Outside of the helicopter a strong tropical wind caused him to refocus his attention on the approaching island, closing the file and narrowing his glasses the Secretary-general looked down at the small stretch of land.
From this vantage point he couldn't really make out anything extraordinary about Elias Island, a single tall dormant volcano rose from the mesh of jungle and rocks, the only real landmark able to seen besides that being the launchpad they were approaching.
Hiding in plain sight, he thought with disgust as the helicopter slowed and began to descend. If the file he just read was any indication however he knew there was far more going on beneath the surface. Two scientists clad in typical white approached his vehicle as he stepped out and adjusted his suit looking at them both and wondering just how many officials had agreed to keep Monarch a secret.
"Secretary-General Dursel I was under the impression that your inspection would be next week," the first man said above the noise of the rotors as they walked into the subterranean site.
"Yes well if you were expecting us then you might have something to hide," Tim answered back to which the second scientist remarked, "I'm sure you are aware Monarch is cooperating to their full extent with the UNSC."
"I will be the judge of that," he barked back as they approached the elevator and he tapped on the file he was holding impatiently before adding, "Show it to me."
Without another word the two pressed for the bottom floor of the underground research center and Dursel looked about at all of the men and women who were handling a variety of tasks and still tried to wrap his mind around this idea. To think so much has been kept from humanity, he thought. Soon the view became obscured as they delved deeper and he asked, "Just how far down does this facility go?"
"About one hundred sixty meters below sea level, don't worry we supply our own oxygen down here. But we like to maintain the egg in the same atmosphere it was discovered in. So as not to cause cross-contamination," the first man answered.
"Wouldn't want to hurt the omelet," Tim quipped as the elevator stopped and they moved out to a balcony overlooking what appeared to be similar to Mesopotamian ruins. Long arching pillars surrounded a central altar that had to be roughly the size of Madison Square Gardens and there in the center of the enclosed structure was the discovery itself.
Dursel approached the glass looking down at it, he had read the file but still nothing could prepare him for the awesome size of the egg. Even in this dense covered cavern the blue and yellow hue that colored the massive orb sent shimmers of light throughout the volcano and Tim looked toward the eastern side of the structure to see where light was being allowed inside to give the strange thing the proper amount.
"That gap in the volcano is actually where the Alpha attacked and attempted to destroy the egg. We have those reports if you want to read them," the second stated to which Dursel stated, "I read a brief summary of incident... so you are saying even Godzilla's atomic breathe couldn't penetrate the shell?"
"As of right now nothing we have done had ever made a scratch on it. Considering its constant dormant nature it's most likely whatever lifeform was residing inside died long ago," the first answered.
"I want a closer inspection," he said instantly to which the second researcher bit his lip and stated, "unfortunately this is as far as we can take you. Routine maintenance and upkeep. We like to keep the environment sterile for the subject." The scientists both smiled and the first said, "As I made clear earlier sir you should made it clear you were coming so we would be better prepared."
They showed Dursel the documents relating to the way the facility ran and he cursed to himself silently knowing they had definitely planned all of this in advance. What other horrid organisms was Monarch keeping from us? It made him squeamish to consider it.
"Thank you gentlemen, I suppose in that case I will have to cut my trip short