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The Hunger Star — Chris Atack
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Tick tock…
The Die Back -- the death of billions through war, famine, plague and infrastructure collapse -- appears almost inevitable. Only good luck and constant interventions by the powerful AI-run Skellig Michael Institute are staving off a new dark age or even mass extinction.
In light of the deteriorating situation, the Skellig Michael is relocating its headquarters from high Earth orbit to Luna. The first wave of colonists will soon embark in the Marathon, the Institute's skyscraper-sized spacecraft.
But at the heart of the Institute is a mole, a high-ranking traitor, dedicated to the failure of the mission and the destruction of the Institute's greatest assets, its advanced AIs. The only clues to the mole's identity are the dying words of a terrorist.
Edward Wolfe, senior Institute fellow, must track down the mole before he or she can strike. The task is impossible, the price of failure, unthinkable.
FROM HUNGER STAR:
“We have a problem.” Renn jerked a thumb at Wolfe. “Our nosy friend here knows too much. He could sour our deal. Suggestions?”
“Yes indeed! I was thinking the problem through on the patio.” Indris put his hands on his hips and gave Wolfe a hungry look. “And I have the ideal solution. We'll do a hunt. He can be the quarry.”
Renn was taken aback. “Beg pardon?”
“I enjoy big game hunting Ms. Renn. The more dangerous the better. And what animal is more dangerous than a human?
Renn shook her head. “What if he gets away? As soon as you go outdoors Helen will spot you from orbital -- and you have no idea how quickly our AIs respond to perceived threats.”
Indris waved his hand as if shooing mosquitoes. “I've thought of all that. Listen: the game park can be the hotel upstairs. There's only one way in or out, the fire stairs off the lobby. You stay below. In the unlikely event he gets past me you can eliminate him. Keep the automatic for guard duty, I'll take your sidearm. More sporting that way.”
“And if you don't find him by the time your ship leaves?”
Indris' smile was an ugly, white-lipped affair. “I've never failed yet.”
Tick tock…
The Die Back -- the death of billions through war, famine, plague and infrastructure collapse -- appears almost inevitable. Only good luck and constant interventions by the powerful AI-run Skellig Michael Institute are staving off a new dark age or even mass extinction.
In light of the deteriorating situation, the Skellig Michael is relocating its headquarters from high Earth orbit to Luna. The first wave of colonists will soon embark in the Marathon, the Institute's skyscraper-sized spacecraft.
But at the heart of the Institute is a mole, a high-ranking traitor, dedicated to the failure of the mission and the destruction of the Institute's greatest assets, its advanced AIs. The only clues to the mole's identity are the dying words of a terrorist.
Edward Wolfe, senior Institute fellow, must track down the mole before he or she can strike. The task is impossible, the price of failure, unthinkable.
FROM HUNGER STAR:
“We have a problem.” Renn jerked a thumb at Wolfe. “Our nosy friend here knows too much. He could sour our deal. Suggestions?”
“Yes indeed! I was thinking the problem through on the patio.” Indris put his hands on his hips and gave Wolfe a hungry look. “And I have the ideal solution. We'll do a hunt. He can be the quarry.”
Renn was taken aback. “Beg pardon?”
“I enjoy big game hunting Ms. Renn. The more dangerous the better. And what animal is more dangerous than a human?
Renn shook her head. “What if he gets away? As soon as you go outdoors Helen will spot you from orbital -- and you have no idea how quickly our AIs respond to perceived threats.”
Indris waved his hand as if shooing mosquitoes. “I've thought of all that. Listen: the game park can be the hotel upstairs. There's only one way in or out, the fire stairs off the lobby. You stay below. In the unlikely event he gets past me you can eliminate him. Keep the automatic for guard duty, I'll take your sidearm. More sporting that way.”
“And if you don't find him by the time your ship leaves?”
Indris' smile was an ugly, white-lipped affair. “I've never failed yet.”
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