Target Silverclaw (8 page)

“The tracker egg will allow us to pinpoint our attack,” said Simon Turing.

Back in the laboratory at SWARM HQ in London, Simon was operating a large display screen for Queen Bee, Professor Miller and Alfred Berners to observe. The screen showed tactical
data overlaid on a map of the Scottish coastline.

“Are we sure that the tracker egg is at Silverclaw’s base?” said Alfred.

“Not one hundred per cent,” admitted Simon, “but it’s barely moved since it was placed. It could be attached to Drake, who could simply be fast asleep, after all it’s –” he checked his smartwatch – “past one in the morning now. We know Drake’s destination was Silverclaw’s headquarters, from what was said on the car journey.”

“What’s the latest from the bugs?” said Queen Bee.

“They were reporting in regularly,” said Simon, “but we’ve heard nothing for a while now. They may be experiencing transmission difficulties, if they’re having to maintain stealth mode at full power.”

“Hmm,” mused Queen Bee. “That upgrade needs further work. Professor, we need to examine our programme of enhancements for the robots. It’s vital that SWARM stays one step ahead of our enemies in terms of technology.”

“Refinements to stealth mode and other systems are already in hand, Ms Maynard,” said
the professor.

“What about the conference?” said Alfred Berners. “Any luck?”

Queen Bee let out a long breath. “I spoke to the prime minister less than an hour ago. There is no way he’ll allow the conference to move venue or be cancelled. He says it would set alarm bells ringing among the delegates, and jeopardize the delicate negotiations that will be taking place. His exact words were ‘ensuring security and preventing attacks is what the secret service is for, now go and do your job’. He was not in the best of moods.”

“Oh dear,” said Simon, pulling a face.

“I take it you couldn’t tell him the full story?” said Alfred. “Reveal the existence of SWARM and what we’re really facing, I mean?”

“No,” said Queen Bee. “As always, we can only operate on a need-to-know basis. MI5’s checks on him show he might talk under pressure. That door is firmly closed. Meanwhile, Simon, what are local conditions at the site?”

Simon flipped the display over to a detailed night-vision view of the area surrounding the
cottage and Silverclaw’s base. “There’s a full moon and a clear sky, with no change predicted in the forecast. Visibility should be excellent, although naturally that means it’ll be excellent for the enemy, too.”

“And the base itself?” said Queen Bee.

“The only structure is this small cottage,” said Simon, circling a shape on the map with his finger. “I started with the assumption that the base itself is located underground, with this cottage as a disguised entry point. However, I spotted an oddity.”

He reached up and circled another shape.

“What’s that?” said Queen Bee. “A boat moored offshore?”

“That would seem to be the most sensible answer,” said Simon. “The trouble is, satellite imagery shows it to be an island. There are loads of little islands off that stretch of coast. Nothing peculiar there. Except that this one doesn’t appear on any maps. It’s popped up out of nowhere.”

Alfred peered at the screen over the top of his spectacles. “If it’s a boat or a submarine, it’s a large one.”

“I’m certain that is Silverclaw’s headquarters,” said Simon. “Some sort of camouflaged vehicle under the water.”

“I think you’re right,” said Queen Bee. “I’ll update Agent K. She’ll be leading the attack on the base, assisted by a squadron of MI5 agents. They think she’s an officer with MI6. They’re a short distance from the target area, waiting for the go ahead.”

“And the androids in London?” said Alfred.

“Agent J will be in charge of a large group of heavily armed police, stationed in and around Westminster. They will round up the six androids. The police think Agent J is a senior detective from Scotland Yard.”

Queen Bee paused for a moment. “These operations,” she said at last, “must take place at exactly the same time. The attack on Silverclaw’s headquarters and the capture of the androids must be coordinated precisely. If one takes place before the other, we may lose everything. If the androids discover that the base has been destroyed, we don’t know what their programming will tell them to do. If the
base hears that the androids have been put out of action, they could easily have a back-up plan in place that we cannot even guess at. Only a carefully timed effort can succeed. Silverclaw must be eliminated in one decisive hit.”

“Understood,” said Simon Turing.

“What will decide the timing?” said Alfred Berners.

“Sirena,” said Queen Bee. “She’s been keeping a constant monitor on the six android replacements in Westminster. As soon as we get the slightest indication that Silverclaw are preparing to strike, as soon as one of those androids makes any kind of suspicious move, that’s when we go. Simon, can you check on her status, please?”

Simon tapped a series of keys on the display screen. It switched to a mid-air, night-vision view of a smart Georgian building. Readouts along the bottom of the display showed Sirena’s exact position as a few streets away from the Palace of Westminster.

“SWARM HQ to Sirena,” said Simon. “Report.”

“Sirena to SWARM HQ,” Sirena’s electronic
voice came out over the speakers. “The androids have continued to act exactly like the people they’ve replaced. No changes from expected routines, journeys or activities. Silverclaw chose their victims well. None have families or close friends who might have become suspicious. Their programming has made sure they behave normally at all times. However, there has been a development.”

“What’s that building up ahead?” said Simon.

“The block of flats where Sir Godfrey Kite lives,” said Sirena. “I’ve tracked all six androids to this location. This is the first unusual activity they’ve shown. I think something may be about to happen.”

The humans in the laboratory exchanged glances, their eyes wide.

“Right,” said Simon. “There’s no way those six people would assemble at Sir Godfrey’s home. Certainly not in the middle of the night.”

“I’m reading all of them inside the flat now,” said Sirena. “I’ll be inside their detection range in a matter of seconds. I’ll switch to stealth mode.”

The screen suddenly filled with static then Sirena’s voice returned.

“Ten metres from the living-room window,” she transmitted. “My sensors are picking up movement. Wait, they’ve stopped… Stand by…”

The seconds ticked away.

“What’s your status, Sirena?” said Queen Bee.

“I’m inside the living room, beside a chair. The androids are sitting motionless. Their internal electronics are still active, but their more complex functions appear to be on standby. They seem to be waiting for something. I’ll fly closer. If I can land on one of them, I might be able to intercept its deep-core programming and hack its databank.”

“Be careful,” said Queen Bee.

“Logged, Queen Bee,” said Sirena. “I have stealth mode at full power, so they won’t detect a probe signal.”

“Moving in closer to the Sir Godfrey Kite android…” transmitted Sirena. “All six of them are simply sitting here… I’m going to try to—”

Suddenly, her voice was cut off. A high-pitched tone came from the speaker, making the humans jump.

“Sirena?” said Queen Bee. “Sirena? Report!” Silence. “Sirena!”

“Platinum 1 to Silverclaw.” The voice, identical to that of Sir Godfrey Kite, issued from the communications unit attached to Gold Leader’s chair.

“What is it?” snapped Gold Leader. “You’re supposed to be waiting for my signal to begin the main strike!”

“Something you should see,” replied Platinum 1. He swung the smartphone he was using, so that its camera pointed to something crumpled up in the palm of his hand.

Gold Leader peered at the screen in front of her. “You crushed a butterfly?” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “You called me to say you’ve crushed a butterfly?”

The SWARM micro-robots had spread out across the control room, looking for a way into the base’s electronic systems. They paused when they heard Gold Leader’s words.

“Sirena!” said Morph.

“Platinum 1 to Platinum 6 are at Sir Godfrey’s
flat, as ordered,” said Platinum 1. “My visual processors picked up a small insect. Platinum-level programming enables investigation of minor anomalies, therefore I snatched it up. It’s mechanical.”

“What?” roared Gold Leader. “What is it, a surveillance device? A camera? Is it still operating?”

“No, the pressure of my fist has deactivated it.”

“MI5!” spat Gold Leader. “Their mobile CCTV must be more advanced than I’ve been told. They know about us! I won’t allow the Silverclaw operation to fail!”

Gold Leader swiped the screen and called up a virtual keyboard. Out of her mechanical hand whirred an electronic security key. It was a narrow, cylindrical probe, covered in complex circuitry, which she slotted into a port beside the screen and twisted. It beeped. Her other hand tapped out several lines of computer code. Platinum 1’s phone decoded it and displayed a square QR barcode which Platinum 1’s eyes read as a simple message: “Emergency order 4-alpha-7 –
switch to plan two.”

“Acknowledged,” said Platinum 1. He encoded a reply to Gold Leader: “4-alpha-7 begins – replace faces, change clothes, move to separate locations, bomb and weapons to be collected according to revised Plan 2 schedule.”

“What are they saying?” said Hercules.

“We need to hack into their systems as fast as possible,” said Chopper. “Hercules, start cutting holes in the back of those control consoles.”

“Get out of that flat and prepare for the main strike,” said Gold Leader.

“Acknowledged. Platinum 1 out.”

Gold Leader spun around and barked orders at the nearest android. “If they know about the London cell, they might know about us here. Call the cottage! Tell Platinum 7 to prepare for war!”

In the darkness of a deep hollow, five hundred metres inland from the cottage, Agent K crouched alongside a team of thirty MI5 officers. All of them wore protective combat gear.
Agent K’s helmet contained a microphone and earpiece through which Queen Bee was relaying the news from London.

“Sirena is down and her cover is blown. They know we’re on to them. Our only option is to launch the attack now. Maximum force! Go!”

“Logged,” said Agent K. She flipped the microphone away. “Check body armour and weapons!” she shouted. “Go! Go! Go!”

The team sprang to their feet and quickly moved off. They spread out into two ranks, running towards the sound of waves crashing against the shore, keeping as low to the ground and as silent as they could. The moonlight bathed them in a faint blue glow and their breath misted in the cold night air as they levelled their machine guns.

The front door of the little cottage was suddenly flung open. Light from inside spilled out across the ground. The old man rushed out, carrying something large on his shoulder.

There was a booming whoosh, and a streak of vapour shot towards the oncoming MI5 agents. A rocket struck the grass ahead of them and the
deafening explosion lit up the whole area in a flash. Half a dozen agents were knocked off their feet.

“Drop and return fire!” yelled Agent K.

The agents threw themselves to the ground. Streams of bullets spat from their machine guns, peppering the front of the cottage with small bursts of brick dust. Shards of glass flew from broken windows. The old man was hit many times, but he didn’t so much as flinch. He fired again.

“Oh no, it’s another android!” cried Agent K.

The second rocket exploded barely three metres from the front rank of agents. Agent K and two others were flung backwards. She landed on her back with a painful thud. Despite the ringing in her ears, she could hear a steady throb of power. The ground beneath her began to vibrate. Beyond the firing of the machine guns and the rocket explosions, she could see the shape of the offshore island changing.

It rose up, turning slowly. As it did so, hundreds of tonnes of earth and rock were shrugged off it, like a snake shedding its skin, revealing a long, sleek, silver aircraft driven by jets gushing blue flame from its underside. Splashes and waves
surrounded it as the camouflage fell away. It continued to gain height, getting louder and louder as it did so.