"It won't be long before he has missiles good enough to hit us," Nick said.
North Korea has developed a new missile design more powerful than previous versions. It is a two-stage ICBM configuration that appears to utilize a solid fuel engine. Indications are that these missiles are capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States.
"I hadn't heard that," Nick said.
That information was discovered early this morning during an NSA satellite pass. My analysis of the missile configuration indicates nuclear capability.
"It would be a lot better if the target is one of those two sites," Ronnie said. "At least that way we could come in over the water. We could go in at night."
Lamont nodded.
"I agree," Nick said. "Unless Langley comes up with intel that points us in a different direction, we should focus on those two sites. They're doable. I'm not confident we could get into those tunnels in the North at all, much less out again. Freddie, what sort of security does Yun have at Kilju and Punggye-Ri?"
Two companies of Army special forces are stationed at each one. Each site is protected by ground-to-air missiles and antiaircraft guns. There is only one road into each site. Both are heavily patrolled with light and medium duty armored vehicles. There are hidden machine gun and artillery emplacements along the road as well as several checkpoints.
"Shit," Lamont said.
You are displeased? Would you like to know the caliber and number of weapons?
"That won't be necessary, Freddie. Thanks."
I am now part of the team. It is not necessary to thank me.
"That's true, but humans will sometimes say things that seem unnecessary out of politeness."
It is interesting that you consider it appropriate to express politeness to me.
"There may be times when I'm not polite with you," Nick said.
It will not bother me. I do not have feelings that can be hurt by an impolite comment.
"Freddie, do you understand what we are discussing?" Stephanie asked.
You are attempting to determine the best way to counteract a perceived threat of nuclear intimidation on the part of the North Koreans.
"That's one way of putting it," Lamont said.
Nick looked at his watch. "I've had about three hours of sleep in the last three days and I can't think straight. Let's call it a day. I need a clear head when we plan this out. We do this, we're only going to get one chance. I don't want to make a mistake."
"Works for me," Lamont said.
They left the building. Outside, the sky had cleared and the sun was nearing the horizon. Nick looked up and stretched. He stopped and pointed.
"What's that?"
A large, winged metal object was flying in circles above them..
"It's a drone, one of those private ones."
The drone paused and hovered, pointing at them. A camera hung beneath it. Two narrow objects were mounted on either side of the camera.
Ronnie said, "Those almost look like missiles under the wings."
It picked up speed, turned, and dove straight at them.
"Shit!" Nick said.
The drone fired two missiles. Whoever controlled the drone had miscalculated the speed. The missiles sailed over them, struck the parking lot a hundred feet away, and exploded. A cloud of shrapnel whistled past over their heads.
Nick carried a .40 caliber Sig Sauer P229 with a laser sight. The machine turned and started back toward them for another run. Nick drew the pistol and fired. His second shot sent it spiraling to earth. It crashed on the helicopter pad and shattered.
"Nice shot," Lamont said.
"Lasers make a shot like that easy. Just pop the dot on the target and it's all she wrote."
"Still, it was picking up speed."
They walked over to the remains of the drone. It was a large device, not an average hobby store unit.
"That's a fancy piece of equipment," Ronnie said. "Not the sort of thing some teenage kid would be flying."
Lamont looked down at the wreckage. "Teenage kids don't have missiles, even small ones."
"Someone doesn't like us," Nick said.
He scanned the sky. "I don't see any more of them. Maybe Steph can track it back to whoever sent it. It's something for Freddie to puzzle on."
"It's strange, isn't it?" Selena said. "Freddie?"
"Yeah, it is. But it does give us a different perspective on things."
The camera had broken away from the fuselage. Ronnie bent and picked it up. The lens was broken. A red light glowed on the body.
"I think it's still transmitting," he said.
Nick looked at the camera.
"There's a microphone, next to the lens," Selena said.
He held the broken camera up to his mouth and said, "Whoever you are, if you can hear me, you just made a big mistake."
In California, Gregory Haltman heard the words and felt his head throb with rage. The drone had been one of his favorite toys, an experimental long-range device that could stay aloft for days.
No, he thought, it's you that made a big mistake.
CHAPTER 21
Three of the nine men who ruled China sat at a round, black-lacquered table inlaid with characters of good fortune and prosperity. They were meeting in the private residence of Zhang Jei, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the People's Republic of China. Zhang sipped his tea and waited for Minister of State Security Deng's analysis of the newspaper article that had appeared in the American press, concerning their erratic ally to the south.
Zhang wasn't smiling, but that was nothing unusual. He seldom smiled. He wore the uniform of powerful leaders worldwide, a tailored dark blue suit and a red tie. It was one of the concessions to the Western world that Zhang hated. He preferred the comfort of traditional garb.
Sitting next to the Minister of State Security was a thick bodied man in army uniform. His tunic bore the three stars and leaves of a full general in the People's Liberation Army. General Liu commanded the Guangzhou Military Region bordering North Korea, with over one hundred and eighty thousand first level troops at his disposal. His forces included three motorized infantry divisions, a mechanized division, armored and artillery brigades and antiaircraft brigades.
It was one of the premier commands in the People's Liberation Army. If military action against North Korea was ever needed, Liu would command China's forces on the ground. His presence at the meeting was a sign of how seriously Zhang was taking the report that had appeared in the United States about chairman Yun's involvement in the death of Ambassador Li.
"Well?" Zhang said to Deng. "Is it true?"
Deng controlled the repressive intelligence and security apparatus that kept the rulers of China feeling more or less secure at night. China's intelligence network was as good as America's CIA or Britain's MI-6. In many ways, it was more effective. Deng's ministry was not subject to the kind of oversight practiced in the Western democracies.
Deng had a round face that seemed to wear a perpetual frown. For a Chinese, he had large ears that stuck out from the sides of his head. It had been a long time since anyone had dared make fun of those ears.
"I am not convinced this article is entirely true," Deng said. "It may be what the Western press is fond of calling a 'false flag.' On the other hand, there is no doubt that the assassin who murdered our ambassador was a member of Yun's Ministry of State Security."
"You are certain of this?" Zhang asked.
"Yes. Our asset in the American CIA confirms it. He has been positively identified."
"Yet you doubt the truthfulness of the report."