2041 Sanctuary (Let There Be Light) (59 page)

Steiner pondered the question. As much as he hated to admit it, the hacker was right.
If there’s even the smallest of chances, surely the surface and the lives of the entire animal kingdom are worth the effort? But there are too many obstacles
. He shook his head. ‘No, it won’t work. With the world’s major powers in disarray after the 2042 impacts, the only nations capable of space flight will be Russia and China, and their resources will be depleted, almost non-existent. To produce the ships and space stations needed for the final missions in 2045, we need at least one fully functioning superpower, a country capable of creating new resources from nothing. And that’s even if we get that far. Stopping two of the four asteroids next year is our first concern and I still have no idea how we can achieve it. Without the space stations there’s no platform from which to operate.’

‘But you’re forgetting, Professor Steiner, we still have one space station.’

‘We don’t know what that is, and unless Commander Magnusson gets back to us, we may never know.’

‘As I told you previously,’ Bic said, ‘I have ensured any signal received by the array is forwarded to my location. When I know, you will know, but I have to say, Professor Steiner, I didn’t take you for a defeatist.’

‘I’m not a defeatist, just a realist. The intercept missions, in my opinion, were never a viable option; only the underground bases will preserve humanity. If just one of the two asteroids we need to stop in 2042 gets through, the world’s ecosystems will not recover a second time. Even if we stop all four of the six asteroids, it will take a generation or longer for the Earth to fully regain its plant and animal life. The world’s population will die off at alarming rates regardless of what we do. If we fail in 2042 it will be the end of civilisation on the surface, perhaps for hundreds, or even thousands of years. And if the largest asteroid in 2045 impacts, then the surface may never recover, period. With no atmosphere Earth could resemble the surface of Mars in the blink of a cosmic eye.’

‘So you think we should do nothing?’ Jessica said, woken from her sleep by the discussion. ‘Just roll over and let the surface burn?’

‘We must do something, Professor,’ Eric said, as he continued to drive. ‘Can’t we just get the resources from one of the bases and ship them to Russia or China?’

‘It’s not as simple as that,’ Steiner said, ‘although—’

Jessica leaned forward between the front seats. ‘Although what?’

‘It’s nothing, forget I said anything.’

‘But you didn’t say anything,’ Eric said, aggrieved.

Jessica gave his sleeve a tug. ‘What is it, Professor? What can we do?’

Steiner kept his attention on the touchscreen, remembering who he was talking to and what he was disclosing to the world’s most wanted terrorist. He hesitated.

‘I can see you are still reluctant to trust me, Professor Steiner,’ Bic said, ‘and with good reason. We have been adversaries for many years; even though we may not have crossed paths directly, the mistrust still remains. But there are some things I can tell you that may ease the tension that persists between us.’

‘And why should he believe anything you say, hacker?’ Brett said from the back seat, her words voicing Steiner’s own fears.

Bic turned his eyes towards the English newsreader. ‘Jessica Klein, have you ever wondered why I am able to access GMRC drones so easily?’

‘It had crossed my mind, yes.’

‘Professor Steiner, do you remember when I infiltrated the GMRC’s servers years past?’

‘I do, it meant a complete overhaul of our systems and protocols. You’ll have to tell me how you did it sometime.’

‘Maybe I will. But the point is I never left.’

‘What?!’ Steiner said, aghast.

‘Yes, Professor Steiner, it may disturb you to know I still have access to the GMRC’s system. Well, parts of it, anyway. Which is why I can tell you what I am about to tell you now. What you have helped create, Professor Steiner, is a global organisation. A world government. A single institution to control the masses. A Nazi utopia made real.’

Steiner had heard such claims before. ‘No, you’re wrong. The GMRC will be disbanded when it has served its function.’

‘Will it? I think those in power will be thinking otherwise. It is the nature of man to want more, and at the very least to keep what he has. Only the few would give up money and power for the good of the whole, and of those, fewer still make it into a position of power.’

‘I would have relinquished my position,’ Steiner said, ‘without hesitation.’

‘And that might well be why you no longer rule. Times are changing, Professor Steiner. Power has shifted. There are those that operate behind the scenes, those groups, factions if you will, that operate outside the laws of the general populace. Their aim? To subvert the majority to their control and rule them as they see fit. Do you know of whom I speak?’

Steiner did. His mind returned to his first meeting with Malcolm Joiner, the then Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, back in the year 2017.
What had he said?
Steiner searched the vaults of his memory. That meeting had been indelibly inked upon his soul, as it had changed his life forever. The vision of a younger Joiner appeared before his mind’s eye. He had been telling Steiner about how the world’s resources would be redirected to the building of the subterranean bases.

‘
This process
,’ Joiner had said, ‘
has inevitably been hindered by the need to ensure that the reason for such large scale unilateral cooperation between nations and private enterprises, initially, is known to only a select few. Fortunately the need for such secrecy has been aided by organisations that have been operating with complete – how should I put it? – un-transparency for generations, operating around the world unseen by the majority of the populace. They have proved very useful in averting suspicions and minimising the potential for mass panic and the breakdown of civilisation
.’

‘I see a spark of recognition in your eyes, Professor Steiner,’ Bic said.

Steiner returned to the present and the rattling bump and roll of the police vehicle as Eric continued to wrestle with the wheel.

‘I have tracked the communications between these organisations,’ Bic continued, ‘which, I’m sad to say, are quite extensive. Where before they operated in secret, they are becoming bolder, more certain in their power. They believe nothing can stop them. They might not be wrong.’

‘It’s a nice tale,’ Steiner said, ‘but I’m not a small child to buy into such fanciful stories.’

‘Come, Professor Steiner, I hear the denial in your voice. Have you never been approached to enter the service of one of these societies? In all your years they have never come knocking at your door, promising you greater gifts than you already possess? Promises of friendship, a brotherhood, of camaraderie and a chance to further a career, a vision?’

Steiner frowned. He had been courted on many occasions by people he respected and admired, but their secrecy warned him against accepting such offers.

‘Your silence speaks volumes,’ Bic said. ‘These people, much like your Malcolm Joiner, believe they are above the laws of mortal man. In fact, they don’t just believe it, they know it. They do what they want, whenever they want, and if they can’t do something, they create laws which will enable them to do so. They manipulate, control and plot to further themselves and their brethren. It is all they know.’

‘You’re talking about the Freemasons, aren’t you?’ Eric slowed their travel. ‘I hear they’re Devil worshippers and that members only find out when they get to the higher levels and by then it’s too late to go back.’

‘The Freemasons are part of the plague of which I speak,’ Bic said, ‘but they are not the only society. In fact, there are other organisations hidden within the Freemasons themselves. It is whispered some are even set up to subvert Masons to another cause without their knowledge. In nineteenth century America there was even a political party set up called the Anti-Masonic Party; such was the influence of the Freemason elites, many Americans feared they would control and corrupt the nation. We are led to believe that the Freemasons failed, but they did not fail. They won. They control the majority of the world’s multinationals, banks and governments. When you hear about these societies in films it is made to appear fanciful, as if the governments are working against them, when in fact they are already controlled by them. Politicians have even come out quoting the famous saying,
new world order
. These leaders don’t even bother hiding their affiliations to these secret groups. Many U.S. presidents have belonged to the infamous Skull and Bones, and serving politicians from the majority of the Western powers often frequent the controversial Bilderberg meetings. All secret. All non-democratic. Should any politician be affiliated to such secret groups, beyond the eyes of the rest of humanity? In a totalitarian world, then that answer is yes.

‘Whatever you think the GMRC is, or was, Professor Steiner, know that your vision of its future, of its legacy – of your legacy – will not be met. The GMRC is riddled with these secret groups, rotting it from the inside out and from the outside in. Do you want to allow these people to rule without opposition? Do you want to hand over the fate of humanity to them without a fight? Without saying no, not in my name, not while a single breath still rests in my lungs?!’

Steiner felt righteous anger stir at the hacker’s words, but still he held back.

‘After everything you’ve seen, Professor Steiner,’ Bic said, ‘how can you fail to believe what I say is true? The sabotage of the intercept missions and destruction of the space stations. The betrayal by Malcolm Joiner and your enforced expulsion from the GMRC. The destruction of USSB Steadfast. As I have said before, actions speak louder than words, and if these acts do not convince you of my claims then I fear you may never accept the truth, let alone put your trust in me.’ The hacker paused for breath. ‘I have said my piece, I can say no more. The decision – ultimately – is yours.’

Steiner sighed, lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes. ‘I hear your words, and they scare me. They scare me because I fear they are true. But there is something else you failed to mention: Project Ares. If what Tyler Magnusson said is right, the GMRC, or those operating within it, are experimenting with things beyond their control, things that should never be tampered with.’ Steiner pondered his options. He knew that Project Ares could well be based on some kind of Anakim technology; however, he could not reveal that thought to those around him. For one, they would never believe him and for two, the less anyone knew about Sanctuary the better, as it was by far the greatest hope humanity had of living out a long term, even permanent, existence underground.

Eric stopped the car, looking excited. ‘So, Professor, what is it we can do? How can we save the world?’

Steiner looked from Eric to Jessica, the newsreader’s expression as expectant as that of her young German friend.
What choice do I have?
he mused.
If I do nothing, I allow Joiner, and those with whom he works, free rein. The alternative? I help those that have the potential to put the entire Subterranean Programme in jeopardy
.
But they can do that anyway
, he reasoned,
with or without me
.
Better I stay close to them to make sure the underground bases remain secure
. He would have liked to think it was a case of better the devil you know, but considering he knew two devils, Bic and Joiner, the turn of phrase was less than helpful. He made a decision. ‘I will help you, on one condition.’

‘Name it,’ Bic said.

‘That when – if – the time comes, you help me remove Malcolm Joiner from power.’

‘It will be my pleasure, Professor Steiner,’ Bic said, placing one hand on his heart, ‘you have my word. As soon as the opportunity arises, Malcolm Joiner will rue the day he crossed you, and with us working together the Space Programme will rise again.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ Steiner said, ‘because if we fail, the surface as we know it is lost forever and those that are left underground will be at the mercy of our enemies.’

‘Then we shall not fail, Professor Steiner, we shall blaze forth from the ashes like a phoenix in the night. Now,’ Bic said, his expression turning serious, ‘the moment has come for you to share your knowledge, as one thing is for certain, time waits for no man.’

Chapter Seventy Four

Steiner took a deep breath. ‘The only way we can revive the Space Programme is with a superpower’s resources.’

‘You told us that already,’ Eric said.

‘And not just any superpower,’ Steiner continued, unperturbed, ‘but one we stand a chance of influencing. Which means we need to stop the first asteroid due in 2042, specifically the one destined to impact the United States. This will also buy us some time and potentially open up a conduit to NASA’s Mission Command.’ He shook his head. ‘Although don’t ask me how, this is all hypothetical.’

Jessica looked confused. ‘But the Space Programme is the only thing that can stop the asteroids. It’s catch twenty-two,’ she glanced round at the others, ‘isn’t it?’

Steiner tapped his nose and smiled. ‘You’d think, wouldn’t you? But having been with the GMRC from the beginning I have seen and heard all manner of measures proposed to stop these distant threats. Most have been trialled, all have failed. But when I chose to save USSB Steadfast, I had more than one idea up my sleeve. Steadfast is no more,’ his expression grew grim, ‘but the USA remains and there is a way to extend its lifespan, at least until 2045 when the final two asteroids arrive. Although whether this would be time enough to reinstall the intercept missions to deflect next year’s largest asteroids is anyone’s guess.’ Steiner shifted in his seat to make himself more comfortable. ‘Please bear in mind the idea I am about to suggest is fraught with danger and the chance of pulling it off is slim, the chances of it working slimmer still.’

‘Just tell us,’ Eric said, growing frustrated.