OverJoyJackson
Lieutenant Junior Grade
The year…2025
"What is project Star trek?" A voice asked, echoing throughout the crowded darkened auditorium where nearly five hundred people sat, staring up at a bare stage; a stage light aiming at podium situated in the center of the stage. "Project Star Trek could quite possibly be mankind's greatest achievement, or," the voice paused for effect, "it could lead to the end of our civilization."
And then a man stepped out of the shadows and into the light, and the audience stood up and began to cheer loudly. He was an elderly man, in his mid sixties, but he was very strong looking for a man his age. He wore a very sharp suit and tie, and above all, he had a very friendly demeanor. He motioned for them all to sit back down.
"My friends," he said into the microphone, "as you know, my name is Geoff Roddenberry. Everyone one of you has successfully completed the rigorous physical trials and testing that we have put you through. Out of over nearly a half a million applicants, it has all come down to you," he pointed at the audience, and they cheered again.
At that moment, behind Roddenerry, an image of space appeared across the large screen that spread from one side of the stage to the other.
"Friends," Roddenberry continued to say, as the image of the stars behind him began to slowly go into motion, giving the illusion of flight through space, "our world is running out of time." The star field on the screen slowed, and then slowly zoomed in on a blue world; Earth. "Thanks to our selfishness, our children can barely breathe the air. The Oceans of this world, once brimming with life; have instead become cesspools of pollution and death. If ever there was a time when the people of Earth needed hope, that time is now. And it is that that yearning for hope," Roddenberry said, with loud conviction in his voice, "is what defines what Project Star Trek is!"
And with that, the crowd stood and cheered, and then, after motioning from Roddenberry again, they all sat back down, wanting to hear more from him.
The image of Earth in space was replaced by aerial views of a massive construction site, which was located in the desert of Nevada. Miles and miles of endless desert land could be seen in the near distance. As the image zoomed in, scaffolding of all kinds could be seen as they zigzagged about a giant object in the center of the cobweb of activity. The object consisted of a giant saucer section connected to a lower section to which, even still, had to long cylinder shaped nacelles reaching out from it.
"There she is," Roddenberry said, with awe in his voice, "Your home for the coming five years; the Enterprise."
Meanwhile, across the country, the President of the United States, Melvin Greenfield, sat in the Oval Office. To his left sat the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the five- star General Jackson Jefferies. Whereas President Greenfield was a short balding white man, Generall Jefferies was a strong, square jawed African-American. They were looking at a monitor that displayed the very same images of the Enterprise that Roddenberry was looking at in the Nevada desert.
"He is aware, I hope," President Greenfield began to say, with his Texan draw, "that this is the United States of America. You just can't go around doing whatever you want; freedom doesn't work that way. Who does he think he is, embarrassing NASA by launching a ship of his own? Why that's...that's...that's un-American!"
General Jackson Jefferies wanted so badly to slap the President across the face. First off, embarrassing the modern version of NASA was hardly a new trend. But more importantly; how the American people could have elected such a moron was beyond Jefferies. But electing morons, Republicans and Democrats both, to be President of the United States, was one of those deeply held traditions in America; right up there with owning automatic weapons to use when hunting or selling crack out of ice cream trucks near schools.
"Please tell me again," President Greenfield went on to say to General Jefferies, "That we have some kind of presence among his so called crew of ordinary heroes."
"We do," Jefferies replied. "Nothing will happen up there in space, sir; that we won't be keenly aware of."
The President reached down and picked up his SpongeBob and Patrick dolls and started to play with them. Next to the two dolls was a half eaten Whopper from Burger King.
"How in the hell did my predecessor even allow this idiotic idea to get government approval in the first place?" The President asked, with anger in his voice, as he began to have Spongebob and Patrick have a mock fight. "Using nothing but union workers to build that ugly pile of poop he calls a spaceship was a crime against humanity! And then he has the audacity to not allow anyone who smokes to be part of the crew? Does he even know what it means to be an American? Yeah I know," the President said, as he began to answer his own questions, "he paid for it with his own money and all; but still! American's cant go running around creating things and employing people; that's the job of the government! So when is that thing set to launch anyway?"
"One week from today," General Jefferies said.
"I hope it blows up like the Challenger," the President said, "poof! It would serve him right. The Earth has only been around for four thousand years, and he expects man to soar across the stars; and for what; to find alien life? What a fool. What a fool." There was silence and then suddenly the President said, "DAMMIT!"
Startled, General Jackson stood up, ready to defend the President, even though the man was a moron.
"What is it Mr. President?" Jackson asked, as he drew his weapon almost on instinct, ready to pounce on any danger and looked about the room.
"I broke Patrick's left arm," President Greenfield said, with genuine tears in his eyes. "Please be a good sport and go to Burger King and get me another," he continued to say as he looked up at General Jackson.
Again, General Jackson Jefferies had to stop him self from smacking the President's face. Perhaps it was time for a military coup! Jefferies wanted to giggle at such a notion; but he couldn't.
