Deception Point Page 5

Rachel nodded. She was twain.Four minutes later, Rachel Sexton exited the NRO and climbed into the waiting helicopter. Before she had even buckled herself in, the wile was broadcastborne, banking hard across the Virginia woods. Rachel gazed out at the blur of trees beneath her and felt her pulse rising. It would have risen faster had she known this chopper would n always reach the White House.5The frigid wind battered the material of the ThermaTech tent, but Delta-One hardly noticed. He and Delta-Three were foc utilise on their comrade, who was art objectipulating the joystick in his hand with surgical dexterity. The screen before them displayed a live moving picture transmission from a pinpoint camera mounted aboard the microrobot.The ultimate surveillance tool, Delta-One thought, still amazed every time they powered it up. Lately, in the world of micromechanics, fact seemed to be out-pacing fiction.Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microbots were the bare-assest to ol in high-tech surveillance fly on the wall technology, they called it.Literally.Although microscopic, outside-controlled robots fited same science fiction, in fact they had been around since the 1990s. Disc all overy magazine had pack a cover story in May 1997 on microbots, featuring both travel and swimming models. The swimmers nanosubs the size of salt grains could be injected into the human bloodstream a la the movie Fantastic Voyage. They were now being used by advanced medical facilities to help doctors navigate arteries by remote control, observe live intravenous video transmissions, and locate arterial blockages without ever lifting a scalpel.Contrary to intuition, building a flying microbot was even simpler business. The aeromechanics technology for getting a machine to fly had been around since sess Hawk, and all that remained had been the issue of miniaturization. The first flying microbots, designed by NASA as unmanned exploration tools for future Mars mission s, had been several inches long. Now, however, advances in nanotechnology, whippersnapper ability-absorbent materials, and micromechanics had made the flying microbots a reality.The true breakthrough had come from the new field biomimics copying Mother Nature. Miniature dragonflies, as it turned out, were the grand prototype for these agile and efficient flying microbots. The PH2 model Delta-Two was currently flying was only atomic number 53 and only(a) centimeter long the size of a mosquito and employ a dual couple up of transparent, hinged, silicon-leaf wings, giving it unparalleled mobility and efficiency in the air.The microbots refueling mechanism had been another(prenominal) breakthrough. The first microbot prototypes could only load their energy cells by hovering directly beneath a bright light source, not ideal for stealth or use in dark locales. The newer prototypes, however, could recharge simply by parking within a few inches of a magnetic field. Conveniently, i n modern society, magnetic fields were ubiquitous and discreetly placed power outlets, computer monitors, electric motors, audio speakers, cellphones it seemed there was neer any shortage of obscure recharging stations. Once a microbot had been introduced successfully into a locale, it could transmit audio and video almost indefinitely. The Delta Forces PH2 had been transmitting for over a week now with no trouble whatsoever.Now, like an insect hovering intimate a cavernous barn, the airborne microbot hung wordlessly in the still air of the structures massive central room. With a birds-eye view of the space below, the microbot circled silently above unsuspecting occupants technicians, scientists, specialists in numerous fields of study. As the PH2 circled, Delta-One descry two familiar faces engaged in conversation. They would be a grave mark. He told Delta-Two to drop down and have a listen.Manipulating the controls, Delta-Two switched on the robots sound sensors, oriented the microbots parabolic amplifier, and decreased the robots elevation until it was ten feet over the scientists heads. The transmission was faint, but discernible.I still cant believe it, one scientist was saying. The excitement in his voice had not diminished since his arrival here forty-eight hours ago.The man with whom he was talking obviously shared the enthusiasm. In your lifetime did you ever think you would witness anything like this?Never, the scientist replied, beaming. Its all a magnificent dream.Delta-One had hear enough. Clearly everything inside was proceeding as expected. Delta-Two maneuvered the microbot by from the conversation and flew it cover version to its hiding place. He parked the tiny device undetected approach the cylinder of an electric generator. The PH2s power cells immediately began recharging for the next mission.6Rachel Sextons thoughts were disconnected in the daybreaks bizarre developments as her PaveHawk transport tore across the morning sky, a nd it was not until the helicopter rocketed out across Chesapeake Bay that she realized they were charge in entirely the wrong direction. The initial flash of confusion direct gave way to trepidation.Hey she yelled to the pilot. What are you doing? Her voice was barely audible over the rotors. Youre supposed to be taking me to the White HouseThe pilot shake his head. Sorry, maam. The chairwoman is not at the White House this morning.Rachel tried to cogitate if Pickering had specifically mentioned the White House or whether she had simply assumed. So where is the President?Your encounter with him is elsewhere.No shit. Where elsewhere?Not far now.Thats not what I asked.Sixteen more miles.Rachel scowled at him. This guy should be a politician. Do you dodge bullets as well as you dodge questions?The pilot did not answer.It took less than seven minutes for the chopper to cross the Chesapeake. When land was in sight again, the pilot banked north and skirted a narrow peninsula, where R achel saw a series of runways and military-looking buildings. The pilot dropped down toward them, and Rachel then realized what this place was. The sextuplet launchpads and charred rocket towers were a good clue, but if that was not enough, the roof of one of the buildings had been painted with two enormous words WALLOPS ISLAND.Wallops Island was one of NASAs oldest launch sites. free used today for satellite launches and testing of experimental aircraft, Wallops was NASAs base away from the spotlight.The President is at Wallops Island? It made no sense.The chopper pilot aline his trajectory with a series of three runways that ran the length of the narrow peninsula. They seemed to be heading for the far end of the center runway.The pilot began to slow. You will be meeting the President in his subroutine.Rachel turned, wondering if the guy was joking. The President of the united States has an office on Wallops Island?The pilot looked dead serious. The President of the United St ates has an office wherever he likes, maam.He pointed toward the end of the runway. Rachel saw the mammoth model glistening in the distance, and her heart almost stopped. Even at three hundred yards, she recognized the light blue hull of the modified 747.Im meeting him aboard the Yes, maam. His home away from home.Rachel stared out at the massive aircraft. The militarys thick designation for this prestigious plane was VC-25-A, although the rest of the world knew it by another name Air Force One.Looks like youre in the new one this morning, the pilot said, motioning to the numbers on the planes tail fin.Rachel nodded blankly. Few Americans knew that there were very two Air Force Ones in service a pair of identical, specially configured 747-200-Bs, one with the tail number 28000 and the other 29000. both planes had cruising speeds of 600 mph and had been modified for in-flight refueling, giving them virtually unlimited range.