THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE UNIDENTIFIED PHANTOM OBJECT

THE HAUNTING PAST: MYSTERY OF THE UNIDENTIFIED PHANTOM OBJECT With the mystery, of the stadium, behind us, Tami and I would be presented with our next case-file. A case-file which, I would swear, was a virtual "copy-cat" of a classic Scooby Doo! cartoon, titled "Kooky Space Kook". According to the case-file, locals were being scared away from an area, by a "glowing", "pulsating", craft, which seemed to enjoy intimidating locals, by hovering over homes, and causing electronics to short out. Okay, so the "space-man", in the Scooby Doo! cartoon never vanished, but I remained skeptical as I had to wonder if this case was equally "artistic license". When Tami would say "You're crazy. Who would be stupid enough to copy the plot line, of a classic cartoon?" This is when I pulled out my own collection, of the cartoon, chose "Kooky Space Kook", then sat, with Tami, while watching Scooby and the gang, being chased by, then chasing, what appearred to be a space-man. After the end titles were done, Tami asked "You expect Mr. Brown to believe that someone is mimicking a cartoon?" This is when Mr. Brown would, un-expectedly, ask "Why not? I have watched other people do much worse". When Tami would say "But, sir, this was a childrens cartoon, from the late 1960's. I doubt that anyone would not recognize the plot-line." Mr. Brown would ask "Why not? I also loved that cartoon, as a child, yet I did not even think of it, until just now" When Tami would say "But, sir, if we go chasing after a cartoon, I will be returned to the "rubber room", before either of you can say "Zoinks!". Mr. Brown would take control, at this point, say "I am not asking you to investigate the classic cartoon. What the case-file is requesting, is if someone, HUMAN, might be using the cartoon's plot-line, to scare REAL, LIVE, people". When Tami would ask "What if all we find is a live action version, of the cartoon?" Mr. Brown would say "Report it as such. Just as you would do, on any other case. Remember, we are not being requested, to compliment a "copy-cat". We are being asked to solve the question of "Is this thing REAL, or just a bad joke". Once the case was stated, in those terms, Tami was willing to accept the case. While enroute, to this, latest case, Tami and I would be informed that, upon our return to home-base, that Tami was scheduled for yet another "routine", psychiatric review. As the message said "FIRST things FIRST". Meaning: Focus on the case, and let other matters rest. As Tami and I reviewed the case-file, we realized the very first mistake, which anyone had made, was when someone tried to short out Ghost Ship One's electronics. (It would seem that someone did not want Tami and I investigating this case.) The perpetrators mistake, though, was in thinking that Ghost Ship One was "just another airplane". The fools. Had the perpetrators have "done their home-work", the fools would have known that, thanks to the creation, of modern weapons, all U.S. Air Force transports electronic systems are "hardened" against electronic interference. Starting in the late 20th century, the U.S. armed forces had begun "hardening" their equipment, for combat zones. In short, this meant that, in order to short-out an air force transports electronics, a ten-mega-ton, nuclear, device would have to be detonated no more than one hundred feet, from the transports hull. As a result, even though a ray beam was focused on the planes nose, the beams power was so limited that Ghost Ship One's electronics would just ignore the pulse. What the laser-targetting crew, on the ground, did not understand, was that, even though their beam might be focused, at the cargo planes nose, and cockpit electronics, what the fools had no way of knowing was that, during the firing sequence, deep inside the electronic "heart", of our cargo plane, state-of-the-art targetting systems were "designating" the ray beams "point-of-origin", for a follow up strike team. This, while Ghost Ship One flew, safely, on, towards our destination. This time, upon landing, there would be no "reception", and Tami and I would be escorted to something called "Command and Control". It would seem that this would be the place, where we would receive an update, on the case. According to the mayor, and police chief, who were present at command-and-control, the level of activity, had, recently, escalated. This in the time since contact had been made, with the Brown Agency. According to the police chief, that thing had, suddenly, changed its behavior. Instead of just hovering over houses, and shorting out anything, electrical, it seems that the object had "increased the stakes". The U.F.O. was, now, using some sort of "beam", to melt several pieces, of playground equipment. And, just prior to our arrival, it had, again, "stepped up" its attacks. Now, it was destroying garages, as well as more than a few automobiles. When Tami would ask "How many have been injured, by the attacks?" The police chief would say "None, so far". The chief would, then, add "What is so mysterious, about the "phantom" is that we can see it, with our naked eyes, yet, for some reason, the "phantom" did not appear, on video recordings. When Tami would ask "What could do such a thing?" The police chief would say "No clue", even as I would suggest another possibility: I would ask "What about a hologram?" When the police chief would say "Be serious. This thing is shorting out electronics, and smashing objects." I promised the chief "Holograms can do that, AND so much more". Soon after this, everyone, at command-and-control, heard a BOOM!, in the distance, then our pilots joined the conference, to inform Tami and I "Dont be alarmed. That was just a strike team, taking out a laser emiter, which tried to take down our plane, upon arrival, to the area." When the police chief would ask "Tried?" The air force men would reply "Yes, just short of town. Our instruments detected a focused beam, of energy, directed at the planes cockpit." When the police chief would say "You know, several, other, craft have reported suffering full, electronic, failure. The question is HOW did your plane escape damage?" Our co-pilot would say "Simple", then the pilot would say "What he means is that the United States government has hardened its military equipment, against such attacks, including E.M.P. pulses. These safe-guards have been in place, for many years. After all, what use is a transport, which cannot operate within hostile territory?" When the police chief would ask "How much would it take to knock your plane, out of the sky, electronically?" The pilot would respond "Sorry, sir, but, with all due respect, that information is classified". Personally, I was pleased that the pilots refrained from answering such a question. I was, also, surprised that the police chief would even inquire. As for Tami, once she had a "search topic", of "uses of laser technology", she would show me results, ranging from surgery, to shooting down satellites. When I asked "What would be the difference between simply shorting out home electronics, and demolishing property?" Tami would estimate "Just a few million extra amps". This is when I would ask "Would it be possible for a single laser to project a crafts image on the sky, while another laser focuses on the actual target, and does the damage?" Our pilot would be the one to answer this question, with "The answer is yes. The problem is the amount of power one would need, to power two, seperate lasers." When I would ask "How much power?" The pilot would say "About four times what the local population uses, and three times more than the local power plant is capable of generating. I checked the numbers, myself, after the plane was hit". When I asked the pilot "The beam, which was directed at our plane. Could it have been fired from a mobile unit?" When the pilot said "Sure. In fact, according to the strike team, the laser was even more compact than any the team has ever seen, before. The report is calling the device an "amazingly small design". When I asked "A small generator, to power all of this", the pilot would say "No way! You would need a massive, stationary, plant, to produce that much power". When Tami would ask "You are not thinking Scooby Doo!, again, are you?" I would inform both of them "No. In the episode, the villian used cheap, home, movies. Reel-to-reel recordings, and remote controls, to power the set-up. I think that this is well beyond that." Tami voiced the obvious question "Why bother? What would anyone receive, in return for so much effort?" The pilot would suggest "Proving ground? Testing a new technology? Maybe, for a potential buyer?" When Tami found a web-site, with directions, for proving if lasers were in use, on any project, the four of us spent the entire evening, and next morning, rigging a set up. The goal being to test the area, and see if laser energy was, in fact, involved, in this case. I have to give credit where it is due, and credit is due, to those, who created the "phantom". When I saw it, the next night, it looked so life-like, that I am sure that Hollywod special effects people would have been proud of the copy. What impressed me, so much, was that this "ship" even seemed to have "life". Not just a visual projection, but actual substance. As for the sensors, which the Brown Agency had supplied, for our use, before these "fried out", Tami would contact me, saying something about "Too much..." then "Return...ship. Return...ship" Back at the plane, the air force was working, with Tami, on the readings. Personally, I would understand very little, of what was going on, even if I was there. Upon my return to the plane, and, if I understood, correctly, the group was saying that there were two, competing lasers, in use. One set was using standard electronics, and electrical energy, which registered well within the limits of the sensors range. The problem was the second set, of readings. IF the instruments were correct, it would seem that the ship was using a form, of plasma energy. a form of energy, which was decades, if not centuries, ahead of human technology. According to the instruments, which we were using, the ships power readings were "off the scale", and it was the ships energy pattern which had "fried" our sensors. When I asked the group "Was this a targetted attack?" Tami, and the pilots, as if as one, would say "Doubtful". Then Tami would add "More likely, in-compatable energy sources". The pilot would add "America has nothing similar to this, in our arsenal, and neither have the Russians. Whatever this is, it is beyond mans reach, at present." When I would ask "If that is the case, then the questions are "Why here? and Why now?" The pilots had no answer, then Tami threw up her hands and said "I know. Back to work". Three days later, Tami found a significant clue. It would seem that the low power energy events, in the local community, all PRE-ceeded the HIGH output events, by as much as two months. In fact, the ship had not even made an appearance, until AFTER several, city, blocks, worth of homes, and businesses, had electrical systems either drained of power, or shorted out. To our team, this could mean one of only two things. First, that a second team had become wise, to a first teams project, and decided to "up-the-antee", as a sort-of "competition". Then, there was the second, and far less popular, option. The suggestion that HUMAN activity had attracted someone ELSE's attention. If this were true, then it would mean that the ship was present, to "study" our work. If this idea were true, and, especially if the second team turned out to be aliens, then this might cause even more trouble. It would raise the question of WHY had "they" not made contact, beyond showing off their ship? When I suggested tracking the ship, via radar, on its next appearance, the pilots would say "No go.", then added "The ship did not appear on radar. Neither incoming, or outgoing. We only had visual sightings, of it". When I asked "What if we compared reports, of where the ship has been sighted? Build up a map, from this?" Tami would say "Already working on it. By the way, shouldn't our main focus be on locating that energy generator? It was powerful". The pilot would correct this, saying "Too powerful! Especially for civilian use. We need to find out where it came from, and who built it". The problem the team had, with this, was that, with every simulation, which we ran, on the power output, once all factors were in place, the final result was a generator, which was just far too LARGE to be mobile. Add to this both aerial, and satellite, recon, showing nothing large enough to store, or power, such equipment, and yet, we have viewed the results, with our own eyes. Tami would, ofcourse, draw out her trusty pad, and pens, as well as her digital recorder, and some extra flash drives. Then, my coworker was off, to do what she did, best. In the meantime, I would mount my "work-bike", and begin pedalling around the area. I never really knew what I was looking for, on any of our cases, but I was never willing to rule out things, like practical jokes, until I had surveyed an area, and verified, for myself, that no tampering was evident. I have to hand it to the person, behind the scenes, in how they "played" me, even for a short time. To explain: While out, on a ride, I visited with some local cyclists, whom, it seems, enjoyed riding the area, especially in places where riding was forbidden. The riders would tell me of two places, which were "make out" spots, and others, which were just for relaxation (just as long as no one CAUGHT the "trespassers"). Although I didn't bother to ask a senior member, of one group, approximate age, 35, why he was riding bicycles, one, of the mans friends, told me: "He lost his license, after far too MANY drunk driving arrests. Local judge realized that neither fines, nor community service, would convince the man to STOP drinking, and driving, so the judge removed the mans license". When I asked "Can he file, for its return?" My source told me "Only on condition that he gives up booze. If he wants to drive, legally, he must take all sorts of tests, to prove he's not drinking." When I asked "Has he given up drinking?" My source just laughed as they said "Ask the bartender, at Kelly's bar, on wednesday, and saturday, nights". Well, okay. I can understand "defiance of the law". After all, in the decades since my own state had passed "Mandatory Insurance", I had switched, VOLUNTARILY, from driving motor vehicles, to riding bicycles. Sure, people thought that **I** was "crazy", outfitting my bicycles, with baskets, to handle my groceries, but I was not about to be ordered about, as to how to conduct my business. Unlike the drunk, though, I had never caused any traffic accidents, nor bodily injury. The drunk had a "standing tab", for "destruction of property", with a total of $75,000. In regards to personal injury, his "tally", so far, was three broken legs, two arms, and over a dozen cases, of broken ribs. It seems that, in court, the local hospital staff would say that they knew when the man was driving, drunk. The tiny E.R. filled up, each time the man was behind the wheel. As a result, the court had ruled that the man be reduced to bicycling. Atleast this way, the only person he could, really, harm, would be himself. In reference to the current case, though, the mans fellow riders would only caution me NOT to take the mans "observations" too seriously. As another rider would inform me, MANY, if not MOST, of the mans "sightings", took place AFTER the man had several drinks, at the local bar. As for the remainder, of the riders, these young people would show me the primary location, where the U.F.O. appearred, most often. And, no, I was not surprised that the sightings were so close to a body of water. Any talk, of "moon-reflection" theory would be ruled out, since our team had viewed the craft, over the city. While the bicyclists were showing me the "sights", Tami was busy doing what she did, best. Taking witnesses on "trips down memory lane". It would seem that, by the time this case came along, though, that Tami had learned enough, from previous cases, to know which "trigger phrases" sent witnesses into "memory recall" mode. Still, my co-worker would have to "endure" several cups of tea, as well as sandwihes, and snack cakes, in order to secure her information. When we "re-grouped", back at the plane, it was a "race" to see who had the most information to offer. While I had been shown the greenery-overgrown entrance, to a cave, whose walls were marked with symbols, which I did not recognize, Tami was learning that the "craft" had a long history, of appearances, in the community. In fact, until recently, locals had grown accustomed, to seeing the craft. What no one could understand, was the crafts current behavior. When Tami would say "According to witnesses, the craft has been appearing, for as long as anyone can remember. Atleast eight families, whom I have spoken with, have witnessed the craft, over the years, even at local sports events." When I would ask "How often has the ship attacked?" Tami would say "Thats the odd part. It seems that, until the past few months, the craft has been docile. It would appear, but little else." When I would ask "Any speculation, about what has caused this thing to become more aggressive?" Tami would say "Of those I have spoken with, none have any clue as to the crafts change of behavior." When I asked "What about the power-outages? Anyone have any thoughts, on these?" Tami would say "I hate to disappoint, but, a retired electrician informed me that the local grid is almost twice as old as either of us. In fact, the electrician wonders what has kept the power on, for this long". If that was correct, I wondered, then what was powering both the hologram projector, and the laser beam, which tried to fry our plane? The next day, after our pilots paid a visit, to the local power station, the men would return to the plane, saying "Forget the power plant, for the lasers. The plant is so old that it, barely, provides enough power, to keep local lights on." This information left us with nothing more than the fact that a mobile generator HAD powered the laser beam. (A generator which was, now, in federal custody). But this, still, did NOT answer the question of a "ship", which we had seen, yet had been un-able to photograph. Add to this the fact that the ship did not show up, on radar screens, and the four of us were left to scratch our collective heads. IF there was another generator working, locally, then WHERE could such a powerful unit be hidden, that it did not appear on surveillance footage? When I returned to the cave, and shot some video, of the markings, which Tami then placed into the computer, the machine was of little help as, hour after hour, all the screen showed was "Processing". About the only GOOD thing, which we could report, to Mr. Brown, was that, with the portable generator "in custody", it would seem that the destruction, of local equipment, had ceased. Still, this left the question of WHY someone was trying to knock planes out of the sky. Surely, the parties must have known that, whenever planes crash, the National Transportation Safety Board investigates. WHY risk the exposure? It would be a week later, before the alien craft would return, to float through the skies, over the city. This time, though, the local power plant was monitoring NO "drops", in electrical current. When our pilots ran the "risk", by taking some portable scanners from the plane, and setting them up, in the path, of the ship, the good news is that, this time, the devices survived. The BAD news was that the crafts energy signature, still, did not register, on any instruments. When the co-pilot took a radiation counter out, and stuck it into the ships "wake", even the "exhaust" did not register. While the craft made no sudden moves, I decided to risk following the craft, for as long as I could. After all, until recently, the craft had a LONG history, of appearances, yet it never caused damage. To me, this meant "possible reconnaissance craft". I would have followed, in my Jeep, except for the fact that the starter would not engage. This is why I went back to pedal power. With the craft just creeping along, I thought I might keep up, atleast for awhile. Sure enough, the kids had been right. The ship DID cruise out, over the lake, then hover, at a point, close to the cave. Just dont ask me WHY, but the ship appearred to do a 360 degree turn, then settled to the ground, where, it APPEARRED that the ground swallowed the ship up. I dont know why but I decided that the cave might be the best way to learn more, which is why I went back to the place. (Was it just my imagination or, for a moment, did the symbols, on the cave walls, change to English, before reverting back to their original form?) When I walked down the tunnel, past the markings, I KNEW that I was on to something, when I came to an iron gate. Based upon the thickness, and durability, I would say this gate was designed to keep the curious OUT of the cave. The question was: WHY? When I returned to the cave entrance, and was passing the drawings, seeing that they were in English, I snapped some photos, before heading back, to Ghost Ship One. I had no-sooner told Tami the good news about "The symbols, I was able to photograph them, while they translated themselves, to English." When Tami uploaded the photo's, to the computer, though, even I was shocked when my pictures turned out NOT to contain English writing. HOW was this possible? Tami suggested "wishful thinking". Still, the picture, of the gate, turned out, fine. Even Tami agreed. The only reason, for such a gate, is to keep others OUT. But WHAT was it that someone wanted no one to see? SInce all reports, including our own, stated that the ship was seen, always at night, I decided to "stake out" the path, of land, for a few evenings. I wanted to see what happened, when the ship emerged. On evening number five, I would swear that the ship "rose, from the ground", like a spirit, did a 360, then cruised out, towards town. It was as casual as ever. Although I checked the ground, several times, before the ships return, even I could find NOTHING to explain how the ship did its "act". No lasers. No projectors. Nothing. When the ship returned, I noticed that it went into its turn, yet it stopped, with its "nose" pointed at me. WHY this was, I dont know. One moment, I was standing on the shore, watching the ship, "watching" me, then my body went tingly, the world faded, and when I came to, I was astounded at where I was. For lack of a better word, it was a hangar. It contained what I could only call the "real ship". A ship whose engine I heard powering down, as though just returning, from flight. Although the ship did not seem to notice ME, it was when I THOUGHT about where to find the access port, that a hatch opened, and allowed me entry. Well, while the "hangar" seemed little more than a cube, cut from the rock, the inside, of the ship, was something else. Hollywood special effects, and set design, personnel, would have LOVED to get a look, at this place. How "old", or "new" it was, I have no clue. All I can say is that the place could fit, easily, into any science fiction movie. I, soon, realized, though, that I must have been walking, in circles, since the ship seemed so much larger, inside, than outside. Still, since I did not want to mark the place up, with marker points, I would take items, at various intervals, and arrange them so that I could recognize them, when I reached them, again. Although I left atleast a dozen "markers", along my way, I only found two, on my return trip. It was only when I had focused thoughts, of Ghost Ship One, and returning to my team, that I felt the tingling, again, then I founds myself standing outside the jet plane. How I got there is a mystery, to me. I am sure that my report made about as much sense, as a child, trying to explain an imaginary friend, to others. After all, I had SEEN a ship, and, when I thought about seeing the ship, I found myself in a "hangar". A hangar, which was closed off, to the public. How was I to explain that I had explored the ship, then wound up, outside Ghost Ship One, just by THINKING about it? When I reported my findings, to Tami, and the pilots, I was surprised when all three of them said "That makes sense". When I asked "How can it make sense?" The pilot would say "The military has been exploring telepathic controls, for decades. We just haven't made it work, yet". Tami would add "It would seem that other races HAVE made it work." When the four of us returned to the general area, where the ship had "gone to ground", we were amazed to find that a perimeter fence had been erected, since my visit. When we found a crew just finishing the fence installation, and inquired the reason for the fence, the supervisor would say "Just too much trespassing going on. The owner decided that a fencce was the only way to keepp intruders out". When Tami asked "If trespassing is a problem, WHY was the fence not put in place, decades ago?" The supervisor would, only, say "Lady, all I know is that my team has been paid, to put the fence up." Terrific! Now, all we could do was observe the lake, from a distance. But, HOW to gain entry? Funny/strange thing was, I was just thinking about how the ships interior had appearred, and how I was prepared to guide the pilots through the ship, to see if the former air force men could understand the ships true purpose, when I found myself INSIDE the ship, inside its bunker. HOW I got back here was just as much a mystery, to me, as how I had returned, to Ghost Ship One. It was when I focused upon the stretch, of open ground, where the four of us had been standing, that, out of the blue, Tami asked me "HOW did you do that?" When I asked "Do WHAT?" The pilots said "You just vanished, into thin air. HOW DID you do that?" When I told the three how I had focused, on what the sjhips interior had looked like, then found myself there, then Tami said "Let ME try", the pilots said "Hold on. You are not going into that, without back-up. WE are going with you". When I said "Ofcourse" (After all, that was why I had brought the pilots along, in the first place.) When the four of us closed our eyes, and focused on the ships interior, sure enough, moments later, all four of us were inside the ship. (This, even as some "peeping toms" watched, in complete dis-belief, on the surface, as the four of us vanished, into thin air). By the time the leading "peeping tom" suggested reporting in, to base, that the ship might use thought control technology, their associate would ask "What if we are wrong? What if it is D.N.A., or something else?" The leader would say "In that case, we just take them hostage, and make them show us how to work the ship." Although the pilots had thought, due to the reports, of locals, that the ship was, atleast, centuries old, the air force men noted that the place was as clean as an operating room. In fact, it seemed "fresh from the factory". When we found what the pilots THOUGHT might be the "engine room", none of our equipment even registered the energy, which we could FEEL was being produced, to power the craft. When the co-pilot asked "I wonder how they FLEW this ship? I dont see any controls", all four of us were astounded when nothing short of virtual reality controls seemed to appear, around the man, with "screens" showing the interior, of the "hangar", as well as the general countryside. When the pilot asked "I wonder how they accessed the ships log?" We came "face-to-face" with another of those hologram programs. This one, though, was of a more-or-less "humanoid" creature, which was speaking some "language", not heard on Earth. When Tami asked "What language is that?", the hologram, somehow, seemed to understand Tami's question. IT then moved to a panel, and indicated some controls. When the air force pilot urged caution, saying "We dont know WHAT those controls do", Tami would say "I doubt that the image would encourage me to press a self-destruct button". Still, the air force would say "Be cautious", even as the hologram continued to indicate the control panel. When Tami touched the control panel, hoping that it would cause the hologram to speak English, all four of us were surprised when we found the current bridge dissolving, before us, to be replaced with an image of a bridge, which seemed alive, both with lliving creatures, and holographic interface terminals. From what we could see, it seemed that the ship hhad been crewed by three, seperate, races. Their language made no sense, however, their actions made plenty of sense. As the four of us walked among the holographic crew-members, it was our co-pilot, who would say "Unless I am mistaken, this would appear to be a science vessel." After awhile, though, I had to ask my co-workers "IS it just me, or, are their words becoming more recognizable?" Suddenly, one of the "holograms" stepped forward, saying "It has taken the computer several days to process your language. The ships log, you see before you, is updating its contents, to your language." Shortly after this, a crew-man would announce "Captain, coming up, on (some name none of us knew)." When we looked at the interractive hologram, it said "In our day, THIS was the name, for what you call Earth". When Tami asked "For what REASON have you visited our planet?", the hologram just smiled as it said "No, my dear visitor. We have not come here, to consume your population." (Tami, like the rest of us, would have to learn better CONTROL of our thoughts). According to our host, this survey ship was just one, of many, which had been visiting the Earth, since a date, in time, which only the ships crew understood. When Tami re-focused the attention on the reason why the ship had been appearring, for so many years, the hologram would say "The memory bank was dormant, for so long, that the machines lost track of spoken language. Our systems have been in stand by mode, for longer than you can comprehend." When Tami said "I'll buy that. But WHY make an appearance, in the 21st century? WHY NOW?" The hologram would say "Our ship may have arrived, here, safely, however, upon arrival, we found some of what I think you call "scavengers", or "pirates". They did not expect a science ship, to visit so soon. When we spotted them, trying to "loot" the planet, we attempted to defend the place, as best we could". When our pilot would say "Let me guess. Phasers, Photon Torpedoes, ion cannons, and so on". The hologram would say "Excuse me, visitor, but, as I, previously, explained. THIS was a SCIENCE ship, NOT a battle cruiser. We carried no heavy weapons. Our assignment was RESEARCH. Analyzing breeding habits, of various species" When Tami asked "What happened?" The hologram would repllay the scene, in remarkable, 3-D detail. As soon as the science ship sent a distress call, back to base, the pirates attacked, trying to shoot down the signal transmitter. This, while the crew tried to contain the damage, and keep the ship flight-worthy. It would seem, however, that the "pirates" had no such "code", about weapons. The pirates would open firee, repeatedly, on the science vessel, even as the ship tried to defend itself. To our astonishment, as viewers, it would turn out that this ship was NOT just a CONTAINER, for living beings, and supplies. It was, in itself, an organic being. A being which reacted, almost violently, to the pirates attack. The ship would take meassures, to try to protect its crew, but the pirates seemed prepared for almost anything. Finally, with no help on the way, and no way to evade the pirates, the ship turned itself directly into the pirates stem, sent out a "mega-powerful" "burst" signal, then turned its leading edge into a wedge, and sliced the pirate ship in half. Although the pirates ship exploded, with the force, of the impact, the research vessel was left mortally wounded, as well. The ship had only enough primary power remaining to excavate a cavern, where the ship would wait, until help arrived. (Who knew it would take countless centuries?) The end, of the ships log, would show the ships crew "making camp", while awaiting aid, from home-world. The beings held out hope, for YEARS, that a rescue ship was on its way. Although the ship did, eventually, re-charge, enough for flight, like the hologram showed us, the ship was programmed to look after its crew. To the computer, this meant even AFTER the crew had passed away. When Tami asked "What about that hologram? The one, which has been flying local skies, for years?" The hollogram would say "When our chamber was discovered, in your day, it was our hope that your people would program the computer, to fly back to home-world. Instead, your people fled, in panic, and erected that gate". When Tami would say "So, that "ship" was your way of trying to attract attention? Why not just send a greeting?" The hologram would say "Until you came aboard the ship, the computer did not know the current language. In such cases, the ship is programmed to use visual images, to arouse interest." It was right when Tami would ask "What will the ship do, now?" that a powerful explosion would rock the hangar, as the ceiling caved in, around the ship. When the pilot, instinctively asked "Damage Report", the hologram would say "Not to worry. The ship has stored more than enough power, to defend, at this time." When a voiced called into the "hangar" "Surrender!, or be destroyed". The hologram would say "I would suggest that means it is time for you to leave. For your own safety." When Tami would ask "What will happen to you?" As though she was speaking to a flesh-and-blood person. The machine would say "I will try for home-world. They may still need me". In what seemed like the "blink of an eye", the four of us were back on our landing, even as we saw armed men pointing rocket-propelled grenades into the area, of the hangar. Moments later, using propulsion technologies, which man has not even dreamed of, the craft would rise, from the ground, and spray a white beam, over the armed men. No sound, just a light, then the men were gone. The ship (the REAL ship, this time), then drifted over to us, as silent as a breath of wind, and hovered, for a moment. Tami would say "I have the strangest feeling that the ship is saying "Goodbye", of "Farewell". Our pilot was just about to say "Its just a machine", but thought better of it, as he gazed at the ship, and seemed to understand something. Maybe, the same thing that other pilots report feeling, after being assigned to a plane, for a prolonged time. A feeling that the ship is communicating, with its crew. It would seem that, once the ship knew that we understood its purpose, the craft glided away, up, into the sky. Its destination known only to those who had crewed the ship, so long ago. This would be the moment when Tami would remark "You know, we have been encountering so much advanced technology, in our cases..." And I would add "And spirits, of ancient warriors", Tami would wonder "I wonder if Earth was, at some point, a colonial outpost, of some civilization, and if we, humans, are descendants of inter-galactic species" When our co-pilot would mention "The Bible says NOTHING about any such event." Tami would remind the man "The Bible does not contain so much, of Earths history that I could drive every war-ship, on the planet, into the "holes", or "gaps", (the un-recorded times), and leave plenty of room for the entire fleet, of colonial battlestars, from Battlestar Galactica, as well as the combined mass, of Star Trek's Starfleet, with plenty of room to spare." The co-pilot would say "Agreed." I knew, as did the pilots, that Tami was not criticizing the Bible, for its lack of "play-by-play" action, but the fact is that the document just left out so much, of the planets history, that any-thing could be fit into the gaps. If nothing else, Tami and I agreed with the priests, from my own church, who hold the belief that the Bible is LESS a history book, and more a "lesson manual", for those wishing to follow the "Christian" path of life. As near as any of us could figure out, it seems that the men, with the weapons, had found out, about the ship, themselves, and had hoped to sell its technology, to the highest bidder, for a handsome profit. Although we did, eventually, find the portable laser generator, what stumped even the military was how something so compact could deliver so much power. Sure, the techno-geeks observed that the craftsmanship bore amazing resemblances, to German devices, but the problem was the dating process. If Carbon-dating, and other tests, were acurate, the device pre-dated the existance, of Germany (and most of Europe), by several centuries. When the tech-heads suggested that someone may have been experimenting, with energy systems, LONG before the wheel was, supposedly, invented, then this opened up far more questions than it answered. Mr. Brown would agree, with the "higher-up's", on this one. Since there was mounting concern, that the device was NOT of Earth origin (The metal analysis came back registering all except the "shell", of the generator, as being hyper-advanced composites. This would mean that either some human had made some very lucky guesses, or that other intelligences were involved.) When Mr. Brown would remind us "We are an investigation firm. People ask us to solve mysteries. We are NOT scientists." Besides, Tami and I had solved the mystery, of the U.F.O., and the vandalism, to property, as well as to the reason why planes were being "shot down", with lasers. This, thanks to an "underground" web-site, which had been boasting access to a "weapons, capable of downing aircraft, without leaving a mark". Surprisingly, once the generator was in federal custody, the offer disappearred, from the web. As Tami and I loaded up, for our return to home-base, locals both came to thank us, for our work, and to say how much they would miss the ships fly-by's. It would be while Tami and I were on this case, that Mr. Brown would learn the REAL reason, why the state was so determined to keep Tami listed as a "Suicide Risk". It would turn out that the state received as much as $1,000.00 per day, in funding, for each patient, under the states "care". With Tami out, on her own, the state was losing as much as $30,000.00 per month, in patient care funding. It was no wonder that the state wanted Tami back under their control. What also infuriated Mr. Brown was the fact that Tami's agency-provided equipment, such as her cell-phone, and other gear, remained in the states possession. The state was refusing to release the thousands of dollars worth of equipment, which Tami used, on a daily basis. It was not until an "urgent" call came in, asking for Tami and I to be assigned to another case, that Mr. Brown would have to say that we were "on another case". It would take three weeks, even with a court order, for a very hostile state psychiatric board, to agree to release Tami, from medical oversight status, and back to the Brown Agency. Mr. Brown, normally so confident, and sure, would be mad enough to spit nails, when Tami's release was prolonged, as long as possible, and then worse news. The state had demanded to keep possession, of Tami's latest batch, of equipment. Personally, I think that the reason why Mr. Brown was ready to rip the state a "new one" was because Tami's original equipment had cost the agency over $5,000.00. The replacement equipment had cost twice this much. State government now owed the Brown Agency over $15,000.00. (Money, which Mr. Brown knew would, never, be recovered). It would be Mr. Black, the techno-whiz, who would come up with a solution, to the problem of the state refusing to return Tami's equipment. Mr. Black would rig Tami's latest round, of equipment, with a special surprise, for the state. The state would think, TWICE, before trying to steal anymore, of Tami's equipment, after the next time she was seized, and her equipment confiscated. Thanks to Mr. Black hacking the states video camera's, the staff, of the Brown Agency, would watch, live, on video, as the state began examining the $50,000.000 worth of equipment. When Mr. Brown, and Mr. Blue, would smile, as Mr. Brown would whisper, "NOW, if you please, Mr. Black". The firms staff supressed chuckles, as they watched Tami's stolen equipment flash-burn, into useless junk, even as the states interrogators would jump back, realizing that they had been had. Mr. Black would suggest "Maybe, next time, they will think TWICE, about stealing our property." By the next day, Mr. Browns own "trump card" would be played, as the members, assigned to Tami's psychiatric review panel, would find their credentials under review. The question being "Were they "justified", in their actions?" As for Tami and I, once she was "medically cleared", Mr. Brown would put on his usual, bright, smile, as he asked "Would the two of you just give me your thought, on this one?" Well, back to work...