Starting from Scratch (2 page)

The National Security Advisor, Todd Pierpoint,
verified that fact, “That’s true Mr. President and it’s not just
the Pentagon. I received the report just before this call. The
entire military communications net has gone virtually hacker free
and that’s true for the Internet, as well.”

The President asked, “Why are the attempts dropping?
I can understand the success of blocking attacks on our defense
network. But, wouldn’t that increase the number of attempts? Why
are attempts to hack going down to zero.”

Mike answered, “As I have indicated, we don’t answer
to existing governments. We have taken a harsh stand on hacking.
When a hack takes place, we burn up the computers behind the
attempt. I suspect right now there are several governments who are
very concerned by these failures, in particular the governments of
China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Israel. Also, those rogue
hackers around the world who have been a pain in the ass for
years.”

“Do you mean to say you’ve literally burned up their
computers?”

“Yes sir, that’s exactly what I mean. Once we verify
that we have identified the source computer and the related servers
and interconnected computers, we attack the entire system
simultaneously. We insert a virus that causes a power surge to
bypass internal transformers, sending full charges of current
throughout the system. So, microchips that operate on a minor
volume of amps, using relatively small amounts of wattage, overheat
and melt in a few seconds. Those people are going to have to
replace an awful lot of motherboards.

“As a courtesy, we’ve not melted any hacking
equipment in the American arsenal. Although, for the moment, we
have blocked any attempt to crack into another government’s
files.”

Hardesty, the Secretary of State, obviously still
filled with animosity, challenged, “Don’t you realize those
countries could view that act as an attack by the United States? At
the very least, they’re going to go before the UN and launch a
verbal assault on us, creating further hate and distrust of the
USA.”

Max took that one, “We thought of possible responses
by the guilty parties, and that’s the key point here. If they
complain about us hacking into their hackers, they’re admitting to
the crime. If they claim computers in their country are being
destroyed by the United States, they will have no proof. When we
placed the virus in those computers, it was done through a computer
in the very same agency. Where the Chinese were concerned, we
launched the attack from the secure computer on the desk of the
Grand Marshal of the People’s Liberation Army.”

Pierpoint said, “That’s an amazing ability, Mike. I
don’t suppose you would be willing to provide us with a copy of
that program?”

“I intend to do just that. However, at the moment, it
is beyond the capability of any existing computer on the planet. If
you need us to hack into something for you, just ask. However, I
should tell you that we would not aid you with planning any
military operation, unless it furthers our defense of the Earth, or
it results in the ending of a conflict. That rule will apply to the
other allied nations, as well.”

Hardesty wasn’t about to let it go that easily.
“Sergeant Hurst, might not the offended governments wish to
retaliate in some other form, perhaps a conventional attack? The
Russians for instance, might begin pushing more troops deeper into
the Ukraine, or move a few divisions up to the boarder of Poland or
the Baltic countries.”

“Yes sir, all of those scenarios were considered.
Even if they do make those moves, we can make it very uncomfortable
for them and not through active hostile means. I’m sure they would
get the message, through the passive means we would enact.”

“And what might that be.”

“Mr. Hardesty, with all due respect, we will be
holding several cards very close to our chest. I will not promise
to include you in our reaction to threats from other countries.
But, I would probably consult with you before taking overt action
to counter true threats. In some cases, you’ll just have to watch
and see.

“With regard to the internet hacking. I believe, by
tomorrow afternoon, when the world begins to see a substantial
reduction in hacking, they will notice an increase in speed and
performance. If any person or country places the blame for this on
the US, they are actually giving you the credit for cleaning up a
huge mess and most users will be grateful.”

The President said, “I’m glad you’ve given this some
thought anyway.”

Hardesty jumped in. “Still, Sergeant Hurst, we should
be included in your efforts before hand. You can’t run around
willy-nilly, making it up as you go along.”

Mike would never admit it, but the man was right. He
was sort of making it up, as he went along. The man irritated Mike,
yet he understood how frustrated Mr. Hardesty must feel. In the
interest of maintaining a civil conversation, he ignored the man’s
last comment.

“Mr. President, we need to discuss a number of
initiatives that the free world must take, in order to help us
build a space navy. Many of the parts for a number of vessels and
weapons will have to be assembled on the Earth and sent to space.
You will be receiving designs for these items and, in some cases,
specially processed materials to complete those items for us. We
will pay a handsome price for those items. America and the free
world will be the beneficiary of the technology associated with
it.

“What I’m saying is you will have designs for space
craft and weapons that are a thousand years beyond anything you
have now or even dreamed about. We will aid you in keeping those
items secret and unobtainable from your enemies. At first, these
items will require a huge increase in the military industrial
complex. It will provide a tremendous jump in employment and
therefore the economy. We will continue to provide payment in
precious metals and scientific advancement.

“All we ask is that you work with us for the defense
of Earth. I can understand a continued distrust of my motives and
me. All I can say to that is that I have no ulterior agenda and
neither do any of my people. How much you trust us is up to you.
You’ll find me open to any ideas that further the agenda of the
protection of our planet.”

The President, still skeptical, said, “We have no way
of keeping track of you, Mike. That’s going to frighten a lot of
people in my administration, as the word filters out and it
will.”

“Don’t discourage that approach, sir. Let them do
their job and I’ll do mine. I do ask you to urge your people not to
waste too much time on attempting to bring down the Terran Space
Navy.”

Mr. Hardesty just couldn’t let that go. “So you’ve
come up with a nice sounding name for your little band of
traitors?”

Max lost it, just before Mike did and yelled, “Damn
it, Hardesty, we are loyal to the United States, but not to any one
element of the government. We are not traitors; so get your head
out of your ass, step back and look at the big picture, not just
your little fiefdom.”

The President scolded them both. “All right gentlemen
that’s about enough. General Kolbe, it wouldn’t hurt for you to
step back and see things from our perspective. You’ve offered some
nice trinkets and they are very nice trinkets indeed, but you’ve
stolen our privacy. You can listen in on every discussion. How can
I have a secure talk with any one of my advisors, when I know that
everything is being overheard? Somehow, you must allow us to talk,
without being heard.”

After a long pause, Mike told him, “Sir, you’d
already taken the necessary steps to block us from listening in
through the comm unit. When Mr. Oldfield put it in a Faraday cage,
we lost our ability to monitor you. So, build a bigger one around
your conference room and triple insulate it from transmission
waves, as you send alternating electrical charges through each of
the wires of the cage, and you’ll have your privacy.”

Marge Chalmers said, “So, in other words, your unit
can be blocked?”

Bambi commed,
It won’t actually work, General. I
can defeat it rather easily.

Mike told her,
Well, they need to feel safe. Let’s
let them have this one, for now.

To Dr. Chalmers he answered, “Yes ma’am, it can be
blocked. I’m told it can be jammed, too, although that’s not my
area of expertise. That is not something we are going to be
revealing any time soon.”

The meeting went on for quite a while. In order to
save time and keep the dialog going, they agreed not to break for
lunch. The Presidents staff, as well as Mike’s people opted to eat
as they worked. After the vitriol from Mike Hardest had died down,
things began to progress a little more smoothly.

Bambi had to answer most queries that required a
technical response. Mike and Max handled the rest and those were
primarily regarding the politics in play between the English
speaking nations. It was far more complicated than Mike could have
imagined. Finally, it was agreed that Mike and his staff would
produce a video, which would explain the current situation and lay
out a plan for the other English speaking nations to come on board,
or opt out.

Stassen told him, “I think we both can agree that no
one will want to be left out of the opportunity to gain access to
the advances in science, medicine and military hardware that you
offer. I’m afraid that each of them will feel required to do some
horse-trading, in order to maintain the illusion that they have
some control over you. I know I would like such control myself.
But, you’re not going to surrender that, are you?”

“No sir,” Mike responded bluntly.

The President chuckled, “I can see how this method
could go a long way toward cutting through the bureaucratic
bullshit.”

“Yes sir, it can be very effective and it will work
fine for building a space military. But I have no desire to chart a
political course for this organization. That’s why I’m willing to
work with all governments who will operate honestly with us, on
behalf of the planet and not just for their own personal wealth or
tyrannical aggrandizement. In other words, we are not going to aid
any one nation, no matter how wonderful, or wretched it is, to
pursue a war upon any other nation.

“However, that being established, we are already
working to reduce the terrorist elements around the world.
Eventually, the world will see a lot less of that sort of activity.
I don’t want to frighten you, but I’m not going to be held back by
the constraints of seeking a consensus from the UN. When I find the
bad guys, I ain’t messing around with the UN by begging them to
understand how horrible those people are. I am going to eliminate
the threat that those people represent to their neighbors.”

Todd Pierpoint spoke to that. “We can’t control you,
Mike, but if you act unilaterally, you may bring down the wrath of
the United Nations upon us, because it will be assumed that we are
responsible. Several of the non-aligned nations would be upset and
begin leaning toward the other side.”

“Let ‘em lean. As the threat of terrorism is reduced,
certain dictatorships will be on the verge of economic failure,
because the states that supported them will no longer wish to waste
their money on programs that aren’t working.

“When I feel it is necessary to take action, I’ll
take it. That’s the only way for you to have deniability. When the
complaints come in, tell them some of the truth. You could say I am
a rogue warrior who has alleged he is defending the planet from
violent harm and I cannot be found. Give out my name, if you want
to. Make it official that you have revoked my US citizenship and
that I will never be allowed to return as one.”

Marge mumbled, “Well, he’s certainly committed to his
beliefs.”

Hardesty said, “Yeah, so was Adolph Hitler. Be
careful what you say, Mike. You’ll come off as a fanatic and that’s
going to scare a lot of people, especially the socialist
countries.”

“Yes, I know. It has already occurred to me that I’ll
be compared to the Nazis. As long as I don’t act like those clowns,
I can live with that. If I ever get too full of myself, I have a
staff of ethical people who will knock me on the head.”

Mike Hardesty uttered, “What a pleasant thought.”

Mike roared with laughter. “Mr. Hardesty, I think
we’re more alike than you can imagine.”

“That’s an even more frightening thought.”

Mike redirected the conversation to something more
serious. “Gentlemen and lady, it’s time for you to consider a
better way for us to get to know each other and build some trust.
Select one person to come out here with us and undergo the upgrade
process. We’ll return that person to you and they will have
constant contact with us, through their installed comm unit, and
they’ll be your direct conduits to our technical staff. No one will
hear them comming with us. That can be a big help in some of the
negotiations you become involved in. Of course, that person would
look like a twenty five year old kid, when he or she returns.

“I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to be
that person, Mr. President, because there would always be a concern
that you had been compromised somehow. But, if you send a trusted
advisor, we will give you back a person with amazing capabilities.
They will have the ability to retrieve info in nanoseconds,
literally.

“Imagine setting in a conference and you need some
info about a topic of discussion that hadn’t been on the agenda.
Your new assistant would be able to scramble through government
files from all over the world, analyze them then give you his or
her perspective on the topic and it would only takes seconds for a
complete review. You would never be caught off guard.”

The President huffed, “As usual, Mike, you know how
to dangle the right bait to catch the biggest fish in the pond.
That is an intriguing possibility. I’ll consider it and let you
know.”