The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 17

The Bangkok Arcadia chapter warehouse buzzed with activity. Unlike the day before, when things were pretty laid-back and casual, a frantic energy filled the room. As Paul approached, the reception desk a new reception clerk greeted him. After checking in he found a chair leaning against the wall nearby where he could wait for Sam.

Surveying the building interior he noticed a delivery truck at the loading dock being unloaded by several laborers. The workers carrying enormous sacks on their backs and heads, stacking them near the equipment in the center of the hall. Whatever is in those sacks must be practically weightless. Others were removing the machines near where the unloaded sacks were being piled. These two activities were comically counterproductive since the sacks were obviously meant to go with the machines. A supervisor finally spoke to the workers, then when a machine was re-located, some sacks with it. Paul couldn't see where they took the machines because they left the building.

Paul made an informal appointment to meet again, at their lunch meeting. He hoped Sam would remember. Sam might be busy? There's a lot going on today. Paul was about to leave when Sam entered the hall. He saw Paul waiting next to the wall behind the reception desk and came over immediately.

"G'day, Mike," Sam said. "I wasn't sure you'd be here. We left things a bit loose."

"Yes, I know." Paul said. "I thought you might have changed your mind. I see a lot is going on today."

"Right, we're getting ready for a big event coming up soon. It wasn't confirmed until this morning. We weren't sure 'til that."

"What's the big event? Is it something you can tell me?"

"I can tell you what we told the Arcadia supporters. Bright Sun has ordered us to prepare for a major initiative to begin on New Year's Day."

"I think you're referring to the Chinese New Year?"

"Yeah, only two weeks from now."

"Is the same thing going on in Sydney?"

"No, only the chapters in this region. We sent an alert, though, to all the chapters around the world."

"Security for your communications and computer files is now even more important."

"Right, Mike. I hope you can work with Teo again today. He told me you didn't quite finish what you were doing. I want to make sure we have a secure system."

Paul and Teo worked on enhancements to the communications system security in the computer room at the rear of the event hall. They double checked functionality of the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) equipment and the connections to the computer room machines and the one in the adjacent meeting room.

As they worked Teo confirmed Thai immigration picked up the other reception clerk. Nara must've found she was illegal and turned her in. She won't be digging into my background any more now.

Paul wanted to examine the contents of the special file he discovered the previous day. But he needed time alone to uncover the password key. At last, Teo left to pick up his daughter to take her to her music lesson. Okay, now I can try to break into that file. It must be important or they wouldn't have gone to the trouble to use a special security lock. Paul wasn't an expert hacker, but he had some experience. His superior skill in deciphering codes came in handy for unlocking secured files because they often used encryption techniques like those used to encode top secret messages.

He tried all of his decryption tricks with no success. Paul then suspected Bright Sun had used a bio-metric security system. Perhaps she used her own unique body characteristics? Without access to this personal component he couldn't break into the file. Usually, a backdoor entry is possible in an emergency. She might've given the secret key to her daughter?

Then Paul noticed an alert message on Teo's computer monitor.

SECURITY ALERT

REPEATED UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY ATTEMPTS

Crap, they can track the failed entry attempts back to this computer. They'll know it was me.

Paul removed the warning message as Teo returned from his errand. The message will probably return. Paul had to get to the mobile lab so he and Nara could do something. He abruptly got up telling Teo he finished and needed to leave for an appointment.

"VK, I'm coming to the lab," Paul said in a text message sent to Nara. "My hacking attempts have triggered an alert. We need to block the trail leading to the computer I was using. They can't find me out. Not yet. I'll be there in a few minutes."