“The situation in Lithuania is similar,” said its Ambassador. “Though the focus has been on our energy resources. Rolling blackouts have been occurring in our major cities and multiple natural gas plants have been taken offline.”
The Latvian Ambassador spoke last. “While our cybersecurity experts have seen probes in all of these areas—especially in regard to newspapers and the websites of our political parties—our issue is less cyberwarfare and more information warfare. Friday afternoon, embarrassing information—I believe the Russians call it kompromat—was released about our President and an alleged affair from two years ago, with a member of Parliament. There was video, obviously shot in some hotel room, as well as still photos. The leakers are promising to release more tonight.
“Needless to say, this has been very damaging to their respective political parties, but it has also raised questions about the legitimacy of his election, as the woman resigned after it was learned her brother-in-law had been involved in vote tampering. That stain has now spread to our President.”
“I see,” mused Strum. “Is there any indication, other than the affair, that your President has done anything untoward?”
The Latvian Ambassador shook his head. “Not that I know of, but ever since the story broke, Riga has been in damage-control mode. They are very nervous, and the suggestion that there’s more to come is only fueling the scandal. If our election is seen as illegitimate, there will be a true crisis of confidence. The government is worried about the real possibility of street protests, maybe even violence.”
“In addition to a potential health crisis, with doctors and nurses locked out of medical records, we’re also concerned about a bank run,” the Estonian Ambassador said. “After Russia’s massive cyberattack in 2007 we promised our citizens that we would do everything we could to make sure it never happened again. If Russia keeps this up, we will also have a crisis of confidence.”
Strum remembered the 2007 attack on Estonia. It had lasted for three weeks and had been absolutely unprecedented.
It had centered on one of her favorite towns in Europe, Tallinn. Situated on the Gulf of Finland, fifty miles south of Helsinki, it was Estonia’s capital and largest city.
In Tallinn’s center had stood a bronze war memorial commemorating the Soviet war dead who had helped liberate the city from the Nazis.
Tired of a Soviet military monument in downtown Tallinn, and feeling it would be more appropriate in a cemetery, Estonia relocated the bronze statue, as well as the human remains underneath, to the Tallinn Military Cemetery.
The Russians had gone apoplectic. It made no difference to them that Estonia was a free and sovereign nation, and could choose what it wanted to do. Relocating the statue had been considered an incredible insult to Russia, and so they had decided to make Estonia pay.
The attacks came in waves, targeting anything and everything Estonia had connected to the Internet.
Though Estonia was careful not to make the situation worse by directly accusing Russia, quietly NATO had flown in highly specialized cyberteams to pinpoint the identity and location of the hackers, as well as to help Estonia beef up its cyberdefenses.
The fact that such an attack was possible, and on such a major scale, had been a terrifying wake-up call to the West in general and NATO in particular.
Now it was happening again, but on a much more precisely targeted basis. The Russians knew where to strike to cause maximum damage, and that’s exactly what they were doing.
“Is it the opinion of the United States,” asked the Latvian Ambassador, “that the time has come for us to mobilize our armed forces? Is this the precursor to the attack that we were warned about?”
“Lithuania asks the same question,” said its Ambassador.
“And Estonia,” added its Ambassador.
Strum knew that it was important to project calm and confidence. “While we share your concern, we think any change in your military posture would be premature at this time—and might even be seen as antagonistic. You don’t want to give the Russians an excuse to match your moves by massing troops and material on your respective borders.”
“Isn’t that what they’re already doing?” asked the Lithuanian Ambassador. “Their claim of an unscheduled military training exercise is nothing more than a fig leaf.”
“We do share that concern as well,” said Strum. “And again, I need to stress that we are asking you not to change your postures. Let’s not give the Russians any more help than we have to.”
“Then in the meantime, what do you propose we do?” asked the Estonian.
“Keep the lines of communication open,” she replied. “We are working on something we think may be helpful in this area.”
“A solution?” asked the Latvian.
Strum tilted her head from side to side, weighing the correct wording. “Something more akin to leverage.”
“When will we have this leverage?”
“We are working on it now. I hope to have something for you very soon.”
“On behalf not just of our nations, but of the entire NATO alliance,” said the Lithuanian Ambassador, “I must ask you to please hurry. I fear we are rapidly running out of time.”
CHAPTER 54
* * *
HAINAUT PROVINCE, BELGIUM
After returning to their compound near SHAPE, Harvath and his team unpacked their gear, cleaned their weapons, and then placed everything where it belonged.
While the team caught up on a few hours of sleep, Morrison and Gage took turns watching over their prisoner.
Dominik Gashi was being kept in a storage room in the basement of the main building. It had been just big enough to get a small bed into.
Harvath had come around before hitting the sack and had checked the dressings. Staelin had put him on an IV and had begun to administer antibiotics, just in case. Bullet wounds were infection magnets.
Satisfied that everything was well in hand, Harvath had gone back across to the guesthouse, dropped into bed, and fallen right asleep.
He awoke several hours later to Nicholas’s dog, Argos, licking his hand. Opening his eyes, he saw the little man standing in his doorway. “What’s up?” Harvath asked.
“You told me to wake you when the plane from Malta was inbound.”
“How far out are they?”
“Touchdown in forty-five minutes.”
“Roger that,” said Harvath, rubbing the stubble on his face and throwing the blankets back. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Nicholas replied. “I’ve got coffee and a late lunch in the kitchen if you’re interested.”
Harvath was definitely interested, but first he needed to grab a quick shower.
Standing under the hot spray, he let the water beat on his body. He ached in places he didn’t even know he had. Getting older sucked, but it beat the alternative.
Five minutes later, he threw the temperature selector all the way to cold and measured how long he could stand it. He managed a good thirty seconds before he decided he’d had enough and turned it off.
Though he didn’t fully agree with the K4 operative, Ingesson had a point about SEALs and cold. At some point, you just have had enough.