They walked silently for several minutes until they were quite a distance past the picnic site. When Fitch stopped, he looked around, revealing surprise regarding how far they'd walked and then started back to the picnic area.

Today the tables were dry, and Fitch sat down on top of one of one of them before he spoke. “They want it done.”

Cowan silently waited for Matt to continue.

“They want a fully-functional sleep facility, one where a large group of people could be placed in the event of a disaster. A facility ready and stocked so that as soon as a threat was detected, as many people as possible could take the long nap and wake up when it was clear,” Matt explained.

“Matt, we could never create a facility that will hold a large number of people,” Cowan protested.

“This isn't intended as a survival shelter. It's intended to sleep a specially trained group of people, whose function will be to help the survivors rebuild. The general populous will be going to underground shelters, large modified mines, and specially built bunkers, possibly even undersea sanctuaries to wait things out.

“The planning of these shelters is in the hands of a different group. The estimate is still less than one percent of the population will be able to make it to a shelter. Our part is to sleep the ones needed for rebuilding; physicians, engineers, farmers, teachers and many others, as well as a formidable military force to deal with what they find when they awaken. Our facility won't just house the sleepers but all needed equipment, including vehicles, aircraft, computers, weapons, farm equipment, and even a small but advanced hospital. There is even talk of a special sleep chamber for livestock, but I don't think that will actually happen,” Matt explained.

“Do they have a location for us yet?” Cowan asked.

“Yes, but it's still under construction.”

“When will it be completed?”

“Unknown. It's currently in the hands of the Air Force. It will be turned over to us as soon as I get there to take control,” Fitch said.

“You're saying, the Air Force has a massive underground facility partly constructed, and they're going to just hand it over to us so that we can make a 'What if' facility? That makes no sense. There has to be a lot you aren't telling me.” Cowan argued.

“I know, but James they'll lock me away if I reveal any more details. They might even arrange for you to disappear too. It's that secret,” Matt warned.

“This is making me very uncomfortable,” Cowan exclaimed.

“I know. I'll try to keep you as informed as I can. I can't tell you many other details, but I promise not to lie about it either. Can you live with that for now?” Matt asked.

Cowan sat in silence for a few minutes, thinking it over before answering. “I can live with it. For now”

Fitch nodded.