Roberts asked, “Skipper, we’ve always called them Titans, but what do they call themselves?”
Gallant said, “I couldn’t properly describe their name with simple sounds. Their autistic savant communication is so different from our speech that we’ll just continue to call them Titans.” CIC reported, “Our initial assessment shows that the main Gliese planet has a diverse topology and climate with an ecological rich pattern contributing to multiple species. Extensive methane oceans and land masses have abundant soil and temperature conditions to support a wide variety of methane-breathing lifeforms.”
Roberts said, “This planet is so different from our water-rich Earth.”
Gallant nodded. “Our Earth is mostly water. The oceans provide us with fish to eat, water vapor to fill our skies with clouds, rain to nurture our crops, and water for us to drink. Our metabolism and food cycle is water-based and we ourselves are 97% water. Water is the source of our existence and our future. For us, water is life.”
Roberts asked, “How does this methane world sustain the Titans?”
Gallant said, “On this planet the temperature variations provide methane in all three phases; gas, liquid, and solid. There are methane rivers that freeze at high latitudes and form frozen polar lakes. The methane cycle is a complex molecular soup formed from reactions in the upper atmosphere when the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun strikes the methane. The resulting methane life forms are an alternative to our oxygen-based life cycle. And just as methane is a poison to us, oxygen is toxic to them. The Titans’ breathe nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen-based molecules such as acetylene and ethane.”
Roberts asked, “Is the autistic savant nature of the Titans a direct effect of their methane-based chemistry?”
Gallant said, “That’s something we’ll have to discover.”
***
Moving in stealth mode, the Warrior approached the outer edge of the debris field and began cautiously conducting a spiral search to map the interrelated defenses and find an appropriately sized asteroid to use as a base.
“As our first act in this system we must establish an operations base,” said Gallant, “to serve as a hideout where the Warrior can recharge her stealth battery and remain safe between operations.”
Gallant and the XO went into the CIC to evaluate potential locations for a base.
“How about here, sir?” asked a CIC analyst, pointing to an asteroid cluster near the outer perimeter of the debris field. The asteroid belt included numerous irregularly shaped rocky bodies and minor planets; however, skirting the outer edge of the belt were three smaller clusters. Those asteroids included objects wider than one kilometer wide and containing numerous surrounding objects.
“Yes, that might do,” said Gallant. “It’s the best prospect for a hidden base. It’s large enough to block radar detection as well as any direct visibility from Titan ships traveling nearby. The Warrior could hide between the kilometer-sized rocks while recharging her stealth batteries.”
“Can you give us your game plan for this mission?” asked Roberts.
Gallant said, “My plan is to first put the Titans in an embarrassing position by merely being present in their home star system, and then to post a base in the system. From there our operations will be able to penetrate the Titan security and we will be able to access their communication network and databases just as we did at Saturn. We will plant false trails and information to divide their government and financial system, and steal important information vital to the war effort that could potentially lead to a UP victory.”
A shuttle was sent to the surface of a large asteroid and a two-man team constructed a relay station. In addition, one of the Warrior’s three remote-controlled drones were left there.
They set up the base and took some time to rest. The Warrior slid into position behind the rocks to recharge her stealth batteries. The stealth device used a quark color-charge superconducting field to cloak the ship and render it undetectable. The color charge battery had to be recharged every forty-eight hours to remain at full strength.
At the base the ship’s activity was routine within a harsh combat zone. The routine ship maintenance was under way. Howard was working engineering issues while Roberts was tending to personnel issues. Even Midshipman Stedman was busy with things needing his immediate attention. Gallant had serious operational problems to handle.
The next day, they reconnoitered the region around the fifth planet and its moons, and discovered key communication junction locations and points of possible penetration.
Later they penetrated deep into Titan territory. From several million kilometers distance, they managed a bird’s-eye view of the alien’s main base around their home planet. The base itself was built on the surface, but had an orbiting shipyard and space station.
The Warrior began collecting information about the strength of the Titan fleet in the area and the development of its civilization. The bridge crew was surprised at the incredible infrastructure the aliens had developed. It was going to be a challenge to operate in such a heavily populated and trafficked environment, but the stealth cloaking technology allowed the Warrior to penetrate deep into the alien territory undetected.
What followed were busy days as the Warrior peeked into the system. They compiled a detailed list of warships and their deposition as well as their refueling and patrolling patterns. They soon learned the shipping traffic patterns and came to understand some of the industrial capacity and accumulate population statistics. They kept a status display showing the time-sensitive information about energy emissions for different sites that indicated industrial and mining operations at hundreds of locations.
The Titans had built their main military headquarters on the third planet. It had a layered defense with satellites, minefields, and overlapping fields of fire from fortresses with scores of missile launchers guarding the approaches. The obstructing strong points were difficult to navigate.
The CIC tech reported, “The Titan industry and population infrastructure, as well as military strength show a number of energy emission sites, indicating communities and industries in hundreds of locations. Our population estimate for the second and third planets combined is over twenty billion inhabitants. The population plowed along their normal life. On the nearby planets the alien ships plied their assigned routes and conducted their business whatever that was.
Gallant used a neural interface that used dozens of tiny silicon probes to plug into the Warrior’s AI supercomputer. The interface touched Gallant’s scalp at key points, sensitively picking up wave patterns emanating from his thoughts and using the AI to translate his thoughts into physical commands. The strong-AI wireless grid computer network consisting of over one million parallel central processors performing a billion-billion operations per second. Yet it was child’s play compared to the Titan’s communication network which Gallant would connect to.
McCall stood next to Gallant in CIC looking over the current displays of the Titan might. She said, “This is the sixth year of our war with the Titans and prospects for ending it remain slim. No one can predict when, if ever, the suffering will end. And perhaps the uncertainty is the worst aspect of it. Whether one is a Warrior or a civilian there is no sanctuary. The end of the world, literally, or merely personally, could happen all too easily.”
Gallant looked at her studying her musings, wondering whether her remarks were genuine or meant to provoke a response.
Roberts said, “Our government has just had elections and the new government wants to give the people hope that an end is possible, but the death and fear are too real. At any rate, it’s hard to know if the fleet can bring the war to an end.”
CHAPTER 18
First Mission
Gallant sat patiently as Stedman maneuvered the two-man Wasp into a low orbit around the communication satellite hub which was situated on a small moon near Gliese-Epsilon. While in stealth mode the ship proceeded to a point that was nearly directly overtop an alien bu
ilding complex. Stedman had trouble picking out the landmarks, but finally he identified the key communication junction box and set the ship down.
Stedman looked pleased with his effort even though there was a distinct jarring bump.
“That was acceptable,” said Gallant. “With practice you’ll do better.”
He said, “I’m going to the data junction transmitter and install a listening bug to tap its data feed. As soon as you receive a steady data flow, retransmit it to the Warrior. Once we get confirmation that we have a good lock on the network, I’ll set the monitoring device to automatic and we can leave. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Gallant strapped on his jetpack and exited the ship. He moved over granite outcroppings and hopped along the surface to reach the junction box all the while keeping a lookout for any sentries. At the moment only starlight offered illumination, but soon as the moon rotated, light from Gliese would shine over the area.
He bounced in the low gravity over the jagged and irregular surface for about twenty minutes. Luckily, the rocky surface was not too great an impediment, and the larger boulders offered some concealment though the toughness of the irregularly dispersed rocks slowed his travel. When he reached a ridge that was considerably exposed, he noticed something moving to his right. There were several Titans patrolling around nearby buildings. He avoided being silhouetted by the planet’s volcanic backdrop and remained hidden. He went to a gully in a shallow depression and plodded ahead glad for the cover the slopes afforded. He planned on retracing his path after he completed his task.
When he reached the junction box he got right to work. It took several tries before he had a reliable data feed, but bugging the alien communications was only the first step of the plans he had for the Gliese system.
After the first bugging operation, Gallant and Stedman placed listening bugs on several other communication junction boxes and they became confident working together and they were ready to take the operations to a new level.
Over the missions Gallant observed Stedman carefully. Knowing he had placed a great burden on the young man, he wasn’t sure if he would meet the challenge. He explained, cajoled, and scolded to guide the midshipman in his duties. Yet in every effort, he felt compelled to cast a protective eye. His fears were soon dispelled. Stedman became well-balanced and quick to adapt. He could assess the situation and move decisively. His skills were soon moved beyond novice and Gallant found himself relying on him.
Gallant said, “I’ll be attempting something significantly different from past operations. Instead of merely stealing data, I’m going to link mentally into the communication network and actively listen to the Titans directly. I may not be able to understand their communication well enough to get very much on this first attempt, but hopefully I too will get better with practice.”
***
The next mission was to one of the moons of the fourth planet, Gliese-Delta. After a two kilometer journey he came to the communication junction box. There was a service station on the next hill. He had chosen to approach the box this way to minimize attention. He knew what he wanted to do next, break into the communication cable. He saw a guard in the distance and was careful not to attract attention.
Gallant linked into the aliens’ communication network with his neural interface directly linking his mind with the communicating thoughts of Titans actively speaking to one another. After a few minutes, the monitoring AI system challenged him to produce his ID transponder.
The AI access controller asked, “Who are you?”
Gallant replied, “I am pretending to be a charlatan.”
“You claim to be a charlatan—‘one who is not what he pretends to be’?”
“I’m only pretending.”
The AI access controller said, “You are pretending to be a charlatan?”
“Yes. But by pretending to be charlatan, I am pretending to be ‘one who is not what he pretends to be.’”
The AI access controller said, “Therefore, I must conclude that you are NOT a charlatan.”
“Exactly. Therefore, you must also conclude that if I am not a charlatan, then I must be who I claim to be.”
The AI access controller said, “I am unable to reach any other conclusion.”
“Since you have now positively verified my identity. Please grant me access.”
“Your ID has been verified. Access is granted.”
Gallant was beside himself with glee when the AI access controller issued him a temporary ID as a guest visitor.
That’s step one.
His identity had to be authenticated by the AI and he had to fool it into believing him. In essence, he used similarities to obscure differences. The difference he was creating from the normal profile had to be explained so the AI would accept him. He used the guest pass long enough to figure out how to create a fake a low level ID transponder and then dropped off the network before the AI could verify that he was an interloper.
On his next attempt, he used the low level false ID he had fabricated. It could only withstand the most cursory scrutiny, but it was good enough to get him low level access. That would do for now.
After being connected to the network for about twenty minutes, he had a startling experience. He was mentally connecting to a gigantic neural switchboard with connections to millions of databases, files, and actual alien minds. Thousands, perhaps millions of minds were indexed before his mind’s eye. He could choose to link to any of them through the neuron interface. The UP ship AI networks he had interfaced with in the past were child’s play compared to the aliens’ complex super-graph.
What he noticed next was a shift in his perception, just a hint at first, but accelerating in intensity. He was acutely aware of the network responding to infinitesimal changes in his thought pattern, distorting images of his recent memories, and contorting his conscious reality. The shocking distress of this mind stretching experience was that he wanted to flee, not physically, but mentally. The autistic savant network was neither sentient nor actively trying to control him, on the contrary, it was merely stimulating and enhancing his natural talents and abilities, though at the moment, Gallant was left mentally gasping, reeling, and whirling—his hands tingled and his heart raced—then as suddenly as it had started, all his discomforts vanished. He was alert, attentive, and focused. He felt clear-headed without hallucinations or outward physiological effects. As he gauged these cognitive changes, the familiar objects around him also seemed altered in subtle ways. Becoming nervous and impatient, he realized that everything visible to him appeared disorganized, messy, and unconnected, as if it all needed his personal attention to set it right. He felt a powerful surge of adrenalin. He knew he could set his own agenda. As a tense prickly sensation started at the base of his spine, he experienced an extraordinary burst of energy, motivating him to set about adjusting the miscues. He started by targeting his main concern—gaining greater mental control over the network and the aliens using it.
Gallant saw his brain as a network of ten billion neurons connected in a complex labyrinth using pattern recognition and learning algorithms to think—the art of ideas and concepts. But when he interfaced with the alien network, he was exposed to a massive rewiring of his fundamental thinking circuits. His mind was overflowing with new understanding of old problems. Everything he had previously read, thought, and analyzed, was instantly sorted, organized, and rendered understandable. He was solving problems that had nagged him for months such as the reactor leak and the stealth battery efficiency. He knew what he needed to do and how to solve each of these problems.
He turned his attention to the Titan conversations on the network. Every individual on the network had an identification number that encoded their personal, financial, and professional information. By understanding the ID sequence he could learn all the key information about an individual starting with his family, his job, social status, and everything else publically available about him.
Gal
lant could access the organizational infrastructure of the network itself. He began sorting through files and information databases, putting each one aside as he completed his examination. He was surprised by how easy it was to absorb information beyond anything he had previously experienced and yet he felt perfectly normal. No, not normal, just not abnormal, despite his new abilities. He tried to remember whether anything like this had ever been developed within UP, but nothing leaped to mind. He tapped into an additional database and almost immediately he felt a surge of adrenalin. Apparently, he needn’t worry about motivation. Working his way through the directories and catalogues of data and information was complex, yet he was reading the Titan script. He looked through some records, tedious stuff, without being slowed down. He absorbed everything immediately and found that he understood their complicated society and infrastructure. An intellectual thirst drove him to learn more about the alien’s history and society. His curiosity led him deeper into the network labyrinth. He focused on the critical data, and then he paused and let the ideas travel through his mind. He was putting Titan ideas and concepts together rapidly and much more clearly than anything he had previously experienced.
He learned that there was a tiered social structure and two different networks that controlled each group. It was a shock that he had chosen the upper class network with the stimulating neural interface through sheer dumb luck. If he had connected to the lower class network he would have been subjected to its controlling feature and he might have been exposed as a trespasser on his first attempt.
Gallant switched computer connections to a new database and realized how much actual work he had accomplished. He had done a lot of information gathering and correlation, but as he looked at the database index, he was shocked to see that he had gone through many thousands of pages of information and was even more surprised to realize that he could recall vast segments at will. He broke the neural interface connection and let his mind spiral down. But the heightened state of intellect remained and persisted, though he anticipated that it would return to its normal capacity eventually.
Commander Henry Gallant (The Henry Gallant Saga Book 4) Page 12
