05:45 hours
Fiddling with his pen, Thomas had little idea what was about to happen. For nearly a decade he watched over it like a child. But it was not so. He modified it, built it up, then tore it down. Time after time he carried out this "circle of life" for this "child" of his. STAR was little more than a glimpse of how badly the President wanted his nation to be too powerful. To be too well defended. The project's goals, however, belonged to Thomas. He was now about to see his love child of science and technology prove its worth to the world. He attempted to shut out his mixed feelings as he crumpled up blank printer sheets and made baskets with them. Sometimes he'd be fortunate enough to make the paper into the trash bin about twenty feet away. But he was never a good shot to begin with.
"Doc?" came an echoing voice from the hallway. The voice came weakly through the door, laying slightly ajar on its hinges. "Doctor Marssles? Sir are you in there?" A knock came.
"Yes?" responded Thomas Marssles. "I'm here Franklin." The door opened. A tall thin man in hardhat and suite peered through, his spectacles perched precariously on his thin nose. "I told you, Doctor, call me Frank."
"I'll think about it if you'll call me Tom once in a while." said Thomas.
"Touche." responded his colleague. "Now here," he said throwing Tom a green hardhat. "Put this on. The general's waiting"
Just minutes after traversing the dimly lit cold halls of the bunker, they arrived at the observation area. The light phased Tom for a second, though he quickly recovered, following his friend, Frank, to the center of the observation area. A thin window was at the north wall facing the arid desert. Lounge chairs and drinks had been set up alongside the cameras as if it were some sort of casual occasion. A get-together. It was not, of course. By the Lord it was not.
"Tom, over here." said Frank, pulling Tom out of his deep trance. As Tom approached, Frank spoke again smiling. "Tom, this is Lieutenant General Daniel Antein. With an E-I!" The both of them started laughing but Tom hadn't a clue what they were laughing about. An inside joke, perhaps? he thought to himself. "Ah yes, and this is Doctor Thomas Marssles." Frank continued. "He's the chief scientist and engineer on STAR."
"Yes, of course." said the General right away, shaking Tom's hand. "Nice to meet you, sir. A pleasure." The tall gruff looking bearded general had the look of an outdoorsman about him. He had a kind, childish face, however.
"The pleasure is mine, General." replied Tom.
"May I ask all present to take their seats and put on their hardhads given to you at the door?" said a young Lieutenant at the center of the room. "Also, keep the glasses on. That's the most important part, especially if you don't eat your carrots!" The room laughed, with the exception of Tom who was in no mood to be happy. He had the most painful gut wrenching feeling that he had created a monster. A demon spawn of his own scientific and technological mastery. The room was silent.
"So..." said Tom to the General, quietly. "Where have I heard the name 'Antein' before?"
"Ah," said the General, happy to answer. "do you watch football?"
"Of course." said Tom.
"Well my son, Richard, is playing for the national team. They'll be playing in their first cup later this month I believe."
"That's right..." said Tom quietly returning to his angst.
"Here it comes!" said Frank happily as he stared at the counter above.
The clock then ran out as it struck 06:00 hours. Sweat drenched Tom's face, coursing through his black hair like blood through veins. The bunker shook as a bright light suffused the room through the small crack. The desert was blackened followed by cheers.
(Image)
From the news center in Ancot, this is UBNN.
"Hello and welcome to UBNN, I'm Alice Fisher sitting in for Ron Braily with an astounding breaking story. Cradle County, outside of the Kale region, in northern Repulaea, received a violent wakeup call from their local 'rooster'. At exactly 6 o'clock this morning, western, a nuclear test was effectively carried out by the Repulaean military. The yield of the weapon or any other specifics is, as of yet, unknown. Still, this is an amazing turn of developments in the nation's nuclear program, which is no longer as secretive as it used to be.
Just hours after the test, the government released, to the public, information about the Strategic and Tactical Arms for Repulaea program, also known by its acronym, 'STAR'. This program has been the focal point for much of the last ten years' work on our nation's nuclear weapons production. With the very first test successful, the President said, in a press conference earlier today, that it will not be long before Repulaea has a functioning nuclear stockpile.
The defense of our nation is key. We must have the ability, not only to ward off inbound nuclear attacks, but to also strike back with the same ferocity if need be. Remember, though; I have pressed for the production of these weapons in the hopes that we may never have to use them. I pray to God test sites will be the only areas of nuclear detonation for Repulaea's new arsenal.
That was, of course, President Andrew Barr in Ancot today. He would go on to say that the STAR program would be the foundation for Repulaea's defensive abilities. 'With this first launch,' he said 'will come many stars.' This is the first star. Will it truly be the last?
Thanks for tuning in, I'm Alice Fisher. Goodnight from Ancot."
