ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (10 page)

The shrill scream of a telephone ripped through the tension.  It caused a few to jump, including the MP.  The sudden release of pressure caused me to stumble forward half a step.  The detonation of the pistol half blinded and deafened me for a second.  I waved away some of the burnt cordite that surrounded me to reveal the sweating shaking face of the MP.

The automatic still pointing at the ceiling trembled in his hand.  I plucked a piece of shouldering wool from the air and pinched it out while glowering at him from under hooded lids.  The ringing in my ears was slowly being replaced by the ringing of the telephone.

‘Will you kindly answer that damned thing.’  I glanced at the officer who like the rest seemed fixed in a frozen tableau of horror.  Turning my attention back to the MP I perceived a warm spot on the top of my head.  I removed my Tam Ó Shanter to find the woollen thistle on top a shouldering wreck.  I brushed it out with a hand and held the smoking ruin under his nose.  ‘If the bastards try and bill me for this, I’ll be paying you a visit.’

His Adams apple bobbed a few times.  A groan came from a corner and Fritz turned and spewed onto the shiny floor.  A glance round showed all were in some degree of shock, even Buff was as white as a sheet.  The officer offered me a small flip up phone.  ‘It’s for you.’

I took the proffered phone with a snarl.  ‘Fit?’  Captain Stewart winced as an excited cultured voice started babbling in my ear.  I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying.  I looked at it sceptically.  ‘Who’s this fucking clown?’

The Captain groaned and walked away opening the fire doors and pinned them back to let in some fresh air.  Gigs grabbed the bowking Fritz and guided him outside.  The bigger of the two MPs took control of his mate removing the weapon from his hand and making it safe, he guided the shaking man outside.

I started shouting down the phone, ‘Oh shut the fuck up will ye.’

I was rewarded by silence, in which I heard the Captain mutter to the MP, ‘That’s it, if he wants him; he can come and get him his bloody self.’

I tried to clear my ears, ‘OK thank you, now who the hell are you and what do you want?’

‘Oh dear have I been going on a bit.’ 

‘You certainly have but please take comfort from the fact that I never heard a word of it,’ which was basically true as my ears were only beginning to function properly again.

‘Let us start again shall we, do the initials A.P. mean anything to you?’

‘What!  As in Armoured Piecing?’

‘No as in a man’s name.’

‘No nothing springs to mind.’

‘Oh dear, your initials are J.W.M aren’t they?’

‘Aye that’s right.’

But your name isn’t Jonathon Markham is it.’

‘No it bloody isn’t.’  Now that name did ring a bell as my rage evaporated my mind started working again.  Markham, where had I heard that, suddenly my mind sparked into over drive.  ‘Shut up a minute; let me think,’ I commanded.  ‘Markham, Markham, you’re talking about my lecturer Markham, aren’t you.’

‘Yes that’s right he has the same initials as you.’

I hadn’t known that but who the hell was this guy?  He’d dropped a few clues JWM, AP.  I turned them over in my mind for a while.  That was it not JWM - AP but AP replies to JWM.  ‘I know who you are, your AP.’

‘Yes that’s right.’

‘You’re the bloke I communicated with while I was at University.  The security man, you’re the man who replied to my faxes about your security requirements.  There was a long moment’s silence.

‘Yes, can you remember any details of those faxes?  I’m sorry to bother you about this, but I desperately need to confirm your identity to my own satisfaction.’

‘Aye, I ken the ones you’re after.’  I started pacing as I tried to dredge them back up from the depths.  I took my time.  ‘Humbly request advice, could it be possible to install some sort of self-destruct mechanism within the software to prevent unauthorised access by enemy forces in time of war, or in case of severe compromising by hostile sources, signed AP.’

There was a sharp intake of breath and a rustle of papers.  ‘Answer, such a mechanism already exists as an internal part of the program.  This particular mechanism can be initiated in three ways, by phone, by a pre-prepared disc or by an individual on any terminal connected to a mainframe.  Suggest details of such be kept secret and handed over personally to the proper authority at the proper time.  If requested, I could prepare a special document on all security measures adopted by this system and withhold it from the university faculty in case of subversive elements, Blah, Blah.  Until instructed personally, I will take your answer as an affirmative and immediately remove or erase any existing files on this subject, please reply A.S.A.P. JWM.

Your reply was a very pleasant note affirming my actions and saying that you looked forward to meeting me personally at the first presentation again, signed AP.  Now have I missed the mark or is that what you’re after?’

‘Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.’

I was a little taken aback, ‘what’s the matter, have I got it all wrong?’

‘Oh no dear chap, you’ve got it all right.  You see when our JWM turned up with no documents, no discs, and no knowledge of our communiqués I am afraid it caused quite a bit of panic at the top.  A lot of discreet enquires and some very expensive covert operations later and until you turned up yesterday we were still no wiser to what had gone wrong.’

‘Excuse me but I don’t understand why you didn’t just get in contact with me personally.  It couldn’t be all that hard to track me down.  There couldn’t have been that many J.W.M’s at university.  I even left them a P.O. Box No.  I still check it once a month.’

‘We did check all the JWM’s, one of which was a woman.  I have had a man checking since we first got wind of you yesterday.  I have the results here.’  There was a rustle of paper.  ‘There is no record of a James Wilson Murison ever attending Moray University or College for that matter.’

‘You can’t be serious, what about my bursary details?  They can’t have erased those.’

‘I’m sorry.’  Was his reply.

I slid down the wall onto my haunches and stared at the phone in utter disbelief.  I snapped it closed cutting him off.  I needed time to think.  It started ringing again.  I slid it across the floor to its owner who, along with his remaining MP was guarding the Console.

‘He wants to talk to you again.’

‘No not yet.’  I forced down the thoughts of self-pity, who, what, why?  The why had to be money but they wouldn’t have made it off the army, so that was another who.  What the hell could I do about it now?  The first thing I needed was information.  ‘Phone,’ I demanded and promptly received.

‘Still there?’

‘Yes, yes I am.’

‘Good.  I presume you’re still waiting for those security procedures?’ 

‘Yes, very much so.’

‘How much are they worth to you?’

‘Ah, I am afraid the system has already been paid for, I don’t’--.’

‘I don’t want money.  I want information.’

‘Oh I see, well that would depend on--.’

‘No, no ah's, oh's, or buts, I propose an exchange of information.  I know what’s coming and you need this information more than ever now.’ 

‘Have you been using that computer since you got there?’  I could tell by the tension that sprang into his voice that I’d hit a raw note.

‘No I haven’t been wading through your most secret files and I give you my word of honour here and now if you play it straight with me, I never will.’

There was a long pause.  ‘Why do I find myself believing you, what kind of information are you needing.’ 

‘Well for a start I wrote a lot more programs than this one.  It could be some of them were worth a lot of money.  I want to know where those programs went, how much they paid out and to whom.

Who from my class or those surrounding came into a lot of money soon after they left university, detailed bank Account Numbers the lot.’

‘Strictly speaking some of what you’re asking for isn’t quite legal.’ 

‘Don’t give me any of your bullshit.  If you’ve been as worried as you say you have, you’ll know the size of the condoms they use.’

There was a pause, ‘would you like to come over and discuss these issues?’

‘No, I wouldn’t, the only place I’m going is the pub to get drunk.’

He changed tack.  ‘How about tea on Saturday?’

I thought it over for a moment, ‘Yes, actually I’d like that.  I’ll try and sort out any problems you’ve been having.’ 

‘Splendid, splendid, I’m sure we can find a few for you to sort out.’

‘Would you like your consoles back?’ 

‘Yes please, is this the self-destruct mechanism we discussed?’

‘Yes it is.’

‘Very effective, I presume this is some sort of warning.’

This guy was sharp.  ‘That’s right one more key input will totally erase the whole system irretrievably.’  I eyed the two men guarding the console.  ‘I ah, might have a little problem here.  Two of the kings finest are guarding the keyboard with their lives.’

‘Are they?’

‘Yes, I also believe they would like to put me at his Majesty’s disposal for a very long time.’

‘Well we can’t have that can we, put Graham on will you.’

I waved the phone in the air.  ‘Is there a Graham in the house?’

‘Yes,’ admitted the officer.  I threw the phone over.

‘Yes sir, yes sir, OK sir.’  He turned to his companion.  ‘Move aside Corporal.’

‘Sir.’  The corporal seemed dubious.

‘Do it.’

A nerve jerked spasmodically as he scowled down at me, he moved aside but reluctantly.  I only hoped I could remember the proper sequence.  As I stood in front of the keyboard, I found them both looking over my shoulder.  ‘Gentlemen, please this is top secret, I am afraid you just don’t have the authority to watch.’

I could hear the man on the phone chuckle.  They turned away and I put everything back to normal.  ‘Is everything working at his end?’

‘Yes.’

‘OK.’  I logged off and switched the computer off.  I was half expecting to be arrested but nothing happened.  They collected their companion leaving me with a name, General Andrew Pearson, the army’s head of security.

I spent the rest of that day in Coventry, suffering their accusing glances, until about their third drink when the axe fell.  The accusations came thick and fast, funnily enough I never lost the rag.  I found it strangely comforting to find they still cared.

‘OK that’s enough, I’ve got the point.’  I said at last after they’d all had a good dig.  ‘But in my own defence I’ll tell ye I never saw or heard the cunt cock that pistol.  Christ when we were in, they never even issued them live rounds when they were at home.’

‘He’s got a point,’ Gigs agreed.  That set them off on a different track for a while.  I had been forgiven.

‘That’s all fine and well, but now they’ve found out Jim’s this big fancy computer programmer how the hell are we going to slip away fae this lot?’

‘Nommy’s got a point Jim.  If you ken á their secrets they’ll not let ye out of their sight.’

‘Aye Buff you’ve both got a good point but I’m going to wait and see whit the manny D’Ord’s got up his sleeve, ye never ken it might be something decent.  He’s got us a together again for a reason.  I’ll lay bets he can keep us together till things quieten down and then if we keep our heads and don’t draw too much attention to ourselves we could probably just slip away.’

‘Easier said than done,’ piped up Davie McAllister.  ‘When we’re all together- we draw trouble like shit draws flies.’  As usual, Davie never said much, but when he did, it was accurate and straight to the point.

CHAPTER 12

Prime Minister Tochoto of Japan arrived at the Scottish Prime Ministers private residence at 12 midnights that same day.  He was immediately shown into the prime ministers private study.

‘Prime Minister Tochoto, thank you for coming at such short notice.’  Peter Grey met him half way across the floor and guided him over to a pair of comfortable armchairs set in front of a glowing peat fire.

‘I’m afraid I don’t understand the urgency or the secrecy Prime Minister Grey.’

‘Please be seated.’

Between the armchairs sat a very beautifully polished mahogany coffee table.  On it sat whisky glasses and a decanter with the Japanese Prime Minister’s favourite tipple.  Either side sat two piles of documents.

‘Please forgive my haste Prime Minister Tochoto.  I know I am being extremely rude but what I need to say would take too long and then you would ask for evidence, so I present you with the evidence first.’

He indicated the pile of documents nearest.  The handsome Japanese ignored them.  Leaning forward in his seat he grasped Peter Grey’s forearms and squeezed hard.  ‘Peter my friend, what has been happening.  Why have you and your government been so distant this last year?  Why have you caused so much friction between us?  All those great plans we made all our dreams.’

‘I’m so sorry Itche.’  Peter Grey returned the gesture.  ‘But I have done what I believe necessary to safe guard those dreams.  Please bear with me, read these documents then I will explain all, please.’ 

Itche sat back and studied his friend’s face; it was older than he remembered, drawn and tired.  For the last year as relations with Scotland had broken down his friendship with this great man had become increasingly strained.  He had become more and more frustrated and confused.  Now finally there was a chance to clear the air.  He reached for a document. 

‘Would you like some refreshments, Itche?’

‘No thank you, not yet.’  The Prime Minister of Japan shared Peter’s gifts of speed reading with a photographic memory to back it up, but it still took him a couple of hours to plough through the pile of documents.  Peter looked up from his desk as Itche came across the room.  He put his pen down as Itche gently laid the stack of documents down in front of him.  ‘I think I begin to see why you have been trying so hard to distance your selves from us Peter, are you trying to protect us.’

‘Yes Itche, I have to.’

‘But why Peter?  We could stand together and fight; we could supply you with a modern army and weapons.  With us at your side you may have a chance.’

Peter smiled wanly.  ‘Still your Samurai blood Itche; you can still be our saviour.  In fact, you and your nation are our greatest hope for any future but not your way.  We do not need modern arms and weapons from you.  For years, we have been stockpiling guns, planes, and tanks far more advanced than anything the world has seen to date.

‘We were,’ he sighed, ‘Going to use them as bargaining tools to join the UN and NATO once the defence pact with England and Wales had finally come to an end’

Itche said something incomprehensible in Japanese.  ‘Do you think you can defeat the might of the Americans on your own?’

‘Defeat them Itche, no we could never defeat them, but maybe we can hold them off long enough.  You see we are not their real enemy Itche, time is, and when they attack us we will do our utmost to steal as much of it from them as we possibly can.’

‘Yes I understand, but can we not do it together.’

‘We will.  We by the front door, you by the back, but no one must know of our collaboration.’

‘But why should we hide like snakes in the grass, Peter.’

‘Come Itche, let us sit, and talk.’

He guided him back to the armchairs, ‘Would you like some refreshments now.’

‘Yes please.’

Peter called for refreshments and the two men chatted about their families and friends.  Drinks and a small lunch were placed before them.  After they had eaten and the leftovers had been cleared away, the two men settled down to business once again.

‘I think the most important thing Itche is the guarding of this planets ecology.  That my friend is even more important than saving Scotland.  When we started the buy and save plan 40 years ago we had no idea of the success it would have.  So far, we have saved the remaining rain forests in the whole of South and Central America.  We have cultivated and replanted millions of acres.  Between that and our space, Ozone projects we have started to win the battle against the greenhouse effect.  It is a slow and costly battle however, and the pressure is being poured on.  I now have over two hundred thousand troops over there trying to protect it, that’s almost all of my armed forces tied up thousands of miles away.  I need those men and women home Itche and I think I’ve found a way of doing it without causing suspicion.’

Peter fetched another small stack of documents.  ‘We are being assaulted on a number of different fronts.  The foremost of these threats are a large number of American Lumber firms who have gathered together to try and have the forests released from trust status, demanding the timber should be released for consumption.  Their obvious greed though has done nothing but good for our cause and more and more people are donating to the charity.

The details are in the first folder, in the second is a report on how they are managing to steal thousands of acres of prime trees every year and the fight we have been having against them.  The third is a report on the American government’s recent involvement in the scheme.  They are going to cause an incident to try and discredit the Scottish troops, break our funding and trap them overseas.  The fourth report is the full American battle plan on the campaign they are going to run against those troops once war is declared.  They’re going to cut them off from their supplies, isolate them, starve them out and kill them.’

‘This is terrible Peter, how can Japan help you?’

‘This is the plan they are using to cause an incident.  They are going to wipe out a small village in the jungle, to be found by a small team of American scientists.  Then they are going to scatter evidence that implicates Scottish troops.  They are hoping to cause such a stir in their own country that funding for the charity will be cut off.  As you know Itche, most of the funds are donated by the private citizens of the United States and we cannot lose their support.’

‘I find that a little ironic Peter, don’t you?’

Peter smiled.  ‘We won’t be fighting the American people Itche, only a few greedy ones at the top.’

‘Who just happen to command all their armed forces?’ 

‘Yes.’ 

‘Do you really think the American people won’t get behind their government when their soldiers start dying?’

‘They probably will, Itche.  I can only hope in their heart of hearts they will know that it is an unjust war.’

‘Can’t you stop them before they commit this act?’

‘The area they are going to commit this atrocity in, is a thousand miles square.  The villages numerous.  We do not know the date, the time, the place or anything.  All we can do is monitor their radio traffic and follow their science teams around.’  He paused for a second.  ‘Their assassination squad could already be in country right now, we don’t know.  The first indication we will have the deed is done, will be a burst transmission from that area requesting evacuation.

We know the science teams are supposed to, innocently discover the massacre the following morning.  All we can do is monitor all their science team schedules, try and locate their transmitters and watch the two.  That’s when your people come in.’ 

‘So it is inevitable my friend?’

‘Yes.’

‘So what can we do?’

‘You have to beat the American science teams to it.  Discover the massacre first.  Now this is the hard part.’  He paused and took a few deep breaths before going on.  ‘You have to denounce us.  You have to demand the removal of the Scottish troops.  You will have to slander us to the world Itche.  Bring us so low and then force the governing body to replace our troops with yours.’

Peter could see the pain he was causing his friend.  He got up and began pacing the room.  ‘We have to save this project Itche; if the Americans discover it first they can take control of the situation, cut funding and trap my troops.  The project will collapse and the developers move in.  Alternatively, they could force the commission to put in their own troops and do exactly the same thing.  Either way the whole world loses.  On the other hand if Japan gets control we can save the forests Itche and win the first battle.’

‘Are you sure Peter that you cannot prevent this massacre, you seem so well informed about everything else?’

‘I can see why you’re sceptical Itche and yes we have broken their codes or most of them, but there are so many communications.  It all takes time and for this operation, none of the finer details has gone through normal channels.  We simply cannot find anymore.  However if we do and can stop them then we will no matter what the consequences, you have my word on that.’

‘I am sorry Peter.’

‘No apologies, Itche, it was a fair question under the circumstances.’

‘Then we shall not let their sacrifice be in vain.’

‘Thank you.’

‘This operation will be very difficult to organise, Peter.’

‘No, it shouldn’t be too difficult; my people are already in place.’

‘Yes, but who do I give this mission to?’

Peter sat down again.  ‘Do you remember that section of men you had to order home for leave?  The ones I had for dinner after presenting them with medals for bravery.’

‘Yes, they are almost part of your army now.  The last time I ordered them home they deserted on mass and hid in the jungle with a radio until I withdrew the orders.’

Peter smiled at the memory, ‘they have been decorated now by almost every European and Asian country.  Even the Americans have acknowledged their achievements.’

The Japanese prime minister shook his head, ‘they would be no good.  They would probably conceal any evidence of Scottish involvement knowing instantly it was some kind of ruse by terrorists and dismiss it out of hand.  I would prefer men of the intelligence branch to handle it.’ 

Peter disagreed, ‘no, that’s not a good idea.  Then we would have the very same men working against us.  It has to be them.  People would believe them long before obvious strangers who only arrived in country a few weeks or days before.’

Itche wasn’t convinced, ‘I don’t think they will do it.’

Peter believed he knew the men, ‘I think they would.  If you briefed them personally and told them how many of their friend’s lives they might save.’ 

Itche was shocked, ‘you mean tell them everything!’

‘Yes, everything.’

‘Do you think that wise?’ 

‘Wise or not, they have been friends of ours so long now they deserve to have the truth, all of it.  I would trust them with my own life.’

Peter went over to his desk and retrieved a large bundle of envelopes bound together and fixed with a wax seal.

‘If you have any difficulty, I have written a personal request by hand to each asking for their aid in this matter.’  The envelopes changed hands solemnly.

‘Is there anything else we can do for you Peter?’

‘Yes, part of the American mandate is to destroy all of our new technologies, well almost.  They very much want to capture our satellite launching facility and related industries intact.’  He picked up the second stack of folders from the mahogany coffee table.  ‘In case they succeed, I would like to give you these.’

He handed them over and Itche opened the first and started flicking through the contents.  He sat up sharply picked up the next then the next.  When he had finished, he looked up with wonder.  ‘Peter, this, this is.’

‘Yes, all our new technology to date, stored in warehouses all over Glasgow.  There is enough equipment stockpiled to build a number of factories from the ground up.  We even have a complete satellite launching unit ready and waiting for you.’

‘But we couldn’t possibly afford it Peter.’

‘We’re not selling it to you Itche; we’re giving it to you.’

‘No, no I could not possibly accept such a gift.’

Peter grinned.  ‘I knew you wouldn’t, that’s why I’m giving them to you under a number of conditions.  Firstly, you have to give our top scientists and research people asylum.  Then supply them with the equipment and conditions they are used to.  Secondly, you have to keep our technology alive.  Thirdly, no matter what happens you have to help us rebuild afterwards.  Fourth and most importantly you must be careful with this knowledge, do not let it bring harm to your country destroy it first.  Oh one more thing.’ 

Peter went and retrieved yet another bulky envelope and handed it over.  ‘This is for my successor if I don’t make it.  It states briefly, what transpired here tonight.  Just in case, there is any confusion.  Unless that is, the man’s a puppet.  I will leave that to your discretion.  Do you understand?’

Itche stood.  ‘Yes I understand.’  Both men regarded one another for possibly the last time.