The Faceless Stratagem

by Robert Scott-Norton

  Payne put his hand on hers. “It’s OK.”

  “No, it’s not. I don’t think it ever will be,” she said. “We have several pressure doors in the Tombs. We had to install them when the risk of flooding became real. The cooling system had been first installed by Churchill’s team and they needed to keep the facility safe. Problem is, it was never tested against something trying to make its way out. Irulal smashed through those pressure seals like they were paper and the lake rushed in. I had to seal the pressure doors and cut off several sections to protect the rest of us. People died because I trapped them.”

  She stopped and let the weight of her words sink in.

  “It sounds like you saved people that day as well.”

  But Linwood shook her head. “Don’t patronise me. Friends died because I was stupid enough to trust Irulal.”

  “You didn’t trust her. You kept her apart from the others. You made her go back into containment. It’s called humanity, and you were hopeful you’d find aspects of yourself in her.”

  “The rest of the team never saw it like that.”

  “And that’s why you left?”

  “Not at first. I stayed a few more years, but that dented my credibility as a leader and MI18 as an ongoing concern that should be expanded. We lost the expansion funding.”

  “And they created a new service instead. Department 5?”

  “Yes.”

  “Your animosity towards Jaq didn’t begin as a personality clash. You were always aggrieved that she represented the path you could have been on.”

  Linwood said nothing.

  “You did what you thought was right. Irulal killed your team. She was the one that broke out and flooded the Tombs. Your team’s deaths are on her hands, not yours. But you can’t carry on with this guilt. It’s weighing you down. I can help you. There are others that can help you but you’ve got to let us in. Tell us what’s on your mind, explain how we can help. Don’t make this some personal mission of redemption because frankly, it’s far bigger than that. This is bigger than you or your personal history.” He looked at her through weary eyes.

  She didn’t get a chance to reply for at that moment, the doors opened and a wet-haired Dean walked in. He held the door open for a second man who cautiously followed.

  “I found this guy lurking outside,” Dean said. “He says it’s of the utmost importance he speaks to you. He says it’s about the imminent disaster at the TALOS Institute. Apparently, we're all running out of time.”

  47

  4th June 2013

  “Who are you?” Payne asked, looking at the strange man in the doorway. Putting his finger on exactly what made the man strange was tricky. He wore a suit, ill-fitting and several years out of date, but it was well kept. A blue shirt and black tie under the suit unbuttoned at the collar. The vibe from the man was definitely awkward, and that was enough to make Payne feel uncomfortable.

  And then there was the briefcase he was holding tightly in his right hand. A fat leather briefcase that bulged as if something had been forced to fit inside that didn't quite fit. It was kept closed with silver snap locks and supplemented with two tiny padlocks. No one ever used those on brief cases. There would be no point. A chain hung from under his sleeve and Payne recognised the handcuffs for what they were. They’d been snapped onto one of the handles. Payne supposed the other end was attached to the man’s wrist.

  Payne felt his chest tighten and getting out of the bar and away from the newcomer now seemed very important indeed.

  “I'm Erik. And if it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate having a minute or two of your time.” He spoke with a nondescript accent.

  Only Dean didn't seem perturbed by the newcomer.

  Erik glanced first at Payne, then Linwood. “I'm here to help.”

  “And we don't know who you are,” Payne repeated, wondering whether the man was maybe a little short of something in the head.

  Erik turned to look at Dean. “You said they'd be happy to talk.”

  “Wait a minute,” Linwood said, “you know each other?”

  “He was the one who hired me to get inside TALOS and help you,” Dean said. He gave a nonchalant shrug. “He said he could help.”

  “And I can. I want to tell you what Trenton Winborn is planning to do.”

  ERIK SAT ON THE OPPOSITE side of the table to Linwood and Payne. Dean had gone to the bar to order some more drinks. Only Linwood and Dean had opted for alcohol. Payne and Erik had asked for water.

  Erik had placed his briefcase on the floor by his feet. The chain linking to his handcuffs clinked when he moved.

  “What’s in the briefcase?” Payne asked.

  Erik shrugged. “It’s not important.”

  “Is it dangerous?”

  “Only if you tried to take it away from me,” Erik replied calmly.

  “OK, smart guy,” Payne replied. “Stand up so I can pat you down.”

  Erik hesitated, then he settled his glass back down on the table and stood. “Feel free.”

  Payne stood and asked Erik to reach his arms out before proceeding to pat him down. He had nothing. Nothing in his pockets, not even a wallet or a phone. When he’d done, he gestured that Erik should sit again.

  “We’re good,” Payne told the others, “apart from that, obviously.” He nodded at the briefcase.

  “Who are you?” Linwood asked. “And how do you know Dean?”

  Dean was being quiet through this and seemed as uncomfortable with Erik as the others.

  “I’m one of the directors of the TALOS Institute,” Erik started. “TALOS has been working with the government under our guidance. We want to help prepare the country and sponsoring an organisation like TALOS seemed the most practical method.”

  “Preparing us for what?” Payne asked.

  “For the Shun.”

  Something crawled in his stomach. “I thought we’d dealt with the Shun. Irulal was destroyed at Jodrell Bank.”

  “Irulal wasn’t the only Shun.” Erik kept his gaze on Payne as he spoke. “She’s one of a race. She was trying to bring them through a dimensional schism to invade your Earth. Max Harding put a stop to her immediate plans, but the Shun haven’t stopped trying just because one of their number has fallen.”

  “We’ve studied your files on Operation Snowflake and—”

  “What’s Operation Snowflake?” Payne asked.

  “That was the operational name for the mission where we first brought in Irulal,” Linwood said.

  Erik nodded. “Operation Snowflake was a critical moment. It marked the first arrival of the Shun on your planet.”

  “How do you know so much about them?” Payne asked.

  Erik looked away then back at his glass on the table. “The Shun are a species built by nanites. They were damaged coming through that first schism. Badly damaged. Any future invasion attempt won’t involve a mass arrival of their kind. At least, not their bodies.”

  “They tried to turn us into faceless people,” Linwood said.

  Erik nodded. “They call them Heralds. Foot soldiers and containers. Invasions without the need to physically transfer any hardware or bodies. They use your own people against you.”

  “Snowflake and the fallout were classified above top-secret. How did you get hold of this information? Do you work for the government?”

  Erik shook his head. “It would take too much time to explain and you wouldn’t understand. I’m on your side but I need you to trust me.”

  Linwood had a wry smile on her face. “We trust no one. I just managed to escape with my life from your TALOS Institute. Your Controller Winborn is a nutcase. I’ve seen what they have in their secure area and they are playing with fire. Why are they working with Shun nanites? What do they hope to achieve?”

  “Winborn’s instruction was to clean up after the Shun. Do what your MI18 no longer could.”

  “And does that involve the illegal holding of Max Harding,” Payne asked.

  “Max Harding is a thr
eat. It’s only right that he’s contained.”

  “He saved us from Irulal. He needs to be rewarded, not imprisoned.”

  “He’s contaminated,” Erik replied calmly.

  “We’re all contaminated,” Linwood countered. “That’s what enabled Irulal to do what she did with her telephone signal, begin transforming us into her Faceless army.”

  “But you’ve made sure that can’t happen again,” Erik said.

  Linwood nodded.

  Erik smiled. “Good job. But it hardly matters. If anything it’s accelerated another problem.”

  Payne was hating this conversation.

  Erik continued. “The Shun communicate over a subspace network far beyond your current technology. They call it the Harmony. The phone signal was an attempt to send instructions to the embedded nanites you’re all infected with. You’ve prevented the phone network from being used in such a way again. But you’ve only pushed him into a new direction. One that will have deadlier consequences.”

  “Who are you talking about? Winborn?”

  Erik nodded. “Winborn is no longer under our instruction. He’s stopped taking our calls, and it’s clear he’s working to a new agenda. We’re concerned that his new agenda may be Shun.”

  “And what is this new agenda?” Linwood asked.

  “He’s researching the Shun nanites. We believe he’s trying to find a way to use those to send new command instructions to the embedded nanites—the ones already inside you.”

  “And that would mean what, exactly?” Payne asked.

  Erik frowned. “If he can send new commands to the embedded nanites, he can still create a Shun army of Faceless.”

  “If you know all this, why can’t you stop him?”

  “We will stop him, but I need your help. The directors can’t directly interfere.”

  “I’m still not getting this,” Payne said. His head was spinning, trying to keep up with what Erik was telling him. “There are nanites inside us, and those were the ones that Irulal had been releasing for God knows how many years. And now Winborn is trying to get them to dance to his tune?”

  “Yes. It’s quite straightforward.”

  “Oh is it? You know what else would be quite straightforward, is if we continued this conversation inside a police station. I can charge you under anti-terrorism legislation and we’ll see how much your directors want to directly interfere then.”

  Erik looked anxious like this was the first time he’d recognised that perhaps the people he was talking to weren’t seeing him as a saviour but as someone to be wary of. “I think I’ve made a mistake coming here.” He stood and pushed his chair back.

  The others stood as well. Linwood raised a hand. “Please, sit. We want to listen.” She threw a look to Payne that he took to mean he should keep out of it.

  Erik, his briefcase in one hand, used his free hand to gulp down the rest of his drink. “Good luck with everything. I’m sorry to have troubled you. Please forget my visit. You’ll do just fine without me.”

  And then he headed for the door. Payne glanced at Linwood but all he saw in her eyes was exasperation. Payne hurried after Erik, grabbing his arm tightly.

  The shock punched him and lifted him off his feet, throwing him back across the bar. He landed three tables away, crashing into a wall.

  Dean ran in front of Erik, blocking his passage out of the restaurant. “Listen, we don't want to hurt you, but you need to talk to us.”

  “This has been a mistake,” he replied, glancing across at Linwood. “You have also made a mistake,” he said. “You were looking in the strongroom for it but Winborn has it now.”

  Then Erik walked out of the bar.

  Payne scrambled to his feet and chased after him, shouting at him to stop.

  Linwood hadn’t moved. Whatever those last words meant, they’d been important.

  Payne bashed open the doors and spun around, looking for Erik. He couldn’t have got far. But, it seemed he had. Payne was standing in the hotel lobby alone.

  Erik had vanished.

  48

  5th June 2013

  Linwood had called Kingston from her hotel room. So far, her boss was taking the revelations about TALOS pretty well.

  “You believe what this Erik told you?” He sounded tired, and she wondered whether Kingston ever truly got enough sleep.

  “I’ve seen enough to believe it, yes. Winborn was extremely hostile with me and Dean Sharman yesterday, and we saw what was inside his secure area.”

  When Kingston didn’t immediately respond, Linwood thought he must not have heard her.

  Then he cleared his throat. “He’s sent me a complaint.”

  “A complaint?”

  “He said that you broke into a restricted area where you damaged property and caused disruption and distress to his staff. He’s requested that I officially reprimand you and take you off active duty until we can hold an official enquiry into your behaviour.” His voice was even, and it was difficult for Linwood to determine whether he was angry with her or not.

  “That’s not how it happened,” she replied equally calm, although her hands gripped the edge of the desk tight enough for her knuckles to turn white.

  “But something did happen?”

  “Obviously, sir. I was trying to explain.”

  “The sarcasm isn’t doing you any favours.”

  She bit her tongue. “I’m sorry. What he’s saying is true. I broke away from him long enough to do some exploring of my own, but I had good reason. Max Harding hasn’t been seen in four weeks and Winborn refused me access.”

  “Harding is in his care. Winborn told me he’s extremely sick and is in a secure quarantine unit.”

  “But, I should still be able to see him. I wasn’t asking him to break quarantine.” Linwood gently punched the desk.

  “He says they have a secure process that can’t be interfered with. I’m inclined to allow him some leeway on this. If Harding is as important as we think he is, we need to take the best possible care of him.”

  “Did he tell you what was inside his secure area?” Linwood asked.

  “No. I’ve a feeling you’re wanting to share that with me.”

  “Carey was disintegrated by the silver when DI Payne was interviewing him last month, just before the Jodrell Bank Incident. TALOS took away the remains and they’ve been holding them inside this secure area ever since. They’ve been studying him.”

  “Studying the remains you mean. The nanites.”

  Linwood nodded. “Yes.”

  “Then I don’t see any problem. We need a defence against their technology and the nanites form the cornerstone of it. It’s imperative we understand as much as possible about them.”

  He was making Winborn's actions seem entirely reasonable. But he hadn't been there.

  “Sir, if you’d have heard him. He wasn’t talking about creating defences against the Shun. He was talking about understanding them. Learning how to control the nanites. He doesn’t want to protect us, he wants to be like them.”

  She heard him sigh, and then he must have covered the handset because there was some muffled talking. “Are you still there?”

  “Listen, I’m not going to do what he asks. You’re not being suspended. You’re too bloody good to be sitting at home while all this is still going on. I need you.”

  “Then you’ve got to give me your permission to go back to TALOS and investigate. I’m telling you, what they’re doing there is not above board. He has his own agenda.”

  “Any idea who this Erik is that Dean got involved with?”

  “I believe that Erik is a person of significant interest.”

  “Then perhaps our resources should be best spent on tracking him down.”

  “Can’t we do both?” Linwood said.

  “I can get Jaq on to it. Get Department 5 looking for him.”

  Linwood rolled her eyes. “Jaq is incapacitated.”

  A pause. Linwood imagined him sitting at his desk, leant o
ver, elbows pressed into the wood, and silently willing it all to end. When he came back, his voice was sadder. “You don’t trust Jaq. You think she’s part of it.”

  “Sir, I saw her covered by this silver. I don’t know what happened to her, but I doubt that it’s good.”

  “OK,” he said eventually. “Go back to TALOS. I’ll get some support in case things turn ugly.”

  She smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. From what you’re saying, we’re going to have to be extremely careful. We’re about to walk into the lion’s den.”

  49

  5th June 2013

  “This will never work,” Payne said, his voice muffled.

  Linwood could barely see him through her own mask. “It will be enough to get us past the guard.”

  “It’s ridiculous. Why can’t Kingston just send in the army?”

  “We need people on the inside. Winborn holds all the cards at the moment and we don’t know what he will do next. If the army arrives, it will become a siege operation. That won’t end well.”

  Linwood was sitting beside Payne in the back of the van Dean had acquired especially for this mission. She didn’t ask where he’d got it from and he didn’t volunteer the information, but it smelt of plumbing supplies and oil rags. The inside had been boarded, and they had little to hold onto except each other.

  “Did he have to tie these restraints so tight?”

  Linwood thought Payne had a point about that. Dean had taken a little too much pleasure in securing cable ties to their wrists behind their backs. It made it difficult to steady themselves as the van hurtled towards TALOS.

  “Calm down, we’ll be there soon.” Linwood tried to be calm herself but her heart had been speeding up ever since they’d applied the masks. The security service had sent up their man from special procurement and he’d set about creating fast-setting latex masks to their faces. It was unpleasant and took time but when he’d finished, they looked authentic enough, although she doubted they’d fool anyone for long.

  “I can barely see a thing.”