Casimir

CHAPTER 72

As she found her through the dense woodland she was surprised over fifty men heavily

armed with Land Rovers armed with cannon. Janice wasn't sure- if they were army or

mercenary. She didn't care as along the Centauri group were taken out once and for all.

An SAS - lieutenant walked up to hear followed by Sir Reed an ex-army general graying in his mid 50's. Janice shook his hands "Impressive show of force". Sir Reed smiled "Its not bad for 24 hours notice. We've been told to follow your lead and we need any Information you can to get us in". Janice nodded knowing that the information she had could be useful but she had to admit she knew nothing about military tactics and was more used to sitting behind a desk meeting the odd contact and was never really one for intelligence work in the field.

Janice followed Sir Reed over to an open tent lit by gas light. On a table she saw a picture of Ethan's compound and recognised some of the features from the architects house. As Janice looked closer at one of the members indeed it was the architects plans "How did you get hold of these". Sir Reed "Same way you did. Went to his house and shook him up. He was very cooperative".

Janice looked over to a plasma screen with a satellite image of Ethans house. It was a large compound that could swallow fifty men without worry. Janice knew they would have difficulty in getting in. Janice studied the plans and they were good but worried if Ethan expected that kind of attack.

This gnawed at Janice. She realised she needed the architect from earlier, Kevin Hawson.

Janice walked over to the phone and called the superintendents Office. The Superintendent answered the phone "Its me Janice listen l need to pick Kevin Hawson for us and bring down to where we are. I've encrypted the details on your e-mail to see". The Superintendent responded "Consider it done. We'll have with you in the next two hours".

Kevin Hawson was woken with a bang outside the door. He opened the door to see two large officers. They dragged him into the back of the car and took his laptop and plans. Kevin couldn't believe he was with the police again. He knew it was best not to say anything. A needle was placed in his arm and within seconds he was asleep. Two hours later he woke up in a woodland with lights and vehicles. Kevin wondered if he had been abducted and the drug made him feel nauseous.

Janice walked over to Kevin. Kevin instantly recognised "You again", he said angrily. Janice rather enjoyed what was going on "We need your help. The sites to large and we could get bogged down. Help us you'll be free". Kevin looked confused "I've done nothing wrong except build a house". Sir Reed stepped in "Yes you built a house for a suspect criminal and maybe dealing black market weapons. There is enough evidence to put away as an associate". Kevin said nothing and knew that it was best to cooperate. Kevin opened the laptop and placed on table. Kevin brought blue prints of the compound much deeper in detail than had been given to Janice and Sir Reed. Janice was amused "Seems you've been holding out on us".

Janice quickly spotted a way through the compound that Ethan had dug and spotted the

entrance that was half a mile to the rear of the property and bypassed all the security

arrangements. Janice looked at it worried "Is this entrance secure and no nasty surprises

waiting for us°. Kevin looked to Janice "This entrance is only known by Ethan and myself no one else knows and is secure. The guards aren't aware of if.

Sir Reed looked unconvinced and look to two of his soldier "Check it out report back". The two soldiers left driving speedily to the entrance. Janice looked at Kevin and wasn't sure if he was holding out or trying to divert attention from something bigger.

Twenty minutes the radio crackled. The soldiers had arrived "Base this is Charlie 1. Entrance find no sign of traps or alarms. Its buried Underground and our robot says it goes dose to the house but l wouldn't recommend more than a few of us use it".

Janice thoughts quickly came up with a new plan and looked to Sir Reed "I'll go with a few of your men. You stay here. We'll get the base secured and radio for you to come all guns

blazing". Sir Reed looked at Janice unsure but reckoned it was a good plan "Very well. You leave now". Janice look to four men standing dose to the operations tent. Janice radioed the men "Stay there. We're on our way". Janice drove to the entrance and was surprised at its obscurity and was surprised that none of the Centauri knew of it. The men had been recoded and were called Alpha 1, 2, 3, 4 and would make it easier in communications. Janice opened the entrance door but the door jammed. Alpha 1 tried to pry it open and reckoned the door had rusted from the moisture and opened it after further strenuous effort.

The 5 man team walked down the tunnel checking for trip wires or any other surprises. They walk for half a mite and saw a a light ahead and could see the end of the tunnel. As Janice came to the end of the tunnel all she could see was a blank wall and wondered if she had been lead into a dead end. Alphas 1 and 4 tapped on the wall and realised the wall was false designed to conceal from anyone passing it. Alpha 3 was found a key hole but could not find anything else about the door. Alpha 4 got out a bottle of strong acid and burned through the doors lock before prying it open with the butt of his rifle. The door creaked open. On the other side they entered a lift shaft. Janice was wary her heart pumped with adrenalin. She looked to the lift and stepped inside. Janice look back and motioned for her team to join her. Janice spotted a control panel with an up and down arrow and assumed the lift was one way. Janice pressed the button. The lift descended rapidly stopping within seconds of it starting. Alpha 2 and 4 armed their weapons unsure of what to expect when the door opened. The lift door opened. The five man teamed walked through and could only darkness. Alpha 1 lit a flare throwing it to the ground and lit up the corridor. They scanned the corridor. Alpha 1 took the lead opening a door at the far end of the corridor. As the door opened they were hit by fluorescent light and saw a white cylindrical in front of them with banks of Computers around them.

Janice was unsure of what she was seeing. Then it occurred to him as she remembered

images from Hotaka House. It looked like the Casimir Reactor but it was a lot smaller than

she saw in the pictures and she accepted this was a newer version. Alpha 1 a burly Scotsman looked at the reactor unsure of what to make of it. The cameras had been taken by Alphas 3 and 4. Janice sat at the Computer but a screen saver came up demanding a password. Alpha 1 continued to look at the reactor and turned to Janice "This is what you guys have been

talking about". Janice walked over to the reactor and it was impressive and held so much

promise even it was funded by a criminal "Your looking at the future". Alpha 1 looked at the reactor before turning to his men. "Are we secure". Alpha 2 the second in Charge looked back "We're not being watched. We're OK for now but we need to move before we are discovered