It all began in the Summer of 1983 when the Visitors arrived.  From nowhere, the ships floated into view, a coordinated effort around the globe.  They were right out of a bad sci-fi movie, flat, round and saucer shaped.  It was both terrifying and astounding.  Visually, the ships seemed to span several dozen or more square miles.  Within moments, the ships began to transmit messages throughout the world...on televisions and on radios, it seemed they had hijacked the airwaves.  Their stated message and purpose was plain enough...peace and cooperation.

Exactly 24 hours after arriving, a delegate from one of the ships had struck a temporary peace accord with the U.N. and agreed to a meeting atop the namesake building in New York.  It was here that we caught our first glimpse of them and it was less than impressive.  Aside from their matching black and red outfits, for all intensive purposes, they appeared no different then you are I.  The only noticeable differences was their poor ability to withstand direct light and the strange, two-toned sound of their voices.

Cooperation, they had stated, was the primary reason for their appearance.  Their home planet, a small world revolving around the star Sirius, was dangerously low on vital chemicals and minerals.  Hoping to share in the earth's bounty, they offered us access to their fantastic technologies, with grand promises of a better future.  All they would require, is access to many of the large scale manufacturing plants around the globe.  U.N. delegates and leaders from around the world wasted no time in reaching an amicable accord.

The process of introducing the Visitors to the rest of the world was swift and all encompassing.  The first group to arrive, a team of 45 scientists and engineers along with a handful of security, landed at a chemical plant just outside of Baltimore.  Within days, they had overhauled the entire plant and production line for their purposes.  Before long, you could find them in every major city.  One half tourist, one half informational kiosk, they fanned out in all directions, taking in whatever they could.

With so many curious people and so many questions left unanswered, they began to set up headquarters and other types of bureaucratic infrastructure.  Tours of their ships were setup for all and the rich and powerful could soon be found wining and dining with their new, otherworldly friends.  Posters began springing up showing the Visitors as ambassadors of peace and good will.  A youth corp, similar to the boy scouts, was established with children around the globe lining up.  A toy line was even developed, no less then two months after they arrived.  Indeed, they had infected the world with wonder and imagination...and yet, they remained an absolute enigma.

They were extremely guarded about what chemicals they were making, or how, and what exactly they were needed for.  They were even more guarded about themselves in particular.  They never allowed themselves to be tested in any capacity, despite many in the health community citing concerns of possible infectious diseases.  Any attempts to push harder on this issue had been met with scorn, contempt and accusations.

Aside from a few "xenophobic" groups and individuals, the entire affair went off without a hitch and for several months, it really seemed like a dream come true.  They kept good on their end of the deal and introduced new medical techniques and equipment.  They even dedicated a portion of their medical staff to researching human diseases.  Unfortunately, no one could see the storm clouds on the horizon.

Strange events began to occur. Scientists in particular became the objects of increasing media and public hostility. They experienced government restrictions on their activities and even movements. Others, particularly those keen on examining the Visitors more closely, began to disappear or were discredited. A smear campaign began to surface accusing the scientific and academic communities of conspiring against the treaty.  Then the "terrorists" began to appear.  While fringe groups that distrusted the Visitors were semi-common, none had actually progressed past the point of rhetoric.  Then suddenly, it seemed there was a flurry of activity.  Plants working with the Visitors around the globe began to experience sabotage on a massive scale.  A few plants were hit so hard they were completely razed to the ground.  Not long after, the Visitors began working with police and military agencies, in some instances assuming almost complete control.  To those who could see the signs, this was a portent of great evil to come.

The attacks stopped almost as suddenly as they had begun.  In the aftermath, a mass investigation was launched, spearheaded by the Visitors, of course.  They accused the scientific community in general of a massive conspiracy to undermine and destroy the Visitors.  This was bolstered by supposed "evidence" that they found in various labs throughout the world.  They even claimed to have found evidence of a systemic coverup regarding medical research, claiming the scientists in question intentionally withheld information from the public for personal gain.  Much of this was refuted, obviously, but it became much more damning when high profile scientists suddenly came out and signed confessions stating they had indeed been part of a large conspiracy.

This only solidified the Visitors hold on the world and increased their power.  They spread even further into the worlds militaries, assuming virtual control over standing armies.  Local law enforcement branches soon had to answer to Visitor overseers.  They began using their Youth Corp. like gestapo informants to weasel out dissidents and the like.  More people vanished into thin air or were taken into custody for questioning, never to be seen or heard from again.

As we now stand, the world is divided into two camps.  Those that can see something seriously sinister is going on behind the scenes and those who whole-heartedly embraced the Visitors.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:47, Wed 10 Apr 2019.