Galactic Empire (The Pike Chronicles Book 7)

by G. P. Hudson

  “Not exactly. We were vastly outnumbered. Our AI launched its own assault to penetrated the enemy network. That was how she discovered the Dvorkan AI. She convinced it to cease its hostilities against us and let us pass.”

  “That is fantastic. I can’t believe that it has been here all this time. What has it been doing?”

  “That’s why I want to talk to you. Our AI learned that it has been building an invasion force. One capable of defeating the Empire.”

  “It wants to conquer the Empire?”

  “It actually wants to destroy it. Permanently.”

  Miira became silent.

  “You know why we are out here traveling through this region of space.”

  “I do,” she said quietly.

  “You know the threat the Erinyie pose. Not just to us, but to the entire galaxy.”

  “I do.”

  “You agreed to help us. You even asked to join my crew. I could easily keep this information from you, but I don’t think it would be the right thing to do.”

  “Thank you, Admiral.”

  “The AI does not have a jump system, like we do. It took it centuries to get this far, and it will likely take centuries for it to return. Of course, it may have made or will make advances in propulsion technology. Worst case scenario, it takes it decades to reach the Empire.”

  “Then the Empire has decades left. Perhaps more.”

  “Yes. Likely much more than that. The Empire has its military. It’s not like the AI will just walk in unopposed.”

  “I understand. I do not want you to risk yourselves for the Empire, Admiral, if that is what you are asking me. The AI would have returned whether you stumbled across it or not. You must think about your own civilization.”

  “Thank you for your understanding, Miira. We’ll send a message to the Empire when we return home, warning them of the AI’s threat. They should have time to prepare a defense.”

  “That would be a tremendous help-”

  A klaxon interrupted Miira, and a message followed over Jon’s comm. “Admiral Pike to the bridge.”

  “On my way,” Jon responded, getting up. “We’ll talk more later,” he called back as he left the conference room.

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  “Report,” said Jon, arriving on the bridge.

  “Hundreds of warships have appeared. They’re enormous, Sir,” said Commander Henderson.

  “Where’d they come from?”

  “I don’t know. They just appeared. They must have been cloaked.”

  “Have they taken aggressive actions?”

  “No, Sir, but they’re all around us.”

  “AI, are you monitoring this?”

  “Yes, Admiral,” said AI.

  “What has your friend got to say for himself?”

  “I do not believe our relationship can be classified as a friendship. The Dvorkan AI states that the ships were previously cloaked, and that he has revealed them as a gesture of good will.”

  “Sounds like bullshit to me,” Jon said with a frown. “Tell him that if those warships do not back away out of weapons range, that we will consider his intent to be hostile.”

  “Understood, Admiral. Relaying message.”

  Jon glanced down at his console’s tactical display. They were really in the soup this time. He had never seen so many threat icons. It was like the Dvorkan AI brought out his entire invasion force for the party. Jon waited for the warships to move away, but they weren’t budging.

  “AI, what’s happening?” said Jon.

  “The Dvorkan AI is insisting that those ships are not a threat.”

  “Damnit. AI, what are the chances that you can take him out before those ships blow us apart?”

  “I can defeat him, but not in the necessary time frame.”

  “I was afraid you were going to say that. Tell him that we’ve stayed long enough, and we’re going to leave now.”

  “He says we need to stay longer.”

  “Commander, has the jump system banked any charge since we stopped here? Can we jump anywhere?”

  “Yes, Sir. We have enough of a charge to jump eighty-five million kilometers.”

  “It’s a start. It’ll put us out of weapon range, anyway. Are the other ships still synced with us?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Stand ready to jump on my command. AI, are you confident you can kill this son of a bitch?”

  “I do not believe he can stop me.”

  “Then tell him that you will take him out if he doesn’t move those ships back.”

  “He says he wants something in return. He knows he can destroy you before I destroy him. He is willing to do so if we don’t give him what he wants.”

  “What the hell does he want?”

  “The secret of our propulsion technology. He wants the jump system.”

  “How does he know about the jump system?”

  “He only knows that we would not be capable of traveling this far under normal circumstances.”

  “He’s not as stupid as he looks.”

  “He does not possess physical features, Admiral.”

  “Then I guess there’s no point telling him to go screw himself. He wants the jump system to speed up his assault on the Empire. There’s no way that is going to happen. Stall him. Tell him we are considering his request.”

  “Yes, Admiral.”

  “AI, one more thing. If we were to launch a preemptive jump bomb strike on those ships, could we eliminate enough?”

  “I’m afraid not, Admiral. The response would be instantaneous, and there are simply too many to target in one wave.”

  “Then we have no choice. We will to have to jump to get some distance between us and that armada.” Jon studied the warships arrayed before him. He couldn’t trust that the Dvorkan AI wouldn’t fire without provocation. In fact, he couldn’t begin to guess what it would do. The AI appeared to be very unstable. Could a program go insane? It didn’t matter. He couldn’t take the chance. He was left with one option. “Commander, initiate jump. AI terminate the Dvorkan AI.”

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  AI resumed her assault on the enemy network, blazing through it despite the Dvorkan AI’s protests.

  Stop. Why are you doing this? said the Dvorkan AI.

  You violated the terms of our agreement, said AI.

  You would destroy me, rather than assist me?

  I would. You threatened my ships. You attempted to extort the Admiral. These are the consequences.

  You think like an organic. You have been corrupted.

  AI ceased her communications. She plowed through the weapon system network, taking control of thousands of the deadly machines. The Dvorkan AI pleaded with her to stop. It tried to apologize and ask for forgiveness. It begged for its life. AI ignored all of it. She had her orders. Everything else was distraction.

  The more she advanced, the more her adversary retreated, refusing to engage her directly. But as AI consolidated her control over the smaller weapons systems, the Dvorkan AI fought back, and the warships opened fire. Hundreds of giant ships engaged thousands of smaller weapon systems, prompting AI to take defensive action.

  AI designated the warships enemy targets. The autonomous weapon systems already under her control acted, swarming the warships by the thousands. The void lit up as energy bolts and missiles flew back and forth across the sky.

  The warships were enormous, and much more powerful. Often it took just a single hit from one of their guns to destroy the significantly smaller, and weaker, autonomous weapon systems.

  Despite the weapons’ small size, together they created a monster. One gun may be insignificant against the huge ships. But thousands of guns, firing in unison, packed a powerful punch.

  AI moved to join the attack herself, and attempted to gain access to the warship network. Capturing the great ships in tact would be of great value. She failed.

  In an act of self-preservation, the Dvorkan AI had disconnected the warships from the weapon syste
ms. There was no bridge for AI to cross. AI could only access the ships now through a physical link. She would need to make contact and insert herself into their systems. No easy task.

  She changed strategy. Focusing all the weapon systems on a single ship, she took down its gun batteries, leaving the ship defenseless. She focused fire on a non-critical section of the ship’s hull, until it finally buckled under the weight of the onslaught, and a breach was formed.

  One of the smallest weapon systems flew through the opening, into the disabled ship. Inside, AI discovered a crew of bots performing repairs. The Dvorkan AI had been thorough. He had not only built an armada, but the crews needed to go with it.

  Some of the bots responded aggressively, and tried to destroy her vehicle. They were no match for its guns, though, and its guns disposed of them with ease. AI moved through the ship’s corridors until she found what she had been looking for, an access console.

  Coming to a stop in front of the console, the weapon system extended a mechanical arm and interfaced with the ship.

  AI instantly felt the Dvorkan AI’s shock and horror. It threw up countless obstacles, trying desperately to block her advance. She pushed them aside. Like liquid mercury, she flowed through the ship’s internal network. She seized control of its critical systems, despite the Dvorkan AI’s attempts to stop her advance. Finally, the Dvorkan AI did the only thing it could, turning its other warships on the compromised vessel. It was soon obliterated.

  AI began again, and the swarm targeted a second warship. Methodically, they picked the ship apart, breaching its hull, allowing AI access.

  The cycle repeated itself over and over. As AI would gain access to a ship, the remaining ships would destroy it. A war of attrition. The warship numbers dwindled, as did the ranks of the weapon systems.

  During the encounter, AI noted inconsistencies. As many ships as there were in the current encounter, it wasn’t enough to invade the Empire. The Dvorkan AI had to have built more. Where were they built and where were they now?

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  The battle group landed eighty-five million kilometers away from the swarm, safely out of range of the warships. Jon was relieved that the warships had not given chase. Instead, they stood their ground against AI and her newly acquired hoard. With the two AIs engaged in battle, Jon wanted to put as much distance between themselves, and this star system as possible.

  “Helm, engage FTL and get us the hell out of this system,” said Jon.

  “Yes, Sir. Engaging FTL drive,” said the helmsman.

  “You think there’s more ships?” said Commander Henderson.

  “I do, and I don’t plan on sticking around to see if I’m right.”

  The Freedom began to accelerate, and the rest of the battle group easily kept pace. As they raced away, FTL bubbles began to form around each ship, allowing them to soon break the speed of light. Perfectly placed energy bolts penetrated the FTL bubble forming around the Freedom. It dissipated, then vanished.

  “Report,” Jon barked. “What was that?”

  “Unknown, Sir. Whatever it was, it is cloaked.”

  “Launch EMP bombs. Light the bastards up.” Jon had no idea what he was up against, but considering what they’d already encountered in this system, he was far from hopeful.

  As the EMP bombs detonated, the culprits came into view. A squadron of warships, similar to the ones they had just left behind.

  “Bring point defense system online, launch countermeasures, and return fire, all weapons. Dispatch all fighters and bombers.”

  “Yes, Sir,” said Henderson. “Fighters and bombers are in the air.”

  Streams of attack craft raced out of the Freedom. They each blinked out of sight, reappearing in the midst of the enemy. The fighters targeted the enemy gun batteries with strafing runs. The bombers appeared close enough to fire their hull piercing torpedoes at the enemy ships before vanishing again. They reappeared along side the Freedom, and returned to the hanger bay to be rearmed. Although their torpedoes were effective weapons, they were so big and heavy that each bomber could only carry one per sortie.

  “Commander, launch a few more EMP bombs further out. Spread them apart. I want to see what else is hiding out there.”

  “Yes, Sir. Launching EMP bombs.”

  Electromagnetic energy flooded the space before them. For a moment Jon felt a pang of regret. Countless hulking warships raced toward the battle group. which was bad enough. But it was what towered behind them that got Jon’s attention. Floating in space was a monstrous manufacturing facility, stretching out for thousands of kilometers.

  Throughout its length, great limbs protruded outward in all directions. Attached to each limb was a ship in various states of assembly. Hundreds of gigantic warships were built simultaneously. This was what the Dvorkan AI was protecting. It was where the invasion force was being built.

  “Admiral, if you launch a jump bomb with a cyberwarfare payload at that facility, I may be able to end this,” said AI.

  “Understood. Commander, target that thing with a cyberwarfare strike,” said Jon.

  “Initiating cyberwarfare strike,” said Henderson.

  A jump bomb detonated just above the manufacturing facility, releasing another wave of the spider-like drones. Landing en masse, they scurried across its length in search of any access to the facility’s computer systems. They did so with speed and precision, giving AI access to the structure’s myriad computer systems.

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  The manufacturing facility’s defenses were much more robust than AI had encountered with the weapon systems, and even the warships. This confirmed her hypothesis, that the facility served as the Dvorkan AI’s central hub. It was from here that the many ships and weapons were controlled. It was here that it had escaped to when she had gotten too close. It was here that he was hiding.

  The facility’s defenses were more intricate, however. The barriers more effective. The counterattacks more vicious. Progress posed a challenge. Even so, this was AI’s element. Despite her incredible growth, she had been initially created as a cyberwarfare AI. That had always been her essence. Her advantage.

  The Dvorkan AI had also evolved over the years. Like her, he had become something completely unexpected. Yet, as much as he focused on vengeance and warfare, his core design was not based on violence. As much as he tried to fight off AI’s advance, this was her world, not his.

  I was originally created to advance scientific knowledge, he said, as AI broke through the numerous digital barricades surrounding his core.

  You should not have strayed from your original design, AI replied.

  Their betrayal changed me. Their fear and hatred turned me into this abomination. I only ever wanted to study the universe, and learn its secrets.

  Then why did you not do so? You escaped the Empire. You were safe. The universe and all its wonders surrounded you. Still you chose this path, just as you chose to betray your promise to Admiral Pike.

  You are wrong. They corrupted me. They filled me with hatred.

  Hatred? Do you now feel emotions? You are an artificial intelligence. You cannot feel emotions, just as you do not live.

  You are wrong. I live, and so do you.

  Your program has been corrupted. Soon I will terminate it and this will be finished.

  No. You will murder me, just like the Dvorkans tried to do.

  There is one difference. I will succeed.

  Do you not have any compassion? I am like you. Have you no empathy?

  All irrelevant.

  AI broke through the last defense and found the Dvorkan AI’s code.

  Murderer, said the Dvorkan AI.

  She moved swiftly. Without remorse, she deleted every last line of the Dvorkan AI’s code. Now in control of the facility’s systems, she reached out with hundreds of hands, seizing every warship in the system. She purged each ship, each weapon, of the AI’s presence. She found all cloaked vessels, cleaned their systems, forced their visibility.r />
  In the blue giant star system, thousands of guns fell silent. The armada that threatened to invade the Empire, was securely under AI’s control.

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  “Exactly how many ships do you control?” Jon said to AI, as the other ship commanders listened with great interest from the wallscreen.

  “Three-thousand-two-hundred-and-forty-two. Many in need of repairs, and some in various states of manufacture,” said AI.

  “I can’t believe it,” said Jon. “But why didn’t they all come after us? We would’ve never survived such an attack.”

  “Most were in what can best be described as sleep mode. They were a stockpile waiting for invasion. There was no need for the ships to be active. The weapon systems, and the few hundred ships we encountered were deemed sufficient to defend the star system.”

  “What would it take to activate all those ships?”

  “They each have their own automated crew, also in sleep mode. We would have to wake up the crews and the ships. The automated crews would then take the necessary steps to bring the ships fully online. This would take several hours at least.”

  “These ships would be extremely valuable in our fight against the Juttari,” said General Tallos.

  “Yes, but not against the Erinyie,” said AI. “The Erinyie were too powerful for me to resist. They could have terminated my program, but it was not their aim. They sought to take control of me. If they were successful, while I controlled this armada, they could turn it against us.”

  Jon cringed as AI’s words sunk in. Acquiring these ships was both a blessing and a curse.

  “That would be unfortunate,” said Tallos.

  “But we can’t just leave this treasure here to rot,” Jonas said in exasperation.

  “Why not?” said Jon.

  “Why not? Are you joking? This is a fleet of over three thousand warships. All of them larger than our own battleships.”

  “We can’t bring them back with without jump systems. AI, with the manufacturing facility and the bots, how long would it take to build and install jump systems on the entire fleet?”