Chapter 36 - The Alpha-Omega Protocol
The federal agents swarmed the dock, pinning the mercenaries to the ground, zip-tying wrists and securing the perimeter. Paramilitary tactical medics immediately surrounded Julian, immobilizing his broken arm while federal marshals read him his rights under high-treason statutes.
Julian didn't look at the agents. His cold, pale blue eyes remained fixed on Michael, filled with a sick amusement that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
"What does Alpha-Omega-Zero-Nine mean, Michael?" I demanded, rushing to his side. Michael’s hands were trembling again, his gaze locked onto the serial stencil painted in faded yellow on the side of the massive steel container.
"It wasn't Shok Valley," Michael murmured, his voice sounding distant, hollowed out by an ancient horror. "Alpha-Omega was the covert logistics codename for the supply trains running into the remote provinces of Eastern Europe during the late nineties. Julian... Julian’s first deployment wasn't Afghanistan. It was the Balkans."
Special Agent-in-Charge Miller, a hardened veteran of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, stepped forward, flashing his credentials. "Major Bradley. Ms. Lauren. The President has issued an executive directive: this entire zone is classified Top Secret. We have containment crews en route to dismantle the chemical valves."
"Don't open that container!" Michael shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of helicopter rotors with absolute command.
Agent Miller blinked in surprise. "Major, our hazmat protocols require immediate neutralization of the chemical compound—"
"It’s not a chemical compound!" Michael roared, grabbing Miller by the tactical vest and shoving him back. "Look at the pressure seals! Look at the lead shielding welded between the seams! Julian lied about the neuro-blockers. Cerberus isn't a nerve agent. It never was."
I rapidly swiped across my tablet, forcing the port's internal radiological monitors to re-calibrate their threshold sensors. The screen instantly flashed bright amber, then screaming crimson.
"Radiation," I breathed, the chill in my blood freezing every thought. "Low-yield enriched uranium. It’s an electromagnetic pulse device coupled with a dirty warhead."
Julian’s laughter echoed from the back of the armored federal transport vehicle where he was being loaded. "Give the artisan a medal! You spent ten years thinking I wanted to poison a few thousand soldiers, Michael! I don't care about soldiers. I care about infrastructure! Cerberus is an orbital-kill system disguised as maritime cargo. If that device detonates, the entire Western electrical grid goes dark for a decade!"
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"The timer," Agent Miller stammered, pulling out his sidearm and aiming it blindly at the container. "Major, the digital interface on the locking mechanism... it's counting down. Three minutes!"
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