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"Shades of Gray"

^

Yeah... and all that will be explain in time... everything in the story is intertwined in one way or another, so all this is a piece of a much larger puzzle.
 
^

Yeah... and all that will be explain in time... everything in the story is intertwined in one way or another, so all this is a piece of a much larger puzzle.

And you do that very well...I like stories that throw out a bunch of threads and they all end up together at the end...Clive Cussler USE to do this very well...keep it up!!!

Rob
Scorpio
 
^

Thank you... I really do appreciate that compliment... it means a lot that people like what I'm doing so far.
 
-- CONTINUED --

ORVANI SAUCER GROUP - WASHINGTON D.C.

The four saucers maintained silent hover over the White House, as the citizens of the American Capitol walked by, some casually, others pausing to look up at the crafts, and point and remark.

On the lead saucer, the Commander entered the Control Room, and walked to one of his officers, who was at the central table.

"Any response to our inquiries from Orvan yet?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir... but I did not look at them yet... I figured you would want to." the officer replied.

"Very well... thank you." the Commander offered, as the other Orvani walked off, leaving the Commander to open the files himself.

The Commander called up the data packets from the ship's computer, and looked to the wall, as a massive panoramic image of computer records began to display itself, beginning with a technical diagram of the old type of Orvani saucer, that had crashed in Roswell so many years ago. The records then ended, by listing the vessel as "missing".

The Commander wore a puzzled look. Finally, he sent a thought to the ship's computer, to ask a question.

"What was the saucer's heading, or location, when it was listed as missing?" he asked.

The reply he got was not the one he wanted, for suddenly, a large group of Orvani characters appeared over the records, in red writing, and began to flash.

"What the... access denied?" he asked, aloud. He began to think about pressing on with that line of questioning, but then figured maybe the Orvani Command had a special mission in mind for the craft, so he decided to follow another line of questioing.

"Display any and all communications records, from Orvan to Earth, prior to the fourth celestial cycle." he asked the computer again.

He looked up, and was again shocked, to see more red letters staring back at him.

"Classified?" he asked, shocked. He looked around the room... he was the only one there. After a moment, he decided to go back down to the surface, and again speak with the President... maybe he was having better luck on his end.

THE WHITE HOUSE - WASHINGTON D.C.

The sleek black Presidential limo pulled up to the home of the President, as the doors to the vehicle began to open, and the Secret Service agents began to get out of the vehicle.

Suddenly, all of the agents began to experience the same feeling... as if their bodies were becoming very sluggish, and they all mentally began to wonder if stepping out of the vehicle was what they wanted to do. In unison, all of the men slowly froze in position, still half-emerged from the limo, holding onto the doors of the car, and staring straight ahead, with puzzled expressions.

Everyone, that is, except the President. He looked to the men with confusion, as he then turned to face two other men, who were now bending down outside the car, to look at him.

"Mister President... can we have a moment?" one of the asked, extending his hand to the President, as he exited the limo, and stood up, to face the two men.

He looked at the two men, and took in the sight of them... they looked... strange. They were both extremely tall... maybe six foot three, and were extremely thin-framed... like tall lanky basketball players. From what he could see of their skin, they appeared to be very pale... albinos, perhaps, and their hair was pure white as well, and slicked back. Both men wore extremely dark black sunglasses, and suits of black. Their heads... their faces... they looked human, save for the fact that they apeared somewhat "longer", or narrower. Perhaps they were Scandanavians.

"Mister President." one of them began. "You are currently searching for some information. I would suggest that you stop. You have no idea of the consequences that such a search could provoke." the man added.

"Are you making a threat against the President of the United States?" Bensen asked.

"Not at all, Sir... we are merely trying to point out that there are much larger concerns at stake here. What you think is a minor mystery, is really part of a very large, very elaborate puzzle, and it won't just affect you... there are others to consider as well." the man stated.

Finally, the other man spoke up.

"The Orvani... they are an ancient species... but not as ancient as you would think. There is a very specific reason why they are as advanced as they are." he offered.

"What do you mean? How does that affect us?" Bensen asked

"We have said too much, already... and let us hope, Mister President, that it never ever ends up affecting you." the first man stated, as now both men began to back away. "Good day, Mister President... consider our warning." he added, as the man clapped very suddenly and loudly, causing the President to blink involuntarily.

When the President completed the blink, he saw that both men were gone... they were nowhere in sight. As he looked to his side, he saw the Secret Service agents, now looking to him, with puzzled looks on their faces.

-- TO BE CONTINUED --
 
Interesting...but the seeds have most definitely been laid for future conflict...the dangers of a culturally advanced society coming into contact with one not so advanced...
 
^

Nothing in this story is what it seems... take whatever you know of UFO lore, and turn it upside down, and you may begin to get a sense of what direction the story may take. :D
 
Oooh...a combination of men-in-black and those twins from the Matrix!

I wonder...rival species, or another Orvani faction??
 
Oooh...a combination of men-in-black and those twins from the Matrix!

I wonder...rival species, or another Orvani faction??

Well, they are not Orvani... for those who know UFO lore, that was my way of introducing the alien race people refer to as the "Nords", because of their pale and tall appearance. According to UFO lore, they come from the Pleiades Star Cluster.
 
-- CONTINUED --

THE WHITE HOUSE - WASHINGTON D.C.

OVAL OFFICE

The hand of the Secret Service agent slid the blue folder across the desk to the President, as he took it, looking at it.

"The information you requested, Mister President." the man said, stepping back, as the President opened the packet. "It's called Project Blue Book." the agent added.

Bensen drew out the papers, and began to examine them.

"This was meant for President-Elect Eisenhower." he began, as he looked to the agent. "A copy of these documents has been transmitted to the Orvani saucer group, per my orders?" Bensen asked, looking up at the agent.

"It has, Mister President." the man stated.

"Very good... schedule a meeting between myself and the Orvani Commander... it seems we'll have much to discuss. Thanks again... you're dismissed." Bensen stated, as the agent nodded, and let himself out of the room, as Bensen kept looking over the papers.

PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE - WASHINGTON D.C.

The Orvani Commander walked down the street, on his way to meet the President, as many of the humans paused to regard the sight of him, as he went on his way. After a second, he paused, sensing someone behind him, and turned, to see a man jogging up to him.

The man paused, and collected his breath. The man was wearing a large tan trenchcoat, and a hood that almost totally covered his face. Frantically, the man produced his left hand, and revealed a small digital flash drive.

"Here." the man whispered loudly, to the Commander. This is the information you seek... it'll begin to detail evertyhing... take it... now!" he added, as the Commander took the drive, puzzled. "There is more... lots more." the man continued. "Meet me here again tomorrow, at this time. Tell nobody you saw me." he added, as now he ran off, vanishing behind a corner.

The Orvani Commander was confused, but he decided to see what was on the drive later, anyway... he felt it could do no harm. The Commander turned around, to continue walking, and was startled, by two forms, standing in his way...

The Orvani Commader looked up at the two men in black suits, with dark sunglasses, that were looking at him... they were both extremely tall and pale, like albinos. Instantly, the Commander's features darkened.

"Good day, Commander." the first one stated.

"What do you want?" the Commander replied.

"I see you are in posession of certain information... are searching for certain information." the man stated.

"What of it? This doesn't concern you." the Commander replied.

"No... it concerns you." the first man said

"And you may not like what you find, if you continue down this path." the other offered.

The Commander looked to the two people in his path, and began to grow a slight smile.

"Do you have a ship in orbit?" he asked them.

"No... no ship." the second one reluctantly replied.

"I see..." the Commander began. "Well, there is a whole fleet of my ships here, on this world... and they can be here instantly... so, for your own safety, I suggest you step aside, and get out of my way." he added, as he calmly walked past the two men, as they stepped aside, to allow him to pass, looking after him with distaste.

ORVANI SAUCER - NEVADA

In the guest accommodations, the elderly Orvani from the Roswell crash was sleeping soundly, in the darkened room, as he suddenly awoke, to some faint noises.

He began to adjust to the darkness of the room, and looked to the side of his bed, and was shocked to see another Orvani... in shillouette, lit only from behind, by a faint blue glow, as the shape of the new arrival produced a long and thin needle-like rod, and proceeded to wave it over the elderly Orvani, just as the old man began to scream.

Before the scream could fully emerge, both Orvani were engulfed in a wash of brilliant blue light, and vanished from the room.

ORVANI SAUCER - EARTH ORBIT

The single saucer began to angle away from Earth, and speed off.

MEDICAL BAY

The elderly Orvani was laying on the cold metal examination table, strapped down, as about a dozen other Orvani stood over him, looking at him, with medical instruments in their hands.

"What do you think you're doing?" the old man asked them, with his mind.

"If you remain silent, and do not struggle... this will hurt much less."
one of the doctors stated.

"And if I do?" the elder replied.

"It may hurt a great deal." they all replied, in uison.

The "doctors" proceeded to poke, prod, and drill into him, with their instruments, as the elder began to cry out in the throes of pain.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked them.

"We must answer questions."
they all replied, in unison, as they continued their experiments.

Suddenly, the entire room shook hard, and the doctors looked up, distracted.

In space, the Orvani saucer shrply angled about again, heading for Earth, as twin bolts of bright blue energy shot at it.

As the one saucer flew towards Earth, the source of the blue bolts revealed itself... another Orvani saucer, giving chase.

The two saucers raced down through the atmosphere, as the chasing saucer maintained fire on the first.

The two saucers were very close to the ground now, and the automobile and pedestrian traffic of the city streets could be clearly made out, as both ships angled up slightly, and the chase proceeded, over the city.

Within the blink of an eye, the view of the Sydney Opera House was replaced with that of the Statue of Liberty, as in one lightning-quick blur, the ships covered that much ground.

The two ships began to weave in and out of the concrete skyline of Manhattan, as the second saucer continued chasing and firing at the first.

JIM'S BAR - ST. LOUIS, MI.

The patrons of the small tavern looked up to the television, as the "Special Report" screen filled the view, and then broke to the image of a female reporter.

"Good evening... this is a special report... we have confirmed reports of two Orvani saucers, involved in some kind of... of... pursuit... one of the saucers has been observed firing on the other! Repeat... we have confirmed eyewitness reports of exchange of weapons fire, between Orvani ships. At this time, our affiliate in New York has confirmed that two Orvani ships are engaged in combat, in and around Manhattan." she began, as the bar patrons all gasped, and those who were not sitting at the bar walked up to get closer to the TV. "All we can add, is that we strongly advise all citizens of Earth to remain indoors at this time... we have all seen the power and ability of the Orvani's ships... they can be anywhere, at anytime... this is an extremely dangerous situation, and again, we strongly advise all citizens of Earth to remain indoors at this time." she added.

NEW YORK CITY

The twin saucers continued their battle, until finally, the chasing saucer scored a direct hit, ad the first saucer began to trail blue-tinted smoke, as it began to descend.

TIMES SQUARE - NYC

The citizens of New York City looked off in the distance, and saw the two saucers, heading right for them, but one of them was going to crash... the people began to scream, and run out of the way, in a mass panic, just as the first saucer struck the ground, and began to skid through the streets of Manhattan, crushing cars and anything else underneath it, as the weight of the craft dug a deep gash in the road.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the entire craft came screeching to a halt, right in front of the famous Coca-Cola sign, as a massive cloud of dust and dirt was kicked up around it, just as hordes of police and emergency vehicles came to a stop around the wreck, as the pursuing Orvani saucer hovered into place aboe the police line.

The NYPD all drew their guns, as they looked to the wreck, the spotlights from their cars visible as cones of light, through the dust, which was slowly beginning to settle.

WRECKED ORVANI SAUCER

MEDICAL BAY

The elderly Orvani extricated himself from his table, as the doctors struggled to regain their footing, and get back up, as the elder looked to them.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with." he spat at them.

TIMES SQUARE - NEW YORK CITY

The NYPD and the citizenry all looked and gasped, as slowly, the top hatch to the saucer was opened, and the person in charge of that saucer emerged, now seeing the NYPD, and instantly raised its arms, in surrender, as others began to file out, and do the same.

"Officers... if you will... take those Orvani into custody." the Orvani Commander's voice boomed out, from the saucer hovering above.

-- TO BE CONTINUED --
 
Wow...that's some insane imagery in this section! And to top it all off, Orvani being taken into custody by NYPD! Is that a little nod to the Men in Black movies? ;)

(N-Y-P-D! That stands for (k)Nock-Yo-PunkAss-Down!)
 
-- CONTINUED --

NYPD PRECINCT - MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

The usual bustle of incoming low-level criminals, and their accompanying shouting and cussing at cops near the front booking desk was instantly hushed, as the present officers of the NYPD all looked with hushed gasps, at the sight of New York's finest hauling in a line of a dozen Orvani.

Shocked, the petty robbers and vandals just looked, their mouths agape, as the Orvani were led to the booking area.

The arresting officer looked to the clerk at the desk.

"Here..." he began. We've been instructed to take these into custody." he offered.

The clerk's eyes got as big as pizzas, as she looked to the twelve Orvani, at a loss for what to do next.

"Umm... what... what are the charges?" she asked.

"Hell if I know..." the cop began. "The Orvani Commander on the scene said something about kidnapping... use that." he offered, as he now walked away, leaving the Orvani to the clerk's care, just as a flash from a camera nearby signaled that the first Orvani had just had its mug shot taken.

ORVANI SAUCER

Inside the craft, in the Control Room, the Commander paced, as President Bensen stood, watching. Finally, he spoke up.

"I want to be present when they're questioned." Bensen said.

"I still can't believe OR understand this..." the Commander began. "We're Orvani... we don't go around in the dead of night... abducting people..." he lamented. "What were they thinking? And why did they target the crash survivor?" he asked.

"I don't know..." Bensen began. "Perhaps there was something unique about him?" he offered.

"Of course, there is... he is the oldest of our kind known, since the Grand Design... he is a miracle... a marvel of longevity." the Commander added.

"The police report did state that the abductors claimed they were trying to answer questions... could that be one of them?" Bensen offered, as he wore a puzzled look. "You mentioned a Grand Design... what is that?" he asked, as the Commander now paused, looking to Bensen.

"Long ago... by your measure, about two thousand years ago... there was a great technological revolution and awakening on Orvan... our scientists had finally figured out how to fully integrate both brain and computer... every single thing we ever saw, touched, tasted, smelled... everything... that was experienced by us, that was stored in our minds, could now be placed simultaneously, into a neuronic impant, that acted as a second brain... however, unlike a natural mind... this new one never forgot... all of our knowledge was now stored forever, and could be recalled at will, by accessing the proper memory engrams, in the proper directory. Not only that... but we also have the ability to share that information... any and all Orvan everywhere, can share engrams with each other, in the realtime of thought itself... imagine... no need for dedicated teachers... we became each other's teacher... by sharing our life's knowledge and experience, we grew, and evolved at a more rapid rate. Everything one generation learned, was passed on automatically to the following... eliminating the whole process of trial and error." the Commander stated.

"But something went wrong?" Bensen asked.

"Far from it." the Commander stated.

"But you just implied that Orvani living before that great reformation, were living longer... that sounds like a question that needs answering, to me." Bensen said, as the Commander now looked to him, and nodded.

-- TO BE CONTINUED --
 
"Shades of Gray"

Created & Written By: BolianAdmiral

Wow. What an amazing start to a story! At first, you get this kind of 'oh, crap, it's Independence Day!' feeling, and then you get more and more intrigued about what's going on, and then BAM! The saucers save the day. My favorite part is where the president realizes the sheer enormity of space and really sees Earth for the first time.

I have one minor suggestion... lay a bit off of the commas, maybe pick up someone willing to go through and take out the ones you don't need. Your writing style is really great, and the commas kind of throw off such a great narrative. But otherwise, that's a completely awesome start to the story -- good buildup, good atmosphere, great 'human' moments. I'm looking forward to reading more!
 
^

Well thank you muchly, for the kind words! I do hope you continue to enjoy this story. Also, if you enjoy BSG, please check out my "Battlestar Urantia" story... I think you'll enjoy it as well, and I'm always looking for more feedback with that story. :D
 
And the great images continue--aliens getting mug shots!!

I look forward to finding out exactly what about that process shortened Orvani lives. Neural overload? Or conversely, not enough stimulation due to the lack of challenge and unpredictability in their lives?
 
Thanks. :D

The mystery of the Orvani's lifespan issue is not only going to be explained, but it will at the same time provide the complete explanation for why the Orvani have apparently been abducting humans for some time now.
 
Thanks. :D

The mystery of the Orvani's lifespan issue is not only going to be explained, but it will at the same time provide the complete explanation for why the Orvani have apparently been abducting humans for some time now.

Maybe they're all Scarecrows? "if I only had a brain...";)
 
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