‘Safeties off,’ Goodwin heard the commander say as he made his way to the police ahead of him.
‘I’m patching through the feed from the commander’s head camera,’ the driver told Goodwin, tapping away on some keys.
A full colour screen powered up just above the windscreen displaying an image of a large, permanent checkpoint installation around which a few police officers loitered. With the floodlights blazing down, an officer advanced to meet the Darklight commander as he approached. Goodwin heard the footfalls of the men cease as they stopped in front of each other.
‘I don’t recognise your unit, soldier,’ the policeman said in a confrontational tone.
‘We’re covert ops,’ Hilt said with authority. ‘Lower your barriers so we can pass through. We’re on a tight schedule.’
‘We can’t do that, I’m afraid, sir,’ a second police officer told him. ‘We have an itinerary of all military movements in this area and you’re not on the list.’
Goodwin cursed, but Hilt remained as calm as ever.
‘I understand your predicament,’ Hilt said, ‘but in light of recent events the schedule has changed. We’re on DEFCON 1; do you know what that means?’
‘That we’re on high alert?’ the first officer said.
His colleague shook his head. ‘No, five is the highest alert, idiot.’
‘DEFCON 1 is the highest,’ Hilt said, correcting him. ‘And that means I can pretty much do what I want, so if you don’t get that barrier down, I’ll tear it down.’
The police officers looked at Hilt for a moment, then at each other, before moving away a few paces where they entered into a heated discussion. A few seconds later the first man walked off, while the second turned back to Hilt.
‘We’ll just get confirmation from Fort Bliss; it won’t take long.’
The view from Hilt’s camera swung ninety degrees. ‘Jam communications, Lieutenant,’ Hilt said under his breath, apparently to a Darklight officer who was also listening in. ‘Prepare to pacify. Wound only, no kill shots.’
Goodwin suddenly had a thought. ‘Commander, can you hear me?’
‘Go ahead, sir.’
‘There is an emergency command code that gives me the authority in extreme circumstances to override civilian authorities, including the police.’
‘Belay my last,’ Hilt told his men. ‘Do you have the code, sir?’ he asked Goodwin.
‘I have it on my phone, hang on.’ Goodwin took out his computer phone and unfolded its larger display. He navigated to his Steadfast control file and bored into subfolders until he found what he was searching for. ‘I have it, Commander, civilian override GMRC protocol nine five sigma. Code five eight nine seven six dash X-ray X-ray Quebec eight Kilo. They will need to confirm by contacting GMRC dispatch, but it should work.’
‘As long as Joiner hasn’t deactivated your clearance,’ Hilt said.
Goodwin hadn’t thought of that. ‘Let’s hope he hasn’t had time.’
Hilt turned back to the policeman who waited for his superior to return. ‘Officer, I have a GMRC code for you to verify.’
The man took the code and radioed it through to his sergeant, while Hilt told his men to cease jamming and waited for a response. Goodwin held onto the back of a chair, his fingers digging into the cloth as the tension rose.
Finally the first officer reappeared and waved them through as the hydraulic metal barriers slowly lowered.
‘Good job, sir,’ Hilt told him as he made his way back to the convoy.
‘Thanks,’ Goodwin said in relief, his grip relaxing, ‘that was touch and go.’
‘Indeed. Let’s roll out,’ Hilt said, as he swung back into his seat and slammed the door shut.
Goodwin’s video feed was cut and their personnel carrier’s massive engines roared back to life.
It wasn’t long before they had regained speed and ploughed ahead into the darkness once more, heading east along I-25. They weren’t on the interstate for long before they turned right onto a smaller road heading due south. Goodwin put down his headset and moved back to his seat, but before he could get there they slowed again and came to a sharp stop, forcing him to grab onto an armrest in order to maintain his footing.
‘You better put this back on, sir,’ a Darklight operative told him, holding out the communication device Goodwin had just discarded.
‘Commander?’ Goodwin said into the microphone as he returned to the driver’s cab.
‘Yes, sir,’ Hilt replied through the earpiece. ‘We’ve been scanning the area ahead to ensure we don’t run into any more unexpected obstacles. It was just as well we did, as there is sizable force coming up a few junctions away.’
‘Military?’ Goodwin said.
‘U.S. Army, by the looks of it. We could take them out, but I know you want to avoid such a confrontation.’
‘What do you propose we do?’
‘We’re not sure if they’re even trying to intercept us,’ Hilt said. ‘They could just be on their way to any number of locales in the southern states. If we turn around and cut west we can take the I-40 and rejoin the I-25 south for a distance. We can then take a left towards Roswell, hopefully bypassing the Army, and carry on our way towards the national park. The only problem is that this will take us much closer to Fort Bliss than I would like.’
‘I suppose we don’t have much of a choice, do we?
‘Not really, sir.’
‘That would also mean we’d have to pass through another city, wouldn’t it?’
‘Albuquerque, yes, sir.’
Goodwin paused trying to think of alternatives, but he had none. ‘Do it, Commander.’
‘Very good, sir.’
Two hundred plus vehicles carried out a one hundred and eighty degree turn.
As they picked up speed again, the lead vehicles shot past them as Hilt took point once more.
‘Keep me updated, Commander,’ Goodwin told him.
‘Of course, sir.’
Goodwin passed back the headset to the soldier and made his way out of the cabin to rejoin the other civilians. He sat down next to a quizzical Kara.
‘Problems?’ she asked.
‘Nothing major,’ he said. There wasn’t any point in worrying her or the rest of the people onboard any more than they already had been. He settled back into his chair and made a silent prayer for some better fortune as the convoy rattled on into the gloom.
Chapter Eighteen
The generals of U.S.S.B. Steadfast had been called to the Command Centre for an emergency meeting by the Intelligence Director, Malcolm Joiner. Following the infiltration by the Darklight private security firm, the Joint Chiefs had ordered a military intervention. As ever, Malcolm Joiner had stuck his nose into the operation, utilising his own operatives to run parts of the campaign. The generals disliked the power the Intelligence Director had over them, but they were more concerned by the control he apparently exerted over the Joint Chiefs themselves. Virtually anything he wanted was sanctioned, and now that he had Professor Steiner under arrest on spurious grounds, effectively relieving him of his command, and Richard Goodwin had fled the base, the man was in an unassailable position.
They were discussing their options when Joiner came into the room, flanked by one of his agents. The tall, greying Director sat down at one end of the table, away from the military men who had gradually fallen silent at his arrival.
‘What is the meaning of this meeting, Director?’ General Shultz demanded. ‘You’ve had us waiting around for an hour and now you turn up without any hint of an apology or even an excuse.’
Joiner ignored him and held out his hand to the man who now stood to one side and slightly behind his superior. The operative pulled out a folder from a satchel and passed it forwards. Joiner took it and placed it on the table in front of him. Smoothing the front cover down with his palm, he opened the document and put on his spectacles. He appeared to read for a moment and then closed the folder again, removed his glasses and tucked them
back into his front pocket.
‘It seems, gentlemen,’ Joiner said, in his nasal voice, ‘that you will all be relocating to U.S.S.B. Sanctuary.’ He paused to let his words sink in. ‘With immediate effect.’
The generals were instantly up in arms. A couple stood up, unable to contain their anger, as they all voiced their outrage at such a move. Joiner merely sat and watched them with no sign of emotion or reaction. They fell silent one by one when it became apparent that Joiner wouldn’t respond until he had their full attention once again.
‘Finished?’ he asked them insolently. ‘Excellent. This command has come from the Joint Chiefs.’ He took a sheet of paper from the folder and passed it to his armed aide, who handed it to General Shultz. The general read it and then threw it in disgust to his colleague sitting next to him.
‘How did you swing this?’ Shultz said, incredulous. ‘You can’t leave the base without military leaders and the Joint Chiefs would not give this kind of order unless they had been forced into it.’
‘Sadly, the request was not from me in this instance,’ Joiner said. ‘I would rather let you all stay here to rot, but it seems you all have friends in higher places and in order to keep the peace I am ensuring the Joint Chiefs get what they want.’
‘Not dancing to your tune for once, eh?’ another general said with venom.
‘Oh, they’ll follow my direction, as well you all know, but even I must make the occasional concession and it turns out that you’re it. You will be travelling under my control and without any of your forces. You may pack the bare essentials and your families are being rounded up as we speak.’
‘You better treat my children with care, Joiner,’ another general said, standing up menacingly, ‘or I’ll throttle your scraggy little neck!’
The intelligence operative’s hand went to his sidearm, but Joiner gestured to his man to stand down. ‘Your get are being well looked after, General,’ Joiner said, his emotionless eyes boring into him.
The general held his gaze until Joiner, unfazed, looked around at the others in the room. He stood. ‘My agents will ensure you are ready to depart at twelve hundred hours. Good day, gentlemen.’ Joiner left without another word, his bodyguard opening the door for him and then swiftly following the Director out of the room. The doors to the room swung shut and the generals were left alone once more, the unusual sensation of impotency upon them.
♦
CIA Special Operations Agent Myers was waiting for Malcolm Joiner as he came out of his brief meeting with Steadfast’s generals.
‘Sir, reporting as ordered,’ Myers said, as he fell into step with his boss.
‘We’re leaving Steadfast at twelve hundred hours and the generals and their families will be joining us,’ Joiner told him.
‘We, sir?’
‘The whole intelligence division at this base.’
‘Everyone, sir?’
Joiner strode along the corridor of the Command Centre, which still bore the extensive scars inflicted by the firefight a few days before. ‘You heard me, Agent.’
‘Can I ask where we are relocating to, sir?’
‘Sanctuary,’ Joiner said in distraction. ‘I want you to gather together computer and structural engineers and welders from the civilian workforce and the army. I want them topside in an hour.’
‘Will they be coming to Sanctuary as well?’ Myers said.
‘Yes.’
‘And their families too?’
Joiner scowled. ‘If they must.’
‘Sir?’
‘Yes. Gather up their families and then we can get out of this godforsaken hole.’
‘Very good, sir.’
Joiner slowed his walk as his thoughts returned to the source of his disquiet. ‘What is the situation with Goodwin on the surface?’
‘As far as we’re aware he’s still at the Darklight base,’ Myers said. ‘The army’s monitoring the situation; do you want me to send in some agents to keep an eye on things?’
Joiner considered the question for a moment. ‘No,’ he said at last, ‘just keep me apprised of any developments.’
Myers nodded and turned to walk off to carry out his orders.
‘Oh, and Myers.’
‘Yes, sir?’
‘Get a couple of workers to take down the screen in Goodwin’s office, along with the tech that powers it. I want it boxed up and shipped with us.’
‘Certainly, sir,’ Myers said, as he withdrew his phone to make the necessary arrangements.
♦
A few hours later a group of black SUVs had assembled at the main surface entrance to U.S.S.B. Steadfast. Joiner had been waiting for Agent Myers, who was inside the topside complex overseeing the final preparations before their departure. Unfortunately he was failing to perform his designated tasks, as he’d called in Joiner to speak to one of the engineers who was apparently giving him grief.
‘What is the problem here, why isn’t work underway?’ Joiner said, approaching a man who was arguing fiercely with Myers.
‘This idiot expects me to cross weld the exits and disable the elevator mechanisms,’ the engineer told Joiner. ‘He’s lost his mind!’
Myers looked exasperated and he stepped to one side, enabling his Director to take the lead.
‘I want these exits sealed and the elevators permanently decommissioned,’ Joiner said, ‘it’s a matter of great importance.’
‘I won’t do it,’ the engineer said.
‘Then I’ll get someone who will.’
The man blinked a few times as he computed that information. ‘No one will do what you want,’ the engineer said, outraged at the suggestion he might be replaced.
Two other engineers who were present voiced their agreement.
‘I don’t understand why you would want to prevent anyone from Steadfast getting to the surface,’ the main engineer continued. ‘It doesn’t make any sense and it also condemns hundreds of thousands of people to virtual imprisonment.’
‘My reasons are none of your concern, and you are here to complete tasks as ordered, not to question them,’ Joiner told him, and then considered the man for a moment. ‘If you must know, there is an outbreak of a potentially deadly virus which has to be prevented from reaching the surface,’ he said, hoping his lie would be accepted. He was to be disappointed, however.
‘A virus, you expect me to believe that?’ the engineer scoffed. ‘There’s no virus down there, we’d have been issued with quarantine protocols if there was.’
Joiner’s agitation spiked and he moved in close to the man’s face. ‘I’ll give you one last chance to reconsider your position,’ he said with barely concealed anger. ‘Things will not go well for you if you don’t comply.’
‘Comply, what kind of talk is that? I don’t respond well to threats, so you can take your orders and stuff them where the sun don’t shine.’
Joiner had had enough. He turned to Myers, who stood close by. ‘Make an example of this man, Agent,’ Joiner said.
Agent Myers acknowledged Joiner’s order and understood its connotations. He moved past his superior, pulled out his silenced gun and shot the engineer once in the head. The man slumped to the ground, stone dead.
The remaining two senior engineers cried out in terror at what had just transpired. One leaned against a wall and retched while the other looked to be in shock as he stared wide-eyed at the body prone at his feet.
Joiner waited in calm disinterest until the two men had regained some of their senses. ‘Now, I want those exits and elevators sealed and disabled within the day. Agent Myers will oversee your work; make sure it meets his requirements otherwise you’ll be facing the same fate as your friend here.’ He indicated the body on the floor.
The two men stared at him, uncomprehending.
‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!’ Myers shouted at them, stepping forwards, his hand once more on the grip of his firearm.
The engineers nodded woodenly.
‘Do your job and keep quiet about this
incident,’ Joiner told them, ‘and you and your families will be rewarded with top class accommodation at U.S.S.B. Sanctuary.’ He walked away, beckoning Myers alongside. ‘Get rid of that body.’
‘Yes, sir. What about his family?’
‘Drop them off in the nearest town.’
‘What should I tell them?’
‘I don’t know,’ Joiner said in annoyance. ‘Make something up. When the workmen have finished their jobs, round them up and dispose of them.’
‘Sir?’
‘You heard me. The elevator shaft would be an appropriate place for an accident, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Myers said, his face deadpan. ‘And their families?’
Joiner glared at him. ‘Do I have to think of everything? Drop them off with the others. Tell them they will be relocated and reunited with their loved ones in a few weeks’ time.’
‘Yes, sir, very good.’
Joiner strode off leaving Myers behind to clear up the mess. The two remaining engineers stood forlornly next to their dead colleague, unaware that their fate was already set in stone.
♦
Colonel Samson had been receiving phone calls from all over Steadfast. Since the evacuation of about five per cent of the civilian population – many of whom ran the command centre – and the battle between the army and Darklight forces, unrest and panic had spread throughout the base. This was to be expected, of course; however, he was now getting calls from military personnel who were unable to get in touch with any of the base’s generals. Word had reached him that a meeting had been seen taking place earlier in the day between Intelligence Director Joiner and the top brass. Since then there had been no sign of them and Samson had got that uneasy feeling that things were far from right.
Other colonels operated on the base, but due to his position on Special Forces he was looked upon as more of a leader than the rest. His phone bleeped again. Taking it out, he hit reject call. He’d had enough of this. Striding along a corridor and down a flight of stairs, he flung open some double doors and moved into a loading bay. Off to one side crouched a man working on the bodywork of a small, open-top military truck. Without breaking stride Samson hopped onto the back of the vehicle and jumped into the driver’s seat. Starting it up, he sped off, heading for the Command Centre and leaving a startled looking mechanic in his wake.
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