“Good. I’ll send resources out to you. I want people working on this day and night until we find the hackers. But understand that this is a top-secret investigation: only bring in those who can be absolutely trusted, and even then I would like them to be screened first. Someone will contact you within the hour with further instructions.”
Both men nodded, their faces conveying how serious the situation had become. Earlier that morning they’d simply worked in the cyber security team of Trident Banking Corporation. Now they worked for the President of the United States on a top-secret mission that could make or break their entire country.
“That will be all for now gentlemen,” she spoke. “Thank you for your assistance.”
Without another word, the two men from Trident disappeared from the screen, their connection to the conference cut as they were sent to fulfil their new duties. “Now,” President Morgan addressed everyone else again, “the only matter that remains is what we do to save our country while we track down these cyber bandits. Ms Manning, Mr Kildare, what is happening at Trident. Do you have a figure for how much we have lost yet?”
Claire Manning spoke up before Jameson could offer his facts, the woman talking with an unavoidable tone of desperation. “Our building is entirely surrounded ma’am. We’ve locked the doors, but there are riots in the streets, and I fear for our safety. Is there any aid you can provide? Anything at all?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” the President replied, sounding rather dissatisfied with the answer she had received. “What of the funds? Mr Kildare, do you have a breakdown for me of what we expect to happen next? Of how far this disaster will spread?”
Jameson swallowed as he let everyone’s attention switch onto him. “The reach is undoubtedly global. I’ve spoken to our branches in Europe and the scenario over there is the same. Mass panic and confusion. No one understands what’s happening and people are starting to get aggressive as a result. I’ve spoken to Chief Hatton about how New York is going to fare to begin with,” Jameson paused and nodded to his friend who sat by his side. “And it’s not good.
“The city has never been well stocked, despite all efforts which have been made to better prepare us ever since 9/11. We’ve received reports that stores are already being looted for supplies and while Chief Hatton has men on the streets, a high percentage of them have deserted the ranks.”
“Yes,” Chief Hatton nodded, offering some more information on what Jameson Kildare had eluded to. “Nearly half of our officers have thrown in the towel,” he hung his head as he spoke, ashamed of the numbers. “They don’t think they’ll be getting paid for their work anymore and as a result have given up. We’re doing what we can, but we just need higher numbers in the streets. If there’s anything you can spare…”
Chief Hatton trailed off and paused, both he and Jameson looking up for a moment, to take in the President’s reaction to the news. The loss of emergency services had been a blow that was hard to receive, though not a wholly unsurprising one. Close to half of New York’s employees had given up and left their posts when they received the Trident news. Seeing President Morgan merely nodding along, Jameson spoke up again.
“Without additional human aid, we’re already spread about as thin as we can go. By my estimations, the city can last perhaps a week, maybe ten days without external resource. We need the companies affected by the Trident collapse to purify our drinking water and put food on our plates. The power grid will collapse without the reserves and the manpower to maintain it. New York City is of grand design, but it requires even grander measures to keep the place ticking over from each day to the next. And we are just the beginning. If all of this can happen here, think about how everywhere else will be affected.”
“Yes,” President Morgan spoke out, her voice crackling through the speakers located around the boardroom. “We’re aware how fragile the infrastructure of this country can be at times of peril. It is a pattern that is emerging in other areas as well. But with Trident at your epicenter, we expect circumstances in New York to escalate quicker than most.”
“I agree. Is there anything the government can offer ma’am? Any help that the Federal Reserve can share with us?”
President Morgan shook her head. “It’s not possible. Things are already past the point of being salvageable now. Anything we could offer would only make the situation worse.”
Jameson waited for the President to continue speaking, expecting some kind of suggestion or proposal to come from the woman’s mouth. Instead he was met with silence, staring at the screen as he willed the President to give him a solution. “What do you suggest we do, ma’am?” He asked eventually, unsure what else he had to offer. Everyone knew how desperate the situation was, what he needed was more information and answers, not just a rehash of everything they already knew.
But looking at the President’s face on the screen, Jameson could already tell that she didn’t have any answers for him. This was an entirely unprecedented event. The country had never been bankrupted on this scale before. They’d had hard times – desperate times – but there had always been something to fall back on. Never before had their country been stripped so bare, left so vulnerable. They were cast out naked to the elements, with nowhere safe left to turn.
Chapter 4
“Jessie! Get in here now!”
Tucking her laundry basket under her arm, Jessie paused and tilted her head to one side. Arthur never shouted at her like that unless there was something serious going on. But it
