Threads – Chapter One

 

Chapter One

 

“It collapsed, they’ve failed! It’s all over!”

Piercing hazel eyes peered sharply from beneath long, dark lashes at the newcomer. “What are you talking about, Verne?”

The messenger, Verne Sorenson, a stout fifty-something ex-marine turned Section Chief, stroked his salt and pepper beard and frowned. He hated being the bearer of bad news. And more, he wasn’t relishing having to discuss the matter with his joint-chief, Lamar Wilkes.

“The government, Lamar. The whole damn thing toppled six hours ago. Just got word via Japanese satellite.”

“Toppled? Japanese? You’re not making any sense, Sorenson.”

Verne took a deep breath. “Right, okay. That terrorist threat we’ve been planning for? The bastards finally went through with it. They set off an EMP somewhere over Colorado at approximately thirteen hundred hours, local time. Fried everything from Cali to Missouri.

“Communications are down and emergency protocol was put into effect once instructions were relayed from Washington via London. Our intel was rerouted through Japanese channels as per the preset orders.”

Wilkes blinked slowly and nodded. “Took them long enough to let us know. No matter. So we proceed with the original plan. What’s the problem?”

“If you’d let me finish maybe you’d understand,” Sorenson huffed in annoyance.

“Get on with it, then.”

Sorenson shook his head. Lamar was never a patient man.

“Washington conveyed an additional message. Took us longer to decipher given the added security encryption but we managed it. Fordham’s advisors stated, and I quote, “Conclave Familiars have overridden the system. Take no action; we don’t know who to trust. Secure communiqués will be sent as soon as it’s safe. Continue with training schedule and preparations until further notice. Keep a minimum of contact with the other bases unless absolutely necessary.”

“Shit!” Wilkes bounded from his chair and began pacing behind his desk. “Shit, shit, shit!”

Sorenson agreed with his partner, but didn’t dare voice his thoughts. Wilkes’ face was a furious shade of purple and the veins at his temples were threatening to explode.

“Did anyone really think that something this large-scale could actually work? All it takes is one thing out of place and the entire plan gets shot to hell. Like it did. Spectacularly, I might add.”

“It was a mistake, but-“

“A mistake? You mean a monumental fuck-up of epic proportions!”

“Yeah, well, no one anticipated a scenario quite like this playing out.”

“Then the strategists were idiots. And whoever trusted them was even more so.”

“Careful, Wilkes. You wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about your loyalties.”

“My loyalties were never in question. God knows I’ve done more to protect my country than the goddamn President or his utterly useless cabinet ever did!”

“Hey! They worked damn hard on this project! It was over a decade in the making and nearly as long in the execution. Mind your words – and cut ’em a little slack.”

“Sure thing, Sorenson. Slack is something we have in abundance. A viable, trustworthy government and a feasible plan is what’s missing, but please, don’t let me dampen your enthusiasm for a dead end job.”

“Shut it, Wilkes. No one saw this coming.”

“Obviously! Though god only knows why not. They were warned about these cult freaks. What, did the government think these people were tribe dancing in rain forests or something? These men and women have been well educated and strategically placed within every conceivable organization within the country’s substructure! They’re in positions of influence within education, politics, homeland security, you name it. They’ve overtaken a world super power and crushed it. Someone should have had a clue!”

“Enough! Whether we should have known is a moot point, don’t you think? It’s done. Now we need to focus on damage control.”

“Damage control? Are you kidding? What could we possibly do to combat the destruction they’ve already wrought upon American society? It’d be like plugging a leaking dam with chewing gum.”

(…)

“Are you quite finished?”

“Sir! We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

“As was obvious from your little display here, gentlemen.”