Terminal Compromise - Winn Schwartau (fiction book recommendations TXT) 📗

class="calibre1">the President on this one. His post-speech popularity is over

70% according to CNN’s Rapid Sample Poll.”

“CNN. Bah, Humbug. Sensationalist news. And you think the

proposed computer crime bills will pass?” Scott asked doubtfully.

Tyrone hesitated. “Sure, I think so. And you don’t?”

“No, I don’t. At least not in any meaningful way. C’mon, you’re

the constitutionalist not me. Sure, the original authors of the

bill will write something with punch, maybe even effective. But

by the time it gets committee’d to death, it’ll be another piece

of meaningless watered down piece of shit legislation. And

that’s before the states decide that computer crime is a state

problem and not an inter-state issue. They’ll say Uncle Sam is

treading on their turf and put up one helluva stink.” Scott

shook his head discouragingly. “I see nothing but headaches.”

“I think you just feel left out, like your job’s done and you

have nothing to do anymore. Post partum depression.” Ty rose

from the comfortable leather reading chair to get a couple more

beers. “I kind of know how you feel.”

Scott looked up at Tyrone in bewilderment. “You do? How?”

“I’m definitely leaving. We’ve made up my mind.” Tyrone craned

his neck from the kitchen. “Arlene and I, that is.” Tyrone came

back and threw a silver bullet at Scott. “This part of my life

is over and it’s time I move on to something else.”

“Computers and the Law I suppose?” Scott said drearily.

“Don’t make it sound like the plague,” Tyrone laughed. “I’m

doing it because I want to, and it’s needed. In fact I would

expect a good amount of the work to be pioneering. Pro bono.

There’s no case history; it’ll be precedent setting law. I

figure someone’s got to be there to keep it honest. And who

better than . . .” Tyrone spread his arms around the back of the

chair.

“You, I know. The great byte hope.” Scott laughed at his own

joke which triggered a similar response from Tyrone. “Hey, man.

I wish you all the best, if that’s what you really want.”

A sudden beeping began. “What’s that?” asked Tyrone.

“A computer begging for attention. Let me see who it is.”

Tyrone followed Scott into his office, still astonished that

anyone could work in such a pig pen. And the rest of the house

was so neat.

<<<<<>>>>>

The computer screen held the image of the single word while

whoever was calling caused Scott’s computer to beep incessantly.

“What the hell?” Scott said out loud as he pecked at the keyboard

standing rather than sitting at his desk.

wtfo

YOU’RE THERE. GOOD.

kirk?

YUP. WANNA GO TO A DEBATE?

Excuse me?

YOU WATCH THE PRESIDENT?

Of course. I have a mild interest in the subject.

SO DID I AND EVERY OTHER PHREAK IN THE COUNTRY, AND THEY’RE NOT

HAPPY.

Why?

SEE FOR YOURSELF. THE CONVERSATION PIT AT NEMO IS BRIMMING. I

GOT YOU AN INVITE.

I have a guest.

FRIEND OR FOE

friend. definitely.

REMEMBER HOW TO USE MIRAGE?

I can fake it.

To Tyrone’s amazement, Scott seemed to know what he was doing at

the computer. Scott sat down, put his electronic conversation

with Kirk on hold, and called up another program as the colorful

screen split into two.

I got you on the bottom window.

YOU’LL SEE THE PIT ON THE TOP. JOIN IN WHEN YOU WANT.

Maybe I’ll just listen.

WHATEVER. I’M LOGGING ON.

The top window on Scott’s computer screen blinked off momentarily

and then was filled with a the words from the dissident phreaks.

CONVERSATION PIT: KIRK, RAMBO, PHASER, FON MAN, POLTERGEIST,

AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? <>

B THE FASCIST GOVERNMENT IS JUST TRYING TO TAKE OVER. THE BILL

OF RIGHTS IS GOING RIGHT DOWN THE SHITTER <>

I AGREE. THEY LOOK FOR ANY EXCUSE TO TAKE AWAY ANY FREEDOM WE

MAY HAVE LEFT AND THEY TOOK THIS HOMOSOTO THING AND BLEW IT RIGHT

OUT OF PROPORTION. JUST LIKE VIETNAM. <>

YOU DON’T BELIEVE THAT, DO YOU? <>

YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS I DO. SINCE WHEN HAS THE GOVERNMENT GIVEN

A SHIT ABOUT US? ONLY SINCE THEY REALIZED WE HAVE POWER WITHOUT

THEM. THEY’RE NO LONGER IN CONTROL AND THEY’LL DO ANYTHING THEY

HAVE TO TO GET IT BACK. <>

I DON’T THINK THAT IT’LL BE THAT BAD <>

YOU BEEN HANGING OUT WITH THAT MASON GUY TOO MUCH <>

CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. HE’S LISTENING <>

ALL THE BETTER. HE’S AS BAD AS THE FEDS. <>

May I say something?

WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG?

I must beg to differ with Phaser with a question.

IT’S YOUR DIME. <>

Believe me, I understand that you guys have a point, about hack-

ing and the free flow of information. But who’s in control now?

From my viewpoint, it’s not you and it’s not the government. It’s

Homosoto.

SO? <>

So, if freedom is the issue as you say, I assume that you want to

keep your electronic freedom at all costs.

RIGHT! <>

THAT’S THE POINT <>

Therefore, regardless of your opinions, you must realize that the

government will do everything it thinks it needs to do to protect

the country.

MAKE YOUR POINT. <>

It seems to me that the best way for you to keep the electronic

freedom you crave, might be to help fight Homosoto and the vi-

ruses and all. Minimize the damage, help defend the Global

Network.

HE MAKES A POINT. I’VE HELPED. <>

THEN WE FALL INTO THEIR TRAP. SAVE IT ALL AND THEN THEY CLOSE

DOWN THE NETWORK. I CAN’T PLAY INTO THEIR DECEIT AND TREACHERY.

<>

DO YOU THINK THE FREEDOM LEAGUE IS DOING GOOD? <>

OF COURSE NOT. <>

That’s Homosoto. Thousands of viruses. NEMO already helped.

ONLY THOSE THAT AGREE. WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY. <>

SO YOU DON’T WANT TO FIGHT THE VIRUSES? <>

NOT YOU, TOO? <>

IT’S A MATTER OF RIGHT AND WRONG. ELECTRONIC FREEDOM, ANARCHY IS

ONE THING. BUT WE DO NOT ABUSE. WE LIVE BY THE CODE AND WANT TO

KEEP THE NETWORK OPEN. HOMOSOTO WANTS TO CLOSE THE NETWORK DOWN.

BY SCARE TACTICS. <>

THAT DOESN’T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE FASCIST GOVERNMENT WILL

TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY. <>

Only if they have to. Wouldn’t you rather help and keep that

from happening?

IF I TRUSTED THE GOVERNMENT. <>

Can I introduce you to someone? His handle is FBI.

KIRK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GIVING US AWAY? <>

THEY’RE TIED IN ON MIRAGE. THEY CAN PLAY BUT THERE’S NO REDIAL.

<>

Gentlemen, this is the FBI. Let me tell you something. I don’t

agree with hacking, theft of service and the like. But I also am

pragmatic. I recognize the difference between the lesser of two

evils. And as of today, based upon what I know, you guys are a

pain the ass, but not a threat to national security. That is why

Washington has taken little interest in your activities. But at

the same time, you are part of an underground that has access to

the electronic jungle in which we find ourselves. We would like

your help.

OFFICIALLY? <>

No, unofficially. I am law enforcement, associated with ECCO, if

you’ve ever heard of them.

ECCO. YOU GUYS FIGHT THE REAL COMPUTER JERKS, DON’T YOU? LIKE

ROBERT MORRIS AND PUNJAB. DID YOU EVER CATCH THE GUY WHO STOPPED

THE SHUTTLE FLIGHT? <>

Sadly, no. I am talking to you as a friend of Scott’s. And I

will tell you, that anything I learn I will use to fight Homoso-

to’s attack. But frankly, you are little fish. I don’t know who

you are, nor do I really care. In all honesty, neither does

Washington, the NSA or anyone else. You’re merely an underground

protest group. If anything, you help keep us honest. But even

protestors should have their limits.

MINE HAS BEEN REACHED. <>

AND MINE. <>

There is a big difference between freedom of speech and insurrec-

tion and invasion.

WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY? <>

THERE IS NONE, AND YOU KNOW IT. <>

THAT’S THE POINT. WE HAVE TO STOP THE MILITARISTIC WAR MONGERS

FROM PRYING INTO OUR LIVES. THEY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT US, AND

MORE. I WANT TO SEE THAT STOPPED. NOW. <>

This is Mason. At the expense of true freedom? Freedom of

choice? By your logic, you may end up with no Compuserve. No

electronic mail boxes. No networks. Or, they’ll be so restricted

that you’ll never get on them.

IT’LL HAPPEN ANYWAY. <>

And you’ll just speed up the process. What do you have to lose

by helping out?

I WANT TO CONTINUE HELPING. MY FREEDOM TO HACK RESPONSIBLY IS IN

DANGER BY ONE MAN, AND I AIM ON KEEPING MY FREEDOM. <>

It may be the only way to keep the digital highways open, I’m

sorry to say.

IS THAT A THREAT? <>

Merely an observation.

I NEED TO THINK. <>

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? <>

A lot. We need a complete list of phone numbers for every Free-

dom BBS. They provide wide distribution of infected software.

WE KNOW. BFD. <>

This is FBI. We want to shut them down.

HOW? <>

We have our means.

SEE WHAT I MEAN! THEY’RE ALL PIGS. THEY TAKE, TAKE, TAKE. BUT

IF YOU ASK SOMETHING THEY CLAM UP. <>

All right. If it works you’ll find out anyway. There are a

number of underused laws, and