Lieutenant General Austin Pierce was a senior US Army officer in the early 21st century.
Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]
In September 2009, when the 456 came to Earth, Britain took control over the matter. Pierce led a United States delegation to Downing Street on behalf of the US President, and was asked to convey the President's "absolute fury" to the British Prime Minister, Brian Green. Fellow US Army officers Turner and Jackson were part of the US delegation, and served as Pierce's aides. In addition, UNIT colonel Augustus Oduya joined Pierce at Downing Street.
Pierce showed he wasn't happy with the situation. He noted the planned nature of the 456's arrival in Thames House, and reminded the Prime Minister that he was in breach of the statutes of the United Nations. Pierce took part in negotiations with the newly arrived 456, and reluctantly accepted Green's suggestion of using civil servant John Frobisher as a 'middle-man'. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"], PROSE: Torchwood: The Encyclopedia [+]Loading...["Torchwood: The Encyclopedia (reference book)"]) Pierce witnessed a child hooked up to the 456 ambassador, and was furious upon finding out that Britain had attempted to cover up previous dealings with the 456 in 1965. Seeing the British government as responsible for the problem, Pierce took over the operation of handing over ten percent of the world's children to the 456. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Four [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)"])
On the fifth day of the crisis, Pierce took command of British Army operations in isolating selected primary schools, and declared that any soldier who rebelled would have made their own family liable. He presided over the Prime Minister's speech announcing the faux inoculation programme. Under Pierce's command, up to eighty percent of the demanded children had been collected at the designated rendezvous points. However, troops withdrew upon witnessing the children collectively scream, being used as a constructive wave by Jack Harkness with Steven Carter at its centre. The wave hurt the 456 ambassador, forcing it to withdraw.
Following the conclusion of the crisis, Pierce left Downing Street and saluted Prime Minister Brian Green. Green later considered Pierce's taking charge as "lucky", stating that as he took charge without United Nations ratification, the British government could blame America for the events of the crisis. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)"])