Two more shots were fired, ricocheting off the wall behind them.
“Think you can still shoot?” Hawk asked.
Alex didn’t hesitate to respond. “Give me a gun now.”
They hunkered and prepared for another fight, one Hawk knew couldn’t last long if they intended to escape the facility alive.
“Mia,” Alex said over the coms.
“I’m here.”
“Did we destroy the mainframe’s ability to control the missiles?”
“I’ve got no idea,” she said. “I’m in the dark right now, and there’s not much more I can do other than try to listen in on Sinclair’s meeting with the presidents.”
Hawk checked his supply of munitions once more before reloading.
“Actually,” he said, “there is one more thing you can do for us.”
A machine gun blurted rounds at Hawk and Alex, sending them diving to the floor. Help had already arrived for Sinclair’s men, and time was getting scarce.
CHAPTER 28
SINCLAIR PACED AROUND the room with his chest out and chin up. His crowning moment, the one he’d been working so hard to create for the past decade, was now upon him. With a memorable demonstration, he would show the leaders of the two most powerful nations in the world what he was capable of: utter chaos.
By pitting the two leaders against one another, Sinclair aimed to sow fear in the men. But his endgame wasn’t about that at all. What he wanted was control and influence, the kind that can’t be bought through bribes or votes. He—and he alone—would set the direction for the world by influencing both nations and ensuring their interests aligned with his. And most importantly, he’d answer to no one. Not a board who could fire him. Not an electorate who could choose someone else. Not a government that could forcibly remove him from power. No, Sinclair was going rule the world, and almost everyone on the planet would have no idea of his influence.
The simulation images on the monitors behind him continued to display the missiles heading for Washington, D.C. While he intended to demonstrate the power of the weapon’s defense system, he could tell something was wrong when he tried to place the missiles’ cameras up on the screen. In a flash, the televisions went dark.
“What is it now?” Sinclair grumbled. “Surely we’re not going to miss this incredible moment.”
A knock at the door arrested his attention.
“If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I apparently need to attend to this,” Sinclair said as he scurried across the room.
He checked the security cam to make sure one of his men stood outside before opening the door.
“What’s this all about?” Sinclair asked in a hushed tone between clenched teeth.
“Sir, there’s been an explosion downstairs in the computer room,” the man explained.
“An explosion? A natural one or man-made?”
“We caught an American operative trespassing earlier on the premises. He somehow escaped and returned, this time with his intentions quite clear.”
Sinclair scowled. “And what was that?”
“To destroy the mainframe.”
“Did he succeed?”
“We’re still trying to sort that out, sir. However, our ability to communicate with the missiles has been lost.”
“What does that mean?”
“They’re kind of on their own trajectory.”
“Where are they headed?” Sinclair asked.
“Since the communication isn’t working, we can’t tell right now, but it’s clear that a new heading was set by someone. And we can’t do anything to stop it.”
Sinclair shrugged. “We can still just shoot it down then, right?”
The man sighed. “That’s the other thing, sir. The mainframe is also what we used to control the satellite weapons defense system.”
“So, what you’re saying is that we have missiles heading who knows where without any way of stopping it. Is that correct?”
The man nodded. “I’m afraid so, sir.”
“Well, get the mainframe back online and get this situation fixed.”
“But, sir, it’s not that easy,” the man said.
Sinclair set his jaw. “Do it.”
He walked back into the room, eyeing his two guests.
“Is everything all right?” Karelin asked.
“Gentlemen, there’s been a change of plans,” Sinclair said.
“We can leave now?” Young asked. “Because I’ve had enough of this charade.”
Sinclair shook his head. “I’m going to postpone the demonstration of the satellite weapons defense system until we can resolve some technical glitches.”
“We’re just supposed to sit around and wait for you and your team to get your act together?” Young asked. “With a defense system this reliable, I doubt it’d be worth having.”
“Do you know what unforeseen means?” Sinclair asked.
Young sighed. “That’s what happens in war. Your enemies do something unexpected, and if you can’t adapt immediately, you’re going to end up dead or captured. The fact that you’ve been in business as long as you have and don’t understand this is appalling.”
“Maybe I should just let those missiles strike Washington then?” Sinclair asked.
“From the way things sound, I don’t think you could stop it now anyway,” Young said. “And God help you if they do. You’ll be hiding out in a cave, living off bugs, while the special forces units hunt you down to kill you.”
Sinclair chuckled. “I doubt that. You have no idea what kind of power I have.”
“Obviously not enough to run a routine demonstration of your new, innovative piece of technology.”
“I have my fingers in every branch of your government.”
Young shrugged. “Apparently it’s not enough to get what you want. And I can promise you that no matter what you do, you’re not going to get it.”
Sinclair glared at Young. “That settles it. I’m going to let those missiles strike Washington. It’ll make people forget the terrorist attacks on 9/11 ever happened. And all this will happen under your watch. That’s how the American people will remember you.”
“You’re insane,” Young said. “That will spark a world war.” He turned toward Karelin. “Is that what you want?”
Karelin stroked his beard and looked wistfully off in the distance for a moment.
“Really? You want to go to war with us?” Young asked.
“If victory was assured, perhaps,” Karelin said.
Sinclair grinned and put his arm around the Russian president. “This is a man who has what it takes to rule the world.” Then the Australian
