| |
VERY LITTLE HAD BEEN accomplished in the last meeting of the Prime Minister’s advisory committee, but that didn’t stop him from calling meetings. That was one thing for which the PM could always be counted on, thought Khaifa – calling meetings that served no apparent purpose.
As she’d entered the meeting room, Khaifa had noticed Upshaw and her right hand man Vossek engaged in a quiet but very tense discussion and Vossek had hurried off shortly after. Finding out the cause of the discussion didn’t take long, as Upshaw demanded the floor as soon as the meeting was brought to order.
"A biological containment failure was reported at our Duster’s Range facility earlier today," she said.
Like everyone else at the table, Khaifa knew what Duster’s Range was, but unlike everyone else at the table – with the exception of Upshaw – she also knew what was being secretly housed in its hangars.
"Your personnel have been safely evacuated?" asked deFreitas.
"They have," said Upshaw, nodding. "But we have reason to believe the alert was triggered intentionally."
"I’m not sure I follow," said Mahoney, frowning. "Why would someone intentionally violate containment procedures?"
"Admiral, I mean that someone intentionally triggered the alert as a ruse, not that there was an actual breach," she said, her tone providing the insult that her words did not. "While safely housed in our emergency facility, some of our medical research specialists continued to remotely monitor their projects. Six were physically shut down from within the complex and one simply vanished."
"Why would someone go to all that trouble to shut down some science experiments?" said Mahoney.
Upshaw continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
"System logs clearly show that the six were powered down from the monitoring terminals physically connected to the projects. The one that vanished shows a continued stream on monitoring data, then a second set of data intrudes – indicating the presence of an entity foreign to the experiment – and then both streams disappear. This appears, according to both the scientists involved and to our head of security Mister Vossek, as if the project has been stolen."
"What’s the nature of the project," said Khaifa, knowing she’d never get an answer. "That someone would break into your facility to steal it?"
"The nature of the project is classified."
"Classified by ATC Castle or by the Commonwealth?"
"Classified by ATC Castle, Doctor Khaifa. Not every project we undertake is in conjunction with our Commonwealth contract."
"I see," said Khaifa, nodding.
She watched as Mahoney’s eyes narrowed slightly and he also nodded, understanding her thought process.
"In that case, Ms. Upshaw," said Khaifa. "I’m not sure your missing project is a matter for this group. It seems a more internal security issue for ATC Castle."
"Agreed," said Mahoney.
"Though it’s apparently escaped your notice," said Upshaw, her face flushing. "ATC Castle is a large part of the reason there still is a Commonwealth. So if something concerns us, it should be of concern to you as well."
"Or you’ll withdraw your support of the war against the alien invaders turning us into a food source?" said Khaifa, raising a brow. "You certainly haven’t risen from the ranks of ATC Castle public relations, have you?"
Upshaw shot to her feet, slapping a palm down on the table.
"We have just been the victims of a clear attack on one of our facilities and you’re making jokes? You should be rushing to our assistance!"
"Perhaps we’re simply waiting for you to offer us a contract," said Khaifa.
The room went deathly quiet. Every single person present knew exactly what she meant. In the early stages of the war, ATC Castle had steadfastly refused to be drawn into the conflict, going so far as to refuse to provide supplies to the HMCS Vimy Ridge when she was desperately in need of them. That stance – one that had been taken by Upshaw’s mentor, a man named Phelps – was one that had resulted in Radko leading an assault on one of their facilities, taking the supplies by force. And, much to the eternal anger of ATC Castle, convincing an entire section of well-trained operators to abandon ATC Castle and join him in defending the Commonwealth.
The private military contractor had maintained its stance of neutrality until a contract had been negotiated with the Commonwealth outlining what support they would provide and what remuneration they would receive in return.
After the moment of shock wore off, Upshaw’s eyes narrowed, a vein pulsating in her forehead.
"How dare you-."
"I think maybe we should all take a moment," said Prime Minister deFreitas. "And remember that we’re on the same side."
Reluctantly, Upshaw took her seat.
"Now, I believe Bianca is right – we should be assisting them to find and prosecute the culprits. ATC Castle interests and Commonwealth interests are one and the same these days."
"I’m sorry," said Khaifa. "But when did that happen? Was it before or after they refused to give us supplies? Before or after they declined to send troops to Von Daniken’s Landing unless we gave them complete control over the mines?"
"Doctor Khaifa," said deFreitas. "You’re here as my advisor on medical issues. This is clearly a military-level decision."
Mahoney cleared his throat.
"Then I would like to voice my support," he said, then paused for dramatic effect. "For Doctor Khaifa’s position."
"We are building you your goddamned warship," said Upshaw.
"And doing such a poor job of it that we’re nearly a year behind schedule," said Mahoney. "Cagliari Aerospace was on schedule, but when the construction contract was handed to you people – for no apparent reason – everything ground to a halt."
"Perhaps it should stop completely? And you," said Upshaw, pointing at Khaifa. "Mister Vossek has traced the command that triggered the lockdown at Duster’s Range. It was sent from outside the facility. It was sent from Thor’s Hammer. Perhaps it was you who sent it?"
"Perhaps it was," said Khaifa with a weary shrug. "Go ahead and find some evidence to back up that claim."
Standing, she slid her chair back into place at the table and smiled at Upshaw.
"But until that time, please feel free to go fuck yourself."
"I want that woman investigated," said Upshaw, after Khaifa had walked out of the room.
"I’m sure you have ample resources to do that," said Mahoney.
"And I want a Commonwealth Navy gunboat to escort one of our vessels – the Adirondack – to Duster’s Range for a complete investigation and pursuit of the perpetrators."
Mahoney sat back in his chair and sipped his coffee.
"Again, this is more of an internal matter for ATC Castle to handle," he said. "I’m not willing to commit Navy resources that would be better utilized in the war effort."
"Well, let’s not be too hasty in our decisions," said deFreitas. "I would like us to assist in this matter and I think giving ATC Castle a gunboat is reasonable."
"With all due respect Prime Minister, our fleet is stretched very thin as it is. With the Haida Gwaii still undergoing repairs, I’d have to pull a gunboat from active patrol. I can’t justify compromising our perimeter for the sake of some ATC Castle property that may have been stolen."
The Prime Minister nodded, but didn’t look Mahoney in the eye.
"I understand, Admiral. I understand," he said. "I will expect you to provide Ms. Upshaw with the details of which gunboat you’ll be assigning to the Adirondack within the hour, please."
"Mister Prime Minster," said Mahoney slowly. "As I said, I don’t see how we can justify-."
"I’m making this an executive order, Admiral. Get it done."
Mahoney stiffened slightly, but nodded none the less.
"Understood. An executive order relating to military action must be made in writing-."
"You’ll have it as soon as it’s typed and printed for me to sign," said deFreitas.