Free Tiger by the Tail by John Ringo, Ryan Sear Page B

asked.
    The President exchanged a glance with his secretary of defense.
    “Let’s just say they have enough on their plate monitoring current nuclear activity in the U.S., never mind the rest of the world. Post-Fukishima, they’re far too busy implementing the new safety protocols mandated for all reactors around the nation to be involved with something like this.”
    The President activated a large monitor on the wall, which showed a picture of the boards in their formerly secure case. The image had been sent as part of a heavily encrypted transmission from the Big Fish .
    “What do we know about the shipment itself?”
    All heads turned to the secretary of the Department of Energy. He turned to his deputy secretary, who cleared her throat.
    “Preliminary analysis has determined that the chips are of Chinese manufacture. Working with the CIA, we have traced them to the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation out of Shanghai.”
    “There’s a familiar name,” NSA snorted. “They’ll manufacture anything to turn a buck.”
    “Given China’s very strong interest in becoming a world leader in generating nuclear power, we—” the deputy secretary nodded at the CIA director, “—found it odd that the company would be exporting chips when there are dozens of planned pressurized water reactors either on the drawing board or in early construction stages in China itself. It stands to reason that the company would be ordered to produce chips for its own country’s needs first, and then sell to other nations only after the internal market was satisfied.”
    The CIA director took up the narrative. “Therefore, we figure that the chips were being sold on the black market by someone high up in the Chinese government, perhaps a high-ranking military officer. That would explain the lack of official markings on the box, as well as its integral high security.”
    “Not that high, if one of the Keldara could open it,” the secretary of defense muttered.
    “Apparently you weren’t in the loop on their Italian job,” the DNSA said, shaking his head.
    “However, the transport information was apparently leaked, and the illegal shipment was hijacked.”
    “Where were the chips supposed to be heading?” the President asked.
    “At this point, we have no idea,” DCIA replied. “Even with the chip manufacturing programs throughout Southeast Asia, there’s no shortage of countries that might want these. My geeks tell me the architecture is a nightmare. Pakistan, India, Indonesia, North Korea, and even such faraway places as Mongolia, Kazakhstan, or Iran, any of them could be a potential buyer. The bottom line is that someone high-up in China is providing vital nuclear reactor technology on the black market to whoever’s got the cash to pay for it.” The director let his gaze play around the room. “I don’t think we need to go into the potential problem this could lead to regarding refining weapons-grade nuclear waste into useable material for the manufacture of nuclear weapons.”
    “No, you don’t. I’ve already got that coming out of my ears regarding Iran as it is.” The President had turned to stare at the innocuous-looking boards nestled in their foam beds. “All we’d need is Pakistan or North Korea getting their hands on them.”
    “But, Mr. President, the purchasing country would still need a reactor to put the boards into. Surely, these are relatively worthless without the proper facility,” the deputy secretary said, incurring a glare from her superior.
    “It’s a point,” the President said.
    “Sorry, should have covered that point at the beginning,” the secretary of energy said. “These chips can be used to modify just about any PWR into a fast breeder. And it’s pretty much impossible to tell without a very close inspection.”
    “O . . . kay,” the President said. “Yes, that should have been in the very initial brief. Next question: Options?”
    The Joint Chiefs didn’t