Chapter 23
Final Planning and Korea
It was apparent by Saturday afternoon that Rudy was not affected by the virus but he was getting a bit stir crazy in the house. Jay had checked in on him but there was no audio capability, just the webcam. They wrote notes and held them up for each other, Jay telling him to hang in there, it was better than the alternative. They even played tic-tac-toe using the cameras but that got boring in a hurry.
Jay wrote a note “Indians game tonight, that should keep you busy for a few hours.”
Rudy’s response “Call Robert and get me the fuck out of here. I’m not sick.”
“I’ll call him, hang on a second.” Jay put the note up and extracted his cell phone, figuring that the old buzzard was going to give him hell for even asking.
“Robert, this is Jay. Yeah, Rudy’s fine but now he’s getting a bit stir crazy. We’ve been writing notes back and forth and he wants to get out of the house.”
“Why are you calling me with this? Rudy spent half a year at the Hanoi Hilton, he can stay in a comfortable house with movies, books and a goddamn radio for another day and a half!” The phone disconnected.
Rudy had been watching and figured the kid had gotten an earful from Robert. “Thanks for trying, I’ll try to enjoy my time here.” Truth was he had been scared shitless of getting smallpox and didn’t want to die. The first few hours his body produced an acrid sweat and stench that made him think he was sick. Sleep was elusive and the nightmares of his skin falling off caused the panicked state he was in. He still had the pain medicine in case he got sick, would probably take something to help him sleep tonight.
Everyone was in early; even Rudy, who had been picked up by Robert in time to have the doc check him out and release him. There were no signs of the disease but he did have quite an appetite for some reason. They stopped for donuts and bagels, Rudy picking out enough for ten people.
“Jay told me you were whining to get out, should have been a vacation for you compared to what you’ve been through.”
“I was freaked out because of the nightmares, couldn’t help thinking that I’d wake up with my skin melting off my body. The walls were talking to me, telling me I was going to die a very painful death. All I could hear was the sound of my breathing and heart jumping through my chest. By the time I talked to the kid I was freaking out. After that it got easier, the morphine helped me sleep and maybe caused this hunger.”
Robert didn’t say anything, was just glad that the vaccine had worked and they were on for the plan that had been building in him for the past twenty five years. Rudy continued babbling but the bird man didn’t notice, he was focused on building the final steps of the plan and getting the Korean situation underway. Everyone was in the office and happy to see Rudy. They congregated in the war room to construct the next phases of the project and fill up on the massive amount of breakfast food.
“It’s go time everyone, this is what we’ve worked so hard for. Let’s not have any last minute fuckups. We will meet here at the beginning and end of every day until we’re done and if we need to pull nights and weekends we will. Mickey will be in charge of organizing the Korean infection, Jay will update the website, Steve is in charge of production of all things chemical and Rudy has field coordination.” He wrote the names and areas on the whiteboard and then added the key tasks underneath each area.
“Each of you are responsible for adding the tasks and providing updates for your area. If there’s anything that needs attention don’t wait until the end of the day, bring it to me immediately. Understand?” There was general head nodding around the room. Steve was last to nod because he was wondering if this was a good time to bring up the plan change. Since they weren’t talking about the final infection he decided to do it later, chickening out again. He waited until the others had added their tasks and then wrote down the things he would be working on over the next couple of days. The first priority was to create the special polymer spheres for the Korean infection because that was going to take a few days once the spheres were ready.
Robert watched with earnest as the task lists were populated. He asked Steve if he needed any help today.
“Yes, I’m going to need Rudy and Jay once they’re done with their tasks. There is a lot of work to be done to get the Korean sample ready for transport. It should be ready to go tomorrow sometime, how are we going to get it in the hands of our associate there?”
“We’ll discuss the logistics of the Korean infection at the afternoon meeting, I have most of the details ready but there are still some gaps that need to be filled. Mickey and I will work out the final elements.”
Steve left the conference room and went down to the lab, wishing he didn’t eat that second donut, the sweet taste of jelly creeping back up his esophagus. He and Jay had prepared a batch of polymer late last week in anticipation of vaccine testing coming back ok so now it was time to start to form and fill the delicate spheres. There was only going to be one layer in this batch so the spheres would be incredibly small, less than a tenth of a millimeter in diameter. He got everything set, knowing that Jay wanted to help with this process.
Jay updated the website to let everyone else on the team know that vaccine testing was complete and they were a go for the next phase. He provided some information on who would be leading each area and let everyone know to be on standby around the clock in case there was a need to put them in play. This update was brief but was important, everyone who logged into the site would know that they’d passed a major hurdle in The Cause. He logged off the computer and went down to the lab, hoping that Steve hadn’t already started building spheres. “Ready to get started?”
“Been waiting for you, knew that you wanted to help build these little ones. They are going to be fun, just like the dye ones except only a single layer. The plan is to have a two hour release period based on what Mickey told me just now. He still doesn’t have all the details but I think they’re close enough. These might end up being a bit fragile because they will have such a small release period. Time to build the death bubbles, Jay.”
“That’s a hell of a thing to call them, you feeling ok today?”
“Yeah, just thinking about how much we tried to dispel the rumors that we were women and children killers in Vietnam and now that’s exactly what we’re going to be.” He took the raw polymer over to the bench and gathered the smallpox sample. They normally would do this under a hood but if the smallpox spilled or something else went wrong he didn’t want to release it over his hometown. “Bring over some of the forming solution and let’s get moving.”
Jay wondered if the old chemist was breaking under the pressure. He had a valid point but all of them knew that without significant casualties nothing would change and the American people would be screwed indefinitely. It was only through swift and decisive action that change would come. He ignored the fire that burned in Steve’s face and concentrated on the task at hand. If this continued he’d need to let Robert know but for now he put it down to stress.
They worked in silence, putting together the tiny spheres using Steve’s formula to determine how thick they would be and what the internal volume would be. “Now comes the fun part” Steve said quietly as he opened the container that held the smallpox. The virus looked like a normal powder, something like a fine ground sugar that bakers use to make icing. “According to the CDC information, we only need about six granules for each sphere, this is a really potent batch. For the interior volume we have that means we need to mix up about one gram per liter. Since we’re making such a small batch we only need one tenth of a gram and one hundred milliliters of the forming solution. That should give us enough to build around two thousand spheres, which will more than cover the thousand we need for the next round.”
Jay carefully measured the liquid and then used the balance to weigh the powder, under cover of the glass enclosure. Even though the vaccine had worked neither of them were willing to tempt fate. The proce
ss was tedious and it took Jay a few tries to start getting it right. Steve watched, deciding at some point that if he didn’t actually make the spheres his role was diminished a bit. He knew this was complete bull but the brain does things to compensate. Once Jay got the hang of things the process went fast and before long they had the material in a desiccant, which would draw off the forming solution and leave the small spheres with the smallpox inside. This was a quick process and would be followed by a rinse to make sure there was no trace of the smallpox on the outside of the spheres.
They cleaned up very carefully and went upstairs to get some lunch and give Robert and the others an update. It would be helpful if they knew how the Korean infection was going to happen so they could best package the spheres once they were ready. Steve stuck his head in Robert’s office and asked him to meet in the war room and then did the same with Rudy and Mickey. He grabbed a bagel and realized that it was already two thirty, no wonder he was starving. Jay gave an update while Steve was eating and then asked if they had the Korean plan yet.
“I talked to our team member in Korea and we’re a go for one of our plans. He works in the local Coca Cola bottling company in Seoul and will slip the spheres into a batch as it’s being made. The time between batch and final bottling is forty nine minutes so if the spheres will last that long the plan should be a go.”
“You’ve been busy Mickey. We constructed the spheres to have a two hour life, so that will be plenty of time. How should we package them for shipping to Korea? Does it take a long time to get things through customs there?”
“We are shipping him a new digital camera and it should only take a few days. Can you package the spheres into a double A battery? We can pack the battery in the camera and he can disperse the spheres that way.”
“It’s going to be tough, we need a completely dry environment or the spheres will end up degrading in the two hour window. The plan was to ship them dry and then he can dump them. I guess we could do that with a battery as long as we vacuum seal it and then pack some desiccant in with it to prevent any moisture from attacking the spheres.”
“Let’s do that. We don’t need to send him the vaccine, he’s going to leave the country after the smallpox has been planted, doesn’t want to be caught. I’m making arrangements for him to be flight that’s bound for the United States. Hopefully the plane will land before the virus outbreak, otherwise it will likely be turned away at our border. Since we’re all here, what are the other updates?”
“The website has been updated so all should know what’s happening. I’ll put up the Korean information in a couple of days, once we know the package has arrived.” Jay said.
“I’ve got the first big batch of polymer almost done for the fake vaccine.” Rudy had not bothered Steve once, he was glad to have such competent help.
“You have my update about the Korean attack. Once you have the battery done I’ll pack it in the camera and get it shipped. It would be best if we could get it moving today. UPS is open until six and I’ll rush it over there.”
“Ok, we’ll get moving, the spheres should be dry now. Give us another hour and we’ll have something. Does anyone have any batteries?” Nobody seemed to have any extras and couldn’t think of anything that used them.
“I’ll run out and pick some up while you guys finish the spheres. Anyone need anything else?”
“Thanks Rudy, was going to ask for a Coke but don’t think I’m going to drink another one of those for a while. How about some Pepsi? Something with some caffeine, been a long day.”
The old man limped out of the room and the meeting broke up. The spheres were dry so Jay rinsed them with the Freon, which wouldn’t degrade the polymer because it was an inert material. He almost made a joke about the ozone but thought better of it, didn’t want to wind the chemist up again. Once they were rinsed, Jay added some desiccant to keep them dry and put them in a sealed tube until they could add the battery. Rudy had returned and Steve was dissecting the battery.
“This is going to be tough, the battery shell isn’t airtight.” He took a couple of vials from the supply cabinet and found one that almost fit inside the battery shell. “We can probably make this one look ok, I don’t think anyone is going to be testing the camera in customs.” He was talking to himself as he fit the vial in and put the bottom of the battery back in place. “There’s nothing holding the bottom in, we’ll have to pack something between the vial and the bottom of the battery.”
All two thousand of the spheres fit into the single vial and they packed desiccant in to keep them dry on the journey. Steve used Teflon tape to create an additional seal on the vial and they rinsed it before removing the vial from the sealed environment. It had gone smoothly and Steve had no doubt that they’d contained the smallpox.” Robert and Mickey came downstairs with the camera just as Steve finished packing it in the battery.
“I can’t believe our Korea guy is going to disperse the virus without being vaccinated. That’s pretty brave.” Jay said.
“It’s easy to forget how important a task we’re on, any one of us could die, that doesn’t really matter. The success of the project is what matters, along with the changes that come from it.” Robert focused his beady eyes on Jay, waiting for him to look away in shame or to say something. Jay chose to look away and Robert continued. “Let’s hope this arrives in one piece. I just had a conversation with our friend in Korea, telling him that the camera he wanted is on the way. I told him that he should change the batteries before using it because they’re old. He got the meaning and will let us know when he’s received it.”
Mickey took the camera and left for the UPS depot, which was just a few miles away and would get the package moving tonight. If all went according to plan there would be Coca Cola bottles being distributed in and around Seoul that were contaminated with smallpox. The Korean team member had gone to great lengths to demonstrate ties back to the North Korean government as well as some groups in that country who were very militant and bent on destruction. The South Korean authorities would point the finger north and the world will believe it was a conspiracy from inside Korea. It really didn’t matter where the blame came from, the United States government would be in scramble mode, locking down the borders and looking for the vaccine.
Steve turned into an automaton, going through the motions at work over the next few days, anxiously awaiting word that the virus had been launched. He wondered if any of those bottles would find their way to the airport there and end up transporting the virus all around the world. They may not need to do anything beyond this initial drop to create the chaos and anarchy Robert was looking for. He still couldn’t bring himself to say “we” when talking about the project, as if he was just playing a role in a play or a movie and wasn’t really a key participant in the pending destruction.
Claire was getting more concerned about Steve by the day and tried to discuss it with him again but he wasn’t hearing it. Every time she tried to talk to him he clammed up further until he wasn’t talking at all. She was going to have to hire a private investigator to see if he was having an affair or what was really going on at that other site. She didn’t even know exactly where it was, only had a vague idea. He didn’t even use his computer anymore, spent no time in the forums that had been his second life for the past few years. He just sat in his chair and pretended to read or stared into space. When he slept, he had horrible nightmares, talking and screaming in his sleep. She picked up some of it, seemed to be Vietnam related or about his brother, who he rarely talked about. She knew that his brother had died in the local prison but what could be bringing up those memories? Maybe the project had something to do with the prison on the hill.
At the site they had completed ten large batches of spheres, all with the smallpox virus in the center. They had reproduced a large amount of the vaccine as well, enough to make up almost fifty thousand vaccinations. There were now ten thousand vials of the contaminated virus and they were working to duplicate t
he virus so they could extend that much further. The package was somewhere in Korea by now and may even be delivered imminently, Steve had to talk about his plan now.
The evening wrap up meeting had brought no news of a delivery yet, though the man lived alone so he would probably miss the actual delivery. He had a good sized mailbox in his apartment and the delivery instructions said to leave the package if nobody was there to sign for it, which the UPS agent thought was odd but didn’t argue. Steve waited until everyone had given their updates, cleared his throat to muster his courage, and spoke. “I’ve been thinking about our plan and wanted to modify it if possible.”
Robert looked like him as though he had leprosy, his head cocked to the side. “You want to modify it? Who do you think you are?”
“Just let me speak Robert, if you don’t like it pretend I never brought it up.” Steve had his courage and the bird man didn’t shut him down, instead made a rolling motion with his left hand and said “spit it out then.”
“Our target is the government, we all agree on that account. I have some problem with all of the innocents being killed. It was our legacy from ‘Nam, everyone always says we murdered women and children. I don’t want this to be our legacy here. My idea is that we give the government the batch with the smallpox and let the general public have the real virus. This would be Biblical in nature, striking down at the heart of those we hate and leaving the others to decide the best way to proceed.
Everyone was holding their breath and looking at Robert, who was considering his words carefully. “I see where you’re coming from but I still think the impact of the cause would be much greater if millions died.”
“I like the plan Robert, have had more than enough of being called baby killer in my life. Even though we’ll be somewhere else, the American public will hold us up as heroes, admiring the surgical precision with which we decimated the piece of shit government that shafted us all of our lives.”
“Mickey, what about all of the hippies? Remember your stories of coming home and getting spit at? I thought you wanted revenge on them.” He felt his grip going away, his anger starting to take over. “This is about making the biggest statement in the history of the world!”
“I agree with Steve, it would be so much greater if only the pigs in power were dying, not innocent civilians. People won’t soon forget the judgment brought against the United States government. I think we should change the plan.”
“I’m with Rudy and Steve here.” Mickey said.
“I like this plan too.” Jay added, a bit quiet after his tongue lashing from Robert earlier.
“The government are going to be the first ones clamoring for the vaccine Robert, they think they’re above everyone else. We can take those greedy feelings and shove them right up their asses. No more President, cabinet, congress, senate or any of their sycophants. Think about it Robert, we might even get invited back to help run the new government.”
Robert thought for a minute, his hands together over his nose, his eyes staring into the black granite table of the war room. This was supposed to be so much more but he could see in the eyes of his team that they were sold on this new plan. He would have to settle or someone might crack. “Ok, let’s make two sets, one for the government and the rest for the general public. But let’s not limit ourselves to Washington, we’ve got lots of state and local government people to take out while we’ve got the chance.”
Everyone around the table nodded in agreement, the new plan silently approved. “I’m expecting that we’ll find out sometime tonight that the camera has been delivered. His flight is tomorrow night Korean time so we’ve got about thirty six hours if all goes according to plan. We need to continue bottling the vaccine and the virus, expect that this is our last weekend of peace while we watch CNN and wait for the shit to hit the fan.”
The meeting adjourned and Steve went home and had a civil dinner with Claire, telling her that the project was going to wrap up in the next week or two and it seemed like they were over the biggest hurdles. Claire was so relieved that he was communicating that she didn’t see the sadness in his eyes, the knowing that he’d be leaving her, possibly for good. Steve had thought about bringing home a syringe of the vaccine so Claire would be protected but there was no way she’d be able to keep that one quiet and Robert wouldn’t stand for him making arrangements for her to be protected. He was going to do this before he left, wanted to make sure to leave it behind so she wouldn’t get infected, though she might not want to live once she found out what he’d done. They even walked that night, going around the block as the sun was setting.
Steve checked his email that night and there was a message from Robert letting him know that the package had been received and would be dispersed the next day. He was going to check the forums but couldn’t bring himself to do anything but lay in bed and wonder what he’d gotten himself into.