["The\tmiddle-aged\tCaucasian\twas\tnew\tto\tthe\tmaterial,\tlike\teveryone\telse. While\tthe\tcoursework\twas\tas\texpected\tfor\ta\tCommunity\tCollege-level introduction\tto\tAsian\tlanguages,\tthe\tsetting\tand\tcircumstances\tmost\tcertainly were\tnot.\tIn\tyears\tpast\tstudents\tapproached\tof\ttheir\town\taccord,\tpreparing\tfor\ta stint\tin\tforeign\tservice\twork\tor\trelocation\twith\tmajor\tinternational\tcorporations. Others\tfor\tpersonal\tenrichment,\tan\texpansion\tand\texperience\toutside\tof\ttheir normal\tcultural\tcontext.\tThose\trooms\thosted\tself-motivated\tstudents,\tlooking\tto better\ttheir\tlives\tor\tthat\tof\tothers.\tToday?\tThis\tclassroom\twas\theld\tfast\tby\tfar more\tbasic\trealities;\tthose\toccupying\tthe\tlower\tend\tof\tMaslow's\tPyramid.\tFear. Control.\tSurvival. To\tbe\tfair,\ta\tfew\twere\tintrigued\twith\tthe\tnew\tmaterial.\tBut\tmost\thad\tbeen pressed\tinto\taction\tby\tthe\ttwo\tPRC\tArmy\tguards\tposted\tinside\tthe\tback\tdoor, coldly\tperforming\ttheir\troom\tmonitoring\tduties\twith\tJS\t9mm\tsubmachine\tguns in\thand.\tThis\twas\tnot\tan\tunfortunate\tanomaly.\tThe\tsame\tscenario\tplayed\tout\tin every\tlast\tclassroom\tavailable\tacross\tthe\tSeattle\tMetro\tarea.\tWhen\tfilled, offices,\twaiting\trooms,\tand\tjanitorial\tclosets\tsurfaced\tas\tthe\tnext\tbest\tholding tanks\tof\tthe\toppressive\ttutelage.\tProfessors\tlike\tthis\tone\tserved\tat\tthe\tbehest\tof new\tmanagement.\tThe\tmajority\tof\tformer\tfaculty\tat\tSCC\twhere\tnow\tstudents themselves,\tforcibly\tintroduced\tto\twhat\tin\tbetter\tcircumstances\twould've\tbeen valuable,\tdeepening\tenterprises. Two-hour\tshifts,\tsix\tdays\tper\tweek,\tconquered\tindividuals\treported\tto\tlocal learning\tcenters.\tBefore\twork.\tDuring\tthe\tworkday.\tStill\tmore,\tafter\thours.\tMath and\tSciences\tinstruction\twould\tcontinue\tas\tneeded.\tHistory,\tlanguage,\tand economic\ttheory\thad\tbeen\tcomposed\tand\tauthorized\tthousands\tof\tmiles\taway\ton the\tChinese\tmainland.\tIt\twas\tthe\tlogical\tnext\tstep:\tidentity\ttransition.\tBeijing's social\tengineers\tunderstood\tthe\ttransformational\tpowers\tof\tlanguage\tand\tculture. They\talso\tknew\tthe\tvalue\tof\tborders. Impassable\tmountain\tranges.\tAn\tinternationally\tpoliced\tborder\tto\tthe\tnorth.\tA mammoth\triver\tto\tthe\tsouth.\tIt\tall\tadded\tup\tto\tan\talmost\timpenetrable\tstretch\tof land\tto\tinhabit\tand\tprotect.\tSome\ttwo\tand\ta\thalf\thours\tsouth\tof\tSeattle,\tthese advantages\twere\tbecoming\tobvious\tdaily. The\tColumbia\tRiver,\thead-watered\tin\tBritish\tColumbia,\tCanada,\tflowing southward\tand\twest\tto\tthe\tPacific,\tcreated\tan\timminently\tdefensible\tsouthern border.\tAmerica's\tthird\tlargest\triver\tby\tvolume,\tthe\tColumbia\temploys\twide\truns","and\tdeep\tchannels--waterways\teasily\tpatrolled\tand\tdefended. Chinese\tpresence\there\twas\talready\tunmistakable.\tAfter\tnavigating\tocean\tto river\tvia\tCape\tDisappointment,\tsixteen\tShanghai-2\tgunboats\tnow\troamed\ther brownish-green\twaters.\tBuilt\tfor\tthis\texact\tpurpose\tand\tat\ta\tdisplacement\tof\t135 tons,\tthey\treached\tspeeds\tupward\tof\t25\tknots.\tSuch\tquickness\twould\tnot\tbe needed.\tStill,\tit\tguaranteed\tthey'd\tneither\tbe\tovertaken\tnor\toutrun.\tWith\tfour 35mm\tdeck\tmounted\tturrets,\tthe\tsame\tnumber\tof\t25mms,\tand\tone\t81mm\tlong- range\tgun,\tthey\towned\tmore\tthan\tenough\tfirepower\tas\ttheir\tcrews--thirty-six naval\twarriors\teach--stood\tready\tto\tdefend\ttheir\tnew\tprovince\tagainst\tall challengers. Thus,\tone-hundred-fifty\tor\tso\tmiles\tof\tmountainous\tfoothills\tto\tdeep\tsea waters\tcreated\ta\tformidable\tboundary,\tone\tnot\tto\tbe\tchallenged\tanytime\tsoon. Beijing\thad\tchosen\twell.\tThese\tnatural\tborders\twere\ttheir\tnew,\tWestern\tWall. It\twas\tboth\ttragic\tand\tironic.\tSuch\tstark\tbeauty\thad\tbolstered\tlocal\tpride\tfor\tas long\tas\tthe\tarea\thad\tbeen\tinhabited.\tNow,\tthese\tvery\tqualities\twere\tbecoming tools\tdespotism\twould\tuse\tto\tconquer\tand\tcontrol.\tBut\tthe\tChinese\tweren't leaving\tit\tall\tup\tto\tnature,\teither.\tIn\taddition\tto\tthe\triverine\tdefense\tcorridor\tof the\tColumbia\therself,\tthey\twere\talso\tcreating\tthree\tfortress-cities\talong\tthe waterway.\tVancouver\t(WA),\tKelso,\tand\tAstoria\twere\trapidly\ttransforming\tinto embattlements,\twith\tnon-vital\tnative\tpersonnel\tdisplaced\tto\tcounties\tunder\tan hour\taway.\tLeft\tbehind\twas\ta\tminimal\tpopulace,\tone\tmore\tin\tline\twith\tthese\tnew towns'\ttrue\tpurpose:\tdefending\tand\tprotecting\tthe\tedges\tof\ttheir\tterritory.\tPart\tof their\tattractiveness\twas\tthat\tthey\tcould\tonly\tbe\tbroached\tfrom\tthe\tsouth\tby bridge.\tThese\tsteel-engineered\tmarvels,\tonce\tfair-traveled\tmechanisms\tof interstate\tcommerce\tand\tlife,\tnow\tmarked\tan\tinternational\tborder,\tand\tone between\tquite\tunfriendly\tneighbors.\tChinese\ttanks\tmaintained\ttheir\tbrawny stoicism\tat\tthe\thalfway\tpoint\tover\teach\tconcrete\tspan,\twhere,\tat\tthe\tslight\tarc\tof a\ttwo-lane\thighway\tover\tthe\triver,\ta\tpair\tof\thostile,\tsovereign\tnation-states\tmet. The\timprint\tof\toccupation\twas\teverywhere.\tOverflights\tfrom\tthe\trecently- christened\tBaotong\tAir\tBase\tpoliced\tthe\tskies\tabove\tas\tcrews\tof\tmortar\tand small\tarms\tfire\tteams\tmanned\tsandbagged\tpositions\tevery\tfew\thundred\tyards along\tthe\tbanks\tof\tthe\tmighty\tColumbia.\tRaw\tforce\tand\tpropaganda\textended like\ttwo\tfists.\tEach\twas\tnecessary.\tEach\twould\tbe\tbrutal.\tAnd\tonly\ta\tfew\thours north\tof\tthese\tbarbed-wire,\tartillery\tzones,\tclassroom\tlessons\tspoke\tof\ta\tnew, golden\tage\tdawning\tin\tWestern\tWashington. A\tChinese\tAge.","__________________________________ \\\"Instructor.\tI\tam\tglad\tto\tsee\tyour\tpupils\tso\thard\tat\twork.\tI\tam\twondering, though,\thave\twe\toverlooked\tsomething\tthis\tmorning?\\\" Still\tdark,\tnot\t6:00am\tyet,\tthe\tgrating,\tthin\tvoice\tof\tthe\tschool's\tsupervisor-- their\tnew\tchancellor--matched\tthe\troom's\tmood.\tNo\tone\twanted\tto\tbe\there,\tat this\tor\tany\tother\thour. \\\"I\tam\tsorry,\tChancellor.\tWe\thave\tbeen\tso\tvigorously\tengaged\tthat\twe... forgot.\\\" \\\"Well\tthen,\tsome\tamount\tof\tdisorder\tinitially\tis\tunderstandable,\tinstructor,\tbut let's\tbe\tabout\tthe\tbusiness\tof\tgood\tcitizenry.\\\" Rotating\ttoward\tthe\tclassroom,\tthe\tchancellor\tcontinued.\tHe\twalked\tthe\taisles, enjoying\this\tnewfound\tauthority\twhile\teffusing\ta\ttwisted\tversion\tof\treality,\tstep by\tugly\tstep. \\\"You\thave\tbefore\tyou\ta\tremarkable\topportunity.\tThe\tchance\tto\tprosper\tas fulfilled\tmembers\tof\tthe\tgreatest\tnation\ton\tthis\tplanet.\tYour\tcountry,\tadmirable in\tits\trebellious\tinfancy,\tis\ta\tmere\tshell\tof\tits\tformer\tstrength,\ta\tspiral\tof\tnational and\tcultural\tdegradation.\tYou\tare\tescaping\ta\tsinking\tship.\tA\tgrateful\tresponse\tto such\tan\tinvitation\tis\tin\torder,\tis\tit\tnot?\tIt\treminds\tus\thow\tfortunate\twe\tare.\\\" Chancellor\tlooked\tto\tinstructor. She\tstared\thim\tdown. \\\"Well,\tlet\tme\tsee,\\\"\tan\tunneeded\tlook\tto\tthe\tname\ton\ther\tdesk.\t\\\"Ms.\tDalton?\\\" He\tgave\ther\tanother\tchance. She\tgave\tback\tthe\tsame. \\\"I\twould\tthink\tthis\tis\tespecially\tan\topportunity\tfor\tsomeone\tlike\tyourself.\tAn opportunity\tfor\trestored\thonor,\tconsidering\tyour\tfamily\tleft\tthat\tbehind\tyears ago.\tI\tam\tcorrect,\tinstructor?\\\" Dalton's\tmom\twasn't\tbudging. He\tpointed. \\\"This\twoman\tcould\tnot\teven\tkeep\ther\tfamily\tintact.\tHer\thusband\tfailed\ther. Her\tfaith\tfailed\ther.\tShe\tshould\thave\tbeen\tthe\tmatron\tof\ther\thome\tbut\tinstead had\tto\treturn\tto\twork,\tteaching.\tHer\tson...\\\" \\\"No!\\\"\tshe\tyelled,\tquite\tuncharacteristically. The\tguards\tmoved\tto\tguns\tdrawn,\ta\tsingle\tstep\tforward\tand\tat\tthe\tready. The\tchancellor\twaved\tthem\toff.","\\\"I\tam\tsure\tthat\twill\tnot\tbe\tnecessary.\tIt\tis\tunfortunate\tthat\teven\tyour\tson\thas left\tyou.\tI\tcan\tempathize\twith\tyour\tloss.\tTragic,\treally.\tBut\tthat\tis\twhat\thappens when\tbuilding\ta\tcountry\ton\tfalse\thopes\tand\tfaulty\tsystems.\\\" She\tknew\tto\tleave\tit\tthere.\tThen\tshe\tgrinned\tat\twhat\telse\tshe\tknew. Oh,\ttrust\tme,\tMr.\t\\\"Chancellor.\\\"\tHe'll\tbe\tback. The\tformer\tprofessor\tcalled\tfor\ther\tstudents\tto\tstand.\tShe\tcouldn't\tmeet\ttheir cast-down\teyes,\tmanaging\tinstead\tonly\ta\tfeeble\thand\tmotion.\tThey\trecited words\tprojected\tat\tthe\tfront\tof\tthe\troom: We\tare\thappy,\tthankful\tcitizens\tof\tthe\tPeople's\tRepublic\tof\tChina.\tThough from\tdifferent\torigins,\twe\tare\tall\ta\tpart\tof\teach\tother;\tlaboring\tfor\tthe\tgood\tof all\tand\tthe\tglory\tof\tour\tnew\tmotherland. \\\"Well\tthen,\\\"\tsatisfied\tfor\tthe\tmoment.\t\\\"Carry\ton,\tinstructor.\\\" TWENTY\tSEVEN Northern\tCity\tLimits--Tacoma Sgt.\tSanchez\thad\tobserved\tenough\tof\tChinese\ttransport,\tcommand,\tand\tcontrol activity\tto\tfeel\tshe\thad\ta\tdecent\thandle\ton\tit. The\trigorous\tdaily\tdiscipline\tof\ttaking\tup\tposition\tjust\toff\tthe\tlanding\tstrips\tat Baotong\tprovided\ta\tgood\tsense\tof\tmen\tand\tresources\tcoming\tinto\tthe\tarea\tby plane.\tA\tpartial\timage,\tbut\tan\timportant\tpiece\tof\tthe\tpuzzle.\tShe\tcouldn't\taccount for\tsea-borne\tassets\tarriving\tvia\tthe\tPacific\tand\tthrough\tthe\tStraight\tof\tJuan\tde Fuca.\tThese\twould\tharbor\tfarther\tto\tthe\tnorth.\tTracking\tthat\tintel,\tshe\thoped, was\tsomebody\telse's\tjob.\tSomeone\thiding\tand\twatching,\tlike\tshe\twas.\tContent with\tthe\tpicture\tthus\tfar,\tshe\twas\texpanding\tsurveillance\toutward.\tStrengths\tand weaknesses\tof\tthe\tenemy.\tOverall\thealth\tand\tmorale\tof\tAmerican\tcaptives. Sanchez\thad\tcompleted\tseveral\tnear-base\trecon\tmissions\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdays.\tNow","she\tneeded\teyes-on\tthroughout\tthe\tcity.\tWhat\tshe\tfound\twas\tdisheartening,\tto say\tthe\tleast. The\tcontingent\tof\tChinese\tsoldiers\tand\tairmen\ttasked\tto\tthe\ttakeover\thad turned\tout\tto\tbe\tnearly\tfour\ttimes\tthe\tcapacity\tof\tthe\tformer\tAmerican\tmilitary installation's\tbarracks,\tfamily\tunits,\tand\tofficers'\tquarters.\tThe\tlogistics\tquestion became:\thow\tdo\tyou\ttake\tcare\tof\t100,000\tmen?\tThe\tanswer\twas\tfairly\tsimple-- former\tUS\tcitizens'\thomes.\tIt\twas\ta\tharsh\tmove,\tnot\tat\tall\tuncommon\tin\thuman history.\tThe\tfact\tit\thad\thappened\tmany\ttimes\tbefore\tdidn't\tmake\tit\tany\teasier\tfor Tacoma's\tmore\testablished\tneighborhoods.\tNot\tat\tall.\tThese\tfamilies\thad\tbeen here\tfor\tdecades,\tsome\tfor\tgenerations.\tThe\tsting\tstruck\tevery\tnight\tas\tfathers and\tmothers\ttucked\tyoung\tones\tinto\tbed\tin\tarmy-issue\tcots\tat\tlocal\thigh\tschool gymnasiums\tinstead\tof\ttheir\tregular\twarm\tsurroundings.\tLess\taustere\tthan refugee\tcamps\tthe\tworld\tover,\tthe\taccommodations\tstill\tunderscored\ttheir displacement,\tas\tthe\tfog\tof\tthe\tunknown\thung\twith\tno\treal\tanswer\tcoming\tsoon as\tto\twhen,\tor\tif,\tthey\tcould\tever\tgo\thome\tagain. Sanchez\ttested\ther\treach\tin\tever-widening\tconcentric\tcircles.\tMost\tof\ther\twork was\tdone\tat\tnight,\tunder\tthe\tfaithful\tcamouflage\tof\tdarkness.\tSome\tof\tthe Chinese\tguards\twho\tshould've\tprevented\ther\tfrom\troaming\twere\talso\tthe\tleast disciplined,\topening\twide\ther\tadvantage.\tIt'd\ttaken\ther\tthe\tbetter\tpart\tof\tthe\tpast forty-eight\thours\tbut\tshe\twas\tin\tposition\tnow\tin\tthe\thillsides\tabove\tthe\tcity's convention\tcenter.\tAt\tjust\tafter\tmidnight,\tinvisible\tto\tground\tand\tair\tpatrols,\tshe got\tsome\tneeded\trest. The\tsergeant\tawoke\tin\theavy\tunderbrush\tas\tthe\tsun\trose,\tcresting\tthe\thills behind,\ta\tslight\trise\tin\ttemperature\tcaressing\ther\tback.\tReflections\toff\tthe sheltered\twaters\tof\tCommencement\tBay,\tjust\ttwo\tklicks\tfrom\ther\tcurrent position,\twere\tstunning.\tGentle\twaves\tdanced\twith\tlight\tas\ta\tglint\tof\tgold crowned\tthe\tmassive,\tdomed,\twhite-topped\tstructure,\tbelow\tand\tcenter\tof\ther position.\tSo\tbeautiful.\tA\tscant\tmoment\tof\tenjoyment\tin\tan\totherwise\thellish scene. Unending\tlines. Americans,\tsnaking\tfrom\tfour\tmain\tentrances\tinto\tthe\tbuilding,\tstretching through\tacres\tof\tparking\tstalls\tand\tabout\ta\thalf\tmile\tinto\tdowntown.\tA\tforced march,\tdespised\tby\tevery\tsingle\tone\tof\tthem.\tWhile\tnominally\ta\ttoken\tact\tof submission--to\thave\tto\tshow\tup\tand\tsimply\tidentify\tyourself--this\twas,\tin\tfact, an\tenormous\toffense\tto\ta\tpeople\taccustomed\tto\tunquestioned\tfreedoms.","The\tlargest\tcovered\twooden\tstructure\tof\tits\tkind\tin\tthe\tworld,\tthe\tTacoma Dome\tcould\tseat\t23,000\tpeople.\tOnce\ta\tgathering\tplace\tfor\trabid\tsoccer\tfans\tand high\tschool\tgrads,\tthe\tcavernous\tenvirons\tnow\tserved\tas\tone\tof\tthe\thastily established\tregional\tCitizens'\tRegistration\tCenters\t(CRC).\tThe\tspace\thad\thosted the\tlikes\tof\tU2\tand\tBilly\tGraham.\tNow,\tformer\tAmerican\tresidents\twere required\tto\tappear,\tto\tbe\taccounted\tfor. The\tarea\thoused\tfive\tsuch\tsites,\tthe\tT-Dome,\tthe\tlargest.\tOrganized\tby neighborhood\tprecincts,\teach\thousehold\twas\tto\tcome\tto\ttheir\tassigned\tCenter, wait\tin\tline,\tand\treceive\tidentification\tnumbers\tfor\tevery\tfamily\tmember, stamped\tonto\ttheir\tupper\tright\tforearm;\ta\tnot-quite\tpermanent\tinking,\tboth\tfaster and\tcheaper\tthan\ta\ttraditional\ttattoo.\tAlthough\tfading\tin\tabout\tsix\tmonths,\tthe chemical\tmarkers\twould\tremain\tfor\tthe\tbetter\tpart\tof\ta\tdecade.\tLastly,\tthey would\tforfeit\tU.S.\tSocial\tSecurity\tcards\tand\tpassport\tin\tthe\tculmination\tof\ta grotesque\tpublic\tshaming. Every\tnewly-stamped\tChinese\tcitizen\twas\talso\tto\tdeclare\ttheir\tnew\tworker's status.\tA\tcensus\tof\tsorts,\tthe\tact\testablished\teach\tperson's\tvalue\tto\tthe\tregime. Though\tofficial\tdeclarations\tassigned\ta\tbenign\tneutrality\tto\tthe\tclassification, any\treasonable\tstudent\tof\thistory\tmight\tthink\totherwise. You've\tgot\tto\tbe\tkidding\tme. Sanchez\texhaled\tquietly,\twatching\tthe\tlemming-like\tprocession\twith\tequal parts\tcynicism\tand\tunbelief.\tShe'd\tseen\tit\tbefore,\ttoo\tmany\ttimes,\tfrankly. Humans\ttreating\tother,\tdifferent\thumans\tlike\tanimals,\tresources,\tnumbers. Military\tofficers\tare\toften\texcellent\thistorians.\tThe\tsergeant\trecognized\tthe beginnings\tof\ta\tseries\tof\tcentralized\tpower\tplays,\tleading\tto\tan\tever\tincreasing devaluation\tof\tthose\tshuffling\tforward\tin\tline,\tinch\tby\tdehumanizing\tinch. C'mon,\tyou're\tAmericans! The\tChinese\tcontrolled\tU.S.\tnuclear\tcapabilities\tand\thad\tused\tthat\tcontrol when\tcrowds\tsurged\tforward\tinto\tPike\tPlace,\tweeks\tback.\tIt\twas\ttheir\tveto power,\twith\tno\tquestion\tnow\tas\tto\twhether\tthey\twould\tuse\tit.\tThere\talso remained\tno\tquestion\tas\tto\twhether\tthe\tnext\tlaunch\twould\tachieve\timpact\tand detonation. None\twhatsoever. And\tso\tSanchez\twatched\tendless\tlines\tof\ther\tcountrymen\tbe\tidentified,","categorized,\tand\tassessed.\tNo\tone\twould've\tblamed\tthe\tsergeant\tfor\tfeeling helpless.\tShe\tdidn't. She\tgot\tangry. __________________________________ The\tPentagon--Washington,\tDC Petty\tOfficer\tThird\tClass\tCraig\tMortensen\tsat\tunflinchingly\tbefore\tthe\ttriple- monitor\tdisplay,\tsearching\tfor\tany\tsign\tof\tthe\tenemy's\tweakness.\tHe\thad\tmanned this\tposition\tfor\tthe\tbetter\tpart\tof\ttwo\tweeks\twith\tonly\tlimited\tsleep\tand\tbreaks. The\tplace\twas\torderly\tbut\tquite\tunkempt,\tthe\tvolume\tof\tfast\tfood\twrappers\tin the\troom\talone\tcould\tserve\tas\tthe\tbasis\tfor\ta\tgraduate-level\tmarketing\tstudies research\tproject.\tHalf\tempty\tCoke\tcans\tand\ttrail\tmix\tpackaging\tlittered\tthe desktop.\tAn\taroma\thovered\tstubbornly;\tone\tto\tbe\texpected\tfrom\tlong\thours,\ta lesser\tconcern\tfor\tpersonal\thygiene,\tand\textra\tonions\ton\tevery\tburger.\tClearly, there\twere\tpractical\treasons\tthe\thigher-ups\tnever\tvisited\there,\tas\twell\tas\ta general\tlack\tof\tknowledge\tabout\tthe\tcritical\twork\tbeing\tdone\tat\tthese\tstandard- issue\tdesks. Mortensen's\tassignment:\tan\tultra-high\tclearance\tarea\tknown\tonly\tas\tThe Vault. A\tunique\tcollaboration\tof\tmilitary\tand\tcivilian\tintelligence\tcommunities,\the and\ta\thandful\tof\tother\tskilled\ttechnicians\tworked\tthis\tfourteen-by-ten-foot space,\thidden\tdeep\tinside\tthe\twalled\tfortress\tof\tthe\tPentagon.\tA\tdozen\tor\tso people\tknew\tthis\troom\twas\tin\tthe\tbuilding.\tFewer\thad\tbeen\there.\tOfficially,\tit didn't\texist. The\tsimplicity\tof\tthe\tplace\twas\tincongruous\twith\tits\tcrucial\tnational\tsecurity purposes.\tWhite,\tunadorned\twalls.\tThree,\teight-foot-long\tworkstations.\tNothing even\tremotely\thigh-techie.\tYet\tthe\troom's\teffectiveness--its\ttrue\tpower,\tlay\tin what\tyou\tcouldn't\tsee.\tBeyond\tframing\tand\tdrywall,\thundreds\tof\ttentacles\tof cabling\textended\tto\tmultiple,\thighly\tcontrolled\tspaces,\teach\thousing unimaginably\tpowerful\tcomputing\tplatforms.\tThis\twas\tmerely\tthe\tcontrol\troom, the\tinput\tand\treadout\tside\tof\tAmerica's\thugely\tsecretive\tweapon\tin\tthe\tworld\tof","cyber-warfare. In\tfront\tof\tMortensen,\talong\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthree,\ttwenty-four-inch\tLCD displays,\tran\tan\tunending,\tvertical\tprogression\tof\tcode.\tThe\twaterfall\tof\tones and\tzeros\tflowed\ton,\thour\tafter\thour.\tThe\tremaining\ttwo\tscreens\tof\tthis\tdigital triptych,\tflanking\tleft\tand\tright,\twere\tpopulated\twith\ton-screen\tgauges\tand widgets.\tThese\tapps\tkept\tvigilant,\tautomated\twatch\tover\tall\tprocesses\tand anomalies,\thopeful\tor\tdisconcerting. The\tPO3\treached\tfor\tanother\tcan\tof\tCoke,\tpopped\tthe\tlid\tand\tturned\tback\tto his\twork.\tBlinking,\tMort\trubbed\this\teyelids\tand\tlooked\tagain. \\\"No\tway.\tNo\tway,\tnowayy,\tnowayyyy.\\\" His\tfingers\tflew,\tfuriously\ttyping\tline\tcommands,\tthough\tthe\tsoft-key\tsurface robbed\tMort\tof\tthe\tsatisfying\tclickety-clack\tthat\tshould've\tpunctuated\tthe moment.\tThe\tserviceman\tclosed\tthe\tdistance\tbetween\tface\tand\tscreen\tto\tonly\ta few\tinches.\tHe\tneeded\tto\tbe\tconvinced,\tabsolutely,\tabout\twhat\the\tthought\the was\tseeing. Fifteen\tminutes\tlater\tthe\tpetty\tofficer\tarrived\tat\this\tCO's\toffice,\tdot-matrix printout\tin\thand\tand\texpectant\tgrin\ton\this\tface. \\\"Sir.\tThis...\\\"\tthe\tpaper\tflashed\tout.\\\"...\tis\twhat\twe've\tbeen\tlooking\tfor.\\\" Mortensen\twas\tbreathless.\tAside\tfrom\tbasic\ttraining,\twhich\thad\talmost\tkilled the\tsedentary\twarrior,\tthe\ttwo-floor\tstairwell\tsprint--the\televator\twas\ttoo\tslow-- was\tthe\tgreatest\texertion\this\tbody\thad\tendured\tin\ta\tlong\ttime.\tHe\thanded\tthe pages\tof\tcode,\tindecipherable\tto\tanyone\texcept\tthe\tsmall\tteam\tof\texperts\tat\tthe Vault,\tto\this\tsenior\tofficer. \\\"Mort,\twhat\tis\tthis?\tYou\tknow\tI\tcan't\tmake\tany\tsense\tout\tof\tthat\tscribble.\\\" \\\"Sorry,\tsir.\\\" Chest\theaving,\tthe\ttechnician\tswallowed\thard,\tmouth\tcrying\tout\tfor\tmoisture to\tease\this\twords. \\\"We've\tbeen\trunning\tour\tbest\tattempts.\tTracing\tthe\tprogramming\tthat\thas allowed\tthem\tto\tsteal\tcommand\tof\tour\tnukes.\tEarly\ton\twe\tcould\tobserve\twhat they\twere\tdoing\tbut\twe\thaven't\tyet\tbeen\table\tto\tbreak\tit\tdown,\tto\tcompromise\tit. Like\twatching\ta\tpredator\thunt\tand\tkill\tyour\tfavorite\tpet\tfrom\tbehind\ta\tshatter- proof\twall.\tMaddening.\\\" His\tCO\twould\trequire\tan\tactual\tpoint\tsoon,\tso\tMort\tplowed\tahead. Another\tbig\tbreath.\t\\\"Sir,\tit's\tchanging...\tand...\tchanging\tour\tcode\talong\twith it.\\\"","\\\"So?\\\"\tthe\tCO\tdismissed.\t\\\"The\tChinese\tare\tre-programming\tas\tthey\tgo. Wouldn't\twe\tdo\tthe\tsame?\tRespond\tto\ton-the-ground\trealities.\tReact,\tevade.\\\" Mortensen\tshook\this\thead. \\\"No,\tsir,\tnot\tlike\tthat\tat\tall.\tSomeone\tmade\ta\tmistake.\\\" \\\"I\tam\tofficially\tnot\tfollowing\tthis\tline\tof\tinformation\tnow\tMort,\\\"\tthe\tCO\tsaid, taking\tanother\tsip\tof\troom-temperature\tcoffee. Mortensen\ttook\this\tbest\tshot. \\\"Sir,\tthe\tcode\tis\tchanging... ...\titself.\\\" \\\"What,\tyou\tmean\tlike\tAI?\tSpooky\tsci-fi,\trobots\ttake\tover\tthe\tworld\tkind\tof stuff?\\\" \\\"Well,\tsort\tof,\tsir.\tIt's\tall\tquite\tspeculative.\tWhat\twe\tcan\tsee\tis\tthat\tsomeone on\ttheir\tside\ttried\tto\taccess\ta\tbackdoor.\tA\tway\tback\tinto\tthe\tcode\tif\tthey\tever needed\tto\talter\tits\tbasic\tstructure\tor\tredirect\tits\twork.\tBut\tthey\tmade\tit\tworse,\tat least\tif\tthey\tintended\tto\treassert\tcontrol,\tanyways,\tbecause\tthe\toutcome\twas\tthe exact\topposite.\tWhat\twe\tdo\tknow\tis\tthe\ttwo\tsets--ours\tand\ttheirs--are\tsomehow cooperating\ttoward\tan\tunstated,\tpresumably\tcollective\tend.\\\" The\tCO\tsquinted. \\\"Mort,\tbottom\tshelf\tthis\tthing\tfor\tme.\tAre\twe\tgetting\tback\tour\tbombs,\tor not?\\\" Mortensen\tlooked\thim\tfull\tin\tthe\tface;\ta\trarity\tfor\tthe\tman. \\\"We\tdon't\tknow,\tsir.\tIt's\tnever\thappened\tbefore.\tAll\twe\tknow\tis\tthe\tlocus\tof control\tis\tchanging.\tThe\tChinese\tcode's\tstranglehold\tis\tdiminishing.\tWe\tdon't know\thow\tmuch,\tor\tif,\tit\twill\teven\tcontinue.\tAnd\twe\tcertainly\tdon't\tknow\twhat's ahead\tif\tthe\ttwo\tstreams\tcontinue\tcombining.\\\" As\tMort\texited,\tthe\tsenior\tofficer\tconsidered\tshelving\tthe\tinfo.\tToo\tearly. Promising,\tyes,\tbut\tanyone\tabove\thim\twould\tbe\tlooking\tfor\tactionable\tintel, which\the\tdid\tnot\thave.\tAt\tleast\tnot\tyet.\tAnd\tnot\tto\tthe\tdegree\trequired. The\tCO\thuffed\tagain. You\tbetter\tbe\tonto\tsomething\there,\tson. Then\the\tpicked\tup\this\tsecure\tphone,\tpunching\tthe\tfour\tdigits\tthat\tcalled\tup Strategic\tCommand.","TWENTY\tEIGHT Ft.\tClark--Wenatchee,\tWA Dalton\tleaned\tover\tchain\tlink\tand\tretched\tinto\tan\tempty,\trusted\treceptacle. He\thad\thurried\toff\tthe\ttrack\tand\tover\tto\tthe\tportable\tparade\tgrounds\tand\twas now\tdangling\tnearly\thalfway\tinside\tthe\tsilver\tcylinder.\tDalton's\thead\tlightened, lactic\tacid\tseeping\tinto\tmajor\tmuscle\tgroups,\tsearing\this\tjoints\tand\ttendons.\tHis entire\tbody\tscreamed,\tsurprised\tat\tthe\tradical\tadjustment\tin\tearly\tmorning expectations--\tprint\tsalesmen\tdon't\tdo\tthis\tkind\tof\tthing.\tWhile\tDalton\thad\tkept a\tmoderate\texercise\tregimen\tover\tthe\tlast\tnumber\tof\tyears,\tthis\twas\taltogether different.\tThirty-six\thours\tin,\tRestore\tTotem\twas\tstarting\tto\tfeel\tlike\tSpecial Forces\tHell\tWeek\ton\tsteroids.\tNo\tone\tthought\tthey\tcould\tmake\ta\tsuper\tsoldier out\tof\tthe\tretired\tsignal\tcorpsman.\tStill,\tthey\tneeded\tto\tbe\tassured\the\tcould handle\thimself\tif\tneed\tbe.\tHis\tbrains\twere\tthe\tultimate\tweapon\tin\this\tkit,\tbut\this head\twas\tattached\tto\this\tbody\tand\tthe\ttwo\ttend\tto\twork\tin\tconcert.\tHe\twas\tagain active\tduty.\tAnd\tthis\twas\ta\tvery\treal\tdeployment.\tPerhaps\tthe\tmost\tcritical\tfor him\tand\this\tcountry\teither\thad\tyet\tencountered. Welcome\tback\tto\tthe\tArmy. Still\tleaning\tover\tthe\tcan,\tbile\televated,\tthreatening\tanother\tupward\ttrek. Dalton\tkept\tit\tdown\tthis\ttime. No. No\tone\twould\tcatch\thim\tin\tthis\tcondition.\tCollecting\thimself,\the\tstood\tand turned\ttoward\tanother\tmile\tand\ta\thalf\ton\tthe\trubberized,\tlined\tsurface.\tHe steeled\thimself\tfor\tthe\tgrueling\tlast\tphase\tof\tthe\trun\tand\tfell\tback\tinto\ta\tdecent, if\treduced,\tpace. A\tvoice\tsurprised,\tapproaching\tquickly\tfrom\tthe\trear.\tAgain,\tthat\tinfuriating brogue. \\\"Anything\tI\tcan\tdo\tfor\tya,\tLT?\\\" Dalton\tstayed\tquiet,\tfocused\tahead.","Ignore\thim.\tHe's\ta\tcretin.\tJust\tignore\thim. Sergeant\tLochland\tpulled\tinto\tstep,\texchanging\tslow,\teven\tbreaths--barely perceptible. \\\"Would\tthere\tbe\tany\tway\tI\tcan\tmake\tyou\tfeel\tbetter,\tmah\tfriend?\tA\tnice,\tsoft couch...\tor\ta\tbigger\tcan\tto\tpuke\tin?\\\" Over\tthe\tnext\tfive\tminutes,\tevery\tfew\tsteps\tbrought\tmore\tof\tthe\tsame\tfrom Dalton's\tnew\tworkout\tbuddy.\tThen,\tjust\tfor\tfun,\tLoch\tturned\tbackwards, effortless\tand\tat\tthat\tsame\tpace. He\tfinished\tthe\tlast\t400\tthis\tway. Dalton\tcompleted\this\trun,\tdoing\this\tbest\tto\tnot\tsimply\tfall\tover.\tAs\tspent\tas\the had\tever\tbeen,\thands\ton\thips\twas\tas\tfar\tas\the\twould\tgo\tin\tcommunicating\thow awful\the\treally\tfelt.\tIf\tpain\twas\t\\\"weakness\tleaving\tthe\tbody\\\",\this\tbody\twas facilitating\ta\tmass,\tchaotic\texodus.\tHis\tlung\ttissue\tfelt\tthin\tas\tone-ply\ttoilet paper,\teach\tbreath\ta\ttotal\tcommitment.\tEventually\this\tchest\tslowed,\tragged\tbut steady.\tDalton\tturned\tto\tface\tthe\tbarracks.\tThirty\tpaces\tlater\the\tstopped\tat attention. \\\"General\tStevens.\\\" Standing\tstill\twas\texcruciating\tbut\the\twould\tdo\twhat\twas\texpected,\twhat\twas required. \\\"Carry\ton,\tLieutenant.\\\" \\\"Sir.\\\" Dalton\tplanned\tnothing\tmore\tthan\tto\tcollapse\tin\tthe\tshower\tbefore\tmoving onto\tthe\trest\tof\tthis\tday's\tdemanding\tschedule.\tMore\ttesting.\tMore\tprep.\tGiven\tit would\tbe\tin\ta\tchair\tor\tat\ta\tworkstation,\tat\tleast\the\tcould\trecover\tbefore\tthe\tnext round\tof\tPT. A\tfigure\traced\tpast. Both\tmen\tturned. Loch,\ttaking\tanother\t800\tmeters\tat\tfull\tsprint,\tjust\tfor\tkicks. Dalton\tshook\this\thead\tand\twent\tinside. The\thuman\tblur\tcame\toff\tthe\tcourse,\tbreathing\tno\tharder\tthan\tif\the\thad\tjust gotten\tout\tof\tbed.\tLoch\tapproached\this\tCO.\tA\tsalute\toffered\tand\treturned. \\\"Lochland.\tTell\tme\twhat\tyou\tthink.\tDon't\tsugar-coat\tit.\\\" The\tsergeant\ttoweled\toff\tneedlessly.\tNot\ta\tsingle\tbead\tof\tsweat\tloitered. \\\"Well,\tsir.\tAh\twill\tput\tit\tthis\tway...\the\twon't\tsave\tus\tall\twith\this\tphysical prowess\talone.\\\"","\\\"That\tis\tto\tbe\texpected,\\\"\tthe\tsuperior\tofficer\treplied. __________________________________ Aboard\tthe\tUSS\tGeorge\tH.W.\tBush--Pearl\tHarbor,\tHI Orders\tfor\tRestore\tTotem\tcame\tfast\tfor\tthe\tnine\twarships\tcomprising\tCarrier Group\t2,\tstationed\tat\tJoint\tBase\tPearl\tHarbor-Hickam\t(JBPHH).\tUnder\tcover\tof night\tand\tout\tinto\tthe\tboundless\tPacific,\tgraceful\tgray\thulls\tcut\tthrough\tmild surf,\tno\tmoonlight\tto\tbetray\ttheir\tpresence\tor\tpassing.\tThe\tflagship\tBush,\tthree Ticonderoga-class\tcruisers:\tPhilippine\tSea,\tLeyte\tGulf,\tand\tAnzio,\tas\twell\tas\tthe five\twarships\tof\tDestroyer\tSquadron\t22,\twere\tin\tmotion.\tTheir\tair\tcomplement included\tCarrier\tWing\t8,\tcomprised\tmostly\tof\tFA18\tHornets.\tThe\ttwo\tattack subs\tin\tthe\tcohort--Albuquerque\tand\tSeahorse--glided\tsilently\tbeneath.\tChances were\tthat\tGroup\t2\twould\tnot\tremain\tundetected\tas\tlong\tas\tnecessary.\tThe\thope was\tsimply\tthat\todds\twould\twork\tout\tin\ttheir\tfavor.\tTiming\tand\tluck,\tneeded\tin equal\tquantities. There\tremained\talmost\tfive\tthousand\tmiles\tto\tChina's\tcoast.\tThe\ttask\tahead? Stay\thidden\tuntil\tachieving\tstrategic\tadvantage.\tOne\tmight\tthink\tthis\timpossible. But\tthe\tPacific\tis\ta\tvast\thiding\tplace,\teven\tfor\tsomething\tas\tlarge\tas\ta\tcarrier consort.\tThe\tproposition\twas\tstraightforward:\treposition\tGHW\tBush\tand company\twithin\trange\tof\tthe\tChinese\tmainland.\tNot\tunlike\ta\tboxer\tholding\ta shorter-armed\topponent\tat\tbay,\tthe\tquestion\twould\tcome\tdown\tto\tthis:\thow\tclose could\tyou\tsneak\tbefore\thaving\tto\tengage? With\ta\tstriking\tdistance\tof\taround\t500\tnautical\tmiles,\tthe\tfighter\twing\twould need\tlots\tof\ttime\tto\tmove\tin\tunnoticed.\tMissiles\tfrom\tships\tand\tthe\ttwo\tsubs alongside\tcould\tset\tloose\tsomewhat\tfarther\tout,\tsay\tup\tto\t2000\tnm.\tBut\tthis\twas a\twhole\tother\tkind\tof\tbattle,\tone\tthey\tall\twould\trather\tavoid.\tThe\tnaval\tgroup's presence\tstood\tin\tclear\tviolation\tof\tmandates\tfrom\tBeijing.\tAnd\tif\tBeijing\tstill had\ttheir\tthumb\ton\tthe\tbutton,\tmillions\tof\tpeople\twould\tbe\tmurdered\tin\ta firestorm\tof\tprimal\tforces\treleased\tonto\tAmerican\tsoil.","Rear\tAdmiral\tMarianne\tKnowles,\ta\tkeen\tobserver\tof\ther\tcrew\tand\tpeople generally,\tapproached\tthe\tensign\tat\tthe\tcomm. \\\"Ensign.\tStatus.\\\" \\\"Admiral,\\\"\the\treplied.\t\\\"We\tare\tfull\tready.\tSilenced\trules\tuntil\t0600.\\\" \\\"Superb.\\\" Her\ttone\tallowed\tthere\tmight\tbe\tmore.\t\\\"Anything\telse,\tensign?\\\" \\\"Ma'am,\\\"\the\topened\tup.\t\\\"Do\tyou\tthink\tthis\twill\twork?\tI\tmean,\twhat\tare\tthe chances\twe'll\tarrive\tat\tthe\tright\ttime...\tthat\twe'll\tregain\tcontrol\tin\ttime\tto\tstrike?\\\" Knowles\tshifted\tslightly. The\tconcept,\ton\tpaper,\twas\tsimple\tenough.\tTake\tback\tAmerican\tdiplomatic and\tnational\tdestiny.\tThe\tPentagon\tbelieved\tan\topening\texisted.\tFor\ther\tpart,\tthe stated\ttactical\tobjectives\tstrayed\tas\tfar\tfrom\tcertainty\tas\tthe\tmariner\thad\tever experienced.\tLeadership\tof\tthe\tthousands\tof\tfine\tmen\tand\twomen\tunder\ther command\tbegged\tfor\ta\tmore\tmeasured\tresponse. \\\"Our\tjob\tis\tnot\tto\tpredict\toutcomes,\tsailor.\tIt\tis\tto\tbe\tin\tposition\tand\tready. And\tif\ta\tfight\tis\tto\tbe\thad,\twe'll\tbring\tit.\\\" TWENTY\tNINE Combat\tTraining\tCenter--Ft.\tClark Dalton's\tbutt\thad\toccupied\thard\tmetal\tfor\tover\tan\thour,\this\tbody\tcovered\twith sensors.\tAdhesive\treddened\this\tskin,\tpinching\thair\ton\tarms\tand\tlegs.\tCapturing every\tconceivable\tpiece\tof\tbiometric\tinput,\tthe\tFt.\tClark\tteam\tran\tDalton through\tits\tpaces.\tHe\thad\tencountered\ttests\tlike\tthis\tbefore.\tThis\tone,\tat\tleast, was\tinteresting. A\tfirst-person\tsim,\tfive\tby\tfive\tfeet,\tcovered\tthe\twall.\tTurns,\tdoorways,\tand paths\tunfolded\tas\toptions,\tmore\tconfusing\tat\tevery\tstage.\tNo\ttangible\tbearings.","No\tlandmarks\tor\tvisual\toddities.\tThe\tthree-dimensional\treality\tbore\tno\ttextures, no\tsurfaces.\tThe\ttest\twas\tdesigned\tto\tprovide\tonly\tcomplex,\traw\tdirectional datum,\tdemanding\ta\thigh\tdegree\tof\tindependence\tfrom\tthe\tvery\telements\tmost humans\trequire\tto\tproblem-solve.\tIt\twas\ta\tbit\tlike\ta\tmathematical\tequation containing\tonly\tvariables. And\tDalton\twas\tkilling\tit. Dr.\tMac\tlooked\ton\tfrom\tthe\tbooth\tat\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\troom,\tastounded.\tThis particular\ttest\thad\tover\tthree\tyears\tof\tresults\tbetween\tthree\thundred\tseventeen subjects.\tThe\tfurthest\tanyone\thad\tachieved\twas\tthe\tseventh\trun\tbefore\ttapping out.\tDalton\twas\tcurrently\tmaking\this\tway,\tunhindered,\tthrough\tround\ttwenty- three,\twith\tno\tsigns\tof\tstopping\tanytime\tsoon.\tHad\tthe\tdoctor\tbeen\table\tto\tpeer inside\this\thead,\tshe'd\thave\tbeen\teven\tmore\timpressed\tand\tas\tequally\tintrigued. It\twas\tall\tthere. Every\tturn,\teach\tdecision.\tEvery\tchoice\tover\tthe\tlast\tsixty\tminutes\tas\tpresent as\tthe\tone\tbefore,\tall\tfitting\ttogether.\tAn\tactive,\tsymbiotic,\tliving\tpuzzle. The\tscreen\tin\tthe\troom\twent\tblank. Nothing. General\tStevens,\tstanding\twith\tDr.\tMac\tin\tthe\tsmall,\tdark\tspace,\tposed\tthe obvious\tquestion: \\\"What.\tDid\tit\tbreak?\\\" His\tthoughts\twent\tto\tlogistics. Given\tthe\trapid\tdeployment\tof\tClark,\tmaybe\tthe\tinstall\twas\tfaulty?\tTechs\tleft out\ta\tfew\tscrews\there\tor\tthere? The\teminent\tpsychiatrist\tspoke\tin\tdisbelief. \\\"Sir,\tnot\texactly.\tThe\tprogramming\twas\tnever\tfinalized.\tBudget\tcuts,\teighteen months\tin.\tSomebody\ton\tthe\tHill\tthought\twe\twere\twasting\ttime\tand\tmoney\ton \\\"video\tgames\tfor\tsoldiers\\\",\tgot\tsome\tsenators\triled\tup,\tand\tpoof,\tthere\tgoes\tthe project.\tWe\thoped\tit\twould\tstill\tbe\ta\tviable\tassessment\ttool.\tTo\tthis\tpoint,\tit\thas been.\tHonestly,\twe\tthought\tno\tone\twould\tget\tthis\tfar.\\\" Impatient\tas\talways,\tDalton\ttore\tthe\tsensors\toff\this\tforearms\tand\tthighs. The\tcaptain\tstepped\tinto\tthe\troom. \\\"Lieutenant\tDalton.\tPlease,\twait\ta\tmoment.\\\" Dalton\twas\tall\ttangled\tup\tin\twires.\tHe\talso\twasn't\tslowing\tdown\tany\tto\tsort\tit all\tout. \\\"Okay,\tthat\twas\tfun\tbut\tI'm\ta\tlittle\ttired\tnow.\tGotta\tbe\tlunchtime\talready.\tAnd","if\tyou\tdon't\tmind,\tI\treally\tneed\tto\tget\tat\tthat\tcode.\tWe're\tburning\ttime\twe\tdon't have.\tWe've\tgot\tway\tmore\timportant\tthings\tto\ttackle\tthan\tyour\tsuped\tup Nintendo\there.\\\" More\tlines\tand\ttape,\tballed\tup,\tdiscarded. \\\"Which,\tby\tthe\tway,\tI\tdid\tnot\tbreak.\\\" Mac\tsought\ta\tcue\tfrom\ther\tCO.\tShe\tgot\tit. \\\"Lieutenant\tDalton,\\\"\tStevens'\tdisembodied\tvoice\tbroadcast\tover\tthe\tspeaker system.\t\\\"We\tare\tdone\twith\tevals.\tReport\tto\tmission\tprep\tat\t1300\tin\tthe\tsit\troom. That\tis\tall.\\\" __________________________________ The\tsituation\troom\tat\tClark,\tappearing\tas\thastily\tput\ttogether\tas\tthe\trest\tof\tthe camp,\tnonetheless\thad\teverything\tnecessary,\tat\ta\tvery\tbasic\tlevel,\tto\tlaunch\tand preside\tover\ta\tmajor\top.\tA\tconference\ttable\tseating\tten.\tAn\tupgrade\tin\tchairs, owing\tto\tthe\tfact\tthat\tpeople\toccupied\tthem\tfor\textended\tperiods.\tSadly,\tthe coffee\twas\tstill\tbottom\tbarrel,\tArmy-issue.\tBrowning\tsides\tof\tglass\tcarafes spoke\tvolumes\tabout\tthe\tlack\tof\tcare\ttoward\tsuch\ta\tcritical\tcomponent\tof modern\twarfare. Dalton\tstared,\toffended. Dr.\tMac\twas\tin\tplace,\tas\twas\tColonel\tMeers.\tLoch\twas\tacross\tthe\ttable\twith another\taide\tto\tthe\tcommander. Everyone\tstood. General\tStevens\tentered\tand\tthe\tvideo\twall\tcame\tto\tlife,\tPresidential\tSeal fading\tinto\tview.\tThe\tfeed\tjumped\tand\tthen\tsettled. __________________________________ From\tthe\tOval\tOffice,\tSec\tDef,\tHomeland\tSecurity,\tand\tthe\tNational\tSecurity Advisor\tsat\ton\tone\tside,\toccupying\tchairs\tand\tcouch.\tCIA\tand\tFBI\ttook\tup","places\topposite.\tAides\tlingered\tin\tthe\tnear-background\tbut\tthe\tfocal\tpoint\twas forward,\taimed\tat\tthe\tpresident's\tdesk\tand\twaiting\tfor\tsecure\tsignal\tlock.\tGiven the\tgo-ahead\tfrom\tthe\ton-site\ttech\tdirector,\the\topened\tthe\tconversation. \\\"General\tStevens.\tGood\tto\tsee\tyou.\tI\twish\tit\twere\tunder\tbetter\tcircumstances.\\\" \\\"First\toff,\\\"\the\tcontinued.\t\\\"Your\thandling\tof\tthe\tevacuation\tand\tresettlement duties\tis\ta\tcredit\tto\tyour\tprofessionalism\tand\tthat\tof\tyour\tstaff.\tI\tknow\tthis\twas perhaps\tone\tof\tthe\tmost\tchallenging\tthings\tthis\tnation\thas\tever\tasked\tof\tyou.\tI am\tindebted\tfor\thow\tyou\thave\tcomported\tyourself\tand\tyour\tcommand.\\\" \\\"Mr.\tPresident.\tThat\tis\ta\tgreat\tcompliment.\tI\twill\tpass\tit\talong\tto\tthe\tmany fine\tsoldiers\twho've\tmade\thard\tthings\thappen\tthis\tpast\tweek.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tGeneral,\tI\tam\tcertain\tyou\twill.\\\" The\ttwo\twere\tlong-time\tfriends,\ttheir\tearly\tpaths\ttracing\ta\tparallel\tarc.\tBoth had\tenjoyed\tthe\tfinest\tleadership\ttraining\tin\tthe\tcountry.\tMike\tStevens\thad applied\tthese\tlessons\tover\ta\tlifetime\tof\tmilitary\tservice.\tThe\tpresident, obviously,\thad\twalked\tthe\tpath\tof\tpolitical\tinfluence\tand\tgovernance. \\\"General...\\\" He\tpaused,\tformalities\tseeming\tunnecessary,\tand\tstarted\tagain. \\\"Mike...\twe've\tbeen\tworking\ttwo\tscenarios.\tIt's\ttime\tto\tcoordinate\tand\tmake some\tdecisions.\tI\thave\tauthorized\tCarrier\tGroup\t2\tout\tof\tPearl\tto\tproceed westward,\ttoward\tChina.\tOur\tcurrent\tunderstanding\tof\tthe\tcode\tdegeneration\tis still\tdicey\tbut\twe\tneed\tassets\ton\tthe\tmove,\tcovering\tall\tcontingencies.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tMr.\tPresident.\\\" Stevens\tcould\tnot\tbring\thimself\tto\trefer\tto\this\tCIC\tby\tfirst\tname. \\\"And\tso,\\\"\tthe\tpresident\tasked.\t\\\"Your\tside\tof\tthe\tballgame?\tIs\the\tready?\tI\tneed to\thear\tit\tfrom\tyou,\tMike.\\\" Stevens,\talong\twith\teverybody\telse\tin\tthe\troom,\tlooked\tat\tDalton. \\\"Mr.\tPresident,\the\tis\tprepped...\tand\the's\tthe\tbest\tchance\twe've\tgot.\\\" Dalton\tdidn't\texpect\tto\tbe\tthrown\tunder\tthe\tbus.\tStill,\tthe\tgeneral's\twords\tand tone\twere\tmost\tencouraging. \\\"Well\tthen,\tMike,\tI\tam\tauthorizing\tfull\tgreen\tlight--every\taspect.\tGod\tbless your\tteam.\tWe'll\tneed\tit.\\\" The\tscreen\twent\tblack.\tEveryone\texhaled. Dalton\tand\tStevens\twere\tlast\tto\tleave.\tAlmost\tto\tthe\tdoorway,\tDalton\tturned. \\\"General?\tSir,\tI\tknow\tI've\tbeen\ta\tpain\tin\tthe\tkeester...\t\\\" The\tgeneral\tneither\tchallenged\tnor\tcorrected.","\\\"...\tbut\tyou\thave\tto\tknow.\tI\tam\tfully\tcommitted\tto\tthis\tthing.\tOur\tcountry\thas taken\ta\tblow\tevery\tcitizen\tfeels\tdeeply,\ta\twound\tonly\tfestering\tuntil\twe\tdo something.\tSomething\tcrazy,\tsure.\tBut\tthat's\tall\twe've\tgot,\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\ttell.\\\" It\tseemed\tcorny,\ta\tbad\tline\tin\ta\tB\tmovie,\tbut\the\tmeant\tit. \\\"Sir,\tI\twill\tdo\tmy\tbest.\tYou\thave\tmy\tword...\tas\ta\tsoldier...\tand\tan\tofficer.\\\" Stevens\tknew\the'd\tmade\tthe\tright\tcall. \\\"I\tknow\tyou\twill,\tson.\tI\tknow\tyou\twill.\\\" THIRTY Quingdao Junjie\thad\tconsidered\tthis\tmoment\talmost\tad\tnauseum.\tThen\tagain,\tit\twasn't everyday\tyou\tinvited\ta\tpotential\tenemy\tinto\tyour\tnuclear\tstorehouse. Treason.\tFor\treal,\tthis\ttime.\tUnlike\tthe\ttrumped-up\tcharges\tfor\twhich\this father\thad\tsuffered,\the\twas\tpreparing\tto\tentrust\tthe\tsafety\tand\tsovereignty\tof\this nation\tto\tan\tunknown\tother.\tThat\tis,\tif\tthey\twere\tactually\talive\tand\tthe\tone\the thought\tstill\thad\tto\tbe\tout\tthere,\tsomewhere. C:>|...... __________________________________ The\tVault","Mort\tkeyed\tin\ta\tfew\tlast\tstrokes\tand\twaited. \\\"Secure\tlink,\tcheck.\tTransmission\tspeed\tat\t98%.\\\" The\ttech\tsat\tback\tand\twhistled. \\\"Lt.\tDalton,\tyou've\tgot\tquite\tthe\thotrod\tnow.\tHope\tyou\tknow\thow\tto\ttreat her.\\\" __________________________________ Ft.\tClark,\tCyOps\tUnit Dalton\theard\tthe\tquip. \\\"Well,\tit's\tbeen\tawhile\tbut\tI\tthink\twe\tcan\tdo\tsome\tdamage.\tI\tmean,\\\"\tchecking his\tmetaphor,\tand\talmost\tseeing\tthe\tcringe\ton\tthe\tother\tend.\t\\\"I\tmean...\tshe's\ta beaut\tand\tI'll\thave\ther\tback\tin\tthe\tgarage\tby\televen,\tgassed\tup\tand\twaxed.\\\" Nothing. That\twas\tokay.\tDalton\thad\tmoved\ton. Alright,\tfirst\tlevels,\tbye\tbye. Stevens,\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway,\tlooked\tfor\tsigns\tof\tprogress\tin\tthe\tman's\tkeystrokes or\tcountenance,\tknowing\teven\tthat\tmay\tnot\thelp\thim\tfollow\tthe\taction. Dalton\tkept\tentering. Oh,\tI\tsee\twhat\tyou\tdid\tthere.\tWell,\tbetter\tluck\tnext\ttime. The\tdance\tcontinued\tanother\tfive\tminutes.\tThen\tDalton\tsat\tback,\ta\tquizzical look\tand\tarms\tacross\tchest. \\\"Nice.\\\" Nothing\tmore. \\\"So,\\\"\tStevens\tstepped\tin.\t\\\"Not\tto\task\tquestions\twith\tanswers\tI\tmay\tnot understand...\tbut...\tnice?\\\" Dalton\tweighed\tthe\teffort. \\\"Yeah,\tgeneral.\tReally\tnice,\tactually.\tThe\tstructure\tof\tthis\tauthentication sequence\tis\tway\tbeyond\twhat\tI\timagined.\\\" \\\"Wait,\tthe\tauthentication\tsequence?\tYou're\tnot\tactually\tinside\tthe codestream?\\\"","\\\"Ha,\tno.\tNot\teven\tclose,\tsir.\tBut\tthe\tentryway\tis\tquite\tgood.\tWhoever\tdid\tthis knows\ttheir\tstuff.\tAnd\ta\tbit\tmore.\tThey're\tobviously\tlaying\tthe\tgroundwork\tfor incredibly\tlimited\taccess.\tAnd\tonly\tfor\tan\tequal.\\\" \\\"Well,\tthat\twould\tbe\tyou,\tright\tDalton?\\\" \\\"So\tfar.\\\" More\tstillness. \\\"You\twill\tproceed,\tthen?\\\" \\\"Nope.\tNot\tyet.\\\" The\tgeneral\tdid\this\tbest\tto\thide\ta\tgrowing\timpatience. \\\"Sir,\\\"\tDalton\tadded.\t\\\"This\tauthentication\tsequence\twas\tdesigned\tto\tstop\tthe vast\tmajority\tof\tattempts\tat\tits\tfirst\tfew\tfirewalls.\tI\tgot\tpast\teighteen\tand\tthen\tit stopped.\tBut\tI\tthink\tthat's\tthe\tdesign\tas\twell.\tAll\twe\tcan\tdo\tnow\tis\twait\tfor\tan invite.\tAcross\tthe\tmoat\tand\tinto\tthe\tcourtyard\tstill\tdoesn't\tget\tus\tthrough\tthe massive\tfront\tdoor.\\\" __________________________________ Qingdao Junjie\tstarted\tin. C:>|access>checks C:>|activity\tlogged>\tscan\tin\tprocess... Fielding\tnegative\tresults\tfor\tdays,\tthe\tyoung\tbusinessman\thoped\ttoday\twould be\tdifferent.\tHe\tgot\tan\tanswer\talmost\timmediately. C:>|fire1...\tcleared C:>|fire2...\tcleared C:>|fire3...\tcleared... The\tscreen\tkept\tcounting,\tall\tthe\tway\tto\teighteen.","__________________________________ Ft.\tClark Dalton\tsat\tup,\tsurprised\tbut\texcited.\tHe'd\tnot\timagined\ta\trealtime\tinterface. C:>|proceed... Protocols?\tDalton\tentered. C:>|proceed... Clearly,\tthis\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\ttest;\tevery\tstep.\tA\tdigital\tsword\tin\tthe\tstone kind\tof\tthing. Dalton\tsmiled. Okay\tthen.\tYou\tasked\tfor\tit. Rolling\tcode\tfilled\tthe\tscreen,\tthe\tman\tpausing\tonly\tso\tslightly\tto\tconsider\ta next\twave\tof\tpenetration.\tIt\twas\tanother\thour\tand\ta\thalf\tbefore\the\tlooked\tup\tfor any\tamount\tof\ttime. Stevens\tsensed\ta\tline\tin\tthe\tsand. \\\"Well,\tson?\\\" \\\"General,\tgood\tso\tfar.\tSo\tclose\tto\tentering\tfor\treal.\\\" \\\"What?\tMore\tpre-game?\\\" \\\"Not\texactly.\tProgress\tfor\tsure.\tBut\tI\treally\tneed\tto\tmake\tthis\tcommand count.\\\" Dalton\tlooked\tinto\tthe\troom,\tjust\tbeyond\thim.\tMassive\tamounts\tof\tcoded\tdata floated,\tmoved,\tand\tthen\treassembled\tin\this\tmind's\teye. 50.735% The\tother\toption,\tvirtually\tthe\tsame.\tThe\tnumbers\tdidn't\treally\thelp. Dalton\twent\twith\this\tgut\tand\ttyped\tin\toption\ttwo. For\ta\tfew\tseconds,\tnothing.","It\trefreshed\tand\the\tbreathed\tagain. C:>|caretaker>access\tshared...\tsovereign... It\tall\tcame\tback. Months\tof\tdevelopment.\tNo\tone\telse\tin\tthe\tloop.\tNo\tone\telse\tin\tthe\troom.\tThe prefab\tquarters\tand\tunbearable\theat.\tThe\tquestions\twere\tequally\tas unsustainable. Could\tit\tactually\twork? What\tif\tit\tdid?\tWhat\tif\tthis\twas\tthe\tkey\tto\tvastly\treducing,\tno\teliminating,\tthe errors\thumans\tmake\tevery\tday,\tevery\tsingle\tsecond?\tLaw,\tmedicine, engineering,\tpolitics.\tThe\tdigital-biological\tsetup\twould\tbe\tthe\thardest\tpart\tto get\tright.\tData\tis\tjust\tdata. Then\the\tflashed\tback\tto\tthe\tmoment\the'd\tbeen\tfound\tout.\tMPs\ttrashing everything.\tHis\tsimple\tlaptop,\tthe\treason\the'd\tstayed\tunder\tthe\tradar\tfor\tso\tlong, taken\tand--he'd\tbeen\ttold--destroyed.\tBut\tthat\twas\tall\ta\tlie. Sovereign\thad\tsurvived. Pages\topened\ton\tDalton's\tscreen\tat\tClark. He\tbegan\treading.\tIt\twas\tall\thighest\teyes-only\tand\tdetailed\thow\this\twork\thad been\tquarantined,\tstolen,\tand\tthen\tplaced\tinto\tplay\tfor\tthe\tworld's\telite\ttech\tand weapons\tmerchants. The\thighest\tbidder?\tThe\tPeople's\tRepublic\tof\tChina. There\twas\tlittle\tconcern\tat\tthe\ttime\tthat\tSovereign\twould\tbe\tactivated. Dalton's\tcode\twas\tbrilliant\tand\tparadigm-resetting,\tyes.\tIt\twas\talso\tfar\tfrom operational.\tThat\twould\trequire\tsomeone,\tor\ta\tteam\tof\tsomeones\tDalton's counterpart. __________________________________ Qingdao Junjie,\tfar\tbeyond\tthe\tpoint\tof\tno\treturn,\tpressed\ton.","You\tmay\tcall\tme\t\\\"caretaker,\\\"\the\tentered\tinto\tthe\tsidestream. C:>|please\tdeclare\tyour\tintentions... Likely\tthe\tsame\tas\tyours,\tJunjie\tsent\tback. C:>|acceptable\tfor\tnow... One\tlast\tstep.\tLiterally\tone\tlast\tset\tof\tcommands\tand\tthe\tdoor\twould\tbe opened. __________________________________ Clark \\\"No!\tNo,\tno,\tno,\tno!\\\"\tDalton\tpleaded\twith\tthe\tsuddenly\tblank\tscreen. \\\"What\tin\thades?\\\"\tStevens\tshouted.\t\\\"Get\tMort\ton.\tSomeone\treconnect\tthis thing.\tImmediately.\\\" \\\"General,\\\"\tMort's\tvoice\tcame\tback.\t\\\"Not\tour\tend.\tDoing\tline\tchecks\tnow...\tnot your\tend\teither.\\\" \\\"That\tmakes\tno\tsense,\\\"\tDalton\tinterjected.\t\\\"Why\ttease\tus\talong,\tthat\tfar,\tthat much\twork.\\\" He\tstood\tand\tconsidered\tit. \\\"It's\tnot\thim.\tOr\ther.\tIt's\tnot\tthe\tcaretaker.\\\" __________________________________ Three\tscreens\tredrew.\tWenatchee.\tDC.\tQingdao.","C:>|access\tredirect>limited... C:>|access\tlimited... C:>|48:00:00 C:>|access\tlimited... C:>|47:59:58... __________________________________ Ft.\tClark Dalton\ttried\tto\ttype\tover\tthe\tcountdown. \\\"Lieutenant,\ttell\tme\twe\thave\tanother\toption.\\\" \\\"Sorry\tsir,\tnothing.\tAnd\twe\tdon't\teven\tknow\twhat's\tgoing\tto\thappen\twhen\tthat counter\truns\tto\tzero.\tCould\tbe\tfull\tcontrol.\tCould\tbe\tautolaunch.\tMeltdown\tof warheads\tin\tsilos\tand\tonboard\tsubs?\tWho\tknows?\\\" \\\"But\tyou\tknow.\tThis\tis\tyour\tmachine,\tyour\tcode.\\\" \\\"Not\tanymore,\tgeneral.\tWe\thave\tno\taccess,\teven\tvia\tthe\tVault.\tAnd\tI\tam\tafraid the\tcode\tis\tmigrating\tfaster\tthan\twe\tcan\ttrack.\tIt's\tmost\tcertainly\tto\tblame\tfor\tthe lockout.\\\" \\\"Okay,\\\"\tStevens\thovered\tover\tthe\tspeakerphone\tbutton.\t\\\"Didn't\twant\tto\tuse this\tunless\tabsolutely\tnecessary.\t\\\"Sergeant\tLochland,\treport\timmediately\tto CyOps.\tImmediately\tto\tCyOps.\\\" \\\"Sir?\\\" \\\"Oh,\tyeah\tDalton.\tNo\tworries,\the's\tnot\tcoming\tto\tbeat\tyou\tinto\taction.\tThing is,\tthere\tis\tone\tplace\tleft\tyou\tcan\tlikely\tgain\taccess\tand\tget\tyour\twork\tdone.\\\" Dalton\twas\tintrigued.\tHe\tknew\twhat\tkind\tof\tpower\tthe\tVault\thad\ton\ttap. Topping\tthat\twould\tbe\tsome\tfeat. \\\"General,\\\"\tLoch\tsaluted\tand\tstepped\tinto\tthe\troom. \\\"Excellent.\tHere's\tthe\tdeal,\tyou\ttwo.\tMilitary\tand\tcivilian\tintelligence\thas","long-maintained\trelationships,\tunique\trelationships,\twith\tAmerica's\thardware and\tsoftware\tleaders.\tThey\tlike\tour\tblack\tfunds.\tWe\tlike\ttheir\ttech.\tI\tthink\twe may\thave\ta\tsolution\tto\tour\tlatest\tsetback.\\\" \\\"Sounds\tlike\tthere's\tmore\tto\tthis\ttale,\\\"\tLoch\tprobed. \\\"Correct,\tsergeant.\tThe\ttech\tyou\tneed\tis\tback\tthere,\\\"\tpointing\ttoward\tand through\tthe\tCascade\tMountains.\t\\\"Dalton\tis\tgoing\tback\tin.\tAnd,\tyou're\tgoing with\thim.\\\" Stevens\tstood. \\\"But,\teven\tthe\ttwo\tof\tyou\twill\tneed\tsome\thelp.\tAnd\tI\thave\tthe\tperfect\tperson in\tmind.\tGear\tup,\tgentlemen.\tYou're\theaded\tback\tto\tSeattle.\\\" __________________________________ Qingdao Junjie\tstared\tat\tthe\tnumbers. \\\"Quan,\\\"\the\tcalled\tquietly. \\\"Yes?\\\"\tthe\tunderground\ttechie\twalked\tover. \\\"How\tquickly\tcan\tthis\tequipment\tbe\tprepared\tfor\ttravel?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tunderstand,\\\"\tthe\tsmall\tman\treplied. \\\"I\thave\tto\tleave.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tpossible.\\\" Another\tlook\tof\tconfusion. \\\"The\tcode\tis\tdegrading\tfaster\tthan\tI\tcan\tkeep\tup.\tThere's\tstill\ta\tchance.\tBut\tnot from\there.\tI\thave\talready\tput\tyou\tin\tenough\tdanger.\tWhat\tif\tthe\tcode\tbroadcasts our\tposition?\tIf\tthat\thappens\tand\tI\tam\talone,\tat\tleast\tI\tam\tthe\tonly\tone\tin\tharm's way.\tThis\tis\tmy\ttask.\tNot\tyours.\\\" \\\"I\tcan't\tsay\tI\tunderstand\tcompletely.\tNeither\twould\tthe\tcouncil.\tBut,\tyes,\\\" Quan\tsaid.\t\\\"I\tcan\tget\tyou\tready\twithin\tthe\thour.\\\" \\\"Very\tgood,\tmy\tfriend.\tYou've\tdone\tmore\tthan\tenough\talready.\\\"","THIRTY\tONE Five\tMiles\tNorth\tof\tCentral\tBeijing:\tthe\tmanufacturing\tcorridor Agonies\techoed\tthroughout\tthe\tabandoned\twarehouse\tand\tits\tempty\tlots. Dusk.\tThe\turban\tfringe\tof\tChina's\tcapital\tcity\tlay\travaged\tin\tthe\tgrowing darkness\tof\tday,\tin\tlarge\tpart\tdue\tto\ta\tsagging\teconomy.\tBuildings\tsat\torphaned in\tthe\twake\tof\tfinancial\tdownturns.\tYet,\tgrim\tas\tthese\tuntended\tshells\tappeared, a\tmore\timmediate\tdownside\tpresented\tin\tthe\tfading\tlight.\tNo\tone\taround. Nobody\tto\tnotice\tor\tcare\tthat\tsomething\tbad\twas\thappening\tto\tanother\tperson. Zhou\tDhe\tsat\tin\tthe\tcavernous\tspace,\tarms\tfolded\tacross\tchest\tand\tunmoved by\trepeated\tpronouncements\tof\tinnocence.\tHis\teyes\thad\tneither\tflinched\tnor flickered\tin\tthe\tlast\tthree\thours.\tHis\tface\twas\tstill\tas\tstone,\this\tcountenance twice\tas\tcold.\tIt\twas\tnot\this\tfirst\ttime\ttrading\tpain\tfor\tinformation.\tIt\twas\talso not\tthe\tfirst\ttime\the'd\tenjoyed\tit. The\ttragic\tfigure\tin\tthe\tchair\tfell\tforward\tlimply\tagain,\theld\tin\tplace\tonly\tby\ta twisted\tmass\tof\tbungee\tcords\tat\this\tmidsection.\tHis\tsobs\twere\tquiet\tyet\tdeep. Weakness\tremained,\tdefiance\tlong\tpast.\tWere\tthis\tnot\tthe\tcase,\tstill\tthe\tman wouldn't\tdare\tlook\tDhe\tin\tthe\tface. The\tminister's\twork\twas\tnot\tprogressing. \\\"Again.\\\" \\\"No...\tplease...\tno,\\\"\tthe\tvictim\tpleaded.\t\\\"I\thired\ton\tonly\ta\tfew\tweeks\tago\tat Dawn\tStar.\tI\tknow\tnothing.\tI\ttold\tyou\tthis.\tPlease,\tno...\tno\tmore.\\\" The\tinterrogator\tlooked\tto\tDhe. Continue. Outwardly,\tDhe\tbroadcast\tthis\ttype\tof\twork\tas\tpatriotic\tduty.\tIn\treality,\this position\tand\tdominion\twere\tprimary.\tThe\tworld\twas\ta\tclosed\tsystem,\ta\tzero-sum contest.\tIf\tsomeone\twas\tstronger,\the\twas\tweaker.\tUnthinkable,\tuntenable.\tYet, he\talso\tknew\twhen\tto\tcut\this\tlosses.\tThis\tinterrogation\twas\ta\tloss,\tbut\tnot because\tlife\tebbed\tin\tthe\tchair.\tHours\thad\tbeen\twasted;\thours\the\tdid\tnot\thave. Dhe\tstood\tand\tleft--wordlessly.","Exiting\tthe\twarehouse,\ta\tblack\tMercedes\tE240\tidled.\tMoving\tthe\tfew\tfeet\tto the\tcar\tand\tinto\tthe\tbackseat\the\tyawned,\tthe\texact\tmoment\tthe\tman\tin\tthe building\tdrew\this\tlast\tbreath. __________________________________ Nearing\tGansu The\troad-worn\tbus\twas\tfilled\tto\toverflowing,\tevery\twindow\tforced\topen. Outside,\tthe\tmaelstrom\tof\theat\tand\tdust\twas\tstill\tcleaner\tand\tcooler\tthan\twhat clung\tto\teach\tperson,\tin\tevery\tseat.\tThree\tdogs,\ttwo\tgoats,\tfive\tuncaged chickens.\tJunjie\thoped\tthe\ttwo\tstops\tover\tthe\tprevious\tfourteen\thours\tmight result\tin\tfewer\tpeople\tand\tanimals.\tInstead,\tthe\trolling\tcarnival\tonly\ttook\ton more\tpatrons,\tof\tboth\tthe\thuman\tand\tanimal\tvarieties.\tAll\tin\tall,\tquite\tdifferent accommodations\tthan\tthe\tman\twas\tused\tto.\tAs\tCEO\tof\ta\tprosperous\ttech\tfirm Junjie\tenjoyed\tfirst\tclass\teverything.\tThinking\tback\tto\teven\tsix\tmonths\tago,\the smiled. The\tdaydream\twas\tinterrupted\tby\tan\tolder\twoman\tnavigating\tto\tthe\tbathroom and\talmost\ttripping\tover\this\tgear.\tJunjie\toverreacted,\tarms\tout,\ttrying\tto\tkeep\ther away. She\tshot\thim\ta\tharsh\tlook. Whoa.\tCalm\tdown,\tJunjie.\tTotally\tgoing\tto\tgive\tyourself\taway. He\treally\tshouldn't\thave\tworried.\tNone\tof\tthe\tgear\twas\tespecially\tfragile-- Quan\thad\tseen\tto\tthat.\tJunjie\tshook\this\thead\ta\tfew\ttimes,\tjust\tto\tconfirm\tthis\twas all\treal. Yes.\tYes,\tit\twas. The\tbus\tradio\thad\tbeen\tscreeching\tnon-stop\tsince\tQingdao.\tOne\titem.\tEvery channel.\tUnrelenting\taccounts\tof\tvictory\tin\tthe\tnorthwestern\tcorner\tof\tthe\tU.S. Chinese\tsovereignty\tgrows\tdaily\tin\tthe\tnew\tprovince. America\thas\tcapitulated\tto\tthe\tdemands\tof\tBeijing. The\tPeople's\tRepublic\thas\tlanded\tfirmly\ton\tthe\tshores\tof\tNorth\tAmerica. Junjie\thad\tprincipally\ttuned\tit\tout\tthe\tlast\tfew\thours.\tStill,\tcatching\ta\tphrase\tor","two\tate\tat\this\tbowels\tlike\ta\tlow-level\tinfluenza.\tThankfully,\tthe\tdriver\twas\tthe only\tone\tpaying\tattention\tto\tthis\tdrivel. Junjie\tlooked\taround. If\tthis\ttruly\tis\ta\tgreat\tnation,\tnaturally\texpanding\tits\treach\tand\topportunity\tto the\tunfortunate\tpopulaces\tof\tthe\tworld,\tit\tseems\tto\thave\tskipped\tover\tthe\tlives\tof the\tpeople\ton\tthis\tsteaming\tjunker. The\tyoung\tbusinessman\tcould\tbe\tso\tcynical. Junjie\thad\ttried\tto\trest.\tEach\ttime\this\teyelids\theavied\ta\trandom\tprocession\tof two\tand\tfour-legged\tcreatures\tdown\tthe\taisle\tforced\thim\tback\tto\tthe\tunpleasant present.\tSadly,\the\twould\tremain\tconscious\twhile\ttrapped\ton\tthis\tmarvel\tof public\ttransportation. They\twere\tnear\tnow,\tat\tleast\tin\tterms\tof\tChinese\tgeography.\tOnly\tanother\tfour to\tfive\thours. This\tlast\tphase\tof\tthe\tjourney\twould\ttake\thim\tthrough\tthe\tmountains surrounding\this\tvillage,\twinding\tdown\tinto\tlow\tplains.\tThese\ttwo-lane\troads, some\tof\tthe\tmost\ttreacherous\tanywhere,\tsomehow\tbore\tfew\tfatalities.\tCall\tit localized\trisk\tmanagement.\tDrivers\tknew\twhen\tto\tpress\ttheir\tluck\tand\twhen\tto play\tit\tsafe. The\tgovernment\tknew\tof\this\tbeginnings\tin\tthis\tfaraway\tsetting.\tOn\tthat\tcount, it\tmight\tseem\tan\tobvious\tplace\tto\trun.\tBut\tnot\tif\the\tintended\tto\tdo\tanything other\tthan\tsimply\trun.\tThe\ttown\thad\tnot\tchanged\tin\tdecades.\tIf\tanything,\tit\thad only\tdecayed,\tslipping\tfurther\tback\tin\ttime.\tAnyone\treasonably\taware\tof\tthe kind\tof\ttechnical\tand\tutilities\tsupport\tneeded\tto\tcontinue\tan\tassault\ton\tthe\tcode would\tlikely\tdismiss\tGansu\tout\tof\thand.\tMore\tlikely,\tit\twouldn't\teven\tmake\tthe list.\tMisdirection\tfor\tsure,\tJunjie\twas\trelying\ton\tthe\tcounterintuitive\tchoice. And\talso\tQuan's\tgear. Less\tthan\thalf\ta\tday's\tjourney\tand\tJunjie\twould\tbe\thome. The\tbus\tslowed,\tpulling\tover.\tMotor\tand\twheel\tnoise\tdied\taway,\tleaving\tan uneasy\tchasm\tin\tits\twake. THIRTY\tTWO","\\\"Fuel\tand\tbathrooms.\tTen\tminutes.\tNo\tmore.\\\" Junjie\tlooked\tout\tthe\twindow.\tA\tsmall\tmarket.\tAn\tancient\tgas\tstand.\tEight hours\tsince\tlast\teating,\tthe\tman's\tstomach\tseemed\tcontented.\tHis\tbladder\twas not. A\trestroom\tsomewhere\tin\tthe\tshack,\the\treasoned.\tShrubbery\tout\tback\twould suffice\tif\tneeded.\tA\tcommode\tcould\tbe\tfound\tat\tthe\tposterior\tof\tthe\tvehicle\tbut each\ttime\tsomeone\tcracked\tit\topen\tJunjie\tfeared\the\tmight\tbe\tovercome\tby fumes.\tThat\twas\tnot\tthe\tway\the\timagined\tthis\twhole\tthing\tgoing\tdown. Mounting\tphysical\tpressure\tbegged\thim\tto\tget\toff.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tkeeping\thim in\tplace?\tThe\tcases\tby\this\tfeet. Two\tminutes.\tI\tcan\tbe\tgone\ttwo\tminutes. Junjie\twalked\tforward,\tdown,\tand\tinto\topen\tair. Thirty-five,\tthirty-six... Across\tsand,\trocks,\tand\tpavement.\tTo\tthe\tfront\tdoor. Forty-nine,\tfifty... Inside:\tto\tthe\tleft,\tsix\tpeople\tqueued. Okay,\tthe\tbushes. The\teastern\tside\tof\tthe\tbuilding,\talso\tthe\tmost\texposed\tside,\tmaintained\tline of\tsight\tto\this\tseat.\tIt\twould\thave\tto\tdo. Seventy-seven,\tseventy-eight... The\troar\tof\ta\tmotorcycle's\tdamaged\tmuffler\tcame\tfrom\tbehind,\tup\ta\tside\troad perpendicular\tto\tthe\tmarket.\tClearly\ton\ta\tmission.\tAn\tabrupt\tstop.\tDirt\thadn't settled\tbefore\tthe\trider\tdismounted,\tmoving\tquickly\ttoward\tthe\tcoach\toperator. \\\"No!\tYou\tmay\tnot\tproceed.\\\" Waving\ta\tdocument\tferociously,\the\tdemanded\teveryone\tre-board. Immediately. Junjie\tmentally\tretraced\this\texit\tfrom\tQingdao.\tNo\tsigns\tof\ta\ttailing.\tStill, something\twasn't\tright.\tSkin\ttingling,\this\theart\tpounded.\tTempted\tto\trun.\tYes, but\twhere?\tThis\tlonely\tdepot\twas\tthe\tonly\tthing\tfor\thours\tin\tany\tdirection. Leave\this\tgear?\tThere\twasn't\tnearly\tenough\ttime\tfor\thim\tto\tregroup\tand\treset. No,\the\twould\thave\tto\ttake\this\tchances,\tback\tin\this\tseat.\tJunjie\tmelded\twith\tthe","crowd,\tstealing\ta\tquick,\tsideways\tglance\tat\tthe\tpaper\tin\tthe\tofficers\thand.\tBlurry head\tshot.\tBasic\ttext.\tThe\tman's\tmotions\twere\tfar\ttoo\tanimated\tfor\thim\tto\tcatch a\tgood\tlook. Okay,\tassume\tthe\tworst.\tNo\tother\tchoice.\tGet\ton\tboard.\tPray.\tHope\tfor\tthe best. The\tdriver\tprotested--a\trendezvous\tawaiting\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tlong,\thot\ttrip.\tA government-issued\tsemi-auto\tconvinced\thim\the\tcould\tbe\tmore\tpatient. Junjie,\tback\tin\tplace,\twaited\tfor\tthe\tinevitable. The\tagent\tboarded,\teyeing\teach\tpassenger\tand\talternating\this\tgaze\tbetween\tthe image\tin\thand\tand\ttheir\tsubmissive\tfaces.\tStandard\tintimidation\tprocedure.\tHe was\tin\tno\thurry. Junjie's\tskin\tflushed.\tSmall\tbeads\tof\tsweat\tmade\ttheir\tway\tdown\tthe\tleft\tside of\this\tface\tas\ta\tflash\tof\tmemory--images\tof\tDai-tai\tand\tChi,\tappeared.\tHe\tlet\tit happen.\tIf\tthis\twas\this\tend,\the\twanted\tto\tgo\tout\tthinking\tof\tthem.\tSo\tJunjie recalled\this\twife\ton\ttheir\twedding\tday,\tprocessing\telegantly\ttoward\thim.\tThis marvelous\timagery\tshifted\tto\ttheir\tson's\tbirth\tand\tthen\tto\tthe\tboy's\tfirst\tbirthday celebration,\tpunctuated\tby\ta\tcrying\tand\tconfused\tChi\twith\ta\tmess\tof\tcake\tand frosting\ton\tchin\tand\thands.\tJunjie\tsaw--no,\tmore\tthan\tthis,\the\tfelt--their\tcheery brightness. Would\the\tembrace\tthem\tagain\tin\tthis\tlife? C'mon,\tkeep\tit\ttogether. Three\trows\taway. Two. Quarry\tcornered.\tThe\tofficer\tknew\tit. Reaching\tvigorously\ttoward\tJunjie,\tthe\tarmed\tman\tseized\tthe\tmoment. Powerful\tforearms\tbreached\tthe\tminimal\tspace\tbetween\tseat-back\tand passenger. Junjie\tleaned\tback\tand\tto\tthe\tleft.\tIt\tmight\tbe\tfoolish.\tHe\tcouldn't\thelp\thimself. There\twould\tbe\tno\twinning\ta\tbattle\tof\tbrawn\tin\tthis\tsituation.\tThe\tmaneuver bought\thim\tmaybe\ta\thalf\tsecond\tof\tfreedom,\tno\tmore.\tThen,\tstrong\tarms\twent through\thim,\tpast\thim--to\tthe\tman\tone\tseat\tover.\tThey\tscuffled\tright\ton\ttop\tof Junjie.\tThe\tsingle\tprinted\tpage\tdropped.\tCrumpled,\tit\talighted\tface\tup. The\tpicture. Not\thim. The\tofficer\tescorted\tthe\tnewly-handcuffed\tman\tinto\tthe\tdilapidated\tbuilding. The\tremaining\tpassengers\tcontinued\ton\ttoward\tGansu\tlike\tnothing\thad happened.","Except\tJunjie. It\ttook\tthe\tbetter\tpart\tof\tthe\tnext\thour\tfor\this\theart\trate\tto\tsettle\tand\tmind\tto clear.\tBut\tthis\twas\ta\tgood\tthing.\tThe\tgravity\tof\tthe\tmoment\tcaused\ta\treset,\ta recommitment\tto\tall\tthat\tlay\tahead. __________________________________ Dhe's\tphone\trang,\tsliding\tslightly\ton\tthe\tluxury\tauto's\tcomfortably\theated\tseat. \\\"Minister,\tI\tbelieve\twe\thave\tfound\twhat\tyou\tare\tlooking\tfor.\\\" \\\"Go\ton.\\\" \\\"Surveillance\tfootage\tfrom\tShandong\tRail\tStation.\tFacial\trecognition\thas returned\ta\t92%\tmatch\tfor\tone\tJunjie\tZang.\\\" \\\"Will\tthe\tprobability\tincrease\twith\tadditional\tprocessing?\\\" \\\"No,\tMinister.\tThe\tcapture\twas\tnot\toptimal.\\\" \\\"It\twill\thave\tto\tdo.\\\" Dhe\thung\tup\tand\tsmiled. Qingdao.\tTwo\thours\tby\tair.\tJunjie\twould\tnot\tslip\this\tgrasp\tagain. Dhe\talerted\this\tprivate\tjet\tteam\tto\tlog\ta\tflight\tplan.\tHis\tnext\tcontact\twas\tthe Party\tChairman\tof\tShandong\tProvince.\tThe\tlocal\tpolitician\twas\tnever\thappy\tto hear\tfrom\tDhe.\tStill,\the\ttried\tto\tmake\tit\tsound\tas\tif\tthey\twere\told\tfriends. \\\"Certainly,\tMinister.\tZang\tcame\there\tfor\ta\treason.\tWe\twill\tuncover\tit.\tIf\the\tis hiding\tin\tour\tbeautiful\tcity,\twe\twill\tapprehend\thim.\tIf\ttraitors\tare\tassisting,\twe will\tflush\tthem\tout.\\\" \\\"Chairman,\tmust\tI\tunderscore\tthe\tcritical\tnature\tof\tthis\toperation?\\\" A\tpause.\tSilence\tmeasured\tthe\toffense\tdeeper\tthan\tany\twell-worded\tretort. Performing\tlegwork\tfor\tsomeone\tlike\tDhe\twas\tan\tassignment\tboth\ttedious\tand distasteful.\tHe\tdespised\tthe\tman,\tbut\tonly\tout\tof\tpetty\tjealousy.\tHe\taspired\tto Dhe's\tascendancy.\tActing\tas\tvassal\tonly\treminded\thim\the\twas\ta\tsmaller\tfish. Envy,\tpure\tand\tsimple.\tAnd\ta\tspitting\twar\tover\tturf. \\\"Of\tcourse,\tMinister.\tWe\tare\tcross-checking\tbusiness\tand\tpersonal relationships.\tIf\tthere\tis\tsomething\tto\tfind,\twe\twill.\tAnd\tsoon.\\\" \\\"Believe\tme,\\\"\tDhe\tcut\tin.\t\\\"there\tis\tsomething\tto\tfind.\tMake\tsure\tyou\tdon't miss\tit.\tI\twill\tarrive\tin\ta\tlittle\tover\ttwo\thours.\tDo\tnot\tdisappoint\tme.\\\"","The\tMercedes\trolled\toff\tthe\tgravel\troad,\tstroking\tthe\ttarmac\tof\ta\tcommuter airport\ta\tfew\tminutes\toutside\tof\tBeijing\tproper.\tPassing\tlonely\thangars\tand fueling\tposts,\tthe\tsedan\tcame\tto\ta\tfull\tstop\tat\ta\tGulfstream\tG150.\tThe\tshining aluminum\texterior\tmade\tquite\tthe\tstatement\tamong\tthe\tcompany\tof\tprop-driven planes.\tAs\t\\\"little\tbrother\\\"\tto\tthe\tlarger\tG-series,\tits\ttwin\tjets\tstill\towned\tplenty\tof speed--maxed\tat\t.85\tMach. Preflight\tnearly\tcomplete,\tthe\tstairway\textended\tdownward. Exiting\tthe\tcar,\tZhou\tclimbed\tthe\tstairs,\thunched\tslightly\tthrough\tthe\tdoorway, then\ttook\this\tseat.\tImpersonal,\tcurt,\tas\talways. The\tcrew\tmade\tfinal\tpreparations\tand\twere\tat\t45,000\tfeet\twithin\tminutes, following\ta\theadwind\ttoward\tQingdao. And\tonto\tJunjie's\ttrail. THIRTY\tTHREE Lakewood,\ta\tTacoma\tsuburb Officer\tMark\tBannister,\ta\tseven-year\tveteran\tof\tthe\tTacoma\tPolice\tforce, scanned\tthe\twidth\tof\this\tbackyard,\twanting\tto\tbe\tabsolutely\tsure\tof\twhat\the thought\the'd\tseen. Standing\tbeside\this\tkitchen\tsink,\tthe\tlast\tthing\tthe\tman\twanted\tto\tdo\twas\talert Chinese\tneighborhood\tpatrols\tthat\tthere\tmight\tbe\tsomething\tworthy\tof\ttheir attention.\tRegularly\tscheduled\tand\theavily\tarmed,\tthese\tteams\twere\tonly\tone\tof the\tmany\tadjustments\trequired\tin\tthe\tnew\tprovince\tand\tyet\tanother\tvisceral, daily\treminder\tof\thaving\tbeen\tconquered.\tA\tglance\tconfirmed\tBannister's\tfirst take.\tUnsurprised,\the\theld\tstill\tfor\tanother\tbeat,\tassuring\tall\twas\tclear. Yeah,\tfigures\tyou\twould\tbe\thangin'\taround. Her\teyes\tlocked\tonto\this.\tThe\tsubtlest\tof\tsideways\thead\tmotions\tfrom\tthe\tman","said\tno--not\tsafe.\tWait. From\tMark's\tfence\tline\tflashlights\tprobed\tthe\tbushes\tand\taround\tthe\tback\tof the\thouse.\tA\tguard's\tnon-weapon\thand\treached\ttoward\tthe\tlatch. \\\"No,\\\"\tthe\tsenior\tof\tthe\ttwo\twaved\thim\toff.\t\\\"Nothing\there.\\\" The\tyounger\tman\twas\tunsure. The\tolder\tvoice\tinsisted\tagain. \\\"No.\tWe\tare\tdue\tback\tin\tthree\tminutes.\tCome.\tNow.\\\" The\toutranked\tman\tobeyed,\tstepping\taway\tdissatisfied\tas\tthe\trusted\tbolt\tfell back\twith\ta\tdull,\tmetallic\tclunk. Bannister\tstayed\tout\tof\tvisual\trange,\tstill\tleaning\tto\tthe\tleft,\twatching\tthe close-call\tunfold.\tHe\twas\ta\tpro.\tFive\tyears\tembedded\tin\tsome\tof\tthe\tmost violent\tgangs\tin\tAmerica\thad\ttaught\thim\twhen\tto\tmove\tand\twhen\tto\tstay\tstill, when\tto\tspeak\tand\twhen\tto\tshut\tup. The\tsweep\tmoved\ton,\tmore\tconcerned\twith\tfinishing\ttheir\tshift\tthan\tfinding anything.\tThat\twould\tonly\tmean\tmore\twork\tfor\tthem\ton\tthis\tmisty,\tchilly\tnight. These\tmen\tcould\tbe\tbrutal.\tThey\twere\talso\tnot\talways\tthe\tmost\tcompetent. Problem\tis,\teven\tincompetent\tpeople\tget\tlucky\tnow\tand\tthen. Booted\tfootsteps\tfaded. Mark\tgave\tthe\tall-clear\tsign. One\tswift\tmotion\tand\tshe\twas\tinside. \\\"That\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\ta\tlittle\tdicier\tthan\tI\timagined.\\\" Bannister\tlooked\tthe\tvisitor\tover\tonce\tmore\tas\the\tclosed\tthe\tsliding\tglass\tdoor. \\\"Sergeant\tSanchez... ...\twhy\tin\tthe\tworld\tdoes\tthis\tjust\tmake\tsense?\tTens\tof\tthousands\tof\tU.S. soldiers\tare\tforced\tto\tleave\tour\tfair\tcity\tand\twho\tsticks\taround\tfor\tthe excitement?\tOh,\tof\tcourse,\tyou\tdo.\\\" \\\"Wonderful\tto\tsee\tyou\tas\twell,\tMark.\\\" \\\"Yeah,\twell\tstep\taway\tfrom\tthe\twindows,\tlittle\tmiss\tsuper-sniper...\tor\twe'll\tall be\tin\ta\tworld\tof\thurt.\\\" These\ttwo\twere\tcut\tfrom\tthe\tsame\tcloth.\tCocky.\tSelf-sure.\tAdventurous. Borderline\tadrenaline\tjunkies.\tIf\tSanchez\tsaid\tshe\twould\texit\ta\tplane\twithout\ta chute,\tBannister\twould\tclaim\tto\tdo\tit\twithout\tthe\tplane.\tIn\tthe\tend,\ttheir\tgreatest similarity\twas\tof\ta\tmore\tvirtuous\tsort:\tthey\twere\tboth\tprotectors.\tFor\tsome\tGod- given\treason,\tneither\tcould\tstand\tby\twhen\tsomeone\twas\tbeing\ttaken\tadvantage of.\tA\tdeep,\tabiding\tcommitment\tto\tcorrecting\tinjustice\tfueled\teverything\tthey","did.\tMark\tapplied\tthis\tpassion\tas\tan\tofficer\tof\tthe\tpeace.\tSanchez\twas,\targuably, an\toffensive\ttool\tof\twar.\tDifferences\tof\ttactics\taside,\ttheir\ttrue\tcore\ttriggered-- animated--in\tcaring\tfor\tthe\tweak\tand\tpunishing\tthe\toppressor.\tBluff\tand\tbluster were\tto\tbe\texpected. Mark\tcouldn't\thave\tbeen\thappier\tto\tsee\tanyone\telse.\tTheir\trelationship,\tone part\tinter-agency\tantagonism\tand\ttwo\tparts\tprofessional\textended\tfamily,\twas incredibly\timportant\tto\thim. In\tmost\tcities\tthe\tfirefighter-police\tforce\trivalry\tis\tthe\tbig\tdeal;\tred\tversus blue.\tIn\tTacoma,\tthe\tadditional\telement\tis\tthe\tmilitary.\tThe\tpresence\tof\tJBLM created\ta\tthree-way\tcompetition\tbetween\tcivilian\tand\tarmed\tforces.\tOnly\tthree ways,\tthat\tis,\tif\tyou\tdidn't\taccount\tfor\tthe\tsub-rivalries\tof\tArmy-Air\tForce- Marines. World\tChampions.\tBragging\trights.\tOver\teverything.\tAll\tthe\ttime. Pulling\tup\tat\tone\tof\ttheir\tslow\tpitch\tsoftball\tmatch\tups,\tyou\tmight\tmistake\tit for\twarring\tethnic\tor\treligious\tfactions\ttranslated\tto\ta\tnew\tland.\tIntensity?\tYou might\tsay\tso.\tBox\tscores\tnot\tenough,\tthese\tpitched\tbattles\tmoved\tbeyond\tlast outs\tand\tto\tgatherings\tafterward\tat\tlocal\twatering\tholes.\tThere,\tthe\tverbal jousting--another\tfield\tof\tconflict,\trose\tto\tits\tfinest\tlevels.\tYet,\tbeneath\tthe posturing\tthere\tlay\ta\tfoundational\trespect.\tOne\twould\tbe\thard-pressed\tto\tname\tit as\tsuch\tunless\tyou\tsearched\tdeeper\tthan\tthe\tforceful\ttags\tand\tcolorful\tterms\tof endearment\tthrown\tabout\twith\tlinguistic\tabandon.\tBut\twhen\tit\tmattered,\twhen\tit really\tmattered,\tthey\trelied\ton\teach\tother,\tjoining\ttogether\tfor\tthe\tgood\tand safety\tof\ttheir\tcommunities\tand\tcountry. Sanchez\tsaw\tit\tin\ther\tfirst\ttime\tsquaring\toff\tagainst\tMark. He\twas\ta\tvery\tgood\tshot,\toutperforming\tmost\tregular\tinfantry\tguys\tand\tgals even.\tBut\tthis\twas\ther\tthing,\twhat\tshe\tdid\tfor\ta\tliving.\tAdd\ta\tdensely\twooded paintball\tcourse,\twhere\tshe\tcould\tdisappear\tand\tbe\ton\tyour\thind-side\twithout\tso much\tas\ta\tsnapped\ttwig,\tand\tthe\tpoor\tguy\twas\tdoomed.\tBannister\thad\tlasted way\tlonger\tthan\tthe\tother\tcop\tpukes,\tas\tshe\tcalled\tthem.\tThen,\timagining\tvictory to\tbe\twithin\this\tgrasp,\tshe\tappeared\tout\tof\tnowhere,\tdouble-tapping\thim\tand adding\tinsult\tto\tinjury\twith\ta\tnon-traditional\tgrouping. Two\tto\tthe\tabdominals,\tone\tto\tthe\tcrotch. Down\tfor\tthe\tcount. Mark\tasked\tthe\tnecessary,\tnext\tquestion. \\\"Okay,\tI\tpretty\tmuch\tget\twhy\tyou're\there.\tWhat's\tthe\tcall?\tI\tmean,\thave\tyou","heard\tfrom\tcommand?\tIs\tthere\ta\tplay\tto\trecapture...\ttake\tback\twhat's\tours?\\\"\this face\tlit\tup\twith\tthe\tthought.\t\\\"I\twant\tin.\\\" So\the\twasn't\tArmy.\tShe\twould\ttake\thim\tany\tday\tof\tthe\tweek,\tin\tany\tscrape. No\tdoubt\tin\ther\tmind\tthe\tman\twould\tperform\twith\tvalor,\tand\tif\tneed\tbe,\ttrade his\tlife\tfor\thers\tor\tsomeone\telse's.\tYou\tcouldn't\task\tfor\tmore\tthan\tthat. \\\"Well,\tMark.\tHonestly,\tthe\tplan\tis...\trather\tfluid\tat\tthis\ttime.\\\" \\\"What,\tno\tshining\tbrigade\ttaking\tthe\thill?\tNo\tsuicide\tmission\tworking\tat\tthe last\tsecond?\\\" Sanchez\twaited,\tpartly\tbecause\tshe\twished\tshe\thad\ta\tbetter\tanswer. \\\"It's\ta\tsuper\tlong\tshot,\tMark.\\\" \\\"So\twhat?\tThat's\twhat\tyou\tdo\tbest,\tright?\\\" She\tappreciated\tthat\tone. \\\"I'm\tnot\teven\tsure\tif\twhat\tI\tthought\tI\tsaw\tis\tactually\twhat\tI\tsaw,\\\"\tshe\tadded. \\\"Hold\tit,\\\"\tMark\tsaid,\thead\twagging\tsideways.\t\\\"Now\tyou're\tconfusing\tme, Sarge.\tLost,\ttotally.\\\" \\\"A\tweek\tand\ta\thalf\tago\tI\tbegan\ta\tmore\textensive\tsurveillance\tpattern\tof\tthe city.\tStandard\tstuff.\tYou\tknow,\tget\tas\tmuch\tinfo\tas\tcould\tbe\thelpful\tif\twe\thave\ta chance\tto\tcounter-attack.\tMy\tspot\tfor\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdays\thas\tbeen\tright\tabove\tthe Dome.\tWhat's\tgoing\ton\tthere\tis\tjust...\\\" She\thad\tto\tstop,\tadjusting\tto\tthe\toverwhelming\temotions\tassociated\twith\tthe experience. Mark\tjumped\tin,\thelping\ther\tout,\tpulling\this\tright\tshirt\tsleeve\tup\tto\treveal\tthe newly\timprinted\tchemical\tID\ton\this\tupper\tforearm. \\\"I\tknow,\\\"\the\tsaid.\t\\\"Unbelievable.\\\" She\trecaptured\therself\twith\tgreat\teffort,\tlips\ttightened. \\\"Packed\tup,\tready\tto\tleave,\tI\tcaught\tsomething\tto\tthe\tnorthwest,\tmaybe\teven north\tof\tSeattle.\tA\tflash\tof\tlight.\tThought\tit\tmight\tbe\trandom.\tSomething seemed\tweird.\tThen\tI\tremembered.\\\" \\\"What,\\\"\the\tsaid.\t\\\"You\tremembered\twhat?\\\" \\\"The\tlighthouses.\\\" The\tconfused\tlook\ton\this\tface\tsaid\tkeep\tgoing,\tI'll\tcatch\tup. \\\"During\tthe\tCold\tWar\tDOD\tinstalled\ta\tshort\twave\tsystem\tusing\tthe\tfrequency and\tlength\tof\tsome\tof\tthe\tlighthouse\tlamps\ton\tPuget\tSound.\tIt\thad\tbeen envisioned\tas\ta\tway\tto\thide\tcommuniques\tin\teveryday\tactivities\tif\twe\tever needed\tit.\tI\tran\tacross\tit\tin\tone\tof\tmy\ttextbooks\tfrom\ta\tmilitary\thistory\tclass\tI took\tway\tback.\tA\treally\tcool\tidea\tat\tthe\ttime\tand\tthen,\twell,\talong\tcomes\tthe internet\tand\tsatellites\tand\tnobody\tfigured\tradio\tcontrol\tof\tbig\told\tlight\tbulbs\tto","be\tof\tstrategic\tvalue\tanymore.\tI\tassumed\tthey\twere\ttasked\tout\tat\tsome\tpoint.\\\" She\tcontinued. \\\"I\tthink\tI\tsaw\tMukilteo\tflashing...\tdots\tand\tdashes.\\\" \\\"Morse?\\\" \\\"Yeah,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.\t\\\"Morse.\\\" \\\"Well,\tc'mon,\tSanchez--what'd\tit\tsay?\\\" \\\"Thur,\t1330,\tS\tFalls.\\\" \\\"Mark,\\\"\tshe\tkept\tgoing.\t\\\"There's\tonly\tone\tplace\tthat\tcould\tbe.\\\" \\\"Sanchez,\tare\tyou\ttelling\tme\tthe\tArmy\tis\tcalling\tyou\tto\twhat...Snoqualmie Falls?\tIn\ta\tlittle\tunder\ttwenty-four\thours?\\\" \\\"Mark,\tit's\teither\tGeneral\tStevens\tand\twe're\tgetting\tready\tto\trock.\tOr\tthe Chinese\tare\tpulling\tme\tin\twith\tsome\treally\tgood\tbait.\\\" THIRTY\tFOUR Ft.\tClark,\tCommunications\tCenter \\\"Corporal?\\\" \\\"Sir.\\\" \\\"How\tare\twe\tdoing\there,\tyoung\tman?\\\" The\tcomm\tspecialist,\thunched\tover\tantique\tgear\tfor\tthe\tpast\tsix\thours,\tmostly wanted\tto\tsay\t\\\"my\tbackside\tis\tkilling\tme.\\\"\tHe\twagered\tthe\tcolonel\tto\tbe\tless interested\tin\this\tphysical\tcomfort\tthan\toperational\tstatus. \\\"Sir,\tpermission\tto\tspeak\tfreely?\\\" \\\"Proceed.\\\" \\\"Gotta\tsay,\tsir,\tthis\tis\ta\tpretty\tgreat\tidea.\tNot\tso\tmuch\tfor\tmy\tback,\tbut\told school\tshortwave?\tGood\tbet\tthe\tChinese\tare\tso\tfocused\ton\tcapturing\tevery\tbit\tof cell\tand\tdigital\tnoise\tthat\tthey're\tnot\teven\tlooking\tfor\tsomething\tlike\tthis.\tYou","think\twe're\tin?\tI\tmean,\tseems\tlike\tthis\tall\thas\tto\tfall\ttogether,\tmiracle-like.\\\" \\\"I\tam\tno\texpert\tin\tthe\tsupernatural,\tson.\tMy\tmother,\trest\ther\tsoul,\tand\tour parish\tpriest\twould\tvouch\tequally\tfor\tthat.\tNor\tam\tI\ta\tman\tto\tthrow\tlong\todds unnecessarily.\tIn\tthis\tcase,\tI'm\tholding\tout\tfor\ta\tgood\tmeasure\tof\tboth Providence\tand\tLady\tLuck.\\\" He\tlooked\tthe\ttechnician\tsquare\tin\tthe\tface. \\\"Is\tour\teyes-on\tasset\tthere\tand\tdid\tshe\tsee\tthe\tsignal--does\tshe\tknow\tit's\tfrom us?\tDon't\tknow.\tShe\tis\tthe\tbest,\tno\tquestion,\tbut\tscores\tof\tarmed\tpatrols\tmake\tit hard\tfor\teven\tsomeone\tof\tSanchez'\tconsiderable\tskills\tto\tstay\tlive\tand\tactive. Will\tsomeone\tpay\tundue\tattention\tto\ta\tcouple\tof\tbeautiful,\thistoric\tstructures along\tthe\tshorelines\tacting\toddly\tas\tof\tlate?\tMaybe\tthe\tChinese\tthemselves\thave an\thistorian\tor\ttwo\tamong\tthem\tand\twe'll\tbe\twalking\tinto\ta\ttrap?\tWhat\tI\tdo know\tis\tthis:\tif\tshe\tis\tstill\tout\tthere,\tand\tif\tshe\tread\tthe\tcall\tcorrectly,\tshe'll\tget\tto Snoqualmie\tand\tthe\tmeet\twith\tour\tboys.\tAnd\tthen\tGod\thelp\tthe\tChinese.\tI imagine\tshe's\tnot\tin\tthe\tgreatest\tof\tmoods.\\\" __________________________________ Sanchez\thad\tbunked\tdown\tfor\tan\thour\tin\tBannister's\tbasement.\tShe\tawoke\tto\ta messy\tpile\tof\tkids\ttoys,\ta\ttreadmill\tused\treligiously,\ta\tfew\tstacked\tboard\tgames, and\ta\tbad\tpainting\tor\ttwo.\tA\tcalm\tresonated\tthe\tspace.\tWaking\tup\tin\ta\tnormal, family\thome.\tAs\tattractive\tas\tjust\tstaying\tput\twas,\ther\tmind\tshifted\tto\tthe audacious\tplan\tto\tget\tto\tSnoqualmie\tand\trespond\tto\tthe\tlighthouse\tcall. A\tfifteen-hour\thike\tto\tthe\tcontact\tpoint.\tOn\tpaper:\tridiculous.\tBut\ther\tcareer had\tbeen\tdefined\tby\tovercoming\tthe\tabsurd,\tso\twhy\tnot\tone\tmore\ttime\taround the\tblock?\tShe\thad\tgrown\ttired\tof\tlying\tlow,\ttaking\tpictures.\tHer\twarrior's\theart needed\tan\tobjective,\ta\thill\tto\ttake--or\tdie\ttrying.\tShe\thad\tto\tmove.\tShe\twould also\tneed\ta\tlittle\thelp.\tThat's\twhere\tMark\tcame\tinto\tthe\tpicture.\tHe\twas\tthe\tman with\tthe\tconnections. And\tthe\tmotivation. Complete\tremoval\tof\tall\tmilitary\tpersonnel\thad\tbeen\thard\tenough\tto\tstomach, he\tand\this\tcomrades\tin\tblue\tstanding\tguard,\toverseeing\ttheir\tbrothers\tand\tsisters in\tcamouflage\texiting\tthe\tbase.\tThings\tonly\twent\tdownhill\tfrom\tthere.\tIn\ta disarming\tceremony\tat\tthe\tlocal\thigh\tschool\tstadium,\tstretched\tacross\tseventy-","five\tyards\tof\tthe\tfield,\tin\tfull\tview\tof\tthe\tcommunity,\tthey\twere\trendered powerless\tin\toaths\tto\tserve\tand\tprotect.\tThe\tfaces\tin\tthe\tstands\twere\tso conflicted.\tTheir\tbody\tlanguage\tsaid,\t\\\"Do\tsomething\\\"\twhile\ttheir\teyes\tpleaded for\trestraint,\tfully\tremembering\tthe\tmissiles\tover\tElliot\tBay\tand\tthe\tway\tthey had\tso\tnarrowly\tescaped\ta\tfiery\tdestruction.\tChinese\tleadership\thad\tshown\tthey were\tnot\tabove\tmurdering\teven\ttheir\town\ttroops\tto\tmaintain\trule.\tThat\tfact settled\tdeeply\tfor\tevery\tsoul,\tin\tevery\tseat.\tCome\tforward.\tRelinquish\tyour shield\tand\tsidearm.\tNothing\tless\tthan\ta\tvery\tpublic\tneutering.\tThose\tmoments-- no,\tthey\twere\tnot\tanything\the\twould\tsoon\tforget.\tNot\tsoon.\tNot\tEver.\tHanding over\this\tSig\tSaur\t9mm\tto\tthe\tsmug\tauthorities\tMark\tvowed\tto\tfind\tanother\tway, even\twithout\tbadge\tand\tgun.\tSanchez\tappearing\ton\this\tback\tdoorstep\tbrought hope\tanew\tthat\tretaliation\twas\ton\tthe\tnear\thorizon. They\targued\tfor\tfifteen\tminutes\tstraight,\tneither\tyielding\tground.\tIn\tthe\tend Sanchez\twas\tright;\the\tcouldn't\tgo\talong.\tBannister\twas\tan\tespecially\tmarked man.\tAs\ta\tformer\tpoliceman\ttheir\tnew\toverlords\twould\thave\ta\tsharpened\teye\ton him\tat\tall\ttimes.\tAnd\the\twas\texpected,\tlike\tall\tother\tcitizens,\tto\tshow\tup\tdaily for\tre-education\tclasses\tbefore\tand\tafter\tnine-hour\twork\tshifts,\treassigned\tas\ta crane\toperator\ton\tthe\tdocks\tof\tTacoma's\twaterfront.\tAny\tshift\tmissed\twould raise\tsuspicions.\tHe\tcouldn't\tleave.\tHis\twife\tand\tthree\tchildren\twould\tbe immediately\ttargeted.\tSanchez\twould've\tloved\tto\thave\thim\talongside\tfor whatever\tmight\tbe\tahead.\tThat\twould\tnot\tbe\tthe\tcase,\tbut\tshe\tstill\tneeded\thim. Or\tmore\taccurately,\tshe\twas\tin\tneed\tof\tan\tasset\the\tuniquely\tcould\tprocure, awaiting\ther\tas\tshe\tmade\ther\tway\tupstairs\tto\tthe\tdining\troom\ttable. \\\"Bernice\tHampstead?\\\" Incredulous,\tshe\treviewed\tthe\tdocument\tagain. \\\"You've\tgot\tto\tbe\tkidding\tme.\tDo\tI\tlook\tlike\ta\tBernice...\tHemp...\tHampstead?\\\" \\\"Well,\\\"\tMark\tcouldn't\thelp\thimself.\t\\\"Maybe\ta\tBernicio?\\\" She\thit\thim\ton\tthe\tright\tshoulder.\tHard. \\\"Hey.\tWhaddya\texpect\ton\tsuch\tshort\tnotice?\tThe\tboys\thad\tonly\ta\tcouple\tIDs that\twould\twork\tif\tneeded.\tYou\tshould\tbe\tmore\tappreciative.\\\" He\twas\tright.\tThe\troute\tto\tSnoqualmie\tFalls\twould\tgenerally\tfollow\tmajor roadways.\tAnd\tthough\tthe\tSeattle-metro\tarea\twas\thighly\tdeveloped,\tit\twas\tstill quite\tforested.\tWith\tthe\trare\texception\tof\ta\tfew\tplaces,\tthe\twoman\twould\tbe traveling\tjust\tout\tof\tsight.\tIf\tfor\tsome\todd\treason\tJessica\tneeded\tto\tbreak\ther","cloak\tof\tinvisibility,\tshe\twould\tdo\tso\tas...\tthe\tyoung\tMs.\tHampstead.\tThe\tnew alias\talso\tdictated\tthat\tshe\tcouldn't\ttake\ther\trifle\tand\tkit.\tSo\tit\tlay\tburied,\toff\tthe runways\tat\tBaotong.\tPeople\tspend\ta\tlifetime\texcelling\tin\tbusiness,\teducation,\tor the\tsciences.\tFor\tSanchez,\tcompetence\tcame\tdown\tto\ta\ttarget\tand\ta\ttrigger.\tOver the\tnext\tthree-fourths\tof\ta\tday,\tshe'd\tbe\trelying\ton\ther\twider\tset\tof\tfinely\thoned skills. One\thour\tof\tsleep\tand\tfifteen\tmore\tof\ttravel\tleft\ther\twith\tno\tbuffer.\tShe\thad\tto leave\tnow. It\twas,\tlikely,\tthe\tlast\ttime\tshe\twould\tsee\tMark\ton\tthis\tEarth.\tEven\tat\tthis,\tthe two\tweren't\toverly\tsentimental. \\\"Thanks,\tpuke,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.\t\\\"I\tknew\tyou'd\tset\tme\tup\tright.\\\" \\\"My\tpleasure,\tBernicio...\\\" He\tpaused. \\\"Sanchez.\tBe\tcareful,\talright?\\\" \\\"Wouldn't\tdo\tit\tany\tother\tway,\tmy\tfriend.\\\" Out\tthe\tback,\tfifteen\tfeet\tto\tthe\tgate,\tand\tshe\twas\tgone.\tIt\ttook\thim\ta\tfull minute\tto\trealize\tit.\tNot\ta\tsingle\tsound.\tNot\ta\tsolitary\tfootfall.\tEven\tthe\tdoor, normally\tsqueaky,\thad\trespected\ther\tcommand\tof\tsilence. \\\"Phewww,\\\"\the\twhistled\tsoftly.\t\\\"That\tgirl\tis\tgood\tat\tthe\tghost-thing.\\\" Godspeed. Godspeed\tto\tyou...\tBernicio. __________________________________ Hot.\tSweating\tprofusely,\tDalton's\tstandard-issue\tnylon\tflight\tsuit\tonly\tmade things\tworse.\tApparently\tthey\thad\tmaddened\tsome\tsky\tgod,\tthe\tcabin\trocking side\tto\tside\tthrough\tviolent\tair.\tThe\tradical\tdropping\tand\tswaying\tgave\tthe impression\tthey\tflew\tat\tthe\tmercy\tof\tthe\telements.\tThis\twas\tonly\tappearances. The\tseasoned\tcrew\theld\tsteady.\tRoutine.\tIt\tdidn't\tfeel\tthat\tway\tfrom\twhere Dalton\tsat.\tExcept\tfor\tthe\tfact\the\twas\tsecured\tat\tboth\tshoulders\tand\tchest,\the would've\tbeen\ttossed\tall\tover\tthe\tinsides\tof\tthe\tChinook\tCH47\ttransport\thelo. To\tarrive\ton\tstation\tand\tstealthy,\tthey'd\tneed\tto\tstay\tunder\tthe\tsweep\tof\tthe Chinese\tair-defense\tcorridor.\tThis\tmeant\tnap-of-the-Earth,\tpresupposing\ta\trough ride\tover\ttreetops\tand\trocky\toutcroppings,\tcresting\tat\t8,000\tfeet\tbefore\tleveling","off\tagain\tat\tthe\tdrop\tzone.\tThis\twas\tthe\tsecond\tfactor\tin\tDalton's\textreme perspiration.\tThe\tjump.\tAt\tno\tcloser\tthan\ttwenty-five\tklicks\tto\tthe\tmeet\tand deep\tin\tthe\tmountains,\tthe\tteam\tcould\tmake\ttheir\tway\tdown\tto\tthe\tfalls undetected.\tFrom\tthere\tit\twould\tbe\tanother\ttravail\tthrough\tovergrown,\tslippery paths,\tone\tDalton\thimself\thad\tmade\tnot\ttoo\tlong\tago,\tonly\tin\tthe\topposite direction.\tAt\ta\tmere\t3000\tfeet\ttheir\tfreefall\twould\tbe\tbrusque,\triding\tan\tutterly narrow\twindow\tto\tsuccessful\ttouchdown.\tIn\tthis\tterrain,\tit\twas\tas\tlikely\tto\tbe blown\toff\tcourse\tas\tmake\tit\tto\twhere\tyou\tintended.\tFifty\tpercent\tsoft\tgreen meadow.\tFifty\tpercent\tjagged\trocks,\tice,\tor\thundred\tfoot\tfirs.\tBranches\tso\tthick they\twould\tsnap\ta\tman\tin\ttwo.\tEven\todds;\tsuccess\tor\tdeath. Dalton\theld\tthe\top's\tdozens\tof\tpermutations\tin\this\tmind's-eye;\tthe\tpercentages, the\tmultitude\tof\tcontributing\tfactors,\ttheir\texponential\toutcomes.\tBut\tonce again,\tcollecting\tand\tinterpreting\twasn't\tthe\tproblem.\tHe\tcould\timagine\tand calculate\tto\ta\tmore\trefined\tdegree\tthan\tmany\tof\tthe\tbest\talgorithms.\tSeeing wasn't\tthe\tissue.\tDalton\tcouldn't\tactually\tdetermine\twhich\tof\tthese\tscenarios they\tmight\twalk\tthrough.\tAs\talways,\tthis\twas\tthe\tproblem. Another\tpocket\tof\twarm\tair\tlurched\tthem\tup\tand\tto\tthe\tleft.\tThey\tendured\ta good\ttwenty\tseconds\tmore\tof\tthis\tbefore\tsettling. Dalton\thad\tsmacked\tthe\tback\tof\this\thead\ton\tthe\tairframe\tinterior.\tRubbing\tthe spot,\ta\tsmall\ttrickle\tof\tblood.\tNothing\tserious.\tHe\tshook\tit\toff\tand\tstole\ta\tlook\tat his\tpartner,\tnot\tfive\tfeet\taway. Loch. Sleeping,\tsilent\tand\tstill. THIRTY\tFIVE Nearing\tMiddlefork\tCampground,\ttwenty-five\tmiles\tnortheast\tof\tSnoqualmie Falls. Five\thundred\tfeet.\tThree\thundred.\tTwo-Seventy-Five\tand\tfalling.\tDalton's\twrist","altimeter\traced\tdownward,\tsignaling\timpending\tcontact\twith\tthe\tunforgiving, nearly\tfrozen\tground. He\tfought\tboth\tspeed\tand\ttrajectory.\tChute,\tsuit,\tand\tbody\tmass\twere\tnot doing\tthe\tjob;\tmore\tdrag\tneeded.\tEvery\tattempt\tto\tslow\tand\tstraighten\thad failed.\tHe\twas\talso\tflying\tblind. Unauthorized\tentry\tinto\tsovereign\tChinese\tterritory\trequired\tstealth, demanding\tthey\tplummet\tinto\tinky\tblackness\tabove\tthe\tCascades\tduring\tpre- dawn\thours.\tInclement\tweather\tdraped\tthe\traw\tmountain\tscape.\tClear\tvisual would\tcome\tonly\tin\tthe\tlast\tseconds\tof\tdescent. The\tFt.\tClark\tteam\tanticipated\tthis\tas\twell.\tBesides\tthe\taltimeter,\tDalton's wrist\tunit\tmapped\tlocation,\teven\tin\tthe\tremotest\tof\tregions,\tto\twithin\tinches.\tThe tone-based\tapp,\tbeeping\tfor\tthe\tlast\ttwo\thundred\tfeet,\tannoyingly\tindicated\twhat he\talready\tknew:\this\tspeed\twas\toff.\tThe\tactual\ttone\ttold\thim\this\tflight\tpath\tnow held\ttrue.\tAt\tleast\tthere\twas\tthat.\tWhile\tkitted\twith\tnight-vision\tgear,\tthe\tsoupy gray\tbackdrop\tplayed\thavoc\twith\tthe\ttech.\tSo,\tthey\tflew\tblind\tbut\tnot\tdeaf\tas these\tlast,\tharrowing\tfew\tfeet\tcame\tupon\tthem\twith\ta\tvengeance. Dalton\tplunged\tto\ttwo-fifteen\tbefore\tgetting\ta\tbetter\tlook,\tpiercing\tthe\tlast cloud\tlayers\tand\tinto\tthe\tclear. No. Op\timaging\thad\tindicated\ta\tlanding\tzone,\tacross\ta\tcreek\tbed\tand\tsome\ttwenty yards\tfrom\tan\tabandoned\tcampground.\tThe\tdense\tgreen\taround\tthe\tLZ\thad\tbeen duly\tnoted,\tthe\tmargin\tof\terror\tthin.\tThe\tactuality?\tA\tlife\tand\tdeath\tobstacle course\twith\thundreds\tof\tunyielding\thardwoods\tthrust\tskyward--like\tmedieval soldier's\tpikes--while\tdropping\tand\tswaying\tin\tthe\tunpredictable\twinds. Dalton\tscanned\tthe\tscene,\this\teyes\ttaking\tin\tas\tmuch\tas\the\tcould\twhile\this amazing\tmind\twent\tinto\toverdrive.\tPreviously\tfactored\tinformation\tmelded\twith new,\ton\tsite\tdata\tin\ta\tfirestorm\tof\tmental\tcalculations. There. Manipulating\tthe\tchute's\tcontrols\thard\tright,\taway\tfrom\tthe\tplanned-for\tLZ, and\theading\tinstead\ttoward\tanother\tstand\tof\tgigantic\ttrees.\tWhile\tthe\tfrantic calculus\tin\tDalton's\thead\tshowed\tthis\tas\tthe\tnext\tbest\toption,\tthe\tnew\tplan wasn't\tmuch\tof\tan\tupgrade.\tMassive\tbranches\tsat\tmid-way\tup\tthe\ttwo\tclosest trees,\tlike\tprotruding\tarms,\toverlapping\tat\tthe\telbow.\tThe\tspace\tin-between didn't\texactly\tprovide\tan\t\\\"opening.\\\"\tStill,\tramming\tthe\tlimbs\tat\t30mph amounted\tto\ta\tbetter\tdeal\tthan\tslamming\theadlong\tinto\ttheir\tstout\ttrunks.","Though\tgenerally\tan\tadmirer\tof\tforests,\tthis\tsort\tof\ttree\thugging\tDalton\tcould\tdo without. He\ttwisted\tleft,\tviolently\tso,\tcreating\tas\tsmall\ta\tprofile\tas\tpossible\tat\tthe\tentry point. Three-two-one. Gasping\tfor\tair,\tpain\ton\timpact,\tand\tmuffled\tgrunts\twere\tconcluded surprisingly\tquickly. Deadwood.\tThe\tbranches\tsnapped\teasily\tand\ta\tformidable\tveil\tof\tmoss\tnow draped\tDalton\tafter\tflying\tthrough\tto\tthe\tother\tside.\tHe\tfelt\trelieved,\tbut\tonly minimally,\tbecause\the\talso\tknew\twhat\twas\tcoming\tnext. Dalton's\tparachute\tline\tcould\tonly\tplay\tout\tso\tfar.\tThe\tpoint\tat\twhich\tthe\tcord stuck\tnow\tserved\tas\tthe\tfulcrum\tfor\tan\tenormous\tpendulum\twith\tthe\tformer soldier\tcoursing\talong\tits\touter\tarc.\tFor\tthe\tbriefest\tmoment,\tDalton\trelived\tthe feeling\tevery\tkid\tloves\ton\tthe\tupside\tmotion\tof\ta\tplayground\tswing\tset;\tfreedom from\tgravity's\tusual\tdemands.\tBut,\tas\texpected,\tthe\tcordage\tplayed\tout\tand\tthe forces\tof\tthe\tuniverse\texacted\ttheir\trevenge.\tTaught\tas\ta\tpiano\tstring\tfor\tjust\ta second,\tthe\ttendon-like\tfabric\tstopped\tits\tforward\tmomentum\tand\tthen\tabruptly slackened. Backward,\tdown,\tout\tof\tcontrol.\tDalton\twrenched\taway,\tanticipating,\ttrying\tto avoid\tthe\tfull\tforce\tof\tthe\tback\tof\this\thead\tcolliding\twith\tthe\ttrunks.\tA\trow\tof underbrush\treceived\this\tframe\tas\tgently\tas\ta\tdown\tcomforter\ton\ta\tking\tbed.\tIt wasn't\tthe\thard\timpact\the'd\tprepared\tfor\tbut\tit\twas\twet,\tthrough\tand\tthrough. On\tthe\tground\tand\tshaking\toff\tthe\tlast\tfew\tmoments,\the\tlooked\taround.\tRadio silence\twas\tthe\trule\tfor\tdescent,\tso\tDalton\thad\tno\tway\tof\tknowing\tLoch's tactical\tdecisions.\tHad\tthe\tsergeant\tattempted\ta\ttouchdown\tat\tthe\toriginal\tLZ? Maybe\the\tspotted\tthe\tsame\tbreach\tin\tthe\ttrees?\tMaybe\the\twas\tcurrently\twedged in\tbetween\tthe\tclutching\tlimbs\tof\tthese\twoodlands\tmonsters\tor\tblown\toff\tcourse, crushed\tinto\tso\tmany\tpieces\tagainst\tan\tunforgiving\trock\tface. Nah.\tI\tpity\tthe\trock-face\tmeeting\tup\twith\tLoch\tat\t35mph. \\\"Loch?\\\"\tDalton\thalf-whispered. The\tvoice\tstartled\thim. \\\"Well,\tdon't\tyou\tlook\tall\tcomfy\tnow,\tLT.\\\" Clearly,\this\tpartner\thad\tfared\tat\tleast\tas\twell. \\\"No\ttime\tfor\ta\tnap.\tGot\ta\tmeet\tin\tabout,\toh\tsay,\tten\thours.\tLots\tof\tground\tto take\tin\tthe\tmeantime.\\\"","Loch,\talways\tsuch\ta\tpleasure. The\tScot\treached\tout,\textending\this\tthigh-sized\tforearm\ttoward\tDalton-- currently\ton\this\tbutt\tand\tentangled\tin\tbrush\tand\tpolychord--and\tagain\tlifting\thim with\tsurprising\tease. That's\tjust\tnot\tright. \\\"Thanks,\tLoch.\\\" __________________________________ Sanchez,\tout\tof\tLakewood\tnow\tand\tbeyond\tthe\tgreater\tTacoma\tarea,\twas making\tsuperb\ttime.\tSunlight\tcrested\tover\tpeaks\tas\tshe\tparalleled\tState\tHighway 18,\twinding\tthrough\tthe\twooded\tareas\tsurrounding\tMaple\tValley.\tLittle\ttraffic wandered\tthese\tlonely\troadways.\tNo\tbig\tsurprise.\tThe\tfirst\tphases\tof\tthe\ttake- over\thad\tprimarily\tbeen\tconcerned\twith\tcontrolling\tthe\teveryday\tactivities\tand movement\tof\tthe\tpopulace.\tIn\ttime,\tthe\tpatterns\tmight\tease.\tFor\tnow,\ta\tfirm\tgrip was\tthe\tnorm.\tSanchez\tcounted\ton\tthese\ttowns\tand\troads\tbecoming\tmore\tremote with\teach\thour.\tThat\twas\ta\tgood\tbet,\tas\tentering\tthe\trural\tfoothills\tthis\tside\tof Seattle\tmeant\tlogging,\tnot\tfarming,\tand\tlogging\tthese\tdays\tmeant\tghost-towns. A\tlonely\tfilling\tstation\tor\ta\tmom-n-pop\tshop\temerged\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime,\tbut\tthat was\tabout\tit.\tFifty\tmeters\toff\tthe\troadway,\ther\tleft\tear\tinclined\ttoward\tany troubling\tsounds\tor\tsensations. Mid-morning,\tthe\tseasoned\tsoldier\tpulled\tout\ther\tcanteen\tbeside\ta\thollowed log.\tShe\twas\tfine,\ttemperature-wise.\tNow\tpost-winter,\tfrostbite\tand\thypothermia were\tno\tlonger\tthreats.\tLiquids,\tshe\twould\tneed\tto\ttrack.\tEarly\ton\ther\ttraining officers\thad\twarned\tof\tthe\tcounterintuitive\tnature\tof\tsimilar\tops.\tHydration, they'd\tpressed,\twas\tthe\tever-present\tconcern,\tobvious\twhen\tstationed\tin\tthe biggest\tsand\tpits\tthe\tworld\thas\tto\toffer.\tIraq,\tYemen,\tQatar.\tBut\tplaces\tlike\tthis, where\tsurroundings\tobscured\tthe\tneed,\tcould\tspell\treal\tdisaster,\treal\tfast.\tWhere glaciers,\tgravity,\tand\tprecipitation\treign,\twater\tseems\teasy\tto\tcome\tby.\tIt\tis\tjust as\ttrue\tthat\tmany\tof\tthese\tsources\tare\tnot\tmission-beneficial.\tMicro-bacterial foes\tcould\tbe\tas\tfatal\tas\tsomeone\tputting\ta\tgun\tto\tyour\thead.\tAnd\tif\tthey\tdidn't do\tyou\tin\toutright\tthey\tcould\tcertainly\tmake\tit\thard\tto\tperform\tat\ta\tcombat- ready\tlevel.\tNobody\twants\ttheir\theadstone\tnoting\tthey\tsuccumbed\tto\tthe\tenemy while\tattending\tsome\tkind\tof\tdigestive\tmalady.","Her\twilderness\tops\tclass\thad\tlaughed\tnervously\twhile\ttaking\tthe\tlesson\tdead seriously.\tThis\tduality\tabout\tthe\tprofessional,\tall-volunteer\tmilitary\twas something\tshe\thad\tgrown\tto\tdeeply\tappreciate.\tHumor\tand\tsarcasm,\ttaking\ton the\tabsurdities\tof\tlife\tand\tdeath\twith\tdignity\tand\tgravity.\tIt\twas\tthe\ttruest\tform of\tcommunity,\tof\tbrotherhood,\tshe\thad\tever\tknown. Sanchez\twas\tnot\ther\tbirth\tname. She\tloved\ther\tadoptive\tparents,\tthinking\tof\tthem\tdaily\tsince\ttheir\tdeaths\ta\tfew years\tback.\tTogether\tfifty-three\tyears\tand,\texcept\tfor\tdad's\tbrief\tKorean\ttour never\tapart\tfor\tlong,\tit\tmade\ta\tcertain\tcosmic\tsense\ther\tmother\tand\tfather\thad parted\tthis\tlife\tin\tclose\tsuccession.\tMom\twith\tdementia,\tfound\tby\tthe\tdocs\tin\tits last\tstages,\travaging\ther\tmind\tand\tbody.\tDad\tin\ta\ttragic\tcar\taccident,\tnine months\tlater.\tThey\twere\ther\tsaviors,\tbut\tnot,\tstrictly\tspeaking,\ther\ttribe.\tThe eagerness\tto\tconnect,\tto\tbe\ta\tpart\tof\tsomething\tauthentically\ther\town\tDNA,\thad been\ther\tlifelong\tyearning.\tParts\tof\tthis\tthirst\tfor\tidentity\tshe\tfound\tin\tthe\tArmy. So\tshe\tached\tfor\ther\tco-warriors\tstationed\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthese\tmountains. She\tmissed\tthem.\tAnd\tshe\tlonged\tfor\tthem\tto\thave\ta\tchance\tto\tdo\twhat\tthey\tdid best. Sanchez\tscrewed\tthe\tcap\tback\ton,\tleaving\tthe\tmomentary\tcalm\tof\tthe\tsix-foot diameter\tSpruce\tand\tinto\twilderness\tahead.\tThe\tnext\tten\tmiles\twere\tharder going,\tankle\thigh\tscrub\tand\tthorns\tat\tevery\tstep.\tHer\tinstincts\tand\ttraining\tkept her\tfrom\tgetting\tsloppy.\tSanchez\thad\tcome\talive\twith\tthe\trealization\ta\tsignal\thad been\tsent\tand\tthe\tpossibility\tof\ta\tresponse\tto\tChina's\taggressions\tlay\tahead.\tShe would\tnot\tjeopardize\tit\twith\tcarelessness\tor\tlack\tof\tfocus.\tAnd\tif\tshe\twas walking\tinto\ta\ttrap,\tat\tleast\tshe'd\tget\tto\tdo\ther\tpart. She\tglanced\tdown,\tchecking\tthe\ttime.\tHer\tpacing,\tas\talways,\twas\tperfect. THIRTY\tSIX","Late\tmorning\tsunshine\tfiltered\tthrough\tthe\tcanopy,\ta\thundred\tfeet\tabove.\tBroken beams\tof\tlight\tdanced\toff\tmossy\tgreen\tand\tthe\tspray\tof\tpine\tneedles\tat\ttheir\tfeet, like\ta\tlaser\tshow\tat\ta\trock\tconcert,\talbeit\twith\ta\tgreater\tsense\tof\treverence. These\twooden\ticons\tdidn't\tprance\tabout,\tdrawing\tattention\tto\tthemselves. Instead,\tthey\tset\ta\tmost\tbeautiful\tscene;\tone\tof\tstillness\tand\tglory.\tDalton\tand Loch\twalked\tquietly\tforward,\trespectful\tof\tsuch\tpeace\tand\tauthority. Dalton\treached\tinto\this\tleft\tshirt\tpocket.\tHis\tfingertips\tran\tover\tdistinct segments\tof\tcarefully\tpainted\twood,\tdrawing\tup\timages\tin\this\thead.\tAn\teagle: the\ttopward,\tmost\tprominent\tfigure.\tThe\tsymbol\tof\tstrength,\tclarity\tof\tsight,\tand wisdom--the\tability\tto\tmake\tright\tchoices\tfor\teveryone\tin\tthe\ttribe.\tHe\tpulled out\tthe\tsmall\ttotem\tStevens\thad\tgiven\thim\tbefore\tthey\tleft\tand\ttook\tin\tthe meaning\tagain. Men\tand\twomen\tcommonly\tcarried\ttokens\tinto\tbattle.\tMost\tweren't\tliterally totems,\tlike\tthis\tone.\tCatholic\tsoldiers\tembarked\ton\tthe\tworst\tof\tmissions, facing\tmortality\twith\ta\tJames\tor\tan\tAthanasius\talong\tfor\tthe\tride.\tWith\tover\tten- thousand\tchoices\tyou're\tsure\tto\tfind\ta\tgood\tfit\teventually.\tOthers\tfavored pictures\tof\tloved\tones\tor\tthe\temblems\tof\tfraternities\tand\tsocieties.\tWhatever\tthe form,\tthe\tpiece\talways\tspoke\ttheir\tbest\thopes,\ttheir\ttrust\tand\tvalues\tin\tthe\tface of\tpossible,\tsometimes\tcertain,\tdeath. Dalton's\tneckline\tand\tpockets\tlay\tempty\ton\tevery\tengagement,\tuntil\tnow.\tStill, he'd\tonly\ttaken\tthe\tkeepsake\tfrom\tthe\tgeneral\tas\tan\tact\tof\trespect,\ta\treminder\tof all\tthat\twas\tat\tstake. The\ttotem,\tso\tto\tspeak,\thad\tfallen\tthroughout\tall\tof\tWestern\tWashington. While\tthese\tformerly\tAmerican\tcitizens\tsurely\thad\ta\twide\tvariety\tof\tfigures\tthey might\tplace\ton\ttheir\tstatues,\tthe\tone\theld\tin\tcommon\twas\tthe\tone\tmost\tpainful\tto them\tnow. Dalton\twanted\tto\tbreak\tout\tof\tthis\tway-too-serious\tmoment\tin\this\tmind. Something\ttold\thim\tto\tkeep\this\tlips\tclosed.\tIn\tthe\thush\the\truminated\tabout\tthe ancient\tresidents\tof\tthese\ttrails,\tpeaks,\tand\trivers. I\tknow\twhy\tyou\tguys\tworshiped\tthis\tstuff. We\thad\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tit.\tWe\tdidn't\tdesign\tthis\tincredible\tplace. Somehow,\twe\tplopped\tdown\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tit.\tIt's\tbigger\tthan\tus. Better\tthan\tus.","Loch\tbroke\tthe\tsilence. \\\"Two\tklicks\tto\ttarget,\\\"\the\twhispered. Forty-five\tminutes\tlater\tLoch\traised\ta\tright\thand\tfist.\tThey\twere\tnearing\tthe falls,\tclose\tenough\tthat\tthe\troar\tof\trushing\twater\twould\tsoon\tovertake\ttheir voices.\tLoch\tkneeled,\tsignaling\tDalton\tto\tmove\tin.\tThey\tspoke\tat\tthree-quarters volume. \\\"Well,\tit's\tshow\ttime,\tmah\tfriend.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tlike\tthis\tpart\tof\tthe\tplan,\tLoch.\tWay\ttoo\texposed.\tToo\tmany\tways\tto get\ttrapped.\tToo\tmany\toptions\tfor\tpain-filled\tdeath.\\\" \\\"You\tand\tI\tboth\tknow\tthis\tis\thow\tit\thas\tto\tgo\tdown.\tThe\tcall\twasn't\tany\tmore specific\tthan\tthis.\tHave\tto\tlive\twith\tit.\tCould\tbe\tgood.\\\" He\tpaused\tfor\teffect. \\\"Could\tbe\tbad.\tVery\tbad.\\\" \\\"We'll\tknow\tsoon\tenough.\\\" They\tmoved\tin,\tanother\tfifty\tyards.\tSlow,\tpurposeful.\tWet,\tnatural\tcover\tonly thickened,\tits\trumblings\tever\tmore\tintrusive,\tdulling\tboth\treasoning\tand reactions.\tIt\twas\ta\troar\tof\tstartling\twhite\tnoise.\tEyesight\talone\twould\thave\tto suffice. Dalton\tstayed\tstill\tbehind\ta\tcouple\tof\tgenerous\tferns\tat\twater's\tedge.\tCold river\tspray.\tA\tthousand\tfreezing\tdroplets.\tShivering. The\twaterfall\tcrested\tviolently,\tsome\t260\tfeet\tabove.\tThis\twas\tthe\theavy\train season,\tsnow-melt\tflowing\toff\talpine\tridges\tand\tforging\tits\tway\tthrough\tswollen tributaries.\tDark\twater,\tthe\tlovely\tpool\tat\tthe\tbase,\twas\ttopped\twith\ta\tfrothy white.\tThe\twhole\tthing\twas\tunbelievably\tbeautiful\tand\tmercilessly\tpowerful. Loch\theld\tthree\tfingers\tup\tand\tpointed\tfar\tleft,\tto\tthe\tledge\tabove. Of\tcourse,\ta\tguard\tpost. Three\tChinese\tsoldiers\tstood\tastride\tthe\tlower\tentrance\tof\tthe\tlarge\tgray, concrete\tstructure. Dalton\treviewed\this\tmission\tprep\tschematics,\tstaring\tpast\tLoch\tand\tseemingly into\tthe\twoods. From\tthe\tentrance\ta\tmetal\tdoorway\tled\tto\ta\tstairwell\tand\tdown\tanother\t300 feet.\tThe\tgenerating\tplant\ton\tthe\tsite\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\t75\tfeet\tunder\tthe\tbottom\tof the\tfalls--as\tin\tunderneath\tthe\twaterline--with\ta\tsecond\tturbine\tanother\thalf\tmile downriver.\tThe\tthree\tmen\tup\ttop\treminded\tthem\tthat\tmore\tstill\tlingered\tin\tthe vicinity\tand\tnot\tso\tfar\taway.","Snoqualmie\twas\ta\thigh-value\tasset,\tso\tthe\tmens'\tlaxity\twas\ta\tbit\tof\ta\tsurprise. Uniforms:\tuntidy.\tGuns\thanging\tto\tthe\tside,\tawkward\tand\tunavailable.\tWhen their\tsmoke\tbreak\tfinished,\tthey\tducked\tback\tinside. Loch\ttapped\this\twristwatch,\tthen\tmoved\thand\tover\tmouth.\tIt\twas\ttime.\tWait\tin silence. Heady\tmist\tdripped\tdown\tDalton's\tface\tand\toff\this\tclothing,\tpuddling\tat\tthe soles\tof\this\tboots.\tHe\tkept\tlooking\tup,\tscanning\tthe\tarea\tevery\tfew\tseconds.\tHe had\ta\tgood\tlook\tforward\tand\tto\tthe\tsides\tbut\this\t\\\"six\\\"\twas\tclosed\toff.\tWith\tLoch out\tfront,\tthis\twas\ta\tmost\tunpleasant\treality. Nothing. Five\tminutes\tmore. Still\tnothing. Ten,\tfifteen,\tthirty\tminutes. Bust.\tLike\ta\tdud\tfirecracker\ton\tthe\tfourth\tof\tJuly,\tall\tanticipation\tand\tno payoff. One\tscenario\thad\tbad\tguys\tco-opting\tthe\tcall.\tYet\tthere\twas\tjust\tas\tstrong\ta potential\tno\tone\twould\tsee\tthe\tlighthouse\tsignals\tand\tarrive\ton\ttime.\tStevens' timeline\tallowed\tfor\tonly\tthree\thours\tbefore\tproceeding\talone.\tLike\ta\tbeautifully choreographed\tballet,\tall\tassets\thad\tto\tadvance\tin\tsync.\tU.S.\tNaval\tpower\twas heading\tsteadily,\tand\thopefully\tstealthily,\tacross\tthe\tPacific,\tready\tto\tengage when\tor\tif\tthe\topportunity\tpresented.\tThe\tgeeks\tback\tat\tthe\tVault\tkept\ttabs\ton the\tdegradation\tof\tthe\tChinese\tcode\tand\treduction\tin\tcontrol\tover\tU.S.\tnuclear assets.\tAnd\tthis\ttwo-man\tcontingent\tfaced\textremely\tlong\todds\tin\tnot\tonly getting\tin\tplace\tunimpeded\tbut\talso\tsomehow\tmaking\tthe\tChinese\tfinger\ton\tthe big\tred\tbutton\tgo\taway. The\tred\tbutton\twas\tDalton's\tjob.\tNow,\twith\tcold\tand\twetness\tall\taround, doubts\tgrew\tas\tto\twhether\the'd\tactually\tget\ta\tshot. 1330\tcame\tand\twent.\tAs\tdid\t1430\tand\t1530. Two\tmore\trotations\tup\ttop. 1615. Loch\tturned,\tgiving\tthe\ttap\tthe\twatch-face\tcue. Pull\tout.\tGear\tup. They\twere\ton\ttheir\town. Lochland\tbacked\tup.\tStill\tcrouching,\the\tslid\tpast\tand\tturned,\tfacing\tdeeper into\tthe\tthicket,\tleading\talongside\tstate\thighways\tand\tthen\tto\ttheir\tnext\tobjective on\tthe\tnear\tside\tof\tLake\tWashington.\tLess\tthan\tten\thours\tto\tachieve\ton-station. Dalton\tfollowed\ttwo\tsteps\tbehind\tbut\tthen\tstopped,\tmid-stride,\tweight\tback\ton","his\theels. The\tcold,\tsmooth\tedge\tof\tArmy\tissue\teight-inch\tsteel\tpressed\tremorselessly against\tDalton's\tneck.\tAt\this\tAdam's\tapple,\tthe\tblade\tdidn't\twaver,\tnot\teven\ta millimeter.\tHe\tcouldn't\tspeak,\tdidn't\twant\tto\ttake\ta\tbreath\tfor\tfear\tthe\tsharpened surface\twould\tforge\this\tskin,\tbleeding\thim\tout\ton\tthe\tforest\tfloor. Loch\tsensed\tsomething\twas\twrong\tand\tpivoted\tslowly,\tthe\timage\tof\tDalton\tat knife-point\tinforming\this\tapproach. \\\"So,\tI'm\tgonna\tput\tmy\tweapon\tdown\tand\twe\tcan\tall\tproceed\twith\tcaution, 'kay?\\\" A\tlittle\tmore\tassurance\tfor\tthe\tassailant:\t\\\"I'm\tsure\twe\tcan\tmake\tsure\tmah friend\tleaves\tthis\tplace\twith\this\tcranium\tatop\this\tshoulders,\tcan't\twe?\\\" The\tother\tvoice\tspoke. \\\"Who\tare\tyou?\tWhat\tare\tyou\tdoing\there?\tI\twant\tanswers.\tShort,\tclear, truthful.\\\" \\\"Well,\tmy\tteammate\tand\tI....\t\\\",\tLoch\tsearched\tfor\tthe\tright\tapproach\t\\\"...\twere only\tshining\ta\tlittle\tlight\tin\tthe\tdarkness,\tyou\tsee.\\\" Was\this\thint\tsubtle\tenough? The\tknife\tcame\taway.\tDalton\tcoughed\tinstinctively,\tplacing\this\thand\tat\tonly\ta slight\timprint,\tbut\tno\tsevering\tof\tthe\tderma.\tMore\tevidence\tof\tthe\tattacker's skill. Whirling,\the\tscowled. \\\"Just,\twho...\twhat\tin\tthe\tworld...\t?\\\" \\\"Well,\tit's\tnot\tthe\tentire\t1st\tArmored\tDivision\tlike\tStevens\tpromised,\\\"\tthe aggressor\tremarked.\t\\\"But\tI\tguess\tyou\tgotta\tstart\tsomewhere.\tI\tassume\twe're\ton the\tsame\tteam...\\\"\tthe\tcombat\tknife\tre-sheathed\tas\texpertly\tas\tit\thad\tbeen brandished,\t\\\"...\tgentlemen?\\\" A\tsmaller\thand\textended. \\\"SFC\tJessica\tSanchez,\tArmy\t1\tCorps,\tSniper\/Recon.\\\" \\\"Well,\tSergeant,\\\"\tDalton\tspoke\tup.\t\\\"You\thave\tbefore\tyou\ta\tretired\tsignal corpsman\tand\ta\tstaff\tsergeant\twho\tis\tquite\ta\tpiece\tof\twork...\tand\ta\tone-man wrecking\tcrew.\tSorry\tto\tdisappoint,\\\"\the\tcontinued.\t\\\"But\tgiven\twe've\tbeen waiting\tin\tthe\tmist\tfor\tthree\thours,\tit\twould\tappear\twe're\tall\tyou've\tgot.\\\"","THIRTY\tSEVEN Fifteen\tmiles\toutside\tGansu\tProvince The\tbus\trolled\ton,\tmile\tafter\thot,\tdusty\tmile.\tExtreme\tstress.\tElevated\tcarbon dioxide\tlevels.\tJunjie's\tmind\twandered.\tAnd\tthe\tmemory\tsurfacing\tin\tthis\thalf- dream\tstate\twas\tone\the\tpreferred\tnot\tto\trevisit. Black\tequipment\tracks.\tTen\tidentical\trows,\teach\tstretching\tout\ttwo-hundred feet.\tA\tdarkened\troom\tand\ta\tnever-ending\tparade\tof\tstatus\tlights,\tmarching\tto their\tdata-infused\trhythm.\tThe\thour\twas\tlate\tor\tearly,\tdepending\ton\thow\tyou thought\tof\tit.\tAnother\tlong\twork\tday\thad\tregressed\tinto\tyet\tanother\textended evening\tat\tthe\toffice.\tJunjie\tspent\tthe\tbetter\tpart\tof\tit\tpreparing,\tstudying.\tThe committee\twould\tmeet\tonly\tseven\thours\tfrom\tnow,\trequiring\ta\tcommitment\tto full\timplementation\tor\tsome\tvery\tsubstantial\treasons\tfor\tslowing\tor\thalting\tthe launch.\tSlumber,\teven\ton\this\tcomfortable\toffice\tsectional,\ta\tlost\tcause.\tThough not\ta\tsmall\tspace,\tthe\twalls\tstill\tclosed\tin\ton\thim.\tTime\tfor\ta\twalk. The\tbuilding\tlay\tempty,\texcepting\tthe\toccasional\tsecurity\tguard\tand\tcleaning crews.\tA\tfew\tdepartments\tat\tDawn\tStar\tran\ta\tthird\tshift,\tbut\teven\tthese\tseemed lonely\tplaces. Junjie\twalked\ton\tthrough\tlargely\temptied\tand\tunlit\tspaces;\tthinking, considering.\tEventually\tthe\tlate-night\tstroll\tlanded\thim\tat\tthe\tentrance\tto\tDawn Star's\tserver\tfarm. Compared\tto\tother\tsites\tacross\tthe\tworld\tit\twas\tsmaller\tyet\tnonetheless\tmore powerful,\tsquare\tfoot\tper\tsquare\tfoot.\tJunjie's\tpeople\thad\tachieved\tthe unthinkable.\tRemarkable.\tMuch\tof\tthe\tcabling\tand\thardware,\tbeyond experimental--Sci-Fi\tin\tevery\tsense\tof\tthe\tword,\texcept\tthis\tscience\twas\tnow functional\tas\topposed\tto\tfictional.\tEven\ttheir\tyoung,\tbrilliant\tleader\twas impressed.\tWhile\tfully\this\tvision,\tsome\tof\tthe\tdetails\tat\tthis\tlevel\toutpaced\teven his\tconsiderable\ttechnical\texpertise.\tThe\tproject's\tavant-garde\tapproach demanded\thigh\tthroughput--unimpeded\tdata\ttransfer--to\tdo\tits\tjob.\tLittle-used polymers,\tmated\twith\tthe\thighest\tgrades\tof\trare\tcopper\talloys,\tmatched\tthe\tneed.","But\tthey\talso\tpresented\ta\tdownside:\ta\thigh\tsensitivity\tto\tstatic\telectricity\tand minute\ttemperature\tchanges,\tall\tmeasured\ton\tthe\tmicro\tscale. A\tsingle\tworkstation\toccupied\tthe\tfar\tnortheast\tcorner\tof\tthe\troom.\tA\tlone island\tof\thuman\tactivity\tamong\tthe\tblack\tforests\tof\tcaging\tand\tcables.\tA\tsolo operator\tkeyed\ta\tfew\tstrokes\tinto\tthe\tbeast\tand\tthen\tsat\tback,\tobserving\tthe many\tdials\tand\ton-screen\tindicators.\tDawn\tStar's\tcurrent\tbeta\twas\trunning\tas designed. Junjie\tapproached,\tclearing\this\tthroat,\tnot\twanting\tto\tspook\tthe\tman. \\\"Mr.\tZang,\\\"\tthe\tyoung\tman\toffered.\t\\\"It\tis\tlate.\tCan\tI\thelp\tyou\twith something?\\\" \\\"No,\tand\tI\tam\tsorry\tfor\tstartling\tyou,\\\"\tJunjie\tsaid,\tknowing\the\thad\tdone\tno such\tthing.\t\\\"Supervisor...\tJin.\tI\tdo\tnot\tbelieve\twe\thave\tmet.\\\" \\\"Correct,\tsir.\tThis\tis\tonly\tmy\tsecond\tweek.\\\" Junjie\tpaused,\tmaking\tsure\this\tdispleasure\tat\tthe\tgovernment's\tremoval\tof long-trusted\tstaff\tmembers\tdidn't\tshow.\tHe\tfelt\tjustified\tin\this\tconcerns.\tHe didn't\tknow\tthis\tman.\tHe\tdid,\thowever,\tknow\tthe\tpotential\tpower\tof\twhat\tthey were\tworking\ton. A\tsubnet\twindow\tpopped\tup,\tdisplaying\tthe\tactive\troutine.\tBoth\tJunjie's\tand the\ttechnician's\teyes\tlocked\tonto\tthe\tworkstation's\tcenter\tsection. U.S.\tStrategic\tCommand... Accessing...\tauthorizations... \\\"Stop!\\\"\tJunjie\talmost\tjumped\tout\tof\this\thead\tto\ttoe\tclean-suit.\t\\\"What\tis\tthis!?\\\" The\tsupervisor\treplied,\tcalm,\tyet\tfirm.\t\\\"A\tsimulation,\tsir.\tNothing\tto\tworry about.\tIf\tthe\tsystem\tis\tto\tbe\tall\twe\thave\tenvisioned\tfor\tChina,\tit\twill\tneed\tto\tbe superior\tto\tanything\tthe\tworld\tcan\tproduce,\tcorrect?\\\" \\\"...\tand\tthe\tmilitary\tcommunications\tand\tcontrol\tstructure\tof\tthe\tUnited\tStates provides\ta\tbenchmark\tfor\tour\tprogress,\tdoes\tit\tnot,\tunlike\tany\tother?\tTo\texcel, we\tmust\tsize\tourselves\tup\tagainst\tthe\tbest.\tRelax,\tMr.\tZang.\tNothing\tmore\tthan an\texercise,\tobserving\twhere\twe\tare\tsucceeding\tand\timprovements\tcan\tbe made.\\\" \\\"I\tsee.\tWell,\tI\tstayed\tlate\tlast\tevening;\tcouldn't\tsleep.\tThought\tI\tmight\ttake\ta walk,\tcatch\twhat\tthe\tovernight\tshift\tis\tup\tto\tthese\tdays.\\\" His\tcongenial\tposturing\tproduced\tlittle\teffect. Nothing\tto\tsee\there.\tMove\ton. Junjie's\theart\tsunk\tanother\tlevel\tas\the\tretreated\tfrom\tthe\tclean\troom,\tdropping the\tspace-suit\tinto\tthe\t\\\"used\\\"\tbin\tand\tproceeding\tthrough\tthe\tlushly\tappointed but\tvacant\thallways\tand\tworkspaces.","The\tmemory\tof\tthe\tlate\tnight\tencounter\tserved\tas\tample\treminder\tfor\tJunjie of\thow\the\thad\tgotten\there--on\tthe\trun\tin\tan\tovercrowded,\tdilapidated\tbus\tand\ta few\tminutes\tfrom\this\tboyhood\thome.\tIt\talso\tserved\tas\truthless\taccusation:\tthat night,\tnot\tso\tlong\tago,\tand\tthe\tmeeting\tthe\tfollowing\tmorning,\thad\tbeen\this\tlast, real\tmoments\tto\tstop\teverything\tin\tits\ttracks.\tMoments\the\thad\tagonized\tover\tand ultimately\tpassed\tby. My\tfirm\tpledges\titself\tin\tevery\tway.\tFull\timplementation\tin\tthe\tnext\ttwenty- four\thours. His\town\twords\thaunted\tand\tcondemned. Front\ttires\tmet\tpothole\tand\tthe\ttwenty-five-foot-long\tvehicle\tconveyed\ta\twave- like\tmotion\tbackwards,\tunder\tseats\tand\tfloorboards.\tYoung\tchildren\tscreamed. Chickens,\tloose\tagain,\tscrambled\tinto\tthe\taisle.\tAnd\tthen\tthey\tstopped. Gansu\tProvince. Junjie\tgathered\this\tthings,\tdescending\tthe\tfront\texit\tstairs\tand,\tlike\teveryone else,\twandered\tfrom\tcovered\tparking\tbay\tto\ttransit\tstation.\tInto\tthe\tflow\tof\tfaces and\tbodies.\tA\tsolid\tmass\ttoward\tthe\tlobby\tentrances.\tJunjie\tspied\ta\tcabbie\tat\tthe curb. \\\"Forty-five\tminutes,\tHighway\tG316.\\\" Once\tmore\this\tdirections\twere\tpartially\ttruthful. \\\"Certainly,\tsir,\\\"\tthe\tknowing\treply. Junjie\tcaught\ta\tworn\tface\tin\tthe\trear\tview\tmirror,\tbearing\tan\talmost imperceptible\tsmile.\tThen\the\tlooked\tdown. 26:14:34... His\tbest\twould\tbe\trequired\tat\texactly\tthe\tright\tmoments.\tBut\this\tbest\twould not\tbe\tenough.\tHe\tdepended\ton\tan\tunknown\tcounterpart's\tskill.\tHe\talso\tcounted on\ttheir\thumanity.\tHe\twas\tthe\tcaretaker.\tThe\tunseen\twas\tthe\tcreator.\tThe\tways this\toperation\tmight\tfail\twere\ttoo\tnumerous\tto\tcount.\tSo\the\tsimply\tlocked\tonto his\timmediate\tnext-steps.\tAnd\the\tprayed. He\tprayed\ta\tlot. The\tdust-laden,\tnarrow\troad\thadn't\tchanged\tmuch\tin\tthe\tthree\tyears\tsince\this father's\tfuneral\tand\tburial.\tThe\tvillage\tmourned\tbut\talso\tremembered\twith"]
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