Jack and Jill IV
Chapter 23
They were all back in the living room yet again. Alexis had been contacted and she had explained what they were to do.
"She wants us on the patio? Isn't that big gun of yours going to shoot everyone down like last time?" Kate asked looking at Storm who calmly went up to the patio area and shut it down.
"Not now." Except no sooner than he did that then he and Jayne raised their pistols with suppressors. They had packed light like he had suggested.
They all watched this big red and white helicopter fly in and hover right over them. "MH-65 Coast Guard helicopter," Storm said and they all watched as someone was slowly lowered down to them.
He unfastened his harness and stood there. "I have orders to lift all of you up and fly you all out of here. It's getting ugly down there. You're first." He chose Alexis by random, put her in his harness, and signaled for her to go up.
"Can you take his chair?" Kate asked him after Alexis was gone. She watched him look Rick over.
"Sorry, Ma'am. He'll have to go up without it." His motorized chair had to stay.
"I'll take his go bag." Storm took it from him. Jayne helped Rick to stand and stay upright while the harness was attached and up Rick went. One by one they all went up. All of them were sitting on the floor and watched as the door closed and they flew away.
"Where are you talking us?" Kate yelled to both of the Coast Guard men that were up here, not including the ones up front piloting.
"Stewart Air National Guard Base," one of them hollered.
That told Kate they were headed right back to where they had just come from. Maybe they should have just stayed there.
oOo
They landed. Military men waiting for them and one had an old-fashioned wheelchair for Rick to use. Kate was pushing since it was her job and followed who had met them into a building.
"You two aren't going to let me get any sleep, are you?" Madam Secretary was smiling while she teased them all.
"We didn't get a whole lot of sleep ourselves," Alexis grumbled.
"What about Bracken?" Kate queried.
"We're looking for him but DC isn't an easy city to get around in at the moment. Neither is Manhattan, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, and a few others. So far the smaller the city the less trouble they have.
"While I was waiting for you five I got a message that the President is considering enforcing a country wide curfew. Anyone caught outside by the military or the police will find themselves arrested and held. I don't know if it will happen but maybe." Elizabeth told them.
Elizabeth clapped her hands. "Listen up. Give this man all of your cell phones, watches, tablets, old fashioned pagers, basically everything electric. They can be used to track you." A soldier held out a box for everything to go into and got a fair amount over all. Including Alexis's laptop.
"Follow me. We're moving you." She began walking. "On second thought bathroom breaks first. There won't be one on this plane," she warned them and even she used the restroom.
Madam Secretary walked them outside where they found themselves walking toward a really big plane. "Boeing C-17 Globemaster," Storm stated.
"I'll apologize for the seats now," Elizabeth told them. This plane wasn't meant for passengers and comfort. It was meant to carry freight and large equipment. Not people.
"Where are we going?" Storm questioned her.
"Not until we're in the air. We won't have an escort this time. You caught us by surprise. I've been up all night just getting here in my little jet," she answered.
To say that they didn't have seats was almost an overstatement. They could sit down but they didn't have seat belts and there was a lot of webbing to hold stuff in place.
They eventually were roaring down the runway and up into the air.
Madam Secretary kept her word she didn't tell them until where they were going until they were at cruising altitude. "We're going to South Dakota. We have a hiding place for you that only a very select few know anything about. Not a single Senator even has a clue of its existence let alone Bracken."
Storm tried to think what was in South Dakota that could have a hiding place that the government might have and came up empty. So he sat back and enjoyed the ride.
Alexis was sitting next to Jayne. "Any ideas?" she asked him and watched him shake his head. He was with Storm; he had nothing.
oOo
Kate was keeping track while checking on Rick who said he was fine. Four and a half hours later they were landing somewhere. Exiting the plane they found three old Jeep Grand Cherokees waiting for them. This was new.
Kate refused help getting Rick out of his chair and into the back of the Jeep. This was her job and she was going to do it. His chair went in the back.
Kate got Rick. Storm got Madam Secretary and Jayne got Alexis and they started driving.
Each of them looked for a sign telling them where they were but they actually slipped out a back gate that had no sign and out onto a dirt road. The best any of them could tell was that they were going south since the sun was out now.
"You're not talking till we get there, are you?" Storm asked Elizabeth; she shook her head.
"The government has secrets and this is a big one. You shouldn't be here long. We're trying to arrange a location to talk to the Russians and Chinese at the same time. Finding what both might call neutral and not present a problem for all of us to get there is proving to be a challenge.
"Once we have a site you will all be leaving again. If we can all agree to security precautions." They hadn't even made it that far yet.
oOo
It took them almost two hours to drive it and it was nearly all unpaved back roads and the last part was actually up what was more a trail than a dirt road.
There wasn't even a chain link fence keeping everyone out. It was clear they were at a mountain and even the simple very strong-looking door couldn't be seen till they reached it.
Madam Secretary used her card, input her code, and the door unlocked so she could open it by hand. It turned out to be mostly an airlock. It was big enough to hold all of them and she closed the outer door which locked and moved to the next one. "If you don't belong in this room you fry. There is no fire suit made that will protect you. I'm told it may actually melt some of the rock and turn these doors red hot. For all I know they won't even open again," Elizabeth informed them since it was theorized that the heat would warp them so that they couldn't open.
Madam Secretary opened the next door the same way and opened the door. They found two heavily armed men with suppressors on the other side waiting for them.
She closed the door behind them. "Welcome to the Mount Rushmore almost no one knows anything about."
"Mount Rushmore!?" Kate's mouth fell open till she remembered to close it.
"We're technically behind one of the heads. Abraham Lincoln, to be precise. They knew we were on the road long before we even got here. If they wanted they could have blown us up at any time. Come on, I'll give you a tour of the rooms you're allowed to enter. Please don't try and enter any other rooms. I don't want to have to explain it to the President that you were shot." Elizabeth smiled and started walking.
They found the cafeteria and dining room, conference room, entertainment room, exercise room, and finally their common sleeping room. It had three bunk beds for them to sleep in.
"Drop your bags here after you select a bed and go anywhere you wish so long it's any of those rooms. The cafeteria is always open and food is always available along with beverages. Sorry, no alcohol."
"Story of my life," Jayne groaned.
"As I said, go anywhere you wish. I'll come find you when it's time to go. If you didn't bring enough clothes we have lots of coveralls you can use. OH, restrooms. They're just off the exercise room and they have showers. Men and women.
"If you have any specific dietary needs just tell them and they'll meet your needs. Settle in and get comfortable." She left them in their room.
Kate chose a lower bunk for Rick and took the one above him. Alexis had her choice since Storm and Jayne took above and below of one.
"What do you need?" Kate held Rick's hand. She knew sitting in the disgusting little wheelchair had to hurt him.
"I could use a drink is what I could use. But I'll settle for something to eat," Rick said.
"Cafeteria it is. …Just as soon as I find it again," Kate joked. None of the places were all that large. Even the dining room was smaller than her bedroom.
Soon all of them had something to eat and drink. Men and even women came and went and said nothing to them. They got looked at but that was all. Kate was betting it was mostly because she was feeding Rick by hand.
What they didn't know and never would was that this wasn't the only floor. The next floor down was filled with computers - all laptops - communications equipment, and all the command staff including their own sleeping quarters.
"Madam Secretary." Elizabeth was handed something and read it. All she did was sigh and stuff it into the shredder.
oOo
They all spent time in the dining room, exercise room. The entertainment room actually had a TV so they could watch local TV or watch a movie each night. Every night was movie night and this place had all the latest movies to watch.
Local TV was depressing and the only other thing they could do in here was play checkers, chess, or card games. Apparently Hearts was popular with these guys. Rick and Kate played Hearts against a pair of Marines.
They did learn that the President had issued a country wide mandate for a curfew to halt all the unrest. A news conference was scheduled in six hours in which he would discuss the facts.
Storm snorted. "His facts or our facts?"
"Guess we find out," Jayne yawned.
They both trusted any politician about as far as they could throw one of them and probably not even that far.
The entertainment room was packed to standing room only waiting for the President to talk to the nation.
"My fellow Americans and any other nation listing to this broadcast or our Military deployed overseas.
"An unprecedented event in human history has taken place on our planet. And by that I mean OUR planet. The entire Human Race. Roughly seven days ago we learned that two races representing one race landed on our planet. A short time later two members of a different race representing a different faction landed on our planet.
"The first group consisted of six individuals and they immediately attacked the other two and killed both of them. However they left a story behind for us to learn.
"The first group represents a race called the Amplitur. The second group represents a group they call the Weave. These two have been in combat throughout the entire Milky Way Galaxy for several millennia.
"This first group, the Amplitur, we have learned wishes to enslave every intelligent life form in this galaxy to serve what they call the Purpose. We do not yet understand just what this Purpose is. However, they have directly attacked us already.
"One of their fighters was shot down after attacking citizens of New York City.
"The Amplitur, we have learned, wish slavery for everyone. The Weave wants to provide assistance. Yes this war between them encompasses the entire Galaxy with only a few minor exceptions such as our system but that will soon change.
"Until now we have been one of these exceptions. In a little over two weeks we have learned that a fleet of Amplitur ships will be arriving. They will land and attempt to take control of our planet. Roughly two weeks behind that fleet will be a Weave fleet of unknown size.
"Our task is to defend our planet no matter who attacks it. To that extent we have consulted with NATO and will be attempting to consult with other nations so that we can defend our planet together.
"The country wide curfew will remain in effect till it is determined that it is no longer needed. I will enforce Martial Law if I'm forced to in which case you risk something far worse than being arrested and detained for a short time.
"All businesses will remain open and the country will proceed as it normally does for now. Once the first fleet arrives we will decide what happens then.
"Keep in mind, these fleets are coming to us and dictating our planet-wide response. We obviously did not seek them out. We will be prepared to defend our planet against the Amplitur.
"Questions?" Suddenly the entire room erupted with yelling that drowned out everyone else who was yelling.
Somebody turned off the TV since they evidently didn't want to hear questions. This was a military site. They would do what they were ordered to do. Fight who they were told to fight.
oOo
They were all back in their sleeping area. "Well at least he got most of it right. He kind of skimmed over some of it like the mind control and left out Jack and Jill.
"He also didn't explain the Weave very well. He made it almost sound like they were the enemy too. Like anyone that came to our planet was the enemy and needed to be attacked. Isn't an interstellar war big enough for him?" Kate liked parts of his speech but not all of it.
"He's a politician." Storm thought that explained everything right there.
"I don't see how fighting both sides saves us. I mean we can't even get off our own planet let alone attack whoever shows up in whatever ship they bring. What if the Amplitur decide we're too dangerous and we haven't aligned ourselves with the Weave and the Amplitur just decide to bomb us back into the Stone Age.
"Didn't Germany lose because they fought a war on two fronts?" Kate kept questioning.
"Maybe he needs a lesson. I'm betting Jack could give him one if we could decide what that lesson was," Alexis mused.
Problem was they didn't have one. "I need a snack and something to drink. You want something, babe, or would you prefer to just lie down?" Kate asked.
"Bed, please," Rick asked since sitting in this thing was uncomfortable.
"I wonder what they did with those three guys if they did anything at all." Alexis questions. She really didn't want to go home and find three dead bodies all wrapped up in duct tape stinking up the place.
"They better find Bracken first or I'm not sure I want to go home," Kate stated flatly.
"I didn't even get to buy that place in Panama yet." She still had to solve the solar panels and wind power problem plus the problem of getting there.
oOo
It was a full day later till they saw Madam Secretary who caught them all in their room. "Found you. We'll be leaving in six hours. We've agreed on a neutral site for us to talk at and that country is willing, for a price, to host all of us," Elizabeth told them.
"So where are we going?" Storm inquired. "We're down to just fifteen days." Basically two weeks which wasn't much time.
"Thailand. Specifically the Pai Airport located in the Mae Hong Son province. The runway is only one thousand meters long or three thousand two hundred eighty feet. It was built by the Japanese during the war and converted to civil aviation in 1945. Thailand at one time had a plan to expand it to attract more tourists but it was ultimately rejected.
"Don't expect much when you get there," Elizabeth warned them since it will be basic.
"Where exactly is this place? I've never heard of Maw Hung sin," Kate asked.
Madam Secretary smiled as Kate butchered the name. "It's on the very border with Burma if that helps."
"A little." Kate really needed to learn more geography.
"We need to wait for Air Force Two to arrive back in Rapid City. From there we fly to Tokyo where we will refuel. Change flight crews and pick up our armed escort. Technically Yokota Airbase in the city of Fussa which is a little west of Tokyo. We can't really trust civilian airports at this time."
"So who is going with us this time?" Storm questioned her.
"Same as last time save for Deputy Commander Gary Johnson of Army Intelligence. He was unavailable so instead we're getting Major General John Shanahan of Air Force Intelligence. None of these people are required to formulate a plan of action when the Amplitur fleet arrives." They were all basically diplomats in one form or another including Elizabeth McCord.
"Are we attacking the Weave when they show up too?" Kate questioned her. "The President suggested that in his speech."
"I didn't write his speech. However this same group plus others have already informed him of his error. We will not be attacking the Weave when they arrive I can assure you of that. One enemy is more than enough, thank you very much. Most of us are still coming to terms with the concept of an interstellar war that encompasses almost the entire galaxy. It's a difficult concept to wrap one's mind around. Especially when you have an astronomer explain to you just how big the Milky Way really is in layman's terms. They can get rather technical in their answers." Madam Secretary laughed a little at that.
"Is there a hotel somewhere maybe?" Alexis asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not. At least Air Force Two does have beds and until Tokyo we will be flying with fewer people so I suggest you sleep on the flight over. Most of us will be doing the same."
Alexis asked another question. "What about clothes? We left with very little. And I only have one tampon."
"Now that I can understand and I'll do what I can. Air Force Two hasn't actually left yet so perhaps. Write down your sizes and I'll send them." She actually stood there and waited as everyone wrote something down and handed it over.
"Just be ready for the Russians and the Chinese. Especially after the President's speech. You can be assured they watched it." Elizabeth left them to send the message and hoped for the best.