Alien Intruders!

          "And what we need now are answers." Chis face was beat red
          with frustration. All machinery had stopped; nothing electrical that
          is. And some people had just vanished. There were riots and looting.
          Chris was not prepared to command a non-mechanized urban war.
          A General needs results.

          "Ah we have set up carrier pigeons in case of an E.M. pulse. Sir."
          A hasty second thought in the doomsday package.
          Chris took some aspirin, "Do we have any communications; Lieutenant?"
          "Ah we haven't released a pigeon yet. Sir." the Lieutenant saluted.
          "Why don't you do that? And send the bird to central command!
          With a request for orders!" Chris wrote up the message in code on a
          tiny folded peace of paper.

          "Have our scouts come back?" the General growled.
          The Lieutenant straightened up and saluted, "No. Sir! We have sent out more
          recon. Sir!" Chris took a deep breath and sat down beside the massive
          radio communication center that was useless.
          "So, lets assume we are isolated. How long can we hold this bunker?"
          the General moved the kerosene lamp over some maps.
          "There is enough canned supplies for a hundred men for 1 year. Sir!"
          the Lieutenant replied with a salute.

          "And we have two school buses of cadets. Oh, and my security detachment
          has gone missing on reconnaissance. That leaves about 40 men and women.
          Just enough for Noah's arch." Chris laughed and slapped the Lieutenant on
          the shoulder. "Keep a tight perimeter." the General added, "Release the
          pigeon.."

          The scouts returned after dark.
          They reported empty streets and vacant buildings.
          The few remaining civilians were non-responsive and wandering aimlessly.
          "Well, I guess will just hold up here." the General prepared for bed.
          "Sir! There is a civilian that wishes to speak to you." the Lt snapped a salute.
          "Okay. Let 's here it." Chris looked at the shadowy figure approaching.
          "It is has been a longtime, since I have been in the military." the old man
          said; "I am Estes Santiago. I know what is happening. You see this is the
          Rapture prophesied in the Apocalypse." The General raised his eyes to
          his Lieutenant: "Get this man some food and bedding."
   
          "Oh? Let me show you." the old man raised his hands and the darkened
          room was filled with a bright light.
          "You see? This has all been planned in Genesis. Adam and God were
          united and God lives on inside of us.
          We are the ancient race of travelers. Adam's seed comes from Heaven."
          the old man lowered his hands and the room was darkened again.
          The General stood with his Lieutenant in shock.
         
          "Your an Exterrestrial?" Chris aimed his gun at the old man.
          "The bloodlines were set in all of us long before recorded time.
          It is our destiny to be reborn immortal in this Paradise." the old man
          grew radiant and young.
          The General could feel the energy pulsating in his veins
          and then he vanished.
          "Where is the General?!" the lieutenant shouted at the man.
          "Has returned to the mother ship in orbit.
          This population has grown too large for this planet.
          Some will be taken to new worlds for new seeding of younger races."
          the old man vanished.
          The Lieutenant ran out to the cadets. They were still there.
          "We will remain at base.. until the carrier pigeon returns." he said
          and walked stiffly back to the command center.

          "and the meek shall inherit the earth." a voice said.
          The Lieutenant spun about, but could find no one who spoke it.

          =+=