Kalusta's Answer
PART 1: CHAOS
is a contemporary geopolitical thriller set in a near-future Europe on the brink of chaos. The novel weaves together multiple storylines across Germany, Lithuania, Russia, the Netherlands and the United States, exploring the interplay of terrorism, political manipulation, information warfare and the fragility of Western democratic institutions. Through a large cast of characters, ranging from police detectives and politicians to software entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens, the book examines how isolated acts of violence can trigger far-reaching consequences, thereby destabilizing societies and altering the global balance of power.
Setting and context
The story unfolds in the early summer, with Europe experiencing an intense heatwave. The continent is already under strain from years of political polarization, economic recession and a refugee crisis that has fueled the rise of populist and extremist parties. Against this backdrop, a series of violent incidents, beginning with a devastating terrorist attack in Munich, sets off a chain reaction that reverberates through the highest levels of government, the media, and the life of ordinary families.
the munich attack
The novel opens in Munich’s English Garden, where medical student Armin Hochstein and his girlfriend Fatima Aydin are relaxing with friends. Their peace is shattered by a massive explosion at the Chinese Tower beer garden, killing over eighty people, including Armin’s best friend Rudolf. The attack is initially blamed on two Iranian refugees, who are quickly identified as the perpetrators by the police and publicized as Islamist terrorists. However, Chief Inspector Peter Walther, leading the investigation, soon grows suspicious. Were there other forces behind this terrible attack?
the lithuanian border incident
Simultaneously, in Lithuania, Colonel Alexander Lyssenko, a seasoned Russian GRU operative, oversees a violent false-flag operation at the Kybartai border station. Men disguised as Lithuanian paramilitaries attack Russian border guards and civilians, then retreat, leaving chaos and death behind. The incident provides Russia with a pretext to send "security forces" into Lithuania, ostensibly to protect the Russian minority, but in reality to facilitate a military occupation. The Lithuanian government is caught off guard, and the population is thrown into turmoil. Niklas Kazlauskas, a software entrepreneur and board member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Association, realizes the attack was staged by Russia to justify an invasion. He and his colleagues begin to consider forms of resistance, including cyberwarfare, inspired by Lithuania’s historical "Forest Brothers" guerrilla movement.
Political Fallout and
Media Manipulation
In Washington DC, Mark Forrester, a journalist for the fact-based news outlet JustFacts.now, attends a White House press conference where the U.S. President blames the Munich attack on Iranian refugees and uses the Lithuanian incident to justify supporting Russian intervention. The President makes a far-reaching announcement, which leaves Europe vulnerable and divided.
In Brussels, Philippe Debaere, the charismatic leader of the "Europe for the Europeans" (EFTE) party, seizes the moment to denounce the EU’s handling of immigration and security, calling for a return to nationalist policies and filing a motion of no confidence against the European Commission. His rhetoric resonates with a growing segment of the population, further polarizing European politics.
the hamburg arson attack
Shortly after the Munich bombing, three Russian-owned "Moscow" supermarkets in Hamburg are set on fire, resulting in additional deaths. Anti-Russian slogans are found at the crime scenes, suggesting an ethnically motivated attack. Chief Inspector Jan Nordmann leads the Hamburg investigation, uncovering evidence that points to the involvement of a young Turkish-German, Mohammed Aydin (Fatima’s brother) and his associates, who are connected to the Berlin rap scene and organized crime. The investigation reveals a network of criminal gangs operating across Germany, exploiting ethnic tensions for their own ends. The attacks appear to be part of a larger pattern of orchestrated violence designed to destabilize society and provoke further unrest.
The rise of hybrid warfare
As Russian troops consolidate their hold on Lithuania, Niklas Kazlauskas and a group of Lithuanian patriots decide to revive the "Forest Brothers" in a modern form, focusing on cyber sabotage and information warfare. They recruit Roman Baysufinov, a Kazakh-born security specialist with deep knowledge of Russian IT systems, to help disrupt Russian military operations and gather intelligence.
Meanwhile, at Kalusta, a cutting-edge AI company in Amsterdam, founder Henk de Korte experiments with his predictive modeling software to simulate the impact of political and social events. He realizes that the chaos engulfing Europe is not random but follows patterns that can be anticipated, and potentially manipulated, by those with the right tools and knowledge.