by Howard Cohen
“What did you do that they would shoot down an aircraft belonging to another country?”
“We did nothing. My friend is defecting, and the Russians don’t want that to happen. I knew they would eventually find that we had chartered a jet. Now they can’t see us, and by the time the MiGs arrive, we will be out of their radar range.”
A stewardess entered, pushing a cart with drinks and a variety of sandwiches.
“How is Christen?”
“He’s feeling better. The bleeding has stopped, and he’s drinking some juice.” She said, looking at Jax with cold eyes. When she left, the pilot said,” She has been dating Christen for the past few months. It won’t last. Christen never stays with one too long.”
Jax chose a tuna salad sandwich. In between bites, he said,” Why don’t you go see how Christen is doing? Get some sleep. I’ll call you if there’s a problem.
Jax watched the radar screen. He knew the MiGs would go to their last transponder coordinates. What they would do then was the unknown factor.
“May I join you?” Sonkin said as he entered the cockpit. Jax nodded towards the copilots seat.
“What’s on your mind?” Jax asked never taking his eyes off the radar screen.
“I couldn’t help but overhearing you tell the pilot that MiGs are hunting us. Is that true?”
“Moscow wanted you back. Now they want you dead. We turned off our transponder and changed course. It’s unlikely they will find us unless they get very lucky.”
“What happens if they do locate us?”
“We die.” Jax looked at Sonkin. “They’ll make sure it’s us and then put a missile into us, ”Jax said calmly.
“I may be able to help.” Sonkin said.
“How so?” Jax went back to watching the radar screen.
“Twenty-two years ago when I first thought of defecting I began work on a computer virus. One that is undetectable and will shut down all systems in any fighter or missile.”
“So that’s your ticket back.”
“I had hoped so.”
“It would be nice if we could use it if the MiGs show up.”
“Codes are written into every system and once one of them is triggered, it cascades and shuts them all down. If I can trigger it in any system, the rest will follow.”
“So, how does that help us?” Jax finished the rest of his water.
“This is a Lear Jet Bombadier 45. It’s a new aircraft. A technician can plug a computer into the panel and download all data from all systems. If someone has a computer, I think I can help with our problem.”
Jax left the cockpit returning in a few minutes with a Mac Book Pro. “Pilot had this, and the cable to plug it into the panel.”
Sonkin plugged it in.” Can I have the thumb drive I gave you? It will save time.”
Jax reached into the outer pocket of his backpack and handed the drive to Sonkin. He plugged it in and began to type rapidly with a smile on his face. When finished he placed the computer on the console still plugged in. “Touch nothing.” He then returned to the cabin.
An hour later the pilot returned. Jax went back into the main cabin to use the restroom and take a short nap.
100
MiG 35s over the Atlantic Ocean
Wednesday late afternoon
Two MiG35 aircraft left the military field outside Moscow and refueled over the north Atlantic. A hundred miles off the coast of Portugal they reached the last known position of the private jet.
Lt. Col Sergai Mocowitz said to his wingman. “Going to Miami was a ruse. Command thinks they will head for Washington DC. Come to heading 294 and let’s see if we get lucky.”
MiG 35s can search, identify, track and target aircraft up to 300 kilometers. Thirty-five minutes after they started their search they saw a jet travelling at 450 mph on a heading of 294 at 30000 feet with its transponder off.
“Let’s take a look,” Moscowitz said. Seven minutes later they came up behind the aircraft. It’s tail number and logo identified it as the target. They buzzed it from behind and came around facing the aircraft. “It’s our target. Let’s give it one missile each. On my count, Three, two, one, fire.”
Both MiGs launched a single missile that could not miss, then pulled up and away to be able to visualize the shot.
.
101
Over the Atlantic Ocean
Wednesday dusk July 3, 2019
Jax was enjoying a brief nap when the pilot shook him awake.
“We’ve got company. I just picked up two radar contacts approaching at speeds only fighter aircraft fly.”
Jax was up and followed him into the cockpit. “You’re right. Nothing else moves that fast. What are our chances of avoiding them?”
“None. If those are MiGs we’re history.”
Jax said,” They’ll get close enough to make sure it’s us then get some distance and use a missile.
Sonkin entered.” What is going on?”
“MiGs have found us. In a few minutes they will be here, determine we are their target and shoot us down. We can’t avoid them.”
“Pilot, I must ask you to leave the cockpit.” Sonkin said calmly.
The pilot looked at Jax, who nodded.
When they were alone, Sonkin said,” I can send a burst of codes through our avionics that their systems will pick up. I know that because I designed them to do that.”
They slid into the seats and waited.”
Seven minutes later a MiG made a close pass, then another did the same.
Jax looked at Sonkin who was furiously typing on the computer. Both MiGs were coming directly at them. Both of them fired a missile. Jax could see the flash. He watched the missiles approach. They wobbled, straightened, then headed directly for them. Sonkin continued to pound on the keys as Jax watched the missiles close on the Lear Jet. He wanted to shout at Sonkin to hurry, but he could do nothing except watch his death approach. In his line of work Jax had faced death before. This was the first time he had no control over the outcome and the fear it caused disturbed him.
Suddenly the missiles began to tumble. Both MiGs went into flat spins and disappeared.
“Holy shit it worked,” Jax said, relieved that he was still alive.
“ Now you see why I have to make it home safely.”
“I need a drink.”
“Me too.” Sonkin said. “Let’s get the pilot back in here to fly the plane. “Make mine a dry martini with two olives.”
The pilot returned to the cockpit, “What happened to the MiGs? They made a pass, then disappeared.”
“They must have decided we were not who they were looking for. We’re going to have a few drinks. Keep us on track for Dulles. Turn on the transponder when we enter American air space,” Jax said as he went into the main cabin.
102
MiG 35 over Atlantic Ocean
Wednesday dusk July 3, 2019
LTC Sergai Moscovitz tried to watch the missile as he made a looping turn to the right.
As he straightened out all the lights on his console went out. He tried to contact his wingman but the radio didn’t work. His engine was out, and the MiG started to go into a flat spin. All systems were dead. His wingman was also in a spin spiraling down.
Sergai reached under the seat for the handle to eject, pulled, nothing happened. It was in lock mode. He pushed against the canopy a gesture he knew was futile. The MiG spun faster. He sat back, closed his eyes and prayed.
103
Moscow
Wednesday evening July 3, 2019
When Bykov received the information that the two MiGs had disappeared he knew his time was limited. He had failed to stop Sonkin from leaving the country and was unable to stop him before he reached the west. The PM had told his close associates the Americans had shot down the MiGs. Bykov had one la
st chance to save himself. The PM had a way of dealing with those who fell out of favor.
Bykov called Oleg at the Institute in Sarov. After a nervous five minute wait, he came on the line.
“Oleg, this is Bykov. Have you found anything to back up that theory of yours.”
“I spent every minute of my free time going over every line of code in every system on the MiG. There’s nothing out of order. Nothing. It was a series of anomalies.”
Bykov hung up. He took a bottle of vodka from the refrigerator and began to get drunk.
104
Dulles Airport Washington DC
Thursday early AM July 4, 2019
As they neared the coast, Sonkin sat next to Jax and asked,” Who will take me when we arrive?”
“No one. We are going to a farm in Virginia that I own. It’s remote, has an excellent security system, and no one knows of its existence.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“ I was paid a considerable sum to bring you to the States. It was an almost impossible task that only worked because of a dedicated priest and his cousin Misha. Both dead now. So, until I know what they have planned for you, I’m keeping you safely out of sight.”
When they landed at Dulles, Jax gave the staff a generous bonus along with a warning. “Take the money and forget you ever saw us. Refuel, fly home and go on with your lives. If you don’t, I will come and kill you and every member of your family. If you understand, say yes.”
Everyone responded in the affirmative. “Good. We’ll be leaving now.”
After renting an SUV, Jax took highway 28 south.
“Where is the farm located?”
“It’s five miles outside of Scrabble, Virginia, about an hour and twenty minutes from here. I bought it several years ago after I made a small fortune preventing the assassination of a Saudi prince. Its security system is state of the art.”
Jax’s farm was thirty acres of fenced-in green pastures, old oaks and willows. Two streams ran through the property. He had one dammed to form a small lake which he stocked with bass. Jax had restored a large farmhouse and barn built in 1867 after the Civil War. When he pulled up to the house, an Asian man in his forties came out, and Jax greeted him affectionately.
To Sonkin, he said,” This is Jin. He takes care of the farm when I’m not here. “
“Jin, this is Vitaly Sonkin. He’ll be staying with us for a while.”
Once inside the house, Jin took Sonkin to his room. Jax went into the den and called Paul Mallard at Langely.
“Paul, it’s Jax. I have Sonkin safely tucked away.”
“Where are you? Last we heard you were in Lithuania, near Vilnius. Then you went off the grid. Where the hell are you?”
“I’m in DC. Let’s meet at Sam’s in Georgetown tonight.”
“Where is Sonkin?”
“We’ll talk at Sam’s.” Jax hung up.
105
Georgetown Washington DC
Thursday evening July 4, 2019
“I’m going to meet with a CIA friend tonight,” he told Sonkin. “Jin will prepare your dinner. He’s an excellent chess player and will give you a good game.”
Sam’s was a small cafe near Georgetown that served salads, sandwiches and pastries. Jax asked for a booth away from the door. He ordered coffee. Mallard arrived when Jax was on his second refill.
“Sorry, traffic was brutal.” He signaled the waitress and ordered an unsweetened iced tea. “You never change Jax. Look the same as you did when we worked in Russia together. What’s your secret?” The waitress brought his iced tea and left.
“Clean living and good genes.” Jax chuckled.
“Where’s Sonkin?”
“Safe.”
“Why didn’t you bring him directly to us? We hired you to do that.”
“After refusing to let me take him to the embassy in Riga and refusing to debrief him on an aircraft leaving for the states, I lost confidence in how you were handling an important asset.” Jax sipped lukewarm coffee.
“What happened in Riga?”
“Plain and simple your guys were overconfident, planned poorly and underestimated their adversaries. FSB wiped them out. They had a car waiting to take Sonkin to their embassy. I took the driver’s place and drove off with Sonkin when they brought him down. I would have turned him over to you if you had flown him out of Vilnius. What are your plans for him?”
Mallard drank his ice tea, waved over the waitress and ordered a Cobb salad. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I had a late lunch.”
“The Pentagon is anxious to debrief him about his knowledge of the Russian air force. We want to be sure he is not here to disseminate false information. Then there are the charges against him.” Mallard salad arrived, and he ate with enthusiasm.
“I fulfilled my contract with you. Sonkin has successfully defected. Now I work for him. I guarantee his safety as well as act as his advocate. Before he surrenders himself, I want all charges against him dropped along with blanket immunity for anything that may arise in the future.”
Mallard looked at him for a long time.” It will be a hard sell, especially since we don’t know what he has to offer. It could be all old or false information.”
“I can vouch for the fact that what he has to offer is vital to the defense of the US. I have seen it in action. Until you ‘re ready to hand me papers signed by the proper authorities, he stays with me. I’ll call you in a few days.” Jax got up, put a twenty on the table and left. Mallard finished his salad, thought about it, then ordered dessert.
106
Virginia
Thursday late evening July 4, 2019
“How did it go tonight?” Sonkin asked when Jax came into the kitchen where he and Jin were playing chess.
“I told them you hired me to be your advocate. In that role, I outlined the ground rules for your debriefing and reentry into the country. No prosecution and blanket immunity for any other situation that may arise. In writing.”
Sonkin smiled. “Will they agree?”
“I think so. Tomorrow I will call a lawyer friend who will review all documents to assure you’re covered then we’ll arrange the debriefings.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Sonkin said, tears flowing down his cheeks.
“If only Anna could be here,” he whispered.
Epilogue
It took a month for Paul Mallard to convince everyone to agree to the terms Jax had laid out. Although they balked at giving Sonkin back pay for the time he was in Russia, he was granted a pension consistent with his years of service.
After six months of debriefings and secret tests of his virus he was offered a position at Boeing. He declined. The Pentagon decided to keep Sonkins-Miller’s virus secret. It would only be used in case of war.
Robert Miller retired. He accepted Jax’s offer to live at his farm. Jin and Miller became good friends even though Jin never won a game of chess.
Bykov was arrested trying to enter Kazakhstan and never seen again. It is rumored that the PM has kept him alive in the Lubyanka as a reminder not to fail him.
Oleg eventually retired from the institute to a dacha on the Black sea. Although he always harbored doubts about the anomalies he never rewrote all the software. It was updated to meet new aircraft and missile requirements. Millers Trojan Horse is nestled among the thousands of lines of code waiting to be activated.
Jax’s consulting business thrives and he returns to the farm when time permits.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my daughter Liza Hita, my brother Edward Cohen, and my son in law Kirk Hippensteel for their encouragement and advice.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
