“No, just some press, but they left after we gave them the story.”
“Is his family still here?”
“Sure, Carol, his widow, has all her friends here, why?
“Just tying up loose ends,” the Major said with a disarming smile.
Hannah returned with a plate piled high of instant heart attack, placing it in front of Steve.
The two newcomers ordered equally large breakfasts, and were given some more coffee.
“I have to make a call. Excuse me,” she said, taking out her cell phone and walking outside.
Holding the phone up to her ear, she pretended to call.
<<Kyle?>>
<<Here.>>
<<Where are you?>>
<<In a chopper. Twenty minutes away.>>
<<What’s happening?>>
<<The NSA are playing pool in the officers’ club, and Jim is still asleep.>>
<<What about the President?>>
<<You have an appointment tomorrow in the White House.>>
<<How easy was it?>>
<<You know, you did something.>>
She smiled.
<<I just managed a little tweak.>>
<<I hope you know what you are doing?>>
<<So do I.>>
<<Where are you?>>
<<Having breakfast with the Sheriff in Marv’s Diner. There’s a parking lot behind, land there and join us for a coffee.>>
<<Won’t be long.>>
She went back into the diner, to see Hannah delivering the food. She and Red sat in silence, savouring every mouthful.
Steve watched as the pair each devoured a huge plate of food in a very short space of time.
“I shouldn’t really, but it is so good,” she said on cleaning her plate.
“So, Major. What exactly is your job?”
“I search out aliens,” she said, calmly taking a drink of orange juice.
He laughed.
“Found many recently?” he asked, joking.
“A few thousand,” said Red, watching Michelle’s expression.
Steve stared at the Sergeant.
“Just living in the desert, I suppose?”
“I wish,” said Michelle with a smile. “My Boss is paranoid, so I get sent all over the place after the most spurious sightings. Well, my ride will be here soon. It has been a pleasure meeting you.”
She stood up and held out her hand, so Steve stood up and shook it.
“Well, if I can help, let me know.”
“You already have. Thanks,” she said, as the sound of a helicopter gathered strength as it approached. They watched as it landed in the parking lot, and then Kyle and the pilot ran in through the back door.
“Good to see you, Kyle,” she said.
“Michelle. Are you two okay?”
“Fine. Do you want a coffee before we head back?”
They did, and so Steve watched as this very strange group drank coffee and chatted about trivialities. The sergeant was very quiet, and rarely took his eyes off the woman. Steve recognised the type. This man would die for the girl, but she may never know what he felt like. Occasionally, she would glance his way, giving him the briefest smile. It was very little, but enough. There was a bond between these two, and it broke through all barriers of rank, class and gender.
The other Major, Kyle, was obviously in love with her as well, while the pilot was completely bemused by the whole event.
Michelle was looking out of the window, when she saw a familiar Ford Pickup. It had been Mikes, and Carol was driving. It stopped outside the store, so she watched Carol get out and go into the store.
The pain in her soul was tangible, yet she knew that she had to let go of the past. She silently cursed the aliens for so altering her life to allow her to suffer so much pain. She thought of Gordon, and that was equally painful.
She stood up again.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said, and Red observed the tears in her eyes. He decided against saying anything.
She was silent all the way back,
On landing, she declared that she was going for a shower. Red hovered, unsure what was required of him.
“Red, you’re coming with me, okay?” she said.
He grinned.
“Yes Ma’am. What terrain?”
“The worst. Urban. We are going to Washington, and I want a fighting machine, not a toy soldier.”
The next morning they met again. She was in her pristine uniform, while he was in black combat fatigues, fully armed and looking the part. He had a small kit bag with a change of clothes, as requested by Michelle.
“Go get Jim,” Michelle told Kyle.
“He’s asleep.”
“He will wake up enough. Oh, and bring the NSA guys too.”
“Are you sure?”
She looked at him.
“Okay.”
12.
Their plane landed at an Air Base in Maryland. Jim had woken up during the flight, and was experiencing a conflict of emotions. He was angry, both at Michelle for being stronger than he, and at the NSA, who were pig headed enough to ignore his advice. He had expressly told them what would happen if they followed this course of action, and it was happening as he had predicted.
The agents were watching cartoons on the video system, and were completely oblivious as to who they were or where they were.
Two blacked out MPVs were waiting for them, and the transfer was swift. They were heading into the Capitol for the appointment with Mr Bush.
George W. Bush was in the Oval office. He frowned as his aide reminded him of the various appointments.
“This Air Force officer, Major Carter. Just what does he want?”
“That’s she want, Mr President. Major Carter is a woman.”
“Oh, how come she’s on my list?”
“You put here there, don’t you remember?”
“I did?”
“Yes sir. You were in here, and you came out and told me to make the appointment. Yesterday at around ten a.m., don’t you recall?”
The President frowned. He had no recollection of the event, and was about to tell his aide to cancel it when he remembered that it was vitally important and related to a classified operation.
“John, get me all you can on Operation Trillium.”
“Operation Trillium? Mr President.”
“Yes, and have the Major and her party shown right in when they arrive.”
John Reynolds stared at his boss, shaking his head, as Mr Bush disappeared back into the Oval Office. He then contacted the National Security Adviser, the Directors of the FBI, the CIA and the NSA. No one had heard of Operation Trillium.
The cars swept through the gates and up to a side entrance. The NSA agents just came along, staring with blank stupidity at everything. Jim was relaxed now, and was happy to let Michelle take this as far as she could. He knew that essentially she was right, this was bigger than the USA, but his national pride still caused him the occasional twinge.
The presence of the armed Marine gave the secret service real concerns, which melted as the party approached. They were escorted into the Oval office, where Red was instructed to remain outside and to remain vigilant.
George W. Bush stared at the very attractive woman standing in front of his desk. It was rare that a woman’s appearance caused him to feel such a strong attraction, and he thought it was perhaps for the best that it was he and not Bill Clinton who had to deal with her.
“Oh, I don’t know. Very few men are completely incorruptible,” she said, and he was staggered.
“Major?” he asked, confused.
“Mr President, I don’t intend to piss about. Operation Trillium. What do you know about it?”
He was embarrassed now.
She smiled. “I thought so. They’ve not yet seen fit to bring you into the picture. I wonder if they were ever going to?”
“Major?”
“Operation Trillium took over after Operation Gopher located evidence of extra-terrestrials. It’s the name given to an operation to locate and open useful dialogue with these extra-terrestrial beings who have initiated colonies in the more inhospitable parts of this planet. Then, to acquire whatever technology from these aliens, by fair means or foul, for the express purpose of bringing the defence capabilities of the USA to a level far beyond any other nation, state or confederation of states,” she said.