ordered the FBI to fly potentially armed aircraft over the United States to target innocent American citizens is criminal. And those robots belong to the U.S. Army and are armed with cannons and missile launchers — clearly, military technology, designed to kill. Someone has to be held accountable for this outrage, and the buck stops right on Mr. Phoenix’s desk.”
“A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said that suspects residing in the compound where the drone crashed were linked to the recent attacks in Reno and southern Nevada,” the interviewer said. “Shouldn’t we be using all the resources we have to investigate such extreme terrorist activity, Mr. President?”
“Where’s the evidence backing this claim?” Gardner said, spreading his hands. “Let’s see the evidence. Besides, the FBI has its own resources—
“So you oppose using drones and these manned robots to conduct surveillance on suspected terrorists?” the interviewer asked. “As I understand it, it is not against the law for the U.S. military to
“How would you like a military spy plane flying over your home taking pictures and sending them to gawkers in the FBI and White House?” Gardner asked. “And what do you think those robots were doing out there — taking pictures? It’s crazy. This is America, not Soviet Russia. And where’s the warrant authorizing these drone flights? Who was the judge that signed the warrant? Or did Phoenix himself order the surveillance, without a warrant? And what if there
“That’s a load of crap, Gardner,” Vice President Ann Page said acidly at the television she was watching from the Oval Office. She muted the sound, but continued to watch as the cable news network showed a low-light camera image of the Cybernetic Infantry Device robot running across the desert, carrying another robot. “I’ve put out a press release detailing the entire operation, including the name of the U.S. District Court judge that signed the warrants.”
“I know, Ann, I know,” President Ken Phoenix said. “President Gardner is just spouting off. Point out all of his inaccuracies in the daily press briefing and folks will start to ignore him.”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Ann said heatedly.
The computer on the president’s desk beeped, and Phoenix hit a button to put the secure videophone call on speakerphone. The screen was split, with Attorney General Jocelyn Caffery on one half and FBI director Fuller on the other. “General Caffery, Director Fuller, this is the president. How are you?”
“Good, thank you, sir,” Attorney General Caffery replied. “Director Fuller has an update for you.”
“Go ahead, Justin.”
“Thank you, sir,” FBI director Justin Fuller replied. “I’m en route to Nevada to oversee the investigation on those two drone crashes and the Black Hawk attack. Here’s is the latest:
“There are five casualties: two U.S. Army National Guard pilots and one National Guard crew chief — all volunteers assisting the FBI — and one FBI agent died in the Black Hawk crash. Another FBI agent piloting the Cybernetic Infantry Device robot died about thirty minutes ago of trauma from his fall from the helicopter and wounds from heavy machine-gun fire that pierced his armor. The pilot reported to one of the CIDs that he thought he had been hit by a missile or a rocket-propelled grenade. The FBI and Army are on the scene of the helicopter crash, and the residents of that compound are not interfering, but I ordered all investigators to stay away from the compound.”
The president nodded his assent.
“The wreckage of the drone that crashed near the interstate has been taken to Joint Air Base Battle Mountain for forensic examination,” Fuller went on. “With your permission, sir, I’ve ordered the National Transportation Safety Board not to convene an accident panel until the FBI completes its investigation.”
“Approved,” the president said, “but I’d like you to turn over any unclassified findings to the NTSB as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Mr. President. We did have a very interesting development regarding the first drone: an eyewitness who was hunting in the vicinity south of the crash site claims he saw what he described as a contrail.”
“Contrail… you mean, a missile trail?” Ann asked.
“The witness couldn’t be sure,” Fuller said. “He said the trail was pretty straight, and motor smoke from a man-portable air-defense missile is usually not. We’re investigating. We should be able to tell once we get a look at the wreckage.”
“Domestic terrorists, armed first with radioactive materials… and possibly now with antiaircraft missiles?” Ann breathed. “It’s too scary to think about.”
“Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here,” Phoenix said. “Director Fuller, who authorized the robot action against the extremists?”
“Special Agent Philip Chastain, special agent in charge of terror investigations, out of the San Francisco office.”
“He should have asked for permission to deploy those robots.”
“He made a tactical decision, sir,” Fuller said. “He was given the robots to use as part of this investigation of extremist groups, and he acted when he saw that drone being captured by the extremists. I can’t fault him, sir. I stand behind his decision.”
Phoenix thought for a moment, then nodded. “Very well,” he said. “You’re right: we expect these men to make decisions and act. And thank you for sticking with your man.”
“Yes, sir. Chastain is one of our best.”
“So we may never know if it was involved in a midair collision, like the extremists claim?”
“We’ve been in contact with the FAA and they say that there were no other aircraft in the vicinity of the second drone, sir,” Fuller said. “However, that’s inconclusive because of radar limitations — they might not see small or low-flying aircraft — but the claim that there was a midair collision might be untrue. They are extremely rare, even with unmanned aircraft. We won’t know until we examine the wreckage.”
“Which leads us to the big question, sir: what to do about those extremists,” Caffery said. “They’ve dragged all the wreckage of the second drone into their compound; they fired on our helicopter and the CID units with heavy automatic weapons; and they may have used antiaircraft weapons against our surveillance planes.”
“I’ve got two Hostage Rescue Teams standing by to enter that compound and make arrests, with two more on the way to assist,” Fuller said. “We’ve set up long-range ground-based surveillance of the compound, and in a few days we’ll have a clear picture of exactly what we’re up against there.”
“I don’t want anybody entering that compound,” the president said. “Surround it, prevent anyone from entering or leaving unless it’s a humanitarian necessity. Collect intelligence, and start negotiating a surrender of those responsible for shooting at the helicopter. I’m not going to have another Branch Davidian disaster televised for the entire world.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear more about the results of the investigation into the first drone,” the president said. “Anything else for me?”
Attorney General Caffery looked a little uneasy, but said, “About former president Gardner, sir.”
“I heard him this morning,” Phoenix said, rubbing his eyes wearily. “He’s entitled to his own opinions.”
“But not his own facts, sir,” Caffery said. “What he’s saying is not only untrue, but I’m afraid it could spark more violence if he scares the American people into believing that the government is using the military against them.”
“We’ll deal with that if and when we have to,” the president said. “But we’ll expose the former president’s untruths in the daily press briefings — the more he fabricates the facts, the faster he’ll marginalize himself.”
Patrick McLanahan was driving by the parking lot outside the hangar being used by the FBI, and he saw Special Agent Chastain getting out of his car. He stopped and got out of the car, which immediately attracted Chastain’s attention. “I’m very sorry about your men, Agent Chastain,” Patrick said. “Agent Savoy was extremely brave for going on that mission.”
