Doors International Office Headquarters, Washington D.C.
Thursday, 18:24 EST

"...When complete, these portals will be able to move anyone from anywhere to anywhere around the world in a matter of minutes. Doors International: A Proud sponsor of the Fixed-Link Travel Network."

Renee Palmer switched off her computer screen and turned to face the two men across her desk. "That's going to start airing this afternoon. We're estimating two more weeks to test the safety protocols, so we should be ready on schedule."

"What about security?" asked Jonathan Doors, frowning as he studied the report in his hand.

Beside him, Liam Kincaid dropped a small disk on Renee's desk. "Augur wrote this up. He says that it should block any attempts to tamper with the portals' programming, and log who it was and what they were trying to do." He smiled. "But he warns it's only guaranteed for twenty years or the next alien arrival, whichever comes first."

Renee took the disk. "I'll have some of my people look over it, and if it checks out, we can have it integrated in time for the opening." Pocketing it, she glanced at Doors. "Don't worry, Jonathan, we won't let them anywhere near our passengers this time."

"Are you sure all this is necessary?" Liam asked. "The Taelons haven't caused any incidents with the portals for over a year. Maybe they've given up."

"We can't take that chance," Doors declared.

"Doors International was the Portal Grid's biggest supporter," Liam persisted. "If you were this concerned about the Taelons misusing the portals, then why did you go to so much trouble promoting it?"

Renee exchanged a look with Doors. "The Taelons could have found another sponsor, or taken on the entire project themselves," she said. "By agreeing to the partnership, we were ensured total access to the program."

Liam shook his head. "No one else who was interested had a fraction of the influence they needed, and the Taelons wouldn't dare go ahead on their own. You ensured that there WAS a program."

The three stared at each other for a moment, then a beeping erupted from Liam's Global. Drawing the device, he silently read for a moment, then closed it and returned it to his belt. I gotta go, he said. Da'an's been summoned to the Mothership.

As he left, Doors fixed Renee with a concerned look. You think he'll cause any trouble?

I don't think so, Renee replied. He might not understand everything, but I think he's satisfied that this isn't a serious problem.

"So you don't think he needs to be told?"

Not yet.

Doors stood. I —

Miss Palmer," Renee's secretary interrupted over the intercom, "There's a caller from you on a secure channel."

Renee looked at Doors, who in turn fixed his attention on her screen. "I'll take it in here," she said.

The face of a worried young man in a Volunteer's uniform appeared on her screen. "We've got trouble," he began.


Taelon Mothership, Lunar orbit
18:52 EST



Liam noted the shock apparent in Da'an's face. He had become accustomed to the ease at which the alien could so accurately simulate human facial expressions, even while speaking with other Taelons. This time, however, he himself was too surprised to wonder why he went to the trouble.

The explosion originated at a portal station on the west side of the Moonbase, continued Agent Ronald Sandoval. With a motion of his hand, he activated a display, showing a dark crater marring the contours of the Moonbase. Three Taelons died, including a leading scientist on the Portal Grid project. We're just beginning the investigation, but it looks like the blast originated from the portal itself.

Have you any idea, Da'an began, as to who has done this?

Is that not obvious?

Liam glanced at Zo'or. The leader of the Taelon Synod had been sitting, motionless, in seat at the center of the Mothership's bridge,' gazing out the viewport at the curve of the Earth's moon. Now, he had swiveled to face the other Taelon.

"This was a totally unprovoked and pointless attack," the Taelon continued. "It could only be the Resistance."

"I didn't even think the Resistance was aware of the Moonbase," Liam protested, feeling the need to reply to Zo'or's last statement. Of course, the Taelon had no idea that Liam led the Resistance, but Liam still felt a sort of personal affront.

"Indeed, Zo'or," Da'an agreed. "Have you not, in fact, gone to great pains to prevent its discovery?"

"Obviously," Zo'or replied calmly, "My efforts have not been successful."

"With all due respect, Zo'or," Sandoval interjected, "If the Resistance knew of the Moonbase, why would they destroy an insignificant portal station and tip their hand? The facility offers far more tempting targets."

"Or they could have made a public announcement," Liam offered. "If people were to find out about the Moonbase like that, it could do a lot of damage to Taelon-human relations." He was not sure what point he was trying to make, but as long as he drew attention away from the Resistance....

Zo'or was not convinced. "If not the Resistance, then who? No one else has the capacity or the motive to attack a Taelon facility."

"There is one possibility," Sandoval offered. The image of the Moonbase was replaced by that of a human scientist in a lab coat, with the expression that he had better places to be. "Doctor Aman Lubata is a leading human scientist on the Portal Grid project. He was using the very portal which we believe to have caused the explosion, at the very moment the blast occurred. However, he arrived at his destination safe and sound, with no apparent knowledge that anything had gone wrong."

Liam did his best to hide the shock in his face. Da'an asked if the explosion might have been an accident, and Sandoval explained that any accident would surely have killed Lubata as well. The Taelons and human continued on like this, but Liam's attention was fixed on the photograph. All he could think of was that he had to get ahold of Renee or Doors as soon as possible. He forced his attention back to the other three, as it seemed they were finishing their conversation.

"...This is to resolved as quickly — and quietly — as possible," Zo'or was saying.

Sandoval nodded, but did not leave just yet. "One other thing, Zo'or. Something was found at the scene of the explosion, something that could have only been placed there after the blast. It is possible that the saboteur, or some accomplice, is still on the Moonbase." He then turned and headed for the exit.

"Agent Sandoval," Zo'or commanded. The man stopped and looked at Zo'or expectantly. "What was this object?"

"It was a flower," Sandoval replied. "I believe it was left as a sort of message to us, but I cannot imagine what it could be." Again he turned to leave.

"Agent Sandoval!" Zo'or stood, an unreadable expression on his face. Again Sandoval stopped and faced the Taelon. "What kind of flower?"

Sandoval furrowed his brow. "I am not a botanist," he said slowly, "but I believe it was an orchid." Once more he turned away, and this time Zo'or did not stop him. Instead, he strode over to the viewport and stared out, at nothing Liam could see.

"Zo'or?" Da'an asked, with what was almost an expression of concern on his face.

"Return to Earth," Zo'or commanded, not looking at the other Taelon. "We are finished here."

"Zo'or —"

"Now!" Zo'or said forcibly, surprising both Da'an and Liam. After a moment, Da'an turned and did as he was told, and Liam followed. It seemed they all had a great deal to think about.


Doors International Office Headquarters

"And you don't have any idea how this happened?" Doors demanded.

"No, sir," the Volunteer protested. "All I know is that something here blew up. The Taelons are keeping the area tight as a drum; I can't get you any more."

"Keep trying," Doors demanded. "Anything you find out, I want to know right away."

The Volunteer nodded, and Renee cut the signal. For a moment, neither of them spoke, but merely stared at each other.

"Who do you think was behind this?" Renee asked finally.

Doors shook his head. "We've had a lot of trouble with extreme Resistance factions lately, but terrorism? Besides, I make sure that only my best people even KNOW about the Moonbase, for this very reason."

For a moment, Renee wondered if she should say anything. She did not want to provoke a confrontation, but the situation was more than a little tenuous. "Maybe that's the problem, Jonathan," she said tentatively.

He fixed her with that piercing gaze of his. "What?"

"You're still thinking of them as 'your' people. Liam's headed the Resistance for almost six months now. It might be better if you started to coordinate with him."

Doors remained completely expressionless on the outside, but Renee knew him well enough to tell he was seething. "If we tell Liam about the Red Letter projects, he'll go straight to Da'an. And I'm not willing to let our entire operation fall into the hands of any Taelon."

"Jonathan, you're not being fair."

Doors broke their gaze, stood and walked to the window. It was darkening outside, and it the lights of the city were beginning to stand out against the artificial landscape. Look, Renee, I've known him his entire life, and that's no exaggeration. He can't be trusted with Red Letter, at least not yet. Leave him with his New World Militia, but I am NOT going to put the fate of the entire Resistance in his hands. It's that simple.

Renee frowned. Usually she could understand where Doors was coming from, but one issue she could never fathom was Liam Kincaid. Something about that man strongly disagreed with her old friend, but she could not imagine what it could be.

"All right," she said. "If that's the way you want it." Doors nodded, and looked like he was about to speak, but she pressed on. "But what is it you're so worried about, Jonathan? The idea of Red Letter being in Liam's hands...or out of yours?"

Doors merely stared at her for a moment. "You're right about one thing," he said slowly. "We should find out who knows about the Moonbase on his end. I'll leave that to you."

Renee blinked. "Me?"

"You have a working relationship with him. He seems to trust you."

"Less than two weeks ago, I put a gun to his head! What makes you think he trusts me?"

"He does, believe me. Just try." Doors picked up his suit jacket, which had been slung over the back of his chair, and headed for the door. "This is important, Renee," he added on his way out.

For the first time, Renee noticed that it was after seven, and that the lights in her office had dimmed to after-hours mode. Sighing, she shut down her computer and reached for her coat.