Ch 7: Disruption Protocol

~
(Harrington)

The Disruption Protocol is a classified operation whose code name is a tribute to its ingenious origins in the mid-20th century in America and the “communist” Soviet Union, and most especially in the late 20th century in a region of Europe, Germany, which was under the influence of the Soviet Union before it collapsed. These programs are designed precisely for the kinds of situations faced by governing authorities who wish, ideally, to prevent, rather than merely punish, unorthodoxy and subversion.

It is strange and quaint to think that in the old time, with its old system of morality, such programs, particularly the one in the communist eastern part of Europe, were regarded as some of the most egregious forms of organized evil ever devised. But we live in a more enlightened time.

I locate and flick open a summary I prepared a number of years ago after attending training sessions on the Disruption Protocol. I’m proud to know that my summary is still authorized for use as a quick reference manual by the very few Leaders and operatives who need to know about the Protocol. I still update it from time to time. Although the Protocol is essentially automated once an order is given, I still prefer to read my summary before making these decisions.

Deciding to implement such a Protocol against someone is not a matter to be taken lightly. Accordingly, I spend a full 15 minutes of my time concentrating on this, personally cancelling this morning’s session with the lovely massage assistant Tania, who seemed sad and agreed to cancel only on the condition that we do our session the “special way” when we meet. I can’t remember what she means by that, so I’ll have to improvise when I finally see her after this administrative work is finished.

I decide to focus the Protocol only on the identified senior Infotechs, not the administrative junior who had no influence of concern. The others will still be the subjects of ongoing discreet surveillance and reporting by the Protocol Administration Interface (PAI). Unable to determine which of the identified Infotechs, Tori or David, exerted the greater influence on Kade, I elect to apply the Protocol to both. The PAI is aware of all potential social connections between the two, so the measures implemented will be designed to avoid obvious parallels or coincidences that might be noticed by others. Each target will receive uniquely designed disruption measures.

I place my finger on the central console and whisper my instructions. “Optimize disruption measures for each target based on IQ, personal attributes and potential effective future subversion.” The holo-display blossoms with a dual-profile interface showing me the proposed Protocol for each target. Usually the ideas the PAI comes up with are familiar, standard and expected. But sometimes it surprises me with a novel, very customized approach. I approve the Protocols.

I watch the two profiles and interface go grey, and I flick them away. There is always a sense of satisfaction at this moment, knowing I have eliminated a potential source of subversion, not by brute force, but rather by the artful application of technology and intelligence.