by JD Clarke
On my walk back through the factory, I worried about Dena. She was going through some difficult adjustments to her brain enhancement, and she was all alone on the mother ship. I considered the possibility of sending someone to check on her, but the likelihood of getting past the blockade was poor at best. Besides, I needed everyone here. I was short on human resources, and Dena would not be receptive of an android, even Sybil.
Every day I watched the displays monitoring the space around our planet. The Unity Fleet continued to circle above the base. Another sixteen warships joined them, but no attack occurred, and they did not resume their bombardment of our shields. They had given up on trying to overcome them—at least that’s what I hoped. Everyone else was busy strengthening our defenses. Sybil was helping Mako. Noomi was helping the Sarge and Legion. Sasha was overseeing repair and rearmament of our warships. She had also taken over the completion of warships that were in various stages of production in the factory when I conquered it.
I went over different scenarios constantly and finally came to the conclusion that I needed more information about the Unity and what they were up to. A plan to infiltrate the Unity was taking shape, and I simultaneously liked it and feared it.
Thirty days after the first ground assault, the Unity were back. Time for contemplation was over.
Something New
The sergeant had made good use of the time. The bunkers were now heavily fortified, even using some of the enemy’s snowplow shields in places. The bunkers were solid structures composed of graphite and ceramic composition. Thick berms were in place between the bunkers. The trenches were now reinforced tunnels, and all personnel were located belowground, relying on remote control of the gun systems above them. I again took up position in the bunker with Legion where he had his ground command. Mako continued his work on the new shield generator with Sybil beside him. Sasha, Noomi, and Claire manned the command center. Sarge was in another bunker to our left commanding the rail gun emplacements.
This time, there was no bombardment from above. Large cargo ships dove down toward the planet, dropping a load of huge spheres into the valley of craters just beyond our time shield. The spheres struck the ground, raising a cloud of dust as they hit.
“Sasha, can you get look into the valley on your sensors? We can’t see into it from here.”
“Yes, Jason, there are … thirty-six metallic spheres. They appear to be opening along four seams—four sections opening up like flower petals, exposing a green gelatinous interior. There’s movement inside the gel. Wait a minute. You’re not going to like this. Each sphere houses a giant robot of some kind. Anthropoid in design, two legs, two arms.”
Noomi took up the narrative. “They have taken your android design, Commander Hauptman, and enlarged it. Heavy shields covering the shoulders and head. The left arm is equipped with an energy weapon of unknown design. The right arm appears to be equipped with a heavy shield. These machines could be a formidable weapon platform against your ground emplacements, Commander.”
“We’ll know soon enough.” I waited for the enemy to appear over the crest of the valley’s edge. I did not have to wait long. All thirty-six giant robots came out of the valley at the same time in a coordinated attack. They came forward in a crouched position using their head and shoulders to shield their body. They also had a three-quarter shield attached to their right arm that provided effective coverage. Their left arm extended around the shield, and a blue glow began to form where a fist would be.
“Open fire!” Legion called out, and every bunker began targeting the enemy. The rail guns had the greatest effect. A two-hundred-pound high-velocity round impacted an enemy ’bot, knocking it off its feet. It rolled backward over the valley cliff. Another enemy ’bot advanced under a hail of pulse cannon fire. Pieces of shielding flew out in every direction as the robot’s arm shield quivered and shook but stayed intact.
Then the glow from an enemy’s exposed left arm grew in intensity and size; it streaked forward in a ball of wicked blue energy. It shot forward, striking a rail gun bunker. The result was disastrous. The forward section of the bunker flew apart. A boiling ball of energy flowed through the gun slit and melted hardened steel, vaporized graphite walls, and blew superheated air, smoke, and debris from the bunker before dissipating. The other enemy ’bots also fired their energy weapons, targeting the rail gun bunkers first.
“Sasha, send out the laser tanks and the warships—everything—now!” I ordered.
“Legion, order in your fast attack vehicles. Keep them under the protection of our time shield. Sarge, continue firing your rail guns as long as possible. All pulse cannon gunners, target the enemy’s legs or other exposed areas. Their shields are too strong to penetrate.”
The laser tanks moved forward, firing their lasers. The enemy’s shields glowed red-hot but held. Three more enemy ’bots fell to rail gun fire. The pulse cannon gunners targeted the downed giants, and the rapid fire chewed into the exposed torsos, sending up showers of sparks. The giants trembled and convulsed on the ground.
As the last of our rail gun bunkers exploded, our warships came onto the field. Zipping from around the northern corner, they flew inches off the ground, staying under the protective umbrella of our time shield. The twenty warships opened fire with their particle cannons, and eight giants fell to the ground. Our remaining bunkers instantly targeted them and put them out of action as they struggled to rise.
The remaining giants now dropped to the ground in a semicircle. Lying prone, they used their shields to maximum effect and began firing that devastating left fist at our warships.
Three warships were struck with the first volley and knocked to the ground. They tumbled end over end from their sudden collision first with that blue ball of energy and then the ground. The remaining ships’ cannon fire was deflected by the giants’ overlapping shields. The warships passed over the enemy and turned for another pass. As they did so, the enemy took advantage of the time by knocking out two more bunkers and destroying all our laser tanks.
“Sasha, have the warships concentrate their fire. Three ships’ fire concentrated on one enemy robot. Coordinate your fire.”
“OK, Jason, done.”
The next pass was an even round with three robots being destroyed under the combined fire of the warships, but we lost another three warships, and four were badly damaged. Our warships had little room to dodge and maneuver. The robots moved to replace their broken line of defense from the losses. They moved back, reducing the semicircle and keeping their shields overlapping. We would not survive at this rate of attrition.
“Legion, during the next pass, send in your ground troops. Get in under their shields and find a weakness in those bastards. Attack the robots on the southern extent of their formation.”
“Yes, Jason.”
“Sasha, have your warships concentrate on the northern extent of the robot formation. Legion’s troops will be assaulting from the south.”
“OK, Jason.”
The fast attack vehicles were peppering the giants with little effect. They were zipping around, firing, and dodging, but doing little damage. I could only hope they were at least a distraction. Meanwhile, the giants targeted more of our bunkers between our warships’ passes.
“Legion, Sarge, get your troops out of the bunkers.”
“Won’t have to tell us twice,” the Sarge responded.
As our warships made their third run against the formation of prone giants, one thousand angry Warriors burst from the tunnels and charged the southern end of the formation. They were like a wave of angry fire ants as they ran under and between the heavy arm shields of the enemy. On the northern side, three more giants were blasted into the air by combined warship fire. They fell in a smoldering heap. But our warships paid a heavy price; four more struck the ground and cartwheeled outward. Five had their shielding penetrated and exploded in midair, streaking smoke and debris across the battlefield.
The chatter of the Warriors’ pul
se rifles could be heard as the warships ceased their fire and passed overhead. The giants again targeted the bunkers and turned the remaining bunkers into smoldering holes. Then there was a sign of confusion among the giant robots. They began to twist and turn. Some rose up, attempting to shake off the pesky Warriors.
“Expose the small of the back with pulse fire. Plunge your sword into the wiring bundles!” a lone Warrior voice carried through our neural nets.
Now all the giants were on their feet; two contorted, bending backward and falling. Another fell face-first onto the ground. Then they began slamming their shields into the backs of their companions, smashing the Warriors as they attempted to disable the robots.
“Warships, attack now! Take them down!” I ordered.
The warships sped in, their formation ragged from the quick reversal. The giants were now exposed, and the warships targeted the chests and backs of the robots. Pulse cannons fired; and robotic giants separated at the waist, arms flew from their torsos, and chests erupted into craters of sparking, smoking, ragged holes.
The giants fell—all of them. So did the Warriors, clutching desperately to them in their attempts to disable their foe. Other Warriors were crushed under the falling giants or burned from the cannon fire. It looked like a victory, but it tasted like a defeat. We could not withstand another attack like this one. Not in our current condition. Not with these tactics.
Evaluation
The next morning, I sat alone in the mess hall. I was nearly finished with breakfast, just sipping on my cup of coffee and contemplating my next move, when Mako and Sybil came in.
“Good morning, Jason,” Mako said as he picked out his breakfast. Sybil came over and sat across from me.
“Good morning, Commander. You have managed to retain possession of the base. The Unity forces will return, and they will have adapted to your defenses. You will need a stronger defense each time they return.”
“Yes, I need that second time shield we discussed, Mako. How much longer?”
“It will be ready soon, Jason. Using the factory here, the fabrication will be very rapid. Only the actual design modifications are delaying us. Noomi and Sybil are very helpful in that department. Noomi’s familiarity with weapons systems is proving invaluable, and of course, they have all the Unity database of this facility at their disposal.” Mako looked a little ragged, like he had been too long without sleep.
“Where is everyone else? I expected to see everyone here this morning.”
“Well, Jason, there’s a lot that needs to be done.”
I sensed more to Mako’s comment and was about to inquire further when Sybil answered.
“Legion and Sergeant Klanton are not pleased with your sacrifice of the Warrior troops yesterday. They feel you acted too soon. It is Legion’s belief that his Warriors could have defeated the Unity robot attack force without the intervention of the warships and with fewer deaths. Their analysis of your orders has led them to conclude that your value of life has changed. Sergeant Klanton believes your personality profile is increasingly sociopathic and demeaning.”
“How do you know this, Sybil?” I asked her directly.
“I have overheard Legion and Sergeant Klanton discussing your orders, and I have inquired of Noomi for further information. She said the sergeant referred to your current mental state as becoming a ‘cocky asshole.’ She further stated that he observed you are no longer willing to take advice from anyone. He is beginning to doubt your ability to lead a successful campaign against the Unity and further stated that your continued progression toward self-conceit is a recipe for disaster.”
No doubt Sybil could have continued in her report at length, but I interrupted her. “And what is your assessment of my current command ability?” Mako looked a little uneasy when I asked Sybil for her appraisal.
“You have relied less on advice from your companions and seem to have become obsessed with the conquest of this planet. However, your continued victory in battle indicates that your tactics have been correct. Choosing the sacrifice of the Warriors was a command decision that had a higher probability of success than waiting for further indications of their ability to defeat the robots without further damage to our remaining forces and equipment. The Unity will not accept your conquest of this planet, and they will not be willing to discuss terms of any kind of cease-fire. They will continue to probe and test your defenses until the Unity are able to eradicate you and the other organic members of your team. In the meantime, the deterioration of your team’s confidence in you will make it more difficult for you to lead effectively.”
I could feel my temperature rise and had to remind myself that I could expect nothing less than a blunt answer from Sybil. I had asked for it. The others did not understand, and I could not expect them to reason as effectively as I could.
“Is that the way you see it, Mako?”
“Jason, you are brilliant. You have been from day 1, when we began this mission, but you have changed since your mental modifications. Do you remember how Sasha was? Arrogant, demeaning, willful? I think the others are afraid that your mental changes will follow the pattern of hers.”
“She suffered from an immaturity. She could not handle the flood of knowledge and power she was exposed to.”
“And you are immune from those same factors?” Mako looked me square in the eyes. There was no malice in his thoughts, nothing but concern for me.
I thought of several replies, but all sounded self-serving. Instead, I just sat silent. Perhaps it was time to change the subject. “Sybil, I need information about the Unity. What they are planning, what their capabilities are, how disruptive the androids are, if they are.”
“I only have access to the Unity information available on this base. All other communication with other Unity bases and the blockading Unity Fleet are denied to me.”
“I know, but I have a plan to circumvent that.” I waited a moment, but she failed to anticipate my plan. That was good; perhaps it meant that the Unity would be unable to uncover my subterfuge as well. “Once before, we shared a consciousness state. You are able to transfer your consciousness from your holographic computer processor to your android body. Would it be possible to transfer my consciousness into an android body?”
“It would be possible for you to remotely control an android. It might be possible to utilize your neural net to reproduce your consciousness in an android body and processor, but to transfer your consciousness into an android and then back into your human body would be difficult to accomplish and the outcome very unpredictable. It would involve a software simulation of your mental function and then a download of information reproduced in your synaptic patterns. It would not be a true transfer.”
“But the result would be the same, right? It could be done.”
“Yes, to accomplish what goal, Commander?”
“To infiltrate the Unity and gain firsthand information. I want to inhabit an android body in the next shipment of androids we send to the Unity bases. That will allow me to infiltrate and spy on their current situation and plans. I want you to go with me.”
“Might I suggest that you implant your neural patterns within my consciousness? I would be able to monitor their function better and also facilitate their inscription into your human synaptic structure. Since this is an experimental exercise with many unknown variables, it would have a higher probability of success with greater control. I can provide that control. It would also prevent the Unity from detecting your presence, something that would surely occur if your consciousness was simply inserted into an android form.”
“Wait a minute, you two”—Mako sounded alarmed—“how are you going to get back? Has that crossed either of your minds?”
“I’m still working on that part,” I replied simply. I knew I could get back if I could just get in. I didn’t know how yet, but I would figure it out. “Just make sure that second shield is up and working before the Unity’s next attack. Sybil, begin working on whatever you need t
o accomplish the transfer.” I finished my coffee and left. I had other duties to perform and a base to defend.
I found the Sarge inspecting the bunkers and trenches. “Sergeant, we need to prepare for the next wave of attack.”
“We can’t hold out with these kinds of losses, Jason,” the sergeant said, looking over at me.
“I know. That’s why I want you to set up the bunkers to be remotely controlled by combat stations within the factory walls.”
“The bunkers will require heavier shielding to withstand the plasma weapon of those giant bastards. Even then, they won’t last long.”
“OK, I agree. Now what I have in mind is a series of rail guns and pulse cannons placed just inside the factory doors.” I sent the sergeant a mental image of the placement and configuration of the weapons stations.
