“You think they will launch another wave?”
Stan’s jaw tightens. “There’s chatter of something bigger, maybe a blitz in space.”
Gareth opens the briefcase and picks up the dossier. “We are prepared for that. This briefing outlines a scenario involving American spacecraft. We know exactly how to respond, sir.”
Stan gestures. “You can put that down. The chatter points to something different.”
“Like what?”
“Based on what I'm hearing, I believe the Chinese may enforce a blockade on Mars.”
Gareth pauses. “You think they’ll stop our spacecraft from landing?”
“Yes. They might seize our colony and take our citizens hostage. They want Mars all to themselves. We have to be ready for that possibility, do you understand?”
Gareth puts down the war dossier. “Yes, of course, sir.”
“Listen Gareth, I need you to prepare a counter-response. We must be swift and decisive. What are the options on the table?”
“We can launch missiles.”
“From Earth?”
“Yes.”
“How long will it take to hit Mars?”
“Several months, sir.”
Stan shakes his head. “That’s too slow. What are other options?”
Gareth contemplates, then looks up. “We can launch missiles from our spacecraft. We have three ships in orbit around Mars.”
“Is there enough firepower to destroy New China?”
Gareth falters. “…probably not, sir.”
Stan slams his fist. “Did you hear what I said? What part of ‘swift and decisive’ do you not understand? If you want to keep your job, you’ll have to find a solution.”
Sweat drips from Gareth’s brow. He flips through the war documents and comes across a map of Greenland. “…there may be another solution.”
“What?”
“We can launch electromagnetic pulses. In the North, EMP blasts were highly effective at disabling Russian factories. We neutralized electronics in an instant.”
Stan stands and paces. “Interesting. Will they work in space?”
“Absolutely. EMP rays cripple everything in their path. We can shut off New China quite easily.”
“How do we launch them?”
Gareth grins. “We have a fleet in space equipped with EMP rays. It is simple to aim those guns towards Mars.”
“What kind of destruction are we talking about?”
“Let’s put it this way. Without their power generators, the Chinese colonies will suffocate within days.”
Stan's brow relaxes. “Perfect. Are the spacecraft near Mars? We need swift, coordinated action.”
“Sir, EMP waves travel at the speed of light. We can launch an offensive from here on Earth.”
“Excellent. Listen, I want you to update the plans for space. We must match China’s threats equally and forcefully.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep all options on the table, even nuclear weapons.”
Gareth nods. “We will be ready, sir.”
Stan promptly exits the room. Gareth takes a deep breath and wipes the sweat from his face. The conference room is eerily quiet, no outward signs of the major war moves taking place across the world. Gareth grabs his belongings and heads back to his office.
Holly greets him on the way out. “Have a nice day, Mr. Allen.”
He turns to her. “Your eyes are so real, Holly. You remind me of my ex-wife.”
“That is a nice compliment.”
“If you were a human, I’d ask you out for dinner.”
She smiles at him. “Have a lovely day.”
Gareth leaves the room and walks down the marble corridor back to his office. Along the way, he summons his smartglasses and makes a call.
Manos picks up. “Gareth, how are you?”
“Doing well, my friend.”
“How’s life?”
“Intense,” Gareth says as he loosens his tie. “Do you have a position at GoldRock ready for me? I need to retire soon.”
Manos laughs. “Too much stress on the job?”
“Every day is a new crisis.”
“I remember those days. Don’t worry, GoldRock will take care of you.”
“I appreciate it.”
Manos clears his throat. “Can we talk about Google?”
“Of course.”
“Last week, you said there’s a way for us to take charge of the company. Is that still on the table?”
“Absolutely. We have evidence that Andrews is friendly towards the Chinese. My superiors want her out.”
“I don’t blame you. She is a disgrace to the nation.”
Gareth enters his office and grabs a vodka bottle hidden in a drawer. He pours himself a cocktail. “So you want to be Google’s CEO?”
“Yes. I spoke with my staff and we think a takeover will be a win for the government and for GoldRock.”
Gareth sips the drink and kicks his feet on his desk. “Do you think you can run a big corporation?”
“Without a doubt. We will restructure it and eliminate their horrible research departments.”
“Great idea. You can help us transform Google into a war machine. Imagine what we could accomplish if the CEO were on our side.”
Manos whistles. “A pro-military Google? Now, that’s an advance! I can only imagine how A.I. will transform warfare.”
“Like how?”
“Think of next-generation viruses that evolve on the battlefield and penetrate China’s firewall and infiltrate its war factories. They would be the most intelligent weapons of all time.”
“A.I. munitions? Has that been done before?”
“Nope.”
“Incredible.” Gareth salutes. “Go get it, Manos. Seize the reins!”
Manos chuckles. “That’s what I want to hear. There’s a Google All-Staff meeting next week and I will introduce a motion to become the next CEO. To help us win the vote, I’d like to have some dirt on Andrews. You said you have evidence that she’s a Chinese spy?”
Gareth pauses. “Perhaps. Listen, I can help you become the next Google CEO but I need something in return.”
A few seconds of silence pass. “What do you have in mind?” Manos mutters.
“I want the CIA represented there.”
Manos clasps his hands. “You don’t even have to ask, friend. We can carve up the company together. If you like, I’ll terminate the A.I. department and transform it into a CIA operation.”
“Excellent. I’d like to be Chief Operations Officer.”
“You got it.”
“I also have a few colleagues that I’d like to see hired as executives.”
“Consider it done.”
Gareth smiles. “The future looks bright for us!” He sips some vodka. “I can definitely help you for your staff meeting.”
“Good. I must convince them that Andrews is a traitor. She doesn’t deserve to be at the helm.”
“I have what you need. Look for a secure message from me. I want you to win the motion next week and defeat her.”
“Let’s do it, Gareth. With your help, she will no longer be a threat to America. We will bring Silicon Valley back to our side and win the War.”
“I look forward to that. Good luck.”
18.
AT 2:14 A.M., Austin stands on a loading dock waiting for his team members. A light rain falls on the quiet Stanford University campus.
Through his smartglasses, he checks his inbox and finds no new messages, then loads a navigation window to confirm his location—the Radiological Sciences Laboratory, better known as the Cyclotron. He paces back and forth on the platform, anxiously anticipating his squad’s arrival.
Where are they?
The ground shakes and dim headlights appear. An unmarked bus drives through the empty lot, turns and slowly reverses towards the platform. Austin guides the vehicle into a parking spot and slams on its window when it’s a few inches away. “Turn the engine off!” he shouts.