by Neely Dobbs
CHAPTER 22: Alliance
A faint shadow of ephemeral consciousness stirred. In its ebb and flow a barely perceptible, gradual strengthening occurred. Phantom shapes and fragmentary recollections swirled and meshed like gossamer threads laid down by weavers of the tapestry of time. A warm comfort of belonging suffused the growing consciousness. Then another feeling, unbidden and unwanted, slipped in. A feeling of duty, its elements smelling of urgency, desperation, and commitment. Each element glimmered briefly in its bid for supremacy, then each faded back into the murky realm of unreality. Drifting consciousness struggled for the earlier feeling of simple well-being, but the uninvited feelings tenaciously remained.
Jason stirred on his couch. The movement animated his returning consciousness with a succession of flickering images. A farm house. A grove of trees. Outbuildings. The rich fields he had plowed and planted. His beloved wife and companion. His best friend, who owned the adjacent farm. The pastoral town he had lived near.
Each picture came clearer and sharper in his mind’s eye. For the briefest of moments, each seemed to add to the totality of his life— his peaceful life: a joyful and loving marriage, a comfortable home, a friendly neighbor, satisfying work. The images melded together, represented security; home in both place and time.
Then the soothing picture frayed at the edges, ballooned in the center, and shattered into uncountable fragments. Each drifted slowly, agonizingly, away. Into the resulting void came a new picture, and the ponderous magnitude of full recollection flooded his mind. His simpler self, now revealed as mere fable, made a final vain effort to reassert itself. Instead, it was overwhelmed by the powerful thrust of fresh impressions.
A whole panorama of people— his people. His wife, somehow different, yet still his wife. His precious children. The wondrous machines. The cosmic threat. His sleeping friends. All coalesced irresistibly and began to resume their proper places in his restored recollection. Slowly, order and reality reasserted themselves.
In an instant of interminable length, he recaptured the true essence of his being. Admiral Ozier opened his eyes.
Three newly familiar figures were close at hand: his wife, Vice-Admiral Sabanda Ozier; his friend and aide, Commodore Kyell Trandic; and ADIZ, his wondrously reliable robotic aide. The Science Lab he now occupied was the very one in which his mask had originally been put in place. Jazon had returned to Kepren. Back to his home planet, back to the physical and political center of the cluster.
He exulted as his thoughts raced into focus. It worked... I've been brought back and my memory is restored ! Every detail is clear and sharp. Vital memories totally lost for over three years have returned. Yet, the wonderful memories of my three years on Earth remain, as well.
The Admiral rose from the couch and looked to Sabanda and Kyell. With one quick glance, he knew that the restoration had returned their memories as well. After embracing Sabanda and learning that her restoration had been somewhat faster than his, he was assured that their children remained safe in hibernation. He then turned and gave his close friend a back-slapping hug that left Kyell gasping.
Laughing, Jazon addressed the robot. “ADIZ?”
“Yes, Admiral?”
“Please give me a current status update on the Wasp.”
“VSDI 473 reported 1.48 minutes ago that the Wasp’s crew still has been unsuccessful in their efforts to break through to either the power station or the bridge. The abnormal spin of the Wasp has not abated, so docking remains impossible. Although final calculations are now being made, no question remains: current trajectory analysis shows that the Wasp will make its final impact at the heart of Ganlon, with a strike point no more than 1.03 miles from its exact center. Projecting our departure for the Mathlen Command Center in eight hours— we will arrive eighteen hours prior to the critical point where the Wasp could no longer be safely… destroyed… without endangering Kepren.”
Jazon interrupted. “ADIZ, what do you mean by ‘departure in the next eight hours’? We need to get to the Command Center now!”
Sabanda laid her hand on Jazon’s arm to calm him and said, “I wasn’t able to tell you…or maybe I was afraid to. ADIZ insists that regulations require personnel to rest a minimum of eight hours following mask removal before being allowed to return to active duty.” Seeing Jazon’s face getting red, she hurried on, “Now, don’t fly off the handle. I’ve already checked! There is no provision for an executive over-ride of that order by you or anyone else. Let’s accept it gracefully and do what we can until we are allowed to go to the Command Center.”
"We don't have time for that!" he bellowed. "I'm not about to sit here twiddling my thumbs because of some short-sighted directive. If Mathlen is destroyed, the Alliance's entire population Could be stranded in hibernation forever!" He banged his fist against the wall. "There has to be a way out of this mess!"
"And we will find it, Jazon," Sabanda quietly insisted. "But you know that blowing your top just makes it harder for you to think clearly. Ease back, Admiral."
His face lightened from storm intensity to a dark scowl. As he regain some control, he gritted out tersely, “ADIZ, do you know what a loophole is?”
“Sir, if I understand it correctly, it is a means of cleverly circumventing strict guidelines or regulations. While that may not be the exact definition, that is specialized information I have gained from observing your actions in the past, rather than through any officially sanctioned programming.”
With a creeping smile, Jazon replied, “Close enough. I will conditionally accept this requirement for rest. but only if you can find a loophole that allows me to issue some vital commands and to contact Commander Agriel. ADIZ, this is a directive from the Fleet Admiral— and I don’t want to hear anything about my not being on active duty yet. Search for that loophole! Execute!”
“Acknowledged, Admiral. There is a precedent from 1,862 years in our past when a Fleet officer ordered an AIDD to circumvent…
“Skip the blinking technicalities, ADIZ! Can you do it?”
“Affirmative, Sir, if you so order.”
“Shazz! Yes... I so order!”
Jazon glared over his shoulder, hoping to stifle the sounds of laughter escaping from Sabanda and Kyell. He was less successful with them than his words had been with the robot. "I don't see what's so funny," he muttered.
Sabanda placed her hand on his arm and gently squeezed. "Of course you don't, Admiral. But once this crisis is over, your 'non-standard' solution to circumvent that directive is likely to become a source of good humor throughout the Fleet."
"That's true, Jace," Kyle chortled, "At least... if you don't get court-martialed for corrupting ADIZ's programming!"
Jazon smiled sheepishly. "If it saves their butts, they wouldn't dare." He turned back to ADIZ and said, “Prepare to receive and transmit a Priority-One directive.”
“Acknowledged, Sir. Ready.”
“I hereby issue Priority-One directive MI/32X, limited over-ride of protective conflict programming, to you and to all AAIDs required to carry out any orders I give regarding preparation and use of offensive missile systems. Execute order on my authority, Code PA/32Z, voice recognition; mark; execute.”
ADIZ responded immediately. “Code and authority confirmed. Responding.” ADIZ opened and activated channels of secured access previously unavailable to him. "Order executed.” Then he added, “And, Sir, thank you.”
“Understood, ADIZ. We couldn’t have the AAIDs getting locked in protective loops while preparing missiles to fire at the Wasp. Now, notify VSDI that three KTX’s are to be prepared. Select launch sites that will offer launch windows that will allow missiles to reach the Wasp at one, two and three hours prior to its reaching unsafe proximity to Kepren. Also, have remote firing controls rigged at the Command Center.”
“Responding." After only a short pause, he spoke a
gain. "Sir, your orders have been transmitted, acknowledged and accepted. Implementation will begin immediately.”
" Good work, ADIZ... and thank you."
Sabanda and Jazon exchanged guarded glances. The robots would now instantly obey orders to prepare the launch sites for firing but it was virtually impossible to force them to actually initiate a launch. No over-ride of that programming was available, even to a Fleet Admiral. If snuffing out thirty-five lives became the only solution to the crisis, Jazon would have to push the button himself. He might soon be forced to take that action.
Jazon verified that his companions were ready to leave the lab, then addressed ADIZ, “Now we will yield to regulations and retire to our rest quarters. Are we being quartered close by, and is a carrier ready?”
“Yes, Admiral. The ride is not long.”
“Very well. Let’s get going.”
They quickly boarded the transport and seated themselves. When it began to move, Kyell began drumming his fingers rhythmically on his armrest. Sabanda watched for a moment then said, "Out with it, Trandic."
"Huh? What are you asking. Out with what?"
"Whatever it is that's driving you crazy," she retorted. "I've seen that scowl before... and the finger drumming... and the quiet withdrawal. I know you all too well, Commodore. So spit it out. What are you beating yourself up over?"
Kyell slowly shook his head. “Aw, I was just wishin' I'd made contact with ADIZ instead of shootin' at his ship,” he lamented. “If it hadn't been for me, we could’ve been here two days ago.”
"Your feelings are understandable, Kyell. In fact, I could easily regret succumbing to Jazon’s considerable charms in the grove the next night. That little escapade delayed ADIZ another full day." She sighed. “Kyell, if you had known, of course you would have responded differently. But we were masked then, and we had no way of knowing." She reached across and touched his knee. "Kyell, what 'could have happened' or what 'we might have done' is idle speculation and wasteful recrimination. You are too good for that, and our time is too precious to waste on it.”
"Thanks, Sabanda," Kyell answered quietly. "I know you're right. Still..."
The carrier reached its destination. Sabanda and Kyell started to move off to examine their quarters, but stopped when Jazon snapped his fingers and asked ADIZ, “Is the loophole still in effect?”
“If you so order.”
Kyell started chuckling and Jazon grinned impishly. “I so order. So, ADIZ, how long will it take to get connected to the Wasp... specifically to communicate with Commander Agriel?”.
“Responding…one moment, please. Commander Agriel requests permission to complete a staff meeting and meet with you in five minutes. Will this be satisfactory?”
Jazon winked at Kyell, “Sure beats the heck out of eight hours! Ask Agriel to contact us as soon as he’s ready.”
“Acknowledged and accepted, Sir.”
During the wait, the group entered their quarters, then convened in the shared living room that was equipped with computers and com equipment. Jazon chafed at the realization that their quarters had no HoloPsychic Integrator— commonly called “The Educator.” It was a miracle of technology that could have fully updated him on the entire crisis in mere minutes. ADIZ had reported that, during their three year absence, there had been two disappearances: the lone vanishing of Chad and one full SD. The SD was nearly thirteen months earlier, when the Aicycleis system had vanished. Jazon immediately incorporated the new data into his existing information: Of the total of eleven vanished systems, four had been settled and heavily populated. Two others had small personnel contingents. The remaining five had been completely evacuated prior to their disappearance.
What is the pattern? Is there a pattern? I need to use the Educator and also see the lab’s “time compressed” visuals to get a handle on these events. But that can’t happen until we resolve the crisis with the Wasp…one way or the other.
The com buzzed and he expected it to be Vick Agriel. Instead, ADIZ informed him that final trajectory coordinates had been established. Ground zero for the Wasp's was impact would be virtually on top of the Mathlen Command Center. Even if the planet was not entirely devastated, Ganlon and the entire Mathlen complex would be destroyed. Since Mathlen was the nerve center that controlled all the sanctuary worlds, it meant that literally billions of people— including Jazon's own children— might never get the chance to reawaken.
What are the alternatives? There must be other options! Could an automated reconnaissance ship ram the Wasp with enough impact to deflect its trajectory away from Kepren... or could several missiles be exploded to one side of the Wasp, deflecting it far enough but not destroying it.? Probably not. Two days ago, possibly, but not now. Every computer simulation argues against any successful course other than destroying the Wasp. But what of the people on board?
He had reviewed the personnel file and recognized several crew members he had known. Had known? The hair on the back of his neck tingled as he realized he was starting to think of them in the past tense.
Can I push the button?
Will I have any choice?
A movement at the fringe of Jazon’s peripheral vision signaled ADIZ's return to their quarters.
“Sir, Commander Agriel will appear on the viewer shortly.”
Despite the gravity of their situation, Jazon found himself amused by something he hadn’t noticed before. “Shortly, ADIZ? I didn’t know you could generalize.”
The robot somehow managed to sound contrite. “My apologies, Sir! I should have said 1.73 minutes. If you remember, some limited ability to generalize was added to my programming at the time of your masking. It was thought that it might assist in making you more comfortable during any contacts we might have prior to your mask removal. In addition, my extended time of being powered down at Sanctuary-1 allowed me to review the records of all my interactions with you. I gave special emphasis on your more... unorthodox handling of situations.
"I then assigned additional weight to how those memories would factor in to my programming decisions. My intent was to enhance my utility by being able to more closely approximate your thought processes. However, now that your masks are removed, perhaps I should have….”
“No, no,” Jazon interrupted hurriedly. “Your first report was sufficient in this case. Generalization is appropriate under many circumstances. In fact, generalizations are sometimes the only rational responses.”
Kyell, who had been reviewing the new data on the Wasp's trajectory, grinned crookedly as he spoke up. “A-to-Z,” he said, looking the AIDD up and down in an appraising manner, “It seems to me you’ve put on weight since we last saw you. You been sippin’ that high grade oil again?”
Jazon and Sabanda hid their smiles.
The robot replied seriously, “Not to my knowledge, Sir. My lubricant depletion rate is nominal and there have been no significant changes in my component parts. Of course, it is possible that when one of my servo units was repaired, the replacement had somewhat more mass than the defective part. Still, that unit is internal and would not show. Or…are you making what is called…a joke? I recognize that you called me ‘A-to-Z' when you are perfectly aware that protocol requires ‘A-D-I-Z’.”
“No, no,” Kyell continued smoothly. “It's just that you, well, seem larger around the middle.” He hid a smile.
ADIZ pondered this last sally for a moment, but concluded it required no reply.
Kyell snorted, “I’m a little disappointed; I was hoping he would come up with some response. I guess he’s still not versatile enough to start calling him ‘A-to-Z’.”
After a brief pause, Commander Agriel's dark but smiling face appeared on the screen. “Ozier, you slimy ole’ space-slug! It's good to see your rotten carcass even over this contraption. We desperately need your help, Admiral, so I hope your restoration didn’
t push your brains out over the ledge.”
Rather than being offended, Jazon was concerned by the casual manner of Agriel’s speech; he knew it was not the Commander's normal way. It revealed that the man was being severely affected by the extreme tension he was under, so he decided to respond just as informally. “You can drop the ‘out-back' Sythian slang, Agriel. Your purple lady friends probably eat it up, but this is Jazon you’re talking to now! I can't seem to let you out of my sight without your getting yourself into some kind of jam.”
Agriel grinned, but it was forced. “I'll bet you never had the misfortune of a whole planet vanishing out from under you, either. Some guys have all the luck!" His smile faded. "Sir, have the trusty machines given you a complete up-to-the-minute report?” His voice carried more than a faint hint of desire to hear some good news.
“In almost no time at all they've stuffed me with more verbal and visual info than I could digest in half a day. You’ve really picked one doozey of a challenge this time.”
“Yeah, I know,” Agriel replied dejectedly. With his facade down, his fear and fatigue were breaking through. He rubbed his stubbly burgundy beard, and Jazon figured the man hadn’t shaved for days.
“Do you have enough food and water?” Jazon knew the answer, but wanted to introduce a more upbeat tone.
“Yes, absolutely no danger of starving or going thirsty. In fact, we could go skinny-dipping if we could just find the time! We really were fortunate that the stores weren’t walled off when this accursed thing happened. Come to think of it, I guess things could be a lot worse. Thanks for reminding me, Admiral.” After a short pause, he continued, quite seriously. “Sir, there’s something you probably have already figured out, but I need to be sure.”
Jazon’s grin faded as Agriel continued. “I know that either you or I might have to launch the missiles. If it comes to that we’ll do our duty… but if there’s… any alternative… any way you can get us out of this mess…”
Jazon, hating himself for the half-truth he knew they would both recognize, said, “Count on it, Commander! We’re going to get you off somehow.”
Agriel grunted. “I believe you, Admiral…but could you promise we’ll all still be in one piece?”
“Vick, we’ll do our best.”
Something behind Agriel and out of Jazon’s view caused Vick to turn and listen for a few seconds, then return his attention to Jazon. “Sir, we’ve got some new information coming in right now and I’m needed.”
“Understood. Right now, we have to honor the recuperation cycle and try to get some rest. When we get to Mathlen and set up camp, I’ll call you again.” He signed off and turned to ADIZ. “Have three Educators and full support materials delivered to these quarters as soon as possible.”
ADIZ acknowledged and Jazon, Kyell and Sabanda tried to slow their adrenaline enough to get at least some sleep.
It was going to be an uphill battle.