Evan sat behind the President’s desk and folded his hands on this lap. He felt very much at ease there.
"Now you understand, Chancellor. And if I am replaced the war will go on unchecked, until either the invaders defeat humanity or humanity sends you all back through the runes."
D’Trayne swerved the conversation around a wrong turn: "Of course, with the right assistance, the forces that have come to your world could overrun this ‘Empire.’ Those who help facilitate such a victory would receive great rewards, even governing authority."
The growl returned to Evan’s voice as he warned, "Listen carefully, D’Trayne, I am on the side of humanity. I fought against you invaders in the early days. There is alien blood on these hands. I will do whatever it takes to protect the current borders of this nation and if an alternative solution cannot be found, I will authorize whatever measures are necessary to keep this country secure. Do you hear me?"
D’Trayne bowed his head.
Evan continued, "The question is, does your side want this to continue? Do you want The Empire to reach out across the oceans? Imagine how our armies on the march could unite the pockets of human resistance scattered around the globe. No extraterrestrial would be safe and even if we could not retake the whole planet, we could really upset the apple cart along the way."
"But?"
"But if we reached a negotiated settlement. If we, here in America, agreed to stay within our borders and forget about the rest of the world, would your side be willing to sign a treaty recognizing our right to exist and respecting our sovereignty?"
"You seek security?"
"I seek a solution that benefits us both, D’Trayne. Your friends would no longer have to worry about our military knocking over whatever colonies you have around this world. If the war is over, I can snuff out the fire that powers the Generals, making my position more secure and creating a chance for things to return to the way they were before the invasion." The alien smiled and his eyes glowed a gentle yellow. "You are a wise man, Mr. President." "Blessed are the peace makers, Chancellor." — Gordon sat on the Lanai watching, for the last time, sunset from his house in northeastern Pennsylvania. He liked the smell of the chlorine from the pool mixing with sound of the gentle wisp of the ceiling fan from the master suite just beyond a pair of open sliding doors. For some reason, it made him think of Florida.
He heard a beep-the third one now-broadcast into the earpiece he wore that was, in turn, attached to a pocket device resembling one part calculator, one part remote control.
The higher pitch of the third beep confirmed what he expected: the generator shed would be their first target. At that point, he figured, they would execute a dynamic entry via multiple points, certain to include the front door and most likely either the garage or the Lanai. The fact that they had yet to nail him with a sniper round while he sat there easily visible through the glass confirmed another of his suspicions: the assassins meant to deliver a message, no doubt some sort of glib victory speech, the type of thing one would expect from Evan Godfrey.
The last rays of sun dipped below the horizon. Gordon stood and strode away from the table and into the master bedroom where the ceiling fan turned. He closed the dual sliding doors and knelt next to the wicker dresser across from his bed. There, hidden in a corner, he opened a small electronic box, the contents battery powered for just this type of occasion.
Near the box rested a stack of CDs. Gordon examined the labels, made his decision, and tossed all but one aside. He grinned and slipped the disc into a slot on that electronic box while whispering, "I hope you I.S. pussies like classic rock." Of course the transmitter did nothing; not yet. Like the rest of Gordon's toys, this one would wait for his command.
Next he stood and opened a silver cabinet mounted on the wall above the dresser. From there he pulled a loaded Benelli M4 shotgun. The pouch Omar had given him a few days ago was also in the cabinet. He took it and tied it around his belt.
The ceiling fan stopped, the lights went out, the house went dark.
Game time…
…A wooded knoll rose above the cluster of homes where Gordon lived. On that knoll stood Ray Roos, peering down toward the soon-to-be-ex-Intelligence Director's home through a pair of night vision binoculars. Even with the artificial illumination he could not see much.
A Witiko officer stood a respectful pace behind and to the side of Ray. Further back, two Witiko Skytroops.
Roos did not like Evan Godfrey's order for a message to be delivered to Gordon Knox's dying ears. Still, he would follow the boss' commands as long as those orders did not put his own neck on the line. If that happened…well, Ray always believed in options, particularly when protecting his ass.
Ray did not think Evan realized exactly how dangerous Knox was. Roos, on the other hand, spent years working at the estate, overhearing conversations, and getting to know the people there as part of his role as Evan's mole. He knew exactly how dangerous Gordon Knox was and how well connected. Only Roos' listening devices, the intercepting of intelligence reports, and other acts of cover up had managed to keep Knox from discovering the plot to whack Trevor Stone. Even then, maintaining the secret ranked as a minor miracle, no doubt one Knox could eventually undo if allowed to live.
Roos raised a walkie-talkie and transmitted, "I said go, you boys listening?"
"Copy that, Control. All points entry in three…two…one…"
…The front door to Gordon Knox's single-story home burst open. Two men dressed in black and wearing night vision goggles moved inside with silenced Mp5 machine pistols at the ready.
On the far side of the home, one panel in the glass Lanai smashed and a small object the size and shape of a hockey puck bounced across the tile surrounding the indoor pool. That object exploded in a flash of light that would have blinded anyone in the room.
A second later, more of the glass shattered and a third commando burst into the sunroom with yet another Mp5 searching for Gordon Knox. The three intruders spoke with each other and their 'Control' via headset transmitters. "This is Huey, west room clear, proceeding south to clear next area." "Duey and Louie splitting. Taking garage and master bedroom." "Control copy, boys. Exterior looks clear. Target still inside."
'Duey' turned left from the foyer and cleared the small dining area. From there he reported, "Duey here, clear so far, moving south toward garage."
"Copy that."
At the same time, Louie moved right from the foyer, slowly opening and entering the master bedroom through one of that room's two entrances. His night vision scope saw the open metal cabinet, a neatly-made bed, and closed double doors that led to the inside pool area, but no sign of the target.
"Louie here, master bedroom all clear. Looks like we got a gun cabinet that's empty. Proceed with caution. Moving west to pool area in case target doubled back."
"Copy that, Louie."
The commando who had entered through the Lanai-Huey-moved slowly across a leisure room in the southwest quadrant of the home. He then approached the closed door to the guest bedroom, one hand reaching for the knob while the other steadied his weapon…
…Duey walked into the garage. That area appeared as pitch dark as the rest of the home…until Gordon Knox flicked a switch on his remote control and activated a battery-powered security light.
The sudden glare blinded Duey. He fired his silenced weapon at the glow- thwump, thwump, thwump — shattering one of the two bulbs even as he instinctively turned away from the blinding glow and directly into the barrel of the Benelli. Gordon pulled the trigger. The powerful shotgun blast killed the man instantly, sending him-light body armor and all-flying backward. "All points, check in," radioed Control at the sound of the shot. "Louie, pool area clear." "Huey, in southwest bedroom, no sign tango."