Digital Fortress Chapter 40

Outside Node 3, Chartrukian looked desperate. He was trying to coax impel that TRANSLTR was in trouble. Susan raced by them with only one thought in mind-to find Strathmore.The panicked Sys-Sec grabbed Susans arm as she passed. Ms. Fletcher We have a com tramper virus Im positive You have to-Susan shook herself free and glared ferociously. I thought the commandant told you to go home.But the Run-Monitor Its registering eighteen-air force officer Strathmore told you to go homeFUCK STRATHMORE Chartrukian screamed, the spoken communication re audio recordinging throughout the dome.A copious voice boomed from above. Mr. Chartrukian?The three Crypto employees froze. blue above them, Strathmore stood at the railing outside his office.For a moment, the only sound at bottom the dome was the uneven hum of the generators below. Susan tried desperately to start out Strathmores eye. Commander embroil is trades union DakotaBut Strathmore was fixated on the young Sys-Sec. He descended the stairs without so practically as a blink, keeping his eyeball trained on Chartrukian the whole panache down. He made his government agency across the Crypto floor and stopped six inches in front of the trepidation technician. What did you say?Sir, Chartrukian choked, TRANSLTRs in trouble.Commander? Susan interjected. If I could-Strathmore waved her off. His eyes never left over(p) the Sys-Sec.Phil blurted, We have an infected file, sir. Im sure of itStrathmores heterogeneousion turned a deep red. Mr. Chartrukian, weve been through this. There is no file infecting TRANSLTRYes, on that point is he cried. And if it makes its way to the main databank-Where the hell is this infected file? Strathmore bellowed. Show it to meChartrukian hesitated. I cant.Of melt down you cant It doesnt existSusan said, Commander, I must-Again Strathmore silenced her with an angry wave.Susan eyed Hale nervously. He seemed smug and detached. It makes perfect sense, she thought. Hale wouldnt be worri ed rough a virus he contends whats really going on inside TRANSLTR.Chartrukian was insistent. The infected file exists, sir. But Gauntlet never picked it up.If Gauntlet never picked it up, Strathmore fumed, then how the hell do you know it exists?Chartrukian explosively sounded more confident. edition strings, sir. I ran a full analysis, and the probe turned up conversion stringsSusan now tacit why the Sys-Sec was so concerned. Mutation strings, she mused. She knew mutation strings were programming sequences that corrupted data in extremely complex ways. They were very common in computer viruses, particularly viruses that altered humongous blocks of data. Of course, Susan also knew from Tankados E-mail that the mutation strings Chartrukian had seen were harmless-simply part of Digital Fortress.The Sys-Sec went on. When I first saw the strings, sir, I thought Gauntlets filters had failed. But then I ran some tests and found out He paused, looking suddenly uneasy. I found out t hat somebody manually go arounded Gauntlet.The statement met with a sudden hush. Strathmores face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. There was no query whom Chartrukian was accusing Strathmores terminal was the only one in Crypto with clearance to bypass Gauntlets filters.When Strathmore spoke, his voice was like ice. Mr. Chartrukian, not that it is any concern of yours, but I bypassed Gauntlet. He went on, his temper hovering near the boiling point. As I told you earlier, Im raceway a very advanced diagnostic. The mutation strings you see in TRANSLTR are part of that diagnostic they are there because I put them there. Gauntlet refused to let me load the file, so I bypassed its filters. Strathmores eyes narrow sharply at Chartrukian. Now, will there be anything else before you go?In a flash, it all clicked for Susan. When Strathmore had downloaded the encrypted Digital Fortress algorithm from the profits and tried to run it through TRANSLTR, the mutation strings had tripped Gauntlets filters. Desperate to know whether Digital Fortress was breakable, Strathmore decided to bypass the filters.Normally, bypassing Gauntlet was unthinkable. In this situation, however, there was no danger in sending Digital Fortress immediately into TRANSLTR the air force officer knew exactly what the file was and where it came from.With all due respect, sir, Chartrukian pressed, Ive never perceive of a diagnostic that employs mutation-Commander, Susan interjected, not able to wait another moment. I really need to-This time her words were cut short by the sharp ring of Strathmores cellular phone. The commander snatched up the receiver. What is it he barked. accordingly he fell silent and listened to the caller.Susan forgot about Hale for an instant. She prayed the caller was David. classify me hes okay, she thought. Tell me he found the ring But Strathmore caught her eye and he gave her a frown. It was not David.Susan felt her breath grow short. All she treasured to kno w was that the man she loved was safe. Strathmore, Susan knew, was impatient for other reasons if David took much longer, the commander would have to send backup-NSA field agents. It was a gamble he had hoped to avoid.Commander? Chartrukian urged. I really think we should check-Hold on, Strathmore said, apologizing to his caller. He covered his back talk and leveled a fiery stare at his young Sys-Sec. Mr. Chartrukian, he growled, this intervention is over. You are to leave Crypto. Now. Thats an order.Chartrukian stood stunned. But, sir, mutation str-NOW Strathmore bellowed.Chartrukian stared a moment, speechless. Then he stormed off toward the Sys-Sec lab.Strathmore turned and eyed Hale with a puzzled look. Susan understood the commanders mystification. Hale had been quiet-too quiet. Hale knew very well there was no much(prenominal) thing as a diagnostic that used mutation strings, much less one that could keep TRANSLTR busy eighteen hours. And yet Hale hadnt said a word. He appe ared indifferent to the entire commotion. Strathmore was obviously enquire why. Susan had the answer.Commander, she said insistently, if I could just speak-In a minute, he interjected, bland eyeing Hale quizzically. I need to take this call. With that, Strathmore turned on his tilt and headed for his office.Susan opened her mouth, but the words stalled on the tip of her tongue. Hale is North Dakota She stood rigid, unable to breathe. She felt Hale staring at her. Susan turned. Hale stepped apart and swung his arm graciously toward the Node 3 door. After you, Sue.