DARPA: "Too risky. One misstep, and the Daemon destroys thousands of companies."

EndoCorp: "We can't just let this thing take over. Whatever the cost."

FBI: "What does Sobol mean when he says there'll be violence? Is he talking revolution?"

DARPA: "He's a megalomaniac."

DIA: "If he means revolution, we should have troops in the streets. Sobol could be planning a coup."

NSA: "The markets are already shaky. Mobilizing troops and declaring martial law will cause a panic."

CSC: "We have private security forces available."

CIA: "He said we weren't the target."

FBI: "You're not going to take him at his word, are you?"

DIA: "He did say nation states were doomed."

CIA: "Yes, but he didn't say he would be the instrument of their destruction. He could be warning us."

FBI: "You're starting to worry me."

CIA: "I don't mean that Sobol is on our side. I think he's an evil bastard-I mean was an evil bastard-but he had a demented vision that I think we should try to wrap our heads around. He talked about small groups-'The Great Diffusion' is how he termed it. That small groups would be battling nation states."

DARPA: "Sobol mentioned lawless regions and failed states. What if he was talking about terrorism?"

DIA: "Terrorists use our own technology against us."

CIA: "And so do international crime rings. Does Sobol think his Daemon could be used against terrorism and transnational crime?"

DARPA: "It took over the online porn and gambling industries easily enough."

NSA: "We've got to get a handle on this."

EndoCorp: "Gentlemen, this Daemon is comprised of distributed networked systems with a companion human network. This is no different from many enemies we've already defeated."

DARPA: "I think it's clearly different."

EndoCorp: "In specifics, maybe, but not in the abstract. Whether he's dead or alive, Sobol's network can be disrupted and his people put to flight. In order to knock out his human network, we need to hit them hard and hit them everywhere-keep them on the run and keep them looking over their shoulder."

CSC: "And in order to prevent the various Daemon components from interacting, we stage a regional power outage immediately preceding operations. We exert our control over major media outlets to prevent the Daemon from reading the news-or we fabricate the news to suit our purposes."

The directors seemed taken aback by the sudden turn in the discussion.

NSA: "What about the Daemon's human operatives? Wouldn't they still be able to communicate?"

EndoCorp: "This is classic infowar-which we invented. We have highly skilled cyber and electronic warfare experts. We'll be monitoring Daemon activities in coming weeks. And as for the Daemon's human operatives: they won't stand up long against ex-Special Forces soldiers. We've operated successfully in Colombia against left-wing rebels and narco-terrorists, and in sub-Saharan Africa against Islamic rebels. Our men operate in small groups with minimal supervision-no legislative oversight necessary."

CIA: "That's fine in Colombia and sub-Saharan Africa, but how the hell are you going to sell that in Columbus, Ohio? And how do you tell friend from foe in a tech park server room?"

EndoCorp: "You don't. We move in our own people to operate the data centers and detain the current staff until we can satisfy ourselves that they pose no risk."

NSA: "This is crazy talk. You can't round up IT workers in thousands of companies. You don't have the manpower, for one thing. Also, a substantial percentage of the infected sites are in foreign countries. Most Fortune 500 companies have their back-office data processing operations in India and Southeast Asia."

EndoCorp: "Borders mean nothing to us. We have private military provider and support firms in place in twenty-five countries, incorporated under a hundred different names. And we have influential voices in dozens more countries. Certain financial interests currently at risk are willing to underwrite this effort to protect the global economy."

NSA: "The moment you attack, the Daemon will destroy the infected networks."

FBI: "He's right. There are too many targets to hit all at once."

The CSC representative looked soberly around the table.

CSC: "That's correct. That's why we need to pick and choose. If we defend a cross-section of Western interests in numerous industries, the global economy can achieve survivability. But only if strategic investments are made in the shares of selected survivors. This can defray the loss of the other companies."

The directors were speechless for a moment.

DARPA: "What about these 'tools' that Sobol mentioned?"

The faces shifted in his direction.

NSA: "It's a programming interface of some type included in Sobol's message. Group A has a team analyzing the components now. They suspect Sobol might be extending some form of communication with his Daemon. Perhaps even rudimentary control."

FBI: "What kind of control?"

NSA: "For starters, there's a function that, on demand, destroys the data of any chosen Daemon-infected company."

Everyone immediately grasped the significance of this.

DARPA: "And this is still being broadcast around the world in an encrypted beacon?"

NSA: "Yes. Which means it's only a matter of time until other governments have this knowledge, too."

CIA: "Sobol's forcing our hand."

DARPA: "We'll need to see that API as soon as possible. It could provide intelligence on the topology of the Daemon's darknet."

FBI: "You're not seriously suggesting we start communicating with this thing? We don't negotiate with terrorists."

NSA: "No one's negotiating with anyone. This is an object library. We're analyzing it."

FBI: "Look, we've been messing around long enough. We need to kill it. It's taken over a big chunk of the Fortune 500, and it can cause irreparable harm to this nation."

CSC: "To the global economy."

NSA: "That's the whole point: if we make one move against it, the Daemon will flush all that corporate data down the toilet. And if we ignore it, then some other government might invoke the Destroy function to attack us."

CSC: "We must attack it."

NSA: "I don't think losing three quarters of the companies is an option."

EndoCorp: "You need to move on Sobol's organization. Infiltrate it, identify all the ringleaders, nab them, turn the screws on them, and roll their whole damned group. We've done it before."

CSC: "You'll need handpicked teams."

NSA: "Gentlemen, I hope we're not disturbing your meeting."

They looked impassively at the director.

Chapter 36:// The Powers That Be

A gleaming Dassault business jet taxied out of the darkness and into a brightly lit, spotlessly clean hangar. It rolled to a stop alongside a black Cadillac Escalade and a Chevy Suburban. The aircraft engines whined to a stop as men in suits removed their ear protection and approached the plane.

The jet door was pulled open, letting down a short row of steps. In a moment Russell Vanowen, Jr., stepped from the plane, as always looking resplendent in a bespoke, black pinstriped suit. He cast his commanding gaze around the hangar. Everything looked secure. Only his hired security team was present. Korr Security Services-ex-Special Forces soldiers. Smart, capable, trustworthy.

He strode toward the Escalade as one of his half dozen bodyguards stepped up to meet him.

The man reflexively saluted, then stopped in mid-salute with some embarrassment. "Good evening, Mr. Vanowen, your guest is waiting, sir."

Vanowen nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

The guard opened the passenger door of the Escalade. Vanowen noted with satisfaction the thickness of the door. Kevlar laminate armor and inch-thick bulletproof glass. It was a discreet business tank.