The Project 05 - The Tesla Secret

Arkady. You've done well with the Americans. They will be part of a new mission and you will be in command."
    Vysotsky passed several photographs across his desk. They were taken from a distance with a telephoto lens. The pictures showed a large, distinctive shape, camouflaged to fool aerial observers.
    "This is what the traitor Ogorov has been constructing. It is located on the Siberian plain, near Irtysh."
    "A pyramid? Why?"
    "It is a design of Nikola Tesla. You know who Tesla was?"
    Korov nodded. "Of course."
    "The pyramid powers one of Tesla's inventions, a weapon that projects an unstoppable, destructive beam."
    "Why here? There is nothing here, only a village and an old base."
    "Tesla's design draws upon the earth for its power. The pyramid is near the juncture of the Ob and the Irtysh rivers. It has been explained to me that there are strong earth currents at this location. It is isolated, difficult to attack except with missiles. There are anti-aircraft defenses. Bombers would be intercepted long before they reached their target."
    "It could be attacked on the ground."
    "Exactly. But that would require an invasion or an internal force."
    Korov saw what was coming. "You want me to penetrate this installation. With the Americans."
    Vysotsky opened his desk drawer and took out the vodka and glasses he always kept there.
    "Yes."
    "We could be shot for treason."
    "We could." Vysotsky poured the drinks. "But we will not be shot. Not if you succeed."
    He watched Korov closely. It was one thing to send him on a mission with the Americans to Texas or Italy. It was another to attack an objective within his own country. He poured the vodka.
    "Na Zdrov'nya," he said. They downed the liquor. Vysotsky poured another.
    "You will remember that AEON was behind the Demeter operation."
    Korov knew all about AEON.
    "Ogorov is not working for the Motherland. He is working for AEON and his own advancement. He is very close to using this weapon. If he succeeds, it will draw us into war with the United States."
    "He can't believe we could beat them!" Korov was shocked. "What is the target?"
    "The Americans are about to launch a new spy satellite, more advanced than the others they have. It is a major upgrade to their systems. I think that is the target."
    "This weapon could reach it? It does not use missiles?"
    "It could reach it." Korov shrugged. "Perhaps Ogorov thinks the United States will not know how their satellite was destroyed. There is no hope of that. We must stop Ogorov and gain this weapon for the Motherland. Then Russia will have a powerful bargaining tool with the West. It will be like the end of the Great Patriotic War, when atomic weapons made them supreme. Now it is our turn."
    Korov finished his vodka. "You do not wish to destroy it."
    "Of course not. I wish to control it."
    "The American Project team may not agree."
    "That is a problem you will solve, if it arises."
    He poured another drink. They raised their glasses.
    "To the Motherland," Vysotsky said.

CHAPTER FIFTY- FOUR

    Nick sat by Selena's bed in Bethesda. The doctors were ready to discharge her for outpatient treatment. The numbness was almost gone, but she couldn't begin workouts any time soon. The surgery was healing. The doctors said there was a possibility of permanent damage, but the prognosis was good. She'd be almost normal in a year, they said. She was determined to make it sooner.
    "We need to talk," he said.
    "Yes. We do."
    "Harker is sending the team to Russia. We're going to take a look at what AEON is building over there."
    "That's what you want to talk about?"
    "No, but it's relevant." He looked out the window. The sky was dirty gray. Rain was coming. "I have a bad feeling about it."
    She felt something twist in her gut. His sixth sense. It wasn't like him to worry about a mission. Then she understood.
    "You think you might not come back."
    His silence told her the answer. He'd never said anything like that before.
    "Why do you keep doing this, Nick? We could leave, make a life together. Where we don't have to look over our shoulder all the time. Where no one is shooting at us."
    He said, "I don't know if I can explain."
    "Try me."
    "You're a civilian." She started to say something. He held up his hand. "I know, that's not exactly right anymore. You've proved yourself. But you've never been in the military. You don't understand why I think the way I do."
    She could feel herself getting angry. "Don't you dare patronize me. What's the military