Asterion by Kenneth Morvant

and material. We are close to becoming a paper tiger. We could not win a battle much less a protracted war. Development of weapon systems is at least ten years behind the South Central Province. Our automated drones are outdated and in short supply. After the conflicts of the last decade, we had no compelling reason to develop better systems and our budgets wouldn’t support it.”
    “I have a grand plan that is now starting to bear fruit. We will fight our battles not with human assets, but with a weapon we are developing now. It will be ready in just a few months to go out into the field of battle, ahead of our men and women in uniform. I can’t tell you more now. The military folks here will start getting information soon, so that they can prepare to integrate it into our war machine. I want to thank all of you for coming. We will make things better. I will be in contact with all of you soon. Burnsom walks out the room without taking a question.
    The crowd is shouting questions about the new weapon. Tom stands and they become quiet. “We can’t reveal our secret weapon now. Too many prying eyes and just the chance that someone slips and says something is enough reason to play it close to the vest. Share your other needs with me and we’ll work to help you. We’ll help our most affected areas first to alleviate their pain. That will take the pressure off government and policing personnel.”
    The crowd engages Tom in a question and answer session about their specific needs. They leave the meeting satisfied and hopeful for the future.
     

CHAPTER 13 - MISSING
     
    Sunday afternoon, Taylor is napping on the couch when he hears a knock on the door. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he stumbles to the door and opens it only to find a small package lying at the threshold. Picking it up, he glances back-and-forth in the hope of seeing who left it on his doorstep.
    He opens the note and it is from Christine. “I must stay away for a few days. I think someone is following me and I don’t want him or her to suspect you. I’ll hide out somewhere until I know what’s going on or I lose them. I can’t tell you where. Watch this as soon as you can and be careful. Love, Christine.”
    Taylor stands there stunned at what he has just read. Coming to his senses, he looks around again and shuts the door. The familiar sound of various locks echo outside the door. He clutches the data device and drawing the curtains tight, he begins to watch the documentary.
    The same narrator from Unintended Consequences says, “If you have watched the previous documentary you are ready to witness Leader Burnsom’s latest scheme. Technological advances in the field of genetic engineering will allow Burnsom to create an army of soulless hybrid creatures that will police the country and fight his wars. Their swarm will outnumber any fighting force on the planet. Strong and powerful, they will be able to stand up to most of the automated fighting machines in the army’s arsenal through natural armor, strength, speed and attrition. A top scientist as yet unknown had developed the technology and is about to reveal this abomination to the world and hand this weapon over to Burnsom.”
    Taylor sits there with his mouth wide open in mid-bite of his popcorn. He realizes that he is the person the narrator is referring to in the video. He perks up as he realizes that Burnsom and the bureaucracy have deceived him. He starts to worry that he might be a target of the very people he is beginning to support and what about Christine. Are government agents or agents of some other entity following her? He does not have to wait long.
    The changing scene catches his attention and the narrator continues, “It may be too late to prevent this atrocity from happening, but it is not too late to prepare. We at the Liberty Coalition need your help. Fellow citizens such as Christians, military and free thinkers are growing in number, but we are not strong enough yet to