Cyber Attack by Bobby Akart Page A

The men shook hands and sat down. Typically, these two longtime friends would chest bump in a hearty bro-mance sort of way, but it would be out of place for Europe.
    “Hey, buddy,” said Steven. “Switzerland is our new home away from home.”
    “It appears so, although the terrain isn’t that different from our place in Tennessee,” said Slash. “I see lots of fishin’ and huntin’ opportunities out there.” Slash grew up on his parents’ farm atop the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee about halfway between Nashville and Knoxville. His parents were retired and spent their days farming while raising ducks, rabbits and some livestock. While other kids spent their free time on PlayStation, Slash grew up in the woods, learning survival skills. During his time with the SEAL Teams, he earned a reputation as an expert in close-quarters combat, especially using a variety of knives—hence the nickname Slash.
    “Beats the fuck out of the desert, doesn’t it?” asked Steven. After his service ended, Slash tried a few different security outfits like Blackwater, protecting the Saudi royal family or standing guard outside some safe house in Oman. “I’m not saying the desert won’t call us back someday, but I’ll take the Swiss cheese and German chocolate over shawarma and falafel every friggin’ day!”
    “Hell yeah,” said Slash. “When are you comin’ down for some ham and beans, along with some butter-soaked cornbread? My folks really wanna meet you.”
    “I need to, buddy,” replied Steven. “This summer will be nuts for me. Hey, when does deer hunting season open?”
    “Late September for crossbow and around Thanksgiving otherwise,” replied Slash. Before the guys could set a date, their partners Paul Hittle and Raymond Bower approached their seats.
    Hittle, code name Bugs, was a former medic with Army Special Forces who left the Green Berets for a well-paying job with DynCorp. DynCorp was a private military contractor headquartered in McLean, Virginia, which provided most of the security detail for former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Aegis signed him to a lucrative contract, which included ownership of a remote farm in East Texas.
    Bower did not fit the black ops mold. Dubbed Sharpie, he was a Harvard grad that hit it big with a private equity firm on Wall Street. He loved Europe and was always on Steven’s team when operations brought them to this part of the world. Steven admired Bower for keeping his skills honed despite the coat-and-tie lifestyle required in New York City.
    “Hello, gentlemen,” said Bower. “Fancy meeting you fucks here!” The guys enjoyed a few laughs and back slaps.
    Steven knew this four-hour ride through the Alps would pass quickly. Their mission would not be discussed on the train for fear of prying eyes and ears. Let the team relax. Only Steven would know the two high-value targets were handpicked by John Morgan, and their deaths would have to be staged prominently for maximum public exposure. The Aegis Team faced a tremendous risk of exposure in Frankfurt.
    A message is being sent . My team won’t be happy .
     

Chapter 17
    May 25, 2016
    Deutsche Bank Twin Towers
    Debit Tower
    Frankfurt, Germany
     
    “I’m thinkin’ about gettin’ out.” Slash’s words broke the silence.
    “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