The Flash of Brilliance - 1. Chapter 1- It All Ends Today

(Ken Savage)

Everything will change in moments; the world will never be the same. I feel like Oppenheimer as he witnessed the Trinity atomic bomb test in New Mexico. In a way, I am doing exactly what was done in 1945, I want an end to conflict against an authoritarian ideology that has vowed to never surrender. Only a show of unbridled force can achieve this. It will demonstrate the futility of continued conflict and end thousand-year-old belief systems in one fell swoop. With this demonstration, I will prove to the world that humanity can either destroy ourselves or save ourselves, beyond any act of divine intervention or power.

I wish there was another way, I wish I knew how many innocent people I must sacrifice in the camps and prisons beyond the UN and private Human Rights organization estimates. They are dying in degrees right now through beatings, torture, and far worse in the name of rigid belief systems and a regime that claims “they do not exist” in their country.

A voice over the live stream warns in Chinese, “Something has gone wrong with the rocket, it has reduced thrust in the Mesosphere. Gravity waves are shifting the trajectory of the rocket, trying to compensate.”

I knew they would not be able to compensate as I prepared the calculations precisely. As the rocket’s head aligned to the correct trajectory that I sought, the engines re-ignited. Issues with Chinese rocket engines were not uncommon in their SpaceX alternative, they apologized to me and my organization that have paid for one of many “weather” satellites for the failure. Little did they know, the payload of this and the other satellites that we had launched from traditional SpaceX rockets contained something far more than weather monitoring equipment.

(***)

The Russian Space Command had noticed that a Chinese rocket had altered course and was on a crash trajectory about 27 miles east of Grozny in Chechnya. It was mostly rural and not a major concern, but Colonel Korolev laughed inwardly at the failure of a Chinese rocket. Despite knowing his own nation’s numerous equipment issues, he finds enjoyment in watching Chinese and American rockets malfunction. It proved to him at least that they were weak and their threats of nuclear retaliations were mere idle boasts, like Potemkin villages to scare fearful leaders.

He mocking told his subordinate viewing the rocket making its way across Russian airspace, “A failure of another space rocket, eh, perhaps they should just stick to growing rice.”

A round of laughter echoed throughout the hall, but in minutes, the room fell silent as their screen blared with light that stretched 24,000 square kilometers encompassing all of Chechnya and parts of Ingushetia and Dagestan. Reports began streaming in, impossible to be believed.

(***)

There was no laughter at US Space Command as seismic and satellites reported, “Total yield of explosion 5.23 gigatons with no radioactive residue or ejection into the atmosphere.”

General Landry was shocked and awed by what everyone presumed was a failed rocket test. Instead, it appeared the Chinese had in their possession a weapon of unfathomable power. Scientists and talking heads on the news networks had already begun reporting the explosion and the possibilities of what the readings indicated: Cold Fusion bomb, Antimatter bomb, or a Micro-singularity. The largest nuclear weapon test conducted by the Soviet Union of a nuclear Fusion bomb was Tsar Bomba at 50 megatons, meaning this device was 100 times more powerful than any weapon ever created by humanity until now.

However, Landry’s chief concern was his nation’s security as he asked, “Has the President raised the alert level?”

Sergeant Phillips, attempting to organize the confused chatter between generals and nuclear commanders, found the pertinent command from their commander in chief, “Yes, sir, JCS encrypted message was just received that POTUS has set conditions to Fast Pace.”

Landry knew this meant they were set to DEFCON 2, essentially all US forces must be ready for the outbreak of nuclear war. The Chinese might have hit Russia first, but it may be an opening gambit before a similar weapon strikes a major US target. 24,000 square kilometers would be equivalent to the state of New Hampshire in size. This level of firepower would be equivalent to 71% of the entire world’s nuclear arsenal.

The most troubling thing, the weapon appears to leave no radioactive residue and based on satellite images, no debris appears to have been ejected from the blast site. On the contrary, the device appeared to have pulled mass into its epicenter, forming what looks like a super-dense mountain. Weather from Russia and Iran has also shifted as a result, it appeared the device caused a heat sink to form, causing rapid cooling to sub-zero temperatures. Casualty figures are ranging from 15 million to 20 million dead. While nominally, most of the population are foes of the United States, it is a dangerous precedent in human history to have so many perish in one day.

Everyone in US Space Command is waiting for the next shoe to drop.

(***)

Within an hour of the Chechnyan incident, the Chinese space agency was quickly taken over by MIS, China’s intelligence agency. No representative of the American Company, Paradigm Enterprises, who had paid for the launch of the satellite was present for questioning though. This launch was the agency’s first joint venture with the company, which had switched from their US competitor, SpaceX, to them in what appeared initially to be a coup for the managing director of the Chinese space agency. Now Director Chen was fearing for his life as he was questioned for schematics and photographs of the equipment installed on the rocket, which he did not possess as the American firm had wanted assurance that their private proprietary technology would be protected. Chen had hoped to gain the American company’s trust and learn the technology through the next launch, which he got concessions from the Americans who would be using Chinese technicians during installation. Since Paradigm’s technician left two days ago, he had a chance to review the technology if he wished to disassemble the components within the rocket, but he chose to focus his efforts on making sure the launch would occur without issue and detailed schematics on installation, he feared it would damage future joint ventures.

Now, knowing that he was in possession at one point of such profound technology, he was doomed to bear blame along with the American company, which had not revealed the depths of this technology. Russia was of course furious at China for what appeared to be a test of a new weapon of mass destruction, which Chen cannot fault them. Military forces were on high alert, preparing for a reprisal strike by Russian ICBMs at any moment.

Everyone knew whatever intelligence can be gained from this new technology could mean life or death, both as individuals and nations.

(Ken Savage)

After three hours of shock and stark denials from China, the Russian Federation launched its first 15 ICBMs at Chinese targets. I knew it would take Russia time to re-align their antiquated nuclear weapons to target China, since they were aimed at the United States for the longest time, being its mortal enemy. Yet, I had no idea how foolhardy Russian nuclear analysts had been, if the Chinese had made the first strike in an actual act of betrayal, I would guarantee that Russia would be ashes long before they had a chance to re-align their weapons. My satellites had adjusted their positions to relative points in orbit across Russian territory within ten minutes of the explosions.

I had no desire to see China destroyed by Russia, nor to add to the casualty count of lives lost today. The satellite network acted as I expected, firing high energy-based weapon systems against Russian ICBMs as they cross the Karman line or 100 kilometers from sea level on earth. Low-power laser and microwave equipment have been in use for decades for various purposes in space, no one expected a civilian satellite would be capable of knocking out ICBMs as a result. In the past, the problem with energy weapons has always been their high energy consumption cost, but the material within these satellites and the rocket that destroyed 24,000 square kilometers solved it. That secret has now nullified all ballistic missile technology and leveled the playing field between all nation-states.

As the news stream reported what my satellite telemetry had already informed me 10 minutes ago, I was walking down Pennsylvania Avenue to the front gate of the White House, where I knew reporters would be present, including someone I was quite familiar with. Richard Gillespie was a correspondent for Technology Standards, a hybrid of Buzzfeed and Reddit with the latest news regarding cutting-edge technology. I met him during an interview about Paradigm’s success. In his article, he called me “the greatest technologist of the 21^st century, surpassing the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos by astronomical units”. He’s a charming man, both as a reporter and as a lover, but I could not allow him entry into my heart, I could not forget Ahmed or the promise to avenge my partner.

Richard walked up to me and spoke without preamble, “You SOB, it was you wasn’t it.”

I knew this would be coming and I told him to meet me hereafter “the special news” broke today. He did not hide his consternation, nor his anger at my actions. If I were judged by morality or international law as it was present, I probably would be guilty of crimes against humanity for the number of people and lands I had murdered and destroyed. Though, the leaders of the US, Russia, and China have killed no fewer or destroyed more land in their reckless pursuit of power and influence, while the impudent international court at the Hague and UN council could do nothing. The true nature of the world was a matter of power and leverage, while morality was merely a tool for the victor to justify their actions as a pretense. That era of moral pretense and the international order that created it is over now.

Several reporters standing nearby saw me and one or two recognized me, so I waved my hand in a friendly gesture for them to come closer.

“Yes, I did and I also have the means to stop all intercontinental ballistic missiles as well. The atomic age and its insanity are over. I have come here to speak with the President and I invite the ambassadors of China and Russia to meet me at the White House. The press is free to also join in this moment of change.”

One reporter from a conservative outlet spoke out, “Are you making demands on the world to submit to your whims?”

I shook my head, “Freedom is part of human nature, what I have done here is not to limit it, but enhance it. There is no longer fear of mutually assured destruction from nations or their leadership. Though at the same time, I must warn that the device used in Chechnya represents only 1/100^th the destructive potential of my new technology. A single device can make the earth uninhabitable and end all life with no hope of survival.”

The same reporter pointed out, “So what’s the difference? You control this doomsday bomb, so either we play ball or you kill everyone.”

I quirked a smile, “If I recall your news agency recently reported that “only God in his infinite wisdom could have the power to reshape the world or end it” when discussing destructive climate issues. Well, I now possess the power of your God, so my question to you and your followers is, what is the difference between an intangible absentee creator and a tangible human being who possesses equivalent ability? If there were such a creator, he would not have allowed a person such as myself to have such means, or if there were no such creator, then your followers should ask themselves what they have been living and dying for. Your antiquated world views are dead as of today.”

The surrounding press was speechless as I took Richard’s hand and walked up to the security checkpoint of the White House.