Episode 6

Dostoevsky was held captive in a rat-infested fortress, subjected to a mock execution, shipped off to a brutal prison camp in Siberia with a sadistic maniac in charge, who lashed men for sleeping on their wrong side in bed.

There's a correct side?

Apparently, Jesus slept on his left.

Is it helping?

Not being Dostoevsky?

Yes.

Cool.

Are you going to bed now?

-It's only-- -It doesn't make much difference, to be honest.

Okay.

-See you later.

-Mm.

[pages crumple] [takes deep breath] [laptop keys clicking] [reporter] As government sources dismiss press reports of Robert Sutherland being burnt out, the Prime Minister abandoned a press conference at number 10, Downing Street.

They say he's been suffering from dizziness, -after a minor illness.

-[laptop slams shut] [Eleanor] We believe that the Cerberus code, is part of a massive, critical, infrastructure hit, of which the water supply in Kent was just a starter.

It might come all at once, or in waves.

But we do know it's massive.

[Robert] So, we don't know if Cerberus is the Chinese, or the Russians.

Well, like our own tax on the Iranians, it could easily be a joint enterprise.

There are no identifiable command callbacks that we can find in the code.

Now, normally, a virus would need to refer back to a controller, who might tell it to start, stop, destroy yourself.

But here, there's nothing.

There may be no way of stopping it now.

-Fraser.

-Sir.

We've ranked targets of the general critical infrastructure attack into a "Top 5," but it's not exhaustive.

One, a few, or all of these.

[Joseph] We can't sit around and do nothing.

They could bring down planes, black out the entire country, cripple the water supply.

They've already had a good go at that.

How do we end this in a face-saving way?

Increase our retaliations.

See, that is not going to work-- Division 45 was created precisely for that reason, wasn't it?

We've boasted about our offensive capacities.

The Americans have made it very clear that they are not going to help us.

So, we do it without them.

[Archie] Well, I have to admit, when I was Home Secretary, I'd always have a bit of a snooze when people banged on about the danger of cyber-attacks.

Sorry, [clears throat] is it a time for joking?

Um, in all fairness-- I do not need a translation service, thank you.

I've already sacked one traitor.

-Anyone else considering acts of disloyalty-- -Piffle!

Anna Marshall wasn't disloyal.

That's a categoric error, Robert, which is frankly, rather disappointing, from a man who never tires of reminding us that he studied philosophy at Balliol.

And don't give me the Scottish stare either, you're from Stirling, not Drumchapel!

I think it's a matter of record, I never saw eye-to-eye with Anna Marshall.

She's the kind of ghastly liberal snob who thinks her cleaning lady is a loyal friend, rather than a reluctant wage slave.

Misplaced loyalty, yes.

Unbearably sanctimonious, Christ, yes!

But she was never disloyal!

[Fraser] I'm afraid, Prime Minister, I'd have to agree with the Foreign Secretary on that one.

The loyalty bit, anyway, not the cleaning ladies.

For what it's worth.

Well, let me enlighten you on that, Fraser.

It's worth nothing!

It looks as if all that's left is to banish Kent to France.

Get a grip, man!

[suspenseful music plays] He's losing it.

-You went in too hard.

-Bugger that!

He's the bloody Prime Minister!

If he can't cut it, he should make way for somebody who can.

[clears throat] Well, as Home Secretary, I shall continue to chair the meeting.

Protocol suggests you are correct.

[fading] Right, our top priority... [sirens wailing faintly in the distance] [knock on door] [Robert sighs] Come to tell me you agree with them all?

No.

Good.

I need time to find a replacement for Fraser.

You're not going to fire Fraser.

High Chaparral?

You remember it?

Linda Cristal played Victoria Cannon.

You're my new Chief of Staff.

No, thanks.

Maybe I should re-appoint Peter Mott, just to play pointless games of one-upmanship with Archie.

Tale told by an idiot, all right.

You're angry because Archie kicked your ass for a change, and I understand how that must hurt.

But I'm not here for chit-chats, or quotations, my job is strictly national security.

Would you like me to update you on our strategy?

Oh, we have a strategy, okay.

You have instructed me to be proactive.

Yeah, sorry, yeah.

Yeah.

Just not used to people carrying out my instructions anymore.

[liquid splashing into a glass] Heracles killed Cerberus.

Now, we can run around trying to protect everything from power stations to air traffic control centers.

But in the end, it's like chasing 100 cats at once.

If you do want to up the ante, don't bother with any more symbolic targets.

You have to play very dirty.

With what?

With Heracles.

You know... characters from Greek mythology are all very well and good when it comes to scary operational names, but...

It's a bit more than that.

It's malware designed to confuse and disable missile defense systems around the world.

Cyber war works like any other war.

It escalates very fast.

If the attack vectors aren't controlled properly, or if it extends beyond the prime target, this war could escalate in ways we can no longer contain.

Senior cabinet sources have muttered about instability within the Sutherland cabinet after the rumored sacking of his closest advisor, Anna Marshall.

This has still not been confirmed by Downing Street.

Meanwhile, here in Kent, the election remains on a knife edge as Francine Bridge accuses her Tory opponent of trying to stoke a fake culture war, and Rodger Hawkins continues to flirt with the Firestorm conspiracy website.

Back to you in the studio.

It's all gotten very ugly.

Look.

[reporter continues talking] Hawkins put this in?

I don't know if he printed them, but his people are distributing them.

Right, well, I'll speak to his people, then, 'cause I can't believe they'll sanction this kind of stuff.

I can!

It's more siren now than dog-whistle.

[phones ringing faintly] What's happening with Anna Marshall?

She resigned.

I heard she'd been fired.

-She resigned.

-Right.

[scoffs] The police have been in touch with me about security.

Right.

How many is it this time?

Rape, or death, or both.

God!

217.

Four credible.

One very credible.

A group calling themselves J 23, formed out of the remnants of national spirit, have sworn to prevent Kent from having a black MP.

Of course, they didn't actually say black.

I can't stay at home while I'm in London.

No, sure, sure, we'll get you a flat.

I'm going to stay with Anna.

It's two hours' drive from the constituency.

Yeah, but what about the press?

I mean, I think we've got bigger things to worry about, don't you?

[soft jazz playing on car radio] [GPS] Your destination is 1.5 miles away.

At the next junction, turn right.

Turn right.

-[motorbike roaring] -[car brakes squealing] [horns blaring] [crashing] [seatbelt clicks open] [horns blaring] [labored breathing] -[muffled voices] -You all right?

It's a one-way street, love.

You can't be turning the wrong way down a one-way street.

Yeah, I know.

Well, why did you, then?

My SatNav.

It told me...

Hang on, I know you!

Now hold on, could I get a selfie?

Oh no, no!

-Hiya.

-You all right, madam?

No, I've had an accident.

[vehicles honking] [radio] Highways England has issued an urgent traffic alert, warning drivers that accidents are occurring, due to faulty motorway ENS SatNav data.

Motorists are urged not to begin any journey by road, until further notice.

-So it's started.

-It's bloody mayhem out there.

[phones ringing] [Joseph] What's happening?

They've attacked the traffic control system, including SatNav apps.

People are getting a ton of misinformation.

There are accidents across the major cities.

Also, the motorways are gridlocked.

They've put up fake speed warning signs of 30 miles per hour.

That's about normal for the M25, isn't it?

-Funny if you're getting cut out of your car.

-What?

-Who are you?

-I'm Audrey Hem-- No, I don't actually care who you are.

She works with me, leave her alone.

Carry on then.

Traffic lights, control centers, SatNavs, the works.

-We need to prioritize the motorways.

-Agreed.

But who knows what they'll target next?

In some places, the tailbacks are already so bad, that we are going to have to organize emergency relief deliveries.

Also, this.

Firestorm symbols are everywhere.

-Where's the PM?

-I don't know.

He was informed, so... -We need to act!

-I know!

So... are you going to get the ball rolling?

I am.

[slow instrumental music] I thought he was going to shoot me, Anna.

I'm surprised.

He just took a photo.

Till that moment, all the threats had just felt, a bit unreal.

Apparently, all the navigation apps are buggered.

They're driving into rivers, and the wrong way down motorway slip roads.

I almost did that once, actually.

One of those mad loopy junctions with an Aldi and with a Frankie and Benny's.

[sighs nervously] Is that one of ours?

-I've never seen that.

-Has he?

I don't think so.

Even Robert... [sighs and mumbles] -Obviously, it has to be you.

-Obviously!

This is in the national interest.

We can't have an absentee Prime Minister.

100 percent agreed, Joseph.

Tell me something I already know.

He's using you as a stalking horse, and then he'll step over your twitching corpse.

The long and the short of it, Motty.

I wish you'd stop calling me Motty.

Joseph Obasi is not an enigma at all.

He's simply a man who has one thing, and one thing only, on his mind.

-Nothing wrong with that.

-Nothing wrong with it at all.

I'm all in favor of ambition.

-He's allowed to be ambitious.

-Very liberal of you, Archie.

And he's right, we can't have an absentee Prime Minister.

Okay, you go and find a peasant girl with a low bodice, and an inviting neck.

I've got some thinking to do.

[door opens and shuts] My President is rather busy with events in the South China Sea.

And if we deploy Heracles, how do you think that'll affect his job done there?

Don't do it.

We have no choice.

We would find a move like that very concerning.

Not as concerning as we found it when a substantial part of the North Sea landed on Kent.

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot.

You don't like it when I mention that little gaffe, do you?

I'll speak to the President, again.

Make sure he understands exactly what's at stake?

People won't be happy.

Happiness is overrated.

[indistinct background chatter] [door opens] Quick word.

Are you prepared for this?

Yeah.

'Cause, uh, we may have to go right to the brink.

And cold wars can very easily become hot ones.

Is it three hours or five?

-Is what?

-The time difference with Santiago.

Five.

And the clocks go forward.

[phone ringing] -[Eleanor] He's going downhill.

-Obasi's on maneuvers.

- What, he's the one leaking on Robert?

-I know!

Robert thinks it's me.

His head's not with us.

We can't survive this if he's not on top of his game.

He can't even sort out this shitshow in Kent.

Obasi can sort out Kent, he's had enough of Hawkins.

I'm off to Pixie Hollow.

[doorbell rings] [door unlocks] Good morning, Anna!

May I come in?

You don't like me, Anna.

That's not exactly true.

I know what you're going to say, and I get it.

I'm not everybody's cappuccino.

I was going to say, "That's not exactly true, I detest you."

Good.

But that loathing, which I assure you, is entirely mutual, shouldn't be based on incorrect assumptions.

One of which is, that my self-deprecating humor betrays a lack of seriousness.

The other assumption is that I don't care about my country.

-Not true.

-Get on with it, you vile old crook.

[places cup on the table] Robert's in a bad place.

Since your departure, the cyber threat to our nation has intensified.

You have to come back.

I can't.

If you don't, Abassey will move, and I'll be forced to move with him.

You don't want to move?

Who knows Robert best?

-In politics, I mean.

-Me.

You.

And after you?

[deep breath] Okay.

Go and talk to him.

-He won't see me.

-He'll see you.

[door opens and shuts] Do you think it was easy for me to come here?

[surprised gasp] What's that old Nazi doing here?

Just planning a bit of genocide.

[in mocking German accent] Rude millennials, first on ze list, I'm afraid.

Carry on clicking, comrade.

Change.org will come.

[suspenseful music] It's a critical situation, Anna.

[door slams] [radio] Earlier, I spoke to Francine Bridge about a controversial leaflet circulating in her constituency.

[Francine] I have never suggested that Kent should pay reparations for slavery.

It's an absurd invention, which is being used by a renegade Tory candidate who is clearly allowing himself to be used by the same forces who were behind Firestorm.

[Host] And who do you think that is?

[Francine] I have no idea!

-Good to see you, Joseph!

-Yes.

Let me show you the, um... You're doing door-to-door canvassing in the middle of town and surrounding areas?

That's right, the less traditional areas.

Traditional?

Right.

And what campaign material are you using?

Err, the leaflets have a new batch.

No, that's not one of ours.

-Whose is this?

-Err, independent guess-- -Have your team handed any out?

-Not to the best of my knowledge.

Rodger, its a moot point whether you're a Russian or just a useful idiot.

-Yet, I've supported you when others have not.

-I know, I know!

But you seem to be under a misconception, which is sadly common, that I will dismiss any allegations of racism as political correctness.

Or that I think that there's no such thing as structural discrimination.

For the record, neither are true.

Okay look, the very fact that you're here-- The very fact that I'm here, proves that one of the holders, of the three great offices of state has come to visit.

So, show some damn respect!

Respect works both ways, Joseph.

[seagulls squawking in the distance] On reflection, I think it would be better if I returned to London, and informed the Prime Minister of what I've found here.

Yeah, send him.

Send him!

Send Archie!

Send Malcolm X, if you want.

He's unavailable.

Due to being dead, you total chump!

Because I'm going to win this election, with or without the support of the leadership, who no longer represent true conservatism, and takes the knee to George Soros and the like.

And the like?

Of course.

Full house, Rodger.

I've seen enough.

If we suspend him now-- We don't have a candidate.

If I were a betting man-- -Which you are.

-Which I am.

I would expect Firestorm to support him now.

It's a perfect outcome.

One they possibly planned.

If we suspend him, -doesn't that increase his chances of winning?

-Yes.

And then we'd have to figure out who's victory would be-- Who would be the bigger ass-ache.

And I'd suggest it's not an embittered and vengeful crank crawling back to Westminster.

-Worked for you.

-[Peter chuckles] In fairness, Archie does not serve the interests of a foreign power.

Who asked you?

And while I went to work for him because the only other option was political oblivion, he is 100 percent committed to keeping you in post.

Unless you make it impossible.

I was unaware there was even a debate on the issue.

Might I make a suggestion, Prime Minister?

Why are you calling me Prime Minister instead of Robert, all of a sudden?

You're the one who calls me Robert.

What are you up to?

My suggestion would be to find somebody who can act as a clandestine link -between us and the opposition to lance this boil.

-No.

Someone who's close to Francine Bridge and the opposition.

-No!

-Well, that's a terrible shame, Prime Minister, because I assumed you hadn't got your head completely stuck in the soup tureen of paranoia from which you've been guzzling, of late.

-This is the last fucking time, Archie-- -[knock on door] I've already asked her along for a meeting.

[door opens] [door shuts] [Joseph] Archie!

I thought we agreed.

-Rookie error.

-What, you don't want it?

I wanted to give Robert one last roll of the dice.

Hopefully, it's worked.

You think he still has it in him?

We'll have to see, won't we?

But when Robert's firing on most cylinders, I would put my money on him before anybody else.

Which is what I did.

I did not advise Rachel to go away.

I made the wrong call on Hawkins.

You made a call.

Your reasons for doing so were unders-- -I made the wrong call.

-Yeah, okay, you did.

We've never fallen out.

Yes, you were very angry once, when I was voted onto the ball committee, and, you came bottom because nobody really knew who you were.

I loved you.

-I just never ever dared to say it.

-[groans] [Anna takes a deep breath] It doesn't matter now.

Would you like me to talk to Francine about a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition?

-Yes.

-And you should address the nation on the threat we're under.

Time for honesty with the people.

You're good at that.

Okay.

[both breathing heavily] [sniffs through tears] [door slams shut] [Eleanor] You need to stop watching and start acting.

Make them stop or you will share in the disaster.

[Kelly] Okay.

Interfering with missile defense systems in the middle of a geo-political crisis isn't the solution.

No one thinks we'll go through with it, do they?

[scoffs] No.

They think your PM is, and I quote: "“a dying bee crawling towards oblivion"”.

A dying bee?

Maybe.

But make sure they know that's when you're most likely to get stung.

If they don't push the kill-switch by 3 pm tomorrow, we will activate Heracles with consequences that will knock everybody off their balance.

[suspenseful music] [Eleanor] Our American friends have found out the next big cyber-attack will be the economy.

The banking system, all financial transactions, credit cards... -So, how do we-- -We don't.

The malware is already buried in the system, sending back reassuring data, while preparing its chaos once they detonate.

And the same will be true across our entire infrastructure system.

Including nuclear power stations.

The Prime Minister is going to address the nation.

Then what do we do?

Then we check our hand, and adopt our best poker face.

[Robert] I am speaking to you today, because of the very grave situation in which the country finds itself.

Late last night, the latest in a wave of serious cyber-attacks was launched on our country.

This one involves the disruption of our financial systems and was designed to bring our economy to its knees.

I'm afraid to say that no one will be able to use any kind of cards for purchases or withdrawing cash.

And our intelligence shows that this situation is only likely to worsen in the coming days.

Now, this could involve an attack on our critical infrastructure, the like of which we have never seen before, which could result in further loss of life, catastrophic impacts on the vulnerable, and indeed, the destruction of our economy.

And it is my firm belief that what began as "“Operation Ruin Britannia"” is now a joint operation between two hostile nations.

Are you listening?

Does he sound like he's crawling into the long grass to die?

Unless we have clear evidence that the kill-switch has been activated in Cerberus by 3 pm today, we will go to a new level of conflict with dire consequences for everyone.

Including you.

[Robert] Clearly, though, the cyber and information attacks are part of an overall assault, which includes a campaign of misinformation extending to my own family alongside interference in our political processes that has led to a crisis of faith, in those whom you should most trust.

As a result, one of our most distinguished judges was brutally murdered.

And there are still, according to the security services, credible assassination threats against senior politicians.

Now, as of today, I have suspended the party membership of our candidate in the forthcoming Medwick byelection, because of his involvement in the Firestorm platform, which I believe is being supported by Russian specialist cyber-units and for distributing racist propaganda.

Now, it is too late for us to nominate an alternative, so, I call upon you to vote for any candidate so long as they are wedded to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

Lastly, I have this to say to those who seek to bring our country to its knees, whether that be in Moscow, Beijing or the capital of any hostile nation.

We may not be the power we once were.

And perhaps, that is why we have been chosen for this demonstration of brute power.

But we have a history of continuing the struggle when the odds are against us.

And I will stop at nothing to end this unprecedented, and completely unprovoked attack against our country.

Cyber-warfare is still warfare.

Just because it takes place out of sight and without explosions, does not mean that it does not cause extraordinary suffering.

And we will defend ourselves by any means necessary, just as we would if we were being threatened by nuclear weapons.

We will undertake a struggle of Herculean proportions to defend ourselves as a sovereign nation state.

Thank you.

-[reporters clamoring] -[cameras clicking] [indistinct chatter] If I could just have everyone's attention for a moment?

[door shuts] In this rather unprecedented time, I'd like to welcome the Leader of the Opposition.

Very grateful, Robert.

That was an excellent speech, by the way.

Thank you.

-Nice to have you back, Francine.

-All right, no need for that.

[Chris clears throat] So, how does this stop?

What do they want?

We don't know.

It looks like we've reached a point where the war is almost running itself.

So, what do we do?

We have an offensive cyber capacity.

It involves interference with missile defense systems.

It was developed by Division 45 of the Cyber Unit with other countries, including Israel.

But we have modified its attack vectors.

Modified?

We've made it more of a shotgun than a precise weapon.

[Chris] Why?

Because if we unleash it, it will have two consequences.

First, it could give off false missile alerts.

Yeah, well, that's quite dangerous, isn't it?

-That is quite dangerous.

-What's the second consequence?

If we release it somewhat wildly, then it could fall into the hands of smaller fish.

It could start off that inadvertent hot war we've been warned so much about.

I think the days of suggesting nuclear subs with no weapons are over.

And I think when the country is under threat as it is, it is the duty of any reasonable opposition to support the government in its task.

Thank you, Chris.

Anna will coordinate with your office over that other small matter in Kent.

Unfortunately, this new J23 group have issued further threats with regards to violent interventions in the election.

We're increasing security, and I'll be briefing both of you once our main problem is out of the way.

Watch out.

I may not give her back.

We'll see.

[Anna] Obviously, we wouldn't actually do it.

Release Heracles.

I've been asked before, in the event of a nuclear attack, would I push the button?

And your answer is clearly "“yes"”, because... [Robert scoffs] That's how deterrents work.

Would you?

Would I push a button that incinerated millions of men, women and children?

[Robert sighs] I'm afraid sighing doesn't really cut it.

-Hegel-- -No.

-I don't think philosophy-- -There's always a place for philosophy.

And I think there's a genuine dialectic -when it comes to-- -Would you push the button?

If you saw a nuclear missile headed towards London.

[sighs] You know what I'd do.

I'm heading over to Labor Party HQ.

And then, down to Kent with Francine.

But you'll come back?

[softly] What do you think?

-Hi.

-Hi!

[knock on door] They've detected the Cerberus virus in a nuclear plant.

It's been lying dormant and harvesting data.

When's the deadline?

30 minutes.

[suspenseful music] -[computer chirping] -[phones ringing] [indistinct chatter] [computerised scrolling] Our currency's taken a massive hit.

Stock exchange suspended.

No time-stamping possible on any transactions makes it impossible.

We're heading for total financial collapse.

[dramatic music] You are aware of the risks?

This has the potential to start World War III.

It will destabilize anti-missile defenses around the globe.

How about the Americans?

Have we heard anything?

A sign of any sort?

Nothing.

So, the idea is to make it less of an election, more a referendum on democracy.

Yep.

Agree with that.

-Tolerance.

-Wishy-washy.

Well, we can toughen it up, but we need to make sure you sound reasonable next to Rodger.

That shouldn't be too difficult.

-[computerized trilling] -[indistinct chatter] What's wishy-washy about tolerance?

I'm just saying better words, that's all.

Don't give yourself a hot flush!

[Anna] How many bloody times-- They're not a joke.

[Francine] I know!

I'm sorry.

Don't do it!

[Eleanor] We need a signal, Kelly.

We need a sign.

[Kelly] This is not the time to light a fuse.

We are piling pressure on both players.

They have to send an immediate message that it's over , or we go active.

[phone ringing] Yeah?

[Fraser] Thank you.

That was the Governor of the Bank of England.

The pound is in total free-fall, and all their systems are compromised by Cerberus.

They can't do a thing.

We're heading for the buffers.

[scooter engine whines] Stand by, Eleanor.

[Eleanor] Stand by.

Well, go on then, if you want to get past.

[scooter engine revs] [metallic clunk] Did he just hit your car?

[car brakes screech] [Robert] Activate Heracles.

Do it now!

[seatbelts click] Out!

Get out, get out!

-What's going on?

-No, I know him!

He's safe.

He's one of Eleanor's, go, go!

-Get out, get out!

-Miss, clear the vehicle.

Go!

-Go!

-[electronic chirping] [panting] [Fraser] Wait!

There's a change in the pattern.

[Fraser] Timestamping's back to normal!

Transactions are clearing again.

[tech staff] They've blinked.

There's a kill-switch.

[sighing] [sighs] [indistinct chatter] [sirens wailing] [reporter] With both the US and the Chinese fleets pulling back from the brink in the South China Sea, there are hopes that the cyber threat to the UK has also diminished.

The Prime Minister, Robert Sutherland, had this to say earlier.

[Robert] Assassinations, electoral interference, false alerts.

And lastly, an all-out cyber-attack.

[MRI machine whirring] [surgical drilling] The aim?

To create such chaos, that it would destroy our democracy, and show the world what damage can be inflicted without the need for missiles.

I am pleased to tell you tonight, that the threat appears to have receded, thanks to the efforts of our own cyber defenses.

We should be in no doubt, however, that there is no room for complacency.

For next time, the consequences could be far worse.

Tonight, I must also express my outrage at another terror attack on a parliamentary candidate, Francine Bridge, who has fortunately survived without major injury.

The life of my colleague and friend, Anna Marshall, however, hangs in the balance.

Anna represents the best traditions of our country.

Tolerance, decency, and a desire to serve the national interests.

I hope you will hold her in your prayers, as I do.

[closing theme music playing]