“Interesting. Do you know if Framework software can be put to use on a normal clone as well as a Framework creation?” Doc asked.
“Yes, in fact. Later versions of this software can be used on any biological form capable of higher brain functions. If a being has the capability to keep track of time, remember symbols in a sequence, and experience a human range of emotions, it can be programmed to a degree. Triad and Vindyne have both been working towards this goal and the final combination of their contributions are responsible for this quantum leap in wetware programming.”
“But not entirely. Who else brought pieces to the table?” I asked.
“Jonas Valent, it is good to meet you. Almost no one knows anything about you, you realize. They even deleted your residence and service records on Freeground. You too Terry McPatrick. It seems Freeground expects to use you in ways they will have to disavow. To answer your question, several experts in their fields have contributed critical knowledge and practices to the Framework software, some of whom came from Freeground, as you know. That is how Freeground was made aware of the project.”
“Which researchers came from Freeground?”
“I don't have that information, Doctor Anderson, I'm sorry.”
“Though your creator would know that it wouldn't be hard to guess, with a near certainty, if we could find out who in this field was still on Freeground.”
“I'm not made to speculate, but if I were to do so anyway, I would say that the process of elimination that you're suggesting would be very effective,” the hologram said with a nod. “Now, back to the point. The software portion of the Framework project is the summation of all the knowledge humanity possesses of the brain, nervous system, computer technology and bioelectronics. There are other technologies involved, but for the purpose of my presentation I'll keep those non-critical technologies out of it. When a host is emptied of all but the most basic reflex functions, they are ready to have rudimentary developmental memories, thought patterns and a baseline personality imprinted. Thanks to Vindyne, more complex memories will be available. But, integration will still depend on compatibility with the subject since actual memory transfer is not yet possible unless a perfect millisecond snapshot scan of an active human brain is used as a source. And, the destination brain would have to be a perfect duplicate of the mind the snapshot was taken of in the instant it is programmed. That is one of the major problems in creating a perfect transfer of memories, personality, and thought patterns. The hardware portion of the Framework project is made to address this problem and eventually provide memory integration systems that can add memories and information to an operating human brain.
“That technology represents the future. The process of imprinting a personality takes less than two weeks at this time, though work to cut that time down and meet our previously mentioned goals is under way. Using the current procedure, the subject is allowed to gain consciousness after the long imprinting process, and in those first few minutes the baseline personality becomes a working consciousness including any tendencies and memories that were imprinted earlier. The subject is not aware that it is in a Framework host unless that information is included in the memory catalogue they were programmed with. Under ideal conditions, the host does not question who they are, what they are, but will follow the instincts put in place. The subject is normally unaware that there are voids in their memory, but in advanced testing on Frameworks with badly fragmented memories, subjects often create reasons why they cannot remember whole years, or even who they are, though basic rationalization.
“Normally the subject will begin performing basic tasks, such as stretching, walking, practising with the tools it has training for or with basic objects that may be close at hand. This is called the alignment phase and is normally completed in under six minutes.
The phase of research currently under way involves creating personalities that are made specifically for Framework products, based on detailed capture scans of a living subject's brain and physiology. This would allow whoever possessed the technology to create an exact copy of a person in under fifteen days, or create an entire personality from scratch and implant it into a Framework mind. The hardware behind Framework also makes it easier for alterations and corrections to be made.”
“Amazing,” Doctor Anderson said, shaking his head.
“Terrifying. A framework would be capable of doing anything, being anyone, if they manage to finish the imprinting technology,” Ayan added.
“And there are no laws in place that forbid their use,” the hologram responded. “Making this project even more appealing.”
“What about the Eden Two law? Wouldn't artificial intelligence restrictions block any artificial intelligence that was created to do harm?” asked Laura.
“Not so. In fact, the Framework, its current software and future developments take current galactic laws into account completely. On most core worlds, clones and biological beings with self awareness can attain and retain their freedom simply by buying it or having it given to them by their owner. Some of these worlds have even gone so far as to declare that owning a self aware clone is slavery and that any clone in those systems is a free being. These same laws pertain to Framework-made beings, especially since part of the technology is already in use as a treatment for patients with advanced blood diseases and organ failure. The Framework project stems from technology that has kept several million citizens alive. The fact that the software built into Framework makes the subject incapable of leaving or causing harm to their masters is beside the point.”
“So in the view of the current law these creations would be serving their masters because they want to,” Jason added.
“Yes, and even better. Eventually you will be capable of programming their personalities with certain tendencies, forcing the subjects to serve their masters as a part of their basic nature. They are not aware that they are serving in this scenario. Positive examples of this tendency-style programming include subjects who must aid people in need or danger, or drones that have a compulsion to clean. Negative examples include communicating observations with a neural transmitter, performing sabotage unconsciously, or even materializing an explosive compound in their own stomach using Framework and detonating themselves in a crowd.”
“Where the law is concerned, there's nothing wrong with this technology, but there are a number of situations that the law hasn't addressed yet. Can you tell us where the majority of the funding for this project is coming from? What department would it fall under?” I asked.
“Framework is considered a military and medical research and development project. A recent shareholder report claimed that within the next ten months the Triad Consortium would be able to cure any disease and equip their upper-tier citizens with devices that would repair any immediately non-fatal injury.”
“So it's primarily medical,” Jason asked.
“Its secrecy and location in a military base counter that conclusion, but it is classified medical, yes.”
“Well, now that we know everything we need to about the project and that it's something we don't want Triad to have, where do we find it and how heavily defended is it?” Oz asked.
“The research station is located at the centre of the Blue Belt. In the Krissis Cluster.”
“The Krissis Cluster? That's not even possible.” Oz whispered. “That section of the Blue Belt is so active we wouldn't last three seconds before we were crushed by any number of asteroids and meteors. A space station wouldn't do any better.”
“It is there, I assure you. Triad Consortium ships created a stable gravitational barrier to redirect most of the mass, then moved a wormhole generator and receiving area into the region. After the space was ready they brought the station in piece by piece and reconstructed it.”
“Do you have the wormhole gate access codes?” Jason asked.
“The security codes are on the same data storage medium that is projecting me. It is the old Freeground gate that was originally b
uilt with the station.”
“Well, if it weren't located in the middle of a dense asteroid field, I'd say that it's almost too easy.” Oz said, shaking his head.
“The energy output required to create a gravitational field to protect an area that large has to be massive,” Ayan added.
“It is. The power is provided by power plants built on asteroids with abundant natural resources.”
“What kind of defences does the station have?”
“The station is used as a prototype development facility for Triad, but considering its location it was lightly defended. More ships may have been brought in if the escape of Doctor Marcelles has been detected, however.”
“Judging from what we've seen, they know he's out,” Oz said. “It sounds like the sooner we get there the better the chances are that we can do the job.”
I looked at him then to Ayan, who was watching me, waiting for my opinion. “We need to make sure we're as well prepared as possible. We don't go until every department reports ready.”
“Makes sense to me. I'd hate to come out of a jump gate with shields that only work at one end,” Oz agreed.
“I'll try to have the ship ready in a few hours. I just hope there aren't any battleships like the Vindicator waiting for us when we get there.”
We all took a copy of the information given to us by Doctor Marcelles and the hologram of him faded out. Each of us would be able to call him up later so he could help us sort through all the data and find what we needed, or simply to answer questions if he could. Jason and his team ensured that the artificial intelligence responsible for that database would not be able to access the main computer.
Chapter 18
Repairs
I made sure that I was on the bridge when we finished decelerating and came out of hyperspace. I wanted our repairs to go as quickly as possible, and I had some choice words for the Captain of the Triton.
We were behind. I was hoping the Triton would still be at our rendezvous point. You never knew with Captain Wheeler, as I was quickly discovering.
“Scanning the area, Sir. Nothing in sight,” came the report from tactical.
“Jason, send a standard, low powered hail.”
Sergeant Everin did so and nodded. “Done, sir.”
“From what we've seen, the Triton can cloak seamlessly.”
“We've got to get our hands on those specs,” Laura said from her field control station. “Dedicated sciences, please scan the area and focus on the Triton if she appears. I want to see what the light, gravity and energy are doing around that ship.”
“Yes, Ma'am,” came the acknowledgement from the dedicated sciences station. It was present on the original bridge, but had been dropped since that bridge was abandoned the first time. Seeing it back in place with at least one crew member manning it at all times was encouraging. Tactically, they could focus scanners on details that could yield useful information. When we weren't in jeopardy they would study near and distant phenomena, mark available natural resources, add to and update interstellar maps and report on points of general interest.
I looked to Oz and saw that he was viewing the repair teams roster. “Order the repair teams out there. I want to see what we're dealing with and get patched up as fast as possible.”
“The first team is on their way out now.”
The Triton became visible. Since the walls were set to display as though they were windows looking out all around the ship, she appeared right in front of us, within four hundred meters nose to nose.
“Captain Wheeler on the comm sir,” Jason announced.
“Let's have a word.”
Captain Wheeler's smiling face rose out of the main holographic projector. “Good to see you made it. I was going to wait another five hours and go on without you.”
“How did you do on your way out of there?”
“Ah, we disappeared as soon as we broke atmosphere. We don't stand out like some ships I know. Hey, I was wondering, do you have any personnel you can spare to work on my ship while we're here?”
I was more than a little surprised. Not only did they not stick around to see if we needed a hand escaping from our pursuers -- not that there was actually anything he could have done really -- but he got away clean and was asking for help I didn't even know if I could afford to give.
“I mean, we're down to a crew of seventy five here, you're up to what, two hundred?”
“They're not all qualified for repair work. Besides, we have some damage to look after on our end. I don't even know how bad it is yet.”
Captain Wheeler turned his head as though he were listening to someone behind him. “According to our scans you've got a bit of a singe on your dorsal port engine, but everything on your end looks pretty good. A few extra qualified people would just be helpful over here. I'd like to tune the Triton up a bit before sending it into the mess we'll be facing.”
“As I see it, it's not the Triton that will be providing the distraction. I'll tell you when we know how long our repairs will take. After that we'll see if we have time to give you a tune up.”
“Never mind. If you need your people, you need your people. Just signal me when you're ready to go,” Wheeler said dismissively. He was looking at something to his right, not paying much attention to the transmission.
“How is your new guest?” I asked.
I caught his attention and he looked up as though he was surprised I was asking. “The doctor? We put him in stasis. We're learning a lot from him.”
“Stasis? Was he injured?”
“We weren't going to dissect him while he was conscious. What kind of people do you think we are?”
“Dissect him? He's not just a piece of technology! You can't just take him apart and put him back together again. Besides, we need him for current information about what we're facing here.”
“What we're facing here. Our scan showed that more than half of this guy's skeletal system has been replaced by Framework tech. He doesn't have just a little implant like his records say. We asked him about it and he said he wasn't even aware of it. A scientist like that not aware that his system is being replaced? That's hard to swallow.”
“Why would he lie to you?”
“Who knows? Maybe he's got his own agenda. It wouldn't surprise me.”
“Sure. Maybe if you took a few minutes to find out what that agenda is by asking him, earning his trust--”
“That's why when I told Freeground Intelligence I needed another ship to finish this, they sent you to me, I think. You have the firepower and aren't afraid to use it, to slag whatever's in your way. But when it comes to wetwork, getting your hands bloody, you lose your nerve. You haven't been out here long enough to realize what it takes to really get ahead. You're still too clean, not just your uniforms, but the way you prance around following military rank and procedure. Take my advice, leave your moral compass behind. It doesn't work out here,” he finished before cutting the transmission.
“He's getting on my nerves,” Oz said.
“They left their receive channel open after closing their send. I'm pretty sure they heard that Oz,” Jason reported. “I didn't get a chance to close it until it was too late.”
“Well, good thing it's nothing I wouldn't say to his face,” Oz replied as he looked over fresh damage reports from the repair and engineering teams.
I couldn't help but think of the scientist that was being cut to pieces by whatever medical or science staff Captain Wheeler had aboard his ship.
I shook off the darkening feeling I had about what was going on aboard the Triton and looked to Oz. “How is it looking?” I asked.
“Not bad. They have to repair some of the finer points of the ion engines, but it should be all wrapped up in about fifteen hours.”
“That's quick.”
“Well, we have everyone out there and they were all scheduled for a day of downtime before we came out of hyperspace, so they're pretty fresh.”
“Nicely done. You're
really getting a handle on managing the crew schedules.”
“Ah, I get a lot of help from the rest of the senior staff. I think we're just getting better at communicating our needs.” We worked quietly for a few minutes before Oz stopped everything. “I can't stop thinking about it. They're pulling someone apart on a ship half a kilometre away. The same guy who gave us the location of the station.”
“I know. I understand why Freeground doesn't want to have any public attachment to him. I couldn't imagine him having a good doctor over there either. We've seen his crew.”
“Some of them look like they've been patched up using spare engine parts.”
“What do we do about it? We could probably disable the Triton in the space of a couple seconds, but then what? A boarding action and rescue operation?”
Oz stared at the Triton, displayed on the front wall of the bridge for a moment. “If we weren't under direct orders from Freeground things would be different.”
“Things will be different. As soon as this mission is finished I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to prevent us from ever working with Wheeler again. The problem will be making sure Doctor Marcelles is safe somehow, but we'll have to take that on when the time comes.”
After our shifts on the bridge, we moved to Observation Two. The planning continued with messages passing back and forth between tactical staff on the Triton and The First Light. Oz and I were joined by Laura, Ayan, Jason and Minh for a phase of the planning as well. They all had valuable contributions and important roles to play.
Hours later we had finished and I sat at the meeting table, facing the tall transparent section of hull that ran the length of the room. Oz had left for a moment and came back with a pitcher and two glasses. We had already had dinner. I smiled at him and took a glass. He poured.
“This is an amazing ship,” Oz said as he patiently poured two pints of dark red ale. “Our galley bought traditional keg ale. They said it would be for celebrating our victory.”
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins Page 50