David Golemon - Ancients

In Nevada, Sarah and her geology team were watching the video feed in hopes of gaining an advantage in their scroll research.

"And they developed this Wave technology from copies of the same scrolls we have in our possession?" Virginia asked, with her arms placed firmly across her chest. Her demeanor was calm, but inside she was seething that this woman could order death and assassination as easily as ordering breakfast.

Dahlia was dressed in the same clothes she'd been wearing when she was apprehended. Virginia understood, from a woman's point of view, that this was grating on her.

"Yes."

Jack had received Dahlia's background check from Europa, who had hacked the FBI mainframe and pulled out her rather mundane file from its stored archives. Lorraine Matheson was the daughter of a wealthy author and was a graduate of U.C., Berkeley. She had squandered some years at the CIA as a researcher before finding the job boring. All through her young life, she had tried to be the exact opposite of her left-wing father and friends. She had eventually quit the CIA and drifted into freelance work in 1978. That was where her file ended.

"We know that certain members of the Coalition are related by blood to other Ancients, so they have heard the same stories about the Atlantean Key and the Wave being the cause of the destruction of Atlantis. Why does this Tomlinson believe he can control it?"

"His science teams estimate that the Wave will be enhanced by twenty million decibels, and the tone grooves on the diamond are a pinpoint decibel control for specific faults and their geologic makeup. That's all I've learned from Tomlinson; he's rather tight-lipped about his plans."

In Nevada, at the mention of geologic makeup, Sarah started thinking. The familiar thought was again at the edge of her memory, then it was gone.

"What is the Coalition's ultimate goal in all of this madness--to take over the world?" Virginia asked.

"You really don't understand anything, do you? The Coalition is out to eliminate the leadership of nations that are a drain on the material wealth of others. They play games with the support offered by building up armed forces used for only one purpose: the subjugation of their own people. Tomlinson seeks to eliminate them from the world stage. Not their people, as in the past attempts, but their leadership."

"If this is so, why the assassinations of western leaders and why a war in Korea that could bring down or weaken the United States?"

"The United States has always favored the status quo of the world. A weakened America will be swayed to mind its own affairs. Leaders financed wholly by the Coalition will receive the wealth of the world--food, money, and comforts will be supplied to their people. You see, why conquer when you can purchase. The use of the Wave is for those countries that will not let go of the old ways. It expeditious," Dahlia said with a smile.

Jack and Everett walked in and handed Virginia a file folder.

"Before we concern ourselves with the real questions you will be asking, have you delved into the more recent materials concerning your friends the Ancients?"

Collins just looked at the woman, not really concerned with what she had to say about Martha and Rothman.

"I think you may be somewhat shocked that they are not the innocents you may have been led to believe." Dahlia raised one eybrow and smirked.

Virginia sat in front of Dahlia and looked at her without saying anything for a moment. Jack and Carl stood with their backs against the glass and waited.

"I believe at this point I should be asking for legal counsel," Dahlia said, looking from face to face.

"Nah, we don't use 'em," Everett said from his place next to Jack.

Virginia opened the folder and pulled out a sheet of paper, then turned it around and laid it so that Dahlia could read it clearly.

"Do you recognize the letterhead on this document?" she asked.

The seal of the president of the United States was embossed at the top.

Dahlia looked and then leaned back in her chair. "Yes."

"Do you see the signature?"

"I have."

"This document clears you of all crimes committed in the United States and her allied treaty nations. In essence, Ms. Matheson, you are hereby pardoned before the facts are brought to public knowledge of the brutal crimes committed against the citizens of the United States. It is a document the new president did not want to sign. Am I clear on this point?"

Dahlia didn't blink an eye; she only waited.

Virginia frowned and placed the letter back into the file folder and started to stand. She was playing this out like an experienced trial lawyer.

"You are clear," Dahlia said before Virginia could stand.

"Good." She removed the letter once again and slid it over to the woman. "Now, the sooner you answer a few questions from my two colleagues here, the sooner you can sign this and then take that much-needed shower and change of clothes you're desperate for."

Collins walked over behind Dahlia and removed her right handcuff.

"Where is he?" he asked, still standing behind her.

Dahlia looked at the document in front of her and then up at Virginia, avoiding Jack as much as she could.

"Crete."

"Why Crete?"

"Because that's where the Coalition will make their final assault."

"How many?" Jack asked, finally turning around.

"Far more than you can handle. I believe your armed forces have far more pressing issues in Korea at the moment, as per Tomlinson's plan."

"How many?" Jack persisted.

"Two thousand defensive troops; I don't really know."

"Equipment?"

"I don't know."

"Again, why Crete?"

"You won't be able to get to them there. He's deep underground," she answered, finally looking Collins in the eyes, and then she smirked.

"Why?"

"To use the Wave, complete with Atlantean Key. He will attack Russia and China. That is everything I know."

Virginia placed the pen on the presidential decree. "Sign it."

Dahlia scribbled her name, never looking away from Collins.

Carl walked over and took the pen, then undid the other cuff. He helped her to her feet and pulled her toward the door.

"Come on, petunia, let's get you to a bar of soap. You're a little ripe."

Before Everett could pull her through the door, Dahlia stopped and turned to Jack.

"I can't resist, Colonel. I do have one more piece of information. Why Crete, you asked," she said, starting to laugh. "Tomlinson is in a city that sank fifteen thousand years ago. Good luck assaulting Atlantis, Colonel."

Everett pulled Dahlia away, but her laughter lingered.

Sarah was in the examination room, deep in thought as she perused one of the ancient scrolls as one of the professors from the Ancient Languages Department sat beside her, explaining a strange design pattern.

"How they even knew about the North and South American continents is anyone's guess. They must have had exploration vessels that at the very minimum rivaled the Vikings' ship design."

Sarah was only half listening as the small memory of the Wave pattern still flickered just beyond her grasp.

"Now, this particular pattern here, according to Europa, is a close match for the continental plate that North America sits on. I say 'resembles' because the fault lines listed by these swirls and valleys are not accurate, nor the ones here, closest to Russia. I really don't know what they are. Without some understanding of their science, we may never know."

Sarah turned to the professor. "Excuse me?"

"Without some understanding of--"

"No, not that. You say Europa didn't recognize the fault lines on the scroll the Ancients created?"