6

THREE MILES OVER IRANIAN AIRSPACE

The three Ilyushin IL-76 Ds started to disgorge over two hundred and fifty of the most highly trained soldiers in the world. Colonel Vladimir Tiushkin was in constant verbal communication with the Russian government as he watched his elite but truncated 106th Guards Airborne Division start their HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jump into harm’s way. The colonel was the last soldier to leave the safety of the aircraft. His unit was tasked to secure the university science buildings and then allow the Russian and American propulsion specialists to deactivate the alien power plant and secure it for transfer back into Azerbaijan, and then from there to whatever secret destination was called for. The colonel knew that if his unit failed a full-scale invasion was being prepared by not only Russian forces from the sea, but also from NATO forces based out of Afghanistan.

In the final twenty minutes of their flight the colonel had been told that they were being tracked by a possible hostile flight of aircraft that may or may not have originated in Tel Aviv. The operations intelligence people had told him that they had picked up transmissions from Israeli fuel tankers leaving their immediate area and they could only figure it was a flight of Israeli fighters that were going to finish what the Russians might have started. Now the colonel had Israeli forces to contend with as well as an undetermined number of Iranians. He only prayed that more levelheaded minds prevailed inside the halls of the Iranian government.

FIFTY MILES EAST OF BIRJAND, IRAN

The commander of the 50th Mechanized Division of the Iranian army had placed his tanks well away from the city and university and was hidden well behind a series of small hills surrounding the valley. His instructions were simple: move fast after the attack on Tel Aviv and secure the university. Other forces would move on the government in Tehran and secure the capital. The rumor that the new Iranian president had been having high-level talks with the American president weighed heavily on his mind as this act of high treason meant that they were going to hang if the attack and coup failed.

The general only prayed that the new president ignored the Americans.

UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

BIRJAND, IRAN

The first Russian troops landed hard just inside the university compound. It had only taken seconds for the first warning shots by security forces loyal to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to respond. Several of the highly trained commandos were killed as they touched down, forcing others to start firing before they hit the ground. This was a scenario they had expected and the excellent marksmen of the 106th Guardsmen soon settled the initial security situation of the attack. Thirteen of the ex-president’s men hit the ground dead before the first Russian soldiers had removed their jump equipment.

The commandos knew exactly what to do and immediately assembled inside the large university grounds. The initial assault on the applied sciences building began at exactly fifty-five seconds after the campus was secured.

*   *   *

Inside the large facility, at the bottom-most level, noise from the outside world could not be heard as the large alien power plant started its initial sequence in initiating the elements of the wormhole to open. The weather over Tel Aviv was light wind and no cloud cover. The Iranian technicians knew that if they had targeted the large city correctly the skies over Israel would soon cloud over as the machine gathered bits of moisture from the surrounding air and sea into the swirling mass that was the alien wormhole. The only three recon satellites of the Iranian nation had been re-tasked six hours earlier so they could witness the destruction of the Israeli problem firsthand.

“Power is at 80 percent and rising,” came the lead coordinator’s voice over the intercom as Ahmadinejad listened and watched through the thick glass. He was anticipating many things this night—not only the destruction of Israel, but also his anointed return to the head of Iranian government.

His smile wanted to break free from his stern countenance. The general seated at his side was on the opposite end of the spectrum as he watched the activity of the alien engine startup. He was overly concerned about his forces and their ability to secure the capital and reinforce the university. Thus far the only word that had come in was from the university element that awaited his word in the hills surrounding the city; that they were in position and prepared to defeat any opposition from the outside world. There had been no word from his division commanders outside of the capital or the holy city of Qoam. He knew that if Rouhani was not taken into custody and the ayatollahs kept under lock and key until after their power base had been secured, the entire coup would be over before the plan had been fulfilled.

Ahmadinejad turned in his seat and examined General Yazdi’s face. “Are your units prepared to enter Tehran?”

The general wiped the small bead of sweat from the space between his upper lip and pencil-thin moustache and nodded.

“Yes, my president, the forces loyal to you are moving as we speak,” he lied.

“Good. I want my cabinet inside the capital in one hour. They are to secure all government office facilities and disarm the Revolutionary Guard.”

“My men have their instructions and will report soon.”

Ahmadinejad’s eyes remained on Yazdi for the longest five seconds of the career officer’s life, then finally turned away as the lead technician joined them from the laboratory.

“We are prepared to initiate the wormhole. Do I have the president’s permission to start the attack on Tel Aviv?”

“Yes, let’s end this. Commence the operation.”

The technician stood rigid and then moved to the communications panel on the glass wall.

“Form the wormhole.”

The plan was simple. The wormhole would form around the capital of Israel, engulf the entire region, and then shut down. Like the resort a few days before the entire Israeli government and the city of Tel Aviv would be whisked away to a place only God would determine. Five thousand years of Hebrew domination of the Middle East would end as suddenly as it had begun in 1947. The Israeli dogs would simply cease to exist, at least in this dimension.

Ahmadinejad felt the hair on his arms and neck start to rise as the alien power plant built up to maximum power. Blue and green swirls of light started to escape the containment vessel of the engine. The interior of the glass-enclosed space started to shake and vibrate as the alien technology started to explode free of the building. The large tunnel opening to the laboratory opened to the sky six stories above, to allow the wormhole effect to escape.

Suddenly an explosion rocked everyone in the sublevel of the university. Ahmadinejad thought the power plant had exploded as the men inside hit the ground for protection. Just as suddenly the lights were gone and the alien power plant started to power down with an ear-shattering screech. Shots rang out from every direction as stun grenades started to explode.

Ahmadinejad hit the floor and turned to the general. “Signal the reinforcements to move in. We are being attacked by Israeli or American forces. Hurry!”

Yazdi stood and raised his phone. “Move in!” he shouted—and then the general’s face exploded onto the ex-president as a bullet entered the back of his head. Ahmadinejad watched in stunned silence as men moved in, dressed in black commando uniforms. One of these placed three more rounds into the general’s head, then pulled Ahmadinejad to his feet. The ex-president was immediately swarmed by several men and made secure by a nylon strap that was brutally applied to his wrists. He could hear the men speaking into their headsets and the language they spoke was a shock. They were speaking Russian, not American! Flash-bang grenades exploded all around him as technicians inside the chamber went down one and two at a time as the commandos killed them. In the flash of the grenades and the hum of flying bullets he watched men from another nation spoil the plan of thirty-five years right before his eyes.

The man leading the assault yelled into his mouth microphone. “All secure, power plant is disabled.”

*   *   *

The general in command of the forces arrayed to resist the Russian assault was getting ready to order his mechanized forces forward when his second-in-command jumped onto his armored personnel carrier.

“Our new president sends his regards.” The colonel raised his automatic and fired two shots into his general’s head.

The American president had finally gotten through to the government in Tehran and convinced them of the plight Iran was facing. In a matter of mere hours men had been moved into place to thwart the coup attempt, which none of the junior officers of the treasonous divisions had been aware they were doing. Across the board every commanding general and their adjutants of every frontline Iranian division had been so disposed of. The coup had become a complete failure.

CAMP DAVID

FREDERICK, MARYLAND

For the first time in recorded American history foreign nationals were allowed into the most secure location inside the United States—with the exception of one facility in Nevada. Russia, Great Britain, Germany, France, and China were represented by their countries’ highest political figure. All eyes were on the live video feed supplied by the joint resources of the United States’ NSA and Russian Intelligence platforms that amazed the other leaders in clarity and real-time exposure to the assault in Iran. The men in the situation room watched as a live video feed from Tehran took up a large portion of the main viewing screen. Iranian president Rouhani watched the satellite feed of the assault on his complex with trepidation. The view inside the university was confused and erratic. The men watched as cameras were tussled and images obscured. They heard the real-time shouts of men doing a devastatingly effective assault. The screams of Iranian technicians and the calm voices of men killing them thrilled and sickened the powerful men sitting around the large table.

Rouhani lowered his head as he watched helplessly as the men of his nation were cut down in the most ruthless manner. He now understood the dynamic of what the Ahmadinejad had planned. The scope of the coup and the planned attack on Israel had been explained to him by the many leaders gathered today. He now understood what had been at stake and had decided that his national goals would now coincide with the plans of the western and eastern worlds. Still, the sight of his countrymen being killed so ruthlessly was a vision that froze his blood.

Jack Collins and Carl Everett watched from seats situated along the wall with military assistants from the other nations. Every man knew the efficiency of the Russian assault and feared for the men involved. They had watched the entire assault without comment.

As Everett watched, his breath hitched in his chest when the all-clear was announced. The assault had been an overwhelming success. Carl saw Jack tense when he recognized the faces of Ryan and Sarah as they entered with the rest of the United Nations technical team who were there to secure the alien technology. It was Carl who wanted to stand when a face he recognized came into a soldier’s camera view: Anya’s. He looked at Jack with an almost panicked look. It was the president who eyed the two officers that offered an explanation.

Another monitor along the wall sprang to life and the prime minister of Israel appeared. The Intel chiefs of the varying nations knew the man next to him was the head of Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad. General Shamni was being viewed publicly for the first time as a good-faith measure for the peace of mind of the gathered nations.

“Mr. Prime Minister, is your government satisfied the rogue element inside Iran has been curtailed, to the point that you can stand down your military forces and recall your strike elements?”

The small and elderly prime minister closed his eyes momentarily, then looked into the monitor and just nodded his head.

“Yes. As of one minute ago, General Shamni has recalled all Israeli forces and lowered our alert status. Do we have reassurance that former president Ahmadinejad’s forces have been neutralized, and that there will be no reoccurrence of hostilities from the new Iranian government?”

It was Rouhani who answered from his monitor.

“I can assure the State of Israel that not only will there be no occurrence of hostile intent, but also that Mr. Ahmadinejad and his cohorts in crime will not see the light of the dawning day. Furthermore, with the agreement of the clerics of our nation, Iran is prepared to offer this sign of peace and friendship. We are prepared to publicly announce that we as a people recognize the State of Israel’s right to exist, and I am prepared to offer full cooperation in our new and hopefully continuing relationship between our two nations.”

The many varying national personalities of the world’s most powerful nations rose as one around the large conference table and applauded the most decisive decision in the history of the Middle East. At long last the coup not only failed, but ushered in a new age of cooperation between the two nations of Israel and Iran.

“We are most pleased to accept your very kind and genuine intent of friendship across the board,” the Israeli prime minister said with a nod of his head. “I am sorry for your losses in this sordid affair. May I offer assistance to not only the Iranian nation, but also the gathered nations planning for what is to come?”

“Thank you, Mr. President, and you also, Mr. Prime Minister. I will be in contact very soon so your governments can liaise with our military forces for training and instruction,” the president of the United States said with a grim smile and nod of his head.

Rouhani nodded and his monitor went dark. He had a new government to form and a very long explanation for the people of his country on how close they had come to war with the rest of the world. He should have no trouble with the changing of power from his people. The Israeli leader removed his glasses as his monitor also went dark.

The president nodded toward the opposite end of the table and the president of Russia.

“Our assault division will remain on station until the technology is crated and moved to Overlord’s transit location. This will be confirmed by members of the assault team under United States control.” The Russian turned and faced the leader of America and shook his head. “I fear with the reports from Great Britain and France that we may have run out of time.”

“First we have to confirm that the Iranian scientists have actually managed to power up the alien power plant and have succeeded in creating their wormhole.” The president looked at Niles Compton, who stood and went to the large monitor. He held the phone in his hand as he connected with his element in Iran.

“Lieutenant McIntire, have you procured the test sequences from the Iranian experiments?”

There were several beeps and static sounded over the speaker system in the situation room. All eyes watched the strange balding man as he waited. Soon the image of Sarah came into view. Jason Ryan was standing near her.

“Yes, sir, what we have thus far is their experiments were charted into five differing areas of Earth’s past.” She held up a printout and pointed to several lines of code. The view changed on the Russian-supplied camera to show one of the leading Iranian technicians as he confirmed the time differential. “The first wormhole created a tunnel that accidentally targeted an area of northern Europe right around 38,000 BCE. This is verified by charting the skies and various planet locations. The second was 117 AD, location was the Scottish highlands. This corresponds with the disappearance of the famous Ninth Legion.” Sarah looked at the camera. “It seems the Iranians were responsible for this and several other incidents of mass disappearances over the course of history. The next was 1558 near Roanoke, Virginia. It is estimated—”

“Very good, Lieutenant. Then we can confirm that the alien technology has been successfully powered up, and that an immediate transfer of the unit can be accomplished as soon as it’s dismantled and crated for transport?”

“Uh, yes, sir,” Sarah said as she knew the president had cut her short on the report.

“Lieutenant, you and Commander Ryan will stay with the power plant until it arrives at its final destination—is that clear?” Niles Compton said.

“Yes, sir.”

The picture went dark and Niles returned to his seat.

“Mr. President, the People’s Republic understands the need for the alien technology, but I believe the time has come for the United States to”—the Chinese president looked around the table—“as you Americans say, ‘come clean.’ We need to know the source of your planning. We, the many nations represented here, have invested our entire treasuries to something that may or may not work, as this has turned into the most expensive project in the history of the world. And now the peoples of our nation are starting to become very anxious over the unbridled spending. We are going to lose the confidence of the people, and then all will be lost.”

“Gentlemen, many of you have wondered about my friend and colleague sitting with our group today. May I introduce Dr. Niles Compton.” He nodded at Niles, who made his way to the podium at the front of the room. “Dr. Compton is the head of a think tank, or advisory group, located within the borders of the United States. Operation Overlord was conceived in part by him and two other men. Doctor, you may start at the beginning.”

Niles nodded his head, removed his coat, then took a sip of water. He glanced at his oldest friend, the president, who nodded and smiled as the truth the United Sates had held in secret for sixty-five years was about to spill forth. Niles pushed a button and a view of vault number 28967, buried deep inside the Event Group complex, appeared. A giant black tarp was laid over an object of tremendous size. It was pulled away by several men. The round, broken, and incomplete skeletal remains of the two Arizona saucers appeared and the leaders of the world sat forward in their chairs as the sight amazed them. Only the British prime minister did not seem shocked.

“1947, Roswell, New Mexico,” Compton began. “A flying saucer was indeed captured, just as many of you have speculated. The incident was covered up by then President Harry S. Truman. We had been attacked. In the summer of 2006, it happened again…”

Jack and Carl listened as Niles spilled the secrets of the Event Group and the United States, baring the soul of secrecy that had been hidden since the end of World War II. The leaders of the world’s most powerful nations had been told about the attacks and shown proof earlier after the moon missions to uncover alien technology, but never the source. The two officers listened for an hour as the story was related. When he was done, Niles looked at the faces staring back at him.

“We inside France knew the United States, and to some extent Great Britain, had some valuable information they hadn’t shared with the world, but we also have belief inside our intelligence community that perhaps you are still not being truthful to the full measure. Since the British find in Antarctica, you have yet to explain the way in which you devised a way to power up the device discovered. Who has been assisting your government, Dr. Compton?”

Carl Everett looked at Jack and mouthed the question “What device?”

Jack raised his eyebrows and shook his head, indicating he had no idea what the president of France was referring to.

The American president nodded toward Niles, then looked at his colleagues and laughed. They looked at him confused.

“Dr. Compton has been in control of an asset we have been hiding since 2006. Yes, it is the very same incident that he described concerning the attack in the Arizona desert. Thus far the need to know the whole truth of the matter has only extended to Her Majesty’s government, due to their extraordinary find in Antarctica.” The president again smiled his strange little smirk. “Niles, please make the introductions.”

Jack and Carl saw the familiar face of Virginia Pollock come onscreen. She sat next to a chair that was turned away from the camera. She smiled at the gathered men in the situation room and as she did she turned the swivel chair. The faces around the table drained of color.

“Good God,” the president of France proclaimed as he rose in his chair. The president only smiled wider.

“Gentlemen, may I introduce our friend. This is Mahjtic. Along with the late senator Garrison Lee and Dr. Compton here, this being is responsible for the planning of Operation Overlord.”

Jack had to join the president and smile as he watched Matchstick blink his large, black eyes at the camera—and then wave to the gathered men with a quick, childlike gesture.

It was the French president who summed it up for the world leaders.

“Incroyable!”

Jack had to admit as he looked at his small green friend, that yes, it was incredible.

*   *   *

The president of the United States stood, placed his hands inside his pants pockets, and walked to the front. He nodded at Niles, who replaced his coat and seated himself between Jack and Carl. He looked at them and winked, knowing that he had just introduced to the world the most important being on the planet since the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth. Jack pursed his lips in a silent whistle, showing that he had been impressed with the information about Matchstick being finally out in the open.

Before the president could speak, the German chancellor rose to his feet. “I may assume we can have access to this … this … being for questioning?”

“No. Mahjtic is in a secure location that is inaccessible to the rest of the world, even myself.” The small lie came easily to the president. “If the enemy knew we had a Green being in our hands they would search until they found him and eliminated our only asset. Mahjtic is the only advantage we have in the coming days. If we lose him, we lose the war.”

“And this being is trustworthy?” asked the president of the People’s Republic.

“Mahjtic has proven himself over and over again in the past. It was he who led us to the discoveries on the moon and the technology found there. But for argument’s sake, the man your military leaders chose to lead the combined Special Forces Fast-Reaction Force, Colonel Jack Collins”—the president gestured toward Jack, who just looked on as he still didn’t know what he was there for, and was hearing certain things for the first time—“has worked with the asset many times and will vouch for his commitment to our fight. Gentlemen, Mahjtic was a slave to the beings threatening us; there is no love between the two races. He is reliable.”

A member of the Secret Service knocked and entered the room.

“We have a communication directive from China for the president … err, Mr. President.”

The president nodded his head as the agent delivered the flimsy communication teletype to the small and portly leader of China. The man read and then frowned as he turned to the agent.

“Please have your communications people verify this and inform us right away, please.”

“Is there a problem?” the president enquired.

The man cleared his throat, then slowly placed the communication on the tabletop.

“We are starting to get confirmed reports from Japanese sources that we may have indeed had several instances of downed civilian airliners off their coast.” The Chinese president motioned for an assistant to distribute copies of his Intel report. “It seems that if we couple this report with the incident in the North Sea concerning our friends the French and British, we must assume we are facing the initial stages of war.”

The American president lowered his head and then looked up at the gathered men.

“Thank you Mr. President.” He knew the man he had helped gain power inside China was right. “Gentlemen, I think we can all concur: it has started. And may I suggest we waste no more time.”

“Yes, I believe we should initiate Operation Cut and Run immediately,” the British prime minister announced.

“Very well. Then we are all in agreement?”

One by one each member of the world council raised their hands and lowered their eyes. France, Great Britain, Germany, China, Russia, and the United States all voted together for the first time in military history. The president moved to the door and opened it to allow the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to enter. General Maxwell Caulfield stood rigid as he came face-to-face with former enemies and allies alike.

“General, please alert your counterparts across the board, Operation Cut and Run has been initiated as of this date and time. Start hiding them.”

With one last look at the men at the table the general nodded and then left.

In the next fifteen minutes every army, naval, and air force asset in the world would go to Red Alert. Every warship assigned to a fleet would take to sea and every warplane the world over would be dispersed to undisclosed airfields in every country that was part of the alliance.

Jack looked at Niles, still not understanding what his and Everett’s parts in this plan would be.

“Gentlemen, let us prepare to defend ourselves,” the president said.

Jack wanted to ask Niles about their role but kept quiet as the world spiraled toward a war of the worlds—the like of which had never been thought of before, in life or in their worst nightmares.

The world was about to change forever.

CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK

THURMONT, MARYLAND

Hunting Creek Lake was located inside the confines of Cunningham Falls State Park and was situated only fifteen miles from the fortified residence of the president at Camp David.

The sun was just beginning to set behind the trees as Jim Macdonald and his two sons, Bobby and Brandon, twelve and ten years old respectively, were just starting to pack up from their end-of-the-month hike through the lake country of the park. Ever since Jim had been coming here, he and his boys had occasionally run into either Secret Service or State Park employees making routine sweeps over the area even when the president wasn’t in residence at the Camp David Retreat. This day had been different as they had come across not only the Park Service and the Secret Service, but also full combat-dressed Marines. Needless to say the heavy presence had put a major damper on the day for him and his two sons, even though they had shown nothing but excitement at seeing the Marines in the woods.

Jim admonished the boys to hurry packing the remains of their lunch and hiking gear, as their mother expected them home for dinner before the sun fully set. The father was also in a hurry because the security people they had run into had advised being out of the area due to the heavy police and federal presence surrounding the parks.

They had just finished packing when a small rain squall washed over the area. The man and his boys looked around and up as the sudden wind and rain caught them off guard. The small storm lasted only a minute and the skies quickly cleared.

“Well, that was different,” Jim said as he tousled the now wet hair of his youngest son.

“Now I’m all wet. Mom’s going to have a hissy fit,” Brandon said as he shook off his father’s hand.

Suddenly a shrill whistling was heard from the twilight sky above them. Jim looked up and saw at least a thousand large balls of silver falling toward the small lake and shoreline. At first he thought it was an optical illusion and he was watching a bizarre meteor shower that just looked as if it were heading straight toward them, but then the whistling became loud enough that his two boys placed their small hands over their ears.

Jim realized they were indeed falling objects and they were definitely heading straight for them. He grabbed his sons in both arms and sprinted straight into the trees lining the lake. He was nearly out of breath as he pulled up and turned in time to see the first of the objects strike the water and the shoreline. He tried to count them as the hissing orbs struck, the splashes rising high into the air. The objects that struck the small shoreline also hissed in the wet sand and threw up a plume of steam. Jim had to stop counting after he hit over a hundred of the silverish objects, and still more pierced the sky and landed anywhere from the lake to the forest surrounding it.

Brandon grabbed his father’s legs in a hard hug as Bobby hid closely behind the tree. The objects came to rest; some sank in the cold water while others struck trees and careened off into the woods. They heard a loud crack as one of the strange balls came down near them and crashed against a tree. The eight-foot-in-diameter spherical object left a scorch mark on the bark of the tree, and when it rolled twenty feet and came to rest it started the loose pine needles on fire.

Jim took hold of both of his frightened boys and drew them close. Brandon whimpered as the silver ball started to slowly open along its center-line mass. Jim gagged as a horrid smell struck his nostrils as the ball split open. The three started to slowly back away from the grounded object just as a pole-like device came up from the center. Steam slowly rose and the hissing sound; the small ball was hot enough that Jim felt the heat from ten feet away.

“Daddy, what is it?” Brandon asked, wanting to pull his father away from the frightening scene.

Before Jim had a chance to answer, something uncurled and stood from the inside of the strange craft. It had a large, thin body and as it rose to its full height, Jim thought that he had had enough hiking for the day. He turned with his boys in tow and he came face-to-face with another of the things. The helmet it wore was a dark purple but that didn’t stop Jim from seeing the horror that was behind the visor. The eyes were black and ringed in yellow, a brightness of color that frightened Jim beyond measure. The tall being was holding a large pole half as long as its entire body in its gloved right hand. The other hand reached down nearly to the being’s knees, which were turned backward.

Jim pushed at the boys and they quickly ran past the strange creature. Brandon was crying and Bobby was admonishing him and his father to hurry. As they cleared the woods they came to a screeching stop only fifty yards from the small lake. Over three hundred of the creatures were lining the shoreline or emerging from the water. It seemed every one of them was looking right at the three humans.

A low moan escaped the lips of Jim Macdonald as the Grays approached. He almost fell to his knees as the closest one removed the helmet that had been covering the worst feature of all—the head.

As the sun set over the small lake in the even smaller park, the humans’ screams echoed through the area. Then the Grays moved off toward the north—toward Camp David.

CAMP DAVID

FREDERICK, MARYLAND

The leaders of the world broke into several small groups as they sent out their alert orders; the military establishments, not understanding the entire plan, moved to protect their nations. Coffee and tea were brought in but many, including the president, chose to have something a little stronger—after all it wasn’t every day that the entire world acted as one in a matter of life and death. The president secured his drink as he approached Niles, Jack, and Carl. He was soon joined by the Chinese president with his cup of tea in hand. He spoke before the president could.

“Colonel Collins, it is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He sipped his tea and then smiled. “As I understand it, you were quite instrumental in securing the technology in South America. I must say the report that your president gave all of us read like an American adventure novel.”

“Thank you, sir, but I’m sure it was nothing that thrilling,” Collins said.

“Still, it was enough for my military people to concur with these men that you are the right person for the mission at hand.” He smiled again, then nodded at Niles and Everett and moved away to sit and talk with his counterparts.

“I suppose you are at least curious as to what that mission may entail, Colonel?”

“All I can hope is that it’s something that will assist you in this massive undertaking,” Jack answered.

The president took a sip of the watered-down whiskey and nodded at Niles Compton.

“I’ll leave it to your director to explain as much as he is able. I’m sorry the whole picture cannot be painted for you, Colonel, and Captain,” he said, looking at Carl. “But as you know, we still like our secrets around here. Hell, we would all die if we didn’t keep something in the dark—after all, we’re politicians.” He moved away with a smirk at Niles.

“Captain, you are hereby transferred to a location in Houston for training at the request of one of our leading engineers at NASA. Your transport is waiting outside.” Niles held out his hand to Everett, his eyes going from his face to the wristwatch he was wearing on his right hand. Carl shook. “Godspeed, Admiral,” he said as he handed Everett a small box. Carl opened it and saw two stars. He was shocked. “I’m afraid it’s only a temporary-grade promotion, but it was needed for you to command who it is you’ll be commanding.” Everett looked at Collins.

“Congratulations … sir,” he said with a smile as he too shook his friend’s hand.

Carl was speechless.

“And these are for you, General Collins. Same brevet rank, I’m afraid,” Niles continued without a hitch.

Jack opened the box and saw the two stars of a major general. He too was shocked.

“Believe me, when I heard you went to Washington, I thought we had lost the opportunity to see the faces you are wearing right now.”

“I don’t understand, why—”

“It’s not your place to understand, General. And don’t think that you no longer work for me, because when this is over you both are going to be returned to Group at your former pay-grades.”

Niles smiled and then removed his glasses. “Jack, you will be working with the finest men in your field. It will be a fast-reaction force designed to protect the asset known as Overlord. I cannot give you details, but it will be up to you and your unit to give us the time we need. To give Carl the time he needs to fight back.”

The two officers were as confused as ever.

“Jack, we assembled men from Special Forces around the world; some of them you have worked with before and have been assigned to you. Carl”—he faced Everett—“learn fast, get through your training, and save the fucking world.”

“Niles, we—”

He held up his hand with his glasses still clenched in his fingers, stopping Jack’s question.

“Will Mendenhall, or should I say, Captain Mendenhall, will join you as your aide. He’s waiting outside. You will also take Colonel Farbeaux with you as your adjutant.” Again he held up his hand when Collins started to protest. “Jack, he’s the best the French have and they saw fit to give him to us, thus saving his life. They wanted to hang him, after all.”

Niles relaxed and then shook his head.

“I wish I were going with you, but know this: at Group we are going to help you in every way that we can. You know our people, we will find a way. Good luck … my friends.”

Niles Compton turned away quickly as he choked up.

Both men looked down at their new brevet ranks and then both looked up. It was Everett who broke the uneasy silence.

“I would give a year’s pay to see old Henri’s face when you tell him, Jack.”

“Admiral, you know what?” he asked.

“What, General Collins?” he said with his smile growing.

“You can kiss this old ground-pounder’s two-star ass.”

EVENT GROUP COMPLEX

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA

Matchstick was sitting beside Gus’s bed. The old prospector was exhausted as his age was really starting to show. He was dozing as the small alien watched from his chair. The small feet dangled three feet off the ground as Matchstick reached out and took the old man’s hand and lightly squeezed. Gus’s eyes fluttered open and then closed, but in that brief moment he felt the presence of his small green friend. He relaxed, then slept more soundly.

Earlier, long before Matchstick had been introduced to the men at Camp David, Dr. Denise Gilliam and Virginia Pollock had sat the small being down and explained for the first time how tired Gus truly was. Matchstick had blinked several times in his fight to understand what it was they were telling him.

“You fix Gus, like you fix Mahjtic?”

Denise and the best medical men and women in the country had saved Matchstick from the growing fate of his race. His body had been overwhelmed by pollutants from his home planet, but with the perseverance of the medical staff they were able to control all of the infectious materials inside the green alien’s body. They suspected they had saved his life from one of pain and death. They had no such hope of saving the old prospector. Gus was old beyond his years and was slowly letting go of this life in his own ornery way.

Virginia had kneeled beside Mahjtic and looked into the large, obsidian eyes.

“Gus is old and tired. This is the way of our race. The reward for being us is the chance to rest and sleep. We here at Group do not yet understand your belief system on your home world, but we sense…” She stopped and thought a moment, then corrected herself. “No, we believe that once you die, you are allowed to see and be with the ones that you loved in life. I believe that you and Gus will be together again. Right now he’s just tired and old.”

“Gus, die?” Mahjtic said as his eyes rapidly opened and closed, the eyelids sliding inward from the side of his head. “You cannot fix?”

“Gus has lived a long life,” Denise offered as she started to choke up.

Matchstick had simply lowered his head, then wrapped one arm around Virginia’s neck and one around the leg of Denise. That was when the two highly trained doctors broke down and cried. Matchstick and the two women had stayed that way for the longest time before they left the two friends alone. Matchstick was content to sit and watch Gus breathe contentedly in his sleep.

A light knock sounded on the door and Mahjtic eased the old man’s hand from his own and hopped from the large chair. The Group had placed them inside the quarters they usually reserved for the president of the United States on his frequent visits to the Group. The small apartment was well appointed and Gus had complained to no end about the accommodation, but had finally relented. The small alien made his way to the door and pulled it open. He blinked several times as the light in the curving, circular, plastic-lined hallway struck his eyes. He saw Pete Golding and Charlie Ellenshaw standing there smiling. Charlie leaned into the darkened room and saw that Gus was fast asleep.

“Uh, we thought since you were introduced to the Overlord security council gathered at Camp David this afternoon, you may want to come down into the computer center to watch the president address the nation and the world,” Pete whispered.

Charlie and Pete saw a concerned look cross the alien’s features and then he tilted his head.

“From where?” Matchstick asked.

The two brilliant men were confused as Matchstick quickly stepped from the guest quarters and into the hallway. With one last look back at Gus he eased the door closed.

“We will watch in the—” Pete started to answer.

“Where … president speak?” he asked hurriedly.

“They haven’t left Camp David; I imagine the speech will take place there,” Pete finally answered.

If it were possible, Pete and Charlie would have sworn Matchstick’s face drained of color.

“Any … broadcast … to … the … public … will … be … in … the … clear … not … like … the closed … communication … with … us. The Grays will … triangulate … and know … they have … been … discovered … they will … know … where … the president is!”

Suddenly Matchstick turned and ran for the two pneumatic elevator banks and waved Charlie and Pete forward while crying out.

“No, no, no, must stop, must stop, must stop!”

The two men watched as Mahjtic vanished into the elevator and then they both hurriedly followed.

GEORGETOWN, MARYLAND

Speaker of the House Giles Camden watched the president as he was being broadcast live from an undisclosed location. The senator’s eyes studied the other men seated to the president’s right and left, with the flags of their various nations behind them; centered in the middle was the blue flag of the United Nations. Camden had listened to the president’s explanation concerning the Russian assault on Iran. He thought the man actually looked pleased that he had set up the Russians for an eventual takeover of that region. Another reason for the need to get this maniac out of office—he was losing control of everything from his military to the influence of the U.S. when it came to gathering new allies in the hectic Middle East.

Camden had excused his aides before the speech had started to allow him and Daniel Peachtree to sit alone. He was free to speak his mind now that his young aides were visibly absent. Peachtree, with his recent failure in the Hiram Vickers fiasco still vivid in not only his but Camden’s minds, sat silent when the Speaker of the House again started his ranting about the president.

“And let me tell you one thing, if he thinks his entire military is backing him he is sorely mistaken. I didn’t spend all those years in the senate not making friends myself! I have plenty of generals and admirals, people that are not happy with the unplanned, unfettered spending that’s happening!”

“You still are not onboard with the president’s plan for defending the planet, even though all these world leaders are? I mean hell, Mr. Speaker, most of them are as big a hawk as yourself. The new Chinese president is a known right-wing fanatic and he believes what his scientists and the president have outlined.”

“Yeah?” Camden snapped his head around to look at the assistant director of Operations of the CIA. “And what about the report that emerged from your own boss at Langley that said the president had been instrumental in bringing that nut in China into power, after being a cohort in the previous chairman’s assassination after the moon landings?”

“That is speculative at best. We have no proof of that. It may have been a military coup because the former chairman was not pleased with the money spent on going to the moon last year. That was why he was … well … removed.”

On the screen the president was in the middle of explaining the events that had taken place in the desert sands of Arizona back in 2006. He had finally admitted to the world that the famous Roswell incident had really happened, and thanks to that episode they had the ability now to fight back. And he was warning the world that a fight was indeed coming—and now he had the leadership of the most powerful nations on Earth backing him. Camden saw no way to stop the massive spending that was going on and the president knew that—that was why this very press conference was taking place.

Assistant Director Peachtree rolled his eyes at the Speaker’s ranting. As he looked at the television screen he saw that the president had life-sized cutouts of a small Green, and a rather aggressive and very much taller Gray. He swallowed as he looked on. As for Camden, he scoffed at the likenesses of the aliens as the president explained the difference between the two races. Peachtree wanted desperately to get out of there and get out west to track down that bastard Hiram Vickers before he was caught and spilled his guts on what he and Camden knew. That was what was worrying him, not the president and his no-longer hidden and secret agenda.

“As of right now, we and the rest of the world are destined to go broke because these fools believe in fairy tales!” Camden bellowed.

As for Daniel Peachtree, he didn’t think the man on television was bluffing. He was beginning to get a little frightened.

EVENT GROUP COMPLEX

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA

Charlie Ellenshaw and Pete Golding were right behind Matchstick when he burst into the computer center. Europa had the president’s address to the world on most of the large monitors that ringed the large room. They watched him run down the flight of stairs in the amphitheater-style arrangement and streak toward the weather-recon section. Mahjtic looked up at the computer-generated vision of the world and watched it intently. Most of the planet seemed calm to Pete’s eyes as he and Charlie finally managed to catch up to the small alien.

“Hey, hey, what’s the matter?” Pete asked as he finally managed to get some of his breath back after the long sprint down to the center. Many of the one hundred computer techs moved their eyes from the president on television to the commotion on the main floor.

“No, no, no, no,” was all Matchstick said as his large eyes centered on the eastern portion of the United States.

It was Charlie Ellenshaw who understood first. He leaned over and spoke to Pete, who finally registered the relief he wanted after Matchstick had frightened him so.

“Matchstick, the president and the council are safe. No weather patterns that would indicate a wormhole are anywhere near the Washington area. Besides, their people and Niles have the information needed to detect a strike. They know what to look for.”

Mahjtic ignored Pete as his eyes continued to scan the area of the East Coast. Finally the alien sat at Pete’s desk and brought the Cray Supercomputer to life.

“Europa?” he said with his strange but now stronger voice.

“Good evening, Mahjtic, how can I help you today?” The computer’s voice program still sounded like Marilyn Monroe after eight years.

Matchstick started to talk but in his excitement he couldn’t get the words out fast enough. He turned and started hitting keys on Pete’s computer at a blinding rate with his long, articulated fingers.

IS THERE AN ION READING WITHIN THREE HUNDRED MILES OF MARYLAND? he asked quickly by keyboard. The words started springing up on the monitor.

Pete and Charlie, along with many of the other techs, watched with curiosity.

“There has not been any sign or reading that would indicate electrical activity in the vicinity of Maryland since nine A.M. eastern standard time,” Europa said.

Matchstick closed his eyes. Then he sprang to life again and started banging on the keyboard.

PLEASE, CAN YOU BACKTRACK AND SHOW ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY AT THAT TIME?

On the main viewing screen the scene switched from the president and his Overlord Council to that of a swirling weather pattern that had only lasted a short time and then had cleared up. The swirling pattern was light and vanished almost as quickly as it had formed.

“Now there, you see?” Charlie said. “That was no wormhole, Matchstick, it was a small pattern of rain clouds that wasn’t enough to compete with the regular morning dew.”

Matchstick turned and faced Charlie. “It formed … from almost … nothing,” Mahjtic protested. “It is … possibly … a raid!”

“But Matchstick,” Pete said as more technicians started to surround them because they had detected the fear in the alien’s voice, “that brief weather cycle was not big enough for a wormhole. The ship transiting it would have had to have been far smaller than anything we have ever encountered, or any you have warned us about in your briefings.”

Matchstick became angry and turned on Pete.

“The Grays … can come … through the wormhole in … capsules! You must … get the president and the … council out of … Camp David … now!”

“I don’t understand what you’re telling us,” Pete said as Virginia Pollock entered the comp center after being alerted by security. She heard what the alien being was saying and waited for Charlie and Pete to explain.

“They are here. They may have … connected to the … communications coming … from Camp David during the … raid in … Iran. They … know about the … engine … and now … the president’s … address … to the world … is being broadcast in the … clear. They know where the president … is and the power plant. They will move … on them and eliminate … the threat they pose.” Matchstick’s voice and speech pattern were clear and precise, but in his excitement certain words seemed to catch in his throat. He turned and stood up, looking again at the weather patterns the world over. His eyes widened as he pointed at the screen directing everyone’s attention to the borders of Iran. “Look!”

They all turned and saw a huge storm starting to form over eastern Iran. As they all watched stunned, the space-based image showed the giant swirling pattern of a large wormhole starting to gather moisture and electron particles from the air.

“Pete, warn Niles at Camp David, get those men out of there. Tell them we suspect, as does Magic, that ground penetration by the enemy may have been achieved earlier in the day. And get a message out to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Warn the Russians in Iran they are about to have company—a lot of it!” Virginia started by slapping Pete on the shoulder, “Go, go!”

On the large computer screen the wormhole over eastern Iran grew to tremendous proportions as red alarm lights started sounding throughout the complex.

CAMP DAVID

FREDERICK, MARYLAND

There was a line of vehicles waiting to leave and even more waiting to enter at the now camouflaged and sandbag-buttressed security entrance to Camp David. Jack and the newly promoted Captain Will Mendenhall stepped from the green government sedan and walked toward the car behind theirs. Carl Everett stepped from the backseat while his driver stayed behind the wheel.

“Damn, it’s harder to get out of this place than it is to get in,” Everett joked as he took in the new silver bars on Will’s uniform. “It must be the shock of seeing Will weighed down by all that hardware.”

Jack smiled and Mendenhall frowned.

“I don’t think the Secret Service and these Marines care much that I was promoted to be a secretary for a new two-star general,” he quipped, then caught himself as he was now addressing not only a two-star admiral, but also a newly promoted two-star general. He relaxed when he realized that these temporary ranks would never change the way these two men looked at life.

“I’m afraid we’ve been held up because the Secret Service and FBI have yet to deliver my new adjutant.” Jack looked at his watch. “Which should have been five minutes ago.”

“With our luck old Henri probably stole their keys and has already escaped,” Everett said in all seriousness.

“My luck isn’t that good,” Jack said with a frown as he looked around, wondering what was taking security so long to deliver the Frenchman.

Jack was about to tease Will even more when every alarm bell inside the Camp David compound started blaring with intermittent and very loud warnings.

*   *   *

The Secret Service broke into the live broadcast of the president’s address and ran to the podium, pushing and pulling him and every member of the council out of the small room. Marines formed a perimeter as the group was hustled out.

“What’s going on?” the president demanded as they were ruthlessly shoved into a tight formation as they neared the back of the main building. The other leaders of the world were just as shocked as their own security elements joined the rush to get out as warning bells sounded everywhere. The few members of the world press who had been invited up to the press conference now were left standing with mouths agape at the sudden action.

“We just received a coded warning from ‘Magic’ that an attack is imminent on this compound!” Niles Compton said as he joined the group of world leaders. They were now surrounded by fifty Marines in full battle BDUs. “The same warning is going out to the technical team in Iran. It looks like a giant wormhole is forming over the eastern section—they’re going to be hit. It must have been the last test and our own communications that led the Grays to the university. Your broadcast was like leaving a bread-crumb trail for the enemy to find us and them.”

“The power plant, that’s more important than us. Can we get it out of Iran in time, Niles?” the president asked as they were being hustled toward a reinforced bunker a hundred yards from the main house. They heard the scream of F-15s as they streaked low over the densely forested area. Soon the thumping of rotors broke through the noise of the warning alarms and the jet noise as more Marines were brought into the compound.

“We’ve got the warning out to the Russian and Iranian forces. Luckily the Revolutionary Guard detachment was still in the area and is moving on the university to assist,” Niles answered as they reached the steel door of the shelter. “The power plant had already been crated and our people have begun to move it out of the city, but we don’t know if it’s in time.”

A loud explosion rocked the area and then they all heard screams as the early night was now alight with flares. Large shadows ran through the trees, and then bright streaks of laser light pulsated out toward the Marine detachment. Several men were caught before they could react and were sliced in two. The others started to return fire at the unseen Grays, but they were well hidden inside the tree line. The president and the Overlord Council were hustled into the bunker, followed by a full squad of heavily armed Marines and Secret Service personnel. Niles Compton looked back as the door was closed. He prayed that Jack, Carl, and Will Mendenhall had cleared the Camp David compound in time.

*   *   *

Jack hit the ground and Everett and Mendenhall fell on top of him. The world came alive with flashes of light as an unseen enemy opened up from thick surrounding trees that obscured the Marines’ return fire. He heard an explosion overhead and they all managed to look up in time to see a Marine Corp Black Hawk start spinning into the tree line, where it hit and burst open, killing all inside. Three Marines in battle fatigues ran by them and were immediately struck down by bright flashes of light. Jack winced as a headless torso struck the ground next to him.

“Come on, we’re going to get cut to pieces if we stay here!” He reached for a fallen M-4, the shortened version of the venerable M-16. He also reached for the nine-millimeter Beretta that was still holstered in the Marine’s web belt and tossed it to Everett.

The three men ran to a defensive position being set up by the remaining Marine detachment at the front gate.

As soon as Will Mendenhall slid to a stop beside Jack and Carl he found another M-4 lying on the ground, just out of reach of a dead lance corporal a foot away. Will reached for it, then shielded his eyes as flares burst in every direction.

“I think the war may have started,” he said as he tried in vain to find a target. He ducked behind Collins as three streaks of laser light reached out toward them. They struck a tree and burned through the thick trunk. It started to fall over as several Marines broke their cover and ran to a new position.

As Collins raised his head he saw the outline of one of the Grays highlighted by a floating overhead flare. He took quick aim at the distant target and fired off three rounds. He watched the tall, angular Gray stumble and fall to the ground.

“Good shot, Jack,” Carl said as he too fired off his own M-4. Marines from every direction started firing as they acquired targets.

The men from the Event Group knew from their experience in Arizona, from autopsies, and from Gus Tilley’s debriefing that same year, that the Grays would be notoriously hard to kill because of their having two hearts. Everett remembered the same thing.

“Aim for the heads!” he shouted out to the Marines around them.

The volume of fire escalated to a loud din as the Marine detachment started to get their bearings.

Will saw something rushing at them; he kneeled and fired a long burst into the dark. He saw as well as heard the tracer rounds as they struck the Gray. Its forward momentum brought the alien over the fallen tree they were behind and struck Will and they both hit the dirt. In an instant the Gray was on him, jabbering and screaming as bluish blood pulsed into Mendenhall’s face. Everett jumped onto its back and fired four rounds from the Beretta into the creature’s head. It rolled off and Carl assisted Mendenhall to his feet.

“Just like old times out at Tilley’s place, huh, Captain?” Everett said over the noise of bursting grenades and gunfire.

Before Will could comment an Apache AH-64 Longbow attack chopper streaked low over the trees and the men heard the screech of missiles being launched into the woods surrounding the compound.

“This is a major strike element—if Apaches are firing directly next to the compound this has to be an assault on the men inside. They’re serious.” Jack rose up from the ground and chanced a look around. He saw Grays coming in from the surrounding woods. He counted at least twenty before a hail of laser shot forced him to duck. “Fellas, we’re about to get major company.”

“Damn it, Jack, I’ve got about five rounds left in this thing,” Everett cried out but immediately rose and fired at the line of tall Grays coming at them. “Make that none.” Carl hit the dirt beside Will and Jack. “Well, I got two of those ugly bastards!” he said as he ejected the magazine.

Collins managed to rise and watch as the Grays advanced. Suddenly a loud explosion rocked the ground beneath them and they were tossed against the underside of the green sedan. As his vision cleared he looked back and saw a tall column of smoke rising from the direction of the living quarters of Camp David. Jack grimaced as he started fearing the worst.

“What we’ve got here sure as hell looks like a murder raid, General,” Everett said as he too examined the Grays as they came out of the tree line. They held what looked like long shafts. He turned and looked at their rear and his heart froze. Ten of the Grays had managed to work their way behind them and what was left of the Marine detail. He saw young men being mowed down by weaponry he had only seen in movies.

Jack yelled in pain as one brief shaft of light grazed his shoulder with the full wattage of the laser round striking the dirt next to him, sending up chunks of bright red clay.

“Gentlemen, I think it’s time to get the hell out of Dodge.”

Jack stood with Everett and Mendenhall right behind. Just as fast they were frozen in solid bright light coming from the opposite direction.

“Collins, hit the dirt!” came a voice amplified over a bullhorn.

The three men didn’t need prompting and did as ordered without much thought. Before their ragged breathing could stir up dust, a horrid sound started. It was a shrill whining and then all hell broke loose. Jack raised his head slightly and looked from under the rear of the car. He saw Grays being torn to bits. The brutes were being mowed down by something Jack now recognized as a five-barreled Gatling gun. He looked behind and saw over a hundred Marines making their way toward them. Before he knew it the noise had stopped and the ringing in his ears began. Soon arms and hands were lifting him to his feet.

Jack, Carl, and Mendenhall were stunned to see one particular man among the Marines. He had a smoking M-4 assault rifle in his hands and a set of handcuffs dangling from his right wrist. Henri Farbeaux looked around him as if he were in shock. He watched as Marines continued to shoot some of the Grays as they struggled to get to dropped weapons, but soon even that noise fell silent. Farbeaux shook his head as he approached.

“Makes you appreciate a human enemy, does it not?” Henri said as he handed off the empty M-4 to a passing Marine. “I don’t suppose you have a key for this, do you?” Henri held up the dangling handcuff. “I think my days of hiding and running are over.”

Will Mendenhall was grateful to see the Frenchman, but Jack and Carl only looked at him in amazement. Then at once both men came to the realization of what really just happened.

“Come on,” Jack said. “Niles and the president are back there!”

Farbeaux watched the men start running back up the road without a second glance at him. He looked at the dangling cuff, then cursed and followed his new allies.

Around them, the remaining Marines started checking the dead Grays, with several of the toughened veterans getting ill when examining the alien species up close. There had been several shots ringing out in the growing night as Grays were dispatched by very angry soldiers and state police. Soon officers with cooler heads stopped the executions and they began the grim task of gathering dead and wounded from both sides.

*   *   *

Over 2.78 billion sets of eyes had watched live on television as the leaders of the most powerful nations on earth had been hustled off the podium at Camp David. The camera was left on and the billions of citizens of the world were left looking at an empty stage with shouts, screams, and gunfire erupting through their speakers. Men, women, and children were left astounded, and all were in the dark as to what was happening at the small American villa in the Maryland woods.

*   *   *

Jack, Carl, Will, and Henri all ran toward the rear of the devastated compound. Secret Service, state police, FBI, and Marines were running everywhere with weapons at the ready. No less than a platoon-sized element of Marines had surrounded the rear of the house and grounds. Many Marines and agents from every branch of service lay dead or dying from the assault of the Grays, over a hundred of which had been cut down and were lying dead on the ground; some even in the trees.

“Oh, God,” Will Mendenhall said when he saw fifty or so men trying desperately to clear the entranceway to an underground bunker.

Men were tossing chunks of concrete left, right, and over their shoulders. Finally reinforcements started to arrive by helicopter and by road. All concern for security had gone out the window as even the servants stationed at Camp David were joining in the efforts to free whoever was trapped below in the bunker. Sirens blared and large Marine Corps helicopters circled above as they cast bright lights on the surreal scene below. Off to the left Jack and the others saw the president’s helicopter, Marine One, on its side and burning. Apache Longbow helicopters were now orbiting in force. A lone Gray rose from the ground and charged at the rescue workers. Before Jack could relax two FBI agents spun and fired at the alien, but its momentum carried it forward until it struck the workers. Three Marines immediately dispatched the enemy, then several others struck at it with anything they could get their hands on.

Jack grabbed a Marine sergeant as he trotted by, making the kid almost fall to the ground.

“Where’s the goddamn president?” he shouted over the din.

All the boy could do was turn his head toward the bunker. Jack released the kid and looked on at the continuing efforts to free all inside. Even Farbeaux was stunned at what he was seeing. Relief flooded their features as they saw the prime minister of Great Britain and then the Chinese president as they were assisted from what now looked like a grave. The Chinese leader looked as if his arm was broken and the prime minister was cut but unharmed. He was desperately pointing back toward the collapsed bunker and insisting that he be allowed to help the rest of the council.

Jack felt his body deflate as a man was brought out, his head and left leg missing. Jack looked around, fearing what was coming next. He glanced at Will Mendenhall and his heart ached for the young captain. Will was so angry that a single tear coursed down his face.

Collins was soon tapped on the shoulder and he turned to see the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He was ragged looking, with his uniform jacket ripped and his face bloodied. He tossed away an old M-16 and as it clattered to the ground he looked at the four men around him. He flinched when the roof of the main house collapsed and a shower of burning embers lit the night around them. The rescue workers were removing many of the house staff covered in sheets or curtains, anything they could find.

“How in the hell did they get so close without us knowing about it?” Jack asked angrily.

“As I’m not supposed to know about you people out in the desert, all I can say is that we were warned at the last second by that asset out there, Magic. If we hadn’t been warned none of us would have made it out alive.” General Caulfield wiped blood from his broken nose.

“But how did they get so close, goddamn it?” Jack insisted, as his eyes probed the site for Niles Compton.

“We think they may have arrived early this morning. It was purely a ground assault, which was why that damn wormhole wasn’t large like the others.”

Finally it was Everett who called out. “Niles!” All to a man they ran forward. Niles was covered in blood as he was helped from the rubble. His right hand was held over a large gash in his head that completely covered his eye. Will tore off part of his shirt and applied pressure to the wound. Jack and Carl and even Henri assisted the director over several of the fallen Grays. Will even managed to kick one of the dead beings in the head with brutal force. Suddenly Niles, acting delirious, turned and wanted to return to the smoking hole in the ground.

“The president—we have to get to him!” he cried as he struggled against the restraining arms.

“There he is,” General Caulfield said as he rushed forward.

Niles stilled his protests when he saw his best friend being carried out by five filthy Marines. His arms were hanging loose and as the men watched, doctors ran toward him. Jack’s heart froze as he watched the president of the United States laid on the ground. Caulfield turned and faced the men.

“He’s out cold, has a massive gash on his head, and he may lose an arm—it’s crushed bad. God, what are we…” The general looked up and grabbed the first Secret Service agent he could find. “Get the word out: the vice president needs to return ASAP to the capital.”

Niles collapsed into the arms of his men. The president was hurriedly rushed to a waiting Marine Black Hawk and was immediately lifted out, along with the Chinese president.

Caulfield again grabbed for a man. This one was a Marine medic who had been working on the president.

“Is he going to make it?” he shouted.

The young medic shook his head. “He’s bad, real bad.” The boy ran off to assist in the treatment of other wounded people.

Jack assisted the director to the ground and saw that Niles’s right side had taken a devastating beating. He knew the man was going to at least lose his right eye, and his left arm had to be shattered.

“General, you had better get to the vice president soon. This may not be over.”

“Look, we passed the information along, but—oh, hell, I would want to know if I were you,” Caulfield started to tell Jack, “because I know you have people in theater, Magic also relayed that there may be a massive wormhole forming over Iran.”

Jack stopped briefly as his thoughts went out to Sarah and Ryan. Then he just nodded his head once at the chairman and then pushed Everett, Mendenhall, and Henri forward.

The men started to assist the Marines, Secret Service agents, and firemen helping the survivors. Henri started to follow but a long-fingered hand wrapped around his ankle, stopping him. The others stopped and turned and saw that a surviving Gray had stopped the Frenchman. The being was uttering something Henri couldn’t understand. With a quick look at Jack and the others the former special operations man for the French army leaned down and pulled the long, spotted, and sickly fingers from around his ankle. He squatted over and stared at the Gray for a few seconds. Eyes much smaller than Matchstick’s obsidian ones gazed up at Henri with their yellow tint, the mouth working enough that he could see the creature’s small, clear teeth. The Gray had three bullet wounds to the chest and abdomen. The clothing it wore was jet black in color, highlighted with purplish hues.

“Let me be the first to welcome your kind to Earth,” Henri said as the others watched with interest. Even General Caulfield was interested in what the Frenchman was up to.

Henri Farbeaux slowly stood up and, with the eyes of an enraged mercenary, raised his right foot and brought it down on the Gray’s neck, easily snapping the strong spine.

They all realized at that moment just what kind of war was being brought to Earth’s doorstep.