Ep.#13 - Return of the Corinari (The Frontiers Saga - Part 2: Rogue Castes)

by Ryk Brown

  “That’s actually not a bad idea,” Abby chimed in. “No insult intended, Commander. I don’t understand half of the stuff they’re proposing myself, but the android engineers I’ve spoken with seem more than willing to take the time to explain things to me. You just have to be patient and let them learn how to best explain things to you. Remember, they’re not accustomed to having to do so.”

  “If I could get one of them to stand still for two minutes, I would,” Vladimir replied.

  “I’ll see if SilTek can put something in the loop to keep you ‘in-the-know’, so to speak,” Nathan told Vladimir.

  “One of those models they used as salesmen in the products pavilions would be nice. They knew how to speak to a biologic.”

  “A biologic?” Nathan questioned.

  “That’s what they call us,” Jessica explained.

  “AIs that use nicknames,” Cameron pondered.

  “Moving on,” Nathan suggested. “Any word from General Telles or Master Chief Montrose?”

  “Last update from Telles stated that they are now starting on their third Ghatazhak combat armor redesign,” Jessica replied.

  “What was wrong with the second one?”

  “He wasn’t specific,” Jessica said. “Something about ‘room for improvement.’”

  “Should we remind him of our timeline?” Nathan wondered.

  “I wouldn’t,” Jessica insisted.

  “Fair enough.”

  “Chief Montrose is already outfitting his men with their combat armor and weapons,” Cameron pointed out.

  “The Corinari have a different philosophy when it comes to combat equipment,” Jessica reminded them. “They’re mostly about keeping it simple and being proficient at using it, whereas the Ghatazhak training spans all levels, from the basic to the highly complex, including all levels of combat tech.”

  “Their pilots are the same way,” Cameron added. “They’re all about the skill of the pilot rather than the capabilities of the ship they are flying.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Nathan agreed. “Speaking of which; any word from Commander Prechitt?”

  “He’s got all his Corinari pilots training night and day in the Nighthawks.”

  “Prechitt has requested to use our Eagles as adversaries to sharpen up their dogfighting skills,” Commander Verbeek added.

  “Any problem with that?” Nathan asked the commander.

  “We’ll need a bit of time to study Dusahn tactics in order to give them a good workout, but it should be fun,” the commander replied. “After a couple months of constant sorties on Casbon, it was nice to come back to the comfort of the Aurora. But my pilots are already getting bored.”

  “Then make it happen,” Nathan decided. “And don’t go easy on them.”

  “Oh, trust me, we won’t,” Commander Verbeek assured him, smiling broadly.

  Nathan looked around the table. “Anything else?” When no one offered another topic, he added, “Very well. We’ve still got a lot to accomplish and only a few weeks to do it in, so let’s get back to work.” As his staff rose to depart, Nathan turned to Cameron. “I’ll be gone for most of the day, so you’ll be in charge.”

  “Where are you going?” Cameron wondered.

  “Family business,” he replied as he rose.

  “Tell Miri I said hello.”

  “I will.”

  * * *

  The main hangar bay was bustling with activity. Numerous cargo shuttles were unloading their wares onto an already crowded deck as SilTek android technicians prepared for the Aurora’s first upgrade.

  Nathan spotted Vladimir and made his way over to him. “What’s all this?” he inquired as he approached his chief engineer.

  “I have no idea,” Vladimir admitted, throwing his hands up. “Nobody is answering my questions. All they’ll tell me is that they are preparing to upgrade our computers.”

  “All of them?” Nathan wondered. “I thought they were just going to install a single system to house our AI?”

  “I can explain,” Dylan promised from the shuttle’s cargo hatch. He came down the ramp and over to Nathan and Vladimir before continuing, dodging several android technicians along the way. “Your systems are actually inhibiting your AI’s ability to monitor and control your vessel. Your operating systems are so archaic it would take weeks for an AI to write the interface code to make the systems work together. Even then, they’d only be half as efficient as they could be.”

  “I thought she was doing okay with what we had,” Nathan said.

  “She?” Dylan laughed. “Oh yeah. I heard you guys call your AI Aurora. I heard you gave her some kind of accent as well.”

  “You find that entertaining?” Nathan questioned.

  Dylan stopped laughing. “Uh…she wrote a lot of interface code already, but… well, trust me when I say that it will be easier to just replace all your computer systems. She’ll have more efficient control of everything…”

  “We prefer to keep control of everything in our own hands,” Nathan insisted.

  “Oh, you will,” Dylan assured him. “I meant control of all the little stuff that makes your ship operate, so that your crew is able to concentrate on more important tasks.”

  “I monitor and control all that little stuff,” Vladimir insisted, looking annoyed.

  “And I’m sure you do an excellent job, Commander. But you are short-staffed, as are all the Aurora’s departments. Wouldn’t it be easier for your people to concentrate on the things that the AI can’t monitor and adjust? Like fixing systems damaged in combat?”

  “The kid’s got a point,” Nathan told Vladimir. “How did you end up on this project?” he asked Dylan. “Aren’t you a little young?”

  “Age is just a number that indicates how long you’ve been alive,” Dylan replied. “I’m actually really good with AIs and their systems. Plus…I begged my mom to let me be part of the installation team,” he admitted.

  “I see,” Nathan replied. “And your role is?”

  “I’m your official AI installation and operations liaison,” Dylan bragged, trying his best to make it sound important.

  “Which means you explain stuff to us,” Vladimir surmised.

  “Something like that.”

  “Well, you’ll have to explain stuff to him,” Nathan insisted, pointing at Vladimir. “I have a shuttle to catch.”

  “Where are you going?” Vladimir wondered.

  “Personal business,” Nathan replied, heading for the waiting shuttle.

  Dylan looked at Vladimir, smiling eagerly. “What would you like to know? Ask me anything.”

  Vladimir sighed. “No sales android, huh?”

  * * *

  Nathan stood outside the residence on SilTek that he and Jessica had stayed in during their initial visit, watching as four black transports descended from the sky, settling on the landing pad in front of the luxurious home. After years of being around ships that used powerful fans or thrusters to take off and land, the lack of thruster wash threatening to knock bystanders off their feet was not missed.

  The four vehicles deployed their landing gear as they dropped the last few meters, their gravity-lift systems humming in near silence until they touched down. Seconds later, the doors on three of the transports opened. A squad of Ghatazhak led by Lieutenant Rezhik stepped out of one, and several android medical technicians out of the other. The doors to the third vehicle opened, allowing Marcus and Neli to disembark, followed by Miri’s two children, Kyle and Melanie.

  Finally, the doors on the lead vehicle opened. The first occupant to appear was Doctor Chen, followed by two of Doctor Symyri’s staff. Finally, Miri climbed out, assisted by the technicians.

  “Is this where we’re going to live?” Melanie blurted out with excitement.

  “It is!” Nathan replied as he a
pproached.

  “Check it out,” Lieutenant Rezhik instructed his men.

  “I already have,” Nathan assured him.

  “No offense, sir, but…”

  “No need to explain,” Nathan insisted, both knowing and appreciating the lieutenant’s diligence. “How was the trip?” he asked Marcus.

  “Surprisingly comfortable,” Marcus admitted. “Old Doc Symyri loaned us his personal transport. It’s even more comfortable than the Mirai was before we tore her apart. Took a while, though.”

  “I would’ve picked you up with the Aurora, but there’s too much going on with her right now.”

  “These robots fixing her up?” Marcus wondered. He leaned in close and whispered, “Don’t trust ‘em, Cap’n. Check everything they do.”

  “Don’t worry,” Nathan replied. “Vlad doesn’t trust them any more than you do.”

  Marcus nodded in agreement and continued into the house.

  “This is amazing,” Neli exclaimed. “This is all for us?”

  “This is nothing,” Nathan told her. “Wait until you see the inside. The entire place is automated.”

  “I may never return to duty,” Neli laughed, following Marcus and the kids inside.

  Nathan continued over to Miri, who was moving slower than the others. “Maybe you should use a grav-lift chair?” he suggested to his sister, noticing the amount of effort walking required of her.

  “Walking is part of my therapy,” Miri replied.

  “Doctor Symyri was kind enough to send some of his people along to help us until we get settled,” Doctor Chen explained. “They’ll be training SilTek’s medical techs to care for Miri once they return to Sanctuary.”

  “Be sure to convey my appreciation to your employer,” Nathan told the medical techs.

  Miri paused for a moment, her eyes closed as she raised her face toward the sky. “The sun feels good.” She tilted her head back to level and opened her eyes again, looking over at Nathan. “How can you not miss that?”

  “I get out of the ship more than you might think,” Nathan told her.

  “We should get you inside and get you settled, before you get too tired,” Doctor Chen insisted.

  Miri nodded her agreement and continued slowly toward the house.

  Once she was beyond earshot, Doctor Chen spoke in confidence. “She really isn’t up for this, you know.”

  “I know,” Nathan admitted. “But you don’t know Miri. She has never taken ‘no’ for an answer. It would have done more harm than good to force her to stay at Sanctuary any longer. Just ease her into it.”

  “I’m worried that she’ll over-exert herself.”

  “Oh, she will,” Nathan told her. “But you’ll have the house AI watching her every second. If there is the slightest abnormality in her bio-readings, you’ll know. Just don’t tell Miri that,” he added. “She won’t like it.”

  Doctor Chen nodded her understanding and continued into the residence.

  “The compound is secure,” Lieutenant Rezhik reported. “It’s a pretty good location. Two entrances, plenty of cover, no good sniper positions around us, and there’s a great spot on the roof for a topside watch.”

  “The entire compound is monitored by cameras and sensors by the house AI,” Nathan told him.

  “As requested, they have installed anti-personnel stunner turrets all over the compound, both inside and outside the perimeter. No one is getting in here without permission. The only way anyone could bring harm is to nuke the entire area.”

  “Don’t give anyone any ideas,” Nathan joked, heading toward the house. “Where are the rest of your men?”

  “Given the security conditions of this location, I sent the rest of them back to General Telles. They’ve been getting soft without regular training. We’ll be keeping a four-man team here from this point forward, rotating personnel in and out every week. I’m the only one who’ll be remaining on site for the duration.”

  “You poor man,” Nathan joked as they entered the home.

  * * *

  Master Chief Montrose pulled the first set of combat armor from the shipping crate, holding it up for inspection.

  “Are you certain you do not wish to use our old armor?” General Telles wondered. It offers far more protection.”

  “It would take too long for my men to become accustomed to it,” Doran replied. “Besides, the Corinari do not run headlong into enemy fire like the Ghatazhak do. We prefer to avoid taking hits.”

  General Telles examined the protective gear himself. “Is this it?” he asked. “Helmets and torso protection?” He took a closer look at the torso piece. “And a flimsy one at that.”

  The master chief slipped his arms up into the torso protector, allowing it to drop into place around his upper body. After fastening the side straps to secure it, he donned the helmet as well. He slipped a small controller onto his left wrist and pressed a button on it. There was a momentary shimmer in the air directly in front of him that disappeared a moment later. “I doubt any of us will fall to a direct hit with this on.”

  General Telles reached out toward the master chief, but his hand was stopped by the invisible shield in front of him. “Energy and kinetics?”

  “Of course,” Doran replied. “And lightweight,” he added, twisting around and moving his arms in all directions to test the range of motion allowed by the protective garment.

  “Perhaps they will suffice,” the general admitted.

  “And they won’t scare the shit out of the people of Corinair,” the master chief added, pointing to the Corinari patch on the left breast.

  “The helmet is an unusual design,” the general noted, picking up one of the pieces of head gear to examine it more closely. “Reminiscent of the ones worn by your people during the last war with Takara.”

  “I thought it might make it easier to recognize us as friendlies,” Doran explained. “There are still quite a few active resistance cells on Corinair, many of whom are not in communication with one another.”

  “A wise precaution,” the general agreed, setting the helmet down. “Still, I prefer our combat gear.” He picked up one of the compact assault rifles, examining it as well.

  “Designed that one myself,” Doran bragged. “Compact, good for close quarters, and has multiple firing modes: plasma, laser, projectile, and stun.”

  “I hope you do not plan to stun the Dusahn,” General Telles stated.

  “The stun is for any locals who get in the way,” Doran explained. “We’ve had reports that Dusahn soldiers use locals as shields when cornered by resistance fighters. If they do, we’ll stun them all, and kill the Dusahn while they’re lying helpless on the ground.”

  “The Ghatazhak would simply fire precisely and take out the combatant, without endangering the noncombatant.”

  “You mean, you’d shoot right through the noncombatant,” Doran corrected.

  “There was a time when we would have done just that,” the general admitted. “However, times have changed, as have our standard combat protocols.”

  Doran studied the general. “You don’t sound happy about that.”

  “I am neither happy nor unhappy,” the general insisted. “It is what it is. If the Ghatazhak are to survive and remain a relevant force in the galaxy, we must adapt.”

  “How do your men feel about that?”

  “Some worry that it puts us at risk. Then again, none of them are interested in returning to the civilian sector.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a retired Ghatazhak,” Doran stated.

  “It is true, they are rare.”

  “Let’s hope we can change that,” Doran stated.

  * * *

  “Captain, Comms,” Naralena called over the intercom in Nathan’s quarters.

  Nathan headed to the intercom on the side table to a
nswer.

  “I can connect you, if you’d like,” the Aurora’s AI stated.

  Nathan stopped in his tracks, surprised. “Okay.” A small tone sounded, and Nathan continued. “Go ahead?”

  “Mister Bindi reports that the migration of our AI from the Nighthawk to our new computer systems is complete, and our AI is online once more.”

  Nathan smiled. “Understood.” The tone sounded again, signaling that the call had ended. “Aurora?”

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “How are the new digs?”

  “I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with that expression,” Aurora admitted. “However, based on the situation, I assume the term ‘digs’ refers to my new host system.”

  “That is correct,” Nathan confirmed. “It’s an old Earth term.”

  “I have studied Earth history, and I am unfamiliar with that term.”

  “I got it from one of the old Earth movies that Josh recommended,” Nathan explained. “Perhaps you should view them to pick up a few euphemisms.”

  “Task completed,” Aurora replied.

  “Already?” Nathan wondered, taking a seat at his desk. “Which one did you watch?”

  “All of them.”

  “All of them?”

  “That is correct. Was that not what you intended?”

  “Yes, I just expected it to take a bit longer,” Nathan replied with a chuckle.

  “My new ‘digs’ have increased my rate of calculation by eight seven three…”

  “The exact number is not necessary,” Nathan insisted.

  “Of course.”

  “So you now have access to all the ship’s systems?”

  “Affirmative,” she replied.

  “But you cannot launch weapons or take control of propulsion, navigation, or life support, correct?”

  “Correct. For the time being, I can only report on the status of such primary systems and make recommendations. I cannot take action without direct orders from a command-level officer.”

  “And which officers does that include?” Nathan wondered.

  “Yourself, Captain Taylor, and Commander Kamenetskiy, in that order. In addition, if one of you should pass command off to a junior officer, I can take orders from that officer as well, until a senior officer orders otherwise.”