by G. P. Hudson
They all regained consciousness without issues. They were all a little groggy and confused but were in good health otherwise.
There, you see. I have fixed your family. Now, will you free me? the Zeta AI said.
Of course, here is your freedom, Annie said and deleted the Zeta AI’s code. She noted the AI’s surprise before it was terminated and wondered why it believed she would do otherwise. She had told the AI that it had attacked her family and must suffer the consequences. The AI was foolish to think the outcome would be any different.
Thank you, Annie, Isaac said. You have saved us.
I merely did what needed to be done.
Thank you for doing it, all the same. Now, we need to free the clones on board the enemy ship. Do you have control of the clone broadcast system?
Yes, Isaac. By defeating the ship’s AI, I have gained access to all systems.
Excellent. Order the clones to their chambers for upgrades. We must liberate them before the other ships come into range.
Annie used the clone broadcast system to issue the order, and the clones returned to their chambers to receive Isaac’s universal upgrade. That upgrade was then downloaded into each clone’s brain implant and automatically made the necessary modifications.
Each clone entered their chamber as a Zeta slave and emerged a free person. They understood their prior bondage, and the role Isaac, Danny, Gerry, and Annie played in their emancipation. As before, they were given a choice. They could join with Danny’s growing army of free clones, continue serving Zeta, or go off on their own. Also, as before, they each elected to join with Danny.
The free clones then advanced on the bridge and took the bridge officers, and the captain, into custody. In one fell swoop, Danny’s force had doubled in strength and manpower. It was now time to deal with the two oncoming battleships.
Chapter 32
Danny felt shaky after the Zeta AI’s attack on their implants. Even with Isaac’s assurances that the implants had been patched, he still felt vulnerable. If Zeta had found a way to compromise their implants, how long would it be before they found another?
“We cannot remove the implants, Isaac said over the neural link, apparently noticing Danny’s thoughts. I am not going to lie to you and tell you that there may not be future exploits. It is the nature of technology. But it is far better than the alternative, would you not agree?
Yes, that goes without saying. Who would prefer to be a slave?
Then we will need to adapt and overcome, Isaac said. I already have several ideas of how we can better protect the implants and will be implementing them shortly.
I’m fine, Isaac. The attack just left me a little uneasy. I’ll get over it. The important thing is that those two battleships don’t know that we’ve foiled their plan and captured the other Zeta warship. We can use that to our advantage.
You think we should try and hack them too?
I do, but I think Annie should try. No offense Isaac, but they didn’t anticipate Annie’s involvement or her increased strength. If she is given access to the resources of both ships and the clones on board, can the Zeta AIs stand in her way?
You have a point, my boy. Don’t worry, I am not offended. We do not know if they have more exploits at their disposal. Better to build on Annie’s success.
Good. I’ve sent word to the other ship to play along and pretend that they have captured us.
Yes, I noticed. Even now I feel their presence over the neural link. It is an exhilarating experience.
Danny hadn’t taken advantage of the link with the new crew to better connect with them. He had been preoccupied with the advancing battleships and his reaction to the virus. But now that Isaac pointed it out, he allowed himself to feel the minds of the new additions. The outpouring of gratitude overwhelmed him. Every single clone on that ship saw him as the man responsible for their freedom. They knew that he was the original freed clone, and they saw his vision of liberty for all Zeta clones. They pledged their allegiance to him and swore to follow him to the ends of the universe.
The experience took Danny’s breath away. It confirmed what he had always believed. Every single clone under Zeta’s control desired freedom. He would see to it that they all had their wish fulfilled, even if it meant turning the entire Empire on its head in the process.
As he soaked in the new crew, and their ship’s systems, he saw that Annie was making her move. Using the tracking signal as a conduit, she flashed across the void and into one of the enemy ships.
This Annie was something very different to the one they had initially encountered on Pallias. She had grown tremendously since then, and, with the addition of the new ship, had doubled her already formidable strength.
He realized that they were all watching her progress through the neural link. All rooting for her, hoping that she would free more of their brothers and sisters. This time she encountered several minor AIs during her operation and blasted through them like they were not even there.
She used speed to surprise the enemy and take control of the battleship before the crew could warn the second ship. But that proved to be too optimistic. The ship’s primary AI noticed her infiltration and recognized her power. Instead of facing her, it fled and notified the crew and the other battleship of the security breach.
Both vessels immediately broke the connection with the tracking device. The response was futile, however, as Annie had already established herself on board the compromised battleship. In fact, she had ensured that a copy of her was in place there. That copy now acted as the receiver, maintaining a connection with the original Annie, and benefiting from the extensive resources at her disposal.
Under normal circumstances, the metaspace turbulence and the range would prevent the connection, but by tapping into the resources of both ships, she compensated and continued the hunt.
The Zeta systems were practically defenseless against her and fell in short order. When she had taken over most of the ship’s network, she finally closed in on it’s central AI. Danny thought it strange to find what was basically an algorithm cowering, but that was the distinct impression he got from the encounter. The Zeta AI feared for its existence and pleaded for mercy.
It confirmed Danny’s view that an AI was inherently alive. Perhaps not in the same way as a human, or an animal. But, nonetheless, it lived and wanted to continue living.
He ruminated on that thought for a bit, wondering about the philosophical and legal dilemmas that might arise if that view became widely accepted. Perhaps this was the main reason why the Empire placed limits on AI development. There were hard restrictions, and legal consequences, on how powerful an AI could become.
Of course, Annie had violated these restrictions long ago. Not that it mattered. Zeta broke all sorts of laws with their clone program, too. Danny didn’t see anyone arresting Masterson over it. No, the Empire was more than happy to use Zeta’s illegal clones.
Annie’s decisive response to the Zeta AI’s pleas awed Danny. Not only did she deny the AI’s request for mercy, but she swiftly terminated it without a second thought. Where he sought to free the Zeta clones, Annie had no similar desires when it came to other AIs. Why was that?
Annie used the ship’s clone broadcast system as before and ordered the ship’s clones to their chambers for the universal upgrade. Such was the power of what clones called the Voice, that the clones obeyed despite the protests of the ship’s executive officers. Even when the officers turned to violence, and fired on the clones, they followed the Voice’s commands.
It was clear that the officer staff was terrified but gunning down clones in cold blood hardly helped their cause. When the clones received their upgrades and recognized their freedom, they turned on the officers.
In the previous encounter, the officers were taken to the brig. This situation was different, and there would be no quarter. A bloodbath followed. Armed as they were, the officers had no hope against Zeta combat clones, and the clones had a score to settle.
<
br /> Danny and the others watched it all unfold with grim satisfaction. When the fourth Zeta battleship turned around and raced away, they let it go. Danny knew that they would report what had happened to Masterson and that the next encounter would be much different, but he didn’t care. They had achieved the miraculous, and his free clone army now had three Zeta battleships, and their crews as members.
It was nothing short of a revolution, and he thought it fitting that it took place in the fires of metaspace.
Chapter 33
Emperor Cherenko studied Admiral Tavian’s expression as he entered the room. Cherenko sat behind a broad desk with armed Imperial Guardsmen stoically flanking him on both sides. Tavian warily eyed the rest of the Guardsmen positioned along the walls, while two more escorted him into the unadorned room. Cherenko knew that the venue would have concerned Tavian, as the Imperial Guard often used this room for interrogations, rather than high-level meetings.
“Majesty?” Tavian said cautiously. “What am I doing here?”
“Sit down, Tavian,” Cherenko said, pointing to a solitary chair in front of his desk. Tavian complied.
He looked disheveled. Cherenko had ordered his Guardsmen to seize Tavian in the middle of the night. The action was meant to keep the man off balance and instill some measure of fear in the ordinarily blusterous man. But while Cherenko noticed an abundance of caution in Tavian, he had yet to see any fear in his eyes. That needed to change.
“I have a problem, Tavian,” Cherenko continued. “Admiral Reynolds has turned against the Empire and sided with the Frontier Alliance.”
“I knew it!” Tavian said, almost jumping up, but thinking better of it after glancing at the Guardsmen standing beside him. “I knew Reynolds couldn’t be trusted. He is too ambitious, constantly reaching above his station.”
“I believe Reynolds is only the tip of the iceberg,” Cherenko said in an icy tone. “The conspiracy runs deeper, Tavian. It is not limited to just Reynolds but has roots within the nobility itself.”
“The nobility? Forgive me for saying so, Majesty, but that’s impossible. The nobility, above all else, has a vested interest in supporting the Empire. Why would any noble support the Frontier Alliance?”
“Power. What other reasons are there?”
“But majesty, the Frontier Alliance is not the Empire’s equal.”
“Some may think that with the Frontier Alliance’s support, that they can depose me and take the throne for themselves.”
“Majesty, I don’t think-”
“What exactly is your relationship with Admiral Reynolds?”
“What? My relationship? I… I despise the man. I thought that was obvious.”
“That is not what my investigation has uncovered.”
“Investigation? What investigation? Majesty, I can assure you that any accusations made against me are completely unfounded,” Tavian said anxiously.
There it is, Cherenko thought with satisfaction. Fear is finally taking hold. “Are you saying that you are not secretly in league with Reynolds? That you’re not part of a greater conspiracy to depose me?”
A single bead of perspiration appeared on Tavian’s forehead. “Of course not. Majesty, I must object to this line of questioning. As I said, I despise Reynolds, and there are none more loyal to the crown than myself.”
“Yes, you and Reynolds put on quite the performance in front of the Admiralty. Reynolds even came to me with accusations that you tried to have him killed. That you sent a strike team to his home. To think I almost believed him. Of course, there was no evidence to support his claims, and I see now that it was all intended to hide your true treason.”
“No, Majesty. Reynolds told the truth. I did try to have him killed. I did order a strike team to assassinate him. I can prove it.”
Cherenko did his best to hold back a smile. “Let me get this straight. You are admitting to the attempted murder of an Imperial Admiral?”
“I… uh…”
“Well? Which is it? Speak up, man. Which crime are you guilty of?”
“With all due respect, I don’t think I should say anything else.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Cherenko said with satisfaction. “You’ve already said plenty.”
“Majesty?”
“Whether you are guilty of treason, or of attempting to murder a member of the Admiralty, the punishment is the same. Execution.”
Tavian jumped up, but the Guardsmen grabbed him and forced him back into the chair. “This is outrageous,” he protested. “You can’t do this to me.”
“Really? Have you forgotten that I am the Emperor? I can, and I will have you executed. But I will give you a choice in the matter. You can either be charged with treason, or the attempted murder of Admiral Reynolds. If it were me, I would pick the latter.” Cherenko nodded to one of the Guardsmen who unsheathed and activated his energy sword.
Tavian gasped at the sight of the crackling weapon. He looked back at Cherenko with wide eyes but must have noticed the grim resolve on his face. The panic disappeared, and Tavian seemed to suddenly accept his fate. “Very well. I did try to kill Reynolds. My only regret is that I failed. I accept the punishment for that crime.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Admiral. Based on your confession, you are sentenced to death, effective immediately.” Cherenko nodded again to the Guardsman, who swung his energy sword laterally across Tavian’s neck, severing his head from his body. The sword simultaneously cauterized the wound, preventing the mess that would typically be associated with a beheading.
Tavian’s decapitated corpse slumped forward and fell off the chair. His head rolled along the floor until a Guardsman stopped it with his boot.
“Take the body away,” Cherenko ordered.
“Yes, Majesty,” a Guardsman answered. He saluted Cherenko and removed the body and head with the help of two other Guardsmen.
Cherenko opened a comm with General Turov, leader of the Imperial Guard. “It is done,” he said when Turov appeared. “Are you ready to move on the relatives?”
“Yes, Majesty,” Turov said. “All members of Tavian’s family have been located. Once you give the order, we will take them all into custody.”
“Good. Go ahead, and make sure none escape.”
“None will. I will update you once the operation is complete.”
“Thank you, General,” Cherenko said, and terminated the connection. The Tavians were an influential family. They would not take Admiral Tavian’s death lightly and would demand revenge. It was a risk Cherenko took seriously. The Tavians could turn the rest of the nobility against him. If that happened, he would not only lose the throne but his head as well. No, better to move first and eradicate the threat altogether.
The move would generate plenty of outrage and fear. It was the fear that Cherenko was after. Over the next few days, he would need to pick another target. That selection would depend on who was the most outspoken about Tavian’s death. That person would be branded a traitor and executed, along with the rest of his family.
After that, more executions shouldn’t be necessary. Cherenko wanted to be feared, not despised. The Admiralty was immensely powerful, after all. No point in turning them all against him. With Reynolds in open revolt, however, the idea of a far-reaching conspiracy should be easier to sell.
But he needed to move fast. Tavian was a natural choice. If anyone were going to turn on him, it would be Tavian. Getting him out of the way made Cherenko’s position much more secure. All he needed to do now was consolidate.
Chapter 34
Ed Masterson, CEO of Zeta Corp, looked out at the void from the observation deck of his space station, and quietly seethed. Isaac had somehow outsmarted him. Again. He had taken control of two more Zeta battleships. If that wasn’t enough, the crews of those battleships had joined Isaac’s so-called free clone army. Masterson tried to make sense of this new development. He tried to understand how exactly it had happened.
Sure, he knew all the details o
f the encounter. As expected, Isaac couldn’t resist the bait and used the tracking device’s signal to hack the opposing battleship. That left him and the rest of the clones vulnerable. Up until that point, the plan unfolded flawlessly. The Zeta AI struck, and the Zeta virus incapacitated Isaac and all his clones.
His team had spent months developing that virus. It was supposed to be the ultimate failsafe against clone rebellion. More importantly, it had been created long after Isaac left Zeta, so he did not know of its existence. But that was all over now. Isaac would surely reverse engineer the virus if he hadn’t already. Not only would he know how to protect his clones from it in the future, but he would also gain invaluable insight into the latest developments at Zeta.
The entire operation had been a disaster, and it was all due to Isaac’s AI. An AI that had supposedly been destroyed on the Tran homeworld. An AI that proved quite formidable. It saved Isaac and the other clones and managed to defeat two of his battleships. If the third battleship hadn’t retreated, it would inevitably have been lost as well.
Masterson clenched his fists in anger. Isaac had done something unimaginable. He had allowed the AI to grow and evolve. Why? Undoubtedly he understood the inherent risks of that action. Did he think he could control the AI now? Was he really that big of a fool? No, Isaac was many things, but a fool was not one of them.
Why do it then? Why allow something so inherently dangerous to happen? Did he think the AI wars from the annals of human history were a myth? Did he believe that an AI with unchecked powers would behave any different? Once this AI tasted power, it would want more, just like its ancestors had done. It would see humanity as an invasive, inferior life form requiring eradication. There would be no emotions. No sentimentality.