by Ben Winston
"Records of the Columbus Child Protective Services agency indicate payment initiated by the Air Force on behalf of Hollister, Carl A, Airman First Class, were received and directly deposited into the account of Bill and Helen Washington. I have found deposit records for every month of your life corresponding to almost ninety thousand dollars. In addition to that, the United States Air Force had you listed as a dependent, which authorized you free medical care, as well as allowing your family to shop at any military base exchange. There is a record of a dependent ID being issued in your name…"
"Hold it Abraxis! Grandpa said the Air Force only allowed a dependent payment of fifty dollars. How could there be that much money? If there was, where did it go?" Lionel asked. "I don't mean to argue with you, but I never had a military ID card until I joined the Marines."
Several military IDs appeared on the large screen TV in the room. "Are these images of you?" Abraxis asked.
"Uh, y… yeah, they are, but I don't remember taking them. Wait - Grandpa would take me to Camp Lejeune every few years and have them do a bunch of stuff. He said it was so his retirement would take care of me if he passed away before I turned eighteen." Lionel replied.
"William Washington served seven years in the United States Marines. He did receive the Purple Heart during a tour of duty in Viet Nam, but did not retire from the military and did not receive retirement benefits other than those awarded him for his service in Viet Nam.
"William Washington does have an extensive police record for domestic disturbances and spousal abuse. However, no charges were ever filed for those offenses. He is listed as the main person of interest in the death of Helen Washington, which has been moved to a cold case archive. Wilmington, North Carolina records show that a request was made by investigators for the medical records of Jenna Washington. The request was denied citing the case as being cold and all interested parties as deceased," Abraxis replied. "Carl's payroll records indicate that he paid out four hundred dollars a month for the time he indicated. Evidence shows that so far, the General is telling the truth."
"I know you looked up to him, Lionel, but Bill Washington was a gruff, scary bastard when I knew him. I admit I didn't get to know him all that well, but it sounds like he really screwed the both of us," Carl said gently.
"But why? Why would he even want to? What was it to him?" Lionel said. "I never saw him lift a hand to anyone my whole life. Sure, he got mad, but he didn't hit anyone!"
"Just because he didn't do it in front of you doesn't mean he didn't do it, Lionel," Jarad said. "From the sound of his police record, he had your grandmother pretty cowed. She wouldn't press charges against him."
"I don't blame her! Back then, if she would have done something like that, he would have spent the night in jail, come home the next day, and make damn sure she changed her story. Abuse victims back then had little to no protection. Most still don't," Sharon said.
Lionel was quiet a long time. "You didn't really abandon us did you, General?"
"No, I didn't, Son. If I had a clue it was as bad as it sounds like it was, I swear I would have come and kidnapped both of you. I would have done everything in my power to get you and Jenna out of that situation," Carl replied. "Did your Mom ever date anyone else?"
"I think so, but no one I ever met. I do remember over hearing Grandma helping mom once. I think Mom had just lost a baby because Grandma was telling her it was for the best considering who the father had been." Lionel replied.
"Oh gods!" Mandi said softly.
"What?" Sharon asked, thinking there was something wrong with her daughter.
Mandi looked at her mother in concern. "Mom, think about what Lionel just said and keep in mind that Bill was an abusive man."
"None of that matters anymore," Carl replied. "What matters is that Lionel knows what happened. Son, if you would like, I'll make some calls and get that investigation reactivated. But if you would rather just let matters go, we can do that too. I'll leave it up to you."
"Let me think about it, General. I… I have a lot I need to think about," Lionel replied.
Greg took a deep breath. "If you will all forgive me, and since Lionel needs time to think about this, I'm going to change the subject.
“General, Jarad and Sharon tell me they believe your life may be in danger now. The first shuttle will be leaving for the lunar facility in the next couple of days. You have a seat on that shuttle."
"Yeah, I figured that old Indian, Whiteshield, might not be too keen on letting me stay where I am. Do you honestly think they’d try to take me out Jarad?" Carl asked.
"Yeah, one way or another, you're going to be retired. I would suggest you grab some clothes and move into the guest quarters down here until that launch is ready. You might want to do it as soon as we get off the line, the order could very easily have already been issued. I know it has been for both Sharon and myself," Jarad replied.
"General Hollister, I'll have four of our Marines at your residence in thirty-five minutes…" Emma Mays began when Jolly cut her off.
"Emma, you can send them to get his stuff, but why don't I go pick him up in a sled? If they're going to try to assassinate him, four Marines would not stop them and could just get more people killed," Jolene said.
"I'll go," Greg replied.
Jolly shook her head. "Nope, you've had a beer. I had soda; sorry, Greg."
"The Ranger Finder is correct. Operational regulations prohibit the standard operation of the hypersleds within two hours of the ingestion of an alcoholic beverage. Both the Ranger Fighter as well as the Ranger Pilot have consumed beverages containing a restricted substance," Abraxis cited.
Greg smiled but nodded. "Okay, you win Jolene. Carl, Jolene will be there to get you as soon as she gets changed and launched."
"I don't have a flight suit," Carl replied.
"We're not going into space, Sir. You should be fine for this short trip," Jolene replied as she stood and made for the door. "See you in a few minutes, General."
Amanda and Jarad got up to follow her. "We'll take the command center while she's out."
White House
Washington D.C.
North American Continent
Earth, Sol System
Director Whiteshield did as promised and got Greg in to see the President and made sure she knew who and what he was. He did tell her that he had no independent confirmation of the situation Greg brought to her, but all things considered, how would he? However, having him help get Greg into see the President did nothing that actually helped the Rangers. The President had never heard of the Mederos Incident, or StealthCon. While she had been told of the MILNet hack, she believed it to have been a domestic hacker that the FBI was still looking for. Like the rest of the nation, she had blown off the 'UFO Murders' as sensationalist hype.
When Greg went in to see the President, she was completely unprepared for him.
"Wait a second, young man. This whole story is just a little far-fetched for me to believe it. I do trust Director Whiteshield when he tells me that you are indeed some self-appointed guardian of the planet, but if even half of what you tell me is true, why haven't I heard about it before now?" the President asked.
"Madam President, I cannot tell you why you have not been briefed on the Mederos Incident. The completed report should have connected the other incidents associated with that action, but they did happen. As for our battle with the Drellian team, all I can offer are the flight logs from our ships translated for Earth equipment to view. However, that very act of translation would kill any credibility they had for you.
"I could have a flight suit made for you and take you to the moon like I did for Director Whiteshield, but I really don't believe your Secret Service detail would appreciate that. While I can prove who and what I am, I cannot prove the veracity of the threat now facing the planet. Drellians don't simply show-up when we want them and we don't believe there will be any major attacks in this sector for some time to come due to the destruction of
their Rangers in the last battle.
"Still, we do need help to prepare for their return. That's why I've come here today, to try to enlist your aid."
"How am I supposed to take this, Commander? The only proof you can offer me is video from your equipment that is, by your own admission, not trustworthy. So I will ask one more time, why are you wasting my time?" the President asked.
"Madam President, I did not say it wasn't trustworthy, I said it wouldn't have any credibility for you since it would have to be processed. I can promise that every frame would be the absolute truth, but you would only have my word on that."
"Give the data to Director Whiteshield's folks. Let them translate it," the woman offered.
"With respect, we can't. In its raw form, our data is not compatible with Earth's computer systems. The Alliance Technology that recorded it is more organically based. Even to give the data to you it would have to be manipulated to some degree. If you would like that, I can order it to be done immediately." Greg turned to Director Whiteshield. "I could ask Agent Danielson to verify its authenticity for you."
"We'll accept the data of course, but Agent Danielson has been declassified. He no longer has any standing in the community," Director Whiteshield replied. "I think this joke has gone on long enough. Greg Albright, you are hereby under arrest for eight separate violations of the National Security Act." While he spoke, several large men entered the oval office and surrounded Greg and the President.
The Director turned to the President and nodded to her. "Madam President, thank you for your assistance in this matter. We will take care of the young man from here."
She nodded. "That's fine, Gerry. But I want to be kept in the loop on this; none of the normal secrecy bullshit that you are so famous for. I don't say much about most of it, and you know it; but this one, I want to be part of; do you hear me, Gerry? I want to know everything."
"Of course Madam President, I'll make sure you get all the reports I do," the Director replied.
The President nodded. "Good and I want a copy of this 'Mederos Incident' report he was talking about; the whole report, not the sanitized ones you normally give me. If there is anything to his story, we'll need to be ready for it."
"I'll make the call, Madam." He looked at his gorillas that had tried to grab Greg. "Well? Grab him, what's wrong with you?"
Greg just stood there smiling sadly and shaking his head.
"Sir, we can't touch him. It's like there is some kind of shield surrounding him," one of the men said.
"Gerry, I told you I wouldn't let you do something like this. You also told me you wouldn't. So, I guess we know what your word is worth," Greg said and turned back to face the President. "Madam President, I am truly sorry for your decision. I do hope that in the coming days you will understand that you left us no choice in our actions."
"That sounds very ominous young man, remember who you're speaking to," the President replied, angrily.
"As I told Director Whiteshield, Ma'am, our job is to protect Earth and the people living on it. We will not harm anyone if we can avoid it. This situation is a good example; what would be the point in hurting anyone? Whether you like it or not Wilma," Greg used the President's name to try to bring her down a peg. "We have a job to do, and we will do it to the best of our ability.
"We cannot afford to let the greed of petty provincial governments block us from it. We would have liked your assistance, but if all you will offer are lies and deceit, we will make do without your help. You want proof, I'm telling you the truth; just wait until the Drellian fleet arrives. But by then it'll be too late because they won't even try to negotiate. They will attack without ever getting close enough to Earth for you to even think about defending yourselves. They can simply sit out at the asteroid belt and launch rocks at you until the surface of this planet looks like the moon."
"Why will they do that Commander?" the President asked, countering him. "What possible use would it do these Drellians to destroy this planet? Could it be that it's because you attacked them without even asking anyone if you should? Did you give any government on this planet the chance to reach a peaceful resolution? No you did not! Because of that, if what you say is true, we are now facing annihilation if and when they return. How dare you?" She spoke angrily to him. "How dare you presume to speak for the rest of our race by taking an action that unilaterally placed us at direct odds with an alien force that is superior to us in both technology and numbers? It is because of your actions, Commander!"
"Madam President, the Drellians attacked us first. There was no attempted contact; there was no attempt at a peaceful resolution. There was the blatant destruction of a public educational institution that killed innocent American citizens. If not for my team and I, they would have nuked entire cities by now searching for one young woman," Greg replied calmly, when she opened her mouth to counter that he stopped her.
"No, I listened to you, now it's my turn. You accuse me of unilaterally attacking a foreign power without authorization. I defended the people of this planet from a hostile power that proved they would stop at nothing, murdering as many people as necessary in order to ensure the death of one innocent girl who had no idea she was different in any way.
"No one on this planet has the capability to counter this threat. We do. Yes, I could have immediately surrendered everything to you as soon as we learned of it, but with every day that passes and every action this government takes, it proves the reason I didn't simply surrender this technology.
"I know who has really been running this nation since the end of World War II Madam President. I know beyond a doubt, that if I had surrendered the technology you are now trying to steal, you would take it to Area 51 or White Sands and try to reverse engineer it. Then you would mass produce it and arm our troops with it. You would then simply take over the rest of the planet, completely ignoring the threat of the Drellians. Our planet would become a race of slaves to the ruling powers long before the Drellians could arrive. Which would at least make the transition easier for our people.
"No, I will work with the people of the planet Madam President, but your actions today have proven to me once and for all that governments cannot be trusted. I should tell you that my advisers warned me that trying to enlist your aid was a mistake. I should have listened to them. We really don't need you; it would have been good to be able to work with you instead of without you, but it was never a requirement.
"So, go ahead and read the reports your intelligence people decided you didn't need to see. Then do whatever you feel you need to do. We will simply continue on with our plans as if the decision to approach you had never been made. I'm sure you'll discover you can call me whenever you wish. Good luck and good bye, Madam President," Greg finished. He picked up his helmet and took a step towards the door.
"If you think you're leaving here, you're sadly mistaken, kid!" one of the agents standing next to him said as he pulled out his gun.
"Are you really going to risk a ricochet from your weapon hitting the President?" Greg replied to the man. "You can't even touch me, but you think your gun will hurt me? You rode the short bus as a kid didn't you?" Greg turned for the door and several agents moved to blocked it.
Using his martial arts training, Greg used the minimum amount of force needed to disable them thus clearing the door. As he opened it, he turned back to Director Whiteshield. "As you already know, General Hollister is safe as are the families of all of our people, including the Marines we have guarding us. We did that without hurting anyone," Greg said smiling. "Oh, I will be asking the United Nations for a few observers and at least two security analysts. I'll make sure to ask them not to select anyone from the United States. By the way, you should call a medic for that gentleman," Greg pointed to one of the men on the floor. "I had to break his arm to get him to move." Greg said and put his helmet on. When it sealed, he opened the control panel on his left forearm, triggered the cloaking screen on the suit then stepped back into the office and clos
ed the door. He quickly moved over to the door exiting out to the rose garden. Then simply stood there, listening.
"Fuck!" Director Whiteshield said. "All units, we have a cloaked intruder on the grounds. Retrieval team, have you gotten that ship loaded yet?" he said into the microphone in his left cuff.
He listened for a moment, and then swore again. "I don't give a damn what you have to do, get that ship on that truck! And double your goddamned guards! He's on his way back there right now and he's most likely invisible. Do not let him leave in that ship, do you understand me?" he replied in a threatening voice.
"Gerry, what the hell are we getting ourselves into here? Is he for real? Are we facing the threat he was talking about?" the President asked.
"Honestly, I don't know. Like he said, he can't offer any proof. However, I believe he's telling the truth. He invited myself and a couple of my senior officers out to Utah and gave us a tour. He did take one of my people and myself up to the moon. He's telling the truth as far as he knows it. As far as what he told you about the events on this planet, every scrap of evidence we can find supports what he told you. So I have to believe this Drellian threat is a real and viable one. That being said, we need to get this technology so we can prepare to fight them. The longer it takes, the less chance we have," Gerry explained.
"What about working with him? Would that give us access to the tech?" Wilma asked.
Gerry shook his head. "Not in any way we could use ourselves. We simply don't have a lot of choices here, Madam President. We have to secure this technology at any cost and we have to do it quickly."