What does the future hold for mankind?

ETA: A FUTURE TALE encompasses the long-term interaction existing between extraterrestrials and earth bound humans. Published works of this nature often have a negative slant. ETA presents scientific data and spiritual philosophies that are inspiring and informative. A story that has never been told before, and needs to be told now, ETA stands in a class of it's own.

Beginning with the destruction of a planet the story centers around a group of advanced humans living on a space ship and a group of people living on earth whose positions are interchangeable. Conflicts arise when two people, separated by time and space, come together in eternal marriage and journey to a new colony. The arduous task of initiating a training program to prepare humans for life in that colony keep ETA staffers busy. As the nations of the world prepare for the earth changes, a woman, experienced in living in space, meets the challenge of starting a new life on earth. It is a tale about immortal life and the evolution of the human species.

Beyond the completion of the story are additional pages that present the philosophical material of ETA's training program. Although written as fiction the characters and events are known to the authors.

Projection of forthcoming global events/future planning division, prepared by ETA, September 29, 1999

1999-2010.  Outbreak of nuclear war in mid-east.  Potential for escalation.
Britain unilaterally out of EEC.  Eventually governed by US military governor.
Mideast war escalates, involves Official Russia and US.
Unofficial Russia aids Islamic Jihad.  China sees advantage and moves east to Mongolia and south into Asia.  Japan moves into Philippines.

2000-2010: Increasing geothermal activity worldwide.  Global volcanic activity infusing atmosphere with debris.  Result: Band of dust 3,400 miles wide lasting 5 to 7 years.  Effect: Insufficient sunlight for major food production.  Earthquake activity, Russia, eastern seaboard of Canada, northeastern US, mid-west, Georgia, Alaska, California.  Japan, earthquakes compounded by appearance of major sink holes.  During this period wind patterns will change radically and wind speeds of up to 400 miles per hour will occur.

Solutions: Excavate vast pits one mile square and sixty feet deep into the permafrost of Alaska and Siberia for storage of grain, rice and other foods.  A laser directed from the international space station to excavate mile wide trenches along the length of those coastlines most at risk from tsunami damage.  The depth and distance from shore would vary according to the coastal shelf.  The effect would be to interrupt the tidal surge as it rushed inland.

Do you have any specific time markers for the really major upheavals Ian asked David?

Yes, I do.  A collision of two bodies, one composed of ninety four percent iron ore, is anticipated within the solar system.  This is what will trigger the most devastating geophysical  events.  Hopefully by then many will have chosen to evacuate, but for those still on Earth, the thing to watch for would be when the stars shine red at night and the sun appears to go backwards at midday.  When these phenomena occur,  There will be four days before any cataclysmic events take place.

When the leaders came out of seclusion they were surprised to see, not panic, but order and efficiency. The simple acts of cooperation by ordinary people showed them that they could work together to preserve their heritage as human beings and inheritors of the earth.

ETA was preparing a new colony and was inviting the people of planet Earth to send their representatives to meet with ETA at a global conference in the year 2005.

Norah Crowley a bag lady from Chicago knew how to survive like a scavenger with perseverance and strength. Lexi knew that her life skills outweighed any academic ones and quickly circled Norah's name.

Lexi stood silently before the Council of the East Star. She wasn't sure why she had been summoned, but knew it was important.

Lia was to continue her philosophy class during the ten day run to Asteroid B. She put up the transparency for her students to copy.

Awakening to your eternal possibilities by activation of the three-fold flame. Rebalancing of karma. Walking the four-fold path. The function of love is to sustain life not to assist it. Releasing thoughts, desires and ideas in intervals of thirty-three minutes.

On earth many fond farewells were being said. The transportees were excited to begin the great adventure, and those staying behind were proud and happy to know that those pioneers were their own family and that they were going to begin a new experiment in living that would be a beacon for future generations.

The early morning air had an icy chill to it. As Lexi awoke from a disturbed sleep she lay in bed for several minutes trying to sort out the thoughts racing through her mind. She was usually good at understanding the symbols and events of her dreams, but this particular morning everything seemed to be distorted somehow, as if the events of the night were covered in a thick, gray fog. Since remembering her dreams was always easy for her, the sensation of forgetting made her feel uncomfortable. She knew that most of her dreams were prophetic in nature, and that the people of Orisus relied on her to forecast upcoming events pertinent to their well being. Frustrated by her forgetfulness she pulled back the covers of her soft bed and wandered down the corridor of the modest dome shaped home she shared with her parents.

As she walked into the dining area she saw her mother and father sitting at the table, bundled in their warmest clothes and eating their meager breakfast. She knew that today her friends from the Astar were planning to stop by for a brief visit and to refuel their ships for the remainder of their journey home to Urtiquir in the Pleiades. With the enlightenment of the Pleiadians millennia ago had come the knowledge of cosmic energy forces. Out of this knowledge has arisen the Astar, huge and magnificent, a true Star Voyager. And so had begun the Pleiadian interaction with the rest of the universe. Orisus, a terra-formed planetoid, served as a way station where ships from all over the galaxy stopped for refueling and maintenance. Lexi was accustomed to interacting with beings from afar, but today was different. Her special friends were coming and everyone was looking forward to their visit, for it had been quite a while since they had seen each other.

As Lexi took a seat next to her mother and reached for a piece of quinka fruit from the basket on the table, her father, Carilo Allbright, began talking.

"Good morning child, did you sleep well?" he inquired in a strong steady voice that matched his sturdy, well built frame.

"No, Lexi replied drowsily as she carefully peeled the prickly pine-like needles of the quinka tree from the soft chewy nut. "I tossed and turned all night long, and when I woke this morning I felt an icy cold chill pierce right through me. It wasn't just uncomfortable, it was downright scary. As if something bad was about to happen."

"Well," her father said "the heating system is malfunctioning again. I think it's the planetary lineups triggering more magnetic disturbances. Your grandfather and I plan to check it out after breakfast. Hopefully it will be resolved before our visitors arrive. Try not to worry. If something unforeseen happens, you can be sure it will be in accordance with the great plan," he said.

Since her father, who was a scientific expert in applied engineering, and her grandfather, Aliah, a jack-of-all-trades, were planning to check into the problem Lexi relaxed a little. She still thought it was odd that she couldn't remember what she had been dreaming about. She wanted to tell her parents about her forgetfulness but was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

Knowing that it was her grandfather, Lexi jumped up from the table to greet him.  Lexi and Aliah had a deep kinship with one another. He was somewhat of a comedian, and always made her laugh no matter how disturbed she might be.

"Good morning, grandfather," Lexi, said, giving him a hug as he entered.

"Good morning, sunshine," Aliah replied as he took her hand in his and danced her around the kitchen. "How are you today?"

"Better now that you are here,"Lexi replied laughingly as she peered into his caring eyes.

"Pull up a seat and have a bite to eat with us, Aliah. You men have a busy day ahead of you," Shara said in a motherly voice.

Aliah settled his small short body on a chair next to Lexi and for the next forty-five minutes he entertained everyone with his funny stories. After breakfast Aliah and Carilo left for the underground installation that housed the planetary environmental systems to take a look at the heating problem. Lexi and her mother began to attend to the morning chores and preparation of food for their guests, who would be arriving on Orisus later that day.

Lexi was looking forward to her friend's visit. She hadn't seen Lia Liannus for almost a year and they had a lot of catching up to do. Her parents had relieved her of routine afternoon chores so she could spend time with her friend. The morning wore on and Lexi soon forgot about her restless night and eagerly prepared for Lia's arrival.

As Aliah and Carilo made their way to the technical outpost many of their neighbors came out of their homes to greet them.  A few of the men boarded their runabouts and followed behind. There was much work to do and time was running short.  When they arrived at the site there were many people hard at work preparing the landing platforms and checking the refueling stations for the arrival of the Astar. Carilo and Aliah checked in with the other workers and then got busy on the heating system.

It was getting close to noon. When a lunch break was called Aliah hopped aboard a runabout and headed inland to the maintenance storage depot to pick up some parts. On his short journey the runabout started acting up. The engine coughed and sputtered sporadically, and when he finally arrived at the parts department he requested another runabout for his return journey. Parts in hand, he started to head back towards the cool mountain air of the work station, grateful to escape the desert heat of the planets interior.

At the same time Lexi and her mother, Shara, were having troubles of their own. The three large ovens that were built into the wall next to the sinks weren't working properly and the lighting system, powered by a solar ray converter, was shorting out. Pushing her silver gray hair away from her tanned, angular face and taking off the cooking smock, Shara turned to Lexi. "I'm going to the neighbor's house to see if someone can help us. Would you please go to the greenhouse and pick some more vegetables for the salad? Be careful not to disturb the new shoots."

"Okay, Mother," Lexi said, somewhat absent mindedly. She took a large basket off the shelf and glanced out at the greenhouse that her mother took so much pride in.

Shara Allbright was a horticulturist, and everyone in the community relied on her production of fresh, delicious vegetables. The variable weather conditions and strong winds of Orisus made greenhouses mandatory for growing plants and medicinal herbs and this was Shara's specialty.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Lexi walked across the spacious kitchen and reached for the glass handle of the door. Within seconds she felt that same icy chill shoot through her, and before she had time to analyze it a horrendous roar echoed throughout the house.  As the floor began to tremble with a violent force and the walls of the kitchen began to buckle under the impact she remembered her dream.

"Oh my god," she yelled as she ran from the house. Outside she saw people running frantically towards the emergency shuttles. "Mother, where are you?" Lexi screamed. Although she couldn't see her mother through the thick smoke that covered the rocky landscape she heard her yell.

"Lexi, hurry, get aboard. I'll take the next shuttle."

"No, I want to go with you," Lexi cried as someone grabbed her arm and pushed her aboard a craft. Within moments the shuttle was airborne.

Lexi quickly made her way through the maze of frantic people and found an empty seat by the window. The craft started to rock and pivot as it was pulled into the atmospheric turbulence. As the shuttle tossed and swayed loose equipment flew across the cabin and she felt several pieces of icy cold steel pierce into her right side. Lexi's slender body was thrown into the bulkhead and her head hit the window with stunning force, rendering her unconscious. The man sitting next to her immediately sat her upright and bean removing the steel slivers from Lexi's body. As the last piece of steel was pulled from her side she began to regain consciousness. The man wrapped her injured side with his shirt and wiped the blood from her head.

Remembering that her mother was still on Orisus, Lexi immediately looked out of the window. The blood from her wounds smeared against the bulkhead as she peered through the glass at the chaos on the land below. The mountains that had once soothed and comforted her were now a mass of molten lava. The streams and rivers where she had once played were rising at an incredible rate. The dome where she had lived was now an empty shell, and the greenhouse that her mother had taken such pride in was in complete ruins.

She scanned the once fertile landscape with pleading eyes as she watched her friends and family disappear into the fiery gray haze, and she knew that she would never be able to return to her home again. Her planet, beautiful Orisus, had been destroyed in the twinkling of an eye and everything she loved was buried beneath the rubble.

Lia Liannus was still on duty as ETA's telemonitors aboard the Astar began showing the breakup of the planet Orisus. As soon as the first pictures appeared on the viewing screen Lia let out a loud scream.

"No, she yelled as tears started to well up in her eyes. "David, David, come quick, look at this!"

Upon hearing her cry David Nazar, her superior and the head of ETA, stopped what he was doing and approached Lia's side. Seeing the cataclysmic events, he at once opened the fleet broadcast channel and said with a hurried voice, "This is David Nazar. Orisus is disintegrating. All standby crews report to rescue craft. Launch from bays one, five, six and seven immediately. Course change--heading 00.19 angle to orbit for full warp fly-by. Hold spatial orbit at 15,000 kilometers.

As Lia heard the distant humming of the launch bays opening and watched the rescue  squads speed towards Orisus an eerie silence fell over the bridge of the Astar.  For several moments no one spoke.  Then in a frustrated voice, Lia exclaimed, "David, why is this happening?  What can we do to help?"

"Lia, my dear," David answered.  "Sometimes things happen for reasons beyond our knowing.  All we can do is to try and rescue as many people as possible and have faith that God will take care of the rest."

Lia's petite body rose from her chair abruptly.  "If God is so loving then this shouldn't be happening.  These people are caring souls, they don't deserve this tradgedy.  Maybe God isn;t loving at all and doesn't give two hoots about anyone!"  She cried angrily.

"Lia, stop this nonsense now," David said in a firm voice as he grasped her arm and turned her towards him.  "I know you're upset, we all are.  But never say such things about our Creator.  I won't allow that kind of talk in my presence, do you understand me?"

Lia could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as a mixture of tears and perspiration trickled into her blonde hair, making it stick to her head in a stringy mass.  Her blue eyes, full of despair took on a look of shame, and she buried her head into David's chest and began to cry.

"Oh, David, I'm so sorry.  I didn't mean any disrespect to the creator," she said between sobs.

"Lia, I'm not  the one you owe an apology to" David replied in a caring voice.

"I understand," Lia said.  Silently she offered up an earnest apology to the Source.

David thought about how much he disliked being so hard on his goddaughter.  He understood the pain she was feeling, but realized that his harshness was necessary to keep her from falling apart during this emergency.  He needed everyone on the crew to perform their tasks efficiently if the rescue were to be successful.
 

As Lia heard the distant humming of the launch bays opening and watched the rescue squads speed towards Orisus an eerie silence fell over the bridge of the Astar.  For several moments no one spoke.  Then, in a frustrated voice, Lia exclaimed,  "David, why is this happening?  What can we do to help?"

"Lia, my dear,"  David answered.  "Sometimes things happen for reasons beyond our knowing.  All we can do is to try and rescue as many people as possible and have faith that God will take care of the rest."

Lia's petite body rose from her chair abruptly. "If God is so loving then this shouldn't be happening.  These people are caring souls, they don't deserve this tragedy.  Maybe God isn't loving at all and doesn't give two hoots about anyone!"  She  cried angrily.

 "Lia, stop this nonsense now,’  David said in a firm voice as he grasped her arm and turned her towards him. "I know you're upset, we all are.  But never say such things about our Creator.  I won't allow that kind of talk in my presence, do you understand me?"

Lia could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as a mixture of tears and perspiration trickled into her blonde hair, making it stick to her head in a stringy mass.  Her blue eyes, full of despair took on a look of shame, and she buried her head into David's chest and began to cry.

"Oh, David, I'm so sorry.  I didn't mean any disrespect to the creator," she said between sobs.

"Lia, I'm not the one you owe an apology to"  David replied in a caring voice.

"I understand,"  Lia said.  Silently she offered up an earnest apology to the Source.

David thought about how much he disliked  being so hard on his goddaughter.  He understood the pain she was feeling, but realized that his harshness was necessary to keep her from falling apart during this emergency.   He needed everyone on the crew to perform their tasks efficiently if the rescue were to be successful.

Regaining her composure and feeling a little embarrassed by her outburst, Lia quietly returned to her post at the viewing screen and got busy recording the data that was coming in.  She could hear David's voice in the background, but her thoughts were consumed by Lexi and her family.  The thought of them trapped on Orisus filled her with anxiety.

"Oh Great Spirit, please let the Allbrights be spared,"  she silently pleaded.  Almost instantly she heard a voice come over the radio.

"This is Rescue one calling ETA."

"ETA here, go ahead, Rescue one."

"The surface of Orisus is covered in volcanic ash,  no survivors found,"  the voice said.

David glanced around the room at the troubled faces of his crew. "Keep looking Rescue one.  ETA out."

"We copy.  Rescue one out."

"This is Rescue five calling ETA, do you read me?"

"Yes, go ahead, Rescue five.  What's your status?"

"We're scanning the Eastern side of the planet.  No life forms detected.  Should we return home?"

"No, keep searching and report back to us,"  David ordered.

"We copy, Rescue five out."  A heavy silence fell over the bridge as everyone wondered whether  survivors would be found.

Although no one spoke, there was an overwhelming sense of loss in the air.  The first  officer broke the silence. "Sir, I'm picking up a signal. It's too faint to make out completely, but it sounds like Captain Smiley."

"Quick,"  David replied,  "lock into their coordinates, realign all external antennae to their transceivers."

"Yes, sir,"  the officer said.

Within moments the whole bridge could hear Captain Smiley's voice. "ETA.  ETA.  This is Rescue six.  We are being pulled into Orisus' magnetic field.   We're going down.   We're  going down."

Before David could reply the transmission cut out.

"David, look,"  Lia said.

The viewing screens showed Captain Smiley and his small crew rock and shake under the impact of the magnetic force field as the rescue craft burst into flames.  Before anyone had time to digest the loss a loud hurried voice spoke.

"Rescue seven calling ETA.  Come in please, come in."

"ETA here,"  David said in a shaky voice.  "Go ahead."

"We are taking on passengers now. Request permission to come aboard. Require emergency medical team to stand by.  Over."

"We copy.  Permission granted.  Medical team standing by.  ETA out."  Instantly David left the bridge to organize a medical team,  placing the first officer in charge.

The viewing screens continued to relay events as they were taking place.  Lia and the rest of the crew could see the waters rising to great heights, covering everything in their path.  The fiery glow of molten lava started to diminish as the waters spread across the face of the planet.  They saw hundreds of people running towards the emergency shuttles, which were then unable to get off the ground because of the volcanic ash which saturated the propulsion systems.  One by one they watched women, children and men drop to the ground, unconscious, as the volcanic fumes overtook them.  Knowing so many, so fast, were making their transition back to spirit the crew members aboard the Astar bowed their heads in silent prayer.

Lia's prayers were interrupted by a loud beeping sound.  "Incoming message," Lia said.

The first officer asked, "Have you been sending out the homing signal, Lia?"

"Yes, sir.  I've been transmitting  the Astar's exact location and instructions for boarding for over an hour now."

"Good.  Open up the channel, Lia."

As Lia opened up the line she heard a faint voice say, "Hello, ETA?  Request permission for two shuttles to land on the lower deck."

"Permission granted, and welcome aboard,"  the first officer responded.

Knowing that two shuttles from Orisus would soon be landing on the Astar, Lia had a hard time remaining at her post.  She wanted to run down to the landing platform and welcome them aboard.  She also wanted to see if the  Allbrights were among the survivors.
She asked to be relieved of her duties for a few moments but the chief officer denied her request.  She was about to stubbornly persist, but she remembered her recent outburst with David and decided not to cause any more problems.  Reluctantly she attended to the duties at hand trying to put her curiosity and concern out  of her mind.

The information filtering in through the monitors informed her that a few emergency shuttles had escaped in time but because of the magnetic disturbances no one was able to track these shuttles.   Even the vast tracking system aboard the Astar was unable to detect any signals from the small emergency shuttles and they were feared lost.  She could only  hope that the Allbright family would be on one of the craft that were about to land on the Astar.

As the passengers were helped out of the shuttles and into the medical treatment room David Nazar sent a message  to the bridge.
"Lia," the chief officer said,  "David wants you to go to sick bay at once."
"Yes, sir,"  Lia replied. Having had only basic med-tech training Lia couldn't understand why David requested her presence, but this wasn't the time to ask questions.

With hurried steps she quickly left her telemonitors and made her way down to the medical department.  As she walked through the door her heart went out to the injured and devastated people  laid  before her.  When she saw David bending over a small bed in the far corner of the room she made her way towards him.  As she got closer a familiar face looked up at her and with a grateful heart she  flung her arms around her injured friend.

"Oh, Lexi, I was so worried about you and your family.  Thank God you're here with us now.  We'll make sure you all get the best of care."

Lexi tried to speak but she was too weak from her injuries and managed only a faint smile.  As Lia looked up  with questioning eyes at David he nodded  and left Lexi's bedside to check the telemonitors.   Immediately Lia pulled up a stool and took Lexi's hand in hers.

Meanwhile, Aliah Allbright wearily disembarked from the second rescue craft and made his way to the medical unit.  As he was ushered in the door by the medical technicians on duty he immediately sensed Lexi's presence in the room.

"Excuse me,"  Aliah said to one of the medical technicians,  " my granddaughter, Alexis Allbright -- is she okay.  Can I please see her?"

"Yes,"  said the technician. " Miss Allbright is here, but she's being examined by the doctor right now.  I'm afraid you'll have to wait a while before you can see her."

Disappointed but understanding, Aliah saw to his own injuries, which proved to be no more than bumps and bruises, and he was soon released.  He assured himself Lexi would be okay and then  went from sick bay to give David a detailed account of what had taken place.   As he entered the control room and approached David he heard a long sigh of relief emanate from David's lips.

"Aliah,"   David exclaimed, "are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm okay.   A bit shaken but that's to be expected,"  Aliah said.   "I estimate that only a hundred or so have survived.

Unfortunately, I don't know if Carilo and Shara were among the survivors."

"Do you know what course your shuttles were programmed for?"  David inquired with  concern.

"Our emergency shuttles were programmed to head for distant Earth in the event of a catastrophe.  But I don't know how many of our

people landed safely.  I haven't been able to communicate with them telepathically yet.  Everything happened so fast," Aliah said, waving his hands in the air in exasperation.

"Try not to worry, Aliah,"  David replied in a gentle voice. "We'll make some inquiries as soon as we finish scanning the surface of Orisus."

Feeling a bit weak from everything that had taken place Aliah slipped into a soft leather chair and nodded silently at David.  Alone with his thoughts, he knew that it was a direct course from Orisus to Earth.  The emergency shuttles were preprogrammed and should have no trouble reaching that destination.  Once there, his fellow Orisans would soon make telepathic contact with others of their race who, for generations, had been at work among the Earth humans, gently trying to prepare them for the cosmic changes which would soon be taking place.

Aliah had always felt that if he and his fellow citizens were called upon to abandon Orisus it would be a signal from spirit that time was short and they were needed on Earth.  It had never occurred to him that the call of spirit would be so devastating. Reviewing his thoughts, he became concerned about Lexi lying in sick bay without the comforting words of her parents.  With a troubled heart he said good-bye to David, rose from his chair and made his way to her bedside, where Lia was attentively watching over her friend.

Upon seeing Aliah, Lia jumped up and threw her arms around his short rotund body.  Gazing into each other's eyes, their silent exchange shared more than words could convey.  Quietly Aliah pulled up another stool and took his place next to Lia. A look of concern came over his face.  Lexi didn't look well.  Her auric field was weak.  Although he knew the doctors were doing everything they could for her, he softly placed his right hand on the top of her head and allowed healing energy to flow into her from his aged hand.

After a few moments Lia began to speak.  "Has anyone been able to find out where Lexi's parents are?"
 "No, not yet,"  Aliah replied somberly. "But take heart, Lia. The survivors of Orisus, however few they are,  can now serve as valuable mentors to those on Earth who will listen."  His voice was a monotone.

"On Earth?"  Lia exclaimed.  "Have they gone to Earth?"

Aliah nodded, and then said,  "The destruction of Orisus was not the result of our technology, but a natural disaster which, on a small planetoid the size of Orisus, could not have been avoided.  But on Earth, when the natural changes occur man's misuse of  technology will  serve to worsen the effects.  If our people can educate the populace of earth in the right use of energy many  great cataclysmic events may be avoided on that planet.  Try to remember there is no such thing as coincidence, Lia.  There is a purpose to everything, even a tragedy such as this."

When it became evident that all life was extinct on Orisus, David gave the order to recall the rescue  craft  and set  the  Astar's  course for her home base in the Pleiades.  Once the mother ship was safely in orbit around Urtiquir, their Pleiadian home planet, the landing craft transported many of the crew to the surface and they returned, tired and weary, to their families.

Lexi and Aliah went home with Lia.  As soon as they arrived Lia's mother, An-na,  ushered them in and made every effort to see they were comfortable.  After the grueling details of the events had been related to Lia's parents the three haggard travelers retired to their rooms and fell into a  deep sleep.