The Manhattan Incident by Raymond Poincelot Read Free Book Online

vicinity. He had been overruled by a cautious President who preferred to watch and wait, hoping for peaceful intentions. The President felt that the presence of orbital nukes would indicate hostility on our part and not be a good start. Besides it would take more nukes than available to assure saturation and removal of all space craft. General Thadford knew the latter point was valid, but felt the fewer craft left, the better the odds.
    Just then we hear a splat followed by splash noise, and then rapid cursing in the video. Alexi panicked and thought that someone must have dropped a cup of coffee. Given the loudness of the noise, it had to be right near the coffee cart. If that person bent down to wipe it up with napkins, they might see the bug. Wiping noises are heard, which suddenly stop. Next are heard static-like clicks, as if someone had reached under the cart and tried to remove the bug. “Shit,” groaned Alexi. We see him throw the ear bud receiving equipment into the toilet and flushing it down. Quickly he steps outside the restroom and walks in what he hoped was an unhurried manner and blends into the nearest crowd of people. His heart didn’t stop pounding until he exited the building and was safely on the street. We know that Alexi wondered how he could report this news. Perhaps state an unnamed source as the supplier. He is shown hurrying back to the office. We know that Alexi wondered how the public would react to such news. He had an unsettled feeling that panic was the likely outcome. Lord knew what he should do next.
    Back at the New York Times building, Alexi is in a heated discussion with his immediate boss, Jack Wingate. “We have to release this. The public must know,” stated Alexi Utkin. “But you have no reliable source. You can’t admit to bugging the meeting. Even if you attribute it to an off the record comment from an anonymous source, you might be forced to admit the source for reasons of national security or go to jail.” Alexi retorted, “I’ll take the chance. This is a time critical news item and I’m likely to be the only one who can break it before the Public sees these alien space crafts.” Finally, Wingate sighed and said, “OK, you can write it up, but only on our electronic version. At least the digital version can be withdrawn more easily later than the printed copy, if it turns out badly for us.” Alexi ran off with a “Thanks”.
    However, this version was never written. Even as Alexi headed back to his New York Times office, FBI agents were going through all the security camera footage at the UN. It didn’t take long for an agent to spot Alexi going into the bathroom and not coming out for a long time just before the meeting. Suspicions grew as he was seen to exit the bathroom nervously seconds after the bug was discovered on the coffee cart. Once he was identified as an NYT reporter, agents rapidly moved to arrest him at his office. Alexi was questioned and whisked away before he had time to send anything on from his office computer. The computer was impounded with the partially written piece. The agents also took Wingate in to custody, too. Both were trundled off to a secret prison and held incommunicado. All the NYT Chief Editor was told that it was a matter of national security. The NYT’s efforts to uncover what Alexi or Wingate had been working on came up empty-handed. They were stonewalled by the United States Department of Justice and a request to the President’s office was rebuffed. Threats of a lawsuit failed to get any response. Negative publicity began to garner public sympathy and outrage, especially when linked with the families and other individuals that disappeared into government hands. The mounting pressure began to take its toll on President Tomlinson’s approval rating, which dipped to 15, a new low to replace that of President Truman at 22 in 1945.
    The space craft sighting was kept bottled up for two weeks. During testimony from Admiral