Shadow Tyrants

FIFTY-THREE

The Huey was noisy and uncomfortable, but Mallik had bought the Vietnam War — era helicopter for its best feature: it used no computers. It was tough and reliable, and with extra fuel tanks its range was more than five hundred miles. Both the Kalinga and Maurya frigates, circling the launch platform at thirty miles out, were equipped with Hueys. Mallik had been joined by Torkan for the flight from the Kalinga to the Orbital Ocean launch command ship on station two miles from the platform.

The chopper settled onto the helipad, and Mallik was greeted by the flight director, Kapoor.

“What’s the situation?” Mallik asked as he walked toward the railing of the ship to watch the crane hoisting a rocket onto the launch platform.

“The rocket was not damaged by the passing monsoon.” Kapoor looked warily at Torkan, whose gaze was focused steadily on him instead of the rocket.

“How soon until you can launch?”

“We’ve been having some issues with the retrieval software on the first stage booster, but we think we’ve solved it.”

The entire launch vehicle was reusable, including the booster, which would be guided back to landing on the launchpad using its retrorocket engines after it separated from the orbital insertion stage.

“I asked you, when can we launch?” Mallik said impatiently.

Kapoor cleared his throat. “Three days, if all systems pass the checklists.”

“Three days? Why so long?”

“We’re expecting another squall to pass through during tomorrow’s launch window. To have the satellite properly positioned relative to the other nineteen already in orbit, we have limited choices in our timing.”

“I’m not stupid,” Mallik said. “Who do you think perfected those calculations?”

Kapoor bowed his head in apology. “Of course, sir. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just get it right. And you better be ready to launch when the weather cooperates. I don’t want any more excuses. Go.”

“Yes, sir.” Kapoor went back inside to the mission control room, with its wide polycarbonate window overlooking the launch platform.

“You said you had news about Carlton?” Mallik said to Torkan.

“His plane went down over Egypt.”

“He’s dead?”

“It’s not confirmed yet.”

“What about Gupta?”

“No word on him, either.”

“If they’re both gone, that means Chen Min will have to listen to me now. Get him on the phone and call me when he’s on the line.”

“With pleasure.”

Mallik leaned on the railing and relished the sight of his brainchild being lifted into place for launch. The phone call telling the Colossus scientist to stand down would be even more enjoyable.

Carlton stood on the bridge of the Colossus 5, fuming. He’d received notification that his plane had gone down in the Sinai with all hands on board. It wasn’t known if the plane crashed or if there were any survivors, but it had to be Mallik’s doing. Worst of all, he hadn’t heard from Natalie Taylor. If she were still alive, she would have contacted him.

At least he’d made the right decision to stay aboard the ship. With a squad of mercenaries to protect him, he felt very safe where he was.

Chen Min walked up to him and cleared his throat. He was holding his phone.

“Mr. Carlton, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I think you’ll want to take this call.”

“Who is it?” Carlton snarled. He was in no mood to talk to anyone. He knew it wasn’t Taylor. She would have called his personal line.

“It’s Romir Mallik,” Chen said. “I have him on hold. He wants me to shut down Colossus.”

Carlton was astounded at his enemy’s gall. He was about to take the phone when he realized that Mallik would only be calling if he thought Carlton and Gupta were dead. He’d heard about the plane going down and thought Torkan’s mission to assassinate him had been successful.

He said to Chen, “Did you tell him I’m here?”

“No, sir. I just asked him to hold for a moment.”

“He thinks I died in the crash.” As satisfying as it would be to gloat to his nemesis that he’d failed yet again, Carlton had a better idea.

“What should I say?” Chen asked.

“Tell him that it’s chaos here. You don’t know what to do because you heard that my plane blew up over the desert.”

“And his order to shut down Colossus?”

“Tell him that you’ll do it right away,” Carlton said with glee. “Give him whatever evidence he wants that you’ve done it.”

Chen nodded and went back to his office to continue the call. Despite the loss of his plane and cars, Carlton was already happier imagining the phone call he’d make to Mallik after Colossus was active and the Vajra satellite system was obliterated.

A few minutes later, Chen came back, his face as inscrutable as ever.

“Did it work?” Carlton asked.

Chen nodded. “He seemed to believe me.”

“Excellent. I would love to see the look on his face when he learns that I’m still here. How long until we reach the Suez?”

“Seven hours. But we have a new problem.”

Carlton sighed. “What now?”

“I just received a weather report from Egypt. They’re expecting a sandstorm in the next twelve hours.”

“How does that affect us?”

“In the past when the canal has been hit with sandstorms, they’ve closed it to ship traffic because the visibility can be reduced to zero.”

Carlton’s good mood vanished, and he glowered at Chen.

“I don’t care what you have to do. You make sure we’re in the Suez Canal and on time for our rendezvous with the other ships or I will get rid of you and promote the next person in line.”

Carlton’s eyes flicked to his new bodyguard, Bondarev, the intimidating and muscular ex-Spetsnaz soldier who had betrayed Gupta.

Chen gulped, then shouted at the captain of the ship to push the engines to their maximum power.

The ship increased speed. Nothing, not even Mother Nature, was going to delay Carlton’s plans to dominate the world.