Then a mature couple appeared, fit, healthy and alert, definitely standing out from the crowd and he recognized Bill Thomas immediately. Making his way through the school group it struck him how much Bill had aged in the nine months since they last met. Shit this has taken a lot out of him, he thought.
Extending his hand he stepped forward to the woman first, "Mrs. Thomas, Kevin Stein, thank you so much for coming out here too." He turned to the aged chairman, "Bill, it's good to see you again - thank you for agreeing to talk with us."
"Thanks for picking us up Kevin, good to see you too. We're a little tired but we did sleep on the plane to Sydney. Should have flown Air NZ via Auckland I guess but, you know, United club member." He shrugged his shoulders.
"No problem, I planned on dropping you at your hotel to freshen up anyway, these early morning flights in can be a killer I know. How about I drop you there and give you a call about three this afternoon? That way you can have a sleep if you like or just walk around town, the hotel's in the centre."
"That would be perfect Kevin," Bill replied, "Liz I know would like to get cleaned up, what are your plans for later?"
"Sir, I thought we'd meet at Marcus's offices in town here, and then perhaps if you're both up to it we'll take you to dinner. We can then drop you back to the hotel and play it by ear tomorrow. We're not committed to any particular time so sleep in if you can. The plan is to head up to the Wairarapa tomorrow via Riverside. We'll give you the full tour."
"That sounds good. Could you help us with our bags?"
Kevin grabbed two bags and led them through the doors to the Koru car park. As they walked over to the car Mrs. Thomas spoke for the first time.
"How are Hayden and Jenny, we do so miss them."
Kevin could see Bill grimace. "They're both thriving Ma'am, and looking forward to catching up with you."
Sitting in his office with Bill Thomas and Marcus, Kevin felt chills as he watched Regan's presentation again. It was almost eight months since he had last watched it and seeing her felt like watching a ghost. It still shocked him how seedy politics could become. Bill sat silently throughout and as the last frame finished Kevin paused the picture.
"So Bill, what are your first impressions?"
"That they are absolute bastards! I can't believe my own government would screw us like that, they've sold us out." He looked grey.
"Well sir," Marcus addressed him, "You can understand our scepticism then over the claims regarding cyber terrorism. For one thing, we know for a fact it didn't happen the way they say, and if they found nothing to support our claims then there is some serious cyber espionage going on here. Whoever is behind this has set us up to be sued along with you by the Chinese."
"But," and Kevin took over, "We believe that this whole thing is just a side game, a diversion. The real goal is to . . ."
". . . pick up USDynamics for a song, I get it, and they're almost there." Bill sounded disgusted.
"True," Kevin continued. "Effectively they already control the company; they have eighty five percent or near enough. But we believe they want the lot so that they have no accountability at all. They'll have your aerospace technology and everything else too, then they can take it where they want and lock it up for themselves."
"Without having to do the development, it's just wrong!" Bill said.
"So you can see why we don't want you to sell, sir." Marcus said. "We can't get back the eighty five percent . . . yet! But we can hold up the rape of the company while we work out how to solve this problem, for us and for you."
"Well you can be sure we won't sell now. Oh, we were going to, we thought it was all over. Even the Vice President called me encouraging me to sell, he reckoned it would be good for international relations - the idiot! The Chinese even offered us three times current market price and then I got your call Marcus. Turns out you hold the ace in the hole anyway. Our shares and the others out there only make four and a half percent. There's another three percent block held by the US Government but they're not selling either. Now it doesn't matter, if we stick together on this they can't get over ninety percent and that prevents the squeeze."
Kevin looked puzzled. "Hold on, if your Government holds three percent and they aren't selling, why is the VP calling you encouraging you to sell?"
Bill stood, shaking his head. "Gentleman, this gets more and more disturbing. You'll forgive me if we miss dinner tonight. I'm going to hit the sack so I'm fresh tomorrow. Kevin, Marcus said something to me on the phone about Regan and I agree. He said she's a handshake kind of girl and I operate that way myself," he held out his hand. "We have a deal, neither of us will sell without the others’ agreement."
They shook.
*
The Stein Traveler, the Solar System
A long curving trajectory beginning outside Neptune allowed them to finally cruise in under cover of the moon. As The Stein Traveler passed Luna they chose a path that kept them from silhouette and took advantage of its distracting brightness.
They parked in geostationary orbit above the Pacific.
Regan and Marin were engrossed in the control room, she with her legs tucked under her, he with long limbs stretched out on the forward console as Ham's presentation brought them up to date with all the changes since they left. It came to an end, leading to a long moment of silent contemplation.
"The Vice President," Regan finally broke the silence, "Why would he take such a risk?"
"How could he act so traitorously against his own country's interests?" Marin asked.
"Money," Ham stated confidently.
"It's possible." Regan sat up and turned to Marin. "Jim Walker wouldn't see this as traitorous, to him it’s just business. He's been an active opponent of NASA investment for years and doesn't believe in it, so losing USDynamics Aerospace wouldn't be a problem for him. And he knows they weren't giving away military secrets so he'd be comfortable with that. No, it's just business, but it's got to be for money."
"He owes millions Regan," Ham explained. "His campaign for the Democratic nomination cost him personally big time. He gambled heavily and lost, to Sarah Allen. Now he sees the writing on the wall, he's getting too old and there's no guarantee she'll run with him again next time. He faces going out of office bankrupt and he's bitter."
Regan couldn't fault Ham's analysis.
"And the USDynamics shareholders, STEIN, the employees, we're all just expendable to him?"
"All collateral damage," Ham put it brutally.
"What about the Chinese Government? What's their motivation?" Marin asked.
"Are they involved at all?" Regan looked doubtful. "Sure they wouldn't be happy that their own spying led to problems for their IT, Arteis did its job and they're pissed. But I wonder whether they're aware of how they've been manipulated into backing China Air's case? This smacks to me of smart billionaire Chinese business interests looking to join the space cowboys the fast way."
"You're partly right Regan, but it is the other way around. The Chinese Government sees the business opportunism as a way of obtaining the latest space technology while maintaining deniability. They're one step ahead of the billionaires and if they have any problems a Chinese prison is a powerful motivator."
"Well," Regan stood to stretch, confidence surging through her. "STEIN won't be collateral damage for anyone. And when anyone attacks my family they attack me. Mary's not going to face that committee alone and we're going to get her out of there whether the US Government like it or not. Ham, I want a step by step breakdown of the forensics you've gathered stored somewhere accessible to me. Make sure it has all the calls, people, data changes and visuals and put them in a timeline so that it can all be easily followed and checked."
"It's done!" [I can transmit when ready.]
"Great, now listen carefully, here's my plan . . ."
They would go in fast. They would do it in the open, and midday sounded good to Regan. They would take the Saucer, as she called it and laughed at the idea,
now that will make a media splash. They would get the world to come to them and then they'd get the shits who'd crossed STEIN.
She has a way with words! thought Ham as he readied the Transport and Regan stalked off to change. She wanted to look her intimidating best.
US Aircraft Carrier John F Kennedy, off Brisbane, Australia
"Hold the line for Secretary of Defense Hayman, sir."
Rear Admiral Hank Coogan composed himself as he waited for connection. How the hell is this going to sound? he thought. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest and drew long steady breaths as he tried to relax but it was difficult, the whole ship buzzing with speculation. Word had spread like wildfire.
"This is James Hayman," a familiar voice came on the line, "is that really Chuck Coogan?"
"Certainly is Jamie, calling all the way from Brisbane, I thought I was just going to be setting off for home." his voice managed to convey the expectation that everything had changed.
"Good to hear your voice, Chuck, but I take it this isn't a friendly call, we're not at war are we?" He laughed.
Chuck paused nervously.
"Chuck?"
"Sir, this is going to sound crazy but I wouldn't waste your time if it wasn't absolutely legit. Within an hour the international news media are going to be reporting something we witnessed ourselves and recorded just twenty seven minutes ago. Sir, it's a UFO, a saucer and no bullshit, it dropped into atmosphere over the central Pacific heading southward around thirty minutes ago. We've been tracking it from early on as have air traffic control units all round the South Pacific and Asia." He paused to slow down and breathe.
"You say you witnessed it?"
"We had F18's in the air over the Tasman sir, and while this thing didn't buzz them as such it certainly had a look at them before continuing on toward New Zealand."
"Did your boys attempt to chase it?" Hayman couldn't hide the scepticism in his voice.
"Sir, we weren't fuelled up for a trip across the Tasman and anyway, we're talking around three thousand miles per hour. There's no way we could keep up."
"What have the Kiwi's reported?"
"I haven't talked to anyone yet, as soon as I had confirmation I called you. We do know they've diverted all aircraft away from the flight path and an Airbus en route to Singapore got a good look, but everything else is being grounded quick smart."
There was a long pause and Coogan finally sat down to rest, so keyed up his legs were shaking.
"Chuck, start steaming for New Zealand and give it everything you've got. I know we're looking at about three days but I want you close. Also, I want a flight on the way there, get them in the air and decide your destination as soon as you're sure where this thing is headed. Even if it disappears back wherever it came from, which I guess it might, I want us to be ready. Do we have any spooks on board?"
"We have intelligence personnel with us, yes sir." Coogan nearly choked on the words.
"Get one of them on a plane; I want someone on the ground."
"And the New Zealand Government Jamie, how do we handle them?"
"Hell, just get your guys on the way, they won't stop our boys landing, I'll make the calls."
The Admiral could almost sense the Secretary of Defense thinking and sure enough he spoke again.
"You're sure about this Chuck; you know I'm on the way to the President?"
"No doubt about it, and Jamie, I'd get NASA or whoever peers into space these days to have a look around up there. Maybe this thing has a partner."
*
Houston, Texas
At the NASA Mission Control Centre in Houston the man and woman were deep in conversation assessing the data.
". . . it's not space debris, the object's huge, we're talking forty to fifty meters in diameter Steve, and it's keeping position. We need to notify Department of Defense Joint Space Operations."
"Can we see it from anywhere, the space stations maybe?" The man was grabbing at straws.
"Unlikely, they'd have to pick it out from a hell of a distance. The stations are at around three hundred and fifty thousand kilometers, this thing is closer to satellite height, about thirty six. How it's just sitting there is anyone's guess."
"It's got to be related to that UFO report, it has to be. Jesus, I can't believe it!"
"Let's get DOD on the line, pronto!"
*
As the disc slipped effortlessly up the valley, skimming the water in places and soaring over the trees, Regan wished for a window to wind down, to be able to hang over the side door like a child [or a dog!] to feel the wind in her hair and smell the river.
The screens were magnificent but knowing the river as she did her sense of disconnect from all she could see was more profound here than in space. She thought about Marin at her side and understood his feelings, she too needed to feel the soil under her feet.
Sweeping up over the Kennedy Good Bridge she could see a car brake suddenly and as she spun for the reverse view cringed as a small truck thumped into the car's rear.
"Over there Ham." And she gestured to the left. They soared over the trees planted for flood protection, all in full summer leaf, beautiful she knew, but screening the view of the water that she loved. They flew on across the old tennis courts she had played on as a child then drifted down to settle in the centre of the Belmont Domain.
They had entered by elevator through what was now the base of the Saucer and now she looked around, confused for a moment, wondering how they would exit. A section of the half meter thick wall slid smoothly out toward the river and with a deep inhalation she could smell the dry grass, the smell of Earth summer and it took her breath away.
Regan turned to look at Marin, magnificent in a black body suit that Ham assured her could stop a bullet. She hoped so; this was going to be a shock for some.
No mirrors. She patted herself down, stroked nonexistent hair into place, and then stepped toward the gap.
"Ready?" Marin asked.
"I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be," she replied, stepping through the gap, and down a single step to the ground as the disc hovered above it. Reaching up she took Marin's hand as he stepped down easily beside her.
"Welcome to my world." she said smiling.
Regan gestured forward and they set off across the grass together, heading upriver toward home. Suddenly confident she laughed with joy, the more so when she saw Marin examining one foot and scraping off horse manure, probably left there in the last few days; it was fresh. It broke the tension that had built unbearably as they neared this moment.
Continuing on quickly she led him down the river trail and up toward the old house, conscious of sirens already drawing nearer in the background. Once out of sight of the domain she relaxed slightly, only to be caught off guard as they walked up the track suddenly spying the oak tree and the house. A moment, she thought. I need a moment, and instead of going to the house she led Marin down to the old swimming hole.
Ham monitored the activity around the domain, police cars arriving at the end of the street and the officers, unable to drive into the park, leaving their cars and walking cautiously toward the black vessel. He could see a woman filming from houses at the domain side and simultaneously tracked approaching helicopters from the south. With the all seeing, all knowing monitoring of The STEIN in orbit he also followed the F20 squadron dispatched from the John F Kennedy, noted their likely arrival time and intentions. He listened in to the calls of updates to police commanders, the military, and the Prime Minister. He listened, he saw and processed . . . all.
[Regan, sorry, but there isn't much time, perhaps thirty minutes.]
[I know Ham, I'll get it done.]
Curious locals were also out on the domain now, emboldened by the presence of police, gathering around the Saucer. With too few police to form a cordon, everyone drew nearer, some lying down to look underneath. A small dog was running from one side to another to the alarm of its elderly owner.
He could see the woman who w
as filming talking to police. They then reported in by radio, and moved quickly away toward the river trail.
[Regan, move now if you're going to. There are people moving toward you. If you want to do this do it soon.]
[Ok Ham, I just needed to get myself together, I've got this.]
Through Regan’s eyes, Ham then shared the walk with them back to the trail from the river and climbed the bank to step over a low fence to the lawn. He felt every tentative step as she walked to the rear ranch slider, the catch in her throat as she spied her mother, and the flash of panic as Jean Stein slid out of sight behind the bench.
Marin stood waiting at the door where he could hear Regan's voice.
"Mom!. . . Mom! It's ok, it's ok, it's me, I'm so, so sorry."
He paused to give them space, feeling sure the woman had only fainted, and out of his view he could hear Regan crying, then voices.
"Mom, it's ok, it's me, Regan, and I'm home."
"Regan, is that really you?"
Marin could hear them shifting, sitting up on the floor. He peered over the bench top just as the woman's sobs started with Regan trying to settle her.
"Regan darling, why didn't you talk to me? Why didn't you tell me you had cancer?"
Marin walked around the bench and helped Regan lift her mother to her feet. Together they maneuvered her to the dining table and sat, Regan beside her mother, Marin opposite.
"Mom, listen, what are you talking about? I don't have cancer."
Marin could tell the woman had hardly noticed him; she only had eyes for Regan.
"Your hair, you can't hide it from me, and you're so pale. You should have told me you were going for treatment; I could have looked after you."
Regan's Reach Page 28
