It had been a long week and Ed Straker was tired. He had stopped at a local restaurant to get something to eat before heading home for a good night's sleep. While waiting for his food, he sat back and relaxed, trying for once to push thoughts of SHADO out of his mind. There was music playing softly in the background and Straker let his thoughts wander as he recognized the song.

To dream the impossible dream,
to fight the unbeatable foe,
to bear with unbearable sorrow,
to run where the brave dare not go.

SHADO's foe certainly seemed unbeatable at times. No matter how often or how well SHADO repelled the aliens, they kept coming back. While SHADO had to fight for every piece of equipment they had, the aliens seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of spacecraft and pilots, and their persistence was at times disheartening.

This is my quest,
to follow that star--
no matter how hopeless,
no matter how far.

To fight for the right without question or pause,
to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause.
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest,
that my heart will be peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest.

Straker had certainly fought for SHADO. For more than ten years, he had fought Henderson and the IAC for funding and equipment to ensure that SHADO was able to successfully battle their enemy. He had made personal sacrifices for SHADO, including but not limited to the loss of his wife and only son. This fight was more important than any one human, and he knew that better than most.

And the world will be better for this,
that one man scorned and covered with scars
still strove with his last ounce of courage.
To reach the unreachable stars.

Straker smiled as one line repeated itself in his thoughts. "And the world will be better for this." Yes, SHADO was necessary, no matter the cost to any member of its staff. As long as SHADO remained operational, Earth's population would be protected from an enemy most never knew they had. Each UFO that SHADO intercepted was at least one human life saved. Each of these lives made SHADO's fight worthwhile. Ed Straker and SHADO would never stop fighting until the aliens had been defeated.

The waiter approached with his food as the song ended, and Straker brought himself out of his reflection. He sighed as his pager went off. A quick check with Alec told him there had been another UFO incident and he was needed at the studio.

After paying his bill, Straker headed outside to his car and back to the studio. As he pulled onto the road, the song's lyrics swam through his mind again and he immediately pushed them away. It was time to get back to his Impossible Dream.

Okay, so maybe it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I enjoyed writing it.  I hope you enjoyed reading it.

The Impossible Dream
Lyrics by Joe Darion
Music by Mitch Leigh.

To dream the impossible dream,
to fight the unbeatable foe,
to bear with unbearable sorrow,
to run where the brave dare not go.

To right the unrightable wrong,
to love pure and chaste from afar,
to try when your arms are too weary,
to reach the unreachable star.

This is my quest,
to follow that star--
no matter how hopeless,
no matter how far.

To fight for the right without question or pause,
to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause.
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest,
that my heart will be peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this,
that one man scorned and covered with scars
still strove with his last ounce of courage.
To reach the unreachable stars.

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