Kroic paused, and absently scratched an unusually thick scaly patch on his face with a long fingernail. “It is very dry here,” he said.
“Misters have been arranged for your quarters,” Watt said pleasantly, then, “What I would like for this meeting is a brief summary of your strategy for the operation, and the probability of its success.”
“Of course,” said Kroic. “I must first say that based on the information I’ve been provided there will be little opposition to a lightning strike. The bulk of my force will be used to transport ordinance for destruction of the target. There is only a police force to contend with, but the ordinance comes in four large crates that must be moved quickly to optimize positioning for maximum effect. The bays are separated by twenty feet of rock. The individual weapons are moderate in yield, but shock reinforcement will take out both bays and a one-mile section of tunnel simultaneously. I guarantee this.”
“Won’t the weapons be detected when they come through?” asked a man at the far end of the table.
“Our intelligence efforts have indicated the portal has never been equipped with radiation detectors at any wavelength. The one installed for the Americans is an older, commercial model, not military. The crates will be brought through as supplies for the base, and preset to detonate within a few minutes. Half my force will be cloaked, the rest disguised as laborers.”
“Really?” said another man. “And how will you do that?”
“By the judicious use of thin polymer masks, and darkened face plates. We wouldn’t want to frighten anyone.” Kroic’s voice dripped hostility, and matched the tone of his inquisitor.
The odor that burst from Kroic’s body was like fecal matter in moist earth, and Watt fought hard to suppress a gagging sensation. “The plan is excellent, but ordinance placement is critical. Your people must remain until that is accomplished, and the portal must be closed before detonation. Do they understand the risks?”
“Yes,” said Kroic, his voice a low rumble. “They are professionals, all of them. Their courage is beyond question.”
“Portal shutdown and detonation must be synchronized,” said a man in gloom at the end of the table. “Our own facility can be destroyed if there’s an error in timing.”
“Our plan includes a twenty minute window. I will carry a remote that can reset the timers, but you must control the portal. We must be in constant communication.”
“Absolutely,” said Watt.
“If all goes well the crates will be delivered and properly placed, and we will leave without incident. At worst there will be a limited exchange with a small contingent of guards and police and we will withdraw under fire. The end result will be the same, but you must keep the portal open during this time.”
Kroic half smiled, half scowled at the men at the other end of the table, and it was an unpleasant thing to see.
“I will be there to oversee everything,” said Watt, and gestured to the others. “We will all be there, gentlemen. That’s two days from now, the usual morning transmission at nine. Our usual friends have been paid, and the preparation bay will be open only for our group at eight. The transmission will not be logged in; officially there will be a two-hour portal hold for maintenance. Unofficially this is a private, black market operation, and the people we’ve dealt with have supported such in the past. There can be no hint of a military operation until it has begun. Weapons must be out of sight, and disguises intact.”
“As I’ve been instructed,” said Kroic.
“Yes, and now I’m sharing it with the rest of you.”
There were questions. Watt could see it in the eyes of the others, but they all held their tongues.
“Are there any questions for Commander Kroic?” asked Watt, and saw the mercenary’s posture go rigid beside him.
“No?” He turned to Kroic. “Funds have been deposited as you instructed.”
“They are received, and will be distributed. It is a generous sum.”
“The future of our civilization is worth it,” said Watt.
Kroic made a strange sound in his throat, but said nothing, and stood up to leave.
“Thank you for coming, Commander. We’ll see you in two days.”
Kroic nodded, walked in his heavy-footed way to the door, and left the room.
A long silence followed. Watt poured a glass of water and drank it slowly.
“He disgusts me,” said a voice in the darkness.
“I know, and you made little effort to hide it. That is stupid, my friend. We have no supporters for what we’re doing. They will surface, of course, when we are done. Until then we work with whomever we have to, and you’ll be wise not to jeopardize it. Besides, our association with Kroic and his mercenaries will soon be terminated.”
“So? You’ve paid him, and the money can be traced.”
“There is no money. The accounts have been terminated.”
“But he checked them!”
“Electronically. Better that he did it in person. I collected on a small political favor that was long overdue.”
“If he finds out he’ll come after all of us.”
“He won’t live to find out. There is going to be a premature shutdown of the portal during operations, a minimum of five seconds before detonation. It will be much sooner than that if the operation goes too smoothly. In any case, our mercenary colleagues will not be returning to serve as witnesses against us. The blame for the entire operation, in fact, will be theirs.”
“Their government will deny any involvement.”
“Let them. Any hearings will show they have indirectly supported mercenary operations in the past. They are not friends of ours. It will be another challenge for the new president to show the people who our true friends are.”
The others were now silent. Watt detected discomfort. “You all knew there were risks from the beginning. Have you lost faith in me?”
“I would feel better if we were far away on other business when the operation commences. I don’t see why any one of us has to be there. Even you, Dario.”
It was the same man, Elias Trent, who continued to question the plan. The others remained silent. Watt wondered if the man acted alone, or as a spokesman for the other four.
“I must be there to order portal closure, and you will be there to concur with my decision. There will be no operation without the presence of all of us. Two days from now—at eight—prep bay. If you are not there I will send someone after you, and you will never miss a meeting again. Am I being clear?”
A pause, then, “Yes, but you need not threaten us, Dario. We became involved to rid ourselves of a president who works to give away our sovereignty, and we will see it through.”
“Thank you, Elias. That is reassuring. I’ll see you in two days, gentlemen. Try to relax until the moment is upon us. We are making history.”
The other men nodded silently, stood, and followed him out of the room. They went their separate ways, Watt taking an escalator up one floor to his Ministry office, the others descending in elevators to the street level below.
Or so he thought at the time.
Across the street from the Ministry building, five men huddled around a corner table and sipped tea.
“What do we do now? He’s crazy. There will be war over this. The president will dig out the truth and be a hero,” said one man.
“The president has more than a few enemies. We can expose the star craft project without destroying it, and then the threat will be real. We can win in the polls, but if we kill people we’ll lose,” said another.
Elias Trent leaned closer and said, “I can warn them about the attack, give them the time and strategy so they can be ready for it. I have an old friend stationed at the base, and he will believe what I say. If you agree, I’ll send the message today.”