The attention of the group, human and TP, was fixed on the charismatic man standing at the front of the briefing room. His piercing blue eyes, erect posture, and air of command made him impossible to ignore.
A screen behind him changed slowly, displaying various photos of an unsmiling, harsh faced, powerfully built, middle aged man. The angle of the pictures indicated the photographer had taken them from a distance with a telephoto lens. The man was rarely alone, the demeanor and dress of the individuals surrounding him screamed security staff.
"Sebastian Revell." The Founder identified him.
The images switched to a one story white concrete building. Views from various angles revealed that the building was in an open field surrounded by a high barbed wire fence. The entrance to the compound was a military style command post. Close ups revealed that the post was manned.
"This is the headquarters of Matchless, Inc., a self-styled think tank, which is actually a front organization for a very powerful Tomorrow Person, the Sebastian Revell whose picture you just saw. It's not far over the border in Eastern Canada. The building is actually an old cold war bunker that has been repurposed. Most of the building is underground."
The Founder stood still, speaking without looking over his shoulder at the various changing pictures.
"Our intelligence initiative informs us the building is fortified with crystals. The front reception entry area is manned by armed human security guards. The fence is electrified and has remote security cameras. The interior of the building is also fitted with remote cameras in various places. It's not practical to attempt to storm this building from the outside. Alarms will be triggered and the local authorities notified. Let me stress that we do not want this to happen. We want a smooth takeover.
"We've spent a great deal of time and money to discover a weak spot in their security. There is a central room on the ground level floor where the crystals are removed during the day to allow their agents to teleport in. At night the room is locked down with crystals. There is no special security in this room. During the day TP are in the building. The size of the teleportation signal is monitored both by TP and electronic surveillance equipment. If the signature indicates more than one person then it is investigated, otherwise no."
"How sure are we about this?" A human from one of the alpha squads asked.
"Very sure. We've captured several low level TPs and interrogated them. After realignment they were released back into the situation they were extracted from." Jedikiah stood up and faced the crowd to field the question.
The person who asked the question as well as several others in the room looked puzzled.
John smirked and interpreted. "They grabbed a couple of TPs, tortured them for information, and then used drug therapy to confuse them and plant false memories. Then they dropped them back with a cover story so no one suspects, and even they don't realize what happened."
"Oh!" The man nodded understanding, but he wasn't the only one in the room that looked enlightened.
The Founder frowned at John, but didn't speak. He looked around the room for more questions and then continued. "The plan is for John to teleport in with his core human team. His signature is smoother than most TP and will not be interpreted as anything other than a normal teleportation."
This time a TP agent spoke up. "Has this been confirmed?"
"Yes. We did blind tests having multiple people teleport in. We told the sensors that of the six teleporting sessions one or more would involve multiple people. None of the sensors picked John. They all picked an unskilled breakout and a low talent teleporter. Same with electronic sensors. John does not trigger any alarms." Jedikiah had once again jumped up to answer the question.
The images changed again to show a complete floor plan diagram as well as interior surveillance pictures, the angles indicating a hidden camera.
Kane now stood up. "When John brings my team in, Jim and Ponzi will head towards the front entrance. They will neutralize the security personnel to secure the entrance and open it to our forces. Once the signal is sent the alpha squad will enter along with TP agents to shield them. Maritza and I will secure the top floor and wait for the alpha squad before descending to the lower levels. John will remain in the teleportation room."
There were several low murmurs causing the Founder to say, "At no time will anyone interfere with or question what John does. He will be separately briefed. A pair of human agents will be stationed outside the building in case people try to escape."
The Founder again brought up the picture of Sebastian Revell. "Make no mistake. This man is the primary objective. Neutralize any who jeopardize our mission, but he is the key."
The Founder clasped his hands behind his back and paced in front of the group. "Do not attempt capture. He is too powerful. Shoot to kill. TP agents —your job is to work together to weaken him if possible. He is too strong for any one of you."
John sat, arms folded, eyes downcast. He spoke without looking up. "This man looks the right age to be one of your original group. Also, he has the crystals that Roger Price developed." John looked up. "Was he ever part of Ultra?"
The Founder's eyes shifted to Jedikiah and then back to John. He acknowledged the hit with a nod. "He founded Ultra with Jedikiah, Roger Price, and myself. We had a difference of opinion on tactics and goals."
John looked back down at the floor. "That means you two didn't want to share power."
Several gasps were heard, and then there was dead silence in the room. The normal background sounds expected in a large crowd were absent; no coughing, no throat clearing, no cloth rubbing as someone shifted position in their chair.
Jedikiah quickly filled the breech by standing up. "The transport is all arranged. Your squad leaders will give you more details".
"Are there any more questions?" Jedikiah scanned the room, but no one spoke up. "Good. Then let's disperse according to the plan. We have to expect that we're spied on the way we spy on others. Follow the plan exactly, and nothing will appear out of the ordinary. There will be a fake operation with trainee TP agents and a tertiary alpha squad used as resources on the day the operation takes place."
He looked around the room for reactions before he said, "Okay. Dismissed."
John tried to rise with everyone else, but found he was held in his chair. He looked around and caught the Founder staring at him. "Not you, John. We need to have a little chat."
John sat quietly. The Founder walked around watching John like a cat watching a mouse. He stopped; one hand cupping his elbow, pointer finger against the side of his face. He sighed. "You know, John, Ultra is your family. Your mother and father. You were a child when you came here. Our youngest recruit ever. In a very real sense Ultra raised you."
John stayed quiet, not making eye contact. He wasn't sure where this was going.
The Founder made a face. "And you were our best agent. It might be debated, but I don't think we ever had one that topped you. Oh, there were others with stronger telekinesis and telepathy talents. No doubt about that. You're merely competent in those skills, but you had an uncanny ability to put it all together. When you look at the total package, you are it."
He sighed walking around the table. "That ability to put it all together is causing problems now. When a child misbehaves it's up to the parent to figure out what the problem is and correct it."
The Founder sat on the edge of the table, his leg brushing John's arm. John moved slightly away, but froze when the Founder held up a warning finger.
"Part of this little rebellion, this mouthing off, you're showing is my fault. Apparently I haven't been a firm enough parental figure. So we're going to have a little show of shall we say parental discipline."
John apprehensively glanced up, meeting the Founder's spiteful gaze.
"Oh, not you." He insincerely reassured John. "I need you in excellent shape." He paused. "It will be your surrogate family. The girls go into a new experimental program tomorrow."
John's fists balled with anger causing the Founder to smile and taunt him. "Come on, John. Try it. Let's see what you can do."
John forced his teeth to unclench and concentrated on loosening the fingers of first one hand and then the other. He took a deep calming breath and asked, keeping his tone neutral, "What do I have to do to prevent that?"
The Founder smiled almost paternally. He shook his head in unwilling admiration. "I am both disappointed and impressed. Disappointed because I thought you would go for me, and I would slap you silly, but impressed that you have enough control and sense not to."
He mock shook his head. "There is nothing you can do to prevent it. The only thing that is in question is how quickly you can end it. You'll be under constant surveillance, John. If you do good on this mission then in a couple of days I'll reconsider. If you excel then their punishment ends when you return."
John opened his mouth and then closed it without speaking. There was no leniency in those hard eyes. There would be no negotiation. John knew that to plead would be to show weakness, and weakness would earn him no points in the Founder's eyes.
The Founder lifted a hand placing it against John's forehead allowing John to read the information he carefully brought to the forefront of his mind. John digested it and then nodded to show understanding.
"Can I go now?"
The Founder raised an eyebrow.
"Sir." John added.
The Founder nodded approvingly. "So far you haven't disappointed me, John." His voice hardened. "Let's hope you continue."
John pushed his chair back and left. He waited until he judged he was out of the Founder's range and then pounded his fist against the wall. How could I be so stupid?