Net Force - Tom Clancy [28]
Are we clear on what needs to be done, Mikhayl?
Da, we are clear.
Plekhanov frowned. It was not good that Ruzhyo used a Russian word, though there was not a chance in ten million that anybody would know it. Still, despite that, Plekhanov did not wish to take even that risk. But he would not speak of it during this conversation.
The specifications for clothing, hardware and vehicles are in the secure file. Use the second account for funds, he said. Take as much as you need, we want to do a good job.
Yes, Ruzhyo said. A good job.
Is there anything else?
No, I believe that is everything.
Good hunting, then.
Thank you.
After the connection had been broken, Plekhanov leaned back in his chair and considered his next action. There were so many small details that must be attended to if the plan was to continue to work properly. A call here, a shaft of information there, a few words whispered into an influential ear at this juncture, all added to the momentum and kept things rolling along.
Everything was going according to plan.
Thursday, September 16th, 8:20 a.m. San Francisco
Ruzhyo felt a little better. It was always good to have a specific chore, a job to be done, regardless of the constraints. He had already set up his contacts with suppliers; the gear they would need for the next step could be assembled in less than a day. Ruzhyo had known what the step would be, even though it had been a tentative plan until the call confirming it. Knowing it gave him some leeway, and he had exercised it.
Now, he had to call the Snake and the Texan and get them set. This would be tricky, and in one way, probably more so than the assassination of the federal agent, but not so dangerous. This time, they would have the law on their side.
In a manner of speaking.
Thursday, September 16th, 1:15 p.m. Quantico
In his office, Commander Alex Michaels frowned at the young man sitting across the desk from him.
All right, Jay, what exactly does this mean?
Gridley shook his head. I dunno, Chief. I went for a ride on half-a-dozen major highways-netways-and there were wrecks on all of them. Plus a bunch of others I didnt get around to. The cops-ah, the sysops-didnt have any big problems clearing most of them, although the Australian pileup was a real bastard. It was simple stuff, but traffic slowed down everywhere.
But were not talking major sabotage? And it didnt seem focused on one particular system?
Jay shook his head. Well, sort of and no. No piece of it was a biggie, but taken altogether, it adds up to major. Time is money, especially on the commercial roads, and there was a lot of stuff got shuffled because of some of the delays. If some big portion of that was diverted into one pocket, the guy wearing that jacket could retire and buy Cleveland, if he wanted. Though I cant imagine hed want to. But as far as we can tell, nobody got rich off the snafu-least we havent found who or how yet.
Jay paused, blinked, then stared into space as if hed gone into a trance.
Jay?
Oh, sorry. Far as I can tell, no one system was hit any harder than another. It was spread over dozens of links fairly evenly. Ive got houndbots sniffing, but none of em have run anything to a source. Whoever built this program is good, real good, cause he slipped it past a bunch of safeguards and the only people who caught him was us.
Gridley smiled, obviously pleased with that fact.
So Net Force systems were unaffected?
Yep. He tried, but he bounced off our wards. Guys not as sharp as he thinks. He doesnt know who hes messing with. Well run him down.
For no reason at all, Michaels had a sudden flare of suspicion. Unless he wanted us to think he couldnt get past our guards.
All right. Go and find whoever did this. Let me know how it progresses.
You got it, Chief.
Gridley stood and sauntered from his office. Once the young man was gone, Michaels leaned back in his chair and pondered the situation. Since Steve Days death, something hadnt felt right. He couldnt quite put his finger on what it was, but he felt as if somehow Net