Gingezel 4: Hacker

Gingezel 4: Hacker, Illustrated 2nd Edition with AI Art, by Judi Suni Hall and Donald S. Hall

It is time to grasp at straws.The expert team of industrial risk analysts are rapidly eliminating all but design flaws or quantum computer effects as the cause for the reactor overpower that has left the mining colony on Drezvir facing their brutal winter without adequate power. The Farr Sector Judiciary wants a resolution, fast.

The concept of a death penalty ceases to be a concept when lovers Dr. Mitra Kael, power systems engineer and Dr. Dreen Pendi, former head of Nemizcan Computing are arrested. Can either of them let the other take the fall? How hard or easy would it be to just say I’m the one responsible and save your lover’s life?

And how stupid would it be? What if the accident isn’t an accident, but a malicious hack to the control and safety system? How would you prove traces of a hack? Dreen has his suspicions, and a face to put to those suspicions, but he needs proof.

It turns into a hacker vs hacker battle, where time is of the essence. Where time is the solution. At times like this you need help from your friends. Dreen’s hackers Brys and Vennbir are doing what they can, but they need inspiration. Unexpected ‘help’ from Ghen Kulgalu, the galaxy’s drug lord, has Ceb Windegren, one of the most senior members of the Interplanetary Judiciary, en route to Drezvir. He is risking a major inter-sector diplomatic incident, but he needs to know if the overpower was caused by that son of his, or if there is something even more sinister going on.

Science fiction by scientists. Thriller.