Read Online Area 51: The Sphinx-4 by Robert Doherty - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robert Doherty
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Espionage, Political, High Tech, Area 51 (Nev.), Ark of the Covenant
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problem. One that the oceans on either side of your country will not keep at arm's reach."
A strong gust of wind hit them, staggering Duncan into Turcotte, who steadied her with an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm telling you the reality of the situation," Duncan shouted. "We can stand here and argue how screwed up it is until we're blue in the face, but it's not going to change anything. The isolationists have a very persuasive argument, using the facts we've given them regarding the Airlia being on the planet so long. The point they make is that if the Airlia and their human agents have existed peacefully with us for so long, why not go back to the status quo?"
"That's bull," Turcotte said. "Majestic trying to fly the
-65-
mothership upset the balance, and it's never going to be restored. This is a fight to the end."
"I know that, and that's why I'm here," Duncan said. The bottom line is that we're on our own. I have the same presidential authorization to gain us aid from whatever government organization we need, but that's it. We also have some support from Sterling at UNAOC, but that will be limited, as even UNAOC is being pressured to toe the isolationist line. And we have to be covert about any actions we take, not only because of the isolationists but also to steer clear of The Mission, the Watchers, and The Ones Who Wait. Just be glad the President didn't shut us down."
"Would that have been so bad?" Turcotte muttered, the words unheard by the other two.
"Official policy right now," Duncan yelled, "is to gather information but take no direct action."
"That's crap," Turcotte said. "We're sticking our necks out and getting no support." He pointed at the ruins of the hangar. "We lost eight people in there."
"I know—and that's being kept under wraps also. I did get us some backup,"
Duncan said.
"Who?" Turcotte asked.
"A Special Forces team straight from Bragg. Your friend Colonel Mickell handpicked the team, so they should be good. They're en route now. We're to use them as we see fit."
"No limitations?" Turcotte asked. "Like national boundaries?"
"Unofficially, no limitations," Duncan said. "Officially, if we screw up, it's our ass on the line."
"Great," Turcotte said. His phone buzzed, and he flipped it open, one hand over his free ear so he could hear, then shut it. "Quinn says the Cube is secure and clear of any surveillance devices. Let's get inside, get you cleaned up, then figure out what we're going to do."
-66-
"There's something else," Duncan said.
"What?"
She reached into her coat and pulled out a piece of paper that the wind tried to rip from her grasp. "We've heard from Easter Island."
"The guardian?" Turcotte asked.
"The message is apparently from Kelly Reynolds—or whatever Kelly has become now."
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA
The security guard flashed his light at the ID card, then checked the face of the holder to make sure the two matched. The security rating on the card was the highest possible in the dark world of covert operations. The organization listed was the Central Intelligence Agency.
The owner of the card did ostensibly work for the CIA, but in reality he was a member of STAAR, which stood for Strategic Tactical Advanced Alien Response.
Founded by President Eisenhower, the organization had been set up to be a coordinating group for response to a potential alien assault—given the fact that aliens had indeed visited Earth in the past, as evidenced by what Majestic-12
was working with at Area 51. In reality, though, STAAR was a front organization in America for The Ones Who Wait, allowing it to infiltrate the government bureaucracy at every level. It was the way of bureaucracy and the compartmentalization of the covert world that the correct piece of paper or security clearance could override every suspicion for decades.
The operative's code name was Etor, and he quickly strode past the guard and toward the VAB—vehicle assembly building—a towering edifice
A strong gust of wind hit them, staggering Duncan into Turcotte, who steadied her with an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm telling you the reality of the situation," Duncan shouted. "We can stand here and argue how screwed up it is until we're blue in the face, but it's not going to change anything. The isolationists have a very persuasive argument, using the facts we've given them regarding the Airlia being on the planet so long. The point they make is that if the Airlia and their human agents have existed peacefully with us for so long, why not go back to the status quo?"
"That's bull," Turcotte said. "Majestic trying to fly the
-65-
mothership upset the balance, and it's never going to be restored. This is a fight to the end."
"I know that, and that's why I'm here," Duncan said. The bottom line is that we're on our own. I have the same presidential authorization to gain us aid from whatever government organization we need, but that's it. We also have some support from Sterling at UNAOC, but that will be limited, as even UNAOC is being pressured to toe the isolationist line. And we have to be covert about any actions we take, not only because of the isolationists but also to steer clear of The Mission, the Watchers, and The Ones Who Wait. Just be glad the President didn't shut us down."
"Would that have been so bad?" Turcotte muttered, the words unheard by the other two.
"Official policy right now," Duncan yelled, "is to gather information but take no direct action."
"That's crap," Turcotte said. "We're sticking our necks out and getting no support." He pointed at the ruins of the hangar. "We lost eight people in there."
"I know—and that's being kept under wraps also. I did get us some backup,"
Duncan said.
"Who?" Turcotte asked.
"A Special Forces team straight from Bragg. Your friend Colonel Mickell handpicked the team, so they should be good. They're en route now. We're to use them as we see fit."
"No limitations?" Turcotte asked. "Like national boundaries?"
"Unofficially, no limitations," Duncan said. "Officially, if we screw up, it's our ass on the line."
"Great," Turcotte said. His phone buzzed, and he flipped it open, one hand over his free ear so he could hear, then shut it. "Quinn says the Cube is secure and clear of any surveillance devices. Let's get inside, get you cleaned up, then figure out what we're going to do."
-66-
"There's something else," Duncan said.
"What?"
She reached into her coat and pulled out a piece of paper that the wind tried to rip from her grasp. "We've heard from Easter Island."
"The guardian?" Turcotte asked.
"The message is apparently from Kelly Reynolds—or whatever Kelly has become now."
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA
The security guard flashed his light at the ID card, then checked the face of the holder to make sure the two matched. The security rating on the card was the highest possible in the dark world of covert operations. The organization listed was the Central Intelligence Agency.
The owner of the card did ostensibly work for the CIA, but in reality he was a member of STAAR, which stood for Strategic Tactical Advanced Alien Response.
Founded by President Eisenhower, the organization had been set up to be a coordinating group for response to a potential alien assault—given the fact that aliens had indeed visited Earth in the past, as evidenced by what Majestic-12
was working with at Area 51. In reality, though, STAAR was a front organization in America for The Ones Who Wait, allowing it to infiltrate the government bureaucracy at every level. It was the way of bureaucracy and the compartmentalization of the covert world that the correct piece of paper or security clearance could override every suspicion for decades.
The operative's code name was Etor, and he quickly strode past the guard and toward the VAB—vehicle assembly building—a towering edifice
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