“Sir, the nanobots had broadcasting and networking abilities. We required that, in order for the kill switch command to spread across the world. They also had a cognitive survival directive within their programming. We needed this to ensure that the nanobots would seek out and travel to energy sources. Testing had proven that the nanobots would travel to the brain, which would in turn ensure its lethality. The extermination of the subject. This is how it worked in our tests.” The speaker said with a nervous glance toward his superior. The man returned a flat stare.
“Um, we have problems fully explaining it, but the bots... well, they hijacked the victim’s neural synapses. They effectively took over functions of the brain. But they also networked together, giving them a collective consciousness. They are working together to keep the body of the victim animated. Their primary programming still functions, but now they are using the host to find and destroy any non-networked entity. Basically, any living being. We did not foresee this...” The speaker’s voice faded.
“Did not foresee this...” The leader repeated under his breath.
“Look at it this way, sir.” A second man continued. “We have remained undiscovered, or even beyond suspicion, due to this distraction. It’s... It’s kind of a blessing in disguise.”
Kevin frowned and pushed himself off the wall. The man flinched, knowing he had said the wrong thing. Kevin was going to berate the man but instead stepped up to stand directly behind the presenter. “Ok.” He placed his hand on the presenter’s shoulder. “I’m ready. Show me.”
The presenter swallowed and launched into the slideshow.
Initial Infection Rates – Continental
Africa – 99.5%
Asia – 99.2%
Europe – 94.9%
Oceania – 96.8%
North America 96.5%
South America 99.1%
The infection rates were expected. But that was supposed to be the end of the story. They were supposed to die. Not get up again...
The next slide was scary. It showed higher than expected attrition rates. The leader had known that more people would die; Essential services would fail, survivors would have accidents, some people would lose the will to live.
And the babies... The babies would perish in their cribs. That was a difficult truth to accept.
But then the unexpected had occurred, and many people died at the hands of the undead. That included people of the Order. This was unacceptable.
Kevin briefly wondered how the other colony was doing. Certainly, Europe has more survivors? But then again, they didn’t have the freedom of gun ownership like they had here.
No, I need to worry about my piece of the puzzle.
“What’s happening over here. Show me the North American numbers.” He instructed.
“Yes sir.” The presenter started flipping through slides but was interrupted again.
“Wait. What’s the latest news from the president’s bunker?” Kevin asked.
Another man at the table answered. “Yes sir. As you know, it has been confirmed that the President is dead.”
As if that should cheer me up. Hell, I liked the guy.
“Our team is still in place and reports further attrition occurring as per plan. They will be ready to make their move within the next twenty-four hours. The team believes that this transition will be seamless.”
So, whatever is left of the armed forces will fall under our control tomorrow. Whomever survived, that is. But more importantly all the military assets will belong to us... Kevin nodded in satisfaction.
He looked up. The other men were waiting. He tapped the presenter on the shoulder to signal him to continue. Several seconds and slides later, he found the right one.
Population Burn-down – North America (Est.)
Estimated persons free of infection – 17,300,000
North America. Not Mexico, that’s for sure. Kevin mused.
Mexico had pretty much been wiped out. It was likely that there were more survivors in Canada than there were in Mexico.
Less: Estimated Attrition – 12,200,000
*US Government Events – 1,600,000
The leader focused briefly on that line. The government had used some hard-handed tactics in dealing with the situation. Initiating martial law had claimed its victims. But they had done much worse. They carpet-bombed San Diego, Los Angeles and Anaheim. And when they weren’t even sure of the results, they bombed San Jose and San Francisco too. All pointless. To no avail.
Safe Zone Failures – 5,700,000
What a goddamn disaster.
For once the government had acted too soon, rather than too late. By acting too soon they populated their safe zones with a bunch of infected. Practically all safe zones had fallen due to this oversight and other mismanagement.
Various/Other – 4,900,000
That one hurt. Images of mobs of undead tearing apart survivors flashed in Kevin’s mind. He knew that this included things like injury, sickness and starvation – but feared that the main culprit was violence. He also feared that this number included many members of the Order.
The last line summed it all up.
Estimated Surviving Population November 1 – 5,100,000
We’re down to five million living souls.
Kevin digested the statistic. That’s half of the ten million we were aiming for. And it’s not over! How many more are still going to perish?
He continued to look at statistics. He saw them, but hardly comprehended them. His mind kept going back to that total number.
Ninety-nine percent... Gone! Kevin knew that many more were going to die before it was over.
“This is a disaster.” He left those words hanging in the air, as the men at the table shuffled uncomfortably under his gaze. Finally, he broke the silence again. “What can we do. Now. To save the people.”
One of the men gathered enough courage to speak up. “Yes, sir. I did get the following information that might interest you.” He said with a hopeful expression.
Kevin nodded, encouraging the man to continue. “Our research team has determined that an electromagnetic pulse can disable the nanobots.” The leader just stared at the man, so he rummaged through some papers in front of him and continued. “According to our estimates, we could disable over ninety percent of all nanobots in the United States by means of three tac–”
“United States?” The leader interrupted.
With a nod, the man apologized. “Sorry sir,
