Overrun (7 page)

"Did that work?"

"It has up until now."

"Sir, Vulture squadron
intelligence has indicated for some time now that the J.G.U. have been heavily
pursuing dome research," Faulken interrupted. "And there is a very
good chance they are catching up to us and possibly pulling away."

Ford shifted his eyes back to
Faulken.

"We have strong evidence to
suggest they are breaching embargo agreements. In exchange for J.G.U. aid and
dome protection, it is now believed select third world countries may be
harboring J.G.U. dome production and research facilities. Some smaller
countries may even be building their own.

“Rather than dying off, some of
these smaller countries appear to be progressively growing stronger,"
Faulken said more ominously. "We have a global responsibility to keep the
beam cannon technology secret. These death squads are completely necessary if
the United States is to remain a superpower on the face of this planet.

“We have a responsibility to
act. And the time to act is right now."

Faulken stared across the room
into the President's sunken eyes. Ford looked haggard and weak. His eyes hung wide
open and did not blink.

"There is too much
risk," Faulken warned him. "We cannot allow any of these countries we
have beaten down through the years access to this new technology. Once they
begin to strengthen and heal, they will want vengeance…they will retaliate for
everything they have lost through the years."

"We are living in a very
dangerous time, Mr. President," Baldwin agreed. "We must act
accordingly."

"God help us all if the
J.G.U. create a legion of allies," Ford agreed his breath finally returning
to him.

"We think the J.G.U. are
preparing to declare war on the United States, Frank," Baldwin spoke
again. The President sensed the effort it took for Baldwin to keep his voice
steady. "From what we can tell, their military is mobilizing."

"Judging from events within
the past two days, a full-scale invasion attempt will probably be the only
alternative the J.G.U. will feel is available to them," Faulken added.
"They are scared to death of us. Their eyes are starting to open as to
what we really are prepared to do."

"So what happened?"
Ford asked tiredly.

"From what we’ve been able
to determine, a small task force was dispatched to investigate the possible
location of three illegal research facilities on a stretch of old Soviet
land," Faulken explained. "Scouts came across what appeared to be an
unsanctioned dome technological area well outside J.G.U. borders. The Vultures
went in to shut it down."

"How many dead?" Ford
questioned quickly.

"All of them," Faulken
returned in a dry tone.

"No prisoners taken? No one
that might have slipped out and is waiting to resurface and return to the
States? Someone we could search out and debrief for more information on what
the hell is going on?"

"It was a Level One
mission," Baldwin said.

"They’re instructed to
ingest radiation pills in the event of capture," Faulken added. "And
the J.G.U. never keep prisoners alive any longer than the duration of their
interrogations. If any of the squad survived the raid, they would be dead by
now. And most likely tortured horribly until the end."

"And if someone did
escape?"

"It is highly unlikely
anyone will resurface. The concentration of troops that descended upon the
vicinity far outnumbered the squad. There is just no way anyone could have made
their way out."

"We have no way of knowing
exactly what happened, Mr. President," Baldwin spoke again. "But
since that time, something big has been going on in the J.G.U. Their armed
forces are on the move. We believe they're getting ready to launch an attack. There
is no doubt in our minds that they are coming."

"So what you're
saying…," Ford said accusingly. "…our sins are finally being brought
to bear. After all these years of illegal foreign military activities, someone
is finally bringing it back to us."

"They knew it was us a long
time ago, sir," Faulken said. "They just could never prove it. At
least not enough to justify to the rest of the planet a global war."

"Until now," the
President said.

"Until now," Faulken
agreed.

"Good God." Ford
swiveled around in his seat and turned his back to the two men.

While he stared out the
solar-protected glass to the ruins of Old Washington D.C. outside the
Administration Dome, Baldwin and Faulken crossed the room and sat in the two
chairs directly in front of his desk. Ford didn’t turn around. They stared at
his back and waited for him to speak.

"Did your office respond to
any of the communiqués referring to this instance, Mr. Baldwin?" the
President asked.

"At first we denied
knowledge of any team hostile or otherwise in that quadrant of the globe.
Unfortunately, they claim to have removed some personal items from a captured
soldier. And another supposedly offered us up during his interrogation before
he died.

“They say it is all they need to
prove to their people and the other countries of the world our involvement.
They feel certain we were behind that raid on their laboratory and are
threatening to act on it."

Two dull tones sounded from the
holovid at the corner of the desk stopping the conversation from progressing
further. Ford carefully reached to the switch that opened its transmission.

A young brown-haired woman
appeared on the small screen. Circles of fear and darkness colored the skin
beneath her eyes. Her gentle voice sounded eerily across the room.

"Priority transmission
about to be received," she told the grim face of the President. "It’s
encoded 'Top-Level', sir."

Baldwin and Faulken each drew in
a nervous breath while the President rose to his feet.

"Ready to receive,"
Ford answered morosely. His advisors also stood from their seats on the other
side of the mammoth oak desk.

"Transferring to your
location," the soft voice said again.

Ford reached behind his chair
for his suit coat, straightened his tie and somberly walked to the center of
the Oval Office. He stood there quietly waiting for the transmission to come
across the giant holovid monitor that dropped from the ceiling.

With some crackling of static as
the transmission decoded itself and a slight hum from the unit’s internal
components, the holovid screen soon displayed the grim expression of the prime
minister of Japan's Great Union.

The J.G.U. leader stared at
President Ford with a half accusing and half questioning look.

"What are the arrogant
people of the United States thinking at this moment?" J.G.U. Prime
Minister Talhir began in a quiet somber tone after the decoded transmission
finally settled in.

Ford raised his head to begin
the explanation he would try to offer, but the prime minister continued to
speak. Ford wrung his hands and listened to what the coarse voice of the man
before him had to say.

"President Ford, we have
recently intercepted an assassination squad trespassing and committing murder
on our side of this greatly divided world. Unfortunately, we were not able to
control the situation before your team managed to kill more than two hundred
fine men of Japan's Great Union.

“Many great scientific minds
were lost in this unprovoked attack. The financial value of resources and
equipment destroyed is unquantifiable. These were brilliant men working only on
developing improved radiation medication for our dying people. Your team
ruthlessly assassinated scientific civilians at an outpost that in no way
violates any of the Embargo Treaties."

"Prime Minister Talhir,
we've only recently received information on this tragedy,” Ford struggled to
keep his voice level. “We are utilizing all resources available to help you
ascertain and locate the global terrorists that have committed this certainly
most heinous act.”

Behind him, Baldwin and Faulken
stood stiffly as if any movement would give their secret away.

“We offer any and all assistance
you may wish us to provide…”

Talhir did not respond. He only
continued to glare through the holovid transmission.

"I also offer you our
pledge to help bring these people to justice and our assurance that the United
States was in no way responsible for this catastrophic occurrence on European
soil.”

The room was quiet for a moment
before Ford continued. When he did, his voice changed subtly.

“And I would like to respectfully
add, sir, adherence to these allegations could be construed as deliberate
provocation to war."

“How dare you utter those words
to me!” the image roared at him. "It is you and the leading men of your
country that are terrorists!”

Ford tried his best not to react
to this outburst. His expression remained stern and unyielding. He kept his
eyes focused on the screen hoping desperately they would not betray the fear in
his heart and the nausea in his stomach. With great concentrated effort, he
tried by sheer will alone to make the droplets of perspiration threatening to
break across his brow retreat back beneath his skin.

"President Ford, for many
years we've known of your secret death squads. We've watched them lawlessly
roam the globe trying to eliminate scientific progress not shared or known by
your selfish and dangerous country.

“For years we have watched and
allowed you to do this. And, we have killed many.”

"Prime Minister, what you
accuse is most severe. Severe and unwarranted. Global ramifications from going
down this path could be extreme."

“Some were taken alive,” Talhir
continued. “They were interrogated to the utmost extent. As you would expect of
soldiers of their degree, their resistance was great. But ultimately not enough
to prevent your secrets from becoming known.”

"Again, Prime
Minister..." Ford swallowed hard trying not to let any emotion show. “We
only became aware of what happened just a short time ago…"

"The J.G.U. will no longer
stand by and allow your country to doom the entire planet to extinction!"
Talhir interrupted again. By now his voice was almost a scream.

"Before we go any further,
Prime Minister, I will acknowledge the existence of U.S. operatives on your
side of the globe,” Ford said through gritted teeth. “Espionage agents only.
Not assassins. Their missions are for information-related purposes only.

“The existence of the outpost
where this ‘incident’ took place has also been known to us. But we were not
responsible for its destruction. And what the United States people demand to
know is the reason why a scientific laboratory dedicated to technological
research was being guarded by an armed regiment. It was not licensed with any
of the global scientific registries. Legally it did not exist, and heavy
armaments were harbored there. There was every reason for it to cause us great
alarm and suspicion. So forgive me for the moment if I don't completely embrace
your expected sympathies for this loss."

"Your operatives are a
flagrant violation of global treaty!" Talhir's face was an explosion of
maddened fury.

"We believe, Prime
Minister, that the installation was a secret scientific military outpost not
sanctioned by any global treaty," this time Ford interrupted trying to
regain control of the conversation. "You are in as much violation as we
are. The people of the United States further believe that this outpost is one
of many breaching numerous embargo treaties drawn between the J.G.U. and the
United States. Violation of these agreements compromises the security and
safety of our citizenry. And we will not stand for this. I can't say I'm sorry
to see that it went."

"President Ford!"
Talhir roared. "You tell us why a squad of American assassins found its
way to our side of the world!"

Ford became connivingly silent.
Faulken and Baldwin stood behind him looking as if they were waiting to jump
into a street fight. Sweat dripped from the pale skin near the tops of both
their foreheads.

"Mr. President,"
Talhir continued. "The United States is an aggressive and dangerous
country. Your belligerence in this conversation is an even greater example of
our fear. We believe your stance on dome technology is both reckless and
irresponsible. This world should be sharing technological secrets. Not hoarding
them.

“We also believe that a
government such as yours that stands idly by and watches its own people die on
its very own soil is totally lacking in respect for human life. This lack of
respect is dangerous to the existence of this planet, and for this reason, we
believe that the government of the United States should be removed from the
face of the Earth. The only way this planet will survive the threats of the
depleting ozone is through a cooperative global technological effort.

“Since you will not share your
ideas, our government has been in great debate for many years and finally
agreed on a course to act.”

The room again fell completely
silent.

“We intend to come get them. And
take them from you through the use of all force necessary. The United States
people have brought this upon themselves.”

Ford felt his heart drop to the
floor.

“Watch what you threaten, Prime
Minister," Ford tried to make his voice more forceful and intimidating.
"You are beginning to breach all points of global diplomacy and
international protocol that my patience will tolerate. I advise you…"

“President Ford, for these
horrendous crimes, the people of Japan's Great Union denounce and condemn the
United States. On your government and your people…we declare war. We will not
stop until your reckless ideas concerning the existence of life on this dying
planet are permanently altered or removed.