The Swords of Babylon

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

Jonathan Gates leaned back, letting his recliner do all the work. His door was open, but the office was quiet. He had sent the staff home early today. He needed some quiet, uninterrupted time to reaffirm his decision.

If he went ahead with his plan, he would be breaking the law. More importantly, he would gain himself and his employee a very powerful enemy. Was it worth it? Did General Stone have the resources and the smarts to activate the doomsday device?

Of course, even that scenario depended on Hayden’s team successfully translating the inscriptions on the swords. But if that did happen, Gates didn’t then want to be in a position of defense or even conflict. The time to take steps was now, when his action would be a deterrent. He imagined the lengths to which Stone must have gone to secure the approval of not only the VP, the Joint Chiefs and their advisors, but the President himself. A man Gates greatly respected, although his decision-making hands had become tied somewhat since he took office. The old Coburn was the one Gates wanted to see again — the military strategist, the fighter, the vigorous contender. A risk taker — like himself.

One thing Gates knew, if General Stone ever possessed the means to activate the device, visions of greatness and glory would blind him to the obvious dangers. It was that simple. Stone was a hard line militarist, and gung-ho enough to believe a team of NASA techs would save the day if anything went wrong.

Decision made. He punched out her number.

She answered impatiently. “Who the hell is this?”

“Jonathan Gates.”

“Shit! Sorry, Mr Gates, sir, I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine. I don’t have much time, Miss Fox, but I may have a highly sensitive job for you.”

“Just lay it out on the table, sir, and, um, that wasn’t meant to be suggestive.”

“Never crossed my mind.” Gates went on to explain what he needed, all the while questioning its merits, its morals and what he imagined would be a low key, violent backlash.

Lauren Fox, to her credit, grasped the entire situation immediately and asked the most telling question of all. “If I do this, who will protect me?”

“Assuming he goes for it, Lauren, there’s a good chance we can keep your true identity out of it all together. If not, you’d be under my protection and SPEAR’s. There would be no reprisal.”

“You’re asking me to potentially give up my life.”

“And it’s only your first job. How long would it take?”

“Damn.” The line went silent for some time. Gates didn’t rush her. When she spoke again, Lauren’s voice was firm.

“I’m good enough to get this done in two days.”