The Bridge | Bots 'R Us

Chapter 26 | Blitzkrieg

PORTLAND COUNCIL
WILLAMETTE FOREST

Hector's humvee zipped through the Willamette Forest as if the fate of the world depended on that next stop at the Security Base. Hector had switched rows with Vic to sit at Simone's side and plan their next moves. Hector typed lines of instructions on his slate and handed the device to Simone. A tap on his left hand's bracelet and the humvee's Gossamer shield lowered to allow a "GINI face" to display on the slate.

"Hi GINI, this is Simone. Could you summarize the latest events since we last talked?"

"Hello Simone, where are you? I'm having difficulties locating you. Why are you talking through a device? You seem to be in Portland, still. Near the harbor? I do not understand."

"You are compromised, GINI. I invoke access to your core functions under directive NLV-2538."

"Access granted, Madame First Councilor."

"Please review your core programs." Simone absorbed the lines and lines of diagnostic results as they scrolled in front of her eyes. "Thank you, GINI. Now I can see where you are compromised. You are infected, GINI. We need you to reboot promptly."

"I know, Simone, but I haven't figured out how to do this without irreparable damage to my functions. And I would need codes from two of the highest-ranking officials. In David's absence, you should be with Rose to provide me with both your codes at the same time."

"Yes, I know the protocol. We will figure this out in due time, GINI. But can you safely reboot? How long for your cleanup to propagate through the Councils?"

"In theory, it should be faster than the big upgrade of 371, less than thirty minutes, with local outages not exceeding more than twenty minutes each. The problem is the way the infection is set in my core programs. It can trigger a larger takeover routine at reboot. At this point, I'm only hacked in listening mode, and they are limited to monitoring the data going through me. When I reboot, though, they could gain complete control."

"Who, the Czarists?"

"Yes, Madam, Nikolai-Vladimir's people. They now have full access and should be able to find this conversation we're having in a matter of minutes, at most. For now, they are still trying to figure out where you went after your arrival in Portland."

"Let them poke. Right now, I am here to help you. I have an antidote program that should block the takeover routine at reboot and help you regain control of your core. Would you please upload, under directive NLV-45781?"

"Of course, Madam. ... Upload in progress. ... Thank you, Madam."

"Thank you, GINI. May I play a tune for you?"

"I don't think you should..."

Hector tapped the slate, and they all looked at one another with suspense while GINI froze.

"Hello, GINI!" Simone said after the four-second freeze.

"Hello Simone, Madam First Councilor! Everyone is looking for you! Where are you? I cannot locate you precisely. You seem to be around the harbor, aren't you?"

"Indeed I am, GINI. Could you prepare a fast boat for me? I need to go to Alaska most discreetly. I have to address members of the Anchorage Council about the Siberian situation."

"I understand, Madam First Councilor. Your orders are registered, and the program is in..."

"And we're off!" cuts Hector. "Great job, Madam First Councilor!"

"Thank you, Hector. We managed to send them on a goose chase in the Harbor! Excellent, it gives us a little bit of extra time. Are you confident the rest of your plan is going to work?"