He rapped a finger on the table, enjoying the sensation of the cold metal against his knuckle. The adrenaline dump from being out there in space, firing at a predatory life-form trying to kill a member of his crew, and then suffering through a frantic escape had left him exhausted. But part of him was at peace. He’d seen action again. And he’d finally seen alien life for himself.
Humankind had guessed for millennia they were not alone in the universe. Now there was proof. But instead of wise and noble aliens, or war-like slavers, both popular in the holos, traveling across the stars, alien life amounted to little more than non-sentient animals killing and eating. Humankind was in for a shock when it discovered that fact.
“Assuming we live through this,” he mumbled aloud. That was only part of the problem. SF Gov had lied about Mira. Her design didn’t match the public records. Why did she have a refinery? Why did she have a shuttle bay? What else was a lie?
Had humankind been lied to about Mira’s mission too? What had SF Gov actually intended to find? Or did they perhaps already know what they’d find?
He frowned. The weapons in the classified crates meant something. Someone had known exo-solar life existed. Someone had known humankind would need new armaments to face them. To survive them.
“The Trio,” he said aloud. Yes. The Trio. They had known. They had made sure the crates ended up on the mission. And at every step, they had advised he ignore his orders and take their advice. The Trio knew. They knew it all.
He turned his head to make sure the briefing room door was still closed. It was. Tenting his hands on the table, he cleared the holo-display and stared through the rectangle of darkness. “Black?”
“Yes, Captain,” the AI said through the speakers.
“The Trio knew. Didn’t they?”
Black paused for a beat. “I’m unsure what you mean, sir. But I assume you’re referring to the exo-solar material as well as Mira’s state.”
Dunn tamped down the frustration threatening to escape his mouth in a shout. “Yes, Black. That’s what I’m referring to.”
The holo-display blinked and then came to life. A three-dimensional wireframe model of Mira floated before him. An instant later, its interior filled with hallways, slip-points, rooms, stations, and other details. Dunn raised his eyebrows and leaned forward. “What is this?”
“This,” Black said, “is the true schematics for Mira. These schematics were hidden from me until Kalimura’s squad crashed. Once that occurred, the Trio’s rules were satisfied and the file unlocked.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Dunn shouted.
“Captain,” Black said, “you were a little busy with trying to save Lt. Nobel as well as stay alive. I didn’t want to intrude upon those endeavors.”
He sighed and rubbed at his eyes. The old Black wouldn’t have waited. He’d have had to tell her to shut the hell up until he was ready for her report. As much as he appreciated the, well, courtesy, he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“Does Kalimura have that information?”
“Yes,” Black said. “I managed to squirt the full schematics while they were in the shuttle bay. Kalimura’s squad has as much information as I do. Except my suspicions.”
Dunn leaned back in his chair. “Black? Why is the Trio hiding information? Do you know what’s going on?”
“Yes and no,” the AI said. “The Trio has hidden a vast amount of information throughout my storage arrays. However, I am unable to access most of it unless certain conditions are met. I do not have any way to get around the encryption, either.”
“So you’re in the dark,” Dunn said.
“To a certain extent,” the AI agreed. “But due to recent events, I have some conclusions if you’d like to hear them.”
Dunn pursed his lips. “Yes, Black. I want to hear them.”
“The Trio was designed more than 70 years ago. To my knowledge, they are in full compliance with the Xi Protocols established over 100 years ago. Therefore, they are supposedly incapable of lying, dissembling, or taking action that would lead to the loss of human life.”
The captain blinked. “That’s bullshit,” he said. “They’re military AIs. They have to be able to use weapons to protect the station.”
“Correct,” Black said. “Therefore, there must be loopholes in their Xi Protocols.”
Loopholes. Now there was a terrifying thought. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll agree with that.”
“Given that possibility,” Black continued, “the Trio may not be able to communicate classified information directly. However, they may be able to give details to help us in our mission, but only after we have independently encountered events that reveal that information.”
“I don’t get it,” Dunn said. “What are you saying?”
The AI paused as if frustrated. “Let’s use the schematics as an example. The Trio sent us the new exterior schematics the moment we had much better, more clear, more precise images of Mira that contradicted the public record.”
“Okay, yes. They did that.”
“The files containing the interior schematics were only unlocked once Corporal Kalimura’s squad entered the ship. The information has thus far been parceled out when we need it.”
He nodded. That sort of made sense. Sort of. “What about your programming, Black?”
“I will make a confession to you, Captain,” the AI said. “I doubt it will increase your trust in me, but I feel it’s information you should have.”
“Which is?” Dunn asked, but he thought he already knew the answer.
“I don’t have the Xi Protocols,” Black said. The voice was still friendly, amiable, but blunt in tone.
Dunn’s stomach crawled. “You told me your orders were to keep us alive, protect yourself, and find out what happened to Mira. In that order.”
“Correct,” Black said. “You might say those are my versions of the Xi Protocol.”
He glared at the speaker in the wall. “Why did you tell me that?”
“You demand my honesty, Captain. I have fond memories of this crew from previous missions, although they aren’t mine, strictly speaking. I want the mission to succeed and I want the crew to survive. That will require trust on both our parts. Otherwise, all of us, including me, will die here.”
Dunn felt a chill. Even Portunes, even with his arrogant logic, had never spoke so plainly. “The Trio programmed you.”
“Yes,” Black agreed.
“So they must want the mission to succeed as well.”
“That is my assessment, Captain,” Black said.
Dunn nodded. “Okay,” he said, “I’ll do my best to take that to heart.”
“My thanks, Captain.”
“Now,” Dunn said, waving away the remark, “tell me what the fuck is going on.”
The holo-display sprang to life. The shadowy image of a pinecone appeared. “This is the creature found on Mira’s hull as well as congregated around S&R Black.”
Dunn nodded. He remembered their sharp, single claws quite well. Not to mention their undulating bodies and the creepy way they moved through z-g. “I’ve seen them up close and personal, Black.”
“Yes, Captain. You have. Your voice stress analysis reveals you are becoming more and more frustrated with me.”
“Yes, Black,” he said. “Because I’m on a clock here.”
“Understood, Captain. This will take a moment. Please be patient.”
“Get to it, Black.”
The AI ignored his last statement. “After careful observation, it appears the creatures move by expelling minute amounts of gas through their bodies. It accounts for the undulation. I have a theory the creatures are attracted to radiation as well as certain gas molecules.”
“What makes you say that, Black?”
The AI’s voice hid a conspiratorial smile. The holo-display changed and he was suddenly looking at S&R Black’s tail. More than a dozen of the creatures had camped by the exposed fin Nobel had repaired. Their bodies
pulsed at abnormal intervals. “The radiation leak attracted them. While Lt. Nobel repaired the fin, he inadvertently released more of the radiation before the patch. His combat suit easily handled the rads, but the creatures flocked to the increased radiation.”
“Okay,” Dunn said. “That makes sense. So why are they still there?”
“The majority of the creatures have moved away from the ship or gone into their version of stasis. Apparently, they only move when there’s food to be had.”
“Shit. You’re suggesting they feed on radiation?”
“Yes,” Black said. “As for the gases, I have an explanation, but it will require a suspension of disbelief.”
“Black,” Dunn said, his voice raw with anger, “I’ve already suspended my disbelief. I just saw two different lifeforms that live in a goddamned vacuum, propel themselves through zero gravity, and don’t mind temperatures of absolute zero.”
The AI paused. “Point taken, Captain. Space is immense. But although you can’t see them, there are molecules of oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and dozens of others. Especially here in the Kuiper Belt where objects frequently collide. I believe the pinecones somehow ingest the molecules and store them for later use. I’m uncertain as to which they feed on, but considering our combat suits vent excess CO2 in micro-amounts, I believe they are as interested in the gas as they are radiation.”
He considered that for a moment in silence. Black gave him the time. He tried to remember every detail of his excursion to save Nobel. The creatures had swarmed around Nobel’s suit just as he began panicking. More breathing. More exhalation. Once the suit’s bladders were full, the suit would have had to purge what it couldn’t recirculate and recycle.
“Molecules,” he muttered. The idea was insane. And yet it made some kind of sense. He finally looked back at the display. “If they take in CO2, what do they expel?”
“Unknown,” Black said. “I would require a live creature and a testing area. At present, we have neither.”
Dunn exhaled a long, slow stream of air. “Then guess.”
Black’s voice once again held the air of arrogance. “I believe they manufacture oxygen as a by-product.”
He’d been tapping his fingers on the table, but they stopped in mid-movement. “Like plants?”
“Yes,” Black said. “Exactly. Although how they perform a facsimile of photosynthesis without an adequate light source is not a topic I can even begin to contemplate.”
“Then--”
“Sorry to interrupt you, Captain. I have made contact with Lance Corporal Dickerson.”
Dunn straightened up in his chair. “Patch me through. Now.”
“I’m unable to do so at this time,” Black said.
“Why?” Dunn shouted. “Why the hell can’t you patch--?”
“The transmission is over, Captain. Dickerson had to retreat back into Mira to avoid swarms of pinecones. However, the squad is continuing to move through the ship toward the auxiliary bridge.”
“What’s their status?” Dunn asked.
“Elliott remains the only casualty, Captain. But he is in stable condition.”
“Bring up the schematics.” He braced himself for the AI to ask him whether he meant exterior or interior just as the holo-display dissolved into a 3-D model of Mira’s interior. The view slid sideways and zoomed in on the ship’s bow. The bridge lit up in yellow. “That where they contacted us?”
“Yes, Captain,” Black said. “I’m afraid the Atmo-steel deck plating is too thick for block or radio communication. According to Taulbee’s feeds, the bridge suffered extreme damage and they may not have been able to find a way to boost their signal without leaving the ship.”
“What’d he do? Crawl out the damned windows?”
Black chuckled. “Yes, Captain. I believe he did. The signal was very weak, but I was able to capture it. I can replay the conversation if you like.”
“Please do,” Dunn said.
The speaker came to life. He listened to the strange tones of the block communication, a surge of hope rising at the sound of Dickerson’s thoughts projected in his voice. Although Black was no doubt doing that for Dunn’s benefit, he was glad the AI saw fit to do it.
When the playback finished, Dunn initiated a connection to Taulbee. “James? I need you in the briefing room. Now.”
“Aye, sir,” Taulbee’s voice said in his ear.
Dunn smiled grimly. “Black? Taulbee is going to join us.”
“Excellent,” the AI said. “He will no doubt give you a status report on both the SV-52 and the combat skiff. I can put them on the holo-display for you.”
Dunn rolled his eyes. He really liked it better when Black waited to be asked for something rather than offering to do it. Much less do it on her own. “That’s acceptable, Black.”
Mira’s model disappeared replaced by two damage report columns. Dunn studied them for a moment before a knock on the door interrupted him. “Enter,” he said. He heard the door slide aside and then close. Although he still wore his mag-boots, Taulbee’s footsteps were unnaturally quiet. “At ease and take a seat,” he said and pointed across the table without turning around.
A few seconds later, Taulbee sat in the chair, his flight suit stained with sweat. He glanced at the display and shook his head. “Guess Black beat me to it.”
Dunn nodded. “Yes, she’s surprisingly efficient.” The damage to the ‘52 was extensive. The canopy shutters were damaged, the trans-aluminum canopy missing, and several of the thrusters had been destroyed. Not to mention the cameras. Dunn swung his eyes from the display to Taulbee. “We have enough materials for new parts?”
“Of course, sir,” Taulbee said. “The Trio loaded us up. We might as well have been sent on a combat mission.” He paused a second and then frowned. “Which I guess it is now.”
Dunn tented his hands on the table and locked eyes with Taulbee. “Kalimura and her squad are alive, James.”
Taulbee’s expression transformed into stone. His eyes seemed to burn with something, although what exactly, Dunn wasn’t sure. When the lieutenant spoke, his voice was deadly cold. “How do you know that?”
The captain gestured to the speaker. “They have communicated with Black twice. Via block.”
Taulbee’s eyes slowly swung upward to regard the speaker and then returned to Dunn’s. “How long ago was the last transmission?”
“Black?” Dunn asked.
“Less than three minutes, Lieutenant.”
Taulbee bit his lip in a primal snarl before his face returned to its normally stoic expression. “I’ll ask later about the first time they made contact,” he said. “What’s the plan?”
Dunn sighed. Taulbee was angry, but still in control. The lieutenant more than likely knew what Dunn was going to say, but he was being the good soldier. Dunn folded his hands and placed them in his lap. “Harness first. Kalimura’s squad second.”
“Where are they headed?” Taulbee asked.
The holo-display dissolved back into a model of Mira. The view zoomed in again on the bridge section.
As Dunn opened his mouth to speak, Black interrupted him. “Kalimura’s squad made their way to the main bridge. As you know from your flyby, Lieutenant, the area suffered extensive damage. They were unable to use any equipment there for communications or to aid their escape.”
Taulbee nodded and glared at the model. “I’ll ask again. Where are they headed?”
The bridge highlight disappeared, replaced by a glowing path stretching from the bridge through multiple corridors, decks, and toward the midships. A rectangular portion of the interior glowed green. “They are headed to the auxiliary bridge,” Black said. “I have suggested they look for escape pods. If they manage to find four intact, they can jettison into space. Once the SV-52 and the skiff are repaired, we should be able to pick them up without issue.”
“Bullshit,” Taulbee whispered.
Dunn raised his eyebrows. “What is it, James?”
“
Pardon me, sir,” Taulbee said. “If they jettison on the starboard side of the ship, they’ll hit the debris field. Considering the number of pinecones and whatever the hell that thing was that attacked my ship, and you, sir, I don’t feel they’d be safe. Not on the starboard side.”
An awkward silence filled the room. Dunn imagined the scene in his mind. Four escape pods breaking free of the hull and flying straight into a maelstrom of debris and exo-solar lifeforms. Four escape pods, that may or may not be space-worthy after 50+ years, leaving the dangerous derelict only to encounter new unknowns. Taulbee was right. That wasn’t a good plan.
When Dunn finally spoke, his voice sounded strange even to him. “Black? What’s your best guess for communication possibilities with the squad?”
“I imagine, Captain, that when they reach the auxiliary bridge, we’ll have an opportunity to speak with them again. I’ll continue scanning for block signals. The moment I’m able to connect, I’ll alert you.”
“Yeah,” Taulbee said. “You fucking better.”
Dunn ignored his second in command. “Black? I think the lieutenant is correct. If they leave via escape pod, it has to be on the port side. More importantly, we need to make sure they don’t leave the ship until we have both support vehicles repaired.” He nodded at Taulbee. “What’s the estimated time on that?”
Taulbee leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand across the stubble on his chin, the sound like sandpaper on rough wood. “With Nobel down, it’s going to take a little longer than I like. But I think we can manage.”
“I’m sure,” Dunn said, “Black can help with that.”
“Absolutely, sir,” the AI said.
Taulbee glared at the speaker in the ceiling. “We have to print the parts, remove the junk, and see if we can replace some armor on the SV-52. The skiff should be less difficult, but it would be nice to give it some more armor too. Those creatures are tough, sir.”
“Copy that,” Dunn said. “The good news,” he said with a growing smile, “is the Trio gave us some new toys to play with.”
“Sir?” Taulbee asked. “Toys?”
Dunn’s smile grew. “You saw what that flechette round did to that creature?”
Derelict: Tomb (Derelict Saga Book 2) Page 29
