‘Sorry, Jason,’ he apologised. ‘I had a meeting with the Chief Executive. We had a few problems over the weekend. Someone tried to break into the complex. Every time that happens we have to have a review on security and tighten it up. What can I do for you?’
Tighten the security! I could have cheerfully throttled the fool who tried to break in. He hadn’t helped my cause one little bit! ‘Someone’s come up with an idea for laser welding to improve domestic computer production,’ I lied. ‘I’m pretty naïve about lasers and I thought you might be able to fill in the gaps if I came to look at the equipment in your division.’
‘We have lasers,’ he replied reluctantly, ‘but our research relates to military capability.’
‘I’ve never seen one at work so it might be useful for me to get a worm’s eye view. Anyway, it’s about time I visited your division to find out what’s going on there.’
He hesitated for a few moments weighing up the pros and cons. ‘Very well,’ he said eventually. ‘If you want to come over you’d better do it right away. I’ll have to get Personnel Division to transmit your photograph and curriculum vitae to our computer terminal in the security block otherwise you won’t be able to gain access to the complex. We have one of the best security systems in the country, you know.’
I felt my knees go weak at his revelation as I replaced the receiver into its cradle. As far as it went, so far so good! Within a short while I would be inside the weaponry division familiarising myself with the layout and the kind of security in operation.
‘Well don!’ commended Penny when I told her the news. ‘Stage One is now operational.’
‘Operational,’ I grunted solemnly. ‘I don’t think that’s the right word. I can’t seem to get the spectre of your computer expert out of my mind. I’m sure he’s bad news.’
‘Then you’ll be surprised to find out how good he is when the time for action arrives,’ she countered with a confident smile.
I left the building and drove out of the city. Before long the car was cruising across a derelict suburban area. The establishment of the weaponry division was easily recognised, surrounded by stout concrete posts with strong wire netting in between, safeguarded by miles of ominous-looking barbed wire. Large signs alerted visitors to the fact that the fencing was electrified. It was further protected by two groups of uniformed guards, some carrying rifles while others handled savage Alsatian dogs on short leashes. I approached the cubicle at the front gate pressing a red button below the window which slid downwards to show the face of yet another security guard.
‘Your identification, sir,’ he requested politely.
I showed him my company card bearing my photograph which he scanned for information. Then he tapped in the information into a computer to check that the details were correct. Shortly, he handed the card back to me.
‘Mr. Packman has granted you authorisation for this visit,’ he told me, ‘but before I allow you inside I must ask you to open all the doors of your vehicle as well as the boot and the bonnet. We need to inspect it thoroughly.’
I held my breath for a moment. Security in this complex was the highest I had ever seen. It would be easier to get into the Pentagon or Fort Knox than into Dandy Advanced Electronics weaponry division.
In due course, he raised the barrier and I cruised into the complex stopping in front of a dismal building with a sign that stated ‘Reception’. Outside was an armed guard and I walked past him uneasily until I reached the Reception Area. An elderly officer, dressed in army uniform bearing the badges of the rank of Brigadier, sat behind a large desk. As I arrived, he put down his pen and looked up at me with a bland expression on his face. ‘I presume you’re Mr. Jason Scott.’ he greeted.
‘That’s right.’ I responded. ‘I must admit I’m impressed with your security here.’
‘There’s a triple check on everyone who visits, Mr. Scott. Mr. Packman sent a message directly to our computer terminal alerting us that you were coming. The front gate confirmed your arrival via a computer message and I’ve just checked that you are the same person. We have to be on the alert for intruders twenty-four hours of the day and night.’
‘Do you keep the same number of guards both day and night?’ I asked, keeping my voice at a casual level with vested interest as to the answer.
‘Not as many. The alarm equipment assists at night time. We tend to rely on electronic sensors. But they can’t be used during the day or we’d be tripping over them all the time setting off the alarms.’ He stood up, picking up a baton and a peaked cap, starting out of the building. ‘Follow me!’ he ordered sharply.
I charged after him and we climbed into a waiting jeep. He drove to a building about a mile south passing a number of tanks spaced at regular intervals to represent a conventional theatre of war. I presumed that the tests on the laser gun took place here where no visitors were allowed to come. We entered the porch way of the building and stopped at a computer terminal.
‘I prepared this card for you when the Director told me your were coming,’ he said gruffly. He handed me a plastic card before placing a similar one into the machine. A door opened which closed swiftly behind him after he had passed through. I ignored the machine and tried to push the door open by force but it was made of solid steel and refused to budge. I had to retreat and emulate the action of my guide in order to join him inside.
‘You can’t get past that machine without identification,’ he told me flatly. ‘The bad news for any intruder is that the card can be inserted in this computer terminal only once in each twenty-four hours. It’s done to ensure maximum security. The good news is that you don’t need a card to get out of this place. Ah… here’s Mr. Packman himself.’ The Brigadier saluted the Director as he approached us.
‘Jason!’ greeted Packman. I can give you thirty minutes then I’ll have to pass you back into the hands of the Brigadier.’ He turned to the old man. ‘You can wait here, Brigadier, while I show Mr. Scott around.’ He took me by the arm gently and led me further into the building. ‘We have an upstairs and a downstairs. Both are relatively large. All the secret equipment is kept below divided into non-nuclear, nuclear, lasers, armour structures for vehicles, tanks, ships and general research.’
‘Armour structures.’ I repeated woodenly.
‘Yes. Do you know that in 1987 a new anti-tank rocket was provided for the British army after ten years of development. By that time, the Soviets had move on to reactive armour so that the anit-tank rocket was ineffective. It was a shoulder-launched LAW80. The Ministry of Defence claimed that the tracks of the tanks were the traditional part to be attacked. As the tracks of the Russian tanks were not made of reactive armour they were still vulnerable. How some Civil Servants will defend budgets even when they know they’re wrong is beyond my ken. Unfortunately, we’re in the hands of politicians who keep whining that public money must be used for services such as health, education, transport, housing and a variety of other needs at the expense of defence. What they don’t understand is that the world is not a Garden of Eden with only one snake to concern us. Every country must have protection. The worrying factor is the accelerating level of weaponry. Where does it all end? It’s a pity we don’t manufacture crystal balls to allow us to look into the future. I’d be the first in the queue to buy one.’
‘I heard about the prototype of the new laser weapon. The most advanced lethal weapon of its kind in the world.’
He stopped dead in his tracks. ‘Where did you hear that?’
I paused for a moment realising that I had told him too much. ‘At a Board meeting. Yes I’m sure I heard it there,’ I managed to say, hoping that he would believe me. ‘I overheard someone mention it in the background but I don’t know who.’