Free Legend of Oria 1: Initial Contact by James Campbell Page A

units is a high-energy laser.  I suggest we use their interest in laser technology to get you an audience with high level contacts at the Pentagon.”
    “Good.  I see in your report that there is a symposium on lasers on Thursday.”
    “That's right.  If you get started today, you can visit your old home.  A Dr. StalkingWolf is investigating some old ruins.  They look like they may be your old home.  If you hook up with her, she knows other scientists at a local learning institution.  I believe it's called the University of Maryland.  If you can get her to introduce you to some of her friends, you can probably get an invite to the symposium.”
    “Very well, it sounds like we have no time to waste.  Set me up with some appropriate clothes.  If I'm successful, I will return after connecting with the other scientist.  I want more details on Earth customs by tomorrow morning.”
    Oria departed the meeting and headed back to his quarters.  His crew had already prepared Earth clothing for him and set it on his bed.  His crew had carefully labeled each piece of clothing.  Oria saw a pair of pants labeled Old Navy blue jeans, a shirt labeled IZOD polo shirt, socks, and a pair of shoes labeled Rockport.  He put the new clothes on and headed for the transporter room.
     
    Oria Arrives on Earth near his old home
     
    Oria walked into the transporter room wearing his new clothes.  He saw Captain Borella standing near the transport console.
    Borella chuckled at the Admiral’s new look.  “Admiral, your new clothes are definitely the new you!”
    “Thanks for your words of encouragement.  I knew they would impress a fashion connoisseur like you.  They definitely will take a getting used to.”
    “I'm sure you will manage.  In all seriousness, we all hope you do well.  Good luck, I know your last memories of the Eastern Shore were less than good.”
    “Thanks Borella, I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately.  However, I will stay focused on our mission.” 
    Oria and Borella saluted each other.  Oria turned sharply and stepped up onto the transport deck.  In moments, he disappeared and rematerialized in a wooded area within the State Park close to his boyhood home.
    Oria immediately began to scope out his surroundings.  The briefing papers his crew gave him showed him to have materialized in a government wildlife preserve within several hundred yards of a road.  The road connected the reserve's entrance to a series of makeshift buildings described as the preserve's headquarters and some sort of tourist facility.  Oria headed towards that road.
    His walk started out on dry land, which quickly changed into swamp.  The map did not show the small swamp between the transport location and the road.  It seemed on every mission, something always went wrong.  On his flight to Earth, Oria had watched several movies where this concept was termed Murphy's Law.  Oria thought to himself, “ The one constant in the Universe is this Murphy's Law.”
    Oria started recalling other times he had walked through this terrain.  He always liked walking through the water.  However, Oria knew that he should keep his current outfit clean and dry.  He opted to walk around the swamp.  Oria looked out over the water and could see the flow was generally in a southeast direction.  He decided to walk towards the source.  He felt this would give him the greatest opportunity to keep from having to step into the swamp.  He knew that he should have gotten more details on the terrain.  His crew would hear about this later.  Oria continued until the swamp turned into a small creek, which he could easily cross.
    Oria finally reached the main road fairly close to the park’s entrance.  He was still several miles from the buildings, which were his ultimate goal.  As Oria continued his walk down the road, a surreal feeling came over him.   This area gave him a strange yet familiar feeling.  Even though Oria had visited