by Dave Edlund
Peter laid his head back and felt the rhythmic vibrations of the helicopter. His eyelids felt heavy, and his thoughts drifted, finally settling on his children, Ethan and Joanna. What were they doing today, he wondered? Maybe Joanna was busy decorating a client’s new home. She was probably absorbed in defining a color palate that appealed to her artistic sense as well as the client’s preferences. And what about Ethan? Was he studying for his classes? Peter just wanted to return to a normal life, but it seemed so far away. Slowly his mind finally gave in, and sleep enveloped his body.
For Jim Nicolaou there would be no rest on this flight—there was still too much to be done; the hard work was just beginning.
Although they had won the battle, the war still raged on. Like the mythical Hydra, he had succeeded in cutting off the beast’s head, but he feared two more would soon sprout anew. To slay the beast, they would have to cut out its heart. And to do that, Jim knew he and his team would have to find its lair.
Chapter 18
September 27
Over the Gulf of Alaska
Cruising at 45,000 feet over the Gulf of Alaska, the C-37A was speeding south. In a few hours it would land at McClellan on the single 10,600-foot-long runway. Construction of the base began in 1936, and it was named McClellan Field after Major Hezekiah McClellan, a test pilot and pioneering aviator who helped develop Alaskan air routes. It was officially named McClellan Air Force Base in 1947, when the Air Force became an independent branch of the armed services. Eventually the base evolved into the home of the Sacramento Air Logistics Center. Despite its long history, the installation did not survive the Base Realignment and Closure Law of 1995.
Known now as McClellan Business Park, it housed a mix of military and private-sector tenants. The Defense Commissary Agency’s regional headquarters as well as the Defense Department’s microelectronics center and the Veterans’ Administration’s medical and dental clinics were all located there. More importantly, The Office was located in a large hangar just off the runway. From the outside, the space looked like any other hangar, but inside it was much different.
The Office was home to the Strategic Global Intervention Team. The SGIT—pronounced ess-git—operated under the authority of the Defense Intelligence Agency. As the name suggested, SGIT was tasked with intervening in matters of strategic importance to the United States. Major military campaigns were, of course, still conducted by the traditional assets—Special Forces, Marine Corps and Army soldiers, Air Force and Navy attack bombers, and cruise missiles. Yet in some cases, a unique combination of brain and brawn focused on a specific target was the best tool. And that was when SGIT entered the picture.
They brought the analytical capability and expertise of the DIA and melded it with the surgical strike capabilities of a Navy SEAL team. Like most of Jim Nicolaou’s strike team—Ghost, Homer, Magnum—they had been trained as SEALs and then recruited, all from SEAL Team 6, by the DIA. These field agents, as they were called, operated under noms de guerre rather than publicizing their true identities. The field team was supported from The Office by a support and intelligence team including John Wiley, the armorer; Ellen Lacey, senior intelligence officer; and two junior intelligence officers, Beth Ross and Mark Williams.
Packed with secure communications equipment and a massively powerful optical supercomputer affectionately called Mother, The Office was well equipped for taking on the most difficult threats facing the country. At the moment, all its assets were devoted to finding those orchestrating the attacks on petroleum researchers around the globe. The slaughter in Caracas was most disturbing, given the number of Americans who were killed and the brazen nature of the attack. And now the assault on Professor Savage’s team on an Alaskan island—the violence was escalating, and the team needed to come up with answers, fast.
Inside the aircraft cabin, Commander Nicolaou, AKA Boss Man, was sitting around a small table with Professor Savage, Professor Sato, and Peter. They had been engaged in conversation almost since departing Elmendorf Air Force Base. Jim was debriefing the trio, and the conversation was being recorded for the benefit of the rest of the SGIT team, especially the analysts.
“Jim, you predicted that my father’s team might be the target of an attack, so why assign only two under-armed marshals for protection?”
“To begin with, Peter, the attack you just survived was far more significant than what I had feared. With the exception of the Caracas suicide bombings, the pattern had been limited to isolated murders. I didn’t anticipate such a bold assault on U.S. soil. I won’t underestimate my enemy again.”
“Okay, so this was different. Why?”
“I can’t say. But it seems the degree of organization and intensity of violence is escalating. At Caracas as well as on Chernabura Island, military weapons and tactics were used. This suggests to me that whoever is behind this is under pressure to achieve results with the most expediency possible.”
“You’ve mentioned a number of murders that you believe are part of this pattern to eliminate selected scientists. Maybe the list is almost complete?” Peter found it strange to hypothesize about the motives of a murderer.
Then he added, “What am I saying? I don’t know what I’m talking about. I keep thinking about one person ordering these murders. But that doesn’t make sense. It’s got to be a government, right? I mean, only a government would have the resources and motive to do this.” His frustration was evident.
“Maybe,” answered Jim. “But I keep coming back to why? Why change the tactics and methods now?”
“And you still believe that the overall objective is to derail the research efforts aimed at discovering a route to synthetic oil production?”
“Yes, I do.” Just then Jim’s eyes widened as a revelation occurred to him. “Maybe that’s it.”
Professor Savage had been quietly listening, still regretting his stubborn refusal to heed Jim’s warning weeks ago. Now he wanted to help solve the riddle. “Maybe what, is it? You have said all along that the murders were about depriving mankind of the knowledge to manufacture petroleum.”
“Maybe the violence has escalated because they think a major breakthrough is near. It was very risky to send armed mercenaries onto U.S. territory with the goal of murdering your entire team. Thank God they failed.” Jim paused for a moment to organize his thoughts.
“Professors, is your work close to a significant breakthrough?”
Professor Savage answered. “I am not sure what you mean by ‘significant.’ As I told you before, our work is aimed at achieving a fundamental understanding of geochemical reactions that we hypothesize can yield hydrocarbons on Titan. Professor Sato provides a theoretical understanding, while my work is focused on experimental studies.”
Professor Sato joined the conversation. “Yes. Our calculations must ultimately be validated through experimental measurements.”
“Our work to date has yielded positive and very encouraging results, but the reaction rates are far too slow. I had planned to begin a systematic evaluation of potential catalysts,” added Professor Savage.
Then a frown appeared as he realized that his students had not had time to gather all the specimens he needed. “But without the samples, it’s doubtful we’ll make much progress in the lab.”
Jim smiled. “Relax, Professor. I’ll put you in touch with a friend of mine at the National Science Foundation. I think he can help you out with the necessary rock specimens.”
Getting back on task, Jim pressed further. “And what would be a successful outcome of your work?”
“If Professor Sato’s kinetic models can be validated, then we would report our results in one, maybe two, refereed papers. I would like to think that publication would be given priority.”
It was obvious that neither academic was seeing the big picture. They continued to think of their work only as fodder for publications.
“I presume you have been publishing your research results?” Jim queried.
“Of course
. We’ve published a few papers, but not many.”
“And when was the most recent publication?”
Professor Savage glanced at Sato-san before answering. “We had planned to make a joint presentation at the Hedberg Conference in Caracas, but had to withdraw the paper at the last moment because the theoretical calculations and our preliminary data were not matching well.”
“Dad, I didn’t know you were planning to go to that conference; you never told me.”
“Once we withdrew the paper, it didn’t seem important.”
Jim rubbed his temples, quiet in thought. Peter instantly understood the implications, especially the danger.
“You and Professor Sato are fortunate that you didn’t present your results in Caracas,” said Jim. “Had you been there, you would have been killed. Seems you both escaped death… twice now. I’d suggest you not push your luck.”
Professor Savage cast his eyes down to the table top.
Jim felt like he was lecturing a child. Both scholars were naïve, almost unbelievably so.
Needing to move on, he cleared his throat and said, “Please continue, Professor.”
“About two months ago, we found the problem; some of the assumptions in the calculation were faulty. Having made the corrections, we submitted a paper describing our recent results to the Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. It’s currently in review, but we expect it to be accepted for publication.”
Peter and Jim exchanged a quick glance. “And what are the key findings you are reporting?”
“The data from our high pressure reactions are described very well by Sato-san’s thermodynamic and kinetic modeling. For the first time, we have validated a computer model derived from first principles that suggests petroleum can indeed be synthesized within the mantle of planets and moons.”
Jim was stunned. “My God, that’s it.” He was almost whispering. Everyone was silent, absorbed in the immense meaning of this discovery. Professor Savage sagged back in his chair, both hands resting on the table, no longer able to ignore the significant implications of his research.
At last Jim broke the silence. “Okay. You said your work is not funded by oil companies, right?”
“Yes. I have a grant from NASA, and Sato-san has a subcontract under that grant.”
“I’m not a scientist, so I must confess that I don’t understand all this talk of chemistry and hydrocarbons and moons of Saturn.” There was a hint of frustration in Jim’s voice.
Peter stepped in. “Maybe I can help, Jim. Here is the conundrum. For decades, geologists have explained oil and gas deposits on earth as the result of the anaerobic decay of plant and animal material from carbon-based life forms. You know, ferns and dinosaurs. But that cannot possibly be the explanation for hydrocarbons on Titan, since it could never support life as we know it. So there has to be another explanation.”
“Okay, I’m with you,” said Jim.
“There could very well be multiple mechanisms that yield simple and complex hydrocarbons—what we collectively refer to as petroleum or oil and natural gas,” said Professor Sato. “Through theory and experiment, scientists can test hypothetical chemical mechanisms. The data allows us to argue in support of a particular mechanism or to disprove others. It would be very unlikely for such a diverse collection of chemical compounds as are found in petroleum to be the product of only a single reaction mechanism. Of course, we are not arguing that petroleum cannot be formed from biological material—dinosaurs, as Peter-san says. Rather, we are testing the hypothesis that petroleum may also be formed from inorganic reactions.”
“Dad, we’ve been told for decades that petroleum and gas are finite resources. The experts have continually forecast diminishing reserves. If your theories are right and petroleum is also made from inorganic reactions in the Earth’s mantle, could there be a continual resupply?”
“Yes, perhaps so. You see, those predictions have mostly been wrong. Peak oil production has not occurred yet, despite more than seven decades of predictions that it is imminent. Sato-san and I have many colleagues in the Ukraine and Russia. They really pioneered the theory of abiogenic oil formation and have successfully employed the theory to find new and significant reserves. But the ‘theory’ is lacking details, and it doesn’t explain how oil is formed—only that it may be formed by mechanisms not involving decaying plant and animal matter.”
“What inorganic reactions could possibly yield oil?” asked Jim.
“We have theorized that calcium carbonate and other mineral carbonates may be reduced by hydrogen to form hydrocarbons. We have speculated that carbonates are present on Titan, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Water is present. The thermodynamic models developed by Sato-san support our hypothesis. The problem has been two-fold. One, where does the hydrogen come from? And two, can the reactions occur at a sufficiently fast rate to be significant?
“The research site on Chernabura Island is ideal, since it is located at the edge of the North America plate, where the Pacific plate is subducted into the mantle. The ocean floor is, of course, rich in calcium carbonate from shells, and hydrogen is plentiful in the form of water. As this material is drawn into the mantle, it is subjected to intense heating and extreme pressures. All of this creates ideal conditions for hydrocarbon formation.”
“I thought you just said that Professor Sato’s models show that the reactions are thermodynamically possible?” Jim needed to understand the science fully to solve the question about motive.
“Yes,” answered Professor Savage. “But just because a reaction is thermodynamically favored does not mean that the rate of reaction is fast enough to support the theorized end result. It could take millions of years for a reaction to occur.”
“I see,” said Jim. “And I presume that the high temperatures available within the earth are pivotal to your theories?”
“Remember, our work is focused on processes in the mantle of Titan, not Earth. But I see where you’re going, and… yes. I would have to agree that the unique conditions of pressure and temperature within the Earth—and potentially other planetary bodies—may make these chemical reactions occur at a significant rate. A good example is the formation of diamonds. They are one of the most stable forms of carbon, more stable than amorphous carbon—the black charcoal formed in wood fires. Yet to transform amorphous carbon to a diamond requires extremely high pressure and temperatures. Diamonds occur naturally in places associated with igneous rock. They are formed from carbon deep within the mantle and rise to the earth’s surface in volcanic pipes. In fact, diamonds were first discovered in Africa and India in the ancient kimberlite formations of eroded lava cores from extinct volcanoes.”
“Okay, I get it. So what is the next phase of your research?”
“Now that the thermodynamic proof has been achieved, my group is focusing on identifying potential reaction catalysts that accelerate the reaction to measureable rates. The samples we would have gathered on the island were for this purpose. Once we have found an effective chemical catalyst or combination of catalysts, the reaction mechanism can be studied in depth.”
Jim believed he was on the verge of fully understanding the reason for the recent escalation in violence. “So once you’ve identified a catalyst for the reaction, couldn’t companies begin to manufacture petroleum?”
“Well, yes… I suppose so. But there would still be much to learn.”
Jim’s mind was chewing through ideas, theories, rejecting, accepting, and modifying them until he felt he narrowed in on a solid hypothesis.
“Your results—a proof that petroleum is created in the mantle of the Earth—that’s the key. Until now, it’s only been unproven theories. But your results changed that. Those theories are now supported by extensive theoretical and experimental results.”
Peter understood. “And that’s why there was a sudden escalation in the severity of the attacks. They thought Dad and Professor Sato would be at the Hedberg Conference; that’s why they used suicide bo
mbers to kill everyone.”
“And when they realized that Professor Savage and Professor Sato were not in attendance—that they had withdrawn their paper—they formulated a new plan—the assault on the research team on Chernabura Island.”
The words hung heavy, almost like a fog, in the cabin of the aircraft.
“It makes sense,” commented Peter. His father and Professor Sato both nodded ever so slightly.
Jim felt energized. They had made significant, albeit painful, progress in their understanding. There would be plenty of time later for the professors to work through their personal guilt and remorse. Time was of the essence, and he needed to keep them moving toward a solution.
“We need to know who is behind this. Who is orchestrating and funding the murders.”
Peter said, “You hinted before that you thought countries with vast oil reserves might be threatened by my father’s work.”
“It’s just a theory, and we need to develop it fully. But my suspicion is based on the fact that many countries, some not so friendly toward the United States and the West in general, rely heavily on the sale of oil to support their regimes. If these countries were to be deprived of that revenue stream, what do you think would happen to them?”
Peter pressed further. “But that’s where I’m struggling with the logic. Just because we develop a method to synthesize oil doesn’t mean that Iran, Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and others would be deprived of oil revenue overnight. I’d imagine that building the infrastructure to synthesize oil would take decades, even with dedicated government support.”
“Yes, it would take years, but maybe not as many as you imagine. In the 1960s we developed manned space flight and landed Neil Armstrong on the moon within the decade. It took less than a decade to develop atomic energy and nuclear weapons. If the government commits to a massive program to synthesize oil—in essence to wean our country from dependence on imported petroleum—the task could be completed in a similar time frame, maybe less.”
