pseudomimivirus
A complex virus with a large genome, originally weaponized by the New Sunrise cult, serving as the basis for both past and current biological threats.
2 chapters across 1 book
Rainbows End (2007)Vernor Vinge
The chapter details a public health scare involving a Pseudomimivirus epidemic initially detected by hobbyists before official agencies could respond, exposing vulnerabilities in disease surveillance systems. Günberk Braun, an obsessive EU intelligence agent, uses this event and a subsequent anomalous marketing data spike to uncover a covert biological weapons test, revealing a new, highly precise and insidious form of biowarfare. Braun's investigation leads to the terrifying realization of a looming threat far beyond previous biological attacks.
In this chapter, Alfred struggles to maintain secrecy around his covert YGBM project amid increasing scrutiny from Günberk Braun and others. The enigmatic figure Rabbit unexpectedly appears in Alfred's secure office, revealing progress on a covert operation to infiltrate the San Diego bio labs and proposing a complex plan involving key players like Alice Gong Gu. Alfred and Rabbit negotiate strategies to manipulate lab security audits and prepare for a critical operation, highlighting the high-stakes espionage and biosecurity tensions.