Terminal Compromise

, Sept

w

Hospital Co

cott

ssive computer failure this weekend at the

s patients were accidental- ly disconnected from the nurses stations and the hospital's main computer.

unctions in a central computer. Medical records, insurance filings and treatments as wel

is and treatment. Much of the day to day treatment of patients is done with the LSM continually measuring the condition of patient, and automatically updating his records. The Expert System then

medications and treatments early Saturday morning. Doctors estimate that over 50%, about 300, of the hos

entire computer system of Golda Meier Medical Center has been

"an unconscionable attack against civilized behavior and the Jewish communit

or the crime. The AMA has petitioned the Drug a

ing the families of the some of the victims of this tragedy. He anticipates extended legal entanglements until such time that t

son, determined

*

r, 4 Ye

o, J

st of Japan. It was the roughest plane ride he had ever taken; and after 2 we

a, courtesy of OSO Industries, with all of the trimmings. He was provided with a private beach house containing every modern amenity one coul

lack hair was as much as sexual tool as her hands and mouth. Her pristine dark complexion and round face caused Miles to think that he was

." She caressed his shoul- ders and upper body as she spoke. "He knows that a man works best when he

d indeed sent him on this trip, vacation, to work, undisturbed. But Miles thought that he would hav

laxed to do very serious business. Whe

waves and he even ventured under water on a novice scuba dive. But, as he knew, he was here to concentr

led through the problems of the war plans, and the solutions appeared. His brain seemed to function independent of effort. As he established goals, the r

Marasee provided him with the answer. The barriers were broken, the so-called 'walls of de- fen

fit together and evolved into a picture perfect puzzle. Miles became able to manipulate the attack scenarios in his mind and make slight changes in one that would have far reaching implications in another portion of the puzzle. He

ty, one which he knew he could execute, if Homosoto wasn't feeding him a line of shit. And, for the $100,000 Homosoto gave him to mak

, he wanted to put his plan to the test. If he was right, of which he was sure, in a few short years

worked even harder to complete the first phase of his task. To the occasional disappointment of Marasee, Miles would embroil himself in the computer Homosoto provided for the purpose

okyo without even sayin

enced that Homosoto had not told anyone else how important Miles was. Even though he recognized the need for secrecy in their e

d into the grand white g

ou." A short Japanese manservant escorted Miles to the doors of Homosoto's off

o rise from his tech

hey were long

ons to your liking?" Homosoto awkwardly searched for the vain compliment. He pointed at the leather seating ar

but since he was so important to Homosoto, it

ery much so, Mr. Homosoto. It was most relaxing . . .and I think you will be very pleased with the results." Mile

not?" The implication was clear. For the first time, Miles s

rking to pay attention." Miles

thank her for her attentions. Not an auspi- cious beginning Mr. Foster." Miles c

es, but I do like to keep my personal life just that. Per- sonal

or the sake of the young woman that I mention it. There is no o

ut he didn't press the point. He merely nodded that the subject was clo

. I must assume that you have made some progress in planning our future e

maintaining some control over the situation. His dimples recessed even further as he enj

so kind as t

l over them. "Basically the technology is pretty simple. Here are the fundamental systems to use in

omosoto rais

Miles was matter of fact and for the first time Homosoto saw Miles as the itiner- ant professional he was capable of being. The challenge. Just as Miles promised earlier

s groups that we will

? Excuse

ke it work? Ha

s, So

mosoto carefully. Was there a mu

ho don't even know about each other's existence.

ld you explain, please? I don't see how one can build a car if you don't know what it's going to look like when you're

soto was used to the Japanese work ethic: Here's a beautiful picture of a car, and all 50,000 of us are going to build it; you 5,000 build the engi

afford it. Miles realized he could be in control after all, if h

y bristled at the mention of the war. Miles hardly noticed as he continued. "The point is, as I have it laid out here, only a handful of people need to know what we are trying to achieve. All of the rest have cl

se. "Hai! Of course, secrecy is important, but how c

velopment." Homosoto smiled at the R&D reference. He could understand that. "Then there will be a public relations group, a communications group, a software

with your outline. You mentioned prob- lem. Can you explain?" Homosoto had become a di

in situations that need to be addressed. In this case, I see seve

problem." Hom

an we will need two things

e challenge. "W

o you need. "This operation could cost a

Miles. "No problem. What i

, but a lot of people who will follow orders

epose while he thought. "Ho

all groups we will need a minimum of 50

ersonal joke. "When you said army, Mr. Foster I imagined tens of thousands of people running all around the United States shooting their gu

his needs by a factor of three. "With a few minor specialties and exceptions, yes. T

several minutes. He looked out the expanse of windows over Tokyo patiently as Homosoto seem

Fos

Miles w

untry?" Homosoto's

expected suc

Did you hear

He paused. "

is clear. As you have told me, you hold no a

it that way . . ." M

et this oppor

tes offers, but you don't care where or how you get them? Is that not so? You want your women, your wine, your

s of the NSA being interrogated had he been asked to state his convic- tions. He knew the right answer there, but here, he

d not want to be backed into a corner. "Mr. Homosoto. Do

They are gone, but now I have my wife, my chil- dren and their children. I learned, that if there is nothing else, you must have family. That must come first, Mr. Foster. Under all conditions, family is first. All else is last. So my allegiance shifted, away from coun

ll you something. I gave my country most of my adult life. I c

ackground Mr. Foster,

lism escaped Homosoto, but he got the gist of it. "But I said to myself, 'hey, you're good. Fixing roulette wheels is beneath you.' I needed, I still need

unning for President. You're always trying to sell yourself, your ideas. They don't give a shit about how good your ideas are. All they care is that you're asshole buddies with the powers that be. To get s

me this is an American joke, then, no M

other than Homosoto's benign smile indicating no comprehension. "OK, never mind, I'll save it.

s, money is yo

ting my country, but if they don't listen to what makes sense, maybe it's best that

mosoto's naive

ts, asses, fannies?" He patted his own

you feel you could best serve

ew seconds. "I guess you c

l Foster?" Miles beamed at the refe

agential silence. "I would like t

at Mr. Foster," Homosoto said with his grin intac

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