danbrown.deceptionpoint-第62部分

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he　issue；　many　siding　with　the　intelligence　munity。
　Lawrence　Ekstrom　never　looked　pleased　at　these　meetings；　and　this　was　no　exception。　He　shot　an　acrimonious　glare　toward　the　CIA　director。　〃At　the　risk　of　repeating　myself；　sir；　the　technologies　NASA　develops　are　for　nonmilitary；　academic　applications。　If　your　intelligence　munity　wants　to　turn　one　of　our　space　telescopes　around　and　look　at　China；　that's　your　choice。〃
　The　CIA　director　looked　like　he　was　about　to　boil　over。
　Pickering　caught　his　eye　and　stepped　in。　〃Larry；〃　he　said；　careful　to　keep　an　even　tone；　〃every　year　NASA　kneels　before　Congress　and　begs　for　money。　You're　running　operations　with　too　little　funding；　and　you're　paying　the　price　in　failed　missions。　If　we　incorporate　NASA　into　the　intelligence　munity；　NASA　will　no　longer　need　to　ask　Congress　for　help。　You　would　be　funded　by　the　black　budget　at　significantly　higher　levels。　It's　a　win…win。　NASA　will　have　the　money　it　needs　to　run　itself　properly；　and　the　intelligence　munity　will　have　peace　of　mind　that　NASA　technologies　are　protected。〃
　Ekstrom　shook　his　head。　〃On　principle；　I　cannot　endorse　painting　NASA　with　that　brush。　NASA　is　about　space　science；　we　have　nothing　to　do　with　national　security。〃
　The　CIA　director　stood　up；　something　never　done　when　the　President　was　seated。　Nobody　stopped　him。　He　glared　down　at　the　administrator　of　NASA。　〃Are　you　telling　me　you　think　science　has　nothing　to　do　with　national　security？　Larry；　they　are　synonymous；　for　God's　sake！　It　is　only　this　country's　scientific　and　technological　edge　that　keeps　us　secure；　and　whether　we　like　it　or　not；　NASA　is　playing　a　bigger　and　bigger　part　in　developing　those　technologies。　Unfortunately；　your　agency　leaks　like　a　sieve　and　has　proven　time　and　again　that　its　security　is　a　liability！〃
　The　room　fell　silent。
　Now　the　administrator　of　NASA　stood　up　and　locked　eyes　with　his　attacker。　〃So　you　suggest　locking　twenty　thousand　NASA　scientists　in　airtight　military　labs　and　making　them　work　for　you？　Do　you　really　think　NASA's　newest　space　telescopes　would　have　been　conceived　had　it　not　been　for　our　scientists'　personal　desire　to　see　deeper　into　space？　NASA　makes　astonishing　breakthroughs　for　one　reason　only…our　employees　want　to　understand　the　cosmos　more　deeply。　They　are　a　munity　of　dreamers　who　grew　up　staring　at　starry　skies　and　asking　themselves　what　was　up　there。　Passion　and　curiosity　are　what　drive　NASA's　innovation；　not　the　promise　of　military　superiority。〃
　Pickering　cleared　his　throat；　speaking　softly；　trying　to　lower　the　temperatures　around　the　table。　〃Larry；　I'm　certain　the　director　is　not　talking　about　recruiting　NASA　scientists　to　build　military　satellites。　Your　NASA　mission　statement　would　not　change。　NASA　would　carry　on　business　as　usual；　except　you　would　have　increased　funding　and　increased　security。〃　Pickering　turned　now　to　the　President。　〃Security　is　expensive。　Everyone　in　this　room　certainly　realizes　that　NASA's　security　leaks　are　a　result　of　underfunding。　NASA　has　to　toot　its　own　horn；　cut　corners　on　security　measures；　run　joint　projects　with　other　countries　so　they　can　share　the　price　tag。　I　am　proposing　that　NASA　remain　the　superb；　scientific；　nonmilitary　entity　it　currently　is；　but　with　a　bigger　budget；　and　some　discretion。〃
　Several　members　of　the　security　council　nodded　in　quiet　agreement。
　President　Herney　stood　slowly；　staring　directly　at　William　Pickering；　clearly　not　at　all　amused　with　the　way　Pickering　had　just　taken　over。　〃Bill；　let　me　ask　you　this：　NASA　is　hoping　to　go　to　Mars　in　the　next　decade。　How　will　the　intelligence　munity　feel　about　spending　a　hefty　portion　of　the　black　budget　running　a　mission　to　Mars…a　mission　that　has　no　immediate　national　security　benefits？〃
　〃NASA　will　be　able　to　do　as　they　please。〃
　〃Bullshit；〃　Herney　replied　flatly。
　Everyone's　eyes　shot　up。　President　Herney　seldom　used　profanity。
　〃If　there　is　one　thing　I've　learned　as　president；〃　Herney　declared；　〃it's　that　those　who　control　the　dollars　control　the　direction。　I　refuse　to　put　NASA's　purse　strings　in　the　hands　of　those　who　do　not　share　the　objectives　for　which　the　agency　was　founded。　I　can　only　imagine　how　much　pure　science　would　get　done　with　the　military　deciding　which　NASA　missions　are　viable。〃
　Herney's　eyes　scanned　the　room。　Slowly；　purposefully；　he　returned　his　rigid　gaze　to　William　Pickering。
　〃Bill；〃　Herney　sighed；　〃your　displeasure　that　NASA　is　engaged　in　joint　projects　with　foreign　space　agencies　is　painfully　shortsighted。　At　least　someone　is　working　constructively　with　the　Chinese　and　Russians。　Peace　on　this　planet　will　not　be　forged　by　military　strength。　It　will　be　forged　by　those　who　e　together　despite　their　governments'　differences。　If　you　ask　me；　NASA's　joint　missions　do　more　to　promote　national　security　than　any　billion…dollar　spy　satellite；　and　with　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　hope　for　the　future。〃
　Pickering　felt　an　anger　welling　deep　within　him。　How　dare　a　politician　talk　down　to　me　this　way！　Herney's　idealism　played　fine　in　a　boardroom；　but　in　the　real　world；　it　got　people　killed。
　〃Bill；〃　Marjorie　Tench　interrupted；　as　if　sensing　Pickering　was　about　to　explode；　〃we　know　you　lost　a　child。　We　know　this　is　a　personal　issue　for　you。〃
　Pickering　heard　nothing　but　condescension　in　her　tone。
　〃But　please　remember；〃　Tench　said；　〃that　the　White　House　is　currently　holding　back　a　floodgate　of　investors　who　want　us　to　open　space　to　the　private　sector。　If　you　ask　me；　for　all　its　mistakes；　NASA　has　been　one　hell　of　a　friend　to　the　intel　munity。　You　all　might　just　want　to　count　your　blessings。〃
　　
　A　rumble　strip　on　the　shoulder　of　the　highway　jolted　Pickering's　mind　back　to　the　present。　His　exit　was　ing　up。　As　he　approached　the　exit　for　D。C。；　he　passed　a　bloody　deer　lying　dead　by　the　side　of　the　road。　He　felt　an　odd　hesitation。。。　but　he　kept　driving。
　He　had　a　rendezvous　to　keep。
　
　　
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　The　Franklin　Delano　Roosevelt　Memorial　is　one　of　the　largest　memorials　in　the　nation。　With　a　park；　waterfalls；　statuary；　alcoves；　and　basin；　the　memorial　is　divided　into　four　outdoor　galleries；　one　for　each　of　FDR's　terms　in　office。
　A　mile　from　the　memorial；　a　lone　Kiowa　Warrior　coasted　in；　high　over　the　city；　its　running　lights　dimmed。　In　a　town　boasting　as　many　VIPs　and　media　crews　as　D。C。；　helicopters　in　the　skies　were　as　mon　as　birds　flying　south。　Delta…One　knew　that　as　long　as　he　stayed　well　outside　what　was　known　as　〃the　dome〃…a　bubble　of　protected　airspace　around　the　White　House…he　should　draw　little　attention。　They　would　not　be　here　long。
　The　Kiowa　was　at　twenty…one　hundred　feet　when　it　slowed　adjacent　to；　but　not　directly　over；　the　darkened　FDR　Memorial。　Delta…One　hovered；　checking　his　position。　He　looked　to　his　left；　where　Delta…Two　was　manning　the　night　vision　telescopic　viewing　system。　The　video　feed　showed　a　greenish　image　of　the　entry　drive　of　the　memorial。　The　area　was　deserted。
　Now　they　would　wait。
　This　would　not　be　a　quiet　kill。　There　were　some　people　you　simply　did　not　kill　quietly。　Regardless　of　the　method；　there　would　be　repercussions。　Investigations。　Inquiries。　In　these　cases；　the　best　cover　was　to　make　a　lot　of　noise。　Explosions；　fire；　and　smoke　made　it　appear　you　were　making　a　statement；　and　the　first　thought　would　be　foreign　terrorism。　Especially　when　the　target　was　a　high…profile　official。
　Delta…One　scanned　the　night…vision　transmission　of　the　tree…shrouded　memorial　below。　The　parking　lot　and　entry　road　were　empty。　Soon；　he　thought。　The　location　of　this　private　meeting；　though　in　an　urban　area；　was　fortuitously　desolate　at　this　hour。　Delta…One　turned　his　eyes　from　the　screen　to　his　own　weapons　controls。
　The　Hellfire　system　would　be　the　weapon　of　choice　tonight。　A　laser…guided；　anti…armor　missile；　the　Hellfire　provided　fire…and…forget　capability。　The　projectile　could　home　in　on　a　laser　spot　that　was　projected　from　ground　observers；　other　aircraft；　or　the　launching　aircraft　itself。　Tonight；　the　missile　would　be　guided　autonomously　through　the　laser　designator　in　a　mast…mounted　sight。　Once　the　Kiowa's　designator　had　〃painted〃　the　target　with　a　laser　beam；　the　Hellfire　missile　would　be　self…directing。　Because　the　Hellfire　could　be　fired　either　from　the　air　or　ground；　its　employment　here　tonight　would　not　necessarily　imply　an　aircraft's　involvement。　In　addition；　the　Hellfire　was　a　popular　munition　among　black…market　arms　dealers；　so　terrorist　activity　could　certainly　be　blamed。
　〃Sedan；〃　Delta…Two　said。
　Delta…One　glanced　at　the　transmission　screen。　A　nondescript；　black　luxury　sedan　was　approaching　on　the　access　road　exactly　on　schedule。　This　was　the　typical　motor　pool　car　of　large　government　agencies。　The　driver　dimmed　the　car's　headlights　on　entering　the　memorial。　The　car　circled　several　times　and　then　parked　near　a　grove　of　trees。　Delta…One　watched　the　screen　as　his　partner　trained　the　telescopic　night　vision　on　the　driver's　side　window。　After　a　moment；　the　person's　face　came　into　view。
　Delta…One　drew　a　quick　breath。
　〃Target　confirmed；〃　his　partner　said。
　Delta…One　looked　at　the　night…vision　screen…with　its　deadly　crucifix　of　cross…hairs…and　he　felt　like　a　sniper　aiming　at　royalty。　Target　confirmed。
　Delta…Two　turned　to　the　left　side　avionics　partment　and　activated　the　laser　designator。　He　aimed；　and　two　thousand　feet　below；　a　pinpoint　of　light　appeared　on　the　roof　of　the　sedan；　invisible　to　the　occupant。　〃Target　painted；〃　he　said。
　Delta…One　took　a　deep　breath。　He　fired。
　A　sharp　hissing　sound　sizzled　beneath　the　fuselage；　followed　by　a　remarkably　dim　trail　of　light　streaking　toward　the　earth。　One　second　later；　the　car　in　the　parking　lot　blew　apart　in　a　blinding　eruption　of　flames。　Twisted　metal　flew　everywhere。　Burning　tires　rolled　into　the　woods。
　〃Kill　plete；〃　Delta…One　said；　already　accelerating　the　helicopter　away　from　the　area。　〃Call　the　controller。〃
　　
　Less　than　two　miles　away；　President　Zach　Herney　was　preparing　for　bed。　The　Lexan　bullet…proof　windows　of　〃the　residence〃　were　an　inch　thick。　Herney　never　heard　the　blast。
　
　　
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　The　Coast　Guard　Group　Air　Station　Atlantic　City　is　located　in　a　secure　section　of　William　J。　Hughes　Federal　Aviation　Administration　Technical　Center　at　the　Atlantic　City　International　Airport。　The　group's　ar