Jens Larssen | |
Fictional Character | |
Worldwar POD: May 30, 1942 | |
Appearance(s): | In the Balance Tilting the Balance; Upsetting the Balance† |
Type of Appearance: | Direct POV |
Nationality: | United States |
Date of Birth: | c. 1912 |
Date of Death: | 1944 |
Cause of Death: | Shot to death while resisting arrest (Race Invasion of Tosev 3) |
Religion: | Lutheran |
Occupation: | Physicist |
Parents: | Olaf Larssen |
Spouse: | Barbara Baker |
Children: | None |
Relatives: | Martin (brother), Josephine (sister) |
Professional Affliations: | Metallurgical Laboratory |
Jens Larssen (c. 1912 - January 1944) was an American nuclear physicist of Norwegian descent, born and raised in rural Minnesota.[1] In 1942, Jens was 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 a high level explosion while 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, Colorado, 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.
One day, Larssen murdered his bodyguard Oscar and Colonel Hexham, and attempted to defect to the Lizard forces advancing on Denver. After about a week of living as a fugitive in an abandoned farm, Larssen was intercepted by Captain Rance Auerbach's unit near Lamar, Colorado. Larssen shot Trooper Rachel Hines in the hand, causing her to let out a cry of anguish. In Larssen's madness, he believed she was his ex-wife, and called out "Barbara? Honey?" - his last words. Captain Auerbach promptly gunned him down.
In 2031, Sam Yeager 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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