Read Online Jesse's Starship by Saxon Andrew - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Saxon Andrew
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classified.”
Mike gave a small chuckle and shook his head, “No matter how long I’ve been around you clowns, you never change. I don’t know a lot but I can put together what I’ve learned if you’ll just show me the tapes.”
“You will answer our questions and you will not see the tapes.”
“Fine.”
“Now what did you mean by trouble?”
“I refuse to testify on the grounds that what I say can be used against me in a court of law.”
General Thornton sneered, “You will answer our questions or be held in solitary until you do.”
“Really?”
“You can bet the farm on it.”
Mike looked at General Thornton and turned back to Admiral Howard, “Has it ever crossed your minds that not everyone is the enemy?”
“Just answer the questions Major.”
“Sorry Admiral, I am no longer a Major. I resigned my commission when I left the service. I’m nothing more than a private citizen now.”
“You can be pulled back into the service and fall under the Military Justice System. We can hold you as a threat to national security as long as we deem it necessary.”
“That might be ordinarily true; however, my former Commander made a point of inserting in my retirement papers that I could never be accepted into the service under any circumstances and he had it signed by the Senior Ranking member of the Military Oversight Committee. You cannot pull me back in even if you wanted to Admiral. I am willing to assist you anyway I can, but in order to do that, I need to see what happened.”
“You will answer our questions.”
“Or what?”
“You won’t be seen for a very long time.”
“What charges will you use?”
“We don’t need charges, Major.”
“Well. Here’s the thing, Admiral. I doubt you know much about my wife. I married her after I retired so she wasn’t investigated when you did my original clearances. It took a while to convince her that I was worthy enough to come into her and her children’s lives.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Her maiden name was Ingram. I suspect she called Senator Ingram as soon as you collected me at the farm and told him you had me in your possession. I really think the Senior Ranking Member of the Military Budget Committee might have something to say about your ignoring the laws of the United States.”
Admiral Howard looked at the Major sitting at a side table and saw him look up from his computer and nod. Howard’s expression showed some concern. Mike said, “Ahhh, that one had some teeth in it. You might be curious to learn that the good Senator has been chosen to replace the retiring party Leader in the Senate. So if you’re thinking you’ll just have to deal with one Senator, you better think again. You are the leaders of our military and you all act like a group of paranoids that broke out of the asylum. You don’t have to make it this difficult. I believe I can help you but I need to see what happened.”
“Why?”
“Because I suspect my friend is dead and I need to see how he died.”
“Again, why do you need to know?”
“I need to verify the aliens he has been waiting on to reappear for ten years actually did.”
The five Chiefs were startled by that remark. Admiral Howard stared at Mike and said, “You will see nothing and you will answer our questions. The security of the United States is at stake here and I won’t tolerate your insolence. You and your Senator relative will not stand in the way of defending my country.”
Mike leaned back in his chair, “Fine, have it your way.”
“Now what did you mean by the aliens he was waiting on?” Mike stared at the Admiral and said nothing. “Answer my question, Major.”
“I am no longer a Major and I invoke my Fifth Amendment rights.”
Admiral Howard’s face turned ugly and he looked at the two Marine Guards at the door. “Escort the Major to a holding cell.”
“Uhhh Sir!”
Howard looked at his assistant, “WHAT!”
“Senator Ingram is
Mike gave a small chuckle and shook his head, “No matter how long I’ve been around you clowns, you never change. I don’t know a lot but I can put together what I’ve learned if you’ll just show me the tapes.”
“You will answer our questions and you will not see the tapes.”
“Fine.”
“Now what did you mean by trouble?”
“I refuse to testify on the grounds that what I say can be used against me in a court of law.”
General Thornton sneered, “You will answer our questions or be held in solitary until you do.”
“Really?”
“You can bet the farm on it.”
Mike looked at General Thornton and turned back to Admiral Howard, “Has it ever crossed your minds that not everyone is the enemy?”
“Just answer the questions Major.”
“Sorry Admiral, I am no longer a Major. I resigned my commission when I left the service. I’m nothing more than a private citizen now.”
“You can be pulled back into the service and fall under the Military Justice System. We can hold you as a threat to national security as long as we deem it necessary.”
“That might be ordinarily true; however, my former Commander made a point of inserting in my retirement papers that I could never be accepted into the service under any circumstances and he had it signed by the Senior Ranking member of the Military Oversight Committee. You cannot pull me back in even if you wanted to Admiral. I am willing to assist you anyway I can, but in order to do that, I need to see what happened.”
“You will answer our questions.”
“Or what?”
“You won’t be seen for a very long time.”
“What charges will you use?”
“We don’t need charges, Major.”
“Well. Here’s the thing, Admiral. I doubt you know much about my wife. I married her after I retired so she wasn’t investigated when you did my original clearances. It took a while to convince her that I was worthy enough to come into her and her children’s lives.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Her maiden name was Ingram. I suspect she called Senator Ingram as soon as you collected me at the farm and told him you had me in your possession. I really think the Senior Ranking Member of the Military Budget Committee might have something to say about your ignoring the laws of the United States.”
Admiral Howard looked at the Major sitting at a side table and saw him look up from his computer and nod. Howard’s expression showed some concern. Mike said, “Ahhh, that one had some teeth in it. You might be curious to learn that the good Senator has been chosen to replace the retiring party Leader in the Senate. So if you’re thinking you’ll just have to deal with one Senator, you better think again. You are the leaders of our military and you all act like a group of paranoids that broke out of the asylum. You don’t have to make it this difficult. I believe I can help you but I need to see what happened.”
“Why?”
“Because I suspect my friend is dead and I need to see how he died.”
“Again, why do you need to know?”
“I need to verify the aliens he has been waiting on to reappear for ten years actually did.”
The five Chiefs were startled by that remark. Admiral Howard stared at Mike and said, “You will see nothing and you will answer our questions. The security of the United States is at stake here and I won’t tolerate your insolence. You and your Senator relative will not stand in the way of defending my country.”
Mike leaned back in his chair, “Fine, have it your way.”
“Now what did you mean by the aliens he was waiting on?” Mike stared at the Admiral and said nothing. “Answer my question, Major.”
“I am no longer a Major and I invoke my Fifth Amendment rights.”
Admiral Howard’s face turned ugly and he looked at the two Marine Guards at the door. “Escort the Major to a holding cell.”
“Uhhh Sir!”
Howard looked at his assistant, “WHAT!”
“Senator Ingram is
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