People would follow, researchers and scientists then prospectors and miners, individuals specifically trained to take on the grueling tasks of low gravity work.

The future was happening right before Warren’s eyes on a daily basis, right up until the object arrived in their solar system and moved into position to menace them. The timing made him wonder. Had they shown up because of their advances or would they be there either way? Was this thing attracted to the potential of space exploration? Of advanced technology?

That’s what I intend to find out.

Screams caught his attention, cries from several people happening behind him. He turned in his seat, eyes widening. A massive shadow fell over the cars, one of the smaller objects flying slowly overhead. “Oh my God …” he muttered the words but they came unbidden, total instinct. Looking about frantically, he knew there was no escape, not in the car.

Now people poured out of their vehicles, fleeing in stumbling sprints. Another two of the objects joined the first, flying in a formation of three. Warren pushed himself, hurrying past idling cars and trucks. An overpass up ahead provided him some minimal amount of hope, a sense of safety that may not exist but it sure seemed tempting.

And what were these things doing? Why had they instilled such a tremendous amount of urgency to get away? Warren had no idea but those around him seemed to share the fear. Some had flown into a blind panic, throwing people out of the way in their mad dash to escape. Others cowered beside their vehicles, literally losing their minds.

I should’ve grabbed the sat phone! Damn it! Warren heard engines in the distance, air craft interceptors perhaps. They wouldn’t be in time to do anything about these. Thirty more feet to the overpass …

A person disappeared. He swore it was true but it happened in his peripheral vision, a trick in the corner of his eye. It couldn’t have been real. There was no way. Another … this time, ten feet in front of him. They were just gone. It reminded him of a movie where aliens literally disintegrated people. They were simply popped out of existence. One second there, the next … gone.

Warren’s run became a blind panic. The sound of fighter engines was drowned out by the pounding of blood in his ears. A moment passed … cool air fell over him. He closed his eyes. This is it! The thought didn’t make him give up but rather pushed him on, forcing him to exert himself further but it didn’t matter.

Not entirely. Not as his vision went dark … and the world faded … along with consciousness.

 

***

 

Commander Victoria Serling moved through the Agency base, shoving past the technicians and researchers clogging up the halls. Everyone was on high alert, rushing to different stations and meeting rooms to discuss the arrival of the strange object menacing the Earth. While they theorized, she knew what Warren would want to do.

I need to talk to Colonel Jacks before he gets here to smooth things over quickly, to get launch clearance before it’s too late.

Victoria joined the Agency straight out of the military, exchanging the rank of Colonel for Commander in the new command structure. She acted as Warren’s second and would be his first officer when they went into space.