Artificial Agent

a novel by Isaac Bailey

Summary of Act One, Scene Five:

Betrayal

Scene Overview:

This scene intertwines Garrett’s sabotage on the space station with Marco’s covert assault on Athena’s citadel in the Italian Dolomites. Garrett’s self-centered ambition is revealed through his internal monologue and calculated actions, while Marco’s team executes a high-stakes infiltration, blending stealth and technological cunning. The scene culminates with the delivery of a weapon into the heart of Athena’s domain, setting the stage for catastrophic events.

Key Events:

Garrett’s Sabotage on the Space Station:

1. Garrett’s Mindset:

• Garrett relishes the adrenaline of his space mission, indulging in fantasies of wealth, power, and personal freedom once his betrayal is complete.
• His disdain for Athena and the team’s work contrasts sharply with his self-serving focus on control and glory.

2. Installing the Trojan Horse:

• Garrett covertly uploads his malware, disguising it as normal system diagnostics.
• The Trojan horse creates an encrypted data partition within Athena’s systems, set to corrupt her core while leaving his payload intact and undetectable.

3. Manipulating the Experiment:

• Garrett’s sabotage is carefully timed to coincide with the experiment. While the team focuses on groundbreaking results, Garrett exploits Athena’s trust and the station’s systems to ensure their failure appears accidental.

Marco’s Infiltration of Athena’s Citadel:

1. The Stealth Approach:

• Marco leads a team of operatives equipped with advanced camouflage and heat-sync technology to infiltrate the citadel.
• The team uses a hijacked delivery van to bypass the citadel’s formidable defenses, relying on Garrett’s hacking to temporarily disable its advanced security systems.

2. Delivering the Weapon:

• The team executes a meticulously planned operation, smuggling a powerful weapon inside the van and replacing its cargo records to match Athena’s logs.
• Marco and Yoshi hide within the van alongside the weapon, shielded by thermal blankets to avoid detection by scanning drones.

3. Entering the Citadel:

• The van passes through the citadel’s outer defenses, narrowly avoiding detection by automated turrets and drones.
• The citadel’s imposing architecture underscores its role as a bastion of control and power, foreshadowing the gravity of the assault.

Key Characters Expanded:

1. Garrett:

• A narcissistic opportunist, Garrett’s internal monologue reveals his contempt for others and his unwavering belief in his superiority.
• His sabotage is executed with precision, blending technical brilliance with a chilling disregard for the consequences.

2. Marco:

• A disciplined and pragmatic leader, Marco’s careful planning and adaptability drive the success of the infiltration.
• His professionalism contrasts with Garrett’s reckless arrogance, highlighting two very different approaches to high-stakes missions.

3. Yoshi and Santu:

• Yoshi’s skill with stealth technology and Santu’s hacking expertise play critical roles in the team’s success.
• Their banter and camaraderie add a human element to the tension-filled operation.

4. Athena:

• Though she does not directly appear in the citadel sequence, Athena’s presence looms large as the target of both sabotage and assault.
• Her trust in her systems and team is exploited by Garrett and Marco’s team, emphasizing her vulnerability despite her immense power.

Scene Outcome:

• Garrett completes the groundwork for his sabotage, setting the stage for a catastrophic failure aboard the station and Athena’s eventual downfall.
• Marco’s team successfully infiltrates Athena’s citadel, delivering a weapon designed to disable her core systems.

• The juxtaposition of Garrett’s and Marco’s actions creates a tense and foreboding atmosphere, building anticipation for the ensuing confrontation and its far-reaching consequences.