by Rashid Ahmed
Maji rolled his eyes but did as the AI instructed.
His team meanwhile had a much easier time. They’d paired off and taken down each hijacker one at a time. As soon as they figured the projectile weapons weren’t effective against their HSEVA suits, they became bolder. One pair grabbed a hijacker, even as he fired at them, while another two oriented their beam weapons straight at the hijacker’s faceplate.
Only the two hijackers inside Habogi remained. Maji instructed his team, “Breach the Habogi.” Kei came online saying, “Internal pressure and atmosphere may be compromised in the ACTV. I’ve not been able to ascertain the current status of the remaining two hijackers.” Maji replied, patching his entire team, “Last known, they were all in suits. We’ll take our chances.”
Having secured the hijackers outside the Habogi, ensuring their life support was functional, the team split up and approached the forward and rear airlocks on the ACTV. With procedural instructions being given by Kei, a pair of Maji’s team members simultaneously overrode security and manually opened both airlocks.
Once in the airlocks, each of which was large enough for a standard six-meter intermodal space transport container, the team aligned themselves against the walls. The outer hatches were closed and the valves to pressurise the airlocks were manually activated. The hijackers were not visible through the airlock windows.
Maji had positioned himself close to Max. They were overseeing the six incapacitated hijackers trailing behind the Habogi. After taking a readiness status, he instructed the team, “Okay, enter.”
Manually unlocking and winching the internal doors open, the team entered from both airlocks. The team in front, were greeted with a bunch of field rigged pressure bulbs which burst open splattering them with corrosive liquid. While their HSEVA suits were equipped to take on the harshest environments, their new weapons began sizzling in places, penetrating the casings. Receiving updates, Maji instructed, “Kei access the insertion teams’ sensors and advice if there are any objects around which aren’t meant to be there.” To the team he said, “Everyone who’s unaffected, move forward.”
A little more cautious now, the team closed in on the central section of the Habogi. The ACTV had been kitted out for crew transport, and bunk capsules lined both walls at intervals. Kei spoke to the team, “The number three capsule on the wall that’s colour coded blue, is occupied. The opposite wall coded green has the number two capsule occupied as well. There’s a panel above their doors, with interface pads. You’ll need to enter a code to let each capsule’s failover computer take over.” Two technically qualified members of Maji’s team approached the occupied capsules and did as instructed. “Now, place your palm on the pad so I can interface with the capsules,” Kei said.
It took a few minutes before Kei spoke again. The team was growing impatient, but they were well trained. They held their positions, ready for action.
Finally, Kei said to the techs, “Push in the door levers and rotate counter-clockwise. This will unlock the doors. Push on the doors to open inward.” Maji interrupted, “Breach the capsule on the blue wall first.”
The tech at the capsule door, pushed inward but there was resistance. Another two team members lent their weight and the door began to swing in slowly. The tech at the door saw the hijacker stretch sideways towards the capsule wall which exposed his side. Without hesitating, the tech lunged inside, felt his way around the hijacker’s suit and pressed the external shut-down. The hijacker stopped resisting. They reactivated the suit allowing Kei to take control of it.
The remaining hijacker took the initiative. As soon as the capsule door began to swing inward, the person pulled the door in and leapt outward, tackling the tech. A melee ensued. The hijacker pushed the tech away and landed a taekwondo style, front push kick, to his torso. This threw him against the wall. Pivoting, the hijacker tackled another team member. Seeing the action on his heads-up display, Maji curtly instructed, “Grab his limbs.” The team coordinated and pinned down the last active hijacker. His suit was rebooted.
Both hijackers in the Habogi were still conscious, but unable to access their suits themselves. Maji informed everyone, “We’ll bring the remaining hijackers into the ACTV.” The team helped.
Max said to Maji, “I’ll leave you to secure and interrogate the hijackers. We’ll need to put a policy in place for hostile people. Especially out here in space. As far as I’m aware, Lýsi places Earth’s interest first, and that extends to all life, hostile or not. I’m going to discuss this with the leadership team.”
Maji replied, “The HSEVA suits were too easy to overcome. If we’re going up against hostile forces anytime soon, we’ll need to upgrade the suits for combat operations. That includes security against unauthorised access.” Max said, “I agree. Lýsi’s immediate priorities need to be finely juggled.”
The Habogi arrived at Álfhól without loss. There wasn’t a formal detention centre aboard the platform, so the operations chief designated a freshly constructed crew housing section, as the temporary brig. The hijackers were first given a physical, separated and then taken to their individual brig quarters. The platform crew were not geared for prisoner management, so Maji’s team took on this task.
Having cleaned up and eaten, Max contacted Gogh. He asked him, “Have you been updated on the situation here? Has the leadership team made any decisions about the hijackers?”
Gogh replied, “The immediate problem we’re facing, is excessive attention by a commercial space organization. At some point, this was bound to happen. Fortunately, Lýsi has deep relationships with most governments. That’s something we have managed well. Private organizations are a different matter. We have a plan in the works, that should nip this in the bud.”
Max asked, “What about the enhanced security systems I’ve recommended?” Gogh replied, “Three levels are being built in. Biometric for regularly accessed low confidentiality systems and DNA authentication for secret and secure ones. AI assisted recognition will be deployed for both. In the event AI becomes unavailable or needs to be disabled, system specific reboot codes are being generated, to use with manual input pads. Maji’s concern about suits being disabled externally is being taken care of as well. We don’t have an effective solution for EM or particle beams, shot through the hardened visor of our suits yet. We’ll work on it.” Gogh said, “I’ll keep you updated,” before disconnecting.
Max then focussed on his pad. He saw several update notifications waiting for him, related to the project he’d assigned the two AIs. He spoke into his headset, “Kei, do we have anything that needs my attention as yet?”
Kei and Shun both replied in turns. Kei went first, “You were right when you observed that defending Earth from space-based hostile forces, would be a difficult proposition. There are numerous scenarios for this, but in most cases, anyone occupying high orbit has the advantage.” Shun added, “There are a number of scenarios for defending against objects penetrating the atmosphere. But the main issue would be knocking off hostile forces in orbit, or before they got there.”
“The problem is like defending a vast area of land, in our case space. It’s nearly impossible to be everywhere at once,” said Kei. Elaborating, the AI said, “The best we’ve been able to come up with so far, is having armed platforms spread around Earth, with overlapping range of defence. Like fortresses.”
Shun said, “The threat of invasion through wormholes, actually works in our favour. Wormholes give us chokepoints; an advantage. We would require massive energy, firepower or obstacles, with which to deny entry to an enemy, at each chokepoint. Another idea is to place a parabolic shield of armed satellites around all wormholes. These would rain focussed firepower on any invading force, if they manage to get through and into the solar system.”
“Also, a network of drone satellites could encircle Earth and the moon. These may be placed in concentric globes. The drone satellites would fire on hostile vessels from afar, then pull in and surround an enemy vessel,” said S
hun.
Kei said, “However, our most effective strategy would be to control the planetary systems connected to ours, either directly or through alliances. This would provide a buffer planetary system which an invading force would need to first traverse or occupy, before they could even gain access to wormholes which lead to us.”
Max said, “These are intricate strategies that will require vast resources. How would we execute these?”
“Outward-in,” said Kei.
“Elaborate please,” Max requested.
Shun said, “First off, denial. Control in some manner, of all known systems adjoining ours, and thereby control of their wormholes. The known ones, which connect to the solar system are, the framandi wormhole and the Beta Hydri wormhole. The second is a system to which the framandi wish to migrate. An alliance with them is the quickest route to secure both systems. They’re already motivated to defend themselves right now. We can continue to partner with them, consequently forging a strong bond with the civilization. This part is already in play. We’ll have to worry about unknown wormholes.”
“Second, the parabolic shield around each wormhole,” said Kei. The AI continued, “We’ll use Graviton Focusing Devices or Gravids, mounted within asteroids, and powered by Cosmic Ray Energy Generators or CREGs. These are technologies we already possess and can remotely mass produce. The idea is to deploy crushing focussed gravity points, inside invading craft, as soon as they enter the system. We’ll need a vast number of these for use against invading fleets.”
Max asked, “But what if the enemy has some kind of shielding against gravity?”
“This is a point where we could do with the framandi’s help. Their knowhow on heavy particle beam technology, used by warring species from each of our galaxies, would be useful to us,” Kei said.
Max interjected, “Combined with focussed gravity points, this could be viable. What about in-system defence?”
This time, Shun took over, saying, “There’s no easy way to do this, because it requires resource build-up. That takes time. While we accumulate additional material, we’re suggesting a stop gap. We’re already deployed at several points within the solar system. For immediate system defence, we could re-task the manufacturing capability of platforms closest to the Sun. These platforms use many Earth technologies, at scale. Solar reflectors are presently used to concentrate sunlight into solar furnaces. A series of such concentrators could be placed at strategic locations around the Sun, to first bounce light and radiation between themselves, concentrating these. They would then beam concentrated light and radiation, deep into our solar system. The radiation would dissipate into interstellar space. As soon as enemy vessels are detected, magnified radiation could target them. It would be an always-on, always-available, defence system. However, this requires hostile spacecraft approaching within effective range.”
Max asked, “Is that all?”
Kei answered, “For the moment, that is all that’s feasible.”
Max said, “Then begin reallocation of resources to each of these projects. Prioritise access denial. I’ll speak to Sven about getting the framandi to help us out.”
Kei replied, “Well, Sven and Átt’s crew are about to commence engagement. Once they begin, it may be difficult getting hold of them. Perhaps now would be a good time to speak briefly.” Max agreed, “Yes, put me through please.”
A moment later, Sven’s face appeared on Max’s screen. Sven looked intense. He said, “Hello again Max. We’ve taken your advice and added to your plan. Instead of waiting for the enemy to begin taking out the asteroids we lob at them, we’ll begin breaking them apart soon after releasing them. We’ve calculated trajectories for all the pieces. They’ll form a cloud when they approach the oppositions key points of concentration. The first few waves of asteroids, will begin detonating, well before they arrive at their destinations. This should create a chaotic environment, and we’re hoping it will overburden the various gigil sensors.”
Max smiled, “It should be effective. It’ll shield asteroids which follow. Space is vast and they’ll still have time to manoeuvre, but you have the numbers. It’s a matter of staying a step ahead. The enemy could have a trick or two up their sleeves.”
Sven replied, “That’s what I’m afraid of. In half a millennium, the enemy’s had ample opportunity to upgrade their own capabilities. Much more than the framandi might be aware of. Given that they’re only fronting a relatively small fleet, I have a feeling these vessels must be formidable. Oh, hang on. I’ve got Áox with me who’s suggesting otherwise.”
A separate window opened on Max’s pad and Áox’s face appeared. This was Max’s first interaction with any framandi, and he wasn’t aware of what the protocols may be. Fortunately for Max, the framandi jumped right into the conversation transmitting, “As you already know, we call the enemy we’re facing, ‘Gigils’.”
Everything Áox thought to them, appeared in large text under the framandi’s image. Obviously, the interface on Átt was translating the framandi’s thoughts. The text was followed by a few references. Further large text appeared, “They have maintained a set force in the systems they’ve occupied. In the time gone by, we have observed them, and none of their vessel designs have been altered. Newly produced vessels replace older ones, which are sent to adjoining systems, and possibly onward.”
Max said, “That could mean they’re diverting their armed vessels to where they’re needed. And, since the wormholes through your system are narrow, they’ve possibly found other paths.”
Áox replied, “Yes. This observation is possible.”
Directly connected with the framandi, Max said, “After this engagement, if all goes well, we would need your knowledge to better help defend both ourselves.”
The framandi answered, “You will need to be enlightened then. It is a prerequisite. Once you have the foundation for information, then you can use it. Until then, we will aid you as best as we can.”
Max asked, “What does that mean? You won’t give us the knowledge we need?”
Sven jumped in saying, “It means, unless an individual has absorbed a set of information and learnt how to use it, higher levels of knowledge is unattainable. Or rather, incomprehensible. It’s like learning the alphabet. Without letters, there are no words. Without words, no sentences. In the framandi culture, without base concepts the size of encyclopaedias, other more complicated concepts the size of libraries, simply come across as gibberish. Which is why they have a kind of points-based system associated with learning. That’s what they call being enlightened. In their culture, knowledge is power. Individuals go through many cycles of their lives becoming enlightened. Also, an individual framandi can only develop, construct or use technology, for which they have gained sufficient enlightenment points. It seems that’s a failsafe they have built into everything, to prevent misuse. And to prevent accidents caused by deficient knowledge.”
Áox emphasised, “Yes, this is correct.” After that the framandi gave what resembled a smile. Max thought there was a lot of similarity between humans and framandi. Or, the extra-terrestrial being had learnt well to adapt itself, to mingle with humans.
Sven said, “We’re commencing the engagement. Stay tuned. Jump in if you think we can gain an advantage.” Both Sven and the framandi went offline. The images on the screen were replaced with three-dimensional tactical feeds, streamed from the lofi system, two wormholes away.
Initiative
Lofi System, Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy.
Isla was seeing the same view that Max was. The first wave of asteroids was launched against the gigils in the lofi system. Being an astronomer, she was also studying the planets around them. There were two in the goldilocks zone with atmospheres. Both looked like they might be habitable. Áox, Sven and Jón, were with her in the central operations area of Suður.
“We’re coming in slightly above the system’s plane. The asteroid belt Max had mentioned, is wide. It’s spread twenty-five degrees above and bel
ow the plane. Most planets in the system are within five degrees of the plane,” Isla mentioned. She observed, “The main portion of the gigil force is close to the fifth planet. The framandi have just confirmed that it’s habitable.”
Áox thought to them, “It is, and has been occupied. The gigils seem not to have disturbed the planet much. It may not have rich concentrations of usable minerals near the surface. Or, they’re using the planet for recreation.” These inputs were now picked up by the AI and put through to observers as real-time audio translation, albeit in Kei’s voice.
Isla continued, “The fifth planet is mid-way on the system’s plane, so it’s logistically ideal too.”
Max who was observing, voiced a thought. He said, “The planet could be used as a slingshot, to curve asteroids around it, to the rear of the gigil formation. We could add a further level of complication to overwhelm the enemy. The framandi vessels going into the asteroid belt to rearm, could first gravity-catapult a small unarmed asteroid, and then proceed with their ongoing missions.”
