Chapter 1 (1/2)
CHAPTER 01
Air Force Base 110, Creil, France
“Approach Taxiway B and await further instructions”
The air-traffic controller gave instructions to the Mirage F1C Fighter that had just landed
On Runway A, the nearest runway to the south, another fighter plane was preparing for takeoff with an OK fro been transmitted a northbound route
There was no response fro? Please approach Taxiway B”
On the ed course to the south and kept proceeding in that direction
The air-traffic controller’s face turned pale
“Stop! Take Taxiway B! Correct course immediately!”
The frantic calls were in vain and the Mirage F1C Fighter continued to push its way through the night in a straight line
The air-traffic controller’s voice reached the fighter plane’s cockpit The pilot was trying as hard as he could to obey instructions
However, the aircraft behaved as though it were on autopilot and would not accept any hter plane on Runway A started increasing its speed in order to take off
This pilot was surprised to see the other plane slowly but steadily co at the ard aircraft, the pilot ht
However, his aircraft could also no longer be hter planes crashed into each other with such precision and with such callousness, it was as though they were both executing a predeterram
Both aircraft recked in an instant
Eastern Missouri, United States of A St Louis, the train conductor, heading for the Eads Bridge, moved the lever as instructed by the computer and tilted his head
He felt that the train’s speed was higher than usual The scenery outside passed by faster than usual
The conductor confirmed the speed on the indicator Fourty-six miles per hour (seventy-five kilometers per hour) Proper speed as usual
There was no problem
The conductor followed the coht He felt it would be safer to follow the computer’s instructions than for a huments When an error occurs, in most cases it’s due to human error Computers don’t make mistakes
That notion is true in a sense However, it’s based on the premise that appropriate hulected to properly check
In fact, by this time, the train’s speed was already beyond seventy-four miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour)
The network control systeently descending curve and its speed increased further
The front half of the train could not withstand the force and was derailed Then, each car’s connection was broken upon impact
The curve’s destination was the Mississippi River
The separated railcars rolled off of the Eads Bridge with tremendous speed and pierced the pristine river like a missile
The rear brakes locked into place after the first through fourth cars dropped, stopping the rest of the railcars in the e
There were twenty-one dead and seventy-five seriously wounded
The White House office was filled with an unusual a
The 44th President of the United States, Jiht to hio and has since enacted bills for the establishislation concerning the Internet
While jokingly being called the Net General, he tried to adapt the rapidly growing network to his country and, in taking the helm, he was considered to have been successful
But as happening right now? The netent silent, co all over the world and no one could grasp the full picture
Everyone was shouting randoather had become Babel
“It’s seems a virus has penetrated our defenses”
“Iovernment office such as this”
“Two aircraft crashed”
“Coe…”
“There’s no connection”
“The situation is quickly…”
The Director of National Intelligence walked to the President’s side
“Mr President This is serious”
“Is there anything more serious than this?”
“The automated counter-strike missiles have become operational”
The office fell into immediate silence at the words of the Director of National Intelligence
“Impossible Why are they activated?”
“It seems the computer determined that the Executive Office had been attacked and destroyed, so the syste the missiles towards enemy countries”
“Shut it down”
“I can’t relay that order Our communications system is down”
President Stonecold was lost for words
It was unbelievable Of all things that could happen, such a disaster had to happen during his term in office His mind couldn’t keep up with tremendous amount of information it had to process Who caused this to happen? Who can fix this?
Oh, God
(January 5, 2006, California)
――Can you tell me your name?
“Warren Warren Brock”
――Okay, Warren There’s no need to be nervous There are a few things I need to ask you, okay? How old are you?
“Ten years old”
――Do you have any family?
“My mom, dad, and Timmy”
――Timmy?
“Timmy, my cat A British Short Hair”
――I see Where do you live?
“Don”
――Do you like school?
“Yeah”
――Do you have any friends?
“Yeah”