Chapter 6

The Present Times

World Defense Federation (WDF)

Greenland

Somewhere in the snowy outskirts of Greenland lies the city-like structure of the World Defense Federation (WDF) headquarters in great perimeter; a complex maze of architecture infused with high-technology. The gargantuan complex extends miles below the ground, housing hangars after hangars, and a few kilometres above ground.

A typical day for the WDF HQ would be snowstorms, battle alerts, trainings, and a few recreations for its thousands of in-house army men and women. It had been that way since the beginning of the alien invasion 10 years ago; a war that has been nothing but aimless and never-ending. Today however an unprecedented occurrence threw the routine out of its loop.

Yes, for the first time, it isn't a typical day for the WDF.

Today, Professor Waldo Kinski, the world's prime genius and the WDF's brain of armament technology, is hailed missing.

They would have dismiss it as another hide and seek being pulled by the professor much the same as what he did many years ago when he opted to become a hermit due to his 'personal' issues, but nowadays the WDF could not afford such an act when the security of the world lies in the old genius' hands and in his mind.

The entire camp's on red alert, officials on high seats are left restless and on edge. Kinski gone missing is by all means a world disaster.

For Kinski holds some of the world's important secrets---he is the only key to the world's powerful weapons and defense systems against the alien invaders.

"I'm telling you all, the old wretch has done the inevitable!" Mr. Sung Jong Hee, the Korean President, insinuated vehemently to his fellow head of nations seated round General Dunreft's oval conference table. On a short notice, all the Presidents and Prime Ministers had flown from different parts of the world for this emergency meeting presided over by General Maxwell Dunreft, the appointed head of two dominant Earth institutions: the World Government and the WDF, collectively known as the System.

"Gentlemen, for all we know, Kinski is just pulling another 'slipping into oblivion act' like he did a few years ago," British Prime Minister Hutchison offered. "We cannot say he defected for certain,"

"Defected? Why would he do that?" President Cornwall of Australia questioned derisively. "And how would he do that? And how is that even possible? How would he leave the premises of WDF without us knowing? How could he bring himself to the enemy's stronghold when they are utterly untouchable?"

"We are talking about Kinski here, the genius! Nothing may be impossible for that man!" the Japanese representative pointed out.

"We all know the why," responded the Singaporean president to Cornwall. "He himself gave us the idea. As to how is what stumps us from the theory,"

"Well, for all we know, Kinski might have stumbled upon a way to be in conference with these silent invaders. Who knows what covert conspiracy they have come up with," theorized the Canadian president, Albert Townsend.

"That's jumping too far ahead, Mr Townsend," thwarted the British prime minister.

"One thing is clear here. Kinski is practically insane and we all realized that from recent events. His head needed to be downright screwed tight because his brain's overloaded," the Russian president minced. "I'd say he has made good on his threat and this we should investigate!"

"Then indeed if the assumption that Kinski defected is true, we all know what this means," shared the US President.

"It would spell the end of the world," concluded Germany's President despondently.

General Dunreft, the incumbent president of the United World (UW) cum commander-in-chief of the World Defense Federation (WDF), sat there listening, aware of every word spoken and aware of his own thoughts as well as of the world being at the brink of surrender if the assumption of Kinski's defection is indeed true. The war may have finally reached its culmination... the war that began 10 years ago when Earth was taken in surprise by the approach of the enemy from unknown parts of the universe.

Before the siege, Earth would have no way of defending itself. Its concerns during such a time revolved around ongoing civil wars and global conflicts---all but political internal affairs of the planet. The universal concern then had always been merely about the impediments of space exploration. Then the whole world halted in attention and turned their sights to the skies as a throng of UFOs, a great number of them at that, was detected by NASA entering the solar system --- signaling the start of a new world era.

Earth was never the same afterwards. A paradigm shift took place. The nations became one, united under one government, brought about by the realization that in the vast universe, our own kind is our own and only ally.

Around that time, the previously missing scientist, Kinski, came from out of the shadows, like a knight bearing the sword of redemption. He brought with him his inventions, prototypes of everything that the world needed for safety and defense against the invaders, like he had anticipated this cataclysm all along even before space satellites can. His prototypes revolutionized and advanced Earth's space technology overnight. And for one thing, he brought with him the Earth Barrier System, saving the world from doom.

The barrier, a powerful force field enveloping Earth's atmosphere thwarted the invaders' apparent hostile plans of gaining planetary entry and worldwide scale destruction. Kinski basically pre-empted them --- like he had anticipated this alien plan. No one however can question Kinski. He promised to save the world, in return, the world and its leaders are at his whims.

All of Kinski's armament contribution he offered without a single compensation, except for a condition --- not to bother asking him anything, which the WDF honored up to this day. No one can be bothered to talk to the erratic and difficult old man any way. Kinski only talks sense when it comes to explaining the mechanics of his inventions. As for anything else, he just won't or can't talk with personable humane sense.

As for the enemy's intention, 10 years have passed, it remained unknown. For their own reasons it seems, they kept silent, remained hovered on Earth space, and everyday they would bombard Earth with mindless attacks. Kinski offered no notion as well.

Today, with the priceless barrier system efficiently at work, Kinski is hailed indispensable. The secrets and knowledge of the barrier he kept to himself. And despite being the most unlikable person, he is the most respected among the world leaders. The world is in fact at his mercy.

They bowed down to his every whim...well, except for that 'one thing' which now led the System to the current uncalled for situation...

The episode three months ago played again in Dunreft's mind...in this same room...

"You can't do this!" Kinski's fist slammed furiously on the table. "How dare you conspire against me!"

"Professor, please calm down," Dunreft called out from the opposite end of the oval conference table. "Don't take this irrationally,"

"And now I'm the one who's irrational! Me? Irrational?!" the professor lashed out. He was visibly livid; veins were pushing out of his pale forehead.

The board members sat flinching around him. They are use to angry fits by the mad scientist but never 'really' use to it.

The reason for this strong remonstration is his latest invention, an nuclear bomb of some kind, which had been denied testing in the pacific. Who wouldn't think twice about it when it would have an impact of five hydrogen bombs --- possibly, enough to destroy the Earth even before the aliens could. Clearly, Kinski is out of his sane mind.

"Professor, please consider the danger of this," PM Hutchison began. "Think about it---"

"Now I'm the one who's not thinking!" the old man interjected fiercely. "This bomb could wipe out the entire enemy stronghold and you refuse it!"

"It also has the power to wipe us all. It's too dangerous. Testing it can have too many horrible consequences," put in Dunreft.

Kinski suddenly smiled sinisterly. "I guarantee, it's going to be very safe,"

The conference members could only stare meekly at him. It has been known accordingly from his medical records that Kinski's psycho-mental health had been declining for years. His genius remains of extreme level but on the other end of the spectrum he is mentally ill. They can't trust the safety of humanity in a lunatic's hands now even if they did before.

"Professor, please sit down,"

The angry eyes came back again. "No, I won't sit down! How dare all of you to defy me! You'll pay for this! If you won't let me use this bomb on the enemy, then I will use it on you! You'll regret you ever did this to me!"

Those were his last words before he stormed out of the room. Well, in fact, that was the last Dunreft have heard from him. In the next few days, the scientist had been particularly aloof to everyone. Well, not that it was anything new, but this time he never came out of his manor, a special housing for him within the confines of Sybil. Everyone wondered but merely deduced that he may be just be busy as usual inside his restricted and private lab.

Kinski's doors remained closed for the next four weeks until Dunreft ordered an inspection on Kinski. When there was no response from Kinski from behind the doors, they broke through it and found no sign of Kinski.

General Dunreft was back in the present now. He stood up from his seat, silencing everyone with the move. "Gentlemen," he began, "It is a possibility. Kinski may have defected. Through what means, we do not know, but he may have. We'll have to consider that notion. We need to be ready for anything," he then paused contemplatively before saying, "Kinski is not one to be taken lightly." He had to put it that way considering Kinski's unstable mentality.

Everyone nodded.

"What do you suggest we do, general?" the US President threw in.

The Korean president stood up. "We can't just sit and wait. We need to find him or at least communicate with him,"

Dunreft bowed and shook his head. "Yes, we need to launch a full scale operation in finding Kinski, to be executed by the Intelligence Division. In the meantime, we need to bring in his daughter,"

Everyone looked surprised at what they just heard.

"The prof has a daughter?"

Dunreft nodded. "She must be 20 by now,"

"We didn't know about that," everyone uttered in their own words but basically saying the same thing.

"Kinski had wanted it that way," Dunreft told them. No further explanations needed. They all understood immediately.

"By what means can she help?"

"In truth, I do not know yet. However, the fact is she is our only link to Kinski. We have to bring her into custody,"

"To blackmail the professor?" the Korean president queried.

"That's an option," Dunreft said..

"You reckon that she might know something, General?" Hutchison asked.

"That's a thought. As of now, we have to act fast." He pressed a button on his armchair and Commander Luxor's voice was heard from the intercom.

"Yes, general?"

"Commence mission to bring in professor Kinski's daughter as soon as possible by all means,"

"Kinski's daughter? But we are not suppose to do tha--"

"We have no choice. She might be the only one who can help us right now,"

The commander nodded, understanding the inevitability of such option.

"I understand, general,"

"You must retrieve her immediately. Order intelligence to act fast and find her whereabouts,"

"No need to trace her," the commander responded eagerly. "I think I very much have an idea where to find her,"

"Fill us in then,"

"The WAC,"

That made Dunreft smile. "Of course!" he exclaimed. Where else could Kinski's daughter be at present but in the upcoming World Academic Convention? She would be attending this year's convention, no doubt about it!

"I will deploy an undercover to the airship as soon as possible,"

"Who would that be, commander?"

"Lieutenant Phil Wilson. He is one of the finest in Intelligence Division. Prudent and diplomatic. He will go with an assist,"

"Good. It is highly imperative that he completes this mission." Dunreft quipped. Then contemplatively he was lost in thought.

'Ava Kinski...it's been 6 years...'