The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

'There will be some important openings at CIA in the next few years,' Elliot
promised.
'I see,' Goodley said, quite truthfully. 'I never intended to publish classified
information, of course.'
'Of course,' Elliot agreed. 'I can handle that through my office, I suppose. I
found your paper impressive. I want a mind like yours working for the
government, if you can agree to the necessary restrictions.'
'In that case, I guess I can accept them.'
'Fine.' Elliot smiled. 'You are now a White House Fellow. My secretary will take
you across the street to the security office. You have a bunch of forms to fill
out.'
'I already have a "secret" clearance.'
'You'll need more than that. You'll have to get a SAP/SAR clearance – that means
"special-access programs/ special access required." It normally takes a few
months for that – '
'Months?' Goodley asked.
'I said "usually." We can fast-track part of that. I suggest you start
apartment-hunting. The stipend is sufficient?'
'Quite sufficient.'
'Fine. I'll call Marcus over at Langley. You'll want to meet him.' Goodley
beamed at the National Security Advisor. 'Glad to have you on the team.'
The new White House Fellow took his cue and stood. 'I will try not to disappoint
you.'
Elliot watched him leave. It was so easy to seduce people, she knew. Sex was a
useful tool for the task, but power and ambition were so much better. She'd
already proven that, Elliot smiled to herself.
***
'An atomic bomb?' Bock asked.
'So it would seem,' Qati replied.
'Who else knows?'
'Ghosn is the one who discovered it. Only he.'
'Can it be used?' the German asked. And why have you told me?
'It was severely damaged and must be repaired. Ibrahim is now assembling the
necessary information for evaluating the task. He thinks it possible.'
Günther leaned back. 'This is not some elaborate ruse? An Israeli trick, perhaps
an American one?'
'If so, it is a very clever one,' Qati said, then explained the circumstances of
the discovery.
'1973 . . . it does fit. I remember how close the Syrians came to destroying the
Israelis . . .' Bock was silent for a moment. He shook his head briefly. 'How to
use such a thing . . .'
'That is the question, Günther.'
'Too early to ask such a question. First, you must determine if the weapon can
be repaired. Second, you must determine its explosive yield – no, before that
you must determine its size, weight, and portability. That is the most important
consideration. After that comes the yield – I will assume that – ' He fell
silent. 'Assume? I know little of such weapons. They cannot be too heavy. They