broadcasting facilities, it had only taken Harriet and Byron a few minutes to track down a digital video camera and a powerful laptop computer and connect them to the Internet.
Harriet counted down the last few seconds, then Kinsella stared into the camera and began to speak.
“Good morning. Or good afternoon or good evening, depending on where you are…. As many of you will know, the Trutopian organization does not simply look after itself. Our mission is to help
everyone,
Trutopian or otherwise.” Kinsella took another sip of his water. “In a number of different locations we have been stockpiling preserved foods so that in the event of a disaster—an earthquake, for example—we will be immediately able to ship those supplies to the countries in need. Over the past six weeks, fourteen of our stockpiles have been destroyed or irrevocably contaminated by some unknown outside force. A few hours ago, our enemies struck again, on Isla del Tonatiuh, a small island to the west of Central America.
“After the first few attacks we greatly increased our security measures. Our compound on Isla del Tonatiuh was covered with hidden cameras. We have the perpetrators on film.” He tilted his head to look past the camera toward Byron, and nodded.
The tall man tapped a few keys on his computer.
Colin walked over to Byron and watched the video footage play out on the laptop’s screen.
His heart jumped when he spotted Renata and Butler attacking the guards.
Once the footage was over, Kinsella reappeared on the screen. “Just in case some of you have been living on Mars and didn’t recognize them, they were the New
so-called
Heroes, agents of a government that preaches democracy but apparently does not feel compelled to practice it.” Kinsella paused. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I personally am not impressed with this new generation of superhumans. At least, not those who are still working for the U.S. military.” With that, he cast a quick look in Colin’s direction.
“I want answers. I want to know how they can justify an action like that. What if there is another disaster like the flooding of New Orleans? If the U.S. government comes to the Trutopians for help, what will we say? Will we turn them away? No. We will not. We will help them in any way we can, because the Trutopian organization is made up of the people, by the people and, most importantly,
for
the people. Words with which the powers that be in the USA should be only too familiar.”
Kinsella stepped back a little from the camera. “I want answers. I want those answers to be honest, complete and without condition. And I want them within the next twenty-four hours.” He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “To the ordinary people, thank you for watching. And to the governments of all the countries that are opposed to the Trutopians…
We
are watching
you
.”
6
I N SAKKARA , D ANNY AND R AZOR STOOD in the doorway of Ops, watching the monitor over the heads of everyone else in the packed room.
“We’re in trouble now,” Razor muttered.
At the far side of the room, General Piers hit the remote control to turn off the monitor, then swiveled back to face everyone.
Danny thought he’d never seen the general look so old, so tired.
For a moment, Piers was silent, then he took a deep breath and looked around the room. “Any thoughts?”
Sitting next to him, Maxwell Dalton quietly said, “Someone set us up. And they did a good job of it too.” He looked up at Impervia. “You scanned the place?”
The woman nodded. “Twice. Danny did a high-speed pass, then I scanned it again as I approached. Obviously, they’ve found a way to mask their cameras from the scanner.”
General Piers said, “Obviously.” He turned to Razor. “How?”
“Probably used fiber-optic cameras. There are models that can run with minimal electricity. The scanners would only pick them up if they were specifically looking for them. You don’t set up
Harriet counted down the last few seconds, then Kinsella stared into the camera and began to speak.
“Good morning. Or good afternoon or good evening, depending on where you are…. As many of you will know, the Trutopian organization does not simply look after itself. Our mission is to help
everyone,
Trutopian or otherwise.” Kinsella took another sip of his water. “In a number of different locations we have been stockpiling preserved foods so that in the event of a disaster—an earthquake, for example—we will be immediately able to ship those supplies to the countries in need. Over the past six weeks, fourteen of our stockpiles have been destroyed or irrevocably contaminated by some unknown outside force. A few hours ago, our enemies struck again, on Isla del Tonatiuh, a small island to the west of Central America.
“After the first few attacks we greatly increased our security measures. Our compound on Isla del Tonatiuh was covered with hidden cameras. We have the perpetrators on film.” He tilted his head to look past the camera toward Byron, and nodded.
The tall man tapped a few keys on his computer.
Colin walked over to Byron and watched the video footage play out on the laptop’s screen.
His heart jumped when he spotted Renata and Butler attacking the guards.
Once the footage was over, Kinsella reappeared on the screen. “Just in case some of you have been living on Mars and didn’t recognize them, they were the New
so-called
Heroes, agents of a government that preaches democracy but apparently does not feel compelled to practice it.” Kinsella paused. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I personally am not impressed with this new generation of superhumans. At least, not those who are still working for the U.S. military.” With that, he cast a quick look in Colin’s direction.
“I want answers. I want to know how they can justify an action like that. What if there is another disaster like the flooding of New Orleans? If the U.S. government comes to the Trutopians for help, what will we say? Will we turn them away? No. We will not. We will help them in any way we can, because the Trutopian organization is made up of the people, by the people and, most importantly,
for
the people. Words with which the powers that be in the USA should be only too familiar.”
Kinsella stepped back a little from the camera. “I want answers. I want those answers to be honest, complete and without condition. And I want them within the next twenty-four hours.” He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “To the ordinary people, thank you for watching. And to the governments of all the countries that are opposed to the Trutopians…
We
are watching
you
.”
6
I N SAKKARA , D ANNY AND R AZOR STOOD in the doorway of Ops, watching the monitor over the heads of everyone else in the packed room.
“We’re in trouble now,” Razor muttered.
At the far side of the room, General Piers hit the remote control to turn off the monitor, then swiveled back to face everyone.
Danny thought he’d never seen the general look so old, so tired.
For a moment, Piers was silent, then he took a deep breath and looked around the room. “Any thoughts?”
Sitting next to him, Maxwell Dalton quietly said, “Someone set us up. And they did a good job of it too.” He looked up at Impervia. “You scanned the place?”
The woman nodded. “Twice. Danny did a high-speed pass, then I scanned it again as I approached. Obviously, they’ve found a way to mask their cameras from the scanner.”
General Piers said, “Obviously.” He turned to Razor. “How?”
“Probably used fiber-optic cameras. There are models that can run with minimal electricity. The scanners would only pick them up if they were specifically looking for them. You don’t set up
Similar Books
