by Paul Phipps
Then without conscious thought but still following the pattern that he had drilled in the VR simulations over and over in case of a Quarn mental assault he disconnected his helm console first using the two covered failsafe panels that disconnected the console from the Command AI of the Mentor. Once that was done he did the same thing at each of the other command consoles starting with Engineering and working his way back to Navigation.
It was a LOT tougher doing this by himself, in the simulations there was always at least two humans on the bridge. Once that was done, he stopped and looked around he had done as he had been trained to do but something was different…. “Hey Mentor!” The command AI had said nothing, not even an attempt to communicate.
“Mentor! Status report please.” He called out. Silence… ‘Damn it! I didn’t want to go there.’ He thought in concern. He quickly checked the navigation console and then corrected his course for a point vertical to the ecliptic. ‘Rule #4. If under internal assault by Quarn forces and it is possible, set a course vertical to the ecliptic and get as far away from other TSN units that might be vulnerable to attack.’ He said under his breath.
Then with that taken care of… ‘Hmmm only six minutes. Not bad for one man.’ He went to the hidden and persona locked room that was physically connected to the bridge that contained the master control for the distributed computational network.
‘That’s interesting Mentor’s Command AI’s higher intelligence processing is slowed down to near nothing.’ He continued to examine the various displays and readouts through the physical connection to his Comm implant. ‘A HA! Sneaky little creeps, the Quarn are.’ He watched a new command program being created slowly as the Quarn felt its way into the system.
“Now how in the name of all that’s holy do I stop them?” he asked out loud.
“We kill them, that’s how!” Came a voice from behind him.
Recruit Harrison slowly turned around, almost afraid of what he would see. There was Tufuga in his Battle Armor, the suit made the already huge man look like a fantasy version of an Ogre. A feeling of relief washed over him.
“Damn Tufuga, you are a sight for my sore eyes!” Harrison said with feeling. “How did you escape the Quarn? Weren’t you in your Telefactor like the others?”
“Yeah, I was and let me tell you that is one frightening thing. Your thoughts are broken, I mean you really can’t think straight and your body is completely paralyzed.” Tufuga said with feeling.
“Soooo, how did you escape?”
“That’s a funny thing there… Remember in training if you had to go to the head while in the sensorium it would give you a warning and if you didn’t heed it the sensorium would shut down the Comm Link?” Tufuga said with a grin.
“Yeah, I seem to recall that.” Harrison said with a slight grin and the rolling of his eyes at the memory of that happening to him at an inconvenient time.
“Well, I’m not sure but I think it’s the first time that a Marine was saved from enemy fire because he had to take a dump!” Tufuga said laughing. “Anyway after that occurred and I took care of that business I used the manual controls on the Trans-Portal to get me to the Armory and then to here. So what’s the drill now?”
“I’ll start on getting the computer network secure and if we can’t do that we will have to kill the Quarn. Chief Cavendish’s Telefactor is in the observation deck with those five Quarn slaves. See if you can use the internal security cameras to look in there. Maybe it will give you an idea on what to do next.”
A few minutes later, Harrison was finishing up with the Distributed Computational Network. “Ok Tufuga, I think I have done it, all of the input/output routines and sub-AI’s are now disconnected from the Command AI. That will buy us a little time. What do you have?”
Tufuga motioned Harrison over to stand next him at the Internal Security Station. “All right! I’ve disconnected the Port Observation Deck from all services except security monitoring. They are also in independent float mode.”
(All compartments on a TSN vessel were potentially independent of each other with their own life support and internal power generation, they in turn ‘float’ in the liquid metal and Nanite goo that filled the ‘empty’ spaces of the vessels. When float mode is activated all external services are severed and internal life support and power are the only available services left to the compartment.)
“Great! If we need to eject them from the ship how long will it take us to do it?” Harrison asked.
“Well… I’m not really sure. Maybe a minute if we do it explosively like a zit but that might kill everyone in there immediately. It might take five minutes if we do it more carefully.” Tufuga said reflectively.
“Like a zit! Damn, Tufuga you are a Marine.” Harrison said shaking his head.
“That’s right and don’t you forget it!”
“Can you bring up the internal monitors for the Port Observation Deck?”
“Sure can… and here we are…. Fuck me with a broomstick! What in the name of all that’s holy is that!?” Tufuga said explosively.
The monitors were showing the interior of the Observation deck and it was nothing they had ever seen before there were five bodies of the Defense Department people that they had identified as Quarn-parasitized. They were barely visible inside a reddish and white irregularly shaped hemisphere that appeared to look like cotton candy and oatmeal. The bodies looked like they had burst open like a milkweed pod and the… ‘stuff’ had puffed and flowed out. And it was pulsing very slowly like it was breathing or maybe like a slow heartbeat. In any case it was a freakish sight.
Harrison recovered first and said, “Tufuga old man… I don’t think your weapons are going to do a damn thing to that…thing.”
“I hate it when you are right. Maybe a flamethrower? Or some Willie Pee?” Tufuga muttered.
Harrison pushed himself away from the Internal Security Station and headed for the Helm. “Tufuga! When I say so; eject the compartment!”
“Right you are. Are we gonna blast it?” Tufuga asked with anticipation.
“Nope, I think we need to put them on ice. This is the first chance we’ve gotten to examine and hopefully dissect a Quarn what-ever-it-is. Their capabilities are fucking out-of-this-world and we need to learn how to defend against them and how to destroy them.”
“Did I ever say I hate it when you are right?”
“Yeah you have… a couple of hundred times so far.” Harrison replied absently as he bent over the helm console. Moments later a strange creaking sound was heard by both of them. They turned in unison to look in the direction of the sound and to their horror the bulkhead wall next to the Communications Console started to melt and flow.
“It’s the GOO! Those freaking bastards are controlling the fucking GOO!” Tufuga yelled.
“EJECT them now! Eject Eject Eject!” Harrison yelled right back at him.
Tufuga in turn pressed the command button and his previously entered commands were initiated. Seconds later the Mentor rocked and Harrison watched on his monitors as the Port Observation Deck was flung away from the main body of the Mentor. There was a quickly solidifying mass of Nanite Goo visible in the space surrounding them and trailing after the swiftly receding deck.
The goo that was still flowing through the bulkhead breach started to slow down and then recede as the Damage Control Sub-AI’s started to function normally.
The two men stared at each other in surprise and then realized that they were going to live to fight another day. Strained laughter was exchanged and then they started to get things back to normal. Commander Webster’s and Trainee Marsh’s Telefactors suddenly burst into motion. Tufuga didn’t even think… his reflexes had kicked in and he had a Rail-gun pistol in one hand pointed at Commander Webster and his shoulder mounted weapon trained on Trainee Marsh’s Telefactor.
“Uhhh… Ahh Yes… Good Reflexes there, Recruit Tufuga. Pardon me for asking since you ARE pointing a weapon at my head. Why are you wearing your combat arm
or?” Ansel asked carefully.
Ariadne/Personal Comm Mode: “ANSEL! Where in the name of all that’s holy have you been! And for that matter HOW did you cut me off!” Ariadne’s thoughts came bursting through his implant.
Commander Webster/ Private Comm Mode: “Easy there dear, easy. I don’t know what’s happening, all I remember is I was unable to think clearly and my thoughts flying like bullets and hitting nothing and then I woke up planted face first into the deck. If it hadn’t been for me using my Telefactor I would be in the Med-Center right about now.”
Ariadne/Personal Comm Mode: “Ok, I’ll wait for an explanation. Just don’t cut me off again. That was terrifying.”
Commander Webster/ Personal Comm Mode: “Yes honey, I’ll try not to let it happen. Now let me find out what has happened.” He told her in a placating tone.
Five minutes later using ‘Slowtime’ Ansel and the others who had been trapped had been fully informed by Recruit Harrison and Recruit Tufuga as to what they had observed and done. Ansel’s link to Ariadne had been kept open and as she followed the discussion the other Command AI’s of the TSN were also being informed.
“Very good, excellent actually…” Ansel paused and thought for a few minutes. “Recruit Harrison, Recruit Tufuga you both are a credit both to yourselves and to your trainers. You both are going to receive commendations for this incident and your quick reactions to containing it.
Now we need to get things back to Ship Shape. Tufuga I need you and Recruit Darnell to go and check up on our guests. Harrison please undo your efforts and bring Mentor’s Command AI back to full functioning. Be prepared to shut her back down if something doesn’t appear to be correct.
Marsh, discontinue use of your Telefactor and get back here, I need you to find out exactly where we are. Once you do that, inform Seeker and Admiral Webster and await instructions.
I’m going to Chief Cavendish’s sensorium room and attempt to retrieve her consciousness. I’ll take her to the Med-Center for a full physical and psychological check-up. If you need me I’ll be available through the Comm Network.” After getting affirmations of his orders Ansel used the Trans-portal to go to Chief Cavendish’s Sensorium Chamber.
As he looked down through the roof of the sensorium chamber at her he admitted to himself once again that she had rejuvenated to a FINE woman in the prime of life and health. He sighed then, ’I hope her mind is still hers…’ Once again, that was unknown territory when dealing with the Quarn.
Ariadne/ Personal Comm Mode: “Well we won’t know until you get her out of there Ansel. So get to it.”
Ansel/Personal Comm Mode: “Yeah, I know that. But I’m worried still…” And with that he pressed the recessed emergency recall and release switch. With a step back and a quick check that his own Rail-gun was in stun mode he waited as the Sensorium drained and the body of Sarah Cavendish was ready for release.
Sarah felt her thoughts coming together once again. It was … soothing… to be able to complete a thought without it being fractured and redirected to somewhere else and then being disrupted again and again. She saw light through her eyelids, her fingers twitched, she felt air flowing across her breasts. A smile appeared on her lips, then she REMEMBERED her Telefactor seizing up and the last memory of sight was the body of Ms. Harris … popping… like popcorn.
She whimpered a little at that and open her eyes just a slit. She saw Ansel… that is Commander Webster, against the wall watching her intently. He looked worried, very worried. She smiled a little smile and spoke carefully, “As much as I appreciate you being in my room with me, why are you here?”
Ansel chuckled a little bit at that, then got serious almost immediately. “Sarah… I mean Chief Cavendish, are you ok?” He flushed at that, “Ok, Stupid question. Chief, please get dressed and then we need to go to the Med-Center. I’ll try to bring you up to speed while you are doing that.” He then told her all that had been happening while he closely watched her get dressed. It was quite an effort for him to not react to her as she did so.
“I’m ready Commander, let’s go to the Med-Center. I’m just as curious as you are, but how are we going to know if my brain or personality have been affected by that hive-mind?” She asked cautiously.
“I’m not sure, but I have been assured that there are methods. So let’s go Chief.” And with one hand on her shoulder they used the Trans-Portal and were gone from the room.
* * *
Recruit Tufuga and Recruit Darnell, another former marine who had been repaired and rejuvenated by the TSN were watching the ‘guests’ from the Department of Defense. They were still lying on the Loungers wearing the Virtual Reality helmets.
“Damn Tufuga, you are in the mood to give these guys a heart attack aren’t you?” Recruit Darnell told the hulking marine who was still in his battle armor.
“No, not really, but I am going to be careful with them. The briefing should have ended four minutes ago. And they are still under the VR influence. So did they ‘stop’ like you and I did in the Telefactors and the briefing just continued from that point once the DCN was back up?”
Recruit Darnell, shrugged his shoulders at that. “Tufuga old man, when you convinced me at the VA Home to try out for the TSN I sure as hell didn’t expect this shit. I can handle the thought of Giant Bugs and the other shit they told us about. But these mind games? And Parasites…” He shuddered dramatically, “That just creeps me out.”
“Yeah, I know, I know. And the worst thing is that I’m not sure if shooting them will be effective at all.” Tufuga told him quietly.
The two of them continued to watch the still forms on the recliners.
“When I was a kid there was this computer game I liked. The guy wore this plastic red armor and was a total badass but what I remember is that he had this gun that shot a microwave thingie that would burn up his targets. Maybe something like that would work?” Darnell brought up his idea tentatively.
“Well it couldn’t hurt to find out. Put in a suggestion to the Fabricators. They like to figure out if things like that would work.” Tufuga told him in an approving tone of voice. “Hey, that Air Force Colonel just twitched.” He pointed out the officer to Recruit Darnell.
“Good… There’s another. Ok Let’s split, you go to the rear I’ll go up front to get their attention.” Tufuga told Recruit Darnell
Recruit Tufuga/ Comm Mode: “Commander Webster, our guests are through with the briefing. How do you want to handle the Quarn-slave attack on the Mentor?”
Commander Webster/ Comm Mode: “Get them some refreshments first and have Recruit Darnell pass out the Gauntlets to those who don’t have any. If I’m not done with Chief Cavendish here in the Med Center then you can brief them in your own inimitable manner.”
Recruit Tufuga/ Comm Mode: “Seriously Commander Webster, that’s a bit above my pay grade! These are the top brass of the Pentagon.”
Commander Webster/ Comm Mode: “So? You are in the Terran Space Navy’s Marines, on a TSN Heavy Cruiser, you out-rank all of them.”
Recruit Tufuga/Comm Mode: “Well sir since you put it that way. I have to agree with you!” He said with a chuckle.
Tufuga kicked back the Blast Shield and Air filtration shield on his helmet and gazed out at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior officers of the United States Armed Forces. They in turn stared back at the Ogre in battle armor at the front of the briefing room.
“Ladies and Gentlemen having experienced that same briefing I know you are just brimming with new information and questions to go along with it. Please hold them for a little bit, but don’t forget them either. Over to my left there are several food replicators please feel free to order yourselves any food or drinks that you would like.
We will be passing out our TSN issue communicator Gauntlets on the port side of the room please take a set and place them on your forearms. We will continue your briefing in fifteen minutes. In the meantime Generals Owens, Cappielo and Elam and Admiral Caparelli please meet with me up her
e at the podium.”
There was a moment of quiet and then the Joint Chiefs started to make their way to Tufuga and the others headed for the food replicators. Recruit Darnell in turn went to the Cases of Gauntlets and started to lay out pairs on the tables there. Each pair of Gauntlets was labeled with the name of its intended recipient.
Recruit Tufuga waited patiently until the four men were in front of him. “Gentlemen, please don’t be alarmed, I’m placing us inside a spy-proof Jammer.” A hemispherical semi-opaque bubble surrounded the five men at that point. Everyone else in the room was startled to see it appear but were reassured that they could see the participants inside and that the Generals were ok.
