He unplugged the iPhone. The globe icon returned for a split second, then became the cable icon again. The Ethernet driver was doing its job.

That’s when he saw it. Under Network Adapters , his trusty Intel Ethernet Connection (7) I219-V was adorned with a small, yellow warning triangle. The device status read: "This device cannot start. (Code 10)."

Reply from 142.250.190.46: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=115. Reply from 142.250.190.46: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=115. Reply from 142.250.190.46: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=115.

Outside, the storm passed. Inside, the quiet hum of a working machine filled the room. Martin opened his report and began to type, grateful for the rain, the frustration, and the strange, winding path that had led him back to something as simple as a blinking green light on a router.

The internet was down. But it was worse than that.