They checked the other phones. Dead too. On the MA’s computer screen a document he had been working on started to devour itself. Then the screen went black. As did all the computer screens.

They tested the connections. Switched off the machines, unplugged and switched them on again. Nothing.

Five minutes later the Commander of the Joint Forces HQ burst in looking worried. He spotted the General and gave him a quick salute. “Sir, all computers and phones in the HQ have crashed. We suspect a cyber-attack. We’re implementing the cyber defense plan and reversionary modes. We’ll also send an advance party to open the reserve HQ in the old Soviet bunker at Ligatne.”

“You get on with that and get the message out to push on with the mobilization with all speed. I’m heading back to the Ministry of Defense.” He looked next at Morland. “Have you got comms?”

“Yes, General. Inmarsat VTC and secure phone, to anywhere in the world. Back at the embassy.”

“Come with me now to the MOD. You’ll get a picture of what is happening and then I want you to get the message to the UK and the US. At this moment you may be our best link with the outside world.” Balderis strode out of the building to his waiting car.

Two hours later they were in the Ministry of Defense in Valdemara Street in the center of Riga, a few blocks from the scene of yesterday’s rioting and still littered with burned-out cars and the smashed windows of looted shops. Everywhere there was chaos. None of the traffic lights were functioning and, as cars blocked every intersection, they had left the vehicles and walked the last couple of miles through streets crowded with confused and worried people trying to get home.

In the Defense Ministry, there was a sense of order and purpose—despite the blank computers and silent phones. Balderis called on the Defense Minister and after updating him, returned to his office. Reports came in by any means possible; bike, runner, or walked by messenger across the city from other ministries and key national infrastructure. What was becoming ever clearer was that this was a cyber-attack on a massive scale and all national infrastructure had crashed. The electricity grid had shut down, the flow of natural gas had stopped, financial transactions rerouted or ceased altogether, telecommunications disrupted, air-traffic-control radars blank and the airport shut down. In the streets there was a sense of resignation. And anyway, people were still in shock from the unexpected violence of yesterday’s riot.

Calmly, Balderis took it all in, then turned to Morland.

“Captain, I think you have the general picture? Now, please be so good as to send a detailed report to your country and ask them to pass it on to NATO and the United States of America. There can be no question. Latvia is under attack and we need immediate NATO support.”