Read The Return of the Manhattan Online
Authors: Lee Ecker
The Manhattan hummed and vibrated slightly as the countdown continued past their previous tests. For those in the control room observing the ship on their monitors, it glowed brightly for a brief moment after reaching its orbit before it disappeared from their sight. Inside the ship, the vibrations ceased, and the hum diminished as the ship began a slow rotation in a clockwise direction which the crew soon became accustomed to. Roger reported, “Everything is normal, but I have no way of knowing the exact dates we are passing through. In approximately four years the computer will initiate the arrival in the last few years of the twentieth century. When we arrive, we will have to ascertain the correct year before we begin.”
David and Laura both earned their doctorates while en route with few distractions. David’s degree was in human resources, while Laura earned hers in physics studying electro magnetics with Dr. Roger Dorn. She spent much of her time with Dr. Baker learning as much about the medical field as he could teach her. She wasn’t planning on practicing medicine in the twentieth century, but she didn’t want to be left without recourse when encountering diseases which were no longer a problem in her time. She spent hours in the simulator keeping current on several types of aircraft known to exist in the twentieth century but primarily concentrating on passenger aircraft produced by Boeing, and Airbus. She enjoyed flying small business jets that could easily be modified with the electro magnetic technology.
Keeping busy helped the time pass quickly although she spent many hours relaxing with her father and they often chatted together with David sharing memories of her mother and family histories. Both cherished these moments knowing they would end all too soon. One evening, Laura asked, “Dad, I thought you were going to ask Brenda to marry you. What happened? Did you chicken out? You haven’t mentioned her for months.”
“No, I didn’t chicken out. She said no… . We both told each other of our love, but she refused. She even said she wanted to be my wife. That’s why it doesn’t make any sense to me, and she really surprised me when she said President Albee would not allow it.”
“I love her, and I know you love her and I really wanted her to be my stepmom. Why would the president make that restriction? Did he give a good reason?”
“Well, yes, I guess to him it was anyway, but it didn’t make any sense to me. He told her it didn’t happen on the original voyage back in time and changing that could drastically alter the success of our mission. She really was your stepmom in every way except being married to me. Does that make sense to you?”
“I suppose it does in much the same way I have been told I cannot marry anyone from the twentieth century. Suppose I were to marry one of our ancestors. Would that alter the family tree enough to jeopardize our existence?”
“That’s the theory anyway.”
“It doesn’t make sense! If I did marry and then I ceased to exist, then I couldn’t marry could I?”
“Your logic is off a mite, I’m afraid, but it doesn’t change the fact that we have orders to the contrary. Even if you existed, you might not be the same person?”
The Manhattan arrived in the twentieth century as predicted and the computer initiated the sequence to stop traveling back farther in time with precision. They were in orbit above the earth as they had been before initiating the leap through time. They had been secluded within the ship for almost four years without seeing anything but a blur when looking out viewing ports. Children born while en route saw, for the first time, sights of the world beyond the inside of the Manhattan.
Their first few weeks in orbit were spent intercepting news stories and analyzing the political situation throughout the world, and then narrowing their analysis to the United States, correlating their findings with their history data banks. They easily had access to all mainframe computers and could access any other computer without difficulty. They were looking for the best place to start and for the best individual that could be their agent in this century working side by side with Laura. The surveillance equipment aboard the Manhattan would make George Orwell’s 1984 a reality if put in the wrong hands. In their time, controls had been stringent making sure the equipment was not used in that manner. But, the equipment here in the twentieth century was not subject to those controls, except for the authority of David Ashton, the commander. He was in fact the supreme commander, and had the power to subjugate the entire world to his control. He had no offensive weapons, but he could use many different energy forms to gain the upper hand. He had a strong tractor beam that could move huge objects, defensive shields, and mind altering stun beams that would render adversaries helpless. He could control all communications and intrude into all computer systems, which could in effect control the world. He had the technology to manufacture weapons of mass destruction beyond anything seen in the twentieth century. Although these temptations passed through his mind, he paid them no heed and went about his mission professionally.
They looked at a wide spectrum of men and women who would make suitable candidates, but were biased toward the military since they seemed to have closer ties to the government and were subject to government control. They observed military pilots in several squadrons looking for flying ability, attitude, and leadership abilities. Their council met to evaluate the final candidates where they allowed Laura to choose the one individual she felt best suited for their purposes. After narrowing the list of candidates to a few, they stepped up their surveillance on those individuals. They observed each candidate flying their respective airplanes, working with other crewmembers, watching their relationship with the command structure, and their treatment of individuals inside and outside the military. David and Roger already knew who was chosen and would make sure Laura selected the same person. Laura in this time dimension had the same data available to her as the Laura of the other time dimension, and she made the same decision validating their choice.
Laura announced her choice, “Major Brad Anderson is a C9A Nightingale pilot assigned to the 11th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He is one of the most experienced instructor pilots assigned to the unit, with over 7,000 hours of total flying time and almost 3,000 hours in the C9 after flying several other types of military aircraft during the latter months of the Vietnam War and subsequent assignments. He has combat experience in Vietnam flying the F4 Phantom and now enjoys flying a more humanitarian mission transporting military patients to and from hospitals all across the United States. I observed his treatment of co-workers and his masterly approach in getting the job done professionally. He is polite and respectful of all he makes contact with, and has a great sense of humor. On top of all that, he is an expert pilot, unmarried, and has nothing we can see to keep him from dedicating himself to the mission.”
David chuckled and remarked, “Actually, he wasn’t my first choice. He’s a little bit on the stubborn side, but he’s a good choice. He’ll do fine even if we have to knock him over the head to convince him to cooperate with us. Now we wait until we can grab him out of the sky. It won’t be long as he is scheduled to fly a mission two days from now originating at Scott AFB which is scheduled to fly to Andrews AFB. I think we should grab him when he has the least number of patients on board. Will you be ready?”
Laura replied enthusiastically, “I’m ready now, but I can wait.”
David turned to Roger and Warren, “How about you? Is everything ready?”
“Everything’s a go in sick bay,” Warren replied.
Roger was just as positive, “Everything with the ship is in tip top shape. We can put them on the beam any time we want. As soon as we get their itinerary, we can plot their course and take the Manhattan out of orbit and arrange the rendezvous. It’s fine for us, but his unit will have fits when their aircraft comes up missing.”
“That’s okay, it will take place like history has already recorded,” David replied.
“You mean you knew all along whom I would pick! You set me up, didn’t you?”
David chuckled, “Yes, but that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.
Two days later, they were ready. The aircraft was scheduled to fly first to Little Rock AFB in Arkansas and then on a direct flight to Andrews AFB. Roger reported, “The flight from Little Rock to Andrews will probably be our best bet. They will have a critically injured patient aboard and because of that they will have only four other patients, no passengers, and a crew of eight. That number should be manageable. They will be at the relatively low altitude of FL190 or nineteen thousand feet for their patient’s best chance of survival. That aircraft is capable of maintaining sea level pressurization at that altitude. We won’t need to be too concerned about equalizing pressures and that area will be generally free of other traffic.”
“Okay,” David replied, “let’s get to work and intercept them soon after they leave Little Rock.” David and Laura monitored their progress as Roger managed the speed and altitude changes, navigating to the rendezvous point waiting until the C9 came closer. Dr. Baker placed all the crew and passengers except for Major Anderson into a hypnotic trance as Roger ordered the large doors opened. They grasped the aircraft with their powerful beam, taking all control away from Major Anderson and guided the aircraft into the Manhattan. When the aircraft came to a stop on the hangar floor, David projected his voice into the cockpit of the aircraft, “Welcome aboard the Manhattan, Major Anderson! Have no fear… we have no intention of causing you any harm.”
Major Anderson picked up the radio mike, demanding, “Who are you? What do you want?”
David’s voice remained calm and unruffled, “No need to shout; we hear you plainly. We’ll explain as soon as you come inside.”
“What happened to my crew?” Brad asked taking into account the unresponsive trancelike nature of his copilot and flight mechanic.
“No need to worry; they’re fine.”
“What about my patients?” His tone was cool and disapproving with a hint of desperation. “I have a critically injured patient who needs to get to Andrews Air Force Base ASAP.”
“It’s too late! Your patient will die if you don’t cooperate immediately. We can give her the care she needs. Please shut down, and allow us to help.”
Laura and Doctor Baker waited until Brad, sensing his helplessness shut down the engines, opened the door and allowed the Manhattan crew to begin. Dr. Baker entered first asking permission to treat the patient. Brad knew he had no choice as his entire crew was in a trance and his patient needed immediate care. He stood to one side as Doctor Baker began to treat the patient, Dana Higgins.
Laura addressed Brad, “Welcome aboard the Manhattan, Major Anderson.”
Brad was distracted and bewildered. He found himself stammering, “What did you say?”
Laura flashed him another bright smile and replied with a trace of humor in her voice, “I welcomed you aboard the Manhattan. Your patient’s getting the best care available; she’ll be fine. Please follow me.” She turned and left the aircraft expecting him to follow.
Laura led Brad through the airlock into the interior of the ship directly to her father’s office. With pride, she introduced David, “Major Anderson, meet my father, Dr. David Ashton, commander of the Manhattan.” She left the room closing the door behind her.
David gave Brad a firm, enthusiastic handshake and spoke with the same warm, friendly voice he had used earlier, “Welcome aboard, Major Anderson.”
Brad needed a moment to find his voice and instinctively reacted, demanding, “What right do you have hijacking my aircraft, drugging my crew, and bringing me aboard this ship?”
“Please, take a seat. I will explain
Irrationally, Brad shouted, “I don’t want a seat; I want answers. What happened? Where are we?”
David sat back, relaxing with a hint of a smile on his face, and a twinkle in his eye, “If you’ll allow me, I’ll answer all your questions. May I call you Brad?”
Brad didn’t look relaxed nor was he ready to comply. He sat in one of the plush chairs and replied belligerently, “Of course, if it will get me some answers.”
“Brad, we need your help. You are on a spaceship which you might describe as a UFO. We need contact with your government, and we have selected you, if you are willing, to provide that contact.”
Brad interrupted, “What right does that give you to hijack my aircraft, and drug my crew?” He was repeating himself, but he didn’t care.
David paused, “I’ll be the first to admit we acted high handedly. I apologize for the inconvenience, but no harm done.”
“Oh, how nice,” Brad interjected sarcastically. “You think you can get away with anything you like, if you sweet talk your way out of it.”
“No. We will not hold you against your will. It’s up to you.”
“All right, let me out of here!”
“There’s no lock on the door; not that it would do you any good. We are in outer space several thousand feet above the atmosphere. It will take time to get you safely back to your altitude and back on course.” He let that sink in before pleading, “Brad, we can save your patient’s life with our advanced medical knowledge. And we hope you will help us.”
Brad didn’t answer immediately; he was thinking, and watching a large second hand on the wall clock, silently ticking off the seconds. Would I, or is he playing God, interfering with the natural order of things? Is this guy on the level? It seemed like a dream—so real, yet beyond belief.
After a few moments of silence, David spoke, “Brad, my daughter, Laura, and I took a great risk bringing you aboard. You may be contaminated with strains of disease that our immune systems can’t handle. We are risking death, and complete failure of our mission, and all we ask of you is to listen to our story. Then, you can make your own decision. But if you want to leave, we’ll not stand in your way.”
Brad felt ashamed of his hasty reactions. He thought of the young lady who brought him here. He remembered the lengthy and thorough decontamination procedures the early astronauts went through after returning from simple missions to the moon. He could see in his mind’s eye the lovely Laura dying a slow, painful death, knowing he might be the cause of it. He answered, “You’re right. I was being hasty, and I really want to hear your story.”
“Good, we were counting on that. We have been watching you, along with many other pilots, for several weeks, and have selected you as our number one candidate. You are an experienced pilot and a dedicated professional officer; with our help, we believe you can gain access to the leaders of your country, the military, and your president, and effectively present our proposals to them, insuring the success of our mission.”
“Now wait a cotton-picking minute! I’m a loyal American. I will not be your spy.”
“Brad,” he chuckled, “we’re Americans too, and we feel the same way. We wouldn’t want you for this mission if you felt any other way.”
“What do you mean, you’re Americans? That’s hard to swallow!”
“It’s true! Considering your generation’s science fiction literature, and so many recent mysterious UFO sightings, I’m sure you must have some concept of who we are, or where we came from.”
“Yes, but you don’t fit the image I have of little green men.”
“We are time travelers. Recalling your ideas of time and relativity, I’ll say we have travelled a long distance. We are Americans, representing the United States government from the year 2603.”
Brad hesitated; he had dreamed of the possibility of time travel, even fantasized about it, read books on the topic, and could partially comprehend the inherent possibilities. “I didn’t think it was possible. If true, how can I do anything you can’t do yourselves?”
“We are doing something that has never been attempted before. We don’t know if we can accomplish anything without help. We don’t know! Remember the name of our ship, the Manhattan? Do you recall the Manhattan Project?”
“Certainly, it was how we created the Bomb! Has there been a nuclear holocaust?”
“No, but, in our time, we are desperate for a solution to a problem as serious as your government faced during World War II. We created the ‘Manhattan II project,’ like President Roosevelt authorized the ‘Manhattan project,’ and our president in the future allocated a huge amount of our country’s resources to go ahead with the project. It’s a monumental task, hence the name. The major difference is: our problems are rooted in the consequences of your actions in our past, rather than from an external force, but the danger to our society has far greater consequences.”
“Are you blaming us for your problems?”
“No. It began in your century, and has gone from bad to worse. We can no longer survive without a change of some sort. We are taking a great risk in trying to improve our future by interfering with our past. Worse case; if we change the past, we or the world as we know it will not exist, and then our mission will end in failure. We are fully aware of the risk involved when anyone interferes with the time continuum. However, if we don’t, it won’t matter, our future, at least the civilized part of it, is doomed.”