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[Taken from White House tapes, Jim Collins’ notes and media recordings. Bear in mind that when I arrived on Earth, I did not have any of the information which appears in these header notes. RBB]
Marine One collected the president, Matthew Brown and some aides from the White House and delivered them to the nearby Marine barracks. The motorcade was never used now except in secret. The president dare not announce his itinerary for fear of Free America performing some relatively minor, but hugely embarrassing stunt.
The prisoners were kept in a single dormitory and saw Marine One settle onto the parade ground. The president and his party were hurried into an adjacent building and then the door to the dormitory opened to admit a squad of armed men, led by a major.
‘On your feet!’ he ordered.
In short measure, the prisoners were marched over to the building to meet the president.
He sat on one side of a large room, behind a desk with Matthew Brown beside him. The prisoners were lined up four metres away, guarded from the front and sides by the Marines.
‘You are traitors to the United States of America,’ said the president.
‘You, sir, are a murderer!’ shouted Dick Beech.
‘Gag him,’ said the major and a Marine tied a kerchief around his head. The general did not resist, he’d made his statement.
‘We are showing leniency to all but five of you. Major, take the others away. We will deal with them separately. Leave Beech, Mayne, Gregg, Collins and Nixon here.’
The squad of Marines split in two and marched the others away from the leaders of Free America.
‘You traitorous individuals will be shot, and I intend to make a spectacle of it on television. It might stop the stupidity of your rebellion,’ said the president.
‘Uprising!’ shouted Brad. ‘A rebellion implies you are a legitimate government, and nothing could be further from the truth!’
‘Take them away. You’ll finally be out of my hair.’
‘The world knows what you did, Slimbridge. Your name will live in infamy forever!’ said Bob Nixon.
‘Ha. You and Spence were the greatest traitors of all. What are you waiting for, major? You have your orders.’
The major and remaining guards marched the prisoners out of the building and onto the parade ground. The president followed and stood nearby. In a minute they were all lined up in front of a red brick wall.
The order was given by the major. On ‘Ready!’ they began shouting various insults at the president. ‘Mass murderer!’ ‘Murderer!’ ‘You’re the traitor!’
‘Aim!’ ordered the major.
‘Fire!’
The volley of shots rang out, hit a forcefield and fell to the ground. Ambassador Terend Stograther appeared in front of the five men and said, ‘We cannot tolerate this action, President Slimbridge. These humans are now honorary Federation citizens and, as of now have the benefit of my protection!’ As he finished speaking, all six vanished from the scene.
President Slimbridge was furious!