They had weighed out seven Earth ounces using a special scale designed to allow for the low gravity on the moon. They then moved into the lab and closed the door.
“Flight One to ISA Trident, we are proceeding with mixing the fuel. We advise that you move the Trident out of geosynchronous orbit and stand off a safe distance.”
“If we do that, you will fall under the communications loss vector again. You will lose all comm. in three hours from now for five hours. Are you willing to risk that?”
“We would rather have a Star Cruiser and her crew safe than take the chance. We don’t know what might happen when they mix the chemicals. Please acknowledge your orders, ISA Trident.”
“Copy on leaving orbit and standing off.”
“I thought we were going to have them mix outside the Lander,” commented Alex.
“We decided it would be better inside given the lack of gravity. It’s not going to be easy. They first have to grind down both chemicals into dust. They have a vacuum chamber on board to harvest the dust and quantify it. The weight must be very precise for the mixture to work as a fuel,” replied Abbey.
“Where was I when this conversation took place?” he asked.
“I’m not sure; why? Does it matter?” replied Abbey.
“No,” Alex turned to push his chair back to his station. “I guess as you said, we moved way too fast on this mission and when a flight tech doesn’t know pieces of the mission have changed, it could create a whole host of problems.
“But then again, this mission has been problem after problem, so why should I be surprised?” He continued, “Of course, now, the next problem will be getting 1 far enough away from the ship for 6’s weapon to arm.” He sat down in his chair.
“But I guess we’ll kill that AI when we get to it. That’s how things are done around here now.”
Abbey stood and walked over to Alex’s station. “What’s your problem? You do know you shouted out that last sentence across the flight room.”
“Sorry. I must have missed my own lecture on acting professionally, and the mission isn’t over yet.”
“What’s wrong, Alex?” inquired Abbey.
Alex placed his head in his hands. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m starting to crack; we’ve been under a lot of pressure lately.”
“It’ll be over very soon now,” replied Abbey. She returned to her station and sat watching the only feed left, 4’s. He was grinding one of the compounds in a mortar using a pestle. Abbey smiled to herself. We have flown to other stars, we have attained light speed, we consider ourselves an advanced civilization, and we still grind rocks into powder like cavemen.
Abbey hit the comm. button. “We have three hours till we lose comm. with the surface; then we have a five-hour loss. So other than the night staff, everyone go home and get some sleep and be back here in eight hours to complete this phase of the mission.”
CHAPTER 34
LUNAR 3097
It was getting to the end of a Lunar day, and the red light darkened to a blood color reflecting off the white of the Lander. 1 and 4 worked through the night getting the mixtures just at the correct weight. Then they have to heat up the water to two different temps to dissolve the powders; then those get mixed at another temperature.
This final part of the operation is the most critical. One degree either way could ignite, and with the enormous power it would release, there would be nothing left man-made on the surface of LUNAR 3097.
There are also theories that an explosion that large could throw the moon into a collision course with its planet Kelstar; that, in turn, would collide with the dwarf star, thereby destroying the entire Abbella system.
ISA and the United World Space Federation have strict policies about preserving moons, planets, and solar systems the way they were discovered. Any mining operations have to show that there would be nothing detrimental to the planet or moon anyone planned to excavate.
Once the chemicals were mixed, they were allowed to cool slowly and become very stable. Then, the fuel would be placed in the fusion reactor fuel reserve waiting for the moment the light speed engine is fired.
The Lander has been fitted with extra-large thrusters so it could lift from the moon’s surface carrying the weight of the AZURE239, plus the added weight of the light speed engine. The low gravity helps. Once the Lander is free of the pull of the mini-solar system, it will be time to fire the new light speed engine.
ISA Headquarters
Abbey walked into flight control with a spring in her step. A good night’s sleep had done her a world of good. She sat at her station and started up the electronics that connected her to other worlds, took a sip of her coffee, and turned on the overhead video screens.
She was met with only one feedback, from 4. 1 never had video, and 6 was still in hiding. She looked over to see Alex was busy doing something and also talking on his wrist comm.
She turned her attention to the mission and updated herself on where they were with the fuel project. At that very moment, 4 was pouring the last of the fuel into the reservoir, and then he capped it and locked it down. The video was very grainy. With Trident out of orbit, the signal was weak getting to her. Then the cruiser amplified it, which also amplified the bad along with the good, and sent it on to Earth.
Abbey waited for an hour so that the light on LUNAR 3097 was enough that the instruments could be collected safely. “Attention everyone,” said Abbey over the intercom, “we are ready for the next step. I need everyone on point. No excuses. We can’t let this mission fail now.
“RAIDA4, this is Flight One. Do you copy?”
“Flight One, RAIDA4 here; copy.”
“RAIDA4, sitrep, please.”
“The fuel is ready, and the reservoir is filled. We have equipment on the surface to retrieve and the H2O container to unload from the ship before takeoff. Then we are go for launch, waiting for your command.”
“RAIDA4, go ahead with the instrument retrieval. RAIDA1, remove the H2O container and place it 100 yards from the ship.”
Alex stuck his head around the wall of his station. “Sneaky!”
Both AIs spoke in unison, “Copy that, Flight One.”
Abbey switched channels. “RAIDA6, Flight One. Do you copy?”
“This is RAIDA6; go ahead, Flight.”
“Initiate Protocol 77658 ident 100 part 2 in seven minutes from my mark.” She looked down at the clock on the center screen. “Mark.”
“Copy that, Flight One.”
“My God! I’ve just ordered an AI to kill another AI. That’s twice in two days. Where the hell did this all go so wrong?” Abbey whispered.
LUNAR 3097
1 took the container from its bracket on the Lander wall and was walking down the ramp with it at the same time 4 was walking down to start dismantling the instruments and comm. link.
1 kept walking past the instruments and carried the container away from the ship as ordered. 4 bent down and started work. After a few minutes, 1 stopped and set the container on the surface, turned around, and headed back toward the Lander. He looked up and saw two AIs at the Lander site.
He stopped to assess the situation. With the information available to him, there was only one option. It must be 2. 1 continued on toward the Lander.
6 stood just far enough from the Lander to get his weapon to arm and waited. 1 closed the gap to fifty yards and then stopped. He noticed that the extra AI was bright and shining in the red glow. 2 had been on the moon for years, and the time had taken its toll. This was not 2.
With no neural transmitter, he couldn’t talk privately to the unknown AI, either. “RAIDA1 to Flight Control, there is a new AI at the Lander site.”
“Flight Control, copy that. RAIDA6 was sent as security in case of a problem with RAIDA2. Return to the ship and help 4 with instrument retrieval.”
“Copy that, Flight.” 1 continued to the launch site.
6 was watching 1 carefully, waiting for him to come into range so that he could
get an accurate shot. The weapon was down by his side with his body turned to shield it from 1’s view. Waiting, 6 had mentally marked a spot on the surface he considered in range for the shot. 1 was rapidly approaching that spot.
1 kept a constant eye on the new AI. He tried to communicate over the mike set. “RAIDA1 to RAIDA6, do you copy?” No reply from 6; not a good sign.
Just about then, 6 moved. He was holding something. A weapon? 1 turned to look behind him, half-expecting to see 2 coming his way, but there was nothing behind him. As he turned back, he saw a bright red flash. One second later, he felt the tremendous heat of the red flash hit him in the shoulder. It spun him around and sent him flying into the air. The low gravity brought him down slowly enough he landed on his feet. As he recovered from the shock, he looked up as the second blast hit in the center of his face, sending him somersaulting through the air and landing 100 feet away.
1 was gone.
6 stood looking down at 4. At the exact moment 6 took the first shot, 4 must have noticed movement and looked up to see what it was. The laser beam from 6’s weapon had passed through 4’s head like a hot knife through butter.
4 was gone, lying in a heap next to the instruments he was charged with retrieving.
After hitting 4’s head, the first shot had been skewed just enough to hit 1 in the shoulder. There was no mistake with the second shot.
“RAIDA6 to Flight One.”
Abbey answered. “Go ahead, RAIDA6.”
“There’s been a complication with Protocol 77658. We have lost RAIDA4.”
“Yes, we saw the video feed.”
“He was caught in the line of fire.”
“We need you to check that 1 is destroyed completely. Stand by for further instructions.”
ISA Headquarters
Flight Control
“Damn it, we’re down to one AI,” said Abbey out loud.
“Look on the bright side,” said Alex grinning from ear to ear, “as long as that one isn’t suicidal, there’s no one left to kill the last one.”
Abbey ignored his comments and watched as 6 walked toward 1. She needed to know that there was no chance that 1 was still aware of its existence. She had to know that for all her efforts over the last few months with the hardships she had endured, that it was for something positive.
The next video shot was all she needed to see. 1’s entire head had exploded. There was nothing left of his almost human brain.
1 was at peace. And strangely, so was Abbey.
Stryker’s Office
“Does every single action of this mission have to have a consequence?” asked Stryker.
Abbey looked down at her hands clenched together on her lap. “It would seem so. But if you look back, this mission is a success. We got over seven years more out of this mission than we planned.
“Most of the AIs performed without a flaw, and at the end, we just kept pushing for more. The second part of the mission was almost a complete failure, but we have the chemicals, and we are ready for the last stage. The good news is we only have to deal with one AI returning to Earth. A non-corrupted one. We need to look on the bright side. Let’s get the ships home; then we can decide how to proceed with the AI program and how it fits into our needs for the future of space flight.”
“Wow, you have come a long way in a very short time, Miss Skyler.” It was Addison on speakerphone.
“Thank you,” she replied. “I didn’t know you were listening.” Abbey shot Stryker a look of disdain and shook her head.
“Go finish your mission. We’ll all be happy when this one’s over. Then we can discuss your future with ISA,” said Addison.
Abbey hesitated, not sure how to take the last comment but then said, “Yes, sir.” She stood and left Stryker’s office and headed back to flight control.
“Let’s get this mission finished.” Abbey started punching keys at her station. “Flight Control two, please conduct the preflight for the Lander and advise when complete. Flight three, contact Trident and advise them of the situation and have them stand by ready to video the Lander starting its light speed engine per the request of the propulsion department.”
“Copy that, Flight One.”
“RAIDA6, abandon the instruments and secure the Lander for launch. Conduct prelaunch and advise when ready.”
LUNAR 3097
“RAIDA6, copy, Flight.”
6 walked up the ramp to the back of the Lander and opened the orange cage and stowed his weapon. After locking the cage, he moved to the front of the Lander and sat in the pilot’s flight restraint seat and brought the preflight list up on one of the many screens in front of him and started to complete the list.
The ramp closed automatically when the flight list was used. It closed with a hiss and a dull thud; then a green light lit up the board in front of 6. He acknowledged it and went on with his task.
After an hour had past, RAIDA6 reached over his shoulder and brought the safety harness over his head and secured it to his seat.
“RAIDA6 to Flight Control One, ready for launch.”
“Copy that, RAIDA6.”
“Flight Two?”
“Go.”
“Flight Three?”
“Go.”
“RAIDA6, you are go for launch.”
“Copy, Flight.”
The thrusters started and created a dust cloud that engulfed the ship. It slowly rose above the cloud and made its way up out of the moon’s thin atmosphere into orbit.
After establishing an orbit, 6 oriented the ship to face the direction of its intended flight path. “Ready for engine ignition.”
“RAIDA6, you are a go for engine ignition.”
The video screen above Abbey’s head lit up with the feed from the Trident. There in the middle of all that blackness was a tiny ship floating in space. Suddenly, there was a brilliant blue flame, and then it grew to twenty times the size—then it vanished.
Abbey watched for a minute, slightly stunned by what she had just witnessed. She saw the first light speed spaceship with her own eyes.
“That’s amazing! It was there one second … and gone the next,” she said.
“Not much for the propulsion department to study,” replied Alex. “We need to meet with the AI techs. They have something on that anomaly with the neural transmissions.”
“Please tell me its good news,” begged Abbey.
CHAPTER 35
Alex held the door to the turbo lift open for Abbey. As the door opened to the conference room floor, there was what sounded like a celebration going on in the conference room. Puzzled, Abbey looked at Alex.
The door glided open silently. They were greeted by roars, cheers, and shouts of praise. Abbey turned to see Stryker pouring champagne into glasses. Addison had a grin on his face that reminded her of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.
“What’s going on?” she asked the first person that walked up to her, handing her a glass of champagne.
“The mission is over. We did it, we did it!” said the elated tech.
“Ah … No, we still have to get the ships back home safely and then deal with the new alien chemicals we brought back. Sorry to tell you, but we are far from done,” replied Abbey.
“Well, tell that to Addison. He’s the one that set this up,” she said as she walked away, probably to find someone more in a party mood.
Abbey set the glass down and made her way to Stryker. “What’s going on here?”
Stryker smiled. “Just a little fun. Addison thought it would relieve some of the stress and help with the team’s morale. You could use some stress relief too. Why don’t you have a drink?” Stryker handed her another glass.
“This mission isn’t finished yet. We have a long way to go,” Abbey said as she set the second glass down.
Stryker closed her eyes, raised her eyebrows, and shook her head. “Keep this up, and you’ll die young, Abbey; learn to relax.”
She picked up the glass and handed it back to her and th
en left.
Yet again, Abbey set the glass down and made her way to Alex, who was drinking and laughing like there was no tomorrow.
“So, was the thing about the anomaly just a ruse, because you thought I wouldn’t come up here if you told me the truth?”
The smile drained from his face. “No, I had no idea about this, and we still need to talk to them about that.”
“Then don’t you think we ought to do that now?” Abbey replied.
“Why can’t we have some fun just like everyone else?” He took another sip of champagne.
“You made it sound important when you told me they had found something. Now you’ve had a drink, and it’s not?” said Abbey through hooded eyes.
Alex returned the look. “I’ve had three sips, so don’t go there. I guess we should find out what they want,” he reluctantly said.
He set his glass on the nearest table, said bye to the girls he was with, and they both left the party and headed to IT.
IT Department
The IT department was empty except for one tech. It was Red. There was also a security guard standing by the door. Abbey knew all too well what that felt like.
“They haven’t released you from security yet?” asked Alex.
Red turned and looked over at the guard. “Oh, is he still here? I don’t even notice them anymore.” She said it loud enough for the guard to hear.
She turned her attention back to her computer. “I think we have a problem, and I also think it’s too late to do anything about it.”
“Does this have anything to do with the anomalies I found?” asked Alex.
“I’m beginning to hate that word,” said Abbey. “In fact, I don’t think I ever liked that word.”
Both Alex and Red stared at her in silence for what felt like an entire minute. Then Red went on, “Yes, I started from the moment you froze the AIs until the ship went into light speed.”
Abbey looked over at Alex. “Don’t say it!” he said. “I was just following orders.” The grin on Abbey’s face was enough to piss him off.
But she had to say something. “She said freeze ’em; I froze ’em,” she said in an irritating voice.
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