Nano Surveillance (Dave Henson Series Book 1) (9 page)

“Now I expect all of you to spend the next day and a half at this conference working with my staff on determining how best we can function as a team to realize this dream and vision that I know all of you so deeply share,” said the Secretary grinning ear to ear as she spoke into the microphone.  

As the Secretary spoke, Ron observed her field of view of the audience from his computer screen and the nano-dust based cameras that were tapped into her eyes’ optical nerves. Similarly, when the crowd cheered her final statement, her audio level needles associated with the nano-microphone cells tied into her cochlea peaked on their graphs. Ron then repeatedly tapped the space bar on his keyboard and scrolled through a total of 40 pages on his computer, confirming each target’s sensors were active and fully operational. NSurv was now in position to watch the intricate web between these people and the administration unfold.

As the guests began to congregate in small groups and break for lunch, Dave quietly departed the conference room and made his way back over to the Hotel El Camino. The audacity of the administration’s plan was more than he could have imagined. They were going to effectively bring the movement of people and product in the country to a crawl, and at the same time monitor their every move, and item that they purchased. It was insidiously genius of the administration, and if the public didn’t become fully informed about it soon, they’d more than likely help seal their own miserable fate with their masters.

As Dave walked out of the conference room, a tall weathered looking man was standing in the lobby area just outside of the conference room. Dave did not see the man, but as Dave passed by him, the man slowly looked up from his magazine and seemed to pay close attention to him. 

Chapter 26 (March 8, Saturday 12:30pm Pacific Daylight Savings Time)

Dave returned to the Hotel El Camino hotel room to find both Ron and Dan still glued to their computer screens and tracking the events in the conference room. The attendees were still talking in small groups and the Secretary was floating from one group to the other thanking the attendees for coming and supporting the administration throughout the years.

They then observed Barbas walk over to the Secretary and shake hands with her. The two walked off to a quiet corner of the conference room to chat privately. Ron adjusted a few settings on his computer screen to make sure they could clearly see and hear the two talk.

“Dimitris, thank you so much for coming today,” said Secretary Devins. “The President is so thankful for your support and help over the years. I hope today we didn’t take you fully by surprise and that you will again support us in getting the TMA approved.”

“Absolutely, madam Secretary,” Barbas responded. “I fully support and encourage the President’s plans that you so eloquently explained today. You will get the full support of Mr. Grivas, ABO, and me in championing your new plans.”

“Well I fully appreciate hearing that,” replied the Secretary. “And the President will as well.”

“I believe the President has really got a winner here for the United States and the world,” responded Barbas in a fawning tone. “I just hope that Barbas Holdings, Inc. will have the opportunity to participate in some of the new business ventures that spawn out of the administration’s new plans.”

“Oh absolutely,” replied the Secretary in a whispered tone, as she reached out and held one of Barbas’s hands with both of hers. “The administration views you and your company as one of the family, and we take good care of our family members.” The secretary paused for Barbas to fully understand her double entendre meaning.

Barbas looked back at her as both meanings of the message sunk in. The madam Secretary was both smart and beautiful, and he immediately understood what was being offered and expected. He smiled warmly back at the Secretary.

“Well I very much appreciate that,” responded Barbas with the slightest of grins. “Maybe you would like to join me for dinner this evening so that we could further discuss the administration’s plans and how Barbas Industries can help.”

“I’d love that,” responded the Secretary in a pleased manner. “Please pick me up at the Ritz Hotel at 8:00pm. Until then, enjoy the rest of the afternoon with your colleagues here. I need to go call the President and let him know how his plans were received.”

The Secretary shook hands one last time with Barbas and then departed the conference room in a hurry. She was excited to report to the President the audience’s genuine enthusiasm for the TMA.

“Wow,” commented Dan as he looked over Ron’s shoulder at the scene play out in front of them. “Barbas and Secretary Devins, strange bedfellows indeed.”

“I’m frankly not too surprised,” Dave replied. “There have been rumors about the Secretary in the past. This just confirms it. At least she is preying on her equal in this case.”

“So how does everything look?” questioned Dave to Ron. “Have all the targets of interest inhaled enough of the nano-dust cells to construct the audio/video sensors in each of them?”  

“Yes, all the planned targets are now under the constant nano surveillance of NSurv,” replied Ron clinically. “Everything that each one of them see and say will be recorded on our mainframe optical disk drives back at NSurv. My staff will review each target’s files and provide a synopsis report to me daily, along with relevant audio/video file clips. We should be able to quickly piece together the network between them and the administration.”

“Excellent,” Dave responded. “Let’s pack up and get the hell out of here before my presence raises any alarm bells. Too many old friends, and enemies, out here for me to be showing my face around here too much. “

Within an hour they had packed up their equipment and were on the Cessna Citation M2 heading back to Idaho. During their ride back to San Jose International, and unbeknownst to them, they were followed by a blue Toyota Land Cruiser.

Chapter 27 (March 8, Saturday 6:00pm Mountain Daylight Savings Time)

The flight back from San Jose had been uneventful. They mainly discussed the repercussions of the administrations “Transportation Movement Act” and its future impact on the economy.  All were in agreement that it would be devastating and extremely invasive to the lives of every citizen in the country. The government would ultimately be able to keep track of every person in the country and know what they purchased and when they purchased it. It would bring a whole new meaning to the phrase “big brother”. Moreover, the mileage tax was effectively a new form of a Value Added Tax (VAT) placed on every person and product in the country. It would effectively kill personal travel and interstate commerce in a very short period of time.

“We can’t let this Act happen,” vented Dan.  “The only ones that will benefit from it, if it is enacted, are the administration and its cronies.” 

“Agreed, and we won’t let it happen,” responded Dave. “That is why our work is so important. By gathering the intelligence, that we have now enabled ourselves to do, we will be able to show and explain to the American public what this administration and its allies are all about.”

“And based upon today’s conversation between the Secretary and Barbas it shouldn’t take too long to connect all the dots,” chimed in Ron.

They arrived back in McCall, Idaho late in the day, however, they all headed back to the office to check voice and email messages. Jane had already left for the evening when Dave returned to his office. He plugged in his laptop to the docking station on his desk and fired it up. A few minutes later he was sifting through his email inbox. Most of the emails were correspondence from other NSurv employees. However, there was one outside email of particular interest. It was from a General Russell Jarod from the Pentagon. He had never met or heard of the general, but based upon the contents of the email, General Jarod was apparently familiar with him and NSurv. He was requesting to meet Dave at NSurv as soon as possible to discuss an urgent matter.

Dave wasn’t sure what the urgent matter could be about, however, he responded back to the General, offering him a few dates and times that he could be available in the next couple of weeks. Dave was not interested in selling any of NSurv’s intellectual property, nor offering the company’s products or services to the military or government. However, he was curious to learn what the General’s interests in NSurv were about. 

Chapter 28 (March 13, Thursday 6:00pm Mountain Daylight Savings Time)

Dana had arrived in McCall earlier in the day. She had flown direct from JFK to Boise, Idaho. From there, she jumped on a puddle jumper up to McCall. The scenery from Boise up to McCall had been breathtaking with expansive views of the mountains and lakes. However, she could have enjoyed the scenery a lot more if the flight hadn’t been so bumpy and nerve racking.

Though Dave had urged her to stay with him while she was in town for the weekend, she had declined and chosen to stay at a large hotel in the center of McCall. Though Dana held Dave in the highest regard, and still found him very attractive, she didn’t want to complicate either of their lives right now by mixing business with pleasure. Their breakup years ago had been rough on both of them, and she didn’t want to potentially reopen that painful memory.

The hotel Dana had elected to stay at was a beautiful resort hotel that offered all the same amenities as any five star hotel in New York City, but without the pomp and circumstance. The hotel had that western flair ambiance with timber frame construction and a huge stone fireplace in the main lobby. Similarly, her room was decorated in a western theme, with lots of exposed wood and copious amounts of washed river stone used in the bathroom. A large plate glass window in the room provided a fabulous view of the nearby lake and the mountains beyond it. The sun was just sinking behind the mountains and casting the room in a warm and fading light as she looked out the window to admire the view once more.

An hour later she was just wrapping up getting prepared for an early evening dinner. Though she had passed on Dave’s invitation to stay at his home, she had graciously accepted his invitation for dinner. Besides enjoying his company, they also had a lot to talk about. ABO had told her on Tuesday that they were not going to run the video clip of the Vice President, on account that they did not have corroborating evidence to back it up. She had been furious with Jeff Kolosky when he told her of the network’s decision. So much so, that she told Jeff she would be taking a few days off to do some serious thinking about her career and future. Jeff fully supported her decision, which it wouldn’t have mattered anyways if he hadn’t. She was going to Idaho to see Dave regardless of Jeff’s approval.

Dana’s room phone rang. It was Dave in the hotel lobby.

“Are you all set for a lovely dinner in the beautiful city of McCall?” said Dave, as she put the phone’s receiver to her ear.

“I sure am,” responded Dana in a somewhat flirtatious and youthful sounding voice. “I will be right down.”

“I look forward to you gracing my presence,” Dave said, before he hung up the lobby phone.

Two minutes later Dana walked into the hotel lobby wearing a beautiful knee length red dress. As usual she greeted Dave with her signature smile and green eyes, and with her long brunette hair flowing behind her.

“You look as gorgeous as ever,” commented Dave as she approached him.

“You’re looking pretty dapper yourself tonight as well,” Dana responded, as she gave him a hug and a light peck on the cheek. “Where are you taking me to dinner tonight?” she questioned him smugly.”

“Well I thought since you are out west, I’d take you to the best steakhouse in McCall.” It’s a small and unpretentious steak restaurant, but it could put any of New York City’s finest steakhouses to shame.”

“It sounds fantastic,” said Dana. “Other than a soda and a couple of airline dog biscuits today, that’s all I’ve had. A steak sounds perfect for tonight.”

Dave took Dana’s arm and escorted her out of the hotel to his Mercedes Benz E-class Sedan. He opened her door and allowed her to step into the car before closing her door and stepping around to the driver’s side. Five minutes later they had arrived at the Ellis Steakhouse. As they drove to the steakhouse a black SUV with two men inside it trailed them.

Chapter 29 (March 13, Thursday 7:00pm Mountain Daylight Savings Time)

Dana described to Dave the conversation that transpired between Jeff and her on Tuesday. As Dana explained the rationale for ABO’s decision not to run the video, Dave just listened quietly and contemplated his next move.

“I couldn’t believe they rejected the video on the grounds of lack of corroborating evidence,” said Dana. “ABO has all the resources to validate the authenticity of the tape. They just didn’t want to run it because they wanted to protect the Vice President and the entire administration’s hides.”

“Your spot on,” replied Dave. “We have additional surveillance evidence that we have been continuously collecting for the past week on the administration, and I can assure you they have ABO running defense for them.”

“What do you mean?” asked Dana.

“At last weekend’s business leaders meeting with the Secretary of Commerce, we attended it. Or more specifically, we observed it. And we continue to observe the results of that meeting as we speak.”

“Yes, the ABO offices are abuzz with excitement over the administration’s proposed new Transportation Movement Act. As a matter of fact, this weekend we’re running a two hour news special on the decay of the nation’s roads and bridges and how the TMA will effectively eliminate these major public safety concerns. But what are you saying about continuing to observe the results of that meeting? How can you continue to observe something that is over?”

Dave looked at her hesitantly for a couple of seconds before responding.

“As you know Dana, NSurv is all about designing and producing surveillance assets that are constructed out of nanotechnology materials.”

He leaned closer to her, and in a quieter tone continued. “Over the past 18 months we’ve been developing a new and very sophisticated type of carbon based nano-dust material. We are now at the stage in the development of it, that through precise manipulation and control, we can construct, at the nanometer level, this dust into various types of sensors; including Radio Frequency IDs (RFIDs), chemical and biological trace monitors, and even audio and video recording devices. The information that the nano-dust sensors gather can then be transmitted back to NSurv where we can process and store it.”

“That’s unbelievable. It’s science fiction,” Dana commented, as she looked across at Dave with an incredulous and somewhat confused look.

“No, it’s not science fiction,” responded Dave dryly. “It’s real, and I can show you some of the results of it back at the NSurv offices tomorrow.”

“But you said you are still observing the results of the business leaders meeting,” questioned Dana. “What do you exactly mean by that?”

“Ah,” whispered Dave. “I’ve not yet told you how the nano-dust is delivered and employed in surveillance targets. Due to the fact that each nano-dust particle, or cell, is only a nanometer in diameter, it can easily be ingested or inhaled. In a matter of just a few inhalations a target can breathe in literally billions of nano-dust particles. Once in the target’s body, we can identify the target via a DNA comparison, and then manipulate and configure the ingested nano-dust particles for whatever type of sensor or sensors we so choose. Every attendee at last Saturday’s meeting is now under constant surveillance, courtesy of NSurv.”

Dana stared at Dave in shock. She didn’t know if she was looking at a genius or a mad scientist.

“Do you realize what you’re doing?” asked Dana. “You’ve created frightening technology that if used by the wrong people in government or businesses, or in general by any malicious person, could be extremely destructive.”

“Yes, we fully understand this fact. However, we have implemented many safe guards to protect the intellectual property and its use. We have no intentions of selling this type of surveillance technology to the government or any businesses.”

“You’re inevitably going to be responsible for creating a surveillance society with this technology,” shot back Dana as she slowly shook her head.

“Actually our government has already created a surveillance society,” responded Dave matter-of-factly. “They now fly surveillance drones every day in this country spying on everyone and anyone they want to. And with the implementation of the administration’s new “Transportation Movement Act” they will only further expand it. Do you realize that every vehicle will be required to have a transponder and GPS system installed in it so that the vehicle’s mileage and location can be tracked by the government? Similarly do you realize that every product produced or sold in this country will have to have an RFID tag embedded in it so that it too can be continuously tracked? Our own government is spying on all of us with increasing frequency and impunity. The public doesn’t care, because they don’t even know it’s going on around them. Only if you’re in law enforcement, or if you’re somehow involved in the aviation industry, would you have any sense of the amount of drone flights that are occurring over our own homes on any given day.”

“Yes, but if the government gets a hold of your nano-dust stuff what’s going to happen then?” questioned Dana. “It will intrude into every aspect of our lives. Not only will they be looking down over our homes with drones, they’ll be looking inside our homes through our own eyes and ears.”

“You’re probably right. However, the only way we can prevent your prediction from coming true is to bring a new level of transparency to our political leaders and their friends, including their media allies and financial campaign backers. Only by ensuring the public is provided with raw and unfiltered information about its government servants’ actions, and their allies, can we hope to keep them in check and ensure a free society. The bottom line is that we need to make sure they are working solely in the best interest of their constituents, and not themselves and/or their friends.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” responded Dana. “If word gets out what NSurv is doing, you and every one of your employees’ lives will be at high risk. There are politicians and other nefarious people out there that would love to get a hold of your nano-dust technology.”

“I, as well as every principal employee at NSurv, understand fully the ramifications of what we are doing,” said Dave. “We understand the risks we face, but more importantly we understand what’s at stake with our country. We’ve all personally watched the economic and moral decay of our country over the past decade. Moreover, we’ve witnessed a corrupt political administration sell our country out to a handful of international billionaires with progressive-liberal agendas. Billionaires I might add, who still have an insatiable thirst to increase their own personal wealth at everyone’s and anyone’s expense, including the poor and deprived souls they claim to so badly want to help raise up.”

“What you’re saying is all true,” responded Dana. “However, if these billionaires and the administration get a hold of this technology before you can expose them, you’ll increase their power grip on the American public tenfold. What will you do then?”

“We’re not going to let that happen. Again, we’ve already acquired a wealth of information from our targets in just the past several days. We’ve already begun to piece together the evidence to show the close relationships and inner workings between the administration, certain media channels, and even a couple of the billionaires, including Mr. Dimitris Barbas.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing Dave. These people are ruthless and they’ll go to all ends to get what they want, and to eliminate any threats to them.”