The Master's Complex Priorities: The Master's Series, #3

Chapter 2: Sean’s State of Mind

Tuesday, November 26, 6:15 p.m. MDT (UTC/GMT -7)

Secret FBI Debriefing Complex, Aspen, Colorado

Dr. Sean McMurray, Cal-Tech Nuclear Physics professor, was struggling in a strange state of delirium; semi-aware of what was happening around him; able to see clearly. His throat was dry, and mouth parched. He was able to hear sounds, but unable to utter a sound or speak. He was experiencing a strange feeling of disorientation as if he had no sense of balance or was in a constant dizzy state. He did not know where he was or how he got there.  He felt overcomed by his acute loss of any memory of recent events.  He had a vague recollection of having a Face Time call with Kathryn and telling her that he loved her. There is a very hazy memory of his effort to get himself captured by the terrorists and being in a reactor control room. That is where everything goes into a dark web of images, and a series of erased blanks in his memory. His mind seems frozen with the picture of Kathryn on his cell and his words,  Kathryn, I’ve only got a second to let you know that I love you and hope you love me too.  That scene was replaying itself again and again in an endless loop.

The FBI had viewed the Palo Verde reactor #1 control room video showing Sean being shoved by an armed terrorist with an assault weapon in his back.  His hands in the air, Sean slowly crossing his fingers giving the prearranged signal for Sarah to release the Redundancy System final precautionary measure. If his last system feature failed to function the ramifications of the Palo Verde nuclear meltdown disaster would have gone well beyond the worse fears of anti-nuclear critics.

After inhaling the Haldane-fendanyol gas during the final moments of the Palo Verde terrorist attack, Sean experienced a Groundhog Day effect in which the same Face Time image of Kathryn and words played, replayed, and replayed again in an endless loop.

Sean had no recollection of being removed by the HAZMAT suited SEALs, nor being medically evacuated by chopper to the Goodyear Airport. There was no recollection about the FBI private jet flight to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport within a maze of cobweb images. Nor did he have even a faint hint of his quiet ambulance ride to a remote 12-million dollar FBI mixed medical, interrogation and debriefing center. He was living in a suspended state trance-like eyes opened sleep for the last fifteen hours. The gas residue remained, but the eye-opened rest did not seem to help relax his racing mind.

The haunting Kathryn recording played over and over endlessly. Then suddenly Sean becomes aware that he is at an unfamiliar place with an incredible crystal view of snow-covered mountains out the window. He becomes aware that he has gained some voluntary motion in his hands and feet, slowly turning his head. The Kathryn repeating tape stopped, and he appeared to be regaining his consciousness of the environment around him.

Sean does a quick assessment of himself; hospital clothing; spacious, comfortable queen-size bed; no hospital announcements or distinct disinfectant odors; and strangely his mouth and throat felt extremely dry. He turned to his side to check his digital Adidas watch. It is 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26th, that is if it still was within the Mountain Time Zone.

He sees that he has a blood pressure monitor device attached to his upper right arm, a wireless monitoring device clamped on his index finger, and several electrodes taped to his chest connected to a sophisticated monitoring system mounted on the wall above his head. Although his view of the blue monitor screen is upside down, Sean sees that the screen indicated his pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing both digitally and graphically. Was he in a medical facility due to his trance-like state?

Sean sensed that he was not injured or sick. Most disturbing was that he became aware that he had a slight discomfort from a tube attached to his penis and a half-filled catheter bag attached to his right leg.

Suddenly small pieces began to fall into place. He had a clear memory of crossing his fingers as a sort of signal, just before the Haldane-fendanyol gas had dispersed filling a reactor control room. The gas must have been extremely effective and potent as planned. He remembered hearing a loud audio reactor warning system repeating itself in its dangerous countdown mode as he gazed up at the ceiling lights, for what seemed like hours. Eventually, someone in a HAZMAT suit asking him questions that he could neither fully understand and found that he physically could not give a response. Apparently, there were considerable voids in what transpired and his recollection that he needed and wanted to have filled.

The door to his room opened, as a middle-aged man entered with a stethoscope around his neck, doctor’s lab coat with a pen and penlight in his pocket. He carried a clipboard in his right hand, and a small rubber tipped reflex testing hammer in the left. Accompanying the male was a younger, casual dressed, long raven-haired female. Both wore their FBI picture identification badges dangling from their FBI blue and white neck lanyards.

Dr. McMurray, I am Dr. Martin Graff, and this is FBI Special Agent Angie Dawn. Can you hear me?

I can hear you’ Sean responded. Where am I?"

The female FBI agent responded, You are at our FBI medical, and debriefing center complex in a remote area outside Aspen, Colorado.

What happened? Sean paused feeling his dry mouth. My mind is nearly a blank with crazy patches of images following inhaling the Haldane-fendanyol."

Dr. Martin had a digital thermometer pressed against Sean’s forehead. All in due time, I need to run a simple physical assessment before Angelica fills in your gaps of memory. You have been in a remarkable semi-conscious state for over seventeen hours. Your temperature is normal.

He removed the sphygmomanometer blood pressure cuff. Your blood pressure is 100/78.  Please open your mouth. A wooden tongue depressor is used to press down his tongue as he uses a mini-penlight to assess the interior of Sean’s mouth and throat. Severe xerostomia. You need to take some water as you are severely dehydrated.  Dr. Graff takes a glass of water from a tray and hands it to Sean.  He took the drink and slowly drank the cool water.

Please turn your head. The combined fiber optic Otoscope and Ophthalmoscope are used to assess his external auditory canals and nasal passages. All clear here. Shake your head if you can hear me? Sean responds.

Please sit on this chair with one leg over the other.  The rubber hammer tap, taps as his knee jump in an automatic reflex response.

Now the other leg.  Excellent.  Now try to lift your right leg as I press down.  Excellent.  Now let’s do the left leg. Put your hands together like so. Now try to pull them apart as I push them together. Your muscle strength is exceptional. One last physical check, I want you to hold your head still and follow the light with only your eyes. Well done. Who is the current United States President?

Mark Reynolds

Where do you work?

Cal-Tech University

What is the regulation length of an NFL football field?

It is one hundred yards not counting the two end zones.

Where is the Eiffel Tower located?

It is in Paris France.

"What is twelve times five?

Sixty

"Well Done, Sean. The Haldane-fendanyol gas you inhaled has several interesting properties, but at this point, although the short-term effects appear to be wearing off, I cannot predict any long-term effects. We do not have access to the original Russian research on the long-term effects, so you and a few others are now our control research group. I will be checking in with you again in the morning to confirm that there are no other effects. Have a good night. Angie, he is all yours."

Thanks, Doc. Angie sat in a comfortable chair opposite Sean.

Sean, my understanding of what happened at Palo Verde is a bit sketchy as I was not on site. I have been reading various reports and watching video recordings of the events in the reactor #1 control room. So please bear with me. I will attempt to fill you in on everything I do know.

The next two hours was a minute-by-minute rehashing of the events that led to the successful counter-attack and saving of the Palo Verde facility by the Navy SEALs and the extraordinary coincidental presence of the Redundancy System and Cal-Tech team.

"You and your team are legitimate heroes, given your successful Redundancy System design and decision to risk your life to distract the terrorist leaders and inhale the Haldane-fendanyol.  That was courageous and ultimately saved the country from a major nuclear disaster. I need to have you acknowledge and fully understand an important security issue." Angie had established eye contact and verified that Sean comprehended her words.

Sean we need to have you fully understand that your Redundancy System with all its bells and whistles, all the events surrounding its’ use at Palo Verde and any future installations are now exceptionally high security classified as Code Word" level national secrets.  Jake and you as well as all the entire Cal-Tech team needs to swear to secrecy. We are also debriefing the CROs that were in the control room with you. Any disclosure of your system, the Haldane-fendanyol gas, or the events at Palo Verde could result in significant fines and time in a Federal Corrections Facility.  Do you understand?"

Suddenly Sean remembers that Jake was with him in the control room. Of course I understand. I knew that my system would get a high secret classification once the government knew its’ capabilities. I expected that during my design phase. Is Jake and my team alright? It is evident to Sean that the gas is finally wearing off.

Jake is fine. He is resting in an adjacent room. She took a moment to look at Sean’s monitor screen.

Your Cal-Tech team is fine. The team will be going through an FBI debriefing in Pasadena. After the retaking of Palo Verde, your team has been harassing the FBI about Jake and your condition since you were med-evacuated by chopper. Angie smiled, Dr. Ned Toppin is here in our facility.  The agent took out a note pad to refer to her notes.

The FBI is extremely interested in the unique properties of his Haldane-fendanyol gas and though he may be able to assist us in speeding up your recovery.  I will arrange for the three of you can get together for dinner.

That would be great. I am starving. Another new awareness hit Sean.

At dinner that evening Sean, Ned and Jake discussed the weird effect the Haldane-fendanyol gas had on them and tried to fill in their gaps. Later after dinner that night Sean was permitted a phone call on the FBI complex monitored landline. Sean called Kathryn wondering how she had handled the last 24 hours.

Hello, who is this?

Hi Kathryn, it’s Sean.

Sean, My God. I did not recognize this phone number. How are you? Where are you? When can I see you? The words spilled out of Kathryn like a tsunami. 

I am fine, a little worse for wear, but getting back to normal. I am somewhere in Colorado, but that is all I can tell you. My FBI monitors have told me that I would be going through a day of debriefing after they are sure I no longer have any short-term side effects from the Palo Verde thing.  I cannot wait to see you.

"What thing?

Sorry I am not at liberty to discuss it. 

Did you get my text message?

No, they took away my cell phone and clothes. I am sure it is with my personal effects. What was the text about?

Do you remember our Face Time chat?

Yes, I do in fact it was playing like a recorded loop in my mind for hours. That chat has been in a living Groundhog Day loop for replaying for hours. Sean laughed.

Really, that’s weird. Do you remember what you told me before you ended the call?

I told you that I love you. I have been reliving tell you that for hours.

You ended the call so quickly that you never gave me a chance to respond.  I have been beside myself needing to tell you that I love you too.  That was in my dozen text messages. Kathryn laughed.

They spent the next twenty minutes talking about getting together when he was released. Kathryn filled Sean in on some details she learned in watching every news channel during the entire 25-hour event, most of which barely reflected what actually happened.

I am just glad that it is over. Kathryn seemed relieved.

Sean response was quick but a bit obtuse, I don’t think it will be over until the intelligence agencies unravel the mystery, find the terrorist organization and get the leaders. I fear that the Scottsdale Conference and Palo Verde attacks might well be the start of a new higher-level wave of well-planned terrorist attacks.

Sorry Sean, I meant that the Palo Verde mess ended and you and your team are safe.

We may be safe at the moment, but I am sure the terrorist will try something again. Sean paused in thought.

It is in the basic nature of the unspoken war we are waging with what appears to be a highly motivated and capable terrorist group.

What do you mean Sean?

Muslims are in the quagmire of over 20-years of war with huge numbers of civilian deaths, masses of wounded and injured, millions displaced from their homes, uncertainty for necessities, ineffective governments compromised and countries ripped asunder. Sean is surprised that he has a series of clear complex thoughts and the ability to articulate them. Sean's gas-induced cloud seems to have slowly lifted. "The impoverished, uneducated masses, deprived of economic and political stability with little prospects for any future will always grasp at any form of retaliation aimed at those that they think made the mess. Al Qaeda and ISIS arrive on the scene giving them the opportunity and methods to retaliate and at the same time the possibility of achieving nirvana in a Caliphate.  What else could they do?  An unending war of terrorism motivated in part by revenge without any way of achieving any resolution." 

"That sounds like much the content of a manifesto issued through Al Zagaheer from the terrorist group?" Kathryn recalled their earlier conversation.

God, I have hit on the missing piece. The terrorist manifesto you mentioned during the Palo Verde attack lays it all out. How can our world possibly get back to creating lasting peace with huge groups motivated by revenge?

Kathryn is silent as Sean expands his thinking. The use of ground military forces is not the answer. More drones, rockets, super bombs, and special ops only inflame the Muslims as they hit civilians as collateral damage and creating more chaos and inflaming Muslim reactions. Sean took a sip of water, "There are no means for diplomacy with Al Qaeda and ISIS. Our best bet is not touching the natural resources of the Middle East, so terrorist organizations cannot point to western greed for the war on terrorism or worse yet, war on Muslims.  We need to allow NGOs to do significant work in war-torn areas to restore lives, stability and showing that non-Muslims care and want to improve the conditions in war-torn areas. Sean notices that his rant had no response from Kathryn. I will get off my soapbox now."

Please do.  I know attempting to understand the complex dynamic of terrorism is important to you. But, it can wait. What is important to me is when do I get to see you?

Enough said, I am sorry I went off like that. Please bear with me as I sift through my cobweb of thoughts and partial memories.  I’m not sure I need to check with my doctors and FBI agent doing the debriefing.  I want to see you too.  Sean laughed. Sorry, I have got to run my doctor just stepped into my room. Love you.

I love you, Sean, I cannot wait to see you. Let me know what you find out. It has been so good hearing your voice and knowing that you are safe. I love you. Bye.

Bye Kathryn, love you too.

Chapter 3: Dealing With Loose Ends

Wednesday, November 27; 2:30 p.m. EDT (UTC/GMT-5) The White House Situation Room, Washington, DC, USA President Reynolds and National Security Council had just completed an eight-hour intelligence debriefing. There are twenty-nine ongoing US intelligence agency investigations into the series of domestic and foreign terrorist attacks, focusing on each in sequence: Lake Havasu, Scottsdale, San Francisco, Los Angeles; (European) Bilbao, Paris, and London; (Nuclear) Pale Verde and AWE; East London Mosque; any connection to Al Zagaheer; and the San Francisco Pinterest office. The meeting included several detailed presentations of summaries of FBI and CIA field agent reports, extensive follow-up on leads, NSA and the initial interrogation of the twenty-one remaining Palo Verde terrorist captives underlines the pains at which the terrorist organization and its’ leaders took to cover their identity.

The intelligence information rendered several dead ends, as the terrorists did not know where they got their training. They did not see or understand the chain of command other than their immediate cell leader. They did not understand the organization's means of communication, funding, nor travel arrangements, and explosives or weapons acquisition details. It became evident that the terrorist organization had taken extreme precautions in vetting before recruiting, secret training locations, expert training, unique transporting, concealing communication methods, distancing the leadership from even cell leaders, covering-up money resources, and utilizing Al Zagaheer to present to the Muslim world the justification for their actions. 

Only Nassar AKA Abu Talib appeared to have had any direct connection to the terrorist organization and leadership.  Initial interviews of the captured terrorists were ongoing, but reveal essential facts that the FBI was attempting to verify. Both Nassar and Rowel also had some relationship to another part of the terrorist organization, which was observed when the cell traveled to Palo Verde and their busses rendezvoused with the semi-trailer truck with weapons, explosives, and three Tomahawk missiles.

The interrogation of terrorists took a turn for the worst when both Nassar and Rowel used torn clothing to create nooses and hung themselves before the second day of questioning. The FBI and NSC immediately launched an investigation into why they were not under a suicide watch protocol. Regardless the loss was considered to have been significant by both US and international intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies.

One thing that they learned was that Nassar had consistently only used his first name, and never talked about his home, background or experience when dealing with the cell. Not one of the remaining cell members knew who he was or his country of origin. Linguistic experts though his Najdi Arabic placed his childhood in the Saudi Arabian peninsula. His DNA evidence indicated that he had mixed Saudi and Omani lineage. His post-mortem dental examination indicated that based on his two fillings, he had probably had dental work within United Arab Emirate.

Rowel was much different. He talked freely about his education, mentor, mentor’s assassination, Iranian nuclear programs and time spent in the Pakistani nuclear program before being recruited by Akaman and his motivation to avenge his mentor’s death. The details about Rowel were well known and documented by both the NSA and CIA before Palo Verde. The agencies had not uncovered the recruiter and the short time gap Rowel spent in the Brazilian nuclear facilities.

They identified Akaman as the recruiter of the rest of the entire cell. But the physical descriptions of Akamai's height, weight, eye color and other physical features were contradicted numerous times during the interview of captives.  

The NSC was disappointed in the intelligence yield from the reports. They pledged to use the full resources of the U.S. to find the mastermind and terrorist organization.  The Scottsdale and Palo Verde attacks exposed the vulnerability of the U.S. to protect its political leaders and citizens. The U.S. needed to make the terrorists pay for the attacks. 

The NSC recognized and acknowledged the importance of the Cal-Tech Team’s presence in installing and testing the Redundancy System. The Cal-Tech team delayed a major nuclear meltdown and permitting sufficient time for the Navy SEALs to retake the facility from the terrorists, and safeguarding the Palo Verde facility. Dr. Sean McMurray’s Redundancy System was essential in the future of securing all other U.S. nuclear facilities.

The NSC established a standing U.S. bounty of $75,000,000 to any individual that rendered information leading to the terrorist organization and capture of the terrorist leader.  President Reynolds found the positive media focus on the retaking of Palo Verde refreshing as the NSC and Navy SEALs had successfully managed the situation with professionalism and a reassuring calm that spoke well of his leadership and decision-making.  Unfortunately, the public was still processing the numerous ramifications of a potential nuclear disaster as massive as Palo Verde. 

In the tremendous heat of the SEALs counter-attack, Reynolds had five of the planes supposedly taking the detainees to their repatriation countries land at Ramstein Air Base adjacent to the staged detainee’s Globemaster aircraft. The plan was by delaying the arrival of the final three aircraft the SEALs might have sufficient time to retake Palo Verde. As it worked out, President Reynolds ordered the staged and real detainee Globemaster aircraft to return to Guantanamo without much media attention. His ruse had worked flawlessly. But it also had the dangerous potential of revealing the truth and embarrassing his Presidential image and long-term legacy. In the back of his mind, Reynold’s worried that somehow the ruse would be leaked to the media or his political foes and destroy his credibility in other situations, or worse yet his place in history. 

Chapter 4: Impact of Palo Verde Addressed

Thursday, November 28, 11:05 a.m. PDT (UTC/GMT-8) Watson Laboratory, Cal-Tech Campus, Pasadena, CA DeJesus received a phone call on his iPhone the previous evening. He was unfamiliar with the 540-area code that appeared on his cell screen. Thinking at first it must be a wrong number; he was tempted not to answer. Then like a lightning bolt, he thought it might be Sean or Jake. They were supposedly in safe hands in a secret location getting medical attention after being exposed Haldane-fendanyol gas.

Hello, DeJesus was hoping it was Sean.

Hello, Is this DeJesus Trujillo, member of the Cal-Tech Redundancy System team?

If this is the press, I cannot and will not speak with you.

No, this is not the press. I am FBI Special Agent, Margaret Reynes. I am the Assistant Director in charge of the Los Angeles Field Office. Please answer my question.

I am DeJesus Trujillo, and I am glad you are not one of the newshounds pressing to get information about Palo Verde. What can I do for you?

As things are rectified back at Palo Verde, FBI Director Thomas wants me to ensure that the Cal-Tech team was properly thanked and debriefed given the sensitive nature of the incident. That is the basis of my call.

I can understand that. We bugged out of the facility after the gunfire stopped as the SEALs secured the facility. DeJesus seemed to be reflecting on the whole situation.

We knew there was no additional threat to the three reactors. Frankly, we were grateful to be alive, tired as hell, and wanted to get away from the entire mess.

From what I heard your team risked your lives to give the SEALs sufficient time to retake the facility and neutralize the bad guys. That in itself was amazing, but add that your Redundancy System worked beyond expectations.

You got that right. I am still shaking from thoughts of what could have happened if the reactors melted down and the missiles carried the radioactive material into the jet stream. We were more than lucky to have survived, as there were so many close calls. The trauma of the eight-hours in hell still haunts me.

That is an important part of my call. I want to arrange a meeting and offer your team support from a local government counseling service to help with dealing with the aftermath of what you experienced.

That might be just what we need. I am sure some of our team are dealing with the trauma of what happened, some are much better than others in dealing with it.

"I would like to have you gather the entire team together at Cal-Tech so I can give you the latest information on Palo Verde and introduce a team of counselors led by Dr. Griffin Garrison, FBI Psychologist. They are experts working with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) victims. I think what you described falls onto their area of expertise. I am sure that they can help you and the rest of the team. The offer is voluntary, but I need everyone there to either accept or reject the counseling."

That sounds fine. When should I set up a meeting?

Sooner is better. How about Tomorrow?

Sure, but I am not sure that everyone can attend given it being Thanksgiving.

Do your best. You can also tell the team that I will share some information about Sean and Jake. Our team of counselors is ready. This meeting is crucial.

Great that should get them there. How about 11:30 a.m. at the Watson Lab.?

That works for my team. Thanks, DeJesus, I want you to know we will do everything possible to help your team deal with coping with the effects of this event.

Great see you at 11:30. If you will excuse me, I need to send out a text and make some phone calls.  DeJesus ended the call.

DeJesus Trujillo, a doctoral student, immediately tried calling Ned Toppin, a faculty member to reserve the conference room within the Watson Laboratory Building. Ned's wife, Gloria told DeJesus that Ned was not available as he was traveling out of state. DeJesus called his faculty advisor, Dr. Kerry Enami. She made the necessary arrangement for the use of the conference room. Technically the campus was shut down for the Thanksgiving holiday, so there were no conflicts of room use. Only a few faculty members and a small number of students were on campus tending to experiments and projects that required their presence.

DeJesus Trujillo was still dealing with reliving the trauma of the varied events at Palo Verde in minute detail and horrifying lingering nightmares. It was a short 24-hours since the terrorist attacked Palo Verde. He had an overwhelming feeling of dread about what could have happened.

Illogically that feeling extended to fearing that his life was still in danger.

He was having difficulty shedding those thoughts. DeJesus knew that there were numerous issues that the team had to get resolved and addressed to evaluate the testing of the Redundancy System. Frankly, he felt that everything could wait until Sean took on the responsibility of addressing those issues.

Shortly before DeJesus arrived for the meeting, three black Ford Expeditions with dark black tinted windows arrived at the Cal-Tech Wilson Street parking office. After identifying themselves as members of the FBI, a campus security guard escorted them to a special faculty parking lot near the Watson Lab. When DeJesus arrived, a large group of FBI personnel was waiting for him within the conference room.

Hello DeJesus, I am Special Agent Reynes.  Reynes as a force of habit and protocol showed her FBI badge and identification. This is Dr. Garrison and his team of counselors as well as four of my fellow agents from the LA Field office. 

Nice to meet you Agent Reynes, Thank you for your willingness to update our team on Palo Verde and offering your FBI assistance. DeJesus turned to Dr. Garrison as he stepped forward and offered his hand. It's nice to meet you, Dr. Garrison. I’m sure we can use your help.

Within the next ten minutes the large conference room filled with the members of the Cal-Tech Team. The Cal-Tech team comprised of Elsa Dean, Harold Fong, Willie Goldman, Sarah Hughes, Krishna Karbayan, Sam Ridder, Craig Stevens, and Harry Youngman. Everyone was in attendance but Sean McMurray, Jake Murphy and Ned Toppin, Cal Tech Chemistry Professor.

Hi, team, happy turkey day. I guess it isn’t so happy for all the turkeys. Everyone laughed.

It is good to see everyone. Thanks for coming in such short notice to this meeting. I am pleased that nearly everyone was able to make this meeting.  DeJesus smiled. Let me introduce FBI Special Agent Margaret Reynes of the LA Field Office.  Reynes stepped forward. This is Dr. Garrison the head of a team of counselors expert in PTSD. I will let Agent Reynes run the first part of our meeting.

Thank you, DeJesus. It is my pleasure to be here.  I am here on behalf of FBI Director Frank Thomas. He wanted me to express the sincere gratitude of the entire nation for the incredible Redundancy System you installed. The chance or should I say happenstance that members of your team were at the facility during the terrorist attack, whose intervention and valiant effort in risking their lives to delay the nuclear meltdown and permit the Navy SEALs sufficient time to neutralize the terrorist. My sincere thanks. Reynes was serious as she stated that part of her speech. 

Part of my being here is to ensure that everyone on your team understands that every aspect of your Redundancy System and the events that transpired at Palo Verde have been recent classified top-secret security at the Code Word level. Code Word secret is the highest-level security classification the United States government uses to protect secrets for our national security. As such any individual sharing any aspect will face severe legal implications with both fines up to $200,000 and up to twenty years in a federal corrections facility.  Reynes looked at the entire team before continuing.  Does everyone understand the seriousness of the Palo Verde events and your Redundancy System Code Word classification?  I need each of you to individually say yes to confirm your understanding of the seriousness of this security classification. Agent Reynes went around the room and got that confirmation from everyone.

Thank you, next I wanted to share with you that Sean and Jake are doing well in our FBI medical facility in Colorado.

Reynes paused slightly. "Ned Toppin is there to assist in sharing his expertise on Haldane-fendanyol gas. The medical staff completed their assessment of the short-term effects of Haldane-fendanyol gas on Sean and Jake. They appear to be fine. However, there may be long-term effects that will require ongoing monitoring. Before leaving the medical facility Sean, Jake and Ned have been debriefed about the Code Word security classification. They have returned to Palo Verde to meet with the NNS task force and various nuclear inspectors to assess the damage to both the reactors and to your Redundancy System.  That is all I can tell you at this point. I want Dr. Garrison to take a few minutes to explain our PTSD program and options you have to either opt in to or out of the program.  Dr. Garrison."  Reynes stepped to the side as Dr. Griffin Garrison stepped up to speak with a huge smile.

"Thanks Agent Reynes, my colleagues and I are based here in Los Angeles. In fact, my office is here in Pasadena. We have been working with various governmental agencies to assist their personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Most of you know the acronym as PTSD as being associated with the effects on our military resulting from incidents in combat. The fact is that thousands of the military law enforcement and other governmental personnel are dealing with PTSD and provided us with a wealth of information on symptoms, treatment plans, and outcomes. What you may not realize is that there are hundreds of non-military individuals in numerous agencies who faced horrible incidents that result in their acquiring PTSD. Untreated the symptoms only get worse and frequently end in mental disorders or suicide.

Treatment currently helps 92% of patients back to a healthy life, and 7% to a manageable lifestyle with ongoing therapy.

I have a limited understanding of the significant stress placed on each of you over the past week." Dr. Garrison was scanning the room to see how his presentation was received.

"However given what I do know, I would assume that some of you have already manifested symptoms of PTSD others may develop these symptoms later. The symptoms of PTSD are: 1) pain; 2) nightmares and/or flashbacks; 3) depression and/or anxiety; 4) withdrawal from friends and family; 5) avoidance of any physical or mental activity; 6) repression to block memories; 7) emotional numbing and inability to express emotion; 8) hyperarousal of the jitters or feeling of