Chester’s voice boomed on the intercom once again. “Okay, we are inside the rover. I am trying to pull up a satellite com-link with Eridu, but I’m getting no response.”
“Hold on a minute,” Stilicho said to Brian and Darian before looking up at the intercom speaker. “Chester, if you can’t communicate with Eridu, then can you try and send a message to Earth?”
“A direct com-link to ACE Corp headquarters? I think I can do that,” Chester said. “Hold on for a bit.”
With Noah now fully in the crab suit, Matt walked back into the room, closing the airlock door behind him. “Jason, can you check the radar for the previous contact we detected?”
“I’ve turned on the rover’s radar,” Jason said through the intercom. “Not getting any contacts. I think the dust storm is blocking the carrier waves.”
“I’ve sent a few messages of our status to Earth, but there’s a twenty minute delay for the emails to get there,” Chester said.
“Okay, then we wait for a response,” Stilicho said before turning his attention back to Brian and Darian. “Could you play the videos on that data chip?”
Darian attached the tiny memchip on the frame of her smartglasses and activated a general broadcast. Everyone else started putting on their own eyewear, since much of the outpost’s electronics systems had strangely been ripped out of their housing pods.
In less than a second, Ron Simm’s image projected out in front of everyone’s smartglass. The outpost team leader looked a little tired, but his uniform and hair were well-groomed. “This is my personal log,” he said. “It’s been two days since I dispatched Geoff and Katsumi for a routine check on our southern waypoints. So far their rover has not returned, nor have they called in to report anything. We’re also having a serious communications problem with Eridu. I’m not sure if the issue is with our systems, or with the colony. Anyway, I’ll have Fred check out our comms and do a diagnostic. We ought to have this sorted out in a few hours. I’ll update this log again, just in case our main server goes down, at least there’ll be a backup recording. Bye.”
The next recording played right after the first. “Okay, Fred did a full diagnostic and everything seems to be working fine, though we picked up some sort of malware from the relay network that’s messing up our systems. A whole bunch of files have been erased. Fred’s using all of our anti-virus suites but it’s still in the system. It’s a good thing that I started this private log and since it’s not linked up with the network it’s not being affected. I told the others to turn off their personal network links, but Sharon’s and Fred’s own workstations have already been infected. What in the hell’s going on?”
The third recording’s timestamp was made the next day. It didn’t look like Ron had any sleep, and he started at the camera with heavy-lidded eyes. “Something’s seriously wrong. We’ve failed to communicate with Geoff’s rover, and I don’t even know if our messages to Eridu are getting to them. I used our own comms to send a direct message to Earth, but we’ve gotten no replies for the past twenty-four hours. Fred thinks we’re being jammed. More of our files got deleted, even the backups are gone. Sharon is doing her best to recover and partition the remaining drives on the server to contain the damage, but this electronic virus is … god damn sophisticated. It seems to anticipate and create contingencies every time we try to kill or quarantine it. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
When the fourth video started to play, everyone was shocked to see just how badly Ron looked. His face was gaunt, as if he hadn’t slept for a days. Ron’s voice also carried a hint of hysteria about it. “The last two days have been pretty bad. Last night our radar detected something approaching the outpost. It got as close as twenty kilometers away, then it just stopped moving. Olaf was convinced that it was Geoff and Katsumi, so he pleaded with me to take the other rover to go and meet them. I must have been a total fool because I said go ahead, and he took Fred with him. It’s been hours and they haven’t called in. Now it’s just me and Sharon left in the habitat. We’ve got no communications with anybody, and no vehicles. Goddamn it. ACE Corp is gonna fire me when we get back … if we get back.”
Lisa couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up and walked into the adjoining module while deactivating her smartglass. Everyone else continued to watch. Chester and Jason were included in the broadcast link, and they sat in rapt attention as the next video projected itself into the smartglass windshield of their rover.
Ron was clearly shaken now as he stared into the camera with a timid look on his face. They could see his shoulders were trembling as Sharon listlessly paced back and forth behind him. His voice came in whispers. “Something’s out there. I know it. I was half asleep last night when the radar detected something was approaching, but I was too slow to react. The next thing I knew, something heavy landed on top of the roof, and then we both heard the noise of grinding metal. The next thing we knew the radar comms dish was gone. Whatever was out there must have ripped it right out from the top of our habitat. It’s gotta be intelligent, it knows we could see it with radar, and that’s why it took the dish out. The servers are gone, all we got left is the automated life support- it’s the only thing keeping us alive in here. Somebody please help us. Please.”
The final video was shaky. Ron was wearing his helmet, practically shouting into the camera now. Sharon wasn’t seen, but her screams, along with numerous crashing noises were partly drowning out the tense narrative. “It’s out there! Can’t you hear it? It’s ripping out the solar panels for chrissakes! We’re under attack! Sharon, get your helmet on- for chrissakes get your helmet on! I’m turning this thing off now, and hiding it. Sharon, get … get that welding torch from the workshop. Do it! If it gets close, fry it! Go!”
For a long minute nobody said anything as the video turned itself off. Lisa came back into the room, tears rolling down her eyes. She didn’t need to watch the rest to know what had happened.
Maia’s voice came back into the intercom. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I detected an intrusion attempt on the robotic truck.”
Stilicho twisted his head. “What? What happened?”
“I detected a radio signal that tried to embed itself onto the robotic truck’s self-driving systems,” Maia said. “It attempted to write new code into the vehicle’s AI, but I was able to block it. I am now adding additional safeguards to prevent further remote intrusion attempts to it.”
Stilicho’s eyes darted back and forth. “Do you know the source of the intrusion attempt?”
“The remote signal bounced from the relay network to the orbital satellite systems and was directed towards our location,” Maia said. “I do believe that the entire Mars network has been compromised and is controlled by an unknown and hostile entity.”
“Crap,” Stilicho said. He turned to look at the others. “Turn off all your wireless networking to the relay. Whatever is against us is using the entire goddamn system!”
Chester’s voice came over the intercom. “Does that mean that our email to Earth hasn’t been sent?”
“I do believe that the network is actively jamming us,” Maia said. “So yes, that includes direct messages being sent from us to Earth.”
“Jesus,” Brian said softly.
Darian glanced at Stilicho. “Can your MAIA do something about it?”
“I am currently trying an intrusion attempt to take over a satellite, but the network is actively guarding against me,” Maia said. “Other alternatives are possible, though it will take some time.”
“Let’s get outta here,” Lisa said. “We need to get back on the rovers and go.”
Jason had been listening in, and his voice came up on everyone’s speakers. “The dust storm is right on top of us, and most of our batteries are drained. I wouldn’t attempt any driving right now, not with visibility this low.”
“The rover radar just detected something,” Chester said over the intercom. “A faint ping, and it couldn’t get a full reading on it because o
f the damn storm!”
Matt picked up his carbine from a nearby table. “How far away is it?”
“It was just a faint signal,” Jason said. “But it looks to be less than two klicks away from the outpost.”
Lisa gasped. Brian let out a curse.
“Maia, give me a network with the rover’s com-link and do a general broadcast in all frequencies,” Stilicho said.
“Done,” Maia said. “Com-link ready.”
“Attention unknown contact,” Stilicho said. “This is ACE Corp search and rescue. Please identify yourself or you will be fired upon. Acknowledge, please.”
A few minutes passed in tense silence. There was no reply.
Matt grabbed his helmet and put it on, engaging the neck seal before turning on his life support backpack. “Can you get the rover closer to the airlock, Jason?”
“Roger,” Jason said. “Will do.”
Matt placed a hand on Stilicho’s elbow. “Let’s get everybody’s helmets on. We need to depressurize the module. If there’s a breach now there’ll be an explosive decompression.”
Everybody started to put their helmets on. Brian walked over to the life support system and began powering it down.
Jason’s voice came on the intercom again. “Rover in position just a few meters from airlock two door. I can go EVA and get to the other rover too and bring it closer.”
“Not yet,” Matt said aloud before turning to look at Stilicho. “What’s our orders?”
Stilicho bit his lip. “We can’t drive around in the middle of this storm. We stay here and defend the outpost until the dust clears.”
Lisa was visibly shaking while she clutched her first aid pack. “We can’t stay here! This is what happened to Ron and Sharon!”
Matt shook his head. “Stilicho’s right. With no visibility we’ll be sitting ducks out there. We could end up driving the rovers into a crevasse and get stuck.”
“I won’t be able to use the g-jet rifle from the inside of an airlock,” Noah said. “Request permission for EVA.”
“Go ahead,” Matt said. “But stay close to the rover. Jason, can you get on the rover’s roof and deploy the second g-jet rifle?”
“Roger that,” Jason said. “Beginning EVA now. Chester will take over as designated driver.”
Noah opened the airlock and strode out into the dust storm. “I am now parallel to the rover, just outside of the airlock. Visibility is down to a couple of meters. Request permission to go weapons free.”
Stilicho nodded. “Go ahead.”
Darian checked her pistol before putting it back on her hip holster. She walked over to Stilicho. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Stilicho turned to look at her. “You got a better idea?”
“No, I guess not,” Darian said.
“Then kindly keep your comments to yourself for now,” Stilicho said tersely.
“I think I’m detecting a faint contact with my smart scope,” Noah said. “It looks like it’s just ahead of me. About a hundred meters away.”
Matt stood by the airlock. “Okay, see if you can get a target lock. Jason, where are you?”
“Just got to the top of the vehicle roof,” Jason said. “Deploying rifle two now.”
“I got a lock on the target,” Noah said. “It’s shifting rapidly from side to side. Jesus, it moves so fast!”
“It could be a vehicle,” Brian said. “Can you make a visual ID?”
“Negative,” Noah said. “Even using scope magnification I just can’t see a damn thing with all this dust around.”
Matt looked at Stilicho. “It’s your decision. Should we engage?”
Stilicho turned to look at Darian. “Any objections, Ms. NASA Special Agent?”
“If it’s a man out there, then it could be a murder charge leveled against the one who pulled the trigger- and the one who gave the order,” Darian said.
“Listen, Lady. I’ve got twelve company employees missing and presumed dead,” Stilicho said. “Whatever it is out there does not move like a human being. I’ve got eight other lives that I’m responsible for right here as well- and that includes you.”
“Contact is getting closer, I think,” Noah said. “Less than eighty meters away.”
“Make your choice,” Darian said. “You're the one that will have to live with the consequences.”
Stilicho rolled his eyes. “What does that even mean?”
“Sixty meters,” Noah said.
“If it’s a murder charge, then the court may look at the extenuating circumstances that made you decide on it, but the jury could still go either way,” Darian said.
Stilicho waved his arms around. “There’s a freaking alien monster bearing down on us and you’re talking about legal issues? You are something else, lady.”
“Forty meters,” Noah said.
“I’m just telling you about the potential problems you might have when this whole thing is over,” Darian said.
“Oh, screw you,” Stilicho said before turning to look at Matt. “Engage target. Light it up.”
Both Jason and Noah said the same word at the same time. “Firing.”
On their own, the gyrojet rockets were almost silent. Combined with the dust storm and the thin atmosphere of the Red Planet, there was absolutely no sound made by the weapons the moment they were fired. Noah still had a target lock so he fired two more shots, while Jason added an additional shot of his own.
“What’s your status?” Matt said, referring to his two teammates.
“Target hasn’t moved since we fired,” Noah said. “Request permission to approach and make a visual ID.”
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. It was over.
Stilicho pursed his lips. “I don’t know about this.”
“It’s the only way to know for sure,” Matt said to him. “Jason can cover him. All he needs to do is to make a visual ID.”
“Both modules are fully depressurized,” Brian said. He started doing knee bends, knowing full well that he needed to exercise in order to help prevent decompression sickness.
“Okay,” Stilicho said. “Make it quick.”
“Moving towards target now,” Noah said. Everybody started patching in their smartglass to his suit link, which showed a live video feed using the camera on his helmet. The readouts on the smart scope continued to reveal that the object was immobile. With the low gravity, Noah made big strides, despite the bulky suit he wore.
Within a few minutes, all they could see was the swirling grit in front of him. The crab suit had powerful floodlights mounted on top of its helmet and shoulders, but the whole scene made it feel like they were moving in a dust-filled haze of brown. The airborne sand had the consistency of cigarette smoke, and the surreal feeling of being in a suffocating nightmare was felt by all.
Despite the tense situation, Noah’s voice was calm. He was a professional, and nothing seemed to scare him. “Twenty meters from target.”
Nobody else said anything. Lisa and Brian both subconsciously held their breaths, anxiously waiting to see what it was that had been shot. Everyone was hoping it wasn’t another human being.
“Ten meters,” Noah said. “Stand by.”
A large, shadowy form soon came into view from the video link. At first everyone thought it was a giant spider, and a collective gasp emanated from just about everybody. But as the camera loomed closer, it was revealed to be a machine of some sort. Four insect-like metallic limbs jutted out from an oblong base made up of a jumble of wiring, fused carbon plastic and a steel exoskeleton. Two robotic tentacles were splayed out in front of the monstrosity as it lay there on the ground. The torso of the creature was close to four meters in length, while the legs and other limbs were obviously longer. Three holes were visible along its thorax, evidently caused by the gyrojet weapons.
Brian shook his head in disbelief. “What in the hell is that thing?”
Chester’s voice came through the intercom. “Quadrupedial locomotion. No wonder it
was able to move quickly from side to side. Many of our robots have this ability if they need to traverse any chaos terrain while doing EVA.”
“So it is a robot then,” Stilicho said. “That means someone must have made it.”
“So if it’s the same thing that attacked this outpost, then perhaps someone is controlling it,” Darian said. “Probably the same person that’s hacked into the satellite network and is jamming us right now.”
Stilicho snorted. “Thank you, Captain Obvious. Probably a PETR member too, I would assume.”
Brian looked at him quizzically. “PETR?”
“Yeah, People for the Ethical Treatment of Robots,” Stilicho said. “You know, those loopy people who think that robots shouldn’t be abused or something like that.”
“How can you even joke at a time like this?” Darian said. “I used to be a member of PETR.”
Stilicho eyed her contemptuously. “Really? Did you pray to your toaster every morning as well?”
“Guys,” Chester said over the intercom. “The radar on the rover just lit up for like a second, and then it went silent again.”
Matt held up his hand to get everyone’s attention. “What do you mean it lit up?”
“I’m not sure,” Chester said. “The screen showed like, multiple contacts all around us, then it went silent again. I think it’s really getting screwed up by this dust storm.”
While standing in front of the immobile spider bot, Noah’s smart scope detected something at his flank. Twisting the torso of the crab suit to his left, he tried to get a bearing on the new contact, just as a pair of metallic tentacles shot out from the mists, grabbed hold of his rigid torso and held him up in the air. Noah screamed as he struggled to aim the gyrojet rifle mounted on his shoulder, but the angle was all wrong. The two tentacles that were holding him twisted their limbs in wildly different directions, tearing his spine in two. Noah felt a terrible pain in his back and his screams over the intercom lasted for a few seconds before going silent.
Lisa and Darian both cried out when the live video feed showed Noah’s death on their smartglass, while the men cursed.
The Piranha Solution: A Hard Science Fiction Technothriller (Ace of Space Book 1) Page 17
