NeverSeen

The more experienced man’s face was distorted with frustration at being awakened again in the early hours of the morning. His hands were pressed against his face as he stared at the screen at the far end, waiting for the other members to arrive. This moment was urgent and critical in their next move, and they needed to see it unfold.

“Grantson! Where are the others?” he bellowed grumpily.

“Late, sir.”

“Thanks, genius, why don’t you tell me something I don’t already know?” Chief Locknut sank deeper into his chair, growling about “kids these days.” Shortly, seven people in sharp, clean suits entered, followed by several more. They sat down at the table and opened their notebooks and recorders as Locknut signaled for Grantson to get on with the video feed. Locknut rose stiffly from his seat.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he grumbled roughly, “you are here today to observe the first stage of the Launch of Subject 518. The Launch was initiated yesterday at 1300 hours, in the form of a phone tap on the copilot’s side. The pilot, Subject 518, was informed by air-traffic control to not engage the copilot, exposing a classified leak beforehand via a program hack. Also,” he paused emphatically, drawing eyes, “we found evidence that air-traffic control has given 518 the clearance code to go nova.”