The First List
The Administrator
worked carefully through the error transcript. Twenty –five pages long; these
were the names of those selected whose details had been misplaced, misspelt or
where information was absent. These were the few from the list who without
complete information, would fall through the net and ironically would be saved
from the Kryl’s clutches. Any entry where the information could be verified
would then be added back to the database. It was a laborious task, but the
Administrator was a professional and if this had to be done, it had to be done accurately.
The computer generated
database was full. Five hundred million
names selected at random from the ECG Central database, all with the same
unique characteristic; Every person on the database was over sixty years of age
and as such they were all eligible for selection.
“Ok. My checks agree with the team. There are
no further persons from the error list to be added to the main database. If we
are all in agreement, we can proceed to the next stage.”
They had received
instructions to build the database just fifty-four hours ago and Colm Mackenzie
had quickly gathered his senior team, cancelled all leave and pulled in
supplies for an in house sit in; their brief to generate and circulate the list
within seventy –two hours.
There had been little time to question the
rationale behind what they were doing. No-one could quite believe how things
had come to this and yet they were just the administrators. They played no
active part in the selection process. Mackenzie had been circumspect in his
initial briefing. He saw how horrified his team members looked when he
explained the task ahead, but reasoned they were removed and that he would
ensure that none of his team were personally affected.
This was a breach of
his brief, but how else could he justify the process when each of them could be
sending those close to them to their deaths?
In the last few days,
there had inevitably been protest, but despite his own deep misgivings he had
pulled his team back together again and they had continued their task. Now was
one of those times and despite his own thoughts battling and conflicting inside
him; he prayed there would be no further interruptions. He did not know how
much longer his own conscience would allow him to continue.
On this occasion, there
were no further protests and Mackenzie and his team continued with their task.
The next stop was to place an algorithm filter
on the list to identify those who had family links, be they children, or
grandchildren. Any individuals filtered out would then be moved to a reserve
list. Their immediate fate put on hold. For those with no family connections, a
further filter would clear a list of one hundred and fifty million names and it
was these individuals who would form the first sacrificial humans who would be
delivered to the Kryl.
Six hours later,
Mackenzie had completed his final scrutiny of the latest error list. The task
was done and a list of names had been generated within the stipulated three day
deadline. The final stage of the process was to deliver the ‘collection’
statement to each individual. The statement had already been drafted and
uploaded. The prescribed wording was brief and to the point:
Under
the powers bestowed on me, by the Kryl/Earth Agreement, you have been randomly
selected for Kryl processing. You must deliver yourself to the nearest
collection centre (......) within 24 hours of this notice. Failure to comply,
will lead to the serving of an arrest notice.
The collection centres will filter those
selected to the final processing list. Those selected will then be transferred
to a national collection centre for further processing. Those removed by the
filter, will be allowed to return home. Once selected and removed from the
final processing list, you will not then be eligible for reselection.
His teams work was
complete and it was his responsibility to deliver the merged message to the
selected persons. This was not an unusual process; his team had been tasked
with generating hundreds of databases for a range of different reasons. He
reminded himself that despite its size, this was no different from an
administration perspective, although morally it was very different...
Now, all he had to do was to give the ‘send’
command to his workstation and his job was done... But he needed a little more
time.
“Ok, everyone, that’s it for today. Get
yourselves home and get some rest. I don’t expect you in tomorrow. When we
return we will move on to another task...”
His team left in silence. He waited patiently
for the last team member to leave the access portal, before turning his
attention back to his workstation. He took another few moments to compose
himself, turning away from his desk as he contemplated the enormity of his next
actions. What was he about to do? This list was about to condemn one hundred
million people to their deaths and he had generated the list. Was he complicit
in this crime... a crime against humanity? He took a deep breath and
shifted uncomfortably in his seat. At least
this way I know my loved ones are safe. If I leave this to someone else, then I
cannot protect them. This final thought drifted through his mind as he
turned once again towards his work station.
“Send merged messages.”
This simple voice
command confirmed the action and within milliseconds one hundred and fifty
million people would know their fate. Mackenzie’s task was done.
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