The satellite's energy configuration was not like any other's. The sensors within the orbital surveyor in which I stood projected for me the truth behind this mysteriously overlooked instrument. The General stood next to me, obviously more educated in the sinister matter than I was. The indications claimed something within, something responsible... responsible, as it might prove, for more mysteries in the past century than I could number. 

"Isn't it convenient?" the General chuckled with a conviction of a depthful reclusiveness, a reclusiveness into darkness and dissemblance. "A simple command of Omega-Z-144000, and the satellite will be redirected, sending it into the atmosphere at a trajectory where the heat will incinerate all its secrets."

"You called it 'Novum Ordo'?" I said in astonishment. "Almost deprecates the usage of the dollar bill's phrase, wouldn't you think?"

"Not terribly." He was all too relaxed at the notion. He and his organization as the military of the United Nations had been bred in this secret, and he could not let it breath to any one else. 

"How does this work? What does it do?" I was paralyzed with indecision. The configuration showed a signal inducer and a low-intensity energy beam.

"Planes and airliners, some ships even, over the past century have disappeared, you may know. It doesn't matter though. If a few pieces must be removed in order that the puzzle comes together, who am I to judge how the universe functions? We are now an expansion across the stars not only for that singular reason, but also under the circumstance that it manipulate our enemies in all the right places."

It all made sense now. World War III had started in the Middle East for heavens-knows what reason, but it brought an end to so many lives, including my grandfather's. "You mean to tell me that this thing that our ancestors created started a war in which the terrorist nations were obliterated and the countries of Asia were decimated?"

He smiled, as if he were a teacher instructing an ignorant child. "But look now! The universe is ours because we let our enemies kill themselves! Who wouldn't be rid of our enemies to let people live in a new utopia!"

"How can we live knowing this was our past?"

"A good artist will make the most of both his muses, and also his demons." He pressed the controls, and walked away silently.