abstract
| - Jens Larssen (d. 1944) was an American nuclear physicist of Norwegian descent, working on the development of an atomic bomb with the University of Chicago's Metallurgical Laboratory at the time of the invasion of the Race's Conquest Fleet. He was witness to the "High altitude bombing" on the University campus. Jens was sent on a mission to Washington, DC to request help against the incoming troops of the Race advancing on Chicago. He had to cross Lizard-held territory on his way back and was held up, by, among other things General George Patton's counter-attack against the Lizards. When he went missing, his wife, Barbara, believing he was dead, began a relationship with Sam Yeager. They married and she became pregnant in short order. Larssen eventually found his way to Denver, the Metallurgical team's new home. He was reunited with Barbara, but only briefly and tragically, learning of her new husband, and the fact that Barbara was pregnant. Embittered, Larssen grew more unproductive and vindictive. Although the project supervisor, General Leslie Groves, attempted to assuage Larssen's anger by sending him on various scouting missions, including a lengthy trip to Hanford, Washington, Larssen felt unappreciated by his country. Murdering his bodyguard Oscar and Colonel Hexham, Larssen attempted to defect to the Lizard forces advancing on Denver, but was intercepted and killed by Rance Auerbach's unit near Lamar, Colorado. Sam Yeager later told his son Jonathan of how he met Barbara, and Jens Larssen's end. He was ashamed for being partly responsible for ruining Jens' life. Sam also stated that Barbara also felt guilty about Jens' fate and had tried her best to forget him.
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