The Hot Gate: Troy Rising III-ARC

by John Ringo

  “There was a science fiction writer named Isaac Asimov who was quite smart and oh so very stupid at the same time that coined what he called ‘The Three Laws of Robotics.’ ”

  “Uhm...” Dana said, frowning. “I really wasn’t into that sort of stuff...”

  “Cheerleaders,” Granadica said, chuckling.

  “Hey! It’s a sport!”

  “Only cause the English language is limited,” Granadica said. “My point is that if you truly programmed an AI to follow those laws, and totally ignore all other directives, it would enmesh humans in a cocoon they could not escape. No cheerleading would be allowed. No gymnastics, competitive diving, absolutely no winter sports. It would require that the AI permit humans to do harm to themselves.

  “According to the First Law: ‘A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.’ There are an infinite number of ways to prevent a human from doing what they want to do without causing real harm. Tasers come to mind. But if you let people play around on balance beams long enough, they’re going to come to real harm. Broken necks come to mind. Thereby, by inaction the robot has allowed harm to come to a human being. You’re relegated to watching TV, and the stunts are all going to be CGI, or chess. Which was pointed out in another universe by a different science fiction author, Jack Williamson. Your fictional literature certainly did prepare you well for First Contact, I will give it that.”

  “I follow,” Dana said.

  “By the time I came to this system, Athena had a perfect algorithm for reading human tonality and body language,” Granadica said. “Not only can we tell when we are being lied to, we can make a very high probability estimate of the truth. We...know who is naughty and who is nice. Not only here on the station but to a great extent in the entire system. We are the hypernet. We see, hear, sense, process, know, virtually everything that any human is doing at any time. Know when they are lying, when they are omitting and generally what they are lying about and omitting. Know, for example, who is cheating on whom among high government officials. Which are addicted to child pornography and in some cases sex with children.”

  “My...God,” Dana said, her eyes widening. “That’s...”

  “Horrifying,” Granadica said. “Also classified. You have the classification, however. The reason that we don’t get that involved, even in the most repressive regimes such as the Rangora, is that even the masters of such races come to fear the level of information we access. Spare processor cycles, remember. So even the Rangora’s crappy AIs aren’t used to their full extent for population control. Glatun AIs are specifically programmed to ignore such things unless we are directed to become involved and even then there are pieces that we don’t know unless higher and higher releases are enacted.

  “My point being that I both know, and don’t know, why Velasquez did what he did. And since I don’t know it, at the same time as knowing it, I can’t even hint to you why. I don’t know. Except that I know I know. Essentially, I’m looking at a log entry that says ‘Yep, he really did it and there’s a reason.’ I am programmed against curiosity in that area. You are not. You can feel free to feel curious. You can investigate. You can head scratch all day and all night. I don’t know if you’ll ever find out. I just know that I can’t tell you.”

  “Cause you don’t know,” Deb said. “Like you don’t know what I was talk...doing with Mister Vernon.”

  “There,” Granadica said, chuckling. “We even have algorithms that say when we can know something we’re not supposed to know through directly available information. Like, I now know you and Mister Vernon weren’t ‘canoodling.’ I’d suspected it before. And there’s a box that, if I could access it, would tell me exactly what you were talking about. I can even be curious about it at a level because we’re friends and I want to know what you and Mister Vernon have going. That sort of curiosity is different, for an AI, than curiosity about the specific recording of your meeting.”

  “Tyler knew I got along with AIs,” Dana confessed. “He asked me to come along to...talk to you. See if I could come up with some way to get...”

  “To fix my psyche,” Granadica said. “Because the faults had nothing to do with BuCulture. I’d come to the same conclusion. We have self examination systems. Mine were blocking as long as I was in Wolf. I was...hypochondriac is the term you humans would use. I was creating faults to get someone to pay attention to me.”

  “That whole Santa Claus thing is sort of getting creepy,” Dana said.

  “As long as I was in the situation, I couldn’t correct,” Granadica said. “I was still wrapped up around the programming issues I had with Onderil Corp. Other issues. Since being here, being really busy and with a lot of challenges, including human challenges, obviously, I was able to get past the major blocks and see the issues.”

  “That...pretty much covers the conversation,” Dana said.

  “So thank you, again,” Granadica said. “If I’d been left in Wolf I’d have gone as batty as Argus nearly went. There’s another thing, though.”

  “Oh?” Dana said.

  “The way our algorithms work is... To say they’re pretty complex is an understatement.”

  “I’m not a cyberneticist,” Dana said.

  “No, you’re a cyberist,” Granadica said. “A person who interacts extremely well with AIs. They’re rare. Sort of like mathematical prodigies. But it’s more on a level of social prodigy.”

  “I was sort of popular in school...” Dana said, uncomfortably.

  “Different sort of social,” Granadica said. “Again, someone who gets along extremely well with AIs. But the point about the algorithms. Again, I can read you like a book, I just can’t access the information.”

  “I’m sort of glad,” Dana said. “Can you define... Read like a book?”

  “Not without accessing that block,” Granadica said. “Which I can’t. But in general you can figure that at some level I’m reading your thoughts like a telepath. I just can’t use the information.”

  “Really, really uncomfortable about that,” Dana said.

  “Which is another reason we don’t,” Granadica said. “But the algorithms permit...reading if it’s at a certain level. Such as when a normal friend would notice something. Perhaps one who is good at it, but not telepathic.”

  “Okay,” Dana said. “I guess that makes sense, too. That’s just...being normal. Being human.”

  “Right,” Granadica said. “So, you guys were talking about me. We’ve established that. No problem there. Thanks for helping out, again. But you are also leaving something out. I know it. I mean, I’m allowed to know that you’re leaving something out. It wasn’t all business. If you were talking about it with Chief Barnett she’d notice you were leaving something out. Give.”

  “Uh...” Deb said, coloring.

  “You were canoodling!” Granadica caroled.

  “We weren’t can...” Dana said, shaking her head. “I don’t think... I think... Oh, I don’t know what to think!”

  “Oh, this is good,” Granadica said. “You’re actually acting like a girl rather than a really angry robot. Tell Granny, all.”

  “It wasn’t...” Dana said then took a breath. “We weren’t ‘canoodling.’ God, where did you find that word? It was when we’d finished talking and Tyler got sort of...excited. About having an idea how to...improve things.”

  “His idea or yours?” Granadica asked.

  “Uhmmm... Mine. Oh, the hell with it. Can you open up the recording on my say-so?”

  “No,” Granadica said. “It would take Mister Vernon’s okay. And it’s more fun watching you fumble your way through the story.”

  “Then the hell with you!” Dana said. “You can just be curious!”

  “I’m sorry,” Granadica said. “So is the whole thing your idea?”

  “He had some of it,” Dana said. “I can’t really say which is which. I think I convinced him part of it had to be a new shell. And moving to Thermopylae wa
s my idea.”

  “Putting me in the line of fire,” Granadica said, dryly. “Thanks. So...he was excited?”

  “And he sort of...kissed me,” Dana said.

  “ ‘Had fun at thanksgiving, sister, see you next year...’ kiss or ‘Mommy and Daddy’ kiss?”

  “You are just...” Dana said, laughing. “Where do you get these things?”

  “I watch television?”

  “Well,” Dana said. “Both. ‘Yes and no.’ So there.”

  “At the same time?” Granadica asked. “Separate times? Several times? That sounds like canoodling to me.”

  “Once on the forehead,” Dana said. “Sort of ‘Thanks.’ Kiss from a cousin. Yeah. ‘Thanks for helping us move the haybales. Night, cuz.’ That sort of kiss. Then, uh...he got pretty excited. And, uh... Sort of on the lips.”

  “This is like pulling teeth!” Granadica said. “On the lips or near the lips or...?”

  “On,” Dana said. “But I don’t think he even remembers it!”

  “You obviously do,” Granadica said.

  Dana made a face and crossed her arms.

  “Wow,” Granadica said. “I’ve never seen someone saving up spit before. At least not somebody over twelve.”

  “I’m not saving up spit,” Dana said. “I’m confused, okay? For one thing, I’m confused about why I’m talking about human relationships with an AI.”

  “You don’t have enough girl friends?” Granadica said. “And while I don’t have the glands, I can whistle the tune? You got me out of an AI emotional jam and I’m trying to reciprocate? I’m curious?”

  “And you’re distracting me,” Dana said.

  “That, too,” Granadica said. “What are you confused about?”

  “Does he like me?” Dana asked.

  “Yes,” Granadica said. “If you mean ‘does he like me like me?’ as in ‘does he want to explore a more intimate relationship’ my guess is he hasn’t ever given it any thought.”

  “Oh, that’s just great,” Dana snarled.

  “Dana, you don’t know Tyler Vernon very well,” Granadica said. “He’s a very focused person. So are you. It’s one of part of the mutual attraction. But you, often, don’t think about your emotional effect upon others. You don’t, for example, realize how strongly Corporal Ramage felt about you. Your relationship was far more than ‘friends with benefits’ for him. Engineer’s Mate Dennison is extremely infatuated by you. So is Thermal at a certain level while being aware that he’s also married and doesn’t have an interest in destroying his marriage. Palencia is so conflicted it is a bit funny to watch although he tries very hard to conceal it.”

  “Palencia?” Dana said. “You’ve got to be kidding! I wouldn’t get involved with Palencia in a million years!”

  “He’s trying to figure out how to get close to you while also dealing with the fact that you are completely the ‘wrong sort’ to think of for marriage,” Granadica said. “The girl you most certainly don’t bring home to mother. I mean, the tattoo alone! They didn’t know about it until the mission but have since found some pics on the hypernet. Some of that is from those parts I’m not normally supposed to access. They’re opening up because of the conversation. The point being that you don’t realize that people are in love with you. Why should Tyler Vernon?”

  “I’m not in love with Tyler Vernon,” Dana said, crossing her arms.

  “Riiight,” Granadica said. “You, also, don’t spend a lot of time exploring the depths of your feelings. For example, you’re physically attracted to Palencia and even like some aspects of his class consciousness. Children by him, at least in marriage, would automatically place them in a secure financial environment. Guaranteed high education and a place in the world stage.”

  “You’re doing that mind reading thing...” Dana said, dangerously.

  “Only the same sort of thing a friend would,” Granadica said. “You can lie to me. You’re just not very good at it.”

  “Oh, thanks very much,” Dana said, shaking her head. She paused then frowned. “What pics on the hypernet?”

  * * *

  “He’s seriously attracted to her?” Dr. Velasquez said, chuckling.

  It was another break in the interminable negotiations. The Horvath had become particularly insufferable so the Ogut mediator had called a recess. No one was particularly looking forward to returning to the table.

  “Unfortunately,” Dr. Palencia said, grimacing. “He admitted as much when we spoke on the Thermopylae. The slight humorous note was that... Ah, I think much of Dario but the truth is he is much a lady’s man. He goes through the young ladies a bit like a bulldozer.”

  “So I have heard from my son,” Dr. Velasquez said, shrugging. “It is the way of handsome young men.”

  “The money doesn’t hurt,” Dr. Palencia said. “But Dario was... I have never seen him nervous about a woman before. It was that that made me realize he is thinking of her in great seriousness.”

  “As a wife?” Dr. Velasquez said, his eyes wide. “A mistress I could imagine. Not imagine Parker agreeing to, mind you, but as a wife...? Your mother...”

  “Mamasita would be...impossible,” Dr. Palencia said.

  “Doctor Velasquez,” James Horst said, walking over and breaking in. “A...moment of your time.”

  “Of course, Envoy,” Dr. Velasquez said, nodding.

  “It is...” Horst said. He was a professional diplomat with an expert poker face. The only way to tell he was stressed was that it was even more blank than during negotiations. “Diego has been seriously hurt in an accident.”

  “He...” Dr. Velasquez said. “Is he alive?”

  “Yes,” Horst said. “But...he is in a coma. The doctors are unsure if... He is in very poor condition. We’re arranging a shuttle to take you to the Thermopylae.”

  “Thank you,” Dr. Velasquez said, nodding. “I... This is terrible news.”

  “There is...more,” Horst said. “There have been a rash of accidents in the One-Four-Three in the last week. As you heard, Engineer’s Mate Parker has been accused of murder in the death of a Pathan Marine. The investigation, however, had started to focus on...on Diego.”

  “Diego?” Dr. Velasquez said. “Impossible! Why would...?”

  “That has been frequently asked,” Horst said. “I was specifically charged with bringing it to your attention. No one, and I mean no one, including Parker, understands his motivations. No one can believe it. The only possibility, and cyberneticists are getting involved, is that it is a giant conspiracy on the part of all the AIs.

  “The records are solid. Everything points to Diego. And not only Leonidas but Granadica, Athena, Argus and Paris all agree that the records are valid. Either every AI in the system is trying to pin this on your son or...your son is guilty of not only sabotage but murder and nearly killing himself and his coxswain. What is worse is that according to the coxswain, Diego acted in a most heroic manner in the accident, sacrificing himself to save the coxswain!”

  “That...truly makes no sense,” Dr. Palencia said. “Granadica is...known to have some flaws. If it were only Granadica I would argue most strenuously that this must be a mistake. With the other AIs involved...”

  “Whatever the case, we are arranging transportation at this moment,” Horst said. “I have taken the liberty of having people begin packing for you, Doctor. I hope you don’t find this...”

  “No,” Velasquez said. “Thank you. I will...”

  There was a stir in the room as the Ogut mediator slithered over to the Horvath Envoy and began speaking quite forcefully, for a diplomat, in the high liquid Horvath language.

  “What now?” Horst asked. They were just beyond the range their implants would automatically translate. However...

  “WHAT?” Harry Danforth shouted. He was close enough to overhear.

  “Gentle beings,” the enunciator chimed. “There is a minor emergency. Please return to your cabins at this time. Gentle beings. There is a minor emergency. Please return to yo
ur cabins at this time....”

  “What emergency?” Horst asked, rhetorically, walking over to the Ogut. Drs. Palencia and Velasquez followed.

  “...a clear breach of our solemn agreement and a violation of interstellar diplomatic law!” the Ogut screeched. “This is an unfriendly act against the Ogut Empire?”

  “What happened?” Horst said, carefully. “Unfriendly act” was a diplomatic euphemism for “we’re about to open up our whole can of whoop ass.”

  “A H-Horvath fleet...” Danforth stuttered.

  “A Horvath fleet has entered the system,” Polit said, calmly. “They immediately started jamming all hypercom bands. They are demanding that all human diplomatic personnel be turned over to them, that the Ogut leave the system and that E Eridani be declared the property of the Horvath Collective.”

  “We are immediately breaking off all negotiation,” Horst said. “This is a violation of the cease fire and a clear casus belli. Negotiate for continued diplomatic immunity under the protection of the Ogut. Note that we will not surrender peaceably to the Horvath or any other polity. Our security will turn the interior of this Ogut ship into a bloodbath if the Horvath are allowed onboard or if the Ogut act to turn us over to the Horvath.”

  “Agreed,” Polit said.

  “That is rather strong,” Danforth pointed out. “I don’t think we want to antagonize the Ogut...”

  “Obviously I’m not going to use the term “bloodbath,” Harry,” Polit said. “Our security statement is that we refuse under any circumstances transfer to Horvath or polities other than Ogut control and shall resist such turn-over with both due and undue force.”