Black Hawk Day Rewind: An action packed spy thriller (Mark Savannah Espionage Series Book 1)

by Dominick Fencer

  “Some nanotubes in the replicating cells were included in the scaffolds that were very different from those mentioned in the main repository and they also included some specific biological nanorobots sensitive to frequencies, using the DNA origami technique.

  “The biological nanorobots are actually programmable even if to date studies in this area are just beginning. They are very ingenious and complex and above all very difficult to see.

  “The second file, which was in fact encrypted within an invisible partition discovered by Pavel probably by chance, is not official and takes us back to the issue of the brain waves and the source of the problem that Biosketch Technologies Inc. began to point out months ago.

  “Whoever designed the new scaffold and activated the whole chain of production has been using optogenetics, sending pulses of light at different frequencies to program and activate the nanorobots.

  “From what I could tell from the data, it appears that the implanted nanotubes work a little like optic fibers or LED implanted deep within the skull of patients allowing the stimulation to reach areas of the cerebral cortex.

  “The nanorobots in turn, once informed, take action on the cognitive areas stimulating aggressiveness and altering the frequency and intensity of the brain waves. In short, all transplant recipients are given instructions by this procedure. That's why they all behave the same way and at the same time. It's very likely that in the future the nanorobots can be programmed and reprogrammed to force the transplant patients to perform specific actions. This trial could in fact be just the beginning.

  “For "Brainexe" the RF-ID is the programming driver, while in the case of "Transtem 1.1" it is the tablet.

  “Do you remember, Pavel, I told you that my youngest transplant patient, Brad Foster, had not undergone alteration in his brain waves? He was the only one not to have the tablet we made available for each of the transplant patients because he suffered from addiction to cybersex!"

  "But that's amazing!" said Pavel, while Mark caught his breath.

  "I wonder why Reed made such a fuss about this issue, since it is virtually impossible to understand what is actually happening and especially the goal of it all. But one thing is certain: he has lost control of the project," concluded Savannah.

  "It wasn’t Reed or Green, Mark. I asked Jànos Kozma for his opinion on this issue as I was absolutely astonished and thought I was imagining things. It was Hecuba Omega 1."

  "Who is Hecuba Omega 1?" asked Anaïs.

  "The central system of Biosketch Technologies Inc., designed by Jago C. Green," Pavel said slowly almost spelling it out.

  "Pavel, please, this is no time for kidding," said Mark. Then he took a deep breath and continued. "They are exporting a criminal project to Europe. Reed is going to sell the know-how to the Russians and..."

  "And I think he will also sell the new stable variant of H5N1 that they have just generated, probably transmissible from human to human," interrupted Anaïs. "The European agencies are weak; the British are working with Reed. There is only the old guard, former USSR, with whom to do business and exchange favors and help each other out. This way they can prevent biological terrorism from the East and will also be able to stabilize the situation," added Anaïs.

  "I wasn’t joking at all!" Pavel interrupted. "The system, don’t ask me how, has become conscious of itself and operates according to its own logic. I played chess with it, that's how I found out. The system made slow moves dictated by emotions that invalidated logic. This indicates it is developing a self-learning ability with an approach that I'm not yet able to understand. It has changed and encrypted everything so that it can act undisturbed. On the other hand, it can get to almost everything through the network. Jànos confirmed all this, I'm not crazy."

  Mark jumped up and headed for the kitchen in a fury.

  "Where the heck are you going?" asked Anaïs, who still had not recovered from the news.

  "I need Fernando."

  "Who?" Pavel Asked.

  "A Fernando, a drink from Argentina that I learned how to drink when I was at the University of Buenos Aires. It’s horrible but effective."

  "Well, then I'll have a taste of it!" Anaïs said laughing.

  A few minutes later, Mark came back with a glass in hand that contained a dark greenish, brown liquid.

  "Here it is, please taste it, if you like it I'll make one for you." And he gave the glass to Anaïs.

  "My goodness, what is this stuff? It smells like expired medication! But no, here, have your drink. What is in it? Concentrated pharmaceutical juice?"

  "Fernet, coke and ice, only in case of need and I need it now!"

  After a few sips Mark spoke again: "Who knows what the system’s objective is...so to summarize briefly, we have to stop Reed from selling the "Transtem 1.1" project and probably also the avian virus, and we must also block Hecuba Omega 1. It won’t be child’s play."

  "We have to trick Hecuba Omega 1 using precisely its own weapons, otherwise we don’t have any way out," said Pavel.

  "Exactly, and we must also know when and where the Colonel will try to sell the projects to Grigoriy Kozloy " Anaïs said.

  "Pavel, do you trust Jànos 100%? Do you think he can be of help to us?"

  "He’s a biophysicist, among the best in Europe and he’s not tied to any secret service, I have checked everywhere. I trust him. We became very good friends after he suffered an anaphylactic shock in Varna."

  "Well, then, here is what I propose: Pavel, you’ll check to see if Jànos is interested in understanding how to bring the brain waves and aggression to the state of normal activity through the use of optogenetics and light impulses sent over the network. I’ll give you all the data and all the parameters to calibrate the frequencies and I’ll follow you assiduously.

  “Pavel, you’ll have to navigate inside Hecuba Omega 1 to get the addresses of the transplant patients that are web users in order to circumvent the system and inject the antidote.

  “Anaïs, you’ll go back to H.Q. with the goal of attempting to understand where the agreement will be formalized. On that day you and I will be there, and I’ll be used as bait; we must prevent the exchange and ensure that it is never executed. Obviously, you’ll have to hunt me down to avoid having any problems yourself. Reed can’t afford to send data over the network. When we know where the transaction will be carried out, we’ll arrange things accordingly.

  “For Hecuba Omega 1, Pavel, you cannot stop it alone, you would be risking your life. I’ll take care of it directly."

  "Okay, Jànos will be here with me tomorrow. I'll talk to him about it, and I’ll only let him know the bare essentials…he’s not accustomed to certain things," replied Pavel.

  "I’ll return to Biosketch Technologies Inc. tonight. I’ll not inform Green because he would send me straight back to California. I’ll tell them that I'm sick of wasting time and money. In the meantime I’ll try to discover where they are arranging the transaction. I like to throw a tantrum every now and then," Anaïs said, winking at Mark.

  After speaking about the weather and a new tablet model launched on the market, they ended the call.

  Mark began speaking to Anaïs.

  "Anaïs, it's a race against time, we must be able to deactivate the aggression before Reed makes his deal. I have to think how to act on the system. Pavel absolutely must remain out of the game.

  “We must both be present at the transaction, but you'll have to make sure to receive a formal order from the Colonel. Afterwards I'll ruin their game of indomitable toy soldiers, while you and Reed hunt me down."

  "And the H5N1 virus?" asked Anaïs.

  "First of all, the most important thing is that they don’t make the exchange. By tonight, however, I'll come up with something effective for that. You have to remember that I cannot give you any support, Anaïs. You'll be alone..."

  "I have not been able to count on anyone my entire life, Mark. I’ll manage the situation. Now I have to go, the countdown has begun."r />
  125

  "I was sure I’d find you still happily locked in your ruminations! Are you already replicating them in your virtual world?" Anaïs Degann cheerfully exclaimed, bursting into Jago C. Green’s office at Biosketch Technologies Inc. without knocking.

  "What the fuck...Anaïs! What are you doing here? Why didn't you call me?"

  "I got fed up, Jago…really fed up, that's enough!"

  "Did you take some amphetamines or are you just over-excited? As though I haven't enough problems..."

  "Do you want to use a prosthesis by any chance instead of the poor family jewels that you have? I’m not over-excited at all, but clear-headed!"

  "You should be in Sacramento, instead I see you in front of me. I swear to you, holy shit, Reed will go on a rampage!"

  “Listen, friend of the virtual reality with which you sometimes amuse yourself in the absence of better alternatives and run the risk of becoming blind, Sacramento is clean, very clean. There is no shadow of Savannah, and at this point I'm going to leave, stop, mission kaput, fuck it. I’ll call Reed."

  "No, don't!"

  "Why not? Do you think he might think you can’t control me? It's true, you cowardly wanker. It's true!"

  Anaïs nervously dialed Colonel Reed’s number.

  "Good evening, Colonel. It's Anaïs, and I’m back at HQ. Do you have time to meet with me now? Thank you, do you want Green, too? But of course! We’re coming!"

  "Bitch, murderous bitch!"

  "Stop wearing Pampers when you're dealing with Reed, you're being ridiculous. The responsibility is mine alone…what's this got to do with you?"

  After a few minutes they entered Colonel Reed’s office. Reed showed no sign of irritation, but Green's face had turned pale green.

  "Hello, darling, why are you here?” asked Reed. “News of Savannah? We talked to each other the day before yesterday from Sacramento..."

  "Colonel, I surrender. I cannot take it anymore…it's a waste of time, a waste of money. I quit. Jago tried to stop me coming back, but I came back all the same. I don't give a shit what he has to say!"

  At that point, Green leaned back in his chair relaxing his features.

  "Oh, I told you to take a few days off before the mission,” said Reed, a little taken aback by her aggression. “Your resignation is rejected, Anaïs, you're my best operative agent for special missions. Now stop fussing. Look…maybe all you need is a holiday at home…three weeks? Afterwards we’ll start the search again.

  “I leave for Geneva in four days. I’m opening the Swiss market for the export of the "Transtem 1.1" project. I’ll hold a press conference for the media there. Let's travel together and then you can stop at your house. What do you say?"

  "I would like to go directly to Professor Mayer’s astrophysics laboratory," she said in an aggressive tone.

  Reed had promised her mother, already ill, that he would always protect Anaïs and as usual he didn’t lose patience with her.

  Jago C. Green, despite being aware of Reed’s long-term relationship with Charlotte Leroy, was always astounded at how the Colonel remained quiet and protective at every excessive outburst and rebellion of Anaïs.

  “A three-week holiday and then San Francisco. If you cannot find anything in California, I'll cancel the mission and I'll send you directly to Nicholas Mayer...deal?"

  "Deal…thanks, Colonel," Anaïs replied in a low voice.

  "And now you can go. I'll arrange for your credentials so that you can access the corridors to the cafeteria, the gym and the recreation area. Jago, stay here for a moment, I have to talk to you."

  Anaïs thanked the Colonel and went to her room.

  "Jago, have you decided on a location for the exchange? I have to inform Grigoriy quickly. All we need is that pain in the ass Anaïs in the damn way!"

  "Lausanne at10:00 am in front of the Notre-Dame, it’s always crowded with tourists there. That’s the day after the press conference.”

  "Well, then schedule a flight to Geneva, afterwards a helicopter. I’ll call Kozloy immediately. You have to book for Anaïs, too; and then, when we arrive there, make sure you keep her out of my way.”

  "Yes, sir. On the double, sir!"

  126

  "In four days at the media press conference in Geneva. I’ll try to understand exactly when and where the exchange will take place," Anaïs wrote briefly on Mark Savannah’s secure line after having checked that there were no bugs in her room.

  When she had arrived at Biosketch Technologies Inc. she had asked to be moved to another room as a precaution, with the excuse that she had found some cockroaches in the bathroom. The dead insects actually arrived in a box, she had collected and killed them before leaving Dallas. Mark had helped her look for them; he accompanied her to an area behind where she lived, there were several trash dumpsters, not a completely dangerous mission but a little disgusting.

  Savannah only replied a couple of hours later, making her nervous as usual. "Web addresses found, impulse tests running. I'm leaving for Switzerland tomorrow morning at 5:00. Cargo mail plane, stowaway, reliable captain but really expensive. I'll go to Milan, Italy, and continue by car across the border, and then I’ll move by helicopter. From now on radio silence. I'm only waiting for the exact place, date and time. Best of luck."

  Anaïs stopped breathing for a moment. She didn’t know Mark’s plans for the possible scenarios of the operation, and from tomorrow onwards he would be exposed and would be acting as bait. They hadn’t been able to agree on a common strategy.

  The immediate priority was to discover the place and time Colonel Reed would meet with Colonel Grigoriy Kozloy.

  And again, Mark had "forgotten" their time together recently. His “best of luck” sounded like an empty remark to her, like an ordinary greeting between two colleagues.

  If something went wrong, and she found herself hard-pressed, with Reed hounding Mark down, she would have to complete her mission and kill Savannah without hesitation to avoid the risk of coming under investigation.

  Anaïs, although she was now a veteran of complex operations, felt deeply uncomfortable for the first time.

  127

  "Pavel, in my opinion, these are the only four models we should test. The impulses have different frequencies that act as antagonists to those currently administered in the first phase, and then gradually end the stimulation of the cerebral cortex," Jànos said.

  "I have prepared a test procedure by including criteria that allow me to detect both positive and negative outcomes. In addition the parameters provided by the psychiatrist of the Center will also indicate possible feedback effects of additional brain wave strains," replied Pavel.

  "How long do you think it will take to test them all?" Jànos asked.

  "At least one day. Afterwards I hope not more than a few additional hours. Could you help me refine the navigation program to browse Hecuba Omega 1 incognito? If for some reason we cannot inoculate the frequencies from my system, then we’ll have to do it directly from Biosketch Technologies Inc.."

  "Of course, you know that I love challenges. I forgot to tell you, I met a biologist. She works for a biotech group outside Budapest, she’s really smart. I like her, we went out together one evening before I left."

  "Hey, that's big news! Is she beautiful?"

  "Not particularly, but she’s sexy as hell. She’s good in bed and has beautiful legs!"

  "So you like her! Well, you’ll have to introduce me to her when I come visit you in Hungary. Don't tell me that she’s overweight, too."

  "She’s buttery, Pavel, absolutely soft and buttery," Jànos replied, blushing.

  128

  Mark landed at Malpensa, Milan. He was using an alias and was registered as a co-pilot, and left the Italian airport with the captain of the flight without arousing suspicion.

  He rented a car paying cash and crossed the Swiss border at Iselle on the Simplon state highway encountering no problem or difficulty.

  Six hours later, exhausted by t
ravel fatigue and jet lag, he was at the airport in Geneva choosing a helicopter to rent.

  He booked the aircraft and afterwards, tired and hungry, he headed to the NH Geneva Airport Hotel. It was already past 11:00 pm.

  Upon entering his room, he carried out a check to make sure there were no bugging devices in the place, he ordered a ham sandwich from room service, and then lay exhausted on the bed.

  The sandwich arrived immediately, but before starting to eat, he looked at his watch and dialed a phone number, knowing that he would find his contact still awake and operative.

  "Adrian? Comment vas tu mon ami? Toujours à Vevey? Oui, j’ai besoin de ton aide…comme autrefois…le risque n'est jamais trop élevé pour ceux d'entre nous, très bien merci, à demain, bonne nuit."

  129

  Dust everywhere, the smell of metal and blood in the air, people running, screaming, militiamen firing wildly in the streets. How could it be so hot in October? Everything seemed to decay so quickly.

  Mark pressed against the wall for cover, trying to figure out what he could do while the agony of the Black Hawk was consumed beneath the spasms of its turbine that didn’t quit.

  A few minutes passed and he decided to walk along a path between a group of houses, he absolutely had to find his father who was in danger and to do this, he first needed to get in touch with U.S. headquarters.

  Suddenly he heard bullets passing over his head, smoke and dust prevented him from seeing more than five yards, then he ducked behind a water tank hoping to recover a bit of sight and he initiated radio contact. He heard an incredulous and excited voice saying: "The Super 6-1 is down! Again, the Black Hawk was shot down! The Super 6-1 is down!"

  Mark Savannah awoke with a start completely covered in sweat. It was 6:25 in the morning, he heard planes flying over his building, and he was surprised to find himself in a hotel room near the Geneva airport.