“Excellent. Here is the first target,” he said, handing him the numbers.
Gimbel quickly went to work on the keypad and entered the coordinates. He double checked to make sure he had no transposition errors. They were all correct.
“Well, we are as ready as we will ever be,” Gimbel said.
“We need to wait two more minutes,” the general said looking at the NORAD schedule that Gimbel had printed out. It was the longest two minutes either man had ever spent.
“All right Dr. Gimbel. Let’s see if we can make history.”
Gimbel smiled and set the power level to P-1, the absolute lowest level possible. The BlackStar would generate an electronic anti-mater flux field and when the button was pushed, photons would be stripped off and sent down the alignment phase generator to the designated coordinates. The process would take milliseconds. Gimbal's hand hovered over the fire button.
“Base 1 indicates they are ready,” one of the team members said, wearing a headset and microphone.
“Base 2 is ready to fire on my mark,” Gimbel said.
The tension was heavier than the morning mist on the distant mountains. Gimbel rested his thumb on the button. It would either work or they would all most likely be dead when the photon stream was released.
“Three, two, one, mark.”
He hesitated for only as second and then pushed it down. The BlackStar hummed for a few seconds and then, nothing. It was over. It was totally anticlimactic. Just that quick, the photons, traveling at the speed of light, slammed into the target area.
“Base 1, firing complete. Please proceed to target Tango-Tango One.
“Base 2. Copy, firing complete. Proceeding to Tango-Tango One.”
“Copy, proceeding Base 2.”
It was several agonizing minutes before the report came back.
“Base 2. Base 1. All targets at Tango-Tango One confirmed Delta 10.”
The general and the team let out a huge yell. It was a successful test on the first target.
“Copy Delta 10,” the scientist said after a few seconds.
Delta 10 was the code meaning that all of the cattle that were in the first target, the wooden structure, were dead. The photons had entered their bodies at the speed of light and essentially destroyed their cellular structure. The advantage, besides how quickly it could be done, was what no collateral damage was incurred to the building or to any of the surround structures. One shot from 5700 feet away had killed everything within the forty foot target area. Gimbel could hardly contain his joy. Tears actually ran down his face as his emotions overwhelmed him. It had worked perfectly.
He would be considered the father of a new era and be able to stand alongside other giants like Einstein, Fermi and Compton.
The general was equally ecstatic. He could now put his plan into motion just as soon as he had a stable platform. After a few minutes they calmed down and got ready for the second test. This time the target was the reinforced structure.
Again, Base–1 reported the results as Delta–10 at Tango-Tango Two. Both Gimbel and Devin knew that no matter what, from this point on, the weapon was a success and virtually unstoppable. They fired the BlackStar the third time and once again the report was the same. Delta-10. The world is my oyster, Devin thought to himself.
CHAPTER FORTY
Sarah Steel was waiting at the designated spot when George Snapp drove up. She climbed into the car and after a few minutes, he pronounced them free from surveillance. He was wrong; Sarah had made sure of that. He may be free from others, but not from her people.
“What have you found out?” George asked as he steered his way through the heavy traffic. Light drops of rain had just started to dot the windshield.
“Quite a bit and not enough. I know that sounds strange, but the fact is we are definitely committed to discovering the truth. We have a lot of work ahead of us but the plan is in motion as we speak.”
“What kind of plan?”
“That I can’t say, except to disclose that we have our top people working on it,” she replied.
“What are you going to do?”
“Now George, you know I can’t tell you that. I will say that we have gone to one of the highest levels in the government and they are putting their full weight behind our investigation. Obviously this is top secret,” she said.
They drove in silence for several minutes before George asked, “What does all of this mean to me?”
“In a nutshell, it means I need you to hold off on taking any of this public. In exchange, you will have exclusive rights to the report that will be issued from our office.”
“I’ll be given full access?”
“No. Full access to the final report. The government still has many projects that concern our national security. You can’t expect to be given carte blanch to everything the government is doing.”
“What about all of the interviews you collect and the notes?”
“Sorry. Just the final report. You will have days before anyone else even knows about this, and perhaps even longer, depending on what we find,” she said in her best salesperson’s voice.
“And I can do no reporting of any kind? No papers, talk shows, nothing?”
“That is correct.”
“And I am supposed to make a living how?”
“Like you always have. Doing other stories. You’re not suggesting this is your life’s work are you?”
“No, not entirely. I just thought it was worth a try,” he said smiling at her.
“Do we have a deal?”
“I guess we do. I’m not totally sure I am doing the right thing but I understand your position as well. No government can't afford to spill all the beans. Yes, Ms. Steel, we have a deal.”
“Very good. You are doing the right thing. You will come out ahead in the long run I assure you,” she said.
“I hope so. I’m trusting you and your office to keep your word,” he said.
“We realize that, and we are indebted to you for bringing this to our attention. In some ways you have done an even greater service to Lake and Barnett. You’re helping to vindicate them, and hopefully get their identities and accomplishments recognized as well,” Sarah said.
“I’ll wait as agreed, but I am holding you responsible to uphold your end of the bargain.”
“You have my word on it,” she said.
He drove around a few more blocks before dropping her off near the same spot.
“General. We have discovered who met with Snapp and Lake,” the voice said.
“Good. Who was it?”
“Sarah Steel. She is with the Homeland Security Department.”
“Are you sure? Why would they be involved? You’re sure it wasn’t the Secretary of Defense’s Office?”
“Yes sir. We checked three different sources. They are having Snapp shadowed as well.”
“Damn it. They are sticking their nose in where it doesn’t belong,” the general said angrily, “What do you know about this Steel woman?”
“She is the West Sector Station Head. From what we have gathered, she is very efficient and very smart,” he told the general.
“Okay, Good work. I appreciate the report. Let me know if she meets with any of the three again. Can you keep tabs on Snapp as well?”
“Snapp knows he is being tailed. He is very difficult to follow with the men we have currently.”
“All right. Use more if you need. I want to keep close tabs on Mr. Snapp.”
“Yes sir. I will be back in touch when we have further news.”
“Good. Thank you.”
As ecstatic as the general was a few hours ago he was now angry. The Department of Homeland Security had absolutely no jurisdiction over a matter like this. The CIA or FBI maybe, but not Homeland Security.