Parallelogram : Day Two : Chapter 81
Five Days, Six Hours, Twenty Minutes
"You're going to do … what?"
As conspicuously as possible, Olga Vukavitch glanced over at Isaac Mentnor. She hid her expression from Chief Stoddard as best she could, but she knew her fellow Backstep colleague would recognize the panic in her eyes.
"The way I see it, chief," Ramsey tried, his voice booming over the speakerphone, "it isn't as if we have much choice. That Apache has set down. From the air, there's no activity at Zulu. We have to plan an assault on the compound, and we've prepared for the worst possible scenario." There was a pause before he added, "Trust me, sir. Agent Murphy will accompany Mr. Hightower to the ground. Mr. Hightower will provide back-up to Agent Murphy only for the purposes of insuring that the area is clear."
Stoddard glanced over at Olga.
She shrugged.
"Mr. Ramsey," the chief began, "are you saying that you actually want me to go to the President for his endorsement of this … plan?"
"Maybe we don't need to tell him, sir," he countered. "He has enough to worry about right now."
"And it would sound like you're suggesting that he add his son-in-law back to that growing list, is that what you're saying?"
"Sir," Ramsey argued, "if I had any other options, believe me, I'd take it. We're in a pickle ourselves, and Mr. Hightower has the best chance of every man here to pull this off. Yes, it's my decision. Yes, he'll be in harm's way. It's only a matter of seconds, but the other soldiers on board the Havoc and I will be providing these two men with more than adequate ground cover."
"A matter of seconds?"
"Sir," he interrupted tersely, "I'm not trying to be the Monday morning quarterback up here, but you'll have to pardon me if I speak out of term. I'm in the middle of nowhere. You people sent me up here. I didn't ask for this, and I'm doing the best I can. I have few resources. I have roughly two dozen highly trained members of General Nash's staff to coordinate a ground diversion and an aerial infiltration. If I had more time, maybe I could come up with something else, something more inclined with what the Washington elite would prefer. If I had more resources, you can be damn sure that I wouldn't be putting any of these boys in harm's way. In case it's slipped your recent memory, Mr. Hightower volunteered to do this, as did Agent Murphy. No one held a gun to their head. I've made them aware of what we're facing. I've also made them aware of the risks. The only reason I'm even telling you about this is Trace insisted that someone in the White House know in the event – in the unlikely event – that anything go wrong. I give you my word that we're going to take every reasonable, logical, realistic precaution to make absolutely certain that nothing does go wrong … but each minute you decide to call a conference for a decision to be made puts that Apache strike force one minute closer to loading that Halfstep Sarcophagus aboard and soaring the hell out of here. As it stands, I'm guessing that it didn't take these goons long to secure that base. I'm guessing that they've probably tortured anyone and everyone there who had any knowledge of this Halfstep Project you guys cooked up. And I'm guessing that – as we speak – they're well on their way to having what they came here for." Ramsey cleared his throat. "So either give me your blessing, chief, or I'm hanging this phone up, continuing with the mission prep, and I'm doing what I damn well please anyway!"
Olga sneaked another glance at Mentnor. The man had gone pale.
Stoddard kept his expression fixed. He didn't flinch. Calmly, he folded his hands behind his back as he stood at the head of the small conference table. Casually, he glanced from scientist to scientist, and then he said, "Nathan, would you like me to quote you word for word when I tell the President what your decision was?"
"No disrespect, sir, but I think you can that at this point I don't give a rat's ass what anyone tells anyone," the director explained. "I'm going in there to do my job, and, as God is my witness, I'm bringing everyone out alive."
The chief nodded slowly. "Then … we'll keep this decision between all of us, Nathan."
"I appreciate that, sir."
"I'll wish you God's speed."
"Thank you, sir."
"When do you go in?"
"Yuri will be delivering ten of Nash's soldiers about one-half mile from Zulu's northern perimeter in about thirty minutes," Ramsey explained. "I'm going to give them ten minutes to get into position. They'll kick off the firefight, and, once their ground leader has assured me that they've engaged the enemy, I, Murphy, Hightower, and the four remaining soldiers will board the Havoc and head for the base's airstrip. We're not that far away, but I want to make damn sure that the enemy is actively engaged before we even attempt this. I figure that diversion gives us the best chance at keeping our part of the mission under control."
Stoddard bobbed his head. "Is there any possibility that Nash's troops at Zulu will join with their attackers?"
"We've considered that possibility," Ramsey agreed. "The boys we have with us say it won't happen. I'm inclined to take their word."
"Very well," the chief stated. "I want you to contact me the minute you have your report. No delays. As you've demonstrated, time is not exactly on our side."
"Understood, sir."
Leaning closer to the phone, Olga said, "Nathan?"
"Yes, doctor?"
"Please be careful."
"Keep a light on for us, doctor."
The line went dead.
The three of them exchanged concerned glances before Olga asked, "What exactly does that mean? Keep a light on?"
END of Chapter 81
