LE VAISSEAU FANTOM VI (PHANTOM FLEET)
(CIRCA 1987)
MELUN-SENART, FRANCE
HUMANKIND’S FIRST ALIEN ENCOUNTER
CELEBRATING THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
Albert Einstein’s Second Theory of Relativity explored
the probability of mirror-like universes. Stephen Hawkings' book on A Brief History of Time further supported the theorem that travel to unknown worlds did not require light
years measured in linear time but rather a passing from one portal into the next,
taking little more than an instant in earth time to accomplish.
With the imminent arrival of Euro-Disney on the outskirts
of Paris, some within the upper echelons of the French government became concerned that the American culture might well collide
with that of France. Something had to be done.
Although they are Americans, the Doultons' had lived in Europe for many years and somehow they seemed less American
than many of the other candidates.
The President of Ile De France (controlling the wider
Paris region) challenged the Doultons to develop a theme more French than the Disney approach, but with the same potential
for unique entertainment.
The concept of Humankind’s first alien encounter
occurring outside a 400 year old French farm house just outside Paris, through the visit of an errant space barge intrigued
and captivated the French mentality. The fact that the vessel was manned with
all manner of entertainers plying the byways from a mirror universe, similar to the old Americana riverboats, only served
to heighten their enthusiasm. The idea that the Commodore had been ordered that
the show must go on until some method of re-entry into their own locale within the space time continuum titillated the French
sense of commercial expediency. With a concept that the French mentality could
endorse in hand, the Doultons were thus mandated to determine where they would like to have this encounter with alien beings
to occur.
With a strong government endorsement and essentially the
same incentives as had been given Disney, the major Paris banks (whose franc’s were to build Euro-Disney), were at the
ready once that project had proved its success. Little did anyone know that three
years down wind Disney’s slow start would become a decisive factor.
Nevertheless, given the government’s willingness
to place a property under imminent domain, if deemed to be for the good of the nation, no château, farm, valley or ancient
wood was immune. A sugar beet farm of 400 hectares with gently rolling hills
and a 400 year old stone farmhouse, just 20 minutes from Euro-Disney, at a major exit of the new Rocade Nationale, and a mile
from the first Paris TGV station was selected.
The site was located within the sleepy village of Melun
Senart, populated by 1200 farmers with distinctly leftist politics. While the
project had strong Ile de France support obtaining local, regional and national support was left up to the Doultons.
Each level of government had to be convinced that the
proposal warranted the effort required to change the French National Development Plan, something not easily accomplished. Each entity had to be met in turn before going on to the next level. The local community, twelve regional mayors, Association of New Towns, French Assembly, and French Senate.
Last, but not least, was the Area Prefet, whose decision is final, and can override all of the others, with no chance for
appeal.
The initial approval process took 18 months, and another
18 months to obtain a positive decision from the Area Prefet, whereby the French government officially granted Unit 6 of Le
Vaisseau Fantom the exact land acquisition terms (Promis de Vent) granted Disney and a five-year window in which to act. By then the Euro-Disney opening had been less than hoped for. The bankers who supported
them (our intended investors), had moved on to other pastures. The ship’s Commodore had found a way to return his vessel and
crew to its own place with-in the
Time Space Continuum and the Doultons… well they were hard at work elsewhere
creating other worlds.
