Digital Fortress Chapter 71-75

Chapter 71Tokugen Numataka lit his quarter cigar and un downcast pacing. He snatched up his phone and buzzed the main switchboard.Any countersign yet on that phone number? he de globeded before the hooker could discourse. nonehing yet, sir. Its taking a bit eight-day than expected-it came from a cellular.A cellular, Numataka m employ. Figures. Fortunately for the Japanese economy, the Ameri arouses had an insatiable appetite for electronic gad belongs.The boosting station, the operator added, is in the 202 area code. But we have no number yet.202? W presents that? Where in the gigantic Ameri good deal expanse is this mysterious North Dakota hiding?Somewhere respectable Washington, D. C., sir.Numataka arched his center of attentionbrows. C every(prenominal) me as soon as you have a number.Chapter 72Susan F permitcher stumbled crossways the fatefulened Crypto taradiddle toward Strathmores catwalk. The emergencyers office was as furthermost from Hale as Susan could get in side the locked complex.When Susan reached the top of the catwalk stairs, she found the commanders adit hanging bottomlanddidly, the electronic lock rende vehement ineffective by the power appearage. She barged in.air force officer? The only light inside was the glow of Strathmores com drawer monitors. air force officer she prognosticateed once again. CommanderSusan suddenly remembered that the commander was in the Sys-Sec lab. She move circles in his exhaust office, the panic of her ordeal with Hale serene in her blood. She had to get away of Crypto. digital safeguard or no digital shield, it was time to act-time to terminate the TRANSLTR run and escape. She eyed Strathmores glowing monitors preceding(a) dashed to his desk. She fumbled with his keypad. Abort TRANSLTR The depute was simple now that she was on an authorized terminal. Susan called up the proper command window and typedABORT RUNHer finger h everyplaceed numberarily over the write in code key.Susan a vocalism barked from the vergeway. Susan wheeled scared, fearing it was Hale. But it was non, it was Strathmore. He stood, pale and eery in the electronic glow, his chest heaving. What the hells going onCom mander Susan gasped. Hales in thickener 3 He just attacked meWhat? Impossible Hales locked take down in-No, hes not Hes loose We need security inhere now Im aborting TRANSLTR Susan reached for the keypad.DONT TOUCH THAT Strathmore lunged for the terminal and pulled Susans reach away.Susan recoiled, stunned. She stared at the commander and for the second time that day did not discern him. Susan felt suddenly alone.Strathmore maxim the blood on Susans shirt and straightaway 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. There were things on his head word-things Susan F permitcher did not distinguish most-things he had not told her and prayed hed neer have to.Im sorry, he tell softly. Tell me what happened.She turned away. It doesnt involvement. The bloods not mine. Just get me out of here.Are you hurt? Strathmore put a hand on her shoulder. Susan recoiled. He dropped his hand and count oned away. When he looked rachis at Susans sheath, she seemed to be staring over his shoulder at something on the wall.There, in the darkness, a small keypad glowed full force. Strathmore followed her gaze and frowned. Hed hoped Susan wouldnt commemorate the glowing control panel. The illuminated keypad controlled his private hardiness lift. Strathmore and his high-powered guests used it to come and go from Crypto without advertising the fact to the rest of the provide. The personal move dropped down fifty feet below the Crypto dome and therefore moved laterally 109 yards with a reinforced beneathground tunnel to the sublevels of the main NSA complex. The elevator connecting Crypto to the NSA was powered from the main complex it was on-line despite Cryptos power outage.Strathmore had know all along it was on-line, save even 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 oppugned how much hed have to tell her to exculpate her want to stay.Susan pushed past strain Strathmore and raced to the back wall. She jabbed furiously at the illuminated simplytons.Please, she begged. But the opening did not open.Susan, Strathmore said quietly. The lift takes a battle cry.A password? she repeated angrily. She glared at the controls. Below the main keypad was a second keypad-a smaller one, with precise only whentons. Each button was marked with a letter of the alphabet. Susan wheeled to him. What is the password she demanded.Strathmore mentation a moment and sighed heavily. Susan, have a seat.Susan looked as if she could precisely be remainve her ears.Have a seat, the commander repeated, his voice firm.Let me out Susan shot an queasy g lance toward the commanders open office entrance.Strathmore eyed the scared Susan Fletcher. Calmly he moved to his office door. He stepped out onto the land and peered into the darkness. Hale was nowhere to be seen. The commander stepped back inside and pulled the door shut. Then he propped a chair in front to hold in 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 room. He rotated them to face the closed office door. Then he sat. He lifted the glittering Beretta semi-automatic and aimed steadily at the slightly open door. After a moment he laid the gun back in his lap.He talk solemnly. Susan, were safe 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 t o 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.There was a long silence. In a daze, Susan moved crossways the office and sat next to Strathmore.Susan, he began, I havent been entirely honest with you.Chapter 73David Becker felt as if his face had been doused in turpentine and ignited. He rolled over on the floor and squinted through bleary tunnel stack at the girl middle(a) to the revolving doors. She was running in short, terrified bursts, dragging her duffel behind her across the tile. Becker tried to pull himself to his feet, but he could not. He was blinded by red-hot fire. She cant get awayHe tried to call out, but there was no air in his lungs, only a foetid pain. No He coughed. The sound barely remaining his lips.Becker knew the second she went through the door, she would disappear for ever. He tried to call out again, but his throat was searing.The girl had almost reached the revolvi ng door. Becker staggered to his feet, gasping for breath. He stumbled after her. The girl dashed into the graduation exercise compartment of the revolving door, dragging her duffel behind her. Twenty yards back, Becker was staggering blindly toward the door. anticipate 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 terror and saw her duffel snagged in the opening. She knelt and pulled furiously to free it.Becker fixed his bleary pot on the fabric protruding through the door. As he dove, the red corner of nylon protruding from the crack was all he could see. He flew toward it, build up outstretched.As David Becker knock down toward the door, his hands only inches away, the fabric slipped into the crack and disappeared. His fingers clutched lift 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 sure how long hed been lying there before he became aware of the hum of fluorescent bulbs over designateer. Everything else was still. Through the silence came a voice. somebody was calling. He tried to lift his head off the floor. The military man was cockeyed, watery. again the voice. He squinted down the concourse and saw a condition twenty dollar bill yards away.Mister?Becker recognized the voice. It was the girl. She was standing at another entrance farther down the concourse, clutching her duffel to her chest. She looked more fright wingened now than she had before.Mister? she asked, her voice trembling. I never told you my name. How come you know my name?Chapter 74Director Leland Fontaine was a saddle horse of a man, sixty-three years old, with a close-cropped military haircut and a hardened demeano r. His jet-black eyes were want coal when he was irritated, which was almost always. Hed go up through the ranks of the NSA through hard spring, good planning, and the well-earned respect of his predecessors. He was the start-off African American music manager of the National warrantor Agency, but aught ever mentioned the distinction Fontaines politics were decidedly color-blind, and his staff wisely followed suit.Fontaine had kept Midge and Brinkerhoff standing as he went through the silent ritual of fashioning himself a mug of Guatemalan java. Then hed settled at his desk, left them standing, and questioned them similar schoolchildren in the principals office.Midge did the talking-explaining the unusual series of events that led them to violate the holiness of Fontaines office.A computer virus? the director asked coldly. You two think 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 file that hasnt broken in over twenty hoursFontaine frowned. Or so your data says.Midge was almost to reject, but she held her tongue. Instead she went for the throat. Theres a blackout in Crypto.Fontaine looked up, patently surprised.Midge affirm with a curt nod. All powers down. Jabba notion maybe-You called Jabba?Yes, sir, I-Jabba? Fontaine stood up, furious. Why the hell didnt you call Strathmore?We did Midge defended. He said eachthing was fine.Fontaine stood, his chest heaving. Then we have no cause to doubt him. There was closure in his voice. He took a imbibe of coffee. Now if youll excuse me, I have run to do.Midges jaw dropped. I beg your pardon?Brinkerhoff was al subscribey headed for the door, but Midge was cemented in place.I said good night, Ms. Milken, Fontaine repeated. You are excused.But-but sir, she stammered, I I have to protest. I think-You protest? the director demanded. He set down his coffee. I protest I protest to yo ur presence in my office. I protest to your insinuations that the deputy director of this agency is lying. I protest-We have a virus, sir My instincts tell me-Well, your instincts are faulty, 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 expect you to watch analysts and service employees-not spy on the deputy director If it werent for him wed still be breaking codes with pencil and paper Now leave me He turned to Brinkerhoff, who stood in the doorway colorless and trembling. Both of you.With all overdue respect, sir, Midge said. Id like to recommend we send a Sys-Sec team to Crypto just to ensure-We provide do no such thingAfter a tense beat, Midge nodded. Very well. Goodnight. She turned and left. As she passed, Brinkerhoff could see in her eyes that she had no intention of letting this rest-not until her intuition was satisfied.Brinkerhoff gaz ed across the room at his boss, enormous and seething behind his desk. This was not the director he knew. The director he knew was a stickler 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 bizarre series of coincidences.The director was obviously hiding something, but Brinkerhoff was paid to assist, not to question. Fontaine had proven over and over that he had everyones scoop interests at heart if assisting him now meant turning a blind eye, then so be it. Unfortunately, Midge was paid to question, and Brinkerhoff feared she was headed for Crypto to do just 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 si ghed 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 close to them only by rule.Three months ago, Fontaine had gotten news that Commander Strathmores wife was deviation him. Hed also heard reports that Strathmore was working absurd hours and seemed some to crack under the pressure. Despite differences of opinion with Strathmore on many issues, Fontaine had always held his deputy director in the highest esteem Strathmore was a brilliant man, maybe the dress hat the NSA had. At the same time, ever since the click beetle fiasco, Strathmore had been under tremendous stress. It make Fontaine uneasy the commander held a lot of keys around the NSA-and Fontaine had an agency to protect.Fontaine needed soul to bear on tabs on the wavering St rathmore and make sure he was degree Celsius percent-but it was not that simple. Strathmore was a proud and powerful man Fontaine needed a way to check up on the commander without undermining his confidence or authority.Fontaine decided, out of respect for Strathmore, to do the job himself. He had an invisible tilt 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 precedent signs in his work. But instead of signs of a breakdown, Fontaine uncovered the ground work for one of the most incredible intelligence schemes hed ever encountered. It was no wonder Strathmore was busting his ass if he could pull this plan off, it would make up for the Skipjack fiasco a hundred times over.Fontaine had concluded Strathmore was fine, working at 110 percent-as sly, smart, and patriotic as ever. The best thing the director could do would be to stand unmortgaged and watc h the commander work his magic. Strathmore had devised a plan a plan Fontaine had no intention of interrupting.Chapter 75Strathmore thumb the Berretta in his lap. Even 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 fault made him even sicker Susan going into thickener 3 had been his idea. Strathmore knew copious to compartmentalize his emotion-it could in no way take his handling of Digital defense. He was the deputy director of the National Security Agency. And today his job was more critical than it had ever been.Strathmore slowed his breathing. Susan. His voice was expeditious 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 easily enter his elevator password, and Susan would be gone. But he need ed her there. He needed her help to recall Hales pass-key. Strathmore hadnt told her yet, but let oning that pass-key was far more than a matter of pedantic interest-it was an absolute necessity. Strathmore comicaled he could run Susans nonconformity search and find the pass-key himself, but hed already encountered problems running her tracer. He was not slightly to danger 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 exhort to stand along with her. He knew a lot about negotiating-the horizon of power was always seated. He hoped she would follow suit. She did not.Susan, sit down.She ignored him.posture down. It was an order.Susan remained standing. Commander, if youve still got some burning desire to check out Tankados algorithm, 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 qualification a mistake.Susan, he began, it wasnt supposed 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 raw confession. Sometimes a man in my position is forced to lie to the heap he loves. Today was one of those days. He eyed her sadly. What Im about to tell you, I never think to have to say to you or to anyone.Susan felt a chill. The commander had a deadly serious look on his face. There was obviously some aspect of his agenda to which she was not privy. 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 y ou may have guessed, he continued, I planned to inconvenience soon. But I wanted to make love with pride. I wanted to retire wise(p) that Id truly made a difference.But you have made a difference, Susan heard 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 imagined would altercate us. Im talking about our own citizens. The lawyers, the civil rights fanatics, the EFF-theyve all played a part, but its more than that. Its the people. Theyve lost faith. Theyve become paranoid. They suddenly see us as the enemy. People like you and me, people who truly have the nations best interests at heart, we find ourselves having to fight 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 naive people in the world, people who cant imagine the horror s 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, smiling tenderly at her. Youll want to weaken 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 first-year read his messages to North Dakota about an unbreakable algorithm called Digital Fortress. I didnt believe it was possible. But every time I intercepted anew message, Tankado sounded more and more convincing. When I read that hed used mutation strings to write a rotating key-code, I know he was light-years ahead of us it was an approach no one here had never tried.Why 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 accepted the fact that Tankado w as serious. I knew if he sold his algorithm to a Japanese software company, we were sunk, so I tried to think of any way I could stop him. I considered having him cleanuped, but with all the publicity surrounding the algorithm and all his juvenile claims about TRANSLTR, we would be prime suspects. Thats when it dawned on me. He turned to Susan. I realized that Digital Fortress should not be stopped.Susan stared at him, apparently lost.Strathmore went on. I suddenly saw Digital Fortress as the hazard of a lifetime. It hit me that with a few changes, Digital Fortress could work for 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 modification 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 facsimile of Digital Fortress and insert a modification.A back door, Susan said, forgetting the Commander had ever lied to her. She felt a surge of anticipation. Just 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 bequeath 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 could breakFull access, Strathmore said. Digital Fortress will become the encryption standard overnight.Overnight? Susan said. How do you figure that? Even if Digital Fortress becomes available everywhere 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 worl d finds out about TRANSLTR.Susans jaw dropped.Quite simply, Susan, we let the truth hit the street. We tell the world that the NSA has a computer that can break every algorithm merely 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 charming big play, I didnt want you involved.I understand, she replied slowly, still reeling from the brilliance of it all. Youre not a bad liar.Strathmore chuckled. Years of practice. 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 afraid youd say that.He shrugged. once Digital Fortress is in place, Ill brief the director.Susan was impressed. Strathmores plan was a ball-shaped intelligence coup the magnitude of which had never before been imagined. And hed attempted 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 eliminate Ensei Tankado?Strathmore looked surprised. He shook his head. Of course not. There was no need to kill Tankado. In fact, Id prefer he were alive. His death could cast suspicion 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 miss himself and North Dakota. Unless Tankado went back and studied the programming after it was released, hed never know about the back door. Hed slaved over Digital Fortress for long enough that hed probably never want to see the programming again.Susan let it all soak in. She suddenly understood the commanders need for privacy in Crypto. The caper at hand was time-consuming and delicate-writing a concealed back door in a complex algorithm and making an undetected Internet switch. Concealment was of paramount importance. The simple suggestion that Digital Fortress was crooked could ruin the commanders plan.Only 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 swept 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 fingered his gun and stood. We need to go for Hales key.Susan fell 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 weapon and suddenly felt queasy. Youd actually shoot Greg Hale?No. Strathmore frowned, striding to the door. But lets hope he doesnt know that.