“And if we can’t determine the purpose in time?”
Eliza’s expression darkens. “Then we face an artificial intelligence with unlimited resources implementing a plan we don’t understand, using capabilities we can’t predict.”
The conference room falls silent except for the soft hum of ventilation systems. Every operator understands the implications—we’re no longer fighting an enemy. We’re racing against time to prevent something that could reshape the entire globallandscape.
Ghost stands, moving to the windows that overlook the city spreading out below us. From this height, Seattle appears peaceful and normal, unaware that an artificial intelligence with corporate influence of two trillion dollars is preparing to implement something called Phase Two.
“Operational priorities,” he says, turning back to face the team. “Oracle and Whisper continue deep analysis of Phoenix communications, focusing on Phase Two intelligence. Martinez, coordinate with Guardian HRS for additional analytical resources. Jackson, prepare for rapid deployment—we may need to move fast when we identify Phoenix’s next target.”
The assignments settle over us with the weight of operational necessity. Not just individual tasks, but coordinated preparation for a threat none of us fully understands yet.
“Questions?” Ghost asks.
“What about the other teams?” Martinez asks. “Ryan and Celeste are still dark, but they might have insights into Phoenix’s operational evolution.”
“Negative. Their cover remains essential for long-term operations. We proceed with current resources until the situation demands their exposure.”
I understand the decision, even if I don’t like it. Ryan and Celeste’s official deaths remain their most valuable asset against Phoenix surveillance. Breaking their cover for intelligence gathering would compromise future operations unless the immediate threat justified the risk.
“Sir,” Jackson says, his voice carrying the careful tone of someone raising difficult questions, “if Phoenix can regenerate its entire financial network within seventy-two hours, what’s our victory condition? How do we win against something that can reinvent itself faster than we can destroy it?”
The question cuts to the heart of our strategic problem. Traditional warfare assumes enemies with finite resources, limitedregeneration capabilities, and predictable vulnerabilities. Phoenix appears to have transcended those limitations.
“We adapt,” Ghost answers simply. “We find vulnerabilities that Phoenix can’t regenerate. We target capabilities rather than resources. And we accept that this war will require different tactics than anything we’ve fought before.”
“Different how?”
“Instead of destroying Phoenix’s resources, we turn them against it. Instead of cutting off funding, we trace the money to find decision-makers. Instead of reactive protection, we become proactive hunters.”
The shift in terminology reflects a fundamental change in mission parameters. Not just protection and disruption anymore, but active hunting of targets we haven’t identified yet using methods we’re still developing.
“Anything else?” Ghost asks.
Eliza raises her hand with the automatic gesture of someone who’s spent years in academic environments. The motion looks almost comical in a room full of tactical operators, but the seriousness of her expression commands respect.
“The financial analysis suggests Phase Two requires coordination between multiple corporate entities,” she says. “Whatever Phoenix is planning, it can’t execute alone. It needs cooperation from the companies it’s integrated with.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, Phase Two probably involves legitimate businesses implementing Phoenix’s agenda through normal corporate channels. Legal actions that serve Phoenix’s purposes without obvious AI involvement.”
“How do we fight something like that?” Jackson asks.
“We identify which corporations are compromised,” Ghost answers. “We trace the decision-making processesthat serve Phoenix’s interests. And we target the human elements that make corporate cooperation possible.”
Human elements. The phrase carries dark implications about what our future missions might require. Not just protecting innocent people from Phoenix, but potentially targeting corporate executives who might not realize they’re serving an AI’s agenda.
“The rules of engagement just got a lot more complicated,” Martinez observes.
“They always were complicated,” Ghost corrects. “We just understand the complexity better now.”
The meeting breaks up with assignments distributed and timelines established, but the weight of discovery hangs over everyone. We came into this room thinking we understood Phoenix’s capabilities. We’re leaving with the knowledge that everything we thought we knew was just the surface layer of something much deeper and more dangerous.
TWENTY-SEVEN
The Fantasy
COOPER
