Free Target Silverclaw by Simon Cheshire Page A

technology.”
    “Refinements to stealth mode and other systems are already in hand, Ms Maynard,” saidthe 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 thecottage 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 thebase 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