Countermeasures

"We need to crack this thing," Director Hayes slammed the tablet down. "IceBlock is making us look like amateurs."

Tech Specialist Smith pulled up the app's architecture. "Sir, there's nothing to crack. No central server. No user database. It's peer-to-peer mesh networking."

"Then shut down the app stores."

"First Amendment issues, sir. We'd need—"

"I don't care about amendments. I care about results."

Agent Morrison cleared his throat. "What about fake reports? Flood the system with false positives?"

Smith shook his head. "Geographic verification. You have to be physically present to report. Plus the four-hour auto-delete means our false reports expire anyway."

Hayes paced. "Undercover agents. Download the app, monitor the network."

"Already tried. The app doesn't reveal who's reporting. Anonymous push notifications only."

"Track the developer."

"Joshua Aaron. Clean record. Constitutional lawyers on speed dial. His code is open source—anyone can verify the privacy claims."

Morrison leaned forward. "What about pressure through his wife's employer?"

"Done. DOJ terminated her. Aaron's still operating."

Hayes stopped pacing. "Cell tower data. We can see who's in the area when reports get filed."

"Warrant issues, sir. Plus thousands of users per incident. Legal calls it a fishing expedition."

"Then we go dark. Radio silence. No communications."

Chen pulled up the morning's stats. "Doesn't matter. Visual confirmation is enough. They're reporting unmarked vehicles, tactical gear, anything that looks federal."

The room went quiet.

Hayes stared at the wall map dotted with failed operations. Red pins marking empty raids. "How many downloads now?"

"1.2 million. Growing daily."

"And our success rate?"

Morrison consulted his tablet. "Down sixty percent since April."

Hayes picked up his phone. Thought about calling the Attorney General. Put it down.

"Sir?" Smith ventured. "Maybe we adapt. Change our methods—"

"Our methods are fine, Specialist. It's the app that's the problem."

But Smith was already thinking: Maybe the problem was thinking an app could be stopped by conventional means.

Outside, phones pinged across the city.

The network was learning.