CH66

"Richard."

"Yes Lucile."

"There is a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper that has been dispatched to fire two Hellfire missiles at this residence. It is presently 10 miles out and closing."

"Where was it launched from?"

"Niagara Falls International Airport Air Reserve Station. Which is located approximately 20 miles outside of Buffalo, NY."

"And if we knock it down, what are the possible consequences?"

"It is unmanned. The only possible damage depends on where it will crash when they lose control. One minute and counting to firing range."

"Can you calculate probable crash locations?" Rick questions.

"Bracken is upping the ante." Javi states.

"If we fire inside of 20 seconds, it should crash into the river. Limiting the potential for damage or injuries."

Rick takes a quick look at Kate with a 'What do you think?' look. Not really sure Kate just shrugs her shoulders.

"Fire Lucile."

"EMP with logic bomb fired. …. Target hit. Target is losing altitude and veering off course. … Estimate 2 minutes to crash site. …. Target has crashed into the river as anticipated. …. NO damage. NO casualties detected."

"Sir, we are approaching target."

"Arm the missiles and prepare to fire as directed."

"Missiles armed and target is in sight."

"Sir, we have lost all telemetry and guidance of the craft."

"Regain control lieutenant." …."Nothing sir. It's gone."

"Shot down?"

"The craft was functioning perfectly when suddenly we lost control and all communications with the craft ended."

"Review the records. Find out what happened. I have a call to make."

"Yes sir."

"Bracken is getting desperate. What's next? Marines?" Javi asks.

"Highly unlikely detective. An analysis of previous battles your military has been involved in would suggest they will first attempt another 'softening' of the target before committing ground troops." Lucile reply's.

"And their chances of taking this house by force?" Javi questions.

"Depends detective. If they decide to use a squad of special forces and try for an infiltration. The stunners and the resilience of the building materials used will deny them any attempt at breaching into the house.

However if they decide to utilize an armored division, complete with Apache Helicopters, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams M1A1 main battle tanks. That would present more of a challenge."

"And if they decide on an attack using fighter bombers or B1B bombers?"

"They would also be susceptible to the main EMP/Logic Bomb cannon located on the roof. The only unwanted result would be where these craft would crash. There could be damage to buildings and possible injuries." Lucile confirms.

"We need a plan to prevent that from happening Javi. We can't have blood on our hands." Lanie tells him.

"I want Bracken gone as much as the next person. But I'm not having my husband turn himself into a murderer to accomplish that. It will lower him down into the gutter where Bracken is located now." Jenny tells them all.

Kate has an idea, but it goes against what she has been used to doing. Kate has just not thought like this in a very long time. But she has Alexis in her arms, and no one is going to hurt her. Not even herself. "We need help." Kate offers up. "I just don't know who to contact to help us. Bracken has people all over the place. We may have General Reed, but they seem to have found someone to take his place. He has a Fire Inspector. He is going to want Reed's men to do things for him.

Who can we trust?" Kate makes a big step, but what can she do?

"I'm glad you asked Kate." Lucile tells her. "I just happen to have 3 candidates that might be able to help us. I can go over them with you all when you are ready."

"Just 3? They better be really good. When what we need is an army.

WAIT. Do these people have an army?" Javi asks sounding hopeful.

"One does have the ability to command troops in the field. The others are all more, behind the scenes type of people."

"And this helps us how?" Kate would really like to know how just 3 people can help them.

"Presently Bracken, Reed or actually his men, only have us to focus on. The biggest thing to avoid in a battle is having to fight on more than one front."

And suddenly a light bulb goes on over everyone's head. With a collective "OOHHH!" from everyone.

"OK, Lucile. Who have you got in mind, and why?" Kate is willing to at least listen.

"First. Horatio Herbert Kitchener III. He was promoted to the Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom in October 2011. Responsible for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. The UK is the most supportive Ally the United States has. He is a direct descendent of Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC. He won fame in 1898 for winning the Battle of Omdurman and securing control of the Sudan. In the Second Boer War he played a key role in Lord Roberts' conquest of the Boer Republics. If Bracken was to eventually be elected President, he could fundamentally change the relationship between the two countries. Perhaps isolating the US Military from all other countries, forcing it to think and act alone in all foreign affairs.

Such an action would have drastic results to the Economy of the US, United Kingdom and NATO in general."

"And the second?" Kate asks.

"Lt. Col. Sarah 'Mac' MacKenzie, USMC (JAGC) of the Judge Advocate General's office. She comes from a wealthy family. Was a Marine lawyer who had joined the Corps at the age of 19. She is presently the JAG Chief of Staff. She is not married and has no children. Her parents are wealthy enough that Bracken will not be able to buy them. And her present position gives her access to the entire military services. She has the gift of gab and great tenacity in the courtroom for justice."

"And the third?"

"Attorney Ben Matlock of the Office of the Inspector General. He is a folksy cantankerous attorney who has a daughter that works with her father as an investigator. These two are devoted to each other and have a history of seeking out justice. They tend to come up with alternative theories on the projects they accept. These two will be the hardest to convince to take on Bracken. However neither of them will be scared of him or whoever he sends to deter them."

"Ok, so we have 'who'. We still need 'how' and what to tell them?" Kate questions.

"How can be debated. I can scan where they are located to verify if they are alone. You can take a scrambler with you to prevent anyone from listening in. As to what, we tell them just enough to get them interested." Lucile suggests.

"Why not tell them everything?" Kate questions.

"If we tell them everything, what do they investigate? And why should they need to if we have all we need to expose them and get them arrested? All of them have one thing in common. JUSTICE. And where's the sport in going after someone if they have nothing to do?" Lucile comments.

"Ok, makes sense I guess. Do we burn a DVD?"

"I would suggest a Flash Drive. Small enough for them to carry around with them and not attract attention. And it can come with enough memory space to contain all we want to provide them with.

Might I also suggest we give each of them a burner phone, already programmed with the phone numbers of the other two phones. This way they can each talk to the other. Should they so desire." Lucile tells Kate.

"Why would we want them to talk to each other?" Kate questions.

"This will give each of them knowledge that they are not doing this alone. And one may have a clue that the other lacks." Lucile explains. "And it will be up to each of them just how much to tell the others. Providing each the illusion of control." Lucile explains.

"Makes sense. Now what do we give them?" Kate agrees.

"You can view a package I have already created by viewing it on any of the panels found around the house. Or you can use the TV/DVD projection screen. Or Richards laptop or Alexis's reader." Lucile informs Kate.

"You created a package for this that long ago?" Kate was getting mad. Was Lucile using her?

"I created it just seconds ago. You forget the speed of my processors."

"OH! Ooops." Kate scrunches up her face. She had forgotten just how fast Lucile can do things.

"I suppose you have also already put all that information of those flash drives?"

"No. I still require someone to insert the empty flash drives in any one of the slots at each panel, or into Richards laptop."

"I'll get them Lucile. Be right back guys." As Rick heads for his office.

Coming back up. "I have one in the panel in my office. One in the panel at the front door. And this one." As he inserts it into the empty space in the panel in the kitchen.

"Transfer complete. You will need to program the phone numbers into the phones manually." Lucile tells them.

"Shall we go get dressed for this Kate?" Rick asks her.

"NOW? We don't even know if any of them are alone or ready for this yet?"

"Herbert Kitchener is home alone at the present time. Unless you count his cat? His wife and three daughters are having a girls only night together." Lucile tells them.

"I guess we get dressed then." Kate gets up and leads Rick down to the bedroom to change.

Having changed, Rick stops at the office to grab the flash drive and meets Kate at the front door. "Ready?"

"NO. But why should I let that stop me?"

Rick leans in a kisses Kate. "You'll do fine. You are one step closer to getting justice for your mother. Concentrate on that."

"Thanks Rick." And Kate kisses him back.

Rick lifts his left arm. "Lucile if you please and it is clear." And the door flashes white. And Kate and Rick step through.

They find themselves stepping out from someone's front door. Turning to face it, Rick reaches over and presses the door bell and can hear it ring inside.

The door opens a little later. Kate does not miss that he has a weapon held in his hand behind his back. "Yes, what do you want?"

"Good evening Mr. Kitchener. We have a USA National Security Risk we would like to talk with you about." Rick states.

"You can make an appointment with someone at the office." Not sounding interested. And annoyed he was being approached at home. And how did they reach his front door anyway?

"We have reason to believe that the integrity of the UK Military may be at risk in the near future sir." Kate tells him. Bluffing about how the UK may actually be affected. Hoping all those poker games with Rick and the others is helping.

Opening the door a little wider. "You have 5 minutes."

Rick and Kate enter. "Thank you for our 5 minutes. If you would read the summary on the first page of this." Rick says offering the flash drive, "I think it will tell you what you want to know."

Herbert takes the drive from Rick and heads for his laptop. Plugging it in, he starts reading.

Kate and Rick are watching him. They have already lived what is on the flash drive. They don't need to read it over his back. Not that Herbert has allowed them to get behind them and neither Kate nor Rick even tried.

After a couple of minutes. "Ok. You've bought yourselves an additional five minutes. Why me and why you?"

"I'm Kate Beckett." Kate tells him. At this point Herbert's poker face drops for a split second. Kate now knows he has read her name in the summary he just finished.

"As to why you? The person of interest would be capable of anything should he achieve his goal(s). It is likely the fundamental qualities of our two countries would change. Everything you have fought for before or since 9/11 would be changed. You have a dedication that should not go quietly into the night."

"What makes you think myself alone could make this event from happening?"

Rick pulls out a cell phone. "This is per-programmed with the number to two other phones and only those phones. The people on the other end of that phone will be attempting to achieve the same thing, while not stepping on each other's toes or duplicating any work you each do."

"And these people are?"

"That is for you and them to determine amongst yourselves." Rick tells him.

"And how do I contact you?" Herbert asks. Forgetting about Kate for a second.

Not taking offense. "I'm a homicide detective with the 12th Precinct in New York City. I don't think contacting us will be a problem." Kate tells him.

"Yes of course. If you will allow me to review everything on the drive I will give you my answer."

"Of course. Try not to take too long. His time frame probably does not match yours." Rick tells him.

"I'll study it as quickly as I can and let you know. Allow me to show you out."

And Kate and Rick exit Mr. Kitchener's residence. Walking around the corner out of sight of everyone and everything, Rick opens a Transmat Wall and they are both back home.