Synopsis It was much like a 1950s science fiction movie; flying saucers landing on the
White House lawn and aliens saying “take me to your leader.” But it was not a
movie, and the twelve mile in diameter mother ship hanging over the United
States could easily be seen by everyone.
There were two kinds of aliens, one looking very much like humans. The other
looked like a walking, hissing lizard that would have been right at home in that
movie. They marched in, told the President that they come in peace, and marched
out with one of his staff, a very pretty young woman named Sharon Martin. She
disappeared into the saucer and that was the last heard of her.
The aliens proved very hard to talk with, unresponsive and positively
suspicious acting. All they wanted, so they said, was a small bit of New Mexico
desert for a base from which to learn more about us and our world. But nothing
was heard from Sharon for days. When other people began to disappear, the
President knew he had a real problem on his hands.
Extract We have so little data to go on. We don’t even know what they look like. How
can we deduce anything when so few facts are known?”
The President shook his head. “I had hoped for more,” he said to no one in
particular.
General Walstein’s hand went up. At a presidential nod, he addressed Dr.
Summerfield. “Sir, do we have any idea how that huge ship is powered?”
“No. It came into our solar system with a burst of energy in all spectrums.
Then it decelerated and came to Earth orbit. We detected no signs of reaction
mass being ejected. In fact, there were no signs of energy emission at all.
No, Sir, we do not know how it moves.”
“And I suppose you have no idea of its offensive weapons?”
Dr. Summerfield spread his hands open. “None whatsoever. Until they show us,
we don’t even know if they have weapons.”
The general did not seem happy with that answer.
There came a knock on the door. It immediately opened and a Marine guard
entered. He quickly made his way to the end of the table and handed the
President a sheet of paper. Then he turned and left.
The President studied the paper for a bit, then dropped it on the table.
“Gentlemen, and lady, we should soon have some answers. I have just been
informed that NORAD has detected a ship leaving The Visitor. It is several
hundred feet long and moving slowly in our direction. If it continues on the
present course, it will make contact near Washington, D.C. I think it safe to
assume that it is coming here to make what all the science fictions writers call
“First Contact.”
Several people had questions but the President waved them off. “If you will
excuse me, I have a job to do.” He rose and turned to the door. “If any of you
want to come, you’re welcome to.” He turned to a man who looked like he could
be the President’s grandfather, “Except you, Charles. As Vice President, you
stay here. Just in case.”
Everyone else stood and rushed to follow him out. Sharon was the last to
leave, a tidal wave of emotions welling up within her. This was an incredibly
important historical moment, and she was privileged to be present. The notebook
she had been making notes in about the President’s reactions was clutched to her
breasts as she hurried along. Imagine that, she told herself, the first
visitors from outer space!
They exited the elevator in the White House basement and walked quickly
upstairs to the first floor. A staff member rushed up to the President and told
him something, waving his hand towards the door to the front lawn as he did.
The President turned to Sharon and grinned. “Come on,” he told her, “They’re
landing!”
“Mr. President,” General Walstein called to him, “This might be dangerous!”
“So is walking across the street,” came his calm reply. “I have a job to do.
I have to represent the people of the United States.”
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