Asterion (32 page)

Using his clearance, he visits the warehouse and exchanges the label plaques on the crates of two of the bombs. He makes his way back to his office where he calls Asterion. “You need to order a GBH-12A from this base.”

“Why would I want that?”

“Because your wishes will come true if you order it. Order a bunch of other stuff you need with urgent need status. They will get it out quickly and nothing will be flagged as inappropriate.”

“I won’t forget this.”

“Just forget how you got it when you get asked.”

“Understood,” Asterion turns off the radio and places the order. Within minutes, approval of the order completes and status shows loading. Transport aircraft with their giant ramps open and accept a steady stream of material. Loaded and cleared for takeoff, the transports take to the night sky with the swapped crates in the cargo bay containing the bang Asterion desires and Burnsom dreads.

The team is working in the lab when Milar comes in “Hear anything?”

They stop what they are doing and they all smile. The shelling has stopped. Phil remarks, “Are they out of ammo or planning something?”

Taylor nods in agreement. “Yea, we got to get an update from command?”

Christine responds, “Now the silence is unnerving.”

Taylor starts for the conference room. “Let’s find out.”

Taylor gets Sanderson on the conference screen. “Sir, what is going on out there?”

“There seems to be a shift in their strategy. They finally realized that they can’t break through to you and we have started to put pressure on them so they have turned their guns on our troops again.”

“What about bunker busting ordinance?”

“We have access to their database and they are still showing as inventory in their warehouse.”

“Can we be sure of that?”

“We have eyes on the ground there. They confirmed that they are still there after the last shipment left for Asterion.”

“Okay, thanks for the update.”

“Anytime,” Sanderson ends the call and the screen goes dark.

Taylor turns to the assembled, “Well, looks like we have a little peace for a while.”

Milar replies, “I’m not completely reassured about the bombs. What if they discovered we are monitoring them?”

Phil adds, “Yea, They could switch stuff around and our inside person would not know about it.”

Christine turns to Phil. “You have some hacker skills, can you break in to their system.”

“Maybe, can’t hurt to try.” Phil leaves to see what he can accomplish.

Milar turns to Taylor and Christine, “We also have some loaner surveillance equipment. Very small so they probably won’t notice it.”

Christine stands up, “Good, between all of us we might have an idea of what they have over there. Given what can go wrong, I’m not that reassured by what we’re hearing from Sanderson.”

Taylor shrugs his shoulders, “Don’t know what else we can do beyond what we’re doing now.”

“I know, I know. They gave the impression that they knew exactly where they are at all times.”

Milar suggests, “We should move away from the known entrance by at least six hundred meters. That shaft would be the weakest point and the prime striking point.”

Taylor replies, “that is not a bad idea.’

Christine adds, “Better safe than sorry, or dead.” They begin to move their essential equipment and close off the blast doors.

Burnsom calls Tom, “Where is the Vice Leader? She should be here by now.”

“Ira, she traveled to Israel and there have been some bombings there and she can’t get out due to a security lockdown. It may some days before that can happen.”

“What is she doing there?”

“Her office says that it is a courtesy visit.”

“Courtesy my foot, She’s up to something. She’s going to be history when she gets back. Her usefulness is over.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“No, and I need someone now.”

“Devin Chambers is, how should we say, between projects in his new role. He has always been eager to be a team player.”

“Great, get him here pronto. We have to coach him and send him on a tour of the provinces. Give him a title that will seal the deal.”

“We could call him Information Director for now.”

Burnsom laughs, “That’s great Tom, and it’s just ambiguous enough to mean everything and nothing at the same time and lofty enough so that he will march into the fires of Hell to please us.”

“Good, I’ll give him the good news and get him here immediately.”

Devin is sitting on his couch watching a sports event when the call comes from Tom. His stint as Assistant Director of Technology is more of parking spot than a real position. He listens attentively and hangs up the phone. Letting out a whoop he charges into the shower, gathers his belongings and heads for the airport. He thinks that his luck has changed. It has, but not necessarily for the better.

Arriving in Washington, he is ushered into a government limousine that takes him to the White House. He waits nervously with his briefcase on his lap, tapping his foot. Tom’s assistant tells him that he can enter the office now. He opens the door and Tom shakes his hand and motions for him to take a seat.

Tom settles into his own chair, “Devin, Burnsom needs someone to take on a special mission. This position reports to me, but you will be communicating with Ira on a regular basis. This is a White House based Leader staff position. We need an astute communicator that is much more than a mere press secretary that regurgitates what we tell them. You will put the spin and sell the Leader’s ideas and positions to the provinces. When he mentioned the need, I immediately thought of you.”

“Thank you sir, I can’t tell you what this means to me.”

“That’s great, welcome aboard. Your efforts will mean a lot to the Leader. We’ll get you briefed and coached and send you on a tour.” Tom stands up and shows Devin to the door.

Devin leaves with a smile from ear-to-ear, as he heads down the hall. Tom settles in his chair, pours himself a scotch, and leans back with a smile and takes a sip of his drink. He calls Burnsom, “Ira, the fish is on the line. He ate the hook, line and sinker.”

“Good we’ll send him out and see if they salute him or shoot him.”

He laughs a bit. “Better him than us.”

“That’s always worked for us in the past.”

“Okay, talk to you later.” He hangs up the phone and takes another sip.

Asterion looks over the material he just got in on the transports. He checks on his special request and sees they are all there. Two bunker-busting bombs, he looks around to find a way to deliver them to the target. A transport, stationed on the tarmac for his use catches his eye. Now he must come up with a diversion so that no one intercepts his delivery of the bomb. He looks over his weaponry and formulates a plan.

He calls Burnsom, “We have been at a stalemate for some time. We need to push them a little harder so that they are motivated to end this rebellion.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Keep constant pressure on their troops day and night. They can’t have that much inventory left and when they see it dwindle, they will look for options.”

“Good strategy. Keep your troopers from committing any atrocities like before. They must feel that they have a workable option.”

“Understood, my centurions will rein them in during close combat.”

“Very well, I’ve already alerted Forward and Progress to support you. Keep in contact.” Burnsom ends the call and turns to Devin. “Your job is to spin this for the masses. They must feel that we are doing all we can to bring this to a favorable conclusion with minimal casualties on both sides. A swift conclusion will ease shortages and I am committed to resolving our conflicts with minimal loss of human life. They eat that stuff up. Good luck and keep in contact.” Burnsom stands up and extends his hand across the desk.

“Thank you for the opportunity sir.” Devin quickly shakes Burnsom’s hand and makes his exit to go to the airport.

Burnsom sits back in his chair and smiles. If Devin’s successful, it’s a win. If he’s not then we blame Devin. Either way Burnsom wins again.

CHAPTER 34 - DECEPTIVE INTENTIONS

Taylor is wearing one of the suits while Phil and Christine monitor its status. They test the range of motion, speed and endurance of the suit. Informational screens respond to his voice commands and sensors alert him to threats around him. “I’m going to test the camouflage mode.”

Phil looks at the screen, “Okay it says it’s ready.”

Taylor addresses the system and requests the camo. In an instant, the sensor in the suit transmits the image from the opposite side to the skin of the armor. From any direction, the only thing you see is what is behind him. The only hint that someone is there is some distortion caused by the suit’s shape.

Christine looks up, “Now try the infrared cloaking.”

“Okay, here goes.”

Suddenly the infrared camera can’t pick up the heat coming off the suit and Taylor. “How’s that?”

“Good,” came her excited reply. “Energy drain is significant, so it must be used sparingly until we improve its efficiency.”

“Agreed, I’m coming out.” Taylor walks to the station that holds the suit up for someone to put it on or take it off. He leaves it behind with a smile on his face. “It could not have gone better. We are ready to start testing.”

Phil hooks up the battery pack to the power station to recharge the suit. “Good, I have the testing criteria ready.”

Taylor suddenly remembers, “What about weaponry for these things.”

“Christine’s suit already has hard points for mounting weapons. Your suit is carry or holster only. We have side and long arms with larger trigger guards for the suit’s fingers. I’ve also modified grenade launchers for hand and hard point use. That’s it for now.”

“That will work for now, besides I’m starved. Let’s get something to eat.”

The three head for the break room.

Devin arrives at his first stop in a friendly province that has not made much of a fuss over the situation. The provincial government officials are demanding to know more about the situation and immediately besiege him with questions as the assembled crowd shouted in agreement.

Devin is stunned at the hostility and wonders if he is a sacrificial goat for Burnsom. Gaining some composure, he raises both hands and waves them in unison to quiet the crowd. “I know you have some concerns. I too have those concerns and that is why I got involved in this situation. I want answers to and the questions I have are the same as yours. If we are going to provide for the citizens of this country, we all have to pull together as a team. Any weak link causes the rest to suffer shortages and rationing. That weak link is the South Central Province. Their greed has caused them to have a better living standard than you do. That is not fair to you and your families, is it?

The crowd agrees in unison with Devin. He breathes a sigh of relief.

“The government sought to rectify that inequity through negotiation, but the deteriorating economy and their insistence on greater autonomy has left the government no choice but to demand they join the team in the name of patriotic unity and equality. They refused and drew a line in the sand. Then they used their military to enforce their greed and that my friends, is an unlawful act against the legitimate government. Leader Burnsom would like nothing better than to sit down and negotiate some sort of agreement with them. So far, they have refused. This action to reunify the country is for the benefit of you and others who participate fully in our economy. You and your children should not bear the burden of their greed.”

The crowd calms down and many are nodding in agreement with Devin. The government officials, whose real interest is their own desires, are pleased to get some relief from the angry crowd. They thank Devin for his help and pat him on the back as he is leaving for his next stop. Devin swells with pride at his success. He immediately sends the video to Burnsom to show his worth.

Burnsom and Tom watch the confrontation. Burnsom turns to Tom, “Well, that was not bad, not bad at all. We sent him out to take the heat and he winds up putting out the fire.”

“I knew he is a salesman. He hits on just the right words that resonate with the crowd. He would make a good Vice Leader with some more training and maybe do better than the current one with the other world leaders. At least he is fully on our side.”

“Move cautiously, she has her fans. People like her because they see her as representing their concerns about the limiting of freedoms and we must carefully orchestrate this for it to work. How long before Devin could be ready?”

“He is a quick study and good at adlibbing. I would say a couple of months.”

“Start the process and think about how we can get rid of Jean.”

Tom stands and turns toward the door. “I’ll get on it right away Ira.”

Burnsom finally feels that he is getting a handle on the situation. He smiles. “Maybe there still some tricks this old dog can do.”

Asterion moves his best troopers in place to start mounting raids on the provisional positions. He instructs his centurions on hit-and-run raids that will maximize impact with the least consumption of resources. “Keep them on their toes and guessing what our next move is.”