by Doug Farren
“That’s why Lashpa and I are going to try the diplomatic route first. If this is a remote outpost for a civilization as advanced as the Kyrra, we certainly don’t want to start a war with them.”
“If we had not had help from the Kyrra, the Chroniech would easily have beaten us. If a civilization as advanced as the Kyrra decided to attack us, we would not have a chance. If I had any say in the matter, I would rather quarantine L103-021 rather than risk starting a war with such a race.”
“And the crew of the Paranuth?” Tom asked, standing up.
Captain Scarboro stood up and headed for the door. “I agree with Lashpa on this matter. I would rather allow the crew of the Paranuth to live out their lives in captivity than start a war that could end the lives of millions more.”
Tom stopped at the threshold of the conference room door. “Doug, the Dragon is a uniquely valuable resource. Because of its Kyrra weapons, Admiral Shurvith might be tempted to order you into battle. I can’t allow that to happen. As of this moment, the Komodo Dragon is now on special assignment for Peacekeeper Command. Computer, recognize Peacekeeper Thomas Wilks.”
“Peacekeeper Thomas Wilks has been verified,” the Komodo Dragon’s computer replied.
“Transfer command authority from Alliance Fleet Command to Peacekeeper Command effective immediately.”
“Command authority transferred.”
“Captain Scarboro,” Tom said. “By the authority invested in me as a peacekeeper, I am ordering you and all members of this vessel to take commands only from myself or Peacekeeper Lashpa until this order is rescinded by Peacekeeper Command.”
“I understand,” Captain Scarboro replied. Keying the door open, he added, “The Dragon is yours.”
“She’s still your ship,” Tom replied, smiling. “I’m going to have my ship keep an open connection to the Dragon. If things go sour, I might need your assistance. Be ready to move at a moment’s notice.”
“Don’t worry Tom. We’ve got your back.”
Chapter 12
Tom heard and felt the soft thump as the Orion docked with the Krish. The airlock indicators flashed through the expected sequence before showing green. He opened the door then stepped aside as his combat armor walked past him into the inner airlock. A large container was strapped on the suit’s back with another one in its arms.
“My armor is in the airlock,” he told Lashpa, as he closed the door.
“Roger that,” she replied. “I’ll let you know when it clears my airlock.”
“A message has been received from Peacekeeper Command,” Orion announced.
“Show me.”
“It’s addressed to myself and Krish and is not in any format I can show you that would be meaningful,” the ship replied. “But, you should be aware of the message’s content. Krish and I will explain after you have transferred to the Krish.”
“Your armor is aboard,” Lashpa said.
Tom keyed the door open and stepped into the airlock. The inner door cycled closed and the outer door opened revealing the short hard-tube connecting his ship to Lashpa’s. The tube was outside of their ship’s internally generated gravity field allowing him to float through the three-meter gap. Krish’s outer airlock door was open. His feet touched the floor of Lashpa’s airlock and he cycled through into her ship.
“Any idea what peacekeeper command sent our ships?” Lashpa asked as soon as the inner airlock was open.
“Not a clue,” Tom replied. “Thank you for lowering your gravity. Even though I’m over half machine, it still tends to affect me.”
“You’re welcome.”
A minute later, they gathered together in Lashpa’s stateroom. Tom walked over to the far wall and admired the living art that covered almost the entire bulkhead. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to match your expertise at something like this,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s not much different than any other hobby,” Lashpa replied. “It takes time and practice to become an expert. Just don’t try to create something as intricate as this on your first attempt.”
“Oh, believe me—I won’t!”
“Okay Krish,” Lashpa said. “What did Peacekeeper Command send you?”
“Standby for partial virtual reality,” Krish said, simultaneously using Tom’s and Lashpa’s audio implants.
Two other individuals joined them, a Rouldian representing Krish and a Terran representing Orion, coalesced into existence in the room. “We received a command file directly from Peacekeeper Command that triggered an automatic response from us,” Krish’s avatar began.
“As of this moment,” Orion continued, “the security requirement for your cybernetic systems to periodically contact us has been temporarily suspended.”
Tom and Lashpa looked at each other. “I didn’t know that was even possible,” Tom said.
“Neither did we,” Krish admitted. “There are an unknown number of command stacks loaded in our AI cores that can be activated by either an extraordinary external event or triggered through a command code sent to us by Peacekeeper Command. We have no access or knowledge of the contents of these command stacks until one is triggered.”
“I would say that Peacekeeper Command is planning for the possibility of our being out of communication with you for more than 48 hours during this mission,” Lashpa said.
“Agreed,” Orion replied. “A new code will need to be uploaded to your cybernetics as soon as this mission is over. Doing so will require a trip to Centralis.”
Tom felt a familiar sensation pass through his entire body as the ship engaged its stardrive. “We are now en route to L103-021,” Krish informed them. “ETA 3.5 hours.”
“That’s enough time for a game of chess,” Tom said.
“Agreed,” Lashpa replied. “Discontinue virtual reality.”
The ship’s avatars vanished. Lashpa walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a heavy marble chess board and a felt-lined case of pieces.
Tom joined her at the dining table. “I don’t think I’ve seen this set before,” he said, picking up a white and a black pawn. “It’s beautiful.”
“I acquired it some time ago,” Lashpa replied. “Krish, give us a 10 minute warning before dropping out of stardrive.”
Tom put his hands under the table then pulled them back out, his fists closed around the two pawns. Lashpa picked his right hand. Opening it, Tom declared, “I get white.”
* * * * *
Lashpa scratched the side of her jaw. “So, these intelligent, parasitic creatures- - -”
“The Goa’uld,” Tom interrupted.
“Can somehow enter a person’s body and take over their mind giving them extraordinary and unrealistic abilities. It’s just too far-fetched to be believable.”
“But that’s why it’s called science fiction,” Tom argued. “You’re supposed to set aside your logical brain for a moment so you can enjoy the show.”
“But their eyes glow! That’s not even physiologically possible. The program should at least have some basis in reality.”
“Excuse me,” the voice of the ship’s AI interrupted. “We will be dropping out of stardrive in 10 minutes.”
“Thank you,” Lashpa said, getting up off the grass flooring.
“I’ll stay here,” Tom said. “Krish can link me in so I can see things from your point of view.”
Ten minutes later, the two ships dropped out of stardrive. “Distance from target 8.13 million kilometers,” the ship reported. “Relative velocity 11.9 kilometers per second bearing 26.8 by 31.4 relative to target.”
“Time to start our charade,” Tom said. “Orion, initiate data interlink with Krish. Until commanded otherwise, you are to make it appear as if Lashpa is aboard you.”
“Understood,” the Orion’s AI instantly replied. “Data interlink established.”
The link would be used to allow Lashpa to speak to Tom through a standard communications channel as if she was actually aboard the Orion. Anything she intended to s
ay openly to Tom would be transmitted within the complex data stream to the Orion which would then retransmit it back to Tom along a standard channel. Another link would be established between the Krish and Lashpa through her combat armor.
“ETA to target, seven hours, nineteen minutes,” Krish reported.
Tom disconnected from Lashpa’s visual feed as she made her way back to her stateroom. When she arrived, she found that Tom had set up her chess set. She handed him an iced tea as she took her position on the opposite side of the board. The AIs of the two ships watched this interaction with great interest. Tom had never asked for the tea and Lashpa had never spoken of her desire to play a game of chess while they traversed space. But, for reasons the machines found it hard to discern, both Tom and Lashpa had satisfied the other’s desire.
Confident that the ship’s AIs could easily handle things and would alert them if anything out of the ordinary happened, the two peacekeepers settled down to play a relaxing game of chess. Afterward, they continued their discussion about the believability of the science of Stargate.
They were in the middle of a very technical discussion concerning how a hypothetical stargate could work when Krish announced, “We are approaching 2,000 kilometers from the planet.
“Orion,” Tom said, knowing his words would heard by his ship. “Hold position here.”
“Acknowledge,” his ship instantly replied.
“I’m heading for the control center,” Lashpa said. “Do you want to squeeze in with me or stay here?”
“I’ll stay here. It’s a lot less crowded.”
“It would have been even more crowded if we had taken your ship. Krish, link Tom to my visual and auditory feed.”
“Acknowledged … Link established.”
The plan was to slowly approach the invisible line drawn in space 1,230 kilometers from L103-021 and then creep across it hoping that the inhabitants would allow them to pass without interference.
Chapter 13
“Distance 1,500 kilometers,” Krish announced. “We are now within range of the emergency radios. Transmitting activation code.”
The emergency radios used by the Alliance were designed to listen for a specifically coded transmission. If a proper code is received and the radio is turned on, it will activate a beacon and alert the crew that an Alliance ship is in the area. If multiple radios are on, one of them will assume the lead and begin transmitting while the others conserve their battery and remain in receive-only mode.
“Are we in line-of-sight of the last known position of the crew?” Lashpa asked.
“We are,” the ship replied.
“Adjust our course to keep it that way.”
“Fourteen-hundred kilometers,” Krish reported. “Continuing to slow. Scans remain clear.”
A red icon appeared on a monitor to Lashpa’s left. “Acknowledgment received from one of the emergency radios,” the ship said.
“Now we see if it’s one that was left on the ship or if it’s with the crew,” Tom said.
Two minutes later, a voice said, “Alliance vessel, this is Captain Maresh of the Rouldian cruiser Paranuth. Are you receiving me?”
“Remember,” Lashpa said. “I’m not supposed to be here. You need to do all the talking. Krish, answer the call from my stateroom and keep my microphone muted.”
Back in Lashpa’s stateroom, Tom walked over to the communications panel and touched a flashing icon. “This is Peacekeeper Thomas-ga-Lashpa Wilks-ga-Krish. I am on approach to L103-021. What is your status?”
“There are 295 survivors,” the Captain replied. “All are well. Our captor has refashioned parts of our ship to provide us with shelter. A large supply of food has also been transported to our current location along with several of the ship’s food storage units. Are you aware of what transpired following our arrival on the surface?”
“A survey drone captured a video. I know that two of your crew attempted to attack one of the drones and were killed. What happened to the others that did not survive?”
“Most were electrocuted. We were hit with some type of weapon that generated a tremendous amount of circulating current throughout the entire ship. Every system was affected.”
Tom had no idea how much longer they would be allowed to talk and he wanted to get as much information as possible. “What can you tell me about your captors?”
“We’ve never seen them but one of them spoke to us through the drones. Shortly after our arrival, they cut a hole in the side of the ship and a small robot used a loudspeaker to give us instructions. We were told to peacefully exit the ship. We were allowed to take extra clothing, survival gear, and food but weapons were absolutely forbidden. Two members of our security force decided to make an attempt to destroy the drones. You saw the result.”
“What else can you tell me?”
“Not much,” the Captain admitted. “We were escorted from the ship by a number of robots and aerial drones. As soon as we were far enough away, our escorts stopped. Apparently, we are now the property of someone or something calling itself the Proprietor. It promised that we would be provided for as long as we remained nonviolent and cooperative. We can go anywhere we want except back to our ship.”
“You talk as if this Proprietor is a single individual. Are there indications of any others?”
“No.”
“Sit tight,” Tom said. “Unless I’m stopped, I should be on the surface in about an hour. Your captors seem to want to enforce a buffer zone equivalent to 1,230 meters or the same in kilometers. I am approaching 1,230 kilometers from the surface. If I’m allowed to proceed, I plan on landing about two kilometers from your current location.”
“We have very little choice other than to just sit here and wait,” the Captain replied. “Good luck Peacekeeper Wilks. Captain Maresh out.”
“We are now 1,230 kilometers from the surface,” Lashpa said as soon as the communication channel was closed. “All sensors are clear. Proceeding ahead.”
Krish reestablished the visual link with Lashpa so Tom could watch the tactical monitor as they slowly continued to approach the planet.
“Well,” Tom said as they came within 1,000 kilometers. “It looks like we have clearance.”
“Agreed,” Lashpa replied.
The two peacekeepers sat in relative silence as they continued to approach the planet. Thirty minutes later, Lashpa said, “We are at 500 kilometers. Krish, put us in god mode.”
Tom was the one who had come up with the term for a mode of observation that was something only a cyborg could truly experience. The familiar surroundings of the ship faded away as the two peacekeepers were electronically transported into space, hovering just outside the hull of the Krish. Of course, they weren’t actually in space. Thanks to its ability to completely control virtually all of a peacekeeper’s senses, the ship’s AI could easily simulate almost any environment, including turning Tom and Lashpa into ephemeral beings capable of existing in the vacuum of space.
A beautiful, living planet was below them. The hazy edge of the atmosphere was clearly visible on the horizon. A pulsating red dot indicated their intended landing area.
“Krish,” Tom said, “Magnify and show us the location of the Paranuth’s crew.”
The planet suddenly grew closer as the ship complied with Tom’s request. A few seconds later, they were looking down at the surface. “I am at maximum magnification,” Krish informed them.
Luckily, the sky was nearly cloudless and they had a clear view of the surface. “Look at that!” Tom exclaimed, pointing out a collection of shiny rectangular structures. “It looks like a base camp.”
“It does appear as if the crew are being well cared for,” Lashpa replied.
Tom pointed to the west of their intended landing zone. “That looks like a storm.”
“I agree,” Lashpa replied. “We’ll have a few hours of sunlight after we land. I’m hoping we can make it to the camp before it gets dark.”
“We are entering the planet�
��s upper atmosphere,” Krish reported.
“I guess I should get suited up,” Lashpa said. “Krish, disengage god mode.”
Tom was standing by Lashpa’s combat armor when she arrived. The armor had split itself nearly in half—the left side opening up like a gull-wing car door and the two right-side legs opened up like the doors of a small pantry. Lashpa positioned herself next to the armor as close as possible then lifted her right front leg up and into the suit. The armor closed in around her foot, locking her in place. She then inserted her right arm into the suit.
Using the suit as leverage, she pulled her left foot into the open section of the armor. Her right rear foot was next followed by her left rear foot. She positioned her tail, laying it along the open half of the suit and then repeated the process with the right side of her head. As soon as she was in position, the suit closed itself sealing her inside.
There was a moment of disorientation as the suit integrated itself into her existing cybernetics becoming an integral part of her body. When the process was complete, she did not feel as if she was inside a suit of armor, she was the armor. Her HUD flashed a message.
“Systems check complete,” she told Tom.
Tom patted Lashpa’s armored neck. “My suit is a lot easier to get into.”
“You don’t have four legs, two arms, and a tail to deal with.”
“True. Yours is also about four times larger than mine. We would have had to store your suit in the Orion’s cargo bay. Mine is small enough to just park in your conference room.”
Lashpa cautiously moved each of her limbs verifying that her combat armor was completely and properly linked. When she was satisfied, she asked, “Krish, how long before we land?”
“Approximately eight minutes. I have detected no sign of any vehicles on an intercept.”
