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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
What AJ Saw
Meeting the ELQ security driver outside the terminal. AJ says tersely "Take me to the building but I want to see what is going on in the city too. And fill me in on what has happened. When I left the US we were in a negotiating position; I get a call in the airport, and I'm hearing abandon ship."
"Abandon ship sounds good." The man admits taking one of AJ's suitcases into his left hand. "I know that the people will be relieved to have someone from the head office here with them but most of the brass have the emergency evacuation plan memorized. Course it covers more what to do in case of hurricane rather than the threat of people getting shot in the street."
"Well I guess that makes the first order of business... get the people off the street. Skip the tour just get me to the office." AJ opens the door to the waiting car and tosses in the suitcase and shuts it firmly and then takes a seat in the front. The driver does the same. He efficiently pulls out into traffic and smoothly drives to the office. His eyes are constantly moving vigilant to any possible dangers.
"I thought that Ashton would have been the one to come out."
"Well you got the big boy, I guess, I was voted in as CEO..." AJ looks at his watch. "about a day ago. What day is it anyway?"
"Back in the states... Friday. Here it's Saturday already. Everyone asks that when they get off the plane."
"So most of our people aren't at the office right?"
"You'd be surprised. It's kind of like an embassy. They think it's the safest place to be. Everyone showed up to work today some of the natives stayed home. Probably think that it's safer to not be associated to closely with the foreigners."
"What about the rigs?"
"Only skeleton crews are run during the monsoon season. The weather is a bitch here the best of times as I'm sure you've noticed." The driver glances over to where AJ is taking off his jacket, rolling up his sleeves and losing his tie.
"Yeah, it's hot, damn hot. Carly and I left snow knee deep back in New York for this."
"Carly?"
"Don't worry, She's on her way to Darwin now. The person that relayed the message to abandon ship is flying her out." AJ looks around him at the boarded up store fronts. The streets are eerily empty. And the hair goes up on the back of his neck. "This is really not looking good, is it?"
"Nope. Think that someone else is going to be calling the shots by Monday."
"You have any idea who?" AJ asks.
Shaking his head. "I'm not up on that. The head of security will be meeting you at the building. He should have a clue. There's ELQ Jakarta. It's a good building, someone was thinking when they built it. Not like Beirut."
"Beirut?"
"Yeah, I used to be a Marine. Lost a lot of buddies in that."
"The Barracks attack." AJ's eyes narrow and he also considers the building. "Well since I am the spoiled rich boy that has never been anywhere near a combat zone, you're sticking with me. If you think I'm missing something, let me know." The car pulls into a gated garage at the base of the building. The garage is filled with cars and trucks owned by the company but not in use on this weekend. AJ considers them for a second then getting out of the car he grabs the suitcase from the back and heads to the elevators. The driver pushes the button to the top executive floors and within a flash they are there. AJ walks down a hallway to hushed fervent tones the center of attention. As news of his plane landing had already reached the building the department heads are already gathered in the main conference room.
"Well wish I could say the Calvary was here; we're doing this ourselves, people. I need to be brought up to speed first. Who is head of security? Head of personal-- I want a list of staff. Head of Computers-- get all the information that is necessary for doing business on disk or downloaded somewhere-- clean it out. Slash and burn. Nothing is being left behind. Get your people on it. I'll be meeting with you as soon as I meet with security. Head of Transportation-- get your drivers ready to move, enlist people if you have to. Head of the Gas and Oil exploration-- find out where your off duty people are. And find out for me if we have any ships in port. This is going to be an evacuation, people-- but I want it done clean." AJ hefts the suitcase he is carrying onto the table and opening it up starts handing out cell phones. "Hopefully, it will only be a few days until we know who is going to be calling the shots come Monday or Tuesday. Since communications are down use these."
The head of security pulls AJ aside. "I'm glad you're taking this seriously."
"Consider me your basic chicken. Driving through those streets gave me a very bad feeling. Who is going to be in power on Monday?"
"I have a couple of ideas but right now it's a coin toss. And that's the bad news. If it were a sure thing then maybe blood shed would be kept to a minimum. But this may deteriorate into a big old furball."
"Get the people and their families evacuated. The ones that showed up today are probably the ones that need to get out the worst. People who didn't show today already made plans. Implement whatever plan you can pull together to get it done. I was thinking if there are any ships in port get our people to them and get them out to sea. The ELQ jet is being fueled on the tarmac over at the airport but I'd prefer to use that for the people that need last minute evacuation. But get the families to the ships. Coordinate with the head of transportation on the pickups. Are the local lines out or is it just the international ones?" AJ thinks to ask.
"So far just the international but local could go down anytime."
"Get the non-essential people out and the families. Then we worry about the building and fortifying it long enough to get the essential personnel out. Our resources are our people; we can rebuild somewhere else if need be."
"Right-- I'm on it. But might I suggest that you stick close to this room? Anyone that needs to see you can come here."
"No problem. And I'm keeping my driver with me if that isn't out of line-- armed if you can arrange it."
The head of security grins. "Guess he just became essential personnel eh?"
"I got a kid to get back to in the states. Very essential." AJ's cell phone rings. It's Jerry's man. "Did you get her clear?... How upset is she?.... That bad huh. Are you coming back?" AJ covers the mouthpiece and asks, "Is the roof cleared for helicopters?"
"Yeah," The security chief answers curiously.
"You're cleared to land on the roof when you get back. What is the capacity of the 'coptor?... okay. Thanks for this. I owe you and Jerry both." AJ hangs up. Well we now have three options-- the ships, the jet and a 'coptor that will hold six. Me and the marine will be two-- you pick the other three."
"What about the other seat."
"If this drags on then the other space will be for Jerry Jacks. He's on his way here but the soonest he'll be here is tomorrow." The security chief gets a sour expression. "I see you've heard of him."
"Yeah, I cleaned up after his last visit to ELQ Jakarta." Chief is totally disgusted.
"Isn't it nice to know he's on our side this time. He may kill me when he gets here, but he'll make sure that there is nothing left for the rabble but rubble."
"You ain't kidding." The head of security grabs a cell phone from the table signs his name by the sheet of paper saying what the phone number is and gets busy. The Head of Oil and Gas makes his way over to AJ.
"Why am I looking for off duty personnel?"
"I want them all on the rigs and out of the city. I don't know when they'll get relief but they're safer there than here. Have them get their stuff anything that they need for a siege and head out. Unless Indonesia puts it's navy to sea, trying to nationalize those assets, we're better off having a crew on the rigs. And sorry to say I think that the military is going to have their hands full here. Hopefully, the government will forget all about the rigs for awhile."
"This is against policy. It's monsoon season."
"One disaster at a time, okay? Monsoon season be fucked. Get it done. If you don't like it you can say I told you so later." AJ snarls loosing patience. "Next."
The Head of Transportation makes his way over. "What do you need done?"
"How many ships are in port and what is the status of their cargo. I need an empty ship."
"You've got one."
"Okay get your drivers to collect families get them on the ships. You know how many they can hold. Get the ships with oil that are due to head out filled first. Then get them out of here. They are a disaster waiting to happen sitting in port. The empty ship is to be filled with everyone else. Hopefully they'll just get a weekend cruise out of the deal and then be able to come back but I want them out. Get with the director of personnel find out where everyone is after I have a word with him.
"It's a her."
"Okay, whatever. You're on a clock-- a very short one. Once everyone is on their way out of the country, then..." AJ thinks for a minute. "Then I want the trucks back here. The bigger the better. Talk to the head of security about getting a security person with each of the trucks. I want to be prepared for any kind of trouble."
"You know that doing this might be anticipating trouble even creating it. It could all blow over especially if we don't overreact."
"If it does then we'll have done a full drill on an evacuation and know how to do it better next time goodness forbid we have to." AJ looks over to the only woman in the room. She is on the phone. He walks away from the director of transportation and waits impatiently until she hangs up on the phone. "You have the list?"
"Oh yeah. I've had it ready for a couple of days. I started working on it ever since I got posted here."
"So you don't think that this is going to blow over."
The woman laughs bitterly. "Not for me. With this face and the last name of Chang; they don't even care if I don't speak Chinese. I was born and educated in the United States. I haven't left this building in over three months without an armed security guard. I've been sleeping in my office for the last week."
"How do you feel about snow?"
"Why?"
"'Cause when this is all over I think an reassignment is in order. New York sound okay to you?"
"New York sounds like heaven." The woman laughs relief in her voice.
"I want you on the first ship out of here. You are at more risk than any of us and you've been living with it longer. Get copies of the lists to me and to the director of transportation so that he can pick up the families. Then pack your stuff. You're going home."