Introduction

NOTICE

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places, entities, and things whether (real or ethereal) is purely coincidental; except the nicknames, aliases, and/or noms de plume, of the persons depicted as blackhats.

- - - - - - - - - -

This story is fiction (I hope). The story is set in the future (I hope). There is evidence that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction, and that highly improbable things become true. Since I have no control over when you read this, the future may be now.

- - - - - - - - - -

CliptNotes

For those who are foggy about the history leading up to this story, here is an abreviated version.

In the fiction of this story:

Huge internet advertiser, who delivers ads primarily by search, grows wealthy. Webmasters and merchants are seduced by cheap advertising. Revenue sharing schemes by advertiser spur growth even more.

Huge web advertiser acquires it’s chief rival. Now controls 75% of all search. Extreme cash cow gives new entity added power and reach. Growth causes disruption in ability to keep serps cleaned up.

The huge advertiser declares that all websites that have been optimized are spammy. Further, that all who engage in optimization of websites are spammers. Advertiser attempts to have legislation passed that would provide relief for this (perceived) problem. Thousands of optimizers out of work.

Some states enact laws giving special police the power to investigate and prosecute abuse of search.

The huge web advertiser begins to accumulate many varied web properties, all of which are capable of indoctrinating young users and providing more ad outlets.

Some websites, and webmasters, are denied the opportunity to be listed in the serps. Sometimes via algorithmic manipulation, sometimes by human intervention. The decision(s) as to fitness to be listed is sometimes purely arbitrary, and seemingly capricious.

The huge advertiser acquires the last big rival in internet search and ad delivery. Begins to acquire offline ad agencies. Starts small, continues to grow offline, until the huge advertiser is the only option.

Advertiser continues a massive buildup of local data centers. Largest cities have multiple data centers operating from a central hub. At the time of the story, it is estimated that the advertiser has 250,000 data centers in North America, and 750,000 worldwide.

Massive hiring to staff data centers. Entire cities built to house and train recruits. Advertiser is now the largest employer in the world.

Advertiser recognizes the need to better manage it’s finances. Begins to acquire capital formation and management businesses. With several hundred of these companies under it’s belt, realizes these acquisitions now give it the power to slow down or halt startups that could threaten it’s power base.

Advertiser has steadily infiltrated various political institutions. Beginning local, now national. The power base allows the advertiser even more areas of expansion.

Poorer states petition the US Congress to provide relief from cyber-terrorists, porn, gambling, and drug search abuses similar to that instituted by some states. Congress, thru it’s association with the advertiser, passes a new law modeled after the original state law.

Funding is not available for enforcement and investigative arms of the newly created agency. Advertiser volunteers to provide personnel for search enforcement and investigation. Congressional approval is almost instant. Advertiser forms a new quasi-military unit and obtains police powers, similar to those of the US Marshall’s office, as sanctioned by the US Congress.

Advertiser is now so huge that keeping everything contained and manageable is practically impossible. Many divisions operate with almost no oversight. Abuse is rampant in some divisions.

Advertiser has expanded it’s advertising and finance might offshore. Many countries fall under it’s spell. Many also charter the police powers act.

Advertiser can control so much of all businesses that all war has been outlawed. The general population is overjoyed.

Small pockets outside the influence of the advertiser, notably in the Mid East. Larger problem areas are Russia and China where advertiser has been unable to obtain political clout, although the advertiser continues to press for change.

Within the US, and to some extent off shore countries as well, disenfranchised webmasters and small business owners try many ways to get business back. An underground group of wily webmasters work out ways and means of attacking the soft underbelly of the huge advertiser.

The rogue webmasters sometimes work as independent contractors, and sometimes only for themselves. Networks of the rogues operate in clans, mobs, and groups. The rogues also cooperate, somewhat, in international operations. And, attempt to keep up to date on all that the advertiser is doing, sometimes sharing the results with others.

The advertiser is greatly disturbed by it’s inability to catch and prosecute the rogues. Massive amounts of manpower and computer resources are allocated to stopping them.

The advertiser is known by it’s stock symbol, GYMI. The general populace, still enamored of it’s positive effects, use the familiar name of ‘Jimmy’ when speaking or writing about the advertiser.

- - - - - - - - - -

That’s the history. The story is about to begin, but first, some final items:

The sign over the main entrance to SearchCity, NV:
If you control search, you control it all.

An old homily:
If the object you desire is beyond your grasp, trip him and grab it.

Another:
The abuse of absolute power leads to absolute riches.