Markers: Book 1

By E.R. Clouston

Markers: Book one is the first of three.  The series revolves around the Edwards family and their discovery of a UFO.  What starts out as a fantastical event morphs into a dawning of the realization of humanity's true origins.  Alongside their discovery stands Phillip Canaught III, the son of a powerful buisiness mogul, Phillip watches  the Edwards encounter with  more interest and knowledge than most. For he also has in his possession a UFO. A UFO that looks exactly like the one discovered by Tyler Edwards.  Except his has been in his possession for twenty years.  And up until that day Phillip was unaware that it could even be accessed...

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.R. Clouston
• Release date: Oct 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201360696

Book preview

Introduction

TEDGlobal 2010

Oxford, England

Main Auditorium

July 14, 2010

Everyone, if you will please take your seat the next session is about to start. A slight stir and a low murmur accompany the announcement as various attendees shuffle around in an attempt to find their seat. 

Thank you everyone, now coming to the stage is Dr. Bryce Whitt, the preeminent voice regarding evolution today.  Dr. Whitt has recently published his findings in the most recent Science Magazine.  While not controversial, his conclusions have raised some eyebrows in the scientific community.  Here to fill in the gaps...Dr. Bryce Whitt, round of applause everyone  Everyone briefly gets to their feet to deliver a proper welcome to one of the few giants of academia.

Dr. Whitt emerges from a side door and begins to make his way to the stage, he was a tall, fit man of 60, with a full head of thick white hair.  His hawkish nose giving away his claim to a distant Roman ancestor.  His late life fitness being attributed to his lifelong commitment to rowing everyday, a habit he acquired during his time at Oxford.  His step was spry and confident.  While he was currently the Dean of Science at M.I.T. most of his actual time was spent consulting on various scientific studies.  Dr. Whitt possessed an intellect  that only appears once or twice in a generation.  As he approached the stage he quickened his pace, vaulting the five steps instantly , taking the mic from the MC he turned to address the crowd.

Yes ......yes, thank you everyone.  Thank you for coming to hear my little speech.  I won’t be taking up too much of your time. What I have to say won’t take long.  Absorbing it might, but hearing it will only take a few moments.  Another murmur ripples through the crowd as everyone sits down.

Welcome everyone, as the young lady said, I am Dr. Bryce Whitt.  I have a PHD in Evolutionary Science as well as Anthropology and Biology.  Some of you may have read about or even participated in my work on various projects.  Looking out at this crowd I can see three people I’ve worked with in the past, hello Stacy. Laughter passes through the crowd as Dr. Whitt shyly waves at someone in the front row.

I also see two...no three, Nobel prize winners in attendance.  And oh yes, the only person to win both the Fields Medal and The Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize. Who I believe was recently bestowed an honour by her majesty the Queen.  From henceforth I will be required to address her as Dame.  Another ripple of laughter.

By no means do I think you are all here to hear me gossip about things like this.  Instead I suspect you are here to see if I can explain myself.  It seems some of the things I’ve recently published have hit a nerve of sorts.  Well let me see if I can clear that all up shall I.  Looking out at this sea of intelligent faces, noticing some of those faces belong to some very sharp minds, something occurred to me.  I would bet, if I passed out a sheet to everyone, and on that sheet was a picture of a human, a lion, a bear, a dolphin, a rat and a cat.  And if I then asked all of you to make a pyramid out of them. A pyramid of dominance.  If I required you to place one image you thought should be on top of the pyramid and then rank the rest in descending order of dominance.  I guarantee that each and everyone of you would start by placing the human on top, then work your way down from the most dangerous to the least.  Am I right?  Most in the crowd nod in some form of agreement.

"Well, you would be wrong.  Our presumption that we, as humans are the pinnacle of all evolution on Earth is extremely flawed.  Can a human defeat a lion one on one?  Probably not.  Say you’re in the ocean and you happen to come upon a dolphin.  Which of you is the most likely to survive in that environment?  A dolphin possesses an echo location skill that is second to none, and an extremely high intelligence quotient.  Dolphins are one of the few animals on earth that can recognize itself in a mirror, one of the basic traits of an intelligent being.  Yet we as humans would consider dolphins and inferior species.  Are these the hallmarks of inferiority?  No, not really.  But, there are no lion cities, or bear towns.  No dolphin built harbours.  For while these animals possess superior skills in their own environment, outside of these places they are extremely vulnerable.  We look at evolution as a settled proposition.  We assume all has been decided because it appears in a textbook.  To exacerbate it all, the long periods of evolutionary inactivity make it difficult to even track evolutionary change at all.  The truth is, man isn’t even at the peek of its own evolutionary progress, maybe not even halfway.  I think when we look at the human brain we can begin to make a proper supposition about our current evolutionary progress.  Our under utilization of this most important organ tells us one important thing, that we have room to grow.

Going off on a tangent let's talk about Crocodilians.  A species of reptile covering crocodiles, alligators and gharials.  Genetically speaking, unchanged for 85 million years.  One of the few remaining creatures from the dinosaur age.  In its natural environment an absolute killing machine.  But.........unfortunately, they possess a very tiny brain.  These animals, although true survivors, have reached a plateau of sorts.  They have achieved their own evolutionary maximum.  What I mean by that is, these creatures have done the absolute most with what they were given.  Unfortunately though, they can go no further."

"On the other hand, Primates, in other words...us.  Are much much younger.  And...fortunately, we have a much larger brain. Our evolutionary path isn’t close to being complete.  The fact that we may only be halfway to our own evolutionary maximum gives us our first clue.  As a species we must prepare for the next phase of human evolution.  It may even be closer than we all realize.  In this next phase of human progress I suspect we might see humans with longer than normal lifespans.  Maybe even humans with hyper efficient auto-immune systems.  A higher mitochondrial level, or superior musculature.  We need to consider the fact that every advance humanity has achieved up to this point is somehow based solely  on the fact our very ancient ancestors making a simple dietary change, might be a flawed theory.  A dietary change didn’t give us the two chromosomes that seem to just appear in the human genome some two million years ago.  So what in nature did this? The real answer is...I don’t really know.  But I’m damn interested to find out..........

Chapter 1

Discovery

Somewhere Near the Jordan/Iraq border

FEBRUARY 24, 1990 1AM

OUR STORY BEGINS ON the eve of the first war with Iraq.... a few hours before the commencement of Operation Desert Storm.  Historically, the war with Iraq would be known as the first blunder in an error laden thirty year policy involving the Middle East.  However...the real history made that early morning had nothing to do with Saddam Hussein’s army fighting the 35 country strong United Nations Coalition force.  In fact...the war for Iraq would end up being a convenient backdrop in the telling of more important events.

Before the invasion was set to begin several American military units were deployed on forward recon assignments.  Most of these units were tasked with scouting the way for the American and coalition forces that would be advancing through Kuwait and into Iraq during the invasion. They would infiltrate Kuwait and Iraq a few hours before the actual invasion was set to begin.  The bulk of these recon forces would be deployed inside Iraq itself.  However..a small cadre of soldiers were separated and assigned to an entirely different mission.

There was some concern at U.N. command Headquarters that Saddam might attempt escape when things got bad enough.  Current intel suggested he might even try to enter one of the countries neighbouring Iraq with as much of the Republican guard as he could muster.  This was a situation that needed to be avoided at all cost.  U.N. Command had communicated their desire to contain this conflict strictly within the Iraq borders.  No Iraqi regular forces were to be allowed to escape. Based on past events they knew if this action got out of control it might ignite other local, longstanding, but now dormant conflicts.  A situation that would allow Iraq’s neighbouring countries, using the confusion of the invasion, to exact revenge without being seen to do it.  All to be chalked up to the fog of war.

(At the height of his power Saddam Hussein commanded an army numbering over a million.  A not inconsiderable force.  At the core of his army was a group of fanatical supporters who were part of a battalion that was called The Republican guard.  This battalion formed the core of the Iraqi army's most dedicated troops.  These troops were responsible for protecting the most important members of the Saddam regime.)

THEREFORE....IT WAS decided by U.N. Command to request from the King of Jordan permission that they be allowed to place a few recon units along the Iraq/Jordan border. The border with Jordan was considered the most likely direction Saddam would flee.  The placement of these units would be tactical.  They would block the most likely avenues of escape along the border.  There were several nearby entry points into Jordan Saddam might utilize if things went south for his regime.  Placing units covertly in the areas he would most likely choose to flee through was really the only viable option. 

Thus far the King of Jordan had managed to resist joining the UN coalition. His fear was that openly aiding the U.S., or participating in any of the fighting, would cause long lasting problems for his kingdom in the Middle East. Adding to the equation the newest intel had suggested Saddam may have even misinterpreted the king's reticence as tacit support for his cause.

The King was correct of course.  Openly aiding coalition forces would be looked down upon by his neighbours in the region.  The easiest solution for him was to allow the Americans to insert these recon units secretly.  If they were by chance discovered he could always plead ignorance of their presence in his country.  As an extra precaution the Central Intelligence Agency was levied for agents with experience with the Jordanian locals and who also might have some  familiarity with the local geography. 

The units were placed in concealed positions every 10 miles covering the entire Iraq/Jordan border.  With every position covering the 5 miles to the left and right of its position.  Should any hostile forces be detected their mission was to either prevent or delay any attempts by those forces to cross into Jordan.  While the last thing the King wanted was to appear to be aiding the west.  What he wanted even less was several thousand heavily armed Iraqi fanatics inside his border.

One particular unit was stationed on a rock outcrop that commanded a view covering the 5 miles of open ground between the outcrop and the Tarbil(on the Iraq side) and Al Karamah(on the Jordan side) border crossings.  The Jordanian border crossing at Al Karamah was secured by a reinforced platoon of Jordanian special forces.  The Jordanians at the crossing were unaware, and were not told, of the American forces presence in the area.  The American unit overlooking Tarbil was positioned so that they could block the entrance to a goat path that ran north from just inside Iraq traveling all the way into Jordan.  There were several such historically used paths that started from just inside Iraq and eventually wound their way into some of the farthest reaches of Jordanian territory. 

ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT the border was directly attacked and overwhelmed.  Other american units were placed in positions further back from the Al Karamah crossing.  Together they formed a loosely connected net around the whole border. While these recon units weren’t large enough to defeat a direct assault by a large force.  They were heavily armed enough to delay any attacking force for a short while. They had been augmented with extra heavy weapons and mortars.  They were also issued the latest in crypto communications.  Should contact occur, any attacking force would be turned back by a coordinated air strike.  The coordination for those strikes would be provided by these ground units.

United Nations command had been provided intelligence that any retreating forces would most likely forgo trying to force a crossing at Al Karamah.  Rather than engage any kind of military force they would most likely move north or south of the border crossing where there would be little to no resistance.  By avoiding the border crossing, they could easily cross the border and disappear into the mountains undetected.

The leaders of the United Nations coalition estimated the campaign would take no more than two weeks.  In the end though,  history showed the assessment of the Iraq army’s capabilities to be overly generous......

To avoid being seen by either the locals or the eventual retreating Iraqi forces the recon units were small, each one comprising no more than a dozen men.  Attached to the unit stationed on the outcrop north of Al Karamah, was a relatively new, relatively young member of the CIA.  He had been brought along specially to advise the unit.  His job was to smooth over any problems that might arise with the locals should they be detected. Their presence was covert and needed to stay that way.  The young CIA agent was not a veteran of a single covert operation.  His previous experience in Jordan was mainly from several lucrative joint oil ventures in the area that his family had taken part in.  He spoke Arabic, plus the local Bedouin tribal dialect.  He was young for his post, and still a bit green with only a couple years under his belt working in the region for the Agency.  Normally he would have never been offered an assignment like this.  These types of operations were normally reserved for active, experienced field officers.  Fortunately for the Agency man, his family had been doing business in the area for decades with the more powerful friends of the Hashemite dynasty.  The Agency man’s relationship with the people that helped the king of Jordan maintain control of his country was an asset.  Having these contacts was the main reason for including him on this operation. For his part the Agency man thought it would make a good story for the commendation he was sure to receive after the conflict was settled.

His name was Phillip Canaught the third. He was 62, 210 Lbs, evenly distributed over a lean athletic body.  He had dark hair and a fair complexion.  He was the definition of tall, dark and handsome, with the perfect teeth and social polish of what used to be known as a real main line WASP". 

His admission into the CIA came with his name.  He had been recruited, in a way, in his third year at Cambridge. Normally recruits of the C.I.A. are selected by a process that is both thorough and exhaustive.  However...Canaughts do not go through processes. Phillip had already been pre-selected years earlier by his father and his father's powerful friends. These were men who shared a like mind about the best ways to maintain power and control.  Phillip was being groomed for big things.  His schooling , training and  Agency assignments were all designed to bring Phillip to the top.  Once there, he would use his father's philosophy of power as the framework for a reshaping of America.

In today’s vernacular the group Phillip and his father were a part of would be described as a Cabal.  As a group, they never ascribed to such foolish notions.  Rather, they viewed their association as an expression of their  refusal to have anyone else but themselves dictate the terms of their existence. It didn’t hurt though that every member was ridiculously wealthy.

They had a simple philosophy centred on two concepts.  One..politicians have a shelf life so use them before they expire.  Two..government employees have a pension because they stick around for thirty years. Phillips' father and close friends had carefully seeded their sons and daughters into meaningful positions in government and political offices.  Some were placed there for the long haul.  Put into government agency positions where they could easily advance.  Some were just there temporarily, gaining the contacts they would need for later on in their life.

The placement of their scions in these upper positions in society was for a future his father and the group envisioned.  A future where there would be no separation between government and corporation. Phillip’s path had been carefully chosen for him to maximize his chances in both the political arena and halls of elite business. Phillip had gone to Cambridge, like his father and his grandfather. Then on to Wharton to study business.  Phillip was the product of generations of powerful and ruthless men.  Men more used to shaping the world than existing in it.

It was thought that Phillip would work a term of five to ten years, no more.  Either in the CIA or FBI.  Then he would begin his transition into politics. Using his contacts in his short career in either law enforcement or an intelligence agency.  He would parlay that into a run for higher office, maybe eventually the highest office. Phillip was by no means the only child of the affluent eyeing that path.  There were several other challengers for that destiny.  He was however the favourite in a lot of people's eyes, not just his fathers, and that meant something.

But you know the old saying about the best laid plans.  This night's unpredictable events would mean the derailment of years of those plans.  Plans covering decades of effort and maneuvering by powerful men not used to being thwarted.  By morning Phillip would be pronounced dead, and what he was really born to do would begin........

Northwest of the Tarbil border crossing

Three hours before the launch of Operation Desert Storm

What have we got MSgt Phillip asked as Msgt Newberry crouched down beside him in their ad-hoc OP.  Decked out in black combat gear and with his face blacked out Newberry had been able to approach without Phillip seeing him.  He had barely HEARD Sgt Newberry approaching in the darkness from the direction of where they were camped.  The man moved like a ninja.  While the noise of his approach had startled Phillip he had not spoken out.  Newberry was poison on anyone who broke sound discipline during an operation.  Even though they were alone on the outcrop, Newberry still spoke his reply in a very muted tone.  He had told Phillip that noise travels far in the dark.  Tonight was a nearly pitch black night with only a sliver of moon showing.

(OP=Observation Post)

(MSgt= Master Sergeant- a senior rank in the American military for non-commissioned officers)

Our forward guy just came back Mr. Canaught, he says you need to come have a look. MSgt Newberry said in his quiet rumble of a voice.

Newberry was a fifteen year veteran of the elite Special Forces Unit.  He had seen combat multiple times over his career in various locations around the world.  He was a tall, physically imposing man who practically radiated competence and menace.  Newberry’s inclusion in this mission had been all but assured.  He had, in the past, taken part in several operations of a covert nature in this exact area.  Phillip’s limited field experience meant he had needed to lean pretty hard on Newberry’s experience to get through the night.

Newberry had enlisted right out of high school.  He was selected for special forces two years later because of his outstanding record.  After a few years he ended up gravitating towards special OPS*.  Mostly taking part in missions utilizing small squad sized units.  Over the next decade Newberry participated in more than a few covert ops that never appeared in any after action report.  Missions ranging from extraction to elimination.  As a reward for his fifteen years of exemplary special forces service where he was promoted multiple times Newberry was eventually offered his choice of assignments.  Meant as a reward, Newberry took it as an attempt to sideline him.  So rather than selecting a cushy embassy assignment where the most difficult thing he would be asked to do would be to wear his Mess Dress* to official embassy functions.  Newberry requested to be seconded to the CIA as an operations action officer.  Newberry was old school all the way.  His reasons for being in the military did not include sitting behind a desk, ever.  And they most certainly didn’t include being put out on display at functions as a battle scarred showpiece.

(Special Ops=special operations)

(Mess dress=elaborate traditional military formal wear worn at official military functions)

A look at what Mr. Newberry Whatever it was couldn’t be good judging by the look on Newberry’s face. 

Corporal Quincy thinks he’s spotted a squad of Iraqi soldiers just about a mile northeast of us.  On THIS side of the border Newberry replied matter of factly.

Hmmm...well....that sucks.  Quincy again huh?...that boy don’t miss a trick does he? Phillip said, raising an eyebrow. 

Phillip had already had several interactions with Quincy over the last few days.  He had been an integral part of the planning process, an unusual situation considering his junior rank.  Quincy was an unusual person, not the sort Phillip had expected.  He was as well read as Phillip, without the benefit of an expensive private school education.  Often reciting deeply esoteric historical quotes.  He had a steel trap for a memory, numbers, names, places, dates, you name it.  He was easily the best soldier in the squad, including Newberry, but still deferred to his Sgt and respected the chain of command.  You could say he was full of surprises.

"No sir he doesn’t.  He’s pretty sharp for a young fella....almost has a sixth sense for trouble.  Seems to know exactly where to look for bad guys...it’s