| Generated by Google Flow text-to-video AI software, powered by Veo 3.1 |
Renata unlocks the safe deposit box, and takes a step back, as per protocol.
She’s not even allowed to pull the box out, and set it on the table, which
was apparently her first clue that this wasn’t a normal bank. Director
McWilliams, despite being the one responsible for the box, doesn’t move
either, probably because he’s the Director of the NSD, and he doesn’t pick
things up. Quidel reaches over and takes it instead, setting it down on the
table.
McWilliams looks around the room, likely to make sure that no one else can
see or hear them. “I’m letting you three see this,” he begins, indicating
Renata, Quidel, and Lycander, “because you have become intimately involved
in this case. And Madam Granger is just here too. We are not out of the
woods yet. Everyone wants to get their hands on this, and I’m going to need
everyone’s cooperation and participation to make sure it stays safe. It’s
obviously no longer safe here, so we need to find an alternative.
Does everyone understand what I’m asking of you?” He checks for responses,
and receives non-verbal ones.
“It’s a weapon?” Quidel probes.
“It’s not technically a weapon, but it can be weaponized.” McWilliams places
his fingers on the latch. “This isn’t the only part of it, it’s just the
part that counts. The delivery system could probably be jury-rigged. The
core—the code—that’s unique, and it would be hard to crack the encryption or
reverse engineer it, but not impossible.” He looks at them again to gauge
their reactions.
“Get on with it, Aldwin,” Libera urges.
Unsure of all this, he sighs, but lifts the lid anyway. Inside is a radially
symmetrical electronic device, mostly sleek metal black with blue glowing
piping. It’s standing on short black legs that go all around the
circumference on the bottom. The casing is matte, and it’s about the size of
a football...or half a football, rather. It was humming when McWilliams
opened the box, and it still is, but less so now, suggesting that it
responds to movement or interference. “It’s inactive at the moment, but it’s
always on. It’s powered by a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, also
known as an RTG.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Quidel says. “It would constantly be radiating heat.
You would have to ventilate it.”
“It is ventilated,” McWilliams claims as he’s pointing back to the
safe in the wall.
Quidel leans down, and looks into it. “Hm. That does look like ventilation.”
“But what does it do?” Renata presses. This thing looks dangerous, and she’s
been working right next to it for almost an entire year now. He says it’s
not a weapon, but it certainly looks like it could be a bomb. He even called
it a core. But he also said code. What the hell is it?
“It’s a technological infiltrator. It can break into any system, and plant
its own code. You’re thinking, sure, a skeleton key. Not a big deal.
The difference between this and similar devices is that this can spread
across an entire city, and its surrounding areas, especially if you get it
up high enough, and again, as long as you connect it to the right amplifier.
That would be the easy part, though.”
“What would you want with this sort of thing? It sounds like it could only
be disruptive and destructive,” Quidel points out.
McWilliams nods in understanding. “The labcoats came up with it as an
extension of a system that the government was developing for a nationwide
communication system, or even a global one. Imagine a seismic event is
predicted within minutes of its onset. That’s nice to know, but only the
people with access to the equipment are the ones who know it. We wanted to
be able to warn everyone in the area. Of that, or a hurricane, or a
military attack. The possibilities are endless. We have ways of calling
every phone number under our purview, but you have to bother yourself by
picking up your phone. And honestly, dealing with the competing carriers is
a nightmare. This would allow us to reach every TV on sale in the window,
every digital billboard, every radio transceiver. We could even send a
message through someone’s electronic blood pressure cuff. It would connect
to all these things and more, all at once, nearly instantaneously.”
“But it could do damage,” Lycander points out.
“That’s why I said it could be weaponized.” He gauges the room again. “I
don’t owe any of you an explanation, but if you would like one, understand
that we produced this with good intentions. We had no plans to deploy it
against an enemy nation.”
“Maybe you didn’t,” Renata says, “but you’re not the only one in
control of it.”
“That’s why it’s in the safe,” McWilliams explains. “We need the executive
branch to turn leadership over to the next administration, who won’t see
this as a weapon of war, or espionage. This place is supposed to be
untouchable. If you open one of these boxes, you better have a good reason,
because it could cost you your career.”
“Is this a good enough reason?” Lycander asks.
“It obviously needs to be moved, and I don’t trust anyone but you three to
move it,” McWilliams insists.
“Why us? We’re just a couple of randos, and my boss,” Quidel says.
“That’s exactly why it has to be you, because your loyalties aren’t in
question. You don’t know enough. You’ve not been in the game long enough to
have established ties with bad actors. Your anonymity is to our advantage.”
“Where can we take it?” Lycander asks him.
“I have an idea or two,” Libera volunteers.
“No,” McWilliams replies firmly.
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