Twenty-Nine Cozy Bears

14

Washington D.C., USA CISA Ready Room

By the time Doug Tanner arrived in the Ready Room, everyone else had taken all of the donuts. He focused on not scowling. It was difficult. Every time there was a meeting, he knew that Betty at the front desk always ordered three more than the number of people in the meeting. Three. Not one or two, but three extra donuts. Not donut holes either, but actual donuts.

He managed to get the scowl off his face before he turned around, where he found Mitch sitting in a chair across the table by the windows. Mitch gave him a covert wave and then pointed to the chair next to him. The chair was empty and there on the table in front of the chair, was a donut, and a cup of coffee.

Who was the boss here?

He smiled and gave Mitch a nod of thanks, then made his way around the table and took the seat,

"Before we get started, we have three guests with us," Hank Gorr said from his seat a the front of the table. He ran the office, making him the third of the top three officers in CISA. Margaret Hammond was the lead.

"First, at the end of the table is General Grounds, Beside him is Congressman James Terry, and Senator Earl Askov is next to him." Then Hank Gorr met the Congressman's eyes, and nodded, "Gentlemen, you have the floor for the moment."

"Thanks," Doug said, quietly to Mitch as he sat down. His joy of the donut waiting for him had be stepped on by the Congressman taking the floor. In fact, Doug thought, it couldn't have been more stepped on by his actual foot. What the hell are they here for?

"Thank you Mr. Gorr. Before we get started I want to address something. Mr. Tanner, you told me that you were not connected with the Olympic Project. Are you aware that it is against the law to lie to Congress?" The Congressman's voice had the sound of righteous anger in it and the exact bullying tone that fueled Doug's wrath. He measured the situation and decide to go on offensive.

"Congressman, first I don't answer to you or Congress. I'm in the Executive branch, not under the Legislative branch. Second, that is a classified project, which you know very well or you wouldn't be here sniffing around for clues and information, which is not becoming a Congressman at all, or a gentlemen of any kind. Third, this is the second time you have tried to ambush me. There will not be a third." Turning away to speak to Gorr, he continued saying, "Now, we have movement going on Gorr, so if that is all this meeting is about then I would like to suggest adjournment."

Gorr nodded, "I don't know what this meeting is about. General, are you here trying to work around the system and procure information that you would have if you needed it?"

"Now hold on a minute here," the General said.

"No, you three hold on," Gorr said. "We have a full days work on our table. I don't have time for games, but when a Congressman, a Senator and a Two Star General shows up and says 'we need to talk' then I listen and act — well. I once listened and acted. I take it that this is all this meeting is about.... you three trying to bully the system. I'll tell Betty at the front desk to make copies of the tapes for you three. Is there anything else?"

"Tapes?" the Senator said.

"Yes, tapes." Then Gorr changed his tone to one of explanation, "We're spies Earl. Cyber world spies. Do you really believe we don't document everything? Now, from what I gather, this is twice, and as one of my top researchers just pointed out, there will not be a third. This meeting is over, thank you for coming people. No need to wait for our guests."

Congressman James Terry nearly jumped from his seat, anger opening the pores of his noes and cheeks, "Fine, there are other avenues we can follow."

"Good luck then, but don't follow them here unless they are legal." Gorr told him. "Doug, you and Samantha hold back. I want an update on our movement."