Below it was a search request submitted by the field unit.
The request had been rejected.
The reason was listed as operational security risk.
Marcus stared at the words.
MARCUS REED: "They refused to look for him."
DAVID BROOKS: "Who rejected the request?"
The technician opened the authorization field.
A restricted command identifier appeared.
It was the same senior authorization group connected to the canceled extraction.
Marcus looked toward the generals.
MARCUS REED: "The same people who left us behind refused to search for him."
GENERAL HAYES: "The region was considered too dangerous for a recovery operation."
MARCUS REED: "We were already in that region. We were rescuing people while the facility was under attack."
GENERAL HAYES: "The circumstances were different."
MARCUS REED: "No. The circumstances were exactly the same. You simply decided that some people were not worth bringing home."
Brooks looked at the personnel record.
DAVID BROOKS: "There is another transmission."
The technician opened it.
A short audio recording began playing.
The voice was weak and interrupted by static.
UNKNOWN MALE VOICE: "If anyone receives this message, the original archive is still active. The command network has not been secured."
Marcus stepped closer.
The voice continued.
UNKNOWN MALE VOICE: "Do not send a recovery team through the official channel. The people controlling the facility can see every request."
The recording stopped briefly.
Then the voice returned.
UNKNOWN MALE VOICE: "If Captain Reed still has the glove, tell him not to surrender it."
Marcus froze.
MARCUS REED: "That's Foster."
Brooks looked at him.
DAVID BROOKS: "You are certain?"
MARCUS REED: "I know his voice."
The recording continued.
SERGEANT FOSTER: "The second record contains the names. It contains the authorization history. It contains everything needed to identify the people who changed the mission."
A burst of static interrupted the transmission.
SERGEANT FOSTER: "If Captain Reed is listening, tell him the person who canceled the extraction was not acting alone."
The message ended.
Marcus stood motionless.
Foster was alive.
Or at least, he had been alive when the message was recorded.
The same soldier who had disappeared during the operation was now sending a warning through a restricted archive.
MARCUS REED: "Where is he?"
DAVID BROOKS: "We are going to find out."
GENERAL CROSS: "Mr. Secretary, this is precisely why the archive should be secured before anyone attempts to contact missing personnel."
DAVID BROOKS: "Why?"
GENERAL CROSS: "Because we do not know who is controlling the communications."
DAVID BROOKS: "That is exactly why we need to establish who has access."
The technician looked up.
TECHNICIAN: "Sir, someone is attempting to access the system remotely."
Brooks turned toward the display.
DAVID BROOKS: "From where?"
TECHNICIAN: "The connection is coming through a restricted command network."
DAVID BROOKS: "Block it."
TECHNICIAN: "I am attempting to isolate the connection."
The screen flickered.
A warning appeared.
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS ATTEMPT.
The technician entered another command.
The system rejected it.
TECHNICIAN: "The remote connection has higher authorization than this terminal."
Brooks's expression hardened.
DAVID BROOKS: "That should not be possible."
TECHNICIAN: "The connection is using a senior command credential."
GENERAL HAYES: "Then terminate the session immediately."
DAVID BROOKS: "We are not terminating anything."
The display changed.
A second warning appeared.
REMOTE AUTHORITY OVERRIDE DETECTED.
Then the archive began closing.
The technician typed rapidly.
TECHNICIAN: "The system is attempting to terminate the verification session."
DAVID BROOKS: "Can you preserve the records?"
TECHNICIAN: "I am trying."
The display went black.
A moment later, a message appeared.
SESSION TERMINATED BY REMOTE AUTHORITY.
Marcus stared at the words.
Someone had known they were examining the archive.
Someone had enough authority to shut down the system remotely.
And that person had acted before the Secretary could finish verifying the evidence.
Brooks slowly turned toward the three generals.
DAVID BROOKS: "Who has access to the senior command network?"
GENERAL HAYES: "Several authorized offices."
DAVID BROOKS: "Name them."
GENERAL HAYES: "That information is restricted."
DAVID BROOKS: "I am the Secretary of Defense. You will answer."
Hayes looked at the other officers.
GENERAL HAYES: "The authorization structure includes the Joint Operations Office, the National Military Intelligence Directorate, and selected command administrators."
DAVID BROOKS: "Who can override a verification session?"
GENERAL HAYES: "Only a small number of senior officials."
DAVID BROOKS: "And you are one of them?"
Hayes paused.
GENERAL HAYES: "Yes."
Marcus looked at him.
The general had admitted that he possessed the authority to interfere with the archive.
But that did not prove he had used it.
Brooks turned toward the technician.