As abruptly as the zealousness appeared, it vanished, and Franco looked down, almost as if he didn’t realize what he’d just said.
Benz thought he understood. The secret police chief would make sure the alien died before he allowed her upstairs aboard the Gilgamesh. The chief was a true believer, wishing to hunt down and destroy the alien menace. Likely, it’s why the chief had thrown in his support so readily at the beginning.
“You raise an interesting point,” Benz said. “I must study the situation further. Until that time, keep the alien under tight security in the Alamo.”
“You may count on me, Excellency.”
Benz nodded slowly, wondering—
The hatch opened and Vela rushed in. She looked pale and obviously wanted to tell him something.
“Just a moment, Chief,” Benz said, muting the connection. “What is it?” he asked Vela.
“A cybership has appeared,” she blurted. “It’s at the inner edge of the Oort cloud.”
“What? A cybership?”
Vela nodded miserably.
Benz inhaled deeply, expanding his chest. Franco and his captured alien would have to wait.
-6-
The AI Invasion Scare lasted until the first light-speed messages arrived from the Nathan Graham between the scattered disc and the Oort cloud.
A few high-level people in the Outer Planets remained suspicious, thinking the Nathan Graham may have stumbled upon waiting AI vessels out there in the void. According to the theory, the AI cyberships had stormed the Earth-run vessel, learned the truth about the Solar System and now practiced deception for a massive assault.
That theory died after a few back and forth messages, confirming that Jon Hawkins spoke to them and not some AI illusion.
The Nathan Graham accelerated for the dwarf planet of Makemake in the Kuiper Belt. As it did, Hawkins sent a tight-beam message to the Gilgamesh.
“Greetings, Premier Benz. I realize our quick return might seem strange to you or possibly an act of cowardice, but it is nothing of the kind. We have stumbled upon an amazing discovery.
“AI stealth pods hid on our hull. They attached themselves during our time at the edge of the Asteroid Belt. I suspect the Gilgamesh may have similar stealth pods attached to it. I urge you to check at once. But take care. The robots may attempt to convert one or more of your people in an attempt to get near enough to assassinate you.
“We scoured our hull a second time and found a master unit. Eventually, we broke its programming and learned of an AI Battle Station in the Allamu System 17.2 light years from the Solar System.
“We have come to believe that this battle station is the key AI military outpost in our local sector of space. It will have cyberships, repair and construction yards and many other military supplies and, no doubt, stellar maps of the local star systems.
“It is our belief that if we can storm and capture the battle station, that we can then arm humanity with more cyberships and possibly discover several alien allies in the nearby star systems.
“Now is the time to use our operational secret weapon in the Allamu System. I refer to the AI virus you and Bast Banbeck created during the Battle of Mars. However, the Nathan Graham cannot storm this battle station alone. We need help. We need reinforcements.
“I have already instructed the construction yard of Makemake’s moon to begin preparation for launching the partially completed vessel. I have contacted Kalvin Caracalla of Saturn to begin sending space marines and techs to Makemake. The Nathan Graham will supply the new cybership with its command crew.
“Together with the Gilgamesh, I believe we have an excellent chance of success. Thus, I urge you to begin acceleration for Makemake. Bring all the Martian space marines you can spare. This is likely going to be a grueling battle. But this is the great opportunity to turn the tide in our sector of the Orion Arm.
“Please notify me of any concerns. But know this, Premier. Time is likely critical. There are stealth pods in the Solar System. We must move before they can engineer a counter action or summon enemy cyberships against us.
“Commander Jon Hawkins out.”
Benz and Vela carefully considered Hawkins’ plan of action. They had objections, one big objection in particular.
Soon, Benz sat at the desk in his ready room as he sent his reply to the Nathan Graham heading for the scattered disc region.
“Hello, Commander Hawkins. I am pleased to learn the Nathan Graham has successfully used hyperspace to travel away from and return to the Solar System. That is excellent news. We now know without a doubt that we have an interstellar-faring vessel.
“That being said, I am concerned that you have not thought through all the ramifications of your plan. It is bold, to say the least. It might also prove risky, as we have no idea of the military power of the battle station and its accompanying cyberships—and whatever else the AIs have in the Allamu System.
“There is also the possibility that this is an elaborate trap. There is the possibility the AIs are attempting to lure our best ships away from the Solar System so they can attack us here.
“The existence of the robot stealth units in our Solar System supports this theory. Surely, those stealth units have a communication link with a guiding AI.
“Even if that is not the case, there is another worry. The Solar League will note the departure of three cyberships. Once our three great vessels leave, the Mars Unity and the SFF will be in a weaker military position compared to Earth’s Solar League.
“I fear that once the Gilgamesh leaves on this risky venture, the Solar League will directly attack Mars. I therefore ask you, what good is it to defeat the AIs if the Solar League destroys our home?
“Perhaps a lightning raid with the Nathan Graham and your second cybership would pay the greatest dividends with the least risk to our united effort.
“Surely you can understand that I cannot in good conscience leave Mars defenseless against the predatory and ruthless Solar League. I have dealt with those people, and I know to what lengths they will go to teach Mars a bitter lesson for having left the league.
“Thus, I am afraid I will have to disappoint you, sir. I applaud your boldness. I will also certainly begin an immediate and thorough search of the Gilgamesh’s hull. Thank you for your confidence and for your valiant effort against our mutual enemy.
“The Premier of the Mars Unity salutes you, sir.”
In time, an answer returned from the Nathan Graham.
“Premier Benz,” Jon Hawkins said from his command chair on the Nathan Graham’s bridge. “I applaud your common sense and desire to give Mars and the Asteroid Belt the greatest protection possible. You are a true and great leader.
“However, I would be at fault if I did not point out a salient fact. The leaders of the Solar League have committed a grave strategic error. They built up their defenses for a united cybership assault against Earth. I am referring to their constant adding of orbital defensive satellites. It was and is an impressive display of determination to defend the home world. I applaud them for that.
“What they have not done is significantly increase the number and strength of the Earth Fleet. The same can be said, although on a lesser scale, for Venus and the Venus Fleet. That means the Solar League is not in position to mount a credible attack against Mars.
“Clearly, their combined fleets could possibly defeat the present Mars Fleet minus the Gilgamesh. But I am ready to send a good portion of the Uranus and Saturn fleets to Mars in order to add fifty to one hundred percent more warships. I leave that number to your discretion, as I do not want you to worry about too many SFF warships in or near Mars orbit.
“The Solar League’s strategic production error will allow us to use our three cybership in a terrible swift battle to wrench the initiative from the AI enemy.
“Premier Benz, do not be deceived. We are about to launch the battle that could decide humanity’s fate. A half-assed assault with two cyberships is madness when we have the abili
ty to launch a fifty percent heavier assault with three cyberships.
“This isn’t the time for squeamishness or too much caution. This is the moment for an aggressive attack. Either we do this together and win, or we go our separate ways and lose alone.
“The choice is yours, Premier Benz. I pray you decide to take the manly route.
“Commander Hawkins out.”
-7-
“Take the manly route,” Benz said as he struck the desk in his ready room. “Did you hear that? Take the manly route. That is as good as accusing me of cowardice.”
“I doubt he meant it like that,” Vela said in a soothing voice.
Benz glared at her.
“Of course Hawkins meant it like that. He believes himself to be the great conqueror, the daring man of action who saved the Solar System three times already. He as good as told me to emulate him and act like a man. I am very much a man.”
“No one thinks otherwise,” Vela said.
Benz’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you hear him or not?” he asked. “Should I play the message back for you?”
“There’s no need,” Vela said. “I heard what he said.”
“Are you suggesting that wasn’t an insult?”
“Premier—”
“No, Vela,” Benz said. “Don’t play word games with me of all people. You know what he said and you know what he meant.”
“Maybe Hawkins thought to stir you to action by saying what he did.”
“Ha!” Benz said. “I’ll stir him to action. Does he think a man leaps to a deed because of a few words? Does he believe that he’s stronger and more dangerous than me?”
“Frank—”
Vela’s words died in her throat as Benz whipped around to glare at her.
Finally, Benz turned away.
“I shouldn’t get so angry,” he said.
Vela said nothing.
Benz massaged his forehead, squinting for a moment.
“I’d like to know if Hawkins could have taken out a bridge full of enemies by himself. I’d like to know if Hawkins could have fought free of a telepathic alien? Those were manly actions.
“Yes,” Vela said quietly.
Benz slapped the table and shoved up to his feet. He shook his head and finally flung his hands into the air.
“He’s a mercenary, a dome rat from Titan,” Benz said. “He used to be a criminal according to my sources. He probably used that kind of talk to motivate his fellow criminals.”
“He was a gang member as a youth,” Vela said. “He grew up in a rough—”
“Don’t defend him,” Benz said.
“Premier,” Vela said. “You must cease this display of bravado. You’re the great strategist. You’re the man who has accomplished the impossible against staggering odds.”
“Some might say that about Hawkins.”
“He never worked alone,” Vela said. “You worked against an entire world apparatus and defeated it. That took more than reckless courage. That took incredible feats of thought. A wild man charging an enemy displays raw courage. A thoughtful man knowing the odds and going ahead anyway displays superior courage that doesn’t wilt at the first check.”
Benz grunted as he nodded. After a moment, he sat down again.
“If I could point out something else…” Vela said.
Benz examined her. Finally, he grinned, waving a hand for her to speak.
“The last phrase indicates that Hawkins doesn’t realize who he’s dealing with,” she said. “That’s to our benefit. It means when the time comes to take full control of humanity’s destiny…”
“That’s a good point,” Benz said. “Hawkins has courage. I have courage plus intellect. In the end, brain defeats brawn.”
“Exactly,” Vela said.
Benz laughed ruefully.
“I overreacted,” he told her.
Vela did not reply.
Benz leaned back in his chair. He nodded once more. Finally, he put his hands on the edge of the desk and regarded Vela.
“The brute has a point, though, about the Solar League. They have miscalculated. I should have already seen that.”
“You would have soon enough,” Vela said.
“True,” Benz said. “That leaves us with an interesting dilemma. It’s possible that, despite his over-reliance on reckless ventures, Hawkins has stumbled upon the correct strategy. This could be the moment to attack the battle station.”
“And if this is an AI trap?” Vela asked.
Benz bent his head in thought.
“Oh,” he said shortly. “The answer is simple. We’ll come out of hyperspace in the Allamu Oort cloud. We’ll have plenty of time to observe the star system as we accelerate inward. If it’s a trap, we’ll see that far ahead of time. We can retreat at that point.”
It was Vela’s turn to ponder.
“There’s a different problem with his plan,” she said. “Hawkins will have two cyberships to our one. That will give him greater power at the place of decision. That means he’ll likely have a greater say as to who gets whatever new cyberships we capture at the battle station.”
“That’s assuming I’ll agree to his assault.”
“There’s a third problem,” Vela said. “If you agree, he’ll have a two to one advantage against us as we’re far from home. What is to stop him from attempting to overpower the Gilgamesh and thereby ensuring his rule in the Solar System?”
“Do you think he’s lying about the battle station in order to get us out there alone with his two ships?”
“It’s a possibility we should consider,” Vela said.
“Hmm…” Benz said. “Perhaps we should thoroughly search our outer hull. If Hawkins’ people found a robot stealth unit, it stands to reason the robots did the same to us. Since Hawkins’ people broke the thing’s programming, we can surely do the same.”
“And if the robot unit possesses the same battle-station information?” Vela asked.
“Yes…” Benz said. “Two to one against us far from the Solar System; Hawkins could concoct whatever story he desired if his was the only ship to return home.”
“Still,” Vela said. “We should remember that up until this point, Hawkins has seemed trustworthy.”
“Yet, what about after a successful fight against this battle station?” asked Benz. “What about after the AI pressure lessens against us, given our victory in the Allamu System?”
“What do you think we should do?”
Benz stood, walked to the ready-room window and leaned against the wall, staring down at Mars. He stared for quite some time. Finally, a sly smile played across his lips.
He straightened and turned to Vela.
“I have an idea,” Benz said. “It’s a long shot, but it uses our one possible advantage, and it might give us an edge over the mercenary.”
-8-
Vela watched as battlesuited space marines clanked across the hangar-bay deck toward the shuttles headed for the Red Planet below.
“Frank,” she said. “This…” She indicated the five armored shuttles—dropships, in essence—as battlesuited space marines continued to clank into the holds.
“What’s the matter?” Benz asked, seemingly genuinely perplexed.
“Do you plan to storm the secret police headquarters?” Vela asked.
“If I should, I will,” Benz said, his features hardening.
They were in a giant hangar bay aboard the Gilgamesh. Five dropships and a shuttle were almost ready for the journey to the Martian surface.
“Let’s go,” Benz said.
Vela walked across the deck with him toward the waiting shuttle. Something wasn’t right about all this, and she couldn’t quite put a finger on it. Earlier in his ready room, after listening to Hawkins telling the Premier to man up, Benz had lost it. Vela had never seen anything like it before. Now, this ham-fisted approach with five dropships…what could account for Benz’s shift in behavior?
As Benz climbed the steps into the
shuttle, he chuckled as he rubbed his hands, almost in glee.
Vela worked to keep her face neutral. Something was off with Benz, but what was it?
I must think.
Vela used the extra brainpower bequeathed to her by Benz’s fantastic machine. Nothing had been the same for her since she went under it. The things she could see and comprehend—it had opened up her world. It had also taken some of the shine off the universe.
With greater wisdom—if that’s what she had—came greater sorrow because she understood things more deeply. She hadn’t figured out why that should be, but there it was just the same.
Why would Benz—?
Vela turned to stare at Benz in shock. The Premier was sitting down in a shuttle passenger seat. He happened to look up at her. He noticed her shock. That hardened something in him as his eyes narrowed.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Vela smiled, recovering fast. If she was right about this…
“Well?” Benz asked.
“I completely forgot,” Vela said breathlessly. “I’m supposed to prepare a speech, the one you’re giving tomorrow to the Grand Assembly. Do you remember?”
“Of course I remember,” he said in an irritated voice.
“I haven’t done a thing on it,” Vela said, which was a lie. She’d already written the speech.
“Forget about the speech,” Benz said.
“I can’t,” Vela said. “It’s too important. I need to get started on it. If we’re going with Hawkins—”
“Who said we are?” Benz snapped.
“I thought—”
“Never mind,” Benz said. “I imagine we are. Yes. The speech needs to be perfect. You can work on it when we return to the Gilgamesh.”
“I should begin now,” Vela said. “Besides, you don’t really need me for this. A quick snatch and—”
A.I. Battle Station (The A.I. Series Book 4) Page 13
