Threads – Chapter Two

Chapter Two

 

This was the first occasion The Committee had to congregate. All previous discussions had been held via satellite or synchronized video chat. That they were all here together at one centralized location could mean only one thing.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome,” a middle-aged gentleman of regal bearing and imposing stature addressed the crowd. He was the leader of The Twelve, self-appointed but *unilaterally agreed upon as the first to bring them all together towards the realization of a mutual goal.

Victor Radcliffe was descended from a long line of fine, upstanding and loyal Familiars. His family had been in positions of power within the Conclave for over a thousand years and he took his new role seriously. Their objective was of the utmost importance and as the time drew ever nearer, it now fell upon him to ensure the plan’s success.

“I have invited you all here to share some wonderful news.”

“Could this not have been done as it has in the past? It is not easy to slip away and travel half-way around the world for a meeting. At least not to this part of the world, at any rate. Not any more.” This derisive statement was made by Jia Chen, a Chinese diplomat firmly – and unwittingly – ensconced in the Conclave’s clutches (*phrasing needs work!) His attitude rankled, but the Conclave was willing to overlook many things with the aim to achieving their endgame.

Victor smiled benignly at the man. “Mr. Chen, while I appreciate the difficulties you faced in coming to be here today, I believe that the information I am about to reveal will more than make up for it.

“One of our investments has finally paid off.”

“Do tell, Victor.” French Businessman Roland Ambrose, another ranking official within the Committee and a staunch Conclave supporter, had been briefed earlier that morning by one of Victor’s aides. He was quite looking forward to the reactions of the Committee with the revelation.

Radcliffe indulged the Frenchman with a smug smile. “Project Manticore is finally in our hands.”

Gasps went up around the table as various members leaned forward or back, thoughtful, surprised and even worried expressions flittered across faces. Emotions ran high.

“Are you serious?” This exclamation was from their Polish emmissary, Tomasz Kowalek.

“I’m very serious, my friend. Manticore fell into our hands at the week’s end. Once we became aware of the opening, Senator Ellinger put The Committee forward to take up the reins of leadership. President Fordham was powerless to decline.”

Kowalek steepled his hands and gazed thoughtfully down the length of the table at Radcliffe. “I wasn’t aware that we were so close.”

Ambrose interjected with a broad smile. “Yes, well there was an… incident which brought about this turn of events. Most fortuitous for us.”

The German scientist, Juliana Faerber, a female in her early forties who had been brought on board because of her extensive knowledge of the specifics of the goings on within Manticore, cleared her throat.

“I’d heard something about that but had dismissed it as rumor. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had circulated false information to try and force our hand.”

“Heard what?” interjected Emily Hearst, frustration evident in her tone. “You talk in circles.”

The little brunette was a firecracker in the courtroom, one of the main reasons she had been taken on. Hearst’s legal expertise and skill made her a valuable asset.

“As you may be aware, Manticore has been training small units of child-soldiers. One of their programs was very much hush-hush. A private project, if you will, sanctioned by the President himself. This elite group was the great hope, and if successful, Manticore would have trained other such units, catapulted to the forefront of military genius and become unstoppable. But it appears they didn’t take into consideration that their soldiers were also part… human. And with it came flaws.”

Radcliffe paused before he dropped the bomb. “Twenty-four of them escaped.”

His announcement was met with silence before exclamations of surprise exploded around him. He nodded and rapped on the table to quiet his fellows.

“Once they made it past the perimeter, the President had no choice but to issue the order to terminate on sight. The lead officer in command was a Colonel Donald Michael Lydecker. All but twelve were caught or killed; once he failed, Lydecker was demoted to trainer. This left an opening at the facility for new leadership.”

The group listened with rapt attention. They couldn’t have planned it better themselves.

“We first attempted to recruit this Lydecker chap to our cause. He was unsympathetic but he may prove useful which is why he is still being retained on staff. And now, thanks to Senator Ellinger, we are exactly where we want to be. We now have the power to steer Project Manticore where we want it to go,” Radcliffe concluded with a dramatic wave of his hands.

Chen was impressed but still uncertain exactly what plans The Committee had for Project Manticore. “And where exactly do we want it to go, Victor?”

“Ah,” Radcliffe grinned. “We cannot shut down the project, even though the soldiers have proven to be both rebellious and dangerous opponents. Instead, we must take stronger measures to control them. In whatever ways necessary.”

“You’re suggesting that we… beat them into submission?” inquired Idina Borodin, a Russian professor of clinical psychology, incredulously.

“I wouldn’t go so far as that, at least not without due cause. But we must persuade these units to act in accordance with new Manticore procedure, don’t you think? If we can control them, they will be valuable military assets. If they cannot be handled properly, they will be disposed of.”

“Solid reasoning, Victor,” Ambrose stated in agreement. “However I find myself curious. Will the President and his advisors not attempt to retake the program? If, as has been previously implied, it was Fordham’s pet project, would he not do everything in his power to regain control?”

“If I may, gentleman?” interjected Adesh Joshi, their resident technogeek.

Ambrose nodded and Radcliffe defered to the young genius.

“The Pulse destroyed all electronic information. Even with the hard-copy paper documentation on file at various government agencies and locations, the President and his men will have their hands full trying to keep the country from collapsing. As it stands, we have lost standing with foreign governments, who, while willing to assist in some ways, are wary of getting involved too deeply. Any funding originally intended for the Manticore project will be diverted to more needy divisions. I think it’s safe to say that if we’ve been given control of Manticore, then it is ours to make or break.”

Radcliffe smiled and nodded his thanks at the computer whiz. “Well said, Mr. Joshi. Now, if there are no more questions?” A quiet murmer of voices but no objections were heard. “Very well then, ladies and gentlemen. This meeting is adjourned.”

He stood and circled the room, shaking hands with the committee members. Radcliffe paused at the door and caught the attention of Roland Ambrose and another of the Conclave’s most loyal, Saffron Karras, drawing them aside.

“The Pulse was devestating to the nation, but a stroke of genius as far as our plans are concerned. I say we make the best of it while we can. There is still much to do and very little time in which to implement the changes necessary. Be careful to whom and of what you speak. Some things are not for all ears to hear.”