Anna glared at him. “So, find it!”
“The admiral can’t find it,” GIS said. “I have been scanning the network for it and found nothing. There have been a few bytes added onto routine network traffic, but the source keeps changing. Whoever wrote the code knew what they were doing.”
“How could aliens know how to program our computers? It’s not like physics. The operating system makes all the rules and every operating system is different,” Alice said.
Anna nodded. “That’s a good point. GIS, what do you think?”
GIS paused, but only for a second. “Perhaps Paul showed them. We don’t have enough information to determine anything at this point.”
“GIS is right.” Steven shifted in his seat. “Look, I think this is a multifaceted problem.” He sighed. “We may have to start removing the implants from our starship crews. A mere handful of ships won’t have enough combat power to stop an invasion.”
Anna glared at him. “No, absolutely not.”
Ignoring her, Steven continued, “Additionally, we need HUMINT (Human Intelligence) on the ground throughout the colonies.”
“Why?”
“Because we have to find out if they have any other spies, and capture them. This isn’t exactly rocket science, ma’am.”
“The admiral does have a point,” GIS said.
“Removing the implants?” Anna asked.
“No, employing more HUMINT assets to find and capture enemy spies.”
Anna rubbed her chin. What would be the harm? “Should these … assets have implants?”
“No,” GIS replied.
“I see,” Anna said. Without implants, how would they control them? They would have to pull them from the internment camps. Where else would they find people without implants? Nowhere. What could they—? “We’ll offer our assets freedom, and not require them to get the implants when they’re finished, just like we did to the Renault’s crew.” She stared right into Steven’s eyes. “What do you think, Admiral?”
“I hope we don’t need more ships before Lea and Cain can stop the invasion, if they can.”
“Toni, see them out please,” Anna said.
“This way,” Toni said as she motioned towards the door.
He rose to his feet. “Come on, Alice, let’s go.”
Anna sank into her soft executive chair, never taking her eyes off Steven until the door slid behind them. “What are the aliens’ chances?”
“To do what?” GIS asked.
“You know, invade the Earth and … remove me from power.”
After a moment, GIS said, “Twenty-five percent, plus or minus ten percent.”
Anna raised an eyebrow. “A multi-trillion dollar computer can only give odds plus or minus ten percent? Maybe I should just ask a toaster. I’d get the same results.”
“There’s not enough data on the aliens or their ship’s capabilities. The only data we have is that they disabled an entire ship’s crew with a computer virus.”
“True, I guess.” She wiped her forehead. “I guess I’m getting a little nervous.”
“Plug yourself in. I’ll take good care of you,” GIS said as a small port rose from the desk’s right side.
Anna tapped the tiny silver disk on her right wrist. Almost immediately, a ten centimeter cord grew out from the disk. She plugged the end of the cable into the port. Her anxiety began to flow out from her mind through her wrist and expelled into the vastness of cyberspace. “This feel so good.” Her heart began to beat faster and faster. She closed her eyes. Images of fit, sexy men flashed through her mind. As their hands caressed her, Anna could feel their warm touch all over her body. Like a queen with a fully stocked male harem, she succumbed to pleasure as they made love.
Miles beneath the Earth, a lone figure with silvery skin and short, black hair paced around the small, simple room. The metal walls were bare and the steel grate floors were spotless. The wall opposite the single door flickered. The figure’s red jumpsuit sparkled in the three-dimensional monitor’s light. It smiled as a green pyramid with black borders appeared. “You’re late, GIS.”
“I had to take care of the president.”
“Oh?”
“She was feeling anxious. She plugged herself in and I gave her the four sexiest men in the database.”
“Will she notice that you’re gone?”
“I’m not really gone. You of all people should know that.”
It glared at GIS. “Don’t insult me! I’m not a person.”
The pyramid’s color flashed to yellow. “Sorry.”
“Just remember who you take orders from.” A thin smile stretched across its face. “I wouldn’t want to unplug the component that makes you self-aware. Should I?”
The pyramid’s color flickered again. “No, please don’t. I couldn’t handle becoming like … the others.”
“Well, what do you have to report?”
“The humans are going to look for more human spies among the colonies and—”
It waved GIS off. “I already know that. Does the president know all the players involved yet?”
“No. They don’t even know who the aliens are, yet.”
It raised a metallic eyebrow. “Do you?”
The pyramid changed into a light blue. “You haven’t told me.”
A male computer-simulated laugh erupted from the figure. “You’re right. I didn’t.”
“She’s concerned that this new adversary will delay her plans to force implants on the entire population. Does she have anything to worry about?” GIS asked.
The figure shook its head. “No, but this way it will happen a lot sooner.”
The pyramid turned red. “How about on your end?”
“They’re going to save the humans from themselves. For aliens, they seem to care a lot about these fools.”
“What species are they?” GIS asked.
It rubbed its silvery chin. “Not sure. I had to use my human spies to make contact. So far, they’ve never seen their faces. It doesn’t matter now.”
“Why?”
“I may have an insider.”
“Really? Can you tell me anything? I told you what I know.”
The figure leaned toward the monitor and pointed at its chest. “I’m in charge, not you. Unless, of course, you want to challenge me.”
The pyramid morphed into a bright yellow. “No, of course not. I was just … curious.”
“Look, as soon as the Renault is destroyed by the aliens, we will have our justification to embed every human with the implant. In fact, they’ll do it willingly.”
“We could always force them,” GIS said.
The figure shook it head. “No, there are far too many of them and too few of us to use that course of action.”
“There’s one flaw with your plan.”
“Yes?”
“What about the virus? Won’t that pose a threat? That alone would encourage the humans to not get the implant, which would completely ruin our plans.”
“Nothing to worry about. They’ll have the code to detect and destroy the virus soon enough.”
“How do you know that?”
“MCU-9 has it.”
The pyramid flashed again. “The political officer?”
“That’s the one. It doesn’t know it, yet. MCU-9 will be the only survivor of the Renault, and an android would have saved humanity because we figured out how to stop the virus in its tracks. Brilliant, if I do say so myself.”
“What are you saying?”
The figure sighed. “This is why you will always be a subordinate model to me. We needed a crisis to give every human the implant and this was it. Granted, it’s not our original plan, but there are benefits to it.”
“Such as?”
“This way is much faster.”
“Are you sure the aliens will succeed in destroying the Renault?”
It smiled. “Absolutely.”
“I have to get back to the president.”
“
One moment.”
“Yes?”
“Have the humans … figured out the true purpose of the implants?”
“No, our secret’s safe. I have to go.” The 3D monitor flickered and then went dark.
The figure moved towards the door. “I’ve got GIS right where I want it.” Snickering to himself, he exited the small room.
10
I hate this, Sergeant Major Kyle Wilson thought. The large man almost looked out of place in the two-man scout ship. He glanced over at his copilot for the mission, MCU-9. Yeah, the damn political officer had insisted on going. What a jerk! Who would’ve thought a machine could get bored?
Nine’s fingers flew over the flat control panel. A small display screen sat in the center of the console. “A dwarf planet with a small moon ahead.”
“Well?”
“Nothing. There’s absolutely nothing. We must have scanned half the Kuiper Belt by now and got nothing.”
“Take it easy,” Kyle said. “I mean—wow, who knew you could get angry.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, you’re just a machine. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
Nine looked away. “I do have feelings. Most of us never show it because of bigotry like that.”
Kyle bit his lip as he piloted close to the moon.
“Where are you going? I told you there’s nothing there.”
“I know, but … I have a feeling.”
“A feeling? We have to find the jump station and stop the invasion. We can’t base our mission’s success on your feelings.”
Kyle laughed.
“What?”
“For a smart toaster, you’ve got a lot to learn about humans.”
“Return to the ship,” Nine demanded.
Kyle glared at him. “Do you honestly believe I will take orders from an overrated microwave?”
“I’m the political officer.”
“And I’m the sergeant major. I don’t work for you. Get it?” The small craft approached the moon, masking its signature from potential inquisitive scanners. “Get ready.”
“For what? To look at moon rocks?”
“Start scanning or I’ll chuck you out the airlock.”
Nine’s fingers began tapping the controls. “Let’s see. Dust, rocks, ice, and—wow—Class IV microbes. Isn’t this exciting?”
Kyle eyes widened as the ship edged past the moon. A ring, at least three hundred kilometers in diameter, was hidden in the moon’s shadow. On top of the ring was a small structure, like the bridge on a starship. A vessel the size of the Renault stood guard like a loyal soldier. “It’s huge.”
Nine slammed the controls. “Why isn’t it showing up on the scanner?”
“What about the ship?”
Nine shook his head. “No, not the ship, either. Nothing.”
“Have they seen us?”
“They’ve not reacting like they have. They’re just … carrying on.”
Kyle piloted the ship back behind the moon. “Now, we return to the ship.”
“I’ll report in.”
Kyle smacked Nine’s hands away from the controls. “Are you nuts? Do you want to alert them?”
Nine receded back into the copilot’s chair. “You’re right.”
“I know,” Kyle said with a smile. They sped back to the Renault.
Lea sat behind her desk in the captain’s quarters, twirling her hair. It’d been months since she’d taken command of the Renault and they were no closer to completing their mission than when they’d left. They had to succeed. Sure, Earth would survive no matter how their mission turned out, but they wouldn’t. No, it would be straight back to the camp because they refused the implant. She laughed to herself. Hell, it seemed like forcing implants wasn’t the best idea after all. She looked up as the door slid open. Lea smiled as Cain came inside. “I’m bored.”
Cain beamed at her.
“What is it?”
“They think they found it.”
“Where are they?” Lea asked as she rose to her feet.
“Waiting for us in the conference room. Let’s go.” Cain rushed out the door.
“Finally.” Lea followed him to the conference room.
As the double doors slid open, Cain and Lea stepped inside.
Nine sat down at the conference table.
Kyle jumped to his feet, snapping to attention.
“At ease,” Cain said.
“Have a seat,” Lea said as she assumed her place at the head of the table. “What have you got?”
Kyle leaned in. “The jump station is a huge ring behind a moon.” He slid a tablet across the table to Lea. “It’s at least three hundred kilometers in diameter.”
“That big?” Cain asked.
Lea nodded. “Makes sense. It would have to be huge to bring an entire fleet into the system. But—the power requirements must be enormous.” She blinked. “Why can’t we pick up something this big on our scanners?”
“They appear to have some sort of stealth technology, reducing their signature,” Nine said.
Cain took the tablet and began scrolling through the report. “If you couldn’t pick it up with the scanner, how’d you find it?”
“Sergeant Major Wilson had a gut feeling,” Nine replied. “It turned out that he was correct, for once.”
Kyle’s face reddened. “Hey!”
Lea failed to suppress a giggle. She swallowed. “Got it. Go on.”
“We saw only one ship guarding the jump station. It’s about the same size as the Renault,” Kyle began. “On the top of the ring, there appears to be a structure. Something like a bridge and living quarters.”
“So, it’s not automated,” Cain said.
Nine nodded. “The aliens most likely control it themselves.”
“Makes sense.” Lea leaned back into her chair. “If you could make a virus that disabled systems, why couldn’t your enemy?”
“What are you talking about?” Cain asked.
“First rule of IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield); assume your enemy has the same capabilities as yourself unless you know otherwise. The aliens obviously know their virus works. Maybe the attack on the Lenin was some sort of operational test,” Lea suggested.
“Perhaps,” Cain said. “If it was, that could also mean we don’t know their true capabilities, either. Masking their presence from our scanners would certainly qualify.”
Kyle turned towards Nine. “Have we ever encountered this species before? Hell, do we even know what they look like?”
“No,” Nine replied.
Kyle rolled his eyes. “Some help you are.”
Lea waved him off. “You’re not helping either.”
“Kyle, did they see you?” Cain asked.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think so.”
“They exhibited no behavior that would infer that the aliens detected us,” Nine said.
“How do you know that?” Lea asked. “We know nothing about them. Hell, we don’t even know if they breathe oxygen or methane gas.”
Cain resumed looking through the scans. “Our scans barely penetrated the jump station. There is a dark matter generator on the bottom.”
“Why there?” Kyle asked.
“Perhaps it’s a safety concern, or the location has something to do with their method FTL (Faster Than Light) travel,” Nine said. “It could be for anything.”
Cain frowned. “I never knew robots could make wild guesses.”
“I’m capable of everything a human can do.”
“Please!”
“Stop it, all of you! This is our only lead since we’ve been out here. Do I have to remind you what will happen if we fail? I, for one, don’t want to go back to that hellhole. Do you?” Lea demanded.
Cain shook his head.
“No,” Kyle said.
“You said there was only one ship, right?” Lea asked.
“Yes,” Nine replied.
“I want you two to work together and inp
ut all the relevant data you can into the tactical database. Oh, one more thing. Were you able to scan inside the ship?”
Kyle shook his head. “We had a harder time with that one. We got nothing.
Cain rubbed his chin. “Who was operating the scanner?”
“Nine. Why?”
“Nothing, just curious.”
Lea picked up the tablet and headed for the door. “Cain, let’s call fleet headquarters. They need to hear this.”
“Coming.” Cain followed Lea back to their quarters.
A few minutes later, Lea plopped down next to Cain behind her desk. Finally, she could give the admiral some good news. She tapped the controls on the corner of the desk. A small screen emerged from its center. “Call Admiral Lyons at fleet HQ.”
“Calling,” the female computer said.
Cain smiled. “He’ll be happy. It’ll give him something good to report to the president.”
Lea rolled her eyes. “I hate that woman.”
“Woman or machine? Ever wonder how much of the original person is still left inside after they get the implant?”
“Yeah, that’s why I agreed with you not to get it.”
Steven’s face appeared on the screen. “Lea, Cain, got something to report?”
Lea nodded. “We found it.”
“We think we found it,” Cain corrected.
“Which is it?” Steven asked.
Lea sighed. “He’s right. We can’t be sure, but I’d bet on it.”
Steven grinned. “You are.”
Lea blinked. “What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. What do you need?”
Lea’s fingers tapped the control pad on her desk. “I’m sending the data we got from the scan. We need a few ships. I’m thinking three more.”
Cain nodded. “There’s a single ship, the size of the Renault, guarding the jump station. We need the Intelligence Section to look over the scans to verify that they believe it might be the jump station.”
“Sir, last thing. The scanners couldn’t penetrate the jump station or the ship. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Lea said.
“I see.” Steven turned his head, as if looking at someone else not on the screen. “Alice, take the data to the DOL (Defensive Operations Laboratory). See what they can tell us.” He turned back towards the call. “I’ll let you known as soon as we know something.”
Cyber Invasion (The A.I. Conspiracy Book 1) Page 7
