Attunga

by Peter Wood

  Wirrin sprang into action, and within thirty seconds had Pirramar’s priorities locked into place, just before the module left the Comet. Its special signals had been so attuned for receipt by his InfoSystem that Turaku and the security AI wouldn’t even be aware of them except with his permission.

  ‘You look extra busy. Has something happened?’

  ‘I’m watching that big K74 ship while we’re close, Calen. It looks like they might be building something. See if you can track anything with the visuals.’

  Calen returned to his screens. He wouldn’t see anything. The module was almost certainly countering any visual surveillance.

  Hmm, watch for attempts at disablement? Maybe adding an encryption barrier would help. Wirrin’s InfoSystem charted the course of the module to the moment of contact.

  Stabilisation! Infiltration! Analysis!

  The terms were broadly informative but full understanding would come later.

  Here it was. Two streams of information flooded in: the constant control instructions for the module itself, and the information being gathered from the target ship. Whoo! This was a lot of information. If it kept coming like this for the next five minutes it would be the biggest dump ever to his memory implant.

  Calen had turned towards him. Trust him to sense something.

  Wirrin put a finger to his lips as a caution against further comment and saw understanding blossom.

  Calen would be searching the visuals for all he was worth now, trying to figure out what was going on.

  ‘Well done, Wirrin. Turaku informs me you appear to have everything under control. Continue full monitoring till the module ceases transmission and after that, if Thom can maintain his stealth, you will have approximately thirty-five minutes of analysis time before we need the InfoSystem again. I’ve placed a log of our current plans in your transfer screen.’

  Pirramar disappeared and Wirrin gave his full attention to the monitoring till the signals suddenly stopped. What now? Check the transfer screen or start on the analysis? He decided on a thirty-second scan of Pirramar’s log in case there was something there he might need to take into account, and just as well. Thom needed to know about the change to his schedule. Looking across he caught Thom’s eye, pointed at the range meter, and gave a thumbs up.

  ‘Fifty kilometres! Nearly there! How’s it going?’

  ‘The simulators got it wrong. It’s harder, Wirrin. I thought I’d blown it a few minutes ago when a strange signal came at us, but it’s gone now. Hang on while I look for it again.’

  He fiddled a bit then looked back.

  ‘The Kadaitcha man must have been out there. Did your InfoSystem notice anything?’

  ‘A few glitches. Can you talk for a moment?’

  Wirrin was amazed and totally impressed that Thom was somehow aware of the signal. They’d be talking that over with the AIs at great length.

  ‘Talk? Sort of … What glitches?’

  ‘You haven’t been using any AI assistance have you?’

  ‘Of course not. That’s the whole point of the exercise.’

  ‘Good. I’m worried there might be some of those priority traps around, so don’t link the AIs into any of the scanning devices.’

  ‘Dingoes! We should have anticipated that. Hang on,’ Thom said, inputting at high speed. ‘Any other glitches?’

  ‘Not really. The AIs didn’t want to disturb you but they’re hoping we can extend the stationary time for an extra fifteen minutes.’

  ‘The Kadaitcha man again? That’s going high risk, but if you need it we’ll manage … It’s turned into something more than an exercise hasn’t it?’

  ‘Sort of.’

  Thom gave his own thumbs up.

  Wirrin turned his attention to analysis while the Comet crept closer and closer to the great asteroid. By the time they reached their target and were poised, stationary, he was nearly tearing his hair out. Moments before, he’d reported to Pirramar that so far he’d been unable to find any traps, but wasn’t happy about freeing the data from quarantine, and now he had to leave his search tasks unsupervised and turn his attention to new ones.

  For some reason Pirramar wanted the Comet scanners to take a close look, under InfoSystem control rather than AI control, at a number of the construction sites for the giant K74 spaceships.

  Five out of the thirty were within reasonable range and Wirrin set to work. Normally this would be easy but, because Thom had primary control of his stealthing, the various systems could only be used in moments of availability.

  The major task was to launch seven more stealth modules. Five of these were destined for the construction sites, and like the earlier ones, would disassemble themselves when they completed their transmissions. More complex and designed for the greater size of their targets, they would function for three times as long and transmit at a greater rate than Wirrin’s implant could accept, and this in turn meant the picofactory had had to build a special secure data store linked to the InfoSystem but still isolated from the AIs.

  The other two modules were even more complicated and would attach themselves to chosen locations on the exterior of K74, meld into the surrounding material with pico-level camouflage, and like super surveillance drones, transmit information continually to Attunga. Wirrin would look more closely at how they worked when he had a chance.

  ‘Wirrin, I’m picking up strange signals, like the earlier one, being directed at us. If you know anything about them tell me, otherwise I’ll have to move the Comet as an evasive measure.’

  How did Thom do that? ‘No, don’t move. We need to stay here if we possibly can. They’re ours, but you’re not meant to be able to detect them.’

  ‘Can you tell me what’s going on? I’ve got a moment.’

  ‘They’re special probes we’ve sent to look closely at the construction sites. Pirramar arranged for me to send them.’

  ‘Pirramar? Here?’

  ‘He knows more and our AIs can’t do anything direct.’

  ‘Whoo! It is the Kadaitcha man. Okay I’d better get at it.’

  This time he meant the rogue. Calen abandoned his visual scanning – he knew it was make-work – and came to stand behind Wirrin.

  ‘Comet-Turaku is out of it? I’m glad Sonic didn’t come with us then.’

  Sonic had expressed an interest in joining the exercise but was overruled by Yajala and Turaku because, for his protection, such a close approach would require a full complement of Comet crew and the AIs constantly running security, and that would defeat the whole purpose of testing Thom’s skill with the stealth equipment.

  ‘He’ll see it on replay.’

  ‘I didn’t see the probes on the visuals … sorry, I’m talking too much while you’re busy.’

  Wirrin flashed a smile and soundlessly beckoned him close. Yes, he might be too busy to talk much, but Calen’s steadfast and supportive presence was welcome at any time.

  Data from the five locations poured into the quarantine area, and to start checking, Wirrin called up all the previously known information, copied and stored it to the quarantine area, then started a basic comparison test before turning his attention to where the first of the two permanent probes was about to make contact. All the indications were good so he called up an enlarged visual.

  ‘Watch this, Calen. It’s where the probe’s attaching itself.’

  A bleak area of the K74 surface appeared, and for a while a soft red glow blurred the clear outline of the rock before fading to nothing.

  ‘There’s nothing there.’

  ‘It’s totally camouflaged. That red glow was the picobot construct – I’ll explain it all later.’

  That would be after Wirrin understood it better himself. Calen stared wonderingly at the almost featureless area of rock, which was apparently now a surveillance probe in disguise.

  For the next half hour everything went smoothly, Wirrin working with his InfoSystem and Thom assiduously checking and finetuning his stealth systems. Then Calen gave
a call.

  ‘Thom, one of the visual signals just went off and there’s something coming round that far end of K74.’

  ‘I’m tracking it. It’s another Cadre ship, which was stationed on the other side of K74 when we first arrived. It’s still turning and I don’t like its trajectory. Wirrin, those probes couldn’t have set off some kind of alert could they?’

  Wirrin shook his head, then started to wonder himself. His InfoSystem showed a projection of the trajectory taking the ship right past the five bases.

  Wombats! It could even come close to the Comet.

  The turning stopped and the course steadied … it would come close. Within 2 kilometres.

  ‘Thom, they’re heading straight for us.’

  ‘No they’re not. They’ll pass at 1.8 kilometres if they keep this course.’

  ‘Won’t they see us?’

  ‘If someone’s looking directly at us with visuals they might, but we’ll chance it because if I start to move the Comet they definitely will.’

  Wirrin had an awful thought. What if the course changed by even a fraction?

  ‘Could we collide?’

  ‘Never. I’ve got just over two minutes of decision time before it gets here and I can either move the Comet, or our security AI can take over their controls and divert them. Watch.’

  That was a definite command to let him concentrate without interruption, so with a dusting of apprehension Wirrin and Calen did just that. The big ship came closer and closer while thoughts of 120 metres of steel and AIs in charge flooded through Wirrin’s mind. Blithely and obviously unknowingly, 700 metres of offense went gliding past, serenely continuing till a few minutes later it rounded the other end of K74 and disappeared.

  ‘What a mob of clueless emu brains!’

  The forceful comment relieved Thom’s tension and did the same for Wirrin and Calen. The trio exchanged relieved smiles.

  ‘I don’t know how you did it, Thom. I kept expecting them to do something.’

  ‘It’s not finished yet, Calen. We still have to get out of here.’

  After the last five minutes Wirrin and Calen had no doubts at all that Thom would manage that successfully.

  ***

  ‘There’s some strange data coding which probably came from the rogue, but no AI trap. I divided the information into increasingly smaller components till there couldn’t possibly be any.’

  ‘And is the strange coding significant in itself, Wirrin?’

  ‘Not really. It’s an unusual approach to hiding what the rest of the information is about. It’s an old encryption method the rogue dabbled with in his early studies.’

  The Comet was almost home and Akama was checking on the results. The trio had been surprised and delighted when his holo appeared and Wirrin was describing the escapade.

  ‘So there was no real danger to the AIs? Do you think they overreacted?’

  Wirrin was shocked. ‘Not at all. Thom had it right when he said we should have been looking for traps right from the start.’

  Akama turned to Thom. ‘Turaku tells me you completed your exercise way beyond the expected parameters.’

  Thom reacted quietly to Akama’s implicit praise, but underneath, Wirrin knew, he was glowing. So he should be.

  ‘Training with the simulators got me through.’

  ‘Maybe, but I also know that some of your actions went beyond the scope of the training system and without them the Comet would have been seen.’

  Akama turned to Wirrin. ‘You do look fit and alert. I nearly asked Gulara to reduce your workload a few weeks ago but I was assured you were acclimatising well.’

  ‘You can thank Thom for that too. He’s developed a protein structure that helps me.’

  ‘Yes, so I understand. More of his talents showing through, though I wonder why your doctor didn’t provide it from the outset.’

  ‘It did come from the doctor. He showed Thom a few things he needed to know and made him change his model four times before—’

  Wirrin abruptly cut off his defence. Akama already knew all this and for some reason was assessing his loyalty to the doctor.

  ‘Whatever you want him for, he’s probably too busy, and Sonic’s pleased with everything he’s doing.’

  Calen and Thom looked puzzled at this interchange. Akama gave an approving nod.

  ‘An honorary position as the human representative for dolphin health when we formally welcome Freedom. Thank you. It won’t take much of his time. And apparently it’s going to be another memorable occasion. I look forward to meeting you all there.’

  He made a very Akama gesture of friendship as his holo shimmered to nothing.

  ‘What was all that? Were you reading each other’s minds or something?’

  ‘He’s too tricky, Thom. I think I just gave the doctor another job. But why did he look at you like that when he said memorable occasion, Calen?’

  ‘Ah, Sonic’s going to be there.’

  Thom burst out laughing.

  ‘It’s another surprise and you’ve been keeping it secret from us again? You witchetty grub!’

  ‘No I haven’t. I just didn’t say anything. It’s a bit like Meeting Day and Sonic likes giving surprises.’

  Freedom’s arrival in three weeks’ time just became even more interesting.

  Chapter 25

  Wirrin gazed at their big display wall and smiled at the sight of the dolphin pod cruising by. No, two pods. A quick zoom showed they weren’t Puck’s.

  Because their living space was so close to the dolphinarium, which was the centre for all dolphin and marine activities on Warrakan, there were almost always pods to be seen, visiting for various reasons. Currently there were more than usual because of whatever it was Sonic was organising. Calen was out there somewhere with him. It was tempting to use the InfoSystem for a sneak preview. He wouldn’t, since Calen had asked him not to, but it would be so easy.

  Having access to the resources of two habitats meant anything he wanted to see was at his fingertips. Wirrin smiled as he activated his system half an hour before Pirramar was due. Calen said he was addicted. It certainly was fascinating.

  What was Thom doing? He could call up that information almost instantaneously because he had triggers set for all significant people and situations. The image of Thom appeared and Wirrin watched long enough to work out that he was controlling a second Comet remotely. Better not interrupt him with a holo.

  Wirrin thought of Peggy, the dolphin under Martin’s care, and brought her into view. That took slightly longer as he hadn’t given her a trigger and needed a link to the system of underwater monitors now installed in every reach. She was racing across a seagrass bed in pursuit of a small school of fish. Wow! She looked full of energy after her liver treatment, which reminded Wirrin of the doctor, who was high on the trigger list. He’d be busy as usual. Yes, there he was, talking with seven people in some kind of meeting.

  Hmm! Three researchers and four doctors from the different anti-agathic centres on Attunga, discussing the capabilities of some diagnostic equipment they’d ordered as part of the first stage of the new facility. The planning assistants had certainly built that in a hurry.

  So much building happening, both here and Attunga.

  Attunga! What about the new level there? Wow, water was being introduced to the honeycombed section of reaches in the innermost part of the level. Was it just for storage or would there be functioning reaches in another five months? Eight months? Why so long? … Oh! No need for forced development. Only five reaches to be finished? That wasn’t many. Well, compared to the current ones any single reach would be big enough for the four pods currently planning to transfer back from Warrakan. Aha! Sixty-eight reaches coming online for the second stage in a further eight months, and then the whole level ready two years after that. Attunga was actually approaching development in a markedly different way by adding a complete level of 280 sectors rather than a single sector at a time.

  What about the shell? Th
at was a huge task with its crumple factors and multiple layers, though still not as complex. Almost idly, Wirrin called up a holo image showing progress on the shell. Things were moving fast and would be completed in another year at the current rate. That meant a vast amount of mass would have to be converted to the special building material similar to the Comet’s hull and internal support girders.

  A quick query showed 738 asteroids of various types parked in areas away from the busy ferry traffic between the habitats, and another 367 moving towards Attunga in the long journey from their sparsely spread locations in the asteroid belt.

  Wirrin started checking on the progress of the Attunga drive engines and was watching one of them drifting in space near the installation area when Pirramar appeared.

  ‘Hello, Wirrin. Browsing the drive project? It’s reached 0.52G capability, and that will be the third engine to come online since the Council diverted four to Freedom.’

  ‘That means six more still to install.’

  ‘Yes, another four months to completion.’

  ‘What are we doing today? Is anything happening with K74?’

  ‘A number of special concerns, as well as the usual ones. The Freedom AIs have let us know they’re worried about the elevated level of scrutiny they’re receiving from three of the Cadre ships.’

  ‘The Cadre ships are with them while they’re travelling?’

  ‘For a number of hours now, yes, and a fourth is moving on an intercept course as well.’

  ‘Four of them concentrating on Freedom at once? That doesn’t feel good at all.’

  ‘I agree. We’d like to know their motive because even though we’ve been helping Freedom to rapidly update their security they’re still relatively vulnerable. Thom will be taking two of the Comets as escorts while they complete their move.’

  ‘Thom? Does he know? He was doing normal training work a quarter of an hour ago.’

  ‘He’s just found out and will be on his way in a very short time.’

  Thom would love the chance of some real action. Wirrin smiled but then had second thoughts.