The Pathfinder Project Read Free

infiltrate Russia,” he informed Gyilto proudly. “Some of my brothers are in
other European and Asian nations as well, but my mission has been to place top
level operatives in Moscow and other key Soviet cities. Although my personal
skills are primarily of a medical nature, the training of all subsequent clones
from my line has involved technology, particularly the covert infiltration of
computer hardware and software.”
    A warm feeling of confidence
surged through Gyilto and he pointed at Hobak. “Then your… line… must have been
used to infiltrate China,” he guessed with perceived understanding. “The
Himalayas lie just north of here.”
    “Not simply China, my good
King,” chuckled an amused Hobak in response. “India and Pakistan as well.”
    “Clones, you see, can be anything we want them to be,” continued Valiana informatively. “We had no need to speed
along the maturation process in the way others have tried. Our soldiers
of the Brotherhood were grown, enhanced and educated in our methodologies
beginning from the day they were born.” She turned her head sharply and sent
her dark hair flying. “My own line has been placed undercover primarily in the
Western nations, particularly since the men there are much more susceptible to
my… charms.” She smiled provocatively at him and Gyilto felt a chill of fear
run down his spine as he thought suddenly of all the enemy undercover
operatives who had entered his country over the years, only to promptly vanish
without a trace.
    “How can I be certain that my
nation will be spared?” wondered the King suddenly. “A nuclear annihilation of
the type you are planning has the potential to destroy every nation on
Earth, not just the ones in which you stir up a hornet’s nest.”
    “Most of your plutocrats and
soldiers will be underground, in this complex, with us. The remainder of your
people, those who chose not to join the Brotherhood, will act as guinea pigs.
They will assist us in measuring the fallout from the coming war.” Hobak spoke
with clear, unbridled confidence on the subject. “We have learned a lot from
our long-term, intensive studies and genetic manipulation of clones. In this
particular field of medicine, we have enough skills, along with a large supply
of anti-radiation medication, to take care of your nation. After all, your
cooperation has purchased your country a front row ticket in the new world
order.”
    “Our intelligence is very
accurate and detailed,” continued Durgon almost dismissively. “It clearly shows
that you are no concern to the larger nations. Those with nuclear weapons will
target other nations with nuclear weapons… Ghuitan has very little to worry
about. Your country is still mostly impoverished and weak in the eyes of the
Western world. Of course, they will help you, but only if you support their
world view and have the patience to wait years for their political process to
play out.”
    Gyilto was still not completely
convinced. “I have doubts in particular about your ability to take on America,”
he admitted. “Your Brotherhood has proven itself to be very strong indeed, but
no one ever seems able to break through their defenses. How can you guarantee
that they too will be implicated and caught up in this sudden war?” For
the first time, he detected a distinct expression of distaste and growing anger
in Hobak’s expression. The King immediately regretted asking the question. He
had gotten away with a lot, thus far, but clearly the audience they had granted
him was limited. How long does it take for YOUR political process to play
out? He wondered silently to himself.
    “You need to relax , your
Majesty, and return to running your plucky Constitutional Monarchy,” suggested
Valiana with an alluring smile. “It is true that the United States has the best
of the best, in terms of technology. But we have acquired key codes to some of
their missile sites. These admittedly cannot normally be used to