“Those are their SRX8’s. They have a chemical oxygen iodine laser onboard and can be used for space and atmospheric targets,” she explains.
“So I take it you’re the laser expert?”
She gives me a faint smile. “Please continue. You had one other encounter?”
“Yeah. When I was in the 777 cockpit.” That I cough, stole… “I was targeted by a bright green laser that I believe was intended to blind me and cause me to crash.”
“That was probably a copper vapor laser aboard a Russian surveillance satellite. The optics would seem to be dual use.”
“I guess so. If I hadn’t been looking down at the time, I don’t think I’d be here. Anyhow, that’s my experience with lasers. I know more about being at the receiving end than the sending. So, I guess you can add yet another laser to the Russian’s arsenal.”
There’s silence in the room. A few people steal glances back to the head of the table where Beth Saul is seated.
She speaks up. “This is where it gets complicated. Victor, please explain.”
He points to a new slide on the screen. It shows a map of what look like satellites and orbital trajectories. “This is from a satellite array that I can’t tell you the name of. It’s at a much more distant orbit and monitors all the other satellites around the Earth. One of the sensor systems is designed to target specific satellites and monitor infrared energy output.” He aims a laser pointer at a bright burst. “We call this CS626. This was captured at the same time as the GRD experienced its malfunction. The line of sight is perfect and we can even see that the satellite changed its trajectory slightly to line up with 17.”
“Your smoking gun,” I reply.
“Yes. And it’s Chinese.”
“So the Russians aren’t the only ones with this kind of tech.”
“Definitely not,” says Russel with a smirk. But I get the impression she’s talking about the US.
“This is where it gets complicated,” says Saul. “Go ahead, Dr. Russel.”
She flips back to the spectrum slide and zooms into the cluster of dots above the UV section. “Crystal or dye-based lasers use impurities to finely tune them. It’s this variation in chemistry that gives them different properties. When it comes to solid-state lasers, there’s a seed that you start growing a crystal from. This requires a very precise recipe and growth strategy. The laser that hit the GRD was using an exotic Alexandrite crystal with a very, very specific formula. I believe that it’s one that I developed called Silver Glass.”
I can finally understand the anger that’s been under her surface. “They stole it from you?”
“We believe so,” says Saul. “But as Dr. Russel was explaining, each laser has its own fingerprint. While the instruments onboard the GRD were sensitive enough to detect the general category, they can’t tell us what seed stock they used.”
“Dumb guy, here. What does that mean?”
“It means that if we know precisely what formula their crystal is based on, we can pinpoint at what stage they stole Silver Glass from me,” says Russel.
“So…knowing that will help you narrow down the potential suspects…”
“Considerably,” replies Saul.
Flavor speaks up. “David, finding out how they stole it is very critical to our intelligence efforts. This person or persons could have access to a number of other technologies that are vital to our security.”
“Sounds like it. If there’s anything else I can tell you, just ask.”
All eyes are on me. I get the feeling I’m missing the elephant in the room.
Saul nods to me. “The only way to know for sure how they stole it is to have direct access to the laser onboard the Chinese satellite, CS626.”
“I see…oh hell no…” It just hits me. “Is that why you asked me here?”
“David, right now there’s nobody more experienced with this kind of operation than you.” She locks eyes with me, “And that’s why we need you to go back up.”
Thirteen
Laser Police
“Time out, people. Why the hell are you looking at me? Didn’t Admiral Jessup finally get funding for his little Space Ops group after the whole K1 Incident?”
“Yes, but this is the Federal government we’re talking about. Things take time,” says Saul. “Presently, we have no special operations division capable of handling this. And this is why we brought you here.”
This is nuts. “The Air Force and the Navy have hundreds of astronauts that have been through NASA and training programs at iCosmos and elsewhere. Hell, you’ve probably even got a few SEALS and special forces people that are space-qualified.”
Saul taps her computer. “Yes. We’ve been through lists of them. None of them have the experience you have.”
“Running away and almost getting killed?”
“You’ve been part of two tactical operations in space. That’s two more than any other living astronaut. Yes, we’ve got dozens of military personnel capable of fixing spy satellites, flying spacecraft and conducting other related operations — we’ve been doing that for over 50 years. What we don’t have is anybody with as much as experience as you in improvising and as wide of a knowledge about various equipment and procedures.”
It’s time to let the cat out of the bag. Flavor said I could be fully honest. “Did he tell you that I wasn’t part of the first mission? That I was just a passenger?
Saul nods her head. “Yes. I’ve read the internal report. In our mind, that just means you’re definitely the man for the job.”
“David, this could be good for you,” says Flavor. “There could be a permanent position for you. And you’d get to go back into space.”
“As what? Some contractor doing hazardous dirty work that may not even be legal?”
Victor speaks up. “This isn’t like the K1. The CS626 is an unmanned satellite. Nobody is going to be shooting at you.”
“Then why use me? I’m sure there are plenty of people on your list capable of doing this. What about Admiral Jessup’s Space Ops team? I’m sure he’s got a list of candidates.”
“He does,” says Flavor. “And do you know who he recommended hands down over everyone else? In fact, he wants to make you a part of the staff for Space Ops.”
“Me?”
“You,” replies Saul. “Listen, we’re not going to try to sell you on this. We know you’re capable. We think you have the right experience. If you can’t do it, just say so.”
“Guys as much as…”
Flavor holds up a finger to stop me. “One more thing to consider. This isn’t just a mission to peek inside a Chinese satellite and see if they stole a piece of our technology. Finding out when and how could help us identify who was involved. And that could lead us to Silverback.”
Silverback — the double-agent nobody has been able to identify who made the K1 Incident such a crisis. He’s also the reason Bennet, his son Tyler and Peterson are dead.
Flavor is trying to manipulate me. What he doesn’t get is it’s not necessary. Despite all my verbal protests, I was hoping all along that this was why I was being asked up here.
I can keep playing coy and pretending I wouldn’t do anything to get back up into space, but if this really is what they’re saying, just a high-altitude breaking and entering, then I’m on board.
“Well, David?” asks Saul.
“It’s not my intention to become some fancy private military contractor doing the government’s dirty work, but if you can promise me two things, I’ll do this.”
“And they are?”
“One, that this is what you say it is. Just having a look inside there. No guns. No killing.”