The Extinction Switch: Book three of the Kato's War series Read Online Free Page A

scientists, anything.”
    “I appreciate that, Kato. We’ll need all the help we can get. We have six months to come up with, and successfully execute, an attack.”
    ----
    The three friends sat abreast in the needle-shaped aircraft’s long cabin. “I feel bad for that family,” Kassandra said.
    “Me too,” Annabelle said.
    “No-one forced them to sell their tickets,” Antonio said.
    “Call Mom,” Annabelle said. She gazed off into the distance, as the airplane started to taxi. There was no answer.
    “You know what pisses me off?” Kassandra said.
    “What?”
    “That we didn’t think to buy a ride to Nice, instead of walking.” Antonio nodded.
    “We were in a panic, just like everyone else,” Annabelle said. “Hindsight, and all that…”
    “I guess.”
    “We expect to arrive in Lyon at 1 AM,” a voice said over the loudspeaker. “Our flight time is thirty-six minutes.”
    “Hope it’s not too cold there,” Annabelle said. “We’re still dressed like we’re going to a club.” The aircraft was soon in the air, swooshing speedily inland. A passenger to Antonio’s left got out a display unit, the size of a cigar tube, and switched it on. The news showed on a midair display about the size of a dinner tray. The trio leaned over to watch. At first, all that could be seen was fire. Then, people were silhouetted in the flames, throwing improvised missiles at the police. “Looting and rioting have broken out in Paris, Lyon, and every major city in France,” the broadcast said. “Store shelves have already been stripped bare, as citizens hoard food, water, and other necessities. Lawlessness is spreading like wildfire. Curfews have been imposed…”
    Annabelle’s face turned white. “I was afraid of something like this,” she said, turning to Kassandra. “People think we’re all going to be wiped out too. There’s nothing left to lose. They will turn to hedonism, crime, or both.”
    “Then the fabric of society will unravel quickly,” Antonio said.
    “So, what do we do?” Kassandra said.
    “In my case, try to get to my place in Paris as quickly as we can,” Annabelle said, “and ride it out.”
    “And if the Extinction Switch is used again?” Antonio said.
    “Then… shelter will be the least of our worries.”
    A short while later, all three friends spaced out for a few seconds, apparently focusing on some message appearing in their minds. Kassandra was the first to speak. “Oh, my God! I don’t believe this! Earth is now quarantined! Nobody can leave!”
    “ Merde… ” Annabelle said. “There goes your survival plan, Kass. You should come to Paris with me, since you can’t get off Earth. And that’s all there is to it.”
    “Or you could come to my place…” Antonio said. Kassandra shook her head no. His expression fell from excitement to deep disappointment.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
    The Cull
     
    Entara was the name that Seung Yi’s descendants had given to their former home world, Ceres, on which most of had them lived. They staked a claim to this dwarf planet as their own sovereign territory, despite the Outer Space Treaty explicitly forbidding any such claim. Since the reemergence of the Yi Dynasty, 105 years after the destruction of Ceres, they had now made the same claim on the asteroid Vesta. They now referred to this body as Entara. The small hospital was the only place on Entara, besides the quarters of the High Councilors, which had artificial gravity. Located a little way out from the center, its business was mostly slow—apart from the maternity unit. Seung Yi wore a black robe. Tai Zu and Zan Tang, two of the twelve High Councilors, wore scarlet robes. They exited the elevator onto a sterile corridor some thirty meters long. One wall was clear. It gave a view onto a ward with ten beds, eight of which were occupied. The men walked a few paces down, and entered. The women and three white-uniformed nurses alike looked up in complete surprise. The