“The Tolen also conduct peacekeeping in other galaxies. We use technology for riot suppression and apprehension of agitators and rabble rousers in crowds without causing injury. That is technology that I can make available to you for future use.”
“Wouldn’t Alan disapprove of that? He has always opposed transferring technology to less advanced civilizations, and although my army is hardly a civilization, what we have available is so far behind the People that it’s out of sight.”
“This is not technology transfer, I am making the technology available to you, which is something completely different. I have already discussed this with Alan and he doesn’t disapprove of what I am offering.” Bob leaned forward and whispered to Sally, “Remember, Alan has provided you personally with embedded phase shift armor and a fully functional People’s AI, both of which are restricted technology. He has great faith in you.”
Sally pursed her lips, annoyed that Bob had made her re-assess her already conflicted opinion of Alan. “Can we go somewhere where we can discuss this technology in more detail.”
“I will have one of my landers come here. We can discuss it on board it, or we can use it to take us up to Mark’s craft if you prefer.”
“Your ship – I mean craft is here? I thought you came over in Sean’s craft.”
“We did, but I can bring mine here for long enough to drop off a military lander.”
“OK. Can I have the technology to build our own landers to the same specification?” Sally asked.
Bob nodded. “Of course not, but Mark can. He can use them in any way he sees fit, within the People’s technology share and transfer protocols. That means he can allow you to use them, provided they are based on his craft, but you cannot build them yourselves. You do not have the ability to make most of the restricted technology they contain anyway.”
“Mark knows all these protocols?”
“Yes, but there are nuances to some technologies and the permissible use protocols which are complex, and you might think trivial, but I assure you that they have been carefully thought through and are regularly reviewed.”
“I’ve not had a conversation like this with any of the People before.” Sally said.
“I have reviewed your history before coming here, not just your origins, but your career as a member of the galactic community. You have a record of avoiding contact with the People, despite the amount of assistance that your army has had from us. If you had been more willing to engage, you would have had more meaningful conversations,”
“I feel like I’m being told off.”
“I am not making a judgment Sally, merely stating the facts as I see them. You may interpret them differently. That doesn’t mean that either of us is wrong or right.”
“We don’t have any history between us Bob, and as we are both military leaders, we have much in common. When will your lander arrive?”
“It is on its way down now. It will descend at maximum speed, but without creating a sonic boom as it enters the lower atmosphere.”
Sally turned to Sean, who had been standing by them during the conversation. “I am sorry Sean; I did not mean to ignore you. Do you have embedded personal weapons like Mark and Alan have, and would you stay here with Alan to protect Mike and the rebels?”
“I have an embedded weapon like Alan, but nothing like the new one which Mark has. I would accept the same terms that Alan has, to be part of your team as a non-combatant if you were to offer them to me, in which case,” he paused to nod and click, the Peoples way of expressing a cross between a chuckle and laughter, “you can simply order me to stand guard!”
“In that case,” Sally said with a smile, “I am ordering you to guard Mike and the rebel headquarters.”
“Yes Sir!” he responded. “Is that the correct thing to say?”
“Absolutely correct Sean, but I’m not sure that a non-combatant can take up armed guard duty.”
“It depends on how you interpret ‘non-combatant’.” Sean said. “I would not consider the defense of one’s comrades and unarmed civilians to be a combat role.”
“That works for me.” Sally said.
Prompted by her AI, Sally looked up and saw a rapidly growing dot. “That’s Bob’s lander.” her AI told her.
“Simon, the lander from the Swift should be here soon. Supervise the team and get it unloaded as quick as you can so it can go back for more, then deploy the armaments and set out our troops in a protective screen. There is no evidence of any Herassan armed forces activities that should concern us, but it is possible that they have units who have gone dark and are not using any electronic communications on their way here, so stay sharp. Mark, you’re with me.”
Bob’s lander was coming down fast now. Sally and Bob started walking to its planned landing site.
“I’ll be right with you; I need to speak to Simon first.” Mark said to Sally. “Simon, come with me.”
He started walking away from the group around the lander Mike was in, and Simon fell in beside him.
“What is it boss?” Simon asked.
“Boss?” Mark said, surprised.
“Yeah. Everyone has noticed that Sally is listening to you. It’s obvious that you are taking command more and more. If Sally takes a back seat, we’ll all follow you.”
“It’s not obvious to me.” Mark said.
“You’ve changed a lot Mark, it’s ages since anyone has suggested throwing you out of an airlock, but you’re still slow on the uptake sometimes. What was it you wanted?”
“How are you Simon? I mean, how are you coping with your, you know, your problem. You haven’t seen combat for some time.”
“I’m OK. It’s been good to be back in the team, to be able to keep an eye out for Sally. There’s been a lot happening and I’ve spent a lot of time in the bar, so yeah, I’m OK.”
“Good. I think it would be best if you stay with us after this is over. It was only a few days, but I missed the team. I’d like us all to stick together. If you can put up with Mike.”
“She is the most annoying little reptile that I have ever had the misfortune to have met!” Simon said with some passion. “But I’ve missed her too.” he grinned. “And she did build the bar on the Swift. I guess I can tolerate her. You’d better go and join Sally. She’ll still give you a bollocking if you keep her waiting.”
Chapter Fifty Five
Restricted Technology
Bob’s lander had been configured with a low table and three seats at the front. One People’s sized and two human sized seats.
As soon as they were seated, Sally spoke. “What’s this technology you’re prepared to transfer to us?”
“Excuse her manners Bob. I’m still training her.” Mark said.
Sally glared at him, he smiled back.
“That’s quite all right Mark, Military people are always eager to get straight to business. Sally, we have two types of small drone-delivered restraint systems. Your AI will use data from your standard crowd surveillance drones to provide suggested targets, based on known agitators and behavioral analysis, both for individuals and groups. The first drone type will drop restraint bands on an individual. The restraint bands will seek arms and secure them to the targets body and will tie the entire length of the target’s legs together – as far as possible, depending on the targets physiology. Included in its payload are gag bands which will cover the mouth of a flat faced mammal or reptile, constrain the muzzle or beak of a mammal, reptile or avian, or restrain the mandibles and mouth parts of an insectoid. The bands are cut proof, but if a persistent effort is made by an unauthorized third party, they exude a contact adhesive which will bind the would-be rescuer to the target. The second drone type works in a similar way, working in flocks to target groups of any size. The bigger the group is, the more drones you have in the flock. They drop restraint bands which will simply restrain arms and legs at their lower extremities. They do not contain gags, but they are of the same material as in the first drone type, cut proo
f, and they will exude contact adhesive if interfered with.”
“And you will transfer the patterns and the technology we need to make these ourselves?” Sally asked.
“I can transfer the patterns to your and Mark’s AI’s. You will not transfer them for storage anywhere else for use by any other AI’s. They are only usable by People’s AI’s, so they would be no use to anyone who doesn’t have an embedded People’s AI, but it is possible that that with sufficient determination, a non-Peoples AI may be able to decrypt and unlock the patterns. Your synthesizers will need a software upgrade, which your AI’s will perform, and they will also need a hardware upgrade, which you will have to perform personally. The software upgrade allows an encrypted handshake from the controlling AI to load the pattern and initiate the process to manufacture the drones. For the hardware upgrade you will need to add one new component and swap an existing component. It is straightforward and your AI’s will guide you through the process. The components you require will be manufactured by Mark’s craft. The synthesizers on your craft Mark, will obviously not need to be modified.”
“That’s a very restricted technology transfer!” Sally said. “In fact, it’s not a transfer at all! All you’re doing is giving us a limited capability to replicate your technology.”
“That is correct Sally. I said this was not technology transfer, I am making the technology available for you to use. There is a reason for that. The restraints are designed to resist any kind of countermeasures. The smart material they are made of is significantly more advanced than anything anyone else has. If you didn’t have phase shift protection embedded in you, I would provide you with a set of body armor made from the material. I mentioned it is cut proof and will resist any kind of mechanical damage. It is also impervious to damage from heat, so lasers will not cut it, and from any type of particle beam. We, the People could not release ourselves from it we didn’t have authorization for our AI’s to disable it, so I hope you can understand why we will not let the technology to make it be made freely available. I am sure that you have security measures in place to prevent intruders from uploading military hardware patterns from your data storage facilities, but when word gets around that you are making this material, some of the more advanced civilizations will take an interest, and I doubt that your security would stand up to their attempts to break in.”
“They could just steal one of the modified synthesizers and reverse engineer the technology in them.”
“That is a possibility, but in itself the hardware and software in the synthesizers would be of limited use, and no-one could retrieve the required software or patterns from your AI’s. If someone were to offer a big enough incentive, and they probably will, you are likely to lose one or two synthesizers. However, if you do, we will make it clear to whoever has possession of a modified synthesizer, that they have stolen technology from the People, which we do not tolerate. It would be most unfortunate for them if they did not surrender it immediately.”
“Would you clarify what you mean by ‘unfortunate’ please?” Mark asked.
“The consequences of failing to comply with our request would be a diminution of the civilization’s technological capabilities and a probable loss of territory. I do not wish to expand on that.” Bob replied.”
“Presumably there would be trackers on the hardware upgrades?” Sally asked.
“The upgrades will each have a tracker using our sub-space communications technology. It cannot be blocked or disabled.”
“Is the adhesive sensitive technology?” Mark asked.
“No, it is a cyanoacrylate. Simple but effective.”
“Your restrictions are a pain in the arse, but I understand why you want to have them. OK Bob, it’s a deal.” Sally said. “For this mission we can make them on Mark’s ship – I mean craft and modify some of my army’s synthesizers later. I’ve tried to avoid peacekeeping missions in the past, but now there are no other independent armies in the galaxy, we’ll have to do them, so these could be useful in preventing bloodshed. Do you have anything else?”
“Not yet. There may be opportunities in the future.”
“Have you done this before, with other independent armies?”
“Not in this galaxy, and the circumstances were different. Would you both instruct your AI’s to receive a package from my AI. It contains the software upgrades, the patterns for the drones and instructions on installing the hardware upgrades. Mark, I have sent the patterns for the hardware to your main AI, and the patterns to upgrade your military landers to the Tolen specification.”
“Great, thanks. Uh, what’s the difference between a Tolen military lander and a normal People’s military lander?”
“The structure of the landers and the phase shift protection are the same. The only difference is the defense armament. The pattern you now have includes upgraded particle beam weapons. Depending on the type of target, the lander will select a combination of weapons using different types of particles, from protons up to what you would call trans-uranic ions. They are much more powerful than standard pulsed particle beam weapons, with energy outputs that can only be matched by advanced civilizations heavy battleships.”
“Does your army have any of them?” Mark asked Sally.
She smiled. “No, and you’re not likely to see one of those, they have such a high mass that they are slow to maneuver and make easy targets.”
Mark turned to Bob and asked, “Why aren’t all the People’s landers made to this specification?”
“People’s military landers are only used for ferrying independent army soldiers or for evacuating civilians from combat zones. The phase shift protection means they cannot be damaged by hostile action, they do not need them to retaliate if attacked.”
“OK. I’ve learned a lot today.”
“Do you have any more questions?” Bob asked.
“Yes,” Sally said. “What is that new weapon Mark has embedded in his left arm?”
“That is privileged information. Mark will only use it as a last resort.” Bob answered.
“I don’t think I’d use it then. It gives me nightmares just having it.” Mark said.
“It does have battlefield capability; it doesn’t have to be used at maximum power. You will become accustomed to it, but I hope you never need to use it to its full capability either.”
“Could you remove it?” Mark asked.
“If you really want it removed, yes we can, but I did not give it to you for your protection, it is for the protection of others. I hope you can come to terms with it and decide to keep it. It’s presence is supposed to be confidential. How many people know about it?”
“I…” Mark started to answer, but Sally spoke over him.
“Only three other people know about it, including me. Simon told me that Orange had alerted him to the fact that Mark’s behavior and posture had changed about the time he started his meetings with you, Sean and Alan. We watched recordings of Mark and had his behavior and movement analyzed by our medical AI. It deduced that he was treating his left arm as though he had a recent prosthetic enhancement that gave him a sense of ‘otherness’ about his arm. It put that together with his biometrics, that showed subliminal stress levels, his reluctance to accept his innate capabilities as a warrior and his sense of obligation to stand up to anything, and concluded the enhancement must be a weapon. It is obviously not anything that I am familiar with, so he must have got it from the People. It is unlikely that Alan would provide him with anything powerful enough to evoke that level of concern, so I assumed he got it from you. Your response just now confirmed it.”
Bob nodded his head. “Very good. But please ensure that this goes no further. Can Simon and Orange be relied upon to keep this knowledge to themselves?”
“Simon, without a doubt. Orange is more difficult to understand. I don’t know what he is or where he comes from. I refer to him in the male gender, but I don’t know if his species has genders.”
“I have a littl
e leverage with him.” Mark said. “I don’t think he will share that with anyone.”
Sally stared at him for a moment, then turned to Bob and said, “We are going to stand guard on the rebel headquarters until they get their own defense force established – if they ever do. I have split the team into two squads who will alternate half day shifts. Would you join one?”
“Of course General, I am yours to deploy as you see fit.” Bob replied, nodding. “Mark, you may keep this lander. I suggest you start using it to make restraint drones. They can be used on Herassan military personnel if required. Your AI can supervise the distribution of the batches as they are completed, but only you or Sally can control them, and only either of you can release anyone caught by them when they are deployed. Now Sally, would you introduce me to the squad I will be serving with?”
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