Falls Church, Virginia, Thursday…

The sleek black limo pulled into the heavily guarded back entrance of the new Sheila Remington building in Falls Church, Virginia. Renamed after President Remington, who had died in the terrorist attack in 2037 that had led to the last Middle East war, it was a twenty story black obelisk, built after the second war as the new HQ of the Department of Homeland Security. Its roof was full of antennas of every shape imaginable, except for the area set aside for the helipad. The building also went a full seven levels below the surface, three of which were dedicated to a parking garage. While the FBI and CIA still struggled with their antiquated facilities, the DHS bureaucracy enjoyed much more modern comforts and conveniences.

The limo speeded by the four saluting marines at the entrance to the parking garage and went down into the first level, stopping by the underground entrance to the building where elevators would take its occupants up into the office levels above or the lab levels below. Hank Johnson, the Assistant Secretary, got out, followed by his two bodyguards and Mary Beth Grogan, his personal aid and also an armed agent herself. As the group moved towards the entrance to the elevators, Jay Sandoval stepped out of the shadows. The bodyguards immediately jumped in front of Johnson and Grogan, drawing their pistols.

"Easy boys," said Jay, flashing her press badge. "At the street entrance they said I could wait for Mr. Johnson down here. I'm doing a story. We help you. You help us."