Survival Mars

By Rick Spencer

This book was inspired by true events that are set to take place in the future. A young man is born and raised on the Houston family farm. Bob grows up in a loving family. But his school years are filled with bullies and discipline. When he turns to a gang for love and affection, this almost destroys the Houston family. An ex-marine with a nickname of Gunny saves young Mr. Houston from self-destruction. He gets out of high school and sets his sights on a career in the air force, only to be disappointed. Then winning a trip to Mars, he makes the seven-month journey. Upon his arrival, Mars appears to be just your normal planet, but dust storms and people disappearing make the red planet far from normal. After many years being there, Bob finds Mars is far more sinister than he expected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984526199

Rick Spencer

Rick Spencer is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up in the ’60s to your typical middle-class family, Rick had a vivid imagination. The space race caught his attention at an early age. He followed the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. In his later years, he began to read. Going through a lot of books his ambition became to publishing one. Then the Mars One project came along and garnered his attention. Upon his retirement his imagination helped start a journey. With a keyboard and computer, he traveled down that road daily. Having never written anything in his life did not stop him from fulfilling his goal. His motto is “The impossible can be overcome with diligence.” He lives in Summerville, South Carolina.

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Copyright © 2018 by Rick Spencer.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2018905344

ISBN:           Hardcover   978-1-9845-2617-5

                     Softcover     978-1-9845-2618-2

                     eBook           978-1-9845-2619-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/29/2018

Xlibris

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Dedicated to the memory of my departed wife Jan, who always believed in me, and Chuck Petterson, who guided me through the writing process.

As war raged throughout Europe, Germany withdrew from most of her occupied territories. Now Hitler split his military might for a two-front defensive. His juggernaut shrank each day from death, casualties or capture. Every male in Germany old enough to shoot a weapon was enlisted. With allied forces pushing toward Germany, a specter of death hung over Adolf. For this reason, he called Himmler. Heinrich picks up his phone.

Adolf, what can I do for you?

Heinrich, do you remember our conversation about a disc-shaped airship called Haunebu.

I do remember.

Can I get your files on it?

I’ll have my staff go through our files. When we find it, I’ll send Herman over with them.

Days later, a Mercedes pulls in front and an SS man gets out. Walking inside, Hitler’s personal secretary greets Himmler’s assistant.

Here are the files Hitler requested.

Good, I’ve been expecting them, says Borman.

A folder with a large eagle and swastika with the words Streng Geheim in bold letters underneath changes hands. Herman leaves while Martin walks down a hall and turns right. There is another hall leading to a set of stairs. Footsteps echo off the staircase walls that lead down to Hitler’s bunker. An odor of stale air reaches his nose as he opens a door leading inside. Adolf stands near a table staring at maps and mumbling. Martin approaches and startles him with his presence. With a salute, Borman hands over the folder.

Ah, those papers I asked for. Thank you, Martin. That will be all.

His secretary leaves and Adolf takes a seat behind his desk. Opening that envelope, ten pages came falling out. Picking up the first one, he grabs his magnifying glass and begins to read. It is written by SS General Hans Kammler. His name rings a bell with Adolf, but he never met the man. On page one, there is mention that his Haunebu has no propellers. How can a flying machine get around without propellers? he questioned himself. Further reading says an SS research group known as E-IV discovered anti-gravity propulsion. This allows the craft to move in both vertical and horizontal directions. That Haunebu has a top speed of 49,320 km/h. On another page, Kammler stated, Not a single plane from our Luftwaffe can catch it. Even their rocket-powered Komet doesn’t come close.

Adolf continues to read. Its outer skin contains a metal called vitalen. Engineers discovered it when they were looking for a light and durable metal for U-boat hulls. But Germany’s finance minister found them too costly to build using this material. So vitalen got set aside until the general found out about it. That proved to be the right metal for its skin. Putting those papers down, Adolf dials Hauneburg.

General Kammler’s office.

Is he in?

Wilhelm recognizes his voice. Yes, Herr Hitler. A few minutes go by, and Hans picks up.

Fuhrer, what a great honor it is to hear from you. Himmler told me about your interest in my project. How can I help?

General, I have a question for you.

Go ahead, sir.

Will this flying disc go into outer space?

In theory, it should, but we have not taken it past the boundaries of Earth. It has to undergo testing.

I want your machine tested right away. Time is short. I expect a report on my desk by next month.

Yes, Fuhrer.

The line went dead, and Hans hung up. Picking up the receiver again, he dialed Dr. Sigmund Rascher. Doctor, I want your files on high-altitude research.

Using that data, SS scientists built their first spacesuit. The clothing part consisted of wool three layers thick. This protects a pilot from extreme cold at high altitudes. Boots were sewn onto the suit to safeguard his feet. Workers added a zipper down the front for easy access. At their foundry, workers made a helmet out of steel. They attached a viewport cut from tempered glass. This helmet attached to the suit by means of a special collar. That RFZ-5 carried no life support systems on board, so engineers designed a portable oxygen system. It supplied a small amount of oxygen to the air while filtering out CO2. This allowed the pilot to rebreathe his own air. A hose ran from that and hooked into the helmet. The apparatus fit into a case that a pilot could carry. It gave a person twenty four hours of breathing air. This suit took two weeks to complete. Scientist spent another week checking the equipment against all kind of conditions. With all testing done, a message went out to Major Max Fischer who was in charge of research and development.

Their suit passed testing and is ready.

Fischer phones Kammler at his headquarters.

General, your suit is ready.

Good, my driver will pick it up. You have done a great service for the Reich.

Thank you.

Next day, Hans dispatches his driver to pick this thing up. Three hours later, he returns with the gear and lays everything on the general’s desk. Hans picks up his spacesuit to examine. After feeling its woolen texture, it was set down, and he grabbed that helmet. The general walked around with it on top of his head. Satisfied with the quality of their work, Kammler then places a call to Hanna Reitsch.

I have instructions from Hitler. Our SS facility built a flying disc with a max speed of 49,320 km/h. He wants to know if this craft can go into outer space. I selected you because Goring said, ‘She is my bravest test pilot.’

Thank you. Air Marshal Goring has feelings for me. But yes, I am honored to take your flying disc into outer space.

Good, I will make arrangements with your commandant. May I call you Hanna?

Yes, you may, Herr Kammler.

Then I look forward to meeting you, Hanna.

Like any good test pilot, you want to study the craft before flying it. Hans sent many documents to her. One declassified paper talked about a failed test flight in which a flying disc crashed. Hanna surmised this pilot suffered a blackout and lost control. Years earlier, Luftwaffe doctors received a series of reports from Stuka pilots. They told of losing consciousness when going into a dive. She experienced this same thing in the first Stuka prototype test. With several irreplaceable pilots lost, doctors had to come up with a solution. A month long study found pilots lost consciousness due to greater gravitational forces. These forces came from increasing the speed of their aircraft. After conducting several tests, researchers found Pervitin helped. This drug stimulated the brain, not allowing it to shut down. Hanna knew she needed some. That night, a tube went into her bag. On the following morning, an SS driver whisks Ms. Reitsch away for a one-day journey.

Prior to this test, Hanna encountered problems in dealing with Himmler’s SS. Heinrich hammered home his point that women were for making babies. SS personnel got instructions to impregnate as many as possible. That way National Socialism was assured of future soldiers for their thousand year Reich. Hanna never had problems with any of Germany’s other military branches. So, Goring placed a call to Hitler one day.

Adolf I want you to assure me that the SS treat my pilot with respect and not as a sex object.

Herman I’ll call Heinrich and make sure he sends out a letter instructing his men according to your wishes.

"Very well then I am satisfied. Thank you Adolf.

Hitler hangs up and dials SS headquarters in Berlin. An aide answers.

Let me speak to Reichsfuhrer Himmler?

Yes sir, hold please while I get him.

A few minutes go by and someone picks up.

Adolf what can I do for you?

Goring is sending his female test pilot Ms. Reitsch to Hauneburg. She’ll pilot your RFZ-5 into outer space. This is important for our future Germany.

Heinrich interrupts Adolf.

Goring informed me.

Hitler carries on without missing a beat.

I want you to make sure your men at that facility treat her with courtesy. This woman has done a lot for the Third Reich. Hermann said she will arrive Thursday afternoon.

"You have my word on this matter. I will send orders there dealing with this. Anything else I can do for you, Adolf?

How is the V-1 program doing?

We launched twenty at London yesterday.

That should get that bastard Churchill to come around and sue for peace.

Let’s hope it does, Heinrich says.

Both men say their goodbyes and hang up.

Hanna’s driver arrives at the SS flying disc facility in Hauneburg. As they drive up to a checkpoint with several SS soldiers standing around, one checks their identification papers and allows the car through. This location is ideal for their complex because several mountains surround this area which makes for a natural fortress against invading infantry. Up ahead she sees a long lighted tunnel. As her and the driver drive into it, the air is cold and damp. Hanna turns her collar up to keep warm. In five minutes her Horch motor car comes to a halt. Kammler stands outside to greet her as she gets out. After exchanging salutes, Hans says, It is a pleasure to finally meet Germany’s top female pilot. I could see why Hermann is smitten with you. You are not your typical ugly pilot.

Thank you. Your kind words flatter me, but let’s get down to business. Where do I change?

Follow me, Hanna.

He takes her to a building close by. They walk up a flight of stairs and down one hall to an open door on her left. Inside lying on the bed is what she assumes to be this spacesuit. There are three women standing there.

Here is your room. Emma, Gretchen, and Anna will help you get ready. Hans closes the door.

Frau Reitsch it is an honor to serve you today,

I am glad they sent women instead of men.

Why Herr Goring insisted that we be here.

Let’s get busy, Hanna told them.

Her first request is for a glass of water. While Gretchen pours some from a pitcher, she takes two pills out. Taking that glass, those pervitin tablets are washed down. Then Anna holds the suit while Hanna’s shoes come off. Gretchen and Emma guide one foot at a time inside each boot. This thing reminds Ms. Reitsch of an old diver’s suit. Hanna slips her right arm into a sleeve and her left one in another sleeve. Anna zips up the front. Their spacesuit is a little bulky; so she walks back and forth a few times to get use to how it feels.

This is unlike anything the Luftwaffe has.

Each woman hugged Hanna.

Good luck, Frau Reitsch.

The helmet is set in place and locked on. Emma plugs a hose from the breathing apparatus into it. Purified air start to fill Hanna’s lungs. Hanna and her entourage walk out the door and down the stairs. Outside a Mercedes convertible is waiting on her with its motor running. With help from those ladies she gets in, Corporal Auer her driver heads off to a secret airfield. Once outside the tunnel, Hannah notices they are heading deeper into the forest. Up ahead, there is another checkpoint. Their car passes through as SS men saluted. She arrives just as the sun burns off remnants of a morning fog. There in a clearing surrounded by woods is a large object covered with camouflage netting. It is circular and about the size of an ME-109. After they pull up next to it, waiting SS personnel help her out and walk underneath. Two men guide Hanna to the cockpit area. They strap her in and one plugs the helmet’s headset into a radio. Each man give her a thumbs-up and leave. A radio in control comes to life.

Control, do you read me, over?

Frau Reitsch, we read you loud and clear.

With the flip of a switch all systems comes to life. As its engine warms up, men take the ladder away and lock its hatch in place. SS personnel remove their camouflage netting. With one last glance at the gauges, her hand grips a flight controller handle. Easing forward on throttle control, the disc begins to lift off.

I am prepared for takeoff.

You are clear to proceed.

Soldiers and personnel watch as Hanna climbs higher off the ground. Observers lose sight of their airship as it disappears into a cloud bank. Several radar operators track that Haunebu as she climbs higher. At sixty thousand feet, her flying disc shot off radar screens. Speeding along at 20,160 km/h, confidence replaced anxiety as she now approaches the fringes of Earth. As that flying disc broke free from the planet’s gravitational pull, the feeling was exhilarating. Reaching 200 kilometers, she began putting that machine through its maneuvers.

Now her speed was 49,320 km/h. Hanna gazes out the windshield and sees Earth looking spectacular. A sense of pride washed over her as Germany’s Haunebu went through its paces. Today I have honored my Third Reich and fuhrer by being the first human in space.

After a couple hours of cruising in space, Hannah directs the saucer back towards ground. As it reenters Earth’s atmosphere, the ship’s forward part glowed red as if a giant torch heated the metal. Ms. Reitsch made a mental note of this activity. Now radar operators pick up their Haunebu as it sped toward a landing. Somewhere in control, a radio operator receives a call.

Meteor to Earth, do you copy, over?

Go ahead, Meteor.

Returning to base. I want caviar and champagne sent to my room. This calls for a celebration. Meteor out.

Spotters can see an object approaching. The thing is traveling so fast that it overshoots the clearing. A monstrous boom shakes everything as the disc travels out of sight. The noise was loud like a railroad cannon. Some windows in control shatter as the disc passes by. Personnel and several emergency vehicles rush out to the clearing in preparation for its landing. On her next approach, she slows down and extends its landing struts. Germany’s Haunebu lands and Hanna shuts every system down.

Within a few minutes, two men arrive to help her outside. First, they remove the helmet and breathing apparatus. Helping her to the hatch, she climbs out. General Kammler approaches and salutes.

Our fuhrer sends his congratulations. How did your flight go?

Better than expected. Your airship is very fast. I never flew anything like it. All systems worked and handled great. Wish I had a camera with me. To see Earth from 200 kilometers took my breath away. We have brought glory to Germany which it desperately needed.

Yes, we have, and for that I am grateful.

Before leaving, my report will be on your desk.

Thank you, Frau Reitsch.

Hanna salutes him and walks to a waiting car. The pilot and driver leave. Hans turns to an officer.

There goes Third Reich’s greatest aviator.

Reading the RFZ-5’s test results, Adolf summoned Kammler to Berlin. After a short flight, Erich Kempka, Hitler’s driver, greets him. As they leave Tempelhof, Hans sees nothing but empty shells for buildings around Berlin. Thanks to Allied bombings, nothing is recognizable any more. He wished Hitler gave Himmler’s SS more funds to build a large fleet of Haunebus so this could have been prevented. Erich parks in front of Germany’s chancellery. General and driver proceed to Hitler’s underground bunker. This is the generals first time ever being here. Its air is foul and cold. Borman greets him and Erich at the door. Both men proceed down a passageway to the fuhrer’s room. Twenty minutes later, Adolf arrives with his photographer accompanying him General Kammler stands to salute, and Hitler invites him to have a seat.

It is so nice to meet the brilliant Hans Kammler. How was your trip? Adolf asked.

It is an honor to finally meet you, Herr Hitler. The flight here was pleasant.

"The reason why I called you to Berlin is to reward your hard work for our Reich. I am presenting you an Iron Cross with diamonds and oak clusters.

Thank you. I am honored by your gesture.

Hans and Adolf stand for several photographs.

Both men take their seats again. Hitler says to the general You must be hungry from your flight. Would you like something to eat?

No, thank you. I ate before I left.

With that out the way, we can get to the business at hand. General, can you put two larger RFZ-5s into production at once? I want to send an expedition to Mars. Your scientist will also need to make a spacesuit that can protect the men sent there.

Why do you want to go there?

This is a better place than Earth for the thousand year Reich. Those allied bastards will destroy everything I have worked hard to build. My dream will live on there.

Then I’ll see to it this project gets top priority. But I must leave to get the ball rolling. Again it was an honor to meet you.

Have a safe trip back.

Hans salutes Adolf and leaves.

A week later in Berlin, Miss Reitsch becomes Germany’s first female to receive an Iron Cross. Hitler also bestows upon her the title of first honorary flight captain. One month later, Kammler receives paperwork from Himmler promoting him to field marshal.

In relatively short time, scientists and engineers design a new spacesuit. This one has cloth made from a rayon and polyester blend. Foundry workers use aluminum to replace the steel used for the helmet. Communication specialists place a microphone and speaker inside the helmet. A small transmitter attaches to the back of it. This allows for communication of up to one mile. For both mobility and portability, engineers fitted their breathing apparatus into a backpack. They also gave it a bigger oxygen tank for longer operating periods.

Kammler’s facility began working on two larger Haunebus. Workers in his underground facility added an oxygen generator that splits carbon and oxygen atoms apart. This provided space travelers with unlimited oxygen. Another machine dumps the carbon into space. A heating system was installed in order to protect people from outer space’s frigid temperatures. Workers added a bigger and more powerful anti-gravitational engine. To guard against heat from reentry, the forward outer skin received many layers of porcelain tiles. Scientist found this material protected against heat better than any other material. Overall construction of both discs took a little over six months with a large labor force of five hundred men laboring 24 hours a day. Many POWs were brought in to assist in minor assembly work.

With both airships finished, a test needed to be conducted before a mission could leave for Mars. Field Marshal Kammler reached out again to Germany’s heroic test pilot. As Hanna sits in Berlin at Luftwaffe headquarters, her and Field Marshal Milch are having a discussion on the piloted V-1 rocket. She wants to use it as a kamikaze weapon against Allied bomber. His phone rings and startles both of them. He picks it up.

Luftwaffe Headquarters this is Field Marshal Milch.

Herr Milch is Ms. Reitsch there with you?

Why yes. Whom may I say is caliing?

Tell her it is Field Marshal Kammler.

Erhard hands the receiver to her.

You want to speak to me?

Yes Frau Reitsch, I need you to test two flying discs. You are to take each one out 3,000 kilometers for some maneuvers.

Herr Kammler, I shall do it for the glory of the fatherland.

Hanna flies a Storch reconnaissance plane to an airfield in Hauneburg. She sees a driver waiting to take her straight to the field marshal. It is a pleasant drive, but the once pristine land now has bomb craters. It seems that Allied bombers have discovered this secret facility too. This made Germany’s test pilot angry. She vowed on her return to Berlin that her plan for a kamikaze V-1 be presented to the fuhrer. Their car stops right in front of an officers’ barracks that still stands. Walking through the main entrance, Hans greets her. Both officers exchange salutes, and the field marshal says, Hanna, it is so nice to see you again.

It is a pleasure seeing you too.

Two of them climb stairs to go to his room. Once inside, he begins to brief her on this mission. Hanna learns that scientists say this new craft is faster than the last one. Its controls and gages are more state-of-the-art. In preliminary testing, everything functioned well. But he made her aware that if a mechanical failure occurs, she is to abort. They talked about things in Berlin well into the night. Being tired from a long day, she finally asked for a place where she could sleep.

Here take my room.

May I call you Hans?

Yes, you may.

Hans, you do not have to give up your room. I am fine sleeping in a soldier’s bunk.

No, I want you to be comfortable. Do not make me order you to take it. He started laughing, and their argument ended right there. He bid her good night and closed his door. That bed was very comfortable, and it’s not long before sleep came.

Next day while she eats breakfast, SS personnel are busy preparing for the test flight. A car picks up her and the field marshal out front of his barracks. It is a pleasant and warm day. The sky is cloudless. They drove ten minutes before coming to a checkpoint. Manfred their driver slows down as his car approaches. Several soldiers saw him coming and opened a gate. Just pass this Hanna saw many 88 mm anti-aircraft batteries with bunkers for their crews. As her car approaches a clearing, one large circular object sits there. SS personnel are working fast to remove its camouflage netting. Fear of an Allied bombing attack happening at any moment has everyone worried. As an all clear signal went up in the sky, Hans bids her good luck. Captain Reitsch gets out the backseat and walks toward the craft.

Dressed in a Luftwaffe flight suit, Hanna walks up a ramp instead of going through a hatch. All the machinery inside is different from the last time. Germany’s fearless pilot climbs a ladder straight to its cockpit. Taking her seat, a harness is strapped up and one hand plugs in her headset.

"Meteor to base. I am ready to proceed.

Everything is clear.

Her finger flips several switches to on. One activates the oxygen generator. With another one the ramp closes. Her last one starts its gravitron motor. Taking control of the flying disk it rises off Earth. As this thing’s throttle increased, Germany’s newest Haunebu shot out of sight. Now Hanna is traveling at 40,680 km/h. Gravitational forces have some effect on her. With a push of its throttle control, the disc speeds along at 44,280 km/h. Feeling no effects of a blackout, she pushes it to the limit. Now her disc is traveling at 58,280 km/h. At this speed, Hanna feels a blackout coming on despite having taken two Pervitin. The head feels disoriented but she manages to pull back on the throttle. With a reduction in speed, those feelings went away. Making several mental note, the test continues on. Germany’s flying disc reaches a distance of three thousand kilometers and turns back. Oxygen generator is working fine. Despite being minus 267 degrees outside, it is not cold inside. This new heating system operated wonderfully.

On the ground, radar operators lost track of her for several hours. . As panic set in, a call from that station went out to SS headquarters. Ten minutes later, another one comes into there. Radio operators are not able to raise their flying disc. With all contact lost, the duty officer thinks the worst. He sends a private to inform the general of this latest development. Someone knocks on the field marshal’s door.

Enter.

The private walks in and salutes.

Sir, radar has lost contact with our flying discs and radio can’t reach the captain either.

Reaching for his phone, he makes a call over to radio.

What seems to be the problem?

We can’t reach the captain. Her radio is either broken or lacks the power to reach us, the young officer says.

Keep trying to raise her, Hans says.

Two hours later, he reaches for his phone to call Berlin when radio calls back.

We established contact with the captain.

This news made him feel better. For the past hour, his mind kept going over how to break this bad news to Hitler.

A control room radio comes to life.

Meteor to base.

Go ahead, meteor.

You should have a visual now. I’m approaching the clearing.

SS personnel with binoculars combed the sky. Minutes went by, and no one saw the disc. Then it appeared out of nowhere. That disc came screaming across the airfield. A loud booming sound followed as it passed nearby. Some windows in the surrounding buildings shattered from the vibration. On the craft’s second pass, Hanna reduced its speed and landed in a clearing. Emerging from their spacecraft, she greets Air Marshal Goring, who came from Berlin.

I came to see this flying machine I have heard so much about.

It is the most thrilling thing I have flown.

Just as their conversation takes off, Hans walks up. He salutes, and Hermann returns his salute.

What a marvelous piece of technology you have here, Kammler. It is too bad that my Luftwaffe didn’t discover it first, Goring says.

Thank you, Herr Goring. We have been working with antigravity propulsion for five years now, and it is finally paying off.

Have you been taking care of my pilot?

Captain Reitsch receives the best treatment while she stays here.

Herman turns to Hannah and says, I’ll give you a lift back to Berlin. Hitler wants to congratulate you.

That will not be necessary, Herr Goring. I flew a Storch here. I have to file a report with with the field marshal before I leave. Then I’m heading back to Berlin. Goring just walks away.

I see he likes you, the field marshal whispered to her.

I got him wrapped around my little finger. They both laughed.

In her report, she cited speeds of up to 58,280 km/h and if a flying disc travels at that speed too long, a pilot will black out. Hanna urged Hans to have his scientist fix the problem.

Scientists were quick with a solution. They took some of the motor’s antigravitational field and applied it inside. Another test revealed no symptoms of blackouts at higher acceleration rates. Now Hitler had two discs for his Mars expedition.

In December, the Red Army was miles inside of Germany. With defeat in sight, Adolf authorized this mission. Himmler picked men from a group of elite Waffen-SS soldiers to go along. Despite their lack of materials, each man received a custom-fitted suit. To select their landing site, SS scientists went to the observatory in Berlin. They learned from the head astronomer at Archenhold that Gale Crater was an excellent place for an underground base. Soon several trucks came with supplies to load on both discs.

On Thursday March 14, Hitler’s mission was scheduled to leave. Not a cloud graced the sky and a slight breeze blew out of the north. Both flying discs sat in a large clearing and covered with camouflage netting. A truck with some soldiers, one scientist, and engineers arrived there. As they came to a stop, men climbed out and formed a line. Hans who had arrived earlier stood before them and reads a letter from the fuhrer.

Germany owes each of you a debt of gratitude for the dangerous journey you are about to take. Through your bravery, the Reich will live on. Success or failure of this mission depends on you.

After reading Adolf’s letter, the field marshal went down the line and saluted the each man then shook his hand. Men split into two groups. A scientist, two engineer, and a cameraman loaded into the first Haunebu. Another flying disc contained three enlisted men and Captain Berger. Personnel removed their camouflage netting covering both discs. As the all clear signal was given, both airships rose up, and in an instant, they shot out of sight.

By November 1944, Russia’s army pushed their way farther into Germany. From his intelligence sources, Stalin’s Bolsheviks were 150 kilometers away. This made Adolf think about his Mars mission, and he placed a call to Hauneburg. Their phone rings several times before someone picks it up.

Yes, Herr Hitler. He is in.

Kammler answers.

You have a question about your mission, sir?

Have you been able to communicate with them yet?

No, sir.

Perchance they encountered some danger and are all dead. I hope that is not the case. Time is running out. Those Bolshevik bastards are moving closer to Berlin day by day. Let us pray they arrived on Mars.

I am confident they have, Fuhrer.

Let me know if they contact you.

Yes, sir.

Four months after leaving Earth, Adolf’s expedition reaches Mars. Pilots for both flying discs tried to raise Berlin or Hauneburg without success. While orbiting around the planet, Captain Berger addresses his men.

Our radios are useless this far from Earth. Let us complete our mission, comrades, and return to the Reich if it still exists.

Berger’s pilot announces, Prepare to land. People on board brace for impact. First, one disc, and then the other set down on Mars surface. Captain Berger and his men suit up. A ramp opens, and Berger is first to set his foot down. He walks a good five meters away.

Can everyone hear me all right?

Yes, someone says.

His men look to their right and see another flying disc. Its ramp starts opening. Soon Berger and his men join up with men from the other disc.

What a desolate-looking planet, someone comments on radio.

All everyone sees is a big mountain, sand, and scattered rocks. Gales Crater looked to be the size of Luxembourg from outer space. Mount Sharp looked miles away from where both ships landed. Berger leads his men into a rock covered terrain. Their scientist stopped and scooped up a handful of soil.

This is nothing but sand and rocks.

They spent their first day exploring that area. As a bright sun sank below, Berger wrote in his notes about a rapid drop in temperature Hitler’s expedition spent that first night in their flying discs. Next day, pilots moved closer to Aeolis Mons. Suiting back up, Captain Berger and his men went out to have a look around the mountain.

What do you think of building into the side of this mountain? We have plenty of explosives, said one engineer. The other men liked his idea. Both engineers mapped an area on one side of Aeolis Mons, and one drew some sketches. Rock and soil samples were taken from all around that area. One engineer ordered their cameraman to record as much video as he could of this place. Using his Leica 35 millimeter camera, Berger snapped a group photo and afterwards took many black and white ones of Aeolis Mons and the area surrounding it. Then he asked his soldiers to retrieve two Mauser rifles, one STG 44 and one MG 42. Hitler ordered a test of each weapons to see how they functioned on Mars. Targets were set up at twenty five, fifty, and one hundred meters. Both soldiers loaded and fired. Private Mayer checked each target. Their Mauser M93 showed no loss of accuracy with every shot hitting each target. Next, they tested a STG 44 and MG 42. Both automatic weapons showed no difference from results taken from those two Mausers. All data is written in a notebook to be studied later. On the expedition’s last day, he plants a Nazi flag to claim Mars for Germany. Then both discs take off and head back to Earth.

Not hearing from anyone in months, Himmler thought that Hitler’s expedition had an accident, and all were lost. He ordered personnel at Hauneburg to begin packing everything for relocation to Antarctica. Before shutting down communications, a radio operator received a transmission.

Mars X to HQ, do you copy?

Captain Berger, we are glad to hear from you. Everyone thought your expedition was dead.

We found our radios were useless so far from Earth. What we saw on Mars was spectacular. Our cameraman shot plenty of film and I have a lot of pictures. Tell Kammler we will arrive in a few days.

That radio operator makes a call to Kammler’s office. One of his staff answers the phone. I heard from Captain Berger. He said it will be a few days before they arrive at our base.

I’ll notify our field marshal. An assistant gets up from a desk and heads to Kammler’s office. Coming to his commandant’s door, he knocks.

It is Adel, I have some news to tell you.

Enter! Kammler shouts. The corporal stands before him and salutes.

What is this news you have?

Herr Kammler, a radio operator received word from Captain Berger. They will be here by Friday, Adel tells him.

That is good news, corporal.

Hans reaches into a desk drawer and pulls out a bottle of Cognac.

Have one with me. We will drink to our brave comrades.

In 1945, Russian army troops attacked Berlin. Remnants of the German military put up a fierce resistance. While fighting raged street to street, Germany’s high command scrambled to escape. Adolf and Eva went to Argentina because Eva did not like the cold of Antarctica. Some of Adolf’s trusted staff stayed behind in his bunker. They lied to their Russian captors to cover for their beloved leader and his wife. General Zhukov did not believe their story of a suicide, but he sent word of Hitler’s demise to Stalin anyway.

Hans moved his flying disc operation to the South Pole. Everything in Hauneburg went by freighter or plane to its new destination. While Berlin surrendered, equipment was being reassembled to continue Germany’s Haunebu program.

Financing for this relocation came by way of valuables stolen from people and governments throughout Europe. That money stayed well hidden in various shell corporations and banks. Material and equipment poured into their Arctic base from Nazi collaborators. Some of it got purchased through a network of dummy corporations. On an airplane to Antarctica, his pilot told Field Marshal Kammler that Adolf Hitler died defending the Reich. This made him chuckle a little. Han’s decision to flee Germany was an easy one. He knew that the allies would accuse him of war crimes. His family moved to the German community of Bariloche in Argentina. With his wife and three children safe, he started production of more flying discs for Hitler’s Mars project.

With base construction starting on Mars, SS command realized a need for a much larger flying disc. RFZ-10 joined the airship fleet as their newest Haunebu. This one received a larger propulsion system so it could carry twenty thousand kilos of cargo. Its size increased from a diameter of twenty to fifty meters in length and seven to twenty meters in height.

In anticipation of war’s end, Nazis gathered all their excessive building materials. Steel plants made beams and structural supports. Ships transported materials and equipment to the Arctic. From there it was flown to Mars. A year after war in Europe, UFO sightings dramatically increased around Australia and New Zealand. Most sightings were nothing more than Germans traveling back and forth to Mars.

This Reich project got classified top secret. It was given the code name was Operation WarLord. Lots of high-ranking Germans never had access to any of this information. Konstantin Hierl, head of the Reich Labor Force, oversaw its construction. Many obstacles had to be overcome before starting. One key issue involved manpower. After the war, his labor source consisted of prisoners removed from concentration camps and from the prisons in Argentina.

Hierl needed to see how these men fared in Mars hostile environment. Twenty laborers traveled to the red planet. Each one received a tank of oxygen with a mask. Armed guards put each man through various work routines. Seven died within a week of their arrival. Next week four more died mysteriously. Their bodies were flown back to Earth for an autopsy. A Nazi doctor determined radiation poisoning caused their deaths. He recommended suits made from special material to protect from solar radiation. SS command thought it absurd to furnish these men with spacesuits. Their solution to that problem came about a week later. Snowsuits were found in an abandoned German warehouse. Each laborer got issued one. This enabled the men to work longer. Eventually German scientist and engineers built heavy equipment designed to work on Mars. Fifteen years after Germany’s defeat at allied hands, the Nazis finished their Martian base.

Having never seen his dream on Mars, Germany’s fuhrer passed away in 1961. Hitler’s body lay in state at an undisclosed location. SS soldiers kept it under guard until Eva made arrangements to bury her husband. On the day of his funeral, surviving members of the old NSDAP came to pay their respects to Germany’s Fuhrer. Eva had a hearse move her husband’s coffin to a Catholic church in Bariloche. Following his body was Eva with son Alois and daughters Ada, Carla, and Klara. When everyone arrived they all packed inside. An SS honor guard brought his coffin in front of the pulpit and sat it on a stand. Father Amsel from Germany delivered a solemn eulogy to all who were in attendance. Afterwards everyone there traveled out to a secret burial site. New SS commandant Fritz Hanke spoke of Hitler at his graveside ceremony. He replaced the traitorous Himmler who committed suicide.

Our fuhrer came along at the right time to save Germany from destruction. He strengthened our country’s unity and gave hope to our people when they had none. Hitler did not want war, but Britain and America forced it on us. In recent years these two have painted our fuhrer as an evil man. But we know he was not. Long live Adolf Hitler.

Everyone there gave a fascist salute and repeated, Long live Adolf Hitler.

Before his body went into a grave, soldiers from the Waffen-SS fired several salvos in his honor. A team of men from each branch of service took a shovel and buried their beloved fuhrer. Afterward, everyone paid their condolences to Eva and her family. One of the honor guards gave Mrs. Hitler that Nazi battle flag covering his casket.

Control of the Nazi party and its military fell to his son, Alois. But he suffered a car accident that left him unable to take over his father’s empire. Gustav, who was Klara’s son, stepped into that spot.

His first duty as Chancellor was to maintain his grandfather’s Germania. Luftwaffe’s new commandant Otto von Essen made a faster RFZ-7 available. Personnel loaded Hitler’s saucer with provisions for the long trip. Gustav stayed with the Arctic base commandant until his flying disc was readied. When everything became set, he had breakfast that morning, and someone drove him to a hangar. His car drove up to a flying disc, and Chancellor Hitler emerged from the backseat. Everyone there saluted. He returned their salute and walked right up a ramp. Two bodyguards walked with him. Inside, the hum of machinery greeted his ears. Coming down a ladder to the second level Captain Ebner saluted Gustav.

Are you ready to head to Mars?

Yes, let’s get this over with.

Ebner went back up to his seat. Hitler and his bodyguards heard the engine start up. There was ample supplies of food and water for him, two bodyguards, and their pilot. Gustav climbed in a bunk as his Haunebu took off. When he awoke, they had gone only eighty thousand miles. He got himself something to eat. While eating, his mind tried to comprehend why his grandfather built a base there in the first place. Earth’s closest heavenly body, the moon, seemed to be a better selection since it was a lot closer. At their halfway point, Gustav thought his grandfather made a definite mistake. This trip bored him and took too long. Nazi scientists needed to come up with a speedier way to get there. Finally, after a few months, Hitler arrived on Mars.

As his Haunebu approached their base’s entrance, a set of steel doors opened. Hitler’s spacecraft flew into a lighted tunnel. Soon it approached a second set, which opened. His RFZ-7 landed in a large hangar area. After the ramp dropped open, Gustav hurried out. There were soldiers and a band to greet him. Major Erik Kammler came up and saluted.

Welcome to Mars, Fuhrer.

I prefer you call me chancellor. There was only one fuhrer, and I will never fill those shoes.

I grieved over the death of your grandfather. He and my father had a special connection.

Gustav began a tour of Germania. He saw several barracks built to house workers and soldiers. Soon they came to a small brick building. Inside here is where we generate our oxygen. Erik and Hitler’s entourage walk through a door and enter a large space. Men in white coats sit in front of gages on a control panel. Outside of that room you could see piping and machinery through a big window. The chancellor is introduced to their chief engineer in charge of this facility.

Herr Hitler, this is Dr. Speel. He walked over and shook Gustav’s hand.

It is such a privilege to meet you. My father worked as a chemist for a chemical plant near Dusseldorf during the war.

Herr Speel, you serve Germania well.

Being tired, Gustav asked the major to show him to his quarters. Both Germans shook hands with Doctor Speel and bid him farewell. They walked past several other buildings. Erik turned and started walking down a sidewalk. Gustav and his bodyguards followed. He stopped and opened a front door to a very stylish villa. The entourage walked into a huge living room. A man dressed in butler’s garb came up.

Sir, this is your servant Claus.

He held out his hand for Gustav to shake and said, I am so glad you are here.

Erik saluted Gustav and said, I’ll return tomorrow to take you to your office. He leaves and closes the door. Major Kammler then shows his bodyguards their house around back.

Would you like a drink?

No, Claus. I want to lie down in a comfortable bed and go to sleep.

Okay, right this way.

Gustav and Claus walked up one flight of stairs and down a large corridor with doors on either side. His butler opened a door and said, Here is your room, sir. Rest well. He closes the door and leaves.

Their Martian base became a crowning achievement for the Fourth Reich. Two gigantic steel doors set on a mountainside. These doors moved by hydraulics powered by three huge pumps and a fifty-liter tank. Behind the first doors sat a long tunnel. Next, you came to a second set of steel doors. Behind those was a hangar containing many types of flying discs. Six of the old RFZ-5s, a dozen of the RFZ-7 fighter class, and five RFZ-10s have a place there. The Nazi’s fastest Haunebu was the RFZ-7. Its speeds exceeded 60,424km/h. American fighter jets tried to intercept one once, but it flew circles around them. RFZ-7 came with two directional laser cannons, which have a range of three miles. Passing through there, one came to a motor pool. There were thirty motorcycles, five trucks, two staff cars, and one ambulance. Each vehicle had an electric motor for power. Traveling a little farther, there were barracks for soldiers, officers, and support personnel. The German army had four barracks for two hundred soldiers. One barracks housed thirty Luftwaffe pilots and twenty maintenance personnel. Five barracks housed a hundred SS and a hundred Waffen-SS soldiers. A small barracks contained officers and personnel of the Reich Labor party. Chancellor Hitler had a villa that had a small house behind it for his bodyguards. The middle of the base held the chancellery and command center. For recreation, the men had a movie theater, a bowling alley, an officers’ club, and an enlisted men’s club. German high command thought of everything for entertainment. A brothel sat tucked between the clubs. Women who worked there came from Argentina. Once a month, a doctor would come in and examine the girls. To stay fit, the command put in a gym and soccer field. Close to everything stood a small hospital. It was staffed with two surgeons, four doctors, twenty nurses, and ten specialists. Personnel stayed in barracks next door. Past this sat support facilities.

For supplies there were four warehouses. One contained spare parts and equipment. Another held nonperishable food. Freeze-dried food sat in a third. The last warehouse contained ammunition and weapons. Far away from everything sat a detention center. Rowdy soldiers or officers were sent there to teach them a lesson. A small electric trolley system ran throughout the entire base.

Next day Gustav called the Reich Labor Service to find out why there were so many trees.

Germania looks more like a jungle than a military base.

Chancellor, they are here to help provide some oxygen and take away carbon dioxide.

Once Gustav rested for a few days, Claus asked, How do you like Germania?

This is not the dream my grandfather had, but it will do for the thousand year Reich.

In the small city of Shawnee, Kansas, John Robert Houston grew out of his baby stage. Bob, whose nickname came from his grandfather, lived on the family farm. John, his dad, was a third generation farmer. His parents, John and Betty, doted over their only son. Being in such a remote area, Bob had no other kids to play with, so his parents soon gave him a baby sister, named Kelly. He watched over her like a hawk. Betty got updates every hour. When she asked him why he did it, his answer was, It’s my job as a big brother.

Three years later, Kelly and Bob were inseparable. They were forever having adventures in space. One time Bob turned his bed into a spaceship, and the two of them flew to the moon.

John and Betty decided it was time to have another child. Billy became their third. Bob and Kelly took care of him. Years later, all three Houston children were traveling in their make-believe spaceship.

Soon destiny took one of them from the group. Betty enrolled Bob in kindergarten at Broken Arrow Elementary School.

His first day of school traumatized Billy and Kelly. They hated seeing their older brother walk out the door. When his bus came and took him away, both cried torrents of tears. To placate her two, Betty reached into her cookie jar and got out four cookies. She made a trip to the bathroom. When their mother got back, those two were gone. A search of the house revealed them upstairs playing.

Around one o’clock, she hollered, Kids, it’s time for your brother to get home. They hardly gave him time to get off the bus.

How was school, Bob?

I had fun. Drew you and Billy a picture.

His hand produced two drawings from a schoolbag he carried. Billy and Kelly came in to show off their drawings.

It was nice that you drew them a picture. Okay, children, run along and play. I have to cook dinner.

Things were going well at school until Betty’s oldest came home crying. What happened to you?

I told a boy in class I wanted to live on the moon. He called me stupid.

Aw, honey, don’t let him bother you. Betty reached into her cookie jar and pulled out two chocolate chip cookies. With cookies in hand, he ran upstairs. Later Kelly came in.

If this bad boy calls you stupid again, I’ll beat him up.

Thanks, Sissy.

Not wanting to talk about it anymore, Bob went to his toy box. At school, Miss Henson noticed kids making fun of Bob. She sat everyone down and explained that calling someone a name was not nice. "If you’re caught being mean to someone, I