that the dome-like protective force fields deployed by the Buzzards have a maximum diameter of approximately two hundred meters. This information leads to speculation that the Superdome landing site required two Buzzards to enable them to extend coverage over the entire structure."
April 18, 2043 -- 9:00 a.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Defense Command just released the following information. At 3 a.m. Central Time, a six-man team of Army volunteers approached the Superdome bearing a small thermonuclear device. They found each Buzzard independently protected by its own force field leaving the Superdome accessible to entry. The support team lost radio contact with the entry team shortly after they entered the dome and withdrew just before the onset of daylight.
"Before entry, they programmed their portable thermonuclear device to detonate at five-thirty a.m. and disabled its reset control. This mission clearly failed to achieve its objectives and Defense Command has reported these brave men as missing in action."
April 22, 2043 -- 6:00 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. Today, at 5 a.m., Central Time, Juan Garcia, a freelance video journalist, made an unsanctioned entry into the Superdome. Following a carefully crafted plan he connected the control system of the Superdome's video security and surveillance cameras into a microwave relay serving a local Tri-D station. After his colleagues at the Tri-D station assumed control of the surveillance cameras, Mr. Garcia attempted to contact the Z-RETS.
"With incredible bravery, Juan Garcia unfurled a small white flag and approached several truly monstrous creatures gathered around some equipment on the playing field. One of them casually approached Mr. Garcia, paralyzed him in some inexplicable fashion, removed his clothing, and devoured him in full view of a surveillance camera. We now possess a graphic video recording of Mr. Garcia's horrible death that provides irrefutable evidence of the true nature of the invaders. What you are about to see will clearly counter the allegations of the self-serving charlatans that seek to profit from this calamity.
"Now, learn the true meaning of terror as we run this video without further commentary."
April 23, 2043 -- 2:38 p.m.
Doctor Butler's secretary said as General Cassidy entered her office said, "Go right in Tom. He is expecting you." He gave Brian's door a courtesy knock and entered to say, "What can I do for you, Brian?"
"I briefly saw something that I consider worthy of our attention on the video feed from the Superdome. We may have an opportunity to observe a Z-RET as it delivers its offspring. Tom, can you order the TRI-D station to monitor this event for us?"
General Cassidy picked up the telephone, dialed the OP Net operator, and said, "Cassidy, OMD Commanding, Priority Alpha Six connection to SENTCOM acting. I will hold for response." Turning to Brian he said, "Pick up the extension and get ready to tell them what you want."
Later
"Brian, would you please explain the significance of what we are watching. All I can see is another bug getting ready to molt. I have already watched several Z-RETS go through molting and I saw nothing that would suggest that it was part of a reproductive process."
"I noticed that this Z-RET was gathering up that pile of molt castings before it entered its present state of immobility. The bilateral crack in its exoskeleton is nearly complete and we will soon learn the significance of its actions."
Later still
"Here we go Tom, the bug is about to split its shell." As Brian spoke, the creature's shell split front to rear into two equal sections that fell to the floor revealing their interiors. Each side of the shell contained a worm-like larva with a transparent skin that enabled them to observe its internal viscera. The third segment of each of these larvae supported a transparent sac containing a large organ marked with convoluted stria while bearing three immature eyes. The larvae began to devour the exoskeletal remains of their previous existence with a beak-like mouth extending from the first segment of their worm-like body.
After a contemplative pause, Brian said, "Tom, if I had not seen that I would not believe it possible. Apparently, this creature reproduces by binary fission, a process common to the single cell creatures of earth. This would explain why the Z-RETS bear no external genital apparatus or any indication of a copulatory aperture. After the larvae consume the available skeletal remains, I believe they will undergo pupation for a metamorphic maturation into an adult Z-RET. The size and definition of the brain mass we observed on the larvae suggests to me that they may very well retain the knowledge and abilities of their parent.
"This creature appears to have reached an end stage of development without benefit of sexual coitus to ensure the recombination of genetic material necessary for evolutionary development. I can only conclude that this creature is not the result of a natural evolutionary process leaving me with some unanswered questions. Like, who created them and why?
"Tom, we need the services of a first rank entomologist. Several years ago, I read a book written by Doctor Darrell Vester, an entomologist with considerable knowledge of genetic engineering. He advocated its use to alter the insect life of earth in order to venture beyond the homeostasis concept to the mythical state of Gaia. I found his premise intriguing and invited him to visit our facility. Doctor Vester visited HEP One several years ago and presently resides in Seattle, Washington. We should offer him a position on our staff."
"I agree completely. My aide will attempt to contact Doctor Vester in the morning."
April 27, 2043 -- 6:02 p.m.
"This is an OP Net, Alpha One Advisory. This morning's service at the Church of the Holy Rapture, founded by the late and unlamented Russell Simba, turned into a full-blown riot involving most of the congregation. The service opened with video taken just before dawn Saturday morning as distraught relatives of the raptured pushed Simba, who was securely strapped to a wheel chair, into Elysian Park. Before his captors departed, the hysterical Simba admitted that his allegations regarding the rapture were false and designed to defraud his followers. After viewing this video, his once loyal followers sacked and burned both the church sanctuary and Simba's opulent parsonage."