LANL’s private security force, the Special Response Team, roared past the SUV. Inside, Hector Salazar, the Union Subdivision’s lead field agent, frowned.
“If setting off the alarm doesn’t flush them out into the open, the SRT should.”
“Nothing yet,” said Jack Harrington. His eyes monitored the stream of information flowing through his datapad. “Wait–”
The Xi’an Liberation Society, or the XLS, wanted classified information dating back to 2008—almost two centuries ago. Union Subdivision’s best guess was that the XLS was after research gathered by a scientist named Rahul Banerjee, an Indian immigrant who conceptualized the formula for advanced stealth technology, or “cloaking.”
Introduced to the scientific community at Los Alamos in 2008, cloaking technology had become a reality eighty years later. But ever since its inception, cloaking technology had always had its limitations—mass and size. For two centuries no one had been able to successfully cloak anything larger than a human being.
In July of 2008, however, cloaking’s pioneer, Banerjee, had claimed that his approach could cloak an entire city. Before Banerjee had completed his theory, however, he had died of a drug overdose. No one since had ever solved cloaking technology’s limitations.
The XLS, led by Marcus Kline, was going back to the source.
“Their network connection just terminated! They’re moving! Tripping the alarm worked.”
Hector engaged his datapad’s communicator. “Keep your eyes open, guys.”
“Nothing here,” Jessica Prentice reported.
“Got ‘em!” said Sam. “They’re headed toward the theoretical sciences building!”
“That’s Banerjee’s current location,” said Jack. “They’re just gonna go ask him?”
Hector gunned the engine. The SUV lurched forward. “Let’s go find out.”
The theoretical sciences building. Beige wood siding with green trim. A cross between science and military. Something out of a 1950’s sci-fi flick.
Sam darted out from a side road and met their SUV at the front of the building.
“They just ducked into the second door. One of them pulled a gun.”
