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Friday Morning
A video-stream of the Governor of the State of California, Dora Crawford, appears on every connected device in the state. People watch her on electronic billboards, digital signage, TV screens, Smart-Band, and VUE.
“Citizens of California, we have planned for your protection from the asteroid storm. We have built underground facilities in Los Angeles and Sacramento. You are now receiving detailed directions to these locations via Smart-Band and VUE lens. You are to make your way, with great haste to the underground facilities. We have food, shelter, water, and amenities for your comfort. Pack lightly. We have everything prepared for you. Be patient, remain calm and courteous to your fellow citizens. We have room enough for everyone.” The video ends with the governor’s welcoming smile.
The message repeats five minutes later.
The governors of every state near an Arcadian city broadcast similar messages. A video stream of the governor of Colorado plays on every communication device in Colorado. The message instructs people to move to the entrances of an underground city, named New Zion, located under the Denver airport.
The governors of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey direct their citizens to the once-secret entrances of New Arcadia.
People move. Millions upon millions of people gather what they can carry and move to underground cities across the country.
President Baker is being briefed on the status of the planned US Marine attacks on the underground cities. “Sir, we have now confirmed the locations of three underground cities including New Arcadia, Cruikshank's location,” explains a Marine commander.
“When will you attack?” asks the president.
“We’ll be ready in three days, sir. We are allocating men, equipment, and planning logistics. We have teams assessing the locations to prepare our plan of attack. All preparations are ongoing.”
Sheryl interrupts the briefing. “Sir. Excuse me. You’ve got to see this.” She motions her hand over her band, flicking a finger toward a wall-sized screen. The messages from the governor of Colorado and a dozen more governors fill the screen. Everyone in the Command Center stops working to watch the streams. Even Jerome Hargrove pauses his finger poking to watch.
The governor of Delaware, a rather fat man, whose jowls shake as he speaks is the first to call the president to complain. “That is not me. I broadcast no such message.”
“That’s obvious. You’re much thinner in the message Daryl,” Jerome says in jest.
“That is uncalled for. We have a catastrophe of worldwide proportions and one of you is trying to be funny.” The governor scowls. Jerome sinks in his chair. Cliff Baker shakes a scolding finger at Jerome.
More governors call to complain. Each governor’s image appears as they call in. The governors erupt in anger talking over themselves.
“Who could have done this?” “Our images were hijacked.” “I never authorized this message.” “Where are they telling people to go?” “This will cause more havoc.” “Who’s running this country?”
President Baker stands and yells, “Silence!” The room quiets. “Commander, I think you’d better move up your plans. I want Marines at those sites now! Governors calm down. We will sort this out...”
Mitch watches the streams and counts. He turns to the Marine commander who was briefing the president. “Commander have your teams watch the videos carefully and monitor the Smart-Band messages of each state. It seems whoever created these messages has identified more locations than the three in your briefing.”
Cliff Baker leans over to Tug Grimes. “Tug, your people need to get a handle on this. Find out who’s broadcasting these messages. First it was the Perth news, now this. Are they trying to help us, or do they have their own agenda?”
Tug nods then signals the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Secretary of the Air Force to follow as he moves out of the room, presumably to find a quieter place to chew out his command staff.
Curtis spins around in his chair, pumping his Gulp cup into the air as he cheers. “It’s working! They bought it. People are moving to the underground cities.”
“Your government at work!” exclaims Jin.
“We couldn’t have done it without Aman and his company’s software engineers hacking and programming at breakneck speed,” says Becky.
“Oh geeze, my development teams are happy to work on a fun project for a change. Oh my, I tell you they’re really loving this,” says Aman, cheerily.
“Good job everyone, but we’re just getting started. What’s next, Aman?” asks Rick.
“We’ve tapped into security cameras all over the airport. People are gathering at the entrances in the airport terminals. I can see at least three hundred people in the building and parking lot above you and more are coming. I’ll send a message to their bands directing them to the stairwell once you are out of there.”
“Guys. I’m still not sure this will work,” says Curtis.
“Why not? What’s the problem?” asks Rick.
“If we open the floodgates, the city security system will go nuts and they’ll shut us down before we get started.”
“But we planned for that. The game will crack the new encryption codes,” says Becky.
“Which will take time,” says Jin.
“We need a head start. A way to get people in the city before the Arcadians know what’s going on,” says Curtis.
“You’re just brining this up, now?” asks Rick.
“Hey, it’s been a long night. I can’t think of everything,” cries Curtis.
“Cool it, guys. We’re so close. There must be a way,” says Becky.
“Hang on. I’m pretty sure I can open the door at the bottom of the stairwell without setting off any alerts, but I need to do it from the door,” says Jin.
“Pretty sure?” asks Rick.
“No way. You’ll get stuck down there. You’ll never get back up here with a horde of people moving down the stairwell.” says Becky.
“I’m sure. I can do it. Sorry, Beck. I’ve got to be at the door. There’s no other way. I can open the door and get hundreds of people in the city before the Arcadians know we have invaded them.”
“Nice to know you, kid. Once you get that door open, I’ll be on my way home,” says Rick.
“If you’re going down there, I’m going with you,” says Becky.
“No, Becky. It’s dangerous I’ve got to do this alone,” Jin insists.
“You kids are cute. Damn it. I’m gonna hate myself. I’ve got an idea how to get a bunch of people into New Zion,” says Rick.
“Why will you hate yourself?” asks Becky.
“Because it means I’ll be delaying my trip to Los Angeles. Curtis and Aman, I need you to make some changes to that game.”
Rick, Becky, and Jin hustle down the stairwell toward the entrance of New Zion. “I swore I’d never enter an Arcadian city again. At least I’m doing it on my own terms, this time. I hope this plan works,” says Rick.
“Don’t your plans usually work?” asks Jin, huffing down the stairs.
“In theory, yes. It’s the unexpected things that mess plans up.”
“Great. I’m sure nothing unexpected will happen this time, right?”
“We’re ready to go. Let us know when you get to the bottom of the stairwell,” says Curtis.
“We count over seven hundred people in the building and parking lot above you. The governor's message worked really super well,” says Aman.
“How about the large equipment elevators on the other side of the airport? Are they ready?” asks Becky.
“Heavy One and Two are loaded. Five hundred people in each. Ready and waiting,” Aman confirms.
“Let the game begin,” says Jin.
“We're halfway down the stairwell. Send down Heavy One and Two. The Black Guard will respond to the breach, sending troops to the far side of the city. Once we’re at the bottom unlock the maintenance room door so the stairwell fills with people,” Rick says, reconfirming the opening gambit.
“Thanks, everyone. You’re saving thousands of lives today,” says Becky.
Tug Grimes huddles in a conference room down the hall from the Command Center with the Marine Commandant and the Secretary of the Air Force.
Tug looks sternly at the men. “Forget your planning and assessments. Get your troops and assets moving. Plan and adapt as you go. We don’t have days. The president wants people in those cities posthaste. Colonel Cruikshank has the Army under his control. They’ve had time to prepare. Expect heavy opposition. Our objective is to overwhelm and overrun their positions, assist civilian access to the cities, and protect them once they’re in.”
General Mark Davidson, Commandant of the Marine Corps, points to a map. “OK, Los Angeles or whatever the hell they call it is the easiest. We’re moving men and equipment from Camp Pendleton. We have reconnaissance drones overhead now. Our forces will arrive within four hours. We’ll also send troops to Sacramento, but it will take more time to convoy up Interstate 5. We also have troops and equipment moving to New Arcadia as we speak. They’re coming in from Camp Lejeune.”
“Good. Get it done,” says Tug watching a map of the Arcadian cities update with new locations. “What about the other cities?”
General Casey, Secretary of the Air Force, jumps in. “We have men and equipment moving from Buckley Air Force Base to the Denver airport. It’s just twenty miles up the road. Buckley is home to all branches of the military. We have rounded up and detained all Army and Navy personnel stationed at Buckley as a security precaution, and we have set up a statewide no fly-zone. The Army at New Zion has a small fleet of aircraft and several air defense emplacements. We’ve been monitoring their activity and have allowed the Army to believe they control the airspace over the Denver airport. We can easily take out the Army’s aircraft and air support. We will control the airspace over the airport within the hour. We’re pulling cadets and staff from the Air Force Academy to help control the public in the airport terminals. We’ve got New Zion covered.”
Tug wants to instill action. “Use every resource available to get the job done. Commandeer equipment and invoke martial law, conscript men if you need them. Do whatever it takes. We don’t know what you will be up against, but I can guarantee Cruikshank will put up a fight to keep his New Arcadia.”
“Get ready for the hottest action in Crypto-eSports. We are minutes away from the launch and first ever tournament of Colony-Revolution Coup. News of this game burst on the scene just hours ago, but the fifty-million-dollar purse has attracted the biggest names in the Crypto action scene. I’m Ceylon Junglefoul your lively host for what is sure to be an adrenaline-filled epic day of gameplay.”
The caster announcing the game is a tall, thin, Sri Lankan man with a thin face and a sharp nose. He wears an outlandish bright blue suit with broad orange lapels. His blue-and-yellow hair looks like a nest of bird feathers. Ceylon Junglefoul’s gaming broadcasts and tournaments garner millions of followers worldwide.
Gamers who play and watch game streams are extremely dedicated. Even the threat of an asteroid storm doesn’t deter the fervent gaming audience. News of the game surfaced early that morning on Tweaknet the most popular gaming network. They scheduled the first tournament before anyone has even played the game creating a heightened frenzy among the players.
“Mr. Meteor, one of the game developers is on stream with us to explain the game. Mr. Meteor, tell us, why are you launching Colony, so suddenly? We haven’t seen a beta, a press release, or any news of this game, until this morning.”
Mr. Meteor sits in a dark room, only his silhouette visible. His voice is garbled to mask his identity. “We want Colony to receive the attention it deserves. Launching the game with a tournament and generous prize money will bring awareness to its unique and exciting game play,” he explains.
“Your unique launch method is generating lots of attention. We have hundreds of players ready and three million people viewing the stream. But why all the mystery Mr. Meteor? Do you have something to hide or is your secret identity part of a publicity stunt?”
“This is not a stunt. The tournament is very serious. You’ve received the fifty million, correct?”
“Yes. We have the prize money. Well, tell us more about the game.”
“Colony Revolution-Coup has maps and puzzles of large underground ant colonies. A rogue force has overtaken your ant colony. You must regain entry and get your entire ant population into the colonies. Teams of six will work to decrypt system codes, fight to open doors, hold open blast doors, and control elevators enabling access to the colony. You must maintain access until your entire population inhabits the colony. The teams will work against a very advanced humanlike artificial intelligence or AI that will do everything in its power to keep you from your goal.”
“There are hundreds of teams. There aren’t enough colonies for everyone to play. Will they be competing against one another?”
“Yes, and no. The game starts with one team per colony selected by a lottery. Each team will work to secure their colony. Teams will fight against the AI. If the AI blocks a team’s progress, for example, by changing the security system encryption codes, the game is open to all teams. Every team works to crack the new encryption. The team that cracks the code replaces the previous team. Equal opportunity for every team to play. Colony populations will vary in size, but the team that secures the highest percentage of their population, minus fatalities will be the winner. Expect the unexpected. You will be challenged. May the best team win!”
“Thank you, Mr. Meteor. Let’s turn to the main stage where we see six teams, selected by lottery, to be the first players in the tournament. The teams look ready. Let’s see who wins!”
The game stream is computer-generated and designed so the teams appear seated on the stage of a huge stadium filled with screaming fans. In reality, teams could be anywhere around the globe. Individual team members are likely sitting at home alone in their bedrooms. Home viewers can watch the stadium view, click through the various colony maps to watch the team of their choice, or follow the casters who comment on game play.
“Joining me today is TORPEDO! We’ll be calling the game bringing you the best Colony-Revolution Coup action!” exclaims Ceylon Junglefoul.
Computer generated cheers follow the news that Torpedo is casting the game. Torpedo is a fan favorite. Instantly, three hundred thousand fans send their approval with thumbs-up emojis. The ratings for this show are already through the roof. Anticipation for an exciting game is mounting.
“TA-DA. I’m TORPEDO! I’m stealthy. I’m sneaky. You won’t see me till you meet me. KA-BOOM! Hi, hiya, hey. WE GOTTA GAME! Hey. HEY!”
The action starts fast. Junglefoul gets the casting rolling. “Team Liquid Metal from New Delhi, India is off to a fast start. A large ant force has accumulated at several entrances of the colony map named New Zion. It looks like their first move is to gain control of two huge elevators.”
Players view movement of ants on the colony maps. If they hope to control blast doors and elevators, they must gain access to the cities’ control systems. Teams need to hack and decrypt security codes to unlock doors and passages to get the ant population moving.
“Get going boyos. You gotta crack the systems control code to make those up and downs get moving. Your ants are waiting, Team Liquid Metal get cracklin’,” calls Torpedo.
Two massive elevators each filled with hundreds of ants move downward. Liquid Metal members look surprised.
“That's a great move by Liquid Metal. They will get hundreds into their colony with this move. What a huge advantage so early in the game,” says Ceylon.
“Early days, but cheeky. That seemed too easy.”
“All the initial action is happening at New Zion. Look! I can see hundreds of ants moving down a stairwell,” Ceylon comments.
“Let’s flip the dipper. We have ants piling up on another map. Massive piles of them buggers are pushing in on the grounds surrounding New Arcadia. South Korean Team Twin Dragons is working their cracklin’ magic. They be a knock, knockin’ on the door but the no entry sign is flashing. Unlike New Zion it’s gonna take some time for the Twin Dragons to get their ants moving.”
“Heavy One and Two are moving. Thirty seconds until their doors open on New Zion,” Aman says, updating the status for Rick and his team.
“The game is on. We’ve got the best Crypto-gamers online working to crack the Arcadian codes,” says Curtis.
“Good job, Mr. Meteor. My man Curt-tis, you did really super great! You explained the game but kept the mystery and intrigue alive. Just what we need to attract the best players to the game,” says Aman.
“That was fun. I’m like the undercover whistle blower of the Colony-Revolution Coup!”
“You have real star power, Curt-tis. After this is over, you can be an actor. No fooling. I wouldn't lie to you, Curt-tis—your family,” says Aman.
A blue tunic in New Zion City Command works at his control console. Since the city went on lockdown, it’s been quiet. City Command has become a boring place. There was a report of a broken door at one of the topside entrances the previous evening, but the Black Guard chose not to investigate. The asteroid storm was active around the Denver airport. They assume the broken door is storm damage.
A sensor flashes showing Heavy One and Heavy Two large equipment elevators are moving down to the city. The blue tunic runs a system check. All systems show they are on lockdown mode, but sensors indicate movement. He checks the cameras in the large elevators. The cameras are out. Everything has been quiet. City systems are running well. The blue tunic hesitates before asking for help. He tries to get the attention of his supervisor, who is casually roaming the room chatting with the staff. “Supervisor! Miss, please look at this,” the blue tunic requests, raising his hand to get attention.
The supervisor seems bothered by the request. “What is it?” She saunters to the blue tunic.
“Not sure, miss. It could be a system error. Sensors show movement of Heavy One and Two, but all other systems show them stationary,” he says, pointing at his monitor.
The supervisor nudges the blue tunic to the side so she can poke at the monitor. Indicators show the elevators moving, now almost to city level. She pokes away but cannot gain control of the elevator movement.
The elevator is dark and cramped, but they can tell the elevator is moving downward. There is pushing and jockeying for position. People flooded into the large elevators seeking protection from the storm. More people pressed in as the elevator doors began closing. Bodies press so tightly together that breath is scarce. Humanity compressed in a metal box descends to the unknown. You can smell sweat and fear. You can sense the anxiety in the black unseen eyes of the face pressed next to yours.
The mechanical sound of the platform lowering stops with a bang and a thud. Movement halts leaving only silence. Silence followed by the ache of anticipation. Angst followed by panic. People scream and cry as hundreds press against the unopened doors. A metal clanking sound. Silence.
Gunge, gunge, gunge, gunge, gunge. The huge metal doors slide open. The press of bodies spits the first ones out falling to the floor then get trampled by the hundreds streaming after. People run out of the large elevator into a huge corridor.
Several bodies, mostly small children, are on the floor of the elevator, crushed or suffocated during the descent. Two bodies along the back wall died standing. The limp bodies now freed, slump heavily to the metal floor.
The second elevator is about to open.
The blue tunic watches his supervisor rapidly poke controls on the screen with no response. The elevators arrive at city level. More blue tunics gather to watch. The supervisor gains control of a camera in the corridor monitoring the elevator doors.
Slowly the doors open. They see hands pressing through the opening. The doors have opened ten inches when the first person pops out. It looks like the elevator ejected the body by some force. More people are expelled as the doors open, pressed by a great mass. A woman leans down to pick up her child. The mother and child disappear under a wave of people. Others trip on the bumpy surface of the city’s tile floor. The stream of humanity escaping the metal box sweeps over them.
The blue tunic gasps at the terrible sight. The supervisor touches an alarm and then pokes the air to make a call.
“Black Guard, alert. We have intruders at Heavy One and Two,” the supervisor announces.
A Black Guard responds. “What type of intruder? We are locked down.”
The supervisor sits frozen, watching hundreds of people trample over fellow humans. Women, children, and old people lay lifeless on the tile floor and inside the huge elevator.
The blue tunic responds to the Black Guard. “Hundreds of people in Corridor 40 exiting Heavy One and Two.”
The Black Guard triggers an all respond alert. Black Guard platoons stream out of their stations across the city riding military style Maggies, all moving to converge on Corridor 40.
The elevator doors close, and the huge platforms move toward the surface.
“We’re at the bottom of the stairwell. Jin’s working on the door,” Becky reports.
“Black Guard are moving to Heavy One and Two. I’ve unlocked the maintenance room door. People are moving into the stairwell. Now, it is up to Jin to get that door open without setting off an alert,” Aman advises.
Jin works carefully to unlock the security door without attracting a welcoming party of Black Guard. “I’ve just about got it, guys.”
Seconds later, an LED on the Armadyne 176G security door turns from red to green, followed by the sound of metal bolts retracting. “Rick, help me pull the door open. I had to disable the motor to avoid detection.”
Rick and Jin pull the heavy door open while Becky restrains the growing mass of people in the stairwell.
“Move left once you’re through the door. Hug the wall so you don’t get swept away with the crowd,” Rick instructs, as they pull on the heavy door.
Becky faces people on the stairs holding her arms wide. “Stop! Stop. Wait until we have the door fully open. Everyone will enter the city safely.”
The people on the bottom flight hold back a stairwell full of desperate people pressing to get down the stairs. “Stop! Wait. You’re already safe,” Becky tells them again. Calls for patience echo up the stairwell from people at the bottom.
When the heavy door is fully open. Rick calls to Becky. “I’ll hold them back. You and Jin go first.”
Rick replaces Becky holding back the undulating mass of people packed in the stairwell. Becky darts through the door, followed by Jin. They move left with their backs to the wall sidestepping to move away from the door.
Rick sees them move. He holds his arms out wide and steps back, back, back through the doorway. He locks eyes with the people standing on the bottom flight of stars. “OK, now!” Rick scurries to the left, joining Jin and Becky ten feet from the door.
People push, shove, and press their way into the city. A steady stream of people rush down stairwell invading New Zion.
Four platoons of Black Guard riding maglevs converge at the elevators in Corridor 40. Captain Kobalt and Lieutenant Astatine direct the Black Guard troops.
“Relax all invaders. I don’t want anyone to wander around the city. You will contain this situation,” orders Kobalt.
Kobalt’s elite guard, which accompanied him from New Arcadia, hover patiently awaiting his orders.
Black Guard Platoons One and Two surround groups of elevator people moving in the corridor. Black Guard shoots and relaxes everyone in range of the advancing platoons. People freeze when they see others dropping to the ground. Two Black Guard fire large-barreled weapons that look like grenade launchers. The shots go high into the air before the canisters burst above the crowd, releasing clouds of gas. Two hundred people collapse to the floor. The Black Guard platoons dismount their Maggies and advance down the corridor stepping over unconscious bodies, firing continuously dropping bodies to the cold tile floor.
At the other end of the corridor, Black Guard Platoons Three and Four launch gas canisters, hundreds more drop to the floor. The Black Guard platoons advance through the corridor moving toward Platoon One and Two, trapping and relaxing everyone caught between the Black Guard forces.
“The Black Guard have their hands full on the other side of the city.” Curtis says excitedly.
“Heavy One and Two have arrived topside. Another load will arrive in at city level in two minutes,” states Aman.
“Good. I hope that will keep the Black Guard occupied for a while,” says Rick.
“Team Liquid Metal is getting the hang of things. They just opened doors at two stairwells and elevators. Go team! People will enter the city from several locations,” announces Curtis.
Captain Kobalt stands in front of the closed doors of Heavy One, surveying the bodies lying on the tiled floor. No one weeps for the dead. They look like crumpled rag dolls tossed aside by a toddler tired of playing with them. Kobalt walks to the trampled woman who died while trying to pick up her daughter. A few feet away lies the body of her child. The tyke still reaching out for her baby doll. Kobalt stands over the child.
His face tightens. “Two minutes. People can’t take care of each other for two minutes. Selfish, thoughtless, humans,” he says to himself.
Suddenly self-conscious he notices Lieutenant Astatine watching him. Kobalt lifts his heavy boot and crushes the head of the baby doll.
“Captain, the elevators will arrive again, soon,” says Lieutenant Astatine.
“Surround them and hit them with gas cannons. Round up any runners. Give them rehabilitation, fifty-year doses.” Kobalt walks from the elevators as Black Guard troops arrange the heavy gas cannons.
Lieutenant Astatine quick steps to walk alongside Kobalt. “I have City Command.” The video call appears in Kobalt’s VUE.
“What the hell is happening? I thought the city was on lockdown,” screams Kobalt.
“We are, or we were then Heavy One and Two started moving. We can’t control them. We now have alarms at several entry points. Elevators are moving and stairwell doors have unlocked. People are entering the city from everywhere. I believe we have been hacked, sir,” reports the City Command officer.
“Hacked? Then hack them back! Reset security systems and set new encryption codes. Follow your breach protocol. Why do I have to tell you this?” shouts Kobalt.
“Yes, sir. I never thought we would need—.” The officer stops herself, then continues. “It will be done, Captain.” Kobalt hears the City Command officer calling out orders to her staff before she stops the call.
Kobalt glares angrily at Lieutenant Astatine. The young lieutenant cowers. Kobalt touches the air to call Colonel Cruikshank.
“Colonel. New Zion has been breached. We have topsiders entering the city. It appears someone has hacked the city systems.”
“Hacked? How could Astatine and his City Command let this happen? We have security protocols for this, ” Colonel Cruikshank shouts.
A call from General Mahon interrupts the colonel’s call with Kobalt. Mahon’s image appears in Kobalt’s VUE and on the colonel’s office screen. “Intruders have cut the New Arcadia perimeter fences in several places. Thousands of people are crossing the campus parklands. They’re headed for city entry points. Did you send out invitations?”
“Invitations? I did not send out any damned invitations. What are you talking about? Your forces must protect our cities!” Cruikshank screams.
“We’ve intercepted messages from state governors instructing citizens to move to the cities. The existence of the cities is a tightly held secret, yet our locations are now being broadcast to citizens across the country. Either you changed plans without informing me, or someone has exposed us.”
“Impossible! Even if someone has discovered our locations, your mission does not change. General, you are to secure the perimeter of New Arcadia. Your troops must protect and defend the cities. That is your mission. Stop all approaches. New Zion has been breached. Why aren’t your men protecting New Zion?” screams the colonel.
Mahon stumbles over his words. “We prepared to defend secret cities. Fighting off a flood of people was not the plan.” The general pauses. Seeing he will gain no sympathy from Cruikshank, he changes tack. “Our troops are holding strong at Edendale in a standoff against the Marines. There have been no intrusions into Edendale. At New Zion. We have troops in the airport terminals, and we control the airspace.”
“General, someone has hacked New Zion systems allowing topsiders to enter the city. It appears there is a coordinated effort to disrupt our systems and invade our cities,” Kobalt says, succinctly.
“How can that be? No one knows the cities exist. How could they find us? New Arcadian computer systems are closed off from other networks. How could anyone hack us?” asks the general.
Cruikshank is fuming and thinking out loud. “Yes, who could have hacked New Zions’s systems? Cliff Baker couldn’t have gotten his people organized this fast. The man can barely manage his calendar. It can’t be Dr. Munday... Munday is dead.”
