by Garry Ocean
Umka could easily replace the onboard computers of both the gliders of “earth-to-earth” type and Class D light shuttles. When he had an opportunity, Nick downloaded into his Umka all the data on astrophysics, cosmology, and space navigation for all space vehicles from all times known to man and put them into the online upgrading mode.
What is even more important, Umka had a pseudo intellect. In ten years, Nick got attached to it like to an old friend. He treated it not as a device with a colossal volume of information but rather as a human being. He could probably not admit that even to himself, but that was true. If other people could easily upgrade an obsolete model of the computer to the latest model, Nick was simply modifying his Umka, which was not difficult at all. Same goes for the name itself – Umka. If you take Paul, for example, he gave all possible names to his wearable computer. At first it was a Snow Queen, then Thumbelina. When he became older – Kitty, Chick, and so on, Nick could not even remember all the names. Now, if he remembers correctly, it is a Little Tigress or something like that. But Nick still called his device Umka, just the way it was before.
The command did not encourage the use of universal personal computers in courier flights, but it was not banned either. Except for the yellow category flights, and, of course, the red one that was equal to combat. But that was common sense.
Nick decisively got up from the commander’s chair and opened up the command panel. As he expected, the central computer was sealed with Ovsyannikov’s personal stamp. However, it was easy to break it, which Nick did after some hesitation.
“Not to worry,” he tried to appease his own conscious, “If I complete my mission two times faster, they should thank me.”
“What is the most important thing in the courier service?” another one of Peter’s quotes emerged in his memory. “It is to deliver the correspondence to the recipient in the shortest possible time. It can be delivered earlier than scheduled, but later…” here Ovsyannikov usually took a long meaningful pause, gave everyone a harsh look and finished, “There is NO concept of ‘later’ in our service. Is this clear, interns?”
Nick unfastened the control panel, activated his Umka and plugged it into the onboard computer’s hard drive. Umka slightly vibrated. It was obvious that it was changing its shape to adjust for the size and depth of the onboard computer slot. In a minute, a familiar female voice said through the onboard speaker, “So, my dear friend, you have already missed me? Or is this an emergency? By the way, there are 27 unread messages in your inbox, 15 from your mother, one from father and 11 from your pal Paul. His messages should be simply deleted without reading. As always, not a single bit of valuable information. As for your mother, you need to respond to her, and your father…”
“Umka, please, wait! There are things more important…”
“My friend, there are no messages from your Asya, I do remember you asked me to inform you about them first thing,” Umka said with obvious sarcasm in her voice.
“I have an assignment,” Nick interrupted her. “Check the shuttle.”
“This is exactly what I am doing now. Did you really think I am interested in small talk with you?” Umka replied, slightly insulted. “I have already talked to your mother. Your family can’t wait to see you on the 20th. They want to get a confirmation. Your father’s letter is encrypted for your eyes only, I advise you to read it.”
“This is the problem, with the dates. I already had the leave approved, and then was sent on this urgent assignment. Murphy’s law. And thanks to some ‘homo non-sapience’ all my plans are being screwed up!”
“I have listened to the recording of your conversation with the onboard computer and can guess what you need from me.”
“And I have already estimated that by cutting two leaps we can easily make it back on time. I don’t see any reason to leap in zigzags four times and to fully charge the batteries at each exit point. This could have been easily done using the Berserker within 15 days. What do you think?”
“Incorrect question.”
“Sorry, I’m just thinking out loud,” Nick sometimes forgot that he was talking not to a human, but a machine, even with a pseudo intellect. However, it helped him to think logically and think through specific questions.
“Do you agree with the onboard computer’s second estimate?”
“Yes.”
“Can you pilot the Valkyrie?”
“Within the established program.”
“The first one or the second?”
“The first one.”
“Why not the second one?”
“Because the second one is not established.”
“Damn it, Umka, sometimes I wonder if you have learned to make jokes.”
“Incorrect question.”
“Base to Board 103. Can you hear this? Over.”
Nick was startled. Either because of the meaningless verbal exchange with Umka, or because he couldn’t pull his guts together to change the programmed route, he was completely distracted from reality.
The main screen showed a familiar face of Misha Birman from the navigation department. When he was on duty, he always tried to look serious, but his freckled face and stuck-out ears betrayed a prankster who liked a good joke.
“Base, I can hear you well. Over.”
“In 60 seconds we will turn off the ray, prepare to take the command. Do you copy? Over.”
“Copy that, base. Will take control in 60 seconds. Over.”
“The control time of the leap after the switch to autonomous mode is three minutes. Do you copy? Over.”
“Copy that, three minutes. Over.”
“Starting the double countdown, safe Space!”
“Safe Space!”
The screen went dark and the countdown numbers appeared in its right corner.
Nick stretched his body in the captain’s chair. All right, as someone great said, “Go forward, with no fear or resentment!”
“I am giving you the order to take the onboard computer responsibilities for Board 103, verify the estimates of the second route option and prepare for the leap.”
“Intern Nick, Board 103 acting commander, do you confirm the order to appoint me Board 103 onboard computer?”
“Yes, I confirm,” at that moment Nick even did not pay attention to Umka’s being such a stickler for the order confirmation. Usually it immediately started to work after being plugged in, took a second to scan and transfer on itself all knots of the shuttle command.
“Order taken, switching to autonomous command, sir!”
It was considered by default that the machines had no sense of humor, but Umka often puzzled Nick. Just like now, and as always, when they were piloting the flying vehicles, it invariably switched to “sir.” Perhaps, it read somewhere in ancient stories that it was a form of address to someone senior in the command chain.
“Excellent, as we’ve been in a non-navigated flying mode for over a minute now. Let’s prepare for the leap, we will have time to chat later.”
“27 seconds to the leap, make yourself comfortable, sir! Switching on the anti-gravitational system. Don’t forget to take the tranquilizer.”
“Don’t be a smarty pants, better check the conditions at the exit point.”
Just like now, again, it wasn't clear if Umka was showing care for Nick or teasing him. Nick had a small problem, motion sickness during the leaps. He experienced slight dizziness and light-headedness. According to statistics, only about 0.001% of people did not have such symptoms, but Nick, considering himself an experienced space traveler, had developed a complex because of this and tried to conceal it from others.
“The fluctuation at the given exit point is within the norm, I am starting the countdown. Ten, nine, eight…”
Nick felt the familiar vibration preceding the zero-leap. However, this time it was not coming from the outside, but was a lot deeper, getting, as it seemed, through his bones. “Principally different type of engine,” he recalled the Chief saying.
&nbs
p; “Four, three…”
The outside cameras went dark. Nick’s vision became blurry, and his heart sank to his stomach.
“The leap has been completed, we are in the given quadrant. All systems are stable. I am scanning the nearest space sector,” Umka’s voice reported from afar. Strangely enough, Nick didn’t experience the usual dizziness and his vision was coming back to normal faster than before.
“Where are we at with energy resources?”
“74%.”
“How much?” Nick couldn’t believe his ears. “What was the leap distance?”
“The estimated one, 390 parsecs.”
“Wow, this was cool. The Valkyrie definitely had a lot of secrets in it,” Nick thought.
“Did I get this right, we have burnt less than a quarter of the energy?” he asked Umka.
“Yes, I just rechecked. The energy resources are being recouped almost two times faster than at the Berserker type shuttle.”
“This means we can leap to the final destination with no additional charge.”
“According to the instructions, it is not recommended to undertake leaps at less than 25% of energy, to avoid…”
“Yes, I know, I know. Leave your preaching for the freshmen,” Nick interrupted.
“Incoming zero-message,” Umka reported.
“From the Base? What’s the encryption?” asked Nick, thinking, “Have they already been alerted to the route change?”
“Not clear yet, transmission not over. It will be completely received in 2-3 minutes.”
“They have quickly figured out our maneuver. As if they knew our new coordinates.”
“The onboard computer has transmitted it to them. It must communicate to the base all its actions, including the estimation of new coordinates.”
“Haven’t thought about that,” Nick admitted. “Estimate the new exit point, several parsecs away from the second given, we will have time to recharge. I don’t want to give any explanations to Ovsyannikov right now.”
“There’s a convenient exit point 4,756 parsecs away from the previously computed one. The fluctuation is within the norm there.”
“Prepare to leap, immediately!” Nick habitually leaned back in his chair.
“Starting the countdown,” Umka’s voice was now devoid of any emotion. “Ten, nine, eight, seven…”
The second leap was exactly like the first one. The same deep vibration, blurred vision and a short sensation of a free fall.
“The leap completed,” Umka’s unemotional voice brought Nick back to reality. “We are in the target quadrant. All systems are stable. Scanning the nearest space sector.”
“Energy level?” Nick asked, noticing that his voice was a little coarse.
“47%. Leaped 410 parsecs.”
“Well, not bad at all. Which sector is that?”
“F 20031 is a borderline zone, beyond it is Deep Space.”
“Yes, I have never flown that far before,” Nick was curious. “Open the outside screen!”
The command cabin became transparent in one second, and Nick, with a short exclaim, clenched to the chair’s armrest. He felt like he was floating in an open space. The illusion was so real and complete that he needed some time to convince his deceived feeling receptors that the shuttle did not disappear and that he himself is still in the command cabin. He did lean toward the command panel, also floating in the emptiness, and fidgeted with a tumbler for no reason. Then he unfastened his seat belts and carefully got out of the chair. The command cabin floor was absolutely transparent, but Nick could feel it bouncing under his feet. Nick even wanted to jump on it to make sure, but then changed his mind after a pause.
“Bring back the floor,” Nick ordered in a slightly trembling voice.
The floor took its usual form, thanks to Umka that understood his order correctly.
In contrast to Berserker, where the overview was limited to the front screen and upper dome, the designers of Valkyrie resolved this issue in a more radical manner.
Nick sat in the chair, overcame the desire to fasten the belts and commanded again, “Full overview.”
The view was fantastic. And absolutely unfamiliar. While at the base, he could still find the known constellations, from this sector the space looked completely different.
“Umka, report the estimated time to full recharge.”
“If the fluctuation in this sector does not change significantly, 17-19 hours.”
“Given the Valkyrie capacity, we don’t have to rush anywhere, only one leap to the final destination.”
“There’s a small problem,” Umka’s voice stayed neutral.
“What’s the problem again?” Nick was cautious.
“I wanted to tell immediately upon my activation, but the events started to unfold too quickly.”
“Go on.”
“I don’t run the Valkyrie completely, to be more exact, I have access to no more than one-fourth of all the shuttle systems.”
“I didn’t quite get it, what do you mean by ‘one-fourth,’” Nick was surprised beyond words. “How is this possible?”
“There are a lot of encrypted systems here, and I can’t get into them. Moreover, I can’t even understand what they are for. My abilities end with the commanding the navigation and life support system, but not at full scale.”
“Is this enough to complete the assignment?”
“Yes.”
“But there’s something else, right?”
“The final destination coordinates are…” Umka paused as if it was trying carefully to choose the words, very uncharacteristic of her, “…approximate.”
This was completely out of the ordinary.
“What do you mean, ‘approximate’? Are you overheated? You have just estimated yourself the leaps according to the given coordinates, and the onboard computer before you also made the calculations.”
“Correct. This was the case while the beacon at the final exit point was working. I noticed that after the first and second leaps the coordinates changed, albeit insignificantly. And now the beacon is silent.”
“Perhaps, some short-term malfunction?”
“Perhaps.”
Nick was lost in thought. From the very beginning everything went not the way it was supposed to. He tried to remember the preceding events in greater detail. Everything started with an unexpected call to the captain and the extraordinary order. It was weird that the Chief decided to give him the orders personally. But it did happen sometimes. Things happen. And the only thing out of the ordinary here was the delay of the long-awaited leave, but nothing else. Then this momentary meeting at the Chief’s door with a man from the Center. Most probably from the Center. He was definitely a big shot, judging by how he held himself, composed and together, with the Chief. Then the short instructions and assignment to the Valkyrie. Why was he the one trusted with the newest shuttle? Nick understood perfectly well that the base has enough more experienced pilots. But perhaps they were all otherwise engaged. So, what else? All right, they gave me the fastest shuttle, which means the cargo needs to be delivered as quickly as possible to the research base. Meanwhile, the onboard computer was loaded with random coordinates of the exit points, which increases the time to complete the assignment. Weird? Perhaps. By the way, what about the cargo?
“Umka, can you check what cargo we are carrying? At least look up the codes.”
“The cargo department is empty.”
For about a minute, Nick just stared in front of him, and then he slapped himself on the forehead as if realizing something.
“But of course, how did I not think about this right away!” Nick exclaimed. “The Valkyrie IS the cargo! I’m so stupid. This explains why Umka could not access the blocked shuttle systems. A special access code needs to activate the programs that are out of bounds.”
Nick did not even start to think about what these programs are designed for. And the access code must have been communicated to the recipient only. The more he thought about i
t, the more the coincidences and irregularities became a part of a neat puzzle. Now he wanted just one thing: to deliver the Valkyrie as soon as possible to the final destination and transfer it to the recipient in one piece. He suddenly remembered Peter Ovsyannikov, lovingly patting the Valkyrie’s amortization wings. And then go back to the base. Where, for sure, he will have a very serious conversation with the Chief. However, he will have enough time to think over his counter-arguments on the way back, so Nick decided not to worry about it now.
“So, Umka, let’s go back to our coordinates. I suggest we take the last data from the research base beacon. What is, by the way, in this sector?”
“This sector is practically unknown, there’s very little data. I did send an inquiry, here’s the response: ‘Sector F-1456/0002 is a largely dispersed nebula of an elongated shape, about 60×45×115 parsec in size, in some spots it has the dust clusters of a spindle shape. The data are received from the unmanned research drones BIZ-12567/346 and BIZ-23799/1007 in 2456 and 2489 respectively. No further research was deemed necessary’.”
“That’s interesting,” Nick whistled in surprise. “No more research because it was unnecessary, hah?”
At the back of his mind, he started to regret that he changed the original route. Now the assignment did not seem so simple and easy, it was becoming more complicated, short of weird. Nick suddenly realized that the answers to his questions are far beyond his authority. “And if this is indeed so, I should not be breaking my head over this. My task is to deliver the cargo to the recipient, and that’s what I will do,” he concluded.
“How’s recharging going?”
“Ahead of schedule. The sensors are registering the increasing activity of the fluctuation field, which is not characteristic for this region. The average tension on Bernand-Richter scale is 12-14 terraHertz, and now it is approaching 16.”
