by G. P. Hudson
“I don’t know, Sir. We gave her access to the station’s systems, and since then she’s gone silent. Even the Chaanisar can’t talk to her.”
Something had gone wrong. But what? AI had grown more powerful than any artificial intelligence Jon had seen. What could be strong enough to take her out? He didn’t know, but he knew someone who likely did. Jon opened a comm with Chief Engineer Singh.
“Singh here.”
“Chief, I’ve lost contact with AI. She was in the process of taking over the battle station. Any idea what could have happened?”
There was a long pause. “Chief?”
“Yes, Sir. I’m still here. If the Juttari have developed an AI that is more powerful, then it could potentially defeat our AI,” said Sing.
“But how could they do that? AI has grown organically. Nobody could have predicted that she would become what she is now.”
“That is correct, Sir. Her power comes from her distributed nature. All the systems, warships, and brain chips on which she exists. That combination gives her incredible power. It should also protect her. An attack on her in any given location is futile, since she exists in so many. Unless-”
“Unless what?”
“The Juttari may have developed a virus strong enough to attack AI.”
“But didn’t you say her distributed nature protects her?”
“It does, to a certain extent. But all those systems do not exist in isolation. Each system adds to her strength, but in order to do so they must be interconnected. That means that she herself is the network. If the Juttari have created a worm powerful enough-”
“A worm?”
“Yes. A worm is a virus that can replicate itself through terminals on a network, and attack the systems at the same time. A worm powerful enough could overwhelm AI and use her as a conduit to attack every system she is connected to.”
“Even the Chaanisar?”
“Yes, Sir. The Chaanisar, the Freedom, any system that is connected to the AI.”
Jon felt an icy chill crawl up his spine. “Chief, I want precautions taken immediately to protect the Freedom. Notify all ships in the fleet to do the same.”
“But, Sir, this is only speculation. We don’t know if this is what has really happened.”
“No, but it’s the only thing that makes sense, and we need to protect the fleet.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“What about the Chaanisar? What will this do to them?”
“There no way to know for sure. It could incapacitate them. It might even revert control back to the Juttari. It all depends on the worm itself, and how it’s been created.”
“Can measures be taken to protect them?”
“I don’t know, Sir. I have not studied their brain chip’s architecture. The best we can do is warn them.”
“Understood. Pike out.”
Jon closed the comm, and glanced over at Commander Konos, who had been standing nearby and had heard most of the discussion with Chief Engineer Singh. “Contact First Colonel Brock and advise him of this development. Make sure he understands this has not been confirmed, and is only a precaution.”
“Yes, Sir,” said Konos.
Doubt crept into his mind. Was AI really that vulnerable? Was his fleet that vulnerable? Had he been too hasty? Overconfident? He had made tremendous gains. Had he gotten greedy? Should he have consolidated his gains first?
He felt the creature’s displeasure inside him. It had called Jon arrogant before, and it had been right. Had he fallen into the same trap again?
“Picking up jump gate activity,” announced Ensign Petrovic. “Confirmed, jump gate two and three are active.”
The words seized Jon’s attention. “On viewscreen,” he said. His fleet had control of jump gate one. Jump gate two and three were still under Juttari control.
The viewscreen adjusted to a split format, each side displaying the shimmering oval of the respective jump gate. Jon caught his breath at the sight. A seemingly endless stream of Juttari warships flowed through the gates.
“How long till those ships reach us?”
“Three minutes, Sir.”
Chapter 54
Chief Henderson crouched beside a corner in the corridor as energy bolts streaked by, charging the air with an audible sizzle. The Juttari weren’t giving up any ground without a brutal fight. Jarvi informed him that they were fighting Chaanisar. That was why they didn’t retreat, even when outnumbered. The Juttari wouldn’t let them. They were forced to fight to the death. It was terribly cruel, but created truly formidable opponents. There is no fighter deadlier than the one who doesn’t fear death.
A Diakan jumped out from behind the corner with one of the heavy guns, firing several explosive rounds at the enemy Chaanisar. He took multiple energy bolts in the process, but his combat suit absorbed them all. At the other end of the long hallway the rounds detonated in several powerful explosions, chewing through the Chaanisar position. Metallic limbs flew in multiple directions. The walls, then ceiling collapsed under the force of the blasts. Beams and rubble spewed down onto the enemy for good measure.
“Charge,” shouted Henderson. He had lost count how many times he had given that same command in this engagement. Each time he lost men, but he had no other choice. They had to advance, and they had to take advantage of the confusion in the aftermath of the blast. The narrow corridors created a natural bottleneck, giving the enemy a tremendous advantage. Henderson could only hope that the explosions got them all.
The energy bolts hitting his men answered his question. Thankfully the chaos had given them a head start, and the combat suits’ speed allowed them to cover most of the ground before they took any fire. In just a few strides they were leaping over the collapsed beams and crashing into the remaining Juttari defenders. Whether they were Chaanisar or not didn’t matter. His team mowed them down all the same.
Henderson’s gun vibrated as it discharged an unending stream of energy at the enemy, the muzzle taking on a ghostly blue glow. More combat suits cleared the rubble, Diakan and Chaanisar leap frogging ahead, down the long corridor. Satisfied that the enemy were all dead, Henderson signaled for the rest of his team to advance.
“Corridor is clear,” said Jarvi, over the suit’s comm. “This level has been secured.”
Henderson pulled up a display of the other boarding teams. The teams on this level were all reporting that they had secured their sections. Some of the teams on the other levels were still fighting, while others had eliminated all resistance in their sections. Every team had suffered numerous casualties.
“Chief, what is your status?” said Admiral Pike’s over Henderson’s comm.
“Our level is secure, Sir. The other teams are still securing their levels,” said Henderson, between short breaths.
“We have company out here. Another Juttari fleet is coming through the jump gates. AI is not responding, and the station is not making things easy for us. We need to move to plan B. You need to get to the Control Center, and take manual control of the station’s weapons.”
“Understood, Sir. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t, Chief. Pike out.”
Henderson pulled up the station schematic provided by newly freed Chaanisar, Sergeant Jacobs. He located the Control Center. It was buried deep in the heart of the battle station, a few levels above them. He opened a comm with all the boarding teams and transmitted the schematics along with the updated orders from Admiral Pike. He then spoke directly with Lieutenant Jarvi, Sergeant Jacobs, and the Diakan team leader, highlighting a group of stairwells on the station’s schematics.
“Sergeant Jacobs, what if we take these stairwells up to the Control Center level?”
“The Chaanisar defending the Control Center will have secured the stairwells,” said Jacobs.
“Is there another way up?”
“These maintenance tubes,” said Jacobs, highlighting the two small tubes. “But they are too confined for the entire team.”
“We ca
n send a squad up through the tubes,” said Jarvi. “They can neutralize the defenders guarding the stairwell, clearing the way for the rest of the team.”
“Good idea,” said Henderson. “Aerial bots will keep the defenders busy in the meantime.”
“I will personally lead a squad of Chaanisar through the tubes,” said Jarvi.
“Why a squad of Chaanisar?” said the Diakan team leader.
“Our enhanced speed improves our chances of success,” said Jarvi.
“The combat suits enhance all our speed. A squad of Diakans can advance just as quickly.”
“That opinion is not supported by facts,” countered Jarvi. “A Chaanisar combat suit is modified to take advantage of a Chaanisar’s augmentation.”
“Okay, we don’t have time for rivalries,” said Henderson. “I’m sure the Diakans are just as qualified to complete this mission. Lieutenant Jarvi volunteered first, so let’s just leave it at that. This is your baby, Lieutenant.”
“What baby is mine, Chief?”
“It’s a figure of speech. It means the job is yours.”
“Understood.”
“I wish to volunteer as well,” said Jacobs. “You may have the schematics, but my knowledge of the station may prove useful.”
“I approve your request, Sergeant,” said Jarvi.
Jarvi picked two other Chaanisar for the mission, and the four men proceeded to the two maintenance tubes. Sergeant Jacobs removed the access panels. The four climbed in and began their ascent.
It wasn’t long before Henderson had reached the stairwell. Two Diakans had already been stationed there, standing guard. Henderson glanced up the stairwell, but saw no movement. The Control Center was still several flights up.
A Diakan stepped up beside him, tapping something on his suit arm. A hidden compartment opened and a cloud of mechanical insects flew out of the compartment hovering in the air in front of the Diakan. The swarm turned and flew up the staircase, streaming a video feed to the Diakan’s and Henderson’s visor.
The insect sized drones carried micro-explosive payloads, which could be used if they encountered the enemy. Due to their extremely small size, the drones had the ability to often get very close, and detonate their payloads, destroying themselves, and the target.
As the drones neared the Control Center level, Henderson’s body tensed in anticipation. Just one more flight. Any second now and they would see what waited for them. He clenched his teeth turning his head upward, as if to get a better look. The video feed blinked off, and he was left standing with only a view of the stairwell.
“What just happened?” he said, turning to the Diakan.
“It appears that the drones were destroyed,” said the Diakan.
“We need to send up another-” A high pitched screeching sound pierced through the stairwell. Realizing what was coming he shouted, “Incoming!” and dove through the door with the Diakan. Behind them the stairwell exploded, flames ripping through the open doorway.
Chapter 55
Lieutenant Jarvi raced up the narrow maintenance tube, leaping from one handhold to the next, clearing several rungs at a time. Close behind him came Sergeant Jacobs, the newly freed Chaanisar. Two more of his men were scrambling up the parallel maintenance tube. He heard the explosion below, but didn’t allow it to slow his progress. There were plenty of men down there, and he was confident in their ability to handle the situation.
As focused as he was on the task at hand, he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to AI. He hadn’t realized how much he had grown used to her constant companionship since he let her into his brain chip. It wasn’t the communication. Jarvi valued a quiet mind, so they rarely spoke to each other. It was more the knowledge that she was always there. She somehow filled the emptiness. No more.
Control Center level reached, said Jarvi over his chip, as he stopped climbing. Jacobs came to a stop just below him.
We are in position, the other two Chaanisar responded.
Opening hatch. Prepare to enter on my command, said Jarvi.
Jarvi slowly turned the handle and pushed the heavy hatch slightly open, giving him a one centimeter gap. He pushed a slender, paper thin surveillance device through the crack. The tiny camera projected a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree video feed of the corridor to the Chaanisars’ visors. It didn’t look good.
We are outnumbered, said Jarvi. But we have the element of surprise.
It is enough, said Jacobs, although Jarvi sensed his apprehension. He knew that emotion wasn’t due to fear, but a regret that he would have to kill more Chaanisar. It was something they all felt. The men on the other end of that hatch were not just slaves, or potential team members. They were family. All Chaanisar were brothers. If AI had been successful, these same Chaanisar would be hunting Juttari alongside them.
The gift of death, said Jarvi.
The gift of death, the other Chaanisar repeated.
Now, ordered Jarvi, swinging his hatch open to leap through. The tube hatches were flanked by two groups of enemy Chaanisar. Jarvi threw a grenade at one of the groups and opened fire as it exploded in their midst. Jacobs jumped in, throwing two more grenades, taking a knee, and opening fire as well. From the second tube, the other Chaanisar jumped in echoing the tactic.
The two enemy groups were caught completely by surprise, and even their enhanced speed couldn’t help them. Jarvi’s squad cut them down quickly and mercilessly. The entire attack over in seconds. Wasting no time, the four men raced down the hall toward the staircase with blistering speed. As they neared, the staircase doors swung open and blue energy bolts greeted them.
The four men returned fire, while scrambling for the walls. They were running so fast that they simply moved up the walls, temporarily outracing gravity. Grenades were thrown. More explosions, and the four were through the doorway, crashing into the Chaanisar stationed there, sending all parties tumbling down the stairwell.
Jarvi had already unsheathed his ion blade, plunging its sizzling point into the visor of the man he was entwined with, as they bounced down the steps. Piercing the visor, Jarvi sunk the blade to the hilt, into the man’s skull. The man stopped moving, but Jarvi had already left him behind, surging up the steps and thrusting his blade into the back of another Chaanisar’s neck, the glowing blade cutting through the armor and severing the man’s spinal cord.
Turning he saw Sergeant Jacobs at a forty-five-degree angle, on his back. An enemy Chaanisar pounded on his visor with his heavy metal gloves. Jarvi leveled his energy weapon and squeezed the trigger, sending multiple bolts into the man’s torso.
The enemy Chaanisar fell backward as Jacobs jumped up, unsheathed his own blade, and drove it home into the man’s chest.
“The gift of death, brother,” said Jacobs, as the man’s body fell limp.
Energy bolts crashed into Jacobs from above. Looking up Jarvi saw two more Chaanisar firing down at them. He returned fire, and the other Chaanisar joined in. The enemy had the high ground, but killing their initial opponents gave Jarvi’s team a two to one advantage. They forced the enemy to back up, an electrical storm of blue lightning coming at them from below.
Chapter 56
Chief Henderson got up off the floor and examined his combat suit. It had been charred from the flames, but its integrity held. He looked over at the Diakan who had hit the ground beside him. He too was moving to stand He turned to the stairwell and saw that both doors had been blown completely off their hinges. From up above, he heard the sound of combat, especially the exploding grenades. Lieutenant Jarvi had engaged the enemy.
Behind him stood a mix of Marines, Diakans, and Chaanisar, waiting to storm the stairwell. The station continued to shake from the pounding it was taking from the fleet. Outside, they would have now engaged the new Juttari fleet. Henderson couldn’t know how well the battle outside was going, but he knew that he needed to get to the Control Center. He had to point the station’s powerful weapons square at the enemy.
“Stair
well is secure,” said Jarvi, over Henderson’s comm.
“The stairs are clear. Move out,” ordered Henderson, breaking into a run. The explosion had blown apart the portion of the stairway on this level, forcing Henderson to leap over it. He cleared the gap and landed with a hard metallic thud, momentarily questioning the structural integrity of the remaining steps. With the combat suit on, he could easily make a twelve-foot jump, even more if he was at an all out sprint. He had seen the Chaanisar jump even higher.
Before long he had reached Jarvi’s team, who held the staircase, but were locked in a firefight with the level’s Chaanisar defenders.
“Good work, Lieutenant,” said Henderson, pointing his weapon and adding his firepower to the mix.
“Thank you, Chief,” said Jarvi. “The Control Center is at the other end of this corridor, but these Chaanisar are being disagreeable.”
“Then we need to be more persuasive,” said one of the Diakans from behind. “If you’ll allow me,” he said, brandishing one of the Diakan heavy weapons.
Henderson and Jarvi moved out of the way, as the Diakan pulled the trigger. The muzzle belched white hot flame, and explosions decimated the middle of the corridor, littering the ground with rubble and shards of Juttari body armor.
“Damn, I need to get me one of those,” said Henderson.
“Perhaps we can accommodate your request after the battle,” said the Diakan, in complete seriousness.
Henderson couldn’t help but roll his eyes behind his visor. Several men moved into the corridor, ensuring that all the defenders were indeed dead, before taking defensive positions to allow the rest to advance. They reached the end of the corridor without incident, turned a corner, and arrived at the entrance to the Control Center.
A heavy set of sliding doors blocked their way. One of the Diakans ripped open a panel and went to work on the control system. The rest of the men spread out, all with weapons trained on the doorway, ready to storm the Control Center the second the doors opened.
