Cyberclipper

by Jason O'Neil

  By 6:30 the trio was getting used to enjoying the Maybach. This time the Mercedes-Benz drove to the suburb of Al Karama near the Palace of the Sheikh Ahmed. As the gates to the residence opened, a building in the likeness of a French chateau appeared before their eyes. The trio, now dressed in fine, white silk tunics, climbed the front steps. As they entered the building, one metal covered everything: gold. His Highness Prince Khalid descended a spiral staircase to greet his guests. He joked: “Did you buy anything for me at the Souk?” Everybody laughed. Tom van der Heyden thought to himself: “Now, I know how a King lives.”

  As the Princes led the party into the bar area, they were met by Dahlia who wore are stunning gold and black dress ready to serve an adult beverage. During cocktails, the Host detailed some of his accomplishments in the development of Dubai. He also gave great credit to his friend, Prince Latif, for his ability to create iron-clad, enforceable contracts with on-time delivery clauses and stiff penalties for default.

  “Too bad you can’t stay a week,” said His Highness, “because Latif will field his polo team in a critical match. But you will already be busy with project tasks, I assure you, if I know my friend the Prince,” said Prince Khalid.

  Dinner was a sumptuous, extravagant affair. Each course was better than the previous one. Dr. Raviv was used to pottery dishes and stainless steel utensils back in Tel Aviv. He took some personal reflection before he put the gold fork to his lips. Captain Crowley has given up smoking many years ago. But he couldn’t resist the Prince’s offer of a fine Cuban cigar and a cognac after dinner. In the conversation each guest revealed a little more about himself. Tom van der Heyden, the communications expert, seemed to appreciate the rationale of why this particular trio came together…but for what purpose?

  The Host ended the evening by saying: “Tomorrow you will be briefed twice—once in the morning and once in the afternoon. You’ll have two hours free time, but one hour will be taken up by a VIP visit to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Somehow a cocktail tastes differently, 124 stories above the Earth. Then tomorrow evening it will be Prince Latif’s pleasure to entertain you. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed,” ended the Prince as bid his guests farewell. The Maybach knew the way back to the Oberoi.

  At 9:00 AM the trio entered the Prince’s suite. Strong, black coffee awaited them. Again, Dahlia powered on a laptop for a slide show.

  Prince Latif started the meeting by asking a question, “Do you know what a Blue Gene is? That’s B-L-U-E G-E-N-E as he spelled it out.

  “Of course,” said Dr. Raviv, “it’s one of IBM’s supercomputers, one of the most powerful, yet efficient, in the world.”

  “Correct, Doctor, said Prince Latif. “You’re absolutely right.” The BLUE is for IBM and the GENE is for project to map the genome.

  “Here are several slides that depict the computer,” continued the Prince, as he narrated each one with details that impressed his guests. The uses for such computer power are varied and usually are carried out by research institutes trying to solve difficult problems.” The Prince continued, “To give you an idea of the Model “L’s” computer power, the machine’s 131,000 processors routinely handle 280 trillion operations per second.”

  “Yes, and I bet the data streams are so large that multiple, parallel networks must be employed,” said van der Heyden.

  “Absolutely, right,Tom.” “Opps, may I call you “Tom?” asked the Prince.

  “Of course, Sir,” replied the communications expert.

  “Ok, enough of this “Sir” stuff; we’re a team now. And first names are no offense,” replied the Prince with much authority in his voice.

  It was at this point when the Skipper made a key point: “But you don’t need a supercomputer to run a HSC.”

  “Captain, you’re absolutely right,” replied the Prince. “As you know there are thousands of small computers and sensor systems on a cruise ship, but altogether they don’t equate to the compute power of a Blue Gene L,” replied Yousif.

  At this point, Dr. Raviv broke into the conversation by saying that “supercomputers are routinely used by the military in missile defense applications and by the Intelligence Community to foil computer intrusions and/or conduct offensive operations against other systems. Indeed, they can even crack encryption codes.”

  “Right you are, Doctor, “replied the Host.

  “I may be a bid dense, but I still don’t see how or why a megayacht and a supercomputer come together,” stated the Skipper in an inquiring tone.

  “Captain, we’re going to spend a little more time discussing the Blue Gene before we break for our skyscraper tour,” said the Prince. “It will all come together this afternoon. I assure you, sir.”

  On the trip back from the el Burj Khalifa, a lightbulb went off in the seaman’s cranium—a megayacht with a supercomputer close enough to shore might be used to clandestinely crack a computer’s encryption scheme. And the data would be there for the taking. As they pulled up to the Oberoi Hotel, Tom noticed a slight, almost devilish, smile on Adam’s face.

  2

  INCAT

  Aboard Prince Latif’s Gulfstream V business jet over the Pacific Ocean, the inspection/evaluation team of Dahlia, Captain Crowley and Captains Tony Caselli and Tanner Jolie were briefed by the Prince about the purpose of their trip.

  “We’ll refuel in Tokyo and then proceed past Sydney to the southern-most part of Australia. We’ll land at Hobart, the capital and most populous city of the Australian island of Tasmania,” said the Prince. “Founded in 1803 as a penal colony, the city now supports a growing number of expeditions to Antarctica.”

  “It’s harbor is the second-deepest natural port in the world,” continued the Prince.

  “We’ll be there three days as we inspect one of the most revolutionary sea craft ever devised, the INSAT High Speed Craft (HSC),” said the Prince. Prince Khalid toured the U.S. Navy’s HSC, called 2 SWIFT, when it called on Dubai two years ago. Ever since then, the Prince has baselined this megayacht for the mission. By this time tomorrow you’ll understand why.”

  Captain Crowley then spoke up: “I’ve seen videos of the sea trails. It’s huge and yet very fast.”

  “You’re right, Skipper, replied the Prince. But it’s even bigger in person. But it needs to be to accommodate our payload. Indeed, at 310 feet long, it will be ranked as the 41st largest megayacht on the planet. And we’re in the market for three of them to be fitted out at our Maritime City in Dubai,” said Prince Latif.

  Seven hours later the Gulfstream landed at Hobart International Airport. The plane was met by a silver Maybach for the short trip to the central business district where it stopped at 38 Murray Street in front of Hobart’s most famous and most opulent hotel, Hadley’s Orient Hotel.

  “We have eagerly awaited your arrival, Your Highness,” said the woman at the front desk. The team was escorted to an ornate dining room filled with 19th century British furniture and a crystal chandelier in the middle of the room. It was 3:00 PM and Hadley’s traditional Afternoon Tea Experience was enjoyed by a handful of tourists. The team was led to a round table in the corner where a tall, slender, very-distinguished gentleman stood up to greet the Prince and his party with a warm welcome.

  “Welcome, Your Highness, I’m Foster York of INCAT. I will be your host and guide during your team’s visit. And you can imagine based upon our email traffic, we’re excited you’re here,” said Mr. York. After introductions all around the table, the guests were served a wide variety of scones and Danish pastries.

  “It’s a long flight, but we’re rested and eager to learn about your very special sea craft,” stated Prince Latif.

  “Well it’s special alright. And you’ll see the shipyard is buzzing with activity. And as promised, you’ll be treated to two demonstrations on the high seas,” continued Mr. York.

  “That’s what we agreed to,”
replied the Prince. “And I’ve deliberately not provided too many details about the craft to my team so they can provide an unbiased evaluation.”

  Plant Manager York than took the liberty to set up his tablet on the edge of the table and narrated a sixty-minute slide deck about the HSC. The team seemed reticent to ask questions. Perhaps they were just in awe of the magnitude of the Prince’s adventure.

  That evening three other INCAT managers joined Mr. York to have a rack of lamb dinner at the Orient Hotel. All three were former megayacht captains who had been won over by the HSC and the Tasmanian lifestyle. Captain Crowley asked most of the questions, typically about the craft’s handling characteristics in high sea states with waves typically six feet high.

  The General Manager was quick to reply to each question with a simple, albeit sincere response: “They don’t exist. The HSC rides above the waves and literally surfs above them at an incredible 52 miles per hour.”

  At 10:30 PM the party broke up with everyone looking forward to tomorrow.

  After a seemingly never-ending breakfast buffet, the team assembled in the hotel lobby promptly at 8:30 as the Maybach appeared under the hotel’s canopy. It was only a ten-minute ride to INCAT’s shipyard in the Derwent River Park suburb of Hobart. The company’s cavernous boatyard gleamed in the bright morning sunshine. A sign at the front gate blinked the number 88, the number of high speed catamarans INCAT had in service around the world, usually as ferries but some delivered for military logistics purposes.

  Plant Manager York greeted the car and escorted the Prince and his team to a briefing room. The respective parties took their sides at the long mahogany conference table and each poured a second cup of coffee. Mr. York then introduced the design team responsible for the HSC. Over the next two hours, the engineers provided a complete description of the standard craft. Two videos showed the HSC in full operation, one as a ferry in Hong Kong and another as a military craft in Singapore. Latif’s captains took copious notes on their tablets and laptops as they poured over the documents provided by INCAT. And just before lunch, the team was shown a confidential video showing the 2 SWIFT in its sea trails in the North Atlantic. Some “minor” superstructure damage was found, but there was no hull damage, even in sea state 8.

  Dahlia was quick to finish her lunch and excused herself to have a quick cigarette on the cafeteria terrace. She reviewed her entries on her tablet:

  -Wave-priercing, aluminum trimaran hull

  -Modular design to be refitted to support missions without long shipyard periods

  -No drag center hull

  -Propulsion by directional water jets, so the ship has no propeller or rudder allowing maneuvers in as little as 12 feet of water

  -Length: 321.5 feet

  -Beam: 88.6 feet

  -Draft: 11 feet

  -Capacity: 600 tons

  -Cargo Deck: 29,000 square feet

  -Crew: 17 mariners

  -Helicopter Flight Deck

  -Waterjets: 4 Wartsila LIPS/LJ12OE which also allow a reverse function

  -Decks: Cargo, Personnel and Bridge

  -Communications Center, complete with multiple terrestrial and satellite systems

  -Rear-loading deck and ramp for vehicles and watercraft

  -Use as Ferry: 950 people; 250 cars

  Dahlia finished her cigarette (she doesn’t smoke in Dubai), shook her head in amazement and rejoined the group for the ride to the pier for the first demonstration.

  The Maybach drove around the bay to the marina’s test station. As the car pulled up to a bright yellow INCAT HSC bound for ferry service in the Philippines, the team was in awe of this mega-sea vehicle. Foster York approached the team and motioned for the Prince to lead the way up the gangplank. Some fifty steps later, the Prince was heartily greeted by the Test Team Lead.

  “Your Highness, you’re in for a real treat today, Sir,” he said. “We’ll be doing some speed trials in the form of figure 8’s, and the 20 knot winds should put the vehicle to a real test.”

  “I wish to see the cargo bay first,” said the Prince.

  “Of course, Sir, right this way,” was the right answer as the engineer led the team down a steep ladder to the cargo bay. Soon the team was standing in the middle of the 29,000 square feet cargo bay. Six lanes of cars could easily fit into the space. The Prince’s eyes met those of Dahlia and Catfish with an unspoken satisfaction.

  The ship’s whistle blew, and the crew untethered the HSC from the dock as the team climbed up two ladders to the bridge. The captain greeted the team and asked them to have a seat on the leather bench behind the helm. As the First Mate piloted the new ship out of the harbor and into the Tasmanian Sea, the captain described the functions of most of the video screens above and below the 180 degree windshield.

  The test team lead than gave the signal to the bridge to begin the prescribed maneuvers. It seemed only a few seconds before the massive craft was “flying” above the water at tremendous speed. As it made a graceful turn in the figure 8, the long white wake came into view.

  Captain Caselli remarked, “Prince, this is remarkable, there is virtually no vibration.”

  “I know, Skipper,” replied the Prince. “It’s one of the primary reasons we’re here.”

  The speed trial then called for a series of start, stop and restart the engines, and all of the activities were performed flawlessly.

  During the second hour at sea, the Prince’s team was given a briefing in the Information and Communications Center (ICC) directly behind the bridge. It was a glass-enclosed room about 20 feet by 20 feet filled with large displays and monitoring instruments. The test parameters—temperatures, pressures, fuel usage, cooling liquids and dozens of others were on display. The room was devoid of any red alarm signals. In short, all of the subsystems were passing the test.

  After two and one-half hours on the ocean, the test team had all the requisite data and gave the signal to return to port. On the return trip, the Prince’s evaluation team toured the crew deck and various rooms to be used by the ferry crew. The crew quarters were sparse but adequate. It was easy for the Prince and Dahlia to visualize the right layout for their mission. The right choice of materials, and the HSC could be turned into a luxury yacht, even one with a clandestine purpose, known only by a handful of people.

  That evening INCAT sponsored a lobster dinner in the Prince’s honor in the banquet room of the Orient Hotel. The Prince and General Manager anchored both ends of the long table seating twenty quests. The mayor of Hobart was also an honored quest. A multi-media lightshow about INSAT’s products ran continuously at one end of the room. After dinner, the smoking lamp was lit, and sea stories were told on the verandah until midnight.

  During the morning of the second day, the team visited the design studio for discussions about alternative configurations for outfitting the HSC as a luxury megayacht. Various interior decors were projected on video screens. Dahlia realized immediately how easy it was to spend megabucks in this domain.

  After lunch at a seafood restaurant in the central business district of Hobart, the team was driven to the pier for the second demonstration sailing. This HSC was about to be delivered to a Russian oil tycoon who had outfitted with lavish staterooms, lounges, movie theater, swimming pool and gym and spa. Dahlia took hundreds of pictures for use back in Dubai.

  For this demonstration test, the Prince asked his three sea captains to each focus on a particular area.

  --Capt. Crowley: Propulsion

  --Capt. Caselli: Electric Power Systems and back-up generators

  --Capt. Jolie: Navigation and Communications

  As the HSC was executing the required tests, the Prince walked around the five-story behemoth deep in thought. He spent much of his time below in the cargo bay. He took measurements via a hand-held laser measuring device. He also inv
entoried the safety features of the craft, complete with tenders and inflatable Zodiacs suitable for crew evacuation.

  During the in-bound leg of the test, he joined Captain Crowley in the ICC.

  “Catfish,” he asked. “Are the communications systems secure and redundant, indeed, fail-safe?”

  “Yes, Sir, they are,” answered the Skipper. “I’ve been impressed. The owner has spared no expense to have a very capable communications center.”

  “Very well,” replied the Prince. “Please get the specifications so we can clone it in Dubai.”

  “Yes, Sir,” replied the Skipper. “I’ve already requested the configuration drawings.”

  As the HSC slowed down to enter the harbor, the Prince asked his captains if they had all of the data they needed to make an informed decision(s), rationale for outfitting the three catamarans necessary for the mission. All of them answered in the affirmative via nodding heads. Captain Jolie stated that he was sure he could increase the speed by ten knots by tuning the engines and using an upgraded fuel.

  “Excellent,” responded the Prince. “But will we lose efficiency and cost us miles per gallon?” asked the Prince.

  “No, Sir,” was the reply. He continued: “We’ll plan to purchase HSC’s which already have the upgraded Catepillar engines.”

  The Prince liked what he heard. He then stepped out of the bridge onto the docking platform and sent a secure text message via satellite to a mansion in downtown Dubai with a cryptic note: “The platform is a go. Have the data and will return via Monaco.”