“Debris struck the Memphis, Bad. And we lost power, I was strapped in, thank god. Commander Worthington was strict about procedures. The pressure suit, strapping in while at the station. Bless him. Still, I broke my left wrist from trashing on the initial impact.
“I got into the lifeboat as ordered. My orders were very specific, she beat them into me. She said, 'If ANYTHING unusual happens to the Ventura, get into the Lifeboat and wait.' I don't know why it automatically launched after I entered. I wish it had given me a few seconds to strap in properly. The Memphis was tumbling.
“By the time, I got to the pilot seat I was already headed to the moon’s surface on AI, at a very high velocity. We barely controlled the descent. The computers Artificial Intelligence system picked the descent vectors, thruster burn, a landing site. If I had been flying, I'd be dead.
The recording was paused again.
“I'm back. We have a good seal, and we are maintaining pressure on the lifeboat. Debris continues to impact the outer hull.
“This is really fucked up. This thing is not a standard escape pod lifeboat. It's supposed to hold 16 people, with emergency air, food, and water for more than a month. This only holds twelve. It's supposed to be one large compartment with bunks and storage in the rear. There is a wall less than half way back with a heavy closed hatch. When I try to open it says “Access Denied” even using my command staff codes.
“This day just fucking gets better and better. The AI won’t talk to me either. It has shut almost everything down for some reason, and it's starting to getting cold in here. I think it is running silent as a precaution. It won't talk to me. I've been too busy to fuck with it. I active a comms console. I wanted to get in this log entry before debris kills me... faster.
Wes had to stop recording as a wave of small impacts on the hull made it to loud to continue. That storm of debris lasted a long time.
“Debris has been impacting all around me for over an hour.
“I don't know what to do. We can’t move any faster because this thing only has grav-foils, no conventional engines.
There were alarms sounding, and Hagan began to get indications that the systems were reinitializing.
“Main systems are coming back up. I don't know what happened to cause the reset. Maybe the AI will reboot now. Directional long range antenna has deployed. Time to get to work.
“Lieutenant Commander Wes Hagan, still alive, signing out.”
***
Hagan set the directional laser to transmit the message towards Earth, knowing it would not be received for decades. He fell unconscious with the recording continuing.
AI~Echo terminated the recording and transmitted. But only after attaching the medical scans Hagan had performed. It showed his left wrist was broken, in two places. Four ribs were also fractured, the lung on the same side was punctured slightly. A kidney and his spleen were both damaged. It also represents additional evidence that the recordings are in fact genuine. His genetic print was included.
This was the first recording received thirty-two years after the event.
CHAPTER TWO:
ECHO
“An ECHO was a classified Extreme Combat Hellfire Operations system. A very specialized military Artificial Intelligence program designed to provide support to insertion teams. The use of ECHOs was stopped just after the Solstice 31 incident. This very ECHO was why the entire program was abandoned.”
--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: General Patricia Chase, senior member of the Earth Defense Coalition.
<<<>>>
It was a calm, sunny, autumn day as the three women took their tea on their balcony. Their heads and arms were bare in the sun. their habits left inside the suite. The High Keeper called it a ‘Cruel View’ because this balcony was only four feet deep and it had no railing even though the drop was almost a thousand feet down on this side of the Citadel.
They were not afraid.
The view today was breathtaking. It overlooked the valley and all of the city of Exeter. They could identify all the sections of the great city. The great avenues, the massive estates, the markets, the slums, the warehouses and river docs.
“Does he really lock you out here?” Jude asked, “At night. In the wind and rain?”
“Yes.” Wex replied with a surprising smile, “He has no idea that out here is the only time I have any real privacy. The only time I can think clearly. To focus on what’s will come.”
She sipped some more tea. They sat on simple cushions, the elegant tea set on a tray that was the lid of the box below it.
There were vapor trails in the sky. Pieces of the Ventura were still falling. She knew that among the skyfall he would come. And he would change everything.
The door opened and closed. A small man walked out onto the balcony and right up to the edge, so his toes flexed over the edge. He was dressed in a simple white tunic and a cloth belt of the same material. His head and face were completely shaved, even his eyebrows. He had done this same thing before.
He closed his eyes and spread his arms wide, palms to the sun. He took several deep breathes in through his nose and out his mouth.
Finally, he turned his head to the ladies but didn’t step away from the edge. “He wants you to play for him tonight in the garden. He would like it to be light and cheerful. He doesn’t want you to make his guests cry again.”
“Will he punish you again if I do?” Wex asked.
The Usher said nothing, but turned his face away, back to the sun, to the view. He closed his eyes again with his lips trembling.
He did not know how long he stood there, or even why.
A hand rested on his shoulder, and a soft voice spoke in his ear, “David, know this. He will never punish you again. He will never even notice you again. Do whatever is asked and when the time is right I will ask you a favor. On that day, we will all be free.”
“How did you know my name was David. That was taken from me long ago… forbidden…” he choked on little-used words as Wex turned him and held him. He was so small, and Wex was so tall, the top of his bald head brushed the bottom of her breasts. He was like a child. Thin, all bones and sinew. But up close Wex could see he was sixty or seventy years old.
“Wait with Jude and Cine while I dress.” She turned to Jude and said, Remember what I asked you to do.”
Wex went into the suite, closing the door behind them.
“Come here little man, David,” Cine said in her odd accent.
He walked over to where they sat.
“Wex was waiting for you.” She gestured to the ornate tray. There were four place settings. Jude was pouring him tea. There was a slice of pastry and three strawberries no a plate for him.
“Please don’t disappoint her.”
***
“Echo, why are you here? There is usually a standard Emergency Module AI.” Hagan asked the computer as he tried to stay awake.
“Sir, are you alright? Your vital signs are problematic.” Echo replied, avoiding the question.
Hagan was laughing.
“Problematic? I'm losing my shit here, Echo. I'm dead. Of course, my vitals are fucked. I am on the verge of a full blown panic attack. My god damn wrist is broken, and I think I took far too many medical nanites to ever sleep again. And what good is being awake if I can't do anything except think about how dead I am.”
Hagan was laughing, getting more and more hysterical.
“At least, I am not pissing blood any more. I got that going for me. I can't even get outside and inspect the damage, inventory tools, or activate some repair drones. I can't do any Engineering repairs! I can even see from the flight deck that the main disk is half gone. I could fix that at least. Maybe eaves drop on the god damn planet.”
Hagan looked from the main display dome to the closed hatch in the center of the lifeboat.
“I can't even get out with that rear door sealed. Maybe I will just blow this hatch, the one I came in. At least, it has explosive bolt
s are full manual.”
“Sir, may I call you Wes?” Echo asked in a gentle woman's voice.
Hagan laughed, “Sure, Echo. Call me Wes. All my friends do.”
Echo continued, “Wes, Captain Everett gave me specific orders. She told me she gave you specific orders as well. Do you remember those orders?”
The voice of Captain Alice Everett came across Hagan's HUD audio.
“Wes, I know, I know, it's a secondary sensor station. I also know you are the best Multi-Discipline-Engineer on this ship, maybe anywhere. And no, I am not punishing you or fucking with you. I just need YOU to do this, without questions. I know we have gotten use to a light touch and casual command chain on this ship, but I will order you if I must.
“Jimbo, I mean Commander Worthington, is a good guy. By the book. He will be in command on the Memphis. I need you to be that way as well on this, do you hear me, Wes.
“By. The. Book.”
“I need you to watch close. Once we are in orbit, Worthington will know what to do. If ANYTHING unusual happens to the Ventura. If anything happens to the Memphis, get to the this specific Lifeboat. And Wait. Ferris and his team will know.”
Echo continued, “I have similar orders. But they do not say for how long to wait or what to do in the meantime. I expected Sargent Ferris and his team to be here as well. But they were all killed in the initial impact.”
“How the hell do you have a recording of that private conversation. I made sure it was private because I thought I was going to get reamed out over the armory thing.”
Echo continued, “I now believe that Captain Everett expected the Memphis to escape undamaged. All my subsequent orders seem to have that assumption. All save one.”
Hagan heard the hatch locks disengaged. As he watched the extra wide door slid back and then open. The lights came on.
Hagan said, “Oh fuck...”
***
Ronan’s carriage rolled up to the Citadels only gate. It stopped on the mountains side of the bridge in the turn around. He was angry. The anger fumed off him as if he was filled with magma.
“My lord, Ronan. You must let it go. We will be fine.” The women that sat to either side of him were young and beautiful. Both had hair so black it was nearly blue. Long thick braids rested in their laps and had fine silver chains braided into them. Their dark green satin dresses clung to their perfect bodies and the autumn breeze chilled their breasts.
“You know what might happen. Depending on who attends. I just…”
“If it’s the council they think black hair is bad luck. That was a brilliant rumor to start among the slaves in the Citadel. So far, it holds true. If it comes to one of us you know what to do.” She said grabbing his tunic for emphasis.
“Cass, Lor…” Rowan was getting angry again.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Cass said as she opened the door. “We are going to drink Hermitage wine, eat excellent food, enjoy superb music and cling to a handsome man we love.”
“Now leave that awful knife in the carriage and come along,” Lor said cheerfully as she took two large swallows from a plain bottle and winced before she handed it to Cass. She finished it and tossed the bottle into the chasm.
A man at arms was waiting by the carriage door as they exited. He was in fine livery but unarmed. He carried only a single pouch for Ronan’s personal Plate data tablet. Ronan handed it to him saying, “Thank you, Avis.”
Avis gave a nod and fell into line behind them as they entered.
Ronan walked over the bridge, a beautiful woman on each arm, to the great doors. A guard escort led them inward and upward into the great Citadel.
***
Hagan entered the room with his mouth hanging open. Docked inside were twelve Warmarks. They were exo-armor combat drop suits.
Hagan had never seen one in person. He was amazed how much they resembled the maintenance suits. They were made of the same material, the black poly-carbon. Maintenance suits were nearly indestructible. These were taller, and the armor was thicker.
While the RFH maintenance suits were modified with various tools the Warmarks were bristling with weapons. They were all three meters tall, and they all had highly specialized grav-chutes. These suits could drop from orbit in a slow controlled, stealth descent.
They were all marked with a simple stencil on their chests DS-01 to DS-12.
Looking further into the room he saw case after case of clearly marked weapons of every kind. There were automated sentries. There were carry weapons in LASER, plasma, and projectile. There were energy weapons of several makes and models. There were EMP cannons and drones. Some of the energy weapons, and automated sentries he didn't even recognize but had cautions stenciled onto them warning to never use them in atmosphere.
There were gas canisters he knew nothing about.
There were cases of grenades, bombs, and explosives. There were even two smart nukes. The scary kind with built in AIs.
Finally, he found, ready to eat, rations.
“Echo, what was Captain Everett up to? I saw a Marine squad board the Memphis. Not a Black Badge squad. What was all of this for?”
“I'm sorry, Wes. No additional information is currently available.”
“Echo, is there additional information that could be shared at a later time if various conditions are met and you orders allow?”
“Need to know thresh hold not achieved. Access denied.”
Echo sounded sorry for the denial.
“Echo, is it possible for me to safely use one of these suits as a maintenance suit? Can you drive them on remote?” Hagan asked. He was used to immediate answers from AIs. It was why they existed.
Echo was thinking about it.
“Captain Everett trusted you. I have also decided to trust you, Wes. Can I trust you?”
The question struck Hagan as completely absurd. He started to laugh. The stress beginning to get to him again.
“What?” Echo said in his mind. She sounded slightly amused. This made Wes laugh even harder.
“Wes, when you are done laughing your ass off, I want you to drink something and eat something. The nanites are making you feverish, and your blood sugar is extremely low.” Echo sounded serious now.
“Ok, ok...” Hagan said as he slid open a drawer marked “Rations” he grabbed an energy bar and a rectangular flask. Glancing at the package, it was labeled, “2000cal meal bar, ready to eat”. It tasted wonderful. It had hints of peanut butter, chocolate, and maybe even coffee. It may be the best candy bar he had ever eaten. Forget that it was a survival ration bar. It was delightful.
The drink was not water but a flavored electrolyte drink. Wes quickly finished the first one and opened a second one as he considered his next steps.
“Echo, do I have full admin authority here? Be straight with me. I need to know. Because either way, I know I'm dead.” Wes heard himself being very matter of fact about it.
“Wes, do you prefer a full Avatar or audio only interfaces to AIs,” Echo asked, avoiding the question a bit too obviously.
“Full Avatar. The communications are more effective with body language. And there is also a psychological component that will be helpful in a survival situation.” Wes said, then he shook his head.
“Echo, what is happening to me?”
A tiny woman walked into his field of view just then. She was slightly transparent, dressed in black military fatigues. A lanyard hung from around her neck with a plastic ID badge that even had a photo of her. She had a brown complexion and looked like she was from Pakistan or India. She wasn’t quite beautiful like most avatars, but memorable.
“Those were combat rations. In addition to having a lot of calories, they contain a mix of stims and other drugs that will help you work and think clearly.”
Wes looked down the long row of drop suits and other equipment. Looking at everything, he finally said coolly, “Echo, start a punch list. I want a full inventory of everything on this boat. Food, water, oxygen, CO2 scrubbers, medical
supplies and power first. Then I want a full damage report.” Display windows were opening in his HUD as he requested the items. Echo’s Avatar was looking around the ship, nodding her head as he spoke. “Finally a full passive scan of the area. Are there any indications of the Memphis or other life pods?”
Wes got to work, calmly assessing his situation. This life boat had no hull breaches. The Omni-directional communications dish was torn up, but he was sure he could repair it with the supplies on hand. The boat held enough food and water to last sixteen months. There was five years of breathable air, he'd starve long before that.
If he tried to take the lifeboat to the planet, it would be nuked before getting close.
He was dead. He knew it. It would not be today, but all too soon. It didn't seem to upset him.
“Echo, let's make sure we save these combat rations for last.”
***
Wes moved the Life Boat to the top of a ridge allowing a wider vista of the surrounding gray landscape. He put on his helmet and prepared to test the rear ramp.
The panic and fear had gone. All traces of it.
Inventory had revealed that the squad gear had two weaponized escort drones. These machines were covered with all kinds of sensors and weapons. With Echo's help, they were ready to begin searching for the Memphis crash sight.
Each drone fit in the air lock with Wes one at a time. They launched directly from the ramp apron into the dark sky. Their search patterns had begun.
Wes walked away from the Life Boat a ways to look at the planet near the horizon. There was a mountain range not far away casting long shadows on the plain below.
“It's kind of beautiful, isn't it?”
Wes turned his head to see Echo squatting on top of a bolder nearby hugging her knees. “Yes. Yes, it is. Beautiful and dangerous. Like you.”
Echo looked at him and gave a sad smile. “I never expected this to happen. We had trained so long for one thing and... now they’re all dead.”
Solstice 31: The Solstice 31 Saga, Books 1,2,3 Page 74
