The ten most powerful men in the Rotanios Empire had a meeting every month after the tournament. The power that would decide who lives and who dies in the Southern Hemisphere sit in a semi-circle facing the fire. This time, the news is quite disturbing. Rumors of a “fluctuation,” as we call it, is found to be true. The chief of the services speaks about unusual reports. It seems like the Amiens are building an ultimate weapon that can destroy every empire on the planet.
I’m sitting in my comfortable armchair, waiting for the Imperial Circle to gather, picturing my name and my rank on it, “Fuvo,” the First Spiritual Advisor, wondering if I shouldn't ask that it be written in gold like Emperor Oris.
Suddenly, Oris enters the room, and I could feel the fireplace erupting. He was followed by the ten most powerful oligarchs in the Empire, the Imperial Circle. Oris addressed Tonias, our First Military Advisor. He went straight to the subject without wasting time, just like I taught him to do with every important matter.
“Tonias, this is not new. Everyone tries to build an ultimate weapon from time to time, but the balance is kept by the opponent’s ability to match the threat. And we have enormous capabilities. In nuclear weapons, we are the leaders. We can destroy this planet and every planet in the Solar System, too, if we want. So, why so much concern?”
“This situation is very different. We may not be able to launch an attack on an AI system. More alarming reports say that a worst-case scenario is possible since we might not be able to launch anything from any device. Our arsenal will be obsolete.”
“Then we will attack by launching the nuclear devices manually!” Oris looks like he is annoyed by the over-alarming reports.
“They already have an AI that analyzes the air quality and its composition around the capital. But with this new machine, they could analyze not only the air, but the tiny vibrations traveling through the air for every moving thing, no matter how small it is, and predict with precision its nature. Everyone has an AI device on him. They will combine those with an astronomical computational system that runs a new, mysterious code to produce the best predictions and analysis. Your Highness, we already turned over every stone looking for a solution.”
The Emperor stays silent. He probably thinks this can’t be real. Surely, there has been a miscalculation. Either that or this is just a play going on behind his back by his entourage. But, if this is true, then one must act tonight. I gave him a small, secret sign that signaled he needs to act and show the Circle that he is aware and will handle this situation as an existential threat, just like I taught him.
After a pause, Oris said, “When did they start this campaign, and who is in charge of the new weapon?”
Tonias replied, “Our services reported that it is actually still in the beginning phase. The top three scientists from Consoft, DM, and ONC are working now at their military headquarters, the Arc. It is top secret, and even the military commandments are kept out of the campaign. Except for the engineers and the Commander of the Armies, General Konu, no one has access. It is also very well hidden. They built a deep, nuclear-style bunker for the operation. Something like that never happened before, and it’s confirming our data.
Oris turned to me and asked, “What do you think, Fuvo?”
I replied, “Your highness, this is a very serious problem. The new threat is dangerous and real. I have in my possession a complementary report made by my services. Your Highness, the First Citizens are the real commanders of the new weapon.”
Oris spoke with me in a very friendly and funny way, as he usually does. “Yes, Fuvo, you didn’t have to consult with your services. The First Citizens run the country, my friend. Their government with their opportunistic politicians only knows begging, begging for attention from their people. But more importantly, begging for attention from the First Citizens to keep them in power and to keep financing their no sense political campaigns. I despise them, as they are, in fact, the worst of us, Fuvo. Never has a politician done any good. They are creatures without souls, flatterers of the idiots, banned forever from my empire. Although…, who is this unknown Chief of the Armies, Konu? And how big is his role in the operation?”
Tonias replied, “Your highness, Konu, until recently, was a complete unknown colonel. He is by far not an existential threat to our empire or anyone, because, and let’s say it frankly, he is a “nobody” in the army. The orders of his nomination came straight from the First Citizens, as no decent general would risk world peace for their new weapon. So, they chose an opportunistic colonel from the General Affairs office. I can even compare him with
