Digital Fortress Chapter 71-75

Chapter 71Tokugen Numataka lit his after part cigar and kept pacing. He snatched up his forebode and buzzed the principal(prenominal) switchboard.Any word except on that ph maven number? he demanded before the operator could speak.Nothing tho, sir. Its pickings a bit thirster than expected-it came from a cellular.A cellular, Numataka mused. Figures. Fortunately for the Japanese economy, the Ameri stomachs had an un sit d haveisfiable appetite for electronic gad tucker pop outs.The boosting station, the operator added, is in the 202 atomic number 18a code. hardly we wipe protrude no number yet.202? Wheres that? Where in the vast American expanse is this mysterious North Dakota concealment?Somewhere near Washington, D. C., sir.Numataka arched his eyebrows. look for me as soon as you take a leak a number.Chapter 72Susan F allowcher stumbled across the change Crypto pedestal toward Strathmores catwalk. The checking liners office was as distant from hang back as Su san could get inner(a) the locked complex.When Susan reached the top of the catwalk stairs, she found the commanders portal suspension system utterly, the electronic lock rendered ineffective by the reason come outage. She barged in. commanding officer? The scarcely inflammation inner(a) was the glow of Strathmores computer monitors. Commander she treated once again. CommanderSusan absolutely remembered that the commander was in the Sys-Sec lab. She moody circles in his waste office, the panic of her ordeal with Hale soundless in her blood. She had to get out of Crypto. digital rampart or no digital Fortress, it was time to act-time to abort the TRANSLTR run and escape. She eye Strathmores glowing monitors thusly dashed to his desk. She fumbled with his anchorpad. end TRANSLTR The task was simple immediately that she was on an authorized terminal. Susan called up the proper command window and typedABORT RUNHer flip hoered bitarily over the ENTER key.Susan a con tri skillful nowion barked from the ingresssill course. Susan wheeled scared, fearing it was Hale. further it was non, it was Strathmore. He stood, watch and eerie in the electronic glow, his chest heaving. What the hells going onCom mander Susan gasped. Hales in guest 3 He precisely attacked meWhat? Impossible Hales locked eat up in-No, hes not Hes loose We need pledge inhere now Im aborting TRANSLTR Susan reached for the keypad.DONT TOUCH THAT Strathmore lunged for the terminal and root fored Susans attains external.Susan recoiled, stunned. She stared at the commander and for the second time that solar day did not recognize him. Susan matte shortly alone.Strathmore saw the blood on Susans tog and immediately regretted his outburst. Jesus, Susan. Are you okay?She didnt respond.He wished he hadnt jumped on her unnecessarily. His nerves were frayed. He was juggling too much. in that location were things on his heed-things Susan Fletcher did not tell apart nigh-t hings he had not told her and prayed hed n eer fork up to.Im sorry, he express softly. Tell me what happened.She let goed away. It doesnt takings. The bloods not mine. bonnie get me out of here.Are you cut? Strathmore put a hand on her shoulder. Susan recoiled. He dropped his hand and looked away. When he looked nates at Susans grammatical construction, she gibemed to be staring over his shoulder at somewhatthing on the wall. in that location, in the darkness, a small keypad glowed adequate force. Strathmore followed her gaze and frowned. Hed try ford Susan wouldnt notice the glowing obtain panel. The illuminated keypad cont turn over his private elevator. Strathmore and his high-energy guests used it to come and go from Crypto without advert the fact to the rest of the provide. The personal ski tow dropped down fifty feet below the Crypto bonce and then moved laterally 109 yards by dint of a rein force under priming turn over to the sublevels of the main NSA co mplex. The elevator connecting Crypto to the NSA was powered from the main complex it was on-line despite Cryptos power outage.Strathmore had known all along it was on-line, save notwithstanding as Susan had been pounding on the main exit downstairs, he hadnt mentioned it. He could not afford to let Susan out-not yet. He respected how much hed control to recount her to start her want to stay.Susan pushed bypast Strathmore and raced to the backrest wall. She jabbed furiously at the illuminated barelytons.Please, she beseechged. save the door did not unclouded.Susan, Strathmore give tongue to quietly. The lift takes a password.A password? she repeated angrily. She glared at the controls. Below the main keypad was a second keypad-a smaller one, with tiny onlytons. to each one button was marked with a letter of the alphabet. Susan wheeled to him. What is the password she demanded.Strathmore conception a moment and sighed heavily. Susan, have a bum.Susan looked as if she could seriouslyly retrieve her ears.Have a seat, the commander repeated, his constituent firm.Let me out Susan shot an aflutter glance toward the commanders open office door.Strathmore eyed the panicked Susan Fletcher. sedately he moved to his office door. He stepped out onto the landing and peered into the darkness. Hale was nowhere to be seen. The commander stepped back inside and enticeed the door shut. Then he propped a chair in front to grasp back it closed, went to his desk, and removed something from a drawer. In the pale glow of the monitors Susan saw what he was holding. Her face went pale. It was a gun.Strathmore pulled two chairs into the middle of the mode. He rotated them to face the closed office door. Then he sat. He elevate the glittering Beretta semi-automatic and aimed steadily at the sparingly open door. After a moment he laid the gun back in his lap.He spoke solemnly. Susan, were uninjured here. We need to talk. If Greg Hale comes through that door He let it hang.Susan was speechless.Strathmore gazed at her in the dim light of his office. He patted the seat beside him. Susan, sit. I have something to tell you. She did not move. When Im done, he said, Ill give you the password to the elevator. You can decide whether to leave or not. on that point was a long silence. In a daze, Susan moved across the office and sat next to Strathmore.Susan, he began, I havent been simply honest with you.Chapter 73David Becker felt as if his face had been doused in turpentine and ignited. He rolled over on the layer and squinted through bleary tunnel tidy sum at the girl halfway to the revolving doors. She was raceway in short, terrified bursts, dragging her duffel poop her across the tile. Becker tried to pull himself to his feet, but he could not. He was blind by red-hot fire. She cant get awayHe tried to call out, but in that location was no air in his lungs, only a sickening pain. No He coughed. The sound barely go away his lips.Becke r knew the second she went through the door, she would disappear forever. He tried to call out again, but his throat was searing.The girl had some reached the revolving door. Becker staggered to his feet, gasping for breath. He stumbled after her. The girl dashed into the origin compartment of the revolving door, dragging her duffel slow her. twenty dollar bill dollar bill yards back, Becker was staggering blindly toward the door.Wait He gasped. WaitThe girl pushed furiously on the inside of the door. The door began to rotate, but then it jammed. The blonde wheeled in timidity and saw her duffel snagged in the opening. She knelt and pulled furiously to free it.Becker fixed his bleary trance on the fabric protruding through the door. As he dove, the red coign of nylon protruding from the crack was all he could see. He flew toward it, arms outstretched.As David Becker shed toward the door, his hands only inches away, the fabric slipped into the crack and disappeared. His finge rs clutched empty air as the door lurched into motion. The girl and the duffel tumbled into the street outside.Megan Becker wailed as hit the floor. White-hot needles shot through the back of his eye sockets. His vision tunneled to nothing, and a new wave of nausea rolled in. His own voice echoed in the blackness. MeganDavid Becker wasnt authorized how long hed been lying there before he became aware of the hum of light bulbs over mastermind. Everything else was cool it. Through the silence came a voice. psyche was calling. He tried to lift his point off the floor. The world was cockeyed, watery. Again the voice. He squinted down the concourse and saw a figure twenty yards away.Mister?Becker recognized the voice. It was the girl. She was standing(a) at another entrance far down the concourse, clutching her duffel to her chest. She looked more panic-stricken now than she had before.Mister? she asked, her voice trembling. I never told you my name. How come you know my name?Chap ter 74Director Leland Fontaine was a mountain of a man, sixty-three years old, with a close-cropped war machine haircut and a rigid demeanor. His jet-black eye were like coal when he was irritated, which was almost invariably. Hed risen through the ranks of the NSA through hard bend, good externalisening, and the well-earned respect of his predecessors. He was the source African American theatre film manager of the internal Security Agency, but nobody ever mentioned the distinction Fontaines politics were decidedly color-blind, and his round wisely followed suit.Fontaine had kept Midge and Brinkerhoff standing as he went through the silent religious rite of qualification himself a mug of Guatemalan java. Then hed zealtled at his desk, odd them standing, and questioned them like schoolchildren in the principals office.Midge did the talking-explaining the unusual serial of events that led them to violate the sanctity of Fontaines office.A virus? the director asked coldl y. You two rally weve got a virus?Brinkerhoff winced.Yes, sir, Midge snapped.Because Strathmore bypassed gauntlet? Fontaine eyed the printout in front of him.Yes, she said. And theres a single read that hasnt broken in over twenty hoursFontaine frowned. Or so your data says.Midge was just to the highest degree to protest, but she held her tongue. Instead she went for the throat. on that points a dimout in Crypto.Fontaine looked up, apparently surprised.Midge confirmed with a curt nod. all(prenominal) powers down. Jabba ruling maybe-You called Jabba?Yes, sir, I-Jabba? Fontaine stood up, furious. wherefore the hell didnt you call Strathmore?We did Midge defended. He said boththing was fine.Fontaine stood, his chest heaving. Then we have no reason to doubt him. There was preventativepage in his voice. He took a imbibe of coffee. Now if youll excuse me, I have work to do.Midges jaw dropped. I beg your pardon?Brinkerhoff was al scany headed for the door, but Midge was ceme nted in place.I said good night, Ms. Milken, Fontaine repeated. You are excused. exclusively-but sir, she stammered, I I have to protest. I hark back-You protest? the director demanded. He set down his coffee. I protest I protest to your presence in my office. I protest to your insinuations that the deputy director of this substance is lying. I protest-We have a virus, sir My instincts tell me-Well, your instincts are incorrect, Ms. Milken For once, theyre wrongMidge stood fast. But, sir Commander Strathmore bypassed GauntletFontaine strode toward her, barely controlling his anger. That is his prerogative I pay you to watch analysts and service employees-not sleuth on the deputy director If it werent for him wed slake be breaking codes with pencil and base Now leave me He turned to Brinkerhoff, who stood in the doorway colorless and trembling. both of you.With all due respect, sir, Midge said. Id like to advise we send a Sys-Sec team to Crypto nevertheless to en for surely- We will do no such thingAfter a distort beat, Midge nodded. Very well. Goodnight. She turned and left. As she passed, Brinkerhoff could see in her eye that she had no objective of letting this rest-not until her intuition was satisfied.Brinkerhoff gazed across the room at his boss, massive and seething behind his desk. This was not the director he knew. The director he knew was a obtainler for detail, for neatly tied packages. He always encouraged his staff to examine and clarify any inconsistencies in daily procedure, no matter how minute. And yet here he was, asking them to turn their backs on a very freakish series of coincidences.The director was obviously secrecy something, but Brinkerhoff was paid to assist, not to question. Fontaine had turn out over and over that he had everyones trump out interests at heart if assisting him now meant twist a blind eye, then so be it. Unfortunately, Midge was paid to question, and Brinkerhoff feared she was headed for Crypto to do honorable that.Time to get out the resumes, Brinkerhoff thought as he turned to the door.Chad Fontaine barked, from behind him. Fontaine had seen the look in Midges eyes when she left. Dont let her out of this suite.Brinkerhoff nodded and hustled after Midge.Fontaine sighed and put his head in his hands. His sable eyes were heavy. It had been a long, unexpected trip home. The past month had been one of great anticipation for Leland Fontaine. There were things happening right now at the NSA that would change history, and ironically, Director Fontaine had found out almost them only by chance. cardinal months ago, Fontaine had gotten news that Commander Strathmores wife was leave him. Hed also perceive reports that Strathmore was working incorrect hours and seemed nigh to crack under the pressure. contempt differences of opinion with Strathmore on many issues, Fontaine had always held his deputy director in the highest toy with Strathmore was a brilliant man, maybe the best t he NSA had. At the same time, ever since the skipjack tuna drubbing, Strathmore had been under tremendous stress. It made Fontaine uneasy the commander held a lot of keys just about the NSA-and Fontaine had an agency to protect.Fontaine necessary someone to prolong tabs on the wavering Strathmore and advert sure he was 100 percent-but it was not that simple. Strathmore was a proud and powerful man Fontaine inevitable a way to check up on the commander without undermining his confidence or authority.Fontaine decided, out of respect for Strathmore, to do the demarcation himself. He had an invisible tap installed on Commander Strathmores Crypto account-his E-mail, his interoffice correspondence, his brainstorms, all of it. If Strathmore was going to crack, the director would see warning signs in his work. But instead of signs of a breakdown, Fontaine uncovered the ground work for one of the most marvelous intelligence schemes hed ever encountered. It was no wonder Strathmore w as busting his ass if he could pull this contrive off, it would make up for the Skipjack fiasco a hundred times over.Fontaine had reason Strathmore was fine, working at 110 percent-as sly, smart, and flag-waving(prenominal) as ever. The best thing the director could do would be to stand low-cal and watch the commander work his magic. Strathmore had devised a cast a plan Fontaine had no intention of interrupting.Chapter 75Strathmore finger the Berretta in his lap. hitherto with the rage boiling in his blood, he was programmed to think clearly. The fact that Greg Hale had dared lay a finger on Susan Fletcher sickened him, but the fact that it was his own switching made him even sicker Susan going into Node 3 had been his idea. Strathmore knew enough to compartmentalize his emotion-it could in no way affect his treatment of digital Fortress. He was the deputy director of the National Security Agency. And today his trick was more critical than it had ever been.Strathmore slowed h is breathing. Susan. His voice was efficient and unclouded. Did you delete Hales E-mail?No, she said, confused.Do you have the pass-key?She shook her head.Strathmore frowned, chewing his lip. His mind was racing. He had a dilemma. He could slow enter his elevator password, and Susan would be gone. But he need her there. He needed her help to pay off Hales pass-key. Strathmore hadnt told her yet, but conclusion that pass-key was far more than a matter of academic interest-it was an absolute necessity. Strathmore rummyed he could run Susans nonconformity search and find the pass-key himself, but hed al filly encountered problems running her tracer. He was not about to risk it again.Susan. He sighed resolutely. Id like you to help me find Hales pass-key.What Susan stood up, her eyes wild.Strathmore fought off the urge to stand along with her. He knew a lot about negotiating-the position of power was always seated. He hoped she would follow suit. She did not.Susan, sit down.She ign ored him. pattern down. It was an order.Susan remained standing. Commander, if youve still got some burning proclivity to check out Tankados algorithmic program, you can do it alone. I want out.Strathmore hung his head and took a deep breath. It was clear she would need an explanation. She deserves one, he thought. Strathmore made his decision-Susan Fletcher would hear it all. He prayed he wasnt making a mistake.Susan, he began, it wasnt suppositious to come to this. He ran his hand across his scalp. There are some things I havent told you. Sometimes a man in my position The commander wavered as if making a painful confession. Sometimes a man in my position is forced to lie to the people he distinguishs. straight off was one of those days. He eyed her sadly. What Im about to tell you, I never intend to have to say to you or to anyone.Susan felt a chill. The commander had a evil serious look on his face. There was obviously some aspect of his schedule to which she was not pr ivy. Susan sat down.There was a long pause as Strathmore stared at the ceiling, gathering his thoughts. Susan, he finally said, his voice frail. I have no family. He returned his gaze to her. I have no marriage to speak of. My life has been my love for this country. My life has been my work here at the NSA.Susan listened in silence.As you may have guessed, he continued, I planned to go to sleep soon. But I cherished to crawfish out with pride. I wanted to retire designed that Id truly made a difference.But you have made a difference, Susan comprehend herself say. You built TRANSLTR.Strathmore didnt seem to hear. Over the past some years, our work here at the NSA has gotten harder and harder. Weve faced enemies I never sound offd would contend us. Im talking about our own citizens. The lawyers, the well-behaved rights fanatics, the EFF-theyve all played a part, but its more than that. Its the people. Theyve lost faith. Theyve become paranoid. They unawares see us as the ene my. pot like you and me, people who truly have the nations best interests at heart, we find ourselves having to rouse for our right to serve our country. Were no longer peacekeepers. Were eavesdroppers, peeping Toms, violators of peoples rights. Strathmore heaved a sigh. Unfortunately, there are uninitiate people in the world, people who cant imagine the horrors theyd face if we didnt intervene. I truly believe its up to us to save them from their own ignorance.Susan waited for his point.The commander stared wearily at the floor and then looked up. Susan, hear me out, he said, delighted tenderly at her. Youll want to baulk me, but hear me out. Ive been decrypting Tankados E-mail for about two months now. As you can imagine, I was shocked when I number 1 read his messages to North Dakota about an unbreakable algorithm called digital Fortress. I didnt believe it was possible. But every time I intercepted afresh message, Tankado sounded more and more convincing. When I read that hed used mutation strings to relieve a rotating key-code, I cognise he was light-years ahead of us it was an approach no one here had never tried. wherefore would we? Susan asked. It barely makes sense.Strathmore stood up and started pacing, keeping one eye on the door. A few weeks ago, when I heard about the digital Fortress auction, I finally certain the fact that Tankado was serious. I knew if he trade in his algorithm to a Japanese software package company, we were sunk, so I tried to think of any way I could stop him. I considered having him killed, but with all the promotional material surrounding the algorithm and all his recent claims about TRANSLTR, we would be prime suspects. Thats when it dawned on me. He turned to Susan. I realise that digital Fortress should not be stopped.Susan stared at him, apparently lost.Strathmore went on. I emergently saw digital Fortress as the opportunity of a lifetime. It hit me that with a few changes, digital Fortress could work fo r us instead of against us.Susan had never heard anything so absurd. digital Fortress was an unbreakable algorithm it would destroy them.If, Strathmore continued, if I could just make a small variety in the algorithm before it was released He gave her a cunning glint of the eye.It took only an instant.Strathmore saw the amazement register in Susans eyes. He excitedly explained his plan. If I could get the pass-key, I could unlock our copy of digital Fortress and insert a modification.A back door, Susan said, forgetting the Commander had ever be to her. She felt a surge of anticipation. however like Skipjack.Strathmore nodded. Then we could replace Tankados give-away file on the Internet with our altered version. Because Digital Fortress is a Japanese algorithm, no one will ever suspect the NSA had any part in it. All we have to do is make the switch.Susan realized the plan was beyond ingenious. It was pure Strathmore. He planned to facilitate the release of an algorithm the NSA c ould breakFull coming, Strathmore said. Digital Fortress will become the encryption amount overnight.Overnight? Susan said. How do you figure that? Even if Digital Fortress becomes available everyplace for free, most computer users will stick with their old algorithms for convenience. Why would they switch to Digital Fortress?Strathmore smiled. Simple. We have a security leak. The whole world finds out about TRANSLTR.Susans jaw dropped.Quite simply, Susan, we let the rectitude hit the street. We tell the world that the NSA has a computer that can break every algorithm except Digital Fortress.Susan was amazed. So everyone jumps ship to Digital Fortress not knowing we can break itStrathmore nodded. Exactly. There was a long silence. Im sorry I lied to you. Trying to rewrite Digital Fortress is a pretty capacious play, I didnt want you involved.I understand, she replied slowly, still reeling from the brilliance of it all. Youre not a unfit liar.Strathmore chuckled. Years of practi ce. Lying was the only way to keep you out of the loop.Susan nodded. And how big a loop is it?Youre looking at it.Susan smiled for the first time in an hour. I was scared youd say that.He shrugged. Once Digital Fortress is in place, Ill brief the director.Susan was impressed. Strathmores plan was a global intelligence takeover the magnitude of which had never before been imagined. And hed essay it single-handedly. It looked like he might pull it off too. The pass-key was downstairs. Tankado was dead. Tankados partner had been located.Susan paused.Tankado is dead. That seemed very convenient. She thought of all the lies that Strathmore had told her and felt a sudden chill. She looked uneasily at the commander. Did you kill Ensei Tankado?Strathmore looked surprised. He shook his head. Of course not. There was no need to kill Tankado. In fact, Id choose he were alive. His death could cast disbelief on Digital Fortress. I wanted this switch to go as smoothly and inconspicuously as possible. The original plan was to make the switch and let Tankado sell his key.Susan had to admit it made sense. Tankado would have no reason to suspect the algorithm on the Internet was not the original. Nobody had access to it except himself and North Dakota. Unless Tankado went back and study the program after it was released, hed never know about the back door. Hed slaved over Digital Fortress for long enough that hed likely never want to see the programming again.Susan let it all soak in. She dead understood the commanders need for privacy in Crypto. The task at hand was long and delicate-writing a concealed back door in a complex algorithm and making an undetected Internet switch. cover was of paramount importance. The simple suggestion that Digital Fortress was tainted could ruin the commanders plan. solitary(prenominal) now did she fully grasp why he had decided to let TRANSLTR keep running. If Digital Fortress is going to be the NSAs new baby, Strathmore wanted to be sure it was unbreakableStill want out? he asked.Susan looked up. Somehow sitting there in the dark with the great Trevor Strathmore, her fears were brush away. Rewriting Digital Fortress was a chance to make history-a chance to do incredible good-and Strathmore could use her help. Susan forced a reluctant smile. Whats our next move?Strathmore beamed. He reached over and put a hand on her shoulder. Thanks. He smiled and then got down to business. Well go downstairs together. He held up his Berretta. Youll search Hales terminal. Ill cover you.Susan bristled at the thought of going downstairs. Cant we wait for David to call with Tankados copy?Strathmore shook his head. The sooner we make the switch, the better. We have no guarantees that David will even find the other copy. If by some fluke the ring falls into the wrong hands over there, Id prefer wed already made the algorithm switch. That way, whoever ends up with the key will download our version of the algorithm. Strathmore fingere d his gun and stood. We need to go for Hales key.Susan vaporize silent. The commander had a point. They needed Hales pass-key. And they needed it now.When Susan stood, her legs were jittery. She wished shed hit Hale harder. She eyed Strathmores implement and suddenly felt queasy. Youd actually deplume Greg Hale?No. Strathmore frowned, striding to the door. But lets hope he doesnt know that.