Resources: Freedom Is Reborn Read online

  "Mr. Truman, you got to know what they are going to do with them!" Thinking what are they up to.

  Theo, "No, I don't know, the renegotiated contract was for just the hollow spheres. I found that odd because the spheres would be of little use without the environmental and hydroponics units. They did let slip that after exiting from space they would have practical applications. If you want to know more, you're going to have to talk to Ben Wilson, the CEO of Humanity Holdings."

  "That is unacceptable, tell me what they are doing. I believe you are up to something and I will find out what it is! You haven't heard the last of this. I will have the last word!" Why am I so angry? It seems like he is being truthful with me, but there's just something he's not telling me.

  Theo, "Get out, I will not be called a liar in my own business. I have told you all that I know. I will not tolerate you browbeating me and insinuating that I'm doing something unlawful. If anything the president's executive order is unlawful. If you have any more questions, you can see my lawyer."

  After leaving the building, the agent stated, "Now that didn't end very well. Do you think he was hiding anything?"

  "He seemed very truthful, but it still doesn't feel right to me. At least we got another lead to go on. If I remember correctly, Humanity Holdings is a large conglomerate with its fingers into lots of high tech. I think we have accomplished about as much as we can today, take me back to the hotel. Please pick me up at nine tomorrow morning. My flight out leaves at 11 am."

  On the way back to the hotel I was thinking about the companies that stood out at this time, Infinity metals, Seaward Housing and Engineering, SDH, and Humanity Holdings. When I get back to DC; I will get a monitoring setup on all of them and see what we can find out.

  Big Deal Warehouse, Phoenix AZ

  What am I going to do? They are getting more demanding. I need to find something that will get them off of my back.

  "Mark you have a phone call," said the office assistant. "Mr. Mason, did you hear me? You have a call to schedule a pickup."

  "Sorry, my mind was elsewhere. What line are they on?" I replied.

  Assistant, "Line 3."

  "Hello, this is Mark Mason. How can I help you?

  "Mark, this is your bank. It's time you paid your debt. Your installment is late!"

  When I heard the gruff voice, my heart started pounding and began sweating. It was the cartel's loan collector. For months they have had me stealing from the warehouse to pay off my debt.

  "Please be reasonable, the company is going to notice the missing freight. I could go to jail!"

  "That's your problem! If you don't come up with the goods, let's just say you won't be going anywhere! See you soon." Then the line went dead.

  Giving up in resignation, I advised the office assistant that I was going to inspect the warehouse. Maybe some of the newer freight has something valuable.

  While looking through the crates in the warehouse, I was getting more afraid as I went. There was nothing of value. It was all either furniture or pallets of department store merchandise.

  "Mr. Mason, please come to receiving." Came over the warehouse speakers. Thinking it might be the cartel, I started looking around for a place to hide. Then I realized if it were them, they would find me anyway. When I got to receiving, it was a relief to find out it was a delivery.

  "How can I help you?"

  The driver replied, "I have 4 large crates of construction equipment to be warehoused for a few days. How soon can you unload them?"

  "I would say a couple of hours, depending on the weight." This might be just what I need. "Just back the first semi up to the dock, and I will have someone start the unloading right away."

  I had the dock worker store the crates in a dark corner of the warehouse, so I could later check them out without being noticed. As an added precaution, I waited until everyone had left for the day.

  As I was walking through the warehouse in the dark, it was slightly creepy with all the lights off. Every little sound was magnified, and the flashlight caused shadows that were making me jumpy. Finally, I reached the crates. After taking a moment to examine them, I could tell that they opened by one side dropping down.

  Using a technique that I found on YouTube, it was child's play to break the locks. I jumped out of the way as the side fell down with a loud bang. Damn, this isn't construction equipment, it's a fucking rocket engine.

  I started shaking because I didn't have anything to give the cartel. It wouldn't be long before they showed up and killed me. Why did it have to be something illegal that they wouldn't want?

  Then it hit me! Illegal, maybe that was the key! Could I get out of this after all? I wonder if the FBI would be willing to cut a deal for this information? Maybe they could get me into the witness protection program or give me a new identity.

  Next day FBI Field Office, Phoenix AZ

  As I parked the car, I couldn't believe how intimidating the FBI Building looked. Part of it was the odd windows. After taking a deep breath, I headed into the building. The people coming and going barely seemed to notice me.

  With more confidence than I felt. I walked up the information desk. The young lady there looked up and asked, "How can I help you?"

  "Good morning, my name is Mark Mason, and I'd like to see an agent about reporting some illegal activity regarding the Sustainable Earth Initiative. Is there someone that I can talk to?"

  Receptionist, "Let me check to see what department that would be, and get an agent. If you would take a seat over there, someone will be available shortly."

  As I sat waiting for an agent, I began to have second thoughts about this. Maybe, I can work something out with the cartel. Just as I was about to get up and leave an agent walked up to me.

  "Mr. Mason, my name is agent Ramirez, if you would come with me, we can talk in private." It took a couple of minutes for security to get me signed in and a temporary visitors pass. He then directed me into an elevator and pressed the third-floor button. "Is it okay to call you Mark?"

  "That's fine," I replied with some shakiness in my voice.

  Agent Ramirez replied, as the elevator doors opened, "No need to be nervous. We appreciate it when a citizen comes in and volunteers information that helps us out." Upon exiting, we turned left towards some glass-walled conference rooms. "We'll just use a conference room to get your statement."

  I figured he was trying to put me at ease when he offered me something to drink and jelly filled donut. After the formalities were done, he reached over and pressed a button on the desk.

  "As a formality, we record all of our interviews," Agent Ramirez stated. "Please state your name date of birth and the nature of your business with the FBI."

  Leaning forward, "My name is Mark Mason, date of birth April 24, 1998, and I have information regarding a violation of the Sustainable Earth Initiative. Additionally, I have information on the Swarez drug cartel."

  "This is agent Ramirez interviewing Mark Mason. Now that the formalities are done, if you would proceed Mark."

  "I need you to protect me! The cartel has threatened to kill me, and I don't want to die! I need you to put me in the witness protection program." The words were just running out of me, like water through a fire hose.

  "Truthfully Mark, I can't promise anything at this point. It depends on what information you have and whether you would be willing to testify," the agent replied. "Let me check with the agent in charge."

  I could see through the glass that he was talking to another agent, and there seemed to be some kind of disagreement. The other agent pulled out a cell phone and made a call. After talking a couple of minutes, he pointed towards me and said something to agent Ramirez, who turned around and entered the conference room.

  Agent Ramirez, "It seems that someone in Washington really wants the Sustainable Earth Initiative information. So here's the deal, we're going to conference in with Senior Agent Chane, who heads those investigations. If he finds your information of value, he will agr
ee to relocate and a new identity. It is also contingent upon you testifying against the cartel."

  "Yes, yes, I'll give you everything and the space information is valuable!" As I was talking the phone rang.

  "That should be agent Chane now," he said. He picked up the line and pressed the conference button.

  Speaker phone, "This is Agent Chane, am I speaking with Agent Ramirez and Mark Mason?"

  "Yes this is Agent Ramirez, and Mark Mason is here with me. We are currently recording this interview, and Mark has already agreed to the conditions."

  "Mr. Mason if you would tell me what you have for information regarding companies violating the Sustainable Earth Initiative?"

  "Let me give you a little bit of background first. You see I'm in debt to the Swarez cartel and they have been blackmailing me into stealing merchandise from the warehouse I manage. Anyway, I received a call from them yesterday and indicated that my installment payment was overdue. He continued on to say that if I didn't have some merchandise soon, I would"t be long for this world! I was panicking and didn't know what to do.

  So late in the day, a shipment of freight comes in marked construction equipment. Thinking that it might be something they could readily sell, I broke into one of the crates after work last night.

  To my surprise, it wasn't construction equipment but rocket engines. I figured that someone shipping those would be of interest to the FBI. After, all why are they labeled construction equipment if it was above board?"

  Agent Chane, "I'm going to need the bill of lading, and when they are picking up those crates."

  "I can get you all that and even a video of the delivery. Is that enough?"

  "I'm afraid that's not quite enough Mr. Mason. I'm going to need one more thing from you." Indicated Agent Chane.

  I just knew it was going to be something terrible. I couldn't help shaking and sweating as I asked, "What more do you want from me, my life's on the line."

  Agent Chang, "Mark, it's nothing hard. I just need you to continue working and let us know when someone comes to pick up the freight. We will be staking out the warehouse and capture them. Can you do that?"

  I wasn't wholly relieved, but I did feel better after he explained what he needed.

  "That's all I have to do? I will do it. Just promise me protection from the cartel."

  "Okay, here is what we are going to do. Agent Ramirez, please set up Mr. Mason in a safe house during this operation for his protection. Get the warehouse address and get the stakeout started right away," directed agent Chane. "I am going to fly out tonight and personally take over the stakeout."

  Agent Ramirez, additionally we are going to take down Mr Mason’s statement on the Swarez cartel."

  "I think that concludes our business today and I will see you both tomorrow." Agent Chang stated before he disconnected.

  Big Deal Warehouse, Phoenix AZ

  "Mark these are the two agents that we are placing in the warehouse. Their code names for this operation are Jack and Robert. They will be here every day until someone comes to pick up the crates. Like you, they will be wired and monitored. " I advised Mark as I handed him several rather ordinary looking item a pen and watch.

  "What are these for Agent Chane?" questioned Mark.

  "Those are the wires. With the advent of the Internet and WiFi, wires are no longer big and bulky. We just set up a WiFi hotspot on a phone and transmit the audio and video to our surveillance van.

  So how this works is that you will go about your daily business of receiving and sending out of freight. The FBI analysts believe that the rocket engines will be picked up within the next week. After work each night, we will take you back to the safe house and repeat the process the next day. I will be in the van directing the operation. We can hear and see everything you do."

  ******

  Four days and we still don't have anything. I am beginning to wonder if this is going to work. Mark is looking like he hadn't slept for days and I'm not sure how much longer until he breaks.

  Though the team seems to be running smoothly and doesn't seem to have lost its edge. John is currently checking tie downs on a semi driver, and Robert is looking busy by moving freight around the warehouse with a pallet lift. In the warehouse across the street from the loading docks, the FBI sharpshooter just reported in.

  On the six screens in the van, I see feeds from the cameras covering the entrance to the loading dock, office, sharpshooter, plus John and Mark. Everything is being recorded just in case it is needed for evidence.

  "Get ready everyone; I'm seeing two semis with flatbeds pulling up at this time. They don't have any company logos which makes me a little suspicious," said John. The sniper's video suddenly had a circle with cross-hairs, and it was centered on the cap of the first semi. John and Robert could be seen moving into position by the rocket engines.

  After backing up to the loading dock, two men got out of the semis. One of the men seemed to be dressed in a rather expensive suit and brushed himself off before heading to the office.

  "This may be it," whispered Mark. The damn idiot is going to blow it. Since Mark was facing the door, the pen cam showed a nicely dressed man entering the office? Something seemed off about him.

  Mark, "Can I help you?"

  He asked, "Are you, Mark?" Suddenly Mark tried to run out of the office, and the man caught him. "So you are Mark, I am with the cartel. We are collecting on your debt today. You will have your dockworkers load the crates with the most valuable merchandise on to the flatbeds, and we will be leaving. If you try anything, I will kill you as an example to others."

  "Everyone listen carefully, this is going to hell and is going to get dirty.

  John, I need you to saunter up to the office. Robert, Drive the forklift towards the front of the loading dock. Both of you just do as they say until we are ready to take them down.

  Currently, our sniper does not have eyes on the two men on the dock. Hopefully, by driving the forklift up the dock, we will be able to get a clear shot. I am coming to assist."

  As I casually walk up to the warehouse, the sniper communicates that he has a visual of the two men. As I enter a high-powered shot rings out. Pulling my gun, I crouch low and cautiously move towards the office. There is a lot of yelling and dockworkers that are running and dodging for cover as more shots are heard.

  "Report!"

  Sniper, "Target two is down, and target three is hiding behind a crate on the dock. Robert is down and lying in the open. I am keeping the third target pinned down."

  John, "Target one is holding Mark by his neck and has a gun to his head. The target is very calm and collected, looks like we are dealing with a professional."

  I wonder if Robert is alive since he hasn't reported in. We have to end this quickly before anyone else gets hurt. Once I am in a position in front of the office window, I jump up and yell, "FBI freeze!"

  Target three sees me jump up and shoots hitting me in the shoulder. As I stagger toward the suit, the suit releases his grip on Mark. Seeing an opening John fires three shots, and the suit collapses to the floor.

  Sniper quotes "Target three down but maybe only wounded, approach with caution."

  Gritting my teeth I transmit, "The suit and target two are deceased. Target three may possibly still be a threat. John, please check on Robert and report his status. Control, I have been hit. We are going to need at least two ambulances and notify the Phoenix police of our situation."

  John, "Target three is down and unconscious. He has a superficial wound. Agent Chane, Robert didn't make it".

  Damn, I was afraid of that. These last few days of working with Robert, I had got to know him, and he was a good man. This hurts like hell! I am getting too old for this kind of work. All I can think of is what JJ's reaction will be. This has made me realize that I care for her more than expected and want to see where it will go.

  John, "Control reports that the police will be here at any moment and an ambulance shortly after that. Are you going to
be okay Agent Chane?"

  "I will be fine once they patch me up. I have been shot before, and the pain is not a surprise." I replied. Looking up, I see a news truck pulling into the lot and realize that our cover is blown and that the warehouse will be all over the news. Damn, now they sure as hell will not pick up those rocket engines.

  ******

  News channel Breaking News - Today the FBI was in a shootout with the Mexican cartel at Big Deal Warehousing.

  Our sources tell us that three cartel members entered the warehouse and tried to steal some merchandise. Two of the criminals were pronounced dead at the scene, and the third is in critical condition at County General Hospital.

  Additionally, an FBI agent was pronounced dead at the scene, and another shot in the shoulder. We have been informed the FBI will be making a statement after a thorough investigation.

  Control Room, Control Space Station, Lagrange 5

  Jim, "The FBI informant agreed to help us retrieve the rocket engines. She had one condition, and that is to join us on the space colony. She is young and in good shape, so I didn't see that as a problem, provided we recover the engines. You're going to love who the informant is. Her name is Joni Jackson, and she is the administrative assistant to Agent Chane."

  "Now that is just to good," said Ben laughing to himself.

  Jim, "For safekeeping, the FBI had the rocket engines temporarily moved to Luke Air Force Base. She indicates that in approximately 72 hours, the engines will be transported to another location for disposal. So we have a short window of opportunity."

  Ben, "Great, I have four semis with flatbeds standing by for the pickup. As for the paperwork, we were just waiting for the location to finish filling them out. I am scheduling the pickup for tomorrow. I think we can pull this off, but it may be a close thing. Jim, can you hack into the FBI's system and insert a new pickup order for tomorrow?"