Terminal Compromise

One dGraph User Group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has begun a cla.s.s action suit against DGI and OSO on behalf of all users who have damage done to their computers and or data. They claim at least 10,000 co-plaintiffs on the initial filing with District Court in Milwaukee and are asking for $10 Billion in damages.

End.

Scott's story went on to describe that the FBI and Secret Service were taking the threat as a national security risk and would make a public statement in a day or so. Leading software industry prophets were quoted, all taking credit for warning the computer industry that such ma.s.sive a.s.saults were predictable and prevent- able. They blamed the government and computer manufacturers for laxidazical handling of a serious problem that could have been prevented. Scott had to make a large chart to keep track of the compet.i.tive finger pointing from the experts.

DGI's stock fell 75% after the announcement until the SEC sus- pended its trading.

The a.s.sociated Press wire announcement was followed in seconds by the one from UPI. Doug tore it off the printer and raced it over to Scott.

"I believe this will be of interest to you..." Doug chuckled as Scott read the wire.

Tokyo, j.a.pan: Taki h.o.m.osoto, the billionaire founder and chairman of OSO Industries, was found dead this afternoon in his opulent Tokyo office. According to police and company spokespersons, Mr. h.o.m.osoto died by his own hands in tradi- tional j.a.panese warrior fas.h.i.+on; hari-kari. His body was found curled up in a pool of blood with the ritualistic sword penetrating his abdomen protruding from his lower back.

Police say they discovered a note on his person that ex- plained the apparent suicide. The letter is believed to have been hand written by Mr. h.o.m.osoto. The contents of that letter, as released by the Tokyo police follow:

Honorable Friends,

I now resign as Chairman of OSO Industries. My time is over.

For almost 50 years I have waited to see the United States and its people suffer as my people did during those terrible days in August. The United States gave our people no warn- ing, and tens of thousands of innocent women and children died without purpose. This criminal sin is one which the United States and its people will have to live with for all eternity.

Yet, out of compa.s.sion for the millions of innocent bystand- ers who are helplessly trapped by their government's indif- ference to human life, I will give the American people a warning: Without your computers your future is dim, and your present becomes the past.

When I was told about the attack plans on the United States, I admit that I was a willing

It was shown me how to execute the plans which invade the very bastions of Western Imperialism; and I have succeeded admirably. You will not recover for years, as we did not after your hideous attack upon our land.

By the time you read this, I will be dead and happy. My creations will have taken hold, and unshakeable from their roots, will spread chaos and distrust. This is the world's first computer war and I have waged it and I will win it.

Retaliate! Retaliate, if you wish, if you can; but you will not, you cannot. Who do you attack? My country? They had nothing to do with it. My company? I will be dead and there is no double jeopardy in death.

You have nothing to say, and nothing to do in response. As we did not after your fire-bombs landed. We could say nothing.

Helplessness is a terrible feeling. It is one of loneli- ness, solitude in a personal h.e.l.l which your people shall suffer as they learn to live without the luxuries of tech- nology. You will pay for your ancestor's mistakes.

To the memory and honor of my family.

Taki h.o.m.osoto

Scott Mason called Tyrone Duncan immediately.

"I know," said Tyrone, sounding out of breath. "We're on it.

Pierre's getting additional protection. It turns out that Mr.

h.o.m.osoto isn't as pure as the driven snow like he pretends to be."

"How do you mean?" Scott asked.

"Off the record."

"Background." The negotiation on press terms was complete.

"All right, but be careful. It seems that since the 1940's Mr.

h.o.m.osoto has been performing some very lucrative services for our friends at the Pentagon. He has some influential friends in Congress and uses an a.s.sortment of lobbying firms to promote his interests."

"What's so unusual about that?" Asked Scott.

"Nothing, until you see that certain Congressmen got very wealthy when OSO Industries built plants in their districts. Heavy PAC contributions, blind distribution of small contributing funds. It also appears that he regularly entertained high Pentagon offi- cials in the finest fas.h.i.+on. Paris, Tokyo, Rio, Macao. Influ- ence pedaling and bribery. We have traced a path from Tokyo to the Pentagon that has resulted in OSO subsidiaries receiving large non-cla.s.sified government contracts. Take dGraph for example. That's a de facto standard for all agencies."

"I never thought about that. Everyone in the government uses it."

"Just like the private sector. I'm on my way to have a little talk with your Mr. Foster. I don't believe in coincidences."

"Good, where?" Asked Scott excitedly.

"Whoah! Wait a minute. This is official now, and I can't have a civilian..."

"Bulls.h.i.+t!" Scott yelled into the phone. "Don't you get GI on me. I gave him to you. Remember? Besides, I know him. And I might have something else."

"What's that?"

"What if I told you that the Freedom League is part of it? And that it's being run by foreign nationals."

"So what?" asked Tyrone.

"How far did you check into the van driver's background? Wasn't he Arab?" Scott offered tidbits that he thought relevant.

"Yeah..."

"When are you meeting Foster?"

Tyrone thought carefully about Scott's words. "Listen, I have to get a warrant anyway. It'll probably take till tomorrow."

Tyrone paused for the subtle offer to sink in to Scott. "He's listed. Gotta go."

One h.e.l.l of a guy, thought Scott. If it ever got out that Tyrone worked with the media like this, he would be immediately retired, if not possibly prosecuted. But n.o.body else was doing anything, and Scott had given them Foster on a silver platter. He would save the Freedom League story for the moment.

The Motorola STU-III secure phone rang on the credenza behind Marvin Jacobs desk. He had been Director of the National Securi- ty Agency, DIRNSA, since 1984, installed in that position because he gave the distinct impression that he didn't care about any- thing except satisfying his mentor; in this case Vice President Bush.

The STU-III phone added funny electronic effects to the voices that spoke over it; all in the interest of national security.

"h.e.l.lo?" Jacobs asked.

"h.o.m.osoto is dead."