by J C Ryan
There was silence.
Dennis broke it. “How long will it take to build these devices and deliver them to my teams?”
“Actually,” Roy replied, “the devices are fairly simple to build from materials that can be found at local hardware and department stores. I’ll provide a list of materials before this meeting is over.
“As soon as your teams have purchased everything they need, we’ll meet via video conference, and I’ll step them through the process of constructing the devices.”
“I thought you said these were nano nuclear devices,” Dennis objected.
“They are,” Roy confirmed, then added, “sort of.”
“Wait a minute,” JR said. “What do you mean ‘sort of’? How are you going to keep it quiet?”
Roy replied, “We’ve modified the nano nukes I built in the past. Dekka was able to combine Eighth Cycle knowledge and technology with Eleventh Cycle products and equipment and come up with something very similar that will mimic a nuclear explosion and the accompanying EMP effect we need.
“Don’t think in terms of a big explosion, JR. These explosions will have a bit more destructive power than lighting a match and produce less than a quarter of the noise of a very small firecracker.”
“So, the big thing here is not the explosion but the EMP,” Raj added.
Dekka added, “Other than knocking the soldiers out and destroying the devices that deliver the explosion, there will be very little if any other damage.”
“Are you absolutely positive about the power of those explosions, Roy?” Daniel asked.
“We’ve already tested one here, and other than a barely audible ‘pop’, we haven’t destroyed anything!” Roy added happily. His expression became somber. “Other than the destruction of one of my spyflies and a spyder,” he added.
“How…,” JR started to ask.
“Just accept the fact, JR... it works,” Raj said. “The explanation gave me a headache, and I still don’t really understand it.”
“Okay,” JR shrugged.
“How do you plan to deliver it?” Luke asked.
“With the spyders. The spyflies will scout the room or area properly, then send the spyders in with their loads and detonate them at the opportune moment.”
“Every chip and electronic device within range will be fried?” Eric asked.
“Exactly, and then you can send in your teams to finish them off with the lasers.”
Dennis nodded, deep in thought. “This is going to make the teams smaller and more mobile, not to mention safer, I’d say this sounds like our new Plan A.”
Everyone started nodding.
Roy noticed Daniel’s frown. “Well, what do you think?”
Daniel’s pen tapped quietly on his knee for a moment more, and then he leaned forward directing a steady gaze at Roy. “What,” he asked carefully, “could go wrong in this scenario?”
Roy cocked his head sideways and bit his lower lip as he thoughtfully considered the plan. He spoke softly and measuredly while he worked through the issue. “I suppose if a soldier happened to be outside the perimeter of the EMP’s effectiveness, he would be unaffected by the pulse.”
Dennis said, “Based on our observations of them so far, that’s fairly unlikely to happen; they tend to stay together when they go out on their missions, and after that, they go back to their safehouses and stay there.”
Roy added, “Other than that, I don’t see any other issues, not from a technical perspective, unless of course, the EMP devices fail to explode.”
“To mitigate that risk, we could build two devices per site and keep one as backup,” Dekka said.
Roy nodded in agreement. “I’d say that’s the way to go.”
Nearly a minute passed in silence, while Daniel’s pen once again tapped a slow pattern on his knee. “Very well,” he said. “Let’s do it.” Then he turned his gaze to Dennis and said, “As you know, we’re expecting another wave of attacks, maybe tonight. But let’s hope that the fact that they’ll find the targets heavily guarded will hold them off for one night. We have to assume by tomorrow night they will have regrouped and proceeded with their attack. We need to get Roy’s EMP devices built and ready by no later than tomorrow evening.”
“Understood,” Dennis replied.
“I just sent you a message with the list of materials you need,” Roy said. “Once you have all of it, it will take about three to four hours to construct the devices.”
Dennis nodded. “Let’s set a time for 1:00 p.m. Phoenix time tomorrow for the video conference to help us build those EMP bombs.”
“That works for me,” Roy said.
Daniel closed his eyes and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “Thank you, God.”
Everyone bowed their heads and spent a moment in silence.
Before they ended the meeting, Dennis said, “Give me an hour or so to inform the teams and get this list off to them. Then I’d like to return to the canyon to direct this operation with you from there. If that’s okay with you?”
Roy replied, “I’m the gizmo guy, Dennis, you’re the commander. It’d be good if you’re here.”
“See you in a few hours then!” Dennis replied and reached to close his connection.
“One moment,” Deszik interrupted. “Since I know these soldiers and their capabilities better than anyone here, I think I should join one of the teams and take some of the Eighth Cycle weapons with me.”
After a brief discussion, consensus was reached.
“That’s great!” Dennis said. “You can catch a ride back with the helicopter that brings me out.”
“I will be ready,” Deszik assured him.
JR grinned at Daniel. “These numb-nuts are going down.”
Daniel smiled back. “Yes, they are.”
CHAPTER 64
Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA
DANIEL AND EVERYONE else was extremely grateful when the sun rose the next morning and Re’an hadn’t launched another wave of attacks. It was what Daniel hoped and prayed for—just one day’s grace. They got it.
Dennis reported that the Re’an were flustered when they turned up at their targets and found them heavily guarded. Their team leaders had called them back to the safehouses, and it was apparent that they were stressed about the fact that they had no contact with Viktor to get fresh instructions.
It was just as Deszik had predicted, once they were confronted with a situation that they weren’t briefed on, they were in shambles. He also pointed out that it would not last. Their original instructions were to destroy those targets, and they’d soon come to the conclusion that they’d have to do it, even if it meant killing everyone that stood between them and their targets.
A few hours later, Dennis confirmed it. The Tectus surveillance teams had picked up conversations between the Re’an team leaders who agreed they’d return to their targets that night, decimate the guards, and then blow up the targets.
The control room was bustling with activity when Rebecca stepped in several hours later, her flashing eyes scouring the room for her errant patient.
Dennis had arrived back from Phoenix a short while ago, and with the others, was watching with fixed interest as Dekka and Roy instructed the Tectus teams in making the tiny weapons.
Robert, forehead creased in concentration, had his eyes glued to the monitor where data from the AVO was scrolling slowly down the screen.
“Has anyone seen Jack?” Rebecca asked.
Silence.
“Well?” she prompted.
“I thought you… uh… took him back to the medical unit,” JR answered without looking up.
Rebecca’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “JR? Do you know something I don’t?”
“No, I don’t,” he said. He was lying. He knew, as well as all the others in the room, that Jack had packed some stuff and hitched a lift with the helicopter that dropped Dennis off earlier. He would’ve been close to Phoenix by now. They’d given him their word not to
let Rebecca know what he did.
Rebecca knew a conspiracy when she saw one, but she also knew there was much more at stake than just Jack’s life, and it was not the time to cause a commotion. She did feel the need to say, “Need I remind you guys that Jack is recovering from near lethal injuries and should be in bed resting? His injuries could still kill him if not properly cared for.
“If I find out that any of you know anything about his disappearance, there’s going to be hell to pay!” Giving them a final glare, she turned and left the room.
JR and Roy looked at each other in concern. Roy started to speak, but JR cut him off. “What’s done is done; can’t change it now.”
JR returned his attention to the video conference. If something happens to Jack, I’ll never forgive myself, and neither will Becca.
By the time the Tectus teams were all equipped with their EMP devices, and the video conference ended, Jack had arrived in Phoenix and reported to Eric.
* * *
Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA
“DESZIK IS ASSIGNED to team two, and all teams have reported in as on-site in surveillance mode,” Eric reported. “It will be about an hour until nightfall on the eastern seaboard. We don’t expect any action before then and probably not for another five or six hours, since they all seem to strike at the same time across the nation. The teams will continue to monitor the subjects and notify us at once if there appears to be a change in their MO.”
“Good,” Dennis replied. “You’ve all done a spectacular job in getting ready and deploying the teams with such a time crunch.”
“Thanks,” Eric replied. “Thanks again to Roy and Dekka for the training.”
“Keep me posted, and I’ll be talking to you again soon.”
Dennis closed the conference call and turned from the communication console. “That’s it, guys! It will be a few hours before the action starts. I’m going to grab some dinner.”
“Hang on just a minute and I’ll join you,” JR said.
One of the few remaining team members left in the control room, Korda, rose to his feet. “Me too,” he said.
Dennis glanced at Robert, still hovering over the station receiving the AVO information feed. “Coming, Robert?”
No answer.
“Robert?”
Still no answer.
Dennis stepped across the room to stand by Robert. He observed the data Robert was examining for a bit. What’s got him so intrigued? “Robert.”
“Huh?”
“Are you joining the rest of us for dinner?”
“In a minute, in a minute,” Robert said distractedly.
“What is it that has you so engrossed?”
Robert pointed at the data scrolling down the screen in front of him. “That!”
“I assumed that much,” Dennis replied. “What about it is so interesting?”
“It doesn’t make any sense!” Robert replied. “None of this makes any sense! What the hell is going on up there?”
Dennis patted Robert on the shoulder and said, “It’s okay buddy, everything will be okay.”
Robert harrumphed and planted his elbows on the desk so the heels of his hands could support his chin while he stared at the screen in frustration.
Dennis shrugged and left to join JR and Korda.
When the three of them arrived in the dining area, they found Rebecca and some of the others there. By now, Rebecca had received the news about Jack’s arrival in Phoenix and was still steaming.
JR apologized and explained that other than putting Jack in restraints, there was nothing they could do to stop him.
Rebecca was quiet for a moment before she said, “I just hope that he doesn’t sustain more injuries; another blow to the head or torso could kill him.”
“I’ll talk to Eric and ask him to make sure Jack is kept out of the thick of things,” Dennis said.
“You do that,” Rebecca said, got up, and started to walk away.
JR said, “Rebecca, if all goes according to plan, there’s not going to be much action. Definitely not physical combat action.”
She stopped and said, “In that case, why didn’t he stay here? He could’ve followed the entire operation as it unfolded from right here.”
“You’re right,” JR said. “I told him that, but he said he had to be there, that he couldn’t sit around here while the Tectus members are out there risking life and limb.”
Rebecca didn’t reply. She just shook her head, turned, and walked away.
CHAPTER 65
JACK’S EYES WERE glued to the front of the house as he listened to the status updates from Eric’s team.
For the past hour, they had remained motionless, listening through their connection to Roy’s Spyflies as the six soldiers moved about inside the house.
When a short, stocky soldier mentioned the location of their target, another Tectus team had been dispatched to the site in case of need.
Following doctor’s orders, Eric had ordered Jack to remain at the local headquarters to help track the Tectus teams moving through the city.
Jack had agreed to stay behind. But I didn’t say for how long.
Five minutes after Eric’s team left for their assigned position, he quietly picked up the gear, slipped out of the building, and drove his rental car to within three blocks of the team.
From there, he made his way to the site and stealthily moved to a position in the tree line where he could see what was happening.
From his position on the west of the Re’an occupied house, Jack identified the location of the members of Eric’s team.
For an operative trained in observation and detection, Jack was surprised that it took him nearly three minutes to locate the Tectus members. After some consideration, he decided that it wasn’t because of any lapse on his part, but due to the considerable skill of the members. Damn, but these guys are good!
Although he couldn’t identify the actual person, Jack knew that one person was further down the tree line from him, and the other three hidden in the foliage of neighboring yards on the other three sides of the house. It really is a shame, though, that these guys are going to be taken out so quietly and while they’re unconscious. I would really like to inflict some damage on one of them.
Jack was pulled from his musings by Dennis’ voice coming over the headset. “Stand by; one of the West Coast teams is preparing to move.”
“Delta 1, Delta 3,” Eric called. “Eyes.”
“Delta 3, Delta 1. All six members are present in the house, sir. So far they are still spread out too far for the EMP to be effective.”
“Keep your eyes on them, Delta 3,” Eric commanded. “Delta 1, Delta 4. Eye assist.”
“Delta 4, Delta 1. Acknowledged.”
“Delta 1, Delta 2,” Eric called to the young Tectus member who would be first through the door, “stand ready.”
“Delta 2, Delta 1. Standing ready,” the tall, trim young man confirmed as he got quietly to his feet, assuming a crouched stance to stay hidden.
Fifty feet down the tree line from Delta 3, Jack watched the movement in the house with the intensity of a hungry lioness waiting to pounce on the prey.
* * *
INSIDE THE HOUSE, Commander Ruslan finished cleaning his weapon, stood, and called the five members of his team to the living room for a final briefing.
As the men joined their commander, Eric’s team watched in anticipation.
“Delta 3, Delta 1, they are all within range!”
“Delta 1, Delta 4, activate the pulse!”
“Delta 4, Delta 1, activating.”
Commander Ruslan wasn’t sure if he actually heard a faint click or if he was reacting on some inner, gut level knowledge, but at that moment he flung himself over the back of the couch landing hard on the floor and rolled into the kitchen; his second in command, Nickolai right behind him.
Scrambling to his feet, he saw the rest of his team scattered on the floor of the living room as if dead. From the
corner of his eye, he glimpsed through the sliding glass door, a figure moving across the backyard at high speed.
He quickly turned to check the front window and saw another man quickly approaching. “It’s a trap!” he shouted. “Get on your feet and get out!”
As he turned toward the back door, a shower of glass rained down on him accompanied by a body. Letting the force of the impact drive him to the floor, he rolled away from the body as he hit the ground.
* * *
San Francisco, California 10:00 pm PST
TECTUS CAPTAIN, HAROLD Rawlins watched the interior of the house with frustration. Where are the other two?
“Eagle 2, Eagle 1, they’re just not in the house. Heat sensors show only four in there.”
“Eagle 1, Eagle, understood.”
Damn!
“Eagle 1, Base. Has our onsite team spotted them?”
A few moments that seemed like an eternity went by while Rawlins waited for a reply.
“Eagle 2, Eagle 1, it looks like they are getting ready to leave. We’re out of time.”
Rawlins’ thumb hovered near the activation switch. “Eagle 1, Eagle 2, stand by.”
“Base, Eagle 1, no sign of them at the site yet.”
“Eagle 2, Eagle 1, they’re heading for the front door.”
Rawlins’ thumb moved over the activation switch and pushed. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it seemed like nothing happened at all, except all four of the soldiers suddenly toppled to the floor.
“Eagle 1, team, they’re down, let’s go.”
With quick but careful steps, his team entered the house and set about the business of eradication, retrieval, and clean-up. They were out in five minutes.
Across town, two Tectus sharp shooters kept a close eye on the hospital building. The soldiers would show up. And when they do, they will die.
* * *
