Parallelogram : Day Two : Chapter 76

Five Days, Seven Hours, Forty-Five Minutes

From his computer console, Isaac Mentnor glanced around the War Room. The control panels weren't so much lit up like a Christmas tree as they were an entire Christmas village. Emergency telephone calls were coming in from around the world, from members of the European Union, the Parliament, even representatives of the Chinese and Korean governments. The staff was furiously transcribing messages and giving out assurances that the President was working on a statement, the White House would issue a response. Stoddard was calmly speaking into a telephone, clearly trying to give out whatever details he knew it would be appropriate to release. Then, he saw Olga. She spoke into another telephone, nodding and listening, but her eyes were locked on the massive blast doors protecting the subterranean conference room that secured the President, Bradley, Frank, and … Channing.

'What must she be going through?' he wondered.

As she hung up the telephone, he called out her name. Somehow, through the chaos, she heard his cry, and she walked over.

"I don't know what you're thinking, Isaac, but I'm having a hard time believing any of this," she said.

"What's that, my dear?"

Incredulous, she held up her arms. "How could this Senator Pendley destroy … the Vatican?"

Mentnor slowly nodded. "You're thinking about these events conventionally, doctor," he advised her, "and you'll never understand the mind of a terrorist by thinking conventionally. They thrive on the unconventional, the uncharacteristic. Only then can they accomplish whatever lofty goal they've set for themselves."

"But … it's entirely insane!"

"To you and to me, yes," he agreed. "Pendley, on the other hand, sees it as the next logical step in his plan to achieve global supremacy."

Nervously, she glanced back over her shoulder in the direction of the sealed conference room. After a few seconds, she asked, "What do you think they're talking about?"

"Heaven only knows," Mentnor stated. "Let's just hope that, whatever it is, Frank can somehow get to the bottom of all that's happened."

"And Channing," she insisted.

"Yes. And Channing."

The telephone at his console buzzed, and the scientist quickly snatched it from its cradle. Placing it to his ear, he said, "This is Isaac Mentnor."

"Isaac!" Ramsey cried through the open line. "Well, it's about time that White House operator found someone I can talk to!"

"Nathan?" he asked. "What is it? Where are you?"

"I'm in Alaska, Isaac," the director replied, "and things here are a little out of hand."

"Hold on a second, Nathan," Mentnor instructed him. "Let me get Chief Stoddard over here, and I'll put you on conference." He waved in the direction of the man, and Olga quickly ran to comply.

"The hell with the chief! Get me Bradley and the President!"

"I'm afraid that they're indisposed for the moment, as are Frank and Channing."

"Indisposed?" Ramsey asked. "What do you mean? What's happened?"

The scientist cleared his throat. "There's been another attack … this one on a foreign soil."

The director paused, and Mentnor heard the whistle of the wind blowing across the telephone. "My God, Isaac. What was hit?"

"The Vatican is gone, Nathan."

Stoddard and Olga arrived at the station, and Mentnor quickly added, "I'm going to put you on the speaker, Nathan, so that Chief Stoddard and Olga can hear your report." He set the phone back in its cradle and punched a single button. "Are you there?"

The speaker crackled to life. "I'm here. Look, I don't have a lot of time, so I don't want to play twenty questions with anyone. I want to let you know that I've found and secured the President's son-in-law and the agent who survived and was protecting him. They're with me now at our own base camp."

"Base camp?" Stoddard asked. "Don't you mean Zulu Base?"

"That's why I'm calling, sir," Ramsey replied. "It would seem that the helicopter we believed to be on a kill mission for Hightower was a diversion. Though it was on course to beat me to him, we beat it here. Right now, I have Yuri trying to task a Russian satellite over our position to get me some data …"

"Belay that, Mr. Ramsey," the chief ordered. "While you've been away we recovered the use of our own satellite system." Turning to an aide, Stoddard ordered him to locate any available feed over Zulu Base immediately.

"That's good news, sir," the director continued. "Right now, we've set up a temporary base of operations. I'd like whatever intel you can give me before I take a strike team back – if necessary – to retake Zulu, but I need to know … what would Senator Pendley want with it?"

Mentnor watched as the muscles in Stoddard's cheek rippled slightly. The man was grinding his teeth as he thought about the question. The chief glanced at the scientist, but Mentnor had nothing to say.

"Mr. Ramsey," Stoddard said, "your strike team … who do you have? And please tell me that you brought soldiers serving under General Nash?"

"I did, sir," he answered. "I have about two dozen of our boys, and Yuri's crew totals – "

"Denied, Mr. Ramsey," the chief snapped. "No Russian can accompany you on the mission. Do you understand me? We're talking about sensitive technology, the kind of which this government cannot allow – despite the present circumstances – to fall into the hands of any other nation. Is that clear?"

There was a hush over the line before Ramsey asked, "Jesus, chief, what the hell are we talking about here?"

Ignoring the stares from Mentnor and Olga, the man continued, "Zulu was a base of operations for a technology you're not entirely unfamiliar with, Mr. Ramsey."

"Time travel?"

Mentnor closed his eyes.

"You have your Blackberry?" Stoddard asked.

"I do."

"I'll send you the operational files on Project Halfstep," he said. "Mr. Ramsey, these are classified by Presidential order. Do not share them with anyone. Do you understand?"

With a hint of sarcasm, the director shot, "If you recall, I have more enough experience keeping secrets, chief."

"Thank you." Stiffening where he stood, he added, "Once you've reviewed the files, contact me here in the War Room. I don't want you taking one step into that base until you're prepared for what may be waiting."

"Understood."

Defiantly, Stoddard reached out and turned off the telephone. Glancing up, he ordered, "I need the two of you to come with me. You'll need to be brought up to speed as well."

END of Chapter 76