Story so far
Anna Thurman identifies Erskine as one of the three principal planners with Victor and Paul Thurman, while saying his name is not his real one. A former hospital colleague of Victor, he says he developed tiny machines to protect and repair soldiers, then found hostile machines fighting them in a blood sample and eventually everywhere he looked. He initially favored countermeasures, but says finding nanos in his daughter's blood and hearing Victor's computer-virus analogy persuaded him to accept the silo plan.
Erskine worked a double shift with Anna on the lost silos despite the problem falling outside his expertise. He feared hackers might reprogram airborne nanos, visited his sleeping daughter, and wished he could justify waking her despite her accounting specialty being unneeded. He also worked with Dr. Sneed on a new formulation for Donald. As Donald lost consciousness, Erskine expressed the wish that someone like him could be in charge. Later messages concerned coordinating shifts and overflow from Deep Freeze; Donald wondered, without evidence, whether Erskine helped alter his identity. Donald now recalls Erskine's argument that someone would inevitably create a weapon capable of silently exterminating humanity.
Appearance
Erskine is thin and wears glasses. He speaks with a British accent.
Role
He is a principal silo planner associated with medical nanos, the rationale for the project, and work with Sneed on Donald's treatment.
Relationships
Victor — Erskine worked at the same hospital as Victor and says Victor's reasoning helped persuade him to accept the silo plan.
Donald — Erskine wished someone like Donald were in charge; Donald later suspected his involvement in the identity switch without evidence.
Sources — 41 recorded facts, by chapter
Chapter 119
- Anna identifies Erskine as one of the three principal planners alongside Victor and her father.
- Anna says Erskine is not his real name.
- Anna says Erskine discovered the original nano threat and warned Victor and Thurman.
- Anna says Erskine has worked a double shift with her investigating the lost silos, outside his expertise.
Chapter 120
- Thurman says Erskine is planning a small ceremony limited to those who know about Victor.
Chapter 125
- Erskine is a thin man with glasses and a British accent.
- Erskine says he and Victor worked at the same hospital before his discovery.
- Erskine claims to have discovered the great threat.
- Erskine says he developed tiny medical machines intended to protect and repair soldiers.
- Erskine says he found hostile machines in a blood sample that fought the medical machines.
- Erskine says he subsequently found the hostile machines everywhere.
- Erskine offers to escort Donald upstairs and asks him to come see someone.
Chapter 126
- Erskine says he never saw a nano design with complete killing efficiency.
- Erskine believes North Korea’s nano designs could have killed most people.
- Erskine says he originally advocated countermeasures while Victor advocated the silo plan.
- Erskine does not know why Victor killed himself and doubts that Victor lost faith in the mission.
- Erskine wishes he could wake his daughter, but sees no need for her accounting expertise.
- Erskine says finding nanos in his daughter’s blood convinced him the silo plan was right.
- Erskine says the meetings in Thurman’s chamber healed the participants rather than infected them.
- Erskine says he wanted machines that would destroy hostile machines before they could reach people.
- Erskine recalls Victor explaining his psychological argument to him and Thurman in the cafeteria at Walter Reed.
- Erskine says the computer-virus analogy eventually persuaded him to accept the plan.
Chapter 127
- Erskine’s story prompts Donald to consider the difference between doing the right thing and doing the correct thing.
Chapter 131
- Erskine fears the hackers may be reprogramming the airborne nanos.
- Erskine visits his sleeping daughter.
Chapter 133
- Sneed wants to consult Erskine about changing the formulation in light of Donald’s medication history.
Chapter 134
- Donald recalls Erskine saying he wished people like Donald were in charge.
Chapter 138
- Erskine and Dr. Sneed are working through the night on a new formulation that may take weeks.
Chapter 139
- Erskine carts away the disconnected computers and coiled wiring from the war room.
- Erskine needs a few more weeks to finish his work alongside Sneed.
Chapter 141
- Erskine holds Donald’s hand after the injection and appears sad.
- As Donald loses consciousness, he hears Erskine say that someone like Donald would be better in charge.
Chapter 151
- Donald considers Erskine a possible participant in switching his identity through database changes.
Chapter 152
- Erskine was left behind to coordinate the shifts.
- Erskine sent Thurman a message about deep-freeze occupants overflowing into a lower cryopod level.
Chapter 156
- Donald considers Erskine a possible source of his placement in Thurman’s role, without evidence.
Chapter 167
- Donald intends to inspect Erskine’s locker for possible secrets.
Chapter 173
- Donald thinks one signature on the Pact memo might be Erskine’s.
Chapter 183
- Donald believes his planned action differs from what Erskine hoped he would do in charge.
Chapter 185
- Donald recalls Erskine telling him about wiping the earth clean.
Chapter 245
- Donald recalls Erskine arguing that someone would inevitably create a weapon capable of silently exterminating humanity.