Aeolus Investigations Set 2: Too Cool To Lose: The Continuing Evolution of Lexi Stevens

by Robert E Colfax

  She paused, pleased she was being taken seriously. “As you should be aware, space-threading civilization is loosely bound together by a compact put together several thousand years ago called the Accord. In the simplest of terms, the Accord applies a laissez-faire attitude among its signature member worlds. They keep out of each other’s business. They also attempt to limit the exploitation of less technologically advanced worlds such as Earth by each other and criminal elements.”

  She paused, noticing that most of Earth’s representatives were dividing their attention between the Grake and the Vankovian. Noting her silence, all eyes returned to her. “Accord bylaws allow for the appointment of a coordinator in the case of a civilization-threatening situation, such as an invasion by a hostile alien species. We now face such a threat. That is the position I now hold.

  “As you doubtless know, Earth does not qualify for membership in the Accord. However, once I have been fully ratified by the remaining member worlds, I am prepared to make an exception. I will have the authority to do so. All hostilities between nations are to cease immediately. Within the year, you need to have a unified planet. We have a tremendous amount to do if any of us are going to survive. We don’t have a lot of time to do it. You are going to need to put aside national, religious and political issues. I am not going to force you to do this. Nor am I going to threaten you. What I will do is offer an incentive. I am prepared to give you starship technology, thereby qualifying you as a full member-world of the Accord.”

  She paused watching the speculative expressions on her audience’s faces. Her father interjected, “The people attending this meeting are their governments’ representatives to WASP and are not those who will actually be making decisions in that regard. However, in most cases, their decisions and opinions will carry weight with those they represent.”

  Chapter 48

  The Interesting Stuff

  Lexi nodded. “Thank you, Director. Now for the interesting stuff. Urania, please.”

  A projection of Glaurang appeared over the conference table, visible on monitors across the planet. “This is Glaurang,” Urania began. “He belongs to my partners and me. His builders referred to him, in their language, as a Dragon-class ship. We’ve retained that class designation. Some of you may recognize the name selected for him as coming from the name of a dragon in a Tolkien novel. He is the first and only ship of his kind. All of you have, by now, seen the recordings of our entry into the solar system. Much of that was holographic in nature. What you are seeing now is the actual ship itself. It is designed to carry a crew of twelve hundred people exclusive of Marines and fighter pilots. It is the largest and fastest ship in Accord space. At the time we came across it, it was also the deadliest.”

  She gave that a moment to sink in. “Over the last three years, Marshal Stevens has conceived of and developed technology far in advance of anything the Accord previously possessed.”

  Lexi took over the narrative. “Understand, I command not only the single deadliest warship in space but shortly will command every other warship in the Accord. Also, understand that we will be upgrading Glaurang further. That being said, for maximum efficiency, Glaurang needs a full crew. We’ve come to Earth, my home, to recruit.”

  “I have two questions, young lady,” the US general stated. “If you’re from Earth as you claim, how can you possibly be upgrading technology that is already more advanced than anything Earth has?”

  With a grim expression, Lexi said, “For now, General Collins, the best answer I can give you is through a series of coincidences that I and my entire team recognize as unlikely. I realize that is an unsatisfactory answer, but it is all I can give you at present. One of my partners calls what I do techno-wizardry. It’s as good a label as any. If we start discussing that, we won’t get anything else done today.”

  “May I speak?” Seekateeki asked.

  “Of course, High Admiral.”

  He spoke in Ritue. Director Stevens assured them that microphones would pick up and translate as appropriate any words spoken in this room. Despite the conversation being held in English, he was having no difficulties with the Ritue translation the device was providing him. “My people,” he began, “have the largest and the most powerful fleet in space. Marshal Stevens and her team own a long-decommissioned Vankovian scout. Scouts are small ships, suitable for a crew of three to eight people. Not so long ago, I was privileged to ride with them for a brief period. I’ve seen firsthand the technology this woman has developed. Much of it is generally believed to be impossible. She went ahead and designed it anyway. I was given another tour on our way here. Further significant enhancements have been made just in the year since my last tour. I can’t answer your question either, General Collins, as to how she can do what she does. The bald fact is she can.”

  He nodded to Collins, indicating he was done.

  “Very well, then, why? Why Earth?” the general persisted. “We must seem very backward compared to the worlds comprising Accord civilization.”

  Lexi nodded. “That’s a reasonable question. The worlds of the Accord have been enjoying a period of peace for eight thousand years, largely because they have learned to leave each other alone. In that time, their technology has stagnated. To a certain extent at least, that is due to a now ingrained attitude of not rocking the boat. From a military perspective, a few worlds occasionally band together to deal with pirate activity, but they all lack experience in planning for a war. A lack I share. I know more than I really care to know about how the race that built Glaurang did it. They used a big hammer. No strategy. No tactics. That isn’t going to help us against the Kreesh.

  “The race we will be going up against is largely an unknown. We know the Wraix had technological superiority. It didn’t save them. We also know the Kreesh had overwhelming numerical superiority. While they lost a significant portion of their forces, at least those engaged in the conflict with the Wraix, we have no idea if there were more of their ships held in reserve. Nor do we know what their fleet build-up has been since that time. They’ve had nine hundred years to regroup. We can only count on having four.”

  Lexi scanned across the faces on the monitor. Most were sipping coffee or tea when she paused. A few weren’t even trying to hide the vodka, scotch, and whiskey bottles next to them. “Earth is the most technically advanced Level-Two world in Accord space. Without training, you won’t fully understand the principles behind much of our technology, but you’re advanced enough to be able to use it and service it. And while I can’t claim it is to Earth’s credit, we know more about fighting a war than any other civilization known to the Accord. Hell, you all must know that the Accord buys armaments from Earth.”

  She let them think about that. It wasn’t new information. “I need to build a fleet of warships. Admiral Seekateeki has pointed out, and my other military personnel have concurred, that the ships in the Accord fleets may not be suitable. They’re built as a planetary defense shield. We’re going to need ships designed to stop an enemy before they get here. I need your guidance as to what sizes and types of ships we should be building. I need trained men and women to crew those ships. I need trained Marines to board enemy ships and to repel boarders on our own. We’ve already begun recruiting from the Level-Three worlds.”

  “So you’re asking us to help you build a fleet of ships that could be used to take over or annihilate our own planet.”

  “Yes, General, if you want to look at it that way, essentially that is correct. Understand, though, that within the year, every single warship in the Accord will be following my orders. Consider, too, Glaurang alone is sufficient for annihilating Earth if that was my intent. He was designed as a planet-killer. In his current state, he is more powerful than the combined military power of the Accord. Think about that. But alone, he is not enough to stop the Kreesh. He couldn’t do it a thousand years ago and he can’t do it today. As we mentioned, I am upgrading him far beyond what his builders were capable of. Also, keep in mind that
your own people will be crewing and commanding most of the ships we build. I will also ensure that your people have the knowledge to build your own ships.”

  She was greeted by thoughtful silence. She added, “Accept my offer, ladies and gentlemen. I will bring you on board as a full Level-Three member world of the Accord.

  Finally, the French representative, speaking from the monitor asked, “Am I to understand you’re basically giving this technology to us? What do you want in exchange?”

  Lexi smiled. “Help me save the Accord. And, not to be flippant, I’d really love a cheeseburger.”

  Daniel Mudd spoke up. “I’ll be happy to grill that burger myself, Ms. Stevens.”

  She nodded to him. “OK, then. Let’s discuss some of the details. We’ll spend a short time going over Glaurang and his capabilities. Then I’ll introduce you to the enemy we’ll soon be facing. As I mentioned earlier, they’re called the Kreesh.”

  Chapter 49

  Alone at Last

  “Alone at last.” Lexi paused. The rest of the dinner party already transported up to Glaurang, leaving her alone to catch up with her father. She hadn’t asked them for that courtesy, but they knew she should have some alone time with him before things got too crazy. “Dad, I would like you to keep most of the rest of what I have to say off the record. Can you do that?”

  Charlie frowned. “To a certain extent, yes. I’m responsible for the safety of Earth, Lexi. If I consider whatever you say a threat, I can’t, not entirely.” He smiled wryly. “Although considering what’s coming at us, I can’t imagine anything you could say that would fall into that category.”

  Her smile matched his. “No, this is just about me. The kind of things you never expected to have to tell your father.” She paused, a real smile flashing briefly on her face before she turned serious again. “You need to understand one thing though. I am a threat, Daddy; a threat on a scale you can’t imagine. I’m a bigger threat than the Kreesh will ever be, because I’m going to stop them. I don’t know how yet, but I have to do it. I always do what I have to do. You taught me that growing up.” She looked directly into his eyes. “I can’t guarantee Earth will survive. I don’t think four, or even eight, years is enough time to build a fleet large enough to stop them.”

  Charlie nodded. “I’ve understood that since the briefing. Triage. Save what you can. Let’s strive for the best though.”

  She paused, pleased that he got it. Earth was the first of many worlds. If she couldn’t stop the Kreesh before they got here, she would have to let them eat Earth to give the other inhabited worlds a few more decades to prepare.

  She already decided to tell him everything. “I rewrote my DNA. I don’t age anymore, Dad. No one on my team does. Just as an aside, that’s why Geena looks, what, about twenty-five? She’s your age, Dad. The point is, if I wanted to rule the Accord forever I could make it happen. Earth too. Even without Glaurang. No one could stop me.” She paused and then added, “The Kreesh, if I don’t get them first, maybe.” Then she shrugged and smiled. “Ron would probably talk me out of it.”

  He sipped at his martini. “Why don’t you?” He didn’t look at all concerned.

  She shrugged again. “They don’t need me to. They need me for two things only. In order of urgency, I need to stop the Kreesh, that’s a given. I also need to eliminate the pirate menace. Then I retire. I want to have children.” She finished her wine. “At least one, to start. I’m not sure I’ll make a good mother. I hope so, but I can be dark at times. I hope I can be nurturing too.”

  She caught the eye of their waitress and indicated she’d like another glass of wine.

  “I worry that forcing the Accord worlds to cooperate to the degree I need in order to stop the Kreesh might destroy them in the long run. It will definitely change them. I can only hope for the better. By the same token, pirates are a far larger problem than, Jis aside, anyone in the Accord realizes. The Kreesh are the more imminent problem, but if I can’t do something about the pirate civilization, they call themselves The Unity, we eventually face an interstellar war. Win or lose, that would destroy the Accord.” She frowned. “I may have already destroyed it by then. I don’t see it ever going back to the way it was after I’m done with them.”

  She waited as their waitress approached with their drinks. “The Accord actually has a pretty good system, although it does encourage stagnation of social and technological innovation. I want to bring Earth into the Accord while I have the authority to do it. That means giving Earth the technology to build starships. Before I do that, I’d really like to encourage this planet to grow up. That means dampening international tensions. It can be done. It’s what I did on Ostrieachia.”

  She sipped her wine. “You understand that if we can’t stop the Kreesh before they get to Earth, I’ll have to pull out whatever remains of the fleet in order to give the more distant worlds additional time to prepare. That will mean eight billion people we’re both responsible for protecting meet what is likely a pretty terrifying death.”

  She looked at him and she wasn’t smiling. He simply said, “I don’t consider that a threat, Lexi. I think I even mostly understand the situation you find yourself in.”

  She nodded. “We told you earlier about my stowing away with Ron and Geena. Urania let me use the educator device the next morning. That was before anyone realized she was sentient. There’s a difference between being an AI and a sentient AI. Anyway, in three hours, I absorbed more knowledge than anyone else could have taken in a lifetime. For most people, the educator is very dangerous, burn-out-the-mind dangerous. It’s not for me. We still want to know whether I’m unique in that respect or whether other Earth humans share that trait. Speaking of which, Geena is keen to quiz you about everything you can tell her about Mama. We’re trying to explain me. Because, dammit, I am different.”

  She watched a tender look pass over his face. “Anyway, after that first session, I decided I couldn’t come home. I wouldn’t fit in anymore. My knowledge would have ruined Earth. Now we have no choice about that if we’re going to stop the Kreesh. Odd as it sounds, I hope the threat of global annihilation keeps a cap on things.” After a pause, she said, “Then there was not only Ron — Jis, Geena, and Urania have become my best friends. I discovered that I liked being an insurance investigator with them. I’ve even turned out to be quite good at it.” She gave a small laugh. “According to the Samues, what we’ve been doing lately verges on being secret agents. I can’t disagree with them. We’re getting pretty competent at that as well.”

  Charlie laughed. “I was a spy for a time. I worked for the CIA.”

  Lexi laughed too. “You know, Dad, at this point that doesn’t even surprise me. I want to know about your life, but my whole team needs to hear your story. So let’s talk about you tomorrow.”

  “Most of my life is classified. I’m not supposed to talk about it at all.” He shrugged. “Go on.”

  “Urania, by the time we encountered Glaurang, boasted drive, shield, and weapon technologies centuries more advanced than anything else in the Accord. I designed and built that technology, Dad. All of it. Geena says I’m a super-genius and I suppose I must be. It doesn’t feel like it, but still... I upgraded Urania with technology that most Accord experts don’t believe is possible. My partners and I could be the wealthiest people in the Accord if we marketed half of my stuff. We came to the conclusion that my advances alone were enough to destabilize the Accord. It is far more fragile than a social structure that has existed for eight thousand years has any right to be.”

  “Andy never mentioned that,” Charlie mused. “He speaks of Jis Boc Seckan quite a bit. Apparently, at her coronation, she warned everybody the Accord was at a tipping point. He didn’t use that term, but that is what it boils down to. She was right, wasn’t she?”

  “Seems so. Dad, you’ll like this. It’s kind of weird. I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear. At the time I partnered with Ron and Geena their partnership was named Samue Investigations. G
eena insisted on a new name for the new partnership. I suggested ‘Aeolus Investigations’ because I like Greek mythology. That was the only reason. Now the storm winds are loose and it’s my job, my team’s job, to contain them. That was before I had the Rose of Light in my head. I don’t see how picking that name could have been a precognition.”

  She paused. “More recently, we were on a job for Vankovia. We stumbled across Glaurang and went up against his psychopathic command computer. That’s a story for another time, but I do want to tell you that Glaurang was built with ship-wide educator technology. The Wraix believed, correctly as it turned out, that use of that tech would bring a sufficiently advanced AI to full sentience by exposure to Wraix minds.”

  She stopped talking to take a sip of her drink. “Like much of their dragon-ship, most of their newest systems were incompletely tested. In the heat of battle, losing badly against the Kreesh, Wraix command decided to turn on their educator field. The tech was intended to merge the minds of the crew with command-comp after command-comp was already fully sentient. They thought that would give them coordination of duties on a scale that would otherwise be impossible. I imagine it would have.”