Blake Schwendiman's Blog and Blook

Chapter 33

Friday, 11 March 2022 – 12:45 p.m. IST

The message Sireesha had sent to her press contact had done exactly as she had hoped. By noon, Bangalore local time, several calls had been received at the main desk. She scheduled a press conference for one p.m. in the gardens adjacent to her main building.

As the time for the conference approached, Sireesha made her way from the office into the gardens. It was a perfect day, sunny and warm. Sireesha greeted the press as she made her way to a small platform from which she would address the group.

She excelled in her public appearances, having excellent stage presence, an amenable demeanor and being a powerful speaker. She was considered throughout Asia to be not only one of the most influential people, but also one of the most eligible bachelorettes. She had no personal interest in marrying, but she understood the power of her appeal. She used her beauty and youthfulness to her full political advantage.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press,” she began, “I have invited you this morning to our campus to discuss the recent events in Karachi. As you all know, the Naidu companies dispatched a team of investigators to Karachi immediately after the first reports of an outbreak this morning. Our team was able to test the produce distributed by the aid workers and we were able to detect a GMO in the sample.” Sireesha paused. Instantly the mood of the group changed. There was a buzz of nervous excitement. Cameras flashed.

From the front of the group, a reporter cut in. “Miss Naidu, can you be more specific about the genetically modified organism you found?”

“Our testing is not complete and I do not wish to speculate on the exact nature of the GMOs at this time. But, it is clear that these samples include bio-engineered organisms.” Sireesha spoke with authority. She knew not only how to make a statement that would create the kind of publicity she needed, but also how to withhold just enough information to raise the level of speculation that would be included in every broadcast report.

Another reporter called out. “Are these variants of the genetically modified bacteria that were unleashed in Jordan years ago?”

“Again, I do not wish to speculate until we have a positive identification, but I will say that these samples appear to be more advanced and specifically constructed to avoid detection by current testing techniques. That is why they passed the initial screening.” Sireesha did not have to punctuate her statement by pointing out that the Q-Morrow companies developed the currently-used testing equipment. That fact was well known. And that fact would be included by the press later.

“How did your team identify the GMO?”

“Let me make an analogy. In the first decade of this century, computers and computer networks were flooded with malicious programming code that we called viruses or worms. For years we combated those threats using primitive detection techniques that essentially involved scanning every file for threat signatures – basically a sequence of data signifying a known threat. The obvious problem with this technique was that any new threat could not be identified until after it had been released and identified. In some cases the rate of infection was so high that significant damage occurred before the scanning software was updated to recognize the new threat signature. After battling the threats in this mode for several decades, some very innovative improvements were made to computer operating systems. These changes allowed computers to assess threats in a much more subjective fashion. Computers were, in effect, provided with a rejection system similar to the system your body uses when it rejects a transplant or other foreign material.” Sireesha paused. The members of the press waited. They were engaged.

She continued, “The current bio-detection technologies are like the old software threat analysis programs. They essentially detect known threats based on early developments in artificial organism and genetic modification products. Basically, the state-of-the art is based on ten-year-old bio-technologies. Our detection system is based on modern, adaptable systems.”

One reporter called out from the back, “Is your detection system commercially available today?”

“Yes. In fact our system is deployed throughout India. Had the produce in question been sent through any of our detection systems, the threat would have been identified.”

Another reporter followed up, “So, are you saying that the recent bio-attacks in Karachi are based on more modern technology?”

“Yes.”

“What countries are capable of developing that kind of technology?”

“There are several. The United States, Great Britain, China, France, Japan and India have the capability. Those are the big ones.”

“But those are the primary members of the World Bio-Technology Ethics committee. They operate their bio-research within boundaries.”

Sireesha turned slightly. The question had come from just outside the main group. She faced the reporter. “Certainly. But we must recognize that there are several small research facilities in other countries that have made astounding progress recently – taking advantage of the developments and research of other facilities. North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Israel, South Africa and others may be capable of such developments.”

“Can you speculate on the origin of the samples your company has found?”

“No,” she answered, “and I do not think that this is the real issue. We as a world community must be more capable of detecting organic mutations whether natural or artificial. Without a comprehensive database of organisms to use as a baseline, we will constantly be subject to the kinds of threats recently seen in Karachi.”

Sireesha was a master of turning fear into marketing opportunities. She had used fear and paranoia as fuel to grow most of her business – fear of disease, fear of death, fear of U.S. encroachment on Asian economics.

“Our new technologies ... technologies created here in India, have proven to be better at GMO recognition than any US or other western technology. We are now leading the world in bio-technological research and development and we will lead the world in creating a more comprehensive GMO threat database. We will make the world a safer place.”

Behind the press, a crowd of onlookers roared in applause. Many of the reporters also affirmed the message. It was a message that echoed the voices of the billions of Asians who were expectantly teetering on the cusp of outpacing the west in all facets of economic and technological growth. Their time had come. They were more than ready to take the lead in the world. Sireesha and the Naidu companies represented the single largest opportunity to take that stand.