A little water clears us of this deed.

"Beginning 2076 with a new military base housing state of the art research facilities is not what I had anticipated, but I, for one, am looking forward to officially taking command of our brand spanking new Mariposa Military Base upon its official opening after Christmas. We're ending 2075 on a high, that's for damn sure."

With a bit of chuckle, Colonel Robert Michael Spindel presented his military ID to the gate guard before proceeding in his rather heavily loaded Jeep. He elbowed the man sitting beside him in the passenger seat, and, seeing the well dressed man in the far passenger seat glance at him, winked. Rolling the windows back up, Spindel pressed down the brakes, waiting for a few tanks to be rolled through. A rush of pride swelled in him upon seeing, following behind them, a few young servicemen carrying the flag; it waved strong and proud in the light winter wind, and the high noon light made its colours, stars, and stripes seem all the more bright. When they were all passed, the Colonel let up on the brakes and shifted back to the gas, careful to keep his speed slow. It's a fucking solid Jeep, but it also ain't an ATV…and, I suspect, Dr. Von Felden has no interest in being jostled around. Waiting again when a series of equally filled trucks crossed in front of them, Spindel absentmindedly reached for the stereo. Smiling, briefly, upon hearing the CD his wife had left in, he let it play for a few seconds before switching to the radio. Flicking the volume up a little, he only stopped when he saw the road on the base began to clear again, refocusing on driving.

"If our work continues to progress the way it has, I suspect the military will make especially good on the contracts with those of us at West-Tek and station all of our major projects here," Dr. Von Felden mildly remarked, amused at the shift to an advertisement on the radio. "Vault-Tec: talking about and selling safety without doing much of the research."

Spindel rolled his eyes. "And here I thought, Leon, that the military and West-Tek asked you to discuss collaborating with them back in '67. I guess not."

"They did, after one of our product management directors took a lucrative job post from them just before the launch of the T-45, and I am not authorised to tell you anything further than you already were informed of about what we discussed in that meeting, as were none of the other parties present," He paused. "You or Major Barnett, of course."

"Seeing as it was my idea to transfer the Pan-Immunity Viron Project here, I don't think I even have to guess on what you may have used some of their research Vaults for," Barnett said, taking off his sunglasses. "But, hell, whether you have or not, I still think the government and Vault-Tec should take the military experiments you've proffered over the years as serious as a heart attack. My pick is still on working out the kinks in creating a super mutant soldier with illegal immigrants as our test subjects. It'd be a great starting point, for sure, and in some ways easier than deporting all of them."

"And, as you both well know, to some extent, our research has ebbed in that direction," Von Felden halfway replied. "Although Vault-Tec have taken some other interesting ideas on. I'll confess, I was rather shocked to receive an irritated – more so angry – phone call from Julia Masters about an idea she proffered in '67. Vault-Tec's brass, I'm sure, got it too, maybe even worse, but I don't know why she is so angry. Her idea was offhanded, and, funnily enough, came after she glanced at a text message she had received from her daughter that was to the same effect, but it was still a good concept either way."

"About separating children from their parents and only having the smartest children reach adulthood?" Spindel laughed when he nodded. "I'm not surprised that idea came from her daughter. She would have been, what, seventeen at the time? It's common knowledge that girl hated her classmates and was bored in school. I'm not surprised Julia suggested that after hearing it from her daughter."

"Her daughter is brilliant, but, admittedly, it was an offhanded comment," Von Felden looked briefly amused. "But I don't understand her anger at that idea being taken. If the War does escalate, we'll need the best minds we can get to ensure our survival as an intelligent species in its wake."

"Masters probably thinks she'll be considered the Cruella De Vil of the defence contracting world," Barnett said, shrugging. "That is why she's angry, I'd bet. She's shrewd and vain, even if she'd deny it to no end. What she's angry about is how she believes she could be perceived, not the experiment itself."

Spindel eyed him strangely. "How would that make her the Cruella of the defence contracting world?"

"Don't you know?" Von Felden faintly smirked. "The author of the book that inspired the film said she came up with the idea for it and, specifically, her villain after one of her friends offhandedly remarked that her and her husband's nine some odd dogs could make a lovely fur coat."

"Makes more sense," Spindel chuckled, manoeuvring towards a parking space. "And, frankly, is one of the most amusing characterisations of anyone I've heard in a long time. I'll make sure not to pass it on to the Admiral. I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy to hear someone talk about his wife that way."

Swivelling the car a little too harshly, Spindel paid barely any mind to the way Dr. Von Felden stiffened and glared at him. Pressing down slowly on the brakes and turning towards an open parking space, the Colonel slowly started to pull into and straighten out the Jeep. He hummed a little to himself, careful not to ding or scrape the vehicle against any of the others already parked. Most of them were filled to the brim with boxes of ammunition, weaponry, and general supplies; others held barrels both labelled and unlabelled. As soon as it was securely in place, Spindel cut the ignition and pushed his door open to ensure he was within the parking lines. Hopping out to ensure he was also within them on the far passenger side, he let out a sigh of relief to find he was and walked back around to retrieve a few things from the backseat. Much more restrained than the Colonel, Dr. Von Felden waited for him to move out of the way and released the safety latches before calmly stepping out of the vehicle and sweeping up his briefcase from where it had been at his feet. Major Barnett soon followed; reaching into the back to grab his own bags and then getting out himself.

"The base's official opening and inauguration can't come soon enough," Barnett shut the door to the passenger side of the Jeep with his right shoulder. "Thank God for President Haley getting Congress to stop forcing decades DOD consolidation by '42, or we wouldn't be here now. Military keeps on growing like it has since, and we'll win the War in a landslide. Plus, for us, it ain't all that often the Governor of the State and the Commonwealth drag themselves out to something together."

"I'm sure it will be a spectacle," Von Felden said, briefly sending Spindel an irritated glare. "You don't have to drive so aggressively on a military base."

"I don't but, well, I enjoy it," Spindel said, smacking the driver's side door shut, then adjusting the bags on his shoulders. "I like to call a successful parking job pulling forward and declaring victory, just don't tell Admiral Masters I took his joke."

"No one's going to," Barnett said, smacking one of his palms against one of Spindel's before reaching into his pocket for a cigarette. "But, to the business, look at this place. Couldn't be luckier that the Feds spared no expense if we tried."

"Did you expect them to cut corners on a joint project with us?" Von Felden replied, bristling slightly as they began to walk. "There is a reason West-Tek, Boeing, RobCo, Raytheon, General Atomics, Northrop, Lockheed, and Vault-Tec are some of the wealthiest corporations in America, and it is that all of us get results."

"Damn good results, too," Spindel said. "I still say we could have won easily in Iraq and Afghanistan if they had upped the ante with West-Tek and the NBC Division. Just think of all the terrorists whose faces we could have melted."

Barnett laughed, nearly burning one of his fingers with his cigarette.

"Didn't you say your parents were the ones who told you that?"

"They did," Spindel said. "They met while in the Army and had my sister in '10, a few years after the invasion. Five years later, I came along and they were never satisfied with any President until the 2050s because of…well, everything."

"Are you telling the same old stories, Colonel Spindel? I doubt this is the first time you've held the Major's ear to it. Or Dr. Von Felden's, either."

Spindel turned around in surprise but soon grinned.

"To the point and brutally honest," He said, setting at ease the man who had spoken when he joined them. "I always knew I liked you, Maxson. I assume you're here to tour the base as well?"

"As it will be our joint command, yes," He said, shaking his hand. "It's a pleasure to see you, Colonel. And you as well, Major Barnett, and Dr. Von Felden. I've been given to understand some of West-Tek's immunology research and power armour development is going to be conducted here. I assume that is why you're visiting today."

"It is," Von Felden said shortly. "With some amount of luck, I hope Andrea will be transferred out here from the Pentagon, however, either way, our research is progressing well. The former end of it is, if you need the reminder, on a need to know basis."

"Understood. I also, I confess, agree it would be nice to have someone of your wife's capabilities out here. She's a fantastic Brigadier General," Maxson smiled, beginning to walk with him, Spindel, and Barnett. "Nevertheless, I fully intend to ensure things run smoothly and well here. I know Colonel Spindel is of the same mind."

"To run and maintain a successful military operation, you have to be able to work well within the chain of command," Spindel said, clasping his hands behind his back. "I appreciate your support under me, Maxson. With as much as I have to do, you truly alleviate some of what I have to keep a pulse on."

"I aspire to be as strong a leader for my soldiers as I can be," He briefly inclined his head towards Von Felden. "I take great inspiration from the steadfast leadership of your wife, as a friend and as my superior officer, and I feel the same towards – I'm sure you know him – Admiral Masters. I quite value the mentorship they've shown me, and the inspiration their leadership has given me."

"Good choices for inspiration, I'd say," Spindel approvingly hummed. "If you and I govern the base properly, I have no doubt we'll – or, at the very least, you will – achieve similar rank."

"I certainly aspire to it," Maxson said with a nod, turning back to Von Felden. "Has there been any progress in fixing the weak points in the T-45 Power Armour?"

"Moderate progress, but not enough, hence why we have been working on other, newer models," Von Felden said, irritation slipping into his voice. "Had a certain…corporate hopper, shall we say, not been more focused on aesthetics than durability and quality, we would not be having the problems with the T-45 that we do, and it is much harder to correct the mistakes on something such as that when it has been in field use for almost a decade because of that person."

"You mean Bud Askins?" Spindel frowned when Von Felden pursed his lips. "If I recall what I've heard over the years right, he'd been high up there in management and oversight after working at the company for a little over a decade, and the bosses at West-Tek decided to have him oversee power armour research and development, which was, evidently, a mistake."

"He should count himself lucky to have already taken the post of Senior Junior Vice President at Vault-Tec by the time the T-45 went into the field and the oversight was revealed," Von Felden said darkly. "I, for one, would have seen him sacked from West-Tek for it, but he played it well. I was unsurprised to hear he had been calling in favours before Vault-Tec finally offered him his current – and extremely comfortable post, mind – post in November of '66, and equally unsurprised to hear he took it."

"Although, if his post at Vault-Tec wasn't so cushy, he'd probably still be doing corporate hopper bullshit," Barnett said, tapping off some of the ash from his cigarette as they walked. "He was clever."

"He also handed in his two weeks' notice to West-Tek the week before Christmas," Von Felden said, brushing dust off the cuffs of his suit jacket. "I wasn't on the T-45 research, but I knew quite a few people who were, and they were furious. I don't think Dr. Mason has ever let her grudge against him for it go."

"If anyone under my charge caused such grave consequences for our soldiers, I would have them dishonourably discharged for it," Spindel sighed. "Far too many good men and women have been killed by the Reds because of the weaknesses in the T-45. Huge reason why I'm glad newer, different models are being deployed. It's not perfect, but the T-51 doesn't have any flaws I'm aware of that are as costly as those in the T-45."

"What's such a shame, too, is that one of the people responsible for seeing those flaws brought to light and addressed has since been dishonourably discharged," Barnett said, taking a drag on his cigarette. "I never would've put money on Cooper Howard becoming a Commie. I still can't believe it some days."

"He could have earnt the rank of Colonel, at the very least, too, if he hadn't thrown it all away," Spindel noted with a slight frown. "It's a shame. I remember meeting him for the first time in August of '67, after he had returned from his brief Alaskan deployment – his first deployment, that is – due to being married and the father to a child under ten. He seemed to be real dedicated even then. I saw more of him than I think most people had; both as a military man and as an actor. I met him when I got lucky enough to be invited to a party celebrating the start of principal photography on The Man From Deadhorse. Still don't know how I got invited."

"You've met Cooper Howard, Colonel?" Maxson said, surprised. "I concur, then. It must have been fascinating to meet the man in person."

"And a few years before he – figuratively, of course – shot himself in the foot," Spindel said, glancing to Von Felden. "I'm sure you've met the man, Leon. Do you have any stories about him worth telling?"

"I'm interested in work, Colonel, not gossip," Von Felden archly replied. "You may feel free to, but I choose not to waste my precious time gossiping."

Barnett laughed. "It's not gossip if it's intriguing enough and true."

"Howard was revealed to be a Communist just a year and a half ago, wasn't he?" Maxson shook his head when the Colonel nodded. "It's a damn shame. I had admired him a little, to be completely honest. He went back into the field voluntarily in '70 and stayed there for three years before returning. Why he suddenly turned into a Commie less than a year after returning still baffles me when he had before it been otherwise as dedicated to our country as anyone."

"As it should," Barnett said with a flick from his cigarette. "Can't say I blame him for letting Askins have it for the flaws in the T-45 when he came back, though. Apparently Askins decided to mention the T-45 when he tried to reintroduce himself to him and make a more permanent impression. He succeeded, although very much not in the way he wanted."

"Yes, well, some of us have pressing work to attend to that have nothing to do with hashing out old gossip," Von Felden said, his voice ever more clipped as he checked his mobile. "If I do not see you again before the official opening of the base, congratulations on receiving Junior Joint Command of Mariposa with Colonel Spindel, Captain Maxson."

"Thank you, Dr. Von Felden," Maxson said, shaking his hand and politely waving off Major Barnett, who had finished his cigarette. "I have been asked to direct training exercises today, so I will be off as well. Have a good day."

Von Felden faintly frowned. "I trust I will."

With a stiff nod at the Captain and, then, the Colonel, Dr. Leon Von Felden put away his mobile in favour of another; walking towards the largest building on site, he took out a much older looking slide phone, quickly picking up a call. Surprised, the Captain watched him closely for a minute, rolling out his shoulders and cracking his knuckles. All mobile phones are required to be checked in before entering any part of the base holding classified information and are looked through before departing the base. He isn't breaking protocol, for now. About to walk away and across the base, the Captain turned to salute the Colonel. When he set him at ease, however, the Colonel beckoned the man towards him. The Captain complied, doing his best to hide his surprise at the gesture. Beginning to walk together, the Colonel glanced around them; watching as Barnett entered the Command Centre first and watching Von Felden until he entered the Command Centre as well. With a tired shake of his head, the Colonel paused and motioned for the Captain to do the same whence he was sure they were as close to alone as they could be. A few seconds passed between them with only the sounds of final construction and materials and people moving across the base behind them echoing out.

"I will let you go in a moment, Captain, however…" Spindel paused, adjusting his bags on his shoulders again. "As this is your first true, major posting and role, there are a few things I want to impress upon you that I have not been able to yet. I apologise for having been away since the announcement of our having Joint Command over the base at its opening. The Pentagon were quite insistent."

"We are actively at War," Maxson calmly replied. "You have nothing to apologise for, Colonel."

"Thank you, Captain," Spindel took another glance around. "As your security clearance has increased with your receiving Joint Command with me, what you will be hearing about the War and asked to make calls on will be more substantial than before. I know you're already aware of that, but I mention it because of the gravity of that fact."

"Yes, sir. I've been carefully preparing for our first dual intelligence briefing since I got my new orders."

"Good, good man," Spindel said, unease beginning to knot together in his chest. "As this will be your first…real interaction with the intelligence community, I feel I ought to offer you the same advice my superior officer gave me upon receiving my first major command."

"Thank you, Colonel."

"Don't thank me, Captain, heed me," Spindel removed his hat for a moment to run one hand through his hair. "Do not attack the intelligence community. Ever. As he said to me then, let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you. Several good – albeit seriously idealistic men and women – have lost everything by doing so, and I do not want you to become one of them."

Maxson furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? You can't possibly be referring to the few people who've been arrested for deliberately leaking classified information."

"I'm not," Spindel said, lowering his voice. "It occurred to me, at least today, because of Barnett's comment on Cooper Howard."

Maxson frowned. "You said yourself he has been discovered to be a Communist."

"I said it because that is what you have to say," Spindel said, taking another nervous look at their surroundings, shaking his head when he felt sure of their relative isolation. "I was Howard's superior officer for a time while he was deployed the second time – by choice – to Alaska starting in 2070. He struck me as being in something of a fugue state at the time he reapplied for deployment, and I was hesitant to give it to him. I only approved it in light of his insistence and previous, otherwise impeccable service, and no one higher in the chain of command objected."

"Which is why you think he is not a Communist?"

"Howard came back from Alaska midway through '73 with an anger towards the Reds I've only seen in a few people, and it did not waver. No, I believe it was an act of revenge by his now-ex wife. I am of the opinion that the timing of him being labelled a Communist and him and Barbara entering divorce proceedings wasn't accidental. Everyone knows Barb has friends in high places. If she wanted a hit done on him to get the most favourable outcome possible in their divorce and to prevent him from ever getting work in film or the military again, she could do it."

Maxson hesitated. "But why would anyone in intelligence agree to do that?"

"Barb has friends in just about everywhere important in this country, and she has a fuck ton of her own money. Divorce can bring out the worst in people, and that's even more true when there are kids involved. Granted, I could be wrong…but I have a hard time believing someone who believed so strongly in fighting for this country and freedom would or could suddenly become a Commie."

Maxson fell silent.

"I could also be in denial, but something in me refuses to believe it," Spindel said, setting his hat back on his head. "Whether what happened to Howard was an intelligence hit as a favour to his now-ex wife or not, however, it's always the best policy to not stoke the ire of the intelligence community."

"I'll do my best to remember that, Colonel."

"Don't do your best. Commit it to memory and never forget it. We need them, and they know it. Don't let any of the arrogance from them get a rise out of you."

"Understood, Colonel."

"Good luck with running training exercises today," Spindel took a look at the time on his watch before quickly shaking Maxson's hand. "I will see you again for your report on it at 19:30."

"Thank you, Colonel," Maxson said with a salute. "I bid you the same for your work today."

Not allowing himself to look back at the Captain, the Colonel offered only a half nod in acknowledgement as he walked away. Looking at his watch again, he pushed down the urge to run rising in him, competing against the tightness in his chest and the nauseated feeling slowly pooling in him. 7:12. I'll be more than able to arrive at the meeting half past the hour on time. This is irrational. This posting – and receiving the Senior Command – is an honour. He swallowed hard, shaking himself out, and kept going. Growing closer to the base's Command Centre, the Colonel reached for his ID badge, unclipping it from his belt. The weight of the bags on his shoulders snatching at him, he began to walk faster; the sooner he could set them down, the better. A sigh of relief escaped him at not seeing any vehicle movement in his path, and he kept going. One of his hands began to wrap around the nearest of the straps of his bags, while the other began to clench around his ID. The Command Centre growing ever closer in the distance, he took a glimpse at his watch again. 7:19. His chest feeling tight again, he picked up the pace further, something in him still begging to run. Closer, and closer still. When he finally reached the door and presented his ID to the man standing guard, he realised he was breathing hard almost the moment he stepped through the doors and into the quieter Command Centre.

Nearly silent compared to the rest of the base outside, the only sounds within the Command Centre he could hear were, first, the analogue hum of electricity, and, second, movement and quiet conversation between the men and women at work. When he registered the heavy breathing to be his own, the Colonel stopped, looking back at his watch yet again. 7:23. Forcing himself steady, he approached the intake and surrendered his mobile phone. He walked as calmly as he could muster towards the lifts and scanned his ID for access. The doors opened quickly after an equally quick bell rang out. The Colonel all but punching the button for the sixth and top floor, he began to straighten himself out. The bell ringing out again when it reached its destination, he exited just as the doors were opening and headed to his office. Scanning in and finally setting his bags down, he let out a tired sigh, rubbing at his neck and shoulders. Out of the corners of his eyes, he saw the clock on the wall. 7:27. The tightness in his chest not fully abated, the Colonel nonetheless departed his office and locked it. Down the hall, turn once to the left, and once more to the right. His hands trembling against his will when he scanned into the meeting room, the Colonel slipped them into his pockets the moment he could and allowed one of the other men present close and lock the door behind him.

Taking his seat at the table, the Colonel took a look over his colleagues, clasping his hands together before him to stop them from shaking. Appearing no more jovial than he did when he left for the Command Centre, Dr. Leon Von Felden kept a few physical files before him alongside a closed, government issued laptop. In a much better mood was Major Barnett, who offered the Colonel a short lived smile upon his entrance. Almost impossible to read, Dr. Nicholas Davis politely inclined his head towards the Colonel as he sat down but made no other acknowledgement of his surroundings. If West-Tek were hoping the person to direct their NBC Division that would never betray anything about what he knows, they've certainly found it in Nick Davis. Uneasy with the calm and utterly neutral composure of the man, the Colonel took a look between the other two men present. Relieved at the reminder that one of them was a cleared guard, the Colonel raised an eyebrow at the man he did not recognise and turned to Barnett with a frown.

"Major, who is this?"

"Dr. Elias Khan. West-Tek requested he be present as he could provide insight into how best to manage our biological experiments, as the Research Head for West-Tek's operations as a whole on the East Coast and specifically in Appalachia."

"He received full corporate and military clearance before arriving here today," Davis plainly informed him. "The documentation has been in the system for over a week. I'm surprised you did not see it, Colonel Spindel."

"I have been quite busy," He said shortly, casting a pointed look to Barnett. "I expect you will ensure to tell me such things beforehand next time, Major."

"Yes, sir."

Spindel's eyes narrowed. A few seconds passed in silence.

"Major Barnett may be overseeing the research the military has contracted from West-Tek's NBC Division, but I am still the highest ranked officer on this base. I have also," He briefly inclined his head towards Von Felden. "Already sent in writing to those higher up in the chain of command to ensure Captain Maxson is not informed of any of that research. I have also requested additional security measures, as I have little doubt that there would be mass chaos if the truth of some of your experiments were to come to light in the wrong way and in the wrong context."

"I requested the same, Colonel," Barnett said. "Research into the Pan-Immunity Viron is of the utmost importance and ensuring it can go on without incident is the priority."

"Another reason I am still not completely comfortable with the sudden move of the research to Mariposa," Spindel said, resting his clasped hands under his chin. "I had been given to understand that the research would not be moved to Mariposa until the seventh of January, 2077 – a little over a year from now. To say it worries me would be an understatement."

"If your concern is how we'll transfer the test subjects, that won't be an issue," Davis told him. "And, to be clear, research on the Pan-Immunity Viron will not be continued here. We have isolated a promising strain of it we have given a more accurate name to, and that is what will be researched – on the biological side – here."

"You will see in your briefs the acronym FEV," Von Felden continued with a faint smirk. "Which is short hand for the project's full name – the Forced Evolutionary Virus."

Spindel nodded. "Alright."

"I ensured to communicate that in my concurrence with your ruling that Maxson should not be permitted to know of any of the biological research being performed here," Barnett added, and Spindel did his best to mask his relief. "While I do not think he would be suitable for knowledge of the Pan-Immunity Viron research – were it being performed here – I especially do not think he would be suitable for knowledge of the FEV research."

"Captain Maxson is a good soldier and inspires those beneath him, but he is an idealist. We have to work with the deck we have been given, and that includes this," Spindel said, though a small laugh escaped his lips. "I suspect I'll be less nervous about the move after it is completed. We understand it is easier and more useful to use these people rather than deport them all back down to south of the border, but it would – optically – look rather terrible."

"Another reason for the swift move," Von Felden said, his voice rather sharpish. "The Big MT Think Tank had a very close call regarding some of their human experimentation at the end of October, and – while lobotomy is obviously egregious, unethical, a crackpot pseudoscience, and thankfully illegal for nearly a century – several scientists and doctors have been arrested in the last six months for it and disturbed the entire public view of the scientific and medical communities. There is a stark difference between what we do and their destructive quackery, but a panicked public isn't going to see that in us or Big MT."

"I hate to agree, but I must," Spindel sighed. "A few rotten apples spoil the bunch, as the saying goes," He glanced at Khan. "As you are the…newest on the need to know list for this research, I assume you have been informed of with whom and when you may discuss it?"

"Never out of a specially called meeting or in active work on the project," Khan promptly replied. "As for those on the need to know list, they include, naturally, the President, Vice President, Cabinet, and Joint Chiefs, yourself and Major Barnett at this facility in particular and, of course, the scientists working on or managing the project and the board at West-Tek. A few high ranked members of the military outside of the Joint Chiefs are aware of it as well, including Admiral Masters…whom I have been informed strongly disapproves of the endeavour."

"I still don't understand that," Von Felden said with a roll of his eyes. "The Admiral knows better than most what's at stake if we God forbid lose the War, and, notwithstanding, has no qualms about owning a lot of stock in Vault-Tec and being aware of some our…collaborative work with them."

"It's not always an easy pill to swallow, Dr. Von Felden," Spindel said shortly. "So for that I cannot blame him. He has not – and more to the point will not – let that stop him from putting our country first. The American people need us to win the War, and the Reds play dirty. We have to, at times, as well."

"Precisely," Khan said, looking between the two men. "I must confess, Dr. Von Felden, that I was surprised to see your wife was not on the list of need to know personnel."

"Andrea is a Brigadier General and focused on pushing the Reds out of Alaska. She is both lower ranked than everyone else on that list, and would be distracted by it," Von Felden coldly informed him. "I, for one, would not want her to be on the list and am glad she is not. She was uncomfortable enough with our son joining an advanced virology research team out of the CIT in September because he is signed on for the next five years. She would be horrified at the thought of me working on an incredibly contagious virus we are still working out the kinks on."

"Would her horror be because of that or on the ethics?" Davis laughed when Von Felden stiffened. "Another idealist! Well, be that as it may, she has no reason to be informed of the project and won't be. Unrelated to the FEV research, however," He recomposed himself in an instant when he looked to the Colonel. "As is outwardly known, we will also be moving power armour research to Mariposa."

"Which makes a great deal of sense," Spindel agreed.

"Additionally," Davis continued. "Some of our nuclear fusion research and weaponry testing is being moved here, for similar reasons as the moving of power armour research here."

"I'm sure that'll be beneficial for all of us."

"It helps that the research team has gotten over their initial requests to delay or forgo the sudden move, largely thanks to Dr. Von Felden," Barnett added. "We can't afford to lose time. The FBI's Council On Un-American Activities do their best to help the military keep our operations from being interfered with by…so-called 'freedom activists,' but it's always been best practise to maintain the highest level of security possible regardless of their help."

"They also had a concerning bumble this year, too," Davis said, his eyes narrowing at the thought. "I cannot believe a Commie sympathiser was found in Congress. He never should have even been elected, and how his traitorous 'opinions' weren't unearthed earlier is as baffling to me as it is concerning. The only positive outcome of that fiasco has been that it has unified Democrats and Republicans and saw him unanimously removed from Congress."

"Yes, we're all aware, but that does not make it relevant to this discussion of our projects," Von Felden said pointedly. "What is relevant are the security measures being put in place to ensure – with the FEV in particular – they are unable to be unearthed."

"The two factor scanners for laboratory access should be finished from installation in the next few days at the latest," Spindel took a few seconds to think. "The retinal and fingerprint scanners being required alongside proper ID should be more than enough."

"And the additional security cameras?"

"Already installed across the base. DNA samples from everyone on the base will be taken as well to leave no room for question as to who is who and as a final safeguard for our collaborations with West-Tek."

"Excellent."

"We're going to need all hands on deck as soon as we get the best fully up and running, so be prepared to work some late nights soon," Barnett added. "Myself and the Colonel included."

"That we all more than expected," Von Felden said with a slight frown. "Although, ideally, finalising the move in research facilities should make the stragglers fall in line. Had we been better able to force them in line, we might have been able to start earlier, even before the base was completed."

"I don't disagree, but the timetable couldn't be helped, unfortunately," Barnett said, shaking his head. "Between the base being still under construction and, as you said, several members of the science team being uncertain of or even preferring not to move it, we had to spend far more time than we wanted to on this."

"Not to mention the bureaucracy," Davis said, scoffing. "It took the Army far too long to approve the plan to move the research. What should have taken them no more than a day took them two weeks. Absolutely ridiculous."

"We have been faced with more pressing concerns to address first, Dr. Davis," Spindel rebuked him. "I will not elaborate further than that, as you do not have clearance outside of our joint projects, but you would be able to deduce as much if you took the time to turn on the news. You may be the Head of West-Tek's NBC Division, but you are ultimately a defence contractor and can be replaced if –"

"That will not be necessary, Colonel, I apologise," Davis said as he quickly stiffened. "I have not worked with the military as closely myself as, for one, Dr. Von Felden or my predecessor before she retired. Apparently, I should not have expected corporate timetables from the military."

"No, you should not have," Spindel icily replied.

A moment passed, his words settling in a brief silence.

"There is," Barnett hesitantly put in "One other matter I find troubling and also underdiscussed, which is what are we supposed to say or do if we, in a fluke, are ever found out for this before we have reaped results?"

"That won't be a problem," Khan told him. "Those of us from West-Tek are just as motivated to ensure the security of our research as the military. Some of the personnel we're transferring out here for the FEV research, I'm sure, will prove that for you."

"And, even in the worst case, there's a go to," Davis said with a dark glint in his eyes. "Deny, deny, deny."

"We've been contracted to continue FEV experiments by the Department Of Defence," Von Felden reminded him with a brief look of disdain. "There is nothing we have to deny, Nick. We are doing what we're being paid to do by the DOD. Notwithstanding," He looked to Spindel. "The security of that research is part of your responsibility."

"We have the best security in the world, and certainly will by the time work is actively being done on the base every day," Spindel said shortly, turning to Barnett. "Major, if you have any reason to think we'll need to implement even more security, I ask you to put them forward now."

Barnett shifted uncomfortably before shaking his head.

"I have no reason at this time," He said. "But I will be keeping my eye out for any potential moles. After what nearly happened at some of the Big MT Think Tank's research centres, I don't think we can be too careful, especially about ensuring Maxson is never informed of the FEV research."

"Caution is prudence," Spindel said with a short nod of agreement. "And I am sure everyone will heed that and maintain the secrecy demanded of such heavily classified work."

"And in the worst case?"

"If there is a 'worst case' in which any of our joint work comes to light, then the person responsible for it will be silenced," Spindel paused, his voice wavering for a brief few seconds. "We have a War to win, and, as much as it pains me to say it, I don't think it will come quickly or easily, and certainly not in time for the tricentennial in this coming July…poetic as that would be. We don't have any choice but to push forward until we win, and if that means we have to dirty our hands, then so be it."

Von Felden raised an eyebrow. "Colonel," He said, sounding almost amused. "Are you trying to convince us of that, or yourself?"