Event

'He has to have funding from someplace. With all this computing power around here, that information should be rather easy to come across. Does the FBI have anything?'

'All I know is that bastard has friends in high places and is always one step ahead of our Group. As for the Feds, all we know is that we're not the only ones this guy goes after, he's after technology also. It's said that he hits the big companies for new advances, that kind of thing, big-time industrial espionage.'

Collins shook his head.

Everett reached in his back pocket and pulled out a handheld data-fact. He switched on the small portable computer and used the small aluminum pen device to find the information he wanted. Then he handed the computer to Collins.

'This is the list Alice, the senator, and Director Compton made up for security. He told me to show it to you as soon as I could.'

Collins looked from the naval commander to the data-fact. There on the liquid-crystal screen were listed fifteen names; most he noticed had computer sciences listed after their monikers and duties. He scanned the names, only recognizing the one at the top.

'Those are people of interest in our mole hunt, listed in the order of probability,' Everett said as he looked around their table, then picked up his fork even though he had lost his appetite.

'This first name, are they kidding?'

Everett just looked at the major and then took a bite of his cold roast beef.

Jack glanced back at the name that headed the list of suspects. The other top six were the heads of all the investigative and intelligence agencies in the federal government, and the name at the head of the list was that of the president of the United States.

After lunch, Jack, Carl, and Niles Compton sat behind closed doors and discussed the security list Everett had shown Jack. Collins wasn't impressed with the way they went about screening names to place on the 'watch' list. They assumed that their mole was high-ranking, but in Collins's experience it could be someone as low in security clearance as the night janitor. He knew this thing would have to be broken down and backgrounds checked more thoroughly. Home life checked. He had found that the easiest way for someone to be caught was in their home lifestyle. The 1RS had used the same system for years; it was easy to catch someone living beyond his means. So that would be the first place the security department started, checking out how some of the Group's people lived at their off-base residences. Collins outlined to Everett and Niles how they would go about starting the next phase of the investigation, and that the first thing they should do is burn their current list of suspects and start fresh.

'Why, this is everybody with access to material that has been leaked,' Niles said, incredulous.

'We have to start with a fresh outlook,' Jack replied.

'And what is that?' Niles asked.

Collins smiled and stood when Alice walked into the room to begin their tour of the vault area. He looked down at Compton and Everett. 'Everybody, Mr. Director, everyone in this complex is now suspect, from you to the last person to be recruited, and that's me.'

Sarah McIntire saw the new major and Alice walking along the hallway. During her lunch with Lisa they had discussed field assignments and their upcoming commissionings, Sarah to second lieutenant, and Lisa to ensign, ranks that the new head of security would have to approve. She had wondered aloud what kind of man this officer was, and now she had a chance to at least get an opening impression. She spied a classmate of hers and asked her to take her books and drop them off at her room, then she hurried to catch up with Alice and Collins.

'Good morning, Alice, Major,' she said from behind them.

Both turned at once and saw the army specialist standing there smiling.

'Hello, dear,' Alice answered.

Collins looked at her and gave a slight nod of his head, recognizing her from the cafeteria and their near collision.

'May I walk with you?' Sarah asked Alice.

'I'm just taking the major on the Magical Mystery Tour,' Alice answered, 'but you're welcome to walk with us a ways.'

'Major, have you met Sarah? She'll be a geological department head in just a few months and then she'll be drawing second lieutenant's pay.'

'Yes, we met unofficially at lunch,' Jack answered.

Sarah began to feel a little embarrassed and decided after looking into the major's eyes, this wasn't such a good idea. 'If you're going to the vaults, it's probably important. I better...'

A speaker they were passing under drowned her out. It was Niles Compton: 'Will Alice Hamilton and Dr. Pollock please report to photo intelligence? Alice Hamilton and Dr. Pollock to photo intelligence.'

'I'm sorry, Major, it looks like I have to go.'

'We can tour some other time, Alice,' Collins said.

Sarah looked from the major to Alice and quickly volunteered, 'I can take him down, I'm cleared for vault security.'

Alice looked at the young woman and smiled. 'That's an excellent idea. Major, would you mind?'

'That's up to the specialist. If she has the time and doesn't have to be anywhere...'

'Excellent, I'll see you later and we'll discuss the security drills you want to conduct. Thank you, Sarah, for volunteering your services, even though you're supposed to be deep in study for your engineering final.'

'I helped Professor Jennings make up the test; besides, I think I'm a better tour guide than you, I'm not so clinical.'

Alice laughed. 'Perhaps so, and I will speak to our Mr. Jennings about having students, no matter how gifted, devise his tests for him.' She turned to the major. 'Jack, I'll see you later,' she said, touching his arm and then walking quickly away. 'And don't forget, Sarah, your final...'

'Wouldn't miss it for the world,' she said as she strode confidently toward the three elevators aligned side by side against the wall. Collins watched her for just a moment, then followed.

'I guess you know we are situated on level seven?' she asked.

Collins didn't say anything, he just stood with his arms crossed. Finally the elevator doors opened with a soft ping and Collins caught the female voice of the computer announcing, 'Level seven.' Sarah stepped in, followed by Jack, who swiveled away from the door and stood straight-backed against the right side of the car.

'Level?' the canned voice asked.

'Seventy please,' Sarah said, not really noticing she was being polite to a computer-controlled elevator.

Jack felt a slight movement and the hiss of air as the car started its long descent. He closed his eyes as he thought about the elevator riding on nothing but air. He thought he heard Sarah say something.

'Excuse me?' Jack asked.

'I said here we are,' she repeated.

The elevator came to a halt. 'Level seventy,' the soft female voice stated.

Sarah stepped out and waited for Collins. The major looked at her, then down the long and high-ceiled corridor. The first thing Jack noticed was what looked like a normal bank of fluorescent lighting that wrapped around the entrance to the vault area. He knew what it was from his time at the proving grounds at Bell Labs and Aberdeen. He knew if you walked through that lighting without disarming the harmless-looking security system, lasers set inside would cut you to ribbons in seconds. This was what was known as a kill zone breach. They both stepped up to the portal leading into the vault area and presented their identification to a blue-overall-clad marine guard. He slid their IDs down an electronic reader one at a time and seemed satisfied when their information came up on the reader screen. The corporal handed their cards back without comment.

Collins followed Sarah inside after the laser defense was turned off. The vaults were made of thick-chromed steel, not unlike the variety you find in banks. They disappeared into the distance as they were set in a circular fashion into the rock. Technicians roamed the wide corridors carrying clipboards and sample cases, not paying Sarah and the major any attention other than to nod a greeting.

'As I'm sure you've been told, Major, some of the artifacts in these vaults will never see the light of day. Others are being released one or two at a time for security reasons. Our security mostly, as it wouldn't do at all to have this stuff traced back to us.'

Collins nodded his head in understanding and stepped toward Sarah. 'Is any of this worth people dying for?'