by David Capps
“Exactly,” Jake replied.
“Okay. Give me a few. I’ve got to recode the parameters.”
“Here’s Senator Thornton’s burner phone,” Honi said. “Speed dial one is Thornton’s boss, two through five are his crew. I’ll get Tracy started on Thornton’s computer.”
“What about the burner phones we got from General Teague?” Jake asked. “He had three of them.”
“Might make him more important than we thought,” Honi said.
“Or Teague might have created his own network using the same system,” Stafford said.
“Which could help us locate people still working for Teague,” Jake replied.
“And that could help us locate Teague,” Stafford said.
“I’ve been tracing the encoded ID numbers of the phones,” Brett said. “The memory cards disappear and the numbers have been changed. The calls following that change didn’t make sense in our phone plot, so based on swapping out every Monday at midnight, I can eliminate three quarters of the burner phone contacts on the plot. That should help out a lot.”
“It will,” Jake replied. “People work and live in a limited range of places. When people do something secretive, there are only a few places they feel comfortable. If we can match weekly burner phones to a specific set of locations, maybe we can identify the people at those locations during the time the phones are being used.”
“We can do more than that,” Honi said. “We’ve got all of these phone conversations recorded by the Domestic Surveillance Directorate in Bluffdale, Utah. At some point we will be able to match burner phone voice prints with regular phone conversations. Eventually, we can identify everyone in the Phoenix Organization.”
“Eventually?” Jake asked. “How long is eventually?”
“A year or two?”
“In fifteen days, it won’t matter.”
“Well…assuming…” Honi said quietly.
“Okay, guys,” Brett said. “New parameters are in. Let’s see what we have.”
The display with the new parameters took on a whole new shape.
“It’s more like an organizational chart now,” Honi said.
“Something just occurred to me,” Jake said. “Cell towers were the first communications system to come back on line following the solar storm. Land lines are mostly still not working. We had a small amount of notice so we could back up databases and shut down our computers. How long before the solar storm did the cell towers go off line?”
Tracy went to a terminal and typed away. “Cell towers started going off line fifteen minutes before we got notice the storm was coming. Apparently they were also physically unplugged when the solar storm hit.”
“Of course they were,” Jake replied. “The Phoenix Organization needed them. The bulk of their network runs on cell phones. Someone had to plug the cables back in and restart the generators. Where is the grid still down?”
“Sixty percent of the country is still without electricity,” Tracy said.
“Where the grid is down, are the cell towers still working?”
“Yes. They all have backup generators.”
“With fuel tanks that have to be refilled,” Jake said. “Find out who is refilling the cell tower tanks, and who arranged for that to be done when there’s no electricity.”
“I’m on it,” Tracy said.
“Honi, I need to borrow your phone to call Briggs.”
Honi held her hand out. “We’re part of a team now. You’re all getting up-graded, encrypted phones.” Jake, Ken and Stafford handed their phones over. “The new ones will work just like these do, but better.”
“Until then?” Jake asked, holding his hand out. She handed him her phone and left. He dialed.
“It’s Hunter. I’m going to be sending over names of companies that are refilling cell phone tower fuel tanks. I need FBI agents tracking down the people who ordered the tanks refilled and I need to know who went out to the cell towers just before the solar storm hit.” He listened. “Thanks, boss.”
He set Honi’s phone down on Brett’s desk.
“Okay. We got into this phone network through a land line and coded words, but right now we’re primarily looking at cell phones that rotate once a week. We can connect the weekly change by GPS, but because of the burner phones, we have no registration data. We have no idea who is using each phone.”
“Except for the people we’ve already taken down,” Stafford said.
“Yeah. So far the only people we’ve actually connected together are Senator Thornton and Sylvia Cuthbert.”
“And General Teague and Secretary Cooper,” Stafford added.
Honi returned with new cell phones. “These are all encrypted and secure. My tech guy programmed in all of your old numbers, so you won’t have any trouble there. I’ve added several new icons to your screen. The gold eagle inside a blue circle will connect you to all of us simultaneously. There are three blue circles with a single letter inside corresponding to first names.”
“Can we start nailing down buildings and addresses based on the GPS data?” Jake asked.
“Sure,” Brett replied. “Where do you want to start?”
Jake studied the screen. “Let’s start domestically. Many of these numbers are out of the country. Pick the phone of the highest ranking boss in the US on the organizational plot and work your way down from there.”
“Got it,” Brett answered.
“This could take some time,” Honi said.
“Whoa,” Brett said. “This location is inside the Treasury Building in D.C.”
“Tracy,” Honi said quickly. “Bring up the office layout of the Treasury Building and overlay the GPS coordinates.”
“Here we are. Four different offices, four floors.”
“Doesn’t the GPS location also include the altitude?” Ken asked.
“It does. Altitude indicates the fourth floor, making it…”
“The Secretary of the Treasury’s office,” Ken finished.
“I’ve got to update the President,” Jake said.
* * *
Jake called the White House on his drive north from Alexandria to Washington to let them know he needed to see the President. When he arrived he was immediately ushered into the oval office.
“What have you got?” the President asked.
“They’re consolidating their power. The deadline we’re facing is real. It’s definitely not a bluff,” Jake said.
“I figured it was real,” the President said, glancing down at the Presidential Seal in the carpeting. “But it’s good to have validation. Every country in the world is panicked over this demand to surrender. They all want to know what I’m going to do about it, so I need regular progress reports so I can calm them down.”
“Sir, I think you need to keep in mind that anything you tell another country will most likely also go directly to the Phoenix Organization we are fighting. If the Phoenix Organization knows what we are doing and how close we may be getting, this whole thing will turn very deadly, very quickly.”
The President paused, apparently thinking through what Jake had said. “I will think of something. Have you identified anyone else who is involved?”
“Yes, sir. John Halleran, the Secretary of the Treasury.”
“Two members of my own cabinet?” the President asked, obviously shaken by the news. “How could I have missed that? These were people I trusted. How could they betray their country?”
“It’s not that hard, sir. Between Secretary of Defense Cooper, Senator Thornton and Secretary Halleran, one of them was going to be installed as the undisputed leader of this country.”
“With no election and no term of office,” the President said sadly.
“And no limits to their power and authority, either, sir.” He paused for a moment. “I have a plan, sir, but I need your cooperation.”
* * *
Jake returned to the group in B6, area 4 of the NSA building.
“So when do we take down
Secretary Halleran?” Ken asked.
“Later,” Jake replied.
“Why not now?”
“This is the way I see it at this time, and please tell me if you disagree. General Teague came under suspicion because of the theft of the nuclear artillery shell. We arrested him. The Secretary of Defense essentially sacrificed his position to save General Teague so they could steal the B83 bomb, which, as we now know, is essential to their plan. So far, Teague and Secretary Cooper are collateral damage but still free. The Phoenix Organization thinks they can still operate in secret. They still think they’re safe. You with me?”
“Okay,” Honi replied. “So far, so good.”
“We found Senator Thornton through a security violation at the NSA. Again, this was something that could have happened on its own without direct knowledge of the Phoenix Organization. It’s more collateral damage, right? These are some of the costs of running an operation of this size and complexity. They probably expected a few things such as that. Senator Thornton was highly placed, but Secretary Halleran is higher yet. So far, the Phoenix Organization has lost one high-ranking member, plus Teague and Cooper are out of play, but Secretary Halleran is still in place. If we take him down, it’s a serious blow to the Organization. That move on our part will demonstrate to them that we know not only about the Organization, but its structure, as well. What do you think will happen next?”
“The Phoenix Organization will close ranks, change security procedures and go deeper underground,” Stafford explained.
“And everything we’re figuring out about them will cease to be valid. We’ll be back to square one.”
“So what do you have in mind?” Ken asked.
“I’ve discussed the plan with the President and he’s on board. We continue our surveillance and keep on identifying members of the Organization. We have FBI agents put a loose tail on every suspected member. We track them and verify their cell phone calls and connections. They’re not going anywhere in the next fourteen days. Twelve hours before the Event they’re going to get their run and hide notice. That’s when we grab them. I know the timing is tight, but I think it’s our best shot at finding where the satellite control center is located. From there, we figure out how to stop the solar storm.”
“Tight timing is an understatement,” Honi commented.
“I’m open to any and all suggestions. Anybody?”
“Frankly,” Stafford said. “I don’t see how we have any other options.”
“Well,” Honi added. “We have no idea where the satellite control center is, assuming it’s even on the planet.”
“Okay,” Ken said. “But shouldn’t we enlist the help of other countries? I mean everyone is at risk here. Seven billion people are going to die if we fail.”
“Contact only people you personally know and trust,” Jake said. “And only if they don’t show up on the database we’re constructing. Can we agree on that?”
The other three agreed. The more members of the Phoenix Organization they could identify in other countries the better their chances of capturing them.
“Brett, can you check the phone contacts at the Chinese Embassy in D.C.? I need to know who there is involved,” Ken said.
“Checking. One burner phone, GPS tagged at the embassy.”
Tracy pulled up the office layout of the embassy. “GPS coordinates puts the phone in the ambassador’s office.”
“Okay,” Ken replied. “That explains how the Chinese ambassador and his assistant knew the two Chinese businessmen with the gold bearer bonds weren’t where they were supposed to be. They must have assumed something happened at the customs check. That’s when they sent the assistant ambassador in to spring them. I’ve got to talk to a friend of mine at the embassy.”
“Isn’t that risky?” Honi asked.
“Maybe. But we have to start somewhere. Opinions?”
“How long have you known this guy?” Jake asked.
“I’ve worked with him on counterfeiting cases for the last ten years. I trust him.”
“I think we should go with it,” Jake said. “Honi?”
“I’m inclined to approve. Bob?”
“I’ve worked with a few Russians and Brits I trust. I think we should go forward with it.”
Stafford checked with Brett on his Russian and British contacts.
“Not in the database,” Brett reported.
“Okay,” Jake said. “Let’s go.”
“Brett,” Ken said. “I need you to create an encrypted file for me and put it on a thumb drive.”
* * *
Ken approached the main gate at the Chinese Embassy. He recognized the guard who walked over to the closed gate. Ken reached forward and held on to one of the square rods of the gate, a slip of what he held showing from under his hand. The guard reached up and placed his hand just under Ken’s hand, covering what Ken was holding.
“If possible, would you let Han Chen know I stopped by?”
The guard scoffed. Ken removed his hand, leaving the hundred dollar bill in the grip of the guard, who cleanly swiped it into his other hand.
“Stupid foreigners,” the guard said in Chinese as he walked away. Ken strode quickly to the right, circled around two blocks, down four more blocks and sat down in the back stall at a small café. He ordered his usual mocha latte and waited. Twenty minutes later Han Chen sat down in the opposite seat.
“You’re aware of the demand for your country to surrender to a new world system?” Ken asked quietly.
“I’ve heard rumors.”
“The solar storm was a warning. Next one, in fifteen days wipes out everything.”
Chen looked startled, but recovered quickly.
“I suspect the eight eternal families are heavily involved,” Ken said.
“You said you suspect? What about evidence?”
Ken pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and slid it across to Chen. “Encryption key for a file at our usual dead drop location.”
“What’s in the file?”
“An organizational chart composed of cell phone numbers, GPS locations, times and connections.”
“And what do you need in return?” Chen asked.
“Names connected to those cell phones.”
Chen slowly looked around the café. “You know how dangerous this is if it involves the eternal families? They are connected to a world-wide network of extremely wealthy and powerful families who control all of the intelligence services around the world, including mine, your CIA and the Mossad.”
“And in fifteen days they will kill everybody on the planet except for a precious few who work for them. What do you think the odds are that you are on their list to be saved?”
Chen scoffed.
“You can expect everyone on this list to run 12 hours before the Event. Time and date is listed in the file. We will be arresting everyone on the list when they start to run. You should coordinate your people with that.”
“As dangerous as this list is, I don’t see any reason not to move at the same time,” Chen replied.
“Only people you trust with your life. If they find out we’re on to them, everybody dies.”
“Understood.” Chen stood up and left.
Ken finished his mocha latte and drove back to the NSA building.
* * *
Ken showed his visitor ID at the NSA front gate and again at the lobby door security post.
“Wait here,” the security guard said and then walked over to a phone, picked it up, spoke a few words, hung up and returned.
“Is there a problem?” Ken asked.
“No, sir,” the guard answered.
Sebastian Pettigrew emerged from the back of the lobby swinging an ID card on a lanyard. Pettigrew handed Ken a new ID card and took his old one.
“You are now an unofficial NSA agent,” Pettigrew said. “The same ID will also work at the FBI and all military bases as well as your own office.”
“Wow. How did that happen?”
&nb
sp; “Word from above.”
“Word from above?” Ken questioned.
“Way above,” Pettigrew said with a smile.
“I see. What about my escort?”
“You know where it is. They’re waiting for you.”
Pettigrew turned and walked away.
Ken walked over to the elevator bank and pressed the down button. The door opened and he stepped in and the door closed. He waited. Nothing happened. Then he remembered that Honi had swiped her card over the sensor, so he passed the new card near the same place.
“Name?” the voice said.
“Ahh,” Ken said slowly. “Ken Bartholomew.”
“Voice print confirmed. Level?”
“B6.”
The elevator moved down and opened at level B6. Ken stepped out cautiously and looked around. Everything looked normal; confusing, but normal. He slowly walked over to area 4.
“Ahh, you’re back,” Honi said.
Ken glanced at Stafford’s ID card hanging on the lanyard. It was the same as his, with a big letter Z in the black square.
“What’s the Z for?” Ken asked.
“You now have a security clearance for everything,” Stafford said. “We all do.”
“Compliments from above?”
“Way above.”
“So I’ve heard,” Ken said, looking down at his new ID card.
CHAPTER 16
Peter Steinmetz sat patiently in the situation room in the middle of the night listening to the new plan.
“The earth’s magnetic field will not be strong enough to protect us from the next solar storm,” the President said. “I’ve consulted with our top scientists and this is what we’re going to do.”
“What about the other countries?” the Vice President asked. “Isn’t this a worldwide threat? Shouldn’t they also be involved?”
“They are,” the President replied. “The only countries that can actually help are those with active space programs and immediate launch capability. That narrows our partners down to Russia, China and the European Space Agency.”
“I’ve been getting severe heat from the international community,” the Secretary of State said. “They all want to know exactly how we are addressing this emergency. No one wants to surrender to these maniacs.”
