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  "What? Who released them? Get General Bradley on the phone, there must be a mistake. The communications indicated that we would be picking these up today and not yesterday." The MP contacted the the dispatcher and requested a connection to General Bradley. After communicating the issue with the general's staff, they indicated one of the general's cars would be out to pick me up. The general would personally meet me at warehouse 13 and see about this mix-up.

  ******

  Warehouse 13

  Upon reaching warehouse 13, I could see that the general's car was already there. So, I exited the vehicle and entered the warehouse. I found myself in a small office with windows that looked out into warehouse. The general was calmly talking to a major, but I could tell that he was upset and angry.

  "What do you mean," stressed General Bradley, "that you received an email from me that indicated the pickup date was moved up? Neither, I or anyone else in my office sent any email. I want that paperwork now!"

  As Major Nelson opened the file cabinet, and said, "All the paperwork was in order, and I even attached a copy of the email to the paperwork." After closing the file cabinet, she attached the paperwork to a clipboard and handed it to the general.

  Interrupting, I said, "FBI Special Agent Chane, sir. What is the meaning of this? Do you have any idea who picked the engines up?"

  General Bradley looking through the paperwork, "All the papers seem to be on original FBI letterhead with updated dates. The email that supposedly came from my office, however, is a fake. The email header at the top of the form is not correct, and the signature area is not correctly formatted."

  "So what are we going to do about it?" Thinking this is bad.

  General Reginald Bradley, "Well the first thing is to start an investigation into this with the FBI. Whoever did this has violated quite a few federal laws, and we need to catch them. I will have all the video and paperwork information gathered for review."

  "That will be a start, but time is of the essence because they have had a day head start. How soon can you get the videotapes to pull descriptions of the drivers, and semi's? I need to issue a Bolo as soon as possible."

  "I will direct the military police dispatcher to have the video from yesterday queued up, and we can review those at headquarters within the hour. Major Nelson, make copies of this paperwork for your files, and I will take the originals with me for closer review," directed General Bradley. After the copies were made, we left together in the general's car.

  ******

  Headquarters, military police security Center

  The Security Center whisked us right into a secure room to review the videos.

  "General, I have the videos from yesterday's main gate and the warehouse entrance," stated the technician as he proceeded to start the video.

  General, "Thank you, Sargent."

  Since the heist had gone smoothly, there was only an hour of video to watch. The information gathered from the videos was pretty skimpy. Four black semis and trailers with California plates. We were also able to tell the semi make, model and year, plus a description of one trucker since the rest never left their vehicles. The base gate video showed the semi’s turning left after leaving the base. So we only have one good description, and could tell that upon leaving the base the trucks turned towards Phoenix.

  "Well, we didn't get as much information as we hoped from the videos, but I did get enough to issue a Bolo on the vehicles and one of the drivers. Hopefully, from the vehicle model and license plates, we can determine who owns the vehicles. General, please let me know if the investigation turns anything else up."

  "Agent Chane, I would be happy to let you know. We are still trying to trace the email and determine how it was inserted into our systems. As you can imagine the Pentagon and the White House will be following this very closely. It was good to meet you. I wish it were under better circumstances," stated the general as he shook my hand before I entered the car.

  ******

  Agent Chane's office a couple of days later

  Agent Chane was working on the case in his office. It's sure been a lousy week with the theft and JJ resigning. She always provided useful insights on my cases. While I am thinking of her, I really should verify Saturdays restaurant reservation.

  "Hello, this is Mr. Chane, I want to verify my reservations for 7 PM this Saturday," I inquired.

  Hostess, "Yes, Mr. Chane your reservation is at 7 PM. Can I help you with anything else?"

  "No, thank you." Hanging up the phone and then dialing JJ's number.

  "Hello," answered JJ.

  "Hi JJ, this is Therron, I am calling to confirm our date Saturday. I have the reservations made." Something seemed off on the call. Maybe an echo or a delay, it's probably nothing.

  JJ after hesitating, "Therron I'm glad you called. We are not going to be able to have the date on Saturday." Starting to cry said JJ, "I am no longer in DC, and you will not be able to reach me. I am so sorry."

  "What do you mean you no longer in DC? What's wrong?" While getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. Something is not right.

  Between the sobs, Joni explained, "I couldn't do it anymore. I'm sorry, I betrayed you."

  "What do you mean betrayed me?" I asked while pressing the trace call button on my phone.

  "The case you're working on is wrong, and the president is wrong," said Joni crying heavily now. "Last week I was approached regarding the rocket engines that were seized by the FBI. I didn't see any problem giving them the information on where they were stored. I told them when the transfer was scheduled. Then I helped them to forge transfer papers. I know you can never forgive me..." Crying as the phone disconnected.

  Oh, my God, how could JJ have done this? Do I know... the phone rings interrupting the thought. It is an FBI technician regarding the trace initiated on the phone.

  "Agent Chane," said the technician, "the trace you initiated from your phone had some unusual results."

  "What you mean unusual results?"

  Technician, "We had plenty of time to get the trace, but the cell tower is coming up as an unknown location. I have never seen a cell tower listed that way. Now the phone came back as unlisted, so we tried to enable the GPS hoping to get a fixed location. We received an error message. That should not be possible sir."

  "Thank you; please send a copy of the trace to my email box." How could she betray me? What do I tell the director if anything? Is she right, am I doing the wrong thing? How can I hate her for following her heart, especially since I have not followed mine?

  Putting those thoughts aside, I knew that no matter what my heart said, I needed to honor my oath as an FBI Agent. Only now, I knew how they were able to retrieve the rocket engines. The question is what am I going to do about it? Can, I use this information to further the investigation? After thinking about it for a little bit, I dashed off several emails.

  First Email

  To: Special locater unit

  From: Special Agent Therron Chane

  Subject: Requesting the assignment of a security tracking agent.

  I need a security tracking agent about the president's executive order.

  A phone trace on one of our persons of interest gave tower unknown and a GPS error. I'm attaching the phone trace file for you to work with.

  Please contact me if you need any further information.

  Thank you,

  Therron Chane

  FBI Special Agent

  Washington DC 12345

  Second Email

  To: FBI – Surveillance unit

  From: Special Agent Therron Chane

  Subject: Updates on the surveillance of the companies and individuals listed below

  Please provide surveillance updates on the following companies and individuals listed below.

  Space development holdings also were known as SDH.

  Infinity Metals and CEO Jackie Van Swan.

  Seaward housing and engineering including the CEO Theodore Truman

  Human
ity holdings including the CEO Ben Wilson

  This is a priority about the president's executive order on space activities. Please start providing updates on a 24-hour basis.

  Feel free to contact me if anything comes up that I should know about immediately.

  Therron Chane

  FBI Special Agent

  Washington DC 12345

  Well, I will have to have to see what kind of results I get on these. Maybe my interview with Infinity Metals CEO tomorrow will yield some results.

  Jackie VanSwann's office, San Diego CA.

  "Agent Chane," said Jackie, "it is nice to meet you. I was surprised when you requested an interview. I apologize for not being available for an interview last week, but I was off planet at the time. Please have a seat, and we can proceed with the interview."

  Agent Chane, "Thank you, I don't mind if I do. I'd like to get right into the interview," he said, as he sat down.

  "I would like that. After all, I do have a company, that I am running, and it does demand a lot of my time. Go ahead with your first question." While pouring a couple cups of coffee.

  "It doesn't seem that your company is preparing to exit space as the president's executive order directs, why is that?" stated Agent Chane, as he was looking around her office."

  "As you are probably aware, the various companies involved in space have filed a class action suit regarding the executive order. At this time it is working its way through the courts, and a federal circuit court judge has issued a stay of execution."

  Agent Chane, "You should still be..."

  "Hold it there Agent Chane. I have no intention of following an unconstitutional and illegal executive order while the court is resolving the issue, and has issued a stay. As an agent of the FBI, you should be well aware that legally, I do not have to follow the order at this point." His attitude is getting to me. I have to try to control my anger after all he's just doing his job.

  "Still, wouldn't it be best to prepare for when the court makes its ruling?" said Agent Chane, between drinks of his coffee. "With the Supreme court's record of upholding executive orders don't you think that would be the best policy?"

  "No, I don't! It is not a given that the court is going to rule in the executive branch's favor. I will deal with it at that time, if they don't rule in our favor. I can see we are never going to agree on this, so are there any other questions you have?"

  "Yes, what is your relationship with a Space Development Holdings?" said Agent Chane. "Your company and others in the space industries seem to be members and frequently communicate with them!" Said Agent Chane with a frown as he talked.

  "Yes, my company is a member of Space Development Holdings. Over the last few years, they have provided us with valuable resources that have helped my company to develop our automated asteroid mining vehicles. Often they will facilitate agreements between companies that are beneficial to developing space. It has been a valuable tool for this company."

  Agent Chane, "So have you talked to them about what they are going to do? After all, once space is closed down, I wouldn't think that they'd have much to do after that."

  "SDH has not discussed that information with its members at this time," said Jackie, "but I do know they are one of the companies in the class-action suit." Fidgeting I wondered what he's trying to get at.

  "The Bureau has noticed that SDH and your company have a lot of encrypted voice and data communications. Why is that?" Agent Chane asked with a smirk. "Are you trying to hide something from us?"

  Jackie, "Yes, we are trying to hide something, but not specifically from the US government or the Bureau. SDH and my company deal with a lot of proprietary information and equipment. The encryption protects us from those who would steal what is legally ours or the company's that we communicate with."

  Agent Chang asked me again, "So what is your company going to do when the courts rule the executive order is legal?" Trying to badger me.

  "I will let you in on a little secret, that isn't a secret. It has been known for many decades that on the ocean floor, there forms what are known as nodules. These nodules often contain valuable metals. The problem has always been the lack of an efficient way to mine these nodules. Using technology that we developed for the automated mining vehicle, we intend on also mining the ocean for nodules. My company intends to make a profit through mining of metals and other materials regardless of whether they are on earth or in space."

  "I think that is all for now," said Agent Chane, as he stood up in preparation to leave. "I will be in touch if we need more information. Thank you for your time today".

  "Just contact my secretary if you need to, and she will fit you into my schedule." He is a smart one, we need to keep an eye on him. I better contact the others in the group and let them know to be wary of him. Well, this took longer than I expected and I do have work piling up.

  Agent Chane’s Office, FBI Headquarters, Washington DC

  "Mr. Chane," the secretary said over the phone, "you have an agent from the surveillance department here to see you."

  "Send him right in." I wonder if he has any information that I could use? The daily reports have not been very fruitful.

  As the door opened, I was surprised to see a young lady enter my office. She is holding out her hand.

  "Agent Chane, I am Agent Amber Brock from surveillance." Shaking my hand, she continued "your request has caused quite a stir in the department."

  "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you. Quite a stir you say?" Wondering exactly what she meant.

  Agent Brock, "When the department received your request, it was forwarded to me as a routine locater. I knew immediately that it was not routine when I saw the unable to locate cell tower location error. The GPS error only added to the unusual nature of the request. I don't mind saying, that it has got to be somewhat of a contest among us agents to solve the mystery."

  "That doesn't sound very promising. As I understand it, we should be able to get a location for any cell phone communicating through the cell phone network."

  "That's what is so disturbing. When Congress enacted the "Cell Phone Emergency Responders Legislation" all the cell phones were required to have caller ID, and GPS for 911 calls installed. It should be impossible to be getting these particular errors," commented Agent Brock.

  "Could it be a bootleg or maybe an old cell phone system?" amazing, it sounds like the technicians don't know what to think. There has to be something we are missing.

  Agent Brock, "We know it's not a bootleg or old cell system because the cell signals are using current encoding. I don't think anyone could create a bootleg system that would have all that encoding and besides the old cell systems used a different encoding. It has got us stumped. We did find out one thing, and that was that JJ's cell phone was forwarded to another unregistered cell phone number, but that also hit a dead end. So the reason, I came by today was to see if you had any further information that may help us out."

  After thinking for a moment, "Afraid there's nothing I can think of that would help. We have been unable to locate JJ and did not show any activity on any of her accounts, but I do not see how that would be germane to this issue. I do know, she had been in contact with at least one of the space companies. Do you think that might have anything to do with it?"

  "I'll make a note of those items, but it may not help to solve the mystery. If you don't mind, I'll be getting back to work now." Commented Brock as she prepared to leave.

  "Please keep me informed of any progress you make. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Brock." Damn, that sure didn't provide any answers. Regardless of what the techs are saying, it feels like the answer is just out of my reach.

  Space Command Center, Lagrange 5

  "Welcome to the Space Colony Command Center, Theodore," said Jim holding out his hand. "Ben, and I have wanted to get you up here for some time. While I am not a construction engineer, I found your technology for constructing the habitat spheres quite interesting."

&nb
sp; "Call me Theo, Jim. I have always been a minimalist in my designs and one day it occurred to me that a bubble or sphere is the ultimate in minimalism. Anyway, when will we be ready to start construction of the first 200 foot sphere?"

  "We just started the final setup of the construction framework. It should be just a few more minutes, and it will be stabilized," said Jim, "I must say that it is exciting to be constructing such a large structure in space so quickly."

  "When Ben asked me to consider doing this project, I did a lot of Internet research and came across two references. One was regarding the use of large inflatable balloons to reflect radio waves in the 1950s, and balloons to deploy solar cell arrays on satellites. The cost and time of constructing a traditional steel girder frame for the construction frame was just too costly and time-consuming."

  Jim, "I have been looking forward to this the last few weeks. I see the telemetry indicates the construction framework is inflated and stable. Technician if everything is ready, I am turning the construction over to Theo now."

  "I have wanted to do this for quite a while so let's get on with it. I see the material extractor is already connected to the construction frame. Please verify the temperature of the material and the extractor pressure."

  Technician, "Material temperature 270° and climbing. The extruder pressure is at 100 foot-pounds and steady."

  "Please advise me when we reach 450°."

  Technician, "We are currently at 405°. Coming up on 450° and stabilizing."

  "Okay, once we start the inflation of the sphere we are going to have to maintain the 100 foot-pounds of pressure to keep it inflating before it cools off and solidifies. While I designed the system to automatically maintain the pressure it has never been done in this environment, or on this scale before. Initial the expansion sequence on my mark. Mark."

  Watching through the view port, I could see a bubble of sparkling material expanding rapidly. The beauty of it took my breath away. As I watched the vision faded away and I wondered what was happening.