Command Decisions (Book 3 of The Empire of Bones Saga)

by Terry Mixon

  “That really depends on him.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The cutter flew down to the Erorsi complex at a much more leisurely pace than the marine pinnace had dropped Kelsey into the atmosphere the first time. Of course, they weren’t worried that the Pale Ones would blow them out of the sky this time. The controlling AI was gone and the enhanced savages were too busy struggling to stay alive to cause them any trouble.

  Dirty snow covered the mountain plateau and the sky was a leaden gray, full of particulate matter thrown up by the massive asteroid the mad AI had dropped almost on Kelsey’s head. Thankfully, the air closer to the ground was mostly clear of dust.

  The residents of the former planetary defense headquarters had opened a more convenient entrance. It beat the one they’d had hidden in a gully. That made disembarking as simple as walking down the boarding ramp and entering a small building.

  Two men in black jumpsuits stiffened to attention as Kelsey walked through the door, bringing their rifles upright in front of them. A redheaded woman in a blue jumpsuit stood in front of the men. She smiled and extended her hand to Kelsey and then to Elise. “Princess Kelsey, Princess Elise. Welcome to Erorsi. I’m Janet Quincy, Mister Bell’s assistant.”

  “Thank you.” Kelsey looked around the room. It had a massive lift, suitable for cargo. “This must make getting supplies in a little bit easier.”

  “You have no idea. Now that the AI is gone, we can come and go without worrying someone will see us. We designed the building so that we can take it down in a few hours if we need to. I don’t think we’ll be comfortable out in the open for a long, long time.”

  Elise smiled. “Hopefully you won’t need to hide again.”

  “Hopefully not. We’ve all been keeping a close eye on the news and we’re so grateful that you stopped that enemy ship from getting away. We’re sorry for the loss of life and ships. If we can be of any assistance, you need only ask.”

  “And that’s why we’re here,” Kelsey said. “Is Mister Bell available?”

  The woman nodded. “Of course. If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you straight to him.”

  She led them into the open lift and started it down. It dropped smoothly into the mesa. Kelsey watched the walls flash by. “You must’ve already had the shaft dug. I can’t imagine adding something like this to an existing facility would be easy.”

  “This lift shaft was installed when the facility was built, and then covered when it was complete. All we had to do was remove the fake stone at the top.”

  The lift stopped and the doors slid open on a huge room. Dozens of people were sorting what looked like salvaged equipment into multiple piles. Janet led them through the organized chaos.

  Kelsey recognized some of the equipment as computers, but much of it was unfamiliar to her. She stopped to help two men lift a particularly heavy piece onto a floating platform. They looked momentarily shocked, but smiled as they recognized her. She gave them a small wave and caught up with the other women.

  “I assume all this came from the old cities,” she said. “Is it recoverable?”

  Janet shrugged. “Maybe. If nothing else, we can use the parts. After five hundred years, the supplies on some critical components were getting very low. The rebels ignored the cities after the invasion, other than sending in search parties for the citizens. Once they created the Pale Ones, it didn’t take long before they were empty.”

  “And it’ll be a while before they’re full again,” Elise said sadly.

  “Perhaps not. We’re hopeful that we can lure people in from Pentagar to settle. We have a lot of unclaimed land.”

  Janet led them into a major corridor and deep into a maze of storage areas. One of them was open and had dozens of men in lab coats assembling what looked like a massive computer. Kelsey spotted Reginald Bell’s mass of white hair from across the room.

  She sent him a ping and waved when he looked over.

  The ancient man smiled and came over. “Kelsey! How wonderful to see you again. And Princess Elise. Welcome to Erorsi. You’re just in time. We’re getting ready to conduct an experiment.”

  Elise peered at the computer. “So I see. Exactly what am I looking at?”

  “The largest, most powerful computer system on Erorsi. We salvaged it from the capital.”

  Kelsey felt her eyebrows rise in surprise. “Wasn’t your capital destroyed?”

  “No. We didn’t have a spaceport nearby. We moved those away from the populated areas once we realized they were the primary rebel targets.” He gestured at the equipment. “This was, at one time, the computer that controlled all the financial markets on Erorsi. Keeping track of delayed data from all around the Empire meant it required truly astonishing amounts of memory and computing power.”

  “How does it stack up to the computer on Courageous?”

  “Well, that’s somewhat like comparing apples and oranges. This computer is much less autonomous and yet much more capable of intensive processing than the one on Courageous. It should have an AI interface, but I doubt very seriously that it will be much of a conversationalist.

  “We’re hoping to use it to access the memory banks you recovered from the AI. The storage units you recovered are solid state, so they’re probably intact. We’re hopeful that we can crack the encryption on the data. This system should also be able to correlate the data quickly.”

  “How does the computer that they recovered from that asteroid compare to either of them?” Elise asked.

  Bell shrugged. “I’m not sure. It looks like the mutineers managed to remove all its parts, but our computer people are uncertain of how some of the most advanced processors work. The scientists on board Courageous are sending us the data as they test each piece and we have people with them to try to decipher how it all works. At a guess, it was an advanced design capable of hosting a true AI. Not something like was in the sunken battlecruiser, but the real deal. A sentient computer.”

  “That sounds dangerous,” Kelsey said. “Obviously, since something like that probably kicked off the rebellion. We’re bringing the damaged light cruiser Shadow and the captured enemy destroyer to the orbital construction facility. We’re hopeful that the destroyer is reparable. I’m not so sure about Shadow.”

  “We’ll do our best, of course. It won’t happen quickly, though. None of our people has ever worked on anything like this before. We’ll bring professionals in from Pentagar to assist, if you’re willing, Princess Elise.”

  The Crown Princess Elise nodded decisively. “You’ll have as much help as you desire. We’re in this together.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. While these good people continue their work, I’d like to adjourn to a more comfortable setting to discuss that. They’ll call us when they have the system ready to test.”

  Kelsey looked around. “How are you going to keep the AI from infecting it? I can see why you brought it in, because it won’t be connected to your base, but the virus might just take it over.”

  “That will tell us something, too. This computer isolates new data. Something about continuing to operate as it incorporates new information. It may work for this. If not, we’ll have the original hardwired operating system to overwrite the system.”

  Bell led them to a small lounge. It was obviously new, as storage areas didn’t require that level of comfort. He gestured for the three of them to sit around a small table.

  “Kelsey, the leadership council has been talking about how we move forward. I realize that you intend to depart for home before long, so I’d like to take a few minutes to brief you on their conclusions.

  “As you know, we’ve kept the same control structure since the rebels isolated us from the Empire. We realize this is a small group of people—less than ten thousand—but we feel that we need to remain true to our heritage.” He inclined his head toward Elise. “While there was talk of seeking your protection, I hope you will not be offended if we go a different route.”

  Elise didn’t seem
bothered by the rejection. “You’ll have our support as an independent entity. Neighbors help one another. Pentagar shall respect your choice and your sovereign space. Though as the only gateway to the rest of the universe, we do claim free passage as existed in the Old Empire for our ships.”

  “Of course. In fact, I’m glad you mentioned the Old Empire.” Bell returned his gaze to Kelsey. “While I’m the only one of us that lived under the direct rule of the emperor, we consider ourselves to be Imperial subjects. As your father is the current emperor of the Terran Empire, we are his subjects to command. And yours, Highness.”

  Their decision didn’t entirely surprise Kelsey. Bell had been a serving Fleet officer in the Old Empire. This group of people had lived since the rebellion waiting for rescue from the Empire. This was a logical step. One she was more than happy to endorse.

  “And in my role as the voice of the emperor, I happily accept your fealty and pledge our support to you as citizens of the Terran Empire.” She looked at Elise. “I hope that doesn’t cause you too many problems.”

  “I’m sure it won’t. We have a very comprehensive treaty with the Terran Empire that will make working with the citizens of Erorsi straightforward. We will need to discuss how citizens of the Kingdom can own property in the Empire should you lure them in to join you, Mister Bell.”

  Bell smiled widely. “That can be worked out. Perhaps some kind of dual citizenship?”

  “An addendum to the mutual defense treaty would cover something like that,” Kelsey said. “I hope that means we can take a few of your people with us.”

  “We’ll have a team ready to travel today, if you can give them a ride to your ship.”

  “Easily done. I’ll send word to Jared to send a marine pinnace. That will have plenty room. As the representative of the Imperial Throne, I’ll need to take the oaths of the leadership council. We can do that later tonight. Right now, I’d like to see what you remember about Boxer Station and Ninth Fleet.”

  The old man leaned back in his chair. “Not much. I’ve never been there. As I recall, it was a major Fleet base. It would’ve been critical in fighting back against the rebels. Is that where the weak flip point leads?”

  “Not precisely, but it isn’t too far away. Courageous has some basic data on the base, but not much. We know it was big. That’s about it.”

  “Perhaps our computer system has more data. With the normal layout of flip points, that base is over a month away. A dozen systems or more. The computers here might not know any more than we do. You’re welcome to try.”

  Kelsey closed her eyes and felt for the nearest interface. Since Bell and she were the only implanted persons on the base, she was somewhat surprised to feel one overhead. They must’ve installed it specifically for him to access to the system.

  She hadn’t needed to access the computers the last time she was here, so Kelsey was somewhat surprised when the system granted her access without argument.

  Welcome to Erorsi Planetary Defense Headquarters, Princess Kelsey Bandar. This unit is ready to assist you.

  Kelsey smiled a little. That’s just what she wanted to hear.

  Do you have a name?

  This unit has answered to various names in the past. Computer will serve.

  What does Reginald Bell call you?

  He refers to this unit as Uncle Larry. This unit is not certain exactly why.

  She snorted. “Uncle Larry? Really?”

  Bell laughed. “It would make perfect sense if you’d ever met my Uncle Larry. Feel free to call it whatever you like.”

  “I absolutely can’t change that name. You’re stuck with it now.”

  Okay, Uncle Larry, I’d like to see what information you have about Boxer Station and Ninth Fleet.

  This unit has no data beyond the most basic information, but there may be more available in the

  Imperial diplomatic database.

  What exactly is the Imperial diplomatic database?

  All planetary command and control computer systems have a copy of a very large database available only to members of the Imperial government. That includes planetary rulers and their staff, as well as more restricted data for those higher in the Imperial hierarchy. As an Imperial ambassador plenipotentiary, you have access to the highest classifications of data. As heir secondus to the Imperial Throne, you have need to know for all of that data, even the parts that would not normally be available to an ambassador plenipotentiary, ambassador, or planetary ruler.

  Kelsey opened her eyes and looked at Elise. “I can see I should’ve spent more time talking to the computer under your capital. It seems there is a secret database that I can access.”

  “That’s just not fair,” the other woman groused. “How can I snoop to my heart’s content without implants?”

  “Blame Breckenridge. That’s what I do. Even if you had them, it doesn’t seem like you could access the more secure materials. I have a double edge as an ambassador plenipotentiary of the Terran Empire and from being in line to the Imperial Throne. Though, if there is more restricted data, I’m not that certain it would tell me about it.”

  Bell shook his head. “I can’t imagine there would be many secrets restricted only to the emperor and his young heir. What does it know about the base?”

  Was Boxer Station operational at the time of your last update, Uncle Larry?

  It was, Highness. This unit’s records indicate that the base was a central point of resistance against the rebel incursion. Ninth Fleet was operating at higher than standard strength levels. Circumstances may have changed drastically in the intervening years, however.

  Can I access deck plans and other pertinent data for the station? If it still exists, they may prove very useful.

  Of course. If you have data storage devices, this unit can copy it for your later perusal.

  She smiled at Bell. “If you have some secure data drives, I’d like to save what the computer has about Boxer Station. And anything else there is room for.”

  Bell nodded. “I’ll see what I can find.”

  “I’ll join you in a few minutes. There are a few more questions I’d like to put to your computer and I’d imagine watching me sit here is pretty boring.”

  The old man and Elise rose to their feet. “We’ll be outside talking to the technicians if you need any help.”

  She waited for them to leave and returned her attention to the computer. She didn’t even try to shoo the marines out. They’d moved into full ‘protect the princess mode’ and wouldn’t leave her side. It was mildly annoying, but she’d get over it.

  Uncle Larry, I need to know about the most secure projects Imperial projects. Particularly any projects involving a key.

  A physical key or some other kind?

  She shrugged. I don’t know. I heard Emperor Marcus refer to Lucien having a key. I’m sure it was important, but I don’t have a frame of reference to know exactly what he meant.

  This unit will begin a search of the classified archives, Highness. While it does so, there are four projects restricted to the emperor and heirs. Should this unit give you a summary?

  Kelsey sent an affirmative and sat back to listen to the deepest secrets of the Old Empire. Odds were that none of them mattered anymore, but she wouldn’t know until she checked. This was going to take a while.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jared made one last walk around the fighter. The sleek black craft’s lines screamed speed. The onboard computer said all systems were green, but he had a manual checklist displayed on his implants. He wasn’t about to take chances on a ship that hadn’t flown in over five hundred years, even if the engineers said they’d replaced all the problematic systems.

  He looked at every critical system and checked it against his list. After a seeming eternity, he was in the cockpit. The craft could seat two in a side-by-side configuration, but that wouldn’t be very helpful. The second person normally acted as the gunner/navigator. Lacking someone with implants and the appropriate skills
, he’d need to handle those tasks himself.

  Eventually, he decided that the little craft was as ready as it would ever be. Time to take it out and see how it performed. He opened an audio link to the bridge. “Courageous, this is Gauntlet One. Ready to depart.”

  Zia responded promptly. “You are cleared to depart, Gauntlet One. Good hunting.”

  “Thanks, Zia. Gauntlet One out.”

  He linked his implants into the fighter’s systems and gave the launch crew the high sign. They began sliding back.

  Jared wore an armored flight suit. It was similar to unpowered armor in many ways and it had a helmet to provide pressure in case of a hull breach.

  Once everyone was clear, he looked at the standard launch profile. The ship had a launch field to get the fighter clear and then the fighter went to full power. Good enough. He sent the command to launch.

  The acceleration slammed him back into his couch and snatched his breath away. The fighter blasted out of the ship at several times the maximum acceleration of the marine pinnaces. Without his grav drive online, he had nothing to counter it.

  He brought his drives on at full power and leapt away from the battlecruiser like a frightened racerbeast. The G-forces instantly subsided. The fighter reacted to his course adjustment better than any ship he’d ever flown. The drives continued to blast him forward at better acceleration than Courageous could manage.

  An incoming signal pinged for his attention. He saw Graves sitting on the bridge of Courageous when he accepted it. “Damn, Jared. That little thing is really hauling. I don’t think we could catch it. It’s almost like a missile.”

  “Not quite that fast, but it sure does feel that way. I’d imagine a dogfight would be one hell of a thing to see. How am I showing up on the scanners?”

  “Bright and clear, but Zia says that you’re becoming a little harder to pinpoint the further away you get.”

  He cut his acceleration down to almost nothing, activated the stealth field, and changed course. “Now?”