The Woundless War
First Contact • Clean Sci-Fi • 1947 Roswell
When peace is the only weapon left.
Contains mild references to adult themes (alcohol and relationships) and non-graphic depictions of military conflict and violence. Recommended for readers 15 and up.
In the summer of 1947, a mysterious craft crashes outside Roswell, New Mexico. As the truth spreads through military channels, General Frank Jones is called to lead a mission unlike any other — one that will test the very meaning of duty.
The survivors of the crash, the Zalmen, are peaceful beings who offer technology that could change the world… but only if humanity vows never to use it to kill.
When the ruthless Moad close in to destroy the Zalmen and seize their power, Jones faces an impossible choice. Bound by orders to defend Earth yet constrained by the Zalmen’s vow of peace, he must fight a war where every act of violence risks humanity’s soul.
If he fails, the Moad will unleash the Zalmen’s own technology upon Earth — and peace itself may perish.
(Part 5 of From Roswell to Area 51 — each story also stands alone in the Earth’s Secret Alliance universe.)
Clean, thought-provoking, and deeply human, Earth’s Secret Alliance explores courage, conscience, and compassion more than science or war — soft science fiction for readers who love Star Trek’s optimism and The Day the Earth Stood Still’s moral clarity.
Contains mild references to adult themes (alcohol and relationships) and non-graphic depictions of military conflict and violence. Recommended for readers 15 and up.
About the Book
Genres & tags
First Contact • Alternate History • Historical Sci-Fi • Clean Sci-Fi • Hopepunk • Military-adjacent (non-grim)
Ideal for
15+ readers who enjoy smart, hopeful sci-fi; teachers & librarians seeking high-interest, low-barrier entry points.
Reading Paths
Start with the Novel
From Roswell to Area 51 revises & expands the early episodes (including this one) and threads Charlie’s retrospective narration.
Or read by Episode
- Roswell: First Contact — Malcolm Dow: Ep. 1
- Negotiations — Ryan Wilcox: Ep. 1
- The Good, The Bad, and the Undecided — Greg Newman: Ep. 1
- Defying Gravity — Mary Goss: Ep. 1
- Charlie’s Big Chance — Charlotte “Charlie” Baker
- The Woundless War – General Frank Jones Ep. 1
Each stands alone; reading order adds depth.
Look Inside
Chapter One – Top Secret
Roswell Army Airfield
July 8, 1947
“Please help me fix this. The people around here are hard workers; they deserve better,” General Frank Jones said quietly as he looked at multiple reports of the first nuclear tests and the effects of the radiation. Horrific photos marked TOP SECRET. Several depicted cattle suffering from birth defects. The rest of the papers contained purchase invoices for those cattle.
He glanced at a memo he had received that morning about an incident at Ashcroft Ranch. A team had been sent out to investigate. He felt tingles, and the hairs on the back of his neck raised as he heard a knock at the door.
“Enter,” he called.
Lieutenant Hansley opened the door. He stood at attention and saluted.
After decades, Jones was tired of the constant salutes, but it was protocol. So, halfheartedly and dismissively, he raised his hand to his forehead, then dropped it. “What happened at the ranch?”
“How did you know, sir?”
Jones raised a single eyebrow but didn’t answer.
“I have a message from Lieutenant Monroe. He requests your presence at the ranch with the crashed object. He also requested that you put the base on alert,” Hansley said.
“Did he say what they found?”
“No, sir; he did not want to say it over the radio.”
“Probably a good thing, but we don’t know what we are dealing with, and I don’t want to cause a panic.” Jones thought for a moment. “Let’s run an Alpha alert drill and let him know we will be right there. Also inform Trinity; this might be a distraction to steal our nuclear technology.”
Chapter Two – The Ranch
Ashcroft Ranch, Roswell
Jones invited Colonel George Liam with him to the crash site. “What do you think we will find?” he asked, getting straight to business.
“If they called you out, I would expect a Soviet spy plane,” Liam replied.
As they arrived at the ranch, Jones saw hundreds of foil fragments. The driver parked the limousine beside the military trucks, and Jones saw what looked like a shredded fifty-foot foil umbrella. He stepped out of the car.
Sweat dripped down Lt. Monroe’s pasty white face as he approached and saluted. “Sir, you’re going to want to see this.”
Holding back his annoyance, Jones returned the salute. “Yes, what is it, Lieutenant?”
“Aliens, sir.”
“Aliens?” Jones raised an eyebrow. “Are they alive?”
“No, sir.”
“Shame.” He motioned Monroe to lead the way. The lieutenant’s feet were fast and nervous, but Jones and Liam easily kept up. The way to the crash site had already been cleared of foil, so no one was around to overhear their conversation.
As he walked, Monroe turned his upper body to address the general. His eyebrows were scrunched. “Shame, sir?”
“Yes. It’s going to be hard to find out why they’re here if we can’t talk to them.”
Monroe’s face reddened. “Does it matter, sir? They are foreigners on US soil,” he protested.
“What would be your course of action?”
Monroe huffed. “For Pete’s sake, General! Prepare for an invasion, of course! Mount a counteroffensive. If any more of these freaks show up, we should be blasting them out of the sky.”
“Settle down, Lieutenant!” Liam warned.
Jones, however, was eager for Monroe to continue. “Attack? Who? Where?” he asked.
Monroe’s face was redder than ever, but he didn’t say anything, so Jones turned to Liam. “Do you agree with this assessment?”
Before Liam had a chance to answer, they reached the umbrella-like structure and ducked inside. The sight seemed to steal Liam’s words as his mouth dropped open. Jones drew closer to the upside-down cone-like container. He hummed. It was covered in depictions of the allied flags. The door on the other side had a large American Flag printed on it.
“It has an American Flag front and center on the door, and you want to mount a counteroffensive?” Jones asked pointedly. He shook his head in disgust, then opened the door, exposing three small gray bodies with big heads and slanted, swollen eyes. “Who has seen this?”
“Just Privates Dow and Rabinowitz, and myself,” Lt. Monroe replied. “The others might’ve caught a glimpse from a distance.”
“Where are the privates now?”
Monroe pointed toward the hills. “They were last seen heading out that way to collect foil.”
“Did you find any weapons?” Jones asked.
“No sir. Not yet. But I’m sure we will.”
“Tell me, Lieutenant, does the aliens’ clothing look more like a military uniform, a farmer’s, or a monk’s?”
Monroe spluttered. “A-a monk, sir…?”
“Yes, a monk. You know, those religious people who lead a simple life and dedicate their lives to serving God?”
Monroe stared back blankly.
Liam scrutinized the aliens with calculated interest. “He may have a point. Sir.”
“How so?”
Liam’s face was also blank.
“You’re all ready to go to war, but you can’t provide me with a reason to do so?” Jones looked at their blank faces again then shook his head. “I want to keep this under wraps. I don’t see anything to suggest the invasion you say we should prepare for,” he said. “I’m certain they’ve been following the results of the war and the peace treaty. This seems more like refugees in a rowboat scenario, and I don’t want to cause a panic.”
He alternated looking the two officers in the eye. “I am classifying this Top Secret. We will investigate, and I will report the preliminary findings directly to the president tomorrow. You are not to discuss this with anyone other than myself. Is that understood?”
The two officers straightened. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now I want you to put these into body bags, and take them to…” Jones scanned the area. He pointed. “That barn. Ask the farmer to remove his animals and call the local veterinarian to do a house call.”
“Sorry, sir. You don’t want the base doctor, sir?” Monroe asked, his face red again.
“A human doctor is only familiar with humans. I want someone who has experience with other biologics as well.”
Monroe bit his lip. “Yes, sir.”
“I’ve also acquired a safe house, a local abandoned warehouse, for just such emergencies. Liam, take everything to this address. Only use senior personnel whom you trust.” Jones handed the colonel a piece of paper and looked him in the eye, stressing his last words. “And escalate to Bravo alerts at the base and at Trinity. Understood?”
Liam gave a slight nod. “Yes, sir!”
“Dismissed.”
Length: 37k words
Formats: eBook • Paperback
ISBNs: 978-1-0688457-7-2 • 978-1-0688457-6-5
For Educators & Parents
High-interest, classroom-friendly. Discussion prompts available in the Classroom Guide. Themes: courage, conscience, bystander intervention, diplomacy vs. fear, bias & first impressions.