Earth Station (Station Series Book 1)

by Martin Schroth

  I just had an idea. “What if we build Earth Station underground. It would be hard to spot and easily protected. I can purchase some of the companies that build tunnels like the Chunnel. We could move equipment piece by piece to the sight to avoid too much scrutiny and reconstruct the machinery to dig Earth Station. Our initial construction will be our most vulnerable time, Mac, you will have to come up with a way to protect us.”

  “That’s where the corruption comes in, we can pay to have anyone look the other way,” added Mac.

  “First things first, let’s find a place. How large an area do we want? I’m thinking about a few million acres give or take so that we can set up a large buffer zone for anyone to reach Earth Station”

  “Let’s each of us work independently in finding a place. We can meet back here tomorrow, same time, with our results and then we can make a decision. All agreed?” Mac and Maggie nodded their heads. “So, until tomorrow.”

  ….

  After they left, I started to make a list of some personnel that we would need. We need to recruit top people in the areas of most of the sciences, medicine, electronic and computer engineering, construction, and aerospace science. Convincing these people to work for us will be a challenge – I want them committed to the cause. To do that will take three things – they need to have a vested interest in our success, money, and the freedom to pursue all avenues of inquiry without ridiculous constraints and oversight. I think that I have just the person for the job. He was one of my teachers/administrator back at the House. Charles Smith. His job was to teach history but as an administrator, he dealt with all the political and financial needs of the House. He was good at it. We probably had the best staff of all the Houses in North America (NA) and the House was financially rock solid from all the donations and fundraisers that Smith organized. Smith could talk an Eskimo into buying a refrigerator. He is also the type of guy that everyone likes and respects.

  I picked up the phone and gave him a call.

  That went better than expected. He asked me to call him Charlie, now that I am an adult, and he agreed to come and meet with us this weekend.

  Now back to the land search.

  After searching for large land tracts in Mexico, I eventually came up with a 4.2-million-acre ranch in the north central area of the country. It had mountains, desert, plains, a few streams and two large lakes. The closest town was forty miles away and had a population of 4517 as of 2080. There were also large tracks of land bordering two sides of the property and the other two sides were up against federally protected wildlife areas. It looked good. I wonder what the other two have come up with.

  ….

  “So what did you guys come up with?”

  Mac was first. “I found a 4.2-million-acre ranch.”

  “Wait a minute, is it in the north central area of the country just outside of El Sueco?”

  “Yeah, that’s it.”

  “That’s the place I came up with too,” exclaimed Maggie. “I guess we have decided,” Maggie said with a laugh.

  “I’ll get right on it – we should have the place in our possession in a month or so. Now on to some other business. Do you guys remember Charles Smith?”

  “Of course we do,” they both chimed together.

  “I’m considering bringing him into our little group as our resident recruiter for the personnel we are going to need. What do you think.”

  “I really don’t deal well with that kind of stuff,” Said Maggie. “I’m definitely not a people person so I really wouldn’t know what it takes. However, while I was at the House, he was very kind and encouraging to me. I like him.”

  Mac added, “I have had some dealings with him when it came to raising money for athletic programs. He came to me and asked me as an athlete what I needed. That was cool – he had the idea that those in the trenches knew what was required because they were dealing with the reality of the game. Coaches were also grilled and the administration – thank God – was left out of it. We got everything we asked for. He’s got my vote.”

  “We have a meeting set up with him on Saturday morning. I want both of you here.”

  Maggie nodded and Mac said “I’ll be there.”

  June 9th, 2111

  “Dad, are you going to be able to come to my game?”

  “I’m really going to try to make it,” Mike didn’t know how many times he said that and then disappointed him. Being the director of the CIA makes it really tough to have a normal family life. Sarah’s job is also demanding. She’s an analyst at CINCNORAD, but at least her job is 8-4 so she tends to get the tasks involved with family life, and Mike just seems to tag along. Mornings, though are mostly his gig. He made the breakfast while she got ready for work. Most days she is out the door by 7 to make the ridiculous, traffic infested drive to Norfolk Naval Station where her office is located.

  “Finish breakfast and we’ll head out”. Nik and Mike have at least this time together most days. It’s about a fifteen-minute drive to his school and sometimes Nik and he talk and other times – it seems more often now, they travel in silence. This really sucks he thought.

  On the drive, Mike tried to start a conversation. “Who are you guys playing today?”

  “Norfolk, they are supposed to be pretty good. They have one of the best pitchers in the state.”

  “What do you think your chances are?”

  “It’s probably 50-50. We definitely have a good shot at winning, especially if Nolan doesn’t start as their pitcher.”

  “Well, here we are. Have a good day and good luck at the game. I will really try to make it.”

  ….

  “Good morning Director Williams. Your morning briefing folder is on your desk and you are scheduled to update the President in about forty-five minutes.”

  “Thanks, Mabel. Give me a five-minute warning before the call,” Mike told her as he walked into his office. It’s a pretty nice office. A large conference table at one end, his desk at the other with a couple of comfortable chairs facing him.

  Mike took a look at what was happening in the world like he does most mornings. Same old stuff in the middle east. Blah, Blah, Blah. Hey, what’s this? Something fishy in the stock market. Probably nothing, us CIA types are real paranoid and see conspiracy in everything. It looks like somebody is using a method to make tons in the stock market. It doesn’t make sense - different people, investment companies and other random entities are using this method. Mike decided to make a note to keep an eye on this. Probably nothing, but just in case.

  Mabel peeked her head around the door, “five minutes director”.

  “Thanks,” Mike didn’t know how this guy got elected. But, he was the public servant and his job was to keep the President informed.

  He reached over and turned on his viewer. There was a slight delay as all the security protocols were put into place. The office door closed automatically and the room became isolated electronically.

  “Mr. President, I trust you had a restful night.”

  “Thank you director, so what’s new?”

  “Our assets in the middle east report that things are quiet and there is no new chatter. Something is going on in China with their military. We don’t know any specifics but we have several highly placed people that we haven’t heard from yet. They are due to report within the next 48 hours. If it’s anything significant, you will be the first to know,” Mike decided to keep the stock market irregularity to himself for now. No sense in giving him information that will get him bent out of shape with a bunch of conspiracy theories. He thought, we CIA types were conspiracy happy enough, but we are amateurs compared to President Myers. Maybe that is how he got elected, by convincing the electorate that the world is out to get them and he could protect them. What a bunch of horseshit.

  Mike finished briefing the President in another five minutes.

  “Have a good day Mr. President. I’ll keep you updated on the China thing.”

  “Thanks director, talk to you tomo
rrow.”

  The screen went blank and he saw his intercom light blinking. “What’s up Mabel?”

  “Your 10 o’clock is here.”

  “Send them in. Oh, and Mabel, get me Richard on the phone after this appointment, thanks,” Richard was his financial genius. If there is anything to this stock market stuff, he’ll find it.

  ….

  “Good morning Richard, how are the wife and kids?”

  “Linda keeps asking about you guys. We have to set up a time for a family get together over some grilled steaks and brew.”

  “Sounds great, have Linda call Sarah to set it up. I’ve got something here that I want you to look into. Not critical but there might be some shenanigans going on in the stock market. Maybe it’s nothing but I need you to check it out. I don’t want something similar to what happened in Japan to happen here. I’ll send you what I have over the secure email server. For now, we will give this the code name WALLET. Keep me updated on your progress.”

  “What are we classifying this?” Richard questioned.

  “Let’s make this Top Secret Phoenix. I know that seems a little over the top, but if it got out that we are investigating abnormalities in the stock market, it could be disastrous. It would probably cause chaos, which we don’t need, and it may even be for nothing. Don’t bring anyone else into the loop without talking to me first. For now, let’s just keep this between you and me.”

  “You got it boss. I’ll let you know when I have anything.”

  “I’m looking forward to that steak and brew. Talk to you later.”

  After Mike hung up with Richard, he looked up at the clock, or clocks – Mike had twelve clocks on the wall showing him the time all over the world. The clock for his time zone said 3:30. How in the hell did it get to be so late so fast?

  “Mabel, I have to leave. If anything comes up call my cell,” Mike said as he hurried out the door.

  Mike thought, I won’t get there in time for the beginning of the game but at least I will be there for the finish.

  June 13th, 2111

  Charlie arrived a little late, but we got him settled in one of the cabins. Our meeting was set for 11 with lunch.

  “We’re going to meet in my office first,” I said as I directed Mac, Maggie and Charlie in the chairs across from my desk. Normally I have two chairs but had a third brought in for Charlie. As Mac approached his seat, Zoe, my four-legged buddy, bared her teeth and gave out a low-level growl. “I’ll get another chair. It seems Zoe wants to be part of this meeting also.”

  Zoe is a medium sized dog. She is a great companion, following me where ever I go.

  “This is Mac Brown and Maggie O’Reilly; you might remember them from the House.”

  “Sure, I worked with Mac on a fundraiser for the athletic department. I know Maggie from her academic reputation, I think we talked a few times during some House functions.”

  I handed Charlie a one-page document. “Read this over and sign it. Basically, it says that anything you see or hear while you are at the ranch is confidential. If you disclose anything to anyone else, and I do mean anyone – your wife, kids, doctor – you will open yourself to being sued for damages. Once you hear what is going on here, the damages could amount to much more than you make or ever will make.” That sounded a little rough, so I said; “I’m confident that you will find what we are doing very interesting and this paper is just a precaution. It doesn’t mean that we don’t trust you, it’s just our CYA. Please don’t be offended”

  “Don’t worry about it, I get it,” responded Charlie as he picked up the pen and scrawled his signature on the confidentiality document.

  “To give you a little heads up before we move to the conference room, we are at this point probably the wealthiest entity in the world and getting richer by the moment. Our goal is to guarantee mankind’s survival through development of technologies, medical breakthroughs, and expansion into space without government oversight and interference.”

  Charlie looked skeptical, so I proceeded to summarize for him the events of the last couple of years. He seemed impressed.

  “So, why am I here?” asked Charlie.

  “We, except for maybe Mac, are inept when it comes to interacting with people. In other words, we can’t “schmooze” and that is why we need you to help us build up a staff of scientists, engineers, medical researchers, and any other personnel we find that are needed for the success of our enterprise. Let’s go to the conference room. I prepared a video presentation about our project and we can watch it while we have lunch.” I looked over at Mac and Maggie who seemed a little peeved. “Charlie, can you please head over to the conference room? It’s down the hall on your right. I need to speak to Mac and Maggie for a few minutes. Thanks.”

  Charlie headed out the door and I turned my attention to Mac and Maggie. “You know that I encourage you both to speak your minds – that’s the only way that the gifts that you bring will be effective, so what’s the problem?”

  Mac started. “If we are going to have an effective working relationship, we need to be in the loop on everything that is going on. The video, the confidentiality document, and just everything about this interview/meeting was all yours without any input from us. We should have been involved with that or at least consulted,” Maggie nodded in agreement.

  “You’re right. From now on, we will have a briefing every morning at 8 in my office to discuss what is going on and make plans and decisions as a group. If this works out with Charlie, he needs to be included also,” I felt admonished, but at the same time, knew they were right. Better to get things off on the right foot from the beginning.

  “The video is something I put together about Earth Station to show to prospects. We can work on something better and maybe Charlie will have some valuable input. How about I start the interview with you chiming in or asking questions when you feel the need?”

  Maggie stood up from her chair, “Both Mac and I appreciate the opportunity you have given us, but at the same time, you emphasize independence and non-interference in our work. Mac and I are willing to remind you of that whenever need be. I know that there has to be someone who makes the final decision about things, and we acknowledge that you are that person. However, we expect you see it our way if the numbers are against you. If you decide against us, we expect an explanation and if need be for you to accept an ‘I told you so’ from either or both of us.”

  Smiling, I said; “I can live with that, as a matter of fact, I insist on it. Thank you. All right, are we ready? Let’s get to the conference room. Charlie might be feeling a little lonely by now and I’m hungry.” Zoe jumped off her chair and followed us.

  ….

  When we got to the conference room, Charlie was already making a sandwich from the spread I had set out. Zoe ran up to him and sat at his feet looking up at him begging for a morsel. She’s a beggar and I can’t seem to break her of the habit. Charlie gave her a little piece of turkey. Now that was a big mistake. He’ll never get rid of her now, I thought with a smile.

  “This video is a preliminary recruiting tool which I slapped together for this meeting. If you join us, you will be expected to jazz it up so it will be more effective. Okay, so here it is.” One of my hobbies was making videos from pictures I had taken during vacations or events to share with my House family.

  The video started with an animated high speed rendering of the building of Earth Station, followed by a narrated virtual tour of the place. It finished with some idealistic results in technology, medicine, aerospace, and engineering that we will use to secure and make life better for all the humans on the planet.

  “Interesting”, remarked Charlie. “So, besides recruiting people, what else am I supposed to do?”

  “You will be our personnel director. You will keep track of all our people and provide for them and their families’ everyday needs, as well as monitor them for any kind of risk they may pose to our project. I expect you and Mac to work closely together to maintain s
ecurity. We have to set up a screening process and other administrative procedures to deal with foreseeable personnel problems. That will mostly be your job with input from the three of us.

  You will have the final say for day to day personnel matters, however, you have to recognize me as the final authority for the more difficult situations. This doesn’t preclude that the four of us will discuss and have input to make sure that all avenues have been explored before action is taken. So, what do you think?”

  “What about my job at the House? I really like it there and I’ve been there for fifteen years.”

  “You’re going to have to break off all ties with the House, but you will be generously compensated,” added Mac.

  “I don’t know. That’s a lot to think about. I need a few days to decide. Is that okay?”

  “Take some time to think about it; but not too long,” I said. “We will have the land for Earth Station by the end of the month and intend to get started shortly thereafter. Once we start we are going to need you working overtime to get us the personnel we need. If you decide to accept, you will be one of the inner circle.”

  Mac looked over at Charlie and said, “You can’t talk to anyone about this decision you have to make, you have to weigh the pros and cons by yourself. If you decide to join us, you will have to be committed 110%”

  “I’ll let you know inside a week. I’m here for another couple of day so what’s there to do around here in the boonies?”

  “There are some really great hiking trails just north of here and there is some night life as well as some good restaurants in Woodland Park which is, about twenty minutes away. What do you say we hit the town tonight and then plan on a hike tomorrow?” I suggested... “You can explore our compound here and then get ready for dinner out at around 6. We can meet in the front of this house. I’ll see if we need reservations and make them for seven if needed.”