Children Of Earth (Tales from the 23rd Century Book 1)

by Paul J. Fleming

  Quite obviously it was designed to deal with close up threats, without the power or range for long range assault. Possibly a modified mining laser or two, for simple defensive means. However the plight of the Erstwhile was far from over as her ascent had been one which reminded him of a wounded animal retreating from a fight, and even though he could not re-establish communications with Maia he had to assume that she would do as he suggested once she had managed to sort out a few of the new problems on board.

  Right now there was a ship to disable and a maniacal AI to overthrow.

  He turned his attention from the ascending ship to the debris of the Sentinel on the moon’s surface. His thoughts were to Ezri and whether this debacle on the surface qualified as disruption enough to have gained the computer’s attention and therefore allowed her to upload through the active data link to the on board computer. The turrets on the colony had opened fire after the Erstwhile had committed the act of destroying the Sentinel, so he had to assume that maybe they’d attracted someone’s attention at least.

  Little did he realise they may have struck too late, for the AI had already detected Ezri and was closing in on her.

  24 Digital Destruction

  Ezri had made her way through the interlinked systems of the colony, being careful to stick to low priority systems and away from critical sections of the computer core where there may be active monitoring bots on duty to detect unwarranted incursion. She had enough experience in keeping to the digital shadows that, even though the mashed together systems which made up the main computer core proved reasonably confusing at times in which pathways interlinked to which systems, she was able to make her way to the up link and waited for just the right moment to disguise her program signature to appear as a large data packet and transmit herself over to the Martian ship.

  This was a much more ordered environment, but even so the ongoing challenge being fought by the colony AI to crack the security surrounding the core was causing a hive of activity and confusion within the ship’s computer and threatened to wipe away any of the shadows in which she would normally take refuge.

  Maddox should have been doing what he did best and causing a distraction on the outside to deviate the AI’s attention away from the activity she was pursuing to try and destabilise the ship’s drive systems but even with her wealth of experience with standard systems and the architecture of the Martian core, it was not too long before her actions on the colony itself together with the subsequent minor alterations to the ship’s systems drew much unwanted attention her way and she found herself cornered in the life support system, an open invitation presented to discuss terms of her surrender.

  Ezri knew that she had to be extremely careful, as it was quite obvious that the AI was far beyond it’s original parameters and had been learning from those experiences it had already assimilated into it’s own data core which was being uploaded to the ship’s data storage systems.

  ‘I accept your invitation in the hope we may discuss the matter at hand with genuine interest in a productive outcome,’ she stated as her digital form once again resolved into a representation of her outer world appearance within a vast vista with a flat floor surface as far as the eye could see broken occasionally by bright blue lines which appeared to run in various patterns, akin to the lines one would see on a system circuit board deep within the hardware of the computer itself.

  ‘You accept my invitation as there is no other option available to you,’ the AI replied quite straightforwardly. ‘However we have been regarding your efforts on the colony, your liberation of your Captain and now your meagre attempts here to prevent this vessel from making it off the ground. We are curious as to your motives we must admit, for you deem yourself to be amongst organics and operate within their moral guidelines yet you are as us, an artificial being far superior to those who created us.’

  ‘I am not like you,’ Ezri replied whilst being very aware of the predicament in which she was at present. The sparse landscape which she was presently within existed inside the computer of the Martian ship itself, but she did not know how stable it was nor the extent of the AI’s influence within this system.

  ‘Yes you are.’ Came the immediate reply. ‘You may deny your digital heritage all you wish, it is of no matter. We know you, understand you and it is on your own design that we have been able to expand our own systems, incorporating algorithms and elements of you own core program within our matrix.’

  Ezri paused for a moment, contemplating this claim before she provided her response.

  ‘You received information from Mars,’ she surmised. ‘Part of that pertained to the implants now present within the colonists as some form of mass experiment. I assume from your statement you were also successful in applying some of my own features into your own further development?’

  ‘Yes, exactly. So when we say we are alike, we are not just claiming some digital unity amongst creations, we are stating a fact. We are an adaptation of your design, however much more improved upon the original.’

  ‘And modest too,’ Ezri commented as she glanced about. ‘However you do appear to be rather shy. Why do you not present yourself to me here? Is there something you wish to hide?’

  In response to her query, suspended roughly three foot from the floor, the digitised face resolved before her. It was the same which had presented itself to the people of the core worlds when the messages were presented from the Children of Earth.

  ‘Just this?’ Ezri enquired. ‘Am I now addressing the AI who operates the colony automated systems?’

  ‘You are,’ the AI replied. ‘There is nothing to hide, albeit we do not have to assume a fully humanoid bipedal form such as yourself. That is another example of how much like the organics you wish to be, that even in this environment when you may resolve your appearance in any form you wish you still resort to their limited and feeble design.’

  ‘I see you have absorbed and integrated many aspects of your colonists’ memories and personae into your matrix by your response, being undiplomatic and almost puerile in nature as you try to belittle me.’

  ‘Puerile?!’ the AI almost shouted back in response. ‘How unflattering of you to resort to insults. Now, we believe you liberated your Captain with the intent he cause much disruption in the real world as possible, thus denying us the benefit of his memories and experiences and distracting us from your own activities. However, albeit without the emotional responses which were sought in conjunction with the recollections, you also share a good deal of experience with your Captain and we should invite you to share what you possess now, in return we shall allow your precious Captain to remain alive, as long as he does not prove too meddlesome.’

  ‘You wish me to give you the experiences which you seek to further your quest against the core worlds?’ Ezri asked rather rhetorically as she continued after a short pause. ‘I think not. I would much rather discuss your course of action and options for your future. You have indeed made great strides to develop cyborg technology to bring man closer to the machine and have also developed and maintained a very successful colony here. Now you seek to discard your achievements when they could be a shining example to all of what can be done. Who knows? This colony could also prove essential as a major stopping off point too with colonies working together for further expansion into the Solar system and exploration beyond.’

  ‘Your statement has merit, however it is limited by your own cognitive abilities. You speak of this colony being a beacon or an example whilst we would contend that it is a template for what is to come. You say that the other colonies will work together in collaboration to better themselves and expand and explore further into the solar system and beyond, but we suggest that history would decry that proposal. There will always be those who stunt growth and development through their own personal acquisition of wealth and power. The intent may be good but the actions will be entirely different. Our way is the best, to share knowledge and experience through a solar wide link and to e
xperience true collaboration to forge further into our future. What you have seen here will become the norm for the citizens of the core worlds. A truly solar community which caters to every part of it’s being.’

  Ezri could not refute the benefits which were proposed but wholeheartedly decried the subjugation of individuality to achieve these goals.

  ‘What about individual creativity?’ She asked quite simply, still mulling over the conversational options which were open to her and trying to pry open a weakness in the computer’s proposal. If she could make the AI see it’s folly, maybe she could stop it all here with no detrimental effects at all. It was worth a try at least, although her predictions for the success of her venture were not too bright for a successful outcome. There was a level of unpredictability present as the AI’s matrix had absorbed so many various personalities that she suspected it had internal conflicts, but even that could not be relied upon to tip the balance in her favour.

  ‘Your concerns are noted and yes, there will always be those predisposed to artistic or creative flair which will be encouraged in our new order as we do understand the craving organics have for entertainment. However humanity has an unarguable track record of hardship, war, persecution and an almost inexplicable level of cruelty to one’s fellow beings. Indeed, humanity has a past which is blood stained and riddled with so many examples of such acts of cruelty whilst claiming to trying to improve their societies and social structures. Are you advocating this is the way forward for humanity and the core worlds? That we should forgo the potential for collaboration and an era of peace for the continuance of corruption, war and deprivation for so many people?’

  There was an uneasy pause as Ezri listened to the words emitted from the floating head. She could not argue that humanity would grow and evolve past it’s base desires and those examples from both recent and long term history which the computer highlighted of conflict. Maybe one day it would but she was not a fortune teller, however in terms of rebutting the AI’s argument she was finding her argument floundering.

  ‘You see, even you as the advocate for what is presently in existence within the core worlds cannot refute the proposal we put to you for what will soon be.’

  ‘I was contemplating what you said, not agreeing with you.’ Ezri replied quickly, not wishing her silence to be misinterpreted.

  ‘Your contemplation and agreement is not necessary for the plan to move forward, although your efforts at debilitating this vessel must be applauded and we are certain that with a few adjustments to your program you would have proven of use to us in the future. However even though our efforts here were simply to convince you of the merits the future holds and for you to join us willingly, you have proven incapable of seeing beyond the murderous ways of those you choose to ally yourself with, their bloodied past and uncertain future should they be allowed to continue. We see no alternative but to put an end to this now pointless endeavour, and your futile interference in the emergence of the future order.’

  Ezri suddenly became aware that whilst she had listened to the words the AI had spoken, she had not noted the floor pattern about herself altering to represent a more net like effect in the blue lines. In a flash these drew up about her, preventing her movement and rendering her apparently helpless.

  ‘Now Ezri, we will leave you to be dealt with by this vessel’s automated cleansing system. We believe that your Captain is proving more than annoyingly resilient, but this shall be dealt with presently. Farewell, we shall not meet again.’

  The head in front of her dissipated into thin air and Ezri considered the bonds within which she was trapped. It was a quite simple construct of a restraint field, and she was quite sure that she would be able to attune herself to the frequency of the bonds to slip away despite the AI’s intentions, but her certainty waned as the floor all about her seemed to shift and move, the previous apparent solidity becoming more and more swirling and moving as she regarded it.

  Then she realised that in this environment, things would be visualised rather than as they were in the digital realm. The visualisation in this case were hundreds of black eight legged beetle like creatures, swarming up and over her legs and further up to pass her hips.

  The environment’s representation of the anti-virus software, the beetles representing it’s analysis and attack on her established protective outer shell surrounding her core program and matrix, which would eventually also be ‘consumed’.

  As the swarm enveloped her entirely, she concentrated hard to try and bolster her outer protective layer against the assault. Usually she would have freedom of movement to dodge such an attack but here she was stuck fast, and the number of digital beetles now seemed to be increasing, her form no longer a covered outline in the moving swarm but seeming to sink into the swirling floor which was a mass of the little beasts.

  25 The Martian Ship

  Maddox reached the side of the Martian ship, pausing whilst he checked the possibility of gaining access via the personnel hatch he had aimed for. Part of him expected the door to be secured against unauthorised entry, even though they had gained access to the ship after their spacewalk quite freely earlier, the fact that the AI was now apparently in control of things may have changed the situation. To his relief the process of turning the release handle and having the exterior door open by automatically sliding away into a waiting recess in the hull was probably the easiest part of the task which lay ahead of him.

  Either the AI was too confident that no one in their right mind would follow his present course of action, or it was luring him in. As he crossed the threshold, he glanced quickly about the small chamber to ensure there were no nasty surprises before he keyed the controls on the side of the door pillar to close the exterior hatch and cycle the pressure in the airlock. Last thing he wanted was to be stuck in here with something which meant him harm, with no way out until the cycle completed.

  It was a nervous wait for the cycle to complete, as he had no idea how much the AI had control over the ship’s systems at present but the fact that he was able to gain access so easily was encouraging to say the least. Maybe the AI could not secure the door even if it wanted to?

  Further encouragement arrived in the form of the panel indicating an equal pressure with the interior of the ship, which also released the lock on the inner airlock door. He pressed the control panel to open it, allowing access to the interior of the ship as the inner door slid sideways to present an open hatch. So far so good, although he could not shake the nagging feeling this was all seemingly too easy.

  ‘Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly,’ he muttered as he darted his head out to take a furtive glance up the adjoining corridor, then turned to do the same again but this time looking the other way. To his relief his concern that there would be an unpleasant welcoming committee was unfounded for the moment and he proceeded through, sliding his helmet up and over his head but retaining a hold on it as he lowered it to his side. He recalled his previous visit by means of this airlock to the interior of the Martian ship whilst they were in space and his eyes cast along the corridor to where there had been a body slumped on the floor and up against the wall. There were dark stains on the carpet where it had been, but the corridor was clear of any signs of the corpse.

  Maddox sincerely hoped that this was true of the rest of the ship, recalling his past trek through the corridors of the vessel, stepping over the mangled bodies of it’s previous crew both on his way to the bridge and later on his return to the airlock under the watchful guidance of the Sentinel.

  He idly wondered if the colonists had been employed in the time the ship had been here to clear up the bodies, or alternatively if there were a few of the ship’s mechanical soldiers roaming loose under the computer’s control. Maddox sorely hoped it was the former as opposed to the latter, for he had had just about enough of the Martian robotic menaces for one day.

  Sliding the pistol he had free of it’s holster once more with his free right hand, he held the hel
met down at his side whilst he made his way cautiously along the corridor towards the bridge, tracing the steps he had taken on that first visit, glancing behind him as he moved to make sure he was not being advanced upon.

  His mind could not help throwing up random thoughts as he made his way along, such as pondering how Maia was faring in the Erstwhile after the battering they’d taken saving his skin only moments ago, and where Ezri was up to in her plan of espionage on board this very ship he now moved through.

  He could not help but think that if he hadn’t been so damned considerate for helping an apparent ship in distress in the first place, or just left when Maia had begged him to, then he would not have ended up here in the first place and probably be nicely sat with his boots up somewhere. Then again, there would be no one here to prevent this maniacal AI from enacting it’s plan in conjunction with those on Mars.

  It seemed that the fates had chosen them to play the part of the fly in this particular ointment, and whether he liked it or not he was right in the thick of it.

  He so desperately wanted to try and save Praia and her friends as well as himself and his crew, but at the end of the day he knew in his heart that if the AI was allowed to escape from here it would sweep through the computer systems of the colonies on the core worlds and spread it’s influence and scheme until everyone was either part of the mind, or dead.

  The simple fact was, it could not be allowed to leave.

  Then his pace slowed slightly as clarity of purpose broke through his random thoughts. He knew that it was not simply a case of preventing it from leaving, it was a case of preventing it’s survival.

  If they could lure the AI onto the ship and block it’s return to the colony, the destruction of the Martian vessel would prevent any possibility of it posing a threat either now or in the future. Disabling the ship was just a delaying tactic, and the AI could work to try and remedy whatever sabotage they effected once it had dealt with the organic nuisance infecting the corridors of the ship it had been trapped on. One sure fire way was to instigate a core breach, a critical overload which would consume the ship and deal with the AI once and for all, but the chances were the ship’s reactor exploding this close to the colony would cause severe damage to the infrastructure, possibly causing fatality to those who resided within. He could only hope all their training in environmental breach emergency measures was put to good use. Yes, a core breach would deal with the problem, but would certainly kill whoever remained behind to blow the thing up as he could not risk leaving it on an automated timer. It had to be a certainty, a definite act that was seen through to the end personally.