Cyber Attack by Bobby Akart Page B

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