The camera followed his direction and focused on a bright light that could be seen through the clouds.
The reporter used her hand to shield her eyes from the ambient light around her. ‘What is that?’
‘Looks like a UFO to me,’ the man said. ‘Either that, or another asteroid.’
Kelly Brady glanced back at the camera. ‘Are you getting this in the studio?’
‘We are, Kelly. What do you think it is?’
‘It’s an oblong of some kind. It doesn’t look like AG5, the shape’s all wrong, and it’s a lot brighter than the one that hit in South Africa. Maybe it’s an aircraft? Or a weather balloon? The government used them as a satellite replacement when the dust cloud was at its peak. Maybe it’s broken its tether. We’ve had high winds recently.’
‘Okay, Kelly, we’re going to have to leave you there.’ The broadcast switched back to the studio. ‘We’re getting reports coming in that Chinese vessels have exchanged fire with our pacific fleets. We’re going live onboard the USS President Barack Obama for an update.’
‘Thank you, Sue.’ A man in a blue macintosh held onto his hat, as the horizon rocked and rolled with the ocean swell. ‘Like Kelly back in Washington,’ he said, raising his voice over the wind, ‘I’ve been given special access by the president’s administration to frontline forces here in the Pacific Ocean in order to promote more transparency to his presidency.’ A wave crashed against the prow of the ship, as it cut through high seas, and water rained down from above.
‘Can you tell what’s happening out there, Brian?’ said the news anchor.
Another wave battered the ship and the reporter nodded. ‘Tensions mounted after the Chinese claimed their premier was taken hostage under a flag of peace. The White House has so far failed to respond to our questions, although some say a presidential address is imminent. It’s clear, however, that events at the Capitol are to blame for the current escalation.’
‘And gunfire has been exchanged?’
‘A Chinese vessel got too close to one of our destroyers and warning shots turned into a brief confrontation, which ended almost as soon as it began. One thing is certain, though; the Chinese aren’t backing down and things could get ugly very quickly.’
‘Okay, stay safe, Brian. We’re hearing similar reports coming in from the Atlantic. As you know, the EU have declared a state of war exists between Europe and the United States, but so far they’ve settled for cutting off trade routes and issuing a warning that any breach of this military blockade will be met with deadly force. However, they have intimated they’re willing to return to the negotiating table if John Henry is removed from office and martial law is lifted with immediate effect.
‘While the GMRC calls for calm,’ the newsreader continued, ‘panic grips the nation, as forces in Mexico and Canada muster at our borders. Some say an invasion is imminent, while others call it sabre rattling of the worst order. One thing is certain, however, John Henry needs to do something soon, or another world war might be inevitable.’
The news anchor touched her ear as she listened to an incoming report. ‘Something’s happening back at the Capitol – Kelly, can you hear me?’
The media feed changed back to Washington. ‘—what sounded like gunshots could be heard coming from inside the Capitol,’ the reporter was saying. ‘This follows the departure of helicopter gunships, which had been patrolling the skies over Washington for the last twenty-four hours.’
‘Do you know where they were going, Kelly?’
‘They flew north, perhaps heading off to protect the border with Canada. It’s been some time since we’ve seen any jets, either, and many of the tanks have rolled out, too. Hang on, I see movement.’
The camera zoomed in on the Capitol’s steps, which shone white in the floodlights erected around the security cordon. ‘Yes, I definitely see movement. Wait – are those GMRC soldiers?’
The distant sound of automatic weapons fire made the reporter duck down behind a concrete barrier, and the camera angle lowered as the cameraman followed suit.
GMRC soldiers swarmed out of the building, taking the FBI and military by surprise, as they’d been defending from an attack from without, not within. The short-lived battle ended after a series of explosions detonated in quick succession, forcing the reporter to shout into the camera. ‘I don’t kn— … you can … hear me. The GMRC have appeared from nowhere and taken control of the Hill in a matter of minutes. Casualties on both sides are high, but more soldiers are pouring out of the Capitol all the time. This might be the start of a retaliatory strike by the Council, just when they seemed to have been routed by John Henry’s military crackdown.’ Kelly Brady looked back at the camera. ‘And it couldn’t have happened at a worse time.’
‘Thank you, Kelly,’ the news anchor said. ‘We’re also getting reports from around the country that GMRC troops are trying to fight their way out of their various complexes, where they’ve effectively been under house arrest, with the U.S. Army camped on their doorsteps twenty-four seven. But, with units being redirected to protect our borders, the GMRC has obviously taken this as their opportunity to strike back.’ The newsreader gazed into the camera, her expression grim. ‘Our advice to viewers is to stay indoors and stay tuned. We’ve just been informed a presidential address has been confirmed and we’ll be going live to the White House in the next half hour. Let us pray it’s not too little, too late.’
♦
Malcolm Joiner surveyed the scene from atop the Capitol Building’s windswept steps: the bodies of government agents, U.S. military personnel and GMRC soldiers lay everywhere. The fighting had been brutal and swift. They hadn’t known what hit them. An attack from within had never been envisaged. And why would it have been? Only select GMRC officials knew about the engineering marvel that was attempting to connect up the underground bases. No one could have guessed a standing army was just a train ride away from being delivered to the seat of power.
‘A second monorail from USSB Haven has arrived,’ Myers said. ‘More reinforcements are on their way up.’
‘Good,’ Joiner said. ‘Very good.’
‘Has the acting-Directorate considered your request?’ Myers said.
‘Their patience with John Henry is wearing thin and my longstanding tenure on the Directorate holds great weight.’
‘And yet they still resist, don’t they?’
Joiner nodded. ‘They believe a missile strike on a serving administration would incite rebellion in those governments still capable of endangering the Subterranean Programme. The Chinese especially, seeing as their premier would be collateral damage.’
‘Even though they know what’s at stake?’
Joiner didn’t reply. He was too busy thinking about what came next.
The oscillating whir of an approaching helicopter broke the silence and Joiner looked up at a GMRC aircraft, which flew low overhead and landed moments later in front of the building.
Joiner descended the steps, his exoskeleton’s tiny motors whirring away as they reduced his effort to a bare minimum.
Soon after, he and Myers boarded the aircraft and the pilot said, ‘Where to, Director?’
A swarm of GMRC soldiers headed for an armada of other helicopters, which were landing on the National Mall.
Malcolm Joiner pointed west. ‘Take me to the White House.’
Chapter Two Hundred Twenty-Five
John Henry hurried through the warren of corridors hidden beneath the White House, the footsteps of those around him echoing the need for haste which pounded through his veins like quicksilver. It had taken far too long to seal the entrances behind them after they’d fled the Capitol on the stolen monorail train. Coupled with the time wasted hiding from the assassin and Dante’s Secret Service agents prior to that, and then making their way to the train itself, over an hour had passed since John had been in the Senate conference room. An hour! John thought, sick with worry.
‘How long?’ he said, as they reached another loc
ked door.
The man they called the Professor looked at his watch. ‘Just shy of fifty minutes.’
‘Oh, my God,’ John said, at the same time as the young German lad, Eric, said the same thing.
‘Bic,’ Jessica Klein said into a nearby surveillance camera. ‘We need this door open, quickly!’
They waited for a moment and then the mechanism within gave a metallic clunk as hidden bolts retracted.
Captain Radcliffe, the leader of the small Darklight unit, went to open the door.
‘Wait!’ John said. ‘The Secret Service will be waiting for us.’
Radcliffe let go and looked at the professor. ‘Any ideas?’
‘You’ll need to make it safe,’ the professor said. ‘They can’t be allowed to interfere.’
Radcliffe nodded and looked at his men. ‘Bring up the schematics and we’ll go room to room.’
‘No time.’ Colonel Samson pushed past, dragged open the door and disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Radcliffe swore and lowered his helmet’s visor. ‘On me!’ he said, and ghosted through after the armoured colonel.
♦
John listened to the shouts and screams as gunfire echoed through the White House’s subterranean complex. Not long after, Radcliffe returned and led them through into the nuclear bunker.
Colonel Samson and the four other Darklight soldiers stood within, the bodies of six agents lying on the floor around them.
‘Did you have to kill them all?’ John said.
‘We didn’t kill anyone,’ Radcliffe said. ‘He did.’
John looked at the U.S. Army colonel, who remained a brooding presence sealed within his blood-spattered high-tech suit of armour.
‘I need to address the nation.’ John turned to the professor. ‘People need to be warned.’
Steiner shook his head. ‘We need to access the nuclear arsenal and open diplomatic channels to the world’s nuclear powers. We can stop the asteroid, Mr President, if you’ll help us.’
‘And what if you fail? What then?’
No one spoke and John looked around at those assembled. His gaze met Ashley’s and she looked down at the floor, unable to maintain eye contact. The Chinese premier was busy looking around the impressive bunker, with its wallscreens, holographic projectors and host of other equipment, each designed for a specific military application. Jessica Klein stood next to the professor, with her two friends, Brett and Eric, while the five Darklight soldiers cleared up the recent murders by the man who called himself Colonel Samson.
The professor took a step forward. ‘If we fail, the surface won’t recover.’
‘If you fail,’ John said, ‘millions of people will die and they need to be warned.’
‘Aren’t you listening to me?’ Steiner said. ‘We can stop it!’
‘NO!’ John said, pointing at him. ‘You listen to me. I will not – now, or ever – give Da Muss Ich access to weapons of mass destruction.’
‘Mr President,’ Jessica said. ‘You’re not thinking straight. We’ve had time to think this through, you haven’t. Telling the nation will cause mass hysteria and loss of life. You don’t want that blood on your hands.’
‘Telling the nation will save lives,’ John said. He moved to the communications console and powered it up.
Jessica looked at the professor in despair.
Bic’s image materialised on a nearby screen. ‘I’m here to help you, John Henry, not to commit genocide.’
‘Great!’ John said, tapping at a keyboard. ‘You’re in here as well.’
‘I am everywhere, John Henry, but there is one place I cannot access and that’s your nuclear launch codes.’
‘Thank God for small mercies,’ John said, and then raised his arms in disgust. ‘How do you get this damn thing to work?!’
‘You can’t help your people,’ Steiner said, ‘if you don’t act. We need those weapons and we need you to convince the other nations, too. We have a mathematical model—’
Bic displayed the scenario on screen.
‘—and it’s our best chance.’
‘I need to get to the West Wing,’ John said. ‘I can make the address from there.’
Jessica looked distraught. ‘He’s not even listening, Professor.’
Steiner grasped John’s arm. ‘Mr President, this is the only place we can keep you safe.’
‘You mean this is the one place you can keep me hostage.’
‘We need you to coordinate that strike,’ the professor said, struggling to stay calm. ‘It’s the only way you’ll save your people – the only way.’
‘There will be no nuclear strike!’ John pushed Steiner aside and headed for the door, but the Darklight captain barred his way.
‘So, I am a hostage,’ John said, furious.
‘It’s for your own safety, Mr President,’ Captain Radcliffe said.
‘Do you know what? That’s exactly what the Secret Service told me,’ – John returned to the communications console – ‘before they tried to kill me.’
♦
Professor Steiner realised they needed a plan B; the president wasn’t playing ball. The only problem was, Steiner didn’t know what else they could do.
‘Is there another way we can access the codes?’ Jessica said, coming to stand by his side.
Steiner shook his head, as he watched the president trying in vain to get the console working. ‘He’s the only one who knows which code on the card is authentic. It changes daily and he’s memorised it.’
‘Erm, the asteroid’s almost here,’ Eric said. ‘We need to do something.’
‘Don’t you think I know that!?’ Steiner said, turning on him.
Eric cast his eyes down and Steiner held up his hand in apology. ‘I’m sorry, Eric, but I’ve run out of ideas.’
Colonel Samson removed his helmet. ‘We could torture him.’
The president didn’t seem to hear and Brett said, ‘Is violence your answer to everything?’
Samson turned his ice-cold gaze on his daughter. ‘It gets the job done.’
Brett turned towards him, her face a mask of fury. ‘I’ll never forgive you for LA.’
‘Jesus Christ!’
Everyone turned round to see the president staring at Samson.
‘You’re the mass murderer,’ John said, pointing a finger at him. ‘Killer of FBI agents, police officers and innocent civilians. You were sentenced to death.’ John shook his head. ‘You died in a fire.’
Samson said nothing.
The president turned in a daze to look at Steiner. ‘You’re him, aren’t you? You’re the one who helped him? Oh, my God. I saw you die live on TV, executed by lethal injection. This can’t be happening.’ He put his hands to his head. ‘You’ve tricked me. You’re trying to kill more people. How could I be so stupid?!’ John ran for the exit, but Radcliffe grabbed him and pushed him back.
‘Get out of my way!’ John wrestled with the larger man and then gave up and turned back to point at Steiner. ‘I’ll never give you what you want, never! Do you—’
The president’s eyes glazed over and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Steiner looked down at the prone figure of John Henry in shock and then looked up at Jessica, who stood over him with a large plant pot in her hand.
‘What have you done?!’ Ashley said, running to her comatose husband.
‘He was getting on my nerves,’ Jessica said, dropping the plant. ‘Besides, he wasn’t going to help us anyway.’ She looked around the room for support.
‘You can’t go around doing that,’ Brett said, aghast. ‘He’s the president!’
Jessica looked down at John Henry and shrugged. ‘He’s not my president.’
Ashley glared up at the English newsreader and Eric said, ‘Now what?’
Everyone looked at Steiner, who sighed and thought, why do they always look to me?
Chapter Two Hundred Twenty-Six
Professor Steiner paced the floor of the president
’s nuclear bunker and glanced up at the clock. Forty minutes until impact, an impact which would spark an irreversible chain of events preventing any chance of stopping the other asteroids following in the wake of the first. Which meant they didn’t just have forty minutes to save the United States, they had forty minutes to save the entire surface of the planet. And what was worse, they were out of options. John Henry had been their last hope – their only hope.
‘You must be able to help us,’ Jessica said, speaking to Bic’s screen.
The hacker held up his hands. ‘There is no other way, Jessica Klein. I can create a lifelike representation of the Secretary of Defense in order to authenticate the launch code, but I cannot hack into John Henry’s mind and acquire the code itself. So far, such a feat has proven beyond even my powers.’
‘Is there anything I can do?’ Brett said.
Steiner shook his head and patted her hand, while nearby Colonel Samson’s eyes narrowed at the seemingly innocuous exchange.
♦
John Henry groaned and opened his eyes. ‘What hit me?’
The First Lady pointed at Jessica, who was speaking to Bic on a nearby screen.
‘We need to get out of here,’ John whispered, and Ashley nodded. ‘I have an idea,’ he said, and Ashley leant closer to listen.
As John conversed with his wife, the professor approached and offered his hand. ‘I apologise for Jessica, sometimes she can get carried away.’
John scowled and rubbed the lump on the back of his head. ‘She was lucky she didn’t crack my skull open.’ He accepted the professor’s hand and got to his feet, while Ashley walked away to an emptier area of the bunker. It was effectively three large rooms in one. Other doorways led off these to living quarters, which had been installed in the event of a protracted stay.
The First Lady peered into one of the rooms and the professor watched her for a moment, then said to John, ‘I can help you make your broadcast.’
Ancient Origins: Books 4 - 6 (Ancient Origins Boxset Book 2) Page 114