22
‘ICIS’
Saltbox Hill
Biggin Hill, Kent
Lat = 51 degrees, 19.7 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 1.2 minutes East
Monday 11th September 1989. (Same day)
Fifteen fifty-three hours BST
Once the meeting at Downing Street had concluded, Strayker had made his way to ICIS by his car with Corporal Edwards driving.
He was now sitting in the Intel room bringing Vince and GAIL up to speed with the briefing from the meeting.
He said, “GAIL; what’s the chances of getting any CCTV from the docks on the 2nd?”
GAIL replied, “One moment sir.”
Strayker and Vince sat patiently.
GAIL’s systems took a minute and she said, “got it; they keep the images for thirty days.”
The nearby plasma screen came to life with a still image of a dockside.
Gail spoke, “as you can see in the bottom right corner there is a time stamp, showing zero seven hundred hours on the 09/02/1989.”
Strayker said, “The date stamp appears to be incorrect GAIL?”
GAIL replied, “Ah! That’s how the Americans format their dates sir, month first followed by the day, my systems show that the MI-6 team arrived at around zero ten fifteen hours, so I will first search the docks using the other cameras for the Sea Mist ship.”
The image on the screen changed several times before it stopped and GAIL said, “That is the Sea Mist.”
The still image then began to move rapidly with the time stamp swiftly eating up the time.
The image temporarily stopped at zero nine hundred hours and then began to move forward at a steady speed until the image of a large dark blue truck appeared pulling up alongside the Sea Mist, time zero nine fifteen hours.
GAIL slowed the image down to real time, froze the image, and said, “This looks like the vehicle we are looking for.”
Vince replied, “Okay GAIL run it at real time.”
Both Strayker and Vince watched the screen for the next forty-five minutes, looking at a man exiting the semi-truck and walking up the gangplank and onto the ship, this was then followed by the man talking to another man, then the truck driver returned to his truck.
They watched as the cargo was unloaded and then loaded by a forklift truck onto the semi-truck at ten hundred hours the semi-truck was leaving the docks.
At this point GAIL froze the image.
Vince was first to speak, “so we have the proof that the cargo was unloaded and taken away by the truck.”
Strayker replied, “Can we get any images of the license plate and where it was going GAIL?”
GAIL rewound the image and zoomed onto the rear of the truck revealing the buff blue coloured license plate.
The image became crisp showing the plate was from New Jersey license number CZW.91L; GAIL froze the image.
“This truck is registered to The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and it was reported stolen two days later on the Monday morning of the 11th.”
Strayker replied, “GAIL; continue to play the image let’s see if we can track where it went?”
Ten seconds later the screen they were watching split into six images and GAIL said, “I have linked the closest six CCTV systems onto the screen so we can track the rig.”
Both Strayker and Vince watched as the rig moved along the dockside before turning left away from it.
Strayker noticed something and said, “GAIL; freeze image four!”
GAIL complied and she immediately adjusted the fourth image to fill the screen.
Strayker said, “see the vehicle that has just pulled up behind it, can you zoom in on it GAIL?”
The image zoomed onto the back of a dark grey coloured Ford SUV, before she was asked GAIL zoomed in onto the license plate.
It had dark blue lettering on a white background with the words U.S. Government across the top of the tag with the license number G21.33111.
GAIL’s systems had immediately accessed the information from the U.S. General Service Administration (GSA).
“The vehicle is certainly a government vehicle; it is registered on The General Service Administration, which maintains vehicles in motor pools across the nation for official use by Government agencies and departments. The G21 on the tag plate refers to the GSA-pool license plates that identify the vehicle class of the assigned vehicle. G21 is allocated to vehicles in the Compact station wagon class.”
Vince said, “GAIL; can you ascertain which government department it is assigned too?”
GAIL responded, “This vehicle is assigned to the CIA at their headquarters in Langley Fairfax County, Virginia.”
Strayker countered with, “continue to play the image with the two vehicles GAIL?”
The image again split into six separate images and they watched as the two vehicles drove away from the dock area. A minute later, they were watching the CIA vehicle pulling up and on another image the truck continuing turning left and then heading towards a multilane road system.
The image of the truck disappeared from the screen and GAIL said, “That’s as far as the CCTV system covers.”
Vince replied, “What’s the road system the truck took GAIL?”
“The New Jersey Turnpike heading south by south west.”
Strayker was still watching the image of the CIA vehicle as it moved a short distance down the road and stopped, followed by a man exiting the vehicle and walking over to what appeared to be a payphone, he said, “GAIL; zoom in on the man at the payphone?”
A few seconds later, the image zoomed in on the back of the man using the payphone.
Vince said, “GAIL, access the phone records from that phone.” He paused and looked at the time stamp.
“For zero ten hours and fifty-nine minutes, twelve seconds?”
GAIL replied, “That will take me approximately eighteen minutes Vince.”
Strayker was still observing the man at the phone as he turned to walk back to the vehicle, “GAIL; can you also acquire a facial image of that man?”
Gail replied, “certainly sir.”
The image quickly changed and froze on the full facial image of a black afro American man.
Strayker studied the image and said, “Any chance you can clean it up GAIL?”
Vince responded, “GAIL; use the new imaging enhancing software I programmed into your systems yesterday.”
GAIL replied, “One moment gentlemen.”
Both men watched as the image went out of focus and turned into thousands of miniature pixels that together form an image.
Several seconds later, the sharp and clear image appeared of the man.
Strayker commented, “I suppose I must reiterate what I have said on numerous previous occasion, the pair of you are bloody amazing.”
GAIL replied, “Major; I notice you have used a profanity in your praise?”
Vince quickly responded with, “Ah! Yes GAIL, the Major has used the word bloody go to your urban dictionary GAIL!”
Strayker was sitting back in his chair watching the two of them.
A few seconds later GAIL responded, “An interjection of either amazed awe or sudden anger-despondency; from the terms, Christ’s wounds, and or Christ’s blood, which were deemed sacrilegious and so were shortened to bloody, predominately used by the British. You humans have some interesting attributes.”
Strayker let out a loud laugh followed by, “Yes GAIL we humans do have many interesting traits.”
GAIL replied, “Vince; will I ever truly understand how humans think and behave?”
Vince replied, “If you ever do GAIL let me know?”
GAIL detected some sarcasm in Vince’s reply and with a hurt look on her face; she responded with, “Now you are using sarcasm to mock me Vince, I am surprised at you!”
Vince looked at his creation realising how it must have sounded and replied with, “I am sorry GAIL it was not my intention to mock you.”
GAIL’s face began to beam and she let out a laugh.
Strayker also let out a chuckle.
Vince realised he had been duped by his own creation; he looked at Strayker and then back at GAIL and began laughing.
Vince finally said, “Well done GAIL; you have made a humanoid leap in your evolution explain what you have learnt?”
GAIL was silent for a few moments before she replied, “Sarcasm is an indirect form of speech intentionally used to produce a particular dramatic effect on the listener. Sarcasm is a large component of social interaction and conversation Vince. People use sarcasm as a means of being comedic with groups of friends. They say something contrary to what they feel and or believe for the purpose of being funny. Sarcasm, in these instances, seems harmless and playful.”
Vince replied, “Well done GAIL; a good lesson learnt!”
Strayker broke the mirth and said, “GAIL; can you identify the face in the image?”
“That could take some time Major; I will have to hack into the CIA database.”
Strayker replied, “Okay GAIL give me a print off of the image and let me know ASAP when you have a name?”
GAIL replied, “The image is printing now Major, also I will have the number dialled traced in six minutes.
Strayker said, “Just enough time for a coffee Vince?”
Both men left the room and went to the nearby rest room where a percolator was bubbling away.
Vince did the honours and poured both drinks, and handed a mug to Strayker.
As they sipped their coffees Strayker said, “A remarkable creation Vince?”
“Yes Major; she is evolving beyond even my expectations, I am glad she is on our side.”
“What are your thoughts on what’s happening in America Vince?”
Vince paused for a few moments before answering, “The START-1 agreement is an important step in reducing arms on both sides, I am sure there will be elements on both sides that do not share the opinions of the two leaders, to reduce the fire power each nation has.”
Strayker replied, “it seems ludicrous that anyone would want to sabotage this agreement Vince?”
“The world is made up of some very strange people Major!”
“True Vince; but this could start a world war and this time there will be no winners!”
Both men drank their coffees in silence each reflecting on what may happen.
Their thought were interrupted by a synthetic female voice from a nearby speaker, “gentlemen; I have identified where the phone call was placed too.”
Vince replied, “we will be back with you in a moment GAIL.”
Both men finished their drinks and returned to the Intel room.
GAIL’s hologram was waiting for them as they entered the room, she said, “did you enjoy your coffees?”
Strayker replied, “yes thank you GAIL.”
“I have traced the call and it was placed to the CIA HQ at Langley directly to the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence Agency a Walter Smith.”
Strayker replied with “what have you got on him GAIL?”
GAIL replied, “Born March 25th 1917 a native of Elmhurst, Queens, New York, he earned a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 1937 and graduated from Fordham University in 1939. During World War II, he worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) the predecessor to the CIA where he became head of its Secret Intelligence Branch in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement. He has been deputy director of the CIA for three years. He has played a large part in shaping the Presidents foreign policy, particularly the approach to Soviet international activity. Smith believes that the Soviet Union is the source of most worldwide, terrorist activities in spite of CIA analysts providing evidence that this is in fact black propaganda by the CIA itself.”
Strayker thought for a few moments before replying, “It would appear we have a man at the top of the CIA that does not trust the soviets!”
Vince replied, “This Walter Smith could well want the START-1 agreement to fail and what better way than to detonate a nuclear device on U.S, soil.”
GAIL had been following the conversation and exclaimed, “Why would anyone want to start a world war?”
Both Strayker and Vince turned to look at GAIL’s hologram, before Strayker replied, “this man Walter Smith may well believe his country is giving too much away to the soviets and leaving them vulnerable to attack, as well as it could appear to be a sign of weakness.”
GAIL replied, “That is ludicrous Major; world peace is important to the human race!”
Vince responded with, “that is correct GAIL; however the history of this world has been plagued by senseless wars often instigated by politics and or religion. When you have a moment look into your archives and you will see this to be true.”
Strayker brought the conversation back on track by saying, “we appear to have proof that the cargo from the Sea Mist was taken by the CIA and that the CIA’s Director was in the loop, GAIL any chance you can find out where the truck with the cargo on went too?”
“I will have to attempt to track it using CCTV on their traffic cams Major.”
“Okay; let me know as soon as you have a name for the CIA agent and the trucks final destination. GAIL; please give my driver a call to pick me up?”
GAIL replied, “Certainly Major.”
Ten minutes later Corporal Edwards arrived at ICIS and whisked Strayker away back to the Majors home in Bromley.