The Phoenix Agenda: A Thriller (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 6)

by JC Ryan

  “A lot more than you would imagine. With the advent of quantum computing, the processing power of nano computers, as I suspect we will find in these chips, has exploded. Quantum computers are different from digital computers. They use the power of atoms and molecules to perform memory and processing tasks. They're thousands of times faster than the most powerful silicon-based computer you can think of. This little chip here has about double the processing power of all the computers here in the Rabbit Hole combined,” Roy replied, to the astonishment of the onlookers.

  “You don't suppose they would have left a user guide in that box for us?” Luke teased.

  “Even if they did, Roy James wouldn't read it!” Salome laughed.

  Roy and Raj answered a few more questions and then Daniel rounded everyone up, “Okay, let’s give the techies a break so that they can get to work. I get the impression they have a lot to do, and we’ll get plenty of opportunities to ask more questions later.”

  Roy asked Jack to set up one of the other 10th Cycle electron microscopes for his own use. The first thing they had to find out was what material was used to construct the outside of the chip. It didn’t take them long to discover that the outside of the chips was made of titanium. This material had been in use for many years in human joint replacement procedures. It had proven to be safe for surrounding tissues and wouldn’t cause any rejection or allergic foreign body responses. The chips were covered in a layer of silver atoms to prevent infections and inflammatory complications. They noticed that the shell of the chips had a few holes in it and on closer investigation agreed that those were probably ports through which nanobots would be released into the body.

  Next, they had to get inside the chips to analyze the circuitry and functionality. Roy carefully removed the shells from the two chips he and Jack were studying and called Raj, Mandy, and the rest of the computer team to have the first look at the circuitry.

  Raj and his team first wanted to find out how the chips were powered once inside the body. Thanks to the research information collected by Tectus’ hackers and Rebecca, they had a very good idea what to look for. Unless the Supreme Council had access to new and secret technology, there were only two possibilities. The first and most likely would be the use of a biofuel battery made from carbon nanotubes, utilizing enzymes inside the body to convert glucose into electricity.

  The second option was a battery system that would be charged by the electric current in the body. However, research showed that the second option was still in its infancy and not reliable or consistent. Any other known methods of powering biomedical chips inside the body used external sources, and they already knew that was not the case with these chips.

  They soon found what they were looking for; a carbon nanotube battery, which meant the chip was powered by a biofuel battery as they’d anticipated. Apart from the energy source, they had a long list of features they knew had to be in the chip. Among those was a communications system, something similar to a two-way radio that would broadcast and receive signals. However, that was a feature they could find and analyze much better once they understood how the chip worked and how to activate it safely.

  Other features on their list that they assumed would be present, were a GPS system that would enable the tracking of a person’s movements and a credit or cash card feature, which would allow the carrier to pay for purchases, thus creating a cashless society as in the time of the eight Cycle. They also expected to find a plethora of medical features -biosensors that would be used for diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Nanobots were also high on their list.

  While Roy, Raj and their teams were studying and mapping out each of the functions on the chip and how the components interacted, the rest of Sam’s operational team put their thinking caps on and approached the problem from a different angle. They tried to map out the production process. They knew that the chips consisted of a number of components, each with a distinct purpose. This meant that different technology companies were developing and producing those components. The modules were made in different locations and shipped to the factory in China where the chips would be assembled and from which they’d be distributed.

  With the help of Salome’s Spiderweb and the shareholding information it contained, they were able to start identifying the technology companies involved in the production line. With the information they already had and that which they got from Tectus, they were able to gain insight into the latest research and development projects in those companies. That knowledge led them to the point where they were able to predict, with a high degree of accuracy, which features in the chips could be attributed to which company. Tectus could now infiltrate those companies and get the blueprints of the various components.

  To help the Tectus members communicate efficiently, Raj created a separate space-mirror communications network for them. Three weeks later, valuable data started flowing in on a regular basis, as they infiltrated the computer networks and communications systems of the component manufacturers. The spyflies played a significant role in their success.

  The process of discovering each little part in the chip and figuring out its functions required meticulous work and was painstakingly slow. It was as Roy explained to Daniel one day, “Like having to build a puzzle without seeing the picture in front of you. You will see the picture for the first time only when you have completed the puzzle.”

  Nevertheless, there was a team of dedicated and motivated people working on the project, and at the end of every day they could look back with satisfaction at their progress. It was just a matter of time before they would have the solution.

  I have an idea

  The Supreme Council was in session, discussing one of the standing and most important items on their agenda - the chipping program. They'd passed the halfway mark with the chipping of the world population – a point they'd reached with relative ease, thanks to the media. However, they understood they had very little left in their bag of tricks that they could use to persuade the rest of the people to volunteer for chipping.

  Although they'd clamped down on Internet social media at the same time they took control, it was not entirely under their authority as the rest of the media was. That was something to which the council members did not take kindly. They were people who wanted to be in command at all times. Their Internet police were finding it impossible to keep a watch on all Internet activities. Trying to close down sites, delete posts, shut down servers, and threaten bloggers and social media users was becoming impossible.

  Too much dissenting and provocative information was published, and it worried them that it was expanding. Their mobile and landline surveillance program revealed the same pattern of growing discontent among the population. It was something they had to nip in the bud sooner rather than later.

  An analysis of the data showed that almost ninety-five per cent of the culprits were not chipped. It was as if the chip changed people into law-abiding citizens. Those statistics also provided the answer to their problem - all they had to do was to allow only the chipped to have access to the Internet, mobile, and landline communications.

  On the other hand, they knew that although it might be easy and quick to implement with few technical challenges, such a move could be met with massive resistance from the public. One of the council members suggested that they implement the plan in two phases. During the first stage, they would make the services free to anyone who was chipped, and they’d use the media to help them sell the idea.

  The second phase would be implemented later, when they were to start the enforcement of chipping. Everyone met the proposal with approval and instructions were given for implementation of the plan. The media would again play a significant role in this initiative. It would emphasize the numerous benefits that the chipped people were getting ranging from crime prevention to free education. They received free medical services, health benefits and tax-free status for government employees and now, free communications and Internet services.

>   The media trumpeted the big breakthrough in making the Internet a safe and secure place. People wouldn't be able to hide behind anonymity, it would be safe for children to use the Internet unsupervised. It would eradicate dishonest operations, and, of course, there would be monetary benefits for everyone. The chipped were much better off than the unchipped.

  Since the last meeting, when Professor Barbara Cohen, director of the Science Advisory Panel, gave them a clear view of the progress they had made on the genetic engineering front, John Brideaux had conceived an idea. He wanted the professor and council members to know about it.

  “Barbara, I have an idea that I would like you to hear, and if you think it's feasible, launch a project to look at how it could be implemented,” John said.

  “I am eager to hear about it, Mr. President,” she replied.

  “To overcome our challenge of indiscriminately sterilizing unchipped people with nanobots, would it be possible to develop a nanobot that would make the people very sick. If they don’t get an implant within a particular time limit, that illness would eventually kill them? Of course, the only cure would be to get an implant,” John explained with an evil grin on his face.

  The council members and Professor Cohen loudly applauded their leader for this ingenious idea.

  Professor Cohen answered, “Absolutely brilliant idea, Mr. President. That is entirely possible and could avoid the sterilization of people with a good genetic makeup, whom we actually want to produce offspring. “

  The council instructed the professor to kick-off the project immediately and to report progress regularly.

  Another critical item on the agenda of the council was their objective to create a new global monetary system with a single currency. It was a major operation that required a lot of planning and preparation.

  The first step would be to announce another new benefit for chipped citizens. They could now throw away all their cash and cards, because the chip would take care of all payments. It would not be necessary to carry money or cards around anymore, no more lost or stolen cards, no more identity theft. The media was going to have a field day with this new announcement.

  The information about the new initiatives was always sent out to the media outlets a week or two in advance of the launch dates, to allow them time to prepare for the announcements. Thanks to the spyflies at WONN and Kelly’s access to this data, the Rosslerites were getting the information at the same time as the media – and they were horrified.

  Sam and his operations team were getting worried that the day when chipping would become compulsory for everyone was approaching fast, much faster than they have predicted. By their calculations, there were only a few more sweet tasting announcements that the council could make before they would initiate the final part of their plan that would see chips implanted into every living soul on earth.

  When they received the information about the latest announcements that were coming, they foretold that infertility rates would soon skyrocket. Major changes to the monetary system would follow shortly after the replacement of cash and credit cards. The total collapse of the world’s financial system was around the corner. That would be followed by the final push to chip all remaining people and the radical reduction of the world population.

  Nonetheless, there was nothing more they could do to stop the trend, other than what they were already busy doing. They were working day and night to get the chips deciphered, which was the next and most crucial battle ahead of them. In order to aid Roy and his team’s decoding efforts, Sam personally called Rube and asked him to take a message to the Tectus leaders to see if they could find a way to infiltrate the chip plant in China.

  He requested that they designate some of their members to focus as much of their attention on that mission as they possibly could. A breakthrough on that front would be a colossal victory.

  Rube didn’t need any motivation; he understood the necessity and respected Sam Lewis and the rest of the Rosslerites. He knew that Tectus would help and assured Sam that he could count on them.

  The pincer plan

  Peter arrived at the Rabbit Hole a few days after he got confirmation that the first box of chips had been delivered. He was pleasantly surprised to see how much progress they’d made in just a few days since receiving the first box. Sarah wanted to know how Kelly was doing and if he was obeying the terms and conditions of the sentence imposed on him. He was happy to say he had been a good citizen and that he hadn't failed in any of his duties.

  Sam involved Peter in the operations team’s research of the component manufacturers. He would contact Rube and Sombra when he was back in New York to see how he could assist Tectus to infiltrate the target companies and help them gather the required information.

  Sam’s operations team initiated Operation Pincer, the plan to set President and Mrs. Harper free. They reviewed the information they’d already collected through the spyflies and conversations with the Harpers.

  With the help of Ben and Aaron, who were experienced with architectural drawings, they were able to recreate the exact layout and dimensions of the farmhouse and outbuildings. They gave the illustrations to their model building team, who created a house and farm to scale for them. They required an aerial view of the entire farm. Roy would equip a few of his zingers and owls with the necessary cameras, which Peter would deploy with the help of the Nashville Tectus agents who'd planted the spyflies before.

  The operations team had a very good understanding of the routines of the presidential guards. They were quite surprised and relieved to discover that the guards were following a set routine, which had not changed in all the time since the spyflies were deployed, months ago. It seemed as if they were laid-back and didn’t expect any surprises.

  On the technology side, the Wi-Fi signals on the computer and surveillance networks were known, as were the computer login credentials for all of the guards. They knew the routines of exactly when, how and what the guards were reporting to the Washington security control center. They had voice recordings of the telephone reports that were sent in at the end of each day. Sam and Luke pointed out that the situation at the Harpers’ residence did not differ much from what they’d seen and experienced in Boise.

  Salome was alerted by that. “I am a bit troubled about the fact that they haven’t changed their methods and security after the Boise incident. One would think they’d have figured out most of how that mission was accomplished and would have changed their modus operandi.”

  Luke replied, “You've made an excellent point there, Salome. It's apparent they have not figured out the spyflies and communications, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t figured out other steps. We can’t assume anything. They could very well have a nasty surprise in store for us.”

  “I’ll be surprised if they don’t. We need to increase the number of spyflies and make sure we cover all rooms at all times. Once we have the additional spyflies in place, we need to assign some of our people here to monitor them carefully,” Sam replied.

  There was another significant issue to consider, and that was that the distance from Cookeville, Tennessee to Billings, Montana was more than one thousand six hundred miles by road. At a minimum, it was going to be a thirty-hour trip by car. It was not a safe enough option to evacuate and transport the Harpers to the Rabbit Hole by road.

  They gave themselves a maximum of two hours from the time they would incapacitate the guards before the breakout would be discovered. There was a chance that it could take longer, but they felt it would be judicious to build their plan on the worst case scenario and made the assumption that they’d have only one hour – anything longer than that would be a bonus.

  This analysis led them to the conclusion that the only viable option was to transport them by air. The distance from Cookeville to Billings by air was a little over one thousand one hundred and eighty nautical miles. Doug explained it was a distance that could easily be covered with a twin propeller light aircraft in about five hours withou
t the necessity to refuel along the way.

  The option of an airlift was on the table for discussion. They had to get a plane, or hire one, and that posed its own challenges. Not only that, they also had the question of who could pilot the plane, other than Doug, and how to avoid radar detection all the way from take-off to landing.

  While Peter was listening to the discussions, he experienced a rush of adrenaline through his body. He and Owen had talked about this very idea, which was what Doug suggested a long time ago. That was for Owen and Alison to get private pilot licenses and buy a light plane, which they could use to commute between Nucla and Mount Ararat.

  “I might have a solution for both those problems,” Peter said eagerly. “As you all know, I've been planning to get out of New York after I completed my missions there, and to buy a property in this area to live on and to function as another safe house. With that in mind, Owen and I have been talking about the idea of buying a light twin prop, six-seater aircraft in partnership. Both of us are excited about the prospect of flying. I don’t think Alison is as enthusiastic about the idea of becoming a pilot as Owen, but she definitely won’t mind being flown around by any of us. “

  “So Peter, I understand that Alison seems to be okay with you and Owen’s plans, but how does Kelly feel about it?” Daniel was smiling when he asked the question. He wanted to test Sarah’s theory that there was something going on between the two of them.

  Peter was caught off guard and began stuttering, “What does she …? Ahh… mhh … wait … yea well … hang on ...” Then he stopped to get his dignity back and said with a bit more confidence, “She is very excited about the idea.”

  Daniel just smiled when everyone except Sam, looked at him, wondering where that came from, then realized what it meant and started laughing. Sam was grinning, he saw the dynamic between Peter and Kelly long before anyone else did, which is why he asked Peter to take her on those fishing trips. Although he was older than everyone in the room, he was the one with the most recent experience of being totally bedazzled by a beautiful woman. Among the people in the Rabbit Hole only Aaron had more recent experience than his, with Cindi sweeping him off his feet shortly after they moved into the Rabbit Hole.