Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(68)

Idly, I read a notice written in Russian hanging on the wall, concerning the safe handling of all components.

Piled at the end of a long assembly line was a rack of tiny rockets. The rack stood six feet high and twenty feet long, and was nearly full of the small explosives. Ilya snapped photographs inside the silence and invisibility of our bubble, while Opal and I watched the placement of three more rockets on the rack.

Calculating mentally, I realized there were enough rockets there to destroy thousands of targets. I shivered.

Out now, cabbage, Ilya said.

I got us the hell out of there.

*

"There's a reason they're doing it there," Opal said when Matt asked after studying the photographs. "It takes the blame from Russian shoulders and places it on Ukraine instead, in case anybody finds out."

"This is impossible," Auggie rumbled, looking from one photograph to another.

"You see this," Ilya tapped one of the photographs.

"What is it?" Auggie asked.

"This measures the radiation levels there. See-the indicator shows it is safe enough, although the level is still somewhat high."

"So they're monitoring the radiation from Chernobyl, still," Matt said. "Probably a wise decision. That gauge is huge, though. We've got tiny ones that probably work better."

"Seventies technology," Ilya explained. "They tapped into what was already there, as long as it was still working."

"I swear I saw a floppy disk being used in the computer room," Opal said.

Auggie huffed a humorless laugh. "Leftovers from the nuclear standoff. Most of the technology from that time period is still in use for the nuclear weapons program."

"Yours and theirs," Ilya confirmed.

"Watch out, your spyness is showing," I said.

"Internet," Ilya said. "See for yourself."

"Well, now we have to figure out how to tie this to the right people," Auggie said, rising and stretching. "Need to check in with the President first, though. What can we do about all those rockets in the meantime?"

He'd pointed his question at Matt.

I answered. "Already taken care of," I said. "They'll look live when they're sent out. They'll go dead before they reach their target."

"Like the ones fired at us in Colombia?" Opal's eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Yeah."





Chapter 15

Corinne

"Watch out, your coolness is showing," Opal grinned at me.

"Nah-the cool part will be figuring out how to move that mess from Ukraine back to Russia and send the blame where it belongs."

"I worry that this is only a temporary fix-we're still no closer to finding the mastermind in all this," Matt observed.

"You are correct," Ilya agreed.

"I'm concerned about the ultimate purpose of it," Auggie said.

"Me, too," I rubbed Auggie's back.

"We should probably get back," Matt said. "Before somebody comes looking for us."

"Okay," I said.

"You may consider bringing James and Shaw for a short visit," Auggie said. "I think they're feeling left out."

"I can do that," I shrugged. "When?"

"Tomorrow? They'll need time to pack."

"All right. I'll be there tomorrow at noon. They can have lunch here."

"Corinne," Auggie began, "I don't want you to do anything foolish, or anything without letting me know, first. I have a report that you showed up in Askins' office and made threats."

"I offered to cure his cancer if he gave up his boss," I said. "I never heard of that being a threat before."

"You can do that?" Auggie frowned.

"Richard could do that," I flung out a hand. "If Askins wants to die with that much blood on his hands, then so be it. I made the offer. It still stands. He hands over his boss and everybody's happy. He gets to live longer, too."

"Corinne, the public is already wondering-and rightly so-how a huge creature was lodged so tightly into Askins' office that it took a butcher job to get it out of there."

"I hope they're wondering why Askins was making creatures to begin with," I huffed.

"Look, I didn't intend to start a fight," Auggie held up a hand. "I just don't want information leaked on what you can do. It can be twisted to work against us."

"You think I don't know that?" I snapped. "People have died in plane crashes recently, Auggie. Maybe it's time to let the enemy know what he's really up against."

"Corinne," Rafe hissed, gripping my arm. "You will stop this immediately. We do not need disagreement among us now."

"Fine. Tell Leo and James I'll be there tomorrow," I said and stalked away.

"Corinne," Auggie barked. "You have to take us back. Now."

I did, but I wasn't happy about it.

At all.

*

Notes-Colonel Hunter

"I think she's tired of everybody second-guessing every move she makes," Matt said the moment Corinne disappeared and we found ourselves inside my office. "Look at it this way-Askins likely knows now that she can find him. He's seen enough to know she can kill him without thinking very hard about it. If he's closely connected to the enemy, well, it may draw his attention away from shooting down airplanes."