Chapter 28 - Dominoes

Day 22

Morning

Sydney paced back and forth in the small office space of the police station, "You've got to be fucking kidding me, Logan." Her tone was not a pleasant one, indicative of her displeasure.

"She's growing stronger, and she's getting angrier," Logan pleaded, "She melted that guy's face with energy she can basically have always on if she wanted."

Sydney stopped and gave Logan a dirty look, "That asshole tried to stab her.

Logan shook his head, "She was never in any danger, but what happens if she does that to an innocent. Maybe one of her students? Maybe one of us? Maybe herself?"

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" Sydney started pacing again, "What are we, the pre-crime department? How would you even hold her?"

"With these," Logan held up his Platinum Indestructible Scales of Fairness Handcuffs.

Sydney shook her head, "You sound like one of those assholes we've arrested who locks their wife in the basement, to protect her."

Logan's face reddened and contorted to show his anger, "That's not fair and you damn well know it!"

"Is it, Logan?" She looked him dead in the eyes, "Are you in love with the woman, or terrified of her? I can't tell anymore."

"For her, not of her." Logan insisted.

"Are ya sure you know the difference? Do you think I haven't noticed you acting squirrely when she comes up in conversation the past couple days?"

Logan warred within himself at those words. He hadn't told Sydney about the real details of the meeting in the woods. Logan told himself that he didn't want to burden Sydney with this knowledge, but here he was telling her they might have to arrest Erin. Deep down he knew the real reason. Sydney was ex-military. Loyalty was everything to her, and she wouldn't betray a friend. That friend had to betray her first. That was the ironic reason Logan was keeping these secrets, but he was either too stubborn or too unwilling to admit that his choices were leading towards becoming a betrayer.

"Just…" Logan tried for a more civil tone, "Think on it, please.

Sydney grabbed her jacket off the back of a chair and started heading for the door, "If you do this, I won't be party to it." Then she was gone.

Logan ran a hand down his face, his posture slumping to reflect the frustration and exhaustion he felt. "On your own again, Logan. Same way it always ends."

Noah's Lair

Late Morning

The master of his small domain, Noah sat in his chair, controlling his terminal with commands via his implant. Project Selene was finally complete, and while the unveiling was not the kind of eventful he had hoped for, it still felt like a success. He moved that to his completed list to reduce clutter, then did the same with Project SkyNOT. The final compute node having been brought online a day ago. While Noah wanted to start work on the next tier of compute nodes, he knew there were higher priority projects that required attention. That, and he didn't want to imbalance the intelligence-sapience ratio too quickly.

Most of the simulation resources were focused on Project Technites, and if Sky's estimations held true, it would require between one and three more days to complete simulations. Basic designs were already underway, but they were largely just modular frames to slot in the actual hardware once completed. The sooner this project was completed, the sooner they could start creating items. Noah was most excited about this project, but he knew it couldn't be rushed anymore than it already was.

Project Polemikon would be delayed by the simulation power going to Technites for a bit longer, but Erin and the soldiers were recovering the tank today, at least. That project needed Technites though, so it didn't matter either way. Panoplia had the same issue. It relied on the ability to produce proper System equipment. So the only other project he could focus on would be Akropolis.

Looking at the status info for Akropolis, Noah reviewed the details.

Project Akropolis

Scans: 11.08% Complete

Resources: 7% Available

Progress accelerated a small amount with the release of more bots to scan the city above and below ground. Resources were finally starting to stockpile for the project. It was progress, but too slow. He needed to find ways to prepare the city.

Noah decided to verbalize his request, "Sky, what passive defense configurations can we consider for a siege from the eastern side of Middletown?"

The terminal screen shifted to display visual scans of the city border, "As you know, I am not directly knowledgeable regarding military strategies. While there are likely to be holes in my suggestions, I can show you configurations I feel will best support our goal of protecting the city."

Noah paused for a moment. Outwardly he appeared to be contemplating the scans on the screen, inwardly he was considering Sky's use of the word feel. He would need to be attentive to her behaviours for signs of possible corruption. "Show me the three you think would best suit our needs, then."

"Yes, Noah," Sky replied as the screen brought up the first option, "Here we have a simple trench. While the design can vary in width and depth, it is the most basic of defensive system to deny an area to enemy troops."

Analyzing the image she generated, Noah asked, "Positives and negatives?"

"It is great for slowing traditional enemy troops, however tracked vehicles and System enhanced soldiers may be able to bypass it." The image showed different types of military vehicles, some stuck, others able to bridge the gap, "Additionally, a trench limits our own mobility if we need to pass through."

Noah nodded, "Hmm, we would have to limit use, but it could be deployed alongside other defenses. What's the next option?"

The terminal display changed again, "These defenses are referred to as a Czech Hedgehog." Zoomed in on the display was an item that looked like three steel beams welded together on three axes. While Noah recognized them from history class as something used on the beaches of Normandy, he didn't mention that detail to Sky, letting her continue instead, "These devices typically deny passage to vehicles, however it is conceivable to place anti-infantry resources between them for added effect."

"By anti-infantry, are you referring to barbed wire or explosive devices?" Noah asked, unsure if he wanted her to know the answer.

"Technically both." Sky said, no hint of malice in her matter-of-fact statement.

Releasing a sigh that made this teenager sound far older than his sixteen years, Noah said, "We don't have either of those, and I question the effectiveness of either against people enhanced by the System anyway. Positives and negatives?"

"That is a logical concern, Noah." Sky agreed, "While the Czech Hedgehog is effective against enemy vehicles, it is equally effective against friendly vehicles."

"Which we don't have any of right now."

"Correct, Noah."

Intuiting his request, Sky asked, "Should I display the last suggestion?"

Nodding, Noah said, "Yes, please."

The next generated image showed tall, narrow poles sticking out of the ground at regular intervals. "These are taken from our original designs of a defensive wall around the town." Sky said, highlighting the poles so that Noah could see they went several meters underground and jutted at least 10 meters into the sky.

"Let me guess, if placed correctly they could deny enemy vehicles but without the walls running between them it's a porous border." Noah's statement was rhetorical, but Sky replied nonetheless.

"Also correct, Noah. I believe we should combine elements of these three defenses to maximize their effectiveness."

There was another odd word choice by Sky, but Noah didn't dwell on it long, "I assume you have a configuration suggestion?"

"You assume correctly," Sky agreed as she changed the terminal display to reflect her suggestions. "Until we can direct more resources towards Project Akropolis, we should maximize what we have. This configuration will do so, without hindering future upgrades." The image displayed the eastern border of Middletown. Roads in and out of town had the hedgehogs interspersed outside city limits in a pattern that should permit Logan's SUV to pass through. If they got the tank up and running, it wouldn't be going outside of the city though.

Dotting the border, Noah could see the poles that would eventually be used for the wall, though not reaching the ten meters previously displayed. The scale put them at just shy of two and a quarter meters apart, or roughly seven feet.

"As resources become available, we will need to continue the border around the town before progressing these features." The terminal expanded to show the defenses spread around the town limits. "From there we can advance the defenses to a second stage of development."

Noah pursed his lips in thought, "The city border is roughly sixty thousand meters?"

"65,362.71 meters in length." Sky corrected, "That is over twenty-nine thousand poles for the walls. With current resource constraints, I can deploy two kilometers of poles per day, not factoring in hedgehogs."

Nodding, Noah said, "Okay, start with the trenches. Make sure to mark them on our side so kids don't fall in accidentally. Setup hedgehogs at every town exit, and once that's done prioritize the poles."

"Yes, Noah. Do you require anything else before I shift cycles to configure this project?" Sky asked.

"No, Sky, thank you." Noah got up from his chair to leave the lair, "And Sky…"

"Yes, Noah?"

"Thank you for everything. This would be impossible without your help."

"My pleasure, Noah." There was a strong note of gratitude in Sky's voice that put an extra pep in Noah's step as he headed for the tunnel exit.

Somewhere in Middletown

Late Morning

Robbie and his friends, fellow students at Gumiho Dojang, moved down the sidewalk with the casual fervour of young teenagers. Laughing, joking, and paying little mind to their surroundings. It was for this reason, coupled with Robbie walking backwards at the front of his pack of friends, that he didn't notice the man who stepped out from behind a tall bush until Robbie bumped into him.

"Shi…I mean, sorry sir." Robbie caught himself from cursing, knowing his friends would admonish him much like they all often were at the Dojang. Robbie spun to check on the person he had bumped into, only to find that it wasn't just one, it was a dozen, and every single one of them wore jean vests with the stylized letters DN on the left breast.

Robbie made to take a step back, but before his back foot had a chance to touch down on the sidewalk, the guy he had bumped into reached out, grabbed a handful of Robbie's shirt, and swung a right cross into his face.

The young student of Taekwondo blanked mentally as his consciousness blurred. A vaguely aware part of his mind picked up on phrases yelled by his friends, but his conscious mind couldn't grasp their meaning. When the back-to-back barrage of hits started pounding into him, Robbie's thoughts let go of conscious intent, for the instinctual purpose of defense. He curled up, attempting to protect vital spots, until everything faded to black.