Traveller Probo
27. USA

Conti never really enjoyed the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill. It was just a little too pretentious for his tastes. If he was to be honest, despite his business profile he tended to lean a little to the Democrat side of the political fence. Politics in his beloved adopted country had become ever more divided and caustic so it paid to have your political leanings remain secret. He had made the obligatory donations, of course. But that was to keep the doors of power open to him, especially now the Transporter was the biggest game in town.

Not that he’d ever admit that within these hallowed halls.

He was led to the Presidential Dining Room where the attractive and obviously wealthy blonde rose to welcome him. As always, Senator Ruth Benton was impeccably dressed and was, Conti had to confess, a strikingly good-looking woman. That was until you looked into her sparkling, grey eyes. Someone had once quietly advised Conti that Senator Benton was at her most dangerous when she was smiling.

She was smiling now.

“Peter, it’s so good to see you again. This is such a pleasant surprise,” she purred.

Conti nodded and returned her smile, aware that he had to play this game very carefully. “I’m so grateful you were able to see me, Senator. Rearranging your schedule must have been a nightmare.”

She continued to smile as she sat, her chair pushed in by the waiter who then poured the wine. Without hesitation or consulting the menu, the Senator ordered the scallops and Conti opted for the same. As the waiter scurried away, the Senator watched Conti in a measured way. He could tell she was wondering why this meeting so important. The last time they had spoken, they had clashed about the Transporter, of course, and about how the device was essential to the nation’s national security. Conti could not see how a time-machine was important to the national security of the USA. But Senator Benton had been adamant.

They made small talk as they drank their wine until the scallops arrived. The meal was to be enjoyed before business, so they chatted about the weather, about the latest Middle Eastern conflict, indeed everything other than why they were really there.

Conti noted that the dining room was almost full but there was a spare table separating their table from other diners, placing them surreptitiously into a private corner. Senator Benton’s two minders stood, carefully monitoring the room. He thought how their jobs must be terribly tedious.

He was certain their conversation would be recorded, so he knew to be careful. Though initially tempted, Conti had rejected Zak’s offer of the new cloaking chip, as he didn’t want to attract the wrong kind of attention. The Secret Service would have been suspicious if they had not been able to monitor their meeting. It always paid to keep their best technology in reserve.

“We’ve made some advances on the Transporter Senator. Something you should know,” Conti began.

“Oh?” she replied, eyebrows raised, “What kind of advances?”

Conti leaned forward and spoke quietly, “We seem to be making the desired progress on the fused ganglia that has been the main bottleneck in the research. Best of all, we’ve reconciled with Woomera Technologies and together we are targeting the Transporter as a priority. We have a new team and Phil Walker has agreed to work with my niece who you know, of course; Mel Chandler and her husband Zak. Allen Nguyen of the original research team has also joined us.”

Conti noted that the Senator had not even blinked, though she had suddenly taken on a glower that made her look reptilian “That sounds hopeful,” she conceded.

“Yes it is, it certainly is. However, there’s an issue I wish to discuss with you, that I thought would be to our mutual benefit,” Conti continued.

The Senator had not moved a muscle but Conti had the impression the temperature at their table had dropped about fifty degrees. He had always suspected Senator Benton had been behind the secret government research on the Transporter. To his credit, Phil never divulged that piece of information. He didn’t have to.

She merely frowned and said, “Which is?”

“We need your assistance to complete the analysis of the Transporter, which we now have available to us, fresh from New Zealand. We believe we can risk a microscopic analysis of the ganglion through the use of a new x-ray that has been developed by Harvard. On discussing our need with Harvard, they advised that the unit has been seconded for the next month by the Lincoln Laboratory in Massachusetts. Now, we know that anything destined for the Lincoln Labs will be of a sensitive nature and of course we won’t wish to interfere with any of the good work by the Department of Defense…”

Conti paused for effect and took a sip of wine. The Senator almost imperceptibly nodded and gently murmured, “Go on.”

“May I ask that you intercede on our behalf? Now, we know this is a vital stage of our research and we suspect that the analysis will permit us to gain the best insight into the structure. Hopefully, it will allow us to successfully duplicate the Transporter. Of course, your kind assistance in such a delicate matter would allow us to not only build a second, or even a third Transporter but would also ensure our support that the United States Traveller project will be given priority.”

“Even ahead of Byzantium?” she asked.

“Well, before or after will be of no consequence really, if there’s more than one Transporter. Once we’ve built another Transporter, we’ll then be able to permit two Traveller projects to take place at the same time.” Conti paused a moment. “That’s what we anticipate at least. The order in which we proceed the projects will depend on how ready the teams are.”

“What time-frame do you suggest?” asked Senator Benton quietly.

Conti pretended to think a moment. “That all depends on the success of the x-ray analysis but from what we’ve heard, we expect it’ll do the job. If we get the results we suspect, and if we can duplicate the structure, then I suggest within six months.”

“Six months,” Senator Benton repeated, her expression icy.

Conti nodded and smiled, “I believe so. In the meantime, based on access to the x-ray and the success of our research, we’ll begin to lobby Transporter Corp to approve the Mississippi Traveller submission. I know they’ve been leaning toward the Ukrainian project but, well, nothing’s ever final.”

The Senator said nothing for so long that Conti thought she hadn’t heard. Her eyes were frozen shards of ice and she still managed to give a smile and nod. Conti was vaguely surprised that fragments didn’t peel from her face and fall to the pristine, white tablecloth. “Of course Peter, of course. I’ll make my contacts and follow this up as a matter of priority. So, the sooner you get this new x-ray device, the sooner we can initiate a US Traveller project?”

Conti confirmed with a nod, “That’s our expectation, should all go well.” The Senator’s hand gripped the wineglass so tightly that he feared it would shatter. Senator Benton saw his glance, so she placed the glass gently to the tablecloth to rest both hands onto the spotless linen. The back of her hands gave away her age.

Senator Benton managed another smile and said, “That is good news.”