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Be Forewarned

by Gene Kucinkas

222 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0420; ISBN 1-55369-607-7; US$23.00, C$26.01, EUR19.00, £13.00

New transducer chip implants are under development to monitor a person's health and location. The eventual benefits could transform society, as we know it, if nothing goes wrong!

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book In 2002, there have been over 3000 kidnappings in Colombia alone. Obviously it has become intolerable but kidnapping is a profitable profession monetarily as well as politically. It's only a matter of time before this crime immigrates to other countries, including the USA. Drastic measures to combat it will be necessary. Current technology exists to implant individuals with electronic chips to monitor their location within a few feet anywhere on this planet. Engineers are being recruited to develop chip implants to monitor health. BE FOREWARNED presents these developments in a scenario that eliminates kidnapping and most any other violent crime for that matter. Envision a society that has no need for identification cards, licenses, passports, credit cards or cash money. It follows that if you and everyone else can be identified at any exact position, then computers would have all identity information including bank balances and credit accounts. Just think, a criminal could be identified at the crime scene and located for arrest and conviction. The Hilo Company invents injectable chips which ultimately are mandated for every person on earth. The dream society becomes a reality and most every one is happy for the next thirty years. Then several incidents are reported. Lady Lumis dies, apparently from an overdose of medication prescribed by the computers, an aircraft apparently crashes with all passengers dead but unidentified, a murder is committed by six people who just disappear, a war threat that never happened is identified, and a non existent man steals trade secrets. Obviously something is wrong and Mehan, president of Hilo and her VP of engineering set out to solve the mystery. Once they discover that the AMACS (Always Monitored Always Completely Safe) system has been compromised, they uncover an even greater threat. The potential exists for clandestine modifications to provide a dictator complete control of humanity. Mehan and Peter Kingron, who caused the discrepancies, team to shut down AMACS, no easy task because it is under government controls that rival the most secure prisons of today; The master for the software is double vaulted in the Denver mint and it and the manufacturing process must be modified. With skill, luck and the help of a few Kingron inventions, they are successful but not without tense and dangerous moves.

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About the Author Mr. Kucinkas has been involved with digital computer control since the early 60's. He has participated in the dramatic changes in computer technology and has several firsts to his credit. In this, his first work of fiction he presents a logical scenario using current transducer developments. Mr. Kucinkas is active in the cultural community serving on the Broomfield Coutny Cultural Council. He also serves the greater Denver area as a member of the Board of Directors of the SCFD (Scientific and Cultural Facilities District). Mr. Kucinkas has demonstrated foresight having developed long range plans for industry, his church and community. Applying this vision capability, he uses BE FOREWARNED to warn of a potential danger should society adopt personal location monitoring as a way of life.

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Sample Excerpts

CHAPTER 30

DATE: JUNE 20, 2060

The alarms blared and the operator that had gone to check the compressor rushed into the control room. Seeing his colleague on the floor, he jumped to the conclusion that she was sick and passed out. "Medic! medic!" he shouted unnecessarily.

"We hear you, Jack, don't shout. What's the problem?"

"Jill is down. She must be sick." At that moment he heard the control room door open and turned to see Cary stagger in. "Cary, are you sick too?"

Sick? Hell no, someone knocked me out," he muttered as he rubbed the base of his neck. "Security , close this place up, we have an inturder and you're not going to believe this. He's invisible!"

Alarms sounded and Peter could hear door bolts slip into place. Robbe, slight complication here. They know I'm inside and have sealed the place up tight.

Anything you need from us? I've got the portable terminal active. We're in a cafe. Troops have surrounded the Mint. Mehan believes they know our aliases.

Getting sticky eh? Just stand by, I may need an identity change or something. Right now, I'll wait it out.

"I tell you, I was getting ready to enter the lab when I bumped into somebody or something and when I started to take a good look, I was knocked out cold. Whoever it was hit me right here," the man called Cary told the security chief as he instinctively rubbed his neck at the base of his skull.

"You say you woke up inside the air chamber?" asked the officer holding his dictator to record the answer to his question.

"Yeah, someone must have carried me in so they must still be in here somewhere," Cary answered.

"Don't forget Jill was struck down too," he added, afraid his story might sound incredible.

"I believe you Cary, that's why we've sealed the lab. I ordered an AMACS search and we'll know who it is and where he is within the next few minutes."

"I don't care what AMACS says, someone's is in this lab, I can feel him," Cary said as he paced the floor, rubbed his neck and restrained the urge to feel around with his hands. "Whoever or whatever it is, must be invisible. Maybe it doesn't have an AMACS number. I don't know what's going on, but I'm not crazy. It's here somewhere!"

"Okay, Cary, I'll get a search team in here with infra red detectors and heat sensors. If there is anything visible or invisible, we'll find it. Will you be okay for another half hour or do you want to leave?"

"Leave? Not on your life!"

Robbe, I've got about a half hour before they find me with heat sensors.

Any chance maintenance would have a heat shield or something, Robbe suggested.

Can't hurt to check.

Peter edged to the control room door and when everyone's back was turned, banged on it with his hand.

Instinctively, the operator named Jill said, "Open." The instant the door began to slide open, Peter hurled a small tool across the room and in the split second their eyes were diverted, he slipped into the factory proper. Crouching low he raced toward the far end where he assumed he could find the maintenance shop. It existed all right, but was sealed shut by the security alarm.

No one could enter or depart. So much for that idea, Robbe. Every room is sealed. I'll just have to hide out till we have a plan.

Are they still in production, Peter?

Yes, everything is humming right along, hopefully now making defective AMACS transponders.

Good, Mehan has an idea.

Peter, I've never been in the facility, but they must have changing rooms and showers in the rest rooms. I think you'll fare alot better visible than in the skins. Maybe you can join the search team when they come in or act like a stray member or something. By the time they get suspicious and take you to a terminal, we may be able to work out something.

Hope they have some clean room suits in there, Peter responded. I'll look a bit out of place without clothes. Peter moved to the men's room and sure enough it was fully equipped with showers and power dryers. He hid his equipment in one of the vacant lockers and took a clean room suit out of the bin marked MEDIUM. A quick hot shower and the skins were gone. Donning the jump suit, he lay on one of the benches and nearly fell asleep.

Peter?

Yes?

What's going on?

Just taking a nap.

You're kidding!

Well almost. I'm lying here waiting for the search team. Here they come, think to you later.

"Hey, wake up! What's your name?"

"Why? What's going on? I'm not scheduled for another hour and this is the only place I can get some rest. We had a baby last week and it only sleeps during the day."

"See anything strange in here?" one of the search team asked.

"Like what?" Peter responded as he stood up.

"Something invisible," another member of the team said sarcastically.

"If it's invisible, how could I see it?" Peter replied with a shrug.

"Better come with us, no one told us anyone was here."

"Sure thing, catch up in minute, okay. I've got to take a crap," Peter said, matter of fact as he walked toward the farthest stall.

Peter , what's going on there?

Right now I'm sitting on the pot to stall for time. I've been discovered, but so far they think I belong here. How fast can you get into the personnel files and give me clearance as Lynn White?

Peter, I'm having trouble getting into the personnel files. Okay, Peter, your clearance in the works. Just a minute. Okay, Lynn White's an employee with proper clearance, but you'll need speech and palm print clearance. Stall don't let them get near an ID station. We have to find those data bases and put you in.

Great, my voice and palm prints should be in the files.

"Hey, what'd you do fall in?"

"Hold your horses," Peter responded, as he flushed the toilet and left that stall still buckling his belt. "Bit of Montezuma, what ever that means."

"What'd you say your name was?"

"Lynn White and still is."

"Funny guy! How come nobody knew you were here. Even AMACS doesn't know you're here."

"That can't be or I couldn't a got in. You know that as well as I do," Peter responded trying to sound baffled. "Better check again."

"They're doing that right now and they better find you or you're dead meat. This place is off limits to even the Chairman."

You are now White and cleared, Peter.

********

"Damn, now one's in AMACS manufacturing plant."

"A force is already on the way, Sir, should be there within a minute or two."

"Great, seal the place up tight."

********

"Okay Mr. White, let's see you open that door." Peter without a hint of reticence, placed his palm on the reader and the door opened at his command.

"I've had enough of this shit! You can take this damn job and shove it up, you know what, I'm going home right now and you'll be hearing from the labor board," Peter barked as he turned and boldly walked down the hall to the exit.

I'm out.

Peter, I just took you out of the system. Get skins out of your SPART and disappear. You'll have to walk a few miles and then we can pick you up.

Too late, here they come. No one's spotted me, yet. I'll just have to hide out in the shrubs until after dark. Everyone else okay?

Peter?

Yes?

I love you, please be careful. We're leaving to pick up Janet now. We'll get you later tonight and all go to my place.

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Catalogue Information

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