Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

wrong! And the major agrees with me now.""Absolutely," the major affirmed his support."Listen to yourselves," the General grumbled. "Perhaps you're getting too old forthis business losing your nerve! We've lost nothing by the unraveling of Vemon's coverstory. All it means is that the timetable is moved up.""If anything," Colonel Ferguson reentered the argument, "they'll be even moreprone to accept what we have in store for them next. Having caught us red-handed once,they'll be far less suspicious now that their efforts have `forced' us to come clean.""You don't know thatyou're just trying to recoup your losses," the majorrebounded."Tell me, Major, has being on the losing end of some decisions caused you todoubt Vernon's leadership? Or is it just that he's Air Force?" the corpulent leaderwondered aloud."Now why would you put it that way`?" the major sneered, leaning forward andgazing toward the center of the table. "Look—I thought the Colonel used poor judgmentselecting Dr. Bandstra, and I think the same about allowing Brian Scott on the team noneof that is going to change, no matter how much you try to make this an Army-Air Forceturf war. Bandstra is an outsider. I question any activity on the part of anyone whosecareer has been detached from our purposes.""You haven't been with us that long, Major. We might have considered you anoutsider.""My entire career has been linked to the Agenda," the major defended himself."Apparently you need to be reminded that I was hand-picked by your predecessor andsuperior. Instead of objecting to an alternative opinion, you ought to remember that youtook your own precautions regarding Scott as a total unknown.""Vernon can handle Bandstra, and as far as my own addition to the team, thataddition is more than up to the task of making sure Dr. Scott isn't a risk. The issue isn'twhether to admit an outsider, it's whether the risks can be nullified so as to serve ourpurposes. You'll find our collective judgment uncannily accurate. When Vernon returnsand confesses they'll never accuse him of lying again. They'll be compelled to believe.""And if they don't?""If they need additional convincing, that can be arranged. Their belief—andespecially Dr. Scott's—is absolutely essential to the success of the Agenda.""Then we'll proceed as outlined?" Colonel Ferguson inquired."Absolutely. Gordon, I assume you're prepared`?" the heavyset officer remarked,addressing a man seated several chairs to his left who had remained silent. The mannodded."Excellent. Remember Vernon, all means necessary toward accomplishing ourgoal must be utilized.""Do I understand you correctly, sir'?""Adam is at your disposal if necessary."The Colonel nodded.Dr. Bandstra and his colleague arrived at the conference room as the othermembers of the team were filing inside. The appearance of a new face drew some stares,100