Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Chapter 4: A New Awakening

   Dr.  Jones woke up to a bright light, He clamped his eyes closed, took a
deep breath and was suddenly consumed in coughing fits as a grey fluid was
expelled from his lungs.  At first he thought he was in the hospital, but
he quickly realized that it was too quiet.  After a few seconds a feminine
voice spoke, as a small hand began to pat on his back.  "The Cryogenic
fluids should clear your lungs shortly.  Try and take deep breaths as it
will help expel them faster."

   Soon his fits began to subside and he was able to actually do as the
voice suggested.  He could hear that several other people were coughing as
well.  Dr.  Jones opened his eyes once again then sat up and looked around.
"What the hell is going on?!" He exclaimed as he saw his patient, Mr. 
Jenkins, standing by another man and the young teen he had seen in the
hospital, all wearing some kind of military uniform.

   Behind them he could see Nurse Dale, Debbin and Jimenez laying on beds
similar to the one he was on, all three were naked and coughing like he
was. Mr.  Jenkins walked closer to his bed looking concerned.  "Dr.  Jones,
I am David Jenkins and there is a reasonable explanation for everything. 
Please come with me." Mr.  Jenkins said while holding up a small grey
stone.

   ...

   David watched as Dr.  Jones and the three Nurses absorbed everything
that he had told them.  The four were sitting on crates in the cargo area
of one of the Querithons wearing robes supplied by the Remote Interface
Unit.  Karen looked up at him with tears in her eyes and shook her head as
she rubbed her arms.  "You have got to be kidding me.  This is insane, you
kidnap up us, do lord knows what with us while we are unconscious and then
tell us this insane story.  This is too much."

   The Remote Interface Unit turned around and headed into the cockpit of
the Querithon, after a few seconds the entire craft shook slightly.  Spaz
followed the Unit out and a few seconds later his voice could be heard
coming from the cockpit area.  "Holy... guys you HAVE to come see this!"

   David and the others stuck their heads into the cockpit of the Querithon
to see the craft flying out of the Lanvy's Bay and out into space.  The
craft flew out for a few seconds and then banked to the left bringing both
Earth and the Lanvy into view.  "Oh My!" Karen exclaimed at what she saw.
"You were serious."

   David looked back at Karen with a grin.  "Yes I was.  Welcome to the
E.D.S.  Lanvy."

   Karen backed away from the cockpit until her legs ran up against the
crate she had been previously sitting on.  "Ok, so you were serious about
us being in space in some gigantic ship.  But why us?  Why have you
kidnapped us?"

   David frowned in concern "Actually I did not kidnap anyone." Dr.  Jones
and Nurse Debbin were taken while I was still in a coma, and you and Nurse
Jimenez were abducted by my pilot's twin sister.  My pilot rescued you and
brought you to the Lanvy for your safety until we could figure out why you
were abducted."

   "And why were we abducted?" asked Dr.  Jones.  "And don't tell me that
it was your pilot's twin..."

   David ginned as he turned towards Dr.  Jones.  "No, actually you were
abducted by my pilot.  Again it was for your safety.  You remember the
creatures that attacked the hospital?"

   Dr.  Jones paled as he recalled the attack.  "Yes, I remember."

   "Well it was determined that you and Nurse Debbin may have been
influenced in some way by those creatures.  They are called Morgalons, and
they are very, very bad creatures.  Everyone that was on that floor but you
and me were killed by the Morgalons."

   Dr.  Jones looked as if he was going to throw up.  "Everyone?"

   Karen walked up to Dr.  Jones and placed a reassuring hand on his
shoulder.  "That part is true Dr.  The feds called it an explosion, you and
Nurse Debbin were believed to have been caught in the explosion and are
also presumed dead.  Officially only David survived and he was still in a
coma.  The police and feds kept a close eye on him after that."

   "According to my pilot, it was believed that the Morgalons left you two
alive for a reason and so she had you taken to the Lanvy to determine if
you were under Morgalon influence.  By the time they determined you were
not.  It had already been announced by the feds that you had died in the
explosion.  My pilot was worried about returning you to the hospital under
such unusual circumstances, so she waited until I had been briefed on the
situation, and so here we are."

   Nurse Jimenez walked quickly up to David her face contorted in anger. 
"So what do you expect us ta do, just bow down at your feet and say thank
you.  You kidnapped us and brought us here.  Fo' what, kicks?" She
exclaimed poking her index finger into David's chest.

   David put up his hands and slowly pushed Nurse Jimenez away from him. 
"Like I said, nurse, I want nothing from any of you.  I had you awakened so
I could apprise you of the situation and of your options and allow each of
you to make an informed decision.  I wanted you to know your options so you
could decide what, YOU, want to do."

   Nurse Debbin sat down on one of the crates, looking at David with watery
eyes.  "I still can not believe all those people are all dead." She
whispered as she looked down at her feet.  After a few seconds she looked
up at David shyly.  "What are our options?"

   "As far as I can see you have three options.  Return to the Stasis
chamber and you will remain in stasis until it is safe for you to return to
Earth.  How long that will be I cannot tell you.  You can return to Earth
right now, but unfortunately we do not have the resources to protect you
from whoever was trying to kidnap you, or from the Morgalons..."

   Nurse Jimenez turned on David with a scornful look her arms folded over
her chest.  "And our last choice?" She asked as she tapped her foot in
agitation.

   "Join us.  It will be dangerous, just as dangerous as the other two. 
Maybe even more so, but it will give you control over your own fate.  You
won't have to be looking over your shoulder all the time waiting for an
unknown enemy to attack.  You also won't be putting more innocents in
danger.  If you go back, there is no way anyone will allow you to just go
back to your own lives."

   Nurse Jimenez threw her arms into the air.  "Join you, join you?  You
have got to be crazy if you think..."

   "It's our only option Julia," Nurse Debbin stated quietly once again
looking at her feet.  "I for one do not want to return to those stasis beds
with the hope that one day they will be able to wake me up.  As for going
back, do you honestly think the government is going to let us just go back
to our lives, after all this?  There is no reason to think the hospital
will just let us come back like nothing happened, especially since we
cannot tell them what happened.  The government and their cronies, not to
mention every nut job and conspiracy theorist in the country, would be all
over us.  No, I am in.  What do I need to do?"

   David nodded and looked at Karen and Dr.  Jones.  "I'm in David." Karen
mumbled.

   "Me too.  What do you need?" Dr.  Jones replied.

   Julia Jimenez could not believe what she was hearing, after staring
daggers at David for a few minutes, she finally tossed her hands in the
air. "Fine, I guess I am out voted.  I am in too."

   David smiled at his four newest recruits into the Earth Defense Force as
the Querithon docked with the Lanvy and was locked into its moorings.  "I
think our first order of business is to get all of you some clothes and
then we need to talk about what it is exactly each of you wants to do."

   Dr.  Jones looked at David with confusion.  "What do you mean, what we
WANT to do?"

   The Remote Interface Unit entered the cargo area and looked at Dr. 
Jones with a curious expression "Well Dr.  Jones, there are over ten
thousand possible positions on this ship alone, and we have three vessels.
The training methods of the Kreg'ar are quick and very thorough.  You are
not limited to being Dr.'s and Nurses, though we do need them.  Right now
any position you could want is open to you.  So we need to sit down and go
over your options and figure out what exactly you want to do with the rest
of your career as a member of the Earth Defense Forces." the Remote
Interface Unit stated and then looked over to David.  "Sir, we have docked
with the Lanvy and we can teleport to the bridge if you like.  I will have
one of the drones bring up uniforms for our newest recruits."

   "That will be perfect, thank you." David replied as the Remote Interface
Unit activated the teleporters, and with a flash everyone disappeared from
the Querithon's cargo hold.

   ...

   Eleric Drakehold woke form his meditations with a start.  He quickly
glanced to his right at his sister Elise.  She to appeared to have been
startled awake "Elise something is wrong."

   "I know brother I too felt it.  Gather the circle, whatever it is; it's
more than we can handle alone.  We need to find allies and we need to find
them now."

   As Eleric rose from his meditation mat his cell phone began to ring,
looking down at its caller ID he shook his head "No need to call them
sister dear they are already calling us." Then his sister's phone and the
house phone began ringing.  It was going to be a long morning.

   ...

   David and company appeared on the bridge, to the accompaniment of red
lights and blaring sirens.  David quickly covered his ears with his hands
and yelled.  "Somebody turn that blasted thing off."

   The room grew quiet as the alarms shut down.  David, Spaz and the Remote
Interface Unit immediately headed over to the tactical console display.  It
showed a flashing red light somewhere in Southern Australia and bright red
letters were flashing across the display.  "Morgalon presence detected
Class three event, spatial gateway detected class three event." Spaz looked
at the Unit, who had gone pale.  "What the hell is a class three event?"

   The Remote Interface Unit began bringing up displays.  "Not good, that's
what it is." It responded as it continued to enter commands on the tactical
display.  "Lanvy, do we have visual on the Morgalon?"

   "Negative, attempting uplink with closest satellites."

   The Remote Interface Unit jumped from the console it was working on and
motioned for Spaz to move out of its way.  "Pardon me sir, but I need to
get in there.  I apologize but there is no time to explain," it stated as
it continued to bring up screens and displays.  "Activate combat drones. 
Fifteen should be sufficient.  Armaments level five, stealth level zero. 
Prepare them for immediate transport to the surface with orders to kill all
Morgalons present."

   "Unable to comply, power levels are insufficient to transport anything
to the planet's surface.  Maintenance required on main power transfer
modulator in order to bring back up generators on line."

   "No, this can not be happening!" The Remote Interface Unit exclaimed as
it brought its hands down hard on the console in front of it.  "Not now, we
were so close.  Lanvy bring us over the location of the Morgalon presence
and bring all available weapon systems online." The Remote Interface Unit
ordered, as it continued to manipulate displays "I am routing all available
power from decks twelve through sixteen to main weapon systems."

   "This course of action is not advisable, firing weapon batteries onto
the planet would enable the governments of Earth to detect our presence. 
By my calculations the response would be catastrophic to this vessel and
those aboard."

   "If we do not do something, the results will be catastrophic to the
people down there.  That is a class three Morgalon!  The Remote Interface
yelled, turning to David.  "Sir Please, we have no choice.  This thing must
be destroyed at all costs."

   David stared at the Remote interface Unit in shock.  "What the hell is a
class three Morgalon?"

   The Remote Interface Unit tossed its arms into the air in exasperation.
"It is hard to explain... The closest thing in the lore of your planet
would be an Arch Demon.  Or a Demon Lord..."

   The Unit's explanation was interrupted by the Lanvy.  "Class three
spatial gateway detected, Morgalon presence no longer detected on planets
surface.  Visual of location established.

   "Show us the visual on the forward viewing screen." David stated as he
turned towards the front of the bridge.

   The view on the screen changed from the space-scape to a top view of
earth from space, the view then zoomed down onto a section of Southern
Australia.  As the view zoomed in a noticeably darker patch of earth could
be seen, it was perfectly circular and covered a large swath of the
surface. "What the hell is that?  "Spaz exclaimed.

   "What you are seeing General Walker is a section of the planets surface
twenty miles in diameter that has been affected by the Morgalon presence.
According to my scans everything in the area of effect is dead."

   Karen stepped towards the view screen, her hand coming to her mouth in
shock "Oh my God..."

   Everyone stared in horror at the dark patch.  "Can you zoom into the
center of that?" David asked quietly.

   The display continued to zoom closer to the planet until a small town
and an old dirt airfield came into view.  Several buildings in the center
of town appeared to be damaged, but otherwise the town was intact.  Cars
could be seen on the roads both in the town and leading into and out of the
town.  Nothing appeared to be moving, many of the vehicles appeared to have
driven off the roads and crashed.  "Sir, I detect no life signs anywhere
within the area effected by the Morgalon." The Lanvy informed them.

   "How many people lived in that town?" Dr.  Jones asked with tears in his
eyes over the loss of life.

   "Checking... According to the Australian government's last survey
approximately two hundred and seventy seven people lived in the town of
Oodnadatta."

   "My God!" Exclaimed Spaz.  How long was that thing down there?"

   "Ten minutes and fifty three seconds, General." The Lanvy replied. 
"Class one spatial gateway detected.  Same location as the previous
gateway, no Morgalon presence detected.  One life sign, human detected in
the town of Oodnadatta."

   "Show me this gateway." David ordered

   The view on the screen once again zoomed in on the doomed town, in the
center of the town, next to what appeared to be the remains of a restaurant
and several homes, was a glowing blue light with a cloaked form standing in
front of it.  The form knelled onto the ground and began to draw into the
dead soil.  It then headed over to one of the destroyed homes.  Just before
disappearing into the remains of the structure the figure waved a hand at
the glowing orb and it disappeared.  "Spatial Gateway no longer detected."
The Lanvy stated to the shocked room.

   A few minutes later the figure re-emerged from the structure and
motioned in the direction the gateways location.  The blue orb re-appeared.
"Spatial gateway detected." The Lanvy stated as the figure walked into the
orb and vanished along with the orb.  "Spatial Gateway no longer detected.
No life signs detected at location."

   The Remote Interface Unit looked at David.  "We need to get down there
sir and figure out what happened."

   David shook his head.  "No, right now we need to get things figured out
and fixed up here.  If another of those things comes back I want us to be
prepared to deal with it, and that means getting this ship operational and
the semblance of a crew.  Take Dr.  Jones and the Nurses to their quarters,
and show them what jobs are available to them, Get them set up in their
training chambers and start them on the programs for basic Kreg'ar
protocols, basic military training and etiquette and start them on the
required training for their new jobs.  Once you are done return to me here
and report on what jobs they have selected.  Spaz," David said as he turned
to his friend.  "I need you to start on flight training, learn everything
you can about all the ships we have at our disposal.  I need you up to
speed in case we require more than one pilot."

   Spaz gave David a worried grin.  "What will you be doing sir?"

   "I'll be going over the Lanvy's suggestions on our rank structure and
try and find a way to get more people up here fast."

   David sat down in the command chair carefully so as not to disturb his
injured arm.  "Lanvy, bring up the ideas you had for the new rank structure
of the EDF."

   "Sir, I recommend that you visit the Med-Labs and have The Remote
Interface Unit check out your arm." The Lanvy replied as the requested
files came across the small display beside the Command Chair.

   David scanned the suggestions, indicated a few changes and finally
approved them.  "Get this updated in the training files that everyone is
going to be using tonight.  I want them using the new ranks ASAP.  Also
update all rank insignias to duplicate those of The U.S.  Military." David
replied.

   "As you command sir, Processing requests, required updates have been
initiated, all future uniforms will reflect the new insignias." The Lanvy
Replied.  "Sir, as to your arm?"

   "It can wait." David interrupted.  "It is not bothering me right now and
besides it's not like we have a medical officer that can actually do
anything about it.  Once Dr.  Jones finishes his training tonight I'll have
him look at it first thing in the morning.  Make sure his training includes
the necessary information to fix it."

   "As you command, sir." Came the cold response from the Lanvy.

   David continued to sit in the command chair, his mind running over
multiple scenarios, trying to find a way to get people up here in the
numbers required before the ship simply shut down.  "Lanvy, are you capable
of sending a holographic projection to earth, one that I can use to
interact with people safely."

   "Yes sir I am equipped with the required technology, but I am currently
unable to maintain the projection for very long.  I could project you down
to your desired location for approximately thirty seconds at most.  If we
shut down more unessential decks we could push an hour."

   "Very well, let's do it.  Once the Remote Interface Unit gets here, I
have an idea and I will need both of you to pull it off." David said with a
grin.

   ...

   The President of the United States sat in the oval office listening to
the day's briefs by his advisors and staff.  He had grown bored with the
drone of their voices and his mind had started to wander.  He shook his
head and sat forward in an almost futile attempt to concentrate on the
information his Secretary of Agriculture was giving him.  Suddenly there
was a man in an unknown military uniform standing in front of his desk. 
The president jumped form his chair as his secret service agents drew their
weapons.  One of the agents dove across the desk and propelled the
president to the ground.  Agents swarmed around the man as aides and
military officers moved to quickly get out of the line of fire.  "On the
ground now!" One of the secret service men yelled at the man.  "On the
ground or we will open fire!!"

   The man did not move, he simply stood where he was with a grin on his
face.  "I would not suggest opening fire gentlemen, that would be quite
dangerous for yourselves and the president, and would cause me no harm."

   As he made his statement one of the agents reached for him in an attempt
to drag him to the ground, the agent's hand and body passed through the
man. Loosing his balance the agent fell to the ground, dropping his weapon
in the process.  The man continued to stand where he was, grinning.  "Mr.
President, I come in peace, I wish to discuss with you a matter of
importance and we do not have time for this charade.  To be exact we have
exactly twenty six seconds."

   The president looked at the man from behind his now stunned secret
service agents.  "Why, what happens in twenty six seconds?" He asked

   "In twenty six seconds Mr.  President, you and I are going to disappear
from this room.  Nothing your agents do will prevent this." He replied.

   The agents looked around the room for other possible threats and the
agent with the president helped him to his feet and placed himself between
the man and The President.  One of the agents to the left of the man
quickly spoke into his wrist.  "Unknown individual in the oval office. 
Threats made against the President, lock down the house." As the agent said
this, other agents began to surround the man and the aides, advisors and
military officers were quickly escorted out of the room through a side
door. The agents made a wall between the man and the President's exit as
they escorted him from the oval office.

   "That will do no good Mr.  President.  It does not matter where you go
in exactly twenty three seconds we will be leaving." Looking at the agents
"Please do not do anything you will regret, The President will not be
harmed and once he and I have had a chat he will be returned."

   The agents ignored the man's comments and quickly rushed The President
from the Oval Office and down the hall.  More agents rushed into the room
to surround the man with guns drawn.  He simply shook his head and looked
down at the watch on his wrist.  "Five, Four, Three, Two, One..." As he
finished his countdown the man vanished as quickly as he had appeared.  A
shocked voice crackled over the Agents headsets "Renegade has vanished, I
say again Renegade has vanished."

   ...

   The President stood staring at the view before him in awe, one moment he
was being rushed down a hallway in the White House surrounded by Secret
Service Agents, the next he was standing alone on the bridge of the Lanvy
looking at the main view screen.  "Hello again Mr.  President and welcome
aboard the EDS Lanvy, I am David Jenkins." David said as The President spun
around to face him.

   The President looked around the bridge of the Lanvy taking everything
in. "Where the hell am I?  Is this for real?"

   David smiled as he took a seat in the command chair.  "Mr.  President
this is the bridge of the EDS Lanvy, it is an alien space craft that is
currently crewed by six humans and two artificial intelligences.  We mean
you no harm.  You have been brought here because we are in need of your
assistance and this was the quickest and easiest way to get that
assistance."

   "What exactly do you need from me?  And what do you mean by an alien
ship"

   David stood up from his chair, flinching as his right hand brushed
against the chair arm.  The President took note of David's reaction.  "Mr.
President, the EDS Lanvy is a starship designed and created by an alien
race known as the Kreg'ar.  The vessel came to Earth looking for survivors
of this race or anyone who may be descendants of them..."

   "Wait, what do you mean by survivors?"

   "The Kreg'ar were wiped out about forty years ago by another alien race
known as the Morgalons.  They are why I have brought you here.  This ship,
if it were fully functional, is designed to hold a crew of approximately
ten thousand people.  In it's..."

   "Ten thousand, what the hell?" The President exclaimed.

   David rolled his eyes and continued.  "Yes Mr.  President, ten thousand
people.  In it's current condition it can house approximately two hundred,
maybe less.  In order for us to be able to man this ship and defend Earth
from the threat of the Morgalons we will need your assistance."

   "My assistance, what exactly can I do?  I know nothing of this vessel,
or anything about these Morgalons."

   "Yes sir, you see." David started as he walked past The President and
stood looking at the view screen.  "When the Lanvy found me, I was in a
coma in the Emergency room of a hospital in Marysville California.  While I
was in the hospital, it was attacked by a Morgalon.  Two of the crew and I
were the only survivors of that attack.  However, officially I was the only
survivor.  This caught the authorities attention as one of the AI's erased
all evidence of the attack.  This was done to both protect me and to
protect the people of the area.  If evidence had gotten out that the attack
was performed by aliens, well, some parts of your government would have
done some very bad things to anyone involved."

   The President gave David a shocked look as he came up beside him.  "You
have got to be kidding me..."

   "Please Mr.  President.  Don't give me any of that, your country would
never do that, crap.  You know as well as I do that there are parts of the
government, shit, any government that would love to get their hands on
advanced alien technology or aliens themselves.  Not to mention all the
conspiracy groups.  That hospital would have been swarmed within hours of
the discovery of what really happened there.  Also I do not think that very
many people, not to mention those elements of our government, are ready to
see what actually happened." David replied as he turned to face The
President.  "But to negate any doubt in your mind that we did the right
thing, I will let you see the un-doctored footage.  Lanvy please display
the video and audio footage of the attack on the hospital."

   "As you command Sir."

   The President of the United States of America watched in horror as the
events at Yutter Memorial Hospital were replayed.  "Oh my God, this can't
be real?" he whispered under his breath.

   "Unfortunately Mr.  President this is very real and it's not the worst.
Lanvy bring up the images of Oodnadatta Australia please." David stated,
continuing once the image of the doomed town appeared on the screen.  "Mr.
President, this is the remains of Oodnadatta Australia, early this morning
a very powerful Morgalon Commander appeared in the center of this town.  As
of right now we have no idea how or why it did so.  The Morgalon was only
in the town for a little over ten minutes before it vanished to wherever it
came from.  In the course of those ten minutes it killed every living thing
in a ten-mile radius of the town.  Do you understand the scope of what I am
saying Mr.  President?  In a little over ten minutes one Morgalon killed
every man, woman, child, animal, plant and insect in a twenty mile diameter
of that town and then left."

   The President turned very pale, turning to David he asked one question.
"What do you need from me?"

   "Mr.  President, what I need is for the government to leave myself and
my people alone.  No investigations, no arrests, no interference of our
activities of any kind.  I assure you that any actions we take on American
soil will be for the protection and benefit of all citizens of the planet.
We will do our best to not break any laws and we will keep you informed of
all activates and missions that we can.  As we recruit new members you will
be notified of whom they are.  I assure you we will not take any critical
people from any important projects or areas.  We won't need them as we have
our own training program.  In short Mr.  President, your people need to
leave us alone and stay out of our way."

   "You have it Mr.  Jenkins.  Give me a few days to get things organized.
I will also need the names and photos of your people.  You said there were
two things you needed?"

   David Smiled "Yes Mr.  President, in the near future I will need to
address the United Nations.  I intend to recruit from every nationality and
country on the planet.  This threat is bigger than borders and I will need
everyone's cooperation.  When that time comes I will need you to arrange a
meeting between the chairman of the United Nations and me.  As of this
moment the EDS Lanvy and all current and future holdings of the Earth
Defense Force and its members are no longer citizens of any nation.  We
will not recognize any borders.  All the people of Earth will receive our
protection.  When the day comes for me to address the United Nations it
will as the leader of an independent and autonomous nation.  I will be
addressing them as Commander-in-Chief of the Earth Defense Force."

   To Whom it May Concern

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