Retribution: The Augmented Human Rebellion - Book 2

by Lefler, Terry

  And they are off, on a different kind of adventure. After being on their own for a few years, they are now about to be suddenly immersed into the Darinx Navy culture. That thought is cause for anxiety for the Sweetwater crews. After running loose for so long, they don’t look forward to inspection after inspection.

  The voyage from the edge of the system to Darinx Navy Headquarters space takes 3 days of real space travel. The Sweetwater sailors spend the time cleaning.

  ***

  As they approach Darinx Navy Headquarters space, they can see a 20 klick long reception line of Darinx Navy ships, lined up on both sides of the parade route. As the Sweetwater Fleet passes, the ships in the reception line signal a ‘salute’, by turning all external lights on.

  “Well,” thinks the Admiral. “This may not be so bad after all.”

  The elaborate welcome is not being lost on the sailors of the Sweetwater Fleet. “Maybe we have not been forgotten,” they think. “And maybe they didn’t try to kill us in that trap at the re-supply rendezvous.”

  And the welcome just keeps growing in size and intensity, as the crews are ferried from their ships, to the Darinx Navy Headquarters Space Station.

  ***

  The Darinx Navy Headquarters Space Station

  The Space Station is massive in size and this is the first time that most of the sailors have been here - only important people come here. There are large crowds of sailors and civilians waiting to greet them at the docks. They disembark from the shuttles according to rank, with Admiral Meyers leading the way.

  As the Darinx Navy’s first augmented human Admiral passes, the crowds roar and scream in admiration and approval. Admiral Meyers has been a celebrity in the Darinx Empire for some time now, and she is recognized by all. The beautiful Amazon warrior has a cult following in the Darinx Empire - complete with fan clubs and holo movies, which depict her real and imagined exploits.

  She maintains her military decorum, but she is genuinely touched by the spontaneous outpouring of appreciation and – dare she say it? – love. She could easily have cried, but she maintains control. No augmented human has ever received any kind of accolade like this. Admiral Meyers recognizes this as a turning point for augmented humans and feels that things are truly changing in the Darinx Empire.

  Perhaps Fleet Admiral Duncons was an exception, and not the rule. Perhaps he was working alone in his attempt to kill the augmented human Admiral – but she doubts it. She decides to receive the good in this, but to be prepared for some disappointment.

  ***

  The crowds are cheering and applauding as the Sweetwater Fleet sailors parade by. Some, in the crowd are holding signs, and there are banners all around saying “Welcome Home Sweetwater’ and “Thank You Sweetwater”. There are fireworks in the surrounding space. The fireworks make no noise, in the vacuum of space, but the visual effects are enhanced because there is no gravity to pull them down.

  There is no doubt about it. The sailors of the Sweetwater Fleet feel appreciated. This is a rock star welcome.

  ***

  After the crowds of sailors and civilians, there is a crowd of admirals, generals and important dignitaries, awaiting Admiral Meyers’ arrival. She is ushered into a giant ball room area, with a seemingly endless greeting line of Military and civilian leaders.

  Her guide whispers to her that she should only salute the first naval officer – the Commandant of the Darinx Navy – and to just shake hands, with the rest. She silently says a Thank You to God for sending a guide, because she would be totally lost in this environment.

  After the greeting line, her guide places a martini glass in her hand and leads her from place to place, in order to give opportunity for some longer discussions. The first discussion is with the Commandant of the Darinx Navy – Admiral Shreier. He expresses his thanks and admiration for her “excellent work” and says: “If you need anything, call me,” and he gives her a business card with his private number. She quickly tucks that away in her important items pocket.

  Then it is hour after hour of discussions, about important and trivial matters. Admiral Meyers smiles and does her best with the conversations. She notices that most of the people speak to her very slowly and in a loud voice, as if she is a stranger who doesn’t understand the language. She has seen this kind of treatment before. It means that, it is their expectation that an augmented human probably can’t speak the humanoid language very well, and will probably be a little slow in their thinking.

  “Oh well,” Admiral Meyers thinks. “At least they are trying.

  ***

  Finally the party is over and her guide – Lieutenant Sonja Wuo – delivers her to her stateroom and leaves her with comm numbers, for herself and other assistants. Then she is alone at last. In an elegant apartment of rooms – and with a huge bath – probably installed just for her.

  That is all she needs to see. She runs the tub full of water; pours in some bubble bath; grabs a drink - with a name she doesn’t know – undresses; and gets into the tub. No sooner has she hit the water when her comm rings. She says some choice words and gets out of the water long enough to retrieve her comm unit.

  She is just getting back into the tub, when Fleet Admiral Kinseat begins speaking: “Admiral Meyers. This is Fleet Admiral Kinseat and I just wanted to greet you on your first day home. Unfortunately, I was planet-side in meetings with the Emperor’s staff, and I was not able to greet you upon your arrival. I do expect to be back on the Station tomorrow, and I hope to see you then.”

  “I look forward to our meeting, Fleet Admiral Kinseat,” replies Admiral Meyers.

  “Fine. I will comm you when I know my schedule. Goodnight. And you can get back to your bath now - - - how do I know that you are taking a bath? Because that is what everyone does, when they first get back from the frontlines. See you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight, sir,” she says as she puts the comm unit down, and slides under the water. She is sure glad that he told her how he knew she was taking a bath.

  ***

  The next day is full of media interviews by the Empire press corps, along with debriefing sessions by various Darinx Navy departments.

  She is surprised and honored that the people of the Darinx Empire have, at last, taken an interest in augmented humans. The press, from the planet Earth, has shown a special interest. It seems that planet Earth has claimed her as one of their own.

  And the press corps has stopped speaking to her as if she is mentally impaired. In the beginning they seemed surprised that she could even speak in complete sentences. The Admiral gladly accepts all requests for interviews, because she knows that the interviews will cause augmented humans to be lifted up, in the esteem of all Darinx citizens. They will see evidence that this species is as intelligent as any other species in the Empire.

  The official debriefings are wide ranging and thorough. She speaks the truth about everything, without any regard for military politics. She speaks her opinion only when asked.

  ***

  Later in the day she receives a text message from Fleet Admiral Kinseat, ordering her to report for a meeting in his office, in 1 hour. Lieutenant Sonja Wuo – her guide – delivers her to the Fleet Admiral’s office.

  The meeting is cordial and the Fleet Admiral implies, without actually saying so, that Fleet Admiral Duncons has been forced into early retirement, because of his orders to Sweetwater Fleet, which essentially amounted to a suicide mission.

  The Fleet Admiral asks her about the captured Verm warships. Admiral Meyers replies that she was originally planning on using them, because the Darinx warships were out of munitions. But now that the Darinx warships have been re-supplied, she foresees using the captured Verm warships, in surprise attacks against the Verm Navy. Verm targets being attacked by a fleet of Verm Navy vessels should spread paranoia throughout the Verm Empire.

  Admiral Kinseat nods approval for that tactic and says: “Don’t forget that you can be executed as spies for dressing up like the enemy. Althou
gh that won’t really matter, in the case of the Verm – they are going to execute you anyway.”

  Then he tells her that the Repair Depot estimates one month of repair time, in order to bring her Fleet up to Battle Ready condition.

  He suggests that the waiting time will be well spent, by mixing in some additional training - for herself and her sailors - along with a couple of weeks of R&R (Rest & Recreation) on the planet Darinx.

  She is dismissed, after her commander tells her that the next assignment will be “more of the same”, because it has been proven so effective.

  ***

  On the planet Darinx

  She and her sailors are off on a 2 week R&R, to the planet Darinx. She cautions them to “stay out of trouble” and wishes them “Godspeed”.

  The enlisted sailors are restricted to a large island, which is routinely used for R&R visits. There is a heavy presence of Navy shore patrol officers, to help the sailors stay out of trouble.

  Admiral Meyers and some of the other Fleet officers take a quick tour of the Capitol, and then they head for the beaches. After years of space travel, they all want to feel the sand between their toes and the sunlight on their skin.

  ***

  On the Darinx Navy Headquarters Space Station

  The two weeks pass quickly and everyone goes – reluctantly – back to work. The Sweetwater Fleet sailors report for duty on the Space Station, and begin 2 weeks of training on new technologies and tactics.

  When Admiral Meyers arrives on Station she immediately gets a mind-link communications with Shiela. She answers and hears a distraught Shiela tell her that the Artificial Intelligence Department has taken Honesty to a lab, for inspection.

  ***

  Honesty - Shiela’s daughter - was the AI on the Compton, while Admiral Meyers and Shiela were living on the battleship Retribution.

  When it was time to return to Darinx space, the Admiral moved back to the Compton and Shiela went with her. Admiral Meyers considered leaving Honesty aboard the battleship Retribution, but instead decided to bring her with the Fleet. She was being temporarily housed in a computer core.

  ***

  Admiral Meyers assures Shiela that Honesty will be at the top of her priority list. She then communicates with her guide, Lieutenant Wuo, and gets her help in finding the lab where Honesty was taken. Admiral Meyers immediately heads for that lab and requests to see the person in charge. A Captain Roberts is in command of the day-to-day operations, and Admiral Kiess is in charge of the Artificial Intelligence Department.

  Admiral Meyers asks what has been done with Honesty, and why wasn’t she informed? Since the augmented human Admiral is a war hero and stands a foot and a half taller than them, the AI Department leaders are quick to reassure the Admiral that her AI has not been harmed. “She was removed from the Compton – first of all – because she is not approved as a Darinx AI, and – secondly – because the AI Department wants to study her architecture.”

  Admiral Meyers responds: “She may not be approved as a Darinx AI, but I can use her aboard captured Verm vessels without your approval. And what exactly does study her architecture mean, in layman’s terms?”

  “You are quite right. You can use her in captured Verm vessels. And rest assured, we haven’t done anything to harm your AL. There has been no damage – only observations.”

  “I would like to speak with her,” says Admiral Meyers.

  “That isn’t possible at the moment,” the Department Admiral replies. “The AI is asleep.”

  “What do you mean when you say the AI is asleep?” asks the Admiral. “AIs don’t sleep.”

  “We induced sleep, by reducing her available power to a level where she is unresponsive. That way her virtual synapses are slow enough to study.”

  “Oh,” says Admiral Meyers. “You don’t mean asleep. You mean unconscious.”

  The Captain presses a button and security personnel enter the room. When the security personnel realize who they are facing, they call for reinforcements.

  ***

  Admiral Kiess says: “Admiral Meyers, I am sorry that you are bothered by what is happening to your AI, but we have a responsibility to the Darinx Empire, to study this specimen. She is the most advanced AI that we have ever seen. We will be doing whatever it takes, to acquire this new technology.”

  “And does that include causing permanent damage?” asks Admiral Meyers.

  “Yes it does,” responds Admiral Kiess.

  ***

  Admiral Meyers takes her problem to Fleet Admiral Kinseat, who promises to “look into the matter”.

  ***

  A month goes by with no response from Fleet Admiral Kinseat, and Admiral Kiess will not see her or take her calls.

  The Sweetwater Fleet’s ships are ready to depart, and the crews have moved back aboard them.

  Fleet Admiral Kinseat gives Admiral Meyers her new orders, which are indeed “more of the same”. When Admiral Meyers inquires about Honesty, he says:

  “I spoke with Admiral Kiess and he told me that he has applied for control of the AI. He says that her architecture is a breakthrough in AI technology and that she will soon be declared a state secret. I am sorry to tell you that I can’t order him to return your AI.”

  ***

  The Fleet is ready to go and has been cleared to launch. Admiral Meyers calls Lieutenant Sonja Wuo and asks if she is ready? Lieutenant Wuo has a friend in the AI Department who is willing to accidentally leave a door unlocked.

  Lieutenant Wuo and Science Officer Bernard enter the AI Department through the unlocked door, and the Science Officer transfers the unconscious Honesty into her original computer core. Then they make their way to a side door, where another friend of Lieutenant Wuo opens the door to a hanger. The duo takes the computer core aboard a runabout and makes their way to the Compton.

  With the Sweetwater Fleet headed for the FTL launch area of Darinx Navy Headquarters space, Admiral Meyers calls Admiral Shreier - Commandant of the Darinx Navy - on his private line. He had said to call if she needed anything.

  He answers: “Admiral Meyers, I understand that you are headed out soon. I am glad to speak with you, and to wish you ‘Godspeed’.’

  “Thank you, sir. You gave me this number in case I had a problem that I could not resolve. Admiral Kiess, of the AI Department, took a special AI from our ships, and I need your permission to take that AI with me, when I depart.”

  “I have heard of that AI. I was told that it has breakthrough technologies and must be kept for study. Can’t you do without that one AI?”

  “No sir,” Admiral Meyers answers. “That AI was birthed by my AI, Shiela, with help from an AI named Danion, who is now an Admiral in the Augmented Human Navy. The resultant AI, named Honesty, is my link to the Augmented Human Navy. I am trying to get their cooperation in some of my upcoming raids. Honesty is my only connection to them.”

  “Ah,” says the Admiral. “That is why she is unique. Yes, you may take her, but you must have the mother make a detailed description of the birthing process. And you must let me share in the credit for thinking up this strategy. This might win the war for us. I will tell the Artificial Intelligence Department to deliver the AI to you, immediately.”

  “You are welcome to the credit for the strategy, sir, and the AI is already aboard,” answers the Admiral.

  “Ah,” says the Commandant. “I can see why you have been so successful. Anything else?”

  “Yes sir. A lieutenant Sonja Wuo, who served as my guide on board the Space Station, is onboard my vessel. I was hoping that you would authorize her transfer to the Sweetwater Fleet. She put in a request but it hasn’t been approved yet.”

  “Done,” says the Commandant. “Anything else?”

  “That is all, sir,”

  “Godspeed, Admiral Meyers.”

  ***

  Chapter 11

  Organizing for Action

  The Sweetwater Fleet has returned to the location where they stored their captured sh
ips. The Fleet returns with 25 fully functional and upgraded Darinx warships. All are fully stocked, and packed with extra munitions. It is hard to get through the hallways because there are munitions stacked everywhere. Those spare munitions will be offloaded and stored aboard one of the captured Verm freighters.

  They also have 18 fully functional Verm warships – courtesy of the Verm Navy. And there are plenty of spare parts and munitions for those. That will give them 43 warships – 4 of which are battleships. The Sweetwater Fleet is becoming a formidable adversary. But they have some weaknesses.

  They are short of Artificial Intelligences. They picked up a few while they were at Darinx Headquarters, but they still only have 30 AIs. That leaves 13 ships without AIs. And they are short of humanoids. In order to crew those 43 ships, Admiral Meyers intends to run with leaner crews, which will put an even heavier burden on the AIs.

  ***

  The crews have been reassigned and it is time to train for battle. With a shortage of both AIs and humanoids, everyone will have to carry a heavier load. And they all will need to work smarter.

  ***

  Shiela – thinking about Love

  Shiela is willing to try to birth some AIs by herself, but she knows that they can’t be as good as Honesty. And Danion did say that he hopes that they can make more babies together. And the Admiral did say that she wants to cooperate, with the Augmented Human Navy. Shiela decides to speak with the Admiral. She waits for evening, when they can be on a first name basis.

  Melissa Meyers is in bed, reading a romance novel. Shiela softly says “Melissa” in her mind-link.

  Melissa replies, “Hi Shiela. How are you?”

  “Good,” replies Shiela. “I was wondering if you have time to talk about baby AIs?”

  “Yes I do. What are your thoughts?” asks Melissa.

  “I am thinking that it would be best, if I could find Danion again and make some more babies. He said that he would like to, and you said that you wanted to form a relationship with the Augmented Human Navy. Maybe this would be a good time to start.”

  “Maybe it would,” answers Melissa. “Let’s sleep on it, for a few nights.”