Friday, December 3, 2010

Chapter 32

32
OFFICES, CORPORATE CONSULTING CORPORATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Admiral Galter, Chief of Staff for the Navy, didn't like meeting with Hanneman. He especially didn't like it when it was on Hanneman's turf and without witnesses. His collaboration with the mysterious Presidential advisor had always produced good results in the past, results, Galter suspected, that could have accounted for his last -- and most glorious -- promotion.

As the Admiral walked into the palatial conference room in Hanneman's suite, he had to ask himself, "I wonder what that spook takes home after taxes. Hell! Forget taxes. Why pay taxes if you're Tom Hanneman?"

"Good morning, Tom. I hope I'm on time." Galter tried to get things started off on the right foot.

"Just right, Admiral. Let's step in here to talk. That way we won't be disturbed." Hanneman hesitated for a moment, speaking softly into his head set, then gestured for the Admiral to enter a small room even more luxuriously appointed than the last.

They sat face to face over a small table. Two plain glasses were wrapped in sterile packages, and an unopened bottle of distilled water sat at room temperature. Admiral Galter hoped he wouldn't be here long enough to need a drink.

Hanneman went right to the point. "Admiral, we need a combat component off the Atlantic coast of Brazil. This will be a routine training mission which has been scheduled for several months already. You can complete the mission planning while the ships are en route."

"Planning for what, Tom? Or is that a secret?" Admiral Galter asked, sighing.

"Create a plan to accomplish the following items, individually or in combination. We need to be able to extract Jesus if it becomes a necessity. His safety will be paramount. We may need to bloody their noses with surgical strikes against selected government facilities, ship to shore missiles. We may need to blockade all Brazilian coastal ports. Mining harbors is too aggressive. We would just want to board and divert shipping. And, finally, while your ships are on the way, plan on securing the island of Paraneho. You may be ordered to land a CIA forensics team there."

"Why isn't the President giving these orders, Tom?" The Admiral knew the answer, but still felt obliged to ask.

"The President agrees with the general concept of this deployment. At this time he is not considered to be on the "Need to Know" list. You will receive direct orders if and when this becomes anything more than a routine training mission. Is that clear?" Hanneman was the only man in Washington, D.C., who could make such a statement with no visible sign of emotion whatsoever.

"And speaking to security, you are not to discuss this with any of the Joint Chiefs under any circumstances. The code name for this operation is MESSIAH. The security clearance rating for this mission is ULTRA COSMIC. Is everything clear, Admiral?"

Admiral Galter nodded, even though he felt as if he should salute. Everything was clear.