Prediction

by Tony Batton

  "Help me do what?"

  "Regain what you’ve lost. Access to their system. Access to the power it has given you."

  "I don’t know what you’re suggesting. I’m an elected member of parliament."

  "Who has had a particularly meteoric rise into government. What do they have on you? It's usually the truth, written on grey paper."

  Rostrum blinked and slowly took off her glasses. "What do you want, Mr Adams?"

  "I want you to release us, and get the heck out of our way."

  "To do what?"

  "To stop what is happening," Michael said. "Because I know you know how powerful what they have is. So consider what will happen when that tool becomes exponentially more powerful still, and is used against you; against all of us. Because it’s a pretty safe bet that’s what’ll happen."

  Her eyes widened. "You don’t know that…" She hesitated. "Can you really do anything against these people? Against this system? You don’t even know where they are."

  "We will find a way. We have to. And to do that, there’s one person we’re going to need back in the game."

  Ninety-Four

  Michael sat at a long conference table in an underground conference room within MI5’s Vauxhall headquarters. Across from him were Jenson and Kelly.

  "Never thought I’d get to visit this building," Michael said. "Gone past it so many times on the train, wondering what was inside."

  "Not the most surprising event of the last week," Jenson replied. "In fact, to be sitting anywhere but a disavowable prison cell might be considered a win."

  Footsteps sounded in the corridor. Without announcement, Warwick Saxton walked in and closed the door. He nodded to Jenson and Kelly, then his gaze locked on Michael. "I understand you’re the one I have to thank for my release. And my full reinstatement as MI5 Director."

  Michael shrugged. "Your boss presented me with a lever. If I’ve learned anything in my time at Infinity, it’s how to pull one."

  "So I’m gathering, though Rostrum didn’t elaborate."

  "Let’s just say you aren’t the only one who’s been taking advantage of Kinek’s capabilities."

  Saxton took the seat at the head of the table. "That explains a lot. She caught me up on recent events so I understand we’ve lost track and control of more than one deadly supercomputer, neither of which I knew existed."

  Jenson shrugged. "You’re supposed to be the one with the government intelligence network."

  "And as we all know, it’s broken. So what are we going to do about it?"

  Kelly cleared her throat. "We were hoping you could tell us."

  "Then my release has been predicated on unrealistic expectations."

  "Something tells me," Michael said, "that a solution is going to present itself."

  Jenson folded his arms. "You keep saying that. Seems like a long shot."

  "I think we start with all the data we have on all the people who are, to our knowledge, linked. Remember, nothing is irrelevant. Everything is connected. There will be a pattern."

  Kelly’s phone pinged. She glanced at it. "GCHQ has picked up a communication from Maxwell Errington."

  "Do they have him under surveillance?" Michael asked.

  Saxton shrugged. "Not as a matter of course."

  Kelly waved her phone. "He was flagged after he was reported missing by staff at his house."

  "So Max has gone into hiding?" Jenson folded his arms. "Just as we need him most, he’s lost the urge to fight."

  "Not according to the intercept. It appears he was kidnapped by Regina Rose. Errington said that Lee Chow is with him. And he gave his coordinates. He’s on Rose’s yacht, off the north coast of Australia."

  "If he was kidnapped," Jenson asked, "how did he get to a phone or radio?"

  "The message didn’t explain," Kelly replied, "but Errington is resourceful."

  "So Rose is behind all this? The theft of my micro-drones, the kidnap of Lee Chow, and the acquisition of the prototype Parallel system? She must be the one with Darwin."

  "Maybe," Michael said. "I guess we should go find out."

  Saxton frowned. "You said that a solution would present itself. So here we are, completely lost, and Maxwell Errington calls to provide us with the answer."

  Jenson shrugged. "Max is creative. It’s entirely plausible he would outsmart his captors."

  "Or maybe," Michael said, "he’s doing exactly what his captors have ordered."

  Saxton shook his head. "How does any of this help us stop the system? Is that even possible?"

  "That’s what Millie and my father are working on right now."

  "Ah yes, your father. Back from the dead."

  Michael ignored him. "Do you have any assets off the north coast of Australia and a way of getting us there very quickly?

  Kelly shook her head. "MI5 have no authority to run an operation outside the UK."

  "No," Saxton said, "but I know a man who does. It’s time I called in a favour."

  "Great," Jenson said. "You tell me where the asset is, and I’ll get us there."

  Ninety-Five

  The supersonic jet, an ugly grey craft covered in radar-absorbing paint, levelled out at 17,000 metres, the noise from its engines diminishing only slightly. Inside the pressurized cabin its six passengers were strapped to their seats with full harnesses. Michael stared out of a tiny porthole window. "Exactly how fast are we flying?"

  Jenson adjusted his helmet. "Around Mach 4. We should have you on board the HMS Windsor in four hours, if their transport is ready to meet us."

  "I’m guessing this isn’t a regular private jet," Craig said, looking around the sparse interior.

  "It’s a repurposed military unit," Jenson replied. "Surprising cargo capacity given the design constraints."

  "Although not exactly the most opulent of cabins," said Millie.

  "As I like to say to my customers, we can do fast or comfortable – pick one." He paused. "In my experience luxury not only costs, it weighs."

  "But I’m guessing no peanuts? Next you’ll tell me there are no hot towels?" She glanced at Saxton. "Although he looks like he would rather have a sick-bag."

  Kelly cleared her throat. "The Director doesn’t travel well, particularly at over 3Gs of acceleration. Now are we all clear on the plan?"

  "Of course. But are you sure this is wise?" Millie asked. "If Rose has Darwin running, there is no way that we can catch them unawares. We'll be walking into a trap."

  "Then we have to walk in with a few tricks of our own."

  Jenson turned to Michael. "Are you ready for your part? I’m sorry that you have to be the one to do it, but it wasn’t a decision I was involved with—"

  "Do you think," Craig asked, "I’d have done it this way if I’d foreseen what would actually happen? It’s the ultimate irony that if I’d had Darwin, I’d have known not to build Darwin."

  "Maybe you shouldn’t have needed it," Millie said. "Maybe the risk was obvious. And by missing it, you’ve put the whole world on a knife edge. How does that feel?"

  "If I could have my time over, I would change things," Craig replied. "Everything went wrong the day I started telling people about the system. I should have kept it to myself. It was safe when I was the only one who knew. Well, myself and Nina, because I had to show off to someone. And of course she wasn’t even interested in it. Maybe if she had been, I’d have thought twice about letting ZAT in on it." Craig looked at his watch. "How much longer did you say?"

  Jenson smiled. "Not long."

  He turned to Millie as she took out the glasses that Morton had given to Michael, holding them out to him once more.

  "All ready, though it wasn’t easy. We’ve built up a wrapper on the frame so they look like your existing glasses, but added some additional decryption hardware to increase the chance they will actually work, howsoever Darwin is now configured."

  Michael took them and switched them with the pair he was wearing. "They're not doing anything."

  "We belie
ve they'll lock back onto Darwin signals once a system access-point is within range. We can't tell you how long that will take, or whether there’ll be any other factors to consider."

  "Won't obtaining access trigger some sort of alarm?"

  "It shouldn't. Remember, this isn't a hack. This is a native part of the system."

  Jenson smiled. "And in order to help you live long enough to get the glasses operational, I’d like to give you both a set of ZAT body armour… except that it doesn’t work."

  "Maybe you should have let someone steal it and fix it for you," said Craig.

  "You’re a funny guy."

  "What about weapons?" Michael asked.

  "Do you know how to use one?" Craig asked. "You’re more likely to hurt yourself." He paused. "Besides, if this works like it should, you’ll be the weapon."

  "Don’t forget we’ve still got to rescue Errington. And Chow."

  "Yes," said Jenson, "because the world needs a traitorous old lawyer. Chow, I'll cut some slack."

  "That doesn’t mean Errington deserves to die," said Kelly.

  "Either way, perhaps now isn’t the time to start on the lawyer jokes," Millie replied.

  Jenson sighed. "We’ll be stationed a short distance away: I’ve got one of my private yachts approaching the area since Astrid, Millie and I have not been extended an invitation on board the navy vessel."

  "Drawing the line at hackers," said Millie. "How unprogressive of them."

  "No undercover agents, either," Kelly said. "They don’t know what they’re missing. Any indication that Darwin is back online yet?"

  Michael lifted his Infinity laptop. "Not according to this. But I don’t know how reliable it is, given all the changes."

  "OK," said Jenson, "then I guess we might as well have some dinner." He turned to a cabinet.

  "Now we’re talking!" said Millie.

  Jenson turned and handed out a collection of energy and cereal bars. "Like I said, luxury weighs."

  Ninety-Six

  Rose stood in one of the conference rooms on her yacht. Her team had unpacked the micro-drones and supporting equipment. The drones had a primary control computer the size of a briefcase. With the aid of Lee Chow, Rose’s people had got the system active. But now there was a problem.

  The system’s touch screen displayed a simple oval with a short message.

  >>> CONFIRM PALM PRINT ID TO ACTIVATE SYSTEM

  Rose placed her hand on the screen for the third time.

  >>> ACCESS DENIED. ADMINISTRATOR NOT RECOGNISED

  "Look," Chow said, "I keep telling you that this wasn’t a project I was involved with. I never worked on the micro-drones, only on Parallel and related systems. ZAT is a big company."

  "Then maybe I should just shoot you," Rose replied.

  "I thought you’d been told to go easy—"

  "Told by whom?"

  "You called for me?" Errington asked, walking into the room.

  "Look at this," Rose said, pointing at the screen. "Why was I not warned?"

  Errington held up his hands. "I’m just a spectator along for the ride. I don’t know who’s been giving you your information, but it was always likely that there would be security measures. There has to be a way you can override them. That or leave it to the client: make it their problem."

  Chow shook his head. "This isn't a software issue. It's hardwired into the system."

  "So whose palm print does it want?" Errington asked.

  "It doesn’t say," shouted Rose.

  "Have you tried asking the computer?"

  Rose raised an eyebrow and turned to Chow, whose hands were already flying over the keyboard. The screen blinked and changed.

  >>> MARCIA

  Errington shook his head. "You need the head of Kinek?"

  Rose gritted her teeth. "Is this some kind of joke? Are we supposed to take it to her?"

  "Maybe you already have?" Errington stepped forward and placed his palm on the screen. The oval glowed blue and there was a soft tone of recognition.

  >>> ID ACCEPTED

  Rose looked confused. "I don’t understand. Is it broken?"

  Errington shook his head. "No, I believe it's working as intended." He reached a hand up to his neck and pressed something under his shirt. Then he spoke loudly.

  Not with his voice, but Marcia's.

  "Darwin system. Commence executive override order zero zero one."

  >>> COMMAND CONFIRMED

  "Initiate lockdown," said Errington with Marcia's voice.

  >>> COMMAND CONFIRMED

  Rose shook her head. "OK, that's enough. Guards take—"

  The weapons on the belts of the three guards crackled with energy. The three figures jerked and spasmed, then fell to the ground.

  "Status?" Errington asked in Marcia's voice.

  >>> DARWIN TEMPORARY CONTROL NODE ONLINE

  There were hurried footsteps and Kara ran into the room. "Everyone's collapsed," she shouted, then looked around the room. "Here too?"

  Errington nodded, tapping the point just below his neck again. His voice returned to normal. "Is it just you, Regina, Chow and myself standing?"

  She nodded.

  Rose jerked her finger. "Kara, he is Marcia." She swallowed hard. "Somehow Max is Marcia."

  Kara looked at her with a flat expression. "You’re not making any sense."

  "Just take care of this!" shouted Rose.

  Kara raised her gun and pointed it at Chow.

  He raised his hands. "What are you doing? You need me."

  "No, anyone else would have needed you, so we had to bring you along to disguise what is really going on."

  "That’s ridiculous—"

  Kara shot Chow in the chest. With a confused shriek, he fell to the floor. She adjusted the weapon and pointed it at Rose.

  Rose narrowed her eyes. "Whatever Max has offered you, I will double it."

  "Why do people keep saying that to me? I want to do this." The rifle did not waiver.

  Rose hissed. "How did you persuade her, Max?"

  "Actually," he replied, "Kara has always worked for me."

  "But you're just a lawyer. You’re only here because—"

  "Because your contact suggested it?" Errington smiled. "Along with a number of other strategic actions. All proposed by me. I just needed your resource, Regina. Now I'd love to stand around and chat, but we have far too much to do."

  "My people will track you down—"

  "Your people don't know about me any more than you did. They won’t understand that I was Marcia, Kinek, and your customer all rolled into one."

  "You wanted the drones all along."

  Errington shook his head. "The drones were just a distraction: I already had them. What I really wanted was the prototype computer system you stole on my behalf."

  "Why? What is it?"

  "The future." He nodded to Kara. "Unlike you. You’re in the past."

  Rose spun, raising her hands. They did nothing to stop the bullet.

  Errington glanced at Chow's frozen expression, then walked over and kicked Rose's body, before smiling at Kara. "Thank you, my dear Cortez."

  Kara checked her gun then slung it over her shoulder. "I’d like to get moving. We’re exposed out here."

  "That depends on whether they know where to look. On this occasion I’m counting on it."

  "So they could find us?"

  "I already told them."

  Kara scratched her nose. "The system instructed you to?"

  "I didn’t need to waste any cycles on such a request. We need their help. Do you want to know why?"

  She shrugged. "As you always say, if I need to know you’ll tell me."

  Ninety-Seven

  Saxton stood on the bridge of the Royal Navy missile destroyer HMS Windsor. The ship was under three-quarter power, heading unerringly for their target. Next to him was the ship's captain, Grant Eversley.

  "Once again, Captain," Saxton said, "we really appreciate your assistance."

 
Eversley smiled. "When Sir Douglas reached out, the Vice Admiral was only too happy to help. His orders were we should extend you every courtesy."

  Saxton looked out of the port-side window and saw the HMS Exeter cruising alongside, matching their steady twenty-two knots. "An aircraft carrier shadowing our position is a little overwhelming."

  "Your request was to take the threat seriously. Besides, we had a number of assets on exercises in the area."

  "Let's hope we don't need them."

  "I doubt we will. It is just a single craft we’re tracking, a civilian yacht?"

  "It may look like that," Saxton said, "but it's likely to be carrying considerable military tech and weapons systems."

  "We’ll be ready for all eventualities. You sure you still want to send your team out first? Just the two civilians?"

  "The submarine is largely automated. Point and click to move, as I believe Jenson described it."

  "I was thinking less about how they get there and more about what happens when they do."

  "Don’t underestimate them. If all goes as plan, they can disable the vessel's computer systems without a shot needing to be fired."

  Eversley shrugged. "If a shot needs to be fired, we won’t hesitate." Behind him the navigator called out that they were ten clicks from their target. "That's close enough. Drop off the cargo, and Godspeed to them."

  The four-man sub powered away from the HMS Windsor, descending quickly to its planned cruising depth of fifteen metres: enough to mask it from visual detection and standard radar. Inside, Craig and Michael studied the various display screens.

  "Are you sure it makes sense not to let Jenson come with us?" Michael asked.

  "That would hardly leave us space to bring back Errington and Chow, if that’s what we need to do."

  "He said he had never tested this sub in a combat situation."

  "Which was very reassuring," replied Craig. "How long until we reach the yacht?"