There had been early work at Rice University under Dr. James Tour in simple nanocars, which were not really cars. They consisted of groupings of carbon molecules in an H shape with fullerene buckyballs for “wheels.” The purpose had been to learn how fullerenes move about on metal surfaces; it seems they roll. Other concepts in play were like those of Feynman’s Ratchet and early work on molecular logic gates. Some progress had been made, but there were no real applications in medicine or industry.
In Van’s opinion, R&D efforts could use a boost to take nanorobotics to the next level. Therefore, Van had Harry develop designs and construction techniques to produce a simple nanorobot (call them nanites) with a single-purpose capability. Software downloads could prepare the nanite to do one particular task, such as hunt down and identify a particular cell, like a cancer cell, and emit a radio signal for location. Or it could deliver a small amount of radiation or medical compound to a specific site. What was important was the basic nanite itself. Companies could take it from there and increase the capabilities. Once they understood how they worked and how to build and program them, the sky should be the limit. This time, however, Van would not do the grand introduction. He would leave that to Jacobs and Al—after Al was provided with enough information to act knowledgably in front of a group. Monetary gains were again to be fair but not outrageous, and FDA trials would be left to the manufacturers. They would implement the granting of licenses by screening and a lottery as planned.
“Harry,” Van said almost absentmindedly, “things are going so well I can’t help but think something must be wrong. But perhaps I’m just being paranoid.”
Harry said nothing in response.
Peter was not a patient man when it came to business. Actually, he wasn’t very patient at all. He had grown used to getting what he wanted on his terms and quickly. In some regards, that had helped make him successful. He also deplored getting personally involved with issues if he could avoid it. It was part of his introverted personality. He preferred to work through others. For these reasons, he had Harold Iken, CEO of Europa Medical, and Arno Lom, CEO of Avantek Technologies, on the phone now.
“Gentlemen, I am not happy with Stellar Projects. We tried being nice and offering a partnership with us, but we were turned down. It is time to turn up the heat, as the Americans say. I want you to start making life difficult for Childs and his company. Slow him down or stop him altogether. It might make him more amenable to further discussions.”
“Harold can do something because he has a similar product,” said a frustrated Arno Lom. “Perhaps he can say Stellar stole the idea from Europa. But how can Avantek get involved? We don’t have anything like what Stellar is offering. We aren’t in competition.”
“Arno, you are supposed to be the creative genius, create something!” barked Peter and disconnected the call.
Two days later and while Van was still in his Chula Vista house, Stellar Projects was front-page news. Not because of the wonderful technology, but because of a claim by Avantek Technologies that the Stellar nanite robots were potentially dangerous to humans and might be flawed. On top of that, Europa Medical had filed patent infringement proceedings on the medical scanner, claiming it was a copy of their own product. Before he could take any action, however, Van got a call from Al Craig, which included Mr. Jacobs.
Al opened by saying, “Van, I think you already know about the press we’re getting on the nanites and the patent case. I want you to know that Mr. Jacobs and I are on it. The good news is that the nanite issue can likely be done away with by issuing some fact sheets we are preparing. The bad news is that a patent case can last two or three years and cost several million dollars to resolve. Right now, we are dead in the water with the scanner. All production has been stopped by an injunction. It would help if we knew something about these two companies, Europa Medical and Avantek. We know where they’re located and, in general, what they do. But do you have or can you help us get more details?”
“At the moment, Al, I don’t have much more than you do. I did get a call from the president of Europa, a guy named Harold Iken, suggesting that we go into partnership. He was not pleased that I politely turned him down. It looks like he’s escalating. It’s odd that both Europa and Avantek should do this at the same time. It suggests that they are working together in some way. Let me look into both companies to see what I can help you with.”
“Thanks, Van. Meanwhile, Jacobs and I are also getting statements from the scanner licensees to support the fact that Europa’s scanner is very different from ours. One of our licensees already has a preliminary approval for the scanner from EMEA that should help. Hopefully production can begin again soon even though the case will linger on. Let us know what you find out.”
Al disconnected the conference call, and Van then contacted Harry via implant to find out more about the two possibly linked companies.
“Harry, I just got a call from Al Craig and Mr. Jacobs. Both alerted me to the bad press and legal problems plaguing our new products. While I guess I’m not surprised that Iken and Europa might do this, I don’t understand what the company Avantek is or why they seem to be cooperating with Europa to defame us. What can you tell me about these companies, and is there some sort of link between them?”
“Well, Commander, as you probably know, Europa Medical produces medical equipment and does some pharmaceutical research, including, by the way, ALS research. They do, in fact, have something similar to the scanner or ‘tricorder’ as you call it, but it is less efficient and much more expensive. Mr. Iken likely sees Stellar and its license partners as a major threat.
“Avantek, on the other hand, is more of an unknown, which is why they might be partnering with Europa. It is a company out of the city of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Ostrava is an old industrial city that seems to be revitalizing itself to meet new technology markets and methods. The company itself started its success trail by introducing new capabilities in industrial robotics and associated computer controls and software. They have now expanded to other areas, but robotics and computer systems are still their main areas of focus. It is unclear why they might want to join forces with Europa unless they feel that the medical scanner and the nanites threaten their hold on robotic and computer technology, which they well might.
“I performed a scan of the two companies’ activities and see two interesting anomalies. First, there seems to be an unusual amount of communications between the two going back many years. Second, they also seem to be linked to the same bank when making certain deposits—the Banque de Central in Zurich with a branch in Berlin. Everyday banking for both, however, is done through different banks.”
“That’s interesting, Harry. But we need to do more research into both. However, this doesn’t seem to help Al Craig much, so continue with your investigation.”
After finishing his talk with Harry, Van contacted Al and let him know what he had found out. Van also had Harry forward both Al and Jacobs details of the products in question, which would help in countering the accusations.
There is definitely a connection between the two companies and, therefore, some logic toward their joint attack on Stellar. But what’s the link? Could there be some other person or organization controlling both? he pondered. A pattern was developing—and Van didn’t like it.
CHAPTER 13
The next day, Van got a call from Dick through Harry. Before leaving Washington, Van had given Dick one of the small communications devices that allowed for secure communications among the three of them. Van did warn Dick not to try to open it up and see how it worked. There was a no-tamper self-destruct device in each one.
“Van,” Dick said, “I’m sorry in advance for not telling you this, but I thought it best that everything seem normal. When you last left here, I had Brice Johnson, my chief of security, assign a local San Diego team to provide security and surveillance for you. You are being followed, and it also appears that someone is gathering lots of information on both you
and Stellar.”
Van was silent for a moment, then said, “You had me followed?”
“Don’t get mad, Van. It’s my job to be paranoid and suspicious. Especially after our discussion about bread crumbs. I covered you as a friend but also, I must admit, as a potential business partner. As it turns out, we were well-founded in doing so.”
This calmed Van a little. “I know you wouldn’t make a joke like this so it must be true, but I never imagined that this would happen in such an early stage of our development.”
“If someone has a great enough reason, anything is possible. Have there been any other odd occurrences?”
Van didn’t have to think long or hard. “Yes, two in fact. I was approached by a guy named Harold Iken to partner with him and his company, Europa Medical. I tried to pleasantly say no but he signed off with a vague threat. Then, the day after Stellar announced the nanite release, we showed up in the local headlines as being incompetent and unsafe operators, according to a company in the Czech Republic called Avantek. At the same time, patent infringement charges were filed against us by Europa Medical. Fortunately, Al Craig and our attorney are skilled in laying out facts to disprove the nanite allegations. Our attorney thinks he can get the production injunction lifted on the scanner soon, but right now the whole process has come to a halt. The patent case continues and is draining us of funds. The only positive news, if you want to call it that, is that we did discover that the two companies have been communicating with each other for several years. In fact, they use the same bank in Zurich for some of their deposits.”
“All of that tells me that something bigger is going on here, Van. Clearly you have stepped on some toes of one or more major players. I’m going to have Brice and his team put a scare into the local investigators and clear your trail, but I think we need to meet and discuss how we might work together on this and perhaps other issues.”
“I don’t mind talking to you, Dick, but why the sudden interest?”
“Mostly because you shouldn’t have been able to do what you did with Sudani. You aren’t an operator, yet you did something even the CIA was having difficulty accomplishing. I’m in the business of special operations, among other things. So I’m curious how you did what you did. But, more importantly, if you can do it again over and over, the Carson Group would like to be involved. How about I visit San Diego and drop by the new Rancho Bernardo location?”
“Sounds good to me. I need to talk with you as well. Just let me know when and how many to expect.”
“It will be in a couple of days and it will be me, my action team lead, and my intelligence officer. No need for more.”
“I look forward to it, Dick.”
Two days later Van was called from his office to the security desk at Stellar to greet visitors. As he went through the security doors, he saw Dick and a man he knew only by picture, Brice Johnson. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the woman with them.
Barbara Fuller.
No doubt about it. Of all the people he never expected, or necessarily wanted, to see again, here she was. His immediate response was to do what he had done eight years ago at the War College and turn around and leave. This time he couldn’t do it; he had to greet his visitors, especially Dick. Not wanting to seem too obvious, Van picked up his pace again and held out his hand to shake. Barbara did not seem to react one way or another, so he kept quiet and stayed friendly in a business fashion. After getting badges and giving them a short tour, Van led them to the secure space he had reserved for himself.
In security terms, it was a SCIF, pronounced “skiff,” short for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. It utilized the sophisticated entrance procedures of retina scans, employed two entrance doors providing a security trap between the two, and was constructed to US and NATO TEMPEST standards. That is, not only was the facility protected from physical or electronic intrusion, but it also prevented the leak of emanations, including unintentional radio or electrical signals and sounds and vibrations from computers, phones, and other devices.
Inside the SCIF, Van and his guests took a seat at a small conference table, and Van switched on one of Harry’s communications devices connected to a conference phone.
“While it may not look like it at present,” Van said to Dick, “all our new technology, such as the medical scanner and the nanite designs, go through this room before being released to the public. It’s also the most secure place we can be for a secure conversation, which is why, even though your visit is short, we’re here today.” Van was telling an untruth about what had passed through this room, but it had to be done for the sake of Host secrecy.
“I’m impressed,” Dick said. “I’ve been in many SCIFs over time, so I’m both familiar with them and surprised that you have one.”
“It came with the building. But it’s easy enough to build one,” explained Van, “especially if you want to spend the money, and if it’s for private use and doesn’t have to be certified or approved by either the US government or NATO. And it allows me to talk about a sensitive idea with confidence.”
“And that is?” Dick asked.
“As you may have guessed, one of the key assets available to us is a formidable intelligence and surveillance system. We have been using it for our own projects, but it largely goes underutilized. As a company, there are many reasons why we don’t want to advertise this capability or to sell it outright to anyone. That would, as you have pointed out, invite too much attention. So, I’m proposing to share the use with you. I’ve known you for a long time and I trust you. You can expand your business to include intelligence and security services for both national and international use. Whatever you want. My requirements are few. First, there should be no direct connection with any clandestine operations and myself or Stellar. Second, our services will be on an ‘as available’ basis, meaning that Stellar’s projects have priority. And third, we want no money in return, no money flow between us. What we’ll require is the reciprocal use of your own collected information as well as your contacts, advice, and special operations talent as required. What do you think?”
“I’m both stunned and amazed,” Dick uttered, more for effect with Brice and Barbara in the room. Dick already knew more than they did about Van and Stellar. “This answers a few questions I had about how you did what you did with Sudani. Let me see if I understand this. What you are suggesting is that I’ll gain access to intelligence that even few countries have, that I can use it in my own organization, and that you require no payment other than what we have already been doing, is that about it?”
“I think so, yes,” Van said. “An operative assumption here is that whatever you use our information for, it will be for positive ends, meaning doing what is best and right for the good guys. You may choose to act on the information yourself, or you can pass along the information for free or for a price, as long as it helps us all to survive and reduces the capabilities of the bad guys. One final item I just realized. You’ll likely have to establish or expand your own intelligence systems to ensure you are credible even without us. We don’t want anyone thinking you go to a phone booth and dial a number for Intelligence Today.” Van wasn’t sure how long this arrangement would last, but it was the right thing to do now as he tested his and Harry’s capabilities.
“Well, on the record, I think this is BS,” retorted Barbara, sitting up straighter in her seat, brown eyes blazing and surprising the others. “Without knowing the source of your intelligence, we can’t take the risk of actions that might be required. For all we know, Brice and his team will get destroyed on the first action because your sources were bad. Or people may be killed and the Carson name dragged through the mud when your information is wrong. In addition, and speaking as the organization’s chief intelligence officer, I must have access to everything. We can’t trust a system to which we do not have access.”
“That’s what I would expect from a good intelligence officer,” Van said. “And if I could grant
you access, I would. But I can’t.” He wanted to smile at this exchange but kept a straight face. Here was that outspoken, clever woman he’d known years ago and admired. The flashing eyes, the confidence… but he couldn’t think of that now. In fact, he didn’t want to.
“Then why are we here?” Barbara said sharply as she swiveled to look at Dick.
“Calm down a little, Barbara. Van and I go way back, and he and I have recently done some things privately that convince me his information is genuine and better than gold. Brice, you’ve been quiet. Thoughts?”
Brice leaned back in his seat, thought a moment, and then said, “Good, boss. I signed up for projects you put on the table, and I also always feel confident in Barbara’s information and planning. The agreement you and I started with is that I can opt out of any project that’s put in front of me. Based on that, I don’t have any problems at present.”
“Barbara,” Dick said, turning to look at her, “I have every reason to trust what Van said and what he can or cannot do. I hope you can accept that, because we value your work greatly. I’ve had the opportunity to see his intelligence resources in an impossible operation and they were flawless. Plus, over the years Van and I have developed a high level of trust. I want to move forward with this.”
“You’re the boss, but just remember I warned you.” Then, switching her gaze from Dick to Van, she went on. “By the way, Mr. Childs, I noticed that when we came in you turned on what looks like a communications system. Is there somebody else listening in?”
Future Discovered: Host Saga Book 1 Page 8