High Alert (The Project Book 14)

by Alex Lukeman

  The SPG-9 had been around since the early sixties. It was one of the principal antitank weapons in the North Korean army, firing a 73mm, fin stabilized, rocket assisted round. Easily carried and serviced by two men, it was popular with the pirates flourishing on the Horn of Africa and with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

  A special chair had been placed next to the weapon for Yun to sit on. The Supreme Leader was a fat man with a moon face. He looked even fatter in his heavy dark overcoat. His black hair looked as though someone had placed a shallow bowl over his head and shaved away everything underneath the edge. Now he waddled over to the chair and sat down.

  "Explain this to me," he said.

  One of the crew, a sergeant, stepped forward.

  "At once, Great Leader."

  The sergeant controlled his fear and quickly explained the mechanism of the weapon. He showed Yun the sighting scope, the firing mechanism and how to adjust the tripod for elevation and windage. The gun had already been zeroed in on the post where the unfortunate admiral was tied. All Yun had to do was look through the sight and fire the weapon whenever he wished.

  "First a charge will send the round from the gun," the sergeant explained. "After, the rocket will ignite. The round is high explosive. Everything is ready for you, Great Leader."

  He bowed.

  "Good."

  Yun waved the sergeant away and bent to the sight. The image of the Admiral was clear in the glass, range and distance crosshairs centered on his groin. Yun smiled, savoring the moment.

  He pressed the trigger.

  The explosion was only moderately loud as the round left the barrel of the gun. The rocket ignited with a roar, leaving a fat trail of white smoke. An instant later the wooden post, Admiral Park, and a portion of North Korea ceased to exist. Yun leaned back and clapped his hands in glee.

  The group of officers standing nearby lowered their binoculars and clapped in unison with him. The broad smiles and laughter concealed whatever it was they were thinking. Yun got up from the launcher and walked past the applauding officers, toward a helicopter waiting to fly him to the nuclear test site at Punggye Ri.

  The Supreme Leader was having a busy day.

  Some time later the helicopter landed at the East Portal of the test site, one of three entrances to an extensive system of tunnels hidden beneath the rugged mountain terrain. Yun was greeted by a gaggle of bowing, smiling officers and scientists and escorted into the complex.

  "Report your progress," Yun said.

  He was speaking to the head of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Park Moon.

  "Great Leader, I have the honor to report that the fusion test device is ready. The test will be of only a small capacity, about two kilotons. Because the kinetic effect of a thermonuclear device is different from what we have tested before, it is possible our enemies may not discover the test has occurred. Their instruments will record a seismic shock but it can be passed off as an earthquake. They will not pick up any radioactivity."

  Yun held up his hand. "When will the weapon be ready?"

  Park tried to hide his nervousness. "If all goes well with the test, we should be ready in about a month, Great Leader."

  Yun raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying this test might fail?"

  Park resisted the urge to brush away the sweat forming on his brow. "I am confident the test will succeed."

  "And the weapon?"

  "The housing for the device has been prepared. A satellite launch vehicle is being modified to carry it. Everything should be ready in a month. "

  Park hid his nervousness about the modifications. The rocket was based on a Taepodong-2 missile, the same design used before to boost two satellites into orbit over North America. Those were different configurations than the weapon Yun wanted to launch. The calculations were critical. If the launch failed, the best Park could hope for was life breaking up stones in a reeducation camp.

  "Good, good," Yun said. He smiled. "And what will be the capacity of the completed weapon?"

  "We estimate twenty-five to twenty-eight megatons. Not as large as the Russian Tsar Bomba. That was fifty-seven megatons. But more than adequate to wipe out their grid and disable their infrastructure."

  Yun smiled again, thinking about the effect.

  The hydrogen bomb the Russians called the Tsar Bomba had been the largest nuclear blast in history. It was hard to exaggerate the effects of such a monstrous explosion if it were detonated close to the ground. It was simple science to calculate the effect if it took place in orbit, three hundred miles above the surface of the earth.

  Yun's bomb would emit a gigantic electromagnetic pulse over the target. Afterward, there would be no electricity. Anything electronic would be turned into irreparable junk. Computers, telephones, radios, the entire electrical grid, anything and everything electrical would fail. Airplanes would fall from the sky. Modern cars would be forever inoperable. Sewage systems, traffic systems, railroads, medical devices, forms of communication that used modern technology, all would fail. Transportation would cease. Fuel and food distribution would be stopped permanently.

  Military units not hardened against an EMP attack would be unable to function. Mechanical weapons like rifles and handguns and howitzers would still work, but soldiers would have to move about on foot. There would be no effective communication beyond line of sight. For all practical purposes, the government of a targeted nation would cease to exist.

  Cities would be completely uninhabitable. First would come riots, conflict, looting. Sewage systems would stop functioning, hospitals become useless. After a few days, disease would begin to spread. Desperate people fleeing into the countryside would be met with anger, fear and armed resistance. Millions would die.

  Once the Americans were unable to support their puppets in the South, it would be a simple task for his army to sweep down the peninsula.

  Washington would reap the harvest of their disrespect. They had refused to accede to his reasonable request for reunification of the peninsula. They had sent their submarine to spy upon him. Whatever happened would be on their own heads.

  CHAPTER 13

  Elizabeth Harker was contemplating a bowl of limp green Jell-O when Nick entered her room. She looked pale, drawn, older. She'd lost weight, and she hadn't weighed much to begin with. It gave her elfin face and milk white skin an otherworldly quality. Her eyes were a deep, emerald green, adding to the elfin look. Bruising from the accident had faded, but there were still blotches of blue and yellow on her face.

  "Nick. Wonderful. Can you get this stuff out of my sight?"

  She lifted the tray toward him. Nick took it and set it on a bedside table.

  "You don't like hospital food?"

  "I used to worry about infection if I came into a hospital. Now I know that the primary cause of hospital death is probably the kitchen."

  Nick laughed. "You sound as though you're feeling better, Director."

  "I am. The rehab isn't much fun but I'm getting stronger. My memory has come back, everything except the crash itself. With a little luck, I should be back on the job soon."

  "I can't say I'll be sorry to see you back, but you've got to be careful and not rush it."

  "Tell me what's happening. Stephanie treats me as if she's afraid I'm going to break. She's trying not to upset me, but I need to know what's going on."

  "You know about the California?"

  "Yes."

  "One of our weapons sent her to the bottom. A highly classified underwater drone. No one is supposed to have plans for it except us."

  "Black Dolphin?" Elizabeth said.

  "Yes."

  "I didn't know that. Any leads on who gave it to the Koreans?"

  "Not yet. It's the FBI's responsibility to find the traitor, but Langley's put a lot of resources on it. Hood is keeping me up to speed. It has to be someone high up in the food chain."

  "If Clarence is on it, we'll get results," Elizabeth said. "He's been trying to keep things from me too. I'll see wha
t he has to say next time he comes in."

  "I didn't realize you weren't getting briefed, but don't take it out on him. I should have made sure you were kept informed."

  "You've been busy, haven't you? How do you like being director, Nick?"

  "To tell you the truth, it's a challenge I could do without. I'll be glad when you're able to come back to work."

  "I don't have to be back at HQ to give you a hand."

  "What do you mean?"

  "My memory is fine. I'm feeling better every day. I'd be out of here today if they'd let me, but they want to keep me for a while longer. That doesn't mean I can't work with you over the phone or here in the room."

  "You think you can run things from in here?"

  "Not run things, you and Stephanie are doing that. But I could take some of the load off, if you'll let me. Steph will be mad at me, but she'll get over it."

  "What did you have in mind?"

  "I can't help you with the paperwork. You can't bring that kind of classified material in here, but I can consult with you about any actions you need to take. Bring me an encrypted phone."

  "We don't have a specific mission at the moment," Nick said.

  "You know that's not going to last long," Elizabeth said.

  "Steph has developed an AI program for one of her computers. It's pretty amazing from what I've seen so far. She wants me to consider the computer as one of the team."

  "She told me she was working on something new but she didn't say much about it. Part of the team? What does that mean?"

  "Well, it interacts with you, talks to you. It even makes jokes. The important thing is that it analyzes situations and then can add its own interpretation."

  "You mean independently?"

  "Yes. It wants to sit in and participate on our discussions as a team."

  "You're kidding," Elizabeth said.

  "No, I'm not. I'm having trouble getting used to the idea."

  "Has it provided any useful information?"

  "Yes, along with speculation."

  Nick told her how Freddie had identified the man who'd murdered the Chinese ambassador as a North Korean government agent. He explained how Freddie had linked the assassination and the sinking of the submarine, then speculated that a third-party was implicating North Korea and manipulating events for an unknown purpose.

  "Do you think there's anything to it?" Elizabeth asked.

  "I don't know, there could be. Freddie emphasized that the murder of the ambassador by a member of Yun's security service was illogical. That makes sense, unless there's some faction in the North Korean government that's trying to depose Yun by angering the Chinese. We haven't picked up any indication of that."

  "So if some unknown third-party is manipulating events, they're attempting to create a breach between Beijing and Pyongyang?"

  "That would be one possibility," Nick said. "The question is why?"

  "Does Beijing know that the assassin was from North Korea?"

  "Not to my knowledge. I haven't told anyone except Hood. No one suspected it until Freddie put in his two cents. Everything Langley and the Bureau have indicates the killer was a South Korean national, a lone wolf. If the Chinese have a mole somewhere in the agencies, that's what they'll be told."

  Nick's phone buzzed.

  "It's Stephanie." He activated the speaker. "Hello, Steph."

  "Nick, where are you? Something has happened."

  "I'm in Director Harker's room at Walter Reed. You're on speaker."

  "When you get back there's something I want to discuss with you."

  Harker interrupted. "Stephanie, tell us what's going on."

  "Elizabeth..."

  "Steph, you're not my mother. I'm not going to collapse because of some bad news out there in the world. What's happening?"

  "You're right, I have been a little overprotective. What's happening is that someone killed the head of the Ukrainian Secret Service a couple of hours ago."

  "Sirko?"

  "I see you have your memory back. Yes, Bhodan Sirko, Kiev's man behind the throne and chief hatchet man."

  "What happened, Steph?" Nick asked.

  "Sirko was attending a conference in Kiev, one of those propaganda environmental events where everybody gets together to say how much they want to help each other clean things up while they gobble down the vodka and caviar."

  "You don't sound like a fan."

  "Those conferences are a waste of time," Steph said. "They repeat the same old tired arguments about why the climate is changing and what needs to be done about it, before they get around to blaming the U.S. and saying we ought to quit making things bad for everyone else."

  "What happened to Sirco?" Elizabeth asked.

  "The assassin posed as a waitress and poisoned the appetizers. She was spotted by two of Sirco's men but she shot them both and escaped through the kitchen. They found her gun. It's Russian, a model that's only issued to special forces and the security services. Kiev is accusing Moscow of the murder."

  "They're probably right," Elizabeth said. "Sirco has been rooting out Russian agents, forcing them out of the country or killing them."

  "A woman assassin is a little unusual," Nick said. "I wonder…"

  "You're thinking of Selena's sister aren't you?" Elizabeth said. "It doesn't have to be her."

  "No, but you have to admit it fits her profile. It would take a lot of balls to pull that off in public. Once we have the CCTV tapes from the conference, we can confirm it or not for ourselves."

  "I'm not sure I agree with your choice of words but you're right, it does fit her profile."

  "I wonder why Orlov moved on Sirco now?" Stephanie said. Her voice sounded tinny on the speaker of the phone.

  "Whatever the reason, good riddance," Elizabeth said. "Sirco was a bad actor."

  "But he was our actor," Nick said. "That so-called government wouldn't exist without our backing."

  "All part of the strategy to contain the big, bad bear. One day we might actually get along with the Russians. Just not anytime soon."

  "Not as long as Orlov is in power," Nick said. "I wouldn't trust him no matter what he said."

  Elizabeth sighed. "Trust is overrated when it comes to international politics. Assuming it was Orlov and not someone from the Ukrainian opposition, it means relations between Ukraine and Moscow are about to get a lot worse, if that's possible. It ratchets up tensions in the area. Not a good thing, they're bad enough already."

  "What do you think Kiev will do?"

  "I'm not at all sure. They can't just ignore it."

  "Elizabeth," Stephanie said. "Has Nick told you about Freddie?"

  "Your computer? Yes. That's quite an accomplishment, Steph."

  "I'm going to feed this information about Sirco's assassination to him and see what he says. It's extraordinary how he puts things together. He actually thinks, but it's different from the way we look at things."

  Nick said, "Steph, about making Freddie part of the team, let's see what happens if we let him join in on our discussions. But we need to prep the others first. We'll meet this afternoon." Nick looked at Elizabeth. "Director Harker is going to sit in on a secure line."

  Harker nodded.

  "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Elizabeth," Stephanie said. "You're still recovering. You should rest."

  "Steph, the last thing I need right now is more rest. I'm bored out of my skull here. It's not going to kill me to put in a word or two during a conversation."

  "Elizabeth…"

  "Besides," Elizabeth said, "I want to meet Freddie."

  CHAPTER 14

  Ukrainian House had extensive CCTV recordings from the conference. Hood had obtained copies and sent them on to Nick. The Project team sat in Harker's office and watched the assassination of the Ukrainian security chief.

  "Your sister gets around," Nick said.

  "I had to look twice, but it's definitely her," Selena said. "She did something to her face and she's wearing a wig or she dyed her hair, bu
t it's Valentina. How did she do it? Kill Sirco?"

  "A fast acting poison, something dreamed up by Moscow's pharmaceutical geniuses. It must've been in that tray of appetizers she's holding. The one the bodyguard takes from her."

  They watched the recording. Valentina approached the group where Sirco was holding court. Stephanie stopped the tape, backed it up, and started it again in slow-motion.

  "Right there," she said. "You can see her hand move to her sash and then pass over the tray of food she's carrying. That's how she poisoned it."

  "Probably some kind of spray," Nick said.

  The recording sped up again. On screen, Sirco's bodyguard fell to the floor. The Ukrainian security chief bent over and vomited before he collapsed. Two of his bodyguards went down seconds later. The tape ended.

  "That's the assassination," Stephanie said. "This next recording is where she escapes."

  She touched a key and a new video began. It showed a large man, presumably one of Sirco's bodyguards, grabbing Valentina's arm. The video was silent, but a double flash flared on the recording as Valentina's pistol fired. The man fell to the floor and Valentina disappeared into the kitchen.

  "She almost made it out of there without being caught," Ronnie said.

  "That guy must've seen something," Lamont said. "Didn't do him much good. She's damn lethal for such a good-looking woman. I kind of like her in spite of myself."

  The last time they'd seen Valentina had been in Egypt, deep in a secret chamber under the pyramids. If she hadn't intervened, they would all be dead.

  Nick said, "She shows up on this morning's latest SVR promotion list. Your sister is a Lieutenant Colonel now. That's unheard of for anyone at her age in SVR, much less a woman. Orlov's got his eye on her. Rumors say it might be more than appreciation for her skills in the field."

  Selena brushed a loose hair away from her forehead. "If that's true, she'd better watch her step."