The Carbon Trap (The Carbon Series Book 1)

by Randy Dutton

  “Well, that’s a relief,” Pete blurted out.

  Anna’s brow furrowed, and she looked up at him. “Maybe, not so much.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She pointed to the radio.

  “...In an odd coincidence, San Francisco Bay has turned bright green with an unknown phytoplankton bloom. A similar green bloom, originated outside San Francisco Bay days later in the California Current – part of a gyre that circulates surface water in the northern Pacific Ocean. This second bloom is over 16 hundred kilometers long and shows no sign of abating. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA – is taking the lead on the investigation. One researcher we asked, said he didn’t understand why the phytoplankton isn’t dying off, despite what should be a reduction of nutrients to limit growth.”

  Pete looked at Anna with an inquisitive eye.

  She shrugged her shoulders.

  “In global financial news, the UN reported a slight drop in carbon credit purchasing and fines in July, as many carbon-based businesses began shuttering their operations. The UN Carbon Commission held a special meeting to discuss amending the taxation system to accommodate the growing use of home-based biomass fuel systems. No resolution was reached by the end of the meeting.

  “We’ll be back after the break with a very special guest, Dr. Mildred Pearce from the United Nations.”

  Pete turned to Anna. “Didn’t you say Swanson told Sven not to release the phytoplankton?”

  “Yes.” Her brow furrowed. “I was there when he told him.”

  “What’s happening doesn’t sound natural, so it’s somebody else’s?”

  She slowly shook her head. “I’m pretty sure Sven crossed Swanson.”

  “And that would cause what?” His voice was a whisper.

  Anna glanced around at the others at the table – she was the object of their attention. She looked Pete in the eyes, and pressed her lips together.

  He looked a little confused at the nonverbal signal, then his eyes went wide. “You mean you—” He stopped, his mouth agape.”

  Anna stared back and slowly nodded. Then she whispered, “I would have been told to.” Her eyes darted to Paula and Irma who were watching, but who couldn’t hear what the couple were communicating. “Perhaps this isn’t the place.”

  “No.” He glanced at his family then back to her. “You’re right.”

  “What in the world are you two talking about?” Irma asked.

  “Oh, it’s nothing much Mom. We’re just discussing biology.” Pete said unconvincingly. He immediately went back to eating.

  Paula was eyeing him like a mother hen, so Pete winked at her, which invariably broke her into a smile.

  “Welcome back to On the Beat. I’m Jill Brent. Today our guest is Dr. Mildred Pearce, a representative from the US Department of Social Justice. Tell our audience the administration’s technological goal for eliminating global warming.”

  “It’s a three-pronged approach to reduce CO2 emissions. First, we are funding BECTS systems. This stands for Bio-Energy with Carbon Trapping and Storage. Essentially, we use biomass to trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Typically, when biomass decomposes or is burned, carbon is released into the atmosphere. This is the global carbon cycle, which has been expanding ever since mankind had the misfortune to start tapping the buried deposits of oil, gas, and coal. With BECTS, we capture the carbon and store it underground. This results in net negative carbon dioxide emissions.

  “Our second strategy is Carbon Trapping and Storage, or CTS for short. These are methods to mitigate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from large point sources such as power plants, volcanoes, and thermal vents. We then would store the CO2 underground instead of allowing it to go into the atmosphere.

  “Our third, and our greatest, strategy is Societal Control. We are going to be introducing tradable ‘Personal Carbon Credits.’ This will encourage and motivate people to reduce their carbon footprint by changing the way they live. Each person will receive a free annual quota of carbon they can use for travel, to buy food, and work. We believe this strategy would reduce both pollution and poverty.”

  “Doctor, that’s amazing. Will people who live in rural areas get more credits than those in the cities?”

  “No. In fact, our goal is to force people out of the countryside and into organized metropolitan islands. We want to de-populate the rural areas, and economize urban living. After all, everybody strives to live in a major city – right? Only a social misfit lives outside the mainstream. It is our contention that those who live on large acreage and outside the cities are wasting the resources meant for all of us. Not only will the government absorb private landholdings, we are putting restrictions in place that make it difficult for them to work and live on acreage.”

  “What kind of restrictions?”

  “Whether and where they can graze livestock, build houses and fences and outbuildings, whether and where they can plow the soil or build a road, whether that road can be paved or tarred, if they can log or mine, or build a dam. We also are working to eliminate clear cut logging, and dams, and some recreation such as ski lifts and operating motorized vehicles on public land.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Pearce replied. “We are implementing a new taxation scheme that will force people into smaller cars, smaller and more efficient homes, and simpler lifestyles. That is part of the Agenda 21 plan. We helped create the Local Governments for Sustainability, formerly called the ICLEI, to nudge communities to increase restrictions on human lifestyles.”

  “ICLEI?” the newscaster asked.

  “International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. It was initiated by the UN, based upon a concept paper authored by Gro Harlem Brundtland, VP of the World Socialist Party – one of my heroes. ICLEI was a dues-paying organization that provided sustainable planning, software, and training. Many private and official government agencies and foundations drove the process.”

  “What was their motivation?”

  “Job security. The more government they helped create, the more entrenched they became and the more good deeds they could accomplish.”

  “Will this Agenda 21 include vacations?”

  “In the end, yes. We believe in equality. And to us that means everyone will be entitled to a government-funded, energy-efficient, vacation.”

  “So everyone will have the same vacation?”

  “Well, not exactly. Obviously senior government officials and academics are special. They have so much on their plates they will get extra consideration.”

  “Will the government’s plan include our food?”

  “Absolutely! As part of this plan, we will implement ‘food justice.’

  “What’s that entail?”

  “All aspects of food production and consumption should be ‘shared’ equally. For example, we’ll provide food rations, identified by our experts, to decide what foods everyone should eat, and in what quantities. This way no one will suffer food discrimination. The UN has determined Americans eat too much meat – globesity we call it. Who is the US to claim otherwise? We must fall in line with the rest of the world. And since animals emit a lot of the CO2, we’ve decided now is the time to implement Operation Vegan.”

  “You’re going to force everyone to be a vegetarian? That’s a very extreme policy,” the interviewer observed.

  “We’re not going to force anyone to be a vegan, we’re just going to nudge them in that direction by making it difficult to be anything else. And yes, it’s very progressive. I’m happy to do my part.”

  “So if everyone becomes a vegan, will that allow a much higher global population?”

  “I hope not. We want to reduce global numbers.”

  “To what level?”

  “To one that is sustainable with available resources. At the current European standard of living, the UN Global Biodiversity Assessment estimates a sustainable population for an industrial
ized world to 2 to 3 billion.

  “Today the population is approaching 8 billion—”

  Dr. Pearce interrupted, “Our number’s better for the planet, and it provides animal justice.”

  “Animal justice?”

  “It’s premised on the concept that animals have basic rights equal to humans. We share this planet. We shouldn’t dominate it. And we’re setting up a court system specifically to allow animal rights to be defended.”

  “How does an animal sue?”

  “Through surrogates. We’re training environmental attorneys to speak for the animals. They will decide when an animal, a species, or an ecosystem feels threatened.”

  “What if some people won’t go along with the plan?”

  “Then they are outliers, societal pariahs, one might even refer to them as domestic terrorists, racists, or specists, who need to be re-educated to the ways of a peaceful people.”

  “Racists, terrorists, specists? Those are pretty strong terms, doctor.”

  “Anyone who denies our programs obviously wants societal chaos and the poor to starve.”

  “And what exactly is a specist?”

  “Any one who believes one species has the right to rule another. What would you call them?”

  “How about...endangered?” Jill laughed. “That’s all the time we have. Thank you Doctor Mildred Pearce, for this fascinating report on how our government is reducing our global footprint to save the planet.

  “Thank you for tuning in. This is Jill Brent, On The Beat”

  Paula asked indignantly, “Can you imagine?”

  “World’s falling apart!” Irma said. “Anna, dear, what’s your opinion on this?”

  “Sounds like somebody’s going to make a lot of money,” she said flatly and helped herself to some potato salad.

  Pete broke out laughing.

  Chapter 64

  August 1, 1500 hours

  Heyward Ranch, Denton, TX

  Hours later an approaching thumping could be heard from inside the house. Within minutes, the Profit Oil Company Bell helicopter had dropped off Tom Heyward, in front of the house, and then swooped away.

  Pete and Anna met him halfway between the helipad and the house.

  Tom stopped three meters short. He stared at Anna and took stock. “Hello, Miss Picard,” he said formally, and waited.

  “Hello, Mr. Heyward.” Anna responded warily.

  “Hi Dad! I want to—”

  “Stop, Pete! Right now I want to hear what Miss Picard has to say.”

  She swallowed hard. “Mr. Heyward, first let me apologize to you for what I put you through. I’m truly sorry, and I know nothing I do or say will make it up to you.”

  “That’s a start. Now tell me why.”

  “Let’s sit down. It’s a long story.”

  “How about giving me the short version…right now!” he said tersely.

  “Okay. Mr. Heyward...” She dropped her chin and narrowed her eyes, as her attitude changed from friendly and remorseful, to hard-edged. “There are people in this world who want to destroy you and all your associates, so they can control the global resources, and the entire population. I was one of their weapons, and have been for 10 years.”

  Her eyes were steely, and even Pete was taken aback by her intensity and forthrightness.

  “Having said that, I no longer want to be part of it.”

  She slipped her arm into Pete’s, her voice softening slightly. “Much of that is due to your son.

  I can’t undo the damage I’ve done, but I can help you understand what’s coming so you can prepare.”

  “Why should I trust you?! You and your ilk have gone out of your way to destroy my industry, the free market, and the economy of this country that I love.”

  “I won’t dispute that. But I will say that I’ve always loved America. It’s just that my focus has always been about…me, and not about what America is all about.”

  “And what do you know about America, living in France?”

  “Mr. Heyward, my dad was a Marine to the day he died!” There was a slight catch in her voice, but she was fighting back. “I may not have grown up with a fine family like yours – and you have no idea as a child how much I wanted one – but I grew up around people willing to die to defend this country. As you know, things happened that isolated me from a normal life. I hope to have some normalcy now…with your son.”

  “Dad, let’s sit down,” Pete said, trying to deescalate the confrontation.

  “I’m not done—” Tom started sharply.

  “For now, yes you are!” Pete said forcefully. “You will stop interrogating Anna. She is here to help, if you let her!”

  Tom contained his anger.

  Pete continued. “I’m asking you to listen to her as you would a father”—Anna’s arm tightened tightly around his with those words—“because if it is within my power, you might just be her father…in-law, someday.”

  Anna looked up with wide eyes at Pete and smiled and she leaned her head against his shoulder.

  Irma and Paula were on the front porch watching the scene, sensing the heated exchange but, try as they might to eavesdrop, they were out of earshot.

  Tom’s anger diminished. He looked at them now as a couple and not as individuals. Whatever animosity he held against her couldn’t be maintained in light of the love he knew they felt for each other.

  With a softer tone, he relented. “Okay, then, let’s go get some iced tea. Young lady, may I escort you into the house?” He held out his arm for her to slip hers into. She smiled demurely and acquiesced.

  “Well, wasn’t that a sight?” Irma said to Paula.

  As her husband and Anna came strolling up the steps. Irma asked Tom, “What was that all about?”

  “Sorry, Honey,” he smiled at her. “It’s business, and I know how you hate it when I bring business home.”

  They were seated at the table, just the three of them. Irma was cleaning up inside.

  Anna looked at Tom, tapped her fingers on the table rapidly and then stopped. “Tom, I want to earn your trust, but I need your help to do it.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

  “A large group of disparate hackers was scheduled to launch a massive attack on all carbon-based fuel companies and their suppliers.”

  “And you know this...how?”

  “Because…” She paused and looked at Pete. “I initiated it—”

  Both men were aghast.

  “But…Anna, how—” Pete started.

  “Let me finish. Many of these hackers were sent by others to me. There are several groups, each one controlled by a major financier out of Agenda 21. Tom, are you familiar with them?”

  “Somewhat with Agenda 21, less so as to who’s a part of it.”

  “They were going to be tasked regardless. I was responsible for centralizing my group.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a thumbdrive and a Krugerrand, then laid them on the table.

  Tom’s eyes shifted to the coin and back to her. “What’s this for?”

  “The means of finding my hackers.”

  “I don’t understand,” Pete said, looking at the items. “What do you want us to do?”

  “With the right software, I can identify the likely location of each hacker. You have to find a way to take them down.” She proceeded to explain the embedded technology with the Krugerrands. “There’s more. Only my hackers are trackable through this location technology, and there are about 300 of them.”

  “Wow, really? You coordinated over 300 hackers? That’s like herding cats!” Pete exclaimed.

  “Yes,” Anna indulged in a satisfied grin. ”But I also misdirected them.”

  “How so?” Tom asked skeptically.

  “During the past few weeks I changed their targets to the Agenda 21 financiers themselves rather than the carbon companies.”

  Pete chuckled.

  Her index finger went up. “There’s more. I seeded Black Hat with CIPAV malware tha
t will help the FBI track other hackers who troll for victims.”

  “CIPAV?” Pete asked.

  “Computer and Internet Protocol Address Verifier. It’ll automatically notify and update the FBI Computer Crimes Unit of the various identifying characteristics such as the media access control address, Internet protocol address, Registry Unique Computer ID, among others.”

  “What’s that mean?” Tom asked.

  “The software chronicles and reports the hackers’ targets and accomplishments – enough for investigation and conviction. Since the FBI didn’t intiate it, no warrant would be necessary.”

  “Why did you do that, Anna?” Tom asked.

  She looked lovingly at Pete, and said, “As penance....” Her eyes shifted to Tom. “To make amends.”

  Tom had his answer. “Thank you.”

  “Just know, Mr. Heyward...when they figure it out, they may redirect their anger towards your industry and, regardless, other financiers’ agents will not have been misdirected.”

  “That was ingenious,” Pete said. “Did you think that up?”

  She nodded with lips tightly pressed together, the corners of her mouth turned up.

  “I have some connections with the US Attorney’s office,” Tom thought aloud. “Hell, for the coins, we may need the NSA’s help.”

  “Please keep me out of it,” she pleaded.

  “Why?” Tom asked.

  “Because they’ll hunt me down and kill me. They have resources beyond our government’s, and likely, many within it.”

  Tom’s face slackened, while Pete’s face showed stress.

  “Tom?” Anxiety was in her voice.

  “Is there more?”

  “Yes.” She held out a USB flash drive. “Here’s a list of a couple thousand names and their background information. These are anarchists trained as engineers. They hail from a number of top engineering schools and have junior positions within the fossil fuels industries.”

  “What are they planning?”