DLM, Bk 6, Ch 10

After the reception, which had been quite the interesting experience overall, Sophia and I enjoyed some romantic time together, simply enjoying the presence of the other. Galatea, on the other hand, had been tasked with looking into the information I had received, Even while walking down a slightly rocky beach, stepping carefully to avoid some of the larger stones, a part of me was looking at the data, drawing links and filling in some of the blanks, at times with information I had received in the past, at times with simple, educated guesses.

The more I learned, the more my worries grew. The web spun by the Greene’s and their allies was quite intimidating, and what was worse, was that there was little in the official media about their moves. Some articles speculated on the implications some of the new legislature would have, how the playing-field would change, but nobody had put together the big picture, that suddenly, a large chunk of key-industries would be controlled by a few, allied groups. Almost ten percent of the population would be employed by the Colours, either directly or indirectly. In industrial sectors, like automotive-manufacture and similar heavy industries, that percentage went up to almost ninety percent, a virtual monopoly.

A marked exception was the electronic manufacturer, there, the percentage was relatively small, but only because KingCorps held a significant chunk. It did not take a genius to make an educated guess how the situation would look, if Clark and I had remained engaged, maybe even married at this point, and my father and brother would have had an unfortunate accident. And then, a young woman, with little experience and limited interest in business, whom would one turn to? Obviously, the compassionate and generous in-laws, getting their advice and direction. While the plot was only born from my own mind, it made far too much sense, to the point that I was genuinely annoyed that my father had been caught in such a ridiculous plot. If that was what had happened, I simply did not know and could not verify.

“How do you think KingCorps is currently doing?” I asked Galatea, curious about her opinion.

“Unless the data regarding your father and his business-practises is inaccurate, there is no way that he has yet to notice the dark clouds on the horizon. While the changes in the political landscape have been rapid and sudden, he shouldn’t have been caught totally unaware.” Galatea reasoned, highlighting certain data-points that indicated preparations and fall-back options, allowing KingCorps to stem some of the bleeding. But nonetheless, the company was bleeding money, and likely talent, the situation quickly growing worse as the diversification suddenly turned against my father. Having a broad business-base was great, allowing a company to weather a storm hitting one of its pillars without trouble, but consequently, it also meant that if there was directed action, there were many parts that could be targeted in that action. Letting one of the pillars collapse was fine, if the crisis was naturally occuring, but did not work to stop an attack.

“We need better data.” What was publicly available was giving us a rough picture, what we could acquire by dubious and creative means, often by exploiting openings in the corporate networks was another thing, giving us a slightly better, but still inadequate image. No, what we needed was access to the raw data, the private information from their closed and secure systems. Getting into those was impossible without having access to them in the first place, we could not try to crack the lock on their door, if we could not get to the door in the first place.

“What do you have in mind?” Galatea asked, having followed some of my thoughts.

“I obviously cannot waltz in there openly, that needs corporate espionage. Maybe we can contact the Shadowbroker, I have a feeling that this would be right up his wheelhouse, or maybe we can make microbots, large enough to be independent but small enough to slip through. With the right set-up, we might be able to make a covert connection into their secure systems, and from there, we can go wild.” I reasoned, though the temptation to simply march into some company-headquarter openly, wearing my armour and punting anyone trying to stop me aside was there. It would never work and the benefits would be almost nil, but the mental image was a fun one. So very cartoon-villain.

“The microbots would have very limited range.” Galatea immediately began designing simple bots, nothing more than fly-sized data-ports, able to navigate on their own and infiltrate a building simply by the virtue that they were tiny. We would have to figure out a way to let them communicate, either by using a transmitter nearby or by utilising one of the potential advances coming out of the research into the resonating crystals. Either way, the release would have to occur near the sites we wanted to infiltrate, either by using larger drones to carry them into the area, or by approaching directly.

“We will need to go back to New Brunsburg.” I decided, our old base being the obvious first location to scout out, simply to make sure my current reading on the situation, that it was still undiscovered, was correct. That way, we would have a secure and already well-equipped base, allowing us to get into the action almost immediately.

“You’re a little absent.” Sophia broke the comfortable silence between the two of us, pulling my focus back to my surroundings.

“I guess.” I admitted, before explaining my problem with the Colours and their economic moves. Unless I totally mis-read their intentions and type of organisation they were, the increase in market-value and share was merely incidental, the true purpose of their power-grab was beyond money. Beyond business.

“If they want to make lasting changes, they need to push their changes onto as many people as possible. By simply harnessing soft power, giving a small leg-up to anyone who works for them and is singing the party hymn, they don’t need to push their agenda onto people, it will happen organically. Just the subtle pressure of wanting to be in the in-group will take care of that.” Sophia reasoned, easily forgiving me that I had interrupted our romantic walk on the beach, bringing in the depressing reality of the world.

“Makes sense. They do not need to win now, they have time on their side. Wait a decade or three, and nobody will even question if things ought to be the way they are. Things simply will be that way.” I nodded, while Sophia continued to speak.

“They took over the Guild’s academies, did you know? Kept the buildings and I think even most of the teachers, just slapped a new sign on them and changed the curriculum around.”

“I did not know that.” I admitted, not happy about the revelation, “Given that some of their people have been working in academia for decades, I should not be surprised, indoctrination works best, if it is served alongside education.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Her voice took on a slightly stilted quality, making me think that she was quoting something, “It’s literally the oldest trick in the book.”

“It works, why try to find a new trick?” I admitted, realising that the longer I waited to make my move, the deeper the roots would penetrate and the more blood would be needed to wash them out.

Explaining what little of a plan I had thus far, did not take long. Sophia was visibly unhappy with it, especially the part that required me to head to New Brunsburg personally, to make the initial assessment and insertion, but she lacked a better way to do it. She insisted on going along, though, something I was quite willing to grant, simply due to the fact that having her at my back would give me confidence. Even with Galatea helping me to cover all bases, I was only human at my core, with the obvious weaknesses. Having Sophia there, to cover my back, even just to provide me company and make sure I did not go stark, raving mad from isolation was valuable, to say nothing of having her to bounce off ideas.

“Now, let go of those thoughts and focus on the here and now. I don’t want you distracted.” Sophia insisted, taking my hand and pulling me forward, alongside the beach. Accepting her terms, I followed behind, letting my connection with Galatea fade to the lowest, possible level, where she was only a faint echo in the back of my head.

Sometimes, there were things more important than understanding the world. For I was certain, no matter how long I took, no matter how long I computed, I would never be able to quantify what I felt, or solve the equation that described what was between Sophia and me.