Beyond the Bridge
A History of Future Crime
by
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Kate answered. `Let's go back to the early seventies when the Homberg group has contract for computing and electronic security at the new Pine Gap Base. Then somebody puts in the considerable effort to gain approval by the US government to build a silo out here. I know its Cold War stuff and the world was crazy but that's calling in a lot of favors. We have some evidence that it was to be the first of a number built using secret funds. It's a bizarre mix of Cold War politics and secrecy around the madness of nuclear deterrents.' For the first time the glittering of light reflecting from shards of broken glass could be seen ahead as Kate continued `We kind of know what happened later, everything fell over. It was not a feasible idea in the first place so Kronberg took it under their wing and used it for research on fiber optics and into how computers relay data and the silo was connected to Pine Gap only to be corrupted to monitor “The Gap” itself. It was decommissioned; not.' The four-wheel drive lurched as it found a series of deep pot holes filled with the talcum powder like dust referred to in the Outback as bull dust. There was a solid thump from under the vehicle which shuddered up their spines. `There's a very simple question that nobody's asked.' Kate said. `And that is?' Tom asked. `Why here, I mean here precisely. Look around you, there's a hell of a lot of nothing out here; why here? That question's become completely lost in this high tech cyber bullshit.' Tom looked around and shrugged his shoulders. `The serenity?'
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About the Book
In this thriller, the reader follows the fortunes of Australian ASIO agent Kate Austin. We find Kate has already led allied intelligence agencies to discover a well-established listening post to the key US intelligence gathering facility of Pine Gap in Central Australia. Australian authorities have in custody the head of a massive global electronics giant, Kronberg, the supplier of much of the computer equipment to governments around the world. The man in custody is Joseph Homberg. Austin has also uncovered half a century of archives, the records of two assassins that have been employed by Homberg and his family. These diaries are the key to understanding the current series of violent events. The diaries suggest European old money is at the heart of generational political corruption and a complete breakdown of global cyber security. Austin’s search for the hidden hand behind it all entwines with real events related to the birth of computing and the internet itself. In Beyond the Bridge, Kate pushes ahead but is caught in the kickback by the corrupt as she unravels a conspiracy that rivals no other. The story overlaps and follows on from the first novel of the three-part series The Bridge at Koondrook.
About the Author
The author Greg Hahn loves political non- fiction and crime because real story lines leave fictional accounts pale in comparison. His first book, “The Bridge at Koondrook.” he transposes his fictional characters onto real uniquely Australian historical events. Greg has travelled extensively in the Outback and lives in the “Bush”. His life experiences bring a first-hand feel to his accounts of place. Greg lives with his wife Kathryn on the banks of the Murray River and has used the small towns of Barham and Koondrook as the backdrop for many events. Greg likes telling big stories so his novels evolve to be truly international in scope.