The Enigma Gamers - A CATS Tale

“I’m looking at a million Euro deficit for every day we are off-line. If you have any swell ideas on how to purge this cyber-sickness from our systems, I’m all ears! Frankly, it would seem, the only entity that can provide a solution is the one displayed on the monitor! So, yes, I am considering ALL my options!”

Unruffled by her tirade, Brayson offered, “Allow me to point out, without a defense against this well-crafted attack, our adversary can return at any time and treat your city like an ATM machine. Even if this bunch didn’t, word could get around the cyber underground to others trying to cash in on the money train, because all they have to do is pretend to be the same extortionist. I do not advocate a course of action that ends up in paying the extortion monies, Madam Mayor.”

Mayor Perez sensed her weak position yet was unwilling to abandon her line of thinking. “We can keep this disbursement transaction quiet enough to find a solution to this kind of blackmail. If we can get them to quietly go away, then our systems can come back online, city services can resume, and you, my expensive contractor, will have more time to help build a defensible security solution for the city’s technology system.”

Brayson, also unwilling to let his position be overrun, countered, “I’m not sure you can simply book fifty million Euros onto the city books, under the other expenses category, and not be challenged. As soon as it gets out that you took city money to pay a blackmailing extortionist, your membership in the Impecunious Impertinent political group would be quickly transferred to the Sofritoes group, where you would be stewed in your own juices.

“Granted, I’m not here to lecture you on city politics, but that decision is ill-advised.”

Now bordering on exasperation, Mayor Perez practically hollered, “Then find me another solution! This team has twenty-four hours to come up with something to bring social services online!

“While you’re doing that, I’m going to round up all the rest of the city council, and we are going to review our status.”  After a few deep breaths, she added, “And, you’re right, Brayson. I need to build consensus before a decision is acted upon. Now, gentlemen, please help us defeat this enemy, or we will have to add this cyber-thug to the city payroll.”