Chapter 16
Sixteen hours later, the conference room at the Pentagon in Washington DC, had fourteen people seated around a large, oval conference table. In some parts of the room, other people men and women, both military and CIA, foreign and domestic, as well as FBI stood discussing the topic of today's briefing.
Sawyer Dell walked into the room, shutting the door behind him.. He was dressed in his dark hunter green suit with his id badge hanging from the lapel on his suit jacket. He was exhausted. Fifteen hours by plane and six cups of coffee couldn't prevent the jetlag from taking off at Kyoto, Japan to Andrews Air Force Base.
He knew that having been back in the United States he would have to stop and visit his parents and brother but his mind and heart wanted to get back to Japan as soon as possible, simply to keep command at NERV and to keep his eye on a certain half Japanese-German Major whom he couldn't stop thinking about.
Sawyer took his seat at the conference table, placing the briefing folder in front of him. He looked over to the right and near the front of the table. He looked to the right and saw General Ikari.
She sat dressed in her full uniform, giving him a nod as a greeting as she looked over at him and then looked at her watch.
Sawyer nodded back at her with a smile, wondering. Why is she in Washington? She wasn't on the plane with me last night.
"Good morning." A very overweight, white haired man with a white mustache, wearing the uniform of the United States Army, said as he walked to the front of the room. He stood at a podium at the front of the table. He cleared his throat as he opened his briefing folder and looked around the room, on his shoulder board, three silver stars were displayed on both sides.
Sawyer breathed in as he saw him.
Shit. He thought. General Nathaniel Harris. He's biggest loud mouth on the Joint Chiefs of Staff! How can he remain active duty? He looks like he's over three hundred pounds now! Bastard! I can almost guarantee he's going to blame someone for something today. More then likely, he'll be gunning for NERV and me. That fat bastard! I wonder why Asuka is here. It's not normal for a foreign general to attend these briefings. Something is up.
As the lights in the room went off a large screen came down near the front of the room, General Harris spoke. "I don't have to remind you that's what's spoken of in this room will remain classified and will be discussed only with key personnel."
Sawyer fixed his eyes straight ahead as a satellite photo appeared.
"This was taken approximately twenty hours ago…its location has been confirmed as being in the Sahara Desert. Apparently, what we are looking at may be the unconfirmed hidden base of SEELE. A SEAL team was sent in to investigate the existence of this base. While the surveillance mission was underway an AT field was discovered."
Sawyer took a breath after he heard that and several people in the room became uneasy.
General Harris continued as he said. "Shortly after the existence of the AT field was discovered, the SEAL team was summarily eliminated by the discharge of an AT field. Before the SEAL team was eliminated they detected it and sent a message to their command location. We received that information this morning. Command has confirmed that this base belongs to SEELE and they are now observing this base under close watch."
Again, everyone in the room became uneasy again.
The General cleared his throat and then looked in the direction of Sawyer Dell. "Perhaps, NERV can explain this morning why it failed to obtain this data and the Central Intelligence Agency did?"
Sawyer was stuck. He wasn't sure of what to say.
:"Commander Dell?" General Harris asked.
It was true lately his mind had been elsewhere, for lack of a better term, but reconnaissance was not what he was sent to do and he felt anger at Harris' "pointing-of-the-finger."
"Commander!" General Harris snapped again as he focused at Dell with all eyes in the room on Commander Dell.
Sawyer stood and then said. "NERV's focus at this timeframe is to prepare the pilot of Unit 1 to take control of Unit 1. I do review the intelligence data that is sent to me. I have not seen anything like this before!"
"Perhaps your focus would be better if you didn't worry so much about Major Ikari, Commander Dell! Are you running NERV or trying to get a date?" General Harris asked angrily.
"General, with all due respect," Sawyer said as he looked at the fat General and tried to keep his cool. ", My focus on Major Ikari has been to increase her confidence in order to pilot the EVA successfully. With me today, I have included data from the last sync test. From the first simulation test, Major Ikari has been successfully able to sync with Unit 1 and gained control easily."
"That is not the issue!" General Harris said forcefully. "What is the issue, Commander Dell, is that SEELE is found and found soon!"
"Sir, my responsibility at the current timeframe is to command NERV." Sawyer said. "In order to do that my focus must be totally and completely involved with the functions of NERV."
"How do you explain the existence of an AT field, Commander?" A woman wearing a dark blue business suit asked. "That would fall under the control of NERV. How can we explain that we failed to obtain this data because of NERV's lack of intelligence?"
"It was my understanding, Senator, that the CIA and British Secret Service were to monitor the movements of SEELE." Sawyer said.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Commander Dell," General Harris said. ", But you are a part of the CIA, are you not?"
Sawyer breathed in as he said. "Yes, sir but since I have been given command to NERV my orders are clear, as dictated by the UN Peacekeeping Committee, and by the President himself. I am in charge of NERV. Intelligence is not NERV's function! Intelligence and surveillance were to be conducted by the CIA and the British Secret Service!"
"Yes, Commander Dell, and aren't you also with the CIA?'
Dell breathed in as he glared at the General stating. "Yes. I am. My function though…."
"Your function is to do what we request of you!" General Harris stated. "It's obvious that you failed, Commander Dell! This is pure negligence on your part."
"You are mistaken, sir!" Sawyer said loudly. "If you recall, General, at my last report, I had confirmed that SEELE was the one behind this the whole time! Before that I requested that more reconnaissance be conducted when it was discovered that it could be SEELE! It was you who looked the other way for six months before anything was done! It wasn't until after they moved their base that we were able to confirm their existence and location! If you had offered me the resources I needed then, we wouldn't be in this mess right now!"
"You remember who you are speaking to!" General Harris stated.
"I know who I am speaking to! I'm telling you that you should have acted when the information was first revealed!" Sawyer stated.
"I agree."
Sawyer took a deep breath as the screen in the front flashed and the face of the President of the United States flashed on it.
Almost immediately, General Harris became uneasy.
"Mr. President." Sawyer said.
"Commander Dell, in reviewing the reports, I have seen that it was this tribunal who ignored evidence. I also know that it is NOT NERV's responsibility to gather intelligence and conduct reconnaissance. That falls directly to the CIA. Even though you are a part of the CIA, you are the commander of NERV, therefore, you're job was to conduct the command of NERV and not to gather intelligence. Now though, it seems as though there is a greater problem on our hands. From what I understand, the existence of an AT field can only come from two sources either an Evangelion unit or an angel, is that right?"
"Yes, Mr. President it is." Sawyer said.
"General Harris, in further examination of the satellite photo what was the data received from the SEAL reconnaissance?"
"While the data was being reported, the SEAL team recorded the outputs of harmonics from the AT field. There's no question, Mr. President, it is SEELE and it is either another Evangelion they are constructing or something else…. possibly an angel."
"Either way, this threat needs to be neutralized. My pilot can be battle ready in an appropriate time frame." Sawyer said as he sat down.
"General Ikari, is the Japanese government prepared to immobilize if needed?"
"Yes, Mr. President." General Ikari said. "Our strike teams are ready to go at any given moment. I also have the British and the Russians on alert if necessary. Mr. President, I have had first hand experience with SEELE previously. They fooled the world into almost destroying its salvation…this time…this new SEELE…. should be completely neutralized."
"I agree, General." The President stated.
On another screen appeared the Japanese Prime Minister along with the Russian President both of them nodded their heads as they looked at General Ikari.
"Mr. President?" The British Prime Minister said as a screen flashed. "General Ikari is best equipped to command the strike team against SEELE."
"I disagree!" General Harris said. "This is an American operation. US forces should be commanded by an American commander!"
"General Harris," General Ikari said as she leaned forward. ", this is first and foremost a United Nations operation. As such, I feel that due to my experience and knowledge in dealing with this type of situation, that I am best suited to command the strike team."
"I believe you have a personal agenda as well, General."
"I would not resort to that." General Ikari said, as her face became one of tension.
"Mr. President, " General Harris said as he glared at General Ikari. "It was shortly confirmed from observation of the medical records belonging to General Ikari's husband, former Evangelion pilot Shinji Ikari, that his cancer did not occur naturally."
Asuka breathed in as she heard Harris, her face now becoming one of anger as she thought, You fat son of a bitch.
Harris smirked vindictively as he continued. "Further examination revealed that, from the introduction of a topical agent, Shinji Ikari's cancer was purposely triggered. It also revealed in an email sent to the Pentagon that SEELE admitted their guilt in this act! SEELE has been provoking us the entire time with their hidden, encrypted messages. They are making no bones about their intentions. They intend to exterminate humanity by unleashing more purified form of humanity, which was not successful with Third Impact. The exact wording of the email stated, what Shinji Ikari stopped – will be continued. We need to act now, sir!"
"You have some nerve!" General Ikari growled.
"It is true, General. Are you going to sit there and tell us it isn't? SEELE tried to murder your husband and because of it, you want revenge. Not to mention, SEELE operatives were captured and admitted to purposely causing the death of your daughter's fiancé Major Isao Katsumoto! You are way too close to this!"
Bastards. Sawyer thought to himself. Asuka's lived with this knowledge. It's no wonder how much she hates SEELE. I hate them even more just listening to this. My God, what they did…. they tried to destroy Hope by destroying the man she loved. Her father. They tried to kill her father only; they are killing him slowly and painfully. If I was Asuka I don't know if I could hold that type of restraint.
"How dare you!" Asuka growled. "You are grasping at straws, General Harris."
"You've seen the reports yourself, General Ikari. You know it's the truth!" General Harris told her.
"It is the truth, General Harris." Asuka said calmly as she narrowed her eyes. "General Harris, don't you ever think that it is my way of exacting revenge. SEELE needs to be neutralized plain and simple! The longer we take in trying to battle this out over bureaucratic nonsense and mudslinging is less time the world has!"
"Let us also not forget," General Harris stated. ", that General Ikari's daughter, Major Ikari, is the pilot of the EVA! I feel as if she's too close to the operation! I personally feel General Ikari has a vendetta to keep which is her main motivation for commanding the strike team."
Sawyer's eyes widened as he heard Harris and then looked over to General Ikari who flashed an angry look at General Harris.
"The main reason why General Ikari should command the strike team," Sawyer said as he looked at General Harris. ", is because you are an overweight paper pusher and she's an actual soldier! SEELE is nothing more then a group of terrorists and terrorists should be eliminated!"
"Commander Dell!" General Ikari said as she shot a look at him. Standing up, she took a deep breath as she said calmly. "While it is true that I blame SEELE for sending my husband to his grave way too early, and I do blame SEELE for hurting my daughter by taking away the man she loved, it does not mean that it will interfere with my ability to command this strike team and completely neutralize SEELE. If it turns out that they have indeed been able to replicate an AT field and actually have been able to create another EVA or even an angel, then believe you and me, you'll want me to command this strike team! I was an EVA pilot for a sum of seven years. I know what this pilot will face. I know what an angel is capable of. I've faced this before! I know how vicious the power of AT field can be. I know what SEELE's power is like; I've witnessed it for myself. None of you can say that at all! By trusting someone of lesser experience, you are sending this operation to failure. If you place your trust in me to command this strike team, regardless of the fact that my daughter will be the one possibly sent to her death, I will do what it is requested of me and I will shut down SEELE once and for all."
"How poignant." General Harris stated.
"She's right." The Japanese Prime Minister stated. "General Ikari is the best choice for this operation. My former Minister of Foreign Affairs Misato Katsuragi holds her in high regard. It is the reason why General Ikari represents the nation of Japan in the UN and the reason why General Ikari is so widely respected is because of her service and her bravery. I do not feel that her personal life affects her ability to command. Also, as a side note, General Ikari is German born but gave her service to Japan. For that, I consider her truly to be Japanese and serve our country with distinction."
"I agree." The President stated.
"I do as well." The Russian President said.
"It is apparent that General Ikari should be the commander of the strike team." The British Prime Minister said.
"This is preposterous!" General Harris blurted. "A General from Japan commanding an American operation and American forces?"
"No." The President said. "It's a problem that effects the entire world. Thereby, this is a UN operation and all countries will be involved. This is not an American problem, General Harris, this is a worldwide problem."
"For the hope of the world, General Harris," The British Prime Minister said. ", I would trust that the most valuable officer, General Ikari, be given that responsibility."
Harris breathed out in frustration as he looked to General Ikari and said. "I am not comfortable with this decision! I am one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mr. President!"
"Yes, we know that you are." The President said. "You would not serve us well to conduct this operation. The soldier needs to be in command. That soldier is General Ikari. You, General Harris, are best equipped to handle administrative and reconnaissance intelligence."
Asuka smirked slightly, having won the battle as Harris glared at her.
"General Harris, you will oversea the administrative function." The President said. "You're resources in gathering intelligence have been flawless…. we need you to continue that function."
"Mr. President!" General Harris said loudly.
"General Harris." The President said calmly. ", you may be one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff but, I am the Commander In Chief of the United States of America. I will decide what your role is or I will dismiss you from this tribunal. Do I make myself clear?"
"I understand, Mr. President, sir." Harris said as he lowered his head. "I will do as you order, sir.".
"Commander Dell, you are not at fault for not obtaining this information. You were right. The task of intelligence falls upon the CIA and our covert operations. We will afford you any resources that you need and any intelligence you require."
"Thank you, Mr. President." Dell stated.
"General Ikari," The President said. ", I realize your home life is not an easy one at the moment but I trust in your abilities. The United States will give you any amount of resources or personnel that you require in order to successfully complete this operation."
"Mr. President, " General Ikari said as she breathed in with a smile. ", thank you, sir."
The President nodded at her and then looked to the Director of the CIA as he said. "I want all of your teams focusing in on that base. I want to know everyone who goes in and out of there and I want to know about everything that is conducted there. I want you to supply intelligence to NERV every hour on the hour."
"Yes, Mr. President." The Director of the CIA stated.
"Commander Dell," The President said. ", we realize you just began your sync tests. You need to move up your timetable. We want you to make your pilot battle ready as soon as possible."
"I do not feel that will be an issue." Sawyer said. "My pilot is an experienced, Japanese air force pilot. She has had combat training and she is an experienced soldier. Getting her battle ready will not be an issue."
"Let us also not forget, Mr. President, " General Harris stated. ", that Major Ikari is an experienced battle ready soldier with psychological damage."
As Asuka looked over in General Harris' direction, she narrowed her eyes, and with all decorum aside, said very calmly. "General Harris, shut the fuck up."
Sawyer tried to hold back a laugh as he heard her and saw the wide-eyed, open-mouthed, shocked expression of a flushed General Harris.
Everyone in the room was shocked by what she had done. They knew of her temper. Yet, to issue the very profanity in a professional setting was not socially acceptable by any means.
The President though chuckled at the response, as did the Japanese Prime Minister and the British Prime Minister. The Russian President though said.
"Yavol!"
"Please excuse my vulgar candor." General Ikari said to the room. ", But this baka needs to keep his mouth shut!"
"General Harris!" The President said quite abruptly. "We have all read Major Ikari's file! Personally, having read what Major Ikari went through, I feel she is a survivor and has proven herself a valuable soldier! If you attempt any more of this childish banter I will have you removed and then discharged from the Army under Dishonorable Conditions."
"Mr. President?"
"Do I have to repeat myself?" The President asked.
"No, Mr. President." General Harris stated. "I apologize for my outburst, sir. General Ikari, I owe you an apology. I apologize for my…lack of respect towards you."
"Accepted." Ikari said.
"Now, then, General Ikari, have all teams ready and on standby. We need to coordinate this attack well in order to be successful."
"My feelings exactly." General Ikari said. "We will work with all teams involved and successfully plan out an attack structure for the neutralization of SEELE."
"How long until the operation commences?" Dell asked.
"While the satellite photo reveals the location of the base in the Sahara…. getting into it has been another matter entirely." Harris said.. "We've decided to erect a temporary command structure, outside of the AT field's radius, from where NERV will be able to monitor the situation when the strike team attacks."
"That's good thinking." General Ikari said. "The EVA, despite the existence of an AT field, has anti-AT defenses, plus its own AT field. If we first coordinate an effective strike we can create a diversion which would allow the EVA to get in and do what is needed, then we can send in the strike teams and neutralize SEELE."
"Are you saying that you are sending us in?" Dell asked.
"That's exactly what we're saying." The President said. "The use of the EVA is the best defense against this type of threat."
"How long?" Dell asked.
"As of now, consider yourself and all personnel on standby." The President stated. "Commander Dell, use all available resources into making your pilot battle ready. Have your pilot briefed that she may be called into battle soon."
"Understood, Mr. President." Sawyer said.
"Very well." The President said. "This meeting is adjourned. May God be with all us all."
The screens switched off and the lights came back on. People started exiting from the room.
Sawyer breathed in and nodded as he got up from his chair and made his way over to General Ikari bypassing General Harris who quickly hurried out of the room.
"Congratulations." Sawyer told her. "You are the best choice for this type of operation, General."
General Ikari nodded as she said. "It's still…unsettling."
"I will do everything that I need to in order to make this operation go smooth." Dell told her.
"I know that you will, Sawyer." General Ikari said.
"Where are you headed now?" he asked.
"Back home. I didn't really want to leave yesterday….I was kind of….well, let's just say I don't like being away from Shinji all that much.."
Sawyer nodded as he said. "I understand. I never knew any of that before. I mean about Shinji and Hope. I had no idea.."
"Sawyer, its essential that this information be kept classified. You can't tell Hope any of it. It would drive her over the edge knowing Isao was murdered and it would undermine her abilities to know that SEELE hurt her father. I've been married to Shinji for almost thirty-five years now and I can tell you I've never lied to my husband…. until, I learned the truth about what SEELE had done. I couldn't tell him. I didn't want to tell him."
"I will keep my word to you. I will never tell Hope. You can count on me, General." Sawyer told her.
"So, Hope, is progressing well?" Asuka asked.
"Yes. Very well. Her sync went without a hitch."
"Sawyer, listen to me carefully, " Asuka said as she looked at him. "I know what's going on."
"What do you mean?" Sawyer asked.
"I have spies, Sawyer." Asuka said. "Well, not really. Souke can't keep his mouth shut."
"What did he tell you?" Sawyer asked.
"Not here." Asuka said. "Let's go grab something to eat and I'll tell you there."