Chapter 68

Amy managed to get several cups of coffee into Bill before the beating sound of a rotor was heard.

“If you’ll just get them started ... I’ll be along shortly.” Bill now managed to say to Kevin.

“Springs back real quick. We might have a real trooper here.” Theresa chuckled.

“Okay, Amy, Alice and Andrea. Grab your study stuff and head on down. I’ll be down shortly. Ah ... You too Theresa.” John said.

They nodded. Theresa waylaid Kevin long enough to let him know he’d be missed, then herded the girls downstairs.

“Quite an interesting 24 hours.” Bill mused, looking at his last half cup of coffee.

“How do you think I feel. I’ve been at this sort of thing for a year now.” John chuckled.

“You’re a credit to the human race ... males in particular.” Bill toasted him with his coffee.

He downed it and then managed to stand up.

“You ain’t so bad yourself.” John toasted back.

John opened the kitchen hatch and they made their way to the surface. Bill was all business now.

It appeared Kevin had them deployed. One armed solder in each corner of the compound. The others he had split into work teams. He was directing one team to the winch when Bill and John showed up.

Bill showed his credentials. And the officer showed him his. Bill checked them closely.

“Who is this man?” an officer asked of John.

Bill retrieved John’s and Kevin’s clearance papers from his briefcase. The officer nodded and then asked for orders.

Two armed men were placed on station at the entry to the Com room.

Bill directed a squad to the elevator, with directions for a second to follow them down to the fourth level. None of the men missed the halter tops and shorts hanging in the entryway as they passed by.

Bill had the squad wait while he opened the access. Then he directed the first squad back to the launch room. Having them wait in the corridor while he worked the lock. Then they were all business as they began to disconnect the double launch console.

Bill led the second squad by the armory. He entered and directed them what, and what not to take. Assigning a squad leader to keep an inventory of each.

For the next two hours, the squads were all business.

A furniture dolly John retrieved made the task of moving the consoles intact much easier. One armed solder stood keeping the large cement door open. Sensors read his presence.

The winch served well, but one solder had to stand on each level and guide the consoles through. The Pantry, kitchen and Library were quite an enigma. The workshop, every man’s dream.

When the first unit was hoisted to the Utility area, boards were placed under it and it was tarped tightly. The munitions were already loaded.

The helicopter lifted and dropped a cable through the open launch door. Kevin guided topside operations. Keeping an eye on the windsock and a dozen other things. It was winched up to cargo height, and then the bird tipped and departed. A few minutes latter, a second one set down on the open launch roof after lowering a crate into the Utility area. Several solders set about opening the crate and moving the contents to the Com room.

The second console was removed and lifted, then tarped as the first and hoisted by the second helicopter. It also tipped and departed. A third machine set down a short time later.

Bill’s aide stepped out and was met by Kevin.

He inquired about Bill’s whereabouts.

Kevin directed him to wait just inside the entryway as Bill was about through.

The aid flushed, but waited.

He stood looking at the halter tops and shorts.

Bill came up, herding the solders out. He carried One lock box from a safe. The officer, keeping distant, carried the second. Armed solders separated them.

Bill’s aid saluted. Bill returned it and his aide handed him a sealed envelope and a box. Bill signed for receipt.

Bill stepped well aside and the officer directed the squads out into the first helicopter.

“We need two more secure independent carriers.” Bill called to him.

The officer nodded.

The troops boarded the third chopper along with the officer, keeping his lock box close to him.

It lifted and was gone, save ten armed guards. Four outer perimeter, four inner and two on Bill, who casually waited.

Ten minutes passed and another helicopter came in to set down. Another officer stepped out. Bill met him and they each checked each other’s credentials. Then Bill passed the lock box to his custody. He accepted it and immediately boarded and lifted off. Five minutes later another chopper set down. Another officer stepped out. He carried an aluminum case. Credentials were exchanged once more.

Bill moved with John to the Com room and John opened his safe, handing the encryptor to Bill, who transferred custody to the officer, who locked it in the case and set the safety’s. Then he moved back to the bird. The two guards keeping station around him.

Howdy conversed with his aid and dismissed him. He boarded the helicopter.

The two guards held close perimeter while he boarded, then stayed on station while first the outer perimeter boarded and then the inner. The two then backed into the helicopter and it lifted, turned and left.

A deafening silence settled over the silo.

“Fuck! I’m glad that’s over with.” John said.

“I’ll be glad when I receive notice that they’re all separately secure.” Howdy said, soberly.

The soldiers had been nice enough to close the hatches after the second console was lifted. John checked them all just in case. Kevin tagged along.

“Incredible efficiency for military ... god did you see their insignia?” he asked John.

“Special forces. Nice deploy job you did.” John said, simply.

“Fuck. It wasn’t me. Those four were out of the bird and into the corners before I could blink. Then I was basically guarded until you and Bill showed up.” Kevin said.

“Well, if you think about what they were transporting. It was done almost correctly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had fully armed air cover we weren’t aware of.” John said.

“Almost?” Kevin asked.

“I’m surprised that they didn’t secure the entire silo, scaring the piss out of our little lovelies in the process.” John chuckled.

“They were told that below four was off limits. The soldiers on each floor served double duty, guiding the consoles up and making sure nobody came up the elevator or stairs. I heard Bill tell the first Captain.” Kevin said.

“Oh ... then it was all done correctly.” John said.

“You seem to know a lot about the military.” Kevin said.

“Just how many days it took me to get out.” John said.

“Don’t go making me sorry I re-upped.” Kevin chuckled.

They rejoined Howdy in the Com room. John eyed the new addition to his Com room.

“A real secure safe for your plans and papers.” Howdy said from his laptop.

John noticed his surveillance program on the screen of his computer.

Howdy glanced at him.

“Couldn’t resist, could you?” he chuckled.

“A bit of silo history.” John admitted.

“I trust the tape will be secured along with the plans?” Howdy asked.

John nodded.

“I shouldn’t let you keep it. But ... I never saw this.” Howdy said, nodding to John’s computer.

“What’s that?” Kevin asked.

“Proof of our performance.” Howdy chuckled.

“I don’t understand.” Kevin admitted.

“You know when you mused earlier, about having a video of my dazed state? John could probably supply you with one.” Howdy said, still chuckling.

“We’re under surveillance?” Kevin asked.

“The silo is. I’ve never watched them. Invasion of privacy. But a hell of a legacy for the girls when I’m gone.” John said.

“I guess I don’t mind ... if you’ve never watched them.” Kevin said.

“Kevin. Theresa’s lived with me for over a year. Whatever you did, I have no interest in. My only concern is her happiness. If you were stupid enough to mess that up, then you would discover a very unpleasant side to me.” John said.

“I can understand that.” Kevin said.

“Good.” John said, “Enough said then.”

“John, would you call the triplets up? Their clearances finally came through.” Howdy said.

“Jesus, you’re kidding. My first one took almost a year.” John said.

“Rank hath its privilege. Besides, an order coming down gets processed a whole shit load faster than a request coming up.” Howdy said, “Add to that the fact that they were already resident on the project. and well ... you get the idea.”

“Yeah.” John nodded.

He called the triplets up.

“May as well call them all up and brief them, and show them your new addition.” Howdy said.

John returned to the intercom and called a general meeting in the Com room.

The girls straggled in.

“I thought you were going to keep us company.” Alice moped.

“I was having too much fun watching.” John chuckled, hugging her.

She snuggled to him. He moved back onto the triple chaise and the other two triplets joined him.

“Sounded like a regular war up here.” Cindy said.

“Well now you all get to know what all the fuss was about. Just as soon as the triplets sign these.” Howdy said, handing the girls a sheaf of papers.

“What’s this?” Andrea asked.

“Your Top Secret clearance.” John told her.

“Top Secret!?” the girls cried in unison.

“Yes dears, read the pages and then sign them.” John said.

The girls sat back and tried to fathom the wording.

John helped them.

“What this says, is that if you tell anybody you shouldn’t —which is just about everybody not here now— anything about what were going to tell you, then the government can put you in jail for a long, long time.” John explained.

“We wouldn’t tell!” they said, again in unison.

“I know you wouldn’t. Just go ahead and sign them. I did and so did the other women.” John said.

The three of them signed. They handed them back to Howdy.

“Okay folks. All the hubbub that just occurred, was because the government left a few things it shouldn’t have when it sold the silo. John was unaware of this fact. He was also unaware of the place where they were, which was a hidden bunker off the silo on level four. Now that those things are gone, he can use the bunker any way he sees fit. Except giving public tours through it. We’d appreciate ... you’re not revealing the bunker to outside parties. That translates to It’s a National Security Secret!! We have other silo’s which are still active that have similar facilities. That’s why we don’t want anybody else to know about it.

But the reason for your security clearances, is mainly because of a wonderful idea John had. He figured, with some of your peoples help, that the Russians were spying on the silo. They probably think that it is a secret underground research lab. We’d like them to keep thinking that. The main reason is that it makes the Russians ... and any other foreign nation who takes an interest, use manpower to keep track or your comings and goings. This manpower otherwise could be directed at area’s that we really don’t want them to know about.

In exchange, the government has granted John title to a large area of land around the silo. He’s going to use his own funds to build a housing community on this land that will be directed at helping the homeless. That’s his business. Ours, is keeping national security.

Kevin is assigned as your Liaison officer. That means, that anything having to do with the silo and the community John builds, will be reported to me by him.

John, you asked that there be no government interference in your lives. Kevin was the best I could think of that would give us a communications channel, while being as inoffensive as possible. If you can find him a cot —I know where twenty are— then he will try to stay out of everybody’s way. He’s not here to spy. In fact his presence will help considerably with the deception. That’s why you’ve had a government helicopter assigned to you as well.

If you use it to transport yourselves to the airport, then the Russians will stay interested in whoever is flying.

This means a little loss of freedom on your parts. Whenever you go to another city, or even just into town. You will undoubtedly be tailed. Don’t worry about it. Those folks are there to watch you, not harm you. In fact they will probably make it safer for you at times. Russian agents have been known to come to the aid of diplomats they were tailing, being mugged in New York. This should especially be of interest to you, John. With Sally being tailed now in New York, and Sheila and now Mae and Candice in San Francisco.

This is a great service you are performing for your country. You will save the government millions of dollars. And you just might save a few real secrets that could conceivably affect the whole world’s security and the lives of millions of people.

None of you is being forced to participate in this project. With the papers I have brought with me, You are all certified free adults.

If you do not wish to participate in this project, then the government will gladly help any of you establish yourselves elsewhere.

John has chosen to participate in this project. I hope you all will. But you should know, just by being here, you will essentially participate. The Russians will take an interest in you wherever you go, or what ever you do.

In some ways this will be a direct invasion of your privacy. If you sunbathe nude in the solarium, then it’s quite possible ... and even likely that you’re going to be observed by a spy satellite. If you kiss each other on the surface, or in an airport, you will be observed. Your privacy inside the silo should be secure enough. It’s doubtful that an agent would try to approach the silo.

However, you may be approached for information outside the silo. If you are, tell Kevin or John. If you meet someone who is overly curious about what you do, tell John or Kevin.

What you can answer to these people, is exactly what you are doing. Not about the project, of course. But about your actual business. If you girls are out opening a new fashion salon, say so, if you want.

I also have Security clearances for Mae, Judy, Sally, Candice and Jean, Sally’s girlfriend. We’d appreciate it if Sheila goes to San Francisco to get them to sign them, and then brief them. Let us know if they don’t want to be involved. The same goes for Sally and Jean. It would help if John could go to New York and do the same with them. Otherwise, I’ll go myself.

But the less I have to do with this project, the better. The Russians aren’t stupid. They know my job is counter- espionage. My presence here now, is okay. It lends credence to the project. Too much of my presence will arouse their suspicion that it’s a ruse.

Sorry, girls. I truly wish I could see more of you. But I might live longer if I don’t.

Well, that’s about it.

Questions?” Howdy concluded.

With this briefing the magnitude of what they were doing settled on everybody.

“So if we want to leave here, you’ll help us get set up elsewhere, but if we stay we can go on living the way we do?” Andrea asked.

“That’s correct.” Howdy replied.

“Then I’m staying.” Andrea said.

“Me too.” Alice said.

“Ditto.” Amy said.

“Count me in. I’m here for the duration.” Cindy said.

“This is my home and my country.” Sheila said.

“I’ll be going off to school, but you best believe I’ll be here often enough to keep them interested in me ... The Russians and the people here.” Theresa said.

“Kevin?” Howdy asked.

“You’ve got my re-enlistment ... If John will have me?” Kevin asked.

“You are very welcome here. I guess that makes it unanimous. We’re all secret agents.

I’ll be glad to go to New York ... If Cindy will go with me.” John chuckled.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Cindy said, beaming at him.

“Right away? I’ve got a redesign to do.” John asked.

“As soon as possible.” Howdy asked.

“I can do some of it on my laptop ... If I live.” John said.

“I can get started on part of it, if you’ll tell me what you want to do.” Kevin offered.

“Thanks, Kevin. That would be great.” John said.

“He really is a first rate engineer. Graduated with honors. He joined the military because Détente dried up the market.” Howdy said.

John nodded.

Kevin looked at Howdy and then shrugged.

Howdy handed John his trick calculator, which would actually work as a calculator, and a list of notes. Then he put a sheaf of papers pertaining to the security into John’s new safe and then handed John the combination. He gave him the identification papers to put into his other safe. John did.

“Okay, who wants to see our new addition?” John asked.

They all raised their hands.

The girls giggled ecstatically when the wall opened up.

John bypassed the armory, but told them what was in it.

The girls marveled at all the food. The guys cringed.

Then all the girls were exploring the new kitchen.