David Golemon - Event

Collins held Lee's gaze without comment.

"But that's just history; we study, we learn, we file it. But sometimes there is that golden nugget that can alter our government's way of thinking; for instance, the report detailing the history of the empire of Japan delivered from us to Roosevelt in 1933 by my predecessor warning of the historical tendencies of the Japanese. It was all there to see for anyone willing to dig a little deeper, dig like only the Event Group can. Our Group informed the president six full years before December of '41 that the United States was on a collision course with Japan, and we also gave him options on how to avoid a conflict. You see, we report, but in the end what the president does with the information is learn from it." Lee smiled at Collins. "Maybe he decided that what he learned from our report was that Japan would indeed attack us, and that would be enough to get us involved in a far more dangerous game in Europe with the Nazis. What do you think?"

"I believe I understand the need for secrecy; this information would unnerve a lot of people, and I believe I know why you need me."

"No, Jack, you don't know just yet. We've lost a lot of people, good people, and we are sick and tired of it. The president has ordered Director Compton to take the gloves off. My killing days are far passed; I daresay I was almost as good as you at taking life for the right cause. But I'm an old man and my next big adventure is death. Niles here needs a man that is capable of defending the people he sends into the field, and so I started digging on his behalf and you are what I unearthed. I hope I have stated our case clearly."

"I believe you have," Collins answered.

"By that, I guess you see some of what we are about here and that you accept the task before you, that you are here to train and equip our security teams and make them a viable protective force. Niles and I are concerned over the recent escalation of deadly force against our people."

"We are being pushed around by outside elements, and to put it bluntly and more succinctly, Major, you're here to push back, and push back hard," Compton said, with the emphasis on the last four words.

"I believe I grasp the concept of the Group, but the times dictate how you react to certain situations. For reasons I've tried to explain, and have been banished from the troops I respect and care about for doing so, countries and people smell a weakness in the United States. To protect the people under you, Mr. Director, are you prepared to be offensive in nature?"

"Prepared? I'm ordering it, Major Collins."

"Then you're halfway to really giving your people a fighting chance. Our current world is one based on speed. Everything is moving faster, and to protect your own you have to move even faster than your enemies, and sometimes sadly to say, preemptively."

Niles nodded. "But there is something you must know, Major Collins. There are those here in our own country that believe as you, only they are taking matters to the extreme. It seems there may be a group of superpatriots with highly placed sources that are attacking others and us with impunity. You are right, it's a world of speed and we are lagging behind. Whoever they are, they are killing my people and taking our finds, and I must stress, Major Collins"-- Compton clenched his fist--"that will be our undoing. Our knowledge is being stolen, by either outside sources for political gain, or factors from inside our borders for monetary or political reasons, and I want it stopped. The president says to start offensive operations to root these factions out. Get a light on them and bring them out into the open. And that is what you are here to do." Niles paced and continued, "When the senator brought you to my attention, I thought you might be just a thug, but reading your file and making a few calls of my own, I have found out you are quite intelligent and are constantly thinking outside of the box. MIT, UCLA, and numerous other institutions say you are worthy of being far more than you are. But I believe you were right where you wanted to be, protecting your men. That's why all the higher education--you learned so you could care for your people. I care about mine also, Major, but I can't do what you do." Niles turned and faced Collins. "Protect my people and I don't care how you do it."

Collins looked from Dr. Compton to the senator. He sensed their sincerity about how important they considered the job they had offered him. He felt their sorrow and anger at the loss of their people, but he knew that regardless of the intent, he was out of his element.

"I am a soldier," he started, looking from one man to the other, "one who is still a career officer, even if the army has no more use for me. I will still have to get used to that fact. It's a new position for me you see, being an embarrassment, being one they have to brush under the rug, it makes it hard to look in the mirror. So if you wouldn't mind, I would like to reserve my answer for any permanent assignment until I can evaluate my options. But it would be my duty to start training your Group as best I can while I do that, is that acceptable?"

Lee looked at the floor a moment. He knew this was where Jack Collins would remain. The Joint Chiefs would never allow him to return to active duty. But how do you get rid of a Medal of Honor recipient without CNN crucifying you in the press? You hide him in the darkest closet in the American house, the Event Group. In the end Lee decided to let Jack have the illusion his fate was still controlled by himself, because without the Event Group the major's military career was done.

"Then tentatively speaking, Jack, welcome to the Event Group," the senator said slowly, standing and limping around the desk with his hand extended. "Your second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander Everett, will shed some more light on your duties here. He's good, Jack, real good. He's Navy, a SEAL, and he's been there, and it was he who knew the entire system needed revamping."

The senator opened the twin doors and shook Jack's hand again.

"That wicked old woman will have someone show you to your quarters, and then you'll be taken on a small tour of our vault area. Niles and I have a meeting with Her Majesty's archivist in England and the British prime minister in ten minutes, and the president will be listening in. So I'll leave you in the Wicked Witch of the West's hands because, as I say, we have an argument ahead of us. It seems the Brits want a body returned to the soil of the Empire."

Collins released the senator's hand as he turned away to go back into his office. As the doors were closing behind him, he heard the old man say, "This body belongs to the world, not just the British, damn it!"

Collins was joined by Alice Hamilton, who placed her aged arm through his own and started walking him toward the elevator. Collins figured Alice was one of those people who actually ran things at the Group, the one you went to when you wanted to cut through the crap and get something done. He decided that he would want her ear in the coming weeks and months.

As he entered the elevator, Alice whispered as she kept the doors from closing, "Garrison is really up in arms because he and Niles don't want to give up one of our finds, but the burial site was found on an American naval base in Scotland, so they wanted to keep it a while longer. But as always, they will return it when it's been examined. The senator wants to keep it for good, but Dr. Compton is younger and calmer and knows the British deserve it, so the senator will defer to Niles." She smiled and looked at Jack. "It was one of the senator's pet projects here at Group, proving the existence of a fourth-century warlord named Artorius, in the Latin language, or better known as Arthur, in the English."

As Alice let the elevator doors slowly close, she had to smile, because the last thing she saw was Major Collins's face as he tried to stop the doors from closing. "You mean they found the body of King Arth--" But the doors closed, cutting off his amazed expression and question.