If you think you know somebody who resembles any of the characters here, congratulations, but you're wrong - any similarity between the characters in this story and any real person is purely coincidental, since all of these characters are figments of my imagination.

This is my story, not yours. Don't sell it or put it on a pay site. You can keep it and/or give it away with all of this information intact, but if you make money off of it without my permission, you're breaking the law and pissing me off.

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"I know, Dr. Wu, I know!" The exasperated Dr. Schmidt told his equally exasperated colleague. "But it's the damned bureacrats again! They simply will not clear me to hand over those plans! I have begged. I have pleaded. I have threatened. I have even gone to the Secretary of State, but nobody is willing to hand over the plans for that guidance system to a former enemy. It's insane! We're mandated to build these damned spaceships against an insanely foreshortened schedule, but the very people who insist on getting it done refuse to allow us to share the necessary information."

"It is regrettable, Dr. Schmidt." Wu replied. "I have been ordered to inform you that if those plans are not in my hands by the end of the week, the People's Republic will withdraw from the treaty and form a new pact - this time with the European Union."

"Please, Dr. Wu," Schmidt begged, "can you not prevail upon your superiors to wait until our respective leaders have met next week? Perhaps then some of this red tape can be done away with and we'll finally be able to do our jobs."

"I will try, sir." Dr. Wu said, bowing slightly, "but I do not know how far their patience will stretch."

"Nor I mine, Dr. Wu." The American scientist gave a small bow of his own. "We should be watching our ships launch in fleets instead of begging each other for bits and pieces of information. Sometimes I wonder if there is a test for politicians that prevents intelligent people from holding office."

"I understand your sense of urgency, Mr. President." The Chinese Premier said in slightly accented English. "But you must understand that these decisions affect the entire planet. We cannot make a pact between us that affects every country on Earth. My people are clamoring for salvation from this alien menace as much as yours, and since rebellion in my country does not occur at the ballot box, my sense of urgency is at least as great as yours. That is why I have taken the liberty of inviting the leaders of the world's most populous nations to this summit, in spite of your wish that just the two of us meet."

President Wang began to wish he had paid more attention to his parents' culture growing up, instead of striving so hard to be the All-American boy. Putting as good a face on the situation as he could, Wang smiled and said, "Of course, Mr. Premier. You have anticipated the need, and it would be a shame to send all of these distinguished gentlemen home. How do you propose to approach the issues?"

"It would seem that what we need, before we can address the issues," the Premier said guilelessly, "is a way to ensure that such issues do not arise to consume our efforts again and again. This is the question I believe this congress of world leaders should address. How can we proceed at the governmental level so that political issues and nationalist concerns do not delay the building and launch of the proposed fleet of spaceships, so that we can, once and for all, rid our skies of these nuisances?"

"Then let us pose that question and see what kind of solution develops." President Wang replied graciously.

The meeting dragged on far longer than the allotted three days. Leaders came and went, returning to their countries with proposal after proposal. The basic solution was obvious. What was needed was a common defense force funded by all of the Earth nations. The problems arose in determining how to manage such a force, and how to ensure that all nations were protected equally, and that all contributed their agreed amount to the common defense. Then there was the question of where and how to get soldiers, pilots, and astronauts to fill the ranks of the defense force.

Meanwhile, the alien attacks continued, unabated.

Ultimately, the United Earth Defense League was born. At its head was the popular Swiss diplomat, Oskar Caprio, whose clear head and impartial attitude won over the great majority of the leaders present at the final congress that signalled the kick-off of the UEDL.

"For god's sake, help me!" The Iranian pilot screamed into his mask as three of the alien craft bore down on him. His plot showed an entire squadron of UEDL fighters just over the border in Pakistan, but they made no move to interfere.

"I am sorry!" The voice came in the clear. "We are not authorized to give aid to non-contributing nations. We have orders to protect only UEDL member nations.

Whatever answer the pilot might have given was lost in the explosion that blew the tail off his MIG. Shrapnel penetrated the cockpit and the pilot and his hand never made it to the ejection handle.

Dr. Wu and Dr. Schmidt stood side-by-side, watching proudly as the tenth of their space-fighters rolled off the assembly line.

"Production is ramping up nicely, Dr. Wu." Schmidt said. "We should be ready to launch in less than six months. What I wouldn't give to be on one of those flights!"

"You just might get your chance, Dr. Schmidt." His companion replied. "I understand they want a few scientists and engineers on the last wave of launches in case they get a chance to study the alien ships close up."

"That would be delightful!" Dr. Schmidt said, "But I fear my grandchildren would miss me terribly. No, I do not delude myself that I'm fit enough for the rigors of space travel, but one can't help but dream. You, however, are young enough to be considered..."

Dr. Wu merely smiled and called his colleague's attention to the sleek lines of the craft being towed to the mating hangar where it would be fitted with its boosters in preparation for launch.

"Alpha Leader, this is Alpha Seven. I have a bogey at six o'clock. No, make that three bogeys, over."

"Ah, roger, Alpha Seven. Bravo and Charlie units, peel off and dust our tail, will you?"

"Si, Alpha Leader. Bravo squadron, bank left on my signal. We'll take the high road, Charlie!"

"Roger, Bravo Leader. Charlie's going low and right, on my mark... Now!"

Two squadrons of eight fighters peeled off and looped behind the alien fighters, coming in from above and below. The alien fighters immediately began evasive maneuvering, but the UEDL squadrons of Mexican and Canadian fighters cut them off from escape, and soon nothing was left but three plumes of smoke to mark their path to the ground. As usual, no parachutes were seen, and no bodies were recovered from the wreckage.