The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comThailand and Malaysia on a shoestring budget. My return flight was withAeroflot, the cheapest ticket available, and a brief refuelling stopwas scheduled in Moscow. But it was the day after a Russian Air ForceMig 17 had shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 over the Sakhalinpeninsula, killing all 269 persons aboard the Boeing 747. In reprisal,the Western powers had banned all Aeroflot flights from their airwaysshortly after my plane arrived at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. Alongwith the other 200 passengers, I was stranded in Moscow for two days,waiting for a British Airways jet to arrive from London to pick us up.Aeroflot put us up in a cheap hotel near the airport, but refused tounload our hold luggage, leaving us with just hand-luggage and theclothes we'd been wearing on leaving sweltering Bangkok. Butinappropriate attire wasn't going to spoil my unexpected opportunity tosee Moscow. With an equally inappropriately dressed Australian whom I'dmet on the plane, I tramped around in the freezing autumnal rain andfog in T-shirts and flip-flops, to the bemusement of the dourMuscovites.It had been a busy three years as an undergraduate, and perhaps myindustry and travel was one of the reasons for Pilchard's invitation.Several years later I learned that MI6 was lacking in officers withsufficient technical expertise to understand the increasinglyscientific nature of its work and Pilchard, like the other universitytalent-spotters, had been briefed to look out for science graduates -which was probably another reason he approached me. His invitation wasinteresting, but I put it to the back of my mind as there were morepressing projects. In a fortnight's time, with five friends, I would beflying to the Philippines for a university-sponsored researchexpedition to investigate the effects of pollution on the fragile coralreefs of the Philippine archipelago. It was to be a real Cousteauexperience, diving in crystal-clear tropical waters.Three months later, back from the Far East, I made the long trip fromCumbria to the naval town of Portsmouth to take the AIB (AdmiraltyInterview Board), the entry test for a naval career. After sailingthrough the exams and practical tests, I assumed the medical exam, heldthe next day, would be straightforward. I was wrong. Examination of mymedical records revealed that I had experienced a mild case of asthmawhen aged seven, and that was enough to fail me. A Surgeon LieutenantCommander explained that the expense of training a naval pilot was toogreat to risk him redeveloping later in life a childhood illness thatmight jeopardise his operational effectiveness. My aspirations to jointhe navy were dashed and it was shattering news.Mooching around London a few days after the AIB, a poster in aKensington underground station showing a girl wading up to her waist ina tropical swamp caught my eye. It was an advertisement for recruits tojoin Operation Raleigh, a youth adventure expedition, and it lookedjust the sort of challenge to get over the disappointment of myrejection. I sent off an application form, was accepted and a fewmonths later was on my way to the Caribbean to join the expedition'ssquare-rigged sailing brig, the Zebu, to learn the intricacies ofcrewing a square-rigger.Back in the UK three months later, I still could not get enthusiasticabout any particular career and so decided to go back to university. Ipage- 9 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com