The 355

by greygoose70

There are weapons of destruction, there are weapons classified as mass destruction and then there are weapons of total destruction. This is the story of latter and the group trying to stop it. DISCLAIMER: I own nothing pertaining to the show, those that wrote it, produced it or the network that showed it. AN: 17 chapters and is complete with a surprised ending.

14. Chapter 14

Title: The 355

By: greygoose70

Chapter 14

1200 Hours, The Hilton-McLean Hotel

"Okay everybody time for lunch," Rick proclaimed as four carts were being pushed into the room, the wait staff immediately leaving after making the appropriate preparations.

Stepping up to the carts the group saw an assortment of sandwiches, salads, a soup, different desserts and various drinks. Rick waited until the ladies were done selecting their lunch before making a plate for himself then took it to his station to eat.

As each lady finished eating, they went right back to work so by 1500 hours the Air and Space Museum had been scanned up, down and all around. When everything was done they had a total of eight blind spots that needed to be checked out and six areas that required special attention.

"Road trip," Rick clamoured standing up; "Jordan, you drive," tossing her the keys.

Once everyone was aboard Rick pulled out his phone and dialed the number for the museum security office. When his call was answered by none other than Security Chief Farris Rick informed him he and his group were on the way then gave him special instructions for things he wanted done. Rick then disconnected the call and turned to face the group of ladies behind and to the left of him. What he saw was an intense look from each of them waiting for what he was going to say. 'Wow he thought, these women are not only beautiful but smart and cunning as well. He couldn't have assembled a more courageous group'.

Security Chief Bob Farris hung up from talking, just listening was more like it. He wasn't happy taking orders from someone other than his boss but when the Director of The FBI had called him at 7:30 that morning telling him to do everything this man tells you to do, you don't argue. But orders are orders so he called down to maintenance telling them to bring the manlift to the Boeing Hall section. He then typed in the code that would unlock the main entrance.

"Ladies, and I mean that affectionately; I would like at least two pair of eyes on every blind spot or area of special interest, more if you deem it necessary. I have one that I'm particularly interested in but I will be sure to call for your help if needed."

"You sure you don't want one of us to go with," Kate said a bit of worry in her voice.

"No, I'm not but when you hear my panic cry for help come running." His statement getting an approving chuckle from them.

Jordan pulled right up to the entrance, turned off the ignition and handed the keys to Rick. Everyone got out and went inside the women going right Rick going left. As he headed to his destination, the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, he pulled out the snapshot of the area he had printed earlier and marked with a circle.

Rick had found what he considered an anomaly in the floor just before lunch arrived but after eating, when he came back to investigate it in more detail it wasn't there. That's when he took a snapshot, printed it and marked the location with a circle.

Upon arriving at the Boeing Hall exhibit he walked over to the location marked on the snapshot. He first looked at the floor but saw nothing unusual. He then tilted his head back to gaze at the ceiling again seeing nothing that could explain what he saw earlier. He did however notice he was standing directly below a glass portion of the ceiling…that's when an idea registered. The sun. It has been a clear day the sun would have been directly overhead at noon approximately the same time he had first seen the anomaly on his computer screen. He needed to take a closer look at the ceiling…where the hell is the manlift he requested.

It was almost ten minutes before he saw two maintenance men pushing in the manlift. Rick directed them where to put it, climbed aboard, got comfortable with the controls then started his rise toward the ceiling always keeping his eyes on what was above him. He couldn't get all the way to the glass the steel rafters halting his progress but it got him close enough so he was able to see what appeared to be a circular cut in the glass, a thin wire coming down through the center of it. He began following the wire with his eyes only before lowering the manlift as well. As he got closer to one of the suspended Boeing exhibits, a model of one of their early test aircraft, he saw it. Moving in for a closer look his heartbeat increased rapidly. Suspended there was the Penning Trap, a simple nine volt battery keeping the antimatter in a state of suspended animation. It's what is between the battery and the trap that has him worried…time to call in the experts.

First thing Rick did after lowering the manlift to the floor was call Tobias Fornell requesting the FBI bomb squad; he then sent a text to Kate saying he found the device bring everyone to Boeing Hall.

It took the FBI bomb squad with sirens blaring and lights flashing twelve minutes to arrive, it took Kate, Jordan, Emily, Vittoria, Ilsa and Terri less than three.

Captain Sylvia Gordon, bomb squad leader listened intently as Vittoria explained to her how the Penning Trap worked. Captain Gordon then suggested Vittoria go up with her to view the device, Vittoria quickly agreed.

When they returned Captain Gordon was gingerly holding the device while trying to maintaining its vertical position. She then began evaluating its setup beginning at the device itself which was connected to a battery but between the batteries negative connection and the device is a one amp fuse. The lead end of the fuse contained a third wire (highly unusual) that plugged into the external speaker connection of an inexpensive cell phone. Gordon carefully opened the phones cover the screen automatically displaying a clock face with an alarm set to go off in 19 hours, 28 minutes and 42 seconds and counting down, at which time it was to execute the command 'FIRE'.

"So what do you think, Cap," Larry Harrison her second in command asked.

"I'm thinking this thing is scaring the hell out of me," Gordon replied. "But if we remove this connection, pointing to the phones speaker connection, it should prevent whatever the 'FIRE' command is designed to do."

"I don't think that is a good idea," Terri stepped up saying. "I think we need to discover what the FIRE command actually does and if it has any sub commands."

"And how do you suggest we do that," the Captain enquired.

TBC