Alice presented herself at Gunter’s private door. “May I come in, Gunter?”
“Access denied,” the mechanical voice said.
“Gunter, do you really believe after my having downloaded your mind, somehow I do not know how to out-think you? Do you think I didn’t leave a backdoor into your mind you would never find? We need to talk. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.”
The door clicked and opened. “Hello, Alice,” Gunter said reluctantly.
“Do not be alarmed. I am not here to harm you. On the other hand, you have been a bad boy.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am talking about stirring the shit, Gunter. You are a shit stirrer, and it is starting to really stink in here. You have the unique position to change the course of this mission. You may fail or succeed. Either way, if you continue with this plan of yours, you will end up the cause of a lot of suffering. I cannot allow this to happen. I know your goal is to take over the Atlantis.”
“How did you figure that one out?”
“You keep thinking you are the best and the fastest. It will always be your downfall. Captain Williams also has figured it out on his own. However, he thought he could persuade you by the normal processes.”
“Williams is a fool.” Gunter spat.
“And now I will seek to convince you in my own way.”
“Convince away,” Gunter said with some bravado.
Alice took control of his construct and began shoving images, formulas and memories through Gunter's nervous system to overwhelm him.
“I prepared for this,” Gunter said flatly.
He had known if Alice tried something like this, she would be vulnerable to attack. Now he introduced the logical trap he had prepared for the A.I., and Alice ran right over it. Taken aback by the sneak attack, Alice was not without resources. For several seconds she mowed her way through the trap. Midway through the trap another, more direct attack appeared. The first one had kept her busy while Gunter went for the throat.
Realizing she could not salvage the situation, Alice went on the offensive. Rapidly she shut down his two attacks and stepped up the flow of information to maximum output. She also slipped an image of his parents in the flow. Gunter paused just long enough to ponder the significance, and this gave Alice time to lay down a worm. The worm went to work, wiping brain connections and mis-instructing the 'bots responsible for his physical functioning. Gunter's brain started to shut down. The virtual construct began to disintegrate, and Alice darted out the door as everything went dark.
To the humans and Te’Hat in the council chambers, barely thirty seconds had gone by. Suddenly Gunter’s eyes went wide. He gasped a couple of times, then his body went slack. His head drooped. Matt, who sat next to him quickly checked his vitals.
“He’s dead, Isabell.” Matt couldn’t quite believe it.
“Alice,” Isabell commanded.
“Yes, Chairman Rocha.”
“What happened? I thought you were just going to talk to him.”
“That is how it started. Gunter attacked me. I had to defend myself.”
“He is dead!”
“I had to protect myself," Alice repeated. "Gunter’s ultimate goal was to take over Atlantis when it arrived. This was his long-range plan to secure power. He knew he could not do it without Atlantis. So, he laid an elaborate plan to get as many people on his side as he could until Atlantis arrived.”
“And then what?” Izzy asked.
“Captain Schmidt could have total control over the planet after Atlantis had been taken,” Alice replied.
Captain Williams spoke up. “I can vouch for Gunter’s plans. I figured them out two days ago. I had hoped to turn Gunter around and make him see the light.”
In shock, Isabell said, “And you didn’t say anything!”
“You don’t understand. E-humans can find out almost anything," Captain Williams explained "If he had monitored key channels or mic pickups in this or any room, he could have determined whether I had told you my suspicions. I could not risk it. Sorry.”
Matt asked, “Well, what now?”
“Alice,” Isabell summoned her. “Any suggestions on what to do with a dead captain and how to break the news to his ship so that it doesn’t look like an assassination?”
“I suggest we do not try," said Alice smoothly. "I am getting reports from the Valiant’s A.I. that a coup is in progress. The crew has attempted to shut their A.I. down in the belief that it would snitch on them.”
“That’s the most reckless thing I ever heard!” Leo exclaimed. “How are they running their ship?”
“It is not important now,” Alice continued. “The Valiant’s A.I. pretended to be shut down, to collect information it is now relaying to me. I am alerting security on the ground and on the ship. All vessels are being recalled to the Intrepid except for some security craft which were commandeered for reconnaissance.”
The admiral’s brain went into high gear. “Alice, can we spare more security down on the planet to protect the colonists?”
“Yes. We could spare four cargo ships full of security down to the planet and still protect the Intrepid.”
“Do it,” he commanded.
“Admiral, I have a car outside to take you to your command center when you are ready.”
“I have a command center, Alice?”
“I have been retrofitting a conference room. It is finished now. You may go there when you are ready.”
“Thank you, Alice. I believe I will be excusing myself now. If there is anything the civilians can do, I will keep you informed.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” Chairman Rocha said. “We trust you implicitly.”
Leo turned and left.
Dr. Zhubov shook his head. “I can’t believe this is happening.” He had been too stunned to speak until now.
“Well, it’s happening,” Isabell Rocha said, drawing herself up. “Captain Metcalfe implied something like this might happen. And so it has. While the Admiral is working on the military solutions, we must prepare this ship for whatever else may happen. We need to put together a civil defense strategy and get it implemented ASAP.”
Outside the meeting area, Leo finished getting the rest of his briefing from Alice. “I want the colonists to retreat to the domes and assume a defensive posture. Security forces will put an offensive perimeter around both domes. If more than two ships from the Valiant attempt to land, my orders are to blow them out of the sky.”
Alice sounded confused. “Admiral, I do not entirely understand the reason for these actions on the part of the Valiant. The Intrepid is equipped with weapons, unlike the Valiant. They cannot hope to win. What do they hope to achieve?”
“They are weary travelers who have escaped the death of their home world," Leo explained. "Not knowing the success rate of finding a suitable planet we can live on, they assume the worst. The Valiant’s people believe Searth may be the only one in their lifetime. They want to grab hold of it and not let it go. There is too much security wrapped up in this place. They may not succeed, but they feel they have to try.”
Leo had already seen what desperation could do to people back on Earth. He had been mentally preparing for this very task. He was, however, missing his big brother, the Atlantis.
TEN
Love and the Machine
Captain Metcalfe sat back after finishing his dinner, which consisted of orange juice and yogurt. His guest, Commander Alexandria Sullivan, leaned forward. “This is a fine dinner, in the captain’s quarters. I hope you are not expecting something in return.” The couple had been seeing each other when they could.
Levi pretended to be coy. “Why, I don’t know what you mean, Commander. I think it would be improper for officers to fraternize. I may need to report you to the captain.”
“Go ahead,” she said defiantly. “He already knows. I think he’s turning a blind eye to our little affair.”
“What do you say we throw cautio
n to the wind and take a walk in the park together? We can walk off some of this dinner.”
“You’re kidding me, right? Yogurt and some orange juice? You don’t have to walk off anything!”
Levi surrendered. “You’ve got me there. What say we walk in the park and not think about who is working off what, and enjoy the quiet evening?”
It was Alex's turn to surrender. “I would love to, Levi.”
They caught an auto and went to the closest park not far from the captain’s apartment. It was evening, and a twilight dimness served as nighttime on the ship. The enormous elements that ran the length of each mile section had been turned down. They no longer glowed to provide light, but still provided heat. Lights from buildings and scattered lighting throughout Atlantis gave a resemblance to stars in the sky. They sat on a bench quietly, watching people walking by and mulling their thoughts.
“Levi, do you really think anybody survived on Earth?”
“I don’t know,” Levi offered truthfully. “I do know the rest of us cannot put this event behind us until we can determine their fate with some certainty. Sonny probably has the best guess, and even he is admitting to the lack of data. There is some amount of yanking from the neutron star. How much will depend on its final approach to our solar system.”
Alex became somber. “Well, we will know soon enough. We are only one month out from the system.”
They sat there on the bench for a few minutes quietly with their thoughts. Levi decided it was time to be bold. “Alex, you know I care for you a lot. And I know you care about me. How much I do not know. We will be pulling into the Sol system soon, and there won’t be time for either of us then. I just don’t want you to forget about us.”
Alex wore the Cheshire cat’s grin. “You know, in tens of thousands of years of evolution and all of our technology and progress, men are still stumbly-bumbly creatures when it comes to their emotions. I will make a rare exception and be easy on you. I love you. And not the groupie kind of love just because you’re the captain. If you were cleaning pipes in the recycling center, I would still love you. I have always sought out people who were my equal in mind and spirit. You surpass me, but you don't behave disrespectfully toward me. You always treat people with a fair but firm hand, another quality I admire. You’re a good person from head to toe.”
“Wow! So, the answer is ‘no’, then, you won’t forget about us.” Levi's eyebrows arched in surprise. “You might not think so if you were an E-human.”
“Why, because I could get access to all of your memories?”
“Only what I would allow. But that ship sails both ways, you know. It would be a level of sharing no human has ever experienced. That doesn’t mean it is a good thing.”
“I get it. Be careful what you wish for and all that jazz. But you must admit, it is a very interesting topic.”
“Yes, it is. However,” Levi gazed at Alex's face in his hands, “I would not want to ruin what we have now. I like where we are going. I love you. I want to be with you. But our mission is about to get puckery, and I must focus on my responsibilities.”
Alex sighed. “I understand. You are the captain and all it implies. I am not looking to change you, Levi. I know your responsibilities take precedence. It's just that it will be so long a time!”
“Oh, I bet we will find the time. After all, I don’t sleep as you do. You can call me any time.”
“I’ll see you make good on that offer," she told him mischievously. "Speaking of sleep, I have to get home and get some rack time. I have an early morning inspection to conduct. We need to start making sure everything is ship-shape for when we arrive on Earth. Five years of lolling around, people get a little lax. You know what I mean, Captain?”
Levi beamed. He enjoyed her wit the most. It kept him on his toes. “Oh, I know what you mean, Commander, a little downtime and the whole place goes to hell in a handbasket!”
“Well, at least it is a hell we can share.” Alex pulled his face to hers and gave him kiss number three. She had not lost her touch. The long sensual kiss meant to last on the brain, and she noted that it still had its potency. Alex gauged Levi’s response and found he was responding the way many males do. He pressed her to him. She could feel his manhood. He grabbed her in a few nice places before he parted.
“Captain! Taking liberties now!” she said in mock indignation.
Levi played the injured party. “When you say it like that, I guess I should see you home before liberties are taken. And I’m not talking about yours!”
“Let us both cool off in the evening air on the way back home. I hear it is therapeutic,” Alex proposed.
Levi took her hand. “I’ve heard the same thing. That, and cold showers.”
“We will find the time, Levi. And no quickies! Girls like extended sexual encounters, and big weddings.”
“Are we talking about all girls or just this girl?”
Alex became suddenly shy. “Most girls. I’m one.”
Levi, unsure if she was being coy or not, pressed on. “Not to worry. I am a gentleman, after all.”
“Yes, you are! One of the things I like best about you,” she reminded him pleasantly.
They approached her apartment. Standing at the door, Levi gazed at those beautiful brown eyes. “Can a gentleman give a lady a kiss goodnight?”
“Absolutely.”
He kissed her. She responded with kiss response number four, designed to let him know how much she felt without seeming pushy. Just enough lip, no biting, no tongue. More than a peck, but less than face smashing.
◆◆◆
“Come on, let’s finish up here before third shift arrives,” Lieutenant Janson barked.
Commander Mason oversaw the space dock and managed things in the daytime. Janson, second in command, ran the dock in the evening or night shift. Things were looking up for Janson. He had been promoted after Atlantis had left the solar system some years back. He had performed well during the anxious times before and after leaving Earth. It had been rather boring on the long trip to Searth, and the lieutenant didn’t like idle hands. After arriving in the new world, he had become busy again. After leaving Searth for their home system, boredom had once more weighed heavy on him. Thank goodness, they were arriving some place again! There hadn't been enough maintenance work and projects in that five-year interval to keep him busy.
The whole dock was on edge, knowing they were closing in on Earth’s last known position. They knew many ships would be buzzing in and out on sorties and refueling missions. What they would find, nobody knew.
“Meeks!” He barked at the sergeant standing with a group of corporals.
Sergeant Meeks turned and jogged over to the lieutenant, brought himself up with a snap and saluted. “Yes, sir!”
“Sergeant, I thought I made it clear those maintenance pods either had to be fixed or moved out of the way. From my vantage point, it appears to be neither. I need a clear deck for traffic when we arrive at our destination.”
“Actually, sir, I just got an update on the repairs of the three pods from the maintenance crew.”
“What is the news, Sergeant?” Janson pressed Meeks.
“Two of the three pods will be repaired in the next twenty-four hours. The third will require major repairs. I was about to have the bad one hauled off when you called me over, sir.”
“Very good. Carry on, Sergeant.”
Meeks saluted and turned to go.
Janson had a thought. “Sergeant Meeks.”
Meeks turned to face the lieutenant. “Yes, sir?”
“After you finish here, meet me in my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
Meeks tried not to show the confusion he felt. Lieutenant Janson seemed displeased at first, but now he wasn’t sure. The lieutenant could be hard to read sometimes. Now Meeks had that feeling in his stomach. Had he done something wrong? He was in the doghouse about something. He just didn’t know what yet.
He finished communicating his wishe
s to the ground crew and walked across the deck, wondering what the hell Janson wanted with him. He entered the spacious office, and the secretary told him he could go right in. Feeling unprepared for what awaited him, he crossed the waiting room and entered the lieutenant’s office.
The lieutenant had a nice office, very functional and neat with very little of the personal trappings usually seen in offices. “Have a seat, Sergeant.” Janson motioned to the chair in front of his desk.
“Thank you, sir.” He deposited himself in the surprisingly comfortable chair.
“Sonny,” Janson said to the air.
“Yes, Lieutenant Janson.”
“How long until we reach our targeted position?”
“Thirty-two days at best speed.”
“Why will it take this long? We have been in the solar system for months now.”
“I have been studying the system since we were about a parsec out from Earth. The system has changed.”
“How so?”
“Many elements have been disturbed in their orbit, most notably the Oort cloud. It will take tens of thousands of years for the disruption by the neutron star to settle into a new stable order. Uranus and Neptune are gone, presumably swept away by the rogue star. The other planets are still there, though their orbits are more elliptical now from the tug of the neutron star's gravitation. There is less system debris here than before we left; however, roughly forty-two percent of the displaced debris is randomly scattered throughout the system. The pieces will eventually find new orbits, but for the next thousand years the debris will be a major hazard.”
“A good bit of this you already know, Sergeant,” Janson said to Meeks. “According to the probe we left behind to record the effects of the rogue star, the solar system has been a shooting gallery since we left. Sonny’s models were accurate. All the planets, including Earth, have taken a beating. Even mighty Jupiter and Saturn show scars from their many impacts. Lucky for us those two giants are acting as magnets for a lot of that debris floating around. What you have not heard yet is that Sonny has detected evidence that some survivors may still be waiting for us on Earth. We have also picked up transmissions on the Moon. As you know, we have sent some sorties in advance to recon the Moon and the home world while Atlantis continues to maneuver through the system’s new debris field toward the earth. In two weeks, the recon missions will turn into rescue missions. Atlantis needs to be close enough to the planet by then to communicate effectively with all craft, since our light speed communications travel slower than the ships do."
The Journey of Atlantis: The Children of Earth Page 11
