Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
"I have some good news, and some bad news," Stanley said as Beth listened on her iPhone. "And the good news is actually bad news. So I guess it's two pieces of bad news."
"Please explain what you mean," Beth said.
"The good news, Beth, is I got into the WarTech laptop, and found some answers. It looks like they had the laptop set up for a presentation, and it contained information not found anywhere on the WarTech network. They were probably doing the presentation for the man you spotted with Mark Devlin. The presentation showed what WarTech is up to. So nice work."
"It was all of us, Stanley," Beth replied. "You, Conner, me. And Ross and Jack, too. But let's cut to the chase. What is WarTech up to?"
"That's one piece of bad news. They're up to no good. Do you remember how Devlin bragged to you that they could deconstruct anything and figure out what makes it tick?"
"Yes. He was pretty proud of it."
"According to the presentation on the laptop, WarTech has reverse engineered much of the technology and weapons created by its competitors. The U.S. and its allies use the tech in conflicts in Afghanistan and elsewhere. WarTech is selling a playbook, in essence, that spells out how to defeat that technology, and, in some cases, how to turn it against the United States."
"Oh no," Beth murmured.
"Yep. As just one example, they've figured out how to intercept and control five of our military's top missile weapons. I don't understand how it's even possible, since our military doesn't even control some of those missiles remotely. It's like someone being able to hijack your computer from across the street, when the computer isn't even hooked up to a network. The laptop contained only a presentation touting the tech's capabilities and didn't get into WarTech's secret sauce. But that's just one example. They're selling a treasure trove of data, with tools on how to overcome those weapons."
"That's... wow," Beth said.
"Exactly. The 'products' you heard them discuss were all these various items. WarTech had a few samples tucked away in the warehouse, ready to bring them out when and if the buyer expressed interest. But most were in the main facility, which is why they weren't in the warehouse for too long. I suspect a big showing happened after the presentation."
"Why risk it?" Beth asked. "The company is doing well, isn't it?"
"On the surface, yes," Stanley said. "Although they wouldn't be the first company to cook the books to mislead investors, so perhaps there's more there than meets the eye. I assume there has to be, for them to take this risk. If they get caught, it would be a company killer, since everyone would view them as traitors. I suspect the purchaser is making them an offer they can't refuse."
"Was the buyer the guy I saw with Devlin, going into the warehouse?"
"I'm pretty sure he's just the proxy," Stanley answered. "An assistant for the real purchaser. I ran some facial recognition on the photos you took. The guy is Amal Nassar, who U.S. intelligence services suspect works for Majid Azari. Azari is bad news. He's a wealthy guy. Really wealthy — someone with the kind of money to pull this off. One of the richest guys in the world. Until recently, nobody knew much about him. But British intelligence recently discovered evidence to suggest that for years he's funneled huge sums of money to different terrorist groups."
"Suggest? What does that mean?" Conner asked.
"It means Azari is a smart guy who hides his tracks well," Stanley replied. "He's a respected figure in the financial world, so that insulates him a bit. Our intelligence agencies can't throw accusations around, or snatch him off the streets, without concrete evidence. That might create an international incident."
"Even if he's acting behind the scenes, he has to slip up eventually," Beth said.
"He'll do more than slip up. His actions in the past were all financial, without a paper trail, but Western spy agencies feel that has changed recently. There are whispers of him starting his own movement — the Islamic Liberation Army, or ILA for short. It sounds like he is ready to announce his presence to the world. Our intelligence services think, with his kind of money, the ILA could eclipse Al-Qaeda and ISIL as a global threat within the next couple of years."
"He sounds like a bad character," Beth said.
"He is," Stanley replied. "And he doesn't like you, either."
"Huh?"
"I accessed some intelligence reports which say he wants to make an example of Sapphire Angel. He wants to use you to spring the ILA to worldwide prominence. He wants to show the world that America's greatest hero is nothing compared to the might of Allah's greatest warriors. You got on their radar after the media frenzy when you saved President Andrews."
"Lovely," Beth said. "That would explain why he wanted to pay Devlin for me."
"And why it's good that you got away. Let's not think about what he might have had planned for you."
"Believe me, I won't," Beth said. "What's the other piece of bad news?"
"The other piece of bad news is I've found Eric."
"That's good news!" Beth exclaimed, rising from her seat.
"Not really," Stanley answered. "It won't be easy to get to where they're holding him. He's in the WarTech building, but in a fortified area."
"Can't we just use what we found, go to the authorities, and let them storm the place?" Conner asked.
"Definitely not the local authorities, based on your experience there," Stanley replied. "And the only smoking gun is the presentation from the laptop. I'd need to convince someone that it really did come from WarTech, and that nobody fabricated it to make them look bad. And then I'd have to explain how I got it, which would tie me to Sapphire Angel."
"That would be bad," Beth said.
"I'd gladly pay that price," Stanley continued, "but I'm concerned about what WarTech would do to Eric in the meantime. They would try to bury the evidence, so to speak."
"So we could seal his fate if we go to the authorities," Beth said.
"Quite possibly," Stanley replied.
"You're sure they have him?" Beth asked.
"I don't have any surveillance footage of him. Just some intercepted communications that refer to 'the Senator's fan stashed up in the Penthouse.' You mentioned that Eric was a fan of Senator Chappelle, right?"
"I did," Beth replied. "That has to be Eric. And during my tour, Devlin mentioned the Penthouse, in the top floor of the research facility. He said they hadn't built it out yet."
"I suspect he may have been lying to you. And there are other communications referring to this 'fan' having information on WarTech's 'big plans' and trying to come forward. Everything is vague like that. Enough to piece together if you want to read into it, but not enough to stand on its own if Eric disappears for good."
"Is he okay?" Beth asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
"I... I don't know," Stanley replied. "I think so, but Beth, I won't sugarcoat it for you. I can't be certain."
"Then I know where Sapphire Angel has to go next," Beth replied. "I need to visit the Penthouse."
"Beth, this will be dangerous. They could be ready for you. I'm still in their network, so I can get you through most of the building, and I've figured out how to control the elevator, too. But once you step out onto that top floor — the Penthouse — there's no surveillance up there for me to tap into. And they've jammed outside communications in the entire place. You'll be on your own."
"No, she won't," Conner replied. "I'm going, too."
"No, Conner, you're not," Beth answered. "No offense, but this sounds like it will require quickness and stealth. I will be faster and better by myself. Stanley, send me everything you have, and then let's plan it out. I go tonight."
"Damn it, Beth," Conner said. "You can't do this alone. Let's use the limited evidence we have on WarTech's deal with this Azari guy, and let the feds investigate this. Surely that has to count for something."
"That should count to get them behind bars," Beth replied. "But that won't help Eric. Either the authorities will take their good old time, or they'll go storming in, guns blazing. I can't risk that WarTech will start eliminating evidence, including Eric. And there's another person who might be captive there, too, remember? There is that ArangoSoft sales rep who went missing, according to the female police officer, Jennings. They might have her. So, no. I go in alone. Once I know Eric and the sales rep are secure, we get the feds to move in. No sooner."
Conner growled but said nothing.
"Beth," Stanley said. "The top floor is off the grid for them. If there's illegal activity going on — like holding kidnapped prisoners — it might be on its own network. If you can find a computer up there, and plug into it like you did the other one, maybe I can help. Perhaps I can even find Eric, but I won't have any way to communicate with you."
"I'm sure you'll figure out a way to help, Stanley. Let’s get to work."
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Well.....seems like everything’s finally coming around. I’ve never exactly been good at inferring the villains’ plots before they’re officially revealed, so it was nice to get the full story here. So this is about a different country’s supremacy OTHER than the United States....fascinating. The Islamic Liberation Army.....oh, boy. As if America didn’t already have its hands full in its own country due to the surplus amounts of guns and shootings.....this is just another headache on a growing list of many. If Majid Azari wants to bring in Sapphire Angel, though.....he’s going to need some way to bypass her superpowers. The silver-eyed man working with Azari did suggest the strategy of biding their time and searching for a champion, but from what we heard before, it seems like Azari isn’t keen on waiting too long. If we do get a scene in the future of the silver-eyed man flinging a helpless Sapphire Angel from wall to wall to wall with telekinesis, that’d admittedly be amusing but so heartbreaking at the same time.
WarTech’s trying to pawn the secrets of the country’s technology away to the Middle Easterns right under our noses? That’s arguably the reverse of what I was expecting; I was thinking that WarTech would teach them how to overcome America’s arsenal.....and then the Middle Easterns would provide America with weapons of their own in order for America to be the one who achieves supremacy, not the Middle East. But yeah.....let’s NOT have the ILA become a thing, ‘kay? Right now, though.....as much of a high-priority target as Majid Azari is.....there’s also still the matter of Mark Devlin, Roy Valik, Calvin Valik, Richard Turner, Steve Hains, Mantis, Gregor, Amal Nassar, Senator Chappelle, and pretty much all of WarTech, as well as rescuing Eric Stump and the kidnapped operator from ArangoSoft.
One thing, though; Sapphire Angel is already beginning to become accepted by the general populace as a superhero after saving the President from Xavier Wheldon’s plan in the previous novel. I’m concerned about how apprehending Senator Chappelle might affect that (if that’s even on the to-do list). Taking a government official down could prove disastrous if we don’t have sufficient proof; then again, with people like Conner and Stanley on our side, I doubt that’s going to be a problem.
Speaking of Conner, Beth should really let him help somehow. She let Stanley help, but not him? Jack and Ross haven’t been around for a while, either. I still feel like they should get to see some action.....maybe Jack and Ross less than the others, since they’re not necessarily combat types, but Conner definitely proved himself on several occasions. Jammed cameras, infiltrated WarTech to save Sapphire from Valik and his men’s clutches, helped her scout out the facility on multiple occasions.....I would be complaining my rear off if I were him.
Let’s bring it on home!