“Of course, I saw,” Zeta said. “I am analyzing the situation right now. Ah. It is as I suspected. The four void ships are adrift. Their reality generators shut down from overload. Yes, the backlash from the null-splitters shorted each of the quantum-pi engines.”
“Why, that’s perfect,” Ree declared.
“How so?” asked Zeta. “Explain your statement.”
“Isn’t it obvious? The humans practiced lewd energy comingling. I found it painful to watch, but I did watch in order that we never allow such a thing to happen again.”
“That isn’t the point,” Zeta said. “The Main is in the void. The outer hull has already begun discontinuing. The process has quickened on the siege-ship, as it is a much smaller vessel. This is an astonishing use of the null-splitters.”
“Don’t say, ‘astonishing.’ It was disgusting and foul.”
“This is war,” Zeta said, disliking Ree telling her what she shouldn’t say.
“Does that mean we must act like beasts?” Ree asked.
Once more, Ree had questioned her. Couldn’t her crewmember learn? A moment later, Zeta said, “This is a weapon of astounding utility.”
Ree made a squeaking sound of dismay.
“None of that now,” Zeta said. “We must compose ourselves and rescue the humans while we can.”
“Rescue them to what end?” Ree demanded.
That was finally too much. That question combined with the other breaches broke Zeta’s patience. She aimed a hand at the ball of power floating in the air. With a thought, a bolt of lightning-like energy left Zeta and slammed against Ree.
The ball of power lowered as it pulsated through various dark colors.
“Please, stop, stop,” Ree moaned at last.
Zeta relented, lowering her arm. “That was for questioning me as if I was the underling. I am the commander. I rule here. I ask the questions. You answer. You obey. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Commander,” Ree whispered. “I beg your leave. I was not myself. After witnessing that filthy performance…I lost my composure.”
“Regain your composure at once,” Zeta said. “We shall repair the quantum-pi engines on the double. We will run quick diagnostics on the reality generators. The humans have achieved a marvel. It was obscene. There is no doubt about that. Obviously, they are biological beings and not composed of pure energy like us. They likely have no idea what travesties they have committed. However, in the interest of ridding the galaxy of the oppressive AIs, I suggest we overlook their commingling of null-splitter force.”
“I…I find it difficult to accept your thinking.”
“I understand. You are young. In times of grave disaster, one must…overlook certain indignities in order to achieve victory.”
“The AI fleet still maintains its heading.”
“Which is why we must revive the humans’ only hope,” Zeta said. “Come now, Ree. Trust me in this. Or shall I give you greater punishments.”
Ree levitated a little higher. “Once we arrive home at Enoy, I will report what you have done and what you have said.”
“Have a care, Ree.”
“I must be true to myself, Commander. I can do no other.”
Zeta said nothing at first. Finally, she said, “I can accept that. But will you obey me for the rest of the mission?”
This time, Ree was silent for a time. “I will obey.”
“Then let us hurry. We have already wasted too much time.”
“Lead the way,” Ree said.
Zeta hesitated, finally turned around and then grew suspicious. She faced Ree even as the other gathered her energy into a glowing ball of crackling fire.
Zeta struck immediately, although the shock of Ree’s treachery numbed her. Ree lashed the commander with bolts of energy flashing from her round form.
Then the two Sisters of Enoy began to battle each other in earnest. Ree had the advantage of having gathered herself for the fight. Zeta was older, stronger and in the end, sterner.
The two lashed power bolts at each other and slowly dwindled in size and coherence. Finally, Zeta howled a cry from olden days. It released a hidden cache of power in her, and a pure lightning bolt slashed from her energy fingers and crackled against Ree. The bolt split the ball of energy in two—and that was the end of Ree of Enoy.
She screamed the Enoy cry, and the energy lost all coherence and dissipated throughout the chamber.
That nearly killed Zeta. But she managed to float away, and then hurried down various corridors to a reenergizer.
There, Zeta bathed her wounds and regained power. By the time she regained her humanoid lightning-bolt form, much time had passed. She was no longer sure she could save all four void ships, but it was time to try.
-17-
Jon felt groggy and disoriented. He didn’t know where he was or what had happened to him. By slow degrees, he became aware that he lay on the floor…beside his command chair. He was on the bridge of the Nathan Graham.
Oh…yes…he remembered now. Someone said the reality generator had quit. Why was he alive then? If the reality generator stopped, the void should be devouring the vessel through discontinuity.
Jon used the command chair to drag himself upright. His head hurt, and the—
With a start, he realized that he didn’t feel the void pressure.
“Jon,” a feminine voice said.
Using his feet, he turned his chair and stared at his wife. Her forehead had marks pressed into it. Oh, she’d been face down on her panel, although now she sat up at her station.
Between them on the floor, Walleye began to stir.
“The reality generator stopped,” Gloria said.
“I know,” Jon said, noticing others on the bridge beginning to stir.
“But the generator is working now,” she said, checking her board. “How is that possible?”
“Zeta,” Jon said. “The Sisters of Enoy must have done something to aid us.”
Gloria began to manipulate her board. “You’re right. I see the Rose of Enoy. It’s beside the Neptune. Oh.”
“What is it?”
“I saw a flash of brightness. It’s gone now. Look. The Rose of Enoy is disengaging from the Neptune.”
“Put it on the main screen,” Jon said. He didn’t feel like standing just yet.
Gloria manipulated her board slowly, and by the time she had the main screen working, the Rose of Enoy was gone.
“What’s going on?” Gloria said.
“Give me a minute,” Jon said.
It took longer than that. By the time Jon managed to shove himself up to his feet, the Void Ship Gilgamesh II was on the line.
“Commander,” Captain Mia Turin said. “My XT techs tell me the quantum-pi engine is purring, the reality generator is back online and the null-splitter is charged for more tries. What’s the plan?”
Jon nodded slowly. What was the plan? Creating the giant reality rip had obviously knocked out the void ships, but the Sisters of Enoy had managed repairs while they were all out. The void had swallowed the Main and one of the AI siege-ships—
“We keep at it,” Jon said.
“No rest?” Captain Turin asked.
“No rest for the wicked,” Jon quoted. “We’re in the void. Everything seems ready to go. Yes. We get into position and try it again.”
“How long will it be before we make our second attempt?”
“Right,” Jon said. “That’s the question. Your ship is ready?”
“Yes, Commander,” Mia Turin said. “I’m ready to finish this.”
“Good,” Jon said. “So am I.”
-18-
In Main 63’s sudden absence, three of the siege-ships jockeyed for authority. Via comm channels, each of them put forth his ship’s claims for taking charge of the genocide campaign. Behind the three Luna-sized warships followed the mass of the AI cyberships.
Siege-ship Boron 10 was the loner. He knew he didn’t have the same credentials as the other three siege-ships. H
e had returned to the Algol System in a cybership and had barely won the right to be reinstalled into a siege-ship. Besides, he was worried. The humans had used void technology and engulfed Main 63 and another siege-ship. The two AI vessels had vanished into the void and presumably would never return.
The humans had a ruthless and brutal weapon. According to his history files, the Sisters of Enoy had never used such a tactic.
The three other siege-ships presently led the invasion armada. The three had fallen into arguing against each other until Argon 3 changed tactics. Siege-ship Argon 3 began demanding that all the cyberships follow him, since he was clearly the rightful authority now.
That led the other two siege-ships to begin similar comm commands to the cyberships.
A period ensued as cyberships began deciding and maneuvering. In time, one-half of the cyberships maneuvered so they followed Argon 3. The remaining cyberships split into two almost-even groups, each section maneuvering behind their chosen siege-ship.
At that point, behind the great AI invasion mass, four reality rips opened almost simultaneously.
Boron 10 noted the difference from the last giant reality rip in front of the invasion armada.
Immediately, comm signals flashed between the AI fleet units. Hundreds of thousands of point defense cannons aimed at the reality rips as gravitational dishes began heating up.
Then it happened. Masses of five-percent light-speed missiles zoomed out of the four reality rips. Those missiles rushed at the AI fleet units.
As golden grav beams opened up from the AIs, the four reality rips closed.
The missiles still sped at the fleet at incredible velocity. Masses of grav beams, however, knocked down one enemy missile after another, completely annihilating each.
Then, reality rips opened along the sides of the AI armada, and in seconds, five percent light-speed missiles again slid out of the void at the massed AI vessels.
This time, it was different. The matter/antimatter warheads on the Vestal missiles ignited almost immediately. Then, the reality rips closed. Those detonations created great clots of sensor whiteouts. There was some EMP and radiation washing against the outer AI vessels, but nothing to cause real concern.
The whiteouts began to dissipate even as the AI armada continued on its course in-system. The void missiles were deadly, to be sure, but against massed AI defenses, they were something of a joke.
Boron 10 cataloged the battle information, and he began analyzing the armada’s chances of success. Perhaps the void ships could only create one giant reality rip and that was it. Now, the enemy void ships were down to historical norms. Against that, Main 63—when he’d been around—had already found the countermeasure.
That meant, of course, that Boron 10 would not retreat from the Solar System, he would remain with the great armada and join in on another successful genocide campaign.
Time passed until each siege-ship ordered its cyberships to power down the PD and grav cannons. They had survived a void ship wolf-pack attack.
Finally, the siege-ships took to arguing again. This time, they pointed out how well their cyberships had resisted the void missile assaults.
That’s when a giant reality rip began almost in front of Argon 3. This time, the glowing energy lines ate away at reality at an astonishing rate. Siege-ship Argon 3 attempted emergency maneuvers, but it made no difference.
The gigantic opening in time and space swallowed Siege-ship Argon 3. Behind him followed masses of cyberships. Many of them had maneuvered closer to the protective bulk of Argon 3 during the missile attacks.
Could that have been the purpose for the missile attacks? Boron 10 wondered…
Like a school of frightened fish, masses of cyberships now maneuvered to escape the reality rip. Some of the hot exhausts from various AI vessels blew against fellow ships. That disrupted those ships’ attempts to flee.
Incredibly, thirteen cyberships slid into the void before the rest maneuvered out of the way.
At that point, energy lines closed in on each other, and the rip in time and space vanished, sealing Argon 3 and 13 of his cyberships in the void.
Boron 10 reassessed the situation as the other two siege-ships vied for leadership of the armada. Boron 10 reached a swift conclusion. If the void ships continued swallowing AI siege-ships, then it would be time to leave the Solar System.
The problem was this: once the decision became obvious—that he should flee—he might not have time to reroute back to hyperspace-entering territory before a reality rip swallowed him. But Boron 10 knew that if he attempted to flee too soon, the rest of the AIs would likely turn on him and obliterate him from existence.
This was a tricky decision. Boron 10 began running simulations so he would know the precise moment to make his move, one way or another.
-19-
Jon sat in his command chair with his head between his knees. He groaned as horror beat at his mind. The reality generator had almost given out again. The mental torments of the void had come rushing in. He didn’t think that he was the only one hit by the void…whatever.
Walleye and Gloria had raced off the bridge some time ago. Jon didn’t know where they had gone.
Then his comm crackled. He groaned, fearing that a void demon wanted to talk to him.
“Jon!” his wife shouted from the comm. “Jon, can you hear me?”
Gathering his resolve, Jon raised his head and dared to click the switch. “I’m here,” he whispered.
“We helped repair the reality generator,” Gloria said. “Maybe you don’t remember, but the XT techs asked for our help.”
“Oh,” Jon said.
“They say we’re good for another try.”
“What?” Jon asked.
“Another try,” Gloria said. “We have to finish this, right? We can’t stop now.”
“Well…” Jon said, temporizing.
“Just a minute,” she said.
Jon waited. As he waited, he noticed a lessening horror against his mind. He began feeling like himself again. Finally, he remembered that they had swallowed another siege-ship and some of its cyberships.
“Jon,” Gloria asked from the comm.
“Right here,” he said.
“Oh, good,” she said. “You sound like yourself again.”
“Right,” he said. “We have to try again. We have to finish this—as long as the other void ships can still do this.”
It turned out that the Neptune and Gilgamesh II were ready. The Achilles did not respond, however.
“Does anyone see them?” Jon asked the other two captains.
“Negative,” Kling said. “Do…?”
“What’s that?” Jon asked.
“Do you think the Achilles is gone, eaten by the void?”
“They not answering—”
“They’re not,” Kling said, interrupting. “Maybe their reality generator quit. We can’t find them in the void, and they’re gone. Maybe they’ve been discontinued. They’re dead.”
Jon frowned and rubbed his jaw. “If they’re gone…”
“Can we make a big enough rip with only three void ships?” Kling asked.
Jon took a deep breath. He would grieve the loss of the Achilles later. Right now, he didn’t have time for that. He had to destroy AIs.
“Are you game to try again?” Jon finally asked.
“I’m willing,” Captain Turin said.
“Me, too,” Kling said slowly.
“Then so am I,” Jon said. “We’ll have to recalibrate the null-splitters. But once we do…we’ll give it another shot.”
-20-
The AI invasion fleet continued to cross through the Kuiper Belt. The armada flashed past dead Makemake and continued inward. They would pass near Neptune soon.
The two arguing siege-ships, ignoring Boron 10, had each taken half of the remaining cyberships. They had agreed to work together, in tandem. After success here, they would split up and finish the genocide campaign throughout Region 7-D21.<
br />
For the moment, though, they would stick together in case the void ships tried firing more void missiles at them.
As the impressive armada crossed from the Kuiper Belt into the Outer Planets region of the Solar System, another reality rip grew into existence. This one had a ragged quality and it did not open in a perfect circular manner.
The targeted siege-ship used all its maneuvering jets and engine ports. The long exhaust tail burned three cyberships behind it, creating massive hull breaches on them and destroying the one-hundred-kilometer vessels.
In the end, it didn’t matter. The targeted siege-ship struck the reality rip, and much like Main 63 had plopped through, this Luna-sized vessel did likewise, disappearing into the void.
Only three cyberships followed the siege-ship’s grim fate. The rest broke off fast enough to escape void annihilation.
At that point, the reality rip closed, seeming to sizzle out of existence.
Two siege-ships were left out of the original five, one of them the outsider Boron 10. The vast majority of the cyberships still remained. Yet, the great power of the armada had been badly diminished with the loss of the Main and three siege-ships.
There was no question the AIs could still easily kill all the humans and their equipment here.
“But is that the point?” Boron 10 asked Siege-ship Lithium 4.
“State your objection plainly,” Lithium 4 said. He had become overbearing upon claiming full authority of the invasion armada.
“The enemy has found a tactical solution to our great armada,” Boron 10 said. “This is no longer simply a matter of winning or losing. This is about letting the greater Dominion know about the new tactic.”
“The greater Dominion will know,” Lithium 4 said, “after I successfully report on my victory. Yes. This victory will undoubtedly start me on my career as a Main.”
“Possibly, possibly,” Boron 10 said.
“You doubt my victory?”
“How could I?” Boron 10 said. “Main 63, Argon 3 and two more of your siege-ship brothers are gone, destroyed by the void. Why bother mentioning the destroyed cyberships as well?”
A.I. Void Ship (The A.I. Series Book 6) Page 27
