Red to Fade

by Red to Fade (epub)

  At the age of twenty-five, Connor studied and completed test exams for an FBI agent job placement. He passed all the exams and became an FBI agent. He’s been working for the FBI for the last thirteen years. Connor works in the Los Angeles FBI branch. He is a white Irish-American and is currently on a two-week holiday leave. Ryan and Connor have known each other for years as they both work in the robbery and homicide division of the FBI.

  Ryan sees Connor and he walks over to meet him.

  Ryan says, “Hey Connor, how’s it going?”

  Connor makes a moaning reply. “I was doing good, man, until you dragged my ass here on my day off. What’s up? What’s so important you had to meet me here?”

  Ryan says, “I didn’t want to talk about this over the phone. I just heard some shocking news yesterday from Carlton.” Connor, Ryan and Carlton all work in the same division of the FBI. “Carlton said to me that he thought there was something strange about Joel Davis and a group of agents going for meetings in the main server room on the IT floor.”

  Joel Davis is the head of the FBI Los Angeles branch. He is also one of the most corrupt agents in the FBI. The only reason why Joel joined the FBI was to make as much money as humanly possible by hook or by crook. Many times he has stolen money and drugs from the evidence room. He has corrupt agents working for him as well. Joel would often get them to sell drugs to make a fortune. Joel is a really smart guy and nobody has a clue how corrupt he is; everyone thinks he’s one of the greatest FBI agents.

  “Many times Joel and some agents would go to the main server room for a meeting. So Carlton decided to plant a wireless audio/video camera in the room to see what all of these meetings were about. This was about a month ago.”

  Before Carlton planted the wireless camera in the main server room, he got someone to turn off the power in the FBI security personnel room so that nobody could see what he was doing. The agents who work in the personnel room can see video footage of the cameras that are inside the main server room.

  “He says that he recorded audio/video footage of Joel Davis instructing other agents about a mission to attack a base and download a file called ‘DC’ from a building in a base in the First Dome. He has all of this footage stored in his computer and on storage disks. Carlton told me that he has recorded audio/video footage of Joel saying that there was a ship called CS-10 that was made to crash in an ocean near America.

  “The ship was made to crash land by a group of agents who escaped in an escape pod before the ship crashed. Apparently a salvage team salvaged all the equipment used to create the glacitone and RB-7 robots from the ship. They have the equipment used to create the RB-7 robots, glacitone and tricadell steel, but they don’t know how to use it.”

  Connor asks, “What is the DC file?”

  Ryan answers, “Carlton said that the DC file gives information on how to use the equipment to create the RB-7 robots, tricadell steel and glacitone, and how to build a glacitone dome. He also said that the audio/video footage he recorded showed plans on the large monitor screen in the main server room of the base that suggest that they plan to attack. DC stands for Dome Creation.”

  Connor asks, “What is the name of the base they plan to attack?”

  Ryan replies, “Carlton says it’s called CSB-R1.”

  CSB-R1 stands for Clandarian Soldier Base, Red 1.

  “He also says that the plan of Joel’s mission is in a file called ‘R-1’, which is stored in the computer in the main server room. From watching the recorded footage he said that every time they have had a meeting in the main server room somebody always logs in to the computer, then types in a cipher code to get access to the Red 1 folder and open the R-1 file. Joel would always call out the cipher code to an agent; then that agent would type it in.”

  Connor asks, “Do you believe what Carlton is telling you?”

  Ryan replies, “Yeah, I believe him. Why would he want to lie about this shit?”

  Connor asks, “Do you have any of these recorded meetings?”

  Ryan answers, “No, man, Carlton has all of them recorded on disks and on his computer. I went to Carlton’s house today, but he wasn’t there and his house is completely trashed. His computer is gone. I tried to get in contact with him on the phone; I can’t find him, his phone just keeps on ringing with no answer.”

  Connor feels overwhelmed after hearing all of this information; he doesn’t know what to do. But he says, “That might explain why some agents have gone missing; they found out what Joel was up to and then Joel made them disappear, or maybe he asked them to join his crew and they refused and then Joel killed them because he doesn’t want them talking about his mission. What in the hell would Joel do with the RB-7 robots and glacitone? There have to be others involved.”

  Ryan says, “Yeah, man, that’s what I’m thinking. There could be members of congress and people in the White House involved. For years the government has been pestering the Balaxians for their RB-7 and glacitone technology. Carlton said that some of the guys that were at the meetings in the main server room are guys who we work with. He said that Alvarez, Ryder and a lot of others are involved.”

  Alvarez and Ryder are agents who work in the robbery and homicide division. Connor says, “There’s a possibility that this could start a war between the Clandarians and America; God knows what the reaction could be from the Balaxians after they have some of their secret information taken away from them.”

  Ryan asks, “What do you want to do?”

  Connor replies, “We need to download that R-1 file and show it to the Clandarians. Did Carlton say when they plan to attack?”

  Ryan replies, “No, he didn’t. He said that Joel mentioned in one of the recorded meetings that if anyone downloads the R-1 file they will be met with a severe penalty.”

  Ryan fills Connor in on more information. Joel allows the R-1 file to be downloadable because he wants to see if any of his crew will download the file; it’s a test to see who he can trust and who he can’t. Joel has the R-1 file set up with an alert system, which means that he will receive an alert message on his cell phone and computer to let him know that someone is downloading the R-1 file at the exact time that it happens.

  Anytime an agent would want to take a look and study the R-1 file the agent would have to ask Joel for an access code to the main server room. Joel would give that agent a temporary access code to open the door. If an agent typed in the temporary access code on the keypad of the main server room door, it would open.

  After the main server room door is opened by a temporary access code and the agent has gone inside the main server room and then left and closed the door behind them, the temporary access code becomes useless and cannot open the main server room door ever again. Ever since the R-1 file was created and stored in the main server room Joel has been the only guy to have or grant access to the room.

  Connor says, “What the hell does that mean?”

  Ryan replies, “Well, I’m thinking he means death. You need access codes to type into the keypad of the main server room door to open it. Do you have these codes?”

  Connor answers, “No, I don’t have any of these codes. How did Carlton get them?”

  Ryan replies, “I don’t know how Carlton got the codes.”

  Connor says, “Who else have you told about this?”

  Ryan replies, “I’ve just told you and your partner. Carlton said he didn’t see my partner or yours at any of the meetings in the main server room. I’m going to tell my partner tonight. I also said to Dylan that I was going to tell you about what’s going on.”

  Connor says, “I’m going to ask Dylan to see if he would be able to get access codes for the main server room door.”

  Dylan is Connor’s FBI partner. Before he became Connor’s partner in the robbery and homicide division he worked in the cyber division of the FBI, fighting cyber terrorism. Dylan always wanted to work in robbery and homicide because that’s where the action is. Dylan and Connor have been partners for yea
rs.

  Ryan asks, “Do you think that he’ll be able to get the codes?”

  Connor answers, “Yeah, man, Dylan is an IT whiz kid; he can hack into anything and steal any program codes.”

  FBI security personnel are the guys who keep a watchful eye on the whole FBI Los Angeles branch building from their room. They have cameras installed everywhere in the FBI building. The FBI security personnel watch the video footage of all of the cameras that are installed in the building from their video monitor screens in the FBI security personnel room. Joel informed FBI security personnel to contact him every time somebody goes into the main server room.

  The only people who have access to the main server room are Joel and his corrupt troops when they ask Joel for access. Joel is able to see video footage of the main server room from his computer. The FBI security personnel aren’t a part of Joel’s corrupt crew and mission.

  Ryan says, “We need to do something about that video camera that’s inside the main server room. I reckon Joel and his crew are watching that room.”

  Connor says, “I’ll think of something. Also I’m going to see if Dylan can get me a password and a user name to log in to the computer in the main server room. Do you have the cipher code to get access to the R-1 folder?”

  Ryan replies, “Yes.”

  Ryan has the cipher code stored in his cell phone. He pulls out his phone and finds the code.

  Ryan asks Connor, “Are you ready to take down this code?”

  Connor pulls out his phone. He’s ready.

  Connor says, “Yeah, give me the code.”

  Ryan says, “The code is TRAX-13-56-78-900.”

  Connor stores the code in his cell phone.

  Connor says, “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to download the R-1 file, then go to Red 1 and then I’m going to go to the CSB-R1 base and tell them what’s going to happen. I’m going to show them the plans.”

  Ryan says, “I’m coming with you.”

  Connor says, “No, I need someone on the inside. I need you to stay in the FBI building so that you can give me contact information, and also you might be able to monitor Joel.”

  Ryan says, “I’m going to try to get in contact with the CSB-R1 base to let them know what is happening.”

  Connor asks, “Do you have their planet communicator number?”

  You can get in contact from Earth with anyone in the glacitone domes with a planet communicator. The planet communicator is a piece of Balaxian technology.

  Ryan replies, “No, but I’ll find out. Do you know anyone on Mars?”

  Connor answers, “Yeah, Gabrielle Hoffman, she used to work in the counter-terrorism division in our branch before she moved to the Big Rock to work as a Red 1 law enforcer.”

  Ryan replies, “I didn’t know that Gabrielle moved to the Red Planet.”

  Connor says, “I’ll try to get in contact with her and let her know what’s going on. OK, so I’m going to contact Dylan tonight and let him know what’s happening. When I have the information needed to get into the main server room and access the computer I’ll give you a call to let you know when I’m going into the main server room.”

  Ryan says, “I’ll tell Tom what’s going down.” Tom is Ryan’s partner. “Whenever you’re talking about this with Dylan, either go and meet up in a safe place and talk or both of you guys talk about this from a public phone. You’ll call me when this is going down, yeah?”

  Connor answers, “Yeah, I’ll definitely call you. Keep on trying to get in contact with Carlton. The more guys we have the better; plus it would be great if we got that access code for the main server room door.”

  Ryan says, “All right then, I’m going home. I’ll see you later and good luck.”

  Connor says, “Yeah, I’ll see you later.”

  Ryan exits the West Coast Leisure Centre and goes home in his car. Connor stays behind and waits for a few minutes. He takes a moment to think about what he’s going to do and what’s going to happen. Connor decides to leave the West Coast Leisure Centre and drive in his car to look for a public payphone to contact Dylan to talk about Carlton’s discovery. Connor wants to talk about Carlton’s discovery using a payphone because he thinks that there could be a possibility that the phones of the people who know about Carlton’s discovery could be wired for sound by Joel and his army. Connor drives around LA looking for a public telephone. He sees a public telephone in a car park near a Walmart supermarket.

  There are not many cars in the car park; it’s not too busy tonight in Walmart. Connor parks his car in the supermarket car park. He exits the car and walks over to the public telephone. Connor goes inside the telephone box. He picks up the headset of the payphone before putting in a quarter; then dials Dylan’s number.

  *

  In Dylan’s house the phone is ringing. Dylan walks to the house phone and answers it.

  Dylan says, “Hello.”

  Connor replies, “Hey Dylan, it’s me, Connor. Get to a public telephone and dial 310-042-1598.”

  310-042-1598 is the number of the payphone that Connor is currently using. Connor knows this because the number is written on the phone he is using.

  Dylan answers, “Sure, man, no problem.”

  Dylan doesn’t even ask the question ‘why do you want me to call you from a public phone?’ He has an idea of why Connor wants to be contacted through a public telephone. Dylan grabs his jacket and exits his house, gets into his car and drives out of his driveway. Dylan drives out of his residential area of Oakburn. Oakburn is a nice quiet residential area with beautiful two-storey houses and peaceful working-class families.

  Dylan drives to an Irish bar, O’Malley’s, which is a mile away from his house. Dylan drinks in O’Malley’s sometimes; he knows some of the people that work there. Dylan knows that O’Malley’s has a public phone in the entrance area. Dylan parks the car in a car park across the road from O’Malley’s, then crosses the road and goes into the entrance area of O’Malley’s bar.

  The public phone is in the entrance area. It’s a bit noisy and busy tonight – a lot of youngsters drinking. It’s not too noisy in the entrance area though. Dylan picks up the headset of the public payphone before putting in eight one-dollar coins; he suspects that this is going to be a long call. Dylan then dials 310-042-1598 on the public payphone. Connor, who is still at his public phone waiting for the phone to ring, hears it ringing.

  He answers the phone and says, “Hello Dylan, is that you?”

  Dylan answers, “Yeah, it’s me.”

  Connor asks, “Were you talking with Ryan today?”

  Dylan answers, “Yeah, man, he told me what Joel and his crew plan to do.”

  Connor says, “I’m going to download the R-1 file from the main server room. I need you to get me an access code for the door and a password and username to log in to the computer.”

  Dylan says, “Do you need the cipher code to get access to the Red 1 folder?”

  Connor says, “No, Ryan gave me the cipher code.”

  Dylan says, “Man, it’s going to take a bit of time to get all of these codes for you. Another thing I’d like to mention is I reckon that Joel and his guys will be watching the main server room.”

  Connor says, “Yeah, I know. Before I go onto the floor where the main server room is I’m going to need you to make the main server room and IT floor camera monitors that are in the FBI security personnel room run old footage of an empty main server room and empty IT floor hallways in a repeated loop. If the footage displays empty rooms, empty hallways and is running in a loop whoever is watching will think they’re looking at an empty room and empty hallways. Also I want you to turn the power off in the FBI security personnel room before you make the video footage of the main server room and IT floor run in a repeated loop, so that FBI security personnel and whoever is watching camera footage won’t have a clue what’s going on.”

  Joel is able to see video footage of the main server room from his computer because his computer h
as a network connection to the FBI security personnel room. If the power of the FBI personnel room is turned off, this will also turn off the video footage of the main server room that is shown from Joel’s computer.

  “Dylan, do you have any Clandar earpiece mics?”

  Clandar earpiece mics are used by Clandarian agents to communicate with each other. To use a Clandar earpiece mic, you fit it in your ear so that you can hear other people using Clandar earpiece mics. You simply speak and other people using the mics will be able to hear you. They are wireless.

  Clandar earpiece mics are more advanced than the standard earthling earpiece mics. Two people who are communicating using Clandar mics can be miles away from each other. Clandar earpiece mics can also be called Sound Comms.

  Dylan says, “Yeah, I have some.”

  Dylan may work in robbery and homicide, but he is still really into technology. Dylan loves to get his hands on any new piece of technology.

  Connor says, “Good, when you get the codes I need you to call my cell phone and say, ‘I have everything.’ When I hear that I’ll hang up and I’ll go over to your house.”

  Dylan says, “Should I tell Ryan about what’s going on?”

  Connor says, “No, after you get everything call me and I’ll drive over to your house and then we’ll call Ryan, OK?”

  Dylan says, “Sure, no problem.”

  Connor asks, “How long will it take you to get everything I need?”

  Dylan says, “I don’t know, man, it could take up to six or seven hours. I have to hack into the servers of the main server room to get these codes. The servers are protected by Velcrop software.”

  Velcrop software is Balaxian software protection; it protects software from hacking and viruses.

  Connor says, “That’s fine, just let me know when you have everything.”

  Dylan says, “No problem, man, I’m going to get everything you need right now.”

  Connor says, “Thanks, man, I’ll see you later.”

  Connor hangs up the phone. When Dylan hears that Connor has hung up, he does likewise. Dylan exits O’Malley’s and crosses the road to go to the car park where his car is parked. Dylan gets into his car, starts the engine and drives home. When Dylan reaches home he parks his car in his driveway. He goes into his house and goes to his IT room.