Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers: just my OC's & the plot.
HUNTERS MOON
EPILOGUE
The Pentagon, Washington DC, 8:25pm EST:
: Sir? You're eight twenty five is here: The voice over the intercom announced
"Send her in..." General Moshower replied. The door at the opposite end of the office opened ajar, and Maggie Madsen cautiously peered in, still wondering if this was the right office. "...Ah, Miss Madsen: please, take a seat" the general invited her in.
"General Moshower? I presume? ..." the young Australian offered her hand, to which he returned the gesture with a firm handshake before sitting down.
"You presume correct: glad to see you could make it"
"Well? I'm just glad I could find your office" she chuckled anxiously, "The guy on the phone wasn't too specific on the directions: I mean, I know this is the Pentagon an' all, but the floor layout in the lobby really doesn't do the scale of this place any real justice"
"Yeah, we've been meaning to fix that..." he replied offhand, "...And now, to the business at hand"
"Of course" she nodded, trying to put on her best professional face, "Again, nobody was specific on the details; they just said you had something you needed me to look into"
The general reached for the top-most drawer under his desk, and produced a file with the words: above classified, printed on the front in red ink. "As you well know, Miss Madsen: in the wake of the Mission City incident, you were offered a job with NSC's Internal Investigations Unit: you're job puts you in a position of neutrality among all the big players in the various intelligence agencies, including the Presidential Administration"
"Is the administration in trouble?" she asked
"We don't know, that's what I called you here for..." he replied as he handed her the file: "Yesterday evening, something happened that made no sense, and it's thrown up more questions than answers; the other chiefs and I are concerned this could be an indicator to something else going on..."
As she flicked through the contents of the file, she instantly recognized the NEST insignia, and the more she read, the more the anxiety began to show on her face: "...Is this for real?" she exclaimed.
"I'm afraid so" the general sighed
"Galloway got accepted onto the classified access list in less than four hours? But, that's-"
"Not right?" the general finished for her, "My thoughts exactly"
"If the stipulations in this file are accurate, it's gonna cause one hell of a stink" she stated
"That's what we need you to determine: we need someone neutral to look into this to separate fact from fiction; an internal investigation by either us or the administration will only throw up more suspicions. NEST is already pissed off, and I've no doubt they'll try to find their own answers sooner or later. I need you to find me something concrete to put them at ease, something that'll determine where Galloway stands in all this; whether his loyalties to the administration are justified, or if he's up to something he's not supposed to"
"But-, even if I could help (which I'd like to), the data concerning NEST's activities is way above my pay-grade"
"Which is why, you're getting your clearance directly from me. Under directive five twenty three of the Intelligence Protection/Safeguard Act, I'm allowing you access to view above-classified data at the Delta-nine level. I've already spoken to your boss and he assured me he'll take care of the necessary paper work: which means, I have the authority to give you this..." he handed her a security clearance card, "This will allow you access to the necessary files: I recommend that you use it wisely, and don't do anything to draw unnecessary attention to yourself"
"Of course sir," Maggie nodded as she took the card, and discreetly slipped it into the file, "...And, might I ask: if, something comes up that indicates something fishy is going on, how do you want me to handle it?"
"This investigation is on a strictly need-to-know basis: something comes up, you tell me immediately, and then make yourself scarce. Only a handful of other people know about this, and the less people that know the better. And at no point must Galloway be allowed to find out about this: whatever happened last night, whatever he did to keep NEST in the dark about their leader's whereabouts, it could mean the difference between a misunderstanding, and a major security breach"
"Okay" Maggie sighed, as she tried to get her head around it, "So where would you like me to start?"
"Hard to say: look into Galloway's activities, what happened over the last twenty four hours, and if anything odd crops up, go with it from there"
"Alright; and what will you and the rest of the Chiefs be doing?"
"Trying to figure out the rest of this god-damn mess: with Barkiss in the wind and no trace-evidence left behind at Hoover dam, we're all but clutching at straws on this. And if something else crops up, we're hardly going to be in a position to go on the offense without a politically valid reason"
Maggie couldn't help but sigh, "That's not good"
"No..." Moshower replied in a brooding tone, "...It's going to be a nightmare..."
At the same time, elsewhere in Washington:
"Mr Galloway..." General Hallo greeted, "Nice to see you could make on time, for once"
"I had a hard time getting away," the bureaucrat curtly replied, "What the hell do you think you're playing at?! Do you realize just how many people I got breathing down my neck because of what you and you're people did?!"
"Plausible deniability Mr Galloway: There's no direct link between us, nor will anyone find anything to link us to what happened last night. So stop trying to make a mountain out of a molehill" the general replied coolly, "Besides, I promised you, you wouldn't have to go to great lengths to keep up you're end of our deal; so what could possibly be bothering you?"
"What's 'bothering' me, is the fact you kept me out of the loop! I told you explicitly; don't make any moves without first informing me beforehand!" Galloway stated
"What we do in the field is no concern of yours; my unit's commander had to make a judgement call, and it proved to be the right one; if we'd gone on your recommendations, the NSC, along with half of the other intelligence agencies would be preparing to have us fall on our own swords by now. I've said it once, if I have to say it a thousand times: bureaucracy has no place in black-ops affairs, remember where you stand in this, and don't tread where you're not needed..." the general stated in a dark tone.
An uneasy silence passed between them, before the general said: "...Look; I know you're eager to get results: but we can't afford to rush this. There is too much at stake, one wrong move and the whole plan comes down like a house of cards"
"That's you're excuse?" Galloway sarcastically replied, "You don't want to take the initiative, so you tip-toe around Moshower to try and stay below the radar? Let me tell you something: in the great scheme of things fortune favors the bold: to take a handle on the situation and do what needs to be done, regardless of the collateral damage. NEST has become a serious liability: they've outgrown their necessity, and the Autobots have overstayed their welcome: you promised results, and thus far, you've delivered nothing..." he turned to leave, "One way or another the Autobots will be yours, I promised you that: but you'd better get on it and start delivering the goods, or I will take the initiative, and do what you're not willing to!"
"You forget Mr Galloway, it was us who allowed you access to the classified access list..." the general called after him: Galloway stopped, and gazed back at him, "Now while I have no doubt in your convictions concerning the Autobot's, you're too much of a bureaucrat to see the bigger picture. This is not about climbing up the political ladder or carrying on with this game of one upmanship over you're contemporaries; this is about getting rid of a liability, one that, if left unchecked, will cause serious problems for both of us, and everyone else concerned. But you're not a military man, and thus you do not appreciate the subtleties and complexities of what's involved..." The general added in a dark threatening tone as he slowly walked towards him: "...Don't dare to presume you are in control here, because you're not: and if you so much as contemplate doing anything to overstep the mark, I will see to it that you will be taken out of the picture, permanently, just like Mr Barkiss...Do I make myself clear, Mr Galloway?"
Galloway studied him for a moment, and for once, decided it might be best not to push his luck, "...Transparently..."
The bureaucrat walked off, and left general alone where he stood. As he gazed up at the trees, and studied the colours of the changing leaves; the cool autumnal night air brought a chill, and as he turned his back to the wind, his cell phone went off in his pocket.
"Hello?" he answered
: What did he have to say? : The voice on the other end asked
"The usual..." the general deadpanned, "We might have to rethink our need of him: his new position has already gone to his head"
: Need's must when the devil drives Hallo, and beggars can't be choosers when the situation becomes tight:
"Fair enough: so, what have you to report?"
: There's been a development at NEST: it concerns the Briggs boy...:
NEST Base, 5:31pm PST:
Far out in the desert, away from the prying eyes of the human soldiers and other Autobots, and well beyond the range of the energon scanners; Blackshot stood with Coldbore and Longrange in a deep riverbed, on the other side of a steep ridge. The sound of footsteps grabbed their attention, as Eclipse appeared and made her way down to them, with Shadowstar in tow.
"You took you're sweet time" Longrange huffed through his vents
"Sorry, I had some things to wrap up" she meekly replied
"You're here now, that's the important thing" Blackshot stated as she gave the young sniper a reprimanding look, "And you..." she glared down at Shadowstar, "You're damn lucky the girl pulled through. Don't you dare take a liberty like that ever again unless I tell you otherwise: do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," the sphinx-drone deadpanned, "But just so you know? Velocity's not wasting any time on Deathshot"
"I know: she's held up her end of our deal, and now I'm holding up mine: as far as I'm concerned that 'particular' arrangement is concluded" the black femme stated
"And the 'arrangement' concerning the Insecticons? I'm pretty sure the human's overriding the control signal was not part of the plan?" Longrange frowned
"No, it wasn't..." Blackshot scowled, "If I'd known they'd have that particular trick in their arsenal, I'd had taken them out before they'd have the chance to even take the girl"
"It probably would have been more prudent to get them when you first sighted them..." a low gravelly voice stated: the bots spun around with their weapons at the ready, and aimed in the direction of where the voice was comin from, "Leave no witnesses, and put a spanner in their works before it got out of hand; but then, you can only anticipate so much" the voice smirked. Whoever it was, they were hidden well by a large formation of boulders that cast dark shadows into the spaces between them. The only thing that stood out, were the red glowing optics, watching them with fascination.
Recognizing who it was right away, Blackshot folded her weapon away; the others followed suit as she relaxed her stance: "...Should've known it was you; just you're style to stick your nose-plates in where they're not wanted" she frowned
"If it wasn't for me, you'd be in the brig by now" the voice pointed out, "I know time has passed since our last rendezvous, but I kept my promise and kept you're 'grand plan' a secret"
"So what do you want now?" Blackshot asked
"You've been lucky: being out of the war for twenty five thousand years must have been a nice reprieve. Being stuck with that brainless beast and his equally brainless lackeys for all that time? You have no idea, just how much it has sharpened my hunger to take what is mine. I want what I've always wanted, and you're 'plan' is the only thing that has a chance of affording me that opportunity"
"I have no need of you" Blackshot stated, "I started this, and I intend to see it through alone; everyone else here merely shares that same logic"
"Oh it's not co-leadership I seek, I'm hardly the type anyway; no, all I want is a place at the table: to see this through to its conclusion, so that I may be afforded a chance for my revenge" the voice stated in a sweetly mocking tone, though she couldn't see who it was, Blackshot could tell they were smiling: "...Besides, I've been good to you before: going out of my own way to find you all sorts of juicy little titbits of data and the like, to further your own agenda: I could do the same again. After all, I am the last person anyone would suspect of treachery, not least my own team: and given my 'particular' talent for deceit, even you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone more suitable"
"...You're not giving me many other options" Blackshot pointed out
"If it were you, you'd already have that gun pressed against my head and giving me no choice at all. Unlike you, I'm not desperate: and even if you say no, I'll still find a way to cash in on your little scheme; it's not a question of if, but when. Whether you decide to procrastinate over the matter is entirely down to you"
As Blackshot studied the stranger, she knew he was right on all points; and although she didn't like the idea of him being let in on the plan, she knew he wasn't going to let up on it if she said no: "...Fair enough" she replied reluctantly.
"Seriously?" Longrange gave her a weirded-out look
"Seriously" Coldbore deadpanned in annoyance
From where she stood behind Blackshot, Eclipse watched on in worry...
This wasn't good.
Elsewhere in the desert:
"So? Events are starting to shape themselves," Alpha Trion thought aloud, as he watched the secret meeting from his perch atop the western mountain. "I cannot stop them now"
"Nor can I..." the old woman stated as she pushed one of her long silvery bangs back behind one ear, "But then? Is that not how we expected them to be?"
"...You took a risky gamble with the boy" the ancient white mech pointed out
"We both knew that not taking it would be folly," she replied, "The matter now lies with him: and whatever he chooses to do, it's no longer in our hands"
"A heavy burden, for one as young as him"
"Maybe, but his heart has always been in the right place: he will suffer, but he will learn too. I've no doubt he is the right choice for this" she stated
"Speaking of right choices" Alpha Trion turned to face her, "Our next concern will soon avail itself, and we must be ready to ensure that the circumstances will transpire as the Covenant of Primus has foretold"
"And you lecture me about the risks of gambling," she smiled, "This will be just as dangerous, considering how many have already perished to keep this secret from reaching the wrong people; never mind the truth about the Witwicky's and Briggs bloodlines"
"Indeed" Alpha Trion nodded, "And at the risk of getting too ahead of myself, that particular fact is mentioned in the Covenant. What do you suppose that could mean?"
"What anything mentioned in the Covenant means. Something of great importance: not just concerning the matter at hand" she thought aloud, "I'll look into it, see if there's anything to be learned; but the future changes all the time. There's no guarantee's of anything if there's something to it"
"I know" Alpha Trion nodded, "I was merely curious"
"You're curiosity leads you to strange places" the old woman smiled, "It's part of why I choose you, all those ages ago"
"You'll have to explain the other parts one day, I've always been curious about those..." he smiled: but when he looked back at the rock she'd been standing on, he saw she was gone.
"...Some things never change," he thought aloud with a nostalgic smile, before gazing down at the base, and turned rueful: "Everything else however..."
The stars shone overhead, as the moon arched across the sky, and in the chill of the wind: something made his spinal unit run cold...
... A coldness that told him change was coming.
Somewhere over the Atlantic:
"I have to say sir, that was quite feat of engineering" one gentleman thought aloud,
"Faking one's death usually is Walton" Chumley smiled as he took a sip of his Port, "But then, car bombs are not exactly rocket science, and it was damn good fortune we found cadaver with my good looks to throw them off, at least until we're back in Europe"
"Do think they'll come after us sir?" Another gentleman asked
"If they had the luxury of time, perhaps? But it depends on just how many other agencies they got in their pockets. After all, why go to the trouble of sending out your own men when you can pay someone else to do it for you? But then, considering how hush-hush they wanted to keep this particular job, I've got a feeling I'll be last thing on their minds for a while" Chumley explained
"So? What now sir?"
Chumley paused a moment as he contemplated the question, before answering: "We get home, and lay low: tell our middle men we won't be open for business for a long while"
"Sir?"
"While the second payment was being settled, I took the opportunity to take a sneak-peek at what they didn't disclose" Chumley reached into his pocket, and produced a small black USB stick, "...And I have to say. We were damn lucky to get away when we did"
"You think they're really as powerful as they made themselves out to be?"
The look on Chumley's face turned from serious to hesitant: as if he'd seen something he'd wished he hadn't seen: "...Let's just say, I've just smelt the smoke, which means the fire won't be far behind...When we get back, clear my diary and keep the sever connections offline. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, I died in a car accident near San Francisco...If the data on this is accurate; I don't want to be around for what's coming next..." he stated as he studied the USB stick in his hand.
Looking out the window of the plane, he watched as the stars shone brightly overhead, and the moon cast its silvery light down upon the vast endless ocean below. He'd feel a lot easier, as soon as they touched the ground, and he could disappear once more.
The End ...For now...
Ominous much? It's about to get to get a whole lot tense...
So there you have it: serious craziness, all rolled into 24 hours :) Hope you enjoyed, and hope you can join us for the next installment: True Self, which I'll begin typing up in due course, after some minor editing here and there.
Much love darlings!