Kyle Maniaci

War of Our Worlds

“Ladies and gentlemen I have a grave announcement to make. Incredible as it may seem, both the observations of sciences and the evidence of our own eyes lead us to the inescapable assumption that these beings who landed in the Jersey farmlands tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from the planet Mars. The battle which has taken place tonight in Grover Mills has ended in one of the most startling defeats ever suffered by an army in modern times. 7000 men armed with rifles and machine guns pitted against a single fighting machine of the invaders from Mars, 120 known survivors. The rest strewn over the battle area from Grovers Mill to Plains Borough, crushed and trampled to death by the metal feet or burned to cinders by it’s heat ray. The monster is now in control of the middle section of New Jersey and has effectively cut the state through its center. Communication lines are down from Pennsylvania to the Atlantic Ocean. Railroad Tracks-.”

With a loud bang the door slams open startling everyone. Before anyone had any time to react armed men dressed in official Navy Blue colors swarm into the room shouting for everyone to get down on the ground. They began pouring into the room screaming at anyone who kept moving. As they all lay there a Man dressed the same as the rest of them entered, swept his gaze across the room, and asked, in a voice that would tolerate no disrespect, who was in charge of this operation. Orson raises his hand and quietly says “I am sir.” “And just who are you?” the Man asks calmly. “My name is Orson Welles. I am in charge of this broadcast as well as one of the people acting.” “Acting?” the Man asks, showing emotion for the first time in the form of a frown. “Yes, acting. We were performing a radio drama of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds. What is the problem?” Orson asked, suddenly adopting an angry tone.

“You mean you are unaware of what is happening?” the Officer questioned. He motioned for his men to lower their weapons and the members of the studio began to cautiously get up.  “It’s chaos out there. People are going beserk, ditching their automobiles, rioting, assaulting one another. They’ve been sent into a blind panic. Every police station and phone line is clogged with desperate panicked citizens demanding information, protection, shelter, and government action. The same thing is happening all across the world.” “The world?!” Orson responded horrified. “Our program was only supposed to be broadcast to America!” “It was. But then the news that we were under attack by Martians spread until every news station was broadcasting it. We couldn’t stop it. We didn’t even know where it came from until we received word that CBS was broadcasting. I’ll admit, out first thought was that you were trying to intentionally bring chaos to the U.S.” “We scheduled this broadcast.” Orson stated. “We announced our intention to perform this radio drama. How did no one tell you this was a innocently planned event before you left to try and stop it?”

“I don’t think you truly understand how bad it’s gotten out there.” The Officer screamed. “If the streets are in anarchy then the government is in utter pandemonium. We are fielding explanations and requests not just from our own citizens but from the governments of other countries as well. Some are asking to allow their troops to help join the battle against the aliens, while others are demanding we withdraw our forces and join them in deliberations for further military action. Some are even saying we should try communicating with the aliens or surrendering to them. Our job was to stop the broadcast before things got any worse. Now that that task is complete, we are to wait for further orders. I’m afraid there is nothing more we can do.”

“So we are supposed to sit here and do nothing?” Orson demanded “I refuse to accept that is the only way we can help rectify our mistake.” “What else would you do?” The Officer asked. Orson thought about this for a moment before responding. “I can send out another statement saying that the events in the were entirely fictional and no such people or places were harmed. We have repeated that message at least twice throughout the broadcast but another one certainly couldn’t hurt.” The Man hesitated a second before nodding his head and saying “Do it. But let me add a message about how everything is perfectly fine and the government will not tolerate any further rioting or panic.” Orson nods and they both run off towards the recording mic, shouting for the technicians to resume their positions and get the station broadcasting again.

After the emergency broadcast stating once more that the events were fictional and there were no aliens invading earth, Orson and the Man return to the main hall, exhausted by everything that has happened. “Now what?” Orson asked. “Now?” the Man repeated. “Now we wait for this whole thing to blow over.” Orson sighs and walks over to the break room where he slumps in a chair and reflects on everything that’s happened. He starts wondering if this is truly such a large incident and, after thinking for a moment, gets up and walks over to a counter and turns on the radio sitting on top of it. “-Utter chaos! Reports are coming in all over. There is panic in the streets of every nation. Citizens from all over the world are questioning their governments and rioting in the streets. Conspiracy theorists are reporting that the governments all over the world have known of the alien threat and have refused to act.  We have received word that multiple governments are considering sending troops into America to help combat the alien threat while others are convinced that it cannot be stopped and is ordering it’s citizens to seek shelter from the coming invasion. No one we have talked has personally seen the invaders but everyone seems convinced that they are coming and that this world is coming to an end.” Orson stumbled back to his chair in horror, falling into it’s comforting embrace. The radio continued to blare in the background but it’s message fell on deaf ears as the only occupant of the room continued his descent into his own panic filled mind. What will I do now? How will I ever atone for this sin? How did this even come about? Was this truly my fault? Did I really cause this? He knew deep in his heart that although he was the one who created and acted out the broadcast he was not to blame for the foolishness of others. Even so the thought that he had a role in this tragedy, this farce, sent waves of revulsion through him. So he continued to sit in that chair his thoughts circling and circling with no solution reached oblivious to all else. Outside, the world continued to panic, ignorant of the truth and of the man who caused this catastrophe.