Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

you think you are, the public you—and I—care so much about will get what it reallywants: the security of the status quo. You represent the key to guiding the citizens of thiscountry through a terrible crisis of which, at the present, they are blissfully unaware."The Colonel sauntered back to the podium and straightened his uniform. Brianhadn't appreciated the tongue-lashing any more than anyone else in the room, but hecouldn't help admiring the man's commanding presence."Now," the Colonel resumed his introduction, "if you'd like to find out why I'vebothered to reveal this much to you already, and what exactly you've been selected towork on, I'll thank you ahead of time for withholding any irrelevant comments orquestions. Is that understood?"Brian almost expected someone to salute with a `Yes Sir!,' but no one at the tablemoved or spoke."Good. Look around you at your academic colleagues. You'll notice somethingimmediately—the seven of you, with the exception of the good father, are in your thirties.Besides something as obvious and superficial as your age, you all possess earneddoctorates from some of the most prestigious universities in the world, and are regardedby your professors and the Group as the brightest young minds in your respective fields.Each of you is also single and has no children. In addition, your parents, grandparents,aunts and uncles are deceased. You have been continuously surveiled for at least twomonths, and in some cases much longer. The content of your conventional mail, email,Internet usage, and phone records all helped us conclude that none of you has anyrelationship with anyone that could be considered close. Do any of you have any notionas to the significance of these criteria?"The Colonel paused for a moment, but the scientists and scholars sitting beforehim remained silent. With smug satisfaction, the Colonel answered his own question."We were not only looking for sharp minds, but individuals who would not be readilymissed, at least not right away. Most of you have mainly casual acquaintances: classmates,employers, and colleagues, for example. Next, we looked for specialists who hadworked for the government before, or who were employed by companies withgovernment contracts. Once that criterion was met, it was a relatively simple matter toarrange temporary leaves of absence. A few of you live more isolated lives, and hencepresented a minimal risk. This project will last a while, and we've taken every precautionthat your whereabouts will not be looked into, and that your absence will not cause undueconcern. As you already know, you will be allowed to contact the `outside world,' but wewon't allow undue frequency, and your mail, conventional and electronic, will beunfailingly monitored. You will not be allowed phone privileges.""Why did you go through the trouble to transmit our financial records undergovernment accounting," Brian ventured to ask, eyeing the other team members, "or isthat just something that was done to me?"The panicked expressions on the faces of several of his associates revealed to himimmediately that this was a new revelation to the others. Only Father Benedict seemeddetached. "No, Dr. Scott, you are not alone," the Colonel replied looking Brian in the eye,unperturbed by the inquiry. "The Group has indeed taken the same liberty with each ofyour records.""What the hell do you think you're doing!" Dr. Harper exploded again, only thistime her sentiments were immediately echoed by a majority of the others.33