| |
Vysotsky looked again at the latest message received from his agent in America, then placed it inside the file. He put the file in a safe on the bottom right-hand side of his desk, closed and locked the safe. He rubbed his forehead, trying to head off the pain of a headache building behind his eyes.
An American nuclear plant had been sabotaged, creating a major radiation emergency. The Americans thought the Federation was responsible.
Someone was trying to make it look as though Russia had sabotaged the nuclear plant. Vysotsky knew it wasn't true, but the Americans clearly suspected Moscow was behind it. They had gone to DEFCON 2. The Federation and China had followed suit.
Until he'd read the report, Vysotsky had been confused by the American escalation. Now he understood the reason. While the citizens of Moscow basked in the rare weather outside, the world was moving toward nuclear war.
Vysotsky picked up the red phone.
"Da."
"I need to see him. Immediately."
"Hold one."
A minute later the voice came back on the line.
"The President will see you in half an hour. Be prompt."
The line disconnected.
Asshole, Vysotsky thought.
On the drive over to the Kremlin, Vysotsky considered what to tell Orlov. Someone was trying to make it look as though the Federation had attacked the United States. Someone was trying to start a war. But why? What could they possibly gain? Surely they knew that even if America struck first, Russia's rocket forces would annihilate them in return. No one would win the exchange. The Chinese and NATO would be drawn in. If things continued like this, the world might soon be reduced to radioactive ruins.
It didn't make any sense.
Orlov's personal aide was waiting for him. He escorted Vysotsky to the president's office in the green roofed Senate building.
Orlov rose as Alexei entered the room, a good sign.
Vysotsky wondered how Orlov always managed to look as if he were ready for some strenuous athletic event. He was pushing sixty but exuded the energy of a much younger man. His eyes reminded Alexei of the blue ice found in the glaciers of the far north. They gave nothing away of what Orlov was thinking.
"General. Please sit down. I can see you have urgent news. Does this concern America?"
Orlov sat down. Vysotsky took a chair near Orlov's desk.
"Yes, Mister President. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I have discovered why the Americans raised their defense posture."
Orlov waited.
"There has been a meeting at the White House between the American President, the Director of the CIA, their National Security Advisor, and Director Harker of the Project group. Corrigan called them in to discuss the emergency at their nuclear power facility in Arizona."
"Go on."
"The plant was sabotaged by hacking the computers that control the cooling systems. It was the same kind of attack that took down our plane and destroyed the Three Gorges Dam. Digital indicators were discovered that indicate we are responsible."
"That is a lie," Orlov said.
"Yes, Mister President. We know that, but the Americans do not. Harker tried to make a case that indications of our involvement might be false, a deliberate attempt to misdirect blame. This did not go over well in the meeting. Corrigan believes we are responsible and that we are preparing a first strike. It is the reason the Americans raised their military posture. Corrigan is a hothead. He may make a mistake."
"I was uncertain why the Americans had escalated. What you've told me makes it clear. What you haven't told me is what worries me. Are you any closer to finding out who is behind these attacks?"
"We know the transmissions are coming from within the Arctic Circle. We don't know the exact location. Corrigan believes this latest one originated here, in Moscow."
"Corrigan is the product of a diseased donkey and a whore," Orlov said.
"I would like to contact Director Harker."
"Why?"
"Her analysis of the hacker's transmissions is superior to ours. She's our best chance of proving we are not involved. We've managed to work with her unit in the past, to our mutual advantage."
The Project and Elizabeth Harker needed no introduction for Vladimir Orlov. His current mistress was Valentina Antipov, Selena's half-sister. Selena's father had been a CIA agent stationed in West Berlin during the Cold War. Valentina's mother, a KGB agent stationed in East Germany. Valentina was the product of an unapproved liaison between them.
"Harker tried to get Corrigan to see it might not be the Federation behind the attack but he doesn't believe her. She doubts the authenticity of the digital trail pointing toward us. I know her. She does not want war between our nations. It's possible she may help identify the true enemy."
"You have permission, General. Be quick about it."
"Yes, sir."
"I will call the American President and try to persuade him we are not the cause of his misfortune, but he may not believe me. I am relying on you to find out what we need to know."
Orlov stood. Vysotsky rose with him.
"Do not fail me, General."
"Never, Mister President."
Outside the Senate building, Vysotsky crossed the paved courtyard and looked up at the soft, spring sky.
Do not fail me, General.
Alexei had a terrible feeling that failure would fill that sky with death.