tons of rock and debris to be a Garden of Eden. How soon can we expect our equipment to be placed inside the magma chamber and city dome?'
'Our submersibles are inspecting the exposed section of the Crystal Dome as early as tomorrow. If they believe that exposed area will continue to withstand the pressure of the Mediterranean, we can start transporting the Wave equipment down the largest shaft on Crete in less than thirty hours.'
'August, will we have added security in place by that time?' Tomlinson asked, sipping his drink.
'Yes, I believe so. Five hundred defensive troops on Crete itself, with another one hundred in the chambers below when the time comes; these of course will be our finest soldiers, the elite.'
'Antinaval assets?'
'Already in place. If any navy or air force in the world starts poking around the area, they will have the surprise of their lives. They would be foolish, with our batteries of hidden SAM sites. I believe we are adequately covered until such time when we need not hide any longer.'
'How exciting! Great moments started by great people, eh?' He raised his glass again.
After the toast was finished, Dame Lilith leaned forward in her chair. 'William, I apologize for making light of Dahlia's abilities in the matter of recovering the map plate. I know it upset you. Its procurement is so very vital to our plans. Tell us, can she recover it?'
'Dahlia at this very moment is scouting the situation and should have a report forthwith.'
'You have been right about everything thus far. We will never doubt your leadership. You have thought this out thoroughly and have earned the respect of all of us now inside the inner circle. Ours is the just way, the only way. The world needs us,' Lilith said, and this time she raised her glass in tribute to Tomlinson.
They drank and relaxed, and Tomlinson held his audience captive with words.
'When the outside world learns of our plans, anyone outside of future history will think us some sort of James Bond bad guy, a mere cliche of evil. Little do they know this early on that we mean only good for our world. The changes in the way people live have been needed for more time than we will ever truly know. They are subservient to men and women who will drain them of even the minimal standards of a good life. While we will see to their every need, and give them the one thing governments cannot guarantee, a future. They just need to be led. They
'Hear, hear!' they all said loudly as Tomlinson stood proudly.
'Here's to the man who will lead us all into our future, our destiny, William Tomlinson, to a brave new world!' Dame Lilith toasted.
'A brave new world!' They drank.
Later that evening, only four people sat in William Tomlinson's den. They were the true leaders.
'William, you have something to tell us?' Dame Lilith asked.
'We noticed you waited until the others left to pass on whatever it is on your mind,' said August Nelson.
'We are moving operations to Crete much sooner than I said to the others. Once the Black Sea sound domes are in place, it will be the safest place to be when we strike at the heart of Russia. I have made a decision and I want your comments. I have planned a false strike at Russia. We will use Russia's paranoia against her. I am downing the Wave aircraft with all the equipment onboard.'
'What would be the use of that?' Nelson asked.
'The livery colors of the aircraft will be changed to those of the U.S. Air Force. The blame will fall directly into the lap of the United States, and that will give us extra time to find the Ethiopian Key. I see no disadvantage in this action; it may even force the Russians' hand and make them move militarily in some other region, thinning America's military even further. Assets, I remind you, would be used against us. I must admit to you that I expected a harsher reaction from the new administration after the
'Your changes have been timely thus far. Of course, whatever you think is necessary. We are still very much headed in the right direction and it will not take much more to make this new president take firmer action against those he sees as aggressors. This may be the straw, if we can get the Russians believing and retaliating.'
Tomlinson nodded in thanks to Dame Lilith and August Nelson for seeing his plans clearly. He was about to stand and get a refill of whiskey when a light knock sounded on the door. Caretaker, just in from Europe, stepped in and closed the double doors lightly.
'Mr. Tomlinson, you have an important call from your asset in Hawaii, sir.'
Tomlinson watched as Caretaker brought him the phone, then he nodded for the man to leave. He watched the older man slide his study doors open and then exit, ever careful not to divulge too much information to the man who could tip the balance of power in the Coalition with just a few words against him.
'Yes, Dahlia, we were just speaking of you. How is the operation proceeding?'
'We move in twelve hours, but that's not why I called you. I wanted to tell you personally that our attempt to kill the men responsible for Ethiopia and the raid in Westchester has failed.'
'I see,' Tomlinson said as he poured his drink.
'That is not all. We managed to follow the helicopter used in their escape and now they are under the protection by the same group of men at a secure location at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. William, it would be most difficult to get to the Ancients or Colonel Collins there.'
Tomlinson looked around at the two people who were watching him closely. He smiled at them as if he were receiving good news. 'Is that right?'
'You seem to be taking this matter extremely well, since these two Ancients are undoubtedly spilling a lot of information to that colonel and whoever it is he works for. Information, I may add, that could be very detrimental to your health. You must assume you have been compromised and leave your home immediately.'
'You are sure of this?' he asked, losing his smile at the others.
'I won't sit here and debate the validity of my surveillance techniques with you. If you had paid me fully in advance, this conversation would have ended two minutes ago. As it is, you still owe me a considerable sum. In addition, I was not told about these mysterious men that seem to show up at the oddest times and are very, very good at what they do. Your intelligence in this matter was sorely lacking. Therefore, William, I suggest you leave before several nasty men from the FBI and some Virginia farmers show up at your door. I'll report when I have the plate.'
Tomlinson blinked as the connection terminated. He hung up the phone and half smiled as he looked at his two Coalition colleagues and then around him at the ostentatious study. He knew he was going to leave everything behind that his family had worked for, for centuries, and he was angry.
'I'm afraid Dahlia has informed me that our old family members Carmichael and Martha have taken a trip to Nevada and are more than likely breaking their tradition of silence about their heritage. I must assume we are, or soon will be, compromised. We must leave immediately for Crete, as it has now become a sanctuary earlier than we thought it would have to be.'
'We knew this day would come,' Lilith said as she set down her drink and slowly stood. 'I will miss the lifestyle and titles, I must admit.'
'We can commiserate on the plane later. For now, we must evacuate.' Tomlinson made for the study doors, then stopped as he placed his hands on the doorknobs. 'August, leave a defensive team here and tell them nothing. I also want a large surprise waiting that will show the authorities they have a fight on their hands. I want the destruction of my own home and everything I possess to show my dedication and firm belief to our cause. Also, get Operation Boomerang launched immediately and order Professor Engvall to prepare for his move to Crete.'
'I will order it,' August Nelson answered, as he placed a reassuring hand on Tomlinson's shoulder. 'And Professor Engvall is already safely in Crete, supervising the unloading of the Wave equipment.'
With one last look at his American home, William Tomlinson left, knowing that he would not return until the Coalition was in control not only of the United States but the entire world.
The Boeing 777 weapons platform that had initiated the attacks in Iran/Iraq, Russia, Korea, and China had undergone a radical change during its layover in Jakarta. The Wave equipment remained inside and intact, and the
