Time Travel Wars

By Reginald Williams

Two timelines... One impossible mission!

Diverting a prehistoric asteroid changes Mars history for the better and the unexpected worse…

When former time traveler John Richards is given draft orders to attend a top-secret mission at the Time Travel Academy, he has no idea that his actions will change the history of Earth as he knows it.

The mission’s objective—to travel three billion years into the past and terraform Mars by diverting a prehistoric asteroid—is successful; Mars develops into an Earthlike planet. Yet no one anticipates Mars developing an advanced civilization of its own in three billion years.

This warlike civilization is bent on destroying Earth to preserve its own existence in this time paradox. John Richards must somehow correct this current timeline, yet there are forces at work in his former timeline to stop him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781291578539

Book preview

Time Travel Wars

Time Travel Wars

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Time Travel Wars

First Edition

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Copyright © 2010, Reginald Williams

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-149285073

ABOUT THE TIME TRAVEL WARS

DIVERTING A PREHISTORIC ASTEROID CHANGES MARS HISTORY FOR THE BETTER… AND THE UNEXPECTED WORSE.

PROLOGUE

When former time traveler John Richards is given draft orders to attend a top-secret mission at the Time Travel Academy, he has no idea that his actions will change the history of Earth as he knows it.

The mission’s objective—to travel three billion years into the past and terraform Mars by diverting a prehistoric asteroid—is successful; Mars develops into an Earthlike planet. Yet no one anticipates Mars developing an advanced civilization of its own in three billion years. This warlike civilization is bent on destroying Earth to preserve its own existence in this time paradox. John Richards must somehow correct this current timeline, yet there are forces at work in his former timeline to stop him.

www.timetravelacademy.com

Visit the author’s web site for promotional products, t-shirts, baseball caps and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVUUBwg9AWw

The Time Travel Wars book trailer video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy6Pd-OV22M

The Time Travel Kids book trailer video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkpxQDeTmng

The Time Travel Games book trailer video

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my son Randy

TIME TRAVEL WARS

By

Reginald Williams

Part 1:

THE TAKE OVER

CHAPTER 1

Present Day

John Richards lives in a middle-class neighborhood in Dallas Texas with his new wife, Bonita, in a one-story, two-bedroom brick home. An ex-astronaut who left government work to become a consultant, his fascination with space travel never wavered. From Special Forces military service; he was a college graduate in criminal justice and aerospace engineering; with a Master's degree and minor studies in agricultural engineering.

John sat forward on the couch, engrossed in the news special that flashed before him on the television. The newscaster’s monotone voice droned across the airwaves as he spoke to a specialist on the topic of the planet Mars and the Earth’s enthusiasm for the planet.

Tell me, Dr. Farnsworthy, what do we really know about Mars? The newscaster turned and grinned toward the camera.

Well, Thomas, as you know, the space race era is moving into its next phase with a focus on time travel. And what better place to continue that race than to claim Mars for settlement? Many of the finest minds in space science have speculated that Mars was once like Earth - that it had a breathable atmosphere, gravity similar to Earth, large oceans, rivers, and a magnetic field. Mars is just a bit more than half the diameter of Earth at 4,222 miles, compared to Earth's 7,962 miles at the equator.

I see… Thomas answered, clearly not understanding, or not caring, about the minutiae of the planet Mars.

Dr. Farnsworthy continued, unaware of the newscaster’s boredom. From the information we have been able to accumulate, and the data we have extrapolated from that information, we believe that Mars is approximately 4.6 billion years old. We believe that a massive asteroid struck Mars some three billion years ago, causing the fragile liquid core of the young planet to stop producing its magnetic field. As a result, the sun’s ultraviolet rays and radiation destroyed Mars's atmosphere, causing its rivers to evaporate. As you know, Thomas, a mission is planned by the U.S. government to terraform Mars.Dr. Farnsworthy stopped and waited for a response from the newscaster.

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John sat back on the couch and laughed. Bonita, he called to his wife, are you listening to this?

Bonita walked into the family room and stood behind the couch. She was small and slim, with shoulder-length blonde hair. Well, the newscaster certainly doesn’t seem very interested. She walked around and sat next to John.

Bonita and John Richards had been married for less than a year and she was pregnant with their first child, a son due in four months, and both were excited about this change in their lives.

A physicist, Bonita had met John while he was at the Time Travel Academy assigned as the leader of its first mission. At the end of that mission, when John decided to leave his job and venture out on his own as a consultant, she agreed with him. She left her work at the Time Travel Academy for a teaching position in Dallas, where they settled.

After John completed a consulting job with Boeing, he found his skills in demand when he received a call to interview for a lengthy consulting position with FarmTech Foods, a growing company that developed a process to safely prepare organic foods for space travel. His interview was scheduled for the following week, and he took advantage of the short vacation to enjoy his wife’s company.

Bonita turned to John. Do you miss the work at the Time Travel Academy? she asked.

Sometimes, yes. But I enjoy the variety of the consulting work more. I get to stay on top of what’s happening by watching events like this one, but from a distance.

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The newscaster coughed, and poked his finger at the ear bud in his ear. Obviously someone made a comment and brought him back to the interview. Dr. Farnsworth, you mentioned ‘terraforming.’ Can you explain that to our audience?

Certainly, Thomas. Terraforming is the hypothetical process by which the climate, surface, and known properties of Mars would be deliberately changed with the goal of making it habitable by humans, animal life, and plant life, providing safe and sustainable colonization of large areas of the planet. Terraforming Mars entails three major changes: building up the atmosphere and keeping it warm, keeping the atmosphere from being lost into outer space, and building up a magnetic field.

Yes, of course, Thomas said. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face, indicating that the discussion was moving beyond his ability to understand the science. Uh, umm, well, today, we are watching the launch of a cargo ship carrying four large satellites, to be placed on a ship already in orbit around Earth – these satellites will redirect the sun's heat. This mission will be the responsibility of the government's newest branch, the Time Travel Academy. Apparently this will be the first step in the first mission to Mars. Now, let’s go to our reporter in New Mexico at the Time Travel Academy where this launch is scheduled to take off shortly.

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The television program broke to a commercial. John rose and stretched. Think I’ll get something to munch on – want anything? he asked. He felt a sense of loss, wishing he were at the launch site and participating. But he knew that his decision to leave the Academy was final. Everything in his life was planned, until...

Standing in the back of the Mission Control operations room, a reporter and cameraman hovered together, pushed into a corner by the frenzy of activity around them. They both got a message through their earpieces at the same time and the camera started rolling.

The reporter whispered into the small microphone attached to his jacket. "Ladies and gentlemen, Brad Mumford here at Mission Control in a remote part of New Mexico. The small town of Coyote, New Mexico, located north of Los Alamos, plays host to the Time Travel Academy. Secured by guards both government and private, this Academy does not experience many tourists, but the news media has been welcomed on this day for the launch of this cargo ship, and what should prove to be the beginning of a mission to Mars.

When water, oil, and minerals were discovered on Mars, a plan by the U.S. government to terraform Mars was set in motion. The goal of this project is to make Mars like Earth. Brad motioned to the cameraman to swing the camera around toward the platform at the front of the room.

"We are awaiting the launch of a ship that will take satellites to a deep space cargo ship that is currently in orbit around Earth. As you can see, the ship that will launch shortly is on the pad about two miles away. Once in place, each satellite will reflect and magnify the heat from the sun to Mars, essentially heating up and melting icecaps on Mars, which will start the terraforming process of creating oceans, rivers, and adding oxygen to Mars's atmosphere.

Just to give you a little background, as you know, NASA no longer exists as we knew it. The former U.S. government space agency is now expanding into the government's newest branch, called the Time Travel Academy. While this agency will continue its space activities, it will also focus on time travel, and how that might help us better understand things like the beginning of the universe. This agency is owned, fifty-one percent by the federal government that is in charge and in control of the mission, with the Escendia Corporation assisting at forty-nine percent control of the mission. This historical mission will be overseen by representatives of both -General Martin Jones, a five-star general, who is the commanding officer of the Time Travel Academy, and Mike Adams, the CEO of Escendia.

The camera continued to roll, sweeping from one corner of the center to another. The Mission Control personnel ignored the presence of the reporter and the camera. The preparations for the launch slowed as the group awaited the arrival of Mike Adams.

The Escendia Corporation developed and manufactured advanced military products, such as military tanks, jets, helicopters, lasers, and drones. Its largest division manufactured aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. As CEO of The Escendia Corporation, Mike was considered one of the most powerful corporate leaders in the country. Even with its power, it was heavily regulated by the government, while at the same time the government was also heavily influenced by lobbyists of the Escendia Corporation. An odd confluence of power struggles for new outposts in space.

The Time Travel Academy was built as a joint effort by the government and the Escendia Corporation, yet after the Time Travel Academy was built, the corporation was not given full control, a decision the corporation's Board of Directors considered an oversight of massive proportions, and one that needed to be corrected.

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Bonita turned to John as the reporter continued in the background. Do you know these people? she asked.

I worked with General Jones on my last mission, he answered. He’s a good guy – has lots of experience. They are lucky to have him as commander. I recognize several of the others from my last mission. Don’t believe I ever met this Adams guy. I seem to recall people whispering about him – something about him being difficult to work with, but I had no first-hand experience with him. The reporter suddenly raised his voice, indicating something had happened, and John turned his attention back to the television report.

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Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve been told that Mr. Adams and his group have arrived.

Everyone in the Mission Control operations center turned to look out the window at a heliport landing center on the back side of the building. A dark grey military helicopter came in from the west, circled the landing mark, and hovered for just one dramatic moment.

As the heavy metal door on the side of the helicopter opened, four young men jumped out but remained tight against the machine, each looking from side to side, up and down with just a slight movement of their heads. In their dark suits, white shirts, black ties, dark glasses, earpieces, and automatic pistols tucked under their dark suits, they gave every appearance of strong-arm security guards. One guard, who appeared to be the leader, nodded his head to someone inside the helicopter and a fifth man appeared at the door. Dressed in a dark blue suit with a pin of the United States flag pinned to his lapel, he carried himself with an air of importance.

Mike Adams, the President and CEO of the Escendia Corporation placed dark glasses on his head as he emerged. He remained at the top of the exit stairs and looked around. His glance focused on the group forming at the landing site.

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John unknowingly moved forward on the couch, his body alive as though an electric current were shot through it.

What is it, honey? Bonita asked?

I don’t know. Maybe it’s the dramatic affect of this helicopter, the way it came in for a landing, but it certainly does add more tension to this situation.

Bonita watched John and wondered how much he really missed the Time Travel Academy.

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A welcome-crew of the highest-ranking members of the Time Travel Academy waited at the landing site for Mike Adams to deplane. General Jones stood at the front of the group. Next to him, Professor Norton, Chief Scientist at the Academy moved nervously from side to side. The professor watched the events around him carefully, his eyes glancing from one person to the next. A man who preferred to be behind the scenes, he was clearly out of his environment.

Commander Vincent Goff, a computer genius and second-in-command of the first Time Travel Academy mission, stood next to the professor at silent attention. Vincent had been overlooked the first time around, yet he had taken the last three years at the Time Travel Academy to hone his skills. He intended to be high on the list of choices to command the upcoming terraforming of Mars.

The last Academy staff member to stand at the landing site was Dr. Charlene Douglas, the Chief Medical Officer and third in command of the Time Travel Academy's first mission. Charlene moved up the ranks quickly from civilian at the Centers for Disease Control to her current position as the Academy’s Chief Medical Officer. Her place on the terraform mission was sealed.

The greeting party shuffled in small steps as they waited for the program to get under way. After a few moments, Mike Adams stepped completely out of the helicopter. He towered over the members of the welcoming group by several inches. He slowly walked over to greet them; his bodyguards follow him very closely.

General Jones, dressed in his full Army uniform, held out his hand to Mike Adams who took it with a powerful grasp.

Welcome to the Time Travel Academy Space Center, Mike, General Jones said.

Thank you, Martin. He looked around at the small group; a slight frown crossed his face, as if he expected a larger group. I heard a lot of good things about the preparations for this mission. And this is your staff?

General Jones introduced the others to Mike, who smiled at everyone then turned and said, I’m eager to get started.

Come this way, said General Jones, as he led the way to a glass door and inside the Mission Control Operations Center tower.

This place changed a bit since the last time I was here, Mike said, looking around. He caught the eye of the reporter and cameraman and immediately straightened his stature and tugged on the sleeves of his cashmere jacket to pull out any errant wrinkles that might have occurred during flight.

Yes, General Jones said, we have added some new computers and had some remodeling done some months ago.

Martin escorted Mike around the rebuilt Mission Control tower until they reached the top level. The large room resembled an air traffic control tower, encased in thick, protective glass.

Inside the tower area about fifty staff members from the Time Travel Academy and the Escendia Corporation, worked side-by-side on numerous computers. The tower, upgraded from its previous role as NASA mission control, was designed to monitor and track the launch. The personnel sat at state-of-the-art computers and were in continuous contact with the ship currently in orbit around the Earth, as it awaited its last cargo of satellites.

How impressive, said Mike, as he looked out the thick glass windows. About how far is the launch site from here?

About two miles, Martin answered.

I can barely see it from here, Mike complained, irritation rising in his voice.

Martin pointed to the large computer video screen of the launch area then walked to a nearby equipment area and retrieved two sets of binoculars, one for himself and the other for Mike.

Mike focused the binoculars and nodded his head. Much better. I can see the launch site as if it was ten feet away from me. I can see there are still workers on the launch site.

Yes, Martin said, focusing his own binoculars. We are putting on the finishing touches and making our last checks before launch countdown, which will begin in a few minutes.

Martin stared at the launch site as the countdown to launch began. Mike focused in on the launch site, slowly scanning for one remaining engineer. He watched the man make his last check of the rocket's computer systems. The engineer opened a hatch and, with a flashlight, looked over the computer launch circuits. He inserted a small object into the computer launch sequence area panel, hidden from the light of his flashlight.

In the small ear bud sitting deep in his ear canal, Mike heard the words, completed, sir; ready to go. Mike made a very slight movement of his head and backed away from the windows.

T-minus sixty seconds, sir, said a cadet dressed in a Time Travel Academy uniform who sat staring at a large computer console.

Proceed with the launch; the weather is perfect and we are all ready, replied the general as he gazed at the launch site through his binoculars.

Is there anything higher than a five-star general? asked Mike.

Why? Martin asked, not once looking at Mike as he continued to focus his attention on the launch site.

Mike spoke over the general’s shoulder and replied, Because if this all goes as planned, Congress might approve more funding for the project next week and your name will be recognized as the general who started the transforming of Mars into a new planet.

General Jones smiled, but maintained his attention toward the launch pad. Yes, it’s a very prestigious honor to be recognized by Congress. Next week’s vote has many important details attached. One of those details is to give your company a more vested interest in the Mars project and the Time Travel Academy.

Mike remained silent for just a moment then asked, A vested interest?

The general chuckled. As if you don’t know. Some members of Congress believe a civilian company like Escendia could do a better job than the government overseeing the Time Travel Academy; the cost to the government would be minimal and the rewards would be greater if your company had more control of this Mars mission and the Time Travel Academy. But, personally, that is something I hope would never happen, replied the General

Well, ‘never say never’ General, Mike responded.

Seconds ticked down toward the