Security, Security where are you?

Part II

Security, Security where are you?

Chapter 11

 

Cassie shoved her chair back from the work station. Stretching, she was scanning away at the people around her. She only had Grace with her. The laboratory was a high security area at the College due to the nature of the work being done there.

 

When the deep background check for her came back “denied” the head of Security for the college got on his high horse and denied her access to the laboratory. Cassie simply asked the Chancellor what was wrong. He called the Security Head in and chewed him out. He tried to place the blame on the government denying her access.

 

Chancellor Madison told Cassie he asked to see the report. When the Head of Security showed it to him, he flipped. There, in plain English, it stated that the Security Head was denied access as his security clearance was too low.

“Cassie, I’m sorry about this but Homeland Security finally came down and fixed everything. They explained to the Security People that you outranked them.”

 

He opened a plastic package and removed a sealed, foiled wrapped, envelope and had Cassie sign a receipt for it.

When she opened it, there was a photo id with a clip to hold it on her clothes.

“This ID opens every security lock we have on campus.”

 

Now she was scanning to gain information on the security protocols here. In the three days she had been working in the Research Building she had already seen multiple breaches of security.

 

Many of the lab personnel routinely took home reports and papers that were top secret. The Security Personnel were too friendly with the lab workers. Cassie had spotted two different sets of people making dates. 

 

In a security environment that was a no-no.  How could you expect security to crack down on a girl or boy friend?  With this relaxation, a friend of a friend could get away because they were together.

 

This was one of the things she had learned from her people. Never get friendly with a potential target.

 

In the last three days, she had come up with a list of people that needed to be investigated. These were the ones that she had detected breaking security, not just poor protocol, which was another list entirely.

 

She had been unable to get started on any research due to the failure in security which had hit her in the face the minute she had stepped into the lab.

 

As soon as her shift was over, she headed to the Chancellor’s office with her security detail.

 

As Cassie entered the outer office, the secretary immediately picked up her phone and called the Chancellor.

“Chancellor, Deputy Marshal Howard is here.”

“Yes sir,” she turned to smile at Cassie.

“He said to go right on in.”

Cassie’s scans noted that the Chancellor had been working on some papers but he put them aside and waited for her to enter.

 

Cassie stepped over to the door and opened it. “Schultz, you with me, the rest wait.”

 

The Chancellor stood up and met her half-way shaking her hand. “How have you been doing over there at the Research Lab?”

 

“I hope that as soon as I can start working, it will go well, but you have some problems.  Chancellor Madison you have some major breaches of security over there. I have noted Security Personnel violating Security Protocol.”

 

“Top Secret Documents are leaving the premises with no records of them leaving, who took them, where they went or why they went.”

 

“A full audit of all documents is needed immediately. You need a full shake up of the security department over there. Then the lab personnel need a full security orientation with follow up and discipline. I know scientists hate security procedures but there are reasons for them. In fact I am recommending a full background investigation of everybody in that building.”

 

“I am just giving you a heads up so you are not taken by surprise. I am, in fact, bringing my own people in right now. They will not enter the building but every person that leaves it will have a tail.”

 

“Cassie, that can’t be! Why we have never had a security failure!”

 

“Chancellor Madison, I think you have had some major ones but they have not been detected.”

 

“Now who at Homeland Security did you contact about me?”

 

“Here…” The Chancellor started digging into his rolodex. It was obvious that he did not use modern electronics to store such information.

Soon he handed Cassie a hand written number on a post-it note. She smiled to herself. “Thanks Chancellor, now don’t mention this to anyone.”

 

She stood and so did Schultz. Cassie reached over the desk to take the Chancellor’s hand and gave it a firm grip. They then exited the office and headed outside.

 

Reaching to her comm unit she turned it on and switched to her new channel that connected to Director of Administration of CHH Security.

 

“Clint.” She waited.

“Clint Wilson, DOA.”

“Clint, Cassie here. I have a polecat by the tail. I have noted more than 30 security protocol violations at the Research Building here on campus; these are Federals. I have also noted top secret documents leaving the premises without authorization or tracking information being recorded. We need a full audit and background check on all personnel on site including security and lab workers. At this time we need tails on all personnel leaving the building. The people assigned this duty need at least one of my deputies with them in case an arrest is necessary.

 

“We need warrants; get Lt. Colonel Woods to apply to the courts in DC. We need them as of three hours ago.”

 

“Cassie we have no standing in this. We do not have a contract.”

 

“As the ranking US Deputy Marshal in the area of this federal violation I am authorized to deputize any and all civilian personnel needed. As a special deputy US Marshal I’m calling on you for support and backup. Do you acknowledge this?”

 

“Aye! I understand and will act on those orders. It has been recorded. How many deputies do you have here Cassie?”

 

“All of my personal bodyguards and house security have badges and identification as special Deputy US Marshals.”

 

“Oh, Colonel Woods is also. I felt that as our legal liaison she might need it. So she will appear before the Judge as a Special Deputy US Marshal asking for those warrants.”

“Clint, I have the phone number of the Homeland Security agent that has worked with the Chancellor. I’ll have Shultz give you the number.” She looked in Schultz’s direction and nodded.

 

“Call them and tell them what we have going on down here, what we need, the audit, full background check and internal entry. Explain that nobody from our team except those previously cleared have been in the security area. They should be in charge of that part of the investigation.”

 

“Got it Cassie, are you coming in?”

 

“No, I will wait here, outside the Research Building. Start those surveillance teams coming; most of these people get off work in the next few minutes. I need tails now!”

“Cassie, go to the Security Channel.” Clint said over the comm unit.

Cassie reached down and switched her comm unit to “all channels”.”

 

“Security HQ, Detail 5 have you egressed the Primary Gate?”

 

“Detail 5, we are on SH 311; will be entering the campus in 4 minutes.”

“Security, Air, we have four birds in the air over the campus. Four more are on standby. “

“Roger Air, I thought you could handle five?”
“Security, Air, we can but we have one over the Shadow.”

“Roger Air.”

“Security, Primary Gate we have the entrance blocked and are ready for more details. We have lowered the security barriers. We have blocking force on SH 311 and we have direct entrance to the State Highway.”

“Security, Can you hold that blocking force, Primary Gate?”

“Oh yeah, Big Bertha has arrived and she is straddling the road. Hey, when did we mount those double fifties on her? Ain’t nothing getting past her! Primary Gate, Roger out!”

 

“Detail 6 egressing to SH 311”

“Detail 7 exiting to SH 311”

“Detail 8, that’s a ditto for us.”

“Detail 9, we are behind Detail 8.”

“Detail 10, we are the caboose choo-choo and we are gone!”

 

Cassie looked up as a Tahoe pulled up next to her. With a quick scan she saw a long line of Tahoes waiting on the next street over that dumped onto this one that she was sitting on. She only momentarily scanned them. In each Tahoe was one person with a Special Deputy US Marshal badge.

 

Then she went back to scanning each and every person leaving the Research building. The research assistant for Dr. Gilbert was coming out of the building. His briefcase was full of CD’s and papers that had the Top Secret tape on the binders. She had determined on her first day that her scan could “see” that tape.

 

Cassie pressed her talk button “Detail 1, the man going west to the parking lot is to be followed until you receive word to pick him up, or he attempts to board a plane. Do not let him dump that briefcase.”

“Roger that, detail 1 gone,.”

The Tahoe next to her pulled out and down the street. As it did this a second Tahoe pulled up next to her.

 

Cassie continued to dispatch one Tahoe after another until she was down to only one left. The Research Building was empty by then except for security and janitorial staff. She kept her attention focused on the building. Three professors and six lab assistants were being followed. Three air drones were in action as details had called for air coverage.

 

“Cassie, Clint here, switch to my channel.”

She reached to her comm unit and changed channels.

“Cassie here.”

“Cassie, Homeland Security freaked out! This place is doing some very sensitive work. They have more than a hundred agents headed that way. They are going to take it apart tonight. They asked us to stop the warrant issue; they got their own. They asked us to just tell them where they need the warrant right now. I gave them location and number of personnel onsite at each location. The head agent in charge will be at your site in about ten minutes.”

 

“Detail 10, block the exit from at the parking lot, put up your placard on all units to identify you. All Personnel in the field put on the US Marshal Tunics.”

With the last command all her people in her Tahoe began to pull tunics over their heads.

Her scan of the Tahoe next to her showed all the personnel in it were also putting on their tunics.

 

“Security, Air one, I have three government cars approaching the Shadow Position.”

 

“Detail 10, disembark and take up holding positions.”

 

“Okay, let’s get out of this target and take up position on the outside. Get heavy people!”

 

Within minutes of getting out of the Tahoe, her people were armored and armed with SCAR Heavy assault rifles.

 

Cassie was in light armor with only her personal firearms.

 

One car flowed past her Tahoe and took a position in the middle of the street. Another was behind and the third pulled up next to her Tahoe.

 

Three men exited the car next to her. One looked them over and came straight to her.

 

“Special Deputy US Marshal Howard? I’m Special Agent in Charge Blake, Department of Homeland Security. I knew that you would find and kick over any kettle of fish in this place. Nothing could be as clean as they were reporting and you have a record of not being snowed.”

 

“Excuse me, you expected me to find something wrong? If so why have you not moved in already?”

 

“Because I had no reason to; on paper it was as clean as could be. If I just arbitrarily came in here it would be another case of DHS sticking their nose in just because they could. But with you finding something wrong, now I can take it apart. I’m hoping it’s just a case of carelessness that got away from them.”

 

“I don’t think so. Right this minute I’ve got three professors with unrecorded or unauthorized documents in their possession and six lab assistants with CDs, Videos and documents not authorized in their possession. I’ve got details on all nine.”

 

“Nine! You have nine blatant violations of security?”

“Oh no, that’s not carelessness that’s criminal negligence at the least.”

 

“I was going to recommend a full audit of the building and a full background check on all employees on site.”

 

“Marshal you are definitely not going to make any friends here. I think I’m going to love having you here.”

 

 

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My thanks to Grumpybear for his editing and proofing help. But the final results are mine and all criticism should be loaded onto my shoulders.

 

 Into The Shadows © Virgil Lee Fuqua III and ‘vlfouquet.wordpress’, 2008-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Vlfouquet and Virgil Lee Fuqua III with appropriate and specific direction to the original contents.