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"Who?"

"Admiral James Sa

ndecker Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency"

A look of annoyance crossed Fawcett's face He took his role as the guardian of the President's time seriously and resented any intrusion on his territory Any penetration of his protective ring was a threat to his power base How in hell had Sandecker sneaked around him? he wondered

Megan read his mood "The President sent for the ad you to sit in on the "

Pacified to a sree, Fawcett nodded and walked into the Oval Office The President was seated on a sofa studying several papers strewn on a large coffee table A short, thinVandyke heard sat across from him

The President looked up "Dan, I'lad you're here You know Admiral Sandecker?"

"Yes"

Sandecker rose and shook his hand The adrip was firm and brief He nodded wordlessly to Fawcett, curtly acknowledging his presence It was not rudeness on Sandecker's part He ca hi to no one He was hated and envied in Washington, but universally respected because he never chose sides and always delivered as asked of him

The Presidenta cushion next to him "Sit down, Dan I've asked the admiral to brief me on a crisis that's developed in the waters off Alaska"

"I haven't heard of it"

"I'm not surprised," said the President "The report only cao" He paused and pointed the tip of a pencil at an area circled in red on a large nautical chart "Here, a hundred and eighty ion, an undeter in the sea"

"Sounds like you're talking oil spill?"

"Far worse, replied Sandecker, leaning back on the couch

"What we have here is an unknown agent that causes death in humans and sea life less than one minute after contact"