Black Ghosts by Victor Ostrovsky

remained serious. “Except the Russians we are dealing with are not the official Russians. Apparently we are dealing with some rogue element.”
    â€œI see. So what were they after?”
    â€œThe Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, developed, in conjunction with STSC at Ogden ALC and—”
    â€œWait, what’s an ALC or STSC? For God’s sakes, Larry, don’t talk gibberish to me.”
    Larry smiled. He knew that although his friend had spent most of his adult life in the service, he had usually worked in small units which cared very little for Beltway jargon. “Sorry. Ogden ALC is an Air Force Logistical Center, which is located at the Hill Air Force Base outside Salt Lake City. Actually it’s right by Laton.”
    Edward nodded. He knew the place.
    â€œWell, the STSC is the Software Technology Support Center there and it’s all part of the AFMC, which is the Air Force Material Command. Okay?”
    â€œWhatever,” Edward said, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest.
    â€œWell, to make a long story short, they had developed a sophisticated communication device.” Larry was now choosing his words carefully to get the most out of his limited energy. “It’s called the Emergency Total Band Replacement Broadcast Array, or “Barby” for short. It’s an emergency broadcast system, meant to override normal communication channels both on TV and radio. If a major emergency—hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc.—were to threaten a wide area or even the entire United States, warnings and rescue communications could be broadcast using the array. It would interrupt and block out normal broadcasts for as long as was necessary to communicate the emergency messages.”
    â€œBig brother never sleeps,” said Edward.
    Larry returned a faint smile. “Big brother is in deep shit. Barby is still in the experimental stages.”
    He slowly explained that a multitude of components had been built in various parts of the country, and FEMA had brought them all to Hill Air Force Base, where the array would be assembled and tested. According to Donoven, it was the array the Russians wanted.
    As far as Larry could figure, based on the communications Donoven had deciphered, the array was already in Russia or on its way there. Yet officially, all was well, and the array assembly and testing would begin shortly. They were only waiting for a final element called a Software Configuration Initializer, or SCI—the electronic key to the whole system. The SCI could only be complete after all the system configurations were known; that is, after all the other components of the system were built. That microcircuit was the key Larry needed to prevent the array from being activated.
    Larry knew from a source he had in FEMA that the final element had been ready for several days. It was to have been transferred from the labs at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico to the STS center at Hill Air Force Base. Larry knew he had to get his hands on that device as soon as it came in.
    Accompanied by Natalie, Larry made his way to Salt Lake City. He had informed Bud at the NAC of his intentions and, after some protest regarding the method he was about to use to retrieve the unit, he got the man’s approval. Larry made arrangements with Bud that he send a backup team to the base, and Bud gave him a rendezvous point where he would hand over the device. He had a nonoperational replica with him which he was going to plant in place of the real device. “There was no reason to let them know we were on to them,” he said, reaching for the water. Natalie almost fell off the bed as she jumped to get the glass for him. “It’s okay,” Larry said, his voice low and hoarse. “I can get it. I guess the painkillers have finally kicked in.”
    â€œShould I get you another one?” she asked.
    â€œNo, not just now. I’ll wait awhile.