The Phoenix Variant: The Fifth Column 3 (34 page)

In the unlikely event the historical record of humankind breaks from tradition and reflects the truth, it would note that by the close of 2001 the Fifth Column had achieved its aim of directly manipulating governments and, indirectly, proxy governments. The organization had spent the next decade stripping basic freedoms from supreme law. To turn governments against their citizens, citizens against their governments.

The record would go on to state that terrorism—the use of violence to coerce political change—was used during the first two decades of the twenty-first century with overwhelming success by the Fifth Column and the operatives at its disposal, chiefly through deception and carefully managed campaigns. That the Fifth Column itself was, paradoxically, the terrorist. The record might also note that leaders of the Fifth Column strove to herd as many of the people of the world as possible into a fine order of control for a very precise reason—so that when it became obvious the real threats to the people’s freedoms were cataclysmic weather and cometary viruses—both inextricably linked—the chance for mass revolution would be long past and the Fifth Column would, despite widespread hysteria, maintain control for the foreseeable future. The human race had crossed the abyss from which there was no return.

But as an addendum, the record would note that a small group of former operatives prevented their rogue case officer from obtaining a dangerous virus of extra-planetary origin.

The former operatives continued their small, overlooked campaign against the Fifth Column. Their successes would not be known. Their names would not be known. But they would continue.

They would continue until the Fifth Column fell.

Or until they did.

Nathan Farrugia served in the Australian Army in infantry and reconnaissance, and studied film, television and professional writing. He has worked as a post-production video editor, colorist and copywriter, where he earned the nickname Fagoogoo because no one could pronounce Farrugia.

Nathan lives in Melbourne, Australia. In his spare time he discovers hidden places around the world with urban explorers, practices lock picking and escaping from plasticuffs and straitjackets (you never know when that will come in handy, right?) and studies Systema, a little-known martial art and closely guarded secret of Russian special forces. Nathan has trained under USMC, SEAL team and Spetsnaz instructors, the Chiricahua Apache scouts and Australian Aboriginals. He also drinks tea.

“
Farrugia! Bringin
’
 the awesome from the first headshot to the last 
’
splosion.
”
 – John Birmingham, author of the Axis of Time and Disappearance trilogies. 

The Fifth Column: the world’s most powerful and secretive organization. They run our militaries. They run our governments. They run our terrorist cells. 

Recruited as a child, Sophia is a deniable operative for the Fifth Column. Like all operatives, Sophia’s DNA has been altered to augment her senses and her mind is splintered into programmed subsets. 

On a routine mission in Iran something goes catastrophically wrong. Bugs are beginning to appear in Sophia’s programming and the mission spins out of control. 

High-speed chases, gun fights, helicopter battles, immortal psychopaths, super soldiers and mutant abilities are all in the mix in this edge-of-your-seat action-packed techno-thriller. 

Perfect for fans of Matthew Reilly,
The Chimera Vector
melds sci-fi with sizzling espionage action.

For more information please visit 
momentumbooks.com.au/books/chimera-vector/
.

The world is reeling in the aftermath of genocide. 

Former black operative Sophia is among the remnants of the Akhana, a once-strong organized resistance against the all-powerful world government known as the Fifth Column. Branded as the world's most wanted terrorist, Sophia barely escaped her last encounter with the organization with her life.

Now a new threat is emerging from inside the Fifth Column. Project Seraphim: a technology utilizing extremely low frequencies that can make anyone feel and do anything at any time. Mass populations will fall under the influence of an almost unlimited power.

To stop them Sophia must join forces with former friends turned enemies and former enemies turned unlikely allies—first among them Denton, a master manipulator whom she would prefer to run her knife through than work with.

Sophia has four days. Four days before what little freedom the human race has left is gone forever.

The brutal game of betrayal and counter-betrayal that began with the international bestseller,
The Chimera Vector
, continues in this highly anticipated sequel.

For more information please visit 
momentumbooks.com.au/books/seraphim-sequence/
.