Brant Time of Isolation

1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-1-62309-160-6
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 295 Seiten

Rumors continued to come from the North, followed by silence. Not the types of silence of a temporary kind, but of permanence that spoke of never hearing anything again. It was as if what always had been never was. How could that be? Theirs was a peaceful advanced society. Even though overall they were a small population, and quite spread out, their ability to communicate between their settlements eliminated any one settlement truly feeling isolated. But as the time flowed by them, one by one those lights and voices disappeared and were heard or seen no more. Each extinguished without an outward cry. Each without a sound leaving a darkness behind that was complete. There should have been something explaining why, anything would have been better than the deathly silence. It was time to act. It was time to find out what had happened to their brothers and sisters. What tragedy had befallen their people? How were they to go about it?* * * . . . Looking directly at him Shana asked. 'Under supervisor Sampson may I inquire, why are you here?' Again looking directly at her, he was at a loss for words. The directive had been explicit, nothing could be said to any others just his boss. 'I have something that must be given to you, but only to you.' He stammered. 'What's so important that it couldn't be communicated over the circuits?' Now what, Sampson thought, the mandate had been specific. No one but his supervisor could hear what he had to say. Then he remembered that he could specify a color to let her know. Now if only he could remember the color. Blue! Blue was that color. 'Ma'am, ah color it blue.' Was all he said. 'Under Supervisor Sampson may enter.' Sitting back down at her desk, she motioned him to a seat, and then pushed a few buttons. 'Okay, I have activated the security. Again what is it that required you to use the code word?' 'Ma'am we've lost communications with another city. It has gone silent without warning.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Brant, F. D.

Leseproben

Chapter 1 Sampson hurried along the thoroughfare trying to move as fast as his overweight body would allow. He needed to find his supervisor now. Unfortunately she was located completely on the opposite side of the communications complex. While he was in charge of his section, an underling, the news he had needed to be brought to Shana's attention personally and could not be sent over the circuits. So by avoiding eye contact with the many others he passed, and breathing quite hard from the exertions, he continued to move with strong determination. It had happened again. This was the fourth time in the past annuals, and he was shocked when it had happened on his shift, with his team. Just what was going on? Finally nearing his destination he found that he was raising a sweat. He just hated sweating, but this time he had to endure it as well as making this contact with his boss. He had never liked Shana, but knew that he could never become a supervisor of her level. First, he was not one born into the proper order, and second he knew that he could never match the intelligence necessary to oversee such an operation as this. Finally reaching her entrance he stopped, caught his breath and tried to calm down. These meetings were rare, and he preferred it that way. Then gathering his courage he entered and encountered Susan, the one who ran interference for the boss. Again he had never liked her either, as it seemed that she always put on an air of superiority around any who were lower or worked under Shana. "Susan, I need to have a conversation with Supervisor Shana, and no before you ask, this cannot wait." Looking down at him she said, "Who are you to just barge in here? You do not have any right to demand anything, ah … let's see … underling supervisor Sampson. Do I have it right?" When she said these things it seemed as if she was attempting to get something out of her mouth such as a bad taste. Shaking his head he could tell that things were going from bad to worse. But what could he do? What he had was critical and they had been told that if another incident happened that he, or any of the under supervisors, had to go to their supervisors immediately and inform no one but them. He wasn't even supposed to inform the underworkers for the lead supervisors. It was to be for their eyes and ears only. Carefully holding his anger in control he gritted his teeth and said. "Yes, you have it right. I must see Lead Supervisor Shana now without delay." "Without delay? What is it that could be so important from your minor position that could even require a minute of Supervisor Shana? Her time is always filled, so, if you please, make an appointment and come back later. You are interrupting my work and I for one will not allow you to interrupt hers. Now get out of here before I report you!" About this time Lead Supervisor Shana hearing the loud conversation in the outer office went to investigate. Catching the ending conversation from her underworker, and seeing one of the under supervisors from the communications section, she became curious. Underworker Susan catching the gaze of Sampson turned and saw Shana there and started apologizing for interrupting her work and that she had everything in control and this minor supervisor was just leaving. Why was he here? Then she saw that under supervisor Sampson was looking intently at her. She also knew that he had never liked her, so again why was he here? Looking directly at him Shana asked. "Under supervisor Sampson may I inquire, why are you here?" Again looking directly at her, he was at a loss for words. The directive had been explicit, nothing could be said to any others just his boss. "I have something that must be given to you, but only to you." He stammered. "What's so important that it couldn't be communicated over the circuits?" Then she saw a troubled look on his face, and indecision there. Yet at the same time a look that said that he would not give up on this. "Ma'am, this has to do with the most recent directives that said that if a specific circumstance or event happened that I or any of the other under supervisors must report in person, immediately without delay, and I for one am not going to violate such a mandate. I am here as it requests." Shaking her head, she had really never liked this under supervisor. She had never liked people who had let themselves go like this. He seemed fat and lazy, and seemed to be the type that used the rules and regulations strictly as written - never bending or thinking outside what was there, one with little imagination, yet one who did what was necessary and kept his underworkers to task - one which caused as little friction as possible. "Which of the many mandates would this one be, under supervisor Sampson?" With so many coming out she never had time to read many of them anyway, depending on her staff to keep her informed. Now what, Sampson thought, the mandate had been specific. No one but his supervisor could hear what he had to say. Then he remembered that if there was a situation like this, that he could specify a color to let her know. Now if only he could remember the color. Blue! Blue was that color. "Ma'am, ah color it blue." Was all he said. When he stated the color, she immediately paused. He had given her a code color that reflected an emergency of some kind and could be private and for her eyes and ears only. She then turned to her underworker and said, "Under Supervisor Sampson may enter." She then turned around and went back inside of her office wondering now what could be so important for him to have used that code. She didn't have to wait long as he entered her office right behind her. "I don't have much time, what is it that is so important?" "Ma'am, do you have this room secured for silence? The directive said that before this information was to be given that all security features must be activated." Sitting back down at her desk, she motioned him to a seat, and then pushed a few buttons. "Okay, I have activated the security. Again what is it that required you to use the code word?" Not quite sure how to continue he hesitated and then said. "Ma'am we've lost communications with another city. It has gone silent without warning. We have tried for the required amount of time to reestablish contact, but like the others it is like it never was." Silent and shocked at what had just been relayed to her, many questions went through her mind. Was it just a temporary loss or was this going to be like the others? Which one this time and what truly was going on? If it were confirmed then this would be the fourth city lost. She slumped her shoulders and then asked, "Which City have we lost contact with?" "Terra ma'am. It is one of our larger cities and had many a backup, especially in communications. But without warning it went silent and we have been trying now for hours to reestablish contact, but all we get is silence and static." After minor supervisor Sampson had left she sat for a short time defeated by the news. Something was happening to their cities, but with no information there were no answers. She knew that right now she would have to drop whatever had been planned for the day and head out and find the other department heads to see if the information that she had been given was confirmed there. If so then they would have to inform the council. Four gone now, that was a frightening thought. Just what was happening to them? If they were being destroyed, why were there no refugees - again if a disaster had befallen them why no contact? Yet, when one looked at the order of loss, it appeared that something else was going on. * * * When the information reached the council they immediately called an emergency session. When one city had disappeared off the grid it had been a major concern - but now with four gone it had become something unthinkable. They knew that they were vulnerable to the primitive tribes and clans that existed here. But so far they had just warred among themselves, more concerned with each other. As far as these tribes and clans knew, the cities did not exist, and if they thought that they might, it was more legend than reality. So what had changed? Why were their cities disappearing? Because of the low populations, they knew that there was no way for them to fight or go to war against these people. So instead technology had been developed that blocked the cities from view. It required a lot of power to maintain the illusions that they created. So most of the funds and work, went into maintaining and upgrading the power units. They even had created large backups just in case something happened to the main units. Over time they had been able to create both holographic images of the lands around them to give the illusion that where the cities were located was desolate useless lands - to further the chance that the primitives would not be interested in investigating the areas. Plus a minor force field that required a device worn by the citizens to be able to pass through. With all of the city's needs existing inside of these protections there was very little reason to leave. They also kept devices in the cities that allowed them to monitor the few entrances and exits into the cities. They had depended on these protections for generations and it had always worked. So they had grown complacent. Because of this complacency they had few that could even fight, as it had never been necessary in the past. Yet something had changed, and now the cities were disappearing. With no hard evidence they...