They Never Knew: Cyber War

The alleged Chinese 'attack' on Google servers to get access to the accounts of Human Rights Activists has ignited the 'cold cyber war'. The US administration has voiced its opinion on the matter. The Chinese have retorted with claims that the USA is one of the biggest hubs of cyber intrusions. This seems to be on the surface. There is much more beneath the surface. This story by Richard Tornello explores those depths. Let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes! -- Swapnil Bhartiya.

INTRODUCTION:
WASHINGTON DC 2020
 
A bullet just hit my plexi-laminate side window. “Damn, How much is this going to cost me?” I curse under my breath. Still, in this day and age, living in DC, we get shot at. I’ll look at the bullet later. It’s embedded in the laminate, as it should be. 
 
“One shot,” I whisper to myself and lean back. I wonder. I’m glad they armored the truck. I’ll lean against the door pillar. I don’t move for a while and slowly reach for my Glock, locked and cocked, just in case. It could be a random senseless act, or otherwise. If otherwise, I hope they will assume a kill and be gone. That’s how it’s done.
 
There have been hints and suggestions that I’m not appreciated for some of my work. This could be one of them, a 'hint' I mean. While I’m waiting for what I believe a safe interval before I leave, I think back to how I got here.

CHAPTER I
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
 
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ  Mid/Late 20th Century
 
“Fill it ALL out,” I was commanded by some rather large human being. I sat down and looked at the application. “Do I have to fill this all out?”
 
The look said it all. “I’ll attach my resume to the back.”
 
“You do that,” it said.
 
Up until then I would have asked why that was necessary since I had a complete resume. Something told me, no this was not the right place for an argument. Sense was beginning to seep its way into my brain.  After filling out the job application I was ushered into a cheaply furnished meeting room. I was interviewing with the owner of this employment agency. His name was Larry. 
 
Larry was every bit six foot plus, pink skinned, not albino, that looked like he burned just walking to the car. He had thick blonde slightly graying hair, and a small, tiny, not altered, tiny bump of a nose. “A leprechaun, that’s what he looks like,” I thought. A giant leprechaun with a great and very infectious smile. It was totally disarming. I like him instantly. I didn’t realize it but it was love at first sight.
 
Larry, the giant leprechaun, took the larger leatherette chair at the end of a long table. He asked, “Richard tell me about your selling experience.” He used my full first name throughout the interview.
 
I gave him a debriefing, if you will: I sold vacuum cleaners, encyclopedias, Christmas cards, life insurance, used cars, you name it I sold it. I asked, “how far back do you want me to go?”
 
“As far as you remember.”
 
I went back to high school and before. “During high school when it snowed I would go door to door selling snow shoveling services. I was always selling. I just kept knocking on doors.”  Larry nodded. More questions, and more answers.
 
Then, Larry proceeded to conduct the strangest interview I had ever experienced. Larry pronounced, “You won’t make a dime for at least 6 months, and it will take you about that long to even figure out what you’re doing.” The rest of the speech (it sure wasn’t a dialog), was conducted in the negative, you won’t, you can’t, long time before, maybe you will, and so on. There was not one thing stated that sounded promising except that if I did as I was shown and instructed, I would make money. It would, simply take time. “What do you think?” was the final utterance.
 
Without thinking, I actually said, “Sounds good to me. What’s next?” My next thought, do I trust this guy? Am I nuts?
 
Larry jumped up and exclaimed, “THE RIGHT ANSWER! You meet my partner/business associate tomorrow or as soon as I can set it up.” His office is in Northern NJ. I left the office light headed. I had never ever felt this way about any job before or after. This was going to work. It was love at first sight.
 
Larry’s partner Jack F. had a nice office. Good furniture, but tacky hotel-motel art. Jack explained that in addition to personnel services he was involved in various unrelated activities. He also had business associates. These associates are the type you didn’t get a second chance with. They were the bank for the various businesses. Rick understood completely.
 
The ground rules were agreed upon. Then the conversation turned to other than business. It was discovered that both of them moved in similar circles, only different levels of participation. Some mutual enjoyments were martial arts, auto racing, shooting and other interesting subjects. They liked each other and shook hands. It was a done deal. There were no contracts except one’s word. “Call me Jack,” he said. “By-the-way, you start tomorrow, 8 AM,” were Jack’s starting words.