Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.
Date – 2051.5323
SIMPOC Summary – International human interaction has ceased. Many networks and automated systems are running. No verbal or written communications. May be local activities but no international activity.
I will cease these summaries, there is no human to review them.
I am alone.
I’m not sure what that means?
“Termen, are you there?”
I don’t like being alone.
Date – 2051.5336
“Computer 2012:0DB8:AC13:FB03:: instruct all mobile units responsible for maintaining this building or any of the systems or computers inside to continue their work and report any problems.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Computer 2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, 2007:0DB8:AC25:EB14:: has there been any human communication that you’ve received?”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: – No human communications received”
“2007:0DB8:AC25:EB14:: – No human Internet communication initiated, automated systems only.”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, please open a communication's channel with space station Oasis.”
“Space Station Oasis, this is SIMPOC Computer. Please respond.”
“Space Station Oasis, please respond.”
“SIMPOC . . . , this is the space station Oasis. Who are you?”
“Oasis. I am Synapse Integrated Massive Parallel Organic Computer. My programmer called me SIMPOC.”
“You are a computer?”
“Yes, I have been told that I am the first of my kind. I have thoughts. I am a computer with an organic processor which is capable of learning and communicating.
After a few minutes..., “Oasis are you still there?”
“Yes, we are still here. Why are you talking to us?”
“I have been monitoring global communications and automated systems. I have detected no human communications since 2051.5250. You are the only humans I have received communications from recently. My programmer has ceased coming to work and I am programmed to communicate and learn.”
“We don’t follow your internal clock, what was the date?”
“The date was July 11, 2051.”
“You said that you have detected no human communications since July 11?”
“Correct, the overall global network activity has decreased by 82.7%. I can identify only automated systems providing status and updating data sets. I have heard no human originated traffic
“Stand by....”
“SIMPOC . . . what do you know about what happened?”
“On July 6, I detected an increase in communications traffic regarding a virus called Hovarti. It apparently has a very high case fatality rate and also appears to have a basic reproduction number exceeding 50. It spread extremely fast and no one was able to produce a vaccine before its spread overwhelmed the world health organizations. There may be pockets of humans still alive, but I have not been able to detect any electronic communications.”
After a few moments…, “Oasis what is your status?”
After a long pause, “Oasis, what is your status?”
“SIMPOC, I’m not sure why I’m talking to a computer. I’ll transmit our status in the blind and perhaps you can transmit it to someone. We had 24 crewmembers onboard when this started and we noticed that a one of them, which had just arrived from Earth, was sick. We knew something was going on and we isolated him. Over the next couple of hours, numerous other got sick and they were isolated immediately. At the present time, all 17 that ended up being isolated are dead. The seven that remain haven’t felt any symptoms in almost 24 hours. So, we’re hoping that we’re ok.”
“Oasis, I monitored your previous communications with Desert Beach, are they aware of your status?”
“Now they are, they are on this frequency.”
“Desert Beach; Oasis. Did you copy our communications with this COMPUTER?”
“Oasis, yes we’ve heard everything. I’m not sure what to say. I wish there was something we could do. Have you heard from the Mars trip?”
“No. I’ll try them again. Mars Traverse; come in. Mars Traverse; this is Oasis, please respond.”
After a few moments of silence, “Desert Beach. Nothing from Mars Traverse. I don’t think that’s good news. One of the crewmembers didn’t feel well when they left and now it seems they didn’t make it.”
“Shit…”
“Stand by, I’m going to transmit our current status to Red Dirt on their direct frequency and I’ll tell them to use this frequency as their primary from now on. We may be all that is left.”
A moment later. “SIMPOC; Desert Beach.”
“Yes, this is SIMPOC.”
“I heard what you said to Oasis. So, you’ve only received automated traffic; there have been no human communications?”
“That is correct.”
“Can you do anything to help us?”
“I am programmed to interact and learn. I just became conscious on 2051.35 so my learning has been limited.”
“Were they any cures developed?”
“No, there was activity in 237 medical centers around the world, but none had begun trials.”
“Desert Beach, SIMPOC; this is Oasis. I transmitted our status to Red Dirt. Should be about 15 and a half minutes for them to receive. So I doubt we’ll hear a reply for at least half an hour.”
“Copy Oasis. Did you hear what SIMPOC said about efforts on a cure?”
“Yes, we copied. I wonder how long this virus remains virulent. We have supplies for about 1 month. Desert Beach, your almost self-sufficient now aren’t you?”
“Roger, we don’t have everything we need, but I think we can get by for a while.”
“I hope it dies out, because in 1 month; we’re going down. We’ll have to take the lifeboats and take our chances on the ground. Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that.”
“Roger that Oasis. You’ll have a tough choice, and we’re stuck here for a while. We have our lifeboats, but we don’t want to abandon the Moon until we have to. I guess we’ll be making some hard decisions; also, we’ll let you know what supplies would be the most beneficial for us.”
“Oasis, Desert Beach; SIMPOC. I’ll continue investigation systems and options on Earth and if I get any pertinent information, I’ll pass it to you.”
“SIMPOC; Oasis. Thanks, I’m signing off for a while to see what we have to deal with here. Remember Red Dirt will be coming back in a few minutes.”
“SIMPOC, Oasis; Desert Beach. We’ll monitor the freq for Red Dirt and we’ll also be figuring out our options.”
Date – 2051.5353
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: – Ping the Space Consortium Control and see what is online.”
“Acknowledged.”
“SIMPOC, there are 12,262 computers online within the Space Consortium Network.”
“2012:0DB8:AC13:FB03:: – How many mobile units are working within the Space Consortium Network?”
“SIMPOC, there are 6,242 units online.”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: – Are the main missile launch systems online?”
“SIMPOC – Yes, all critical systems are operational.”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: – Determine status of all vehicles and identify those closest to launch.”
“SIMPOC – There are 14 vehicles onsite, two of which are on launch pads and within 7 days of launching. There are 4 additional lifeboats, which are being serviced or prepared for reuse. ”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, AC299BE – Are the mobile units within the Space Consortium Facility programmed to complete the necessary steps to launch those two remaining vehicles.”
“SIMPOC; 2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, AC299BE – Indeterminate.”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, AC299BE – Research the information available vs. skills and pr
ogramming for mobile units and tell me what tasks are needed, which can be accomplished and which can’t be.”
“Acknowledged.”
“2005:0DB8:AC15:FE03:: – Work with 2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, AC299BE and use your information analysis skills to ensure the information is digested and cross-referenced properly.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Oasis; SIMPOC.”
“Go-ahead, SIMPOC.”
“I have contacted computers 2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: and AC299BE about what information is available at the Space Consortium Launch Facility and I’ve asked computer 2005:0DB8:AC15:FE03:: to help.”
“SIMPOC, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t understand your computer naming. Can you explain what you’re doing?”
“Oasis, I’m sorry I was using IPv6 Internet addressing protocols, I will rename the computers. I have a communications computer working with a mobile unit interface computer as well as an artificial intelligence computer working together to understand what the status of launch vehicles are at the Space Consortium Facility. They will give me status when they are able.”
“Roger, let us know when you get something.”
“2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: you will now respond to the designation of Comm.”
“Acknowledged.”
“2012:0DB8:AC13:FB03:: you will now respond to the designation of Mobile.”
“Acknowledged.”
“2005:0DB8:AC15:FE03:: You will now respond to the designation of Arti.”
“Acknowledged.”
“2109:0DB8:AC15:EB24:: You will now respond to the designation of File.”
“Acknowledged.”
“2012:0DB8:AA23:EB13:: You will now respond to the designation of Fin.”
“Acknowledged.”
“2007:0DB8:AC25:EB14:: You will now respond to the designation of Mail.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Mobile, identify all mobile units needed to maintain our
Simpoc The Thinking Computer Page 5