The Tau Ceti Agenda

actually during President Alberts' term, though I can't say he paid much attention to it. I've briefed you on it before.'

'Yes, so?'

Abigail?

Yes, sir. Operation Bachelor Party was set about to place an operative inside the Separatist community. The operative was put into position by a navy Ares pilot on the morning before the Martian Exodus. She was last heard from later that day with a warning that the Separatists were leaving to Tau Ceti.

Right, I remember that.

Who was the pilot?

A Lieutenant Commander Jack Boland, callsign DeathRay of the Sienna Madira squadron Gods of War. Records show that he is now Commander Boland.

Okay.

'It turns out that,' the DNI continued, 'when the battle cruiser teleported into the middle of the attack the agent contacted the CAG because he was the same pilot that had dropped her into the Reservation on Mars years earlier.'

'You're shitting me now, right?' Moore looked back and forth at the faces of his senior defense and intelligence staff. They were serious as far as he could tell.

'No sir, it was a lucky coincidence,' the NSA added.

'Well, how about that. These two get a medal. No, wait. We blew the hell out of that battle cruiser. I was there,' Moore said. 'Where is this CIA agent now?'

'The last communication she had with the pilots was that she was trapped on the ship, and they believe she was killed when the ship was destroyed, sir.'

'Damn. She deserved better,' Moore replied.

'I agree, sir.' The DNI nodded.

'All right, all right. It went bad at first. So, then what?' Moore leaned back in his chair and propped his chin on his fist.

'Marines, sir. Armored E-suit Marines,' Marine General Patourno said proudly. 'A small recon team known as Roberts' Robots fought their way into the facility, found a teleporter, teleported themselves to the big gun on the moon planetoid, and took it.'

'Ooh-fuckin'-rah,' Moore said as he sat up straight.

'Semper fi, sir. Then our boys figured out how to use the big gun against the Seppy bastards and blasted the hell out of them.'

'Hot damn, that's what I wanted to hear! Now, those marines definetly get medals and promotions.' Moore stood excitedly. 'And now?'

'The facility is ours, Mr. President,' the sec def said.

'Goddamn. That is great news, Juan. General, that is out-fucking- standing!' Moore stood up and shook their hands, congratulating them.

'Yes, sir.'

'Uh, sir,' the sec def interrupted Alexander's jubilation. 'They have a lot of wounded and damage that they have to deal with out there, and at best, the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson is still a week away. Recall, it's a three-month trip at max hyperspace. We need more presence there also in case the Seppies try to pop through the teleporter.'

'Yes, yes, of course, Juan. Send three supercarriers loaded to the gills out there and bring our troops that fought this one home. And every damned one of them gets a promotion, you hear me? And I want medals splashed around liberally.'

'Yes, Mr. President.'

'And send a damned QMT-4 team out there to set us up a teleporter between Earth and there.'

'Yes, sir,' the sec def said, and then had a blank stare on his face for a brief moment as if he was talking with his AIC.

'Has anybody figured out how the Separatists managed to teleport a battle cruiser from that facility in the Oort Cloud all the way to the Moon?' Moore sat back down.

'No, sir,' the NSA replied.

'We have teams working on it, Mr. President,' General Patourno added.

'Tell them to work harder. Give them more money or whatever else they need. I'm still president for at least two more months no matter what happens Tuesday. We need to learn as much about that technology as we possibly can and as quickly as we can.'

'Yes, sir.'

'You two get with Abigail.' He pointed to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the sec def. 'I want to get some of this in a speech for an address to the nation sometime tomorrow. I'm going to declassify the existence of this threat now that we took it from the Separatists. And I want to meet these two pilots. And those AEMs when they get back.'

Moore had the beginnings of a plan for winning the election, and this was a major part of it. 'In fact, I want those two pilots with me when I give the speech.'

'Yes, Mr. President.'