Under Fire: (A Dan Taylor thriller) by Rachel Amphlett Page A
Authors: Rachel Amphlett
Tags: thriller
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‘Don’t be preposterous! I can’t go back to the Prime Minister and tell him that this country is under attack based on a ship sinking in port! The Sheik is right – this is a local problem, nothing to do with the UK.’ He stood up. ‘I’m very sorry about the whole thing, Sheik, I really am, but these are conspiracy theories, nothing more.’ He turned to David. ‘Send me a copy of the reports as soon as you get them. Then reconvene a meeting and we’ll discuss what really happened and what you’re going to do about it.’
Porchester stalked across the room and ripped open the door, slamming it behind him.
‘Well,’ said Dan. ‘That was helpful.’
The Sheik shook his head. ‘I am just glad our computer systems were upgraded eighteen months ago,’ he murmured. ‘If they hadn’t, this disaster could have been a lot worse.’
Dan turned to face the man, and noticed the worry lines which creased his face. ‘What upgrade?’
The Sheik smiled briefly. ‘A British engineer approached us at an energy conference in Dubai. He had invented a computer programme which would sit within our existing controls system. In the event of an emergency, it would allow one system user in the main control room to run the entire facility.’
Dan frowned. ‘How?’
‘The software he designed automatically sourced data in the system which could pinpoint where a problem was occurring within seconds, then protect the facility by shutting valves and pipes around the problem area and isolate it.’ The Sheik paused. ‘Not only that,’ he said, lowering his voice, ‘he was also aware of our concerns regarding certain viruses that had appeared in the Middle East, software attacks on utilities companies and the like. His programme was designed to attack those viruses and dismantle them in real time – as the virus was trying to attack the system.’ The Sheik glanced up at the news report repeating silently on the wall-mounted television, then back at Dan. ‘His system saved our facility from being completely destroyed.’
Dan leaned back in his chair and looked at David, who was already pulling out his mobile phone. ‘What was the engineer’s name?’
***
‘Grant Swift,’ began the analyst. ‘Born in Bristol, May 1974. Educated at Tudor House in Berkshire, gained exceptional grades and was accepted to Churchill College, Cambridge in 1992, where he studied computer programming and physics.’
The analyst paused and flicked to the next page in the brief. He cleared his throat and made the mistake of glancing up at Dan, who was glaring at him, drumming his fingers on the table.
‘Ahem,’ the analyst coughed, ‘Mr Swift appears to have then accepted a job in the city with IBM where he stayed for eight years before leaving and setting up his own consultancy firm.’
The Sheik impatiently flicked his hand. ‘Yes, yes – all of this I know. I had my own people check Mr Swift’s credentials very thoroughly before we offered him a contract.’ He shrugged and picked up his water glass.
The analyst blushed, glanced at David and battled on. ‘For the first two years of his consultancy business, Mr Swift worked in secret with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.’ He paused and raised an eyebrow as the sound of the Sheik choking on his water interrupted him.
‘This we did not know,’ said the Sheik, spluttering into a napkin.
David suppressed a smile and indicated that the analyst should continue.
‘During that time, it is likely Mr Swift was assisting the CPNI with investigations into malware and Distributed Denial of Service attacks.’
‘Wait,’ said Dan, leaning forward. ‘What?’
‘Computer hacking and system infiltration attacks,’ said the analyst. ‘Preventing people breaking into organisations’ computers and taking control.’
Dan leaned back in his seat. ‘Well, at least we know where he got the idea to develop a system to protect computers from those sorts of
Porchester stalked across the room and ripped open the door, slamming it behind him.
‘Well,’ said Dan. ‘That was helpful.’
The Sheik shook his head. ‘I am just glad our computer systems were upgraded eighteen months ago,’ he murmured. ‘If they hadn’t, this disaster could have been a lot worse.’
Dan turned to face the man, and noticed the worry lines which creased his face. ‘What upgrade?’
The Sheik smiled briefly. ‘A British engineer approached us at an energy conference in Dubai. He had invented a computer programme which would sit within our existing controls system. In the event of an emergency, it would allow one system user in the main control room to run the entire facility.’
Dan frowned. ‘How?’
‘The software he designed automatically sourced data in the system which could pinpoint where a problem was occurring within seconds, then protect the facility by shutting valves and pipes around the problem area and isolate it.’ The Sheik paused. ‘Not only that,’ he said, lowering his voice, ‘he was also aware of our concerns regarding certain viruses that had appeared in the Middle East, software attacks on utilities companies and the like. His programme was designed to attack those viruses and dismantle them in real time – as the virus was trying to attack the system.’ The Sheik glanced up at the news report repeating silently on the wall-mounted television, then back at Dan. ‘His system saved our facility from being completely destroyed.’
Dan leaned back in his chair and looked at David, who was already pulling out his mobile phone. ‘What was the engineer’s name?’
***
‘Grant Swift,’ began the analyst. ‘Born in Bristol, May 1974. Educated at Tudor House in Berkshire, gained exceptional grades and was accepted to Churchill College, Cambridge in 1992, where he studied computer programming and physics.’
The analyst paused and flicked to the next page in the brief. He cleared his throat and made the mistake of glancing up at Dan, who was glaring at him, drumming his fingers on the table.
‘Ahem,’ the analyst coughed, ‘Mr Swift appears to have then accepted a job in the city with IBM where he stayed for eight years before leaving and setting up his own consultancy firm.’
The Sheik impatiently flicked his hand. ‘Yes, yes – all of this I know. I had my own people check Mr Swift’s credentials very thoroughly before we offered him a contract.’ He shrugged and picked up his water glass.
The analyst blushed, glanced at David and battled on. ‘For the first two years of his consultancy business, Mr Swift worked in secret with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.’ He paused and raised an eyebrow as the sound of the Sheik choking on his water interrupted him.
‘This we did not know,’ said the Sheik, spluttering into a napkin.
David suppressed a smile and indicated that the analyst should continue.
‘During that time, it is likely Mr Swift was assisting the CPNI with investigations into malware and Distributed Denial of Service attacks.’
‘Wait,’ said Dan, leaning forward. ‘What?’
‘Computer hacking and system infiltration attacks,’ said the analyst. ‘Preventing people breaking into organisations’ computers and taking control.’
Dan leaned back in his seat. ‘Well, at least we know where he got the idea to develop a system to protect computers from those sorts of
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