“No. Genjiro’s house was surrounded by tiny grains of silicon that are very similar to sand but charged by solar radiation. When a certain remote signal is given, they rearrange themselves into a circuit and can deliver quite an electric shock. Think of it as a twenty-first-century minefield. Depending on the circuit created, it can kill or incapacitate. More important, though, it can be permanently shut down after hostilities end. No more generations of children having their limbs blown off by mines left behind. A significant improvement, don’t you think?”

Smith actually did, but decided not to admit it. “Ironic that Genjiro would be killed by something he had a hand in designing.”

Takahashi nodded. “And unfortunate. He made significant contributions over the years. Having said that, his time was coming to an end. As a soldier and scientist, I imagine that you’ve discovered the same thing I have: War favors the wise and experienced. Science prefers the young and inspired.”

Smith didn’t respond.

“Do you know where you are, Colonel?”

“I can only speculate.”

Takahashi leaned back in his chair and waved him on. “Please do.”

“After losing Reactor Four, you’d need a new venue to work on your nanotech weapon that eats metal, concrete, and plastic. I notice none of those materials are present in this room. You’d still need radiation to kill it just in case, though. So, I’d have to guess an underground nuclear waste storage facility.”

The old soldier smiled. “I would say that you live up to your reputation, but I have to admit that I know surprisingly little about it. We have excellent penetration into America’s military computers as well as those at the CIA and NSA. They all seem to indicate that you’re a microbiologist. I think you’d say virus hunter.”

“Maybe your access isn’t as good as you think, General.”

“I believe it is. We’ve been developing supercomputer and cyber warfare technology since the early eighties. Your own NSA is about ten years behind us. A much more likely explanation is that you’re not here at the behest of any of those organizations.”

Fred Klein insisted that Covert-One’s computers be completely cut off from the outside world. If you wanted to access them, you had to be physically sitting behind one of the terminals at the marina. And getting to one of those terminals without Klein’s permission would be a challenge for the Eighty-Second Airborne.

“Knowledge is power,” Smith said noncommittally.

Takahashi smiled, obviously not expecting him to just roll over and give up his employer. “As is technology. You directed the military’s development of Dresner’s Merge unit, did you not?”

“Yes, sir.” It was more or less public knowledge, so he didn’t see any harm in admitting it.