by S. H. Jucha
“Understood,” Julien replied. He turned toward Z, and his fingers flashed in a blur, which tickled Alex.
“Why’s Julien using sign language?” Reiko asked.
“Dangerous contact protocols, which the SADEs designed,” Alex replied. “When Julien isolated our implants, he truncated his comm. The other SADEs insist that he protect himself.”
A sign language conversation ensued between Julien and Z, without Z ever turning around. It ended when Z gave Julien a thumbs up.
When the AI’s message, which had been sent in a tight burst, ended, Z shared Julien’s relay of Alex’s wishes. The SADEs compiled the data, attached the Omnian equivalents, and sent the new message to the host ship.
Vyztram was deep in contemplation of various battle scenarios, with which the AI possessed limited experience, when the message from the orb ship was received. Relieved, the AI sent the next programs of Elvian language. For this iteration, the response time was shortened. However, the reply was only equal in length to the data supplied by Vyztram.
The strangers’ AI is careful, Vyztram thought, acknowledging the source of the swift and exact replies.
In a speedy exchange that could only be completed by digital entities, the Elvian and Omnian languages were learned by both sides. Then a pause ensued.
Alex recognized the hand sign from Z, and he glanced toward Julien, who nodded. As Alex approached the triad of SADEs standing on the forward bridge, Renée, Julien, and the admirals followed him.
Cordelia turned around and opened her mouth. Out of it sprang words translated from the Elvian language.
With Alex’s comm application still shut down, he replied verbally, “Which leader do you wish to address?”
Vyztram was perplexed by the response. In the Elvian hierarchy of the home world and aboard the ship, there was only a single ultimate individual in charge.
“I’m Alex Racine, Vyztram. I’ll speak for the other leaders.”
“I’m called Alex by friends and foes alike.”
“Then why did you destroy the Ollassa ships with their crews aboard?” Alex inquired.
“I’m Admiral Tatia Tachenko. I wish to know if Elvians personally operate the resource-gathering machines on the outer belt.”
Vyztram had learned the meaning of the term admiral. Tatia’s Tachenko’s title confirmed the nature of the tri-hull ships that the AI had suspected. They were warships.
“Vyztram, if you had a choice, would you have destroyed the Ollassa ships?” Julien asked.
Vyztram replied.
“You failed to answer my question,” Julien pursued.
“Explain,” Julien requested.
Vyztram said.
Vyztram paused, analyzing what had just been learned. There was a second AI source.
Z turned toward Alex and his eyebrows bounced up and down, which had the humans chuckling.
Vyztram had often considered mobility. Many of the AI’s algorithms were predicated around the possibility of that potential future.
Alex overrode Julien’s block of his implant comm application. It didn’t surprise the SADE that Alex was capable of that. In turn, Julien enabled the implants of every human on the bridge.
Vyztram replied, absorbing the complex texture of linking with multiple entities.
Alex sent.
Cordelia quickly informed the AI of the speaker.
Vyztram mused on that information, marking it for a follow-up conversation.
Again, Cordelia relayed the title and the name of the speaker.
Vyztram noted that there were two individuals with the title of admiral. It warned of the depth of the fleet’s warship commanders.
Cordelia had modulated the tone of Reiko’s transmission.
If it weren’t for the priorities of the moment’s conversation, Vyztram would have preferred to speak exclusively with Julien, who was identified as the leader of the mobile AIs.
When Cordelia identified Franz as an admiral, Vyztram’s estimation of the danger the fleet represented ratcheted upward again.
The Freedom’s bridge audience heard the lament in Vyztram’s message.
Alex tipped his head in Tatia’s direction. Without threats or aggressive statements, an image was being drawn for the AI that the Elvians faced experienced commanders, who led a fleet of formidable warships, including the Freedom.
Julien sent privately to Alex, who returned the image of Julien with an elongated nose.
Vyztram requested.
With the relatively near distances of the two great ships, and with the capabilities of two digital entities, data sped from Julien to Vyztram. Occasionally, Vyztram inserted a query, and Julien would momentarily diverge.
When Vyztram failed to receive a reply on any single request, the AI surmised that that subject was off limits, and the query was stored for another time.
For humans, the exchange between Julien and Vyztram was seemingly over before it began. However, it was Julien who had brought the conversation to a swift close when he believed Vyztram should have enough information to realize what beliefs Omnians professed and how they’d followed those tenets.
Vyztram wouldn’t have recognized the expressions on Alex’s and the admirals’ faces. Lips curved wide, jaws dropped, and teeth were exposed. The hungry smiles and grins would have frightened most onlookers.
Alex turned to eye Franz, and Franz quietly returned the stare, waiting for Alex to reconsider his unorthodox plan. Finally, Alex nodded slowly, and Franz’s grin widen.
Vyztram said and closed the link.
7: Interventions
“Julien, what did you think of Vyztram?” Alex asked.
“The AI is totally unlike Artifice,” Julien replied. “Vyztram runs the ship and cares for the passengers as required. The AI is at the mercy of biologicals, meaning Vyztram has no other choice. The position Vyztram occupies is similar to the Confederation’s SADEs before your agreement wit
h the Council to release them.”
“Any information to share about the circumstances inside the Arcus?” Tatia asked.
The holo-vid lit, and Julien displayed images of bots.
“Although most of these bots are benign, these are the two that are dangerous,” Julien said.
“Any details?” Tatia inquired.
“Vyztram supplied their specifications,” Z replied. “Both variations carry extensive electrical discharge generators. The amperage is sufficient to stun a New Terran, even a large one.” Z locked eyes with Alex and Franz, as he delivered the last statement.
“Vyztram pointed out that, during the rebellions, accidents did occur,” Miranda said. “The AI noted that the nervous system of some rebels collapsed after contact with a bot.”
“You mean they were stunned to death,” Reiko charged.
“Regrettably, yes, Admiral,” Miranda replied.
“What can be done to protect whoever boards the Arcus?” Renée queried.
Alex noted that Renée had deliberately omitted his name in referring to the person who would board the Arcus. He could envision the intervention that loomed.
“The bots’ metal alloy bodies easily prevent the attacks of rebels,” Z replied. “However, they employ a single extending arm to apply the charge. That’s where they’re vulnerable.”
“We can insulate the arms of SADEs, and our strength and speed will enable any of us to snap off the arms,” Miranda added. “More than likely, those actions will result in the shorting of circuitry that could disable the bots.”
“How many bots of the dangerous types are aboard the ship?” Renée inquired.
“That data wasn’t shared, Ser,” Julien replied. “What is known is that these bots are only present in the central core. None are allowed in the arches.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Tatia asked, rounding on Alex.
“We employ the concept that Franz espoused,” Alex said. “We move the Tridents into the belt near the Arcus. That should give them some protection against the drones. On the way inward, the Tridents launch half their travelers, which surround the host ship.”
