Previously on netwars

Anthony Prince, head of PrinceSec, a firm which provides high-tech security for the government and large private corporations, has died in a plane crash. On the same night, his firm has been the victim of a cyber-attack.

Responsible for Prince’s death was a hacker named Strider. Under his legal name, Scott Mitchell, working as an advisor for the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU), he uses legitimate means to get the bad guys. As Strider, those means are less legal. Strider lives by The Code, a set of rules that he enforces without fail. Prince was a member of a pedophile network and so he had to die.

As the investigation into his murder deepens, a link is found between a criminal hacker group, known as Black Flag, a national port authority and a power station in Newcastle, indicating that Black Flag’s intentions could pose a risk to national safety. All this makes Mitchell suspicious. The previous year a whole swathe of evidence against Black Flag disappeared from the NCCU files — is there a traitor in the office protecting Black Flag? Slowly piecing the evidence together, Mitchell realises that there is a mole in the NCCU, a key Black Flag hacker nicknamed Brown Bear. But who is it? Working under his secret hacker identity as Strider, he decides to move quickly — and act outside the law.

Nightshade, high-ranking member of criminal hacker group Black Flag, goes to the scene of Brown Bear’s death. Who did this? He’s nervous — his carefully laid plans are now at risk. Meanwhile, Scott Mitchell alias Strider makes contact with the man who trained him up in the ways of hacking — The Salesman. To Strider’s absolute shock and dismay, The Salesman reveals that he is in charge of Black Flag.

At the same time, Rebecca MacDonald of PrinceSec and Agent David Roche of the National Cyber Crime Unit are investigating at the Drax Power Station. When evidence from the nearby Port of Tyne reveals that a cargo box arrives every week before disappearing for a few days, they realise they’re on to something. Roche, flush with excitement at his discovery, decides to secretly investigate the warehouse linked to the Port.

In the aftermath of a huge explosion at Drax Power Station all evidence lies firmly at the door of the National Cyber Crime Unit and, specifically, Agent Roche. In fact, Roche and Rebecca MacDonald have been kidnapped, drugged and held on the premises usually reserved for the children Black Flag are trafficking. When Roche tries to stop Rebecca being drugged, he’s attacked and taken away. She is left alone.

Scott Mitchell knows that Black Flag must be to blame for the attack, but how can he and his NCCU colleagues prove it? He realises that an email Roche sent the previous day would have led him and Rebecca to a warehouse in Newcastle. The NCCU decide to storm the place but they’re too late: the whole Black Flag operation has already moved out: Rebecca and several other drugged children were taken away earlier that day.

To the shock and disappointment of the entire team, Mitchell finally reveals to his colleagues that their boss, Sheila Davies, had been secretly working for Black Flag. It’s a blow to everyone. And things only get worse when a call comes through from the warehouse. The stakes are immediately raised: on-site two chilling things have been found: a bag of children’s clothes and Roche’s dead body.

Mitchell realises that Black Flag must have planted Roche’s car at the power station to make it look like he was responsible. Was it Nightshade? But why instigate a small-scale attack like that when there are much bigger fish to fry? Could it have been a decoy to move attention from what Black Flag were actually up to elsewhere?

Meanwhile, kept secluded in dark room, Rebecca plots her escape. Managing to get past security, she leaves the building wearing only her underwear, and flags down a nearby car. But trouble awaits her in the form of Nightshade, who is driving the car.

The Code

M. Sean Coleman

Episode 5
Scapegoat

BASTEI ENTERTAINMENT

Digital original edition

Bastei Entertainment is an imprint of Bastei Lübbe AG

Copyright © 2014 by Bastei Lübbe AG, Schanzenstraße 6-20, 51063 Cologne, Germany, and filmtank GmbH, Hamburg

Written by M. Sean Coleman

Edited by Victoria Pepe

Project management: Helmut W. Pesch

Coverdesign: Guter Punkt, München

E-book production: Urban SatzKonzept, Düsseldorf

ISBN 978-3-8387-5599-1

www.bastei-entertainment.com

The Code

You will never know me, but I will be the death of you.
I saw what you did — I see everything you do.
I heard what you said — I know your secrets.
I know where you went — I follow you everywhere.
You are not above scrutiny — I scrutinise everything.
You are not above the law — I am the law.
Don’t ask for forgiveness, nor pardon, nor grace.
Just understand this:
If you cannot live by the Code, you must die by the Code.

Strider

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!