Chapter 23

“A convoy of Army vehicles pulled into our parking lot and stopped near Phil and me. An Army Colonel approached me and handed me a document.

He said, ‘Mister Conrad, I am Colonel Harold Johnsen and I have been instructed to serve this confiscation order on you. You will note that it is signed by the Prime Minister. The New Zealand Government has determined that your antigravity device is a matter of National Security. Your failure to provide adequate security for the device has resulted in the government’s decision to confiscate the device and all documentation pertaining to it.”

Colonel Johnsen motioned to his men directing them to seize the 747 model and the RC controllers. Turning back to me, he said, “And now, Sir, you will turn over the documentation package to me.”

“I replied with, ‘Colonel, I protest. The 747 and all documentation related to the antigravity device is the intellectual and commercial property of my company. I protest the confiscation of the device and its documentation.’

“Colonel Johnsen then said, ‘I can understand your feelings about this matter, Sir, but the laws governing National Security give us the right to confiscate personal and commercial property when it is a matter of National Security. Now where is the documentation?”

I recognized the futility of further resistance, and took the Colonel to my vault. On the way, I said to him, “Colonel, my antigravity device is an experimental device, and it is still undergoing testing. I have noticed that there are a number of peculiarities with the device. If it is handled improperly, it might be dangerous to anyone in its vicinity. Tell your people to not activate the device without my presence and oversight, and to not open my case of documentation for it is my company’s intellectual property and no one has the right to access that information.”

I told him that I would be in contact with my solicitors and I would have them file an action to have my property returned. I said, “I strongly advise you and the government’s representatives to do nothing in regard to my device and documentation until you have heard from my solicitor. I have taken steps to ensure my documentation will not fall into the wrong hands, and your scientists will not like the results of opening this case.”

Then I handed the documentation case to Colonel Johnsen and as I escorted him out of the building, he said, “Don’t worry, Mister Conrad. The government has a number of very qualified scientists who will take good care of your device and documents.”

As the Colonel was preparing to board his vehicle, and within hearing of the soldiers who accompanied him, I said, “Colonel Johnsen, I want to say one last thing to you. Be sure that you inform your scientists that the device is potentially dangerous and they should not activate it. You should also tell them to contact me if they want to activate the device, or access the contents of the document case. If they fail to do so, the results may be disastrous.”

Once the Colonel had driven away, I immediately called Paul and Sally to inform them of what happened. Paul told me to come to his office. When I got there, he had me prepare and sign a statement attesting to what happened. While I was doing that, he and Sally started preparing the paperwork to file for the return of my property. They told me they would file the paperwork with the court as soon as it opened in the morning.

Before I left, Paul informed me that the Colonel was correct about the emergency powers allowing the government to seize my property. He told me the only hope I had of having it returned to me was for us to prove that the device is not a risk to the security of New Zealand. Paul went on to say that from what little he knew of the device’s potential, he suspected that we would have a difficult time proving that there is no risk to National Security and that he doubted that I would ever see my device and documentation again.

Ward said, “That was what led up to my taking legal action against the government.”

Frank and I looked at each other, and then Frank said what we were both thinking, “That is an interesting story, Ward, but it doesn’t explain why the Army arrested you.”

“I told you guys about the deactivation circuit that I built into my device? That is a secret between the three of us. I did not want anyone to have that technology until I was certain that it was safe. I suspected that either someone would steal my device or eventually the government would confiscate my device. You may not recall, but I mentioned that I also treated my documentation with a chemical that will destroy the documents when they are exposed to oxygen.

“I suspected that the scientists Colonel Johnsen mentioned would want to review my documents and would also want to activate my device. The document case was airtight and filled with nitrogen. If they opened the case, oxygen would get in and the documents would ignite and burn at a very high temperature. When they activate the antigravity device, I would not be there to send the deactivation signal. I know the device will destroy itself if it does not receive the signal, but I didn’t know enough to predict what would happen.

“When the device and documents were destroyed, Colonel Johnsen and his superiors would be very angry, and I thought they would take their anger out on me. The logical assumption was that his superiors would have me arrested.”

Frank said, “That sounds logical to me, Ward. Senior officers in the military are rarely happy men when their plans are thwarted. Protecting your invention the way you did would definitely thwart their plans.”

I asked, “When you filled out your statement, Ward, did you document the warnings you gave Colonel Johnsen about not letting the scientists fool with the device and document case?”

“Yes, I made sure that I put all of those warnings in my statement, Jim. I suspected that those warnings are the only things that will keep me out of a military prison, assuming of course that I get a trial.

“The next day, a detachment of Military Police arrived at my company to take me into custody. I asked the Captain, ‘What am I being charged with, Captain?’

“I am not aware of the specific charges that will be brought against you, Mister Conrad. The only thing Brigadier Purdy told me was to come here, take you into custody, and to take you to our hanger at Whenuapai Air Base. He said he would make the specific charges known to you at a later time.”

As they were taking Ward outside, he called out to the receptionist who had overheard most of the discussion, “Call my solicitors and tell them that I have been arrested and am being taken to Whenuapai Air Base.”

While Ward was transported to Whenuapai Air Base, the receptionist contacted his secretary, who then called Paul and Sally.

“Hello, this is Sally Martin. Yes ... Yes ... Yes ... Thank you very much, Paul and I will take care of it right away. Goodbye.

“Paul, that was Ward’s secretary. The Military Police arrived at his company and arrested him. They are taking him to Whenuapai Air Base.”

“Damn, that is not good news. We need to get there as soon as we can and find out what is going on. If you will make a copy of Ward’s statement and the paperwork we filed yesterday, I’ll let Frank and Jim know what has happened. They will probably want to come with us.”

Paul reached for his phone and punched in a number.

“Good afternoon, Frank Toliver speaking.”

“Frank, this is Paul. We just got a call informing us that the military arrested Ward. Sally and I are going to Whenuapai Air Base to see what we can do to get him released. Do you and Jim want to come with us?”

“Yes, we would both like to go, Paul, but under the circumstances, it might be best if we don’t get involved. When Ward told us about the possibility of being arrested, he also told us to stay out of it, and to let you and Sally handle it.”

When Paul and Sally arrived at Whenuapai Air Base, they began their effort to locate Ward. They didn’t have much success until they talked to Flight Lieutenant Booker Templeton.

“Look, Lieutenant,” Sally said, “my husband and I are Mister Conrad’s solicitors. This morning a group of Military Police arrested him and said they were bringing him here. We have been sent to several people here at the air base trying to locate our client. So far, we haven’t found him, and we are tired of the runaround we have been given since we arrived here and we want to speak with our client now.”

“I’m sorry, Missus Martin, but my records do not show that Mister Conrad is in our custody. Tell me what happened to your client. Maybe it might help me locate him.”

“All right, I will. Two days ago, an Army Colonel by the name of Johnsen arrived at our client’s company and confiscated some of his property. Yesterday morning, we filed paperwork with the court to have his property returned to him. Earlier this morning, a unit of the Army’s Military Police arrested our client, they said they were bringing him here, and supposed to deliver him to a Brigadier Purdy.”

“I see. Wait here a few minutes, I think I may know what happened to your client, but I need to speak with my commander, Squadron Leader Koll.”

About ten minutes later, the Flight Lieutenant returned with a RNZAF Squadron Leader, who said, “Good afternoon, Mister and Missus Martin, I am Squadron Leader Stanley Koll. The Lieutenant has explained your problem to me, and I think I know where your client, Mister Conrad, is. If I’m correct, the Air Commodore commanding this Air Base is going to be very upset. I need to call the Commodore and explain matters to him before I do anything else. Lieutenant, please get Mister and Missus Martin a cup of tea, while I call Commodore Cuthbert.”

“If you would care to take a seat,” the Lieutenant said to us, “I’ll get you mugs of tea. How do you take it?”

When Squadron Leader Koll left the office, the door did not fully close. Paul and Sally heard his side of the conversation with Commodore Cuthbert.

“Squadron Leader Koll here, Commodore Cuthbert. I’m sorry to disturb you, Sir, but we have a problem. You recall that Army Brigadier who requisitioned one of our hangers for a Secret project several weeks ago?

“ ... Well, I have two solicitors in my reception area that have told my Lieutenant that the Army arrested a civilian, a Mister Conrad, and brought him here. I suspect Brigadier Purdy has a unit of Military Police with him for security, and he ordered them to arrest Mister Conrad, and to return him to Brigadier Purdy. I’m guessing that he is being held at the hanger the Brigadier requisitioned. The solicitors want to speak with their client and they are looking for him. They have already mentioned going to the media, if we continue to hold him incommunicado.”

“ ... Yes, Sir, I’ll have the Martins in your office in about fifteen minutes.”

Returning to Paul and Sally, the Squadron Leader said, “Mister and Missus Martin, I called the base commander, Air Commodore William Cuthbert, and I believe that your Mister Conrad may be in the custody of Brigadier Purdy. Commodore Cuthbert is sending word to Brigadier Purdy to appear in his office immediately, along with Mister Conrad. He has instructed me to escort the two of you to his office. If you are ready, we can leave now.”

Ten minutes later, Squadron Leader Koll introduced Paul and Sally to Air Commodore Cuthbert, who asked them to be seated.

Turning to Paul, the Commodore said, “Squadron Leader Koll has provided me with an overview of the situation. Would you and your wife mind explaining the entire situation to me, so I will be in a better position to understand what has happened?”

Sally opened her briefcase to get the copy of the papers they filed, while Paul said, “We would be happy to explain things to you, Commodore.

“Several months ago, our client announced that he had a working model of an antigravity device. Two days ago, Colonel Johnsen served a confiscation warrant on our client, and earlier this morning our client was arrested by the Army. This packet is a copy of the paperwork Sally and I filed yesterday morning with the court. If you care to read it, you will find our client’s statements regarding Colonel Johnsen’s confiscation of his antigravity device and its documentation.”

Taking the packet of papers, Commodore Cuthbert reads them and then says, “I think I can understand why the government confiscated the device and documents, but this doesn’t explain why the Army arrested your client. Do you have any idea why they took this action?”

Paul said, “No, Sir. The only thing we have been able to think of is this Brigadier Purdy is responding to our filing paperwork with the court, but we doubt that it would come to his attention this quickly and arresting our client is not an appropriate action in response to our filing the papers.”

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, and the Commodore’s receptionist says, “Commodore, your adjutant is on line 2.”

The Commodore picked up his phone, and Paul and Sally heard him say, “What’s going on, Captain. Why aren’t Brigadier Purdy and Mister Conrad in my office?

“ ... What do you mean that Brigadier Purdy says that he is too busy? Put him on the phone now.

“Brigadier Purdy, I have two very angry solicitors sitting in my office right now. If they do not get the opportunity to speak with their client, Mister Conrad, they will convene a press conference after they leave my office.

“ ... Listen to me very closely, Brigadier Purdy. Minister of Defence Albright may have sent you here to conduct a mission that you did not brief me on, but the solicitors have filled me in on their client’s activities and the confiscation of his antigravity device and documentation. From what I know of the situation, if they go to the press, your career will be in the toilet, along with that of Minister Albright. Although, I suspect Minister Albright will throw you under the bus to save his own career. Do you understand me, Purdy?”

“ ... Brigadier Purdy, at the moment, I do not care how many people were killed in that explosion. You and Mister Conrad will be in my office in fifteen minutes or I will place a telephone call and explain matters to Minister Albright. When I finish talking with him, I will personally escort the Martins to their press conference and confirm what they tell the papers about your actions. The New Zealand Air Force is not going to accept the blame for an Army operation that went bad. Be in my office, Brigadier, with Mister Conrad, or else.

“ ... Good, I’ll see you then.”

Hanging up the phone, the Commodore says, “When Brigadier Purdy arrives, I want the two of you to remain seated and silent. Brigadier Purdy informed me that Mister Conrad’s device exploded and killed five people. I want to hear what he and Mister Conrad have to say without your influencing them. Do you understand and will you comply with my request?”

Sally said, “Yes, Sir, we understand and will comply. However, at some point we will want to confer with our client. Did you note in our client’s statement that he informed the Colonel who confiscated his device that it was potentially dangerous and to not activate it or inspect his documents without him being there.”

“That should not be a problem. Based on what the Brigadier said and what I read in that packet, there is a strong possibility that your client will be returning home with you today.”

A mug of tea and ten minutes later, the receptionist shows Brigadier Purdy and Ward into Air Commodore Cuthbert’s office. After introductions, Air Commodore Cuthbert says, “Thank you for coming here, Brigadier Purdy. The Martins have given me an insight into what your mission is, but I would appreciate it if you will explain to me what the Army has been doing on my Air Base since you arrived. In particular, I want to know why you decided to arrest Mister Conrad.”