by W. R. Hobbs
Earlier that afternoon, the men had successfully placed a data splice on a conduit running from the satellite dish array on the roof of the new primary ROC command center. Ben was able to easily gain access as one of the site workers completing the interior construction. This splice gave Cadan direct control of the camp systems through his embedded wrist device.
With the guards concentrated around the meal lines, the three men, crouched behind a small patch of trees behind the strip mall and adjacent to the landing pad, preparing to commence their escape. Cadan activated his hologram and accessed an image of a 500 cubic yard perimeter around the helipad. Next to the scaled hologram, a threat assessment grid displayed the immediate concerns.
An XMT-507 was an integrated anti-air-ground tank which coupled the fire-power of .50 caliber air bursting munitions with optoelectronic fire control. It was capable of destroying slow moving aircraft and armored vehicles from over a mile away. And because there were fifteen of them in his target area, the XMT ranked number one on Cadan’s threat assessment for a successful escape. His secondary concern were twenty-eight LRAWs (Long Range Acoustic Weapons.)
“Are you sure we can do this?” Ben asked with a nervous whisper, crouched behind Cadan and Simeon
Cadan looked back at both men and smiled. “We are about to find out,” he countered.
The air started whipping around them, pushing sparse patches of grass flat to the ground. The guards at the command post and near the landing pad were not surprised; Cadan’s earlier entry into their flight log of the arrival of a V33 completely served its purpose to prevent suspicion. As the majority of the nearby personnel looked upward at the incoming craft, Cadan launched his program.
With the craft approaching the landing pad, the nearby guards were temporarily distracted, watching the Raider descend slowing behind the command post. For the first few seconds no one on the ground noticed that the anti-aircraft lasers on the Interstate perimeter were deactivated and facing toward the ground. On the other hand, the operators in the XMT tanks noticed instantly when their systems went down and began climbing out of their turrets.
Just as the Raider landed, the guards’ attention was drawn to the incoming lights of over forty drones speeding in their direction. Assuming that the drones were reacting on their behalf, the soldiers did not view them as a threat. Simultaneously, the large disks on the LRAWs that were parked on street level redirected their aim toward the guards near the auxiliary command post and helipad.
“Watch this!” Cadan alerted.
Just before the drones were on top of the guards, all the lights surrounding the perimeter and command posts went dark. The drones separated into various attack vectors. The remaining armaments which Cadan could not control on the Interstates, including the automatic turrets, were directly struck by the drones, creating a spectacular pyrotechnic lightshow for the ROC residents.
As the explosions lit up the darkened landing pad and provided more than an adequate diversion, Cadan and his two friends ran across 7th Street toward the V33. When they reached the landing pad where the empty craft’s nacelles were still positioned vertically, a couple of the nearby soldiers spotted the three men.
“YOU THERE, STOP!” said one of the soldiers running toward them.
“Hurry up guys, get in and put these on,” Cadan directed after he sat down in the pilot seat. He handed them each a helmet and then he pointed his wrist toward the console.
When the Raider began to lift from the landing pad, the soldiers paused to aim their weapons. At that moment Cadan activated the long range acoustic weapon trucks. The piercing, incapacitating sound wave bombardment hit all the guards near the landing pad, making them drop to their knees. Cadan and his crew ascended very quickly, crossing over the Interstate perimeter and accelerated southwest. They were almost one mile away when the Raider’s instrument panel alerted that an active XMT was targeting their craft.
“We’ve been painted!” Simeon warned from the other pilot seat.
“Hold on!” Cadan yelled as he banked the craft hard left and pressed an afterburner. The Raider bolted out of the XMT’s range with hundreds of airbursts nearly reaching their target. The wrist display abruptly activated just as they completely cleared the ROC airspace. Cadan raised his arm and looked at the holo display.
“I am going on a slight detour. Someone may need my help,” Cadan explained after retrieving an encoded communication from the Salton Sea facility. He continued, “Simeon, once we land, you take this bird to the facility and bring Ben with you.”
“I cannot believe we did it!” Ben expressed, following up with the sound of nervous laughter coming from the rear seat.
“I told you that it would not be ‘hope’ that got you out of there.” Cadan responded, smiling and looking back at Ben.
Ben squinted back down at the chaotic Oakland ROC. Good riddance, he thought as the Raider darted toward the San Leandro Reservoir.
CHAPTER 16
Dugway Facility
Bracken had a total of 42,000 soldiers at his command in the underground facility and on the surface. His trusted inner circle of command officers at Dugway consisted of two other generals and four colonels. These officers constituted the top level command structure of the base and enabled Bracken to wield complete control of all forces at the facility. By 01700 hours, Bracken had already begun the initial steps for fortifying the base.
The Dugway Facility had eventually surpassed Groom Lake as the largest underground facility in the world by 2016. Nearly all the country’s new technology development and reengineering efforts were centralized in this facility before the C7 formed. Once the NAU Command gained control and the branches of the US military had been combined into a singular command hierarchy, Bracken was retained as the provisional commander of the base.
Certain members of the former US military had taken measures to keep many things secret even after the new world government formed. Bracken and his group knew that retention of the facility would be vital if their efforts were to be successful. Dugway was planned to serve as the central command for Operation Goliath from the very first meeting Bracken held with some like-minded officers over eighteen months ago. From that point forward, the information flowing out of the base was heavily sanitized.
Lindherst and the C7 no longer possessed the complete picture at Dugway – even with a mole inside. For Lindherst, Colonel Osborne had been useful to a certain extent but Bracken never trusted him with the knowledge of Operation Goliath. As a result, Lindherst and the C7 perceived Bracken as an average officer with some recent competency issues but not as a direct threat. The C7 was concerned with Dr. Hauer and his research more than anything else.
Keeping Operation Goliath a secret from the majority of officers at Dugway was much easier when it was still in the planning stages. While Bracken was initiating the logistics for the first phase on the surface, he knew it would be wise to distract certain personnel until their political and ideological reliability were confirmed.
Looking out from his office, the general noticed Osborne on the command deck. When the colonel arrived back from Salt Lake City almost two hours ago Bracken had ordered him to Level 95.
What the hell is he doing back up here?
“Colonel Osborne, come to my office,” Bracken growled over the com. The colonel had barely breached his office door when the general lit into him. “Explain to me why you are not on Level 95 colonel.”
“I completed your orders to bring the reactor online. All systems were operative and Lieutenant Gates was more than capable of performing the remaining diagnostics. I thought it best to get back to the command deck considering the amount of activity occurring on the surface.”
Levels 95 through 100 housed the fission reactors for the facility. The three main reactors powered Levels 1 through 119 and 150 through 180. Bracken had ordered Osborne to oversee the initialization of a smaller auxiliary reactor devoted entirely to power Levels 120 through 149 which were designated as �
��emergency’ levels.
“Colonel Osborne, if I needed you on the command deck I would have ordered you to be up here. I need the auxiliary reactor not only online but monitored by the officer I thought could handle the job. Colonel, can I trust that you will follow my orders this time?” Bracken critically inquired.
“Yes sir,” Osborne disingenuously replied.
“Good. Now, because you are so interested in the events on the surface I will let you know that we are about to initiate a modified Ark Protocol and will be bringing a total of approximately 8,700 civilians to the facility over the next few hours,” the general revealed, cautiously striking a balance between offering Osborne enough information to test his loyalty without giving him enough to jeopardize Operation Goliath.
“Since you are so confident that Lieutenant Gates has the auxiliary reactor handled, I want you on Level 130 to oversee the activation of the secondary mess hall and await there for further instruction. Not all duties are glamorous colonel, but they are necessary,” Bracken postured, projecting his authority.
A total of 8,700 people is not even twenty percent of the planned number for the Ark Protocol. And he sure as hell doesn’t need me on KP, overseeing the logistics of food preparation, Osborne computed.
“Yes sir” the colonel responded.
Osborne didn’t care that Bracken was testing him and withholding information. And he did not care that he had essentially just been put on kitchen duty. He now had validation on the initialization of the Ark Protocol and could postulate the rest. The colonel had all the information he required to refine his calculations.
“You are dismissed,” Bracken barked.
The general reclined in his chair, watching Osborne march out of his office and reflected on the conversation for a few moments. He used the edge of the desk to pull his chair closer to the desk viewer. Navigating through the communications menu, Bracken established a secure channel to General Straka.
“Straka here.”
“Eric, how are things progressing up there?”
“The command transfer went smoothly. General Vaughn and Everett are currently employing the overrides for the land and space based missile systems and also the HARP installation. They expect their men will have it completed by the time we brief. All the unit leaders involved in Goliath are prepping and standing by.”
“Good. I have proceeded with the Ark Protocol and I want the unit leaders to do the same at all of our locations. Make certain the lists are scrubbed of any C7 officials and personnel.”
“We have about 3340 on our list here at JBLM. I will have them transported immediately. Is there anything else I need to do before the briefing?”
“I suggest that you reinforce the defense preparations for your base. I have already begun reorganization of the defense perimeter here at Dugway. Other than that, have the complete inventory numbers of all air wings, armament divisions, naval fleets and other assets designated for Operation Goliath ready for the briefing.”
“No problem.” Straka reflected on all of the preparations. ”Jacob, what has caused the acceleration of Operation Goliath?” he asked, hoping to gain more insight.
“I do not have time for much detail. As I said, Dr. Hauer has shared information with me that changes everything. The NAU Command is only a pawn in the bigger picture. Our fight is with the C7. Or I should say who the C7 represents,” Bracken revealed, causing Straka to only become more curious. “Hauer will give a full explanation. For now, keep an eye out for anyone in your ranks that may not be a team player.”
“Yes sir. Straka out.”
“Colonels Hawthorne and Diaz report to my office,” Bracken ordered over the com.
They were two of the four colonels at Dugway with knowledge of Operation Goliath and had nearby offices on the command level with Bracken. They walked into the General’s office about twenty seconds later and the door locked behind them.
“Gentlemen, we are initiating the modified Ark Protocol. I want you to oversee the logistics. Get as many of those people here as you can before 2200 hours tonight. Dismissed.”
“Sir, Dr. Leroux has arrived at the base and is secure on Level 120,” a disembodied voice rattled from Bracken’s desk viewer.
“Acknowledged.”
Time to check on Cathy and the boys.
Level 120 – Civilian Level
Since their arrival a couple of hours ago, the general had not yet been to see his family on level 120. The main bulkhead door to Level 120 slid open and he walked into the expansive lobby. As Bracken paced to the large archway leading to the recreation area, he heard Jake Jr. yell, “Daddy!”
“Hey there champ!” Bracken said, revealing a rare smile and catching Jake as he leapt into his arms.
“Dad!” exclaimed Carver, Jake’s twelve year old brother, running to hug his father.
“Jacob, what in the world is going on?” Cathy asked, approaching her husband and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Bracken gave each of his sons a firm hug and instructed, “Give mom and dad a few minutes boys,” while pointing them back to the recreation area.
Although the Ark participants had not yet begun to populate Level 120, the massive space still bustled with dozens of facility personnel. Bracken guided his wife over to a more secluded area.
“Cathy, you and the boys are going to be here for the foreseeable future. I have a private section on a lower level being equipped for you guys. Events on the surface are going to be unpredictable and volatile over the next few days and weeks. I do not believe hostilities will exist for very long but we are prepared to be underground for up to five years if necessary…”
“What hostilities?”
“The Council of Seven is not what the world thinks it to be. We have formed a group of global military leaders and scientists to confront them,” Bracken replied, tactfully sidestepping the more shocking facts Hauer had conveyed earlier that day.
Cathy looked up at her husband and with complete clarity asked, “Jacob, what is your role in this group?” She already knew that he was part of any fight against this new world order.
“Dugway is the safest facility to occupy during this time. Don’t worry honey,” Bracken reassured, completely deflecting her question.
He pressed her head against his chest as she hugged him back tightly.
“Sir, I apologize for interrupting, but I have someone insisting to see you,” a security guard informed Bracken.
“Soldier, do you see I am…” Bracken cut off his statement as he turned to see Dr. Leroux standing behind the guard. He turned back to Cathy to let her know that he would be back down soon to take them to the lower level.
As his wife walked back to take care of their boys, Bracken walked over to Dr. Leroux. “Dr. Courtney Leroux, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s good to meet you. I would like to know why I have been requested here,” Leroux asked in a way only a civilian would dare query a general.
Bracken found her certitude a bit humorous and almost smiled before he said, “Dr. Leroux, please note that the Ark Protocol has been initiated. You will have a private section on the same level as my family. Please stand by here until your presence is requested on the Command Level.” The general slightly bowed his head before walking back to the elevator.
This just gets better and better, Leroux thought with a huff of exasperation.
Level 130 – ‘The Kitchen’
Osborne was busy with his own logistics planning and it had nothing to do with sustenance preparedness. The colonel was sitting in a technical command room and had established a masked communication link with Lindherst.
“Director, I have information directly impacting your scheduled arrival here,” Osborne updated.
“Go ahead colonel,” Lindherst attentively responded.
“Bracken is deploying a defensive perimeter around the surface. He has mobilized the entire resources of the base. I also have confirmation that he has initiated the Ark proto
col,” the colonel conveyed.
“Colonel, I am modifying my schedule to be there by 2200 hours, accompanied by the NAU Command’s Capital forces. Your presence already inside the base will be of certain strategic value.”
The director stood up from his chair, began pacing in front of his window viewer, and then continued, “If he is in fact forming an insurgent force, then gaining access to the facility will be very difficult from the surface. Osborne, it may eventually fall on you to take care of Bracken before we can get into the base. I have an idea…”
Lindherst began detailing his plan for Osborne to become a trump card in case the NAU Command was unable to gain entry from the surface – a plan that served more than one purpose for the director.
CHAPTER 17
Las Vegas - Nevada
The several hours of rest that Taon enjoyed were his first since being outside of the incubation chamber. The hours that the former football player spent on the bathroom floor, bound and gagged, were not as enjoyable. After being chased constantly from the time he left the lab, Taon was completely exhausted and had passed out on the large king size bed in the Luxor premier suite. He woke up a little before 5:30 p.m. feeling stronger and more lucid than any other time he could recall from his choppy memory. Standing in front of the closet, the escaped GEO wondered which suit may be the better pick after his less than ideal but fortunate choice last time. Although the tall former athlete possessed an impressive selection of Gassane custom tailored dress suits, Taon opted for function over form this time. He replaced his waiter uniform with a black nylon warm-up suit, the only pair of cross trainers and a black fleece beanie.