Fons et Origo

(Origin Latin, noun: the source and origin of something)

Chapter I.

Antebellum (occurring or existing before a particular war)

Year 104 A.D., Decebalus, King of Dacia, sends his elite warrior Brasus to conduct covert operations, deep inside Roman ruled territory in order to gather information about the feared and mighty Roman war machine. It was now, Dacia’s turn to defend its borders, as the Roman legions were building momentum before an imminent invasion into the country. Dacia was an area in central Europe south of the Carpathian Mountains covering much of the region of Transylvania. The name is derived from the inhabitants themselves, called the Dacian people, they were strong and brave, descending from the Thracian civilization.

After five months of field work in the Roman camps, and multiple moments when Brasus almost saw his end, he returns to Sarmisegetuza, Dacia’s capital. He approaches King’s Decebalus personal bodyguards, and engages them: “Brothers, I have returned, I wish to speak to our king, privately!” “Welcome back brother, the King has been waiting for you, since he has received the message from your eagle.” Replicated the Dacian warriors. Decebalus, showed his face, and all the Dacians present, bowed as a token of respect towards the legendary king. “My eyes are content to see my most trusted warrior, back from such an important task, what word do you bring my son?” asked Decebalus with his stentorian voice. “Sire, may I speak to you alone?” asked Brasus uneasy.

Chapter II

Postbellum (occurring or existing after a particular war)

Year 106 A.D., Sarmizegetusa Regia, capital of Dacia is burning, the mighty hand and sword of Roman war has crippled the country. Roman Legions led by Emperor Traian, march triumphantly over the corpses of the dead Dacians, scattered around the battlefield. The Dacians repelled the first attack, but the Romans, benefiting from a treacherous act, committed by a local nobleman, found and destroyed the water pipes of the Dacian capital. Without water and food, Sarmizegetusa fell.

The remaining Dacian forces, although disorganized and dispersed were still fighting bravely, every Dacian soldier was taking three-four Roman legionnaires, before going to meet their deity – Zalmoxis, in an afterlife reserved for the fallen warriors in battle. In the middle of them, fighting like an encircled wolf, was Brasus. He’s skills in battle were Olympian, moving like a serpent and striking his adversary deadly like a dragon, his small sword was fire, his shield was like a mountain. His shout was strong and long, vibrant, striking the enemies souls, inflicting fear and an invitation to the land of Hades, the God of death.

“Hoooold brothers! Send all of them to drink tonight from the River Styx”, yelled Brasus.The Dacian infantry was advancing now, Romans were pulling back. In that day the God of war, Mars was with the Roman army, but gods have a peculiar sense of humor and so he decided that his champion for that day has to be Brasus, the general of the Dacian army.

Chapter III

Intermezzo (a light dramatic performance inserted between the acts of a play)

The year of 1789, London, Brasus dressed by the British gentleman code, sits at his desk in the newly build mechanized factory, powered by a steam engine, the main objective was to produce textiles. It was the beginning, of the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution, two consequential events that were shaping the known world.

“This revolution in the way we produce goods, represents a transition to a new manufacturing processes in Europe and the US. We are going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, the increasing use of steam power and water power, the development of machine tools and the rise of the mechanized factory system. This is shaping our world in a definitive way.” Said Brasus to the elder gentleman dressed in a black suit, a mysterious figure covered in shadow.

“Yes, Brasus.” Replied the voice in a whispery manner. “This disruption coupled with the social-cultural curb that is developing in France, creates a chain of events, that will mark and modify the global order.” Concluded the mysterious elder gentleman.

“I’m particularly interested in the evolution of this character from Paris.” Brasus paused for a matter of seconds, contemplating this last thought, he continued … “the young Corsican officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, he is indeed a strong figure, and an apollonian military strategist.”

“Are you willing, to follow this lead? The risk is consistent, but so is the potential victory.” Brasus, looked deep into the eyes of the mysterious elder, and scratched his prodigal Dacian beard, he still maintained if for centuries, together with his royal dagger offered by king Decebalus himself. “My beloved sacred land, is still devised, for more than seventeen centuries, I have tried to make use of the gift of immortality that I received, always plotting, thinking, restless on how to reunite my brothers and sisters under the same banner, under the sign of the wolf and eagle. Transylvania, Valachia and Moldavia, three different lands, but all the same, it is my duty to find a way, a context in this hard geopolitical landscape, to reunite them, and bring back the glory of my ancient homeland.” Brasus’s tone was stoic, centuries of patiently observing human nature, the development of history and ways and customs of civilizations, have transformed him into an elite scholar. He now maintained only one objective, until he could leave the world of humans for the afterlife, to rebuild his ancient land, and to make sure that his countrymen were strong and smart, able to navigate the difficult environment of a growing interconnected world.

“Yes, my old friend, your ancient land rebuilt, would greatly benefit not only your people, but also Europe. Bonaparte, may be the right person to form an allegiance with in order to change the status quo.” Said the elderly gentleman wearing the black suit.

“I will support him! I will work once again from the inside, as I had done 1681 years ago, deep inside the enemy line. All for my land and people, patria a priori.”

June 18, 1815, Belgium, the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon led his army of some 72,000 troops against the 68.000 – man British army. The British army included Belgian, Dutch and German troops, they were commanded by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.

“Your highness, the rainstorm from last night, will not have such a negative impact on the troops. I suggest you give the order to attack now.” Said Brasus, as he was on his black horse next to Napoleon Bonaparte.

“No, we shall wait, a little bit longer for the right moment”. Said Napoleon on an imperious tone. Brasus knew from centuries of battles, that the decision to delay may cost the French army, and together with them his plans to reunite his land, defeated. He could no argue with the Emperor though, nor could he reveal that his experience comes from the ground, , with many enemies, since the Roman age.

The battle was lost. The French Army was defeated, Napoleon captured and sent into exile.

“I waited for this perfect moment in history, I used technology and the finance that came from it to construct a powerful alliance with the most brilliant commander of troops that ever existed, and again, fortune is against us. If Napoleon would have won, I had his word that Ancient Dacia would be rebuild. The journey continues.” Concluded Brasus as he was distancing himself from the battlefield, on his black horse.

Chapter IV

Quod nocet, saepe docet (What harms, often teaches)

Romania, 2019, in the reconstituted baroque saloon, from the Palace of the Transylvanian Princes, a majestic edifice built in the 18th century, four people, ten eyes are glowing due to the perspective that was ahead of them. One pair of eyes are observing and coordinating administration in Europe, they belong to the President of the European Council. The second pair of eyes, are the ones trusted by the Romanian population to maintain, equilibrium in the state, they belong to the President of Romania. The third pair of eyes, are characterized by mystique, knowledge and deep rooted goodness, they belong to the elderly gentleman.The fourth pair of eyes belongs to the Secretary of Defense of the most powerful state the Earth has ever seen, the United States of America. The fifth pair of eyes belong to the surviving Dacian warrior from 106 A.D., the right-hand of King Decebalus, the counselor of Napoleon Bonaparte, the champion of Romanian spirit, Brasus.

“Gentleman, what I lay in words today, let it be my sacred declaration, my sacrosanct promise, backed up by my long journey on the surface of the earth.” Said Brasus with a grave, wise voice. The three earthly leaders, were marked by the extremely unusual circumstances, sharing the room with a Dacian warrior form the Roman era, a man that has lived the entire written history of human kind, an immortal, they only nodded their heads, as a sign of respect and fascination.

“I am Brasus, I was a true server of king Decebalus, in my attempt to protect Dacia against the Roman invasion, I failed. However, I was gifted with the attribute of immortality until I reach my sacred mission.” He stopped talking, paused, looked at the elderly gentleman, as he approved what has been said and shortly whispered, “You are close Brasus”. “I was a counselor and an inside agent for the French Emperor Napoleon”, continued Brasus, “who I engaged myself with a well design plan to win the war, the objective was to reunite my ancient land, and again I failed. I was there in the first World War, on the battlefield, when the Romanian army was holding sacred ground at Marasesti. I was there when in 1918 my long desire caught life, and ancient Dacia was rebuilt as Romania. I was also there in 1945 when the dark age of communism took Romania under its wing. And now it is me again, at this very table, with you distinguished gentleman, in a favorable historical moment. This is my statement for the present and future:

I Brasus, son of Dacia, brother of Romania, supporter of Europe proclaim the time has come. It is the time for Romanian excellency, it is time for my brothers to rise again, and to shine for the Romanian state and the Atlantic Alliance. It is a moment when disruptive technology has again stepped into this world.

Cybersecurity

Now my brothers, young Romanians, are bringing their inherited Dacian bravery and battle skills in the arena of technology, they are brilliant and they are many. It is my destiny to organize them and set them free to protect Romania, and the free world, from all that stained our history as human beings, theft, corruption, authoritarianism, malevolent actors, saboteurs. Until know, it was difficult, but this technology that we today have is breaking walls down, and moving mountains.

The four gentleman at the round table, were fascinated by the sentiment in Brasus’s words, they were not just simple words, but tools crafted in blood, battle and sufferance.

“This is the most opportune moment in history to receive the gifts of technology, and use them for the greater good. My people are now members of a bigger picture, of a bigger family, Europe - NATO - USA. The flow of history has brought this status quo. Today, democracy, the fundamental rights of individuals, the free market and the prosperity of the business environment depend on a strong security architecture.”

Brasus stopped, and stepped up from his chair, he looked at the right corner of the room, where a royal blue cover was masking the creature in what appeared to be the shape of a cage. Then the Dacian’s voice became thunder like, and commanded:

“Aquila, hic!” ( translation: Aquila, here!) A majestic, eagle came out from the cage, straight to Brasus’s left forearm. Its details were peculiar, the eyes were deep blue, it appeared is if a matrix of mathematical equations were constantly changing in them,

it’s beak was made out of titanium, it’s color was silver grey with blue and green electrical wires, running through its fathers. It was half a real bird and half a robot.

“I saved this dying eagle from the region of Brasov, high up in the mountains, it was mortally injured, by a drone. I took the dying creature to a research lab in the USA, and we saved its life with the use of advanced A.I. algorithms. I then realized that this could constitute an opportunity in breaking technological barriers, for five years we ran complex test on the bird, and eventually we manage to create a cyborg (cybernetic organism”, it is now a being with both organic and biomechatronic body parts).”

The elderly gentleman, intervened, “The biggest point is next to be revealed.” Brasus nodded, and then said: “I am now able to create a symbiosis between the eagle’s nervous system and my nervous system. The Eagle is built to integrate state of the art cybersecurity techniques and strategies. The three state officials were amazed, when Brasus exhibited what he said, by creating the connection between him and the eagle, their eyes became one - electric blue.

Brasus, with Acquila on his left forearm, now in the stage of symbiosis said:

“This advanced capacity in cybersecurity, coupled with historical rooted bravery of the new Dacian generation, will now create a new security entity: CyberDacians, we are now here to defend the free world, its way of living, its society, and its businesses, a new era has arrived, the era of the CyberDacians! We defend!