The Sandman
by
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Bushehr Nuclear Research Facility, Iran
Main Control Room 12:30 a.m.
The technicians were sitting at their posts in front of the numerous control panels that operated the main computer when they heard it. Deep in the underground facility three powerful explosions rocked the foundation throughout the complex. The resulting tremor lasted thirty seconds, but seemed a lifetime to those experiencing it. The technicians, male and female, grabbed hold of anything they could to keep their balance, but were tossed violently against their desks and to the floor. Pictures and clipboards hanging on the wall fell off the hooks, papers were strewn about, chairs toppled over. A moment later the alarms sounded and the high-pitched, piercing noise was so terrific that no one could understand what anyone was saying.
"Shut it off!" Dr. Kashir Balim shouted, as he ran into the room from his cubicle.
A nearby technician wearing the familiar white overcoat that all personnel wore in the facility pushed a few buttons on his computer and the alarm fell silent. No one uttered a word as they tried to understand what happened. They were in a daze, their eyes wide from the surprise of the event.
Iran was known to have its share of earthquakes, but when something of this magnitude occurred at a nuclear facility everyone could only assume the worst...and pray to Allah for the best!
Dr. Balim went to the main computer for answers, but the lights flickering overhead caught his attention, stopping him dead in his tracks. The printer suddenly switched on and sheets of paper with automated-typed words spewed out at an incredible rate. A technician ran to the printer and grabbed the stack of papers.
"What do they read?" Dr. Balim asked, a hint of desperation in his tone.
"I can't quite make it out, Doctor," the technician replied. The unstable lights above made it difficult to read the documents.
Dr. Balim turned to a technician sitting at his computer and the man understood what he wanted. He quickly typed something into his computer console and the emergency lights came on a moment later.
"There," Dr. Balim said. "Now tell me what the computer readout states."
"It reads, 'All systems down. The main cooling system has been'..." The technician's voice trailed off as he read the papers. A few silent seconds passed before he slowly raised his eyes to meet Dr. Balim.
"Well?" Dr. Balim asked, impatiently. He could not hide the nervous feeling running through him and beads of perspiration rolled down his forehead.
The technician swallowed the growing lump in his throat before finding the strength to speak. "The Emergency Core-Coolant System has shut down!"
The sudden gasp from those in the control room was deafening.
"What is going on here?" Colonel Benghazi asked.
"My God ... It's him," said Captain Mourak, standing behind the colonel.
"Can you be more specific?" Colonel Benghazi was becoming impatient.
"It's the saboteur, you fool!"
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About the Book
The countdown to nuclear disaster begins when the C.I.A.'s top saboteur code name: Sandman strikes a devastating blow to Iran. He has infiltrated the Bushehr Nuclear Research Facility and created a fire that threatens a reactor core meltdown.
All the Iranians have to do to save their nuclear reactor is to bring the coolant online. But the situation turns from bad to worse when they learn the saboteur has barricaded himself in the alternate secondary control room that accesses the coolant.
Now a brilliant Iranian military officer takes charge to battle the Sandman in what becomes a match of wits as each tries to outmaneuver the other in the dark corridors of the underground complex.
While deadly gunfights between the Sandman and Iranian soldiers ensue the work crews desperately attempt to put out the fire in the electrical control room to regain access to the coolant. But with each passing second the temperature in the reactor core quickly rises ... Bringing them closer to nuclear disaster!
About the Author
David Lucero lives in San Diego, California with his wife Martha and son Carlo. He served in the US Army as a paratrooper, studies history, and keeps up with current events that shape our world.
For the past 17 years he worked for Expo Design Center, a Division of The Home Depot. On January 26, 2009 it was announced The Home Depot was closing its Expo Division and David turned this change into an opportunity to pursue his lifelong ambition of becoming a published author.
THE SANDMAN is his first published novel and offers readers a page-turning suspense that leaves the reader wondering not if this will happen ... But when!