Element 94

by Kleiner Jeffries

  The agency had already learned that the pattern of encryption used by the enemy could turn the most innocuous conversation into a dangerous transmission of information. Every recording was sent for analysis, no matter what the content or context. Analysts such as Ben Goldberg were particularly adept at making sense out of the jumble that often wafted across the airwaves. This might not even be necessary in this case, the hardwire taps potentially representing a far more powerful tool than traditional eavesdropping methods. Conversations might not be encoded as strictly over hard-wires, which were far less prone to interception than those broadcast over the airwaves. Their enemies knew this and might just let down their guard.

  As he entered his car, his two-way radio signaled an incoming call.

  “Yes?” It was one of the operatives assigned to sift through the communications from known Udeen elements.

  “Mack, I think we have something. We intercepted a communication less than an hour ago. The analysts are still studying the message, but it gave coordinates. It gave coordinates for three locations, spread across the country.”

  “Oh my god. Where?” Mack could feel his adrenaline kicking into high gear. Three known unconventionals, three coordinates – this was no coincidence.

  “Seattle, Detroit, and Washington”

  “I want a translation of that message ASAP. We’ll need three upgraded NBC teams up and ready to go “. An NBC team, or nuclear, biological and chemical team, was the squad assigned to defend against weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The specialized units were designed to handle the panoply of response and rescue scenarios, with rapid assessment and containment of the threat. In this case, based on their intelligence, the threat was determined to be a radiation dispersal device – a dirty bomb. Mack didn’t know all the facts used to arrive at such a conclusion, but some clues were not difficult to surmise. The containers were rather modest in size, and the amount of material smuggled to shore was probably not of sufficient quantity to achieve the critical mass necessary for a fully weaponized device. Moreover, the sophistication and time that would be required to build a traditional nuclear bomb was significant. Certainly there were other data used to bolster the assessment. But Mack couldn’t help wonder - what if they were wrong? Nothing, not even the best of their response elements, could avert or mitigate civilian casualties if a true explosive-type nuclear weapon were deployed.

  They already had the personnel in place to react to a dirty bomb attack in the nation’s capital, but the location of the second and third devices took Mack by surprise. It was clear Sayf Udeen was sending a message to the nation’s 250 million plus population - that there was no safe haven, no matter where one might reside. In retrospect the locations made some sense – Washington was an obvious choice, where the country’s control and command centers were located. The other cities were sizable and diverse enough to make detection of suspect individuals more difficult, yet clearly not the population centers deemed most at risk over the years, and therefore without the most developed of counter-terrorism infrastructures. Such an attack was clearly not designed maximize casualties, but rather spark nationwide fear and chaos, as terror was spread beyond the largest urban centers with a realization that no place was safe. More than anything else this was an attack on the American psyche.

  Mack asked his operative to stand by, picked up his cellular, and dialed Bill Kelly at the Pentagon.

  “Sir, he is not available right now. He’ll be out of the briefing shortly.” Mack knew exactly what the operator was referring to – the briefing with the Columbia scientist, Leo Koval. It was to take place that afternoon. Well, he certainly did not want to interrupt the CT chief for this; he could handle the initial response elements. After all, it would take some time to get the NBC teams alerted and mobilized.

  Speaking now into his radio, Mack placed the necessary orders with his subordinate.

  “As soon as we know for sure, you get those units deployed.”

  “What about the local authorities?”

  “We’ll need to alert the mayor of each city, but it must be kept strictly confidential. Tell them it is a drill, anything. We cannot let anyone, especially in the media, know what is happening. There will be chaos.” If Kelly, or any of his superiors, felt differently, they could always countermand his orders. For the moment, Mack conducted himself based on his best judgement. It would be impossible to evacuate everyone from these sites. Besides, it would be too transparent, the enemy just diverting the weapons elsewhere – to places they might not know of in advance. Any preparation must be kept as inconspicuous as possible.

  Mack hung up the line, and turned his thoughts to the civilian population at these three cities. How many lives were at risk? Too many to even fathom, he concluded. They must stop these attacks. Failure was not an option.

  Leo was escorted to the briefing room, grateful the moment was finally upon him. The room was surprisingly bare, save for a massive Oak table dominating the center of the room. A laptop computer sat at one extreme of the table, connected to a projection device overhead. Black leather chairs were placed around the table, with a larger number of rigid, altogether more uncomfortable-looking folding chairs on either side of the room, forming a second row of seating. Filling the inner circle were 12 older, serious-looking men. Those not in full military regalia adorned conservative suits. Behind, in the second row, was a somewhat younger crowd of men and what must have been the token female - apparently women’s lib had yet to reach the inner circle of the pentagon. These staffers sat within earshot of a whisper of their boss. To Leo, the scene was eerily reminiscent of the meeting of the heads of the five families and other mafia bigwigs from the movie The Godfather: male-dominated society, with a consigliary behind each mob boss. Underscoring this imagery was the fact that undersecretary of Defense Vallela bore a striking resemblance to Marlan Brando, drooping jowls and all. All that was missing was a Sonny look-alike, and that authentic Corleone husky voice.

  Leo scanned the faces around the table, pausing briefly to see whom he could recognize among the group. Several muffled conversations could be heard in the background, becoming noticeably quieter with his approach. He was led to a chair at the far end of the elliptical table, surprised to see Bill Kelly sitting beside him.

  “Hey doc”, Kelly intoned in a barely audible whisper, a soft, genuine smile on his face. Leo was grateful to have Kelly beside him, a surprisingly comforting presence in this austere, intimidating surrounding.

  “Welcome, Dr. Koval”, called a voice from the far end of the room. Leo recognized it as belonging to national security advisor Samuel Quincy Weintraub, “Q” to those closest to him.

  “Thanks for coming down on such short notice. Many in this room have been briefed on the general nature of your report, but we’d like a detailed summary of your findings. Please be as objective as possible. There’ll be time to give us your opinion later. Many of those here, including myself, have a rudimentary science background at best, so please do bear with us. I know you’ve been briefed on the highly classified nature of this material, so it goes without saying you are not to discuss this with anyone outside of this room unless otherwise indicated. Dr. Koval has L-1 clearance…” the NSA’s vision swept over the room, “so you can all talk openly and freely, and ask whatever you like of the good doctor. So, without further ado, let’s hear what you have for us, eh.”

  Q’s piercing stare zeroed in on Leo, holding him transfixed for a moment. Leo forced himself to his feet, his accelerating heartbeat causing him to be a bit unsteady at first.

  “Good afternoon everyone”, Leo began, using the mouse on the laptop in front of him to click on the electronic presentation he had prepared on the drive down.

  “Approximately two months ago I received a soil sample containing a strong radioactive signal.”

  The file was loaded, and he projected the first slide.

  Pointing to the graphic, he continued “As you can see, the sample emitted a combination of al
pha particles and neutrons, along with the more penetrative beta and gamma radiation. We were able to isolate the source of these emissions…”, Leo clicked to the next slide, showing a magnified view of a yellowish, metallic substance.

  “Jesus”, gasped a voice from afar. Leo turned around, scanning the room in an attempt to identify who the voice belonged to.

  “I see someone here recognizes plutonium.”

  Some mumbling arose from the audience. Q shifted in his chair, pitching his voice above the rising din, quickly silencing those assembled.

  “Doctor, please, continue.”

  “Well, that is partially correct. What I was able to isolate chemically, in a manner identical to radioactive Plutonium, you see here before you.” Leo paused briefly before continuing on; the rest of what he was to disclose would be far more muddled. Q seized the momentary silence to ask a question.

  “Doctor Koval, we all recognize the connotations of such a finding. But can such a quantity be found naturally, by mere happenstance… a quirk of nature if you will?”

  “Trace quantities can be detected in naturally found uranium ore, but no, by all known accounts, this was man-made.”

  “Why do you qualify your answer by saying ‘by all known accounts’? I mean, can you tell if this was definitely man-made, or not?” asked Q forcefully.

  “Mr. Secretary, I mean national security advisor, uh…”

  Aware of the scientist’s obvious discomfort, Q immediately softened his facial expression. Let’s definitely not rattle this guy too much, the NSA thought, we need him.

  “Um, I’m not sure. Let me explain” Leo stammered.

  “Very well, you do that”, responded Q with subtle, soothing overtones.

  Before Leo could continue, a short, bald, stocky man in a conservative suit and Texas drawl stood up and asked in a somewhat exasperated tone, “Listen, all we really need to know is if this was indeed manufactured, was it weapons-grade, designed to be used in an explosive device? That’s what the president needs to know. I mean, really, this could just represent leakage from a submarine reactor, and we could all be making way too much of this whole business. General Fitzpatrick, have we tracked any subs in the area that may have had reactor leaks, any incidents…?”

  “No, can’t be from a sub”, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff for the nation’s military interjected. “As far as we know, the Russians and anyone else, including us for that matter, use enriched uranium as reactor fuel in subs”.

  Leo placed the man with the southern accent as White House chief of staff Andrew “Drew” Canarsi, a hawkish conservative that Leo didn’t particularly care for.

  “Actually, gentleman, I have no idea what this was made for”, Leo chimed in. “This quantity of plutonium would be expected to decay in such a manner as to emit a dangerously high level of alpha radiation, but on a per weight basis seems extraordinarily stable”

  “Stable?“ asked Drew inquisitively. “That’s good, right. Kind of like Uranium 238– a stable form not suitable for an explosive device I’d imagine?”

  So the good old boy did some research, thought Leo. Well, sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing, especially from someone as close to the president as Drew Canarsi.

  “What I suspect”, Leo continued at a noticeably slower, almost mocking pace, “ is that this represents a unique, heretofore unreported isotope of plutonium. Or at least a heterogeneous form, consisting primarily of isoforms other than plutonium 239. ”

  “Impossible”, blurted out an incredulous voice belonging to a thin, somewhat scraggly-looking civilian whom Leo recognized as the Martin Lee. Dr. Lee was chairman of nuclear physics at the University of California at Berkley, and a preeminent leader in the field.

  “Leo, if this were coming from anyone else, I’d have said they’re crazy”

  Leo had known Martin for years. In fact, they were close, and Leo considered Martin a friend, but never suspected he was involved in national defense matters. Leo hadn’t noticed him when he first entered the room. The level of discourse was certainly about to ratchet up several notches. Ironically, Leo had hoped to get Martin’s opinion on several matters related to 94, perhaps even send him a sample of material. But of course, events had precluded any interaction with the rest of the scientific community on this matter.

  “Marty, hi, how are you? Nice to see you”.

  “You too Leo”

  “Marty, look, I didn’t believe it at first either, but I’ve repeated my analysis three times. The alpha decay is exponentially lower than expected. And chemically, there are no impurities. I mean, this stuff is pure plutonium in every way except in its radioactive decay. I’ve taken to calling it generically as ‘element 94’ based on its atomic number. But this material contains only trace quantities of plutonium 239, that’s for sure”

  “Have you attempted separation by non-chemical means, say mass spec, electromagnetic separation, or…”

  “I don’t have the capacity for that “, Leo interrupted. “But I did do some physical experiments, including a cross-section analysis following neutron bombardment”

  Leo turned to the next slide, deliberately keeping silent. He saw Martin’s eyes enlarge, unable to conceal the look of disbelief - and horror - on his face. Q caught the reaction as well.

  “Dr. Koval, please tell us what Dr. Lee already seems to know”

  “This curve represents the fissibility of this isotope of plutonium. That is, the ability by which this material may be split by neutron bombardment into atomic elements roughly half the weight of the starting material, releasing energy in the process.”

  Q wasn’t satisfied: “Come again doctor?”

  “You all know uranium and plutonium are the core materials in a radioactive explosive device. What makes these materials unique is their ability to be split by slow moving neutrons, radioactive particles with mass but no charge. The lack of charge allows the neutron to penetrate the negatively charged electron barrier surrounding an atom, as well as the positively charged nucleus. Upon splitting the atom, more energy, including additional neutrons, are released. These in turn can split neighboring atoms, creating a self-sustaining reaction. This is what’s referred to as a chain reaction. This curve indicates this material is highly fissible, and therefore capable of sustaining such a chain reaction”.

  “And?” Q asked. It was clear to Leo he would have to spell it out for those assembled in dramatic fashion.

  “Well, a chain reaction is the crux by which energy is harnessed in nuclear generators, reactors, and…” , Leo felt a lump in his throat as he concluded the sentence, “a nuclear bomb”.

  The room suddenly stirred to life, as shocked murmurs arose. In particular, Leo was struck by General Fitzpatrick’s comment which seemed to rise above the din.

  “God almighty”.

  This was the highest-ranking soldier in the military of the most powerful nation in the history of the world…And he was visibly in a state of shock and horror. The other notable voice belonged to Drew Canarsi, whom Leo could make out ordering a subordinate to prepare the President for immediate briefing.

  Leo noticed the national security advisor speaking briefly to the chief of staff before bringing order to the room. Shortly thereafter, several personnel exited the chamber, likely to inform the secret service and the President.

  “Quiet people…Please, quiet”, roared Q. The mumbling gradually ceased, and Q continued to talk.

  “Doctor, this is terrifying news indeed. Now just how powerful is this material? I mean, is it equivalent to Plutonium in terms of explosive potential?”

  “I can’t say. I’ll need more time…I’ll have to conduct more experiments.”

  “Time, unfortunately doctor, is not something we have in abundance. What else can you add at this time?”

  “Nothing affirmative. But it might be encouraging to know the explosive force of 94 probably requires some modification to traditional bomb design to make it work. Based on
my analysis, the designs used for P239 and U235 would never trigger a sustainable reaction in 94. But if an efficient trigger were found, then the force of 94 could be something on a scale which we have never seen.”

  A shocked silence filled the room now as those gathered digested the information. The power of a nuclear weapon was one few could even conceive, and now this doctor was talking about a force even more remarkable.

  Martin Lee quietly began processing the scientific data out loud, thus breaking the palpable silence.

  “Incredible, such a low level of spontaneous decay. Coupled with a cross section compatible with the most transient of radioactive materials. But with such a low level of spontaneous radioactivity, the critical mass must be enormous?” Martin continued his assessment, going through a similar thought process that had preoccupied Leo Koval just days earlier. “So that’s why you feel the designs of old wouldn’t apply?”

  “Exactly. But the relative instability of 94 in ambient, oxygenated environments is why I also think a suitable destabilizing trigger that could lead to a chain reaction might be within the realm of possibility.”

  “And at a minimum, this stuff can certainly be used as a secondary…assuming that curve of yours is accurate”, Martin added

  “Marty, I’m afraid it is. This stuff is like a domino, waiting to be toppled. And if it falls, who knows who or what will be left standing”

  Leo turned his attention away from his fellow scientist and, after quickly catching some more puzzled looks from those who had recovered from their shock and awe to listen to the discussion between the physicists, continued on. “Gentlemen…and lady”, Leo quickly added confidently, making eye contact with the only woman in the room, “this material differs from enriched uranium and plutonium as we know it, as it emits negligible amounts of radiation in its native form. It may therefore be handled quite easily, and concentrated in extremely large quantities. That is, it has virtually no critical mass limiting its assembly”. He continued the slide presentation now, showing complex formulas – highlighted by a theoretical critical mass practically unattainable. Seamlessly, without turning to the next slide (at this point he realized he needed to keep things as simple as possible. He could review the calculations and details with Marty at a later time), he added “This substance is therefore unable to initiate a sustainable chain reaction, no matter how much is concentrated. The gun design and implosion system would be simply ineffective to achieve super-criticality” Leo was now focused on General Fitzpatrick and the military brass who would understand the references to early atomic bomb designs. “However, if exposed to some other trigger, or an outside neutron source, say from a small conventional nuclear device, a chain reaction emanating from this plutonium source will greatly augment the energy released in a manner analogous to the additional release of energy in a thermonuclear device, or hydrogen bomb. Now in this latter case, hydrogen-based materials are ignited by a surrounding fission device, causing secondary fusion and energy release. I feel this plutonium isotope can be ignited by a primary device as well”