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A's newest space telescopes would have been conceived had it not been for our scientists' personal desire to see deeper into space？ NASA makes astonishing breakthroughs for one reason only…our employees want to understand the cosmos more deeply。 They are a munity of dreamers who grew up staring at starry skies and asking themselves what was up there。 Passion and curiosity are what drive NASA's innovation； not the promise of military superiority。〃
Pickering cleared his throat； speaking softly； trying to lower the temperatures around the table。 〃Larry； I'm certain the director is not talking about recruiting NASA scientists to build military satellites。 Your NASA mission statement would not change。 NASA would carry on business as usual； except you would have increased funding and increased security。〃 Pickering turned now to the President。 〃Security is expensive。 Everyone in this room certainly realizes that NASA's security leaks are a result of underfunding。 NASA has to toot its own horn； cut corners on security measures； run joint projects with other countries so they can share the price tag。 I am proposing that NASA remain the superb； scientific； nonmilitary entity it currently is； but with a bigger budget； and some discretion。〃
Several members of the security council nodded in quiet agreement。
President Herney stood slowly； staring directly at William Pickering； clearly not at all amused with the way Pickering had just taken over。 〃Bill； let me ask you this： NASA is hoping to go to Mars in the next decade。 How will the intelligence munity feel about spending a hefty portion of the black budget running a mission to Mars…a mission that has no immediate national security benefits？〃
〃NASA will be able to do as they please。〃
〃Bullshit；〃 Herney replied flatly。
Everyone's eyes shot up。 President Herney seldom used profanity。
〃If there is one thing I've learned as president；〃 Herney declared； 〃it's that those who control the dollars control the direction。 I refuse to put NASA's purse strings in the hands of those who do not share the objectives for which the agency was founded。 I can only imagine how much pure science would get done with the military deciding which NASA missions are viable。〃
Herney's eyes scanned the room。 Slowly； purposefully； he returned his rigid gaze to William Pickering。
〃Bill；〃 Herney sighed； 〃your displeasure that NASA is engaged in joint projects with foreign space agencies is painfully shortsighted。 At least someone is working constructively with the Chinese and Russians。 Peace on this planet will not be forged by military strength。 It will be forged by those who e together despite their governments' differences。 If you ask me； NASA's joint missions do more to promote national security than any billion…dollar spy satellite； and with a hell of a lot better hope for the future。〃
Pickering felt an anger welling deep within him。 How dare a politician talk down to me this way！ Herney's idealism played fine in a boardroom； but in the real world； it got people killed。
〃Bill；〃 Marjorie Tench interrupted； as if sensing Pickering was about to explode； 〃we know you lost a child。 We know this is a personal issue for you。〃
Pickering heard nothing but condescension in her tone。
〃But please remember；〃 Tench said； 〃that the White House is currently holding back a floodgate of investors who want us to open space to the private sector。 If you ask me； for all its mistakes； NASA has been one hell of a friend to the intel munity。 You all might just want to count your blessings。〃
A rumble strip on the shoulder of the highway jolted Pickering's mind back to the present。 His exit was ing up。 As he approached the exit for D。C。； he passed a bloody deer lying dead by the side of the road。 He felt an odd hesitation。。。 but he kept driving。
He had a rendezvous to keep。
96
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of the largest memorials in the nation。 With a park； waterfalls； statuary； alcoves； and basin； the memorial is divided into four outdoor galleries； one for each of FDR's terms in office。
A mile from the memorial； a lone Kiowa Warrior coasted in； high over the city； its running lights dimmed。 In a town boasting as many VIPs and media crews as D。C。； helicopters in the skies were as mon as birds flying south。 Delta…One knew that as long as he stayed well outside what was known as 〃the dome〃…a bubble of protected airspace around the White House…he should draw little attention。 They would not be here long。
The Kiowa was at twenty…one hundred feet when it slowed adjacent to； but not directly over； the darkened FDR Memorial。 Delta…One hovered； checking his position。 He looked to his left； where Delta…Two was manning the night vision telescopic viewing system。 The video feed showed a greenish image of the entry drive of the memorial。 The area was deserted。
Now they would wait。
This would not be a quiet kill。 There were some people you simply did not kill quietly。 Regardless of the method； there would be repercussions。 Investigations。 Inquiries。 In these cases； the best cover was to make a lot of noise。 Explosions； fire； and smoke made it appear you were making a statement； and the first thought would be foreign terrorism。 Especially when the target was a high…profile official。
Delta…One scanned the night…vision transmission of the tree…shrouded memorial below。 The parking lot and entry road were empty。 Soon； he thought。 The location of this private meeting； though in an urban area； was fortuitously desolate at this hour。 Delta…One turned his eyes from the screen to his own weapons controls。
The Hellfire system would be the weapon of choice tonight。 A laser…guided； anti…armor missile； the Hellfire provided fire…and…forget capability。 The projectile could home in on a laser spot that was projected from ground observers； other aircraft； or the launching aircraft itself。 Tonight； the missile would be guided autonomously through the laser designator in a mast…mounted sight。 Once the Kiowa's designator had 〃painted〃 the target with a laser beam； the Hellfire missile would be self…directing。 Because the Hellfire could be fired either from the air or ground； its employment here tonight would not necessarily imply an aircraft's involvement。 In addition； the Hellfire was a popular munition among black…market arms dealers； so terrorist activity could certainly be blamed。
〃Sedan；〃 Delta…Two said。
Delta…One glanced at the transmission screen。 A nondescript； black luxury sedan was approaching on the access road exactly on schedule。 This was the typical motor pool car of large government agencies。 The driver dimmed the car's headlights on entering the memorial。 The car circled several times and then parked near a grove of trees。 Delta…One watched the screen as his partner trained the telescopic night vision on the driver's side window。 After a moment； the person's face came into view。
Delta…One drew a quick breath。
〃Target confirmed；〃 his partner said。
Delta…One looked at the night…vision screen…with its deadly crucifix of cross…hairs…and he felt like a sniper aiming at royalty。 Target confirmed。
Delta…Two turned to the left side avionics partment and activated the laser designator。 He aimed； and two thousand feet below； a pinpoint of light appeared on the roof of the sedan； invisible to the occupant。 〃Target painted；〃 he said。
Delta…One took a deep breath。 He fired。
A sharp hissing sound sizzled beneath the fuselage； followed by a remarkably dim trail of light streaking toward the earth。 One second later； the car in the parking lot blew apart in a blinding eruption of flames。 Twisted metal flew everywhere。 Burning tires rolled into the woods。
〃Kill plete；〃 Delta…One said； already accelerating the helicopter away from the area。 〃Call the controller。〃
Less than two miles away； President Zach Herney was preparing for bed。 The Lexan bullet…proof windows of 〃the residence〃 were an inch thick。 Herney never heard the blast。
97
The Coast Guard Group Air Station Atlantic City is located in a secure section of William J。 Hughes Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center at the Atlantic City International Airport。 The group's area of responsibility includes the Atlantic seaboard from Asbury Park to Cape May。
Rachel Sexton jolted awake as the plane's tires screeched down on the tarmac of the lone runway nestled between two enormous cargo buildings。 Surprised to find she had fallen asleep； Rachel groggily checked her watch。
2：13 A。M。 She felt like she'd been asleep for days。
A warm onboard blanket was tucked carefully around her； and Michael Tolland was also just waking up beside her。 He gave her a weary smile。
Corky staggered up the aisle and frowned when he saw them。 〃Shit； you guys are still here？ I woke up hoping tonight had been a bad dream。〃
Rachel knew exactly how he felt。 I'm headed back out to sea。
The plane taxied to a stop； and Rachel and the others climbed out onto a barren runway。 The night was over…cast； but the coastal air felt heavy and warm。 In parison to Ellesmere； New Jersey felt like the tropics。
〃Over here！〃 a voice called out。
Rachel and the others turned to see one of the Coast Guard's classic； crimson…colored HH…65 Dolphin helicopters waiting nearby。 Framed by the brilliant white stripe on the chopper's tail； a fully suited pilot waved them over。
Tolland gave Rachel an impressed nod。 〃Your boss certainly gets things done。〃
You have no idea； she thought。
Corky slumped。 〃Already？ No dinner stop？〃
The pilot weled them over and helped them aboard。 Never asking their names； he spoke exclusively in pleasantries and safety precautions。 Pickering had apparently made it clear to the Coast Guard that this flight was not an advertised mission。 Nonetheless； despite Pickering's discretion； Rachel could see that their identities had remained a secret for only a matter of seconds； the pilot failed to hide his wide…eyed double take upon seeing television celebrity Michael Tolland。
Rachel was already feeling tense as she buckled herself in beside Tolland。 The Aerospatiale engine overhead shrieked to life； and the Dolphin's sagging thirty…nine…foot rotors began to flatten out into a silver blur。 The whine turned to a roar； and it lifted off the runway； climbing into the night。
The pilot turned in the cockpit and called out； 〃I was informed you would tell me your destination once we were airborne。〃
Tolland gave the pilot the coordinates of an offshore location about thirty miles southeast of their current position。
His ship is twelve miles off the coast； Rachel thought； feeling a shiver。
The pilot typed the coordinates into his navigation system。 Then he settled in and gunned the engines。 The chopper tipped forward and banked southeast。
As the dark dunes of the New Jersey coast slipped away beneath the aircraft； Rachel turned her eyes away from the blackness of the ocean spreading out beneath her。 Despite the wariness of being back over the water again； she tried to take fort in knowing she was acpanied by a man who had made the ocean a lifetime friend。 Tolland was pressed close beside her in the narrow fuselage； his hips and shoulders touching hers。 Neither made any attempt to shift positions。
〃I know I shouldn't say this；〃 the pilot sputtered suddenly； as if ready to burst with excitement； 〃but you're obviously Michael Tolland； and I've got to say； well； we've been watching you on TV all night！ The meteorite！ It's absolutely incredible！ You must be in awe！〃
Tolland nodded patiently。 〃Speechless。〃
〃The documentary was fantastic！ You know； the networks keep playing it over and over。 None of tonight's duty pilots wanted this gig because everyone wanted to keep watching television； but I drew short straw。 Can you believe it！ Short straw！ And here I am！ If the boys had any idea I'd be flying the actual…〃
〃We appreciate the ride；〃 Rachel interrupted； 〃and we need you to keep our presence here to yourself。 Nobody's supposed to know we're here。〃
〃Absolutely； ma'am。 My orders were very clear。〃 The pilot hesitated； and then his expression brightened。 〃Hey； we aren't by any chance heading for the Goya； are we？〃
Tolland gave a reluctant nod。 〃We are。〃
〃Holy shit！〃 the pilot exc