BlackStar, page 10
When he went through on a yellow light he decided that he had enough time to throw them off his tail. He turned down the street to his house but instead of going straight, he immediately turned into an apartment complex. He shut off the lights and engine and ducked down in the seat. He watched with his eyes just above the dash board and within a few minutes, the SUV came down the street. He got out and watched down the street and saw that they were parking. He was sure he had lost them without doing anything reckless. He waited until they turned off their lights before he went back to his car and started it. He left his lights off as he drove to the exit and slowly went back in the opposite direction. He coasted to the corner, not wanting to touch his breaks in case the lights might attract their attention. He floored it, turning right and flicked on his lights.
He raced through the first two stop lights, watching to see if anyone was following him. He was clean from what he could tell. He headed to Beacon Street and located the house. He pulled into the garage and closed the door. The garage door was the old wooden kind that was balanced by spring tension and had no electronic opener. It groaned as he opened it. Once it was closed, he checked his watch. It was 8:15 p.m. well within the window that Lake had specified.
He walked to the end of the alley and stepped into the light, seconds later Lake’s Jeep pulled up and the door flew open.
“Get in,” Lake said and he hopped into the passenger seat. Lake sped away before he even had a chance to put on his seat belt.
“Nice job. No one followed you,” Lake said.
“How do you know?”
“Because I was following them. When they missed you leaving from the apartment complex I came here and waited to see if they had picked you up again. They didn’t, you’re home free,” he said.
“I’m not much on this whole spy thing. I see shadows everywhere,” Snapp told him.
“You might as well get used to it. What you have learned so far is enough to make them not want to let go. I will tell you plenty more tonight that will make you sleep even less at night,” Lake warned him.
“Sleep? What’s that? All I do is worry about those goons getting hold of me,” he said.
They rode in silence for several minutes. Snapp just watched out the window as Lake drove into the country.
“Where are we going?” he finally asked as they started to leave the city behind.
“To meet Dr. Dan Barnett.”
“So you know his last name and you contacted him?” Snapp asked surprised.
“I did. We have a lot in common. We thought it better to expose you to as much as we could with as few meetings as possible. You can’t be playing lose the tail on the donkey all the time. Besides the more you try to shake them, the more resources they will bring in,” Lake told him.
“Were not headed toward Dr. Barnett’s house,” Snapp pointed out.
“No. I have a safe place for us to meet and talk. You are going to have to just trust me on this for now,” Lake said.
He was silent again as they rode through the countryside. He decided they must be in Virginia judging from the scenery. Soon he saw a sign that said ‘Welcome to Fairfax, Va. He had been right in his assumption.
A few minutes later they pulled into a large gated driveway. The house that sat back off the road looked like an old plantation house. Four tall white columns, a circular hand-laid brick driveway and massive doors greeted them as they came in.
“Some hideout,” Snapp said, taking it all in.
“Unpretentious and modest. Nice little joint,” Lake replied chuckling.
“Yeah, I should have such an unpretentious place to call home” he said.
The semicircular foyer was huge with a large crystal chandelier. Dr. Barnett came out to greet them.
“Glad you could make it Mr. Snapp. Dr. Lake said you would lose them,” he said smiling and shaking George’s hand with his big beefy paw.
“Nice little place you have here,” Snapp said, looking around.
“I wish it were mine but it isn’t. We are just using it for the night. The owner believes in our cause,” Barnett told him.
“And which cause is that?”
“Why, letting the people of the United States of America know what their government is really up to. Telling the truth about what goes on in Area-51 and other Ultra Secret Projects that they have a right to know of,” Barnett said.
“A right to know about? What about the Government’s right to confidentiality? Don’t they have the right to protect the citizens of this country?” he asked.
“To some extent, yes. When it involves the development of special security needs, but there is a line between protection and cover-up. It may be thin but nevertheless it exists,” Barnett told him.
“And you are the person determining that line?”
“No Mr. Snapp. Actually, you will be that person” Barnett said smiling, “We intend to give you what we know to be true, what you do with it is strictly up to you. You will ultimately determine what will be divulged to the public in general and what will remain a secret.”
“I’m not sure I am qualified to determine such a course of action. I’m not about to spill my guts about our government's secrets if it would be considered treason or aiding our enemies.”
“Maybe not, but you can listen to what we have to say. Is there any harm in that? If you don’t like the information or feel it is detrimental to the nation, you can just walk away,” Barnett said.
“I just want you both to understand that I am not a sensationalist reporter. I love a good story as much as the next reporter but not at the expense of divulging my country's top military secrets.”
“That is reassuring to us as well. We have no intention of telling you about any projects other than the one we were directly involved in,” Lake interjected.
“Okay, just so we are clear on that. If we all understand each other then we can get down to business,” Snapp replied.
“I think we are all in agreement.” Barnett said, “Why don’t we make ourselves comfortable in the den.”
Barnett led them down a long hall covered with huge paintings. The den was lined with dark oak and had bookshelves reaching up to the twelve foot ceiling. A large fireplace with a marble facade and mantle dominated one wall. A couch, four leather chairs with bolstered arms, a massive desk, and a credenza were the main pieces of furniture. Everything in the room looked old and expensive. The only thing that seemed out of place was the latest computer screen on the desk.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
- Snapp, Lake, Barnett Meeting -
“Now,” Barnett said, once they were all seated, “why don’t you go first?”
“Certainly. George, you will have to bear with me for a few minutes. Most of the activity that is going on today at S–4 started back in 1948. It was after the discovery of the second spacecraft that everything went into high gear. Area-51 became the immediate focal point for attention. The military had handled the situation badly and everyone wanted to know about these flying saucers invading earth. Every movie theater had some movie about creatures from outer space. While just fictional, it caused people to question if it could be possible. President Truman wanted to know more about these alleged UFO sightings. He formed MJ–12, as they became to be known. Originally they were called the Majestic 12. Certain powers were passed down to the commander at Groom Lake and he was charged with reporting only to Truman.
For the past sixty years we have been working on trying to develop the technology to travel to distant planets. It all started with what was discovered at Roswell and other sites. A good deal of progress has been made. A few years ago they actually tried to test one of the aircraft. It was unstable and almost crashed. Eventually the two pilots were able to get it under control and land it without significant damage.
The anti-matter propulsion system seemed to be the main problem, not that learning how to control the device is going to be a piece of cake. They will have to have total control before they try to fold gravity. We are still a few years off by my estimate,” Lake said.
“And then we could travel to distant solar systems?” Snapp asked.
“In theory. Our first planet will probably be Cancri 55d. Usually referred to as Cnc 55. It is relatively close considering the ability to fold time.”
“I’ve never heard of this Cancri 55 before. Where is it?”
“It is located in the Cancer constellation. 55d is the fourth planet out from the sun and orbits every 14.7 years. It is huge, approximately 4.1 times the mass of Jupiter. Its solar system resembles our own,” Lake explained.
“And we are going to go there?”
“I don’t know for sure that we will, but it would be a logical choice. That’s where the ship from the Roswell and Aztec crashes came from. J is confirmation that life exists there,” Barnett added.
“Are you guys putting me on? You know for a fact that this alien, J, came from that place?”
“It is what he has indicated. We have no reason to doubt him,” Lake said.
“This all too unreal. Why doesn’t anyone know about this?” Snapp asked.
“Because the Government doesn’t want them to. They simply do not trust that the public is able to handle the truth. They fear that it would set off a general panic and rock the very foundation of the world as we know it. Think about it. Religion could be challenged, fear of the unknown would consume many and authority would be challenged. Who knows what would happen? People are very irrational when they are confronted with something as unknown, or more to the point, misunderstood as alien life,” Lake said.
“But we have a right to know about something like this,” Snapp insisted.
Barnett and Lake exchanged glances. While left unsaid, they knew they had the right person to tell their story.
“The government has the right to protect us as well, and therein lies the problem. How much to tell and when? The Government wants to be able to establish a working relationship with the alien race before going public with it. They want to be able to assure the public that we are still safe,” Barnett said.
Snapp looked at both of them like they had just dropped in from a distant planet themselves.
“George, look at the way you are reacting. You have had a chance to talk to both of us and do some research on your own. Think how the average citizen would react if the President of the United States came on the television and said, ‘Oh by the way, we have been working with aliens in a secret facility and can now travel to distant worlds’.
“So how are they going to break it to the public?”
“Like I said. First they will establish a relationship with the alien race, and slowly over several years, let it leak out that we are making contact with other beings. It will have to be done in very small bits and pieces,” Lake said.
“Hold it guys. Listen to yourselves. Are either of you married?”
“My wife died five years ago,” Barnett said.
“No, I’ve never been married,” Lake replied.
“Well, I am. I have a great wife and two super kids and this is frightening the hell out of me. You may have been dealing with this for years and have become used to it but the rest of us poor schmucks are going to react a lot differently,” Snapp said.
“Yes, you will. So will a vast majority of the people. That’s why it is critical that we start letting the public in on what has been going on,” Lake insisted.
“The government will deny it and others will try to disprove it, but…maybe, just maybe, some will start to question the government and start clamoring to know the truth.”
“You know as well as I do that anytime you bring up aliens or UFO’s people immediately label you as crazy,” Snapp said.
“True, but you have a good reputation for putting out hard news. No one has ever accused you of filing erroneous news stories or sensationalism. That is why you need to be the one who starts bringing this to the public’s attention. You can’t just go on the air and yell the sky is falling, but you could do a series of programs that get the public both interested, and prepared at the same time,” Lake said.
“Isn’t that the job of the government, not an investigative reporter? Hell, who knows what they would do if I started a series about aliens right here on earth. I could end up having one of those famous ‘accidents’ that you hear about.”
“You are absolutely right, George. We realize what a risk you would be taking. You’re certainly right to think that you would place yourself in danger. I came to you because I trusted you and felt you were the right person to get this story out to the public. Having said that, the last thing I want to do is to put you or your family at risk. Why don’t Dr. Barnett and I tell you a little more about what is going on at S–4? Then you can decide what action, if any, you want to take,” Lake suggested.
“Sure, that sounds reasonable. But keep in mind that my willingness to listen does not imply in any way, shape, or form that I will do a series on the information that you are about to give me,” Snapp said.
“Fair enough,” Lake said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
- THE WHITE HOUSE -
It was 1:00 a.m. and the President was still at his desk in the Oval Office. He had not been able to really focus on much of the material that had come across his desk ever since his meeting with General Devin. He was tipped back in his chair with his eyes closed when his wife, Megan, came in.
“Are you ever going to come to bed?” she asked.
“Sorry honey, I was just trying to get a handle on some unusual information that I came across,” he said, sitting up.
“Do you trust the source?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I have no reason not to but what they told me is so unbelievable that it is hard to comprehend. The implications are incredible.”
“Well, why don’t you do like you usually do when something seems either too good to be true, or too bad to be true? Take a firsthand look at it the information. Can that be done in this case?” she asked.
“Yes it can, but it will be tricky. I would have to do it in such a way that no one knew about it. If the press got wind of it, they would create an unstable situation for the government,” the President told her.
Goodness that sounds ominous. To shake the foundation of government takes something earth shattering. What happened, did someone find little green men from Mars running around on Earth?” she joked.
“That is closer to the truth that you may suspect,” he said, faking a laugh.
“I know this, the only way you will be satisfied is to see for yourself firsthand what this is all about. You are clever and tenacious and you will find some way to check this out, even if it means slipping away from your staff and the press. You will never be happy just taking a third party’s say so as proof. Instead of brooding, why don’t you put that big brain to work on figuring out how to see this mystery for yourself,” Megan said.
“Honey, you are right. I am spending time on the wrong things. I need to sit down and figure out how to get away for a few hours to see what all of this is about,” he replied.
“Good, now will you come to bed? It’s lonely up there in that big old room with no one to protect me,” she said.
“You've got two big Marines right outside the door,” he said.
“So, you think I should invite them in?”
“Don’t be a scamp. I’ll be right there,” he promised.
“You have ten minutes. After that you had better knock, especially if you don’t see two Marines outside the door,” she teased.
“Get,” was all he said.
He decided that he would call General Devin and let him know of his intentions. It would have to be closely guarded and coordinated for this to be pulled off. He had the switchboard ring the general.
“General Devin. This had better be damned important,” he said picking up the phone.
“I consider it to be,” the President replied.
“It had better be, who is this?”
“The President.”
A silence followed.
“Sorry Mr. President. I thought it might be one of my staff wanting to know if they should zip their fly after they take a leak,” the general said.
“That’s more than I need to know general,” he said.
“Sorry. What can I do for you Mr. President?
“I want to visit Area-51 or whatever you call it. I will need your help. This has to be accomplished in total secrecy. No one can get word of my visit,” he told the general.
“I totally agree, no one should know about this but do you think it is the proper time? Everyone watches what the President does during his first one hundred days in office. The timing might make this more difficult.”
“I understand your concern and I appreciate that but I need to see for myself just what it is that goes on out there. I have a responsibility to the people to know,” the President replied.
“Yes sir, I understand. What can I do to help?”
“Not a lot initially. That will be my problem. Once I get there I want as few as people to know about this as possible. No one that is not critical to my visit, if at all feasible. I don’t know enough about how your people operate to know if that can be done,” the President confessed.
“I will see to it that no one knows about your visit except the essential people. I will handle those details personally,” he assured the President.
“Excellent. I will get back to you with the date but I just wanted to give you a heads up,” he told the general.
“I appreciate that. Don’t worry Mr. President, I will take care of everything on this end.”
“Thank you general. I’ll be in touch,” the President said.
He hung up the phone and went up to meet his wife as promised.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
- Idaho Falls, Idaho -
The gloom hung like heavy woolen curtains permeating the entire room, overbearing and depressing. Even the sounds of the night seemed subdued. Eighteen men sat, each lost in thought.
