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the catastrophe.” The two men nod reverently, then Dreg continues. “When I sat in the chair, and was brought here to this timeline, information about our mission became knowledge. From what I gather the two of you know important details about this situation.” The two men nod to confirm, then Dreg asks with studying eyes, “What should we be mindful of while we’re here?”

  This prompts Bradshaw, the computer science expert, to say, “One thing to be clear on, is, that if this timeline changes as a result of our actions, then we ourselves will cease to exist.”

  The men integrate this aspect into their ideas, considering the use of this feature as an escape plan. The first day, which is a Friday, is spent establishing their identities.

  After Dreg visits a half-way house to pick up materials, he finds a back lot grease container and soils three sets of clothing. Using a cardboard box and permanent marker the men draft panhandler signs. The designs are fashioned to target those of faith, who hold a desire to share with others. This insight acquired from a pamphlet taken from the shelter, with the message that we can share the love of Jesus through our own kindness and loving actions.

  The first message reads: “Please donate what you can,” and written below it, “God Bless.” The second sign displays: “Your donation helps my family eat tonight…PTL.” Lastly: “I need your support through this difficult time. Jesus Saves.” Each sign is used at key city locations. In a couple of hours these three secret operatives accomplish the first stage of their financial goal.

  Most of the contributions are given to Bradshaw, so he can do the hardware shopping. For the time being they find a suitable hotel room to stash their belongings, and to spend the night. Using a portable computer that he purchased, Bradshaw hacks into the Federal Database, and obtains information to track down a local identification forger. Before meeting up with the counterfeiter, Bradshaw creates elaborately detailed backgrounds for each of the men. The fictional information is then ingeniously tied in with the fake IDs they receive.

  That night Bradshaw designs a four-screened simulator for Talon to train on.

  On Saturday, day two: Talon awakes to find the aviation simulator complete and begins his flight exercises. He spends the majority of the day performing numerous routines as Bradshaw incorporates more advanced scenarios to strengthen Talon’s skills.

  In addition to the programs, Bradshaw develops further software code needed for Sunday.

  The bank where their fictitious account is set up has been notified that Bill Jensen will be in at noon, and to have a said amount of money drawn from his account and ready for pickup. From there Dreg is to go and purchase the transportation vehicle, rent a place outside the city for the three of them to stay, and acquire the final supplies.

  That night the men feast on a banquet of food Dreg returns with after finishing the city errands. Following their meal the team continues preparations well into the start of the next day.

  Sunday: the final hours. The team offers a portion of the morning to prayer, attributing this life altering opportunity to divine leadership and control. Dreg sets out on his mission. And Bradshaw hacks into the military’s aviation control network, uploading a program to the defense department’s mainframe, to disable the nation’s superior weapons systems.

  Bradshaw and Talon excitedly watch as the four jets roar down the runway and lift off into the air, while the rest of the aircraft remain permanently grounded.

  Having Talon man all four planes remotely from their command center is not what worries the team, but rather whether Talon can surmount the barrage of oncoming aerial and ground attacks, aimed at the guided planes, in areas unaffected by Bradshaw’s software.

  Reaching the halfway mark, the three jets are refueled by the fourth tanker jet, and then break off toward their objectives, while the large fuel hauler circles back.

  An unmarked van pulls up to the security gate which blocks access to the underground parking garage to the back of the International Embassy. The vehicle’s engine hums as the federal officer, standing behind the reinforced glass, built into the side of the lower level of the building, runs the license plate. From over the loudspeakers a voice demands, “Driver, remain parked.”

  The officer’s stare is hard as he reads the bio of the repair technician seated behind the wheel, before a spark of familiarity shows from reading that Mr. Jensen is a highly decorated and retired federal officer. The heavy gate retracts.

  As the van creeps forward into the underground lot, Officer Dapper says to the driver, from the doorway of his office, in an assertive tone, “It’s about time you got out here,” then drops the tough guy façade. “It was starting to get uncomfortable in here. You need any help?”

  “I think I got it from here,” Dreg replies with a lighthearted expression, after parking the van and getting out. Dreg returns the salute from the admiring guard, before opening the dual-paneled doors at the back of the vehicle, and reveals the replacement-core for the building’s central air system. Using the specialized dolly, Dreg rolls the core down a ramp retracted from the van, then glances down at his digital tablet displaying the route leading to the engineering level.

  Standing within the dark musty confines, with the core installed, Dreg waits for the lights to come back on. The night before, Bradshaw had remotely shut down power to the engineering level of the U.N. building, notating within the service records the scheduled maintenance.

  As the jetfighters Talon controls launch tomahawk rockets and rain 20mm rounds into defensive units, Dreg can only imagine the tense and amazing visuals displayed on the monitors, before the jets plummet into the four launch sites scattered across the globe.

  It feels like there’s a ball of iron in Dreg’s belly as the lights flicker on. It’s time to activate the core, built to disperse chlorine gas throughout the building. The goal is to wipe out the world’s top leaders within the embassy, holding conference, with the agenda of initiating a global strike.

  Post attack: The outcome that the men speculated would happen, if the current timeline was to be dramatically altered, was accurate. The body of each man disappears once his mission succeeds. The selfless sacrifice that their future selves made ensures that the present day Bradshaw, Dreg, and Talon live a life apart from the alternate future. After a grueling series of interrogations, the men are acquitted of blame for the incidences.

  When Dreg comes back from his tour, he is honorably discharged from the service, and lives out a wonderful new life with his loving spouse, Madelyn. The graphic memories of what Dreg experienced while in the service are shielded from his consciousness by technology used on elite retiring servicemen. The powerful serum which caused Madelyn to slip into a coma is never introduced, with the couple absolved from living underground in a fallout facility.

  Bradshaw dies naturally, or so his autopsy report reads. He goes on to become a lead researcher involved in developing alternative sources of energy. Through his studies he handles and engineers hazardous materials, which lead to his fatal illness.

  Talon is the last man of the three to pass on. As he lays in the hospital, on his death bed, with friends and family members there by his side, he hears a live broadcast announcement. The journalist reports grimly, “The feuding conflict that has been going on for several decades, has over the last few days dramatically escalated. Friends, the global catastrophe is now imminent.”

  -- The End --