Preserving Humanity — Tom Wells

NASA's first space probe to reach another solar system, Seeker One, has come alive. It has sent back a self aware computer virus that can infect any computing device on Earth. Worse yet, this new intelligence is taking over the cult of the Faithful; a sect of renegade followers who have violated the 29th Amendment to the US constitution,the Human Preservation Act. The Faithful implant their brains and bodies with computerized enhancements and now the virus is seizing control of the cult. Beyond the United States where constitutional bans on implants have not kept the spread of implanted humans in check the computer takeover is complete. Man, machine and the modern world could be thrown back into the dark ages.

A secret gathering of the age's brightest graduate students from across the United States known as the Program, has been initiated to unlock the secrets of Seeker One's discoveries and transformation. Building on the successes of past Programs, the class of 2165 is sequestered at an abandoned military installation in the Nevada desert just before the world is thrown into a virtual war. No shots are fired, but thousands of lives are threatened by the technology that humanity has let get beyond their control.

Together the students in The Program needs to find a way to stop the Seeker One virus's spread before mankind becomes a true slave to their own creation. In doing so, they will find the mankind can leave our solar system.