The Encounter (PDF)

A large Galactic Empire, for centuries, has known of out existence. We were of little interest to them until something happened in Earth’s solar system to attract them back. A small tear in the fabric of space formed a portal to the past. They used this natural phenomenon to observe, but never interact with Earth through time. Now another species is looking at Earth to establish a foothold along the Empire’s frontier. When this species invades they kill, or enslave, the entire native population. Because of their long distant, but somewhat personal attachment to human kind, and because of the existence of the only other known portal, the Chancellor of the Empire has sent his daughter to coordinate the events required to make contact, or to evacuate their people from a world about to be caught in the middle of a major intergalactic conflict. While waiting for a decision from the Council she request and is granted permission to mix with the human population. As with all heads of state, her father has enemies. Circumstance brings her and a human named Lawrence Casey together, and plunges them into Earth’s past just ahead of a band of mercenaries sent to deliver her to her father’s enemies. The year is eighteen seventy-five. The place is Wyoming. Our time travelers, aboard a crippled ship, land in the middle of a range war between the mountain and valley ranchers. Taking sides sets in motion future events that lead to the destruction of a third of Earth’s population. Help is on the way with the knowledge that could restore Earth’s timeline. There is a chance to fix it if they can avoid capture by the mercenaries or death at the hands of the valley ranchers. This action/adventure storyline blends science fiction, with the feel of a good western, and a story of discovery between two very, very different people.