hiding." He mostly succeeded in suppressing the rasp that had crept into his voice since he'd arrived in
Australia.
"Those could be viable strategies," said the Agent. "We could also just wait for one of my
sources to turn something up that we can use. The problem with waiting is that it isn't guaranteed
anyone will ever get back to me. If they do get back to me, we have no way of knowing when or how
useful whatever they might find will be." He sipped his water. "Based on what we currently know, if
you're intent on trying to go after these creatures now, the best approach would be one that combines
detection with luring them out. "
"How would we do that?" Rasped Ulysses.
O'Flannery looked him in eye. "I don't think you'll like it, but here's my idea: I take Nera into
custody. I write up a report about the investigation I've been tasked with that ends with her capture.
My report will generate a lot of interest within the Pentagon and the intelligence community, which in
turn, should prompt these critters to make a move."
"Should prompt them?" Ulysses said, his voice straining as he raised it. "How do we even know
any of the people who have these parasites on them will find out about your report? What do we do if
your report is buried and Nera is sent off to some Guantanamo-like place? What if while she's in
custody, she's drugged up so she can't fight and these things come for her? What then?"
"My report will definitely generate interest if Nera's craft is also taken into custody," replied
O'Flannery in his even tone. "A live extraterrestrial is a novelty to the U.S. Government. Certainly, there
would be plenty of interest in studying her. However, I know for a fact that there would be a lot more
interest in a brand new kind of technology. Especially one capable of flying faster than even our most
advanced prototype drones. I'm willing to wager whatever systems that make up her craft could keep
the R&D guys busy for years. This isn't the kind of thing any single government agency could keep a lid
on forever. Word would get out, and then those things would try to make a move."