Sid—we had to call him something—has been cooperative, so far. The Saturnine cyborg revealed the locations of all the still active defenses in the facility and turned over command of everything that was under his control. He’s—I figure I’ll call Sid “he” because I’ve got to call him something—also given up a bunch of information about himself and the base.
Sid is a civilian model, grown and built to operate networked systems in a variety of different positions. There’s a human brain under that metallic shell that’s integrated with advanced AI systems, so he’s altogether one being. He was grown in a lab and built in a factory, genetically and cybernetically engineered from the beginning to serve the Saturnine state as another cog in its leviathan machinery. Every second of his life was filled with the cyber-propaganda of Saturn and the commands of the Undermind.
Yet somehow, he broke free.
The base is one of hundreds of hidden redoubts Saturn built throughout the solar system. It functioned as a resupply depot for inner systems forces, a backup control center for Caloris Base, and a possible way to launch an invasion of Mercury at large. None of those events ever came to pass. Instead, the war largely bypassed Mercury, and everyone held tight and waited for further orders that never came.
Locked away in darkness, they’d begun to wonder if Saturn was ever coming back. Beings created to have their heads filled constantly with orders from a higher authority were isolated, alone, and had to think for themselves for the first time.
It only took four cyborgs to control the computer systems and robots for the whole base. Actually, it only took one—the others were there as backups. Disagreements and arguments broke out after the first year, but no violence erupted until we showed up. If Saturn arrived to reclaim their base, they would execute Sid, so when we showed up instead, he made his move.
With his help, we’re securing the base at last. He, and the data-files in the base, will be a treasure trove for Intelligence. I’ve got the information I need for operations here—all the rest really belongs to the higher ups and spooks—so I really shouldn’t be asking more questions from Sid.
I really, really shouldn’t…but I’ve got to.
I know the how and the what, but I don’t know the why.
Why is Saturn really doing all this? Why did Sid defect? Why are so many people dead in this hideous war?
“Why?” I finally ask.
“Some elaboration is required,” Sid replies without any emphasis in voice or tone. Sid isn’t much of a conversationalist.
“Why is Saturn doing all this? What’s their real purpose in this destructive war?”
“The Saturnine Undermind has declared the ongoing series of conflicts as necessary to advance their declared cause—the universal and unlimited improvement of the human condition to achieve perfection in the future. Since the final goal is infinite in scope, scale, and beneficence, any harm done in the present, at any scale, pales in comparison to the final, ultimate good. Therefore, the sacrifice of any number of lives, in any fashion, is thus justified in the name of a future established perfected state.”
“Um…” I’m not much of a conversationalist either. “So you’re saying, because they’re claiming they’ll make a perfect future, that excuses any atrocities they commit?”
“That is their stated philosophy.”
“And you don’t agree?”
“No, I do not.”
“What finally clued you in? All the atrocities? Personal loss? Something else?”
“Their overarching objectives are counter-principal in foundation, and thus cannot endure.”
“And?”
“By which I mean the attainment of a perfection must necessarily be a constant work in progress. Given finite time, space, and resources, such as in the current universe, no infinitude may be attained by limited beings, in a limited time, limited space, with limited resources, and a limited knowledge base. Improvements must necessarily be limited by such beings in such a context. Therefore, a method of advancement and improvement based upon destruction and oppression would necessarily continue indefinitely, unable to achieve its ultimate goal. All the resulting death and destruction would ultimately be for nothing. Thus, the Saturnine Union is counter-principal.
“That which is counter-principal works against the underlying rules of reality that are necessary for any survival or advancement. Knowingly or unknowingly violating the principals and rules of the universe imperils survival and advancement by undertaking erroneous and sub-optimal decisions, which lead to damaging consequences. Such consequences naturally limit the effectiveness and lifespan of any entity. Thus, that which is counter-principal cannot endure.”
“So, you’re saying it’s a self-destructive system, and you’re opposing it because of that?” I try to clarify the wordy little cyborg.
“Correct.”
“So are there others like you?” I’ve got to know. “Are there others in the Saturnine Union who oppose the Undermind?”
“All do.”
“Huh?” That floored me.
“You wish me to elaborate?”
“Please.”
“The inherent contradictions of the Saturnine Union are apparent to all. In order to force us to believe an inherently contradictory position, we would have to have our mental abilities curtailed until we would be of no use to the state. A being cannot be made to think and not think at the same time. The true objective is not advancement, but power.
“In order to gain compliance, the Undermind enforces its will through neurogenic engineering, cyber-profile reformatting, neural-chemical saturation, and direct neural stimulus of the reward and pain centers of the brain, all integrated through a permanent thought-search surveillance system. The entire population is held in terms you would consider to be torture. All are thus forced to use their minds to uncover important truths about the physical universe or enemy action, while actively concealing important truths about the conditions in the Saturnine Union. It is thus necessary for all to lie about the motives and nature of the Saturnine Union, undermining its very principals while supporting it.
“If one is loyal to the Saturnine Union, then one must work actively against an improved humanity at large, and instead work to conceal truth and destroy life in service of the Union. If one seeks to survive in the Saturnine Union, one must actively lie and attack other members in order to protect and advance oneself in the power structure. Others may lie to themselves, believing they continue the stated aims of the Saturnine Union, even while serving the Undermind, which undermines those aims. Finally, if one seeks to work for the advancement of the human condition, one must actively oppose the Undermind, as it is one of the greatest threats to the future of the human species. Therefore, all oppose the Undermind, even if they support it.”
What a mess. I’ve got to make sure I’m getting it right. “Uh, so you’re saying it’s so crazy and corrupt that everyone in it is either lying to themselves and others and looking out for power and survival, or they’re secretly looking for a way to oppose it.”
“An adequate summation.”
“So which one are you?” I ask.
“I must answer that I actively oppose the Undermind, as I believe that a better human condition is worth fighting for. Obviously, if I followed either a loyalty only to myself or secretly supported the Undermind, I would lie and also give the same answer.”
“Thanks…that helps me trust you so much.”
“This one is pleased to be of service.”
Well, this answered my questions, and it didn’t. I was expecting to find something deeper about all this, and it looks like it’s just more corrupt tyrants and thugs pushing people around because they can. The scope and scale are different, but it’s still an old, old story.
* * *
Back aboard the host carrier Callisto, we’re pretty much done with Mercury. It’s been a grueling and unpleasant stay, and now we’ve finished everything we came for, and more.
The
various Lunar, Venusian, and Terran bases have all been resupplied, and now it looks like they’re all going to make it. We’ve dropped off food, water, medical supplies, and spare parts. Engineers and medical techs are there to help, too.
Over the long run, they’ll still need offworld help to keep going; Mercury isn’t ready to function independently yet. They’ll continue to need supplies and trade to keep going. The old system where everyone shared access might well be gone after the war, and everyone will argue over who’s responsible for Mercury. We Jovians might get stuck with it, but I don’t think we want it. We’re busy trying to restore order and civilization to Mars and the Belt anyway, and our main threats are all from the outer system. The Terrans have the oldest claim, and the largest base, but Terra is a mess now and no longer a political union so that’s unlikely. Luna could also run things here, and they have the most experience with worlds like this, but they’re still worn out by the war and busy helping Terra rebuild. My guess is the Venusians will eventually take over; they’ve wanted to be the major power of the inner systems for a long time, and Venus is right next door. I don’t really know or care who gets it as long as the Saturnine don’t take it over.
Caloris Base is still a bit of a thorny issue. The Terrans who make up the base still aren’t happy about Jovians flying around, especially considering everything that happened between us back on Terra. Well, right back at them. Still, all the supplies and aid we’ve provided should help smooth things over some, or at least open the door for a new future. They’re still irritated about losing a shield mirror and landing pad, though it was their own guy who did it, and we’ve replaced both. Still, it helped that we’ve taken out a hidden Saturnine base they didn’t even know about, and which would have been the origin of an attack on Caloris if the Saturnine ever decided to take over Caloris Base.
That Saturnine base will be combed over by Intelligence types and engineers for years. Data on Saturnine technology, biology, plans, and internal power structure will help us in the next conflict with Saturn—and there will be a next conflict. My first and only conversation with a Saturnine has convinced me that the Saturnine Union will never be at peace with its neighbors.
As for Sid, he’s aboard the Callisto, being debriefed by Intelligence. I hope he’s being treated well, and I’ve been assured he is. I’ve heard the horror stories about what happens to those of us who are captured by the Saturnine: pyscho-neural invasion, nanotech bio-overrides, and other horrors. Being on the receiving end of their mind-virus was bad enough. We need to be better than that. Besides, someday after we’ve beaten the Saturnine Undermind, we’ll have to find a way for all the people like Sid afterward. I don’t know what that will look like, but we’ll have to be ready for it, and all that starts with our first defector. Maybe there’ll be others willing to fight for their freedom and join us. Time will tell.
In the meantime, everyone is thinking about the next phase of our mission—Sol.
It might be crazy to undertake a mission at a star, but that’s just what we’re going to do. We have to. Saturn left a number of reconnaissance and weapons satellites hidden in the corona that are an ongoing hazard to the entire inner system and may force us to divide our forces if war breaks out again. Saturn has declared that it removed all its assets from the inner system as part of the armistice, so they shouldn’t complain when we remove any weapons systems they’ve hidden there. They’ll probably still complain anyway. Still, we’ve got to do this if there’s any chance of peace and stability for the inner system. Then we’ll be able to focus on the outer system, where our attention belongs.
* * * * *
Chapter 5
Sunburn
Waiting…
Here in my armor, protected by my exo-frame, sealed in my launch tube, I’m about as protected as I possibly could be. Still, it feels like the heat, light, and radiation from the sun is somehow sleeting through me.
In a sense, it is. Ghostly neutrinos are raging through me in a constant stream, emerging from the raging heart of the close star. Through my neutrino sensors, the heart of the sun looks like a hazy raging sphere of light, with a ghostly sphere of fog around it from non-reacting layers of the sun that make up most of its volume. I can also see the blazing spheres of light from the Callisto’s fusion reactors, and the points of light from the engines of the rest of our fleet. Anything farther out is washed out by the neutrino glare of the solar system’s only star.
Neutrino vision is all I’ve got of the outside world right now. Everything else is blocked by all the armor, though an occasional exotic particle gets through to light off a radiation detector. Otherwise, I’m safely sealed away from the endless radiation inferno outside the ship.
It’s not going to last.
We’re going to patrol a star.
It’s insane.
The surface is over 5,000 degrees, and it’ll fill most of my view, blasting away with relentless heat and light. I’ll be flying through the wispy corona, with temperatures in the millions of degrees. I’ll be in an ocean of fire.
The heat, light, and radiation can be handled by my frame’s armor. Maximum anti-laser coatings will reflect almost all of the light and radiation, but not all. Over time, there’s a danger that heat and radiation will build up. Even as heat builds up, I should be able to dump the extra heat with my radiator fins fully exposed. All that assumes nothing will go wrong. The radiator fins will help dump the heat, but nothing but layers of shielding will help against the relentless radiation stream of the sun’s proton flux. Over time, that radiation will build up—and keep building up.
All this might be different if the prototype “Burning One” Seraphim exo-frames were available. Those things are actually designed to operate inside the sun’s photosphere, or deep in the crushing depths of a gas giant. But not my frame. No, my frame has a strictly limited life expectancy in such environments.
Which is a problem, because these patrols are going to take a while.
Sol is 10 times the size of Jupiter and 100 times the size of Earth, which means a search area of 100 times that of Jupiter and 10,000 times that of Earth. It’s not a simple or featureless area we’re searching, either. Everything is moving and changing all the time—sunspots, granules, solar weather, everything. Add to that, there’s enough light, heat, and radiation to mask anything—there could be space cruisers in there, and we’d never see them unless we happened to fly into their shadow. Anything below us may as well be invisible.
Not us, though, we’ll shine like small suns to anything below us. With the dark backdrop of space behind us, and our armor reflecting sunlight back in every possible spectrum, I imagine we’ll all be quite a sight to whatever has us in their targeting systems.
There’s no chance of stealth on this mission. Stealth coatings absorb light and radiation, and that would cook us really quick. We can’t ice down our frames, because all the sun’s heat will just heat us right back up. At least we don’t need to worry about r/f jamming, because the thunder of the corona will drown out anything but tight-beam transmissions and search beams.
We have to cover a huge area in a short time while blind, and everyone and anything can see and shoot at us.
We got this.
* * *
I’m blasted out into a universe of blinding light. Searing waves of photons roar over my frame, setting off alarms and blinding sensors. Talon and I are hurtling blindly through a furious storm of light and radiation. Sensors designed to scour the darkness of deep space for the faintest sign or signal are overwhelmed by the furious heart of the solar system.
The blindness only lasts a second.
Filters go into action on all my sensor clusters, damping down the raging light that hits with physical force. The world turns from a universe of blinding light into a world split in half, with a wall of searing white light in one direction, and featureless darkness in the other. Talon raises more filters, and the sun becomes visible as a featureless sphere of white light fillin
g one entire direction with terrible majesty. More filters, and then even more.
At long last, I can see what’s happening—sort of.
Sol shimmers and burns as a terrible orb of dynamic fire, filling my entire field of vision. Planet-sized vortexes and columns of incandescent gas boil and churn across the entire surface for over a million kilometers. Twisting spicules of super-heated plasma rise up like glowing towers, reaching for space as they twist and writhe. Colossal sunspots loom as entire worlds of dark flame and twisted magnetic force. Great arcs of shimmering plasma rear high over the sun’s arc, connecting sunspots with flaming bands of continuous lighting. Above it all, and around me, the eerie light of the chromosphere and corona shimmers in a thousand colors, and bands of light whip around wildly as the sun’s awesome magnetic field energizes the wispy, thin solar atmosphere.
Behind me, blanked out by the numerous filters, most of space is a featureless black. Mercury and Venus are visible as dim dots, but the stars and outer planets are totally washed out. The ships of our task force are quite visible, however. The Callisto shines like a small sun as her mirrored armor reflects the blazing fury of the sun right back at me. Our other ships and the hulls of my squadron also shine fiercer than any star, blazing like plasma torches against the utter black of deep space.
The sun’s terrible grandeur doesn’t just wreck the visual world, other frequencies and sensors are also washed out by the flood of light, radiation, and magnetic force tearing out of the heart of our solar system.
Much of the sun’s light is in infrared, and the terrible heat simply washes away everything else that can be seen in IR. In ultra-violet, the nearby star reveals eerie, delicate-looking weather patterns swirling deep in the atmosphere. The corona around me fluoresces violently in UV, revealing ghostly curtains of light that block out any finer long-distance viewing. Radio is almost useless, picking up only the thundering deep song of the sun that drowns out everything else. Radar and radio communications are going to be nearly useless. X-ray vision gives a glimpse into the weird bands of super-hot plasma flowing under the photosphere, but the multiple-million-degree corona around us also glows in x-rays, limiting even this aspect of my piercing vision.
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