Chapter 22: Hardcopy
In its own way, war is so much cleaner than all this. So much easier. There's no rules, no limits but the physical limits of your body. Objectives are clear. The enemy has a name and a goal. Sure you still want to keep your unit alive and safe which is why you don't send pieces of it off with no recon and no backup.
I watched the office building with acute concentration. People moved in and out, uniformed guards mostly. There was urgency in their steps but no flashing lights, no alarms. I was on edge, every nerve frozen on the verge of motion so that I snapped at Nathan when he said my name. I didn't apologize and I didn't look away.
He handed me a phone that hummed and vibrated in my hand. "I've got activity on a Russian spy satellite," Logan's voice said without preamble, "looks like a convoy's heading your way." There was the sound of keystrokes.
"ETA?"
"Ten minutes, give or take." He said distractedly. "I've got a clearer picture. Three vehicles, light armor. It's probably just a routine response to the sys shutdown. We couldn't risk exposing any military documents to the public now could we? Still, it would be wise to clear out as soon as possible… you and your friend especially I think."
I didn't have time to worry about his implications. "Why didn't you call them directly?"
"I can't get through to Asha's phone. They must be in the lower levels now. Why am I talking to you anyway?" Either he didn't have access to the cameras anymore or the hazmat suits were impeding his view.
"I'm playing search and rescue. I'll give them five minutes."
"Five minutes." He was worried.
"The objective is still obtainable and the perceived threat is minimal we can afford some time."
"I didn't think your kind was the type to sit on the sidelines when one of you was in danger." He did know something or thought he did anyway.
"Sharp's a professional, he will be out of there with the documents secure even if he has to drag your girlfriend along with him. So put away your control complex, keep your eyes on you little screens and hold up your end because we've got a good grip on things here." There's a reason the military keeps things from civilians. It's called panic. "We'll play analyze the voice on the other end later. I think I'm winning."
"I'll have to dis- wait a minute." Like I had a choice. "A fourth vehicles joined the convoy, heavy armor, no markings."
"Probably a sweeper team." I said. "They'll be checking for explosives."
"Or setting them." He said gravely. "There was a reason I had Asha go after this place. It was the only place on record as having these documents I'm after. They don't exist electronically as far as I can tell."
"No copies… so you think there's stuff there somebody really doesn't want to get passed around and since there's a chance it was exposed…."
"That somebody might want to destroy the evidence."
In its own way, war is so much cleaner than all this. So much easier. There's no rules, no limits but the physical limits of your body. Objectives are clear. The enemy has a name and a goal. Sure you still want to keep your unit alive and safe which is why you don't send pieces of it off with no recon and no backup.
I watched the office building with acute concentration. People moved in and out, uniformed guards mostly. There was urgency in their steps but no flashing lights, no alarms. I was on edge, every nerve frozen on the verge of motion so that I snapped at Nathan when he said my name. I didn't apologize and I didn't look away.
He handed me a phone that hummed and vibrated in my hand. "I've got activity on a Russian spy satellite," Logan's voice said without preamble, "looks like a convoy's heading your way." There was the sound of keystrokes.
"ETA?"
"Ten minutes, give or take." He said distractedly. "I've got a clearer picture. Three vehicles, light armor. It's probably just a routine response to the sys shutdown. We couldn't risk exposing any military documents to the public now could we? Still, it would be wise to clear out as soon as possible… you and your friend especially I think."
I didn't have time to worry about his implications. "Why didn't you call them directly?"
"I can't get through to Asha's phone. They must be in the lower levels now. Why am I talking to you anyway?" Either he didn't have access to the cameras anymore or the hazmat suits were impeding his view.
"I'm playing search and rescue. I'll give them five minutes."
"Five minutes." He was worried.
"The objective is still obtainable and the perceived threat is minimal we can afford some time."
"I didn't think your kind was the type to sit on the sidelines when one of you was in danger." He did know something or thought he did anyway.
"Sharp's a professional, he will be out of there with the documents secure even if he has to drag your girlfriend along with him. So put away your control complex, keep your eyes on you little screens and hold up your end because we've got a good grip on things here." There's a reason the military keeps things from civilians. It's called panic. "We'll play analyze the voice on the other end later. I think I'm winning."
"I'll have to dis- wait a minute." Like I had a choice. "A fourth vehicles joined the convoy, heavy armor, no markings."
"Probably a sweeper team." I said. "They'll be checking for explosives."
"Or setting them." He said gravely. "There was a reason I had Asha go after this place. It was the only place on record as having these documents I'm after. They don't exist electronically as far as I can tell."
"No copies… so you think there's stuff there somebody really doesn't want to get passed around and since there's a chance it was exposed…."
"That somebody might want to destroy the evidence."