Nova Sol - Rebellion (Being Translated)

Like water through fingers

Jack had hung up once more. It was the second time the ship escaped while being so close. Time was running out, and if he didn't obtain the package, he would lose more than "just a business opportunity". He hadn't slept well, and this bad news worsened his humor. He decided to take his family to the airport, like they had discussed the night before. The commute was quite and without any incidents, so Jack relaxed a little. As soon as his family passed customs, his mobile started to ring. "Unidentified number" was shown in the screen.

- Hello?
- Jack, do not underestimate me... I know perfectly well where that plane is going. 
- You leave them out of this! You hear m-
- Jack, let's be clear. You and I both know this is not a... Threat. Just a "friendly reminder"

That moment, Jack noticed that the person on the line wasn't the usual one he talked with, his voice was a bit different, colder, even through the voice filter...

- May I ask who is this?
- Interesting... You noticed I'm not your usual contact. Let's just say he's busy at the moment. This is Marshall. My collaborators are impatient Jack...
- Marshall... Any last names to go with that?
- Come on Jack, you don't really think I'll fall for that, do you? Of course I can't give you my last name. It's enough saying my collaborators are related with highest power circles in the planet. Recovering the package we have asked you to do is a high priority for them. And you have to do it as we asked, "lost" in the mob threads...
- I'm on it, Marshall... The pilot of the delivery ship has better skills than the average John Doe. ¡
- And I'm sure your men are up to the task at hand, aren't they?
- Of course.
- Very well. You have until Friday next week. You have no idea what's at stake in the world board...

- You will have your package. 

- You better.

The call was cut. The caller was Marshall Kaynes, Director for the Reserved Projects at DARPA, a department that did not exist in the registries. All projects capable of breaking the power balance, scientific knowledge or paradigms were developed by this area. From there all new military techs were developed, tested and fielded. This allowed the country to stay relevant in military development, since once they developed something, they sold it to the Private Military Corporations, who in turn used them for their operations.

The probe was discovered the first time by army operatives that were on a mission in Afghanistan at the beginning of the century, hidden within a cave system. It was thought that Osama Bin Laden and his collaborators were the ones who moved it there. When the army found it, the soldiers didn't have much clue about the function of the probe, so they sent it back to USA in a special convoy. Once it arrived, the probe was studied by several scientists of the Department of Defense, but not a single one was able to learn much from it. It was then when the DARPA director decided to select a private tech corporation to collaborate with the research, all in a confidential manner, obviously. The selected corporation was Dryden Corp. for their great advances in several science fields, and also because DARPA already had several contracts with them, like the "Veteran Disability Recovery" program. Dev supervised directly the research project, which started a year ago, under the explanation that the device was a Russian communications device and that its research would allow to break the Russian codes, permitting the DoD, CIA and NSA to perform better defensive operations. This was justified, since at the beginning of the century, USA and Rusia went back to a "Cold War" state, with threats from both sides, non authorized military clashes that never reached the public, and other counter-intelligence operations. Dev wanted to avoid at all costs that more soldiers suffered what his friend had gone through, and if he could do it with his work, he wouldn't have given it a second thought before diving into it. 

Dev's team worked non-stop for six months, getting little results or information from the probe. If it really was a Russian creation, then they had better scientists than the US. Dev suspected the probe was not human made, but he didn't ask questions. He knew that the opportunity to study it wasn't going to be given twice. However, when he saw the advances were few, he nominated a project manager that reported directly to Jack. Dev started to work in other projects. But about two months after leaving the probe investigation, he started to have the "dreams". This was due to the scanners that the team had used, which powered up the probe just enough to open the communications channel, but nothing else. Dev's instruments were not able to capture that small change, and so he wasn't able to relate the "dreams" with the investigation of the probe.

Under Jack's command, the probe's research did not advance very much, but the small results obtained were enough to capture the attention of a few people. The same people that asked Jack to send the probe to DARPA's branch in China. And to seize the package through his Mafia contacts, to make it look like a robbery. The pieces were being moved like a chessboard, and Jack saw it all, except the players' faces. He still had no idea who might have asked him to "lose" the package, but it was clearly a group with power and influence, since they had operatives even within government agencies. Several names popped up in his head, but he let them go. It was no use speculating. He had to get the package and deliver it to the middle man.

Jack got onto his car again, and drove towards Dryden Corp.'s headquarters. He decided to access the "special projects" computer, where the data for the DoD contracts and their results were stored. Maybe if he searched the contracts, he'd find out who was playing with him like a chess pawn. After a whole hour looking for details, he gave up. Everything in the contracts was legal and legit. Seals, signatures, and key elements. There were no traces of any external influence. He decided then to go back to his office.

He didn't know what to do. The ship was headed west with the package. The attack in Pevek had been a failure, and the chinese group had lost at least six men. His contact had informed him that they would give chase to the ship immediately, but it might be possible they couldn't reach it mid-flight. Jack's anger was rising with each word heard. He hung up the phone, and five seconds later the furiously grabbed the whiskey glass on his desk and threw it against the wall. The glass shattered in a million pieces, and Sophia entered the room, scared from the noise.

- Mr. Huggins, are you ok?
- Miss Jenner, I'm great, just a bit... Upset.

- Something I can help you with, sir?
- No, nothing, thank you. Or... yes. Two days ago, we sent a package to China... - his mind was working quickly to create a plan and know the ship's location - ... and it was ordered by one of our clients. Could you check the status of that delivery?
- Of course, sir - replied Sophia, entering the data in her tablet  - Sir, the company informs that the package was not delivered due to in flight problems. The pilot is "unavailable" at the moment.

- Miss Jenner, send an alert to the DoD. Tell them their package is lost and we're asking for its location to the transport company. 
- Very well, sir. Should I alert the authorities we're looking for a ship?
- Yes, of course - his mind was planning how to move the other chess pieces without being a player himself - And also alert our P.I.s. We cannot lose the DoD contracts.
- Right away Mr. Huggins. Anything else?
- Yes. Send someone to clean up this mess, if you will.
- Yes, sir - said Sophia, turning around and leaving Jack's office.

Jack had made a dangerous play. Involving the authorities would give him more time, since the "contact" could not move freely as long as the package was in the spotlight, but it could also expose the fact that he was related to the package's loss. He had bought maybe a couple of days with that action, but he thought that was enough. The package kept sliding through his fingers, but he figured it wasn't for long. Once the ship arrived to European airspace, he would be able to use his European contacts. The ship wouldn't have many places to hide.

He left his office, and headed towards the bathroom. He turned the faucet, and washed his face. When he put his hands under the stream a second time, he saw how the water was slipping through his fingers and a picture of the previous night came to his head. He saw the short muscular man, with the gun in his hand. He felt cold sweat running down his back while remembering that scene. He remembered the helpless feeling he had thanks to that threat. "This shall not be like this water. You will not escape a third time!", he thought for himself.