Deception Point Page 79

Silent black helicopters.The conspiracy theorists were deviation nuts over these. Some claimed the incursion of silent black helicopters was proof of sweet World Order storm troopers downstairs the authority of the United Nations. Others claimed the choppers were silent stranger probes. Still others who saw the Kiowas in nigh formation at night were deceived into thought they were spirit at fixed test lights on a much large craft-a single flying saucer that was plainly capable of vertical flight.Wrong again. besides the military loved the diversion.During a unseasoned covert mission, Delta-One had f low-tonedn a Kiowa armed with the close secretive new U.S. military technology-an tricksy holographic weapon nicknamed S M. disrespect conjuring associations with sadomasochism, S M stood for lot and mirrors-holographic images projected into the sky over foe territory. The Kiowa had used S M technology to project holograms of U.S. aircraft over an enemy anti-aircraft in st in allation. The panicky anti-aircraft gunners fired maniacally at the circling ghosts. When all of their ammunition was gone, the United States sent in the real thing.As Delta-One and his men displace off the runway, Delta-One could still hear the course of his ascendance. You have another mark. It seemed an egregious under-statement considering their new targets identity. Delta-One reminded himself, however, that it was not his place to question. His squad had been precondition an order, and they would carry it verboten in the make manner instructed-as shocking as that method was.I hope to hell the controller is certain this is the right move.As the Kiowa lifted off the runway, Delta-One headed southwest. He had seen the FDR Memorial twice, honorable straight tonight would be his first clock from the air.93This meteorite was originally observe by a Canadian geologist? Gabrielle Ashe stared in admiration at the young programmer, Chris harper. And this Canadian is now dead? harpist gave a sad nod.How long have you have it offn this? she demanded.A couple of calendar weeks. After the executive and Marjorie tench forced me to perjure myself in the pressure gathering, they knew I couldnt go back on my word. They told me the truth virtually how the meteorite was really spy.PODS is not responsible for finding the meteorite Gabrielle had no inclination where all of this information would lead, except distinctly it was scandalous. Bad in spotigence information for Tench. Great news for the senator.As I mentioned, Harper said, looking somber now, the true way the meteorite was separate was through an intercepted receiving set receiver contagious disease. Are you long-familiar with a program called INSPIRE? The interactional NASA Space Physics Ionosphere Radio Experiment.Gabrielle had perceive of it only vaguely.Essentially, Harper said, its a serial of very low frequency radio receivers near the North Pole that get wind to the so unds of the earth-plasma wave emissions from the northern lights, broadband pulses from lightning storms, that choose of thing.Okay.A few weeks ago, one of INSPIREs radio receivers picked up a stray infection from Ellesmere Island. A Canadian geologist was calling for garter at an exceptionally low frequency. Harper paused. In fact, the frequency was so low that nobody other than NASAs VLF receivers could perhaps have heard it. We assumed the Canadian was long-waving.Im sorry?Broadcasting at the low possible frequency to get maximal distance on his transmission. He was in the middle of nowhere, remember a criterion frequency transmission probably would not have made it far abounding to be heard.What did his message say?The transmission was short. The Canadian said he had been out doing ice soundings on the Milne Ice Shelf, had delineate an ultradense anomaly buried in the ice, suspect it was a giant meteorite, and while fetching measurements had become trapped in a storm. He gave his coordinates, asked for rescue from the storm, and signed off. The NASA listening post sent a aeroplane from Thule to rescue him. They searched for hours and finally discovered him, miles off course, dead at the back end of a crevasse with his sled and dogs. Apparently he tried to outrun the storm, got blinded, went off course, and furious into a crevasse.Gabrielle considered the information, intrigued. So suddenly NASA knew round a meteorite that nobody else knew about?Exactly. And ironically, if my software program had been working properly, the PODS satellite would have uneven that same meteorite-a week before the Canadian did.The coincidence gave Gabrielle pause. A meteorite buried for tierce hundred years was just about discovered twice in the same week?I get along. A little bizarre, but science can be the likes of that. Feast or famine. The point is that the administrator felt like the meteorite should have been our stripping anyway-if I had done my job correctly. He told me that because the Canadian was dead, nobody would be the wiser if I simply redirected PODS to the coordinates the Canadian had transmitted in his SOS. Then I could pretend to discover the meteorite from scratch, and we could salvage some respect from an pasty failure.And thats what you did.As I said, I had no choice. I had let down the mission. He paused. Tonight, though, when I heard the Presidents press conference and found out the meteorite Id pretended to discover contained fossils You were stunned.Bloody well floored, Id sayDo you think the administrator knew the meteorite contained fossils before he asked you to pretend PODS found it?I cant intend how. That meteorite was buried and untouched until the first NASA group got on that point. My best guess is that NASA had no whim what theyd really found until they got a team up there to drill cores and x-ray. They asked me to harp about PODS, thinking theyd have a moderate victory with a double meteorit e. Then when they got there, they realized just how forged a find it really was.Gabrielles breathing spell was shallow with excitement. Dr. Harper, will you testify that NASA and the smock House forced you to lie about the PODS software?I dont know. Harper looked frightened. I cant imagine what kind of damage that would do to the agency to this discovery.Dr. Harper, you and I both know this meteorite remains a wonderful discovery, careless(predicate) of how it came about. The point here is that you lied to the American people. They have a right to know that PODS is not everything NASA says it is.I dont know. I reject the administrator, but my coworkers they are good people.And they merit to know they are being deceived.And this march against me of embezzlement?You can erase that from your mind, Gabrielle said, having almost forgotten her con. I will tell the senator you know zilch of the embezzlement. It is simply a frame job-insurance set up by the administrator to keep you quiet about PODS.Can the senator protect me?Fully. Youve done nothing wrong. You were simply following orders. Besides, with the information youve just given me about this Canadian geologist, I cant imagine the senator will even learn to raise the issue of embezzlement at all. We can focus entirely on NASAs misinformation regarding PODS and the meteorite. Once the senator breaks the information about the Canadian, the administrator wont be able to risk laborious to discredit you with lies.Harper still looked worried. He fell silent, somber as he pondered his options. Gabrielle gave him a moment. Shed realized earlier that there was another troubling coincidence to this story. She wasnt going away to mention it, but she could see Dr. Harper needed a final push.