Arctic Wargame (Justin Hall # 1) Read Online Free
arguments, motions, and inquiries. Security and intelligence meant little to these kinds of people. They were more concerned about the legal aspects of the agency’s operations than their actual impact on the safety of Canadians. But the innocence of Anna’s blue eyes—peering timidly at him from behind rimless glasses—and her soft voice—slightly insecure and with a certain amount of agitation—disarmed Justin’s defenses and melted away his objections.
“I’m very happy to meet you, Ms. Worthley,” he said.
“Simply Anna.” Her eyes glowed.
“OK, Anna.” Justin nodded. “Call me Justin.”
Johnson gestured for them to sit down at the glass table.
“The colonel brought over the latest CSE report,” she began, handing four copies of a briefing note to Justin. He took one and passed the others to Carrie. “It details the movements of the two icebreakers, but we’re still uncertain about their identity. One thing we know for sure is that they’re not ours.”
Justin skimmed through the pages. The Communications Security Establishment served as Canada’s national cryptologic agency. It analyzed foreign intelligence signals and provided technical and operational assistance to CIS. The briefing note was signed by Jacob Stryker, the Associate Director of Signals Intelligence. Stryker had a reputation as very meticulous in accomplishing his tasks. If Stryker had highlighted on the last page that “there is inconclusive evidence to determine the port of origin, the destination, or the identity of the icebreakers,” one could rest assured he had not overlooked any seemingly unimportant detail.
“There’s strong reason to believe,” said Alisha, “the two vessels infringing on our sovereignty are part of the Russian Navy.”
Justin held her gaze while folding his arms across his chest. “What makes you believe the Russians have sent these warships?”
“Wait a second.” Johnson held up her hand. “Two assumptions right off the bat. First, Russians, second, warships. The CSE report confirms only that two icebreakers navigated through a steady course in international waters then crossed over into our territorial waters by Ellesmere Island. Nothing more. Let’s be careful with our assumptions, shall we?”
Alisha nodded her understanding. “The Russian generals are constantly declaring their support for the Arctic militarization. Their Murmansk Air Base is buzzing with jet fighters and nuclear subs are always lurking underneath the North Pole. Remember when they planted their flag on the seabed, declaring the Pole as a part of Russia? They’ve tried to cross into our airspace many times. All tracks point to the Russian bear, if I were to make an educated guess.”
Justin glanced at Johnson. “I don’t want to come across as dismissive of the colonel’s assertions.” He chose his words very carefully. “But the Russians are just one of the major players in the Arctic. If Stryker’s report offers no decisive answers, our opinions, although based on previous experiences, amount to little more than speculation.”
“You don’t think the Russian Navy is involved?” Alisha asked Justin. Her left eyebrow arched up slightly, and her lips puckered.
Justin realized his words had bruised the colonel’s ego. “They’re a top candidate,” he conceded, spreading his palms over the table. “But until we determine the ships’ identity beyond any reasonable doubt, it’s not wise to jump to conclusions.”
Alisha leaned back in her chair. “Right. We agree that further investigation is necessary. And like other investigations, it pays to line up the usual suspects.”
Carrie was sitting on the edge of her chair, glancing at the CSE report. She pointed to a paragraph above a large topographical map of the eastern Canadian Arctic, which took up half of the page. “The US air base in Thule, Greenland, is just across Baffin Bay,” she said, exchanging a glance with Johnson. “A little more
“I’m very happy to meet you, Ms. Worthley,” he said.
“Simply Anna.” Her eyes glowed.
“OK, Anna.” Justin nodded. “Call me Justin.”
Johnson gestured for them to sit down at the glass table.
“The colonel brought over the latest CSE report,” she began, handing four copies of a briefing note to Justin. He took one and passed the others to Carrie. “It details the movements of the two icebreakers, but we’re still uncertain about their identity. One thing we know for sure is that they’re not ours.”
Justin skimmed through the pages. The Communications Security Establishment served as Canada’s national cryptologic agency. It analyzed foreign intelligence signals and provided technical and operational assistance to CIS. The briefing note was signed by Jacob Stryker, the Associate Director of Signals Intelligence. Stryker had a reputation as very meticulous in accomplishing his tasks. If Stryker had highlighted on the last page that “there is inconclusive evidence to determine the port of origin, the destination, or the identity of the icebreakers,” one could rest assured he had not overlooked any seemingly unimportant detail.
“There’s strong reason to believe,” said Alisha, “the two vessels infringing on our sovereignty are part of the Russian Navy.”
Justin held her gaze while folding his arms across his chest. “What makes you believe the Russians have sent these warships?”
“Wait a second.” Johnson held up her hand. “Two assumptions right off the bat. First, Russians, second, warships. The CSE report confirms only that two icebreakers navigated through a steady course in international waters then crossed over into our territorial waters by Ellesmere Island. Nothing more. Let’s be careful with our assumptions, shall we?”
Alisha nodded her understanding. “The Russian generals are constantly declaring their support for the Arctic militarization. Their Murmansk Air Base is buzzing with jet fighters and nuclear subs are always lurking underneath the North Pole. Remember when they planted their flag on the seabed, declaring the Pole as a part of Russia? They’ve tried to cross into our airspace many times. All tracks point to the Russian bear, if I were to make an educated guess.”
Justin glanced at Johnson. “I don’t want to come across as dismissive of the colonel’s assertions.” He chose his words very carefully. “But the Russians are just one of the major players in the Arctic. If Stryker’s report offers no decisive answers, our opinions, although based on previous experiences, amount to little more than speculation.”
“You don’t think the Russian Navy is involved?” Alisha asked Justin. Her left eyebrow arched up slightly, and her lips puckered.
Justin realized his words had bruised the colonel’s ego. “They’re a top candidate,” he conceded, spreading his palms over the table. “But until we determine the ships’ identity beyond any reasonable doubt, it’s not wise to jump to conclusions.”
Alisha leaned back in her chair. “Right. We agree that further investigation is necessary. And like other investigations, it pays to line up the usual suspects.”
Carrie was sitting on the edge of her chair, glancing at the CSE report. She pointed to a paragraph above a large topographical map of the eastern Canadian Arctic, which took up half of the page. “The US air base in Thule, Greenland, is just across Baffin Bay,” she said, exchanging a glance with Johnson. “A little more
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