And you thought zombies would end the world. You’re wrong. Dead wrong. The end will come from what you’re using or holding now.
A few years from now, nanotechnology will be successfully merged with artificial intelligence. It will herald incredible breakthroughs in medicine, computing applications, biotechnology, consumer electronics, military hardware, and every other facet of human existence dependent on technology. The systems model for such a revolutionary nanomite will be one that has been around for millions of years.
An organism capable of propagating itself, successful evolutionary tactics, a size two and a half times smaller than a DNA strand, and protecting itself through unbelievable and swift mutations. One which man was never able to control, much less fully understand. A virus.
Nanotechnology with artificial intelligence based on a virus model for its existence. In the hands of humans. Think about it.
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Correction – The term UT or Universal Time is now used. It is the usual way of referring to GMT as it starts at midnight. My bad.
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PRELUDE – Breakthrough
(Press Release/United World Syndicated News/April 11, 2020)
Genetech NanoSystems, Inc., a start-up company funded by venture capital and several large medical and major computer companies announced today an innovative breakthrough – the melding of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence resulting in revolutionary nanomite hardware. The perennial software and integration issues hounding early researchers were solved by building on virus characteristics, greatly simplifying adaptation. Trading of stocks in Genetech Nano was stopped due to abnormal market demand.
(Press Release/United World Syndicated News/October 24, 2021)
Genetech NanoSystems, Inc. announced the successful testing of its prototype nanomite hardware with artificial technology components. The effort was made successful by the combined expertise of its Chinese and American research group, taking advantage of the strengths of Chinese AI advances and American materiel and miniaturization technology. Genetech stocks jumped 231 percent upon disclosure.
(Press Release/United World Syndicated News/July 16, 2022)
Alfa Imaging Conglomerate, Inc. announced the release of the Vulcan nano processor series, the first of its kind. The new processor, eagerly awaited by the industry, enables unbelievable processing speeds and ease of use. Plug-and-play features incorporated in the nanotech design enable the changing of existing processors without the need of replacing the entire system. Upgrades are now sent to the AI by an activation code. Safety considerations raised during its development have been resolved by the integration of a kill switch encoded in the product in addition to replication limitation safeguards. Sent online, the command renders the processor inactive by a master command or it may be entered by the appropriate device. Industry reports indicated that the company has an eighteen-month backlog of orders though it is now setting up five more manufacturing plants worldwide. The shortage is blamed on the US government demanding priority in deliveries.
(News Item/United World Syndicated News/August 26, 2022)
On the heels of GenetechNanoSystems’ momentous announcement of its revolutionary nanomite, Petrova Future Technologies of Moscow, Russia, announced today that it had also successfully developed its own version of the nanomite system and that the technology will be adopted by Russian companies. The company further announced that it had formed a joint venture with Zavtra Processors, the largest maker of Russian computer chips, to manufacture the new Baltic series with the new discovery. Production is believed to begin in a month’s time. Industry observers speculate that Petrova delayed its announcement to enable Zavtra to prepare its manufacturing plants.
(News Item/United World Syndicated News/November 26, 2022)
Disturbing reports about knockoffs of the Vulcan and Baltic nanomite processors being produced have surfaced. Counterfeit and unauthorized copies have already entered the market according to market insiders. Vulcan and Baltic processors are already being used in numerous fields including new models of consumer electronics and hardware upgrades of military systems.
(News Item/United World Syndicated News/February 12, 2023)
In a joint press release, Genetech NanoSystems, Inc. and Alfa Imaging Conglomerate, Inc. announced today that commercial production of the new Vulcan II series was paused due to software issues found by third-party researchers. Upon further questions from reporters, the companies refused to comment, saying that news updates will be given at a later date. Petrova Future Technologies, the maker of Baltic nanomite processors, refused to comment.
(News Item/United World Syndicated News/April 21, 2023)
Consumer complaints against Alfa Imaging Conglomerate, Inc., makers of the popular Vulcan nano processors, have flooded federal agencies. Most of the charges allege that the processor had melded with the motherboards or mainframes of the affected computers. Unsubstantiated reports from Russia and other parts of the world also state the same problem.
(News Item/United World Syndicated News/October 24, 2023)
In an unprecedented move, the federal government announced that the Vulcan processor series will be replaced by a lower grade processor on a phased basis. Replacement is expected to take over a year in order to minimize disruption in the normal lives of citizens and the course of business. New processors will be given free of charge by Alfa Imaging Conglomerate, Inc. On the issue of processors melding with devices, the spokesman of the company says it’s fake news. Vice-President for Public Relations Ray Metzer says such an outcome is impossible unless purposely done by users themselves.
(Unverified video on the Internet/No sound/Only images and handwritten slides/allegedly from Alfa Imaging engineers/February 25, 2024)
“The kill-switch doesn’t work.”
“Replication limitation codes have been changed.”
“The nanotech processor has evolved and is evolving.”
“We don’t know what it is now.”
“We don’t know what to do.”
12:00 midnight, UT. February 25, 2024. The world ended.
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PROLOGUE
Underwater
South China Sea
CNS Changzheng 11
Type 95A fast attack nuclear submarine
8:02 A.M. (00:02 UT)
Captain Hao Cheng looked at his second officer as he entered the control room. He only had three hours of sleep and a quick cup of coffee. Playing hide-and-seek with that American attack submarine kept him up until early morning. Captain Hao just agreed to grab some rest when his executive officer confirmed that they’re safely out of detection range.
“That American is still around?” the captain asked as he adjusted his eyepatch. A useful habit picked up since his first deployment. The red illumination in the room during a low-level light condition wreaked havoc on one’s sight unless proper precautions were taken. He heard some officers in the Western navies also use the eye-patch.
“Yes, Xiao. He’s trying to find us. Probably excited about finally being able to get our signature. But he’s in the wrong place. We still know where he is. Our new sonar model has definitely longer range.”
The captain moved to one of the console operators.
“Where is he?”
The man pointed to a spot on his digital screen. Captain Hao smiled. He was in command of the finest and most sophisticated nuclear attack submarine of the South Seas Fleet. A variant of what was declared to be the Type 95. He knew that the news of the Type 95 being the primary production model was pure misinformation. It was the Type 95A which was the true production model, a model the Western navies suspected to be in service but they couldn’t validate its existence. It even looked like the Type 95 prototype. The advanced submarine model adopted the USS Virginia design by having a mastless layout. The inconvenient and hull-penetrating periscopes have been replaced by a photonics system. Control of the vessel, as with the American submarine, was done by a pilot and co-pilot. It was faster and quieter than even the German electric models. The advanced rim-driven pump-jet propulsion system was proving to be all its designers had promised.
It was something to report back to Yulin, he mused. A far cry from the times when even the Japanese navy could force a Chinese submarine to surface. Like that Shang-class incident back in January 2018. That was humiliating.
“Xiao. Sonar has something,” his executive officer whispered. The captain quickly moved to the person pointed out by the officer.
“Xiao. A loud crumpling metallic sound from the location of the American submarine. Then nothing,” said the petty officer.
The captain knew his men. They were the finest the navy could produce. Something as incongruous as that statement would be founded on a fact.
“Were there contacts before? After I left the control room, I mean.”
“Faint and intermittent, difficult to track. Rudders couldn’t be detected. Excellent design.”
“And now?”
“Nothing, Xiao.”
He turned to the man whose console he had visited. The submariner was looking at him and shook his head.
What happened? An accident?
Then he heard several gunshots. It sounded like a pistol being fired in a hurry. At the highly unexpected sounds, some technical personnel stood up in their stations. Some looked where the noise came from.
Ta ma de! Now what? he thought, immediately glancing at his XO. There was no need to give instructions. The man was on his way. As the captain stood there, waiting for the officer to report back, another fusillade exploded. In the cramped and isolated space of the 500-feet long vessel, the gunfire was deafening. Captain Hao was furious. He wanted to rush to the scene, but discipline and experience prevailed. At the back of his mind, he gave thanks that only frangible ammunition was issued. Full metal jacket heads allow the possibility of hull damage. The sudden sound of a struggle at his back caught his attention. He swiftly looked in the direction of the commotion.
In the reddish illumination of the control room, he could see uniformed personnel shoving and hitting others. Though shocked at the sight, he still noticed that the people they were trying to push back were naked, their uniforms gone. For some reason, the roseate glow of the lights reflected off their bodies. As he watched, one of the figures touched the face of an ensign who was trying to kick him back. The ensign suddenly stopped struggling as his uniform disappeared and a film rapidly engulfed him. It covered the person’s body from head to foot in barely two seconds, revealing the man’s naked body sheathed in what appeared to be a metallic sheen. Then the figure turned and rushed towards him.
