Chariot 3: Conception
Chapter 58 – The crew of the fallen

From Roswell Army Field to the Eighth Air Force Headquarters in Fort Worth, and finally Wright Field, the crew of the fallen Chariot 3 started to feel worn-out whilst they anxiously waited for the uncomfortable flight on the confined belly of a B-25 to reach its destination.

With the absence of any windows on its sides, Flumen, Cai Yiu Hun, Shoffer and V-Nus could not see how close they were of the triangular shaped landing tracks that intersected each other underneath, other than the clear sensation of the decreasing altitude.

A sudden shake was felt throughout the plane. Unfamiliar with the turbulence present in the ancient planes of that era, the Nibirian crew grasped their seats tightly while the local American crew that surrounded them tried their best not to laugh.

“No turbulence in space?” One of them joked in his own thoughts.

After minutes having to choose between looking at the dull dark green bulkhead that made them feel rather cozy in such a small space and staring at the Earthian military personnel that had not said a word to them since take off, the Nibirians finally made their decision and kept their eyes on the dullness of the bulkhead.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cai Yiu Hun looked at a couple of soldiers standing next to him, feeling so imposing over their ‘prisoners’. Cai Yiu`s hand hovered over his hidden gisra while not so friendly thoughts crossed his mind. “It would be so easy to slice them all.” He though, with a creepy smile on his face.

After hearing the noisy landing gears being deployed, the Earthian crew set back on their seats, two seated right next to Cai Yiu and another one in front.

Cai Yiu took a close look at each of the men and noticed the resemblance among them. They all had the same medium body composition, black shaved hair and a day or two of a non-groomed beard.

“I sense you are not enjoying your flight.” Flumen spoke to Cai Yiu through his BCI.

After Cai Yiu projected a unique look into Flumen`s eyes, no other words were necessary to describe his depiction of enjoyment.

The military plane finally touched the landing track.

The aircraft bounced on the field and then rapidly decreased its speed with the wheels making the usual rough braking noise just before it started to maneuver towards the not yet infamous Hangar 18.

“I hope you enjoyed the flight.” The Captain of the B-25 cracked a joke as he descended from the cockpit towards the well, how the crew commonly called the hatch on the bomb bay, behind the cockpit. The local crew laughed while the Nibirians agreed that the turbulent flight was anything but enjoyable.

The pilot unlocked the hatch and released the yellow ladder that hit the pavement under the cabin. The RAAF Captain was the first one to descend through the confined hole, making a hand signal for his crew to send the visitors right after him.

Shoffer went first, followed by V-Nus, and then Flumen after him. Cai Yiu stood up and waited for Flumen to slowly move through the ladder. Cai Yiu then felt a dishonest push from behind.

As strong as he was steady, his body did not move. Cai Yiu looked back and gave the provoking American solider a cold look and then cracked his fingers just by closing each of his fists.

“Be mindful, we are here to help you maintain your existence.” His wise words immediately changed the thinking of the young Lieutenant, bringing clarity to his childish mind.

The soldier swallowed it down and remained quiet.

Cai Yiu turned back facing the ladder and then jumped down, skipping all of its steps, and proficiently landing on the floor behind Flumen.

Cai Yiu Hun looked up and gave the impressed soldier a disdainful look.

“Gentlemen, welcome to Wright Field. I am Lieutenant Colonel Exon.” The officer`s eyes could not avoid taking a deep look on the uniforms of the four human-like figures standing in front of him.

At the pace he introduced himself, the Lieutenant Colonel slowly walked around the four visitors. Hi eyes glared over the strange emblems featured on the shoulders of their uniforms and then at the wings, engraved on their back, while he tried to hide his distrusted expression.

“I am Captain Shon Shoffer. This is my crew, V-Nus, Flumen, and Cai Yiu Hun.” His head turned as his eyes glazed over each one of them at the pace Shoffer made the introductions.

“Is it possible? Are they really from out of this world?” The Colonel silently wondered, noticing he had just heard the one in charge speak a well-polished English, although clearly featured with an accent he could not recognize.

“Please follow me, you are probably tired. It must have been a long journey from wherever you came from.” The Colonel tried to break the ice without raising any of the many questions that crossed his mind. After all, he knew the future of his country could depend on whatever facts would come next.

“We could certainly consider it a long journey. We came from…”

“Captain. Not here, not now!” Exon suddenly stopped him. “I hope you understand. The information you are about to disclose is highly classified.”

“As you wish.” Replied Shoffer.

The Colonel turned his back and started to move. Without saying a word, Shoffer and his crew immediately started to walk behind him followed by a hand full of military police officers that escorted them from behind.

Shoffer stared at the back of the leading officer, paying close attention to his old fashioned outfit. Undoubtedly clear of any technology, at least nothing compared to what the Nibirians were equipped with, the officer wore a cap matching the khaki colored jacket and uniform pants made of cotton fabric and brown leather shoes, all completely absent of any special functionality other than simply covering his body and keeping it warm, possibly warmer than it needed to be.

Coming from the opposite direction, Flumen watched a man on a black suit walking apprehensively on their direction. On his hands, a funny looking pile of a ripped foil like paper connected to thin rods that neither Flumen or any of the Nibirians could identify what it was.

Contrary to his expectations, the man rushed by Flumen without saying a word. The Nibirian looked back and then watched the man placing the paraphernalia into a box on the floor next to the B-25.

The box was then loaded onto the plane with the help of another officer and the door shut behind the man in the black suit who boarded the plane that started to move immediately thereafter.

Not bothered for what he saw, although he somehow had a hint of what was really taking place there, Flumen looked back ahead and along with the others could not avoid browsing his eyes around the empty hangar that extended for innumerous feet ahead of the main entrance. The curiously triangular shaped high ceiling caught his attention as he increased his pace after the others.

“What happens now?” Flumen asked.

“Do you see how big and empty this hangar is?” Confused with V-Nus` question, Flumen gave another look around the huge and empty space that surrounded them and then nodded his head in common agreement.

“The questions they have for us wouldn`t ever fit in this building.” V-Nus metaphorically replied to his own question, reminding Flumen of one of the reasons they were there for.