Interval the Second

Interval Two (8-03-08) Draft

Isao Sasaki was a nervous as he had ever been. Superbly trained and comfortable in his job, who would think that he could be cowed by simply being in a business suit?
Riding down to New Texas on the scheduled shuttle, he had to wonder why he was here.
He knew the Kie forces had to publicly negotiate for their new communications systems but, why him? Chris Webb had been very insistent that it be him, he wondered why.

His one worry was that Kie was going to be drained for the Surface Combat Force they were going to have to have. He just did not see why he had to be the one to make this trip. At the ground facility he was met by a representative from Capital Communications and whisked into downtown Travis.

He noticed as he exited the flitter, that Capital Communications was just one entrance to the sprawling complex that was Webb Enterprises. He was flat in awe of the economic power represented here!

The boss had not been joking when he said these people could buy their whole planet, he lusted for what this wealth could provide.

The receptionist was as polite and efficient as she was lovely.

“Good Morning Mr. Sasaki, the CEO has asked that you be taken right to his office. He is in another meeting at the moment but, will be with you shortly! Jack, could you take Mr. Sasaki up to the CEO suite?”

“No problem Helen. Mr. Sasaki, if you would follow me?”

Isao followed the hulking monster with the Roberts name tag into the elevator shaft. They zipped up to the top floor and moved quickly to the obvious CEO suite with Robert’s ID opening every door.

“Please be at home Mr. Sasaki, the bar is in the corner and the Boss will be with you shortly!”

Isao took a bottle of water from the wet bar and waited. He had no doubt he was about to meet Andrew Webb the Communications expert behind Webb. What he wondered was, when he could meet the Military mind behind this crazy plan.

The door opened and Isao’s nerves sang like a fire alarm. A Sheepdog he was and one of the best, but, the aura of Command that radiated from this man was palpable This man was a Leader if not a Warrior, one worry down..

“Good Morning Mr. Sasaki, Andrew Webb here. Sorry to drag you here right straight from your flight but, I have a meeting this afternoon that will be key to what we hope to do!”

Isao was dumbfounded, this was the Communications Specialist that his file so completely defined; Isao watched his movements, they were the careful and balanced moves of a predator. this big bastard was dangerous as Hell. Isao watched as the face in front of him slowly melted into a grin.

“I see some doubts in your eyes Mr. Sasaki, do you have questions?”

“Yes, I did. One has been answered, I can tell who the Commander will be. My remaining concern is that Kie will be over tasked for any Ground Assault Force that we may have!”

“Legitimate, I think I can answer several phases of that question. Here, this is a copy of mine and Muriel’s Classified files.”.

Isao, took the offered Memory Stick and popped into his PDA. As he read, he slowly comprehended.

“Mr. Webb, remind me never to piss you off!”

“Screw that Isao, I expect you to piss me off and argue right in my face. You are the Planetary Commander for Kie, it’s in your job description. But, rest assured that I will find the Trainers we need for an Officer as well as a Non-Commissioned Officer Corps. Several of my old compatriots are out in the Colonies!

“Now, that we know where we are coming from, hike your behind over to the Lone Star Resort and get some sleep in our Company Bungalow. I have to go to a meeting that will define the shape of what we are trying to do. We can talk at length tomorrow. Oh by the way, take this badge it will get you back here without help. I am afraid I will have to ask for that memory stick back though.”

Isao handed it over with the comment, “I also desire not to piss off your lovely Wife either!”

“That is far easier to avoid than you might think. She really only hates two things, stupid or arrogant. All you have to do is avoid those two!”

Andy leaned back in the chair, Lord this day was going to be long. He wondered if he could afford to have a drink before the next meeting, his nerves sure needed one. The private entrance popped open and out came Mom with Chris in tow looking like the middle tail race of hell.

Linda was her normal cheerful self, “Hi Older, Younger here is trying to work himself to death, that’s why I am here early. Do you think you could get Roberts to stuff him into a bed for a while, I was not going to let him fly this way?”

Andy could only laugh, “If he’s evading Becce what makes you think Roberts could get it done?”

“Something about being outweighed by 100 pounds of pure muscle,” she grinned.

“You have a point there!” Andy keyed the Intercom to summon Roberts and asked Chris, “What’s the burr under your saddle now?”

Chris looked up bleary eyed, “Ask me again in about three years when I might be able to prove it but, I think Grandpa Bill’s math was incomplete.”

Andy dropped his coffee, “What do you mean incomplete, the damn drive works or we would not be here!”

“I mean that the Redmond’s and the Griffith’s were pushing so hard that Grandpa never finished his research. Yeah, the thing works but, not as well as it should and there are big gaping holes in his theory that will do….. Damn I don’t know what!” The door opened and Chris raised bleary eyes in its direction, “Oh Shit, Gunny Roberts as I live and breath!”

“Yes and the LTC is beating himself in the ground again. Might I add that you met your wife when a young Aussie LT was worried about the CPT, who was working himself to death and came to find me?”

“I may have been reminded once or twice by her!”

“So what’s it going to be Chris, easy or hard? You have a meeting with Chuck Ditmars on your schedule in about 5 hours so, you are hitting the rack for 4 hours, how is your choice!”

“All Right already, lead the way. I learned from last time, one of these days I wanta see you try that on Andy.”

“The COL is too smart to let it come to that and I am not that suicidal!”

Dave Roberts led the grumbling but unstable on his feet Chris Webb from the room as Mother and Son’s eyes met in obvious confusion. The question was clear in both sets of eyes, “What has he found?”

As Linda Webb left the room Andy had about five minutes to lean back and relax. Crap, what had Chris dug out of Grandpa Bill’s math and what would it mean. So much, so fast but it had to happen. They were talking changing a Civilization with some people who were not willing to pay the price that carried.

***
“I’ve been dreading this meeting Babe,” Hank Carling said to his wife Kaybe. “We should be able to do some long range planing one way or another however it comes out.”

“I never thought being too successful could ruin a person,” Kaybe replied. “But it won’t ruin us no matter what. We can always fall back on the ranch.”

“Sure we can, if I stay out of jail.” He gave is wife a hug and kiss and then went to the waiting flier. His son Frank reluctantly gave up the controls but then gave a smile and thumbs up as he watched his father head into the Travis, capital city of New Texas.

Hank parked in front of his office in the Cultural Ministry. Going inside he was waved through the lobby and palmed open a door at the rear. A short hallway ending in another windowless door. Inside of that one was a small foyer. He skipped his own office and the communal secretary buzzed him the other, that of his second at Plans and Intents, Emmet Clark.

“This could be your lucky day Em. All I ask is a little lead time before you sic the dogs on me.”

“Lucky my ass. From the time you leave here, and for at least another two hours, or until you return, the phone system is down. How does that work?”

“Thanks Em, might be long enough, I need to check off planet shipping, but it’s a start.”

“Your secrets aren’t all that secret you know Hank.”

“Sure I know, and you do as well, or it least you know enough to know what you don’t, but our new President Harriet Fletcher hasn’t a clue. And I hope in another hour I will be able to say the same. If not I might need those two hours. Anyway I’m leaving my briefcase with you, the lock code is ‘Emmet_Clark.’ Been that way for years. Did it so if you need it you might not forget.”

“No joking Hank. Good Luck.”

The carpeting was the same but everything else from wall hangings to plants had been changed; her choice, to the victor the spoils. Harriet stood as soon as he entered. She wasn’t playing little power games and Hank appreciated it. Maybe he would get out alive.

“Have a seat Hank,” the new President of New Texas said. “I’ve grilled you, or tried too enough over the years we are at least on a first name basis.”

“Thank you Madam President,” Hank said sitting down on the indicated couch while the President moved from her desk to a more comfortable chair opposite.

“Harriet, that is what you call me Hank—at least for the moment. One of her staff entered the office with a tray holding a pot of tea and several cups. She poured then left the room. Hank took a sip waiting for what was to come next. “I’ve read your intelligence summary Hank, it’s woefully incomplete.”

“I know it is Harriet, and I am sorry I had to do it that way. There are members of your staff I do not trust. Nothing definite, but a lack of information makes me just as skittish. Here is the key to all of my departmental records. He put a folded piece of paper next to the tray sitting on the table between them. “I only ask you look for yourself before assigning the job to someone else.”

“And these records are complete? Nothing left out?”

“Nothing.”

“You are the only department head from left over from the Williams regime. We didn’t agree on policy much of the time but so far as I know you never lied to me or the intelligence committee. When I read these secret files,” she said pointing at the folded paper, “will I learn I was wrong on that point?”

“No, I don’t expect you will. You will find I didn’t talk about what I wasn’t asked. And you may conclude I answered in such a way as to avoid follow up questions. But lies— I don’t think so. On several occasions I declined to answer without advice from President Williams’ legal staff. And in all such instances I complied with their direction. You undoubtedly know more about the negotiations over that than I do. I liked and admired Robert Williams, but I served the Constitution of the Federated Government of New Texas not the Federation Government on Earth.”

“Very well then Hank, I take you at your word. Now tell me what you haven’t been telling me, those things I didn’t ask or know enough to ask.”

It took the better part of an hour with questions and interruptions for the story to be told. When Hank was finished with as much as he intended telling, Harriet’s expression was hard as if frozen. Not stony but ice like, there was rage but even more there was fear just under the surface

“You know if I go to M’butu with all this you’re as good as dead don’t you?”

“The thought has crossed my mind,” Hank said with a sigh.

“And you’ve set me up! Damn you!”

“That was never my intention, I didn’t stop to consider you might as a result of all this become President. That was my mistake.”

“But it’s my life along with yours, if I talk to M’butu and can’t convince him I knew nothing till now. Even if I can get him to believe that the project to monitor Velorum was a political deal and I have nothing to do with this ‘Plot’, he can still throw me over to gain favor back on Earth.”

“Damn you! Damn you Hank Carling! Get out of here. I need to think!”

Hank went back to his office to clean out his desk and write out his letter of resignation, and one other.

* * *
The door opened to the worried face of Walt Davis coming in for a scheduled appointment. Walt looked about as harried as Andy felt and he had good reason. The new construction demands to support the massive petroleum find were working his and his company’s butts off.

“You look like I feel Andy, what can you do for me on that new sensor system?”

“It’s ready and at price I think you will love Walt. It seems that Geo-expeditionary sensor systems is one of the fields that the FG has not stomped on research. We have what you need and we think a generation above what you asked for. Not only that but design and manufacturing time spent on it has covered for a lot of Military based projects. Shit, our FG Inspectors are as dumb as a rock”

Walt took the proffered papers and skimmed quickly, “Damn Andy, that fits our requirements to a ‘T’ and beyond but, won’t this price raise some hairs?”

“What, a Sweetheart deal between Webb and Davis? The FG is going to assume I am getting a kickback somewhere else. It won’t even raise an eyebrow in Detroit shit, this looks like their business as usual.”

“That’s for damn sure Andy, are you going to let Hank in on these extra capabilities of these new systems? They could really help his efforts on Earth!”

Andy’s eyes flashed cold and his face went to that mask of stone, “No, not yet. Walt, Hank is a man torn right now and I don’t know which way he will break. Think about it, he is sworn to protect the government of New Texas, what I don’t think has penetrated to him yet is there is no government of New Texas. We live in the Federated Colony of New Texas, the Government is not ours. Look at the district our new President comes from. The District that Harriet Fletcher comes from has all of 15 voters, 13 of which are related to her.

“Crap, she’s not the President; she’s the Prime Minister of a rigged Parliament. Districts as you may recall are dictated by the FG not by us or any logical system. Shit, Bob William’s district has over 1.5 million people yet, they are neutralized by 15 people. Whose government is it Walt? “

“Have you talked directly to him about this Andy?”

“No, only to ask him the same question I asked you. Whose Government is it? Walt, I respect the man too much to push him harder. He is probably the best there is at what he does and I missed my chance, I should have sent him one timeless document to think on!”

“And what document could that have been Andy?”

“The Declaration of Independence of the old United States of America. Whose government is it? That is the question that will not die!”

Walt stared at the agonized face of Andrew Webb, “You are afraid that you or Muriel might have to eliminate him. No protestations Andy, I have obtained your Classified files. I know I am staring at the man they called The Eraser and it burns at your guts. I will talk to Hank and I will give him that document to read as I know it well. Dammit Andy, we need you both!

“Anyway, the big meeting is in a couple of hours; I gotta go out in the public side with this contract and set up my cover.

“Andy, he will figure it out. He loves his children too much not to!”

“That Walt, is my one shining beacon. I do believe he does!”

* * *

“You did what?” Walt Davis brought himself to say, more in amazement than anger.

‘Thank God for that,’ Hank thought as he closed his document case and snapped it shut, maybe for the last time. He slid the slim carry-about across his desk towards Davis saying, “See that Kaybe gets this. I am glad you stopped by, now Emmet can stay out of it. Not much, some photo scans and a letter. ”

“And you can’t do this yourself because?”

“Kaybe thinks I am coming back home today. That was one possibility. But instead I’m going to see Harriet again and turn in my resignation. I left a bug in her office before I walked out last time. She hasn’t been in touch with anyone since then. Potentially a good sign.” This Hank said while opening a desk drawer and removing a short barreled pistol. He screwed on a slightly larger diameter additional segment, and slipped it into a holster clipped on the inside of his belt where his coat would keep it covered.

“Damn you Hank! Damn you!”

“I’m not making any friends today am I?”

Hank stood, preparing to walk out. “I didn’t tell her anything about you. Rob Williams, Ditmars, or Webb. She’s been checking the official databases and will draw her own conclusions. If she concludes she needs to talk to M’butu I’ll make sure I wipe everything before I leave.” He started for the door.

“Stop right there! Sit down Hank and give me ten minutes. Wait—I have to get in touch with Andy. And take a look at this while you wait.” Rob handed over the printout he had originally come to deliver, and began punching buttons on his com unit.

“The damn fool did what you say? And he’s on his way to kill her if it looks like she’s going to talk?”

“That’s it Andy, I thought you should know.”

Hank didn’t mind that he was hearing only one side of the conversation, he was paying little attention to even that. He was reading the first of the founding documents of the old USA, its Declaration of Independence. It seemed he had never really read it before. Who was it that long ago said something like, “The prospect of hanging has a way of clarifying ones thoughts?”

“Keep him there for a few minutes more. If he goes through with his plan we’re covered, but he is as good as dead and no further use to us. I’ll get right back to you.”

Andy Webb started pushing buttons on his own com unit.

“Liam, get your tail in here!” Andy was working two keyboards furiously as the tall lanky Irish descended programming genius walked in the door.

“OK boss, whats got your tail in a wringer?”

“Grab that secure terminal in the corner and look up old Wild Bill’s OPLAN B-1, then get that code stream up into the Government House stream 10 minutes ago!”

“Boss, this does nothing but fake a keyboard stream for the damn Presidents Office!”

“I know Liam, I just updated the damn thing six weeks ago when Rob changed the passwords. It’s whole purpose in life is to be cover for OPLAN B-0. Tell me when you have it done!” Liam was bent over the keyboard typing like a mad monkey for at least five minutes before he turned and spoke.

“It’s done, I just wish I knew why the rush?”

“Do you think your intrusion could be detected over there Liam?”

“By those ham fisted drooling idiots? Come on boss give me some credit!”

“I do, I just had to ask it’s that damn important.” Andy then pressed both Enter keys on his twin keyboards and reached for the phone. “Walt, tell Hank to hang around to take the phone call and tell the rest that the meeting will be delayed. Hank and I will probably have to get involved with the Investigation.”

Walt was just beginning to ask “What Investigation,” when the center of Travis rumbled and shook. From the window Walt was looking out of he could see the clouds of smoke and debris rising above Government House and Andy’s voice was calm in his ear.

“Seems the Self Destruct in Main Data Store over at Government House just malfunctioned. Real pity that it’s right under the Presidents Office, I guess that means a new election!”

“Dear God Andy, what have you done?”

“Not a damn thing my family has not been planning for over a 100 years. I burned an asset like that because I believe Hank is that important to us. You think you can maybe make him understand that?”

“I will sure as shit try!” Walt no more than had the words out of his mouth than Line 3 went cold. Walt stared at the window for a few minutes longer then turned for what he knew was going to be a very difficult conversation with an long time, proud friend.

Back at Webb Towers Liam was glancing between the Tri-V and the face of his boss. “OK Andy, I thought you said you were not going to be ‘The Eraser’ anymore?”

“I’ll fill you in down the road Liam but, I am working for a new military now and they need that skill set.”

“I don’t want to know Boss, I really don’t want to know!”

* * *
Chuck Ditmars and Chris Webb were in an involved discussion, developing materials lists and timetables for the out system construction programs when they were interrupted by a breaking news flash symbol overriding the background displays in the stations meeting room.

“What’s this I wonder.” Chuck said turning up the volume.

It was an announcement and brief details concerning an explosion at Government House and the death of the New Texas President.

Chuck looked at Chris pointedly and Chris replied at once, “News to me. Nothing in any plans I knew about. And I think as of this morning I knew most everything important.”

The broadcast data-stream continued, but with no additional news value. No mention of who or why, just more on what and where. After five wasted minutes Chuck said, “You better get a message off to your brother and find out what was behind this.”

“Hey Chuck, don’t look at me like that. It might have been an accident, an old destruct device and faulty wiring. Stranger things have happened.”

“Sure they have— in your dreams. Send the message Chris, I’d start a note for my dad but it wouldn’t reach him anytime soon. The next ship to Kie doesn’t leave for two weeks. I hope were both still around by then.”

Chris sent the message, and without even enough information for speculation they got back to the business at hand, both wondering if they were just wasting time..

“Anyway Chuck, here are the plans for the ships we plan to build for the out system trade. We were wondering if you might like to be our Beta testers. That means you get your initial ships for free as long as you agree to work the dog crap out of them!”

“Yeah and eat the time for the initial failures,” Chuck laughed as he brought up the diagrams. “Then again, who cares? Can you put tankage in there instead of a bay area?”

“Page 14, Variant C; we plan on giving you 6 of those to test. Do you need any of the A’s or B’s? We could use you doing our testing as an excuse to run up a couple of those early.”

Chuck waited to scan all of the plans pages before replying this time. “Sure, we could use two of the A variant people movers and as many as you will give of the cargo birds. We are going to have to train a lot of crews though.”

“I think we can give you a hand with that, the first two we build will be the D variant Trainers. Becce and I will be handing you crews who will need a minimum of polish, their terminology might be a little different from you civies though.”

Chucks grin was low and evil to see, “As long as they can fly and take orders!”

It was then Chris’s turn to grin as he read his Line 3 text message, “Andy says He’s got no idea either. Groaning that he and Hank Carling are going to get sucked into the investigation.”.

* * *
“Henry, It is always a pleasure to see you,” Jamil M’butu said.

“Your security chief didn’t seem to feel the same Jamil. He was quite hostile in fact.

“He does not trust our psychological evaluation of you Henry and thinks we should be investigating you rather than the other way around. I, on the other hand, am a true believer. You would have been much more circumspect, not risking the lives of others with such a large explosion. Still, I see his point after reading the interview you gave to the local police. You were the last person to see Harriet alive and it just happened that you gave here the keys to your security data and then her own system blows up.”

“Coincidences happen though and what interests me is how a system installed by the Federation long before I started working for the government, and maintained by Federation techs to this day, manages to self destruct with enough force to take down the floor above and kill the President in the process.”

“The charge was rather large for its intended purpose wasn’t it? Of course you realize that if the Federation in any kind of official sense was behind this we would be conducting the investigation and you would be locked in a small room with some large men working on getting your confession.”

“And when I didn’t confess it would be very unfortunate that I died trying to escape. No one would buy it Jamil, but tradition must be served, I suppose. So why are you letting me go over the details of the data room installation and security setup Jamil?”

“Because I think it best that you are not impeded in any way. And I will want to see all of your records and notes. If my people are indeed correct in claiming you must be involved, then what you choose not to investigate will be as revealing as what you do.”

“Well Hank I knew you would be talking to me but I didn’t figure it would be this soon.” Andy Webb offered his hand and after a pause, too long, it was accepted.
Dominance games perhaps?. Slackening his grips pressure slightly Hank said., “Yes we need to talk and I thought it best it be done soon because I need your help.”

Andy eased a bit himself. “I wanted to trust you I mean that but I am never sure with people like you Hank.”

Hank abruptly shook his head from side to side and silently mouthed the words “No! No Talk!” he pointed at his com device and cranked his hand in a circle, indicating he was recording.

“Trust me now, but it’s your call,” and Hank let his hand relax. Firm but with no pressure. His gaze locked on Andy’s eyes.

And all at once it turned into a normal greeting. “Have a seat Hank, I guess we can behave like real people from here on in.” The corners of his mouth moved up and Hank figured Webb really meant it. That ended the handshake drama, and Hank, still leery, took a seat across from Webbs massive desk. No Andy didn’t play dominance games, everything about him was just part and parcel of the Webb personality.

Even while seating himself Hank grabbed a blank note sheet from Andy’s desk. Asking, “Why didn’t you think I could be trusted?” as he scrawled something on the paper, then continued, “And trusted with what?” He said, passing the paper so Andy could read, “Jamil will listen. Real talk later!”

Andy nodded and continued without breaking stride. “It’s hard to explain.” Then he did pause for a moment.

Before he could speak this time, Hank interrupted him by saying, “This conversation is part of a joint official investigation being conducted into the death of Harriet Fletcher by the Government of New Texas and the Terran Federation. It is being recorded, and will be retained in it’s entirety for use in possible forthcoming criminal trials.

Andy began anew, now even more slowly and deliberately, giving Hank time to write out a full explanation of what was going on. “It’s statements like that. You don’t need to warn me that this is official and is being recorded. Any fool would expect as much. But you do it anyway in what looks to me as some kind of attempt at fairness. This investigation isn’t, and shouldn’t be about fairness. The only thing that matters is finding out ‘Who Done It’.”

“Alright,” Hank said, giving time for Andy to read the next sheet on which Hank had filled in details about the meeting at Federation HQ. “So you don’t play fair and I do understand, at least make the attempt. It’s to both of our advantages to find out what happened here. You’re almost as much a suspect as I am.”

“I wouldn’t think so. Hell I’m just a business man anymore. And in case nobody noticed, the policies of the Fletcher Government were very good for me and mine.”

“Sure they Were! Were being the operational word. But you support Rob Williams and his group because their kind of tax policies would be even better for you.”

“Fair enough, and you are being fair rather than demand cooperation. It ain’t natural in a Government employee. What exactly do you want from me?”

“A list of all the ways the security systems at Government House could have been overridden and who has the technology to do something like that. You provide the suspects I provide the investigation.”

“What about the New Texas Rangers? What’s their role in all this?”

“They’ll coordinate through me. They are good when it comes to family squabbles, property destruction and random acts of violence. This is out of their league.”

“And you know I and my businesses are going to rank rather highly on the list I give you?”

“That’s why I am here Andy, and I expect to be talking with you often in the next few days or weeks. I will take my leave now. There are a few others to talk to as well.”

“No problem Hank, we will do your threat assessment for you. Understand that we have never been given access to the government House systems so we are coming in cold. We will have to use some techniques that are protected by the Industrial Secrets Act of 2240; briefings on those will have to take place inside the cold space at Webb Towers.

“We will give you the complete results in Electronic as well as printed versions but, the briefings on How we got them fall under ISA-2240. Give me your projected schedule and we will burn the midnight oil for you!

“Hank, I want this solved as badly as you do. This is shit I really don’t need.” Andy slid a piece of paper across the table that read simply, “That what you need Hank?”

Before leaving Hank slid over the last note with his likely itinerary on it, so as to give Andy as much help as possible in setting up a secret and private meeting.

***
Andy slid into the seat in the main conference room at Webb Enterprises. This room was deep inside the Faraday cage that was the center of the production facility for Dyn-Corp and secure as all get out. He slumped in the chair and waited for the crowd to wander in.

The most obvious proof that things were getting rolling was the number of stand-ins that were trickling in. Chuck Ditmars in for Linc, Becce in for Chris and Caitrin Gates in for Warrick. Warrick and his new Engineer were over by the Ocean teaching deep space construction skills in the training pools at Warrick’s compound. Underwater was still the closest thing they had to no gravity to train in.

Rob Williams looked the most rested, the load of President being of his back for the last few weeks. He had spent the time out at the family farming complexes, visiting all of them had given him a wonderful travel schedule. As a consequence of that he was the most well briefed of all of them.

Williams stood and cleared his throat, “We might as well get started, Hank may or may not make it. Mrs. Gates can you bring us all up to speed on the ship construction?”

Caitrin stood and tapped a hand-held control and a display appeared, “The designs have been finalized for all four variants that we will be producing and hull construction has started on the two -D trainers. Danmar has started construction on six new assembly docks and the first two go serviceable next week Those will be used for the first of the -C variants the Ditmars needs with the new petroleum load factor.

“We intend to fully stock Ditmars with all of the A,B and C types they need before we start on any out world construction! We will stay with the two D’s as we only have two rated Instructor Pilots at this time. Until we can convince a couple of Ditmars to take their tests and get formally rated.”

As she sat down a voice from the back that was clearly Chuck Ditmars, “Just as soon as one of us has ANY time to spare. You get ‘em rated and we’ll smooth the corners.”

The laughter died down Williams asked, “Walt, how do we stand on basic materials?”

“Actually fairly well! We have agreed to split the sourcing between Davis and Edwards. Jeff is going to handle the needs of the orbital construction from the belt leaving us free to concentrate on the heavy modular stuff down here. We project that by the time we have the modular sections for the additional plants Jeff will need, that Danmars will have the Heavy Lift A models ready. This will also be the dress rehearsal for getting the modules for out system sites to the FG station. We are on Track and ready to go!”

“Thank you Walt. Chuck I take it you are here to fill in for Your Dad?”

Chuck stood and drawled a lazy, “That’s correct Mr. Williams, though he’d be the first to say that at least with what we’ve been working on in our system I’m rather more up to date. He’s spent so much time traveling and negotiating contracts on Earth and with the other Colony worlds this last four years that he has avoided much of the detail work we are doing here. I am happy with where we are”

Robert looked around and then said, “Andy, you want to brief out system intelligence?”

A voice chimed up from the back of the room, “I’ll handle that Mr. Williams. Richard Saunders Webb Enterprises out system Chief of Operations. Or as I am widely known Ric Saunders, Andy’s in-house Spook.”

Moving to the head of the room he caught the controller tossed by Caitrin Gates and the display reappeared, this time with the Transit Map of the Colonies with each settled world color coded. Ric began to explain the color code as the level of threat generated by the FG personnel on each world. The room seemed to be fairly bored until he reached the three Green Worlds.

“On these three worlds we have a very different situation,” Ric said with a deadpan stare, “these represent friends. On each of these worlds the Senior FG Rep is a plant. Their first Loyalty is not to the FG but to a group called the Colonial Organization. All three are in fact assumed identities and those people were born with a different name. Their entire existence is to work for Colonial Independence.”

Williams asked from the head chair, “I notice that this includes no information on New Texas or Earth and is noticeably missing any actual operations.”

“That is correct. My Boss was real explicit about what I could and could not do. My understanding is that the Intelligence Apparatus of what I call the Provisional Government, has not been firmly settled.”

“I think we will regain the Formal Government,” Rob said. “Harriet Fletcher was the only thing holding all of those disparate elements together. With her out of the picture we are going to have a reorganization and my coalition is back doing the leading.. It’ll wait till the investigation concludes, but I can assure everyone here Hank Carling isn’t just my first choice, but my only choice to carry on in his present position both in the Formal Government and the Provisional Government.”

****
Simultaneously with the meeting at Webb Enterprises, another almost equally important meeting was taking place.

Liza wasn’t scared when Linda and Muriel Webb requested a meeting in her office. However, she did wonder what their ulterior motive was.

Inside the office, Liza headed to her chair, while Muriel closed and locked the door. Linda Webb took a small device from her purse, than went around the room.

A few minutes later, “It’s clean.” Stated Linda.

Liza didn’t say a word, but began to wonder if she was in some sort of trouble.

After Linda returned the first device to her purse, she quickly came out with a second device about the size of a deck of playing cards. Linda placed it on the desk, than pressed the green button. “Now we can talk.”

The Webb’s pulled up two chairs in front of the desk and made themselves comfortable.

By this time Liza’s brain was working overtime…what did these two women want?

To save time, Liza decided to take the bull by the horns. “Why don’t we just cut to the chase and tell me what the ‘Dynamic Duo’ wants.” Liza turned to Muriel and continued, “Or wants killed…Red?”

It was all Linda could do to keep from laughing, but it didn’t seem to phase Muriel.

“We think this restaurant is so great, you should franchise it.” Muriel gave Liza her best ‘you can’t resist this offer’ smile.

Linda shifted in her chair, to study the two other women. Liza was no fool. She new there was something else taking place, but wasn’t exactly certain what it was.

“Oh, hell!” Liza slide her eyes to Linda. “Tell me what you want, where you want it and when.”

Mama Webb smiled and began laying out the plan.

“It’s simple really, we are here to form a holding Company for the Lone Star Restaurant brand and put it on all of the Colonies. We want to expand your reputation for excellent Cuisine and Hospitality. Dyn-Corp will of course, provide for all of your Computing, Register and Communications needs.

“DEW Holdings will bankroll this project and Webb will loan us a COO. All you have to do is select and train the personnel for each new site. That of course will require some travel so, you will receive 40% of the stock in Lone Star Investments LTD.”

Liza gave a low and evil grin, “And of course become the meeting point for Ric Saunders merry little band of Spooks.”

It was Muriel’s turn to grin, “If everything goes as Andy hopes, they will be Hank Carling’s merry little band. Ric of course, is the COO they are going to loan us!”

Liza had to laugh, “Has Ric ever lost a penny at anything?”

Linda’s reply reveled her Southern drawl and sense of humor, “Good Lordy Woman, that is the only real sin he understands!”

Liza’s reply was to reach for the Wet Bar!

***
This early in the morning Henry was expecting anything but the secretary he still shared with Emmet Clark would be announcing Andy Webb.

Andy came in with one hand up and his Index finger extended spinning in a circle, the universal signal for ‘are you recording’? Hank nodded in reply.

Andy took a seat speaking simply, “As this is business I shall remain formal. Mr. Carling, here is the Threat Assessment you requested on the Government House Systems, there will be no Bill for this service and you may guess why. If you want a suspect for an outside intrusion, you are going to have to arrest everyone on the planet above the age of six who has access to a Dyn-Corp Model 31XX or above.

“And the last time I checked, that was every just about every Sentient Being on this planet!”

Hank gazed at the computer on his desk which was a Dyn-Corp 5490, “Go on Mr Webb.”

“OK, my Counter-Hacker Team has been on this for almost a full day. Here is the data file on the holes they found at Government House, it’s only around 10 Gig’s of stripped down data. Christ, for a joke Liam asked my kids to crack the place. They were in in an average of 8.3 minutes, don’t ask me how fast my White Knights were in.

“How sure are you that what you found in the rest of the building is representative of what Fletcher was working with?” Hank asked.

“Mr. Carling, the Federation Government has not changed the code in that place in 85 years. My code pushers were rolling on the floor laughing. Liam’s question was succinct, ‘What Idiot shares 18 modules between 56 different programs, one of which happens to be your Self Destruct?”

“Not only that but, we caught a data stream from a relay node in the basement showing our esteemed President entering a Password Stream three consecutive times into a module shared by, you guessed it, 56 different programs.

“Liam’s comment was ‘Why didn’t this thing blow up 50 years ago’, thats pretty condemning. That file I gave you contains our results, if you want to see the moves behind the data, you’ll have to come over to my place because our methodology falls under ISA-2240.”

“Does your downstairs Restaurant still sell my steaks Andy?”

“Crap Hank, our Hamburgers are your steaks. We can afford the best over there!”

“OK, this is one expense no one can Bitch about. Let’s go have lunch and see your ISA data!”

After a friendly lunch and a move up to the CEO’s suite Hank looked up and said, “Please tell me this data is everything you say it is Andy!”

“Don’t doubt it, that file is the damn truth! Thats not even the way we got in. Hank, this one is on me not you and you will never believe it. That I understand, just don’t let it get in the way!
“Wet Operations are really not your style, let me handle those. OK?

“If I may, “ reaching for the Intercom, “Ric, get your ass in here!?

“Andy, we have to get one thing straight before I leave here today. You are correct, ‘Wet Operations’ are not my style’. . . I grant, from a military or even a business perspective, if we postulate they could be justified in business, then they can be optimal. But in war they are part of the nature of the beast. In business the reason they can work is because few of the organizational victims have the resources to ferret out what really happened.”

“The day I underestimate the abilities of the Federation Government is the last day I am of any use to you, the resistance, and particularly to Rob Williams. If ‘Wet Work’ is needed, Ric is probably the person to carry it off, or at least direct it. I am under far too much scrutiny right now. But he is not exactly an unknown either. If I run the Department, I run the Department. Anything else and I put myself, everyone that works for me, and total innocents, such as my family at risk, without even knowing it’s been done.”

“We are almost getting along with each other now. In both of our cases I think more from necessity than desire. That won’t be enough in the future. You can trust me to do what you want done, or tell you why I can’t. In return I need to know that you aren’t keeping any secrets, or working on things I should be aware of without me being informed. That doesn’t mean I know everything all the time. That’s clearly impossible and wrong. But on intelligence matters I work for Rob Williams. And I will work for you as well. Divided loyalties will ruin any plan. And loyalty runs in two directions.”

“You are very correct Hank. Ric, I assume your Deputy Director of Operations is prepared to take over?”

“First thing some big lug taught me was that my main job was to train my replacement. Larry is ready, willing and lusting for the chance!”

Andy just looked at both men with that snarky grin. “Good, Ric you are fired. You just got hired as the Chief Operating Officer for Lone Star Investments. In the business world you have to get Lone Star on all of the settled Colonies. In the Intelligence World, meet your new boss Mr. Carling.”

“Gentlemen, I am quite happy with you two being our CIA and FBI; not only that but Dyn-Corp and Capital Communications stand ready to be your NSA. Consider me and my group of Operatives to be your Army of Northern Virginia.

“Hank, he’s yours. I reserve only one point! I will act unilaterally and without consultation on an imminent threat from within Webb Enterprises. We have always cleaned our own House and we always will!”

Carling looked at the ceiling for a long moment, “I can live with that, it’s business as usual!”

“Great, anybody want a drink?”

To Be Continued

Page Author | OldDog November 9th, 2008