Code Name Firestorm Read Online Free PDF Page B

said the Professor. “Did you manage to hack into MI6?”
    “Oh yes, no problem,” said Alfred brightly. “It took a little longer than expected, but my reprogrammed computer virus has been burrowing through their network for an hour now. In fact, the results should be accessible in a moment or two.”
    He tapped at a screen beside him. Information began to flow across it.
    “At least we now know what the stolen data is,” said Queen Bee. She remembered the end of her conversation with Drake and smiled to herself.
    Alfred looked thoughtful. “It’s not good news. Firestorm knew exactly what they were doing. The data they took could only be retrieved in that one room. It was totally separate from the mainframe. That cube of theirs targeted the exact servers it needed.”
    “It seems Firestorm are remarkably well informed,” said Queen Bee. “You know, I think we may have to consider the possibility that theyhave a mole inside the secret service. What was the extent of the theft?”
    Alfred looked up from the screen. He chose his words carefully. “They took the names and addresses of every MI6 agent currently operating abroad. Plus, the names of everyone MI6 suspects of being an agent for a foreign government. Tagged to the names were details of every mission they’ve been sent on, every fake ID they’ve used, and every contact they have in the world’s security services.”
    “Good grief,” muttered Professor Miller.
    “If they put information like that online,” said Queen Bee. “It would destroy our entire spy network, worldwide. Every agent’s life would be in danger. Every government around the world, friend or enemy, would know the details of MI6’s activities.”
    “I’m afraid that’s not all,” said Alfred. “They took details of some of MI5’s activities too. MI6 missions sometimes overlap MI5’s. Firestorm are in possession of a full MI5 staff list.”
    “Do they know about us as well?” said Professor Miller.
    “No,” said Alfred. “Because we’re part of the SIA, our secrecy level is above almost everything else. However, we’re now the only branch of the secret service Firestorm’s got nothing on.”
    “Then that remains our main advantage,” said Queen Bee. “They’ll have no idea that it’s us they’re up against. Our mission objectives are clear: we must track down Firestorm before they can use that stolen data. If the data gets out into the open, I dread to think what will happen.”
    “Even a small leak of secrets can cause a major international row,” said Alfred.
    “Quite,” said Queen Bee. “If this data is released, we could see wars break out all over the world. At the very least, our own government could end up at war with any number of enemies. Every country knows there are spies, but no country wants to admit that foreign agents are spying on
them
. This is a race against time. Right now, we need our robots like never before.”
    At that moment, Simon Turing looked up from the 3D display. “Ms Maynard,” he said to Queen Bee. “I think the SWARM has discovered something very interesting…”

CHAPTER FOUR
4:00 p.m.
    “Cashier number four, please.”
    The recorded voice was loud and cheery. The long, snaking queue shuffled forward a little. Everything was as normal in this small north London branch of the Lowfax Building Society.
    Cashier number four smiled at her next customer from behind a bulletproof screen. “Hello, my name’s Sue. How can I help you today?”
    The customer was an old lady, quite short andthin, wearing a thick coat, gloves and a woolly hat. Her eyes seemed slightly unfocused.
    “Can I help you, madam?” said Sue. “Are you all right?”
    The old lady paused for a moment, as if she was listening to something nobody else could hear. She leaned close to the screen. “Give me all your money,” she said quietly.
    “I beg your pardon?” The cashier blinked.
    “Give me all your money,” repeated the old lady. She slid a