'Stand-To' (Armageddon's Song)

by Andy Farman

  The plain clothes Inspector in charge of the PM’s close protection team handed the commissioner a sheet of message paper that he read without change of expression on his face and waited until everyone was settled and the door to his office closed.

  “Twenty four hours’ ago in a building awaiting demolition in Rotherhithe, southeast London, a young black male, a petty thief, was tortured and killed by a group of Irish terrorists led by a disgraced former British Army officer and a former KGB agent. Transcripts of a telephone call between the ex-agent, Alexandra Berria and her believed employer are on page three of your briefing folders. You will see that she addresses the man at one point as ‘Comrade Peridenko’. In the same phone call several mentions are made to ‘The suitcase’. The full details are in your folders but in short we suspect that at some time previously a third party stole an item of property. This item was a suitcase and its contents of sufficient importance to justify, in their minds, the torture and murder of this young man in order to retrieve it. At some point the suspects were disturbed by the arrival of six of my officers. These people murdered all of those officers. If I may again refer to the telephone call by the Berria woman, it would seem another petty criminal may have committed the original theft of the case, his name is Jubi Asejoke. The dead officers presence was coincidentally to execute an arrest warrant for that same person.

  Late last night, here at NSY we received a series of telephone calls. The first call, by a foreign sounding male, led us to find the same Jubi Asejoke, who is now in custody. A woman with an educated English accent made the second; she named the Berria woman, the ex-army officer and all the terrorists along with two addresses where they could be found if we moved quickly. The third call was by someone disguising his or her voice electronically. It was essentially a bomb threat to a Synagogue in south London. My officers found a metal suitcase that smelt, to them, very strongly of plastic explosive. ‘Expo’ was called out, that is our on-call bomb disposal officer, or explosives officer to give his official title”, he added for the benefit of the American Intelligence officer and continued with the briefing.

  “The case was x-rayed and immediately afterwards the cordons around the site moved from 200 feet to 1 mile. A.W.E, the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston sent a team which found the suitcase to contain an unarmed 2-kiloton nuclear weapon of Russian origin. The recordings of the voices in all three of the calls made to us have been for analysis at the audio laboratories, I have the findings here. Any recordings currently on file did not identify the female’s voice with either the SIS or us. The electronically disguised voice took some time; however, it belongs to the same male who called with Asejoke’s location. Both Special Branch and the SIS have identified the voice from previous intercepts on file as belonging to a Major Constantine Bedonavich of the Russian Air Force. His current post is that of deputy military attaché at their Embassy here in London. As you will see from the transcript of both the phone call and those of her conversation soon afterwards with the ex-army officer, Anthony Carmichael, their employer wanted Bedonavich dead and what he wanted for Bedonavich’s female companion is simply nauseating.” The commissioner paused at that point before moving on.

  “Acting on the information from the young woman’s call to us, the Home Secretary authorised military assistance in the apprehension of those responsible for the murder of my officers. At 0430hrs this morning, my officers and two Troops of G Squadron, 22 Special Air Service Regiment, raided a house in St Johns Wood and a farmhouse in Essex. There were four fatalities among the suspects occupying the two addresses and several arrests made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. I am ashamed to say that one of those arrested is a serving police officer from the National Criminal Investigation Service. In the London address we found hard copy supplied by that officer to the Russian Embassy here relating to Jubi Asejoke along with passwords and user names that would permit access to the Police National Computer and files relating to the murder investigation of my officers. In the Essex farm we have seized documents that detail a plan to detonate a bomb in the Rotherhithe tunnel eight days from now”

  The commissioner looked directly at the PM before concluding. “In short we have evidence that the Russian government has supplied Irish terrorists with a nuclear bomb. Those same terrorists would have detonated that bomb in this city…call me quaint and old fashioned Prime Minister, but does that not constitute an act of war?”

  Art Petrucci, the CIA head of station looked at the British PM and was very disturbed by what he saw. Jesus Christ, he thought. This guy is out of his depth, without a spin-doctor in tow he is totally fucked! The PM did not reply to the commissioners question.

  The commissioner had long ago formed an opinion similar to Art Petrucci’s.

  Unlike many in office in government Sir Richard was no one’s political appointee and certainly no yes man. He was outspoken in his criticism of this governments policies where it adversely affected or interfered with the business of fighting crime.

  The commissioner had known for some time his days were numbered, as soon as a suitably amenable replacement was found he would be out. As far as he was concerned that allowed him carte blanche to do the job, as it needed to be done, until the axe fell.

  “One of my officers was wounded in the assault on the St Johns Wood address; otherwise there were no casualties on our side. There is one terrorist critically ill and under armed guard in hospital. The remainder are in the secure cells at Paddington Green. I am formally asking for the assistance of international law enforcement and intelligence agencies. As you can see before you, Major Bedonavich and his companion would appear to be on the run. They may be able to assist us with any other information they possess. If nothing else we owe them protection and a debt of gratitude.” The PM merely nodded whilst Marjorie Willet-Haugh, the SIS chief looked at the PM for assent before answering

  “Of course”. She was another PM appointee.

  This Brit PM, who hadn’t opened his mouth once, puzzled Petrucci; it was as if all or some of this information was not news to him. This whole meeting had an awkward feel to it with mutual dislike and mistrust heavy in the air.

  Looking again at the silent PM the commissioner added.

  “I imagine that the Russians will be most eager to detain their people. Should it come to my knowledge that this country lends them any assistance in so doing, for whatever reason, then the person responsible will find him or herself in one of my cells charged with perverting the course of justice and treason. I have just presented evidence to you of the murder of unarmed police officers. The youngest was 23. Those murders were sanctioned by a foreign power that also assisted in a plot to destroy a large part of this city along with up to a million citizens. I am fully aware that a 10 billion pound trade deal is being secretly brokered with that same country.” The Foreign Secretary shot a startled look at the PM before standing and confronting the commissioner.

  “Now see here…”

  The Commissioner silenced him with a look before nodding toward the CIA officer.

  “My reason for requesting Mr Petrucci’s presence was to ask his assistance in this matter, I am now glad of his presence for another matter that I have only recently become aware of.” The commissioners face-hardened.

  “If you would please bear witness Mr Petrucci?” The commissioner faced the PM.

  “Mr Prime Minister, do you deny that you received a telephone call this morning at 8.23am from the premier of the Russian Federation?” Aside from a ghost of a look of surprise the PM merely avoided the senior policeman’s stare.

  “Waiting outside this office are your close protection officers. As members of the Metropolitan Police Service they answer to me whilst I am in office and that is why I know your closing remark to that man was ‘Leave it to me, you can be assured of our full cooperation.’ Two of my officers were present during that call.”

  The Home Secretary was on his feet.

  “Commissioner, I demand th
at you apologise to the Prime Minister at once or I will be forced to require your resignation forthwith!” he stormed. The commissioner was not moved in the slightest.

  “Sir, in avoiding responsibility for the policing of London you created a police authority to take any blame instead. This does of course mean that I no longer answer directly to you.” For a long moment the politician stared at the policeman before backing down.

  As the Home Secretary resumed his seat Art Petrucci could not resist leaning forwards to look along the line of chairs at him.

  “Shot yourself in the foot with that one didn’t you fella”.

  For the first time since the briefing had begun the PM spoke. “Commissioner, I did indeed receive a request from the Russian premier. However I was not aware of the full facts until now. Please rest assured that any such agreement I may have made is now void”. Although the PM’s reassuring smile was the product of hours’ of coaching by experts it failed to reach his eyes on this occasion.

  Looking at each of the persons present the commissioner stated finally.

  “That concludes my briefing, Lady and Gentlemen. Mr Petrucci, my aide will assist with any communication with Langley or Washington you wish to make rather than waiting until your return to Grosvenor Square. Now if you will excuse me, I have six sets of widows and grieving relatives to visit.”

  The Home Secretary, still angered, chose absolutely the wrong time to seize the policeman’s arm as he passed.

  “When will my personal secretary receive the next of kin details of the officers as we have twice demanded them and received no acknowledgement?” He received a harsh stare.

  “I believe Clare Hughes father spoke for all the families when he said that outliving ones children is a very personal tragedy and not a timely photo opportunity to slow the PM’s fall in the polls!” As the politician had still not released his arm he continued.

  “The last man to grab my arm was a skinhead during the Southall riot. Would you like to see how that situation ended?” His arm was quickly released and he strode from the room without a backward glance.

  Art Petrucci had to pinch himself to prove that he was really witness to this. A London Bobby had threatened, no, promised his prime minister that he was going to throw his butt in jail if he interfered in a police investigation. His report to Washington was going to be classified so high it wouldn’t become available under the Freedom of Information Act for a thousand years he chuckled to himself.

  He already had the commissioners permission to use the secure communications facilities here and the connection with the Russian government had to be reported immediately to his own government, walking briskly he left to find the aide.

  Situation Room, White House

  The coffee maker was this morning in constant use in the Situation room. It was getting on toward twenty-four hours’ since most of the people in this room had last slept. The briefer from the National Security Agency, the NSA, had finished outlining why the Mao and its construction hadn’t been discovered until now.

  The presidents’ temper was running thin.

  “How much else have we missed and how long has it being going on?” Looking toward the NSA Director for support and seeing her boss was apparently distracted by something on the ceiling that the briefer couldn’t see she looked back to the president.

  “Sir, the only way to discover that would be to cross reference Foreign RORSAT and non-intelligence agencies satellite data or to track down the means used to subvert our Intel. My personal theory on the second is that it is a sophisticated program that has been inserted into the mainframe, I would start there. As to the first, it will take unknown man-hours’ to hand check the data. Assuming the Mao was built from scratch we could be talking about hand checking three years’ worth of photographs and radar scans…sir.” The president took a deep breath. He desperately wanted to scream at someone, but a lowly briefer would be a cheap shot target.

  “Young lady, if you were the NSA Director…” he paused to glance meaningfully at her boss before looking back at her and continuing, “…which is not beyond the bounds of possibility, what would you do?”

  After a moment’s pause, during which time she mentally replied “I’d expect to get my ass fired” she answered. “I would put all resources on a full systems audit starting at the download site end and work forward. Once the program was found I could determine when it was inserted. From there it would be a case of method and opportunity… detective work to find the culprit at the same time as auditing all other systems for other subversive programs and sub routines.”

  “What did you major in and how long have you been with the NSA young lady?” was the next question.

  “I have a BA in advanced systems analysis, I am working on my Masters and I have been with the NSA for four years sir.” Jesus she thought, he’s going to fire me.

  “Jack!” called out the president to his NSA chief.

  “Yes, Mr President?”

  “Who is your systems security specialist?”

  “Harry Nakajima sir, he’s a good man.”

  “Not good enough by a long shot so fire his sorry ass and meet your new one.” Giving a brief smile to the briefer he nodded his head toward the door, signalling her meteoric promotion and permission to depart the room.

  “Who is next?” he asked.

  Scott Tafler began his briefing from the time O’Connor had been hired. Max had gotten him the permission he had asked for and she had not held back in assisting him. Thirty-five minutes later he ended with Peridenko’s file and a reminder to those present of the details of the device found in London.

  “Why do you suppose that China is involved in this, it sounds like a red herring answer regards the financing thing?” General Shaw asked him.

  “Sir, this whole thing could just be freak coincidence. Yet Peridenko was once upon a time in charge of the device in London, and a hell of a lot more of them besides. We know that he is still thick with the Premier. We know that none of the O’Connor data showed any Chinese targets.” Scott took a moment before continuing.

  “Apart from a year as mosquito food in the Louisiana National Guard I have no military experience sir, yet to me it seems unrealistic for Russia to attempt an end run with the forces they have and have to watch the back door too. Sixty percent of the targets on the list could not be exploited by Russia; they are too far east sir”

  General Shaw leant forward.

  “The question was about a theoretical Russian Chinese pact by rebels or terrorists… who the hell said anything about their Governments and armed forces getting involved?”

  “General, what would be the point of merely blowing up our cities and bases. If we didn’t retaliate militarily once we identified the origins of the weapons we would starve them to death. There is a saying I once heard “Do not intimidate a strong enemy, either destroy him or leave him the hell alone,” replied Scott.

  “General Tsun Tsu, in The Art of War?” queried the general.

  Scott could not help but grin widely.

  “Actually sir it was Captain James T. Kirk, in the Starship Enterprise,” corrected Scott to the first laughter heard in the room for many hours’.

  The president nodded to Scott once the last chuckle had ceased.

  “I accept your connection between this Peridenko and terrorism as credible. I do not feel however that there is anything to connect his government or the People’s Republic of China. Many ex reds went rogue when they got laid off. So far we have seen nothing to suppose that this is anything more than terrorism.”

  After thanking Scott and waiting until he had left the room he addressed the staff.

  “I think we can take it as read that the Chinese are behind the satellite thing and that carrier of theirs is the reason. If that sonofabitch in the previous administration hadn’t been so damn scared of them not buying from us this may not have happened. His party may blame our proposed ICBM shield as the reason for their recent nuclear and conve
ntional step-up but I think it was him showing too much soft underbelly. Does anyone here see anything that connects the Chinese carrier with these suitcase bombs?”

  With a negative reply from them he called for his State Department to issue some notes to the Russian and Chinese ambassadors before sending everyone home to bed.

  Over in England at this time the post operational debrief material had just arrived on the commissioners desk.

  CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia

  Once again Scott arrived late for work although this time he not only had an excuse; he also had a note from the Director of the CIA, Terry Jones himself.

  Scott’s first stop was the bosses office.

  “I understand that despite the hour… and lack of time, you sold part of your theory?” Max said, once he had waved Scott to a seat and got them both coffees.

  “The device in London went a long way toward firming it up. Do you want the full skinny, not just my bit?” said Scott.

  “I already know the Chinese have a blue water Navy in the form of a modern carrier group we never suspected. The geeks are on triple time doing an audit of all intelligence agencies computer systems. FBI are getting the ducking boards ready for the witch-hunt that will surely cometh and we are at DefCon 4”, was Max’s reply.

  “We have been at 4 since September 11, if not in word then in deed” taking a sip of his coffee Scott went on.

  “That London business is still running but the president is unwilling to take the next step without evidence that this is not just the work of a crazy ex spook. By that I mean declaring war on someone. However, the ambassadors from both countries are being handed ‘Just so long as you know we know’ notes. All units worldwide are to increase their readiness for action, but now that we know the President feels that will be the end of it, officially anyway. I wasn’t party to most of what was said but every location on the O’Connor stuff has been warn…” The ringing of Max’s phone interrupted him mid-sentence.