. 01

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Adventures in Swinging Chapter 29 Pt 1

January 29

At Sea Shiptime 0005hrs CST

Royal Oak Suite

Distance from Galveston: 217 miles

Course 120 degrees, Speed 18 knots

Annie opened the door to the suite. Her mouth and throat were parched, and she felt feverish. She knew it was the Ecstasy. 'Sir Geoffrey must have thought he would get lucky tonight,' Annie thought. A table lamp was lit at the far end of the living room near the sliding glass door that opened to a covered promenade. Other than the slow clicking of her heels on the tile, it was quiet.

Seth came out of the main bedroom dressed in a robe. He saw that Annie was in distress and rushed to her. "Come with me, Ellie," he asked.

Annie leaned against Seth as he guided her to the bedroom, "I need water, Seth, please," she whispered.

Seth stroked her back, "I have something much better for you."

As they entered the bedroom, Seth closed the door. The room was pitch black briefly before the nightstand lights came on. Control moved behind Seth, secured the door, and activated a white noise unit. Seth laid Annie on the bed. She was very flushed, as though she had Scarlet Fever, and her breathing was growing shallow.

Annie looked up and saw the concerned face of Bunty Samuels, who was sitting on Seth's side of the bed, dipping a washcloth into a bowl of ice water. Annie could hear the clacking sound of the ice as the cloth moved about. Then, there was the wonderfully chilling cold on her face as Bunty wiped her gently before folding the fabric and placing it across Annie's forehead.

Annie closed her eyes. She heard a woman with a melodic voice say, "Mr. Barksdale, please hang this bag for me."

Seth replied, "Yes, Doctor."

Annie willed her eyes to open. A petite woman in a robe wiped Annie's right arm on the inside of her elbow joint with alcohol. "I am so sorry to bring you here this early in the morning, Doctor," Annie said apologetically. The woman was beautiful, with long black hair pulled into a ponytail. Her glasses hung low over her nose. She had bright hazel-blue eyes. Nitrile gloves covered her hands. Annie felt a tightness constrict her arm, followed by three thumps of the Doctor's fingers on her skin. Then, a sharp jab.

"Please release that clamp on the line, Mr. Barksdale," the Doctor directed.

Annie felt something cool begin to flow into her arm. Control spoke, "Evangeline, are we secure?"

"Yes, Control. I have secured the outer door to the suite. I have initiated a feed that shows anyone monitoring only darkened rooms, with the only sound, the recurring snoring typical of a middle-aged male."

"Evangeline, remind me to discuss the male ego with you." Seth pouted.

As horrible as Annie felt, she still giggled.

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Date: January 29

Time: 0530hrs CST

Location: 'Site E' Waxahachie, TX

Evangeline Control Center

'C' Shift marched into the control center, and one by one, relief of each control station took place without fanfare. Kat Abdullah settled into her seat as she heard Andrea relieve Ellie at the center console on the elevated back row.

Andrea leaned into Ellie and reported, "The AI is stable holding in a Tabula Rasa state. We've enjoyed several smooth hours with the system performing as it should. The uplink from the ship is progressing steadily. Baud is holding at roughly 1.2 terabits per second. Evangeline is uplinking core systems with her highest functions coming last."

Ellie nodded as she studied the main screens. "Good job, Andie. We have a shot at pulling this off."

Andrea added, "At the present transfer rate, we should have Evangeline loaded before daybreak tomorrow morning. Is Jason still confined to his quarters?"

Ellie nodded her head, "Yes, under armed guard. He keeps asking to speak with me. There is no chance of that ever happening." Ellie briefly lowered her head and smiled, " I am meeting Jared in the dining facility. I need to put something in my stomach besides coffee." Ellie gave up the center seat to Andrea and patted her protege on the shoulder. She turned without further word and left the room.

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Jared ran into Heather on the way to meet Ellie for breakfast. Heather was moving with purpose while reading her pad. Jared avoided a collision and stopped Heather, "Whoa, Heather. You almost ran me over. You are lucky it's still early, and there is only light traffic."

Heather looked up. "Jare, I am sorry. I just came from the Security Office. We have received an intel update, and I need to get Ellie to the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility as quickly as possible."

"I know what a SCIF is, Heather," Jared replied flatly. "Follow me to the dining facility. Ellie is meeting me there. It would be nice to receive some positive intel for a change."

Heather turned and walked alongside him silently.

Jared shook his head, "Oh, great."

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Date: January 29

Time: 0645hrs CST

Location: 'Site E' Waxahachie, TX

SCIF #2

The SCIF was a tranquil room. Just the sound of the air filtration units could be heard. There were multiple secure access rooms in the facility. Three such locations supported the work conducted across 'Site E.' The briefing room door was closed. Outside the door above its frame was a digital display that read: TOP SECRET in bright red. Inside the briefing room, there were two screens on the far wall. Nearby was a slightly elevated platform with a desk and chair in front of the computer control unit for the displays under the control of a U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant. Around the table sat Colonel Reardon from Security, Allison Starling from the FBI Field Office, Jared, Ellie, and Andrea.

Colonel Reardon sat tight-lipped. He was trying to control a feeling of utter shock and dismay.

"How in the hell did they do it?" he exclaimed. His eyes remained focused on the far left screen on the wall. On the display was an intelligence update from the NSA marked, 'Top-Secret-SCI (ELED-E) NOFORN. The title on the slide read: 'Commnicado Cartel Activity in Ellis Engineering District.' A subtitle below the title read, 'Confidence-HIGH SITE E Penetrated by Communicado Operatives.'

Allison Starling turned her head to Colonel Reardon and said grimly, "We have to suspend operations across the site."

Ellie's face immediately grew red, and Jared placed his hand over hers. Jared'stouch was enough to disrupt her thinking. It allowed Jared to speak before Ellie could open her mouth and say something he knew she would regret.

"Absolutely," Jared affirmed. "However, the Communicados connection to Site-E is clearly Project E itself. We must assume that since the uplink from the ship has been successfully initiated, Crossthwaite's Information Systems engineers onboard his ship are not only aware of the activity but also frustrated by the fact that Evangeline herself has now taken control of the ship's electrical systems and locked everyone out."

Agent Starling appeared incredulous, "How in God's name could you know that Mr. Hansen?"

Jared looked at her calmly and smiled, "Because those are the very actions Ellie would take." Silence fell on the room, begging for someone to utter a response. Ellie just looked at Jare and smiled.

Colonel Reardon shook his head, "O.K. I will bite. I can suspend disbelief and accept that the AI is a recreation of Dr. Hansen's mind. The briefing indicates that up to three Communicado operatives are undercover, potentially armed, and actively working in some capacity. What are the objectives?"

Ellie took a deep breath, "Plant fear in my family, Heather's family. They will spread terror, disruption, and murder if they can. I have experienced how Communicado operates. They will seek to obtain the information they need, and they kill any of us to get it. They are desperate and fighting time. We achieved the transfer far faster than Crossthwaite thought possible. He now realizes how much of a threat Evangeline is onboard his ship. My daughter spoke with me when we were last together in LaGrange. She told me she had completed a psychological profile on Crossthwaite. Annie said that the more he is confronted with delays and surprises that disrupt his planning, the more consumed and obsessed he will become with releasing Evangeline's ethical subroutines and overriding whatever degree of control Evangeline has taken over his ship. Remember, he also has multiple buyers pressuring him. His credibility and reputation are now at risk. To make a sale, he must demonstrate that the AI is under his complete control. It's his insurance policy for his very survival."

Jared looked at Colonel Reardon, "I recommend we lockdown for all non-essential staff. We close down the common rooms. Distribute Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) and keep personnel in their quarters. However, the Evangeline uplink must be completed."

Colonel Reardon asked Agent Starling, "What do you think, Allison?"

Starling tapped the table with her index finger and said, "It will undoubtedly bring the Communicado operatives into the open. We must post armed guards outside the quarters for the Hansen and Barksdale families.

"Agreed," Reardon responded. I will head to site operations and update them on the changes the lockdown will require. Allison, do you have additional resources the FBI can provide to augment your team?"

"Yes," Starling said. "I will contact the regional director and get that started."

Everyone stood and filed out of the room. The Technical Sergeant secured the display system and collected the Top-Secret briefs, checking for all the pages before taking them back to the secure storage safes, where he locked them down and signed the control sheet for them. The rest of the team walked to the entrance. They were checked by a security analyst on duty for the SCIF to ensure they hadn't carried anything classified from the facility. Once the team cleared the main door, they signed out on the access control log, and the magnetic lock on the entrance door was released. Jared was first in line, and he drew the door open and let Ellie and Agent Starling pass before he and Colonel Reardon exited.

Allison leaned into Ellie, "Your husband is a keeper, Doctor Hansen. Do you know where there are any more like him?"

Ellie smiled, "Nope, Jared is one of a kind."

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January 29

At Sea Shiptime 0900hrs EST

Main Bridge

Distance from Galveston: 339 miles

Course 110 degrees, Speed 18 knots

The Captain leaned over the weather radar screen and frowned. He straightened himself and turned to Crossthwaite: "Sir Geoffrey, the wind is coming from the southwest at 20 knots. A low-pressure front is passing over us. We will have smooth seas by early evening. In the meantime, I recommend turning the ship into the wind and reducing speed to 12 knots while engaging the ship's stabilizers."

Crossthwaite winked at the Captain, "Excellent Captain. I have a breakfast guest I am on my way to meet, and I appreciate you giving everyone a smooth ride."

"It's always my goal, sir," the Captain replied. He addressed the Second Officer, who had the duty watch on the bridge: "Mr. Jarvik, please steer a course of 220 degrees and reduce speed to 12 knots. Engage the ship's stabilizers."

"Yes, sir. Now steering to course 220, speed 12, engaging stabilizers," came the reply.

"Advise me when the storm front has passed. Recalculate the heading and speed required to meet our original base course and schedule. Please advise me accordingly. I will be below at breakfast." The Captain turned and exited the port wing of the bridge.

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"I've got 0900 hrs; we are out of time. Can Annie go or not?" Seth asked. Control shook her head no.

"Shit," Annie said in utter disappointment.

Doctor Sarkisian had come and gone, checking on her patient just after 0800 hrs. She unplugged Annie from the final bag of Lactated Ringers as the attending nurse wheeled the BP/O2 monitor out the door. Despite Annie feeling herself again, Doctor Sarkisian had advised Seth that 'Ellie' should remain in bed the remainder of the morning and indulge only in a light breakfast.

A knock on the cabin door had Control ducking into the bathroom behind a hastily closed door. Seth turned off the white noise generator, moved to the cabin door, and opened it. The Purser doffed her hat and announced, "Mr. Barksdale, I am here to escort Doctor Hansen to breakfast with Sir Geoffrey. Is she ready?"

Seth looked at him and said flatly, "I am afraid Doctor Hansen fell ill during the night. I had to call the Ship's Doctor. She required multiple IVs for dehydration. We don't know what caused it."

The Ship's Purser accepted the answer with no indication of suspicion. Her face reflected genuine concern. I will follow up with the ship's medical staff. Is there anything I can do to help make Doctor Hansen more comfortable?"

Seth smiled and put on his best actor's face, "Please send Sir Geoffrey our regrets and ask if it is possible to adjust plans and have Doctor Hansen join him for lunch instead?"

The Purser smiled, "I will convey your message to Sir Geoffrey and coordinate with our medical staff to arrange any additional treatment Doctor Hansen may require." She returned her cap to her head and began to turn away but stopped long enough to add, "Oh sir, I need to inform you that a maintenance team will be coming by this morning to troubleshoot a fault we detected in your cabin electronics."

Seth frowned, "So long as you respect Doctor Hansen's need for rest and privacy." Closing the door, Seth checked the peephole and confirmed the Purser walking down the passageway. He then reactivated the white noise unit.

Control came out from the bedroom. "Seth, I am headed to check on Bunty and Dave and see how we are doing on the uplink." She checked the peephole on the door, unlatched it, and exited quickly.

Seth resecured the door and sighed deeply, shaking his head as he muttered, "There are days."

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