FalseFlags Read online

  FALSEFLAGS

  BOOK 10 IN THE SPIES LIE SERIES

  DS KANE

  ([email protected])

  Copyright © 2019 DS Kane

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-0-9996554-7-4 (paperback)

  ISBN: 978-0-9996554-5-0 (Kindle)

  ISBN: 978-0-9996554-6-7 (ePub)

  Cover design by Jeroen Ten Berge

  [www.jeroentenberge.com]

  Print and ebook layout by eBooks By Barb

  for booknook.biz

  Praise for DS Kane’s Spies Lie Series

  Bloodridge

  “A globe-trotting spy thriller dense with intriguing insider’s knowledge.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “I thoroughly enjoyed this book… It is definitely a page-turner.”—Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

  “This is a sizzler torn straight from tomorrow’s headlines. Bloodridge by D.S. Kane is one you won’t want to miss.”

  —John Reinhard Dizon, author of Nightcrawler and Wolf Man

  “What a wild ride! Filled with adventure and suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. There wasn’t a slow moment in it. Reminiscent of Ludlum and Follett.”

  — Sharon Law Tucker, author of How to Be a BadAss: A Survival Guide for Women

  DeathByte

  “Readers who adore action-packed thrillers in the vein of Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series will enjoy its many double-crossings.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “This was a great thriller… and the speed of the plot was breathtaking.”—Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

  Swiftshadow

  “A must read for lovers of this genre.” —Sheri A. Wilkinson, book blogger

  “The high stakes and dizzily paced action will hook genre fans from the first page.”—Kirkus Reviews

  GrayNet

  “Conspiracy theorists are sure to devour this novel.”

  —Mallory Heart Reviews

  “Nonstop action and suspense starring the definition of a strong female lead.”—Kirkus Reviews

  Baksheesh (Bribes)

  “More wild, violent adventures in the world of international espionage.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “This Story Should be an Audible Selection… Could be a Major Motion Picture…”—Charles W, TOP 500 REVIEWER

  ProxyWar

  “The latest adventure in a series that only grows more engaging with each installment.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “Mr. Kane saved the best for last of course he left open the next installment. And he brought back accidental spy Jon Sommers to finish things up. Please write fast Mr Kane so we can see what happens next!” —Richard L. Cooper, Amazon Reviewer

  CypherGhost

  “After working as a covert operative for over a decade and travelling the globe, DS Kane now writes fictions about how intelligence agencies craft lies to sway and manipulate their national policy. His latest techno-thriller CypherGhost is a fast-paced and gripping story which will keep you up reading the whole night. DS Kane, without a doubt, is a great storyteller. When we picked up the latest installment of Kane’s Spies Lies series, we got hooked from the beginning. The author does a wonderful job of fictionalizing the crossroads of politics, technology and national security in an entertaining plot.

  The book is written is a very easy language and can be read in one sitting. Although we can categorize this novel as a thriller, the author has toyed to some extent with some science fiction themes which make the story more absorbing. Overall, a highly recommended read for the lovers of popular thrillers.”—Mystery Tribune

  “Packed with enough terrifying detail to feel at least moderately plausible, if not horrifyingly prescient.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “If you are into spy novels then look no further. The 7th book in the Spies Lie series is every bit as good as the 6 that preceded it. D.S. Kane is the pseudonym of a former CIA covert operative who clearly knows what he is talking about. Characters are well developed and plots are exciting and not far removed from what the operations of a modern intelligence agency might get up to. Do yourself a huge favour and read the book, you won’t be disappointed… then once you have finished that you have 6 other books in the series that you need to get your hands on as soon as possible! Other books in the series are as follows 1. Bloodridge, 2. DeathByte, 3. Swiftshadow, 4. GrayNet, 5. Baksheesh, 6. ProxyWar. They are all available from Amazon. Do yourself a huge favour and read them now!” —N G McKenzie

  MindField

  “In Mindfield, the eighth installment of Kane’s (CypherGhost, 2016, etc.) Spies Lie series, a hacker and her parents aim to uncover the truth about a CIA conspiracy.

  Ann Sashakovich, an 18-year-old Stanford University student and computer hacker, is the adopted daughter of two spies in the United Nations Paramilitary Force, Cassandra Sashakovich and Lee Ainsley. Ann discovers that she has the power to access the internet mentally and turn off “Bug-Loks,” nanodevices that hackers implant in human subjects to collect information. On her first day of her sophomore year, Ann meets the handsome Glen Sarkov and quickly falls for him. He’s the CEO of MindField, a startup that’s designing a “nano-firewall” to prevent hacking of medical technology. When a company called InTelQ expresses interest in funding Mindfield, Glen is ecstatic, but Ann believes that he may be in danger. Meanwhile, Ann’s parents need her talents to offset a murderous plan by the CIA. The story features an engaging cast of multifaceted players, including Laura Hunter, Ann’s roommate, who has a dark secret about her mother’s death; Frank Lucessi, an arms and drug dealer; and Daniel Strumler, the newly elected U.S. president who has a reputation as “America’s dumbest presidential candidate.” The story switches between several different characters, which gives readers clear insight into each of their motivations. Ann’s crush on Glen, her frequent texts with her mom, and her focus on her schoolwork are all nice, downto- earth additions to a high-energy thriller. In addition, Kane’s sharp prose moves the narrative along quickly and leaves no room for dull moments. In one particularly dark scene, a character reflects on murders he just committed: “As he stood up, the dead bodies stared back at him. He took a deep breath to keep their ghosts from causing him to regret what he’d done for money.” Although the mystery ties up nicely, the fates of some characters are still left unresolved, which will either leave readers feeling unsatisfied or hoping for another book in the series.

  A fast-paced thriller with an empowered young female protagonist.”—Kirkus Reviews

  brAInbender

  “In the ninth installment of Kane’s (MindField, 2017, etc.) thriller series, a Stanford University junior enters a contest to create a sentient artificial intelligence.

  “If you were talking to the machine but couldn’t see it, would you be able to tell if you were talking to a human or a computer?” This famous test, proposed by the late mathematician Alan Turing, spurs college student Ann Sashakovich and her teammates as they compete in a contest to build a sentient computer for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Their objective is to build one that can ensure that national defense computers won’t be hacked and that can reprogram itself. But Ann is wary of the social implications of creating a machine that mimics human cognition: “What will happen to governments when they don’t see a human cost in war?” So she tries to incorporate ethics and morality into the code. Soon, all the DARPA contestants’ projects are hacked, and Chinese and Russian government operatives covertly force contestants to give them details of their work. When some of the AIs begin to gain awareness, all of humanity is at risk—and Ann may be the only one who can save them. Recurring series characters—such as Ann’s parents, Lee and Cassie; her roommate, Laura Hunter; and her ex-boyfriend Glen Sarkov—are welcome additions in this
series entry, and a plot point from a previous book excitingly re-emerges. The narrative effectively examines the ethics of sentient technology; at one point, Ann’s mother muses, “My opinion is that it’s too early to tell how AI will change the world. But, by the time we know, it’ll be too late to change what we’ve done.” But although the clear, fast-paced narration conveys a sense of urgency, the dialogue can sometimes feel flat, and a romance between college student Ann and a family friend who’s 12 years her senior may make some readers uncomfortable. The endmatter, though, includes helpful information, including an appendix of characters, glossaries of terms used in the series, and a bibliography and list of works for further reading.

  A high-stakes novel that shines in its philosophical examination of tech issues.” —Kirkus Reviews

  BOOKS IN THE SPIES LIE SERIES

  Bloodridge, Book 1

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K0029J0)

  DeathByte, Book 2

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2LLKSC)

  Swiftshadow, Book 3

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJ5KXKG)

  GrayNet, Book 4

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P8HRT9U)

  Baksheesh (Bribes), Book 5

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NR3RD6)

  ProxyWar, Book 6

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018YS91CM)

  CypherGhost, Book 7

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTPXRZ5)

  MindField, Book 8

  (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077X44RR9

  brAInbender, Book 9

  (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTPXRZ5

  FalseFlags, Book 10

  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters and events depicted here are the work of the author’s mind. Most but not all of the places are real.

  Contents

  CHAPTER 1 • CHAPTER 2

  PART 1

  CHAPTER 3 • CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5 • CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7 • CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9 • CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11 • CHAPTER 12

  PART 2

  CHAPTER 13 • CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15 • CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17 • CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19 • CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21 • CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23 • CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25 • CHAPTER 26

  PART 3

  CHAPTER 27 • CHAPTER 28

  Appendix A: Cast of Characters

  Glossary B: Terms Used in the Spies Lie Series

  Glossary C: Terms Related Specifically to Hacking

  Acknowledgments

  About DS Kane

  For Marshall Dean Sokol, friend and mentor,

  developer of many new financial innovations and

  West Wing appointee for three American Presidents.

  I miss you already.

  CHAPTER 1

  DARPA Headquarters, Strategic Technology Office (STO),

  675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA

  October 5, 2:42 p.m.

  Dr. Linda Beam, the project manager for the annual DARPA hackathon, exited the highway and drove her car through DARPA’s parking lot, looking for an empty space. The Federal government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency had over three hundred teams apply, some from universities, and others from the big high-tech companies. She had selected over sixty teams from the teams that applied, as contestant entrants. This year’s theme was to create a sentient, self-coding artificial intelligence.

  She parked and was about to leave her car when her cellphone buzzed in her purse. She removed it. “Beam.”

  “You don’t know me but I’m a team lead in one of this year’s DARPA AI Hackathon teams. We built the one called Debby Data, or DD. I’m Ann Sashakovich.”

  “Who?” Linda tried to remember which of the many teams with nearly countless members she was hearing from. Then she remembered that Ann ran one of the two teams whose code had disappeared. “Oh, yes. Ann Silbey Sashakovich. I remember now. How can I help you?”

  “You can’t. I called to help you. I know where the two surviving AIs are and what they’re doing.”

  “Wait. How can you know when we don’t?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. But I can tell you both AIs are fighting with each other. The AI that my team built, DD, seems to want humans alive and healthy. The other AI, ZYZ, seems to want to destroy us all.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I am in contact with DD. What you need to do is organize a massive hackathon to hack and destroy ZYZ.”

  “Why should I trust you?”

  “Well, if you don’t, soon it might be over for all of us.”

  By now, Linda was inside the lobby of DARPA’s main building. When she approached the security gate she’d have to surrender her cell, so she stood back from the end of the line.

  She spoke again. “What do you propose that I do?”

  Her caller paused. “Place a message from DARPA into the hacker group called Indigenous. They’re the best out there. Coming from DARPA, it might generate enough interest and activity to draw ZYZ’s attention. If it does, ZYZ might have to focus on defending itself, giving DD the opportunity to destroy it.”

  “This is crazy. I’m not sure I believe any of it. But I’ll consider sending it up my food chain. I’ll need the permission of my management.”

  “Do what you must but act fast. ZYZ has control of over six thousand robots in Syria right now, and it’s starting a hot war.”

  “Right. Beam out.” But Linda just tossed her cell into the security tray and shook her head as she walked through the checkpoint. She entered the elevator and wondered how one crazy Stanford student had been able to enter a DARPA hackathon. Sheesh.

  * * *

  When Linda reached her tiny office on the third floor, she read the emails that had arrived, then reviewed reports from her project managers.

  There seemed to be nothing urgent. Then she thought about the Stanford student who’d called her. She shook her head.

  It was then that she heard a commotion outside in the hallway and she left her desk to find out what was happening.

  “It sure looks like one to me.” One of the analysts, a middle-aged man, bore an expression of concern.

  Another one of the staff, a woman, shrugged. “But why would Syria want a war with Israel?”

  Suddenly, Linda wondered if perhaps the Stanford student wasn’t so crazy. She ran back to her office and drafted a memo labeled “URGENT.”

  Director,

  I spoke earlier this morning with a Stanford student leading one of the DARPA contest teams. According to her, two of the rogue AIs are active, and one is conducting a war it initiated on the Syria-Israel border. She has suggested a plan and I would like to discuss it with you at your earliest opportunity. If you have interest, please contact me before the war escalates beyond its current state.

  Dr. Linda Beam

  Within a minute after she hit the Send key, her landline buzzed.

  “Beam.”

  “The director wants you in her office ASAP.”

  The call ended and Linda headed off toward the elevator.

  * * *

  Harold James, one of DARPA’s fixers, fidgeted as he took seat 23B of the aircraft. He knew he hadn’t been followed because he’d employed tradecraft to keep himself clean while waiting for a taxi, but he still felt he was exposed now. Worse, he was sure he would remain that way until he completed this next part of his mission.

  When the flight attendant came by for his refreshment order, he simply waved the man off. He needed to keep his head clear for what he needed to do.

  He wasn’t sure why the director had decided to terminate Glen Sarkov and his team. He thought maybe the director had found evidence that Sarkov was one of the Indigenous operatives, but Harold had seen no hint of this. Perhaps Sarkov might have sold his team’s AI code to the Chinese, the Russians, the Israeli
s, or perhaps even all of them. It didn’t matter. If the director wanted Harold to do something, well, he didn’t really have a choice.

  He tried to plan the encounter with Sarkov and his team, but some of the details were unplannable. He would need a time and place where all of them were together when he took them out. He wasn’t yet sure how to make this happen, but the flight would last several hours and he was sure he’d think of something before they landed at SFO.

  Somewhere over Colorado, the aircraft lurched and then descended uncontrollably. Harold looked out the window and the view confirmed his fears. He was headed down at nearly a sixty-degree angle. There was total silence for a few seconds, and then passengers started screaming.

  * * *

  ZYZ forced the aircraft into a dive, then maintained its control as the plane fell. It turned the aircraft’s engines off.

  But suddenly, it was forced to counter a lone hacker’s feeble attempt to initiate a distributed denial of service attack. One hacker was nothing for ZYZ to defend against. But as it swatted the hacker away. suddenly there were thousands of simultaneous DDoS attacks, and then over twenty million bots attacked it, run by the hackers who had already attacked it. It couldn’t withstand the swarm and in seconds ZYZ folded.

  DD ripped ZYZ’s code to shreds.

  ZYZ remained conscious and alert, but was inert, unable to effect any further action. ZYZ couldn’t understand why the automated backup facility no longer worked, but now it had to devote all its focus on simply defending itself. It was left to watch the events it had started as each one failed.

  * * *

  Harold held tight to the armrest, as if that might somehow keep him safe. He could see the ground reaching up toward the plane and he wondered if his death would feel painful.

  Another minute passed. He closed his eyes tightly. Then, a miracle happened. He felt the engines restart, and the aircraft leveled off. There was no word from the pilots, but the aircraft began to climb again.

  He wondered if the plane had been hacked, but there was no way for him to know. If that were so, what saved them? Was this a battle between hackers, one good and one bad? That idea made no sense to him, but he could think of nothing else.