Cyber Attack (10 page)

“What for? Now?” asked Steven. Steven glanced around the panel of monitors contained in their state-of-the-art surveillance truck, searching for a reason for Slash’s plan.

“No, I’m talking about finishing up my contract this fall and moving back to Tennessee,” replied Slash.

“Oh, okay. Why?”

“I’ve been thinkin’ on it for a while now. My folks are getting older, my twin brother and my sister started college and could use their big brother around for guidance. I don’t know. Let’s just say I need to get
settled
.”

Steven listened to his friend as he continued to watch the monitors. Bugs and Sharpie were on time and were trailing their mark as planned.

“Listen, I know these last few jobs were
questionable,
” said Steven. “We talked about this and it’s something I plan to address when we get stateside. But the money is incredible and I am sure I could get you something on the security side of Aegis.”

“Yeah, that is an option. But, there is something else I can’t seem to wrap my brain around.”

“C’mon, dude, spill it,” said Steven.

“I mean, look at these monitors,” started Slash. “The world’s goin’ to shit. You see what it’s like back home. Europe’s no different.” Slash pointed towards the monitors, which portrayed a picture of collapse.

From their vantage point atop a parking garage, the men had a perfect view of the Deutsche Bank Twin Towers, nicknamed
Soll und Haben
—Debit and Credit. Today, hundreds of their customers lined up outside the entrances to both towers, intending to debit their accounts. The crowd became hostile when the bank refused entry and the ATMs ran out of money. The largest bank in Germany, Deutsche Bank, had recently instituted capital controls on their customers’ accounts after the collapse of the Eurozone. The cash reserves of banks were at record lows and their customers’ fears created a crisis. Deutsche Bank and HSBC led the way by instituting a largely debit-card economy in Europe. Initially, their stated purpose was to avoid the hefty fines levied upon them by governments for alleged duplicity in money-laundering schemes. In actuality, the central banks and governments used this as a justification for preventing an economic collapse and bank runs. The crisis of confidence this created was playing out on the monitors before them.

“This happened the other day in Boston,” said Steven. “People are freakin’ out and I can’t blame them. My brother talks about this shit all the time.”

“My folks and most of my friends back home are preppers,” said Slash. “You know, some of them are more into it than others. Everyone up our way has a garden and some livestock. It’s just a way of life. Over the last several years, I watched as they started stockpiling foods, canning and stuff like that. My dad has a bunker under his house, for fuck’s sake.”

If you only knew what my friends have.

“Are you worried about your family?” asked Steven. “Is that why you want out?”

“No, they worry about me, if you can believe that. They can take care of themselves as it relates to food, water and medical needs. I’m worried about those who might try to take what my parents have—whether its bands of thieves or the government. My experience would make a difference.”

“
Bands of thieves or the government.
” Steven laughed. “Sounds like the same thing to me. Let’s talk about this some more, but we need to get down to business.” The communications system interrupted their conversation.

“You boys awake up there?” The voice of Sharpie came across the comms.

“Fuck yeah, it’s almost showtime,” replied Steven. Steven watched as the operatives closed in on Johan Fuersberg, a senior trader of collateralized debt obligations, CDOs, for Deutsche Bank. “Good ole Johan shit in the wrong mess kit. Time to pay the piper. Let’s call in some air support, shall we?”

“
Air support
? So dramatic,” said Slash.

Steven laughed. “Control, you copy?” asked Steven.

“
Naturlich
,” replied the Frankfurt-based Aegis Team in their native German.

“Let’s liven up this party and provide some cover for my friends,” said Steven, now immersed in his role as Nomad. “Watch here.” Steven tapped on a monitor providing an aerial view of the Debit and Credit towers.

Aegis, via its contacts at DHL—Germany’s express-delivery company, developed a drone that was initially designed to carry urgently needed packages such as medicines to remote locations. The white and sky blue octocopter, known as the
Paketkopter
, carried a payload compartment as well as several cameras, allowing surveillance of the targeted area.

Steven and Slash watched the drone wind its way through downtown Frankfurt as it approached Deutsche Bank. Keeping a careful eye on his team, Steven provided them a countdown as the
Paketkopter
approached. Bugs and Sharpie closed on the mark. Bugs would make the hit as Sharpie covered him.

“Drop the payload,” said Steven. “Gentlemen, on your ready. See you at the rally point. Control, we’ll need an image uploaded upon completion.”

“
Verstanden
.”

Approximately two hundred feet above the crowd, the payload doors of the drone opened and thousands of newly minted Deutsche Marks filled the air like confetti. As chaos ensued, Bugs deftly moved in on the German banker and inserted the knife in the base of his skull. An instant kill, and symbolic, as instructed. The printer inside the van came to life within seconds, revealing Fuersberg’s lifeless body in a pool of blood. As the worthless money fell from the sky, none of the frenzied customers of Deutsche Bank noticed the assassination.

Chapter 18

May 25, 2016

Der Junge Haus

Frankfurt, Germany

“This disgusting piece of shit needs to die!” exclaimed Slash as he thumbed through the dossier provided by Aegis. “We should just go inside and take all of these sons of bitches out!”

“Calm down, buddy, you’ll get your chance,” said Steven. “We have some info to gather first. Orders, remember?”

Bugs drove the van across the Main at the Baseler Strasse Bridge. “Five minutes, boys.”

“All right, listen up,” said Steven. “This place is in a residential area, high density. Regardless of our feelings, there are kids in this house.”

“Young boys!” exclaimed Slash. “Sick fuckers!”

“I’m with you, Slash, but you gotta keep your head on straight,” said Steven. “We’re in and out. Grab and go. I’ll fire two rounds in the floor to scare the piss out of ’em. We’ll get our guy and then do our jobs. Questions?” The van was silent, but the tension was deafening. Steven hoped Slash wouldn’t massacre every adult in this whorehouse for pedophiles—
Der Junge Haus
.

Bugs navigated onto Rheinstrasse and then left onto Savignystrasse. Curb appearances would never reveal the horrors inside this stately European home. The wrought-iron fence contained a gate with cherubs adorning the posts.

“This is the place. Guards are in front. Silencers for them,” said Steven.

Sharpie hopped out of the front seat and casually approached the two guards. They were dead in seconds. Steven and Slash exited through the rear and hopped over the short fence next to an overgrown rhododendron tree. They approached the entrance.

“Casually, Slash. Let’s clear the first floor before we go bustin’ into rooms,” said Steven. They climbed the concrete steps and entered through the double doors. The interior was filled with red velvet furnishings and a variety of patrons, young and old, but all male. Music was playing to a festive crowd—Elton John, of course.

Steven’s eyes darted around the room, assessing any threats and looking for Karl Ferdl, head of Global Transaction Banking for Deutsche Bank. More importantly for the client’s purposes, he was the Chairman of the Bilderberg Steering Committee. The Aegis team was dispatched to this cesspool to abduct Herr Ferdl and extract the sought-after information. The overall purpose was to deliver a clear message—don’t fuck with John Morgan.

“Upstairs,” whispered Steven. The two men made their way back to the foyer and up the winding staircase. “I’ll take left, you go right. If anyone raises hell, fire off a round to get everyone’s attention.”

Door by door, Slash and Steven made their way through Der Junge Haus. Steven found it interesting none of the doors were locked. Was that for the protection of the boys in the event the staff required access?
We should burn this place down on the way out!

Let’s see what’s behind door number three.
Steven carefully entered and was momentarily sickened by what he saw.
Fuck me
!

“Keep your pants on, you fat fuck!” exclaimed Steven. Steven heard Slash running down the hallway in his direction.

“
Was hat das zu bedeuten?
” asked Ferdl.

“Shut up and put on your pants!”

“I’ve got this,” said Slash, pushing past Steven, and then he immediately bloodied Herr Ferdl’s nose with the butt of his pistol. “
Hose auf!
”

The naked, young boy was curled up in the bed, attempting to hide his nude body. Steven threw a blanket over the boy and pointed a gun at Ferdl’s head.

“
Mach schnell
, asshole!” said Steven.

“Nice,” said Slash. “Where did you learn that?”

“
The Dirty Dozen
.” Steven pushed Ferdl through the doorway towards the stairs. A few heads poked out of the rooms, but Slash stared them down with his weapon and that scared off any witnesses.

As they led their captive down the stairs, Slash shouted instructions in German. His mother, born in Berlin prior to World War II, taught Slash her native language when he was a child. He retained a pretty large vocabulary but rarely had an opportunity to use it. Steven was glad Slash had the ability to communicate with the crowd forming below.

“
Blieb zuruck
!” exclaimed Slash. “Stand back!
Schnell
!”

They made their way out of the house with their overweight patron. Sharpie waited for them with the front gate open.

“Thanks,” said Steven. “How’d you get the gate open?”

“Our friends helped,” said Slash, kicking the legs of the dead guard further under the bushes. He turned his attention to Ferdl. Slash withdrew a syringe from his pocket and injected Ferdl with phenobarbital to insure his cooperation during the ride to the Aegis interrogation house. “
Guten Abend
, fuck face!”

Chapter 19

May 25, 2016

AEGIS warehouse

Frankfurt, Germany

The ride north to Eckenheim took only fifteen minutes by design. After the high-profile assassination of Fuersberg earlier in the day, and the very loud abduction of Ferdl, the Aegis team wanted to get what they came for and get out of Germany.

Bugs and Sharpie remained outside of the building to stand watch. Sharpie was comfortable they weren’t followed because he utilized several driving techniques for escape and evasion. Their primary concern was the amount of noise their
guest
would make during questioning.

“Wake up, asshole,” said Steven as he poured water over the face of the German banker. Ferdl was strapped to a large pallet and tilted against a bench. As he awoke, he struggled against the harnesses holding him tightly in place.

“
Lass mich gehen
!”

“Nope, not gonna happen,” said Slash. “You aren’t goin’ anywhere.” Slash threw another bucket of water on his face, causing Ferdl to cough and spit out the excess. Steven and Slash towered over Ferdl, whose frightened eyes searched the men for an explanation. In broken English, he spoke.

“What want sie from me?”

Steven took the lead. “You’ve upset my employers,” said Steven. “We need information.”

“
Ich verstehe nicht
,” said Ferdl.

Steven looked at Slash.

“He says he doesn’t understand,” said Slash. “Let’s see if he understands this!” Slash brought both fists down hard on Ferdl’s belly, causing him to gasp for air. Slash followed this with another bucket of water to Ferdl’s face.

“Nein, nein!”

Steven gestured for Slash to hold off. He needed Ferdl to stay alive long enough to get two things. The first was a commitment. Steven retrieved a resignation letter to be signed by Ferdl.

“Translate for me, Slash,” said Steven.

Slash nodded his head while staring intently at Ferdl.

“Herr Ferdl, you must resign your post as chairman of the Bilderberg Steering Committee,” said Steven. “If you do not, we will be back. Understand?”

Ferdl looked to Slash, who repeated the statement.

“
Warum?
” asked Ferdl, earning another bucket of water in his face from Slash.

“Because he said so,
verstehen
!”

“It’s gonna get wet in here,” said Steven.

“I’m just gettin’ started,” replied Slash.

Steven continued. Over the next several minutes, Steven and Slash interrogated Ferdl about a series of financial transactions he conducted in February prior to the collapse of the Eurozone. Without the knowledge and consent of John Morgan, Ferdl siphoned off millions of dollars into investment instruments held in Bilderberg accounts at Societe Generale, a French multinational banking group based in Paris. They were a primary conduit for Bilderberg financial activities. Ferdl, using trust powers granted to him by the Boston Brahmin, invested heavily in Bilderberg-sponsored CDOs. After the collapse of the Eurozone, the account was supposedly lost. Morgan learned the funds were actually transferred into cash accounts and the money was used to increase the cash reserves of Societe Generale. Morgan wanted their money returned and demanded to know who instructed Ferdl to take the action.

“
Sie werden mich töten
,” pleaded Ferdl.

“I will kill you right now if you don’t tell me!” replied Slash. Turning to Steven, Slash was clearly tired of waiting. “He won’t talk unless we make him.”