Timothy Nugent Author
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Interlude - Despicable Measures
🕑 Added 2024-08-28 13:00:05 +0000 UTCCaptain Jeremy Jackson was pissed.
Over half of his team was missing in action and presumed dead, yet Scott Peters, his CIA handler, wanted to send them in for a third time.
He glanced at each member seated around the medium-sized table in the dining room of a small apartment. He assumed it was one of the many properties the CIA owned. Beside his boss, Scott, sat three others from the CIA he did not recognize. They held blank expressions on their faces throughout the debriefing and had yet to speak.
The strangest part for Jeremy, however, was that there were no recording devices in the room. This was obviously intentional, as cell phones were also not allowed within the apartment. They were surrendered at the front door, and everyone was scanned with a detection wand to ensure compliance.
Debriefings were usually recorded for oversight.
I should’ve never accepted this position.
Jeremy was a ‘by the book’ kind of person. He cared about his team and took the responsibility for their welfare seriously. The people seated around him obviously did not, and the fact that this debriefing was not being recorded set off alarm bells for him.
He breathed deeply through his nose, slowly let out his breath, and then dodged the question his superior posed to him.
“Sir, as I’ve stated previously, I highly recommend we pause before attempting another mission. We do not know enough about the other world or the technology used to get us there. My men are still MIA, and our team is short on manpower.” He resisted the urge to clench his fists in a futile attempt to hide his fury.
“Noted,” Scott replied absently, hardly glancing up from the dossier in his hands, “Now, please answer the question. From your experience on the other side, can you think of anything that would increase the chances of our success?”
“Sir, our greatest problem is that we are always separated upon entry into the spatial anomaly. We end up alone in an alien world without working communication equipment. It’s why I’m suggesting we hold off on further manned missions through the anomaly until we learn how to maintain the cohesiveness of our team.”
Mister Peters shook his head. “Captain, I’m looking for solutions, not more problems. If you are unable to offer any, we might as well end this conversation right now.”
Jeremy’s contempt threatened to seep through the polite, respectful front he used when addressing a superior. His eyes darted around the room as he froze his expression.
“Sir,” he began respectfully after regaining his composure. “I do not know enough about the issue to offer a solution. As I’ve said before, holding hands did not work. As soon as we entered the void, our electronics were disrupted, and we were all separated.”
Mister Peters nodded absently. “Yes. Do you think it is a grip strength issue? A rope tied between you and your team might be one solution.”
This asshole wants to send us through that thing again?
Jeremy’s temper erupted and replied sarcastically, “Why not just handcuff us together?”
Instead of the flare of anger he expected in response, Mister Peters scratched his chin and replied, “That might be even better.” He turned to the woman beside him and ordered, “Procure a supply of cuffs for the next mission.” When the unknown woman nodded, the CIA man focused once more on Jeremy.
What the hell is wrong with him?
Jeremy’s first impression of Scott Peters turned out to be completely inaccurate. He initially presented himself as an affable, agreeable person who only wanted to research the possible threat to America the anomalies posed.
However, after the first failure, when four of his men were lost, the man's true colors showed. He dismissed all concerns about the missing men, and ignored Jeremy’s protests. Instead, after a short debrief, he sent the now smaller team out again the next day.
With the same result.
“Now, on to the NHIs,” Scott changed the subject to the Non-Human Intelligent beings. “You said you were unable to establish contact again. Could you tell if this was the same group, or another?”
Jeremy shook his head. “I don’t know for sure, but I doubt it was the same group of aliens. I’m pretty sure that wherever I was transported was nowhere near my first mission. My first entry was to a desert, while the second was a jungle. The aliens looked the same, though. They were all between seven feet and eight feet tall with thick, red skin, black horns, and black hair on their heads. They even spoke English, which is crazy.”
“Yes, let’s talk about that,” Mister Peters shifted in his seat. “Did you attempt to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy?”
Jeremy sighed. “Sir, the moment they became aware of my presence, they called me an ‘enemy’, and ordered an attack. I raised my hands and yelled that I came in peace, but they ignored me. If I hadn’t opened fire, I have no doubt I’d be dead.”
“Pity, I would’ve liked to open a dialogue.”
Screw you!
“Now, did you find any trace of their technology? Any way to disable the anomalies?”
Jeremy slowly breathed out through his nose to bleed out his anger. When he felt calm enough to reply, he answered, “No sir. And, I don’t believe they’re responsible for the anomalies.”
Mister Peters frowned. “How so?”
He hesitated. “They seemed very primitive. They used spears and swords with animal hide armor. There were no vehicles or advanced technology involved at all. After the attack was over, I inspected their camp. It was just grass huts with a fire ring. They didn’t even dig a latrine, they just pissed and shit right outside their camp.”
“Do you think they are a lesser race used to guard the anomalies? If so, how would they know our language?”
“I don’t know, sir,” Jeremy admitted. “Every time I tried to leave the immediate area to investigate, I felt excruciating pain. It’s like there was some invisible field preventing me from getting too far from the anomaly.”
“For how long did you attempt to break through this field?”
Jeremy squeezed his hand into a fist as he replied, “I attempted to leave the area five separate times in five different regions. Each attempt was unsuccessful.”
“So you gave up?”
Captain Jackson’s nostrils flared, and he gritted his teeth until his jaw was sore. Despite his obvious temper, Scott Peters and the other CIA agents remained unconcerned. “Yes, sir,” he barked. “I felt if I remained outside the boundary, I would either be rendered unconscious or killed.”
“Your team held similar beliefs and turned back early, despite my orders.” Mister Peters replied. “Can you explain why not a single member of your team attempted to break through the field?”
“Sir, I believe Nolan and Roberts did. Which is why they did not return.”
“That’s speculation. As you’ve stated before, you had no contact with them. For all we know, they went AWOL.”
Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “That’s ridiculous! They barely had enough food and water for a few days! What possible reason could they have to stay on an alien planet?!”
Scott shrugged. “While it does seem unlikely, we can’t discount the possibility.”
The CIA man’s casual disregard for his men’s honor was repugnant. However, despite his burning anger, Jeremy had questions that he wanted answered. “Sir, why aren’t we using drones to scout? You said at our first meeting that we have advanced technology that was hidden from the public. Why haven’t we used it instead of just throwing lives away?”
For the first time, the CIA man looked annoyed. “That’s need to know. Now, stick to the questions.”
Bullshit! I bet his precious tech doesn’t work over there either, just like our cams and comms. Assuming it even exists!
“On your next mission, I want you and your men to capture one of the NHIs.”
Next mission?!
“Sir, as my team and I have reported, the anomaly remains closed, and we are unable to return to Earth, until all the aliens are eliminated.”
“Hogwash. The aliens are obviously disrupting the anomaly in some way. All you need to do is capture one of them and force them to cease their disruption.”
“Sir, I tried to question an NHI while it was injured. It refused to engage in dialogue, and attacked, despite its injuries. I was forced to end its life.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be a highly trained soldier? You’re telling me some primitive with a spear was too much for you to handle?”
“They’re giants! They’re eight feet tall with the muscles to match! How do you expect me to contain them?! It took half a mag to put each of them down!”
“Captain Jackson,” Mister Peters stated severely, “Due to your obvious emotional state, I have given you a lot of leeway. However, you will keep your tone civil, do you understand me?”
“Yes. Sir,” he replied through gritted teeth. He allowed his fists to clench.
“Now, you will order each of your men to capture an NHI and force them to re-enable the anomalies. If that is not possible, they will question the NHI themselves before terminating them. Do I make myself clear?”
Screw that! This asshole doesn’t give a shit about us! I quit!
He tempered his actual words. “Sir, I would like a transfer. I do not believe I am capable of completing the mission objectives and could better serve elsewhere.”
“Request denied,” Mister Peters narrowed his eyes. “Now, did I make my orders clear?”
“I quit,” Jeremy growled. “I’m not going back through the anomaly. Neither are my men. Not until you can figure out a way to keep us together or show up with some of that ‘advanced tech’ you told us about,” he added derisively.
“Captain Jackson, you have been unprofessional and belligerent this entire meeting. I find it disturbing that you can not reign in your temper and operate with sense and decorum. Furthermore, due to the extreme threat these anomalies pose, I have been granted great leeway with how I operate.” Scott Peters leaned forward. “That means my superiors aren’t going to ask questions about casualties. Do I make myself clear?”
“Are you threatening to kill me?” he asked in disbelief.
SOCOM is gonna hear about this. He isn’t gonna get away with this shit.
Jeremy suddenly had a realization.
Shit! They took my phone.
Not only was he without a means of communication, but he and his team were in ‘quarantine’ as well. None of them were allowed outside their apartment for the foreseeable future, and he had no way to contact anyone.
The CIA spook’s reply broke him out of his panicked thoughts. “Of course we won’t kill you. At this point, your body is riddled with alien technology. While the saturation isn’t nearly as high as Mister Miller’s, you are far more valuable alive as a subject of study. Although,” he added offhandedly. “It may be years before you are cleared of quarantine, for safety, of course.”
Jeremy grit his teeth. “So you’re saying my only choice is between becoming a lab rat or going on the next mission.”
Mister Peters grinned. “Good, I’m glad we understand each other better. Now, are we going to have a problem, or will you do your duty?”
His nostrils flared when he heard the last word, but he was somehow able to reign in his temper.
He’s going to give the same ultimatum to my team. If I agree, we might at least be able to stick together.
As much as it pained him, he replied, “Yes sir.”
“Excellent,” the CIA man responded with a nod. “Then you’re dismissed. These two men will escort you back to your team, where you can brief them on their next mission. They will remain with you until your next mission.” Scott gestured behind Jeremy at two large, unshaved men.
No way these guys are military.
He was confined to the apartment overnight with his three remaining men. After Jeremy detailed their next mission, morale was predictably low, and his team remained silent.
The next morning, he was escorted to the nearby invisible anomaly, which was cordoned off from the public. They were ushered through two separate checkpoints before they were finally allowed entry. Once he arrived, he and his team were subsequently handcuffed, and ordered to enter the portal.
With no real choice available to him, he complied.
Immediately upon entering the spatial anomaly, the world around him went black. His head swiveled left and right in hope that his team remained with him, yet he saw nothing but darkness. He glanced down at his left wrist, and cursed.
Not again!
The handcuff was gone.
Comments
Gabriel Melnik
I feel like any antagonizing CIA guy in a story should not be able to talk eye to eye with whom they are antagonizing until it becomes a done deal where one of the parties on the kerfuffle is done for (Either the CIA ops or the other guy)
Timothy Nugent
Thanks!
Raymond Mouton
I think the update that removes references to blackmailing the family of Jeremy and his men, flows a bit better, and is more realistic, in that “black” ops types in stories, are generally depicted as having few lasting relationships… The threat of being an eternal lab-rat is more than sufficient…
Timothy Nugent
I have decided to go back and edit this conversation. I will keep the bulk of it the same, but tweak the end where he threatens Jeremy.
RedFaux
The problem for me isn't the being evil. It's the being blatantly incompetent. The CIA would not have gotten away with half the bullshit they have if they were so blatant with assassinations for example, no matter how much racism and classicism would obscure investigations. Word of mouth was enough for almost 100,000 years, literally just the people in her life he mentioned could cause the entire scheme to fall apart. For crying out out, a regular "accident" would be both infinitely easier to arrange and infinitely harder to detect foul play. Not to mention straight up denying the observations of people you send in TOO INVESTIGATE, is just... idiotic. The CIA wouldn't be nearly as frightening if they employed people striving for a Darwin award as much as this moron
Gabriel Melnik
I feel like this CIA guy should have guilt tripped the soldiers into going there instead of threatening them into doing.
lenkite
Most elite veteran soldiers have peer communities for information and assistance and can generally get someone to send a messge to the high brass. A CIA agent threatening their family will soon be getting pressure from their boss no matter what black ops program they are running as a shit-show.
Bloovzi
Ye i am under no delusion that there are not evil people in power. but i meant more in this specific situation from what i read this guys seems to be a CIA handler not the main guy in charge i would think one would be more subtle not just scream out evil super villain and try to not seem super incompetent by his superiors, like by losing what seems to be half the men he is in charge of and have nothing to show for it and openly threatening to kill off his underlings mother if he does not comply. would be more belivable if he was more like ohh this captain jackson is starting to questioning my orders better just kill him/make him disappear, or lets just say Jackson also has a brother in the army and the CIA handler could just say oh you so wanna quit, i see you have brother in the army maby he would be a better fit for this program more veiled threats like that and not like im gonna kill your mother if you don't comply. Sorry for the long post, love the story and this is not a big complaint.
Timothy Nugent
To be clear. I love America, but I hate parts of our government, specifically the corrupt leaders in charge of it, including both Democrat AND Republican.
Timothy Nugent
I would counter that I haven't shown the CIA being evil enough. lol Check out the Freedom of Information Act requests on their past activity. Pure evil, including testing viruses on mass American citizens without their consent or knowledge. No, I'm not talking about Covid, I'm talking about decades ago. Not to mention all the democracies in the world they've overthrown and replaced with their own puppet dictators.
Bloovzi
Love the story so far only complaint about this chapter is that Scott Peters just feel way to over the top evil and incompetent.
Gabriel Melnik
Bruh it's the diesel rabbit hole. If I keep this way I'll end up buying an aeroplane kit.
Timothy Nugent
Well, I'm definitely learning a lot! Lol
Gabriel Melnik
Crude oil ain't engine oil, and about vegetable oil I got mixed up veggies with crude, so i checked and I was wrong about the combustion on the veggie. Straight vegetable oil as you said will fuck up the engine, so that isn't an option. Crude oil can't reach the autoignition temperature inside a small diesel engine because the compression isn't meant to reach the ignition temperature of oil, and also the valves, seals, pumps and exhausts also aren't designed to handle crude oil, so even if it could burn it, then it would be a cointoss if it works or not. There are some boat engine *made* for crude oil, but these engines aren't the same as the ones on a pickup, truck or airplane.
Timothy Nugent
Why does everything online say they can? Sure, it'll destroy the engine after a year or two, but it says it'll work.
Gabriel Melnik
No diesel engine is able run on crude oil nor vegetable oil because neither of them would combust inside a diesel combustion chamber, and also remember that both of those liquids would fuck up real bad the fuel pumps. And im talking about refining the crude oil into regular diesel (Given that the refining process for oil is basically running the substance through furnaces, and then pump the hot oil into a decantation tank were all the after products from the process are separated and stored)
Undead Writer
Thanks for the chapter! Need more!
Timothy Nugent
You are right, diesel can run on crude oil as well as vegetable oil, although it shortens the life of the engine. There are also vast reserves of crude, which does not go bad. I will make the change. I'm not an expert on combustion engines. :P
Gabriel Melnik
Sure but to be honest they don't need biodiesel given that there are relatively rich oil deposits and working oil fields. Sure, Oil pumps would need to be retrofitted but there a lot more of effort needed to make biodiesel than regular diesel (Given that food will be tight then it's borderline insane to dedicate fields for biodiesel production)
Timothy Nugent
Gas works as well, but it's harder to convert a gas vehicle to crank/push start. Kick start motorcycles work with no conversion. Also, fuel will go bad within a year. Biodiesel will last longer and can be made easier.
Gabriel Melnik
So they are stuck on diesel and mechanical contraptions until someone figures out how to hack the nanobots again.
Timothy Nugent
It is currently seeding the Earth with uncountable self replicating nanomachines. Invasion day doesn't occur until the entire planet is so saturated that it is capable of preventing lightning and static electricity. It also uses that electricity as a power source.
Josh
The nanomachines propably siphon it
Gabriel Melnik
Also begs the question on how does the AI prevent electricity from happening?
Timothy Nugent
Thanks!
RedFaux
Just wanted to say, and this was ages ago, how I like how you made a point that ALL electricity didn't work, not even lightning. It made it less like the System was just like "no, science is boring" or a cheap way to make modern armies lose, and more like it just uses one of the fundamental forces of the universe as a fuel source, and the side effect of breaking resistance is either a coincidence, or just a bonus. Feels less cheap
Timothy Nugent
Sean is correct. Lack of ability to communicate is the biggest reason the government falls apart in Blake’s original timeline.
Gabriel Melnik
Yeah but it was never said that there wasn't a way for strangers to get in touch nor a global chat room where only people with titles can chat.
Sean
I'm pretty sure he contacts people by first adding them as a friend or faction member. I don't think there's a general hub for communication.
Gabriel Melnik
I have a question, once Jeremy is initialized into the collective, would he be able to get in touch with Blake? Also, I kept digging the emp hardened diesel rabbit hole and I think that mechanical Direct injection engines should be able to run under the "no electricity" constraint even if the started needs to be modified so it can use a crankshaft as starter.
