“I used to work for a certain three-letter organization and was stationed at a remote listening post. By remote, I don’t mean in a remote part of the world, I mean it was a small post that was merely a network transitional point. We, well, keyed into various confidential locations and either listened or provided secure tunnels for secure transmissions. One day, I noticed a hit from an unknown IP address. Looking into it, I saw that whoever it was created a virtual private network into our system and appeared to be pulling information from some of our secure channels. Intrigued as to who could do this, seeing as we weren’t really a known entity, I created a back channel using the one they created. I created a packet that looked like another piece of info they were pulling so it wouldn’t be discarded. It allowed me to peek into their system. I know, probably too much detail, but I wanted to know who could hack into our system before shutting them down.
“What I found was interesting, to say the least. I wasn’t in for long before being found out and booted, but from what I gathered, it seemed like I stumbled onto, or into, a covert group that was pieced together from all parts of both our government and others. In addition, there were several larger corporations involved. I didn’t get all of the details, but what I did find scared the hell out of me. I found files that mentioned global annihilation and for a takeover of resources. At first I just thought I had stumbled onto some contingency planning group, but the deeper I went, the more this seemed like an actual plan being set in motion.”
“How can you be sure it wasn’t some think tank group coming up with contingencies? They have those everywhere and come up with the wildest of scenarios,” I ask.
“I thought so at first, but then I found some emails between heads of corporations and government agencies. They spoke of plans already in place, of only waiting for the right moment to begin initiating phases. Now, some that I managed to find were encrypted and I didn’t have the time to decrypt, nor, to be honest, did I really want to. Most of the unencrypted ones came from the CDC itself and provided the most information. Those mentioned vaccines, death rates, and population control. Attached were services to be restored and in what order, along with timelines,” he responds.
“That still sounds like contingency planning to me,” I say.
“I still thought that might be the case as well. That is until I found a list of facilities that were being constructed and statements detailing expenses. This wasn’t just a contingency, it was actually being funded. I pulled that one from one of the emails that included the CDC director. Now, I’m as skeptical as the next person, but then when this shit happened, I realized I had been looking at an actual plan that was being initiated.”
“And you found all of this in the supposed short time you were in? Seems like something like that would take more time,” I say.
“Well, I might have, um, downloaded some of the files. When they found me, I was quickly booted. The tunnel dropped and I never saw it again. I tried to hit the IP address several times, but it was non-existent,” Harold replies.
“I’m not saying I believe you, but I’m not saying I don’t either. It’s just that it’s a little hard thinking about a single group bringing on an event like this. So, you mentioned the CDC several times. What if I told you I have a hard drive I picked up from the CDC?” I ask.
Harold chuckles for a moment. “That’s not something they are going to have on a hard drive, nor really anywhere on their system. From what I saw, the actual director was involved and I sincerely doubt he stored anything like that on the network.”
“And if I say that I have the director’s hard drive? What—” I begin.
“Wait, what? You seriously have that? I mean, here…with you?” Harold blurts out, interrupting.
“Yeah, Frank has it,” I answer.
“How did you come by that? Never mind that. Can I take a look at it?”
“I’ll talk with Frank in the morning and see that you get it. You’ll make a copy before digging in, right?” I say.
“Of course,” he replies, the excitement in his eyes apparent.
I take my leave and trudge wearily upstairs. It’s been a day that seems like a week. The huge emotional swings have definitely taken their toll. As much as that is true, I can’t wait to see Lynn. It still seems so unreal that she’s actually back but, then again, it seems strange that she was taken in the first place. Then there is the theory spouted by Harold. I’m beat and wouldn’t be too upset if I were allowed to sleep for a month.
Lynn is lying on her cot. Her exhaustion is written all over her. Looking through one open eye, she begins to rise onto her elbow.
“No need to get up for me. Just lie back,” I say, removing my boots before collapsing on my own cot. “You know, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“I know, Jack, but I’m okay. Just glad to be back. Let’s just leave it there. And thanks,” she replies.
“Thanks for what?”
“For coming to get me,” she responds.
“Of course, hon. As if there were any other possibility.”
“You know, Drescoll is having a hard time.”
“I bet he is. I can’t imagine what he must be going through. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Just be there for him. There’s really nothing anyone can say or do. It’s something he’ll work through on his own,” Lynn answers.
“Well, if he needs to take some time…”
“No. That may be the worst thing for him. He needs to be kept busy.”
“It’s been a hell of a day. I’m just glad you’re back. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We both then fall into a coma-like slumber.
Morning comes far too quickly. I come out of a deep, dreamless sleep, feeling almost as tired as when I went to bed. The events of yesterday slowly creep into my consciousness, and the vast amount of things to do today propels me into wakefulness — although wakefulness is a matter of perspective. Let’s just say the cobwebs become less dense. Lynn stirs beside me and starts to rise.
“I’ve got the training this morning, you just rest,” I say.
“Thanks, Jack,” she mumbles before rolling over and falling back asleep.
Now I know she is exhausted if she will allow that. She knows my idea of training is walking to the fridge to grab a frozen Snickers bar. I trudge downstairs to meet with the other teams and we go through the morning training. Most of the others also seem tired and not really putting much effort into it with the exception of Bri who can’t seem to get enough. I shake my head at her enthusiasm and go through the motions. I must admit, it feels good to be moving, but so much is weighing on my mind that I can’t fully enjoy it.
After showering, I see that Lynn and the others have gathered in our usual meeting location. She looks stronger today but still carries the gauntness from her ordeal.
“We have a lot to cover.” I settle in. First, I give them a synopsis of my conversation with Harold.
“Frank, will you see that Harold is set up with the hard drive?” I say.
“Will do, Jack. Do you think there’s anything to what he said?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. And even if there is something to it, that doesn’t mean it’s that group that targeted us. There are some things that we know, but there’s so much more that we don’t. Let’s talk about what we do know and go from there. We know that we were targeted and…” I begin.
“You mean that you were targeted. In my opinion, it’s not us that was targeted but specifically you,” Frank interrupts. “I think it’s important that we make that distinction.”
“Okay, that doesn’t change my thinking much, but you’re right, we need to keep that in mind. Targeting a single individual is usually because that person or the group they head represents a direct threat or it’s to send a message. What we are threatening or what message they want to send is unknown as of yet. What concerns me is that they knew where to hit us. And not due to some daily activity that puts us in a certain place at a certain time. This was something out of the ordinary we planned. That means one of several things. One, they knew Lynn was there and that we would eventually show up and staked it out. Two, someone here knew our plans and notified them, or three, they had the capability to track us and had a team in the field to act on that intelligence. Either one doesn’t leave me with warm, fuzzy feelings,” I say.