"Experiment Earth: Terminated" (open to new writers)

[AmyRoberts]

Experiment Earth: Terminated

(open to new writers; PM hostess for details)
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15 July 2029:

Trillions of Dollars, Rubles, Yuan, Pounds, Rupee, Yen, Euros, and other national currencies had been spent over the past half century on projects designed to detect objects approaching Earth: meteors, asteroids, and comets were searched for, located (sometimes), and tracked, all in an effort to determine if any of them posed a collision threat to the planet.

Although it wasn't a primary design goal, most of these systems -- whether on Earth or in orbit above it -- were also capable of detecting alien spacecraft. And yet, halfway through the month of July in the year 2029, an extraterrestrial vessel of unknown origin managed to reach Earth without being detected; Human Beings' first understanding that they were not alone in the Universe came when the sun glinted off the hull of the 10,000-meter-long craft as it moved into orbit 350 miles above the planet.

The reaction from governments, militaries, scientists, politicians, and common citizens varied greatly across the globe. In most places there was panic to one degree or another, while in others, the populations just watched and waited. Some governments attempted to communicate with the alien craft, to no avail; most militaries went on full alert, with many calling up reserves and bringing all of their defensive and offensive systems -- including nuclear weapons -- on line.

It would be 38 hours after the ship was first detected that first contact was finally made. On nearly every screen across the world -- from personal smart phones and computers to the big screens of Times Square and monitors in military operations rooms in every country -- an alien face appeared.

With the words of her own language automatically being translated into the chosen language of the device on which it was being heard, the alien explained, "Greetings. I am Luna, the leader of my people. A million of your years ago, my people came to your planet and seeded it with the beings that would one day evolve to become you ... Homo sapiens.

"This is something we had done many times before on many other habitable planets and moons across what you call the Milky Way," Luna continued, adding, "something that we continue to do even now on other habitable planetary bodies. The evolution of our Seed into an intelligent, superior, and dominant species is never the same on any two planets ... nor is how this advanced species interacts with its home or with the other life forms sharing this home and the environments on which they depend for their survival."

Luna's expression thus far had been emotionless, but now -- as she stepped closer to whatever form of projecting device was sending her image and words around the world -- both her expression and tone became ... serious. She continued, "We have been monitoring the evolution of your race periodically over its history, visiting Earth more and more frequently as your technology ... and your ability to destroy both your planet and yourselves advanced exponentially.

"We are disappointed with the direction in which the Human Race is heading," Luna said with a scrutinizing, chastising tone. "As a result, the decision has been made to depopulate Earth of Home sapiens ... to allow a new intelligent, superior, and dominant species to evolve in its place. Details are forthcoming."

And with that, the billions of screens featuring the alien's image and frightening declaration went blank. They didn't return to whatever had been on them previously: music videos, television shows, local news, and such forth simply didn't return, and any attempts by the devices' owners to get them to broadcast something, anything, failed. The screens simply remained black.

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(OOC: So, this is how it starts. Frightening, huh? If you want to know more or have an interest in writing a character(s), look at the seeking thread and/or PM me. Please do not post here without being cleared; there are details that every new, potential writer needs to know. Thanks.)

 

[HumanBean]

United Nations Building
Secretary-General's Office
New York City

1605 hours, local time (Eastern Time Zone)
15 July 2029:

United Nations Secretary-General Robert Gilham sat back in his chair and stared in silence at the black monitor that filled a good portion of one wall of his office. He wasn't alone, of course. He hadn't been alone since the arrival of the alien spaceship a day and a half ago. Well, he had had a brief nap between 0400 and 0700 hours this morning. He'd had all electronics removed from his office and a pair of security guards placed outside his door to keep others away. But at seven sharp, he was up refreshing himself with cold water to his face and hot coffee to his gut. And then it was back to work.

He'd participated in almost 2 dozen meetings during the 9 hours since once again waking. Some had been in person. Most had been via secured videoconferencing. He'd dealt with the Security Council, the General Assembly, and specialized agencies and programs that most people (even some UN Ambassadors) hadn't even known existed until now.

Robert thought he'd been well prepared for whatever the aliens had to say when contact was finally made. He'd been wrong. He had, of course, imagined that some sort of invasion or devastating destruction was imminent. But the eradication of the human race simply for being who and what they were? Really? That hadn't occurred to him.

One of the 5 people currently with Robert spoke. He didn't catch the words. Only the sounds. His brain alerted him to the fact that someone had spoken to him. He turned to find his Chief of Staff staring at him. The man repeated what Robert had missed: "She's beautiful. Luna, I mean."

"She's going to erase the human race from the face of the planet," Robert snapped, "And you're getting a woody for her?"

There was soft laughter and giggles from the other 4. Robert scanned them all. He asked, "Other opinions? Other than she's hot?"

There was a moment of silence. No one wanted to be the first to speak. Finally, though, his Science Advisor offered, "Do we think she'll do it? Or that she can do it?"

"She's in an interstellar ship measuring more than 6 miles in length that snuck up on our planet without anyone seeing it," Robert reminded them. "The United States has almost 4,000 nuclear warheads but could kill every last man, woman, and child on the planet with less than 100 of them. They have more than that amount in just their ballistic missile submarines. So, yes. I think that if Luna says she can kill us all, she's telling the truth."

Robert turned back to the monitor again. It was still dark, despite the efforts of one of his Aides in trying to find and fix the fault. They didn't know yet that all screens across the globe had gone black and would stay that way until Luna decided to bring them back to life.

He turned to the last man keeping company with him. "Connor, how do we communicate with the aliens? With this Luna?"

"How is not the problem, Mister Secretary-General," the Aide said. "We've got several communications avenues. The problem is simply that the aliens, that Luna has chosen not to speak with us. I've been in contact with the US, Russia, China ... everyone. No one had been able to make personal contact."

"No one's admitting to it, you mean," Robert suggested. Connor only shrugged. Robert didn't know whether or not to believe what other world leaders had said about not making contact with the aliens. Was there any one particular leader who was in secret contact with Luna? There were a lot of reasons for doing so. Particularly after what Luna had just told them. He told Connor, "Keep trying. Keep reminding them ... Luna of who I am. I may not have the power of the leaders of the US or Russia or China. But I do represent the population of all of Planet Earth."

The phone on his desk let out a short beep. His Chief of Staff lifted the receiver, listened, then offered the phone out. "It's POTUS."

"Excuse me, please, everyone," Robert told the others as he took the receiver. He didn't want to take this call. The United States' control of United Nations operations has only gotten firmer and firmer over the years. The current POTUS, despite being a woman, was a true hard ass when it came to the UN. Robert knew he had to stand his ground. But it was difficult. He smiled as if POTUS could hear the expression through the line, saying, "Hello, Madam President. What can I do for you?"