63 |
63 |Operations Center 3, CIA Headquarters Langley, Virginia
“Hey, boss, got something.”
Leroux glanced over at Child. “What is it?”
“Something just got posted onto social media, referencing the cables.” He tapped a few keys then nodded toward the displays at the front of the operations center. A video appeared, one man sitting in a chair, staring at the camera, the room behind him empty.
“My name is Gavin Thatcher. I’m the founder of Step Back Now. Many of you have no doubt heard the reports of transatlantic data cables being destroyed as part of an extortion attempt by Konstantin Kozhin. I want everyone to know that Step Back Now did indeed plant the bombs, but extortion was not our motive. Kozhin betrayed us. Our goal was to sever all the cables at once, and stimulate conversation on either side of the Atlantic. Our intent was to send the message that follows this one that I am recording now, to make people think about the harm they are doing to themselves, and society, by burying their heads behind their phones, and living their lives on the Internet, rather than in the real world.
“But our message has been lost to the greed of Mr. Kozhin, who stole our pure intent, and twisted it into the age-old sin of greed. It’s for this reason that I take this action today. Our message needs to get out, and there is only one way to stimulate that conversation. I can no longer sever all the cables that join our two continents, as the control lies with Mr. Kozhin. But I can sever one of them, and in so doing, I hope my sacrifice will draw the attention of the world, and stimulate that conversation I had hoped would occur had our original plans unfolded the way they were meant to. I do this not for me, but for you. There is still time to save yourselves, to save humanity. Come out from behind the screens, and embrace your fellow man.”
Tears filled the man’s eyes, and Leroux stepped closer, his expert mind reading every facial cue and body movement as the manifesto continued.
“Say hello to the person you catch a glimpse of every day in the line at the coffee shop, rather than stare at the cold piece of technology gripped in your hand.” His voice cracked. “Feel the touch of someone you love, rather than its unfeeling stiffness. Live the life you were meant to live, not the life corporations designed for you.” He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. “I do this for the one I love.”
The screen went black and the room remained silent as everyone waited for someone else to say something. Leroux had to admit he was moved by the emotion displayed, but that wasn’t his job. His job was to stop what the man was about to do. He turned to face his team.
“I think it’s clear from that message that he intends to detonate the Azores device. Just in case we’re the first to see this, notify the Portuguese authorities and tell them what’s going on, and I’ll notify the Director that Mr. Kozhin is not responsible for the explosion that’s about to happen, so he can advise the President to not blow him out of the sky for violating the agreement.”
Child raised his hand. “Umm, boss?”
Leroux turned to him. “Yes?”
“There might be a problem.”
“What’s that?”
“The professors just landed in the Azores, and if we know them…”
Leroux cursed. “They’re going to try and stop him.”