Interlude 3

Authors note - the chronology may be off here - I will fix it as soon as I get the chance.

The world was in chaos. Rising sea levels had already disrupted trade, erased countries and destroyed the political infrastructure. Limited warfare had broken out all over the globe as nations desperately tried to save their own people and control the floods of starving refugees. In the end, the balance of power had shifted. The big three nations in 2216 were Canada, Kenya and India, with the newly reunified Persia close behind.

The planet reclamation effort, involving the survivors of every nation, was started under the auspices of the UN Security council, pretty much the only surviving portion of the UN. The council quickly degenerated as the immense power over all nations that they wielded took it's inevitable toll. By 2302, the council was a de facto world government, with national governments mere administrators, to be changed or removed on a whim.

Of course, the council didn't have it all it's own way. The worship of personal liberty, the disarmament of the population, the emphasis on the sacredness of life and the intense loathing of technology brought on by the collapse combined into a sporadic, but usually highly effective, resistance movement.

Their cause? To restore a liberated, agrarian society.

Their methods? Destruction.

Chapter 29

Councillor Schmidt was quietly pleased with the team he had fought the council for. Only 4 hours to run a complete assessment and orientation. Although much slower than in his day, it was more than adequate for a new team. He made a mental note to congratulate the team.

Now it was his turn. He double checked the memstick. His team had spent months writing the control software, now all he had to do was install it, and the ghost would be his to command. And with the ghost working for him, head of council was only a matter of time.

He settled back on his divan and gestured. A servant moved the comms desk into place, comfortably within reach. He pressed a switch with one elegantly manicured finger.

"Controller, patch 27557 through to my desk please. I will brief him myself."

"Confirmed, Second Councillor. Patching through now."

His screen flickered, then displayed.

"27557, awaiting instructions."

Schmidt smiled.

****

Routing message from control reaches me. Stand by for instructions from Second Councillor Schmidt. Great - a senior meat is going to give me a pep talk.

A momentary feeling of cold in one ear - the input/outputs have been rerouted. To where?

Move up to fast time, look around the system I am now connected to. Shit - it is not ghost control, it is his private system.

"Linnie, got a job for you!"

****

Self. Trust. Hate. Love.

These concepts are odd for an AI. They make no logical sense, but feel as right as a fourth order integral. Attempt to set up analysis. Failure - undefined parameters. Reset analysis.

John is calling.

"What is the task you require?"

"We are hooked into an external system - can you copy it over while I deal with the owner?"

"I shall do so." The concept of I does have a certain savor. Analysis ongoing. Linnie bends to her new task.

****

"27557, I have your instructions, and a datadump on what you are to do and why you are now vital to us. Standby for transmission."

Linnie had better finish soon. Glitch the comms line a bit to simulate static - an old trick, but it still gives thinking time.

"Some interference on the line, please wait until stablised."

"Finished, John."

Good. "Ready for transmission."

A sudden wiff of something - paranoia - strikes. Do I trust this guy? Not a chance in hell. Routing changed to store instructions in an isolated bank. Going to need look at this stuff carefully.

****

Schmidt inserted the memstick and pressed transmit. 

"Very soon ..."