by TJ Tucker
“That’s why we need an additional element to the attack,” replied Councilor Two, to the right of the big chair. “Mr. Zheng, is the device ready?”
“Yes Councilor,” replied Zheng. “It is ready, in position and waiting for the order.”
“It must be employed with perfect timing,” said Councilor Two. “Just as the information of the earlier attacks is being reported and understood, news of the device should be making its way back to Mr. Torres, for maximum psychological impact. You will have to determine how word will get back and how long it will take in factoring when the device is to be used. Ms. Morgensen, you will work together with Mr. Ellis to determine the perfect time.”
“Certainly, Councilor,” said Morgensen.
“Are there any other questions or reservations?” asked Councilor One.
All three guests made gestures to indicate the negative. “You have all been loyal servants of the Council, and your rewards will reflect this. We are well aware of the gravity of what you have been asked to do. If there were another way to proceed, be assured we would have chosen it. But it can no longer be ignored that the resource demands of the United States and China are unsustainable, and so it is incumbent on us to take corrective action. The removal of China as an economic factor will give us some much needed breathing space, while our full control over America will allow us to implement the final elements of our agenda. Henceforth, the Council will decree the laws of the world, and you will be the leaders in their implementation. Are you ready to remake the world?”
“Yes, Councilor,” said all three, essentially in unison.
The door behind them opened and the porter ushered them back to the sitting room, from which they quickly made their way back to the airport and the private jets that were waiting for them.
Chapter 66: Access Difficult
“You want me to bring three complete strangers into the White House to see the Chief? Have you gone nuts, Roger?”
“I could be with them if that helps, Matt.” Roger Snyder was now doing his best to help get the group into the White House.
“We don’t even let CIA Agents in here,” said Matt Simpson. “Most of us still think your agency was behind the JFK murder. So no, that won’t help.”
“It’s a matter of absolutely the highest importance to our national security,” said Snyder, now realizing he was sounding like one of the brass. “It’s not the regular bullshit use of those words, either. You know me, Matt. I don’t panic like this without good reason.”
“I’d be fired before you even got to his office.”
“Matt, there’s an invasion force on its way to America. What else should I do?”
“Why not speak to a cabinet member first? If you can convince him, then you might get your chance.”
“Half the cabinet is involved,” said Snyder. “Connolly sure as hell is. Nothing happens without Morgensen’s involvement, so she’s out of the question. They tried Levine, but he’s off kissing donors’ asses.”
“So you want someone more obscure, with no real power but a little influence,” said Simpson. “Kurdistani might be a good choice. As National Security Adviser, he has no say in what happens, but he could arrange something. The Chief has regular meetings with him.”
“Can you arrange that?”
“Possibly. Kurdi waits around quite often, usually while Morgensen monopolizes the Chief. It’s often me and him waiting around together, and he doesn’t mind chatting about most stuff. Still, I’ve never asked him for something like this.”
“Please talk to him and set up a meeting. It can be away from the office, wherever.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best.”
…
The next day, Morgensen walked right past Mansour Kurdistani and into the Oval Office, not even taking the trouble to knock. With the door still open, she walked straight towards Torres’ desk. “You need to see these,” she said, as she handed him a small stack of reports. “You want to know what’s going on. Well I’m going to fill you in. Matheson and Connolly aren’t telling you the full extent of Chinese hacking into our Defense systems.” She turned around, noticed that the door was still open then walked back to the door and closed it.
Outside the Oval Office, Kurdi was standing near Matt Simpson, who decided that there was never going to be a better opportunity to make his case. Simpson deliberately made eye contact with Kurdi – something he would not normally do – and then glanced at the door that had just been shut.
Kurdi noted Simpson’s gesture and allowed a simple comment. “Yeah, they are having some diplomatic tensions with China. I don’t think it’s anything unprecedented.”
“Sir, I know I’m probably crossing a line here,” said Simpson. “But I’ve been asked to speak with someone about evidence that China is about to invade the United States. I didn’t believe it at first, but I do now, at least enough to risk my career by mentioning it here.”
“Good God, Matt, what are you talking about?” asked Kurdi, astonished.
Simpson, already tense before he began speaking, now looked as stiff and gray as if rigor mortis had set in. “Sir, I’m requesting that you take the time to meet with my contacts. Security will be easier if it’s away from here.”
Simpson braced himself for what he feared would come next. But instead of calling for a Secret Service supervisor, Kurdi stared at Simpson for a few seconds, looked at the floor for a few more as if wondering which would cause him greater harm – meeting with probable wackos, or risking the possibility that they might be right. He then looked back at Simpson. “When do you finish your shift today?”
“I’m done at five.”
“Here’s my phone,” said Kurdi. “The line is secure. Call your people and tell them to be at your house at six. Then give me directions and we’ll meet there. Don’t have your wife cook anything for us. If this is crap I’m out of there in minutes. If not, you’ll be coming back here.”
…
Kurdi was quickly persuaded by the evidence presented by John Corson and his colleagues. However, reaching President Torres would be a more complicated matter. All inquiries were met with the reply that the President was busy reviewing important documents provided by Secretary Morgensen. She insisted that he spend the evening reviewing evidence of Chinese cyber-espionage. By the time he was done, he was so exhausted that he simply conceded the Cobra’s case, just to be able to put it behind him. Hard work is not a problem for me, he thought to himself. The problem, and the reason Presidents always turn gray, is because there’s no escape from the demands, and no control over the agenda. You can’t just go home and escape at the end of the day. It was in this frame of mind that Torres gladly accepted an invitation from Carson Stahl to join him for a round of golf the following morning. He also left strict instructions that he was unavailable for any meetings that day.
Kurdi came in the following morning and despite his aggressive requests, could not be put in touch with Torres. He was accustomed to this sort of treatment, since he was not a true power broker. Out of desperation, Kurdi did the next best thing he could think of. He approached the power he knew worked behind the scenes, Hanna Morgensen. She was not able to meet with Kurdi today either. But after explaining the situation to her receptionist, he was finally able to secure a meeting with her first thing the following morning.
Chapter 67: Burrows Speaks
Cam Burrows had no idea how long he had been asleep. He was still groggy, but the doctor was now speaking to him and demanded his attention. “Mr. Burrows, can you hear me?”
“Am I still at Laughlin?”
“You are indeed,” said the doctor. “I’ve kept you sedated while you fought the infection. You had a nasty E. coli infection that could have destroyed your kidneys. We had you full of antibiotics and also did some prophylactic cleansing. It would have been pretty painful had you been awake.”
“Thanks, Doc,” said Burrows.
“There’s someone here who wants to see you, so I’ll e
xcuse myself now and let the two of you talk.” The doctor left, and Burrows was alone with Colonel March.
“Did you find anything, Colonel?”
“We sure did. Everything you said was true. I didn’t believe you at first, but we did some surveillance and learned it’s Chinese cargo aircraft making the trip. They hold enough fuel to make it clear across the Pacific. The rate at which they’re making the crossing and the volume of cargo they can hold is staggering. The base is a serious threat to us, that much is clear.”
“So are you fortifying Laughlin?”
“No.”
“What? Why the hell not?”
“Washington isn’t listening to me. Their mission in Taiwan and their buildup in the Middle East take priority over the southern border of the US. They just don’t get the scale of what’s happening here.”
“That’s just typical,” said Burrows. “They won’t let us pursue anyone that crosses the border armed, and now they’re not letting us defend our country. With leaders like ours, it’s a wonder we haven’t been invaded yet.”
“I agree with you 100 percent. That’s why I wanted to see you. Your name is hot with the press right now. If I could get you to record a video of what you saw, then I’d put our footage into it and make it really powerful. We can leak it to the press to force their hand. What do you say?”
“Count me in,” said Burrows.
The recording session lasted the better part of two hours, with Burrows asked to restate the case five or six times. The shots were done in short segments, so a misspoken word would not ruin several minutes worth of recording. By the time it was finished, Burrows had said things so many different ways that the meaning of the message would be determined almost entirely by the editing process.
Colonel March approached Burrows and shook his hand. “I want to thank you for that. I think this will really make a big difference in getting our story heard in Washington. Now, why don’t you come with me and have some real food. You must be starving after being on nothing but fluids these past days.”
“Thanks, I’d like that. I’d like to go home right after that if you don’t mind.”
“Certainly,” said March. He led Burrows down the corridor then opened a door for him. Burrows walked through it and March slammed it closed and locked it behind him. Inside, Burrows recognized too late the layout of the room. It was a brig, a lot like the one at San Gustavo.
Back in his office, March was on the phone. “We got the footage.”
“Yeah, it’s all there.”
“Connolly? Sure, what’s his email?”
Chapter 68: Stahl Cautions
“I lost it with her Carson,” said Torres, sitting in his golf cart with Carson Stahl. “I threatened to go tell the public how the country is run.”
“I would not have advised that,” said Stahl. “Granted, you probably did it out of frustration and you weren’t thinking clearly.”
“They simply went ahead with a covert program against the Chinese missile defense system without my permission. They killed the wrong people, and now they want me to cover for them diplomatically. How could I not lose it?”
“Ideally, you would have found a way to be on board at the outset. Then you might have been able to set limits. Still, this is uncharacteristically bold of them. I’d be concerned about this development and what it means going forward.”
They got out of the cart and took their shots, then resumed the conversation again once in the cart. The Secret Service stayed close to them ever since the attempt on Torres’ life, and Torres valued his privacy when speaking with Stahl.
“I finally backed down when she told me in plain English that if I forced them to drop the pretense, they would do so. She asked if I was ready for an America where they ruled openly or words to that effect. And I could see in her face she was scared. It wasn’t just my rage that had her on edge. She knows how to deal with that. There was something more to it.”
“Sometimes when a threat is made” said Stahl, “it corresponds to something that’s being planned, or considered. As I said, this concerns me. She may have been scared because she was afraid of letting something slip too early.”
“I don’t have any real power to push back if this is the way it’s going to be from now on. How can I tell them to conduct themselves in a certain fashion if they can tell me to shut up or they’ll oust me?”
“As long as everyone agrees to play the game, there can be unspoken rules governing how it’s played,” said Stahl. “It’s when the game is abandoned that everything goes out the window. Going public is still your nuclear option, Jackson. You can only do that once, so keep it to yourself unless there’s no other choice. Don’t make that threat ever again. You can’t win the fight. But if the fight comes to you, you can make it impossible for them to win it.”
“That’s where I don’t see what I can do, Carson. My threat was hollow because the public doesn’t listen to me. When I speak, everyone changes the channel. The next guy would come on the air and say everything is fine, and nobody would change their minds.”
“How wrong you are, Jackson. Your speeches about some stupid jobs program or tax policy are justifiably ignored because you’re full of shit when you deliver them. But if you were to blow the lid off the way things worked, it would change everything forever. I don’t want to see it come to that because it would be a disaster for the governing order in the country. Be very careful, Jackson. Watch your back.”
Chapter 69: At Sea
Jess and Lyle spent their first days at sea weary of hope that they could return to the United States in time to have any impact on the coming operation. They stayed on the ship rather than disembark at Colon, Panama. They decided that in light of everything that had happened, the ship was the safest place to be. In any event, they had no enthusiasm for sharing in any of the fun activities available to the passengers. Lyle made some calls and arranged for Dwight’s body to be returned to Kingston for burial in his family plot. That detail attended to, he found himself past the point of worrying, and slowly started to think once again of his surroundings, and of Jess.
They went to the fancy dinners that were served on board, and while still dressed up walked outside after dark to enjoy the stars. Despite sharing a stateroom out of practicality, Lyle and Jess respected each others’ need for privacy, each leaving the room when the other needed time alone. While they had developed obvious affection for each other, the circumstances of their journey weighed so heavily on them that they had not acted on those feelings. At least not until now.
They were standing at the railing, watching the dark ocean reflecting moonlight. Lyle fidgeted a little, cleared his throat, and said, “Jess, when we get home and you’re able to return to your life and can make a truly free choice about the matter, do you think there’s any chance I could see you again? I mean regularly. You know, maybe a date?”
Jess said nothing at first. Instead, she stepped closer to him, slipped her arm around his waist under his sport coat and lay her head against his chest. Looking up at him, she whispered, “You bet, Lyle.”
Lyle’s heart started to beat so strongly he was afraid she would hear it, but he gently put his arm around her and they stood there for a while, savoring the moment. It was interrupted by the sound of a helicopter landing on the ship. It looked like a US Coast Guard chopper, thought Lyle. It’s probably nothing, he thought to himself, unwilling to let go of the moment with Jess.
After a time, then went inside to one of the many bars onboard, and ordered some last drinks before bed. They spoke of home, and how life was before they were pulled into the adventure. Jess waxed enthusiastically of Lyle’s home in the Catskills. But something had changed. There was a new depth to the way they looked at each other. Jess in particular seeming to be glowing.
Finally walking back to their state room, Lyle felt conflicted, his will to maintain platonic relations almost gone. But as they turned the corner, they were shocked to find security guards stand
ing outside their room. Lyle turned and saw another behind him at the far end of the hall. There was nowhere to run and Lyle could no longer deny that the Coast Guard chopper had probably come for them. Morningstar sure has a long reach he thought, fighting to stay composed. He gripped Jess’ hand tighter than before, and stoically approached the security guard.
“Are you Lyle Ferguson and Jessica Linssman?” asked the guard.
“Yes, that’s us,” said Lyle.
“I have instructions to escort you to the Coast Guard chopper,” replied the guard.
Their hearts sank in despair at the realization that their worst nightmare may have just come true, banishing the euphoria they felt just moments before. They walked with the guard to the helipad, and as the guard turned the corner out the door, Jess gave Lyle a quick kiss. Lyle looked at her gratefully, wondering where this would end up, fearing it was likely in the ocean. The Coast Guard pilot politely welcomed them on board and showed them to their seats. He made no indication of his purpose with them. They were quickly airborne, their dreams now on hold.
Chapter 70: Operation Commences
Port of Newark
“You’ll each be paid a bonus of $200 for your work, on top of the overtime pay,” said the foreman.
“For workin’ ‘til midnight?” asked Joe Ricci.
“About midnight. The unload has to be complete by about then, in the order we’ve rehearsed.”
The men shrugged then went about their work, glad for the extra money. The work continued through the evening, with the greenshirts directing traffic, as always.
Braden Finnegan was doing his job with only minor interest in the cargo being unloaded. But then he heard movement from within the container. It was not just shifting cargo, a sound he knew well. This was different. Almost as if – it couldn’t be, he thought. But he could not put the thought out of his mind.