When Hannah contacted Lawson, he had already heard from Rebecca Holmes and he admitted he did have a few undercover agents who were members of the church, and the church was already under investigation.
This is when Hannah suggested she slip someone in with one of Lawsons people that could send visuals back to the ranch and to the FBI of what was really going on. Not just a recording, but visuals with proofs too. This person would need to be recruited by those on the Caldiron Ranch.
Lawson agreed he would be right over and was picked up by Ellead shortly afterward. This way they could talk in person and have Rebecca Holmes on the line as well as Syra from Earth II.
Hannah felt for the first time, they may be able to stop millions of people from being deceived.
Because if this is what she thought it was, it meant the Collinsworth may be setting up a stockpile of survival gear. It would mean millions would be duped into thinking they could live on the Collinsworth Compound.
She knew that if the mega church’s plot worked, that would leave no one on the streets but those who are hell-bent on destroying everything, and those who lost everything to the reverend and had nothing else to lose.
This she knew, would cause the Civil War they already had to grow to an uncontrollable magnitude, of which there would be no hope of recovery.
Everyone was in attendance through the telephone conference and also a visual conference with Syra from Earth II because this operation would require a lot of careful planning if they were to succeed with Lawson's spy.
The old billionaire Chadwell was very wealthy, so much that no one was sure of how much wealth he owned. He had given control of the Chadwell empire over to his granddaughter Cynthia Margaret Chadwell, who had very recently joined the megachurch.
She was in her forties and had been divorced several times and had no children mostly because she had always been way too business-oriented to worry about personal happiness.
But when she realized millions of innocent church members including herself were being duped, she contacted Lawson and volunteered to join forces against the reverend.
Cynthia had been part of the conference and would be picked up by Ellead for a quick trip to the Caldiron Ranch for some instructions on this mission and some equipment to wear while undercover.
This was one of the biggest operations Hannah had ever been involved in as far as the risk was concerned, and this kept her up at night. There was a lot to lose if the mission failed.
By the next day, Ellead with Ohtron and his bitrons in his cargo bay made a smooth landing as usual, and his passenger stepped foot on Caldiron Ranch for the first time. She was then given a quick tour of the ranch house and Hannah’s operation.
Cynthia was nearly overwhelmed at the technology under the disguise of an older ranch house. But she knew that the value of what was inside that house was not for sale, and no one on Earth owned anything like it nor would know how to operate it. It was no doubt out of this world.
Her Chadwell family had gone back as far as when folks were first settling this country. They had migrated first from England to Ireland, and then on to the new colonies.
With Lawson in the room, Cynthia felt very comfortable being open and honest with Hannah and Charles. But the risks she was taking were great, and she knew this top-secret operation had to go without a hitch and it was up to her to pull it off.
After learning as much as they could cram into her head on Zhian technology and how to use it, she would be ready for this journey in her life.
Cynthia was first introduced to the Cleanser unit. This was Zhian technology rarely used these days, even on Earth II. Especially since water was so easily accessible for showers, cooking and drinking.
But when she saw how it worked, she was nearly overwhelmed. She stripped down to her bare skin and stepped inside. A rush of warm air flowed all around her and in moments she was not only clean but still dry. This was a concept she could barely grasp.
Then the Second Skin was applied like a jumpsuit, thought Cynthia to herself. It was much like her exercise clothes she wore at the gym but very form fitting and comfortable.
She was shown how to operate the suit, which was very simple. All she had to do was think, “shroud on” and she could literally disappear from those around her.
The second skin was an incredible suit meant to protect the wearer at all times. It also had a locator built into the special fabric, which meant her every move could be monitored through the Zhian system all the way back to Earth II.
The EST or emergency safety transport wristband was applied, and she was shown how to communicate with it as well as how to transport in an emergency situation. In shroud mode, not even she could see it but only feel it on her wrist.
Cynthia was discouraged from using the EST wristband unless she was in grave danger and her life depended on its use. The transport was instant but very disorienting and recovery time from such transport could take days or even longer.
She was shown the receiver pod directly connected to her EST, it was inside Ellead and he would always be close by. This gave her more confidence, and she was ready for the briefing.
Fresh clothing was prepared for her, and they fit rather nicely; she was impressed that they knew her size so well. But the style was not quite what she would have picked out with all those feminine colors.
She liked colors such as khaki, dark brown, black and white and gray colors mixed or solid.
That habit of dressing in drab colors was because of her many years as CEO or chief executive officer of the Chadwell empire. Now, she headed a company facing collapse.
That was the very reason she thought she needed to donate to the megachurch, to at least save herself and others from a starving country.
Cynthia was now dressed and ready to start her mission, but first she had to go through some last-minute adjustments before Ellead would return her to the pickup location.
This had been one of the longest days she would ever remember, and she started to doubt herself. Would she remember everything she was taught that day? Would she have the nerve to turn on the shroud or the transport? Only time would tell.
Cynthia turned around to wave at Hannah and Charles and the crew and really was not sure she’d ever see them again. If the reverend caught her, or his people did, it would be really bad for her.
Rev. Collinsworth was a very powerful man, and his church a powerful place. They owned most of the rich people in America and some from foreign nations. She had already heard rumors that when someone crossed Collinsworth, they were never seen again.
Cynthia sat there and thought she could really get used to Ellead. All the comforts of a home and a smooth and quick ride to anywhere, even Earth II if she were ever invited.
Entertaining the idea of traveling to Earth II had made her smile, which she quickly hid for fear Hannah or the others would see it.
Cynthia stepped inside Ellead the explorer ship and she was quickly introduced to his layout. She especially liked the bar and made herself a martini before the flight.
They lifted off and were above the ranch in just moments and the visuals showed the sky appear to open and the ground beneath her and the ranch disappear.
Not a single drop of her martini was lost, and she was nibbling on the green olive when she heard Ellead’s voice rang throughout his vessel, “This is your stop, Cynthia. Please be careful on your journey, I will be close by if you need me!”
Cynthia disembarked, turned and could not see Ellead anywhere and she had just got out of the ship! That’s when she realized he had been in shroud mode the whole trip!
Holding her person bag, she walked over to her car, got in and just sat there for some time. She was glad she no longer used a driver or her old limousine! This was a job no one could ever know about, and her life and many others depended on it.
Just as she glanced in the rear-view mirror, she realized she had not even tied her long blonde hair up. Cynthia had always worn her hai
r up and off her shoulders in order to look more professional. But this mission she was on, required her to look a heck of a lot more relaxed than even she knew how to do.
A quick inspection and she felt she looked the part of any one of those ladies at the megachurch. She would fit right in more now than ever.
Cynthia had been there quite a few times in the last few years, caving in and paying more than her fair share of tithes these days. It’s what they expect from someone as wealthy as she was, but it frustrated her to no end.
She had a lot of folks watching her and they had her back, some she knew and some she didn’t. But this time, all she cared about was that open communication between her, Caldiron Ranch and Earth II.
The megachurch was full of poor souls believing the Rev. Collinsworth when he told them to give all that they had, and they would be included in the rapture.
The Church of The Rapture! Well, so far that was just a catchy phrase but what she really wanted was a look at the Collinsworth compound! To see where all that money and supplies were going. That is where Cynthia wanted to be invited to, so she could report back on the reverend’s progress.
She arrived at the megachurch and her valet quickly parked her car. Only the top members got this service, but there were times it made her sick just getting special treatment all because she was born into money.
That Sunday service just about turned Cynthia’s stomach as she saw the very poor and some destitute give that man part of their food stock. They already had so little to survive on as it was, and now they would have much less.
In the back of the church, semi-trailers were lined up. All tithes went inside the trailer, non-perishables only. But Cynthia had already given several semi-trailers of supplies already, just her alone! And she could not help but wonder where all those things were going, and for whom?
Right after service, Smith stopped by and ushered Cynthia as quietly and quickly as he could to behind the large pulpit or stage if you will and seated her in the reverend’s private quarters.
“Good morning, Cynthia!” the reverend said.
“Good morning to you too Rev. Collinsworth,” Cynthia answered.
“Please, no more formalities, call me Jerry! It’s short for Jeremiah and all my close friends call me Jerry,” The reverend answered quickly.
“So, what can I do for you today reverend? I did pay my tithes you know!” Cynthia said rather sharply.
“Oh no doubt you have, but I want to let you in on something really big, for all you have done for us!” The Reverend replied.
The reverend had already told the church of the compound and its unknown location, the place God would be picking them up from during the rapture, which he predicted would be anytime between now and the next two years.
He had told his congregation many times that they would be able to move to the compound when the right time comes. In the last days, which was soon to come, they could wait there.
“Come, follow me, let’s take a ride in my helicopter to the Collinsworth compound!” the reverend asked rather sternly.
He offered her a front-row seat in his helicopter to give her an aerial view of the compound and its progress only a few miles from his megachurch.
They both boarded the helicopter with the pilot and Cynthia up front. The reverend always chose to ride in the back because it made him nauseated to ride up front.
That caught Cynthia’s attention, and she quickly noted that in her head as useful information for her operation!
She made sure she kept her right wrist propped up on the side window so her entire location would be sent back as a visual, plus her GPS or global positioning system would send that information back to the Caldiron Ranch and Earth II for Syra.
The reverend spent much of their time in flight describing what she was seeing below them. This was perfect! Cynthia needed as much information out of that fool as she could get, and he just kept spilling his gut.
Moments later, the helicopter landed and several jeeps with armor and machine guns were waiting on them. She had hoped the vehicle of choice would be the hummer instead.
“Keep your head down low while exiting Ms. Caldwell,” The pilot yelled.
All she could do was give him a slight thankful nod and exited right away.
Once she and the reverend were greeted by the driver, they boarded the hummer. The driver quickly sped away with half a dozen jeeps following them.
They toured the main compound ranch home from a path around it that the reverend was having built for him and a select few folks. He informed Cynthia that would be where she would reside.
Cynthia just gave the reverend a nod, a smile and started to look out the window because she wanted closeup visuals of what they were touring!
The next stop was the opening to the underground arsenal, then the storage area which was also underground, which would hold everything from food to medicine, and obviously a lot more.
She would not get personal tours of these underground compounds until the reverend’s project was considered done or nearly done. That much Cynthia had figured by the way the reverend was talking.
Many areas of the compound simply could not be seen from above because they were so well hidden or camouflaged.
Then they arrived at the opening for the residential compound area. From the outside, the best Cynthia could tell, was it was partially above ground, but would also have to lead underground and connect to the other structures. But even this was not discussed on this partial tour.
Cynthia had a lot of questions and she figured she would try to see how much she could find out this trip alone.
“So, how long have you been working on your compound, Rev… I mean Jerry?” Cynthia asked.
“Oh, I started about 12 years ago, I think. Broke ground way back then. The workers have long since left, all the construction work is done!” The reverend bragged.
“Anybody living there now? I didn’t see a soul other than guards?” Cynthia asked inquisitively.
“It’s a ghost compound until I allow folks to enter, I’m still having supplies stored and they are delivered daily by the semi-truck loads!” The reverend bragged.
“Well, aren’t you worried about those who might just take over your compound because they helped build and store things on it?” She asked.
“No, because not even you know my location! I brought you here and took the long way around to where it is,” The reverend went on to say, “Once on the ground, it looks nothing like it does from the sky! I thought of everything!”
They made it back to the helicopter and quickly boarded.
“Well Jerry, I am truly impressed with what you have done. I truly am.” Cynthia stated.
She quickly figured out that the reverend loved being patted on the back. He thrived on having others look up to him as if he were some sort of god who would ultimately save them single-handedly from hell and damnation.
The helicopter landed back at the church and before Cynthia was greeted by the valet to take her to her car, the reverend asked, “I hope you enjoyed your special tour Cynthia, can I be guaranteed you’ll be here next Sunday for services?”
“Oh Jerry, If I can’t make it, you’ll be the first to know and I’ll make arrangements for the next Sunday thereafter if need be,” Cynthia said as she walked over to the valet.
Just before getting into the car she looked back, and the reverend was still smiling and waving at her.
Back at her car, she looked in the rear-view mirror and her hair had blown all over her shoulders! She hated that look on her, but she had to play the part and just let it go.
It was now nightfall with a starless night, she pulled up at her meeting spot and parked precisely where she was told to park and waited for Ellead.
Without a sound in the world, she saw the cargo bay open, and she drove inside Ellead and parked the car. Once inside, Ellead’s voice rang out and instructed Cynthia that her car was about to be locked into place. to please exit th
e cargo bay back to the lounge area one level up.
She was starved since she had only had a small lunch during her tour of the ranch that was more like something you would eat aboard an airplane and tasted about as bland.
Cynthia loosen her clothing and made herself a quick martini and found herself with a nice plate of hot food! All she did was read the screen, state the obvious and there it was inside the replicator!
Ellead stated that liftoff would be momentarily so please refresh yourself now. Cynthia had no problem with that and knew they were most likely under the shroud anyway!
With a full stomach and the best martini she had ever had, she had fallen asleep on the comfortable chair next to her martini glass.
Ellead lifted quietly as usual and piped in some sounds of the ocean for a soothing atmosphere and flew Cynthia back to the ranch.
Once they arrived, Hannah and Charles were informed their passenger was fast asleep and had already enjoyed her dinner and martini aboard Ellead and would spend the night there.
Critical information was sent continuously all day from Cynthia’s suit, her wristband and even her questions and answers she got from the reverend all played live for Hannah and Charles as well as Syra back on Earth II.
They had been working all day on verifying the information as well as planning what to do next. But all were astonished at how much Cynthia had accomplished in just one short day.
Cynthia was allowed to sleep until she got good and ready to wake up and when she did, she sort of freaked out trying to figure out where exactly she was!
“Wake up Cynthia, it’s Hannah!” Hannah said softly.
“Oh Jesus! For Christ’s sake, where in the hell am I?” Cynthia exclaimed!
Hannah escorted her inside the ranch house and pointed to a bubble bath and ordered her to go soak in it. With the assistance of the Cleanser unit, the Second Skin suit was removed, and Cynthia slipped slowly into the bubble bath and spent a good hour soaking.
It was fast approaching noon when Cynthia reported into the Com room and everyone was present and welcomed her to the meetings.
The Chronicles of Syra Omnibus Page 34