Alex Spiradon chose 43. Each communication he had with Homosoto was also protected with full encryption. If someone was able to isolate their conversations, all they would get would be sheer garbage, a screen full of unintelligible symbols and random characters. By choosing 43, Alex told his computer and Homosoto's computer to use Crypt Key 43, one of over 100 secret keys that both computers held in their memory. This cryptographic scheme, using the U.S.'s Data Encryption Standard, DES, and ANSI standard X9.17 was the same one that the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve used to protect the transmission of over $1 trillion of funds transfers daily. <<<<<<TRANSMISSION ENCODED>>>>>> That was the signal for Alex to send the first words to Homosoto. Good Morning, Homosoto-San. AND TO YOU MY ESTEEMED PARTNER. YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT. Yes. All is in place. PLEASE CLARIFY . . .MY MEMORY IS NOT WHAT IT WAS. Of course. The last of the Operators are in place. We call him Sir George. That makes 8 altogether. San Francisco, (SF), New York, (NY), Los Angeles, (LA), Boston, (BM), Atlanta, (AG) Chica- go, (CI), Washington, (DC) and Dallas, (DT). AND THEY CAN BE TRUSTED? They are aware of the penalty. If not, we have others that will replace them. Besides, you are rewarding them most handsomely for their efforts. SO I AM. I EXPECT RESULTS. AND THE OTHERS? The Mail Men are waiting as well. Four of them in NY, DC, LA and DT. YOU SAY MAIL MEN. WHAT IS THAT TERM? They will deliver our messages in writing to those who need additional proof of our sincerity. They know nothing other than they get paid, very well, to make sure that the addressees are in receipt of their packages. VERY GOOD. AND THEY TOO ARE RESPONSIBLE? Yes. Elimination is a strong motivation. Besides, they know nothing. WHAT IF THEY READ THE CONTENTS? That can only help. They do not know where the money comes from. Most need the money more than their lives. My contacts make my choices ideal. Death is . . .so permanent. I AGREE. IT MAKES MEN HONORABLE, DOES IT NOT? Most of the time, yes. There are always exceptions, and we are prepared for that, too. THE SEKIGUN-HA ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL. Thank you. The Ground Hogs, the first are in place. HOW MANY AND WHERE. Over 50 so far. I will keep recruiting. We have 11 in the long distance phone companies and at AT&T, 3 at IBM, 14 in government positions, 12 in major banks, a couple of insurance companies, 3 Hospitals are compromised . . .and a list of others. We will keep the channels full, I promise. HOW WILL THEY FUNCTION? They will gain access to the information we need, and when we call, they will perform. I will add more as we proceed. It amazes me, these Americans. Anything for a buck. DO NOT DISAPPOINT ME. I will not. That is my promise. When will the information be ready?