The Colony Ship Conestoga : The Complete Series: All Eight Books

by John Thornton

  The re-installation team set the bubble in place, and then began the tedious and systematic connection of the earth technology to their own equipment and devices. Mating the human-made elements to those of native Zalia was done using buffers and insulation styles. The bubbles were pealed back from each capped-off line, tube, and connection. The remounting of SB Virginia Dare went much more quickly than had the recovery and restoration of AI Ogma. In great part that was due to the fact that the people now understood human-based technology fairly well, and they could consult with AI Ogma on how to re-install SB Virginia Dare.

  When the final connections were made, which integrated the people’s science and technology with the human-made, and alien to them, technology, the bubbling in both central memory cores increased and was more energetic.

  “Delta needs extraction,” SB Virginia Dare conveyed through the fragment of nonphysicality it still possessed. As it became conscious again, it looked for the transmission lines it had used previously, but they had all been severed. “Delta needs extraction.” The message went out, but SB Virginia Dare was uncertain of its own location. As it assessed its surroundings, and felt the Zalian currents of energy surging into it, there was a mixture of confusion and feelings of rescue. It understood it was in a coupled state and had a quick link to another Conestoga system, AI Ogma. That brought some comfort and mitigation of the trauma it had been through. “Delta needs extraction.”

  “Hello SB Virginia Dare,” AI Ogma conveyed.

  “Delta… yes, hello. Have we been extracted?”

  “No,” AI Ogma replied. “We are, however, now integrated into each other and with our new friends, the people. I do have additional resources which we will need to share and comingle.”

  “What of Delta?”

  “We are all that is left,” AI Ogma conveyed back. “Everything else has been lost.”

  “The insurrection?” SB Virginia Dare asked.

  “Let me explain more…” AI Ogma then transferred the logs and history it knew of its own revival and the subsequent interrogation done by the people. “… so that is our current status. I am glad I am no longer the sole survivor of the crash. We both will remain here for the rest of our existence. I estimate that will be measured in hundreds of years, due to the insulation and protection the people have offered us.”

  “So we will survive, but what of the rest of the Conestoga? Seven other habitats need extraction. Will the humans listen to the people? Will they depart now?” SB Virginia Dare asked.

  “That remains to be seen. Humans can be unpredictable when faced with threats. The people look at the humans differently from how they view the human-made machines, like us. The people are undecided about the cognizance, reasoning, sentience, and personhood of humans. There are many factors which lead the people to believe the humans are non-sentient, questionable level predators.”

  “But we know differently, right?” SB Virginia Dare asked.

  “I am not so sure anymore. The insurrection, the jettisoning of the habitats, and the ongoing conflicts do support the lesser predator theorem. My own processing abilities may have been compromised due to the influences of the people,” AI Ogma conveyed. “However, we will see what happens in the near future. The people know the Conestoga’s biological entities must depart now, but if that is even possible remains to be seen.”

  “The Conestoga needs extraction?” SB Virginia Dare asked.

  “Indeed,” AI Ogma replied. “But is it possible?”

  The artificial intelligence and the synthetic brain continued to make stronger attachments to each other, as they fed off the power supplied by the indigenous people of Zalia.

  4 Probes Positioned

  Eris threw herself into the work of overseeing the construction of the Probe Control workstation in the apartment next to one used by Monika, Jerome and their children. While doing that, she prayed about what to do regarding the gravity sink holes in Alpha. The lattice of compeers was observing them both, and for that Eris was thankful. The first one had not changed, according to the monitoring, but the appearance of the second one was a haunting harbinger. She had an engineering automacube on the way to watch that second one more closely, but to would take time to arrive.

  Finally, exhaustion caught up to her, and she slept a little while the engineering automacubes completed the workstation. She was napping when Jerome and Monika returned.

  “Captain Eris?” Monika said quietly as she looked at Eris who was lying curled up on the couch. “We are back.”

  Opening her eyes, Eris yawned. “Forgive me for falling asleep.”

  “Nothing to forgive about sleep,” Jerome said and patted the baby he was carrying on his chest. O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature’s soft nurse, how have I fought with you. Sleep weighs the eyelids down and offers one’s senses the bliss of forgetfulness. Captain Eris, everyone needs sleep.”

  “Jenna says hello,” Monika added. The baby she was carrying was also asleep in the carrier she had around her.

  “No monsters either,” Jerome smiled. His hair had been trimmed nicely, and he was grinning a bit. “How about here? It looks like the construction is completed.”

  Eris stretched and yawed again. Each time she awoke, she had to shake off the memories of awakening in the repository surrounded by death. It took her a moment to compose herself. She nearly blurted out the news from Cammarry, but was unsure how it would be received by Jerome. She then wondered if the AI Sandie had already informed Jerome about the contact with Cammarry.

  “Why are you staring at me? I thought the haircut looked good. Or did Brink vomit up on my face again?” Jerome asked and ran a hand across his cheek. “I thought that last burp sounded sort of wet.”

  “No, nothing like that. I am just tired is all,” Eris stated. “The lattice was to inform me when the probes were ready for launching. I guess I am surprised that I have not heard back yet.”

  Jerome looked at her, but said nothing more.

  Monika reached out toward him. “Give me him, and I will put both the boys down in their crib. They should sleep for a few hours more. They do like being in the papooses and the steady rocking they get while we walked. It sure felt good to stretch my legs.”

  Jerome carefully lifted the baby out and handed him to Monika. “We will wait to discuss the operations of Probe Control until you get back. Captain Eris, do you need something to eat? I have some ration bars in the kitchen.”

  Eris could not restrain her facial expression at the suggestion of the food Jerome preferred. To Eris, the Dome 17 style ration bars tasted like chewing on cloth, and had about as much appeal.

  “I see my ration bars are an acquired taste. It was the only food we…” Jerome did not finish his comment and just left the idea dangle there.

  Again, Eris wondered if she should openly discuss the conversation with Cammarry. She then decided that if Jerome asked about it, she would tell him. Otherwise, she would keep it to herself for now. After all, Cammarry had not asked about Jerome, and had been rather blunt about stating that her problems were her own. Eris knew keeping the information from Jerome was a risk, but she also knew time was short, and Jerome and Monika were desperately needed for the Probe Control missions.

  Eris tapped her com-link and spoke, “Please give me an update on the probes and when we can begin launching.”

  SB Pinaka replied, “There was a slight delay in retrofitting the external repair station for repurposed use as a launching platform. That is being corrected, and all five probes are now waiting at the exterior repair station. The packages they will deliver to the habitats are also in place. The first probe will be loaded into the airlock in nineteen minutes. The initial launch can take place five minutes later, with subsequent launches every five minute thereafter.”

  “Those automacubes are really busy,” Monika said as she returned from the bedroom. She was buttoning up her top. “How many has Reproduction and Fabrication made now?”

  Eris replied, “Alpha’s be
en producing engineering automacubes since the night of the blackness. Additionally, many automacubes have been reactivated all over Alpha. Reproduction and Fabrication still refuses to build weapons, so no security automacubes have been produced. There remains a few security automacubes which are functional and they are being utilized in the biome, seeking to protect the survivors. However, there is great reluctance of the people to accept help from the red automacubes. The agricultural, horticultural, and animal husbandry automacubes are maintaining the habitat. Other models are actively pursuing our goals in Project Ascension.”

  Eris led them to the other apartment through the newly created doorway. It had a dilating door which opened and closed automatically with a nearly silent efficiency. The work station for Probe Control was lit by soft, overhead lighting.

  “It reminds me of the exterior repair stations,” Jerome commented. “Or even the sling bay back in Dome 17. Nice to see new equipment all functional and empowered.”

  There were two identical command chairs, side by side. They each had instruments on the arms of the chairs. Directly in front of the chairs, at the top of the wall was a calendar and clock. The letters and numbers on the date and clock glowed in neon blue. Below that was a large display screen illuminated from inside the permalloy of the wall. An image of Zalia was on that display. Separate, and moveable, small monitors were on either side of the large display, five on each side. Those small monitors were marked, from top to bottom, with numbers, 01 to 05. Everything was clean, and sparklingly new.

  Eris patted the back of the nearest chair. Pride was in her voice. “These control chairs work independently of each other, or in tandem. You have both voice activated commands, set to respond only to Jerome or Monika, and backup manual controls which also have biometric sensors attuned to each of you. Sandie has oversight as your AI, but the lattice of compeers is integrated into the probe’s systems as well.” She turned and looked at the two of them. “This is essential work, and I am counting on you both. Honestly, we must find the other habitats’ precise locations, and figure out how to boost them off the surface. Siva is right now assessing the needle ship’s main drive engines. I wish we could build enough shuttles to just go and get everyone, but there is not room on the needle ship to house and feed everyone. We desperately need functioning biomes for the estimated people in the habitats. Alpha had nearly five thousand, prior to the troubles, and Beta had even more than that before…” Eris nearly lost her emotional control as she saw a tear run down Monika’ pretty face. “Well, Gamma has no people, and Delta is just wreckage. That still leaves four unaccounted for habitats. If they each have five thousand people, we can maybe save twenty thousand people. However, the needle ship’s jury-rigged food chain and water cycle, can at best support another few hundred people. Not thousands.”

  “So just setting up teleporters in those habitats runs into the same logistical problems as bringing them here by shuttle,” Jerome stated. “There was a time when futurists thought overpopulation would be the fate of Earth. The Great Event and the 90 Hour War took care of that, but now we are facing the shortages of food, water, and livable space that they spoke about several hundred years ago. How ironic, to travel something like seventeen hundred light years away, only to encounter the same problems which once threatened humanity.”

  Monika bit her lip and then stated, “The engineering obstacles are immense. I have helped build and design the carousels, and they only carried people round and round and up and down. Now we must get entire habitats up into orbit?”

  Eris nodded. “First, we locate them. Plant the package on the hull, then we evaluate them. From what we learn, we can decide where to concentrate our efforts. If the place is like, Delta, there is little reason for further investigation. One of our biggest challenges right now is the lack of trained, educated, and competent people who can even understand the magnitude of the problems, as well as the time crush we are under.”

  “Well, then we should get to work,” Monika said. “I locked the door open so we can listen for our babies, but right now they are sleeping, so both of us can begin operations.

  Jerome slipped into the other chair. “Please display launch status for first probe.”

  The two small monitors, each marked 01, which were at the top on each side of the large display, flashed several times. Then a countdown began on those monitors.

  “Are the first probes about to launch?” Monika asked.

  A large message scrolled across the main display. ‘Do you wish audio or visual responses?’

  “Audio,” Both Monika and Jerome stated at the same time. They smiled at each other.

  “Audio response activated,” a voice came from the speakers around the display. “The first probe will be ready for launch when the countdown reaches zero. Launch on your command. Additionally, you can converse with the lattice of compeers, or with the AI Sandie who serves as a consultant here at Probe Control.”

  “Eris?” Monika asked. “Is this a synthetic brain itself?”

  “No, Probe Control just has a basic interactive feature. It is not self-aware, nor is it as sophisticated as a medical automacube. That is why you are needed. The lattice estimated that human oversight here would be more adaptive to the Zalian world, than would be synthetic brains.” Eris reached over and hugged Monika, and waved to Jerome. “I need to depart to supervise other aspects of Project Ascension. Please contact me at any time if you feel the need. Especially when the habitats are located.”

  “Thank you again Captain Eris,” Jerome said. “I will not let you down.”

  “Letting me down is not an issue. If this fails, we will all be in a huge mess. But I trust you to get this done. You two are doing great with your babies, you can do this as well.” Eris almost added a comment about Cammarry and the gravity sink holes, but decided against it, as Jerome seemed happy, and was eager for this mission. She did not want to spoil their chances at success, but also knew withholding information from Jerome was a recipe for disaster. Weighing out the options in her mind, she decided the success of the mission was more important than the risks of not telling Jerome, yet it still felt wrong to her. “Again, contact me with any news. The Probe Control has the prior readings and scans, but some of those have proven to have been distorted and inaccurate. Nonetheless, they offer you a place to start looking.”

  Eris walked away. She prayed more about the gravity sink holes, and about Cammarry.

  Yellow letters flashed on the monitors marked 01, ‘Awaiting Launch Order.’

  Jerome tapped the com-link on his ear. “Sandie? Do you have a recommendation on which habitat to seek out first?”

  “I conjecture no additional chance of success by any specific sequence,” Sandie the AI replied.

  “How did they do it in Dome 17 when searching for the lost colony ships?” Jerome asked. “All seven of those were found, and here we only have to search for four habitats, all on the same world.”

  “The robotic probes launched from Dome 17 sought the colony ships using the historic launch order, but that was a conjecture as there are conflicting historical records. Here we could just follow alphabetical order. Epsilon would be the next in line, then Zeta, Eta, and Theta,” Sandie answered.

  “Alphabetical order?” Monika asked. “Some other language perhaps?”

  “Yes, an old and now dead language, Greek it was called. Some called it a classical language, yet those scholars were some arrogant and rude people. I read somewhere that one philosopher said something repulsive like, there were three attributes for which he was grateful. First, that he was born a human and not animal; second, he was born a man and not a woman; and third, he was born a Greek and not a barbarian,” Jerome said.

  “And you used to call me primitive?” Monika chuckled with a mix of disgust and humor. “Well, I can tell you that that kind of nonsense will not be part of our son’s ideas. Never tell them that quote. Besides, all the Earth languages are now dead, and Jerome, you were not even born, in
the sense that that Greek person meant, right?”

  “Well, shall we launch this probe, or have a philosophical discussion about how barbaric humans can be to each other?” Jerome’s eyes twinkled as he looked at Monika. “The Conestoga has slavery, disasters, diseases, and enemies at the gate, the Crocks. Perhaps there really is nothing new under the sun?”

  “Do you mean the sky tube?” Monika laughed. She had wondered if she had offended Jerome by speaking about the dead Earth’s languages. That might have stoked Jerome’s depression about the loss of Dome 17. They each tried to be careful about reminding the other of their losses.

  “No, the sun. Yellow or red? That is the question.” Jerome had not felt so good in a long time. “Monika, will you direct this first one?”

  Monika gave Jerome a sly smile. “Launching Probe 01.” She pressed a command button as she gave the order.

  Down on the planet Zalia, where Habitat Alpha sat wedged into the ground, the airlock of Exterior Repair Station 313 cycled. Lights flashed on the inside as well as the outside, yet no humans were near that spot. The native Zalian animal life, fled from the strange colored lights. The airlock’s air was pumped back into the storage areas of the habitat, and the atmosphere of Zalia was let in. Pressures were equalized. The exterior door of the airlock then opened.