Ancients

'Recommendations?'

'We have to defend our people, Mr. President, that much is evident,' the admiral stated flatly as he looked the president in the eyes.

'Agreed. The rules of engagement have already been sent to all American forces the world over,' the president said, looking at the admiral and guessing at his next words.

'A change in our ROE will not be an adequate response, sir. We have to--'

'Start a world war, because that is precisely what we would be doing. The Korean consul and Chinese ambassador have notified us that the strike on our task force was defensive only and dictated by an overt act of war against their countries. No matter what we believe, and no matter how much we cry out our innocence, they believe they were hit intentionally by us, and if not us, someone in our sphere of influence. Who else would have the technology to do what they're claiming to have evidence of, if not the West?'

'Their claims are absolutely without scientific foundation. Our own people say that what happened could only be a natural occurrence,' answered the director of the CIA, Charles Melbourne.

'Nonetheless, we have earthquakes without aftershocks and the evidence these people claim to have is just--' The president tossed his pen on the yellow pad before him and it landed on the casualty numbers he had circled several times. He closed his eyes in thought and left the question hanging.

'Gentlemen, this has to be thought out clearly. I have my doubts that the Koreans would have done this for any other reason than because they were pushed into it. It just does not make military sense. The move to hit that task force was an act of desperation on their part. I feel it. If it's a direct attack launched with some unknown science or not, it doesn't matter, gentlemen; they believe it is.'

'We have to respond, we owe it to those boys.' The admiral's voice was easy and steady but every man in the room could see that it was forced.

'First, I want a five-hundred-mile exclusion zone placed around our task force. I am ordering the air force to start low-level recon overflights of the North Korean rally points. I want preparations made and target packages on my desk in three hours in case Kim moves across the border. We will let him know clearly that this threatening gesture toward the South shall be met with unyielding force.'

The president met every set of eyes in the room.

'The Koreans have said they are finished talking, but I will not allow them to once again start a bloody war without more facts to back me. I will make them see reason, but I need proof that these were natural disasters, or I need evidence of a crime, is this understood?' He was looking directly at the directors of the CIA and the FBI. 'We are lucky the Russians have remained quiet on this tape of theirs. We can be thankful they are not adding fuel to Kim's fire, at least for the time being.'

There were nods all around the table.

'We'll meet back here in three hours. Get me answers. Dismissed.'

Niles received several curious looks from the security council as they broke up. He did not exactly avoid eye contact but did not outwardly look directly at them, either. He watched as the last member closed the door, then he looked at the president.

'It took you long enough to get here, goddammit.'

Niles nodded. 'My people needed their instructions. If we had not been so secretive about our friendship, I could have left much sooner. Especially now that I see we've got some real problems here.'

The president smiled and then quickly stood and walked over to the director of Department 5656 and held out his hand.

'Don't want people knowing about how close we are. It could be bad for you on your end and me on mine. Secrets, the world runs on them.'

Niles stood and took his hand. Alice had been right in her assessment about the president and Niles Compton. They were not only childhood friends but had attended Harvard together. The ROTC student and the computer-sciences nerd had been friends since they were eight and had been roommates together at the first of several colleges.

'I trust my people. You're lucky I caught on when you first arrived at Group,' Niles said as he watched his friend wearily sit down.

'When I visited at the complex I thought it wise to play our friendship low-key. I didn't know if you had told anyone about us being friends. And then,' he poured himself a glass of water from the decanter, 'when this earthquake stuff started, I was bombarded from everyone from MIT to my own science advisers saying that the events were natural in nature and there could be no way they could have been manmade.'

'And?'

'Niles, something's wrong here. I have a gut feeling--not really much to go on, I'm afraid--that something's happening here we don't understand.' He took a drink of water and set down the glass. 'I've been a soldier all of my adult life and this is just not right. The Koreans would never chance their annihilation on this. Regardless of what most people think of them, they do not act without cause, even if it is a ridiculous one.'

'The Russians and Chinese--how are they reacting?'

'The Russians are just waiting to see what we do before committing one way or the other. China, well, the chairman condemned the Koreans for attacking our ships, but fell far short of telling their ally to back down. In other words, they're not sure either.'

'What can I do to help you out?'

'Niles, you're the smartest man I've ever known. The people you've collected in that desert hamlet of yours are truly amazing. I need your brains. I need you here to help me get us out of this growing nightmare.' The president slid a folder across the table to Niles and then looked away.

Niles read the report and then looked at the president.

'Both were assassinated today, only minutes apart.'

'God, this can't be just a coincidence.'

'The goddamn world's falling apart just like it's being orchestrated. It makes you think the North Koreans may be onto something.'

Niles closed the folder that held the CIA report. 'Pinpricks against the body,' he said quietly.

'What was that?'

'Enough pinpricks will bleed a body, no matter how strong and powerful, until it's too weak to function.'

The president did not have to ask any more. He knew that Niles was the man to turn to.

'Who do you have working on the murder of your people?'

'Colonel Jack Collins, the Group's security director.'

The president looked at his longtime friend. 'Collins is with you? I know Jack; I thought Congress and the Joint Chiefs crucified him a few years back for talking to Congress about the screw-up in Afghanistan?'

'They did. I got what was left. And he's still a better soldier than you ever were.'

'What in the hell do you know about soldiering, you bookworm?' he shot back. 'You're right about Collins, though.' The president thought for a moment. 'Dammit, Niles, I need you and your best people on this thing.'

Niles stood and patted his old friend on the shoulder.

'I want my budget request fulfilled, Mr. President.'

'You're a blackmailing little bastard!'

Niles patted his shoulder even harder.

'I ordered my people on it before I left Nevada. Still one step behind me on the uptake, aren't you, Jim?'

Both men grew silent as the vision of the burning Theodore Roosevelt entered their minds at the same time. Niles knew that the president was angry and wanted to hit back at someone. He just wanted to make sure that the anger was directed at the right someone.

7

GOSSMANN METAL WERK BUILDING

OSLO, NORWAY