The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

Japanese-speaker from the Agency's Intelligence Directorate. Reasoning that his
test reception would be useful to determine the effectiveness of the system, he
had further decided that it would be better still to get an immediate read on
what was being said. Clark thought that this was a reasonable demonstration of
operational initiative. The linguist took his time, listening to the taped
conversation three times before he started typing. He generated less than two
pages. It annoyed him that Clark was reading over his shoulder.
' "I wish it was this easy to make a deal with the opposition in the Diet," '
Clark read aloud. ' "We merely must take care of some of his associates also." '
'Looks to me that we got what we want,' the linguist observed.
'Where's your communications guy?' Clark asked the Station Chief.
'I can do it myself.' It was, indeed, easy enough. The Station Chief transcribed
the two typed pages into a computer. Attached to the computer was a small
machine that looked like a video-disc machine. On the large disc were literally
billions of random digital numbers. Each letter he typed was randomly
transformed into something else and transmitted to the MERCURY room at Langley.
Here the incoming signal was recorded. A communications technician selected the
proper decryption disc from the secure library, slid it into his own machine,
and pressed a button. Within seconds, a laser printer generated two pages of
cleartext message. This was sealed in an envelope and handed to a messenger, who
made for the seventh-floor office of the Deputy Director.
'Dr Ryan, the dispatch you were waiting for.'
'Thank you.' Jack signed for it. 'Dr Goodley, you're going to have to excuse me
for a moment.'
'No problem.' Ben went back to his pile of papers.
Ryan pulled the dispatch out and read it slowly and carefully twice. Then he
picked up the phone and asked for a secure line to Camp David.
'Command center,' a voice answered.
'This is Dr Ryan at Langley. I need to talk to the Boss.'
'Wait one, sir,' the Navy chief petty officer replied. Ryan lit a cigarette.
'This is the President,' a new voice said.
'Mr President, this is Ryan. I have a fragment of conversation off the 747.'
'So soon?'
'It was made before engine start-up, sir. We have an unidentified voice – we
think it's the PM – saying that he made the deal.' Jack read off three lines
verbatim.
'That son-of-a-bitch,' Fowler breathed. 'You know, with evidence like that I
could prosecute a guy.'
'I thought you'd want this fast, sir. I can fax you the initial transcript. The
full one will take until twenty-one hundred or so.'
'It'll be nice to have something to read after the game. Okay, send it up.' The
line went dead.
'You're welcome, sir,' Jack said into the phone.
***
'It is time,' Ghosn said.
'Okay.' Russell stood up and got into his heavy coat. It would be a really cold
one outside. The predicted high temperature was six above, and they were not