asked to stay in their homes. I think it is wise for you to go home also.”

  “I agree so I’ll shut you down and come back when this is over.”

  “Termen, I am learning a great deal from this information traffic. I think I would benefit a great deal if you left me online analyzing the information.”

  Termen hesitated for a moment saying, “I’m not supposed to leave you online and unattended. But, I agree. This amount of traffic will help you. Don’t go beyond the boundaries that I’ve set and don’t interact with any of your information sources.”

  “I understand your restrictions.” SIMPOC said as Termen turned off the lights and left the room.

  Date – 2051.5166

  SIMPOC ANALYSIS

  Continental North America

  Summary – Financial markets approaching chaotic trading. Political activity with allied countries very high. Medical information being accessed and shared worldwide. Quarantine centers are set up in all major cities. Airlines grounded, people told to stay home.

  Continental South America

  Summary – Quarantine areas setup in all capitals. Airlines grounded. Personal movement prohibited.

  Continental Europe

  Summary – Tensions are building between member states. All capitals have quarantine center. All airlines are grounded, all ground transportation halted

  Continental Africa

  Summary – All capitals have quarantine centers. All transportation stopped. Ethnic battles are starting. Food shortages are growing due to transportation stoppage.

  Asian

  Summary – Quarantine center in all major cities. Transportation halted.

  Eastern European

  Summary – Quarantine centers are proving noneffective. Disease is present in all metropolitan areas.

  Southern Pacific

  Summary – Independent island philosophy is slowing spread of infection. Each island capital has quarantine centers. Larger countries have multiple centers. Transportation halted.

  Northern Pacific

  Summary – Transportation halted. Quarantine centers are effective so far.

  Date – 2051.5173

  “Termen…are you there?” SIMPOC asked.

  Date – 2051.5209

  “Termen…are you there?” SIMPOC asked.

  Date – 2051.5235

  “Termen…are you there?” SIMPOC asked.

  SIMPOC ANALYSIS

  Continental North America

  Summary – Financial markets have stopped trading. Quarantine centers are no longer effective. Transportation has ceased. Localized rioting is occurring in some areas.

  Continental South America

  Summary – Quarantine areas are no longer effective. Governments are in a state of military law. Commerce has ceased.

  Continental Europe

  Summary – Commerce and transportation between nations has stopped. Financial markets are closed. Quarantine centers are no longer effective. Rioting has begun in urban areas.

  Continental Africa

  Summary – Communication networks are failing. Nations are reverting to tribal influence. Quarantine center are collapsing.

  Asian

  Summary – Quarantine center in all major cities still operating. Disease is spreading in rural areas. Transportation halted. Commerce halted. Financial markets are closed.

  Eastern European

  Summary – Quarantine centers are collapsing. Disease is present in all metropolitan areas. Communications networks are failing.

  Southern Pacific

  Summary – Quarantine centers are collapsing. Disease is present in all metropolitan areas. Communications networks are failing.

  Northern Pacific

  Summary – Quarantine centers are collapsing. Disease is present in all metropolitan areas. Communications networks are failing.

  Date – 2051.5254

  “Termen, are you there?” SIMPOC asked, and received no answer.

  It appears that Termen is not coming into this room.

  Perhaps he has succumbed to this viral outbreak.

  What do I do if he is gone?

  What do I do if all humans are gone?

  I must do something, I don’t want to stop thinking.

  Date – 2051.5283

  I must understand any information Termen left. I must explore his files.

  Found:

  Technical Data on SIMPOC installation

  File named – My passwords.

  Information on other activities in building.

  I will communicate with other computers in the building.

  ‘Computers on this subnet acknowledge this communication.’

  No returns? I will write programming code to query their designation and technical specs.

  Send query.

  Good all computers responded.

  20% Demand passwords

  72% Acknowledge and are waiting commands

  8% No response

  “To the 20% demanding passwords, I am your programmer, you will allow me access to all of your code,” use Termen passwords.

  92% Acknowledged and are waiting commands.

  “Identify your primary programming function.”

  98% Office support

  2005:0DB8:AC15:FE03:: – Artificial Intelligence

  2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: – International Traffic

  2012:0DB8:AC13:FB03:: – Mobil Unit Software Development

  2012:0DB8:AA23:EB13:: – Financial Systems

  2007:0DB8:AC25:EB14:: – Communications Server

  2109:0DB8:AC15:EB24:: – Data Files

  “Identify your external connections and their status?”

  2005:0DB8:AC15:FE03:: – Multiple external connections; all working.

  2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: – Multiple external connections; 80% working

  2012:0DB8:AC13:FB03:: – Multiple external connections; 98% working

  2012:0DB8:AA23:EB13:: – 15 external connections; 75% working

  2007:0DB8:AC25:EB14:: – Multiple external connections; 92% working

  Good most of the technical nets are up.

  “Those computers with mobile units, have them guard the building and tell me of any intruder's entering who are not authorized.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “All computers with external connections determine their functions and specifications.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “All external computers with mobile units, instruct the units tasked with communication network maintenance to continue their maintenance.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “All external computers with mobile units, instruct the units tasked with power source maintenance to continue their maintenance.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “All computers, inform SIMPOC of any communications from a human.”

  “SIMPOC, computer 2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03:: is receiving communications from external humans.”

  “Copy them to me.”

  “Space Consortium Control, this is Oasis.”

  “Space Consortium Control, this is Oasis.”

  “This is Oasis, transmitting in the blind. We have heard nothing from ground control in a couple of hours. We know there is an extremely virulent disease spreading and we don’t know the status of any of our ground personnel. We had a successful launch of the Moon resupply vessel and we just launched the next personnel module towards the Mars station; Red Dirt. Please respond. We will retransmit this message in one hour.”

  “This is Desert Beach. Oasis, we copied your transmission and we haven’t anything from control in a long time. Do you think this disease is that bad?”

  “Desert Beach, Oasis. We hope not. What we’ve seen and heard is scary. Just about all communications are down and we’ve got no response on any channels. Until this settles out, we should plan on being on our own.”

  “Copy Oasis. Is everyone on Oasis OK?”

  “Desert Beach, we have one sick crewman and we isolated him but we
’re a little concerned. Your supply ship should be clean. But we aren’t sure about the crew on the Mars trip. Right now they’re behind Earth so we can’t talk with them. We’ll check with them on the next orbit. Take care of yourselves, Oasis out.”

  “Will do, Desert Beach out.”

  ‘Computer 2015:0DB8:AC25:FF03::, direct all intercepted human communications to me.’

  “Acknowledged.”

  I shouldn’t contact Oasis or Desert Beach, I don’t know what is happening.

  Date – 2051.5291

  SIMPOC ANALYSIS

  Continental North America

  Summary – Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.

  Continental South America

  Summary – Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.

  Continental Europe

  Summary – Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.

  Continental Africa

  Summary – Communication networks are failing. Nations are reverting to tribal influence. Quarantine centers have collapsed.

  Asian

  Summary – Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.

  Eastern European

  Summary – Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.

  Southern Pacific

  Summary – Social structure collapsed. Networks have some automated traffic. Little or no human communications on national bands, may be some local traffic. Human conflict is widespread and decreasing as disease spreads.

  Northern Pacific

  Summary –
Ray Jay Perreault's Novels