Volcano: Priority One, #6

By Jo Carey

Each time the Priority One Team of data scientists thinks they have uncovered that one critical piece of data that will allow them to stop the people using all manner of evil to reshape our world something else goes wrong.

They know who's behind the release of a deadly virus. They know who created the storms that have ravaged communities around the world. But knowing it and getting anyone to take action against those people are two very different things.

Jacinta and the Priority One Team set out to improve their wilderness survival skills. Too many times they have found themselves caught in survival situations they were ill-prepared for.

 
Unfortunately, their enemies have added more weapons to their arsenal.

Can the team survive these new attacks, or will it all blow up in their faces?

Volcano is the sixth story in this series that is equal parts adventure, romance, and science fiction.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Carey
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393851264

Jo Carey

Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Welcome home, Jacinta said as the four men walked off the elevator on the staff housing level of the former missile silo. We're glad your trip was successful and incident free. Unpack and enjoy your night. We'll expect your full report at tomorrow's team meeting.

The men headed to their apartments but stopped when all of their phone alarms sounded. Jacinta had just stepped into the elevator when her alarm added to the noise. She stepped out and pulled out her phone.

Sounds like I'll see you all later. The ladies have a movie night planned in the theater.

Sounds like someone planned us a welcome home party, Max said.

Why do I feel like we went from being the hunters to the hunted? Jean said as he headed for his apartment.

XXX

Since these movie nights have become a staple second only to our trivia nights in the pub, Emma said when everyone had found their seats, We thought we'd welcome back our intrepid shark hu... or shark-thing hunters with the most famous shark movie of all time. Settle-in, snuggle up, and these guys can tell us how real some of this stuff is.

Everyone got sucked into the drama of Jaws on the screen and was quiet for a while. Jacinta noticed that Ana had taken the seat between Payson and Max while Mari was on Max's other side. The four of them filled one of the leather sofas. Winnie and Justin shared a sofa with Logan and Emma, while the rest of the team sat in the reclining chairs.

The questions started when the shark appeared on screen for the first time. How big were the ones you guys caught? Emma asked.

Big. More than 50 feet, Logan said.

Everyone was focused on the screen again. Did you get good footage, Max? Anna asked.

I sure hope so, he said. I feel like I could spend the next year editing just the footage I've already shot for you guys.

Silence fell over the room again as everyone got caught up in the movie. The next time the shark was on screen Travis asked, How did you capture them? Did you tranquilize them?

Stop, Jacinta said. If you all keep asking questions, they'll have nothing to tell us at the meeting tomorrow. Let's just settle in and enjoy the movie.

Jean leaned over the back of the couch and said something to Logan. Jacinta couldn't hear any of it, but she heard part of Logan's reply. ...better we stick to the original plan. She wondered what plan he was talking about. She started imagining all sorts of scenarios, but then she stopped herself. She trusted both Logan and Jean with her life. Whatever they were talking about, it was harmless. She'd bet her life on it and theirs.

When the movie ended, everyone stood and stretched. Maybe we should watch a different shark movie each night this week, Emma said.

This will be the first annual Haven shark-thing week, Mari said.

Or de-extinct creature week, Logan said.

Or maybe alien creature week, Travis suggested.

Next year we can add Max's shark-thing movie, Anna said. Of course, that'll be after the premier."

Chapter 2

First, I want to thank those who organized last night's movie night to welcome home our hunting party, Jacinta said. When I took this job, I actually thought the only thing we'd be hunting were patterns in the data. Now we've hunted Smilodons and giant sharks. I guess it's good to have a varied skillset. Payson, why don't you start us off by telling us about your first encounter with the shark-things and take us through the hunt.

Unlike some of their debrief sessions before, this wasn't part of an investigation directly. It was just a retelling of what happened on the hunt. Once the four men who took part in the hunt had answered questions from their teammates, Jacinta added some information from Dr. Gilmore's report on the operation.

As of this morning, the two shark-things are safely contained at the Languid Atoll Marine Research Center, Jacinta said. We should learn more about their genetics in the next few days.

Is there any way to know how many of those things are swimming around the pacific? Emma asked.

I'm working with Dr. Gilmore and some of his team to develop image recognition parameters that will allow us to analyze satellite data to search for the shark-things, Justin said. He has removed the trackers from the two, captive shark-things and replaced them with our own chips. We'll develop programs to track their migration paths, population numbers, and all that.

The discussion quickly lapsed into rehashing speculation about why ASTRO was using the shark-things. Much like the not-Smilodons, it didn't seem the shark-things could have a direct impact on their depopulation efforts.

I hate to say it, Jacinta said, but we need to know how all this fits 'in a perfect world.' The team had uncovered what they believed to be the blueprint for the world ASTRO, the Advanced Scientific Technical Research Organization, was working to create. The Priority One Team thought finding the plan would explain what ASTRO and The Group were working on and provide insights to help stop them. So far, that hadn't been the case.

Jacinta handed out research assignments hoping that by the time Dr. Gilmore could tell them more about the origins of the shark-things they might be able to see where the creatures fit in a perfect world.

Max could you stay for a minute? Jacinta asked as the others began to file out of the room. He moved over and sat down in the chair beside her as he'd seen the others do when they needed to talk to her one-on-one.

Do you have dinner plans? she asked.

He looked around. They lived in an underground bunker with a very small population. My social calendar is surprisingly empty these days.

Jacinta gave him an apprising look. She suspected that was only true because since he joined the team, he hadn't actually spent much time in Haven getting acquainted with his teammates. Good. Come to dinner at seven, she said, as she put her laptop in her totebag.

XXX

The ringing of the door chimes sounded. Max Sorkovsky.

Jamie went to answer the door, and Jacinta heard him talking with Max as the two men walked back into the living room.

Hi, Max. Welcome to our home, she said. Thanks for joining us.

They made small talk until Jean served dinner. Max, we decided it was time to talk about the priority of your film projects, Jamie said. We originally hired you to make a film about the R3 team and then decided to add a Smilodon film. Now we've got the shark-thing and the rescue. We seem to keep adding to your work.

We realized that we need to prioritize and figure out what we can do to start making use of the footage you're shooting, Jacinta said.

Max talked about the usual process for planning, filming, editing, and then releasing a documentary film. They discussed making use of video clips on Jacinta's Tapestry of Truth blog and also on Max's blog.

We need to keep the footage secure, Jamie said, until we release it in whatever form. The best way to do that is for you to store the footage here and have you do your editing work on site. We can create whatever setup you need for space and equipment.

We need you to reside in Haven full time, Jacinta said. If you aren't able to do that, we need to know now.

Max had been living in Haven for a couple of months, but he hadn't actually committed to living there. This was just supposed to be a job. He asked a lot of questions and explained why he needed time to think about it.

I want to make sure you understand. The things you've already filmed for us won't be the end of it, Jacinta said. We still don't know where this is all going to lead us, but we need you to tell the story. We need to start getting your footage released on the blogs.

Jacinta suggested they could hire someone to assist with film editing or production, but she cautioned Max about the difficulties of finding someone willing to live in Haven and who was a good fit to mesh with the rest of the residents.

You guys have given me a lot to think about, Max said. I understand the urgency. I just need a little time.

Chapter 3

Jacinta was working in the Media Center when Jamie walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. We need to go now. Wylie called.

The last time they met with Wylie, he and Jamie put together a variety of scenarios to facilitate meeting or transferring information. Both men were intent on protecting Penelope Rogers, Jamie's childhood friend who had infiltrated The Group and was reporting back to Jamie about what the billionaire power brokers were up to. It was cumbersome, but they hoped the scenarios would provide reasonable cover to protect Penelope.

Jacinta had no idea where they were headed when they pulled up to the private air strip not far from Haven. Jamie led her onto the private jet with Jean following behind. Once the plane was in the air, Jacinta asked, Where are we headed?

Pickering Global in Hartford. We're interviewing Payson for a possible position as our personal bodyguard."

This is one of the cover stories you came up with?

Yes. Penelope let Wylie know that she needed to pass information to us. This is one of the fast turnaround options. Quicker than using the lodge and the cowboy cabin.

Any idea what's going on?

None.

"OK. I'll have the team look for any rumors about The Group or its members. Jacinta sent a text before focusing her mind on The Group.

Jamie, will The Group replace Jeremy?

I'm not sure. They replaced me when I left.

Have there always been nine members?

Since I got involved. One of the older members died shortly after I joined, but his heir stepped into his place pretty quickly. Otherwise, it was the same people.

Jacinta opened up the research on the members of The Group and scanned it. We know some of them have been building up cash stockpiles, but it doesn't seem to be true for all of them. Is there any rhyme or reason to why some would be expected to fund certain projects while others didn't contribute financially?

I don't know, but maybe we need to have the team pull that together from the data. It might be dependent on the project or on the member's involvement.

Her look encouraged more explanation. Maybe Atkinson wouldn't be asked to contribute financially to whatever project involves the not-Smilodons and shark-things because his company provides the security for the creatures. Maybe that’s his contribution, but you have others like Foster who may not provide any services related to the project so he might be expected to kick in funding. Worthington's piece would have been government influence, but now that he's no longer a senator, that could have changed.

Jacinta sent more messages to the team to look at specific information on the members of The Group. She tried to imagine what prompted this rushed meeting, but there were too many possibilities. She'd just have to wait.

XXX

The people in the Hartford Office of Pickering Global went out of their way to accommodate Jamie and Jacinta, though it was clear they had not been given much time to prepare.

An attractive woman in a business suit, knocked on the door before opening it and stepping inside. Your candidate, Payson Stiles, is in the lobby.

Thank you, Ms. Harrington, Jamie said. Please show him in.

Once Payson had been introduced and Ms. Harrington had closed the door behind her, Jacinta stood up and gave Payson a hug.

Sorry for the subterfuge, but we're trying to keep Penny safe. What's going on? Jamie asked.

Payson provided an update on how things were going with Penelope. There had been a lot of press about the heiress and the cowboy after Penelope went public with her relationship with Wylie Hardesty, former rodeo star and current caretaker for James' Montana lodge.

Once the general comments had been covered, Payson pulled his cop notebook, that's what Jacinta called it, out of his jacket pocket, and flipped over a few pages. "Penny went to a meeting with The Group at Worthington's ranch outside Dallas. There was a lot of discussion about replacing Townsend. For now, it sounds like they aren't going to, but some of them were opposed to that. I guess they have an