Donner's dad read the translated messages with increasing concern. When he finished reading he looked at Donner and shook his head.
“Well Donner, first I have to say that your work on this project is top-notch. What you have done here reminds me of my experiences in viral research years ago. But of course, you also did the hardware design. This is college-level if not graduate-level work.” Donner was silent but smiling.
“Anyway, you certainly have something here. If I read this correctly I think it has to do with a manned space platform. And I think it is not an authorized transmission.”
“What do you think it means dad?”
“I think it is a message from an embedded informant.”
“You mean a spy?”
“Yes, son. I think we have a spy. See here,” he said, pointing to one of the decrypted snippets. “This looks like a technical description of something, which I think is a weapons system. I doubt that the owners of this platform would be transmitting such technical details. I believe you've discovered a top-secret space platform Donner. Apparently undetectable if not for this unauthorized transmission.”
“Do you think it has something to do with Japan dad? I mean it is a dialect of Japanese.”
“Yes and it is an obscure dialect which would be difficult to interpret for most people, even other Japanese. But I don't think we can say who is behind it. The chosen language could just be a way to throw off someone who happened to decode the message. I think we are going to have to get some outside help Donner before we take our next step. I have a friend in Space Command I went to engineering school with, I think I'll give him a call. He might be able to offer us some advice on how to proceed.”
Colonel Reginald Allen listened to Donner’s father explain what his son had found.
After listening to Jack Jackson, Colonel Allen said, “I’ll say one thing Jack that is quite an enterprising young man you have there, Space Command would be proud to have him someday.”
“Thank you Reg,” said Jack. “He certainly keeps himself busy with these little projects of his. So what do you think we should do now?”
“Could you and your son fly out to Colorado Springs and present your findings to a few people I believe may be able to help us?”
“I think we could arrange that, Donner is out of school for a few more weeks. When do you want to set this up?”
“Let me check everyone’s schedule Jack and I'll get back to you, okay?”
“Sure Reg, just let us know, goodbye,” said Jack.
When his dad told him Donner said, “That’s great dad, can we fly ourselves out or do we have to take a commercial airline?”
“You love to fly, don’t you son?”
“Sure, what do you think?”
“Okay we’ll see what Colonel Allen comes up with and if we can get your mother's approval, we’ll fly ourselves out there.”
“Thanks dad,” said Donner with a big grin.
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