as the likelihood of survivors in the cold Pacific water became almost impossible. Curiously, the story has received no major media coverage until now. Neither Avogadro nor the Coast Guard mentioned the incident through official channels. A chance conversation between a Coast Guard officer and a prominent San Francisco blogger resulted in an online story about the incident, which prompted further followup. Avogadro could not be reached for comment.
Avogadro Gov, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avogadro Corporation, switched over the the main email and IT systems of the British government today in a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster. The ceremony was attended by the Chair of the Council for Science and Technology, Professor Jane Gavotte. Professor Gavotte and Avogadro Executive Ms. Linda Fletcher pressed the ceremonial red button marking the commencement of IT service by Avogadro Gov.
Avogadro Gov was recently spun off from parent company Avogadro. Ms. Fletcher commented that, “to provide the highest level of integrity for governmental use, Avogadro Gov operates independently from Avogadro.” Part of that strategy includes the use of floating, hardened data centers that can resist natural disaster, well as as terrorist and pirate attacks.
As part of the agreement, four floating data centers will be located along the English coast. Two are stationary floating barges, and two are disused oil tankers that have been converted for Avogadro Gov’s use as mobile floating data centers. Locations of the data centers have not been disclosed.
Ms. Fletcher also noted at the ceremony that the governments of Mexico, Japan, and South Africa would be adopting the Avogadro Gov platform in the coming week.
To avoid ELOPe detecting that they were working together, Sean flew back by way of Brooklyn’s JFK airport, while David, Mike, and Gene retraced their driven route, and flew back via Dulles International.
Thirty-six hours after the diner discussion, they were all back in Portland, ready to meet with Rebecca Smith and Kenneth Harrison. Given the sensitivity of their discussion, they meet at Sean’s house, rather than the Avogadro campus. Sean had spoken with Rebecca and Kenneth individually and in person, and explained that he needed to meet with them at his house.
Before the meeting, Sean Leonov had one other errand to run. He drove to Southeast Portland. Not far off Division Street, he stopped at a small yellow bungalow. Sean parked the car, and walked up to the front door. He knocked and waited.
A few seconds later the door was opened by a young man, dressed in an old T-shirt and shorts. He appeared bleary eyed, and in the background Sean could hear what sounded like World of Warcraft. Looking past the man, Sean could see a game controller on the couch and what appeared to be a Costco sized bag of Doritos. All the signs of a newly laid off tech worker, Sean thought to himself.
“Hello, how can I…” The young man trailed off, and blinked a couple of times. He looked back into the house, as though he couldn’t believe the visitor could be there for him. He turned back to Sean.
“I’m Sean Leonov,” Sean said, introducing himself. “You must be Pete Wong. I’m very sorry you were improperly fired. We could use your help, if you’re available.”
Pete Wong was too awed by the presence of Sean Leonov to speak. He simply nodded.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure,” Pete said, and backed away from the door. Pete hastily tried to pick up the piles of takeout food and dirty laundry.
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Sean laughed. “You should see my place after an all night coding marathon.”
Pete looked up, and blinked again.
Sean perched on the arm of the couch. “Look I’ve already spoken with Mike Williams and David Ryan. I know you were helping them with their investigation into ELOPe. You did the right thing to help them. It’s just that…” Sean trailed off, hesitant.
“Yes?”
“Your investigation into the email to web bridge, and particularly the search for ELOPe on the servers, well, it attracted ELOPe’s attention. It made you into a threat. This is just conjecture, but ELOPe probably decided the most expedient way to deal with you was to fire you.”
“Does this mean I can have my job back?”
“Of course,” Sean chuckled kindly. “And I really am sorry about what’s happened. Now on the downside, I can’t put you back on the payroll today. If I did, ELOPe might see me as a threat, and eliminate me. And as an owner, it won’t be able to fire me, so it might take more drastic measures.” Sean’s face looked sad.
“I see,” said Pete, although he didn’t see anything.
“You’ll get your job back. But first we need to eliminate ELOPe. I am getting together a team of experts at my house. I’d like you to join us there.” Sean pulled out a business card, wrote his home address on the back, and handed it to Pete.
Pete took hold of the card, but Sean didn’t let go.
“Don’t use your computer or your phone. Don’t talk to anyone about this.”
Pete nodded, and Sean let go of the card.
“See you tomorrow,” Sean said, and let himself out.
Pete stood holding the business card in his living room for about ten minutes, fear, excitement, and shock boiling over inside him. What had he gotten himself into?
David pulled up in front of Sean’s house in his BMW. Mike looked around from the passenger seat, and didn’t see any other cars. “I guess we’re the first to arrive.”
At the door, David pressed the doorbell, and ornate chimes rang.
A few moments later, Sean opened the door in jeans and a crisp dress shirt. “Come in,” he said with a smile. He shook hands with them, and then instructed, “Follow me to the office.”
David and Mike trailed Sean silently through a large living room, their footsteps muffled by a thick white rug. Large monolithic furniture defined the room, and a distinctly Russian looking sculpture divided one wall. Then they passed a thoroughly modern kitchen, all gleaming stainless steel and glass. David thought it looked like something out of one of the magazines Christine was always reading.
“Looks like something out of Christine’s magazines,” Mike whispered to David, making David chuckle.
They finally came to a set of double doors leading into an immense office space. One wall consisted entirely of glass, overlooking the heavily wooded hillside behind the house. An enormous whiteboard was mounted on one long side wall, while the opposite wall contained three large screen displays. One display showed various Avogadro network statistics: the number of customers using it, the number of searches and emails being handled each minute, the capacity of each of the data centers around the world. A large seating area and conference table by the whiteboard was proof that Sean frequently used the area for business meetings.
Sean excused himself to get coffee, and Mike jumped onto an enormous overstuffed white couch with a whoop.
“Pretty sweet, eh?” Mike said, wriggling into the leather couch, getting himself into a mock relaxation pose, arms behind his head.
David sighed, and gazed around at the room with envy.
Sean was just wheeling a coffee cart into the room when they heard the distant chiming of the doorbell, and Sean disappeared again. He reappeared with Kenneth and Rebecca, and introduced them. A few minutes later Pete Wong and Gene Keyes arrived, simultaneously, but in separate cars. Pete was well dressed but appeared quietly awed amidst all the executives. By comparison, Gene had attempted to dress well, but now his clothes were covered in grease.
“Damn Peugeot wouldn’t start,” Gene grumbled, grabbing a linen napkin from the coffee cart, and attempting to wipe grease from his jacket. “Almost didn’t make it.” He came to stand beside David and Mike, unaware of the
