by C. R. Daems
"Why don't you take a few days off while I consider what you've said and haven't said. You certainly deserve a rest. You've been working harder than I've a right to expect," he said while standing. I couldn't tell whether that meant for me to rest because I needed to before continuing or whether he really was going to consider my points. And even if he did, would that result in merely cosmetic changes to appease me and keep his dream alive? I didn't envy him the decision.
CHAPTER THREE
Breakthrough
After four days of doing nothing, I was not only bored but nervous. I didn't want to quit the program, but I didn't think I could ever meet Mikel's expectations. When Mikel finally called for a meeting, I was relieved but apprehensive when he wanted to meet with me alone in his office. Sounded like a pink slip. I hoped he didn't want his implant back... Or maybe I couldn't leave until they figured out how to remove it. Fortunately, he hadn't given me enough time to get really hysterical.
"Good morning, Zoe. You don't look rested. Would you like something to drink before we get started?" he began as I entered his office. I just wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible, but I hoped coffee would relax me, or at least give me something to do while he talked. I felt like a lieutenant called in to see a general.
"Coffee please, Mr. Mikel."
"Why so formal, Zoe?"
"I know I said things..."
"Truthful things, based on your experience both as a participant and a senior naval officer. Yes, I've had a dream for more than twenty years, and the AHI program is my chance to make it come true." He paused to hand me a cup of coffee and waved for me to take a seat. "The dream is still alive, but it has made contact with reality." He laughed. "If Odin becomes a class of navy cruisers, it will require captains who will be selected from a pool of naval officers who are humans—not machines. The first Odin series may not be what I had envisioned, but we need a next generation cruiser today, not in ten years. I have, therefore, decided to let you modify the current Odin configuration."
"I know that must not have been an easy decision...Steven. But even with all my proposed changes, I'm excited about the idea of going to war with an Odin class cruiser. I believe it will surpass anything we have today."
"I've authorized my engineers to make whatever modifications you want, but I reserve the right to make you convince me they are necessary."
"Thank you. I like your concept. It's just I believe you may be a century or two ahead of the rest of us," I said, feeling excited to start. He laughed.
* * *
Odin Phase IV
Mikel called a meeting of his AHI project managers that same afternoon, nine individuals.
"Zoe has some concerns about the Bridge and the way it operates, or rather the way it forces the captain to operate. I've taken several days to consider her concerns, and have concluded the problem results from discrepancies between the way you and I would like the system to work for maximum efficiency and the way the real world—those fighting our enemies—works. For example, if the captain dies, how do we get our one-of-a-kind cruiser and its four hundred crew back home? We are trying to shave nanoseconds off each task when in reality the mind can't work at that speed. Zoe?" He paused and looked in my direction. I made eye contact with each individual.
"Let me say that I like the overall concept, and believe it will give us an advantage over the current Issog cruisers and their captains. But I don't think humans are ready for all of the advancements the AHI project is aiming for." I looked back to Mikel.
"I've agreed to let Zoe make the changes she has suggested and any others she feels necessary. My only condition was that she justify any we feel an unnecessary throwback to the current ways for the sake of comfort—we've always done it that way. We will continue to monitor her progress. We have a goal, and the Defense Department and Navy will want to know how much we've improved performance. Of course, the real assessment won't come until Captain LaFon encounters the Issog. That’s the overriding reason I've decided to let Zoe make the changes—we understand technology, but she understands war.
* * *
We spent the next three days discussing the changes. The AHI team would provide normal looking panels on the primary Bridge for the crew standing normal duty watch and for those on routine maneuvers. For encounters with the enemy or an emergency, I could lock down any or all of the station's panels. New monitors had to be installed to give me a visual of what was pending. If I asked for a vector but didn't want it executed immediately, the monitor would display the vector when it was available. The individual stations had to be capable of performing tasks I asked for. I didn't want the responsibility of doing every task, so the individual stations had to act similar to a human in that position, just faster.
The project leaders and their teams went on a twenty-four-seven schedule, and had the new Bridge ready in two weeks and debugged to my satisfaction in three.
"Thank you. You and your teams are fantastic to work with, and as dedicated as any I've ever worked with. I plan to start running the simulations tomorrow to get a feel for the new system. I'm hoping from here on out it will just be minor adjustments as I work to become operational, but you and I need to be aware of anything we can do to improve the system, or my performance. From today, consider me getting ready to take your marvelous technology to war," I said to enthusiastic cheers. I only hoped it was going to be as simple as I made it sound—and that the results would be what these people expected.
* * *
"All right, Elaine, let's start with simulation S01, Single Cruiser Encounter," I said, eager to try out the new configuration and software.
"Slow mo?" she asked with amusement.
"Yes, until I get used to the monitors and what I can expect from my virtual Bridge personnel. In a sense, we are on our maiden shakedown cruise. As soon as everything checks out, I think we'll move ahead quickly. I hope you're working on some complex simulations for later. Surprises will be the best indicator of the AHI potential."
"I am." She laughed. "I've been talking with senior officers, active and retired, who have had experience in the war with the Issog and Arrith; researching historical accounts of battles; and throwing in my own innovations."
"I look forward to seeing them."
"Me too. Simulation S01 beginning in ten seconds." The ready light appeared on the monitor. Over the next six hours, I went through the simulation six times, increasing the speed each time. I noted several minor problems with the virtual personnel handling my commands. They were noted and reported to the appropriate teams.
"I'm glad you've included me, Zoe, but I'm afraid I won't be of much help given the changes," Peter said as we finished for the day.
"Your performance with the original system was as good as could have been achieved. I'm hoping you might see things I don't because you look at my performance from a different perspective. In addition, you will be mentoring the next generation of Odin captains and will need to understand why I do things a certain way. You'll also be doing simulations which may help trigger ideas."
"Oh," Peter mumbled, eyes downcast in thought. Then he smiled. "Sounds like fun."
* * *
Over the next two months, I worked ten to twelve hours in the simulator, several hours reviewing the results, and forwarded my suggestions to the various teams. Peter was terrific and seemed as enthusiastic as me, proving helpful with suggestions and poignant questions that frequently made me rethink my approach.
"All right, Elaine, it's time for your new simulations. I'm ready for some interesting problems."
"About time," she quipped. "I was getting bored with the old ones."
"I wasn't," Peter interjected. "I've only worked on a few of those last ten, and I could never finish without being killed. I can see now how trying to do everything yourself can be overwhelming, even with the implant."
The next month was finally more fun than work. Elaine had created a series of simulations based on our early days against th
e Arrith and threw in a few surprises, which came close to feeling like a real war. The system proved solid and I felt comfortable in my new environment.
* * *
"I'd like to commend everyone," Mikel said as he began his formal monthly review. "Zoe has pushed you beyond what should have been the breaking point for normal human beings. But rather than break, you grew stronger. Sherl, you've been assessing Zoe's performance over the months with the new modifications. Where are we now?" Of course, Mikel already knew since he had received an advance copy, but we didn't, and this review constituted an official report for the government.
"At the beginning of the AHI project, we projected an overall one hundred percent improvement in combat efficiency. Prior to Zoe, Peter was our only successful participant, but his performance never exceeded fifteen percent. In addition, he was never able to successfully complete the last of our test simulations." She paused to take a sip of water and review her notes. "Ironically, Zoe only achieved an eighteen percent performance improvement under the original system. With the new system, however, I measured her overall performance improvement at close to forty percent, and she has not only aced our original simulations but the ten new ones we created. Elaine claims they are fifty percent harder than any of the previous ones."
"Zoe?" Mikel looked toward me.
"I'm not sure about my increased performance in terms of percentages, but I know based on Elaine's new simulations that my chances of winning encounters with our enemies have doubled. As her simulations demonstrate, a captain's strategy seldom survives contact with her opponents, or the corollary, the enemy seldom cooperates." That generated snorts and laughs. "I wish we had twenty Odin cruisers in service. In my opinion, it would turn the war in our favor."
"I know your herculean efforts were not for money, but loyalty to your country and Next Robotics. Nevertheless, your teams will be given bonuses and a month off to spend them—" Mikel had to pause until the clapping and cheering stopped. "The first Odin cruiser is in the final stages of construction and scheduled to be operational in two weeks. Assignments have been finalized for ninety percent of the crew, and candidates for the Bridge are ready to be interviewed. That has been left for you, Zoe. But first you have to meet your security."
"Security? Why? I'll be on a warship."
"Aren't you ever going to leave the ship? You're the only one who is qualified to fly the new Odin, you're walking around with an implant worth hundreds of millions of credits, and knowing humanity, we must assume that there are loyal citizens who will consider you an abomination, or evil, and feel justified in killing you. And let’s not discount criminals who would consider you a walking diamond mine." He paused for my reaction.
I remained quiet, since I had never thought about security. I knew there were people who hated the war and thought if we stopped our opponents would, and we could, negotiate a solution. Killing a navy captain or two wouldn't stop the war, nor would killing the captain of the Odin, but someone might think it would. For others, a hundred-million-credit prize would be a powerful incentive.
"How?" I asked, thinking about navy security tagging along behind me. The idea was ridiculous.
"Mactans," Mikel said, throwing my mind into chaos. The Mactans were elite mercenaries from the planet Burning Sands who were fashioned in the old earth Bushido code of ethics. They had named them after the Black Widow spider rather than the Samurai. Appropriately, their uniforms were black with a red-hourglass patch on the shoulder. The Mactans were loyal, fearless, trained from infancy in the art of war, and like the spider they were named for—deadly. All captains had guards outside their quarters, but in reality, they were there more for privacy than security. The idea of personal security twenty-four seven felt...unsettling...dehumanizing, making me feel more like a valuable object. My head hurt.
"When?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"The Mactans arrive this afternoon. We leave tomorrow. You and I have a meeting with Admiral Fossett, Chief of Naval Operations, in the morning. In the afternoon, you will get to set foot on the Odin. The next day, you have a meeting with Vice Admiral Gamez, Chief of Personnel Assignments. He's hoping you can narrow the list of candidates he has prepared. If all goes well, you should be ready to begin flight testing as soon as the construction crew signs off." Mikel looked and sounded excited. I didn't blame him. His dream had been twenty years in the making, and within weeks it would become at least a partial reality.
I had warring emotions: I was excited at the thought of commanding the Odin—a unique cruiser and the first of its kind—and for the opportunity to fight the Issog again. But I was apprehensive over the fact that so much was riding on my shoulders. I wasn't just another captain with a new ship. I represented a new class of captains who would be operating the next generation of warships. The fate of the program rested on my performance. Finally, I got control of myself.
"I want to thank everyone here for your help and for supporting me. You've done everything I asked and much more. I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure the Odin is recognized as the next evolution in warships, and the AHI as a viable strategy and the turning point in our war with the Issog."
CHAPTER FOUR
The Mactans
When I walked into the conference room with Mikel, ten men in black uniforms with weapons strapped to arms and legs flowed smoothly to a relaxed attention. At first glance they looked identical: tall, thin, wiry builds, long angular faces, olive skin, and black short-cropped hair. The man closest to Mikel and me stepped forward and gave a small bow.
"Captain LaFon, I'm Commander Akar. Before we begin duty, we must each personally sign the contract. Although others are paying for our services, the contract is between the Mactans present and you, Captain LaFon."
I shrugged and picked up the pen lying on the table.
He placed his hand over mine. "No, sir. You must read it very carefully and make sure you understand the terms of our agreement. We have found in the past that clients make erroneous assumptions about our services. That can make them dissatisfied with our performance, and can cause confusion in an emergency." He handed me the document, which looked to be four or more pages.
I pulled up a chair and began reading. Then I read it a second time.
"This is very invasive and somewhat callous, if I read it correctly." I put the document down, shaking my head in disbelief. Akar was right when he said clients made erroneous assumptions about their services, because I had. "Two guards with me all the time and one must be able to see me, and you will defend no one but me?"
"We have found it is not possible to protect a client if we can't see him or at a minimum control all access to where he is. You may order us to leave you alone with someone, but then it's you who negated the contract and are responsible for the consequences." His lip twitched in what I took as amusement. "Protecting you is the essence of the contract. If you and Mr. Mikel are together and a threat occurs and we also try to save Mr. Mikel, we will be distracted from protecting you. The only exception would be if saving Mr. Mikel somehow helps to protect or save you, then we would make an exception." He did smile this time.
I looked to Mikel, who didn't smile, but pointed to the document.
"I discussed this with Admiral Fossett and the Secretary General. It's not optional. If you were one of twenty Odin captains it wouldn't be necessary. But you aren't. You're the only one, and that is likely to be true for a long time. Losing you could set the project back by years, and we don't have years. The Admiralty believes the Issog could defeat us within as little as five years. And he's probably being overly optimistic."
"I don't like it, but I understand the reason." I picked up the pen and signed both copies.
Akar then picked up the pen and signed both copies.
"I, Commander Akar, give you my oath as a Mactan to protect your life with my own." He gave a small bow and then handed the pen to the man standing behind him, who signed the documents.
"I, Commander
Second Jalus, give you my oath as a Mactan to protect your life with my own." He handed the pen to the next man in line... And so it went until all ten had signed and personally given me their oath. When I decided to retire, Akar and another man accompanied me back to my quarters and inspected them.
"We like to inspect any room you enter or plan on staying in to determine possible entrances and whether one of us needs to remain with you." He turned to leave.
"Please stay, Commander Akar. Since we are going to be working closely together for a long time, I'd like to know something about you and the Mactans, if you don't mind." I waved him to one of the chairs. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No thank you. We don't eat or drink on duty, because it distracts." He sat while studying me. "I don't mind telling you anything you would like to know. The better we understand each other, the better we will work together in an emergency. Those of us who are selected to be Mactans are raised in a.…crèche to control our schooling from an early age, and I would imagine to preclude family involvement later on. You must understand that we spend most of our lives on other planets with no extended vacations to visit our planet of birth. Our family becomes our fellow Mactans. We're very well educated, since history shows us that those with a broad range of knowledge adapt better and prove to be the best in an emergency. At age ten we begin to study war. Not just weapons but the tactics of ground warfare. At fourteen, we are assigned to a group that specializes in some activity. For example, the group assigned to you specializes in protecting individuals who are stationary or travel. I think you meet both categories." He gave a brief snort.
