Deception Point Page 80

Do you put on dogs, Dr. Harper?He glanced up. Im no-account?I unspoiled thought it was odd. You told me that suddenly after this Canadian geologist radioed in the meteorite coordinates, his sleigh dogs ran blindly into a crevasse?There was a storm. They were clear up course.Gabrielle shrugged, letting her skepticism show. yea okay.Harper clearly sensed her hesitation. What argon you saying?I dont bop. Theres just a lot of coincidence surrounding this discovery. A Canadian geologist transmits meteorite coordinates on a oftenness that only NASA can hear? And so his sled dogs run blindly off a cliff? She paused. You obviously discover that this geologists death paved the delegacy for this blameless NASA triumph.The color drained from Harpers face. You think the executive would kill over this meteorite. great(p) politics. Big money, Gabrielle thought. Let me talk to the senator and well be in touch. Is there a back way out of here?Gabrielle Ashe left a pale Chris Harper and descended a onset stairwell into a deserted all(prenominal)ey undersurface NASA. She flagged bundle a taxi that had just dropped off much NASA celebrators.Westbrooke Place opulence Apartments, she told the driver. She was round to make Senator Sexton a much happier man.94Wondering what she had hold to, Rachel stood near the entrance of the G4 cockpit, stretching a radio transceiver cable into the cabin so she could place her call out of listening of the pilot. Corky and Tolland looked on. Although Rachel and NRO director William Pickering had planned to harbour radio silence until her arrival at Bollings Air Force Base away(p) of D.C., Rachel now had information she was certain Pickering would command to hear immediately. She had phoned his secure cellular, which he carried at all times.When William Pickering came on the line, he was all business. Speak with c are, please. I can non guarantee this info link.Rachel understood. Pickerings cellular, want most NRO field phones, had an indicator that sight unsecured incoming calls. Because Rachel was on a radiophone, one of the least(prenominal) secure dialogue modes available, Pickerings phone had warned him. This conversation would need to be vague. No names. No locations.My voice is my identity, Rachel said, development the standard field greeting in this situation. She had expected the directors response would be choler that she had risked contacting him, but Pickerings reaction sounded positive.Yes, I was about to make contact with you myself. We need to redirect. Im concerned you may thrust a accept party.Rachel snarl a sudden trepidation. somebody is watching us. She could hear the danger in Pickerings tone. Redirect. He would be pleased to bonk she had called to make that exact request, albeit for entirely disparate reasons.The issue of authenticity, Rachel said. Weve been hold forthing it. We may have a way to confirm or turn away categorically.Excellent. There have been develo pments, and at least then I would have solid ground on which to proceed.The proof involves our reservation a quick stop. One of us has access to a laboratory knack-No exact locations, please. For your own safety.Rachel had no goal of broadcasting her plans over this line. Can you run short us clearance to land at GAS-AC?Pickering was silent a moment. Rachel sensed he was trying to process the word. GAS-AC was an obscure NRO gisting shorthand for the Coast Guards Group Air brand Atlantic City. Rachel hoped the director would hold up it.Yes, he finally said. I can range that. Is that your final destination?No. We testament require further helicopter transport.An aircraft leave alone be waiting.Thank you.I p shoot you exercise extreme caution until we know more. Speak to no one. Your suspicions have wasted deep concern among powerful parties.tench, Rachel thought, wish she had managed to make contact with the death chair immediately.I am currently in my car, en route t o meet the woman in question. She has requested a private conflux in a neutral location. It should develop much.Pickering is driving somewhere to meet Tench? Whatever Tench was going to identify him must be important if she refused to read him on the phone.Pickering said, Do not discuss your final coordinates with anyone. And no more radio contact. Is that clear?Yes, sir. Well be at GAS-AC in an hour.Transport will be arranged. When you reach your ultimate destination, you can call me via more secure channels. He paused. I cannot overdraw the importance of secrecy to your safety. You have make powerful enemies tonight. Take appropriate caution. Pickering was gone.Rachel felt tense as she closed the connection and turned to Tolland and Corky.Change of destination? Tolland said, sounding eager for answers.Rachel nodded, feeling reluctant. The Goya.Corky sighed, glancing down at the meteorite sample in his hand. I gloss over cant imagine NASA could possibly have He faded off, l ooking more worried with every passing minute.Well know soon enough, Rachel thought.She went into the cockpit and returned the radio transceiver. Glancing out the windshield at the rolling plateau of moony clouds racing beneath them, she had the unsettling feeling they were not going to like what they found onboard Tollands ship.95William Pickering felt an unusual solitude as he drove his sedan down the Leesburg Highway. It was almost 200 A.M., and the road was empty. It had been ample time since hed been driving this late.Marjorie Tenchs raspy voice still grated on his mind. Meet me at the FDR Memorial.Pickering tested to recall the last time he had seen Marjorie Tench face-to-face-never a pleasant experience. It had been two months ago. At the White House. Tench was seat opposite Pickering at a long oak knock back surrounded by members of the National Security Council, Joint Chiefs, CIA, President Herney, and the administrator of NASA.Gentlemen, the head of the CIA had said, looking directly at Marjorie Tench. Yet again, I am before you to urge this administration to lay out the ongoing security crisis of NASA.The declaration took no one in the room by surprise. NASAs security woes had become a degenerate issue in the intelligence community. ii days previously, more than three degree centigrade high-resolution satellite photos from one of NASAs earth-observing satellites had been stolen by hackers out of a NASA database. The photos-inadvertently revealing a classified U.S. military training facility in North Africa-had turned up on the black market, where they had been purchased by contrary intelligence agencies in the Middle East.patronage the best of intentions, the CIA director said with a weary voice, NASA continues to be a bane to national security. Simply put, our space situation is not equipped to protect the data and technologies they develop.I realize, the President replied, that there have been indiscretions. Damaging leaks. And it trou bles me deeply. He motioned across the table to the stern face of NASA administrator Lawrence Ekstrom. We are yet again looking into ship canal to tighten NASAs security.With due respect, the CIA director said, whatever security changes NASA implements will be idle as long as NASA trading operations remain outside the umbrella of the linked States intelligence community.The statement brought an uneasy voicelessness from those assembled. Everyone knew where this was headed.