The Krakow Klub (35 page)

Then continuing in a voice that oozed
superiority, Maxx said, “Dr. Slater, you are a man of
science,
but I will attempt to explain it to you as
simply as possible. I analyzed the circuitry of the
detonator
and found it to be very primitive, but
effective,
if I may so myself.

“To detonate the device, a series of
electronic events must occur in a specific order. If the sequence
occurs
properly, the activation is finalized
by the entry of sixteen numeric characters.

“Let’s just call the detonation device a
comparator to keep it simple. If the sixteen-character number
presented is the exact number stored in the comparator’s memory, a
relay is activated that initiates the detonation sequence for the
device. If the number delivered is not the correct number, the
device detonation sequence cannot begin.

“The humans who acquired this device had
added a small modification
that
effectively
bypassed the manual entry of the detonation number and the delay
timer. The device was re-configured to respond to the radio signal
of a second detonation device
that
was to be
used by a Lt. Colonel Stevens to activate a series of plastic
explosives. That device was set to transmit the sixteen characters
to the comparator.

“I simply replaced the actual sixteen digit
number that would activate the thermonuclear device with an
incorrect series of numbers. The probability of the perpetrators
discovering this change prior to attempting to initiate detonation
is astronomical.

“And even if they did, I left a program in
the remote responsible for monitoring that area to change it again.
And lastly, just in case they tried to revert to the manual entry
system with a delay timer, I rewired the keyboard and LED to enter
incorrect numbers, but display the correct numbers. That device
can not be detonated
. You have my word on
it.

“Nevertheless, being extremely careful, I
programmed the remote craft monitoring the area with the capability
of changing the code again if
someone should
discover
my work. I guess you could call it my ‘
fail-safe
’ system.”

Jim replied, “Okay, now I’m beginning to
understand this convoluted plan. I wondered why they just didn’t
use a single explosive device to blow up
everything,
but now I can see that the military had to be
kept in the dark. They couldn’t be allowed to know that their lives
would be in danger. The nuclear device had to be a secret.”

“Thank God that you’ve neutralized it
already. Now, what can we do about the plastic explosives?”

“My dear Dr. Slater, you are indeed the deep
thinker. How could I have forgotten such a trivial detail?”

John interjected in a very irritated voice,
“Maxx, please cut the crap. What about the damned plastic
explosives?”

Maxx replied in a hurt voice, “I don’t think
that Dr. Slater trusts me. After all, we’re barely acquainted. But
you know me well, better than anyone else. You know my
capabilities,
and you know that I will always do what is
best for you.”

Then, proudly, “Collin’s little firecrackers
have already been neutralized. I simply converted an inch of the
copper wire in each detonator into a nonconductive material. It was
quite a simple
procedure;
I just modified the
atomic structure of the material slightly. Everything still looks
perfect,
but that nonconductive material will
prevent detonation.”

Maxxine, who had been silent for all this
time, finally spoke and said, “John, Maxx has taken care of it. I
just confirmed everything he has told you. He just had to have his
moment on the center stage.”

Maxx immediately replied, “Don’t be insolent
with me, little one, or the next time you crap
in
your diapers
I won’t change them for a long time.”

Then speaking to all, Maxx boomed in a loud
voice, “I have better things to do. Good day to you all.”

Maxxine spoke to John, saying,
“I am so sorry, sir.
But you know what a prima donna Maxx
can be.
But on a bright note
, I have some good
news, so let’s get to that, shall we?”

“Most certainly, Maxxine, we are ready for
some good news.”

“Well, sir, Maxx has a database search
algorithm that he calls ‘Guilt by
Association.'
I have found it to be quite valuable in
identifying members and associates of the Krakow Klub. During the
process, I’ve discovered that their plotting
is not
limited
to the United States. They plan to take over all
major world governments and install themselves as the
junta in charge
. In fact, they already have taken over
several small countries just for practice. They plan to rule the
world.

“
Using Maxx’s algorithm,
combined with his newest model of information gathering remote
spacecraft, I can supply you with intelligence you never dreamed of
before.

“You already know that Maxx has tagged all
human beings at birth with what is effectively a microscopic
transponder that is unique to
each
. That
transponder signal, when queried by our latest scanners, creates a
data record containing the individual’s identification number, the
date, the time, and the location of the subject when the query
was made
.

“And that clever beast did not stop there.
He devised an algorithm that automatically made
scanning time adjustments based on a huge list of parameters. Many
of his parameters are then correlated in various ways. The results
enable me to build lists of members of virtually any group of
interest, and then monitor and track them after that.

“The newest monitoring devices are quite
amazing. For example, when persons of interest
are
identified
, their telephone and electronic conversations can
be intercepted and recorded. Even the secure satellite phones used
by world leaders and
high-level
crooks are not
safe from Maxx.

“If I may interject, your ACLU would go
bonkers if they had any idea of our snooping capabilities.”

John had to stifle his laughter. Even Jim
Slater cracked a big smile.

John, speaking to Jim, said, “I think that
the Krakow Klub has more trouble headed their way than they ever
imagined possible. I had no idea myself that we had so much
intelligence available to us.”

John spoke to Maxxine, “Okay, I think that I
have a good grasp of what’s available to us in the way of
information and weapons. Right now,
I think
that we need to address some weaponry questions that occurred to me
after you rescued the president. I have to know if there are
limitations that could cause us serious issues down the road.

“First, and foremost, let’s talk about the
gravity fields and what might affect them in battlefield
conditions.”

Maxxine explained, “The gravity fields were
never meant to
be used
as offensive weapons.
Historically, they have been used to isolate an object from its
immediate surroundings
in mining
operations.
The basic field is rather
weak,
but it can be
easily used to restrain a person and render them immobile. You
might think of it as an invisible straitjacket.

“As you know, our remotes can project about a
thousand such fields almost instantly, and each field can be
directed to shield a specific object or person at a specific
location. The problem that I experienced in rescuing the president
was one of available power. When a gravity field
senses stress
from the outside, it automatically
increases
its intensity
to resist that
external force. However, increasing the intensity of a field
requires
more power be used. Increasing power to one
field leaves less power for other fields.
In essence, there
is only a finite amount of power, and if more power is required to
one field, then another field must lose it. Ultimately this limits
the number of fields as well the strength of any one field.

“In the case of saving the president, I had
two remotes on the job. All available power was directed to a
single gravity shield to combat the intense heat of the fire and
explosion. That’s why I could only save the president and his
doctor. It’s also the reason that the doctor received slightly more
burns, as my saving him was a few tiny fractions of a second later
than the president. I was forced to make the decision to use all
the available power from both remotes to save the two that I could
save.
Unfortunately,
the other three people in
the ambulance perished.”

John nodded in understanding.

“You humans take such pride in your guns and
seem to use them as the primary means of eliminating each other.
John, you need to understand that a single bullet
from a high-powered gun would probably require an increase in a
protective gravity field of ten to fifteen orders of magnitude.
Obviously, this drastically limits the number of such shields per
remote to less than one hundred.

“Another thing to remember is that one of
your automatic weapons is capable of firing a great number of
rounds very rapidly. That would cause a significant energy
requirement on a gravity shield.

“Then, just consider that there might be more
than one weapon directing fire at the same shielded individual. In
that situation, the remote would have no option other than to enter
its
self-defensive
mode. In that situation,
the remote will automatically launch photon weapons to destroy the
weapons attacking it. People
are not specifically
targeted
, but if a person is holding a weapon that is
attacking the remote, they become part of the target by
proximity.

“
The coding of the self-defense
mode is buried very deep in the remote’s logic base. I cannot
modify it quickly, possibly never, as it involves the use of
potentially deadly force. The use of deadly force is strictly
controlled by Mylean law.
Neither I nor Maxx
can intentionally
break Mylean laws.

“Just look at it this way: Each remote is
programmed to protect itself at all costs. An attack on a gravity
field is considered to be an attack on the remote craft itself. If
an attack is large enough, the only defense becomes an
offense
. The offensive response would be immediate and
deadly.”

John interrupted, “Please figure out how to
handle this with little, or no, loss of life. I can’t bear the
thought of a large number of innocent people dying. If there must
be some deaths, just make sure that they are from the Krakow Klub
and their combatants. Please help me avoid a significant
confrontation with the military.”

“John, I
understand,
but
there are certain situations in which you won’t be able to prevent
the use of lethal force. You have to accept the fact that if an
attack is perceived to be a threat to a remote craft, it will
automatically defend itself. The remote just won’t care if the
threat is from a good guy or a bad guy. To the remote, a threat is
a threat.”

After a pause, Maxxine continued, “I’ve made
a thorough study of your earthly weapons
and
the strategies used in your wars. To put it bluntly, I have to
inform you that this potential confrontation could result in a high
rate of casualties if the military becomes actively involved in
force.

“This situation is ironic. You now have far
more offensive weaponry than I ever anticipated. That’s rather
disconcerting since Mylean technology
was never
meant
to
be used
for
aggressive situations. They just didn’t believe in
warfare and made every effort to avoid confrontations. However,
they weren’t stupid. If anyone
was
foolish
enough to attack them, they would have destroyed the aggressors in
a most impressive manner.”

“Thanks, Maxxine. Now let’s discuss what the
Krakow Klub has available to them.”

Maxxine started to respond but was
interrupted when the screen
was filled
with
Mister
T,
who was
transmitting from the villa.

****

“Boss, I’ve just thwarted an attempted
landing on the island. A man in a leaky old boat was drifting
around just offshore and appeared to have experienced engine
failure. I watched him on the
monitor,
and he
acted in a very strange manner. He moved quickly and efficiently
around the boat, but, as he drifted closer to shore, he pretended
to be exhausted and unable to stand. He draped himself over the
side of the boat and attempted to appear that he was dying of
thirst. It all looked very fishy to me. Then, he pulled a small
camera from his shirt pocket and began taking pictures.

“That action confirmed to me that he must be
a spy
intent on gaining intelligence about the
island. Of course, such an action was totally unacceptable. I
ordered one of the remotes to kick up waves and rock the boat. That
caused him to drop the camera into the water. Next, I had the
remote cause the waves to push him back to sea and away from the
island. He tried to come ashore several additional
times,
but the remote always pushed him away. After being
unable to land, he seemed to be quite frightened. He ran into the
cabin and started the boat without any effort at all. Obviously,
there had been no engine failure. Then, he headed back toward Key
West as fast as the old boat would go.”

“Good work, Mister T. Did you get an identity
on the intruder?”