by John O'Brien
“What you have with regards to photographs are still images I’ve taken from the video. You’ll notice on the pictures that the entire complex is surrounded by a chain-link fence with what I’ve determined to be razor wire along the top. Judging from the shadows and time of day that the video was taken, I estimate the fence height to be ten feet.
“You’ll note that there are two sets of buildings spread apart from each other, which I’ve circled and designated as #1 and #2. The structures are one-story buildings and made to appear as if they are old, dilapidated tin constructions. However, looking closer, I noticed that the structural roof beams poking out from the sides seem newer than the siding and the steel sheets covering the roof. This may or may not mean anything…but just something I spotted. It could be the structures were rebuilt with the old siding.
“Each set of structures has a dirt road leading to them. There are close up pictures of each set of buildings and the roads. Note the tracks on that road leading to building set designated #1. It appears to have been traveled on recently, whereas the dirt road leading to buildings #2 is trackless.
“I’ve super-imposed a diagram of the facility, trying to match the scale to the photographs. I oriented it with the cardinal points as that seemed to be the logical method of construction. It took some time but, once completed, you’ll see how the buildings and facility diagram match up. The buildings denoted as #1 approximately correspond with what looks like the equipment storage on the facility diagram. The offset could be because some form of ramp system has been built to allow the vehicles to drive out. I’m concluding that the exit is hidden by the large shed in group #1 and could be where the armored column originated from. The tracks certainly correspond to an armored column passing over it.
“You’ll notice on the picture showing a wider overhead view, to the northeast, another fenced-in area within the overall compound. Those black rectangular objects are a vast array of solar panels.”
“So we can hit them there?” Robert questions.
“Let’s let Frank finish before we start speculating on any plans,” I state.
Frank continues, “There are other smaller buildings scattered throughout the compound. They could be storage or perhaps hiding air intakes. I really can’t tell. We have to assume there is some sort of high-weight lift capabilities. Somewhere in this is also a main entrance with both elevator and stair access. If I had to guess, I’d put them with the buildings denoted as #2. One last thing, all of the other buildings, including #2, have roads leading to them but without tracks that I can see. As a matter of fact, those roads are partially overgrown.”
“So, they may not be checking on those with any regularity,” I comment.
“At least not by land, and the diagrams don’t show any connecting tunnels,” Frank says.
“Any ideas about them foraging in the outlying areas?” I ask.
“I don’t have any idea on that. There are fresh tracks leading out from #1, so it’s possible. I would guess that they have a large cache of supplies with them underground, but I have no idea how much or how long that would last.”
“Okay, fair enough. How about radar? Is there anything to indicate they have that capability?” I ask.
“I don’t know, Jack. I don’t see any sign of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Some of those lone buildings are large, wooden structures capable of housing a Doppler radar system. However, I would doubt it based on their location. That would give them a limited field of view. If they had that capability, they would place it on a hill and the nearest one is miles away. I don’t want to say that they don’t have it, but based on what I’m seeing, I’m placing the odds toward them having it as fairly low.”
“What about water storage? Where is that?” Lynn asks.
“There isn’t any sign of above-ground storage so it would have be underground. The diagram shows the holding tanks but there’s no corresponding building associated with it so I have to assume that they are underground, along with their pumping apparatus. A site of this size would require several wells, but I don’t see any indication of those on the video,” Frank replies.
“And this lone building here?” I ask, pointing on one of the pictures in hand. “I assume that’s an escape exit judging by the long tunnel leading to it.”
“That’s what I’d guess as that building is one of the few built of some kind of concrete cinder block or brick,” Frank says.
I rummage through the packet Frank presented, looking for something specific that I can’t locate.
“Can we get closer view of the outer fencing?” I ask.
“Yes. Is there anything you’re looking for in particular?”
“Three things. Tracks around the perimeter and/or pathways on the inside or outside of the fencing. I want to see if they conduct regular patrols. Let’s see if they have mounted cameras along the tops of the fencing poles. And, see if there is any disturbance on the ground outside of the fence, something that looks different than the surrounding ground,” I state.
“Sure, Jack. I’ll get some additional close-up images. I do know they have cameras mounted at intervals along the fencing, but I’ll take a look and see what I can come up with for the others,” Frank says.
As he rises and leaves to make additional photographs, there’s a discreet cough from behind me.
Lynn turns to the sound. “Yeah, Doc, come on over.”
“Excuse the interruption but you asked to be notified if there were any changes,” the doc expresses.
“Of course,” Lynn says.
“Greg has regained consciousness. He’s still groggy and in some pain, but he’s awake,” the doc states.
“Can we see him?” I ask, quickly rising from my chair.
“If you make it quick and don’t put him under any stress. He needs rest if he’s going to fully recover.”
I can tell the others are eager to go see how Greg is doing but I have them wait for Frank’s return and promise to give Greg their good wishes. Too many people descending on him, although nice to see that he’s well thought of, might overwhelm him having just awakened.
Lynn and I hurry to him with the doc in tow. Greg is lying on the bed with the IVs still stuck in him but with the oxygen mask removed. He opens his eyes and tries to smile but it comes across as a grimace.
“How are you?” I ask, feeling foolish for asking such a stupid question.
“My head feels like someone beat it with a hammer,” Greg says, his voice croaking.
The doc walks to him and gently tilts a small cup of water for Greg to drink. Greg nods his thanks but blinks tightly as the motion causes pain to shoot through his head. I sit next to him so that he won’t have to talk loudly.
“Sorry, my friend,” I say.
Greg tries smiling again but with the same result. “We both knew the risks.”
“I shouldn’t have sent you out.”
“I could have said no,” he responds. “Did you find the rest of the team?”
I just nod my reply. He knows what that nod means. Turning his head to the side, he is silent for a moment.
“And the others?” he eventually asks.
I again give him a nod.
“I failed them,” he eventually says.
“No, that’s on me and my fault. I should never have sent you out with so few,” I say.
“I feel bad for those we had with us. It ended up that I didn’t save them from shit,” Greg comments.
“It’s not your fault,” I reply.
“Did you happen to find out why?” Greg asks.
Wanting to keep it brief, I outline what we found out and what we did to the armored column.
“Good, I’m glad those bastards got what they deserved,” Greg states. “Jack, there’s something I want to talk with you about. I met these people—” Greg begins.
The doc interrupts, coughing lightly into his hand, signaling that it’s enough.
“We’ll talk about it later,” I say, patt
ing Greg lightly on the shoulder.
“You get some rest now. It’s good to have you back with us,” Lynn remarks.
“Yeah, if my head would quit trying to crack open,” Greg says, trying to grin.
With that, Lynn and I leave, making our way back to the meeting. Frank has the pictures by the time Lynn and I arrive. I look over the new ones.
“Jack, as you can see, there aren’t any paths through the grass stubble around the fencing. There isn’t any indication that anyone moves through there with any regularity,” Frank says.
“Meaning they don’t have any patrols,” I state.
“Not that can be seen in the pictures. You can see the cameras better in these though and I would hazard a guess that they have multi-spectrum capabilities. It’s hard to tell about the surrounding ground though given the time since everything went down. They could have put in a mine field at the outset and just left it. If that happened, it would be hard to spot,” Frank explains.
“Okay, now we have a better picture of what we’re up against. Thank you, Frank. It looks to be a high-security facility. That means the possibility of a mine field surrounding the perimeter with low-light and infrared cameras covering. There will more than likely be the same type of cameras at the entrances and a manned security center with professionals monitoring. This won’t be like the prison. The outer doors and those leading to secure rooms will be key-coded with strong magnetic locks. And we have no idea about interior patrols,” I state.
“If it’s so secure, how come they don’t have patrols on the outside?” Robert asks.
“Good question. And the answer is that I don’t know. The reason we invent that kind of technology is to conserve manpower. While it’s extremely useful, those who have it sometimes rely on it too much. Although difficult, it can be fooled. It’s only a machine and technology can be circumvented. Those who use them tend to forget that. People are unpredictable and you can’t bypass them the way you can equipment. That’s why you use both. I don’t know why they aren’t doing this and it may be our way in,” I answer.
“That’s all fine and dandy, and great in theory, but what are we going to do?” Lynn asks.
“Good question. The way I see it, we have two basic options. We can either draw them out and use the Spooky, or we go in and get them,” I state.
“Do we really need to go in? Or do anything for that matter? We have aerial patrols and will see them coming. Couldn’t we just ride it out?” Bannerman queries.
“They hold all of the cards with regards to surveillance and information. They’d find a way to take us out for sure. And, come spring, we’ll have lost any advantage we have with regards to the Spooky. We’ll be grounded and they could just walk right in,” I answer.
“That may be true, I just thought it had to be mentioned,” Bannerman comments.
“What about like Robert said, take out the solar panels? That will kill their power, won’t it, I mean, like eventually? Then, won’t they have to come out?” Bri asks.
“If I read the diagrams accurately, and Frank, correct me if I’m wrong, they have a couple of underground generators with what I’m assuming is enough fuel to run them for some time. Destroying the panels won’t have the desired effect,” I respond.
Frank nods his concurrence.
The discussion becomes an open-ended one with ideas tossed about and refuted. I listen to what is said while studying the diagrams.
Poisoning the water supplies is mentioned, but then rejected as being too difficult to access. Even if we could get to it, there has to be a water filtration system present that might prevent contamination. The conversation then goes to disrupting or poisoning the air.
“They’ll have MOPP gear and sensors. The filters would block the attempt and all they’d have to do is replace the filters,” Frank says. “And I don’t know if we could find all of the inlets in order to block them. Even if we did, they’ll have air scrubbers similar to those on a sub. Remember, this facility was originally designed to withstand a nuclear, biological, or chemical attack and survive.”
“What if we present a juicy target? Maybe that would draw them out and we could hit them then,” Roberts says.
“If they see the Spooky, and they do have the means to track it, they’ll see that a mile off,” Lynn replies.
The dialog continues. There’s talk of fast-acting poisons, launching cruise missiles from Leonard’s sub, options presented and discarded. I listen to the conversation, putting in my two cents on occasion, but most of my concentration is focused on the pictures and diagrams provided by Frank. I put together my own options, running through scenarios, discarding some and making alterations to others as I run into problems.
“Look,” I say, interrupting the ongoing discussion, which had died down some, “we’re going about this the wrong way. All of the suggestions so far have been about forcing them out and defeating them with the Spooky.”
“And what do you suggest?” Frank asks.
“We need to hit them from the inside. Anything else and they can just retire inside and wait us out,” I answer.
“And how can we do that?” Lynn questions.
“If all they are using is technology to safeguard the entrances, it can be defeated. The only thing I can’t figure out is how we can get the teams on the ground undetected.”
That statement throws the group into silence.
“At least you mentioned teams, Jack. I’m assuming you don’t mean your usual ‘go in by yourself’ tactic?” Lynn says.
“Well, initially it will be me and maybe one other person. I need to get to the security room here,” I say, pointing to one of the rooms just past the long escape tunnel. “After that is secured, then we’re going to need everyone on this one. Lynn, we have to bring those that are in training up to speed quickly. We have to replace the team members we lost and we’re going to need to add more. Those we bring up to speed will remain behind as security for the compound. I know that may sound callous with us having lost the team sent with Greg, but that’s just the way it is. Also, Lynn, I want you to take all of the teams and work on coordination, team movements, and communication. Do that in the equipment hangars so it’s not picked up on satellite.”
“You obviously have a plan, Jack. Would you care to let the rest of us in on it?” Lynn asks.
“Well, I don’t really have it all worked out, but let’s run through what I have in my head so far, starting on the ground. I haven’t figured how to get there yet. I see it coming in stages. The first will be getting through the fence and entering the tunnel building. That will require working through the outlying ground and, if one exists, marking a path through the minefield. Frank, I’ll need close-ups as clear as you can make them to study the terrain in detail to see if there are small gullies that will enable me to keep a lower profile. There are the cameras to deal with as well. I’m assuming they do a sweep on low-light and then infrared or some combination thereof. A dry suit will work best but that isn’t foolproof. The only foolproof method would be to use a large pane of glass as it blocks infrared for a period of time. But, that’s not really feasible so I’ll have to go slow and not heat myself up. Once through the fence, you’ll note that the building entrance is facing away from the fence line. The assumption is that they have a camera covering the entrance and approaches from the front. Frank, can we get a closer view of the building to make sure of this?”
“Sure thing, Jack. I’ll see how much I can zoom in and still keep the clarity,” Frank answers.
“The next phase will be gaining access to the exit tunnel. I’ll need to fool the camera, assuming there is only one. For that I’ll need several four-port coaxial switches with a main output port and a few short coax cables with quick connect ends. Bannerman, there are electronic outlets in town that will have those. I’ll show you where they are on the map when we’re finished. With the distances involved, the outer cameras can only be running coax or single-mode fiber. I’ll need several coax t
o fiber converters just in case. I’ll also need small video recorders with playback and continuous loop capability which can be hooked into the network. Most have USB connections so we’ll need USB to coax converters. You can find those just about anywhere. Harold, can you configure a middle-man program to spoof the system and feed our own looped video into the network?”
Harold pauses and thinks for a moment. “The problem is fooling the network into thinking the recording is coming from the camera. I should be able to reconfigure a network sniffer to do that. The basic idea will be to have the sniffer, with the programming, clone itself to mimic the camera settings. Then, I can have the program insert the looped video into the packet and it will look like it’s being sent from the camera. It’s called an ARP spoof, which will gather information about the network and mimic a certain device as programmed. That will give both the network the correct address but with the looped video. We’ll also have to configure the ports on the small switches.”
Harold pauses once again, lost in thought before continuing. “We’ll have to put the switch in a bypass mode which will act as a hub but will have the abilities of a switch. One port will be set to mirror port one which the camera will have to be hooked up to. Put the modified sniffer on the mirrored port and it will configure itself with the IP and MAC address along with the subnet mask. That port won’t send any traffic so there won’t be a problem with the network seeing multiple machines with the same address. Once that’s done, the recorder will have to be set to the mirrored port to capture the video. Then, move the camera to port two, a normal port, and plug in the sniffer to port three while simultaneously unhooking the camera cable. That can then be set to the mirrored port to make it look like it’s hooked up. The program will intercept the video feed and insert it into a protocol packet that will be accepted on the network. Yeah, I think that can be done.”
