MEDUSA'S EYE

A threat to life can appear from anywhere, at any time!

Unfortunately, this wasn't just a threat, but an attack on Earth in 2,394. The enemy that caused our near extinction departed long ago, at least that's what we thought. They took what precious resources they wanted and left a battered, desolate planet in its wake. At last count, some five billion humans and an untold number of interplanetary beings from our galactic federation were lost in the attack. Our weapons and forces were rendered useless against the power, speed and size of their attacking force.

By that time in history, we had already solved every scientific and mathematical theorem there was left to study; from black holes and wormholes (including how to navigate the Einstein-Rosen bridge) to deciphering the Hodge conjecture to the Van Winkle distortion enigma. However, proving theorems is one thing, applying that knowledge to defend a planet against an unyielding alien force is quite another.

Now, decades later, mid-October 2,444. Earth is still in the process of rebuilding its infrastructure, repopulating and trying to return to normalcy. Leaders of the most industrialized nations in the world assembled five decades ago, when interstellar war was inevitable, and losing it a near certainty. Maintaining hope that some would survive, they chose those among us who would be most adept at rebuilding. Lists were composed and recomposed before finalization. It was a virtual who's who of heads of governments, scientists, doctors and engineers of various disciplines. In addition, there were military, computer programmers, iron workers, tool and die makers, farmers, religious leaders and anyone else deemed essential to our planets' rebirth, with a hard cap on age. Quickly, it was learned that only a fraction of our inhabitants would survive and they would have to be hidden deep in the bowels of our soon to be dystopian planet.

It was about midnight on November 15. Two couples, Bob and Donna Schmidt and Alexis, their 25 year old daughter and Simon, her fiancé, just left a quaint little Italian restaurant in upper Manhattan. They just celebrated the kids announcement of their wedding date.

Bob was driving the others home when Donna noticed a bright light streaking across the night sky. "Hey", she said, turning to Alexis and Simon in the back seat. "Do you see that," pointing toward the Western Sky? Alexis and Simon glanced up, through the windshield and noticed the light. "Holy crap," shouted Simon. Alexis quietly said, "no way."

Bob came to a stop. He got out of the car on Route 3 West. Not many vehicles were out this late (especially, since the events that led to our new world order). Other motorists also stopped and stepped out of their automobiles. They, too, looked up in disbelief. These people, straying from their autos, did so tentatively, constantly looking around for the feared "Lyomites" (a subspecies of man, who managed to survive by doing whatever they wanted to whomever in this post-apocalyptic world. Yes, survival, not of the fittest, but of the most vile, deplorable, hate-filled miscreants you could ever meet. They usually, but not always, hunted in groups.

Being scientists, the family huddled together and talked among themselves. They immediately ruled out the obvious; meteor, aircraft, etc. They were astonished at the ships size (equal to that of the old Yankee Stadium and another casualty of the war). The were awed by its speed, calculated by Bob, holding his portable VS-sensor (the 25th centuries answer to the 21st centuries radar detector) to be traveling at Mach 7 or 5,700 mph. However, what really dazzled them was the ships ability to stop on a dime about one thousand feet above them, instantaneously shoot up about five miles, immediately reverse course and drop to a dead stop about one thousand feet above them. It then zigzagged through the night sky before completely disappearing at the opening to the Lincoln Tunnel. This disappearing act really spooked them. It reminded them of the cloaking ability of the fictional "Klingon-Bird of Prey" warship from the, still admired, twentieth century classic "Star Trek" movie series.

Dazed by the event they just witnessed, Bob, the lead scientist at "DELPHA" and Donna, his very attractive wife, a world renowned Astrophysicist, called their colleagues to meet them, "pronto," at their labs at the ever popular "Meadowlands Environment Center", in Lyndhurst, NJ. It was a code "RED" alert, time was of the essence. All operatives arrived shortly before two a.m. To say most were disheveled and upset upon arrival would be a gross understatement.

However, upon learning about the ship, drastic measures were soon initiated.

Alexis, considered a prodigy by her mentors as a Particle Physicist, she has awed the Physics community with her work researching the "Higgs Boson," as well as, "quarks" and their application to the "uncertainty principle". This work helped enable the development of the federations most powerful weapon, Medusa's Eye.

Alexis' Beau, Simon, although a brilliant computer engineer, is still somewhat juvenile in his way of thinking. It's been said, too often, that he would rather play games on the computers he is building then focus on new technologies. In addition, he suffers from a lack of self confidence. He Is not happy with the fact that he and Alexis may have to be work separated for a while until he further establishes himself. He is also having difficulty coming to terms with the fact that Alexis is not far removed from a previous relationship that did not end well.

At 5 a.m., the family was again in the car on their way home. The night didn't go well. The others could tell he was angry, before long he was seething. A few seconds later a discussion began: (Bob) "Well, we are going to do it. They think it is the only way. Maybe it is, but I wish there was another option." (Donna) "So, what is the plan?" (BoB) "They know we can detect it, even in stealth mode, even when completely invisible. I showed them what it looks like and how I was able to pick up its location and velocity on my VS-sensor." (Donna) "And, so?" (Bob) After a slight pause and with a look of concern; Medusa's Eye!" (Donna) Visibly upset, "No, they aren't! They can't!" (Bob) "Well, they can! And they are!" (Donna) "When?" (Bob) "Oh, they're setting it up now, while that ship is still in the neighborhood. Yes, our esteemed daughter's pet project. She couldn't just study Anthropology, like we wanted her to. No, she had to use that brain, you gave her, and become a Particle Physicist. Now, they're going to use that antimatter weapon she created to destroy that ship." (Donna) "Stop it. You know she is not the only one who worked on that project, and she may well indeed, help save our world." (Bob) "Yeah, sure, they might. And if they do, great!" But, you know very well that this weapon hasn't been properly tested. The prototype has only been used once, on a small meteor, which it annihilated. You remember? At full power, what could this thing do? Damn, a laser, firing a beam of subatomic antiparticles through an electron coated tube to destroy any object in its path." After a short quiet pause: (Bob) "Thank you, Greek Mythology. The Titans created Medusa, to kill any living creature by catching them in her sight path and turning them to stone. Here we are, thousands of years later, attempting a similar plot. Only, not turning them to stone, but by obliterating every single one of its atoms. Just point and fire!" (Donna) Angrily- "Ok, Bob, you've made your point. So, what else do we have in the toolbox to combat this menace? Nothing and you know it." (Bob) "Yeah, well they better make sure there are no collateral affects, you know, friendly fire. For all we know, this weapon, if not gauged correctly, can reach and disintegrate the moon, if it's in the target path and we misfire. Wouldn't that be great? In an effort to save mankind, we inadvertently blew up the moon. Yeah, speed up the Earth's rotation cycle, shorten the day. We all wanted to go to a shorter workweek anyway. Well, now we got it, eighteen hour day, only work six. And music, love songs, like; 'That's Amore' will now become an instant classic all over again. No more 'like a big pie in the sky'. No more tides, the oceans roam freely over the land. Buy that house in the mountains now! Oh, you can't sleep because the moon is too bright, ha-no more! Also, I understand we're setting up two of these lasers so that the beams crisscross, less chance to miss the ship and the moon. How wonderful!"

Alexis and Simon were dropped off at their residence.

(Alexis) "I have to make final arrangements with the team. Pretty much, all is set for tomorrow. I can do whatever else I have to remotely from home. Is there anything that needs to be finalized with the array?" (Simon) No, I believe we're all set. I'll go over the specs with Tim (Simon's supervisor). He will coordinate with the star boys and without any sabotage, all should go well." (Alexis) "Sabotage! What the hell. I knew you have a dry sense of humor, but. (Simon) "Hey, I'm sorry. Damn, you've been on edge all night. How about cutting me some slack." (Alexis) After a slight pause; "Yeah, I'm sorry." But, this whole thing is starting to get to me. We finally set a date, inform my parents, yours haven't even been told yet, and on this night, this crap happens. Now, here we are thrown into emergency protocol." (Simon) "Yeah, I know honey, try to relax. You know, I've never seen your dad freak out like that before. Man, he was going bonkers! (Alexis) "Well, as usual, he is worried about everything and everybody. I can't believe he was going on and on, ranting about the moon like that. I never knew he was such a damned romantic. I don't think that mom knew. Hell, if we have to, we jettison a ship to the Asteroid Belt, locate a rock similar in size to the moon, capture it in a gravity loop and haul its big butt back here to Earth. Presto, new moon, oh, ha-ha, can't believe I said that, I mean another moon." (Simon) "Right, you make it sound so simple. How about, we just turn off the lights, make it as dark as it's going to get it if we do hit it and look up at it for a while, while it's still there?" (Alexis) "Sometimes, you make so much sense."

Tomorrow arrived. The night sky fell quickly in Lyndhurst. Alexis, nervously took hold of a heart shaped locket she faithfully wore around her neck. It was a family heirloom passed along from generation to generation started by her ancestral grandfather when he returned home from war in 1,945. It was presented to Alexis by her grandfather on her fifth birthday. He explained that as long as she wore it, the spirits of the family would always protect and guide her. She quietly asked the spirits for guidance now.

At 1800 hours (6pm), the plan was put into effect.