"You won't have that to worry about that, Nancy. Are you ready for the demonstration?"

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

"I've reviewed your system thoroughly. From both the hardware and communications point of view. You've got very tight control over all aspects of your systems. Even the researchers' workstations. An environment this tight means that relatively few variables exist when trying to identify the causes of unusual system behavior. Our general premise is going to be that we cut off the outside world by suspending the T1 and fiber linked circuits. Then, we'll gradually eliminate internal sections of the network until I'm the only possible remaining source of activity. The network traffic management and monitoring system you yourself created will be our means of eliminating the other sources. I've established buffers on the telecom circuits so that traffic can be held on both sides and re-synchronized following our demonstration."

"Okay. You've gone too far. I'm not going to suspend my company's systems because someone called me up on the phone and asked me to. I'd be laughed all the way out of Silicon Valley."

As Nancy completed her statement and prepared to hang up the phone, an image appeared on her workstation monitor. The talking head picked up the conversation where it had been left on the phone. "Perhaps," said Spike Webb visually from the monitor and verbally from both the phone and the workstation speakers, "I should further intrigue your curiosity?"

"Hey! I don’t think I like this. That's my system you're on," said Nancy as she dropped the phone and started typing commands on the keyboard.

"I've temporarily suspended keyboard input so we can talk. Please calm down Nancy. I'll be forced to flee for my own safety if we cannot proceed calmly. I assure you I mean no harm to you, your systems, or your company."

"Okay. Okay. Let me think... Why am I doing this? Maybe I should shut everything down and figure out what's going on. This is too weird!" Nancy grasped for explanations.

"Nancy, please get hold of yourself. I've decided to engage my demonstration for you. There really is nothing you can do about it. It will last only a few seconds. You can then spend hours, if you like, reviewing the systems logs which will provide your ultimate evidence anyway. Please note the time for log coordination later."

"No wait. Don't do it. Let's talk it over some more. If I could just trust you..."

"As I said, there is nothing to worry about since I mean you no harm. Please notice the traffic monitor display. As you can see, there is currently no network communication at all. All nodes have been isolated. Everything has stopped. Also, notice that my own execution continues. I'm talking to you. You must conclude that I am in residence on your workstation which is in fact true. I'm now returning all control both internal and external to your systems."

At that point Nancy came out of her stunned state and moved quickly to the traffic management system workstation. Indeed, everything was back to normal. Nancy quickly telephoned a couple of her staff members who confirmed the mysterious interruption and the equally mysterious return of service. They were already initiating the routine follow-up diagnostic procedures. Nancy was suspecting they would find nothing. She spent another half hour reviewing logs on multiple systems herself while a silent image sat motionless on her workstation's display. Nancy called reception to have them cancel her remaining meetings for the day, forwarded her telephone to voice mail and sat back down in her chair.



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