Talk:X-Seven Trilogy

See Fly Paper:meta for comments about "Fly Paper" as a collaborative fiction project.

=Discussion of Fly Paper= Please add discussion of the story itself below.

Comments
Aids to the reader: list of characters and glossary. JWSchmidt 22:07, 29 May 2005 (UTC)

=
Naturally, the application of wiki to fiction writing collaboration, facilitating rewriting, can only offer immeasurably vast improvement over those ghawd-awful add-on stories or "rounders." But a better idea still, is to begin by discussion, even brainstorming.

Cross-over is the challenge of optimal and elegant configuration of diverse plot elements, without arbitrary, extraneous, contrived half baked contrivance.

And for 'The X-Files' in particular, rather than everyone being plucked out of time for the call to action by the Guardians of the Universe to stave off whatever ultimate catastrophe, thereby by leaving the writer struggling to find any story at all elsewhere entirely, or the Sliders, Sam Becket, Dr. Who or Gary Seven, simply stumbling into some completely unrelated x-file case or whatever convolutions of established and bloated 'X-Files' continuity, instead, indeed, the Sliders, Dr. Who or Gary Seven might conceivably become the subject of FBI investigation, creating all manner of far more interesting complications, for an adequate and appealing story.

The Sliders, Sam Becket, Dr. Who and Gary Seven are each entirely sufficient and intriguing as stand-alone x-files in and of themselves!

Indeed, let us begin simply by opening FBI files on Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln. Where is the mystery to investigate? What fragmentary information does the FBI already possess on Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln? Anything to pique Special Agent Mulder's interest?

And what complications and dilemmas might be created for Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln, by an investigation, in order thereby to generate conflict?

And what resistance and obstacles to his investigation must Mulder overcome?

And once these issues begin to flesh out, then the larger context of vast conspiratorial agendas may be brought into play: How is Gary Seven actually involved? Still preserving the Earth? Or by now has even Gary Seven become entangled and corrupted?

And how does Roberta Lincoln react?

What of Isis?

Then all that will be needed is a properly enigmatic conclusion.

Perhaps though still seeing himself as justified in saving the world, Gary Seven has been moving to ever darker extremes. Indeed, Gary Seven has fallen into the orbit of Cancer Man! Roberta Lincoln is concerned, even appalled. But Gary Seven only insists to Roberta Lincoln that she is out of her depth, and forces her away for her own safety, just before Isis (apparently) finally executes Gary Seven for crossing the line. Mulder arrives too late! Roberta Lincoln freezes him with the paralyze setting on Gary Seven's fountain pen and escapes.

Aaron Agassi --- http://www.FoolQuest.com/fiction.htm

contrived contrivance
Fine, contrived half baked contrivance is out. Yet, I wonder if carefully contrived contrivance is okay.Some people have never accepted the idea that Doggett and Reyes now run the x-files office. Special Agent Mulder is sometimes unhappy about leaving the FBI, but he now enjoys greater freedom of action. Anyhow, if the Lone Gunmen cannot hack into the FBI for needed information, Doggett and Reyes are only a phone call away.

We must contrive in order to pique Special Agent Mulder's interest? Nay! After a lifetime (er, how many times has he died?)..... The man is a walking auto-pique. He can sense a twitching alien tentacle at a distance of 12.4 parsecs. This is way past the point of waiting for plums to fall into one's lap. Mulder has spun his web, laid out fly paper, set baited traps and also made it known in dark alleys that he is available if the Mother Ship has a spare berth. Damn it, those aliens just do not want to play ball (unless it is only within the security of anonymity that protects players in the minor leagues). Fine, I have no objection to starting with Doggett and Reyes cluelessly stumbling their way into yet another alien contact episode as if it is just another ho-hum day at work.

But is there any real doubt about the bona fides of Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln? I swear I remember seeing them wearing white hats in TOS. Gary Seven gone to the dark side? No! I know there is still good in you! I thought the CSM was turned into atmospheric dust....did someone forget to erase his orbit? Yikes. Yes, a tension between Gary and Roberta is still there after several decades of close collaboration. Since they are not from the same technological rung of the ladder their relationship is loaded with more explosive potential than a president getting involved with an intern. Mulder arrives too late? <-- well, yes, he is known as "Sisyphus" to many mocking aliens. --JWSchmidt 20:23, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

beyond plot device
If you ask me which is faster and/or more powerful, a Federation Starship or an Imperial Star Destroyer, I will always answer that within the restrictions of science, plausibility and established continuity, a real script writer would then simply make up whatever the answers to suit the needs of whatever the plot. Likewise, the question of which agents investigate x-files is the question of when our story is set, a question as any other should to be determined entirely by whatever the needs of the plot, once a good story begins to emerge. Likewise no less, whether an x-file or a Lone Gunmen investigation or both, etc. Writing is rewriting!

And yes, everything must begin from decent hook for Mulder in the Garry Seven and Roberta Lincoln files, no matter how subtle, to launch the investigation and generate unique ideas and situations. Otherwise, anything less interesting must be contrived, such as a an entirely arbitrary and poorly motivated visit by Roberta Lincoln, full of painfully expository dialogue and leading only to formula.

And so, I press the same thought experiment: What is to be found in the Garry Seven and Roberta Lincoln files at the Federal Bureau of Investigation? Is there anything that Mulder alone might have noticed? -Even if it might be anyone else that ever follows up...

And yes, surely some Sisyphusian conclusion for the benefit of our poor long suffering seekers of truth can be managed! And yes, the question of decades character development for Garry Seven, Isis and Roberta Lincoln can remain open to broad possibilities, twists and surprises as per whatever the needs of a good yarn. Remember, Garry Seven himself is the x-file now. Just imagine poor Garry Seven in the clutches of Chris Carter!

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

==== "poorly motivated visit" <-- Poorly motivated....poorly motivated? Why beat around the bush? Why introduce softening euphemisms? Unless I am wrong, there is NO motivation introduced at all.

"entirely arbitrary" <-- It would not be hard for me to have never seen THE definitive explanation of the alien visitors behind the "mytharc" of the X-files. In the absence of knowing (or particularly caring) what might have been Carter's thoughts on the ultimate motivations of the aliens, producing such an explanation is my starting point for my X-files fanfic. I have sinned. I have little concern for being true to every quirk of the X-files series. In my view, the X-files series was not internally coherent (it could be I just do not "get it") and many aspects seemed slapped together from old and tired sci fi plot elements....I'm not complaining, the "slapping together" was done with more style than we have reason to expect from TV. I think the characters from the X-files are fun and I wanted to introduce them to an alternate reality in which the behavior of the aliens makes sense, at least to me. My account of what alien visitors to Earth might be doing fits well with the role played by Gary Seven in Star Trek TOS. It is fun for me to try to project Gary and Roberta 40 years into the future from their original roles in TOS. Of course, my sins multiply because I loathe the idea of transporter technology, particularly the sort that was sending Gary from here to there on his Mission to Earth. Again, I adopt characters and abandon what I feel are indefensible plot devices from TOS. Does Roberta running into Dana on the Moon for dinner seem "entirely arbitrary"? That is fine with me, dear reader. It is a mystery. Do you suffer disorienting disbelief? All will eventually be understood. There is method in this madness. I hope. I'm still thinking about exactly how to wrap it all up in "Moon Reyes".

"painfully expository dialogue" <-- Okay, I have a mental image of the whole looong scene of when Roberta meets Dana and I find it hilarious. I wish I could write well enough to force that image into the heads of readers. I grew up reading the work of Asimov and he accepted the idea that many people prefer fiction with less TALKING. However, I prefer the Asimov style of long conversations. I have no editor reminding me to include an average of 3.4 car chases per episode.

"formula" <-- It would not surprise me to learn that things I write can be categorized according to well-known literary (well, I question if what I write should be called literary in the sense of being artistic) formula. Sorry to say, I am so uncultured as to never have studied literature. Yes, I had teachers who tried to expose me to literature, but just as some people are color blind, I have a fairly severe defect in the brain regions that produce appreciation for literature. The type of fiction that appeals to me is very narrow, what I often think of as "fictional science", something most people probably dismiss as oxymoronic, but it makes perfect sense to me.

"the Garry Seven and Roberta Lincoln files" <-- I'm not clear in my thinking about what Gary and Roberta did during the 70s, 80s and 90s. Maybe they went off to Neptune and made babies. If so, the only thing about them in government files might be something like Roberta's arrest for marijuana possession in 1963. My thinking is that while Garry Seven is an interventionist, he actually does not make a habit of casual junkets to Earth. When there is an emergency situation he will go to Earth, but that does not happen very often. If he did come to the notice of an Earthly government, he would take action to destroy records pertaining to his activities on Earth. However, there is a chance that his activity on Earth could leave a trail that would be noticed. That was part of my plan for "Moon Reyes"....that components from one of his robotic operatives would be found in the debris of a plane crash.

But enough of my schemes. It sounds like you might have an idea for how to put Mulder onto Gary's trail. --JWSchmidt 01:52, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

anything at all
The implications are that Garry Seven and Isis do remain of Earth to take over operations personally. And my only idea whatsoever how to put Mulder on the trail remains to brainstorm whatever at all there might be to find in the Garry Seven and Roberta Lincoln files. That and the events. And by all means, let's start with that pot bust, why not? Anomalies, anyone?

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

==== "take over operations personally" <-- this need not be explained in detail in the story, but in order to create the story I'd like a clear idea of just what the "operations" are. Based on the Star Trek episode with Gary Seven, it seems like the basic idea is that he should be trying to help human civilzation on Earth develop and survive. In the X-files universe, there seems to be a variety of aliens who all have different motivations. Some alien forces seem to have better intentions towards Earth than do other alien factions. Technically, Gary is not an alien, but I assume that he is sponsored by an alien faction. How does Gary Seven interact with the various alien factions? --JWSchmidt 15:35, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

specifics
Garry Seven is a member of an elite human civilization transplanted off world and trained by mysterious secretive aliens. Supervisor Garry Seven, troubleshooting, only actually goes into the field himself after the discovery that the assigned field agents with whom all contact had been lost, were freshly dead in a random car accident. Subsequently, together with Isis, Garry Seven remains on Earth, continuing to employ Roberta Lincoln. After that, it rather depends upon whom one asks!

For Special Agent Fox Mulder, and for innovative fiction writing, it all begins with whatever the evidence for conspiracy theory regarding the fateful events of the turbulent year 1968 and the contents of the Garry Seven and Roberta Lincoln FBI files. Come to think if it, there is also the traffic accident report. Any other pertinent documented evidemce?

Let the brainstorm begin! Open those cold case x-files. What would we find therein? What anomalies to intrigue Mulder? What about it, folks? Who will rise to my challenge?

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

====

Dana Scully flips open her chirping cell phone and glances at the number of the caller. She recognizes it as being the number for FBI Special Agent Monica Reyes. Dana says, "Hello, Monica."

Agent Reyes does not take time for small talk. "Dana, we have a strange situation here and I am totally out of my element."

Dana briefly puzzles over how tense and psychologically rattled Monica sounds. Scully quickly decides to try to lighten the mood. "And good afternoon to you, Monica."

Monica's gravity does not lessen. "Sorry, Dana, I was rude. Good afternoon. I'm sorry, but there is a medical emergency that is spinning out of control."

These are the kind of words that cause Dana's heart to go ice cold. Dana guesses that something terrible has happened to Monica's partner. "Is it John?"

Monica sounds surprised, "What? No, John's fine." She realized the wrong turn that Dana's thoughts have taken. "I'm fine; this is about someone you do not know. Raphael Serra, age 71. Admitted to the Montreal Heart Institute 73 days ago with severe intracranial hemorrhage. Mr. Serra underwent brain surgery but never regained consciousness. Due to severe irreversible brain damage, he was taken off of life support 69 days ago, yet he is still alive."

Dana says, "69 days with no fluids?"

Monica exhales a long ragged breath. "Dana, it has been weeks since his doctors expected him to die. He was declared dead.....three weeks ago."

Dana asks, "Declared dead following cardiac arrest?"

Monica continued the account. "Mr. Serra was not on a cardiac monitor. The family was resigned to letting nature take its course and there was to be no medical intervention. When family and staff could no longer detect breathing or a pulse the attending physician signed a death certificate and the body was sent to a funeral home. Workers there noticed that body temperature was maintained and they were able to detect heart activity and a slow, shallow pattern of respiration. The patient was sent to McGill University Health Centre where he is still clinging to life."

Dana is growing impatient and wishes that Monica would get to the punch line. "Unusual, but I must assume there is something more that you have not told me."

Monica is clearly struggling for the words needed to describe the situation. "Okay, cling....I should not have said "clinging to life". He's gotten much better. His recovery reminds me of.....Mulder."

Dana's thoughts flash back to when Mulder "came back from the dead". (deadalive) Dana asks, "How much better?"

Monica sighs, "Still no higher brain activity, but the family interpreted the recovery as a miracle. First they called for intravenous fluids and then for a feeding tube. Kidney and liver function is now mostly recovered....the doctors suspect that Mr. Serra's body could remain in this state for years."

Dana shakes her head. She decides, no, it is not really like Mulder's recovery. Mulder had been in an altered physiological state due to a viral infection and he was able to recover only after the virus was inactivated. Unless....could Mr. Serra's immune system have defeated the virus? Dana asks, "Any indication of viral infection?"

Monica replies, "No, none detected. But tests were not done until the recovery was well under way. A virus could have been missed. But that's not the point. I turns out that Mr. Serra was the recipient of a transplanted heart, in 1968."

Scully says, "That's not possible. None of the early heart transplant recipients survived very long."

Monica's voice becomes firm, "Dana, I suppose that's what you were taught in medical school, but the Canadian's had this nailed down before they contacted the FBI. I've been through the records....anyhow, we are three steps past debating the point. Trust me, Dana, DNA tests confirm the whole thing."

Dana is silent for a moment then asks quietly, "Do you mean...”

Monica cuts Dana off, "It turns out that the heart donor was part of an unsolved case. A man and a woman died under mysterious circumstances....a car accident...the coroner in 1968 never signed the death certificates. Actually, he lost his job over the matter. Anyhow, he ended filing all sorts of law suits and eventually, when he died after 9 years of fighting, the two deaths were still part of an open police case." Monica pauses.

Dana waits for Monica to continue then prompts, "Why wouldn't he sign the death certificate?"

"He claimed that he could find no cause of death. No relatives of the dead couple could be found. The coroner claimed that after years of investigating, the only information that was found seemed to be fabricated and falsified. He refused to accept their apparent identities and filed lawsuits in the name of Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. But none of that really matters. We were able to exhume the organ donor's body and DNA testing matched the body to tissue from Mr. Serra."

Dana is surprised. She asks, "They did a biopsy on Mr. Serra's heart?"

Monica replies, "Not at first...it was not really necessary. A doctor ordered a complete blood work up on Mr. Serra and it was learned that his blood type had changed from A to O."

Dana guffaws. "That's impossible. A test was botched or records were not accurate."

Monica presses on, "Well, that really does not matter because many solid tissue biopsies have now been done and much of Mr. Serra's body is now made of cells that match the DNA extracted from teeth found in the grave of the 1968 John Doe who was the organ donor."

Dana tries to match this startling news to what is known about stem cells. Is it possible that stem cells from the "John Doe" could have colonized Mr. Serra's body? She says, "I don't think that's possible. Stem cells will grow in an embryo, but they cannot take-over an organ recipient's body."

Monica is not done. "So far, we just have a ground-breaking medical first with profound implications for stem cell research, but that is not why I called you."

Dana's thoughts swirl. She wonders what could possibly top what Monica has already said. Monica continues, "The real mystery is in the DNA from "John Doe". It is not human."

Dana hesitates, but the words come out. "Is it...alien...?" She stops, lost in thought. Would aliens even use DNA as their genetic molecule?

Monica explains. "It is close to modern human. I guess you probably know that there is now a paleogenome project. DNA from ancient remains such as Neanderthals is being sequenced. The DNA of John Doe seems about a diverged from modern humans as Neanderthal DNA, but diverged in another direction. And worse, some of the people who have been looking at the sequences are now suggesting that John Doe's DNA shows indications of having been genetically engineered."

Scully objects, "The tools for genetic engineering did not exist until recently. How could....." Her thoughts race and she falls silent. She can now appreciate why Monica has called. It sounds like all of medical science would be out of its depth for this case. But something else is still bothering Scully. "You mentioned an emergency?"

Monica heaves a deep sigh. "This case just keeps getting more bizzare. It turns out that there is a man in Italy who needs a kidney transplant. John Doe's DNA was placed into a global database and came up as a tissue type match for for the patient in Italy. The biopsies have been done and both of Mr. Serra's kidneys are made of cells from "John Doe". Mr. Serra's family wants to donate one his kidneys to the man in Italy. There is an international ethics committee struggling over this and they want expert opinion on the chances that "John Doe" can act like an infectious agent. Dana, there are no experts on this topic, but you have experience with some similar cases. The man in Italy is dying. This decision about the transplant must be made soon, but the committee is deadlocked. Dana, I hate to put you into the middle of this, but I think you are the closest thing the world has to an expert in this matter."

--JWSchmidt 04:55, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

must I do everything?
Expository dialogue: Kirk: "Mr. Spock, historical report." Spock: "Current Earth crises would fill a tape bank, Captain. There will be an important assassination today, an equally dangerous government coup in Asia, and this could be highly critical -- The launching of an orbital nuclear warhead platform by the United States countering a similar launch by other powers." Kirk: "Weren't orbital nuclear devices one of this era's greatest problems?" Spock: "Most definitely.Once the sky was full of orbiting H-bombs. The slightest mistake could have brought one down by accident, setting off a nuclear holocaust."

History: April 4 1968 - Apollo 6 Test of the Saturn V booster - Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Riots erupt in major American cities for several days afterward.

Of course, Martin Luther King, Jr. was actually assassinated, with great remorse, by a youthful Cancer Man.

Clue as to cover story on Earth: Gary Seven: "What kind of work did your employers say they were doing?" Roberta Lincoln: "Research for a new encyclopedia?"

Some part of Roberta Lincoln's research, actually intelligence background work, is ever tenuously reconstructed by the FBI and however indirectly linked to the rocket program.

The accident report: Beta-5: "Occurrence -- automobile accident. Location -- Highway 949, 10 miles north of McKinley Rocket Base. Agents 347 and 201 were killed instantly." Gary Seven: "That just doesn't make sense ... for them to die in something as useless as an automobile accident. Are the facts verified?" Beta-5: "Verified. Descriptions of bodies are exact."

Does this indicate that no fake driver's licenses or other IDs where ever found? We may also surmise that autopsy revealed each of them to be in unusually good health and that the bodies where never identified. Or did Garry Seven ever try to claim the bodies? Are the bodies still preserved in government or other institutional possession? Calling Dr. Skully!

FBI investigation finally identifies the automobile accident victims with the two office workers who initially employed Roberta Lincoln as research assistant.

The 911 call: Roberta Lincoln: "Send the police. 811 East 68th St., apartment 12B."

The police arrive: After bursting in with probable cause, hearing Roberta's muffled screams, two cops, one addressed by the other as Charley, are momentarily beamed up to USS Enterprise.

The cops listed the call vaguely as a domestic disturbance, and never admitted what they really experienced until interviewed by Project Blue Book.

811 East 68th St., apartment 12B is by now long vacant. The unit still has an enviable live-work zoning. (There was both an apartment and an office.) The unit was rented untraceably through a holding company. Rent was always paid promptly and in full via wire transfer.

Possible electronic records: Scotty: "There's an old-style weather satellite in orbit below us. If I could bounce off it, I could get some good views. I've got it. I could get even closer. If I could spot him, I could beam him up."

Had Scotty simply angled an electronic signal off a reflective surface on the satellite in a lower orbit to that of USS Enterprise, the signal would only have bounced off into space. Obviously, Scotty is sommehow or other accessing, hacking into, imaging capabilities of the satellite, to better observe McKinley Rocket Base. And there may have been records discovered by NSA or Military Intelligence at a monitoring ground station of the weather service and then buried in state secrecy later to be released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Launch complex logs: "Speak to you a moment?" "Yeah, sure, Sarge." "There it is." "I'll have to confirm this, Colonel." But final inspection of the launch pad is cleared, and the countdown proceeds.

McKinley Rocket Base security logs: Sergeant Lipton attempts to arrest Gary Seven (together with Isis) at McKinley Rocket Base, and Gary Seven, using his servo, well, essentially, neurolizes one Sergeant Lipton into calling in a false alarm and then taking a nap.

But Kirk and Spock beam in right before the stunned guard as he awakens. "Freeze! One move, and you've both had it. Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Security to launch director. We have unidentified intruders -- males, a pair."

Kirk and Spock are escorted to an interrogation room in the launch complex for interrogation: "These are all they were carrying." "T-minus 15 minutes and counting." "You've got a chance, and I'll offer it only this once. The slightest possible charges will be brought against you if you identify yourselves - and tell us why you're here."

The decision is taken not to delay launch despite the security breach.

The arming of the warhead is noted by Chekov aboard the Enterprise as Scotty attempts to contact Kirk for instructions. When the communicator beeps and the rocket base guard picks it up, Spock uses the Vulcan Nerve Pinch to render the guard unconscious. Scotty is ordered to beam Kirk and Spock to Seven's office where the rocket malfunction and near disaster are brought into effect all as initially planned and subsequently recorded by history.

Former Sergeant Lipton never remembers Gary Seven until interrogated for the x-files under hypnosis. An FBI sketch artist creates a rendition. But everyone damn well remembers the two big Trekies they caught, and jokes about how they must have been beamed away!

(For Mulder, all the hallmarks of yet another typical MiB mindfuck!)

Anything else? IT'S ALL IN THE FILES!!!! What I might I have missed?

Primary sources: http://www.voyager.cz/tos/epizody/56assignmentearthtrans.htm and http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Assignment_Earth

Also consult: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King%2C_Jr.#Assassination

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

==== It seems like there would have been something similar to the 9/11 Commission after the H-bomb went off at 104 miles over Asia. Maybe there would have been a secret report produced at that time and it might eventually be declassified and become available to Mulder. --JWSchmidt 00:42, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

SALT
Good thought. Any applicable actual historical parallels? Findings? Cover ups? Yes, Scotty's weather satellite hack, as already stated. Else? Ensuing high strangeness and skullduggery? More files, but what is to be found therein? Well, most publicly of course, and exactly as intended by Gary Seven, perhaps in any follow up continued involvement, the recommendation that orbital nukes are simply too dangerous and unreliable, ultimately leading to their ban and phase out under SALT I and SALT II but eventually, to SDI. Else?

Beyond mere historical curiosity, the story still needs a real can of worms for investigation to open up in the present day, and especially ensuing complications for Gary Seven in order to generate dramatic conflict.

Not to mention compelling motivation and issues for anyone else involved back in the day to be interviewed in the here and now.

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

==== "a real can of worms for investigation to open up in the present day," and the fate of the bodies of agents 347 and 201: "We may also surmise that autopsy revealed each of them to be in unusually good health and that the bodies where never identified. Or did Garry Seven ever try to claim the bodies? Are the bodies still preserved in government or other institutional possession?"

The organ transplant idea (above) was not an attempt to create a "can of worms" that would fit in with every detail of the original "Assignment Earth" story. I think that Gary would have left the bodies in their graves in order to not risk attracting any attention to them.

According to United States Numbered Highways, a road numbered in the 900s would probably be in the Southwest. I'll assume that "McKinley Rocket Base" is so secret that it would have been hidden inside of another launch facility, say, Vandenberg Air Force Base. I'd say that the county coroner for San Luis Obispo California would have handled the remains of agents 347 and 201. The remains were handed over to a local funeral home. Given the large amount of cash found on the bodies and failure to find any relatives, the decision was made to bury the bodies rather than cremate. Costs of the burials are paid out of the money found on the bodies. Some of the remaining money was used to place death notices in major news papers in the areas listed on the driver licenses.

The coroner is haunted by strange aspects of these apparently wealthy individuals who cannot be traced to any relatives or business associates. Knowing that Vandenberg Air Force Base attracts many out-of-town visitors, the coroner sends a copy of his death report to the community relations officer of the military base. This officer is aware of reports that two strange men were seen on the base at the time of the recent secret missile launch. He visits the coroner's office and collects the possessions of the two dead men, including the many remaining $100 dollar bills, saying they will be checked for authenticity. The money and other possessions are passed onto the team that is investigating the H-bomb "accident". Given the mysterious lack of traceable connections, government investigators put some effort into investigation of the idea that the automobile accident victims might have been spying on the super secret "McKinley Rocket Base". Knowing that Soviet spies are sometimes equipped with hidden communications devices or carry microfilm, the possessions of the dead accident victims are sent to a military intelligence laboratory for careful analysis. When the pen/servo is examined by microscope, the technician notices that it is not an ordinary pen. The servo ends up at a secret Area 51 materials research laboratory. Careful study reveals that some unusual materials were manufactured into the "pen", but no progress is made in understanding the purpose.

Thirty years later, a review of materials in storage at Area 51 turns up the servo. A new analysis if performed using atomic force microscopy and it is realized that highly complex circuits were embedded in the structure of the "pen", apparently using techniques far beyond the technological capabilities Earth. A decision is made to dig up the bodies of the 1968 accident victims and DNA analysis is none using tissue isolated from their teeth. The DNA is basically human, but anomalies are detected. Some of the DNA sequences show signs of "branched DNA", similar to what has previously been detected in Dana Scully. She is contacted by military intelligence and brought into the case. --JWSchmidt 18:16, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Vandenberg
I guess I missed the suggestion of organ donation, an intriguing ramification. And there was no murder investigation or other such added legal complication except, of course, that neither where known to be organ donors. But that might not be insurmountable. Or, perchance, had they signed up as organ donors? How might that have come to pass? Now, that might make for an interesting loose end indeed!

Your own scenario seems too cumbersome and unlikely, especially considering that organs must be harvested quickly, even in a black market scenario. Mind that the organs, though extremely healthy, are entirely normal human organs. But there might be any connection to all of the covert human-alien hybrid work. Or might that be pushing it again?

Large amount of cash on the bodies? Why exactly? Surely any "slush funds" where kept securely in the safe back at 811 East 68th St. apartment 12B. And who would find said cash? Was it logged, or did the police and/or other emergency respondents yield to temptation and pilfer any of it? And where any of them stupid and extravagant enough to finally ever draw investigation?

In response to the private message, a) I do indeed want to propel from the loose ends into an investigation and adventure in the modern day (Whether before or after Mulder's disappearance and/or the death of the Lone Gunmen, whatever will be best for the story). That is why investigation must "open a can of worms" somehow or other still troublesome in the modern day, in order to create obstacles for Special Agent Mulder and complications for Gary Seven. In short, I am still fishing for some secret remaining dangerous even nowadays.

But b) I have no objection to reassigning this entire thread as a separate project.

McKinley Rocket Base is treated as a common referent and no secret in 'Assignment Earth.' Not to rule out relationship or proximity to Vandenberg.

(In 1997 some of Gene Roddenberry's ashes were sent into space, launched by a rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base.)

"The rocket storage buildings at the Rocket base were studio buildings on the Paramount lot, with NASA footage of Apollo rockets matted in above them. In a wonderful attention to detail, Launch Director Cromwell's car matches the car seen in one of the stock footage sequences." http://encyclopedia.wizards.pro/index.php/Assignment:_Earth

But where do you get the road numbered in the 900s?

No mention or concern is ever made of servos or other alien technology recovered from the car crash. And that's not anything that Gary Seven would ever simply let slide.

As for more modern tests detecting whatever genetic anomalies, even simply extremely good and defect free genes, all that would be required are any autopsy samples that haven't been destroyed. No exhumation would be necessary.

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

====

"where do you get the road numbered in the 900s?" Higher up on this page it says "Highway 949", Memory Alpha says Highway 940, a version of the script says Highway 949.

organ donation <-- I agree that it does not work if the two agents died instantly in a car crash.

"human-alien hybrid" <-- I know this is a major theme in the X-files, but I feel it would make more sense to assume that Gary Seven and his fellow agents are entirely human....maybe genetically selected and modified, but I assume that the plan would have been to use these kinds of agents on Earth even after Earth humans discovered gene sequencing.....so it would make sense if the genetic differences were subtle and that there would be no dramatic biological differences. If an agent was ever lost in action, it would be possible to just leave the body on Earth rather than risk having to send other agents to go after the corpse.

cash on the bodies <-- In my imagination, the two agents had to buy plane tickets to California, buy a car and be ready to rent hotel rooms, eat, buy return tickets, etc. I'm thinking that they would probably carry several thousand dollars.

servos or other alien technology <-- I think the rule would have to be that only technology that could not be identified as technology would be taken to Earth by the agents. Would Gary make an effort to collect the servos that had belonged to the two lost agents? Maybe he sends Roberta to California and she pretends to be related to the two agents. She asks for their personal belongings. The county coroner tells her that the US military took them. Does Gary have the power to continue to go after the lost servos or does he rest easy, knowing that in 1968 it is very unlikely that the advanced technology of the servos will be understood by anyone on Earth?

autopsy samples <-- I admit general ignorance about such things, but I assumed that two unidentified car crash victims would not be autopsied.

One possibility that I just thought of gets back to the idea that there are multiple factions of aliens. Some aliens might not like the idea of people like Gary working to help Earth. Maybe forces of an anti-Gary faction killed agents 347 and 201. Maybe they were run off the road and a police investigator noticed paint from another car on the crashed car. If there was reason to suspect foul play, then there might have been an autopsy. I do not know what usually happens to organs after an autopsy. Would they still be on hand when someone from the military comes around?--JWSchmidt 02:52, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

the bodies
"cash on the bodies <-- In my imagination, the two agents had to buy plane tickets to California, buy a car and be ready to rent hotel rooms, eat, buy return tickets, etc. I'm thinking that they would probably carry several thousand dollars."

Perhaps. Unless they where simply working out of 811 East 68th St. apartment 12B in New York city, where they have a transporter. But then, why did they even need the rental car? Garry Seven certainly didn't.

As for the servos, that they remain nondescript as fountain pens, does seem most elegant and likeliest. Yet perhaps, despite all best efforts on the part of Gary Seven, the servos never the less end up at Area 51.

The Medical Examiner must make a determination of cause of death for accident victims. And the question of samples is what might be filed and forgotten instead of routinely destroyed. Indeed, spooks sitting in and taking over the autopsy from the Medical Examiner ought not to come as any surprise. In any case, I believe that autopsy does present a problem for organ donation. A moot point, however, given that the agents where killed instantly. Foul play? Are there any clues?

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

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travel by transporter <-- In my mind, Gary's use of transporter technology was largely motivated by an emergency situation....he did not have time for any other mode of travel. "Assignment Earth" illustrated how easy it is to "intercept" transporter beams. The Enterprise intercepted Gary's beam and later Robert intercepts a beam from the Enterprise. In my mind, agents like Gary, 347 and 201 are not only trying to keep their activities hidden from Earth humans, but they also need to hide from at least one other alien-supported faction that works in opposition to them. If I assume that Agents 347 and 201 beamed themselves close to the McKinley Rocket Base, then how would they plan to get back to 811 East 68th St.? Maybe after beaming to McKinley Rocket Base they have to drive to the nearest transporter (maybe it is in San Francisco). Maybe agent 347 beamed 201 to McKinley Rocket Base, but the beaming event was detected by another alien-supported faction that works in opposition to them. Maybe agents of the other alien-supported faction trace the beam, capture 347 and 201, kill them, and make their deaths look like a car accident. Then again, I find it easier to assume that 347 and 201 know that they need to hide their activities from the other alien-supported faction. Knowing that they might be intercepted if they beam to McKinley Rocket Base, I think that 347 and 201 would travel by conventional means to California.--JWSchmidt 04:14, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

transporter retrieval
Garry Seven is availed of interstellar teleportation that will still be unheard of in the 23rd century! And interception by a starship from the future came as no small surprise. The transporter in 811 East 68th St., apartment 12B does seem as much a part of the premise as the servo and the voice typewriter.

Also, transporter retrieval is clearly possible from 811 East 68th St., apartment 12B in Manhattan, presumably even by Beta-5. Agents 347 and 201 would only have needed to call in by servo to request extraction and give a lock on. After all, what was Gary Seven planning, once he finished the mission?

Perhaps the rental car served as part of a cover. But then, why if no IDs on the bodies?

I am left still fishing for some secret remaining dangerous even nowadays to propel from the historical loose ends an investigation and adventure in the modern day, investigation which must "open a can of worms" somehow or other still troublesome in the modern day, in order to create obstacles for Special Agent Mulder and complications for Gary Seven.

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com

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"call in by servo to request extraction" <-- Yes, I agree that this can be assumed. I keep forgetting that the Beta 5 computer is intelligent and can act like another member of the team....unless someone locks it in a closet and never calls to request extraction? It is very hard to make logical sense of the plot details in "Assignment Earth".

So why did agents 201 and 347 end up in an automobile accident?
 * 1) They were eliminated by another faction?
 * 2) They were driving to a location that was not safe to beam to?
 * 3) They had a day to kill and enjoy scenic drives?
 * 4) It really does not matter?

"no IDs on the bodies" <-- was this in the original story or should we just make this assumption?--JWSchmidt 14:59, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

burning question, not?
Beta-5: "Occurrence -- automobile accident. Location -- Highway 940, 10 miles north of McKinley Rocket Base. Agents 347 and 201 were killed instantly." Gary Seven: "That just doesn't make sense ... for them to die in something as useless as an automobile accident. Are the facts verified?" Beta-5: "Verified. Descriptions of bodies are exact."

Occurrence, indeed. But what are the information sources? And how are they monitored? And the deaths are verified by exact description. Precise description is standard in a Medical Examiner's report, but not in the press unless the decedents are unidentified. Or if Agents 347 and 201 carried perfect false IDs consistent with whatever their cover identities, then how deep will those cover identities check out? Because, scrutiny will become intense after the launch and the incident, only days after their deaths. And their bodies will still be in the morgue and their personal effects, including fountain pen disguised servos, in the evidence locker. Say, I don't suppose Agents 347 and 201 carried blank telepathic IDs...

And so there are several choices, all as however will best advance the plot in the present day.

As for why Agents 347 and 201 didn't simply beam in and out of McKinley Rocket Base, just as Gary Seven will only scant days later, does it matter? -you ask, JWSchmidt.

Well, Mulder won't be asking that question decades later, because, to begin with, Mulder can scarcely suspect ever the existence of an alien teleportation device at 811 East 68th St., apartment 12B in Manhattan!

Aaron Agassi -- FoolQuest.com