Chapter Four: One Battery Buys a Neighborhood

Its repair level rose from seven to twelve percent. [RESOURCE CONTROL UPDATED FROM EXTREMELY LOW TO LOW.] “Ten billion for one adjective.” [SECOND CIVILIZATION MISSION GENERATED.] Every light in the city flickered. A map of the eastern power grid covered the wall. Twelve hubs turned red. [AN UNKNOWN CONTROL SEQUENCE WILL CAUSE CASCADING FAILURE WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS. PROJECTED POPULATION AFFECTED: 130 MILLION.] [OBJECTIVE: PRESERVE CRITICAL ENERGY SUPPLY WITHOUT CENTRALIZED TAKEOVER.] [ADDITIONAL CONDITION: THE SOLUTION MUST BE INDEPENDENTLY REPRODUCIBLE BY THE CURRENT CIVILIZATION.] Lin watched the red spread. “This isn't an accident. Someone poisoned the grid.” Refraction displayed White Spire's mark.