Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 02 - Peeking Duck

by Daniel Ganninger

  Galveston controlled his emotions through banter with the crew, explaining our exploits with rapid arm movements and an explosive voice. I knew the problems ahead weighed on his mind, but he would never admit it.

  We had placed the Chinese man, whom this whole ordeal seemed to be about, in a back stateroom graciously given up by a member of the crew. As Galveston told about tackling the man outside the helicopter, I quietly excused myself. I needed to find out as much as possible about this man, and why everyone seemed to want a piece of him.

  I arrived at his stateroom and knocked quietly at the door. I heard no response and immediately assumed the man may have escaped. We had decided to keep the door unlocked, since it would be crazy to try to escape into the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, right? I threw open the door expecting the room to be empty, but instead, saw the young Chinese man sitting at a desk in the room, slowly drawing circles on a piece of paper with a pen. He didn’t respond to my intrusion, and as I saw him concentrating on the circles, I noticed there was a profound sadness etched on his face.

  “Are you okay?” I asked meekly.

  He seemed to stumble from the task and looked up. “Uh, yes, yes. I am fine.”

  “You don’t seem fine. What is that you’re doing?”

  “Oh, this,” he said pointing to the sheet. “It is just something I do to take my mind off things. I find the circle fascinating.”

  “Really? Yeah, I guess it is a pretty remarkable thing. I was never good at math, though,” I said as I sat down on the cot near the desk.

  “Did you know a circle has an infinite amount of lines of symmetry? It has no true beginning or end. It has no angles. It is the perfect geometric shape.”

  “Uh, okay, if you say so.”

  “You can divide any circle’s circumference by its diameter and come up with Pi. Did you know it wasn’t until 1706 that a mathematician called it Pi so it would stand for perimeter?” He turned to me as if having some great revelation. “If we were in a fog, and had no navigational cues, we would walk around in circles. We wouldn’t even know it.”

  I was intrigued, albeit more surprised at our conversation. “You don’t say,” was all I could muster.

  “It is nature’s great constant. That is why I like to draw it and see the infinite possibilities it holds.”

  I was beginning to think this man was on something. I didn‘t know he simply did it as a form of therapy, to keep his mind off his troubles and his brain occupied.

  “What did you want me for?” he asked quickly, almost realizing I was beginning to question his insanity.

  The question threw me a little, and I remembered why I had come in the first place.

  “I just wanted some information, if you agree,” I started. I realized this was not a man who was a threat in any way, and I really wanted him to be comfortable with me.

  “Sure, what would you like to know?” he replied politely.

  “Well, for starters, how do you speak such perfect English?”

  “Ah, yes, thank you. It took a long time for me to speak so well. I must admit, I am out of practice. I went to school in the United States, to Cal Tech, in California.”

  “Really,” I answered, more from surprise than a question. “How long?”

  “Let me see,” he said, beginning to think, “three years of undergraduate and three years of graduate school, plus I did some post-doc time at Stanford.”

  “What did you study?”

  “Computer Science mostly, and Electrical Engineering. That is what my Doctoral degree is in.”

  “So you’re a computer guy,” I stated rather ignorantly.

  “Yes,” he laughed, “a computer guy. My name is Kim Su Lee.” He stuck out his hand, and I shook it graciously. “You probably want to know why I was in that metal container, boxed up on a ship.”

  “The thought had crossed my mind.”

  “It seems like so long since I started this ordeal; many, many years in fact. I grew to love my time in the United States, but as was my duty, and for my family’s honor, I returned after I finished my mission.”

  “A mission? Do you mean going to school there?”

  “Yes, that was my duty, to attend a university and learn all I could about American computer systems and security.”

  “This was your job then,” I prodded.

  “Yes,” he said slowly. “I was an agent for the Chinese government.” He emphasized the word “was”.

  “In what capacity?” I asked without letting him continue.

  “I am a computer analyst for the Chinese intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security. My job was to infiltrate American government and business networks for intelligence gathering.”

  “So if I get this right, you were a hacker?” I asked, trying to understand his position.

  “Okay, yes,” he laughed, not offended at the term. “I suppose that is the name you could use.”

  “I read about this stuff in the news. The Chinese always deny they are hacking into government and corporate computer networks.”

  “Would you have thought they would admit it?” he said sarcastically.

  “No, I suppose not,” I smiled. “So that was your department.”

  “No, not necessarily. There was also a military unit engaging in cyber espionage, stealing information and secrets, along with our intelligence service.”

  “So you did some looking for your government. We do the same thing.”

  “That is true.” He paused as if he were looking for the right words to say. “I didn’t just work in cyber intelligence, I ran the entire operation. That same military unit I spoke of before—I developed their tactics.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, then stopped as the importance of this man dawned on my weary brain. I couldn’t seem to form another statement. The man sitting before me, drawing circles on a piece of paper, the same man who had appeared out of a shipping container, was the architect of the cyber intelligence program for the most populous country in the world.

  “Hard to believe, huh?” he smiled, trying to get a sense of my reaction.

  “Uh, um, um, yeah. That is hard to believe.”

  “It is true. I graduated, returned to China, developed a new protocol for cyber attacks, and I was promoted. I eventually reached the top. I was the head of the entire program.”

  I was realizing what the hubbub was about now. Kim Su Lee knew every secret on how the Chinese were gaining access to computer systems and networks around the world—because he had designed it. No wonder the CIA wanted him, and no wonder these revolutionaries wanted him too. This man had secrets locked in his brain that could be worth billions and billions of dollars; government secrets, economic data, trade data, corporate insider information, weapons systems, military plans, the list was endless. I had read the news reports on just some of the things the Chinese were caught doing, and even those were just the tip of the iceberg.

  As I realized the repercussions of Lee’s betrayal of his country and defection, I began to wonder why. Why did he want to leave so badly that he would risk lifetime imprisonment, or worse, if caught by his government?

  “So what made you want to leave?” I finally questioned.

  He grew very quiet at the question. “Family, all about my family. My parents have been gone a long time. I want a big family, and I have my wife and my little girl waiting for me. They are in Hawaii right now, and the deal was to meet me in Los Angeles. I guess that isn’t going to happen.”

  I understood his consternation. China has a one-child policy for population control. Even though there are rules to allow a couple to have more children, Lee was restricted by the law, even with his high government position.

  “I was also growing tired of my job. I despised what I was doing. I wanted to do more with my skill to help people, not just steal secrets. It was becoming a nightmare, and I needed to get out,” Lee continued. “When the opportunity arose, I arranged for my wife and child to take that vacation to Hawaii
. It was what the CIA had told me to do.”

  “You don’t know how well I understand. I was in a spot I didn’t want to be and now look at me. I’m traipsing all over God’s green earth uncovering things I should have no business being involved in, my girlfriend has been kidnapped, and I have to work with a nutball every day,” I said with a laugh, all the while trying not to think about what Jane was going through.

  “You do it well,” Lee told me.

  “I don’t know about that. We can’t rely on our brawn, so we have to rely on our brains. There doesn’t seem to be much of that lying around.”

  Lee gave a chuckle. He seemed to be loosening up around me, probably realizing I wasn‘t out to exploit him like everyone else.

  “What are you guys going to do to get your friends back?” he asked politely.

  “We’re still working on that, but unfortunately I think you’re going to be involved. I’m sure that same nutball I mentioned has come up with something. He always does.”

  “Well, whatever it is, you can count on me. I am forever in your debt for getting me away from those men. They had no other plan then to imprison me. I owe you my life.”

  “We’re going to make sure you keep that life, and we’re going to get these guys. Like I said, we don’t have brawn, but we do have brains, as small as they may be.” Lee laughed again, and I slapped him on the knee. “Go ahead and get some rest. We have a helicopter coming in a few hours, hopefully before the storm they’re talking about hits. We have about thirty-six hours to get to Paris, so we need to be well rested. I’ll fill you in on the details later.”

  “I will help in any way I can, I promise,” Lee said confidently.

  “I know, and thanks. Now get some sleep.” I got up and left the room as Lee headed to the cot, heeding my instructions.

  I needed to talk with Alex as soon as possible. I needed information on how these mercenaries found out about Lee‘s escape, and I needed to know more about Lee himself and what his true capabilities were. In that regard I would not be disappointed. The man sleeping quietly in the stateroom was one of the most ingenious computer hackers on earth.

  -Chapter 50-

  Jane and Maddie had been moved quickly out of Cape Town on a private jet. Maddie’s superficial wounds were beginning to subside and she was able to converse with Jane freely.

  The women had been in Cape Town to inquire about ships coming into the port, as well as arranging a helicopter flight. Just by a stroke of bad luck, one of the men belonging to Olvary had overheard them discussing the Alterra and the Trusian. It was only a matter of time before Olvary’s men made the connection and kidnapped the pair outside their hotel.

  Maddie had tried to fight back, and even injured two of the men, but they overpowered her and made her pay for the attempt at defending herself. Jane was surprised at her skill. Her tactics weren‘t something you picked up in a self defense or kick boxing class. She had training beyond that. Jane began to question who Maddie really was.

  The women were treated well on the flight, as well as one could expect when being imprisoned against their will. There were no restraints and the two were allowed to speak freely to one another. Jane tended to Maddie‘s wounds, all the while thinking of a plan of escape.

  Four hours into the flight a man appeared from behind a curtain separating the front of the cabin from the back. He wore a finely pressed French suit and tie with slicked, jet black hair. He was a large and intimidating figure, and his wily eyes told the women that he was not one to be trifled with.

  The man sat down next to them and cleared his throat. “I am sorry for this unintended consequence, ladies,” he started, speaking in clear English, but with a noticeable Eastern European dialect. “I am Marcus Olvary. It is okay if you have not heard of me, but as you know, I want the man that is with your colleagues. If they deliver this man, you will go free.” He said the words without feeling. Maddie and Jane were merely pawns to him.

  “And if they don’t deliver this man?” Maddie asked incredulously, looking at him like a laser beam, the gash over her eye pulsating with emotion.

  “Then I must kill you. That was the deal.”

  Olvary‘s complete lack of empathy took Jane aback, but she noticed Maddie was not moved by his statement.

  “If you simply do not cause us trouble you will see them again. If you do cause a problem, we will handle the grievance accordingly.”

  He said the words with such smugness that Maddie turned away, unable to look at him further because of the anger building in her body. Jane moved uncomfortably in her chair. She didn‘t believe a word he said.

  Olvary got up and towered over them. “Anything you want, you ask, and we will get, within reason of course.” The man turned and walked back to the curtain without saying another word. He closed it behind him leaving Jane and Maddie alone.

  “They have no reason to let us live, do they?” Jane asked Maddie seriously.

  “No. No, they don’t. It would be foolish to not get rid of us.”

  Jane cringed at her response, but believed it to be true. Why would these men let them go? So they could tell the proper authorities of what happened, and who was the cause? No, they were simply pawns in a nasty chess game; bargaining chips to ensure that Olvary got what he ultimately wanted.

  “I hope your guys have a good plan,” Maddie stated.

  “Oh, they will, they always do.” Jane said, trying to be confident. But she wasn’t so sure. She was beginning to believe it wasn’t possible to get them out of this predicament. It was just beyond their scope.

  -Chapter 51-

  I managed to get a few hours of sleep before Galveston barged into my room. I was amazed I was able to get that much sleep with the worry that encompassed me over Jane and Maddie’s ordeal. The pure exhaustion proved to win out, and the much needed rest helped clear my head.

  “Hey, man, time to get to work,” Galveston said loudly, shaking my shoulders.

  “Okay, bro,” I mocked, stifling a yawn. “Is this your cool guy routine or something?”

  “Wow, you are always a little pissy after no rest, aren’t you?”

  “When I wake up to see your mug I am. What you got?” I pulled myself up to the edge of the bed as the muscles in my arms and legs began to revolt.

  “I’ll disregard that last statement because I have some interesting news. I’ve got it all, our bad guys, our computer friend in there, and some other stuff you won’t believe.”

  “Well, lay it on me,” I said with excitement as the adrenaline began to surge back into my body.

  “I talked to Alex at length. Once he found out what was going on, he went to work. I’m sure he broke a few laws in the process.” Galveston paused. “You need to take a shower, you kind of reek.”

  “The information,” I demanded. “You have the attention span of a garden slug. Let’s go, spill it.”

  “Okay, okay. We’re all set with the helicopter. It will be here in two hours. We’re in its range, but it might be dicey. There’s another storm brewing south of here.”

  “That’s good. At least we can get off this ship.”

  “Well, I hope you’re sitting down for the rest of this,” Galveston said seriously, “I’ve got some whoppers.”

  I rolled my eyes and motioned that I was already sitting. Galveston‘s child-like giddiness was beginning to annoy me.

  “The best one first. Alex did some digging into the information he had, you know, from his little sojourn to San Francisco. He designed that system so he had all kinds of access. Anyway, he found an interesting tidbit of information that kept coming up. It was an operation called, Blue Lotus. Real hush-hush, and about our Chinese fella there.”

  “So? Was that what the CIA’s operation was called or something?”

  “Nope, not the CIA. Their operation was called Peking Duck.”

  “That seems kind of insensitive,” I responded.

  “Follow me here. The CIA called their operation Peking Duck because
that is the handle Kim Su Lee used. It was his username away from the operations he did for the Chinese government. He described it as his hacker name.” Galveston explained Lee was known in forum and hacker circles as PeekgDuk.

  “That’s pretty good,” I chuckled, “Peeking Duck. That fits nicely for what his job was.”

  “Yeah I guess he is a legend in those circles. Alex was in awe that we got to talk to him. He even said he had conversed with him a few times,” Galveston said.

  “What is Alex’s hacker name then?” I wondered aloud.

  “Gold Zeus,” Galveston laughed.

  “Of course. What an egotistical maniac.”

  “Are you surprised? Anyway, that’s not the best part. Try to guess who was running the Blue Lotus operation,” Galveston challenged.

  “I don’t know, the American Florists Association?”

  “Good guess, but no,” Galveston paused as if for dramatic effect, “the NSA.”

  I was shocked. What did the National Security Agency have to do with a CIA operation? The NSA was in charge of collecting information, translating, decoding, and analyzing data domestically and internationally for intelligence and counterintelligence. What did they want with an operation being conducted by the CIA?

  “The NSA?” I exclaimed. “What is that about?”

  “Alex said that after Peking Duck was started by the CIA to get Lee out of the country, Blue Lotus began to appear on communications between a squad of NSA agents.”

  “They have agents? I thought they were just computer people.”

  “Alex told me they have field agents now, and this was their operation, very top secret. The CIA has known about them, but the NSA won’t tell what they’re up to,” Galveston said rapidly.

  “Aren’t we one in the same? Aren’t them, us?”

  “Easy cowboy. The NSA set up Blue Lotus to get Lee out from under the nose of the CIA. They were going to have the CIA do all the work, get him on the boat, and then steal him away at the port.”