Hearing this and seeing Ace glance around once eragain their grasp of reality was tested as they began to remember how government secrets worked in movies and the gravity of the reality behind the movies.
“Let’s get moving, there a lot to do and the clock doesn’t stop.” Ace said as he began to guide his group up the stairs leading into the command post.
The double doors were about 10 feet each while there were multiple sets on just the front of the building separated by sections of beautifully designed stained glass windows.
Walking into the building was like walking into a Roman designed city hall.
There was an open design circular winding stairway at the back of the entryway one while along each side of the entrance were granite walls leading to a long corridor.
In the center of the winding stairwell sat a bust withe a plaque underneath that read “Moving the world one degree at a time.”above the bust was a mini replica aircraft model suspended like a chandelier.
Ace led them directly up the winding stairwell where they were greeted by more bust on each side at the top of the stairway that led them to a slightly smaller hallway with doors lining the granite walls.
“So first we’re going to chat with the kings and you guys can look at the contracts we drew up then we will head to the basement and do the power test.” Ace said as he began heading down the hall towards a door at the end of the eastern end of the building with a nameplate above the door that read, ‘General McArthy’.
They quickly arrived at the door where Ace did a formal knock that had a distinct pattern and tempo.
“Enter!” Echoed from in the room in a deep resonant voice prompting Ace to open the door.
When Ace opened the door the group could see the room was much larger than they had expected.
The roof clearance in the room was nothing short of impressive while the bookshelves and lined balcony sections with seating areas just made the room even more intimidating to the group.
“I never thought I’d see a bookshelf like this.
I guess it always had slipped my mind how movies usually have some bases in reality and people could be living some movies as their reality.” Jack said as he looked at the massive room.
As they walked past the doors threshold they got a better look into the room seeing that there were actually 3 stories of bookshelves in this room alone each with its own balcony area and seats.
At the middle of the room on each side was what could only be described as an elevator.
There was a large war room like table at the center of the room with a map of the world and many figurines and descriptions placed at different locations on the map.
Beyond the war room table was a single desk, where one person sat.
“Good morning General.
These are the new guys that Captain Aria brought in with the special contracts.” Ace said as he entered the room “Right right, take a seat at that table you guys I’ll grab the paperwork.
I can’t believe the project was actually completed which one of you guys are from the future we definitely need to speak.” The General spoke catching the group slightly off guard not expecting him to be so straightforward.
“Did you say one of us are from the future?!” Lucile exclaimed, she’d been privy to military secrets her entire life but someone actually being from the future was beyond her expectations even in the current state of the world.
“Yes, do me a favor and keep your dad out of the loop for now, I don’t want the world to become uglier than it already is and has been for so long.” General McArthy said looking directly at Lucile.
Hearing this and seeing the general look directly at her she remembered him from one of the military ceremonies her dad had forced her to attend when she was a bit younger.
After seeing she understood what he meant the general turned and stood on one of the elevator platforms on the side of the room that lifted him to the second level book shelf.
After retrieving 7 tablets and 7 small black duffle bags from a filing cabinet on that level he returned to the first level joining Ace and his team at the war table.
“Well, welcome to the FBSA, here are 7 tablets please make sure each one of you gets one also here are 7 bags make sure each one of you get one of these as well.
Inside of the bag is a bracelet that was made by one of our Kings within the FBSA these bracelets and his ability are linked so we can keep tabs on our members.
There bracelet also acts like a 2 way 3d video projector that lets you send and recieve holographic messages.
To use that function you will need to use the glasses and headset that are connected to the bracelet.
You can also use these devices to scan objects in your environment to gain information about what you’re looking at if it has been researched.
If it has not it will be added to a study database that a research team will be sent to handle.” The general spoke while ace’s group passed around the equipment.
As General McArthy finished speaking everyone had finished passing around the tablets and duffle bags.
Some of them had begun examining the bags and their contents while he spoke while the others began tinkering with the tablet.
“Once you guys get the tablets you should just need to scan your fingerprint on the unlock button at the bottom and it will register your biometrics and pull up your contract.
They go over salary, terms of work conditions and a specialty clause that allows you to withdraw from the contract or FBSA whenever or however you may choose even though that may be dangerous to us it is a risk we are willing to take for your co-operation.” The general spoke seeing Everyone had received their items.
Jack and Anne were pleasantly surprised to see based on their previous employment they would be receiving a pay raise, while the youths there were simply amazed at how much they would make at such a young age.
After reading through all of the terms and explaining to the group what they all meant everyone happily signed their contracts while Ace received a renewed contract for his updated role as team leader.
“Why did you guys start the time travel project?” Ethan asked almost immediately after everyone had finished signing getting everyone’s attention.
“You must have a lot on your mind about it to be so direct?
Well I could say it’s a long story but realistically speaking we realized humanity as a whole needed a fail safe in order to ensure our survival and interstellar travel to another habitable planet is honestly just as monumental of a task as time travel if not more.
The void of space is the most unforgiving environment in the universe one small mistake is certain death.
Those factors alongside a plethora of miscalculations made us realize the only real solution was the ability to start over, start differently.” The general spoke in a solemn tone as he thought about the battle mankind had always been engaged in with nature.
Hearing such heavy words about time travel being the only saving grace humanity had the room fell silent for a moment.
“What would have happened if the project wasn’t completed?” Jason was the first to speak up.
“Honestly this planets habitability has been decreasing since man gained intelligence outside of our beastly and animalistic nature.
From that point forward out survival on this planet and the greater universe has become a multifaceted gamble.
We were racing a planetary and resource timer, as the world population continued to climb.
Realistically speaking if the project were to fail we would be looking at a close to mass extinction event while our best minds would possibly have to work on the go on advancing our technology as we race time in interstellar travel to find a suitable home for us to relocate humanity within the next 1000, to 10000 years.
That’s assuming we don’t have a major scientific breakthrough that allows us to manipulate matter and energy itself structuring it into what we need.
Either way there no telling what could happen.
It’s always too early until it has happened.” The general spoke as he looked up towards the ceiling.
“How would you rate the current situation to the possibilities you just mentioned?” Anne said as her heart sank just thinking about the peril her descendants could face.
“Honestly, the current situation is much more favorable than either of those options, this is the dawn of a new humanity.
Our research teams have suggested that the planet itself has been somewhat reborn as global temperature is decreasing much faster than the rise took place over the past 50 or so years.
As well as the revival of some ancient species of microbes that they are suggesting are what helped evolve human consciousness to its current state.
This could also be what is awakening people’s latent potential for energy manipulation.” The general spoke causing the group to nod in approval.
“So I take it we’re just about done here?
I honestly don’t get what the big deal about traveling through time was, how can you guys be so sure this isn’t just an entirely different reality and the world you guys left is still facing the same trouble?
Or even worse maybe you all destroyed an entire reality of living beings and stole the bodies you’re currently in.” Ace spoke nonchalantly with a relaxed posture showing his displeasure with this glorious waste of time.
Aces words slightly shocked everyone present because there was no way to disprove any of his speculations aside from hope or trust.
“Hahaha I sure hope none of that is the case!
If any of you guys need me downstairs there is an admin office with multiple secretaries show one of them your wrist band and have them schedule us a meeting and I will gladly meet with you guys.
Hopefully I can see you on site of the time project, I am sure you will help us get a better understanding of what is happening right now.” The general said as he stood up and headed back towards his desk.
“Let’s get out of here it’s time for a little bit more excitement than just chatting about unknowable unknowns.” Ace said as he stood up and tossed his bag over his shoulder before heading out.
The group quickly followed behind as the exchanged departing greetings with the general.