Kelly now addressed the scientist, providing some necessary background.
“Leo, In the early years following Nineeleven we were at a standstill in the war on terror. Afghanistan and Iraq were devolving into long, protracted guerrilla wars. Very little progress was made in bringing the ringleaders of nine-eleven, and other terrorist groups, to justice. We were like rats running in circles. So we came up with an idea.”
Dean now began to explain some of the science behind Hermes, hoping Leo might be able to take advantage of such technology.
“So what do you know about nanotech?”
“Not much. I know it’s the science of creating microscopic devices on a scale one millionth of a millimeter. I’ve read a bit, but I don’t follow the work too closely”
“Well, I’ve been working in the field since the early 90s. I pioneered the ability to create a molecular switch from just a handful of atoms of carbon. It took over a decade, but I was finally able to do something with these switches. It took about a thousand of them, assembled in such a way that I was able to transmit a binary, digital signal into a radiowave. And it all fit on a micron-sized grid.”
Leo listened to Dean closely, fascinated by what he was hearing. But he still wasn’t quite sure where the STAT director was going with this information.
“And we developed receivers that could pick up these signals”, Dean added.
“So you think your molecular switches might help in analyzing 94?” Leo asked, extrapolating the work to that of his own.
“Well, we don’t have much material. Very small perturbations or energy fluctuations can trigger exponential changes in these switches, which could in turn be detected by alterations in electromagnetic properties. It just might enable you to work more efficiently with the limited material we do have.”
“Perhaps.”
“So what did you do with these tiny tracking devices? You used it somehow to find that original cache of 94 I’m assuming?”
Dean and Kelly exchanged a quick, nervous look. It was Kelly that answered.
“Yes. We had to take advantage of it. All those detainees down at Guantanamo - they all got one.” Kelly paused to let Leo digest what he had just been told.
Dean now interjected. “You know, that’s how the detention center came to be known as Camp X-Ray. We could see them at all times.”
“You’re kidding me?” Leo asked incredulously.
“No. And the beauty of it was, it was so small they didn’t even know it. No surgery; we could inject it with a 16 gauge needle. It caused some minor irritation in most, a rare few reacted more seriously, but most tolerated placement just fine.”
“You implanted these people without their knowing it?”
“Yes”, Kelly answered. “We couldn’t get much information from them. A very few divulged any truly useful facts, contrary to what the public was led to believe. The only thing we did know with a high degree of probability was that most of these people would reconnect with their past, and that would acquaint us with their future, with those whom we never were able to get to. It was a domino effect, with these captives leading us to those at the next level, those higher up on the terrorist food chain. You want to know how we got so good at counter-terrorism all of a sudden, well look no farther than Project Hermes.”
Leo was stunned. He didn’t expect anything like this, almost fantastical, right out of a science-fiction piece. He continued to be astounded by what he didn’t know. First RDS, now Hermes. Unbelievable.
“And those who perfected Hermes at the time stayed on as the original members of what was to become STAT.” Dean interjected.
“I don’t suppose you tested the devices to see what side effects occurred?”
“Sure we did.” answered Dean. “But short term only, in animals. We didn’t have time for long, prospective analyses”
“So these prisoners were essentially your guinea pigs”
Kelly and Dean did not answer. They knew the left-leaning scientist might not approve, but they were startled nonetheless by the statement.
“How long do the chips last?” Leo then asked. His fascination with the technology seemed to supercede his disapproval of the project.
“I don’t know.” Dean answered honestly
“You don’t know?” Leo asked with a quizzical furrow of his forehead and raised eyebrows.
“Like I said, we didn’t have any long-term data. The energy source to drive the system utilizes the body’s own heat and electrical impulses, so a fuel source wasn’t a limitation. I just needed to figure out how to sustain a stable structure. But when it would destabilize was anyone’s guess. Initial estimates were 5-6 years. The person we were tracking smuggling 94 was released over 12 years ago, and we were still picking up a signal. “
“You obviously realize this project is a very slippery slope. And it seems like you’ve slid down quite far, I might add. I mean, I don’t have one of your little microscopic chips in my ass or anything, do I?” Leo asked, somewhat jokingly, but clearly in a tone of voice overlaid with genuine concern.
“Of course not”, answered Kelly without hesitation.
“Well, what about criminals in this country. Is the justice system using this device?” Leo inquired
“Are you kidding me?”
“Well, no. You used it on prisoners of war in Afghanistan and elsewhere, so I guess the point is… where does it end Bill?”
“It ends where I say it ends!” Kelly retorted testily. He had been through this debate before, but continued to get defensive over the project. “Those people were not POWs. They were not criminals. They were terrorists, and they were, and still are, threatening our national security.”
“I understand, believe me. But my concern is this thing getting beyond your control. At some point, someone might want to expand its use. Bill, I’m not so sure I want to be around when that happens, when basic civil liberties start to crumble.” Leo pressed on, showing a level of passion about the issue Kelly had not expected.
“Leo, I told you, you might not like or approve of everything that goes on here.” Kelly now spoke with more control in his voice.
“Well, I guess you’re right. What good is it to protect ourselves by sacrificing everything for which we stand. I mean, if we start crossing these lines, then we have already lost.”
“No, If we’re still standing then we’ve won.”
“You may have won. But I don’t feel like standing in a world where I’ve got no freedoms!”
“Leo, when we were watching you, when they were watching you, listening to you, did you not have a nice life? What you don’t know about can’t hurt”
“Wait a minute. So what you’re saying is that just because someone’s oblivious to the intrusions on their liberties that makes it alright?”
“Leo, it’s the only way. You tell me. How else do we defend a nation in a free society? “
“Not by tricking people into thinking they’re free when they’re not, Bill”
“Hey, those people down at Gitmo; they didn’t deserve the rights you and I have. A line has been drawn, and it has never been crossed” The last part of the statement was no longer true, Kelly quietly acknowledged to himself.
“Well, this Hermes thing of yours, if anyone gets a hold of it, we could all be tracked. It’s the Big Brother nightmare, that’s all I’m saying.” Turning now to Alivastos “Dean, you developed a remarkable technology, and one that I’m sure has the capability to enrich all our lives. But it can also bring a horrifying reality. It’s scary”
“What’s the alternative then, Leo?” Dean responded, entering the heated dialogue. “I’ll tell you, the alternative is scarier – trust me. The alternative is going up in a mushroom cloud, or a vapor of Sarin gas. You can debate it all you like, but Hermes was, and is, about survival. Plain and simple.”
“And detecting 94 is certainly about survival” added Kelly. “ So, Leo, if the gloves have to come off in the process, they will. We will do what
ever it takes to track these people down and find this stuff.”
“Yes”, Leo agreed. Finding the missing stashes of element 94 did supercede everything else. In this case, with such a devastating threat looming, Leo was in agreement with his superiors.
“Okay Dean, let’s start putting those carbon switches of yours to work.”
Abul drove Westward to catch up with the others. This would be a great day in the history of Sayf Udeen. The sensors were all in place, and digital cameras would capture the moment. The location was perfect: remote, deep sturdy rock formations, and a natural cavity in the earth that allowed for easier subterranean placement of the device. Burial deep beneath the surface would ensure limited emissions to the area, and the radius of safety was enlarged well beyond the theoretical limits of the fallout. The importance of the test was twofold. First, it would serve as proof the device worked, of which Abul had little doubt. But secondly, and more importantly, he would gain important insight into the volatility of the material. Theoretical calculations were just that – theoretical. This was a practical experiment, and the equipment and personnel around the area would enable him to attain invaluable information from the blast. It was not lost on the senior Udeen leadership that they were entering into uncharted territory, with a completely novel device.
As he arrived at the view-station, Abul was greeted warmly by none other than Ra’ed himself.
“Abul, welcome. Please, sit with me.”
The chief Udeen scientist walked over to Ra’ed and pulled up a chair beside his leader.
“You have brought us to the brink of greatness, Abul. We are all very proud.”
“Thank you, Sayid.”
The two men were positioned in front of a monitor that transmitted live feed from the area. Scientists on the roof of the observation deck were also prepared with long-range goggles. No one wore any protective radiation gear. The suits were kept below, out of sight so as not to unnerve the upper echelon of the organization. They were available only if some catastrophic result ensued, from some horrific misjudgment on the part of the scientists. Despite his confidence in his work, Abul could not help but shake the element of fear that had been consuming him for much of the day. Instead of excitement at this moment, which he had been laboring towards for so long, Abul was scared. If things didn’t go as planned, then he would be finished. If the blast didn’t see to that, then Ra’ed would.
This was a first for mankind – the first use of this strange and remarkable new substance. Abul wondered what the men and women of the Manhattan project must have felt like before the first nuclear test blast on the desert plains of New Mexico. Predictions by leading scientists associated with the project ranged from a complete failure to 18 kilotons; they were all wrong. The blast produced an explosion equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT. And Abul’s own prediction for the current device was subject to even more uncertainty, as critical features of his material remained enshrouded in mystery. The physics of Uranium 235 and Plutonium simply did not translate well to the present situation.
The scientist’s thoughts were precipitously interrupted as the last of the participants arrived.
“Abul, it is time. It is time for you to show us the fruits of your labor”, Ra’ed intoned to those assembled. The Udeen leader had given the order – there was no turning back.
Abul picked up the receiver, spoke to one of his assistants, and took his place next to Ra’ed. Highly sensitive optical, seismographic, spectrographic, and other equipment would capture the moment for posterity – and future analysis. Much of the data would be immediately relayed to the testing base, allowing those present to witness the consequences of the underground blast in real-time. The two men looked at one another momentarily as Abul took his seat, and then focused their attention on the screen in the front of the room. The monitor before them displayed a countdown: 30, 29, 28…3, 2, 1. The screen suddenly went blank.
Bill Kelly got in his car and made his way to the nation’s capital. He was due for a briefing on Capital Hill, something the CT chief found a nuisance, but a task that he was obliged to perform periodically. The Senate intelligence committee not only served as a liaison between the intelligence services and the legislative branch of the government, but also acted in an oversight capacity to ensure the various agencies acted in accord with constitutional and legal principles. Kelly may have been the most powerful counter-terrorism official in the nation, but he was still subject to scrutiny.
As he made his way across Arlington Memorial Bridge, his attention turned to the vibration of his pager. It was Ben, and it was an emergency.
Part 2
Chapter 10
Washington, D.C.
Present Day
As he rounded the Lincoln memorial and headed up 23rd street, Bill Kelly took out his cellular and immediately called Ben Goldberg. His heart began racing while the line was ringing. A 911 emergency from Ben – what the hell could that be?
“Bill, sorry to bother you. Where are you?”
“Why?”
“I think you need to get back here”
“I’m on my way to the Hill. Can it wait?”
“No, it can’t. I think that flaw in RDS you were concerned about may have just popped up again”
“What? Go on” Kelly was shuddering in anticipation of the news he was to hear from his top analyst on the case.
“Well, there was an earthquake last night. The cause is highly suggestive of a subterranean disruption. I think it might be a nuke.”
“What did the RDS satellites show?” Kelly immediately asked. He held his breath as the answer came across the secure airwaves.
“Nothing. Nothing registered on the system. But the thing is, If it wasn’t a nuke, well … I have no other plausible explanation.”
The line was silent.
“Bill, you there”
“Yea, I’m here. Goldie, I’m on my way.”
Kelly turned around and headed back toward Langely. The Senate intelligence committee would have to wait. As he entered the building, he took the elevator directly to see the analyst. It took Ben not more than five minutes to convince Kelly of the worst. They would send a team to investigate, but Kelly already knew what they would find – no telltale evidence of weapons-grade emissions, a slow, low-grade mixture of radiation in the form of alpha, beta and gamma emissions as material gradually was released into the atmosphere, and residue of 94 in the ground.
Kelly immediately left Ben’s office for the research floor. He would inform the STAT team personally. Besides, there was something else that required his attention.
"Bill, what’s up?" Leo asked as he saw his boss arrive.
"Leo, how're you making out?"
"Fine, why? What is it Bill? You could have called". Leo had been making significant strides with Dean’s chips, but Leo could sense there was more to this visit from the CT chief than just a progress report.
"Time just ran out Leo. We need the detection system up and running. Now." He spoke calmly, but firmly.
Leo got the sense something terrible had just occurred.
"What happened Bill?"
“My worst nightmare, that’s what”
“Bill”. Leo spoke slower now, enunciating each word. “What happened?”
"Someone just tested a nuke in North Africa. Leo…", looking the physicist squarely now as he proceeded, "practically no radioactive emissions were registered before the blast."
"94." Leo said it slowly, similarly shaken by the news.
"Yes. It's weaponized"
Ra’ed made his way off the helicopter as it touched down gingerly on the rugged terrain, flanked by a cadre of armed guards. They had made their way back Eastward, to the mountainous region of the country that had been his home for nearly 5 years, in under an hour. Flying was a luxury that Ra’ed typically avoided, lest he raise suspicion from radar or satellites surveying the area. But the test blast was a success, and now there was nothing that could possibly stand in the way of
Sayf Udeen and ultimate greatness. The moment was nearly upon them, and Ra’ed felt invincible.
As he made his way through the entrance of the catacombs that served as his main operations base, the excitement of the people was palpable. Loyal Fedayin soldiers lined either side of the long cave complex, standing at attention with eyes gazed down in tacit reverence. Word had already spread among the people that the prophet Ra’ed was prepared to lead them to salvation. No one quite knew what to expect, but something great was upon them, that much was certain. That some fantastical cataclysmic weapon designed to shift the balance of power had been discovered would soon become apparent to them all. For the moment, Ra’ed was basking in his return, as he was greeted to a hero's welcome.
To the masses that now came out to welcome their leader, Ra’ed was larger than life. He had always maintained some mystique among the men, engendering confidence and ultimately solidifying his power base through clear, unwavering leadership. But deliverance was now imminent after over a decade of struggle and suppression of Muslim pride. Even the most independent-minded extremists had ultimately fallen in line with Udeen over the years, as the alternative was abundantly clear. The Western powers had effectively stripped the old fundamentalist organizations of their power, as one by one they were rendered leaderless. Of the groups that roamed free in the late 20th and early 21st century, most were now extinct, and those that remained were rendered impotent. The landscape had been whittled down to only one – Sayf Udeen. Ra’ed and his followers were the only ones to survive the carnage of the heightened security sweep led by Bill Kelly and his intelligence apparatus. But now this one last vestige of hope was poised to rise up with frightening menace after lying dormant for all these years. Ra’ed would inevitably reach the pinnacle of power among the Islamic leaders as the one unified ruler of the most populous religion on the planet. Moreover, he was ready to take yet another leap forward, staking his claim to power and prominence on the world stage. Once this occurred, the manifold followers, ranging from war-mongering rightists to figures in the center and even left of the political spectrum too fed-up with the sanctimonious Americans and their bullying allies, would inevitably fall in line behind him. He represented the only balance to hold in check the ever-growing power of the United States and its Western allies. It was this power that had engendered a new generation of anti-Americanism, which he would now use to solidify his power base among the disaffected of the world.
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