The Gateway

APOLLO ARCHIVE STATION LOG: The following are collected logs from within and around the St. Louis area during the initial invasion period in November of 2021. These entries are from before the formation of the EOE and therefore do not reflect the current state of affairs on Earth. Please take caution while reading.

TRANSCRIPTED SLMPD DASHCAM AUDIO: 11/3/21

8:13 PM

DISPATCH: "Car 15, what is your location?"

CAR 15 PASSENGER (C15P): "We are at the convention center. Officer Riley just took in someone who was threatening others during the science fiction convention, we're his backup."

DISPATCH: "Okay, so you're the closest units. We have reports of possible active vandalism at the Gateway Arch, please investigate, over."

CAR 15 DRIVER (C15D): "Roger that dispatch. [to passenger] You see that guy Riley took in? That costume was so life-like."

C15P: "Yeah, I wonder where he got it made. My kid would want a costume like that. Maybe if Riley isn't so trigger happy this time, we'll be able to figure it out."

C15D: "Yeah, but he's not chasing down a perp on a busy highway is he? Maybe he actually did learn his lesson. Okay, we're here. You see any vandals?"

C15P: "I think those guys are the ones dispatch mentioned. More alien costumes like that guy Riley took in. What do you think they are doing over there?"

C15D: "Probably upset over us arresting their buddy. Stay in the car, I'll go tell them to get down. [door opens, then shuts] Hey guys! You aren't allowed to be up there!"

[No response.]

C15D: "You're not supposed to be there. Get down or we'll have to take you in!"

[The sound of rain hitting the dashboard fills the air as a storm approaches. C15P sighs. A few moments later, a loud screeching sound echoes near the car]

C15D: "What was that, what kind of weapon is-[unintelligible yelling]"

C15P: "What the hell?" … "Dispatch! Dispatch, we need immediate assistance! Officer James is down! Repeat, Officer James is down! They're firing something at us, send backup-"

[Audio ends]

RADIO BROADCAST ONE, ST. LOUIS LIVE NEWS

NEWS BROADCASTER JIM STEVENSON: It is now 8:30 PM on this lovely November evening. I'm joking about the lovely part, as the NWS is saying we have a small storm coming in from western Missouri and settling over the metro. Expect some rain and a little bit of lightning to give our night sky a wonderful show tonight. In other news, President Ellis Kane has just announced a running for 2024, despite having just won the presidency again last year after that whole recall mess back in '17. Washington officials are pondering if that should count for a first term and therefore make him ineligible to run in three years.

This just in: A man dressed in an alien costume has been arrested at the Dome housing this year's science fiction convention. The man, who allegedly made violent threats against a fellow convention goer, is currently being taken to the Metro Police Station downtown for questioning. Wait, I'm now getting reports of gunfire being exchanged by two groups at the Gateway Arch National Park. My police radio is going crazy! If you're in the area, please find a safe location immediately! I'll try to get there myself in the Action Cam Helicopter and see what's going on!

AUDIO FROM HOTEL LOBBY, ACROSS FROM GATEWAY ARCH

Front Desk Worker: "Ma'am, I'm sorry about the lack of towels in your room, we will work extra diligently to rectify the situation… Yes I understand you hate my mother in particular and I will be sure to her that, but that kind of language is not helping this matter... Thank you. [puts phone down] Hey could you get some extra towels to room 15B? I just got a very pleasant call from a lady who wasn't too keen on not having them."

Housekeeper: "I can do that. Should I leave them at the door and run away?"

FDW: "Nah, just make sure you talk to this lady as little as possible. I'm going to return to my desk and try to get through the rest of this evening with as little stress as possible. Hey what's going on across the street? Why are there all those cops there- GET BACK!"

[A loud siren is heard seconds before the sound of exploding glass and torn steel. The siren stops]

Housekeeper: "Are you okay? Is he okay? What happened? I can't believe that just happened!"

[audible groan]

FDW: "Sir? Are you okay? What happened? What is that wound there?"

Housekeeper: "I'll go get some towels to put pressure on the wound. We have to get him out of the car! We have to... what? What's wrong?"

FDW: "He didn't make it."

RADIO BROADCAST TWO, ST. LOUIS LIVE NEWS

NEWS BROADCASTER JIM STEVENSON: "This is Jim Stevenson from St. Louis Live News coming at you from the Action Chopper. I am right above the Gateway Arch National Park and there is just a scene of pandemonium below me. Six police cars are currently parked right outside the arch and the officers are firing at someone in the arch who is firing what looks like to be spot welding arcs back at them. Whoa whoa WHOA! Did you see that, Mike? Cop car driving down the road just got shot by one of those arcs and it just took a turn directly into the hotel! I hope everyone's okay in there!"

CHOPPER PILOT MIKE ASHBY: "We gotta get out of here before those guys notice us!"

NEWS BROADCASTER JIM STEVENSON: "Pull around to the side of the arch! I can barely see anything in this rain! I need to get a look at who the cops are firing at! MIKE LOOK OUT!"

[The sound of energy hitting steel resonates across the audio file] "Rotor's out! We're going down! We're going down! Brace for imp-"

[Audio resumes]

"Mike's gone. The cops are gone. My leg is pinned. But if you can hear me, and you can see it from where you are, please get inside. The arch! They're using the arch! It's huge and green and the arch is a frame! There is more of them coming out of it! Everyone get out of the city! They're using the arch! Everyone run! Everyone get... oh no. Please don't..."

[Audio ends]