Stephen Coonts - Combat

“INN took off the version number, trying to hide the source, but each version of your design had different typographical errors. We were able to determine the version number and its creation date in a half a day.”

“Checking the e-mail records you gave us, we found out who received this version of the design. We also could make a good guess as to when INN got their hooks on it. We got a lot of cooperation from some of the addresses, and not much from others, which in itself helped us focus our search.”

Ray had listened to the presentation with both anger and fear. INN’s scoop had devastated morale. Secrecy had been part of their strength. It allowed them to move quickly, unhindered. Now friend and enemy alike could interfere with a timetable that had no room for delay.

He knew Defender was a long shot. The Chinese now knew where they were. Could they take some sort of counteraction? Even wellmeaning friends could derail the project.

The Army colonel handed Ray his data pad. “Here’s the report. I’ve found two individuals, one at SPAWAR and the other at NASA. Both received copies of this version, third- or fourth- or fifth-hand, and according to investigators I sent out, both have openly criticized Defender . One, at NASA, was quoted saying that, ‘ Defender had to be stopped. It could interfere with NASA’s plans for developing spacecraft technology.’”

Ray nodded, acknowledging the information, but not responding immediately. The colonel respected his silence, but obviously waited for a reply. McConnell wanted to strike out at these people, but there was little he could do.

Ray stated flatly, “The Defender document was never classified, so it’s not a crime to release it.”

“The ones who gave it to the press certainly weren’t our friends,” countered the colonel. “And by exposing us, they’ve hurt our chances of stopping the Chinese. I’d say that’s acting against the interests of national security.”

“By the time we indicted them, it would be moot. Our best revenge will be to succeed.” Part of Ray didn’t agree with what he was saying, but he was trying to think with his head, not his emotions.

“I could give it to the press. Fight one leak with another,” suggested the colonel.

McConnell shook his head slowly. “Tempting, but that would open the door to more accusations and counteraccusations. I need you for other things, now. All our energy has to go toward finishing Defender. We don’t have to provide a cover story anymore, but we have to assume they’ll try to attack us at this location. Increase our defenses accordingly. If we need to bring in a Patriot battery or a division of paratroopers, that’s what we’ll do.”

“Meanwhile, I’ll report to Schultz.” Ray knew Schulz wouldn’t enjoy his decision, but he knew it was the right one.

The colonel left, and Ray started to get up, to go report to his boss. But Schultz would want to know what they were doing about the exposure, and Ray knew that just increasing security wasn’t the full answer.

Opposition to Defender was forming fast. Ray had assumed that there would be opposition, but he’d been so behind the idea he couldn’t look at it objectively. Web pages already? Congressmen could order the program stopped or delayed for review.

The war in space had turned into an information war. Anyone who’d seen the news knew the media would pick up and report anything that was fed to them. Well, it was time for him to do some of the feeding.

He opened the address book on his data pad. He had contacts all over the defense and space and computer industries. They’d helped him get Defender started. Now he needed them again.

He started typing. “ Defender needs your help …”

Shen had insisted on having the meeting here, in the shadow of the mountain. Ignoring the recall order to Beijing had seemed suicidal, but the general knew that once away from the mountain, any flaw or error here could be blamed on his neglect. So far, the gun had worked perfectly, but that had just made him a more important target.

Friends in Beijing kept him informed. There were those who resented his success, even if it helped China against the U.S. There were those who wanted to weaken him, then take over the gun for their own political empires. Some simply thought he had too much power.

He’d been able to fabricate some sort of excuse for remaining on the mountain, and to his relief Dong Zhi had backed him up. He’d expected the scientist to do so, but the first rule of Chinese politics was that trust was like smoke. When it was there, it blocked your vision. And it would disappear with the first puff of wind.

Instead, Dong and what seemed like half the Politburo now sat in the observation gallery, while an intelligence officer briefed them on the new American warcraft.

The Army colonel had passed out edited copies of the original design, annotated in Chinese with an engineering analysis attached. He’d reviewed the systems — the laser, the projectiles, the radar and laser sensors. The general, Dong, and the other technical people present had been fascinated. It was a dangerous craft. Shen noticed that the politicians had spent more time gazing out the window. Had they already heard it? Or were the exact details unimportant? Maybe they’d already decided.

The colonel finished his briefing, but the Politburo members wanted definite answers. When would it be ready? Would it interfere with the Dragon campaign? How could it be countered?

The colonel refused to make any conclusions. “We’re still gathering information, Comrade Secretary. We have no information on how much they’ve actually accomplished. We’re moving agents into place, but it takes time to infiltrate even with normal security, and the safeguards around the Miramar base are extremely tight.”

Shen spoke up for him. There was no risk in stating the obvious. “If their design works as shown, it can interfere with our satellite attacks.”

“And the chance of that happening?” Pan Yunfeng demanded. The First Secretary had headed the delegation himself.

“Impossible to say, Comrade Secretary. However, this is not something they can build in just a few months. While the VentureStar space vehicle is complete, it had not yet been fully certified for service. It will have to be adapted to the new role, and many of the systems he describes do not exist.”

“Is it possible that this is a disinformation campaign?” Pan asked the briefer.

The colonel looked at Shen, who nodded. “Unlikely, sir,” the intelligence officer assured them. “The American administration is suffering intense criticism because of this now-exposed secret project. They’ve gained nothing from the revelation.”

“Then what is its purpose?” Pan asked.

Shen replied again, his tone carefully chosen, almost casual. “Oh, they’re building it, all right, but there will be very little to defend once it is operational. By that time, the new T’ien Lung II will also be ready. It has stealth features, more energy, armor, and it’s semiautonomous. And we have designs for our own armed spacecraft.” Shen smiled, imagining Chinese ships orbiting the earth, shattering America’s military hegemony.

“We’ll use the Dragon’s Mother to keep them on the ground. We can destroy anything they launch.”

The aging Il-76 transport lumbered off the taxiway and stopped. A cluster of uniformed Chinese and Russian military personnel waited on the tarmac. The instant the rear ramp touched the surface, they ran aboard, and only a few minutes later, the huge GAZ missile launcher rolled out of the aircraft.