Last Hurrah for an Evil Empire

Last Hurrah for an Evil Empire

By Casey Cavanaugh

Smashwords Edition

Published by MilSpeak Books

A Division of MilSpeak Foundation (501c3)

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Copyright © 2010 Casey Cavanaugh

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Acknowledgments

The following are gratefully acknowledged for their contribution to Last Hurrah. Some are known; some unknown. Some names are real; some not. I thank them all - when their country called, they gave everything.

U.S.

Wiggins, L. R. Colonel, US Army

Murray, M. Lieutenant Colonel, US Army

Barber, Sergeant, 502d MI Bn

Ivy, W.R. First Lieutenant, 502d MI Bn – Army Ranger 2nd Bn

Shephard, A., US Army MI

Salvant, L., 4th. MI

Overaker, A., 4th. MI

Richards, A.K., US

Church, K., 502d MI Bn

Semft, G., US MI

Smith, A., 502d MI Bn

Bare, R., CIA

Holland, Dan R. Colonel, USMC

U.K.

Vale, R., MI-6

Wright, P., MI-5

U.S.S.R.

Suvorav, V., Red Army GRU

Putin, V., KGB

Mytrokin, V., KGB

Kryuchkov, V., KGB

Korabelnikov, V., General, Red Army GRU

R.O.K.

Choe, Sang So, Colonel, ROK Army AIU

Kim, K. T., Captain, ROK Army AIU

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Glossary of Intelligence Terms

Agent

A provider of information who knowingly acts for another entity or country

Bring-Up Investigation

An investigation that is triggered with a previous security clearance suspense date. It is scheduled every 3 to 5 years.

Burst Transmission

A fast method for transmitting coded signals over a short wave transmitter in a very short (5 – 10 seconds) time. Usually required is a recording device, such as a small tape recorder that is either battery or steel spring powered. The Soviet Union originated this type of transmission. Now reportedly replaced by blast transmission, a faster method.

Clandestine

Secret or anonymous means of pursuing an intelligence collection goal. A methodology of collecting intelligence information without the target’s knowledge of the effort. The target is unaware that he has been compromised, or that he has been targeted. The term stresses anonymity and secrecy.

Classified

A term used for categorizing important and secret information. In the US system, the lowest classified information is Confidential, then Secret, and finally Top Secret.

Code

A method of substituting meaningless character information for readable text. Requires a key to code, and, a key to return the coded information to readable text.

Conveyor

GRU term that refers to being drugged and covertly taken back to the Soviet Union. If they suspect you are going to defect or a traitor, it’s the ‘conveyor’.

Courier

A clandestine operative that receives information from a source, an agent or dead drop, and delivers it to another higher up operative. A courier does not usually collect intelligence information. His job is to receive information from one source, and transfer it to another operative.

Covert

An effort to secretly compromise a target country and hide the aggressor country’s identity. This usually refers to disinformation, assassination, or destabilization of a foreign power. The target country is usually aware of a covert effort through the results. They suspect, but can’t identify the source. An operation of this type affords the aggressor country plausible denial.

Dangle

An operative that is sent to opposition intelligence to create confusion by reporting false information. He then reports back to the host intelligence agency.

Dead Drop (ex. letter drop)

Hiding place where information is left for someone else to retrieve. It may be an out of the way place not frequented by others. There is usually a container which paper, photographic film, or other material is placed. Usually associated with a load and unload sign.

Espionage

The act of illegally stealing secret or classified information.

Exfiltration (ex. exfil)

The crossing of a border or country’s boundary by an individual on an intelligence mission. Exfiltration is the exit of a country. White exfiltration is through uncovered or overt means and usually through a border inspection station, or a customs or controlled crossing boundary point. Black exfiltration is through a border or boundary, and is not observed or discovered by the target country, and is not through a controlled crossing point.

Infiltration (ex. infil)

A crossing of a border or country’s boundary by an individual on an intelligence mission. Infiltration is the entry of a country. White infiltration is through uncovered or overt means and usually through a border inspection station, a customs or controlled crossing boundary. Black infiltration is through a border or boundary and is not observed or discovered by the target country, and is not through a controlled crossing point.

K###

One of several Soviet Navy’s submarine numbering system. The K is followed by numbers, as in K137.

GRU

The Soviet (now Russian) Army Spy Agency. Translates to Main Intelligence Administration.

KGB

A rough translation is Committee for State Security. It is the Soviet Secret Police Force, Border Defense, Counter Intelligence, and foreign spy organization. It is extremely large and operates around the globe. The foreign Intelligence agency is now the SVRR.

Mission

A nation state approved intelligence effort. It has a clear objective, and implies command support, timing, and adequate funding.

Radio Agent

An agent that transmits coded information to another country by coded radio signals. He does not normally engage in espionage. His primary responsibility is to transmit and receive information via short wave transceiver.

Source

The originating provider of information. They are usually an agent of foreign power. They could be a witting or an unwitting agent.

Spetsnatz

The Soviet Army’s special commando forces. Comparable to the US Army Rangers.

SOSUS

Sound Surveillance System. During the cold war, this was a highly classified US ocean monitoring system to track Soviet submarines worldwide.

SRI

Specific Request for Intelligence. An acronym to detail a requirement that may be used as authority to mount a clandestine collection mission.

Transceiver

Short wave radio receiver and transmitter in one case. They are very compact, usually the size of a pack of cigarettes. They are battery powered, and are attached with a coding/uncoding, or Morse code device.

Uncovered

Implies the use of visible and non-secret means. A Chinese fishing junk is an uncovered method of water transport. A submarine is a covered means of transport.

Unwitting

An agent, or source that provides information, and is unaware he is providing information to the true collection authority. He or she may be unaware information is being provided.

Witting

An agent or source that provides intelligence information, and is fully aware of his or her effort.

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Dramatis Personae

U.S.

Doug Clarke

Special Agent in Charge, Albuquerque, NM Field Office.

Brett Culpepper

FBI Special Agent. Chief Counter Intelligence Section, Albuquerque, NM Field Office

Frank Johnson

Mechanical Engineer Gerhing, Haskell and Rosen (GHR) Engineering, Hanover, VA

Jim McClain

US Army CI Special Agent, Washington/Baltimore, Md.

John Parent

PhD. Weapons Designer Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

Clyde Riddle

Nuclear Weapons Assembler Pantex Ordnance Facility, Amarillo, TX

Scott Tripp

Ex US Army CI Agent, informant, and Accountant, Albuquerque, NM

Arthur Van Hodges III

Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Eastern European Policy US State Department, Washington, DC

Charlie Waters

Perfect Baby Diaper Service deliveryman, Laurel, MD

U.S.S.R.

Vassily Nolitsyn

Major, KGB, Soviet Embassy, Washington, D.C.

Dmitry Padorin

Major Red Army GRU. Third GRU (US) Directorate

Viktor Rostov

Lieutenant Colonel, KGB Chief Resident, Soviet Embassy, Washington, D.C.

Igor Yuchenko

General, Red Army. Chief, Third Directorate, KGB, Moscow, U.S.S.R.

Boris Zloty

Captain, Soviet Navy. Commander, K137 November Class Submarine

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As the sun began to set on a once great empire, desperation slowly gripped its staunchest champions.

This is the story of the courageous few, who fought to hold off that final sunset.

When your country calls, give everything….

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What’s Going on Here?

From a small office in Albuquerque’s Old Town, Scott Tripp took a break from his tax prep work. He had just finished three hours on a client’s quarterly payroll report. He stood up, stretched, and, from his second floor office window, gazed at the street scene below. End of day clamor filled the air. A slight movement to the right caught his attention, and, as he looked closer, Scott could see someone standing at the entrance to an alley.

The man wore dark clothing and a gray hat that was pulled low over his face. The stranger scrutinized the area intently. Seeing no one, he quickly stepped into the alley. Less than 30 seconds later, the stranger reappeared and rapidly walked up Romero Street. He then turned the corner on Church Street and was soon out of sight.

Scott’s instincts said something was up.

As a former Army Intelligence agent, Scott had an inquisitive mind. He returned to his desk, and hastily wrote some details of the last few minutes. It was almost 5:15 p.m., so he cleared his desk, locked the door, and made his way down the stairs. Seconds later, he stepped off the landing on the first floor, and slowly walked down the sidewalk toward the alley. An odor of Mexican food permeated the air. It was late in the day. The sun’s rays were long and red in the October sky.

Scott was startled to see a second man walk down the street in the direction of the same alley. Scott quickly stepped behind a parked van. The second man stopped at the alley entrance, and intently scanned the area. Seeing no one, the man entered and, less than 45 seconds later, exited the alley. Scott’s training kicked in, and he began to follow the second man. Two blocks away, the man got into a dark blue pickup truck with a white camper. The vehicle started and rapidly drove up San Felipe and out of sight. The entire episode was extraordinarily silent and swift. It played like a Buster Keaton movie in fast frame.

It was a little after 5:30 p.m., but with the help of a street light Scott was able to see the last three digits on the camper plate: ‘392’. He also made a mental note of the second man’s description: blue jeans, dark shirt, baseball hat, medium build, Caucasian, 35 – 45 years old.

Scott then walked to the alley and looked around. He didn’t see anything out of the norm, however an uneasy feeling came over him. His Counter Intelligence training kicked in. CI told him: Something is going on here that shouldn’t be.

He returned to his office and typed out a one page ‘report’ on his new ‘Quick-Rite’ word processor. The report