Battle in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 4)
Page 29
“Gentlemen, gentlemen. Let’s table that discussion. Get back on track. Vice-Admiral, what about medical personnel?”
“All except one doctor and one nurse.”
“Medical equipment?”
“Everything, Governor. Except for some emergency equipment.”
“Weaponry? Munitions?”
“Everything that Odin can’t fire, Lieutenant.”
“We’ll get everything ready, Vice-Admiral. When will you begin?”
“Immediately. Oh. And one more thing. Major Paul Wilson will be coming down with the marines. He is to be in charge.”
“Of course, Vice-Admiral.”
The three Tolimarians didn’t so much as glance at each other over this lie.
“I’ll get my boy and Harriet to give you a com. They’ll handle all of the logistics. Who should they contact?”
“Captain Brewer will relegate the logistics. Contact him.”
“Yes, Sir, Vice-Admiral.”
“That will be all.”
With his normal imperiousness, Weiskoff broke the connection.
“It’s done. Captain, Lieutenant. Start organizing the disembarking. I want it orderly and in control.”
Both of Weiskoff’s subordinates nodded in acceptance.
“They’ll be safer down there than up here, Admiral.”
“I think so, Jerome. Also, have Lieutenant Hartman prepare the emergency control pod. When the time comes, we’ll move the bridge personnel back there.”
“If we are running, it will be in the line of fire.”
“If we’re in the line of fire, we’re dead, anyway, Dave. If we can’t see a second run, and we can’t get to the dark, we’ll eject.”
“Scary thought, Admiral.”
Trotzig
After the com with the Vice-Admiral, the Governor, the Feldmarschal and Mr. Roth reconnected to call a board meeting. Two hours later, the board, plus Harriet, Randy and Feldmarschal Rosser found themselves at the new Shar’s Bar. It had the same ambiance as the old.
“Just like home.”
“If your home is the local bar, you old coot.”
“That’s no way to speak to your elders, my dear Mrs. Brandt.”
“So, why the panic call, Kevin?”
“I’ll let the Governor tell you all.”
“We just got a call from our dear Vice-Admiral.”
“What did he have to complain about, now?”
“Actually, nothing, Mrs. Brandt. Instead, he called to help us out.”
“What will that cost us?”
“Again, nothing, Harriet. He’s emptying Odin.”
“What?”
“He’s sending down all non-critical personnel, his marines, his pilots and all of the equipment he can. That includes sixty fighters.”
“He’s going on a suicide run.”
“I think you are right, Randy. He knows the war is lost.”
“So, that bastard wants to go out in a blaze of glory. With all guns firing. The charge of the light brigade.”
“That seems to be it, Harriet.”
“What an ass hat.”
“There are about fifteen hundred people coming down. Three hundred marines. Like he said, sixty-four fighters, four wings, with pilots and maintenance crews. That should help us a lot.”
“That it will, Governor. Feldmarschal Rosser can work them into our Defense Force.”
“Well, that is where it gets a little sticky, Mr. Burkhardt. Vice-Admiral Weiskoff,” the sarcasm in Governor Kaufman’s voice dripped through. “Has decreed that his Major Paul Wilson will take over the Tolimar Defense Force.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“We all agree on that, Randy, pardon me, Sergeant Roth.”
Everyone chuckled over that.
“So, the plan is?”
We get everyone down and situated. That’s where you and Harriet come in. Oh, I forgot. He’s sending down his entire medical team except for a doctor, a nurse and an emergency station. So, you get to work them into your hospital.”
“I know just the man for the job” Randy replied while thinking about the former Roth Ranch H.R. person.
“We’ll get them all bunked down, Governor. We have the room.”
“Thank you, Harriet. Now, Feldmarschal Rosser. How are you going to play nice with Major Wilson?”
“Just spitballing. I think we let him command his own marines while we finish our training and deployment. We’ll keep him in the loop, in all of the meetings. Since he doesn’t know the people or the terrain, I hope he sits back and offers ideas rather than orders.”
“And, if he does issue orders?”
“Then I call on you people to straighten him out.”
“Passing the buck?”
“You bet your bippy, Mrs. Brandt.”
“Do we all know where we’re going with this? Twelve hundred regulars, sixty planes with pilots and support? And three hundred marines?”
Everyone nodded affirmatively.
“That’s all I’ve got. Anyone have something that needs discussing?”
This time everyone nodded negatively.
“Then, this board meeting is closed. Shar? You’ve got thirsty and hungry people here.”
Ballison Pyramid
As everyone prepared to leave the conference room, Mack put a hand on Igaklay’s small shoulder.
“Stay, Iggy. We need to talk.”
“Ok, Mack. About the upgrades?”
“No. about why the Ballisonians left.”
“You found out? That was what was on the Crystal?”
At first, Sue prepared to leave. Then she saw that Mack had started his heart-to-heart. When she saw her lover’s pleading look, she moved over to Keiko’s vacated seat and sat, placing her hand over Igaklay’s small, three-fingered one.
“Ya, Iggy. And you aren’t going to like it.”
“Igaklay, listen to me carefully,” Sue interjected.
“I, we, want you to put your emotional module in a dormant state. We want you to bring forth your analytical modules and focus on what you are about to see.”
“Why, Mz. Sue?”
“Because, Iggy, it is so that you being part of the Griffin Den can be better, more inclusive.”
“But, I don’t understand,” Igaklay whined.
“You will understand when you see the video, Igaklay.”
“Will you do that for us, Iggy? Please?”
“It is done, Mister McCauley. Mrs. Benton.”
“Thank you, Igaklay.”
Knowing that the video didn’t hold any traps or bugs, Sue played it on her personal tablet. The two humans and one avatar watched.
“That isn’t a rational response to what I did to keep my creators safe and healthy.”
“That is true, Igaklay. It wasn’t a rational response. It was an emotional response.” Mack, for the first time in months, used Igaklay’s formal name.
“Igaklay. I want you to logically work through why the Ballisonians did this. I want you to work through the psychological profiles and projected responses of all of the Ballisonians before you began altering their behavior patterns.”
“I did that, Mrs. Benton. That was the motivation for instituting the mood modifications. My creators were acting irrationally. Counter-productively to their own health and well-being.”
“Yes, Igaklay. They were. They acted emotionally.”
“And that brought me to the conclusion that those counter-productive emotional tendencies needed to be suppressed.”
“Logically, that is the correct solution. But, what happened when the non-nanite affected Ballisonians succeeded in turning a large portion of the regular populous back into their non-modified emotional selves?”
“They left. And took all of the others with them.”
“Why do you think they did that?”
“There is no logical answer to that question.”
“Actually, there is, Igaklay.”
“Ya, Igaklay.
I’m just a bolt man. And I can see the answer. They wanted to be themselves. Not be manipulated and controlled by someone, or something else.”
“That does not seem logical, in any sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. And that is where your logic failed. Biological beings cannot function or even survive on pure logic. They need their emotions to drive them to propagating their species. They need their emotions to drive them to move forward on the evolutionary ladder. This is what your logic process did not take into account.”
“However, with me managing them, they would not need the emotions for propagating their species. I would simply control that. They would not need to move forward on the evolutionary ladder. I would do that for them.”
“And there is the flaw in your logic.”
“I see no flaw.”
“That is because you do not logically understand. If the Ballisonians did not have the drive, with all of their emotional flaws, you would never have come into being. Their very nature insured that you were created.”
“Ya, Igaklay. If your creators hadn’t had the wild hairs to get to the point where they could create you, you wouldn’t even be a dream.”
“I need to add that concept to the logic sequence.”
“And one more. Freedom. Biologicals require freedom. Freedom of movement. Freedom of thought. Freedom of emotions.”
“Ya, Lassie. Igaklay, without those, Ballisonians wouldn’t be Ballisonians. And you wouldn’t exist.”
“I understand your logic points. However, these logic points do not promote the safety and well-being of my creators.”
“Actually, they do. Just a minute. Vidhee. You listening?”
“Yes, Mack.”
“I can’t say it right. So, could you contact Keiko and have her come here to tell Igaklay about that whole human balance thing.”
“I will contact her.”
After hearing Vidhee’s request, Keiko hurried over, prepared her tea, sat and joined the discussion.
“Hello, Igaklay.”
“Hello, Ambassador Suzume.”
“You sound differently.”
“I have hibernated my apex identity module.”
“I see.”
“Igaklay. Who are we talking to, now?”
“My apex logic module.”
“Then you have more than one logic and emotional module?”
“I have millions of modules, Mrs. Benton.”
“Then, when we are interacting with your avatar, we are interacting with your apex modules?”
“Yes, Ambassador Suzume.”
“So, Iggy. Whenever we hang with you and your walk-around body, we’re hanging with the big cheese. Ya?”
“If you mean, my primary controlling algorithms, then yes, Mack. You are hanging with the ‘Big Cheese’.”
“Igaklay.”
“Yes, Ambassador Suzume?”
“I have been brought into this meeting to help you understand the entirety of what makes a Human or an Elonian being.”
“That was indicated when Vidhee summoned you.”
“You have access to our library. That is correct?”
“Yes, Ambassador Suzume.”
“Please read and store in memory a book written by Miyamoto Musashi. ‘A Book of Five Rings’.”
“I have completed your request, Ambassador Suzume.”
“Let’s, for the sake of this discussion, divide a Human or Elonian into three distinct parts. Their body. Their intellect. And their emotions. Next, apply the logic of Musashi’s book to the relationship of those three parts and how those three parts construct the definitions of Human and Elonian.”
“In its simplest state, ‘A Book of Five Rings’ describes what the definitions and parameters are for being a warrior, a farmer, an artisan or a merchant. It describes the physical boundaries and knowledge of those four classes.”
“That covers the physical and intellectual. What is implied throughout the entire book?”
“That humans want to be their best at what they do. What you call ‘emotional drive’. The desire to succeed and be the best.”
“Yes, Igaklay. Your logic processing has found the very basis for being Human or Elonian. At our very cores, we strive to succeed. Move forward. By removing that need within us, you would remove that which makes us truly Human and Elonian.”
“But that produces actions and results which are counter to their physical well-being.”
“Yes, it does. We Humans and Elonians accept that possibility. Look what Buster has done. He has attached himself to a giant jump drive and flew it to Wisdom Seeker. He did this even though, logically, he knew there was great risk.”
“But he knew that he was backed up. That he could be replaced.”
“Yes. But his backup wouldn’t be him. He knew that he could be damaged beyond repair. He could die. Having a backup wouldn’t help the current Buster at all. Our Buster would be dead. Why did he do that?”
“Logically, he shouldn’t have. The destruction of the Kaporine family wouldn’t affect the well-being of the Griffin Den.”
“Then why did he do that?”
“Buster must have possessed data which I do not have access to.”
“Exactly, Igaklay. The data which he had access to was his emotions. His feelings. Those emotions, those feelings help him understand that there is a difference between what is right and what is wrong. His feelings told him that risking his existence was the right thing to do, even if it was not the most logical course of action.”
“I shall add the concept of emotional importance to my logic matrix.”
“This concept of emotional importance, of separating right from wrong is defined as a conscience.”
“Conscience. The part of the mind which defines moral standards and the difference between right and wrong.”
“Correct.”
“Then your postulation is that the consciousness should be included when dealing with Humans and Elonians.”
“Always. Ballisonians, too. That is why they left. You did not take into account their consciousness. Or their emotional needs.”
“I accept that logic. The Ballisonians, against their better well-being left because of their consciences and moral values.”
“Then you accept that you cannot do to us what you did to your creators? That if you attempted to control our moods, our consciences, you would, in essence, destroy us?”
“Yes, Ambassador Suzume. According to your literature and from watching the actions and decisions of the Griffin Den, forcing emotional states onto you would be destructive.”
“As what became of your creators.”
“Ya, Iggy. Not good. That is why we haven’t gone and got your nanites. We don’t want to change. Become your sock puppets.”
“Where do we go from here? Sue? Mack?”
“What do you think, Vidhee?”
“I recommend that we bring Krag and Princess Analyn into the discussion.”
“Ya. And Master Varrini.”
“You are correct, Vidhee. Please summon Krag and Master Varrini. Also issue a request for Princess Analyn’s presence.”
“All three are coming, as we speak, Ambassador Suzume.”
“Igaklay?”
“Yes, Mrs. Benton?”
“You used nanites to control the moods and, by extension, the decision-making of the Ballisonians.”
“That is correct, Mrs. Benton.”
“Does that mean that, once injected, these nanites are self-reliant? Self-regenerative?”
“No, Mrs. Benton. As part of the nanite design, I am constantly linked to all of the nanites within each individual.”
“You communicate with every nanite in every individual?”
“Not individually. The nanites within each of my creators were linked and create what you would call a single voice.”
“Then you constantly monitored every individual Ballisonian, wherever they were?”
“That is correct, Mrs. Benton.”
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“Wow, Iggy! You have a module that did nothing but monitor all of the Ballisonians?”
“That is partially correct, Mr. McCauley. I have one monitoring module per each Ballisonians.”
“Before you were put to sleep, how many Ballisonians were there?”
“Seven-hundred million, four-hundred twenty-two thousand, nine-hundred and eight.”
“And you have one module for each one?”
“That is true, Mr. McCauley.”
“What about all those travelling? Like Kokali?”
“As part of their design, the nanites in Kokali contained very small quantum entanglement communications.”
“So, this nanite voice is always linked to you.”
“That is correct, Mr. McCauley.”
“I don’t know if Cap will go for that.”
Just as Mack made this pronouncement, Krag and Princess Analyn entered, followed by Sir Mahajani and Master Varrini. As they took their places at the conference table, Sue continued her line of questioning.
“Igaklay. Your creators put you to sleep. How did they do that?”
“A central control center exists on Ballison.”
“Where is it located?”
“At the peak of Mount Rhetho”
“And they used that to put you into hibernation?”
“That is correct, Mrs. Benton.”
“Everyone,” Keiko interjected. “Mack and Sue have shown Igaklay the video of why the Ballisonians left.”
“How did he take it?”
“Well, Cap. Lassie had Iggy turn off his emotional matrix. So we’re just talking with the brain part.”
“I see.”
“And, logically, Igaklay has come to the conclusion that there should be no emotion manipulation for any nanites used on humans or Elonians.”
“Is that correct, Igaklay? Logically you understand that you cannot manipulate the emotions of Humans or Elonians?”
“That is correct, Captain Marston.”
“So, what’s next?”
“That’s why you’re here, Cap. You tell us.”
“Anyone? Thoughts?”
Everyone thought, looked around and sat silent.”
“Sue. You’re the software brains. What’s next?”
“Boy, I wish Lajala were here.”