Heads nodded around the table and there was a murmur of acknowledgement.
“Now, Dr. Dristan, what do you do around here?”
“Well sir, I was working on the Su–11. I am one of the engineers. Specifically, I work on the skin of the ship. The tiles.”
“Has a determination been made as to what caused the crash? The last report I got said it could be a combination of factors including pilot error or tile failure.”
“The jury is still out on that. It could not have been just one or two tiles that failed. It would take a whole block before it would cause enough damage to result in the destruction of the vessel,” the doctor said.
“Excuse me,” a young woman said.
“Certainly. You are?”
“Dr. Betty Sanders. I worked on the advanced stealth capabilities of the 11,” she said, dropping the Su from the name.
“Dr. Sanders, nice to meet you. What would you like to ask me?”
“Why are you really here?”
“Nice and direct. I have no problem with that. The President wants a full update of everything that transpires here at Groom Lake or whatever your name for the place is this month. He does not have the time nor the inclination to learn about all of the projects personally. I am the person he has designated to be his eyes and ears. If you’re worried about my being here to see if funding should continue for your projects, quit worrying. This is not about funding or cutbacks,” he informed.
He could almost feel a collective sigh of relief. They had been worried that he was here to report on what project should get funding and which should be eliminated. Now that it was cleared up, they could breathe again.
“Thank Mr. Eller. In that case, I don’t think you will have any problems asking any of us about what we are trying to accomplish. How much do you know about the 11?”
“Just what I read in the briefing and what I know about the crash of the prototype,” Raymond replied.
“Then let me elaborate. The Su-11 is our next leap into space. It can be launched like a regular plane but it has the capability of breaching the earth’s atmosphere and going into space without all of the complicated support equipment. It can hold up to twenty crew members and stay in space indefinitely, food being the only limiting factor. It can link to the space station or operate independently. The cargo space can hold roughly 125 tons. Calculations indicate that it could hold more, but for now we are working on the safe side. The 11 has been into space five times without a major flaw. Not one major system has ever malfunctioned. The stealth capabilities are many times more advanced that any radar station in the world. It can launch and return without anyone being able to detect it, even if they know the flight path in advance,” she explained.
“Very impressive. What is its real primary purpose? Not the politically correct answer, the real one he said.”
They all exchanged glances.
“What do you mean?”
“I may not be a rocket scientist like many of you are, but I can certainly see no reason to build a shuttle with stealth capabilities. Not unless…”
“Unless it was used to deploy other items that we didn’t want anyone to know about,” one of the other men said.
“Yes. Especially spy satellites or even weapons,” Raymond said, finishing the last of his coffee. “It has been a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure I will be seeing all of you again very soon,” he said excusing himself.
He could hear feel the eyes on his back as he went out the door. He got in the Hummer and after looking at the map, headed for the S-4 facility. He had only gone about a mile when a white Jeep Cherokee came racing up behind him with flashing lights. He slowed down to let it go around him but as soon as it passed him it slowed down, forcing him to break. Two military MP’s got out of the car, one holding a semi-automatic at his side and the other taking a position up by the passenger door with a shotgun.
“Sir. Can I ask what you’re doing on this road?”
“Sure. I’m headed to the S-4 facility. This is the correct road isn’t it?”
“I need to see your ID,” he said. Raymond could see his own reflection in the man’s sunglasses.
“No problem. I’m Raymond Eller. Director of Homeland Security and now Director of Area–15.”
“Yes sir. Please remain in the vehicle,” he said, heading back to the car with is ID badge.
He said something to the other man and then he got in the car and Raymond could see him talking on the microphone. The MP on the passenger side never took his eyes off of him or lowered the shotgun. It was only 8:15 a.m. and the temperature was already starting a steady climb. The MP in the car got out and walked back.
“Sir, General Devin said he did not know you were going to come out here on your own. It was his understanding that you would wait until you knew the area better. He requests that we escort you back to the main facility.”
Raymond didn’t respond immediately. He tapped his hands on the steering wheel.
“Sir?” the MP said.
“Son, I want you to tell the general that I intend to go to S-4. Now, you can either show me the way or I will go on my own. Either way, I will go.”
“I can’t tell him that.”
“I suggest you do. That badge says ULTRA TOP SECRET on it. I can, and will, go anywhere I want on the facility. Now you go tell the general I said that.”
The MP stayed still, moving his trigger finger back and forth over the side of the trigger guard. Finally, he turned and walked back to the car. A few minutes later he came back, this time with his gun in the holster.
“The general says that we should show you the way for your own safety. If you wouldn’t mind, please follow us. You may want to drop back some so that all the dust doesn’t blow up in your face,” he said.
“Thank you. My badge please?”
“Yes sir,” he said handing it back to him.
Raymond waited until they were several hundred yards ahead of him before he drove off. It was easy to follow them from the long dust trail they left.
Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the base of a mountain. He could just make out the entrance and the hanger doors in the side of the rock.
The MP circled around his car and said, “This is it sir. Swipe your card over there by the door. I told the guards you were coming. It will let you enter. Someone will come and take the car into the parking facility.”
“Thank you,” Raymond said as the MP saluted and drove off.
He got out and walked over to the door that had both the texture and coloring of the surrounding mountain. He swiped his card and heard a loud click. He pulled the door open and once again was met with a refreshing wave of cool air. The first thing he encountered was a large window with two armed guards.
A drawer slid out and one of the men said, “Please place your car keys and your badge inside. Sign the sheet with your name, rank and time in. Then state your name for the voice print recognition system.”
Raymond did as instructed and put DIRECTOR for rank. The two men looked at it and returned his badge through the drawer. Another door opened and he walked into a huge hanger bay.
A man in a white coat greeted him, “You’re Mr. Eller. The general called and asked me to meet you and show you around on Level–1,” he said pleasantly.
“I appreciate that. You are?”
“Sorry. I always forget to introduce myself. Dr. Bruce Lawrence.”