23

For the two days where his brother was frantically reading and writing, Aiden was working out and practicing his aim in the HLF range. Now, while his brother was having a nice sleep, Aiden was down in the ops center near Ristenel’s residence discussing the infiltration plan into the TAC IIs’ core. The schematics of the Bureogis headquarters, as well as the Estos TAC IIs, showed that although each individual building housed the main compartments of one of the AIs, there was a central terminal underground on floor minus five which connected to the information controls of all three of the TAC IIs. The central terminal was a secure connection that allowed one to communicate directly to the AIs and was the same terminal that Liam once used to feed the AIs all sorts of information. In addition, any information fed through the terminal received an absolute priority over the billions of data packs that the TAC IIs receive from all over the world from their daily interactions with citizens.

The schematics also showed that the air venting system provided a direct path into the floor. However, the air vents are also used to for blowing out hot steam generated from the man nuclear reactors under the Bureogis headquarters which powered the AIs. This meant that any mistake made in timing or direction could mean instant death. However, Liam also had the engineering logs for the reactors which were used to deduce when steam would pass through what vent, which will allow Aiden to avoid the danger. However, there was an unavoidable section in the vents when Aiden will have to move ten meters in seven seconds and take a turn before hot steam would be blown from behind him. This may prove to be challenging, but the ops team could see no other way and Aiden was confident in his abilities.

The rest of the plan was rather simple and involved almost no risks. First, although Aiden was fired, the electronic security system of the corporation could be easily bypassed via various backdoor algorithms which Liam inherited from James Estos, who was the designer of the entire security system of the Bureogis campus. The technicians at HLF have given him a fake electronic identification card which would allow him to open any doors in the company. Speaking of identity, Aiden was to pretend to be a mechanic newly hired by the company, which would fool the guards at the entrance of each building. He was to enter the air vent system through the public bathroom in the lobby of The Traveler’s building, and through a series of mapped paths, reach the air vents of the terminal room directly. This would allow him to bypass all the human guards guarding the floor, and reach the terminal directly.

However, the security cameras there would obviously see him as soon as he enters, and thus it is necessary for Aiden to be quick with the information stick, and be back into the venting system before the guards outside can punch in the emergency codes to unlock the door to the terminal room and shoot him. Once inside the vents after having completed the core part of his mission, he will take another predetermined path which would lead to a weak point in the venting system near the ground. He will set a detonation charge, move back to his previous turn, detonate, and then he would be out in the middle of the Bureogis campus. However, because Bureogis security saw that the intruder went in via an air vent, all troops will likely be placed inside each of the buildings since that is the only place where there are air vents.

In addition, Bureogis security protocols would mean that under an infiltration, the entire campus would lock down and all non-security personnel would be recalled back to their original positions. This means that the middle of the campus, which is a garden, would be empty. Aiden would then simply run to the main gate, and use his backdoor security bypass to open the gates. No guards are to be expected since they would all be reporting to their teams inside The Curator or be deployed into other buildings. When he is out of the gates, a mag-mobile provided by the HLF will be waiting opposite the street. Aiden simply has to run to the mag-mobile and will be transported to the deserted metro station where he can come over into the dark zone again.

Aiden found the plan to be sound, and after some discussions with the HLF team covering his mission, he decided it was time to take a look at the equipment. They moved to the tactical room nearby where all the equipment for the mission was placed. First, there was the thermal suite that Aiden would wear when he was in the vents since even when there was no active steam, the vents themselves were very hot. In theory, the suite could stand temperatures up to thousands of degrees, but Aiden decided that it was better that he did not test its limites.

Next, there were the information stick and the bypass card, which would be secured in a pocked in Aiden’s suite so as to prevent melting. Finally, there was an EMP charge as well as a sidearm that Aiden could use. In the case the Aiden was pursued by Bureogis security, he will have a chance to defend himself.

The group then went back into to mission command and Aiden saw Ristenel opening the door and walking towards him. She smiled and he smiled back.

“To what do I own the pleasure ma’am?” Aiden asked.

“I am leaving early tomorrow morning to Paris for some HLF internal politics, and I felt that it was probably better for me to wish you good luck in person for what is coming next.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Aiden responded.

“Just one more thing.” Ristenel continued “I think you would be pleased to know that we had been able to convince you old friends to join the HLF. It really wasn’t that hard since they only reason they were in Bureogis was for the money apparently. Although I have to add, your friends seem to have no moral compass at all.”

Aiden ignored the last comment and was delighted. Hunter and Ryan were more like brothers than friends to him. Although he had only been with his fire team for a few years, very deep bonds have formed between them. They may be imperfect people, but so was everyone. He thanked the HLF leader again, and she left the room after giving some documents to one of the specialists. Aiden continued finalizing details of the mission with the HLF team, and after half an hour decided that they had all the preparation they needed. Aiden arrived at his residence, entered his bedroom, and dropped onto his bed after he cleaned himself.