Chapter 71

“Great,” Hawk responded to Sean Sullivan’s enthusiastic desire to take on the government, “because your demonstration and Marsha’s new computer have given me several important ideas. To develop them further I need some input from you.”

“Ask away. I guess I just moved my status from employee to fellow conspirator.”

“Yes, you did. But before you get the wrong idea, I don’t plan on destroying the US Government, or attacking this country or its people. I just want to shake things up and restore sanity and integrity. I also want to expose and remedy the harsh and unjust treatment of our people, which includes all the Indian tribes, not just the Apache.”

“Hawk, after what I’ve been through, I’d accept the extreme. At the same time, this clarification encourages me, in that we’ve realistic objectives. Don’t worry, I’ll do my part.”

“Good, because I’ve a feeling you’re going to play a major role over the next few years. Now, my first topic is that little device you used to simulate a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. I need to know how small it could be, as well as its range.”

“Well, range is affected by several factors beyond the amount of power available. For example, the more narrow the beam, the greater the distance or the lower the power needed for it to operate successfully.”

“Could it be made as small as a Cross pen?” asked a hopeful Hawk.

Sean leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. You could almost see and hear his mind working. Finally, after three or four minutes of thought the young man replied, “I think it could be done, but it’d be very limited. It’d have a beam of less than two feet and a range of less than twenty-five feet. It’d also be a single shot item, as the power source couldn’t be included, forcing us to charge and store the needed power in a bank of capacitors.”

Seeing the puzzlement on Hawks face Sean added, “It’d be similar in concept to the flash units in a camera - especially those that used to be mounted on a ‘hot shoe’ at the top of a SLR camera. When you turned them on there was a high pitched whining sound for a few moments while the capacitors were charged, and that was repeated immediately after each time the flash was used. The actual batteries weren’t sufficient to operate the flash, but a much higher charge was accumulated in the capacitors. When the flash was finally triggered all of the current was released in a single instant.”

“OK, I’m following your idea. So, the capacitors would have to be charged from an external source, and that’s why it would be a single shot device. How elaborate would that storage device have to be?”

“Using something like watch batteries it could easily be built into a briefcase, or one of those portfolios used with a letter-sized legal pad.”

“Slip the pen into a slot and it charges. Take it out and it’s ready to fire.”

“Exactly.”

“Then I need you to work on this quickly, but don’t sacrifice the important projects needed by others in the lab. If there’s a conflict, come to me for direction. I’ll make sure Fred and Mark are aware you’re working on some things for me as well as their projects. This way neither will feel like you’ve gone behind their back on something. Oh, and if possible, find a way to allow the pen to have enough of a point and ink to at least write a couple of pages of notes.”

“Thanks for covering me with Fred, and though it’ll add to the challenge, I’ll come up with some way to make this work, though we might have to use something slightly larger than a Cross pen.”

“I can live with that,” replied Hawk. He then added, “Now, what would it take to generate a beam a hundred and fifty to two hundred feet wide from a distance of three to five hundred yards?”

“That project would be even easier. Using three or four laptop batteries in series the rest of the device would be somewhat smaller than a box thirty centimeters to each side.”

“Could it be constructed so the main part would be about the size of a thirty-five mm SLR camera?”

Again, the wheels in Sean’s head seemed to be turning - at a very rapid rate. Finally Sean answered, “I’d take a bit of work, but your ‘magic’ wire could make it possible. In fact, much of the electronics and the batteries could be built to fit in a standard camera bag. We could use a wire running up one of the legs of a tripod with a connector on each end, one for the bag and the other for the emitter at the top. In fact, the emitter could be built inside a gutted camera frame.”

“Sean, that sounds excellent, and it fits perfectly into my emerging plans. What kind of time frame will you need?”

“I could probably have a rough prototype for testing by tomorrow afternoon. How many actual devices do you want to create?”

“My guess would be six, though having a few extras wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“If I can get someone to purchase some older manual SLR cameras I can easily gut, then I could probably make as many as twelve within the next two weeks. I might need some help assembling them and rigging the tripods, but that shouldn’t be hard. It’s not too technical, just time consuming.”

“Then, to keep knowledge of this device compartmentalized, Brenda, Maria, and I can help with the labor. As for the rest, if you need help building the actual units, get whatever help you need, as long as no one has any idea of what they’re building.”

“What about using some engineering students from the University?” asked Sean.

“Just don’t get someone so bright he can deduce what he’s building.”

“I’ll be careful, but I don’t see it as a problem. This is just a simple, experimental circuit board that won’t mean much until it’s linked with the final output device, which has such a simple design I can make all of them myself, even in this compressed time frame. Can I ask what you’re considering?”

“Since it’ll be obvious once it happens, I plan to make everything in one of the government buildings in Washington go dead at the exact same moment.”

“Kewl!” replied a grinning Sean. You could tell his excitement with the idea from the gleam in his eye.

“I’m glad you approve. I don’t know how quickly we’ll do it, because I want to get a form of Marsha’s computer into production first.”

“Ah, so in response they will jump to buy computers from us?”

“Precisely, and what better way to get a new computer company off the ground than having them replace all the PCs in the Federal Government?”

“Oh shit!” exclaimed Sean. “There goes the neighborhood, just when I was getting used to the casual atmosphere around here.”

“Don’t worry, Sean. Here we won’t be building anything more than prototypes. The actual production will be done elsewhere. Besides, I’ve the feeling we’ll be shipping these new computers by the trainload, and we don’t have the facilities here for something like that.”

“Hawk, Maria, please don’t misunderstand my feelings. I want to see this company and your family succeed beyond all expectations. At the same time, this research operation is a wonderful place to work, and I’d hate to see that change because we got a lot bigger overnight.”

Maria smiled, and said, “Sean, we feel the same way. Remember, this company isn’t just about profits, but also about improving lives. That’s why, no matter how tempting it might get, I don’t see us ever taking the company public.”

“I agree,” Hawk added for emphasis.

You could see the excitement and eagerness in Sean’s eyes, as he stood and said, “Thank you both for the support and the opportunity. I need to immediately get started on this.”

Maria stood and started to leave with Sean, but Hawk stopped her, saying, “Maria, I need you to see if Dan is free. If so, I’d like him to join my meeting with Marsha. Also, would you please pass on to Fred and Mark about Sean needing to occasionally bypass them on scheduling, due to some of the projects I’ve got him working on.”

“Sure, I’ll get right on it.”

“Oh, would you also find out if Jason is going to be here this weekend. I really would like him to be a part of a planning meeting.”

“I know Andy won’t be going back to DC until after the baby is born, so it’s very likely he’ll be coming home sometime Friday. I’ll call his office and see what I can find out. Do you want me to have Brenda and Marsha go ahead and join you?”

“Yes, Chipmunk, I’d appreciate it.”

Jason sat in his office and tried to list out the things he needed to accomplish. As Madeline had said earlier, he’d a full schedule. Well, one could be taken care of quickly. He speed dialed a number on his encrypted cell phone.

“Good morning, White Mountain Security. This is Denise, how can I help you?”

“Hi, Denise, this is Longbow.”

“How are things in DC, and how is Andy doing?”

“As for here, at least no one’s blown the place up - yet. Andy’s doing well, except for the fact the doctor is making her stay in Phoenix for the duration. And that’s the reason for my call; I need a team here to protect and take care of our house in Virginia until she can return. I think I’m going to stay in a nearby hotel for the next few days.”

“Longbow, I don’t have a team free at the moment. I had to pull individuals off several teams to form a new one this morning to protect Deke Templeton’s family.”

“What’s going on there?” asked a concerned Jason.

“There’s a child missing in their neighborhood, and her bicycle was found in Deke’s driveway this morning.”

“Then, I’m glad he called us. How about this, can you find me a couple from the reservation who know horses, as well as being able to do general cleaning and maintenance? I can probably use some local security, at least for the time being. As for the couple, tell them this could turn into a full time job.”

“I’m sure I can. I’ll call you back. Would it help if the female can cook and help Andy take care of the baby?”

“That would be perfect, but I’m going to be too busy the rest of the day for you to call me back. Instead, if you can find a couple you’re happy with, get them on a plane to DC as quickly as possible. Also, as soon as you have details get with my secretary about having someone pick them up at the airport.”

“Can do, Boss. Now, get back to running this country. You can’t imagine how much better I feel about our government with you there.”

Jason ended the call and looked at his watch. He was going to have to hurry to make his committee meeting. He started out, stopping only long enough to ask, “Madeline, there’s a person in San Diego I need to talk to. His name is Joel Cameron, and he’s the head of Coronado Security. Can you locate his number and have it for me the next time I pass through here?”

“Sure, Jason, I’ll track him down.”

Hawk rose from behind his desk and greeted Marsha Grant and Brenda as they entered the elaborate office. Not wanting this meeting to seem formal he led them over to a comfortable brown leather couch, and he pulled a comfortable armchair over to sit close to the pair. “How did dinner go last night?” Hawk asked.

“I’m ashamed to say that, since you were buying, we ended up at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. It was a bit of a drive, but it was well worth it.”

“Marsha, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. If I’d been taking you and the others out it would’ve been there, or someplace just as nice.”

“Then, thank you for both the reassurance and the wonderful meal.”

“Both were my pleasure. Now, what I wanted to talk to you about concerns your new baby and the time requirements of production.”

Before Marsha could answer, Dan appeared at the door and knocked. When Hawk looked up, Dan asked, “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Please join us.”

Hawk pulled up a second chair, while Dan introduced himself to Marsha. “Actually,” Marsha interjected, “Dan and I met several years ago when he and his partner did some programming work for a video card I was designing. Speaking of your late partner, I sure wish he was a part of this.”

“How’s that?” asked Hawk in a casual tone, hiding the fear she could see through his new identity.”

“Because, the coding of the cluster’s BIOS is turning into a real bear. John Grayson could do in days what’s going to take us months. It was a shame his life ended like it did, especially after the truth came out. If I could, I’d use one of your old Apache tortures and tie his ex-wife next to a ‘staked out’ rattlesnake.”

Brenda grinned, and said, “I knew John in prison, so I’m partial to the ol’ ‘staked out on an anthill’ trick.”

“You knew him in prison? How is that possible?”

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The Hawk and the Chipmunk

Mike Lowe aka The Scot

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