Dystopia

by Jason Chapman

  Sam mulled over Nicholls’ words. She checked her watch and reached over turning off the tape machine. ‘Thank you Mr Nicholls you are free to go.’

  Nicholls looked bemused. ‘Just like that, you throw me back out on the street.’

  ‘Apart from selling those Kodi boxes you’ve done nothing wrong Mr Nichols, so you’re free to go.’

  ‘Nicholls got to his feet. ‘Dystopia are about to release another video at eight o’clock. Forget the premier league teams and payday loan companies. You need to be prepared for what’s coming.’

  ‘And what is that?’

  ‘Cyber Armageddon.’ Nicholls replied throwing his dirty jacket over his shoulder.

  Sam left the interview room and went to find Teague who was sat at his desk. ‘Dan, I need you to pull up a record for me, Mathew Teller.’

  Teague set to work on his keyboard, tapping the name out in the police search engine. He hit the enter button and waited. After a few seconds a message appeared on the screen: ‘unable to find match.’

  ‘That’s weird, Teller was arrested last July for hacking a travel company.’

  ‘Well there’s no sign of him now.’

  Sam looked towards where Bishop’s office was. She spotted him sat behind his desk. ‘Keep searching will you.’

  ‘Hang on I can’t do your bidding for you. I promised the chief I would go out and look into a drugs connection to the terror attacks yesterday.’

  Sam was already heading across the office towards Bishop’s private office. She looked back. ‘Just check again. It won’t take long.’

  Bishop looked up as Sam entered his office. ‘Nice work on last night’s raid Sam.’

  ‘Thank you sir.’

  ‘Unfortunately we have had to release everyone we arrested.’

  ‘Why? We should have been able to hold on to any suspects for forty eight hours.’

  ‘Some fancy lawyer representing one of the people who lived in the house was able to pull some strings.’

  ‘So we’re still stuck at square one with no answers or leads, shit.’ She cursed.

  ‘The body you found has been shipped off for further examination. As with the other attackers we are hoping to find clues very soon. Forensics will spend the next few days looking through the house.’

  Sam massaged her forehead.

  ‘How much sleep have you had?’

  ‘Not much, I managed to use an office as a bunk room last night.’

  ‘When you’re shift is done I want you to go home and get some sleep. I cannot afford to have wary officers too tired to carry out their duties.’

  ‘Understood sir?’ Sam answered.

  Chapter 25

  8:00am

  We are Dystopia. By now you have witnessed the power we possess. Those of you who have been targeted will now know what it is to be without money. You will never be able to recover what we have taken. It is gone. We have erased all records relating to any financial holdings including insurance companies that operate outside the UK. You have nothing. We will bend those who control this planet to our will. The world that you have created for yourselves has become decadent and corrupt. Those who control it seek to punish the poor by crushing their willpower. The wealthy drowning in their own ignorance. The demonstration of our power last night was just a taste of what is to come. We are about to begin a new campaign against those who think they can control our lives. For decades, the governments of this world have deceived the masses. Convinced people that petroleum and diesel oil are the only way to run your vehicles. Over the years there have been men who have come up with solutions to the world energy crisis. Men who have been ridiculed or even murdered for their ideas. We are about to show those who have a strangle hold over this country and the world that they are powerless. As this message is playing we have stopped all fuel pumps across the United Kingdom from distributing fuel. To help you come up with alternative fuel solutions we have obtained files which have been kept from public domain. At this moment every newspaper, TV news Channel and media source on the planet is being e-mailed a copy of these files. At best you have four days to come up with viable solutions to run your vehicles. After that, the United Kingdom will descend into chaos. Your country stands forever on the brink. Rich and poor side by side coexisting, a fragile peace kept between them. Your governments will stay defiant. They will claim that they do not negotiate with terrorists. This is a lie; the governments of the world have always brokered back alley deals with terrorists. We are not terrorists, we are liberators, we merely wish to show the free people of this world a way out, and a way forward. Governments of the world you will listen to us. You will never find us; we are everywhere. To the people of this world we say this. We are not your enemy we are your salvation. Soon humanity will truly know what it is to be free. We are Dystopia.

  Chapter 26

  Downing Street – Whitehall – London – 8:11am

  ‘So, now they are eco-terrorists.’ Fuller said with a mocking tone.

  ‘How is it they are able to do these things. It should be technically impossible for this to happen.’

  ‘I think it’s time to consider deploying troops onto the streets to keep the peace.’

  ‘No, I will not deploy British troops.’ Mayflower replied sternly.

  ‘With all due respect ma’am, I don’t think Dystopia is giving you much of a choice at this moment. You heard it yourself the United Kingdom will descend into chaos.’

  ‘And what, we bend to their will as they put it.’

  ‘Prime Minister we are powerless. You know as well as I do our security services are hitting dead end after dead end in finding these bastards.’

  There was a knock on the door.

  ‘Come in!’ Mayflower shouted.

  Henry Powell the energy secretary walked in to the office. ‘Prime Minister, we’ve started to receive reports from across the city. Dystopia have carried out their threat, petrol pumps have stopped working.’

  ‘How is that possible?’ Fuller questioned. ‘Petrol stations have control of their own pumps.’

  ‘They do, but in the case of an emergency all pumps can be shut off at the same time.’

  ‘My god.’ Mayflower gasped. ‘What kind of effect will this have?’

  Powell thought for a moment. ‘Most working people plan their fuel consumption week by week. It’s estimated that car drivers will put thirty to fifty pounds in their vehicles to last them through the week. As it is Tuesday, most drivers will have enough fuel to see them through the next few days, and possibly into the weekend.’

  ‘And beyond the weekend?’

  ‘Everyone runs out of fuel.’ Powell said. ‘I needn’t remind the Prime Minister of the fuel crisis of 2000. Under the Blair government the entire country came within 48 hours to running out of fuel.’

  ‘I remember sitting in my car for two hours waiting to fill up.’ Fuller recalled.

  Powell looked at Fuller. ‘Delivery companies will start to run out of fuel immediately. Especially the self-employed who work for people like Amazon. Because they are constantly on the move some companies fill up their vehicles day by day. Along with taxi firms and the postal service. It won’t be total chaos to start with. More of a pain in the arse for drivers. We are in new territory here. If the public is unable to fill up their cars there will be a lot of angry motorists out there.’

  ‘Prime Minister, you have to consider deploying the army?’

  ‘No, I will not bow down to these bastards. What about the main fuel depos? Have they been affected?’

  ‘Not at the moment ma’am. It looks as if Dystopia doesn’t want total chaos. Haulage companies and our rail and bus networks should function normally for the time being. However, if the petrol pumps are not working within a few days then it will have a massive effect on our transport infrastructure. The will be millions of extra commuters. Our transport networks would be overwhelmed.’

  There was another knock on the door.

  Ian Smith the press
secretary entered the room. ‘Ma’am we’ve been inundated with calls over the last few minutes. Media agencies have been receiving information that Dystopia said they would distribute.’

  ‘Information?’

  ‘Files have been posted to inboxes of all the national newspapers. Relating to scientific breakthroughs in energy production.’ Smith hesitated. ‘Many of the files are marked classified.’

  ‘Why would they be marked classified?’

  ‘A lot of research into energy production is carried out by defence companies looking for better ways to fuel vehicles on the battlefield. There have been some startling breakthroughs over the last thirty years.’ Powell explained.

  ‘Really, and why is it these breakthroughs are classified?’ Mayflower asked glaring at Powell.

  ‘Ma’am you have to realise that a great deal of tax comes from fuel. It’s almost seventy pence per litre on petrol and diesel. Some of these incentives to run our vehicles on other forms of fuel are non profitable. Which is why they have been kept under wraps.’

  ‘The question we have to ask ourselves is what the public reaction is going to be. I’m sure the Guardian and other newspapers will publish these files straight away on their websites.’ Mayflower said.

  ‘There’s no way the newspapers will publish classified information.’ Fuller stated.

  ‘Don’t be so naïve Edwin! WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden both demonstrated that there is no such thing as classified information.’ Mayflower drew breath. ‘As much as I hate to admit it, you are right, we need to consider deploying troops. I need to address the nation as soon as possible. The people need to know that this government is doing everything it can to protect its citizens. I want a full meeting with Cobra at eleven o’clock.’

  ‘Needn’t I remind the Prime Minister that she is due to fly out to Brussels later on today for a crucial round of Brexit talks.’ Fuller pointed out.

  ‘Thank you for reminding me Edwin.’ Mayflower exhibited a sarcastic tone. ‘We need to come up with a solution as soon as possible.’ She looked at Powell. ‘Please tell me there is some sort of plan if an event like this occurs.’

  ‘After the fuel crisis of 2000, the Blair government set up a number of contingency plans should an incident regarding a shortage of fuel occur. They imposed a law that made it illegal for lorry drivers to blockade fuel depos. However Ma’am we had not counted on something like this.’

  Mayflower massaged her brow. ‘No hacker group has been able to do this. It should be impossible to access key systems.’

  ‘The shadow brokers managed to spread their virus quite easily last year.’ Fuller said.

  Mayflower thought for a moment. ‘Gather up every expert you can find. I want answers as soon as possible.’

  Sky news – Sunrise. 8:45am

  ‘Good morning you’re watching sunrise on Sky News, the headlines this morning.

  One hundred and fifty two people confirmed dead in yesterday’s brutal attacks.

  Chaos across airports and ferry terminals after the Prime Minister imposes a forty eight hour travel ban.

  Dystopia shut down all the petrol pumps across the UK.

  Angry motorists air their frustration across London’s petrol stations as the fuel pumps are shut off. There are already reports of scuffles at some petrol stations.

  Breakdown services across the UK have been swamped with calls from people who have no petrol.

  Social media under fire for their slow response to Dystopia’s attacks.

  Premier League football clubs have also been targeted. We go live to our sports correspondent Julie Fisher who is at Old Trafford. Julie what can you tell us this morning?’

  ‘Well Andrew there has been a flurry of activity here. Players have turned up for a training session. I did try to speak to some of them this morning. As you can imagine the mood here at Old Trafford is a sullen one. A spokesman for Manchester United has said that they will release a statement later on today. I have also heard rumours that representatives of the Glazer family will be flying in later today to deal with this claim that Dystopia has made.’

  ‘Has there been any word from any other football clubs regarding Dystopia’s claims.’

  ‘Not as yet. I think that any club which has had their bank accounts hacked will be eager to play down any rumours that they have no money. Share prices on clubs have dropped sharply this morning just after the markets opened. This is definitely the calm before the storm. If any of what Dystopia claimed last night is true then it will be devastating for the Premier league and the football industry in general. The football industry generates billions in revenue each year, through deals with various TV companies including Sky TV. I have spoken to a few die hard fans outside the club this morning who have vented their anger over what has happened.’

  ‘Julie thanks very much for that update. We go live to a petrol station in south London where our current affairs correspondent Robert Park is standing by. Robert what’s happening where you are?’

  ‘Well Andrew as you can see behind me this petrol station has been closed to the public. I have spoken to motorists who need petrol for their vans and delivery vehicles. There is a lot of anger and resentment towards Dystopia. I have heard of scuffles taking place at other petrol stations around the city. I can tell you the mood of everyone here is one of anger, bordering on sheer rage. This is unprecedented. Not since the fuel crisis of 2002 have we seen scenes like this. The government is yet to release a statement on the latest turn of events. I believe Tessa Mayflower will have to say something to calm the public. Whether or not it will work, only time will tell.’

  ‘Robert thank you for that report.’

  Chapter 27

  Voice Radio – London – 9:00am

  ‘Good morning London you’re listening to the Alex Leeder show on Voice Radio. London has yet again been the victim of a terror attack. We have to ask ourselves just how much more of these cowardly attacks can this city endure. We have seen some terrible events over the last eighteen months in this magnificent city of ours. Our Prime Minister has asked the people to remain calm. How can we remain calm while the government dithers over taking action against these terrorists. As always you are welcome to phone in with your views. You can e-mail me or message me on through Twitter and Facebook. The question we are asking this morning, who is this Dystopia? They have already issued two statements. They have wiped out every payday loan company website in the UK. Plundered premier league football bank accounts and paid the sum of forty thousand pounds to people solely reliant on the benefit system. Dystopia have also claimed that they have targeted the criminally wealthy of this country. And if that is not enough, they have shut down all the petrol pumps across the UK which will cause massive disruption. So, is Dystopia a force for good or a force of evil. We have our first caller on the line now, go ahead caller.’

  ‘Thanks Alex, I’d just like to say a big fat thank you to Dystopia. They have just made me forty grand better off.’

  ‘Are you one of these people who are reliant on the benefits system?’

  ‘Not by choice Alex I can tell you that.’

  ‘We all have a choice caller, you either work or you don’t.’

  ‘Let me tell you something, I worked for thirty five years of my life. I worked my guts out for the same company since I was sixteen. And what do I get for my hard work, redundancy that’s what.’

  ‘Couldn’t you simply find another job?’

  ‘Wake up will you, how can you claim to be a speaker for the people then turn around and criticise those who are trodden under foot. I worked for the UK Home Store chain for most of my life. I was a delivery driver for them. Travelled all over this country. Then last year the twat who owns the company goes bankrupt. Fucks of with everyone’s pension. What’s his reward, a knighthood that’s what. He’s rewarded for failure. And where is Adam Greenwald now? I’ll tell you where, fucking sunning himself on a yacht in the fucking Caribbean. While the rest of us are forced to scratch a
round to make a living. I fucking hate the rich for what they have done to the working class of this country. Especially what they have done to the pension system.’

  ‘Could you elaborate on that a little?’

  ‘Your pension is supposed to be secure. It’s supposed to support you after you retire. How can someone just be allowed to fuck off with everyone’s money like that. The rich bastards who plunder the nations pension pots should be slung in jail. But they’re not, instead they are supported by a government who endorses this. Everyone who is working has to pay into a pension now. But what the government hasn’t told them is there is nothing stopping another greedy bastard from taking your pension a day before you retire. It’s a shit and corrupt system it needs to end.’

  ‘Thank you for your call. We have someone else on the line, go ahead caller you’re live on air.’

  ‘I agree with that bloke who was just on Alex.’

  ‘And why is that caller?’

  ‘He’s right, the rich people of this country have beaten the poor into the ground. I haven’t had forty grand paid into my bank account because I work.’

  ‘That’s a good thing isn’t it? You can hold your head up high.’

  ‘Alex, I can barely hold my head above the water. I work zero hour contracts. I have to work over twelve hours a day. Sometimes more just to earn ends meat and I still struggle. I’m up at four in the morning and sometimes don’t get home till after six. I’m too knackered to do anything with the kids, I scream at the wife. We can just about pay our bills, but we can’t live. Can’t afford to take the kids out to McDonalds these days. We are not living Alex, we’re existing, and existing is not enough.’

  ‘Thanks for your opinion caller, we have someone else on the line. Go ahead you’re on the Alex Leeder show.’

  ‘Hi Alex, I just like to say that I support Dystopia and all that they are doing.’