Dana cleared her throat.
“Hello? I have some experience in computer programming, remember?”
“Oh. Right. Sorry.”
“Ari’s still the expert.”
Ari grinned. “And don’t you forget it.”
Dana and Ari sat down at the table.
“So, what’s on your mind?” asked Ray.
John grabbed the pad of paper and pen that he’d left on the conference table.
“I thought we should plan out our activities from here on out,” he said, removing the pen cap.
“Not a big fan of flying by the seat of your pants, eh?” said Christie.
“No. Now the first thing I had on my mind is the exit strategy for Christie and Dana. Christie, how are you planning on getting your life in order before you leave?”
“Well, my family and the university are getting the missionary story we talked about. I won’t make a lot of friends back at Suffolk, but my parents should understand. They’ve always been supportive of my endeavors, even when I applied to NASA straight out of college. I should head over to Suffolk at some point tomorrow. I don’t want to string them along longer than necessary.”
“Okay. Dana, what are your thoughts on this?”
Dana leaned back in her chair. “Well, I don’t really have any friends, and my parents aren’t an issue. My mother and I don’t talk except on holidays and my father died when I was fourteen.”
“Good. We’ll all have to budget time to put our affairs in order. That being said, I’d like some estimates on completion times for the remaining projects. First is the computer code. Assuming you can get a translation program running, Ari, how long will it take to set up the network?”
Ari sighed. “I don’t know. No more than four days I’d imagine. I think I’ll need four days to decode the orb’s language and six to eight days to write the control programs for all of the functions we talked about, so I’m looking at… at least two weeks total.”
“Okay. Next is plumbing. I’m thinking three days if Ray and I work on it together.”
“I think that’s reasonable,” said Ray.
“And that leaves the one thing we haven’t discussed barely at all,” said John. “External weaponry. Seth and I have been talking and I think that the most powerful Earth weapons we can use are slug throwers.”
“Slug throwers?” asked Dana.
“It’s a term for firearms, to distinguish them from missiles, lasers, or anything else.”
“Oh.”
“As far as I know the most powerful weapon out there that will be practical for our use is the GAU 8 'Avenger' thirty millimeter weapon system used on the A-10 Thunderbolt. Seth and I think that two of these weapons would be good for the forward and rearward mounted armaments, despite the fact that Seth still can’t say whether or not we’ll need them or whether or not they’ll even be effective. Still, if that’s the best we can do, that’s the best we can do. The trick here is that Seth doesn’t know what kind of molecular redundancy will be necessary until we can scan one of these. So until we can take a trip down to Bradley Air National Guard Base, we won’t know for sure. If it’s three-to-one like the chairs, batteries, and oxygen canisters were, there may simply not be sufficient aircraft present.”
“Can’t we take a trip to the factory that makes them?” Ray asked.
“I don’t know where that is. We could research it. But if we take units right out of the chassis of the A-10s, we’ll know that they’ll be all ready to go. I hate to pull a trick like that on my compatriots in the Air Guard, but so be it. The problem will be getting them to work with Seth’s power system. Seth assures me that he can assist us in installing them, insofar as getting the muzzles sticking out of the hull.”
“Don’t you want them for the dorsal and ventral guns as well?”
“No, I was thinking of something smaller. These guns need to be mounted in such a way so that they’re fully articulated. GAU 19 fifty-caliber machine guns will work well in that role, and we can just copy the top and ball turret designs from the good old B-29 Superfortress. Then we should be able to steal right out of the factory with as much ammunition as we need, or barring that, from a National Guard armory. Then, if we need to, we can get fully intact turrets from the B-29 display at the New England Air Museum.”
“It’s going to be a challenge.”
“What fun would it be if it wasn’t? I estimate seven days for Ray and I to get those weapons installed.”
“How are you going to fire those weapons in the vacuum of space?” asked Christie.
“Seth tells me that the forward facing cannons will be inside the energy shield. The bullets can exit through it just fine. In the case of the fifty caliber guns, the turrets will be outside the hull proper but they’ll still have enough oxygen surrounding them to fire the ammunition. So, that’s a minimum of three weeks time. It wouldn’t surprise me if it took twice that long with complications, delays, and good old fashioned ignorance.”
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” asked Ari.
“We can recon the Air Guard base and continue to gather other supplies. I’d like to pick up my car from Orford so that we have another vehicle for running errands.”
“I’d like to resign from the force in person,” said Ray. “I’d rather not delay that any more.”
“Okay.”
“We need to come up with a better solution to our sanitation problem than the bucket,” Ari said.
“Indeed. Until we get the plumbing installed the way Seth described we’ll have to either rent a motel room somewhere out of the way or perhaps swipe a portable toilet from somewhere. Since we could all use a shower, too, I vote for the motel room.”
“I concur,” began Ray, “in fact, there’s a motel nearby to the cabin that we could use. If we pay in cash the CIA won’t be able to track us.”
“Won’t that put us unnecessarily close to any agents looking for us up there?” asked Christie.
“It’s on a route north of the cabin. There’s no reason for them to look for us up there. We have to pick up John’s car anyway, and we might as well use an area that’s isolated and that at least one of us, namely me, is intimately familiar with.”
“Okay, fine,” said John. “We’ll scout it out first thing in the morning. As for everything else, we’ll discuss the particulars after that. I’m starting to become drowsy again. It must be the overwhelming realization of what’s ahead of us. Anybody who wants to keep working tonight, keep in mind that a full night’s sleep is a good idea. Don’t stay up too late.”
“You’re forgetting the most important thing we have to do tomorrow,” said Ari.
“What?”
“Get some damn sheets for the beds!”
__________
October 8, 2003
Mara Fledgling was making noise. A lot of noise, in fact. A Colt M4 carbine on fully automatic was not quiet by any comparison except maybe a thermonuclear explosion. Alone at the range, Mara was not afraid to rattle off an entire thirty round magazine at once. She was adept with the weapon, placing all of her rounds into a human silhouette target at twenty-five yards. It was one of those skills that Kyrie Devonai happened to find rather endearing, and was one of many reasons why they maintained a romantic relationship.
Mara dropped the empty magazine out of her rifle and replaced it with one that was full. She changed her mind about her goals and flipped the selector switch to semi-automatic. There was an orange-colored shard of a clay pigeon on the berm at thirty-five yards that required her attention. Mara tucked her cheek into the stock and began to fire slowly. Becoming as accurate as possible one round at a time was the closest thing to Zen philosophy that Mara ever tried, requiring a significant lack of conscious thought for success.
Mara and Devonai had met during college, but they hadn’t decided to form a relationship until years later, after they were both already working for the CIA. Mara was a member of Omega Group under Devonai’s command. It wasn’t
always that way. Mara had started out in the FBI, and while Devonai was cutting his teeth in the Boston Police Department (and sealing his fate with the CIA) Mara was floundering in a frustrating manner with white collar investigations. It was Devonai who had changed all that, with an intensity that eventually carried over into their relationship.
Mara had the day off, and had decided not to waste it lounging around her apartment. While she had access to better firing ranges, her current choice offered more privacy and dynamics. Some of what she had in mind would get her kicked off of a monitored range in short order. When she was sufficiently satisfied that her basic skills were solid, she could proceed to the fun stuff.
Mara had fired about half of the magazine when she became aware of a ringing sound. Her hearing protection was in place, so it wasn’t the rifle. Mara realized her cell phone was demanding her. She placed the rifle on safe and peeled off her headset.
“Hello, Kyrie,” she said, responding to the caller ID.
“Hi, Mara. How’s it going?”
“Good. I’m just giving my Colt some love. How about you?”
“You’d hardly believe it if I told you.”
“You mean you’re not going to tell me?”
“It’s way too difficult to explain right now. If I ever see the inside of our apartment again, you can be sure you’ll hear about it. Your assistance may yet be needed on this case anyway.”
“I see.”
“I’m on my way up to New Hampshire to investigate a lead. I thought I’d call and say hello.”
“Always appreciated, of course.”
“I’m having a hard time with this one, Mara. I find myself forced with a difficult ethical decision, well potentially anyway.”
“You’re notorious for always making the right ethical choice, Kyr.”
“Yeah, but this time it may go against the wishes of the CIA.”
“Oh. Shit.”
“Indeed. Well, here’s the gist of it. There’s a group of people working on a project that the CIA became aware of two days ago. The worry was that the project may have been a threat to national security. We checked it out and it is my assessment that it poses no such threat.”
“I take it that your word isn’t enough this time?”
“Yup. The problem is that the DIA is breathing down our necks on this one, and they’re not going to close the case based on my recommendation.”
“The DIA? This is serious.”
“No joke. Not only is the DIA demanding that we continue investigating this group, but they’ve ordered the arrest and interrogation of any of its members. That’s the problem. If it was up to me I would just leave them alone and let them do their research. If I find where they’re hiding, I’ll be forced to go against what I believe is right.”
Mara sighed. “Kyr, it sounds to me like it might be time to remove yourself from the case.”
“I’d like to, but I’m too worried about how Brockway might handle it without me. So far, she’s been a second-stringer on this one, so I haven’t spoken to her about the ethical issue so far. I trust her completely, but somehow I don’t think she’d reach the same conclusions as me.”
“I trust her, too. I think she would in fact reach the same conclusions. It sounds to me like Omega shouldn’t be involved in this case at all. The DIA has different goals. I think you have a tough choice here, Kyrie. You’ve got to decide either to stay on the investigation and compromise your ideals, or you’ve got to remove yourself from it and accept that this research group may not receive justice. I don’t envy you.”
“Thanks a lot. I think there’s a third choice, by the way.”
“You can’t take out all of them,” Mara said, laughing.
“That’s not what I meant. I could stay on the investigation and conduct it as I see fit, regardless of what the DIA wanted.”
“I don’t think even you could avoid getting fired for pulling that kind of shit, my dear.”
“I know.”
“Who’s backing you up on this one?”
“Richter, of course. Smith and Ragulin are following us in another vehicle.”
“Is Richter listening to this conversation?” asked Mara incredulously.
“He ain’t whistling Dixie.”
“I’m surprised his loyalty is to Omega and not the CIA as a whole.”
“Good people are hard to find, but when you do, you hold onto them.”
“Are you talking about me?” Richter asked, his voice faint in the background.
“Yes we are,” said Devonai.
“You know, Kyrie,” began Mara, “if you’re going to go against orders I’d really rather be there to back you up. I don’t want to be elsewhere and have to make that decision alone.”
“You should stay out of this, Mara.”
“I can’t stay out of it, Kyr! Even if I wasn’t a member of Omega, I’m still your girlfriend.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to render my decision now, Kyr. I think you should remove yourself from the case, you and Richter and anyone else who would rather get fired than see this mysterious group of yours get arrested.”
“I hate to sound so trite, but the only thing I can say right now is that I’ll have to think about it.”
“I’m sure you’ll reach the right decision. Please don’t rush into anything. Just know that whatever you decide to do, you’ve got my support.”
“That’s why I love you, Mara.”
One hour later, Devonai and Richter pulled up to a small red cabin in the woods. Orford, New Hampshire was pretty much the same no matter where you went, but at the end of this dirt road it looked especially isolated. The morning was gray and the skies threatened rain. The wind whipped up the recently fallen leaves as Devonai and Richter stepped out. Smith and Ragulin exited their vehicle as well.
“This has got to be it,” Devonai said. “Smith, Ragulin, you check the perimeter. Richter and I will investigate the structure.”
“Yes, sir,” said Smith.
The other men headed out while Devonai approached the front door. The formidable portal was locked.
“What do you think, corporal?”
Richter looked at the lock. “It’s a newer deadbolt. It may take some time.”
“Time we have. Let’s check around back.”
The men circled the building. The cabin had a back door, which a much less imposing padlock presenting the only obstacle. Upon closer inspection they noticed the lock had been compromised.
“Somebody smashed it,” said Richter.
“It looks recent,” said Devonai, drawing his pistol. “I’ll take the lead.”
Richter drew his weapon and nodded. Devonai cautiously pushed the door open. The first room was sparse. There was a portable mattress folded up against the wall, and a charcoal grill next to it. There were some cleaning supplies as well. Another door lay before them. Devonai slowly turned the doorknob, listening for any stirring. He opened the door a crack and peeked inside.
The main room of the cabin was empty. There was a central table with chairs, a rocking chair, and a sofa recliner. An open door led to another room. Devonai crept forward for a look. That room, which contained two bunk beds, was also empty.
“Clear,” said Devonai.
“Clear,” echoed Richter.
“The table is free of dust,” said Devonai. “Somebody’s been here recently.”
“Major, look at this,” said Richter in hushed tones.
Richter pointed at the gas stove. A mug with a teabag stuck in it was there. The water inside was steaming.
“Shit,” whispered Devonai, grabbing his radio. “Smith, this is Devonai. Subjects are in the area. Use caution, over.”
“Roger, out,” replied Smith quietly.
“They can’t have gone too far,” Richter said.
“I agree. Go help out the others, I’m going to start poking around.”
Richter nodded in the affirmative and exited. Devonai began looking aroun
d more closely. There wasn’t much in the way of interesting material. The cabin was well stocked with survival rations and emergency water, enough for a couple weeks anyway. There were a few board games, a deck of cards, and a couple paperback books. Devonai rifled through the cabinets. Plates, glasses, blankets, sleeping bags, coats...
“Hello, there,” Devonai said.
On one of the bunk beds there were two sheets of yellow paper from a legal pad. Devonai picked them up. There were pencil diagrams of what appeared to be a ship, with each section of the ship labeled. Devonai recognized it as the ship he and Richter had been on, even though he had only seen the cargo bay and the bridge. On one of the pages the words “Reckless Faith” had been inscribed.
“No argument there,” Devonai said softly.
“Smith to Devonai,” the radio crackled.
“Go ahead, over.”
“We’ve secured the perimeter, sir. There’s nobody in the immediate area. Do you want us to continue looking?”
“Sure, why not? Send Richter back inside and take Ragulin with you, over.”
“Roger, out.”
Devonai folded up the drawings and pocketed them. A few moments later Richter re-entered the cabin.
“Yo,” he said.
“This is definitely the right place, and somebody was here recently. But judging by the lack of a vehicle this far off the main road, and the broken lock, I’d bet it we have a squatter. He heard us coming, no doubt, and took off. I doubt the others will find him if that’s the case.”
“That would seem to make sense. What do you want to do now?”
“I’ll station Smith and Ragulin here for the time being, just in case I’m wrong. I’d like to spend some time here myself, but I don’t think that Hill would go for it.”
“Do you think there’s any chance that the crew of the ship would be dumb enough to come back here?”
“I don’t know, there’s nothing of value really. They know we know who they are so they must figure we’ll be watching. Then again, it’s possible that whoever made that tea is a member of the crew. If so, they’ll be back for him. Maybe this isn’t such a waste of time after all.”
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