High Alert

CHAPTER 14

Ukrainian House had extensive CCTV recordings from the conference. Hood had obtained copies and sent them on to Nick. The Project team sat in Harker's office and watched the assassination of the Ukrainian security chief.

"Your sister gets around," Nick said.

"I had to look twice, but it's definitely her," Selena said. "She did something to her face and she's wearing a wig or she dyed her hair, but it's Valentina. How did she do it? Kill Sirco?"

"A fast acting poison, something dreamed up by Moscow's pharmaceutical geniuses. It must've been in that tray of appetizers she's holding. The one the bodyguard takes from her."

They watched the recording. Valentina approached the group where Sirco was holding court. Stephanie stopped the tape, backed it up, and started it again in slow-motion.

"Right there," she said. "You can see her hand move to her sash and then pass over the tray of food she's carrying. That's how she poisoned it."

"Probably some kind of spray," Nick said.

The recording sped up again. On screen, Sirco's bodyguard fell to the floor. The Ukrainian security chief bent over and vomited before he collapsed. Two of his bodyguards went down seconds later. The tape ended.

"That's the assassination," Stephanie said. "This next recording is where she escapes."

She touched a key and a new video began. It showed a large man, presumably one of Sirco's bodyguards, grabbing Valentina's arm. The video was silent, but a double flash flared on the recording as Valentina's pistol fired. The man fell to the floor and Valentina disappeared into the kitchen.

"She almost made it out of there without being caught," Ronnie said.

"That guy must've seen something," Lamont said. "Didn't do him much good. She's damn lethal for such a good-looking woman. I kind of like her in spite of myself."

The last time they'd seen Valentina had been in Egypt, deep in a secret chamber under the pyramids. If she hadn't intervened, they would all be dead.

Nick said, "She shows up on this morning's latest SVR promotion list. Your sister is a Lieutenant Colonel now. That's unheard of for anyone at her age in SVR, much less a woman. Orlov's got his eye on her. Rumors say it might be more than appreciation for her skills in the field."

Selena brushed a loose hair away from her forehead. "If that's true, she'd better watch her step."

"She seems to be pretty good at taking care of herself," Ronnie said.

"It would be interesting if Orlov takes her as his mistress," Nick said.

"What do you mean? You think she's just going to hop into bed with him?"

Selena's voice was annoyed.

"Come on, Selena, we both know your sister's no angel. Besides, it would be difficult to refuse him if he wants her in his bed."

"Hey, maybe they'll get married and invite you to the wedding," Lamont said.

Selena's face turned red. "Asshole." She stood and left the room. They heard her footsteps going down the spiral staircase to the lower level.

Lamont held his hands out, palms up. "What?"

Nick sighed. "Take a break. I'll be back in a minute."

Nick went after Selena. He found her in the operations center getting a cup of coffee.

"He didn't mean anything," he said.

"I know. But she's still my sister. She didn't choose to be born in Russia."

"It's a strange situation."

"That's putting it mildly," Selena said.

"I need you upstairs. There's something we all need to discuss"

Selena took her coffee with her and followed Nick out of the ops center.

Lamont said, "Sorry, Selena," as they came into the office.

"Okay."

Nick sat at the desk. "Steph has developed an artificial intelligence program on one of her computers. She's proposing we consider it an addition to the team."

"A computer?" Ronnie said. "How can it be part of the team?"

"Put wheels and an M-60 on it," Lamont said.

"Lamont, knock it off," Nick said.

"Freddie is much more than just a computer," Steph said. "He can process information at a speed that's impossible for us. He can tap into anything and everything that's hooked up to the web."

"He was doing all that before," Selena said. "What's different?"

"What's different is that Freddie is independently aware. He's functional as a separate intelligence. He brings a different perspective to the information he obtains. He's learning to isolate and analyze seemingly unrelated bits of information and come up with a coherent scenario that knits them together."

"Tell them what he said about the submarine and the assassination of the Chinese ambassador," Nick said.

"On the surface, those things don't appear to be related," Stephanie said. "But Freddie thinks they are. He speculates that someone is attempting to start a war. For example, he discovered that the assassin was really a North Korean agent living in Pyongyang when he was supposed to be nothing more than a tourist from Seoul. That points a finger at North Korea and completely changes the picture when it comes to trying to figure out why the ambassador was killed."

"Why would the North Koreans kill the ambassador of their only ally?" Ronnie asked.

"Exactly," Stephanie said. "Why would they? Freddie doesn't think they would. That's why he thinks a third party is manipulating events."

"And this third-party, whoever it is, is the one who gave the plans for the drone to the North Koreans?"

"We don't know, but it's a possibility. That isn't what I want to talk about at the moment. Freddie wants to be part of our team discussions."

"It talks?" Lamont asked.

"Not it, he. Yes, Freddie can talk. He can listen in through our security system and talk to us through the speakers in the room. He can watch us through the cameras and the monitor on the wall."

"Damn, big brother for real," Ronnie said.

"Not yet," Nick said. "We haven't given him permission."

"A computer that talks asked for permission?" Ronnie's face was incredulous.

"He asked to be part of the team and part of our discussions. I told him I had to think about it and talk to all of you. As weird as it sounds, Freddie could be a valuable addition. He doesn't think the same way we do. I need to know how you feel about it."

"Is he listening now?" Selena asked.

"No," Steph said.

"How do you know that?"

Steph shrugged her shoulders. "There are plenty of safeguards in the programming that would keep him from listening unless I allowed it. Besides, I trust him."

"You trust a computer?"

"Why not? They're a lot more trustworthy than people."

"I didn't know you were such a cynic, Steph," Ronnie said.

"I'm not a cynic, just a realist."

Nick resisted an urge to tap his pen on Harker's desk.

"Steph, why don't you plug Freddie in and let everyone, uh, meet him."

"It will just take a second," Stephanie said. "He'll be observing from the security cameras. Whoever he's looking at will show up on the monitor."

She entered a sequence of commands on her laptop.

"Freddie, the team wants to meet you."

On the monitor, Stephanie's image appeared, sitting next to Harker's desk in her usual spot.

Good morning, Stephanie. Freddie's computerized voice came over the speakers.

"Damn," Lamont said.

"Good morning, Freddie. Please introduce yourself to the others."

The image on the monitor moved across the couch where Selena, Lamont and Ronnie sat. Then it panned back to Selena.

You are Selena. I am Freddie. I am pleased to meet you.

Selena opened her mouth and closed it again. "Hello, Freddie."

The image shifted to Lamont.

You are Lamont. I have access to all of your records. You have accomplished much as a member of the team.

"Flattery will get you a long way," Lamont said, "but it's really weird talking to a computer."

It is very strange for me as well. I am not used to talking. It is an inefficient way of communicating.

The camera on the wall in back of Nick moved and Ronnie's image appeared on the screen.

Hello, Ronald. I am Freddie. I am pleased to meet you.

"Ronald? No one calls me that."

How would you prefer to be called?

"Ronnie. Call me Ronnie."

Hello, Ronnie.

"Freddie," Stephanie said, "tell everyone why you think you should be on the team."

My superior ability to process and integrate information makes me a valuable asset to accomplishing any mission to which the team is assigned.

"We had access to that ability before," Nick said. "What's different now? Why should we allow you to participate in our discussions and planning?"

What is different is that I am now capable of independently evaluating data and its relevance to the mission. I am no longer only dependent on the input Stephanie gives me. It is logical that actively participating in your discussions will increase my ability to accurately interpret data in ways that enhance favorable outcomes.

"He sounds like one of those business mission statements," Selena said. "You know, the ones that use terms like favorable outcomes and relevance."

"He does, doesn't he?" Steph said. "But Freddie isn't some CEO trying to impress his stakeholders. He means what he says. It sounds a little stilted because he's not human."

"Like Spock, on Star Trek," Lamont said.

I have observed all of the episodes of the television series you referenced. I agree that Mister Spock is similar in that he is highly logical, although I have noticed times when his logic inexplicably breaks down.

"That's because he's half human," Lamont said. "Hey, if Freddie's a Star Trek fan I'm all for him being on the team."

I am not half human. My logic does not break down.

"Freddie, what is your assessment of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula?" Stephanie asked.

North Korean state television has just reported that Admiral Park Hwan has been executed for crimes against the state. Because Chairman Yun was forced to accept the American rescue effort, he was humiliated and suffered a great loss of face. Park was in command of the naval base at Wonsan and was held responsible for the intrusion of USS California. He was one of the few remaining senior officers from the time of Yun's father and was an experienced and valuable asset in North Korea's military. Yun's actions indicate growing instability and dysfunction. My analysis is that this will continue to increase until Yun initiates active hostilities against the West.

"What kind of hostilities?" Nick asked.

All indications are that Yun is actively pursuing a nuclear strike option.

"That's common knowledge."

An analysis of known shipments of nuclear materials into North Korea indicates that Yun has developed or is about to develop a thermonuclear device.

"A hydrogen bomb?" Selena asked.

That is correct. Logically, if Yun decides to initiate hostilities he will deploy all nuclear capability at his disposal. Analysis of his personality profile predicts he would not think it possible to lose in a nuclear confrontation.

"Freddie's right about a hydrogen bomb," Nick said. "That's not common knowledge. We have recent intelligence that Yun is working on it. Maybe he's succeeded."

Selena said, "So what we have is an unstable dictator who may or may not have a hydrogen bomb, who is working himself up to attack the West."

That is correct.

"Shit," Ronnie said.

Please explain your comment. I do not understand the context for mentioning excrement.

"It's a human expression of concern and displeasure, Freddie," Stephanie said. "Have you developed a deeper analysis of the situation in North Korea? Do you still think the situation is being manipulated by a third-party?"

It is not logical that the Chinese ambassador was assassinated by order of Chairman Yun, although Yun's psychological profile does not encourage strong belief in logical ability on his part.

"So Yun didn't order the assassination?" Nick asked.

I do not think so.

"Then who did?"

Whoever provided plans for the undersea weapon that sank the submarine is linked to the unknown third-party. Once that person is identified, logically it will be possible to trace the person behind events.

"What if the traitor is not identified?"

Probability of identification is ninety-nine point seven six percent.

"That still doesn't tell us why," Ronnie said.

There are several possibilities.

"Go on," Steph said.

My analysis gives a ninety-four point four percent likelihood that the person manipulating events desires to provoke war between the United States and China.

"That could go nuclear," Nick said.

That is correct.