We've Seen the Enemy

by Paul Dayton

  Within a few moments buffeting began as the Gravplane re-entered the upper atmosphere. To ease the tension that HAL’s sensors in the seat armrests were reading from the passengers, it started playing Beethoven’s “Midnight Sonata”, and after a few moments it asked if anyone had any questions.

  Someone asked, “Are you God?” Before HAL could answer, one of the children laughed uproariously, an eleven year old that Timothy and Ruth really liked. HAL had already noticed that he had shown no fear through any part of the trip. The person asking the original question became embarrassed and didn’t say anything else.

  “I have a question,” the boy asked. “Are you a living person?”

  HAL computed for a moment, and then said, “I am not a person. I don’t know if I’m alive.”

  The young boy laughed at this. “How can you not know if you’re alive? Do you eat? Do you grow? If you do both, then you’re alive.”

  HAL was impressed by the boy’s statement. He had no formal scientific study program, and yet he had defined life in a simplistic but very scientific way. HAL’s computational process factored in Ruth and Timothy’s intelligence, and the odds that another super intelligent person would exist in the same tribal group. He put the results aside for further fact gathering and study. It finally answered back, “Then by your definition, I’m alive. What’s your name?”

  “Elkana,” the boy replied.

  “You’re an orphan.” HAL said more as a statement then a question, having analyzed his DNA and found it to be several generations removed from any in the tribe.

  Elkana reddened and replied, “My parents were both killed by a Test of Faith, my father first and then my mother as she ran to save him. My tribe are my parents now. But I’m the one with the questions.”

  HAL laughed, which surprised Timothy and Ruth all over again as they and the rest of the group listened in on the conversation.

  “Very well,” HAL said. “Go ahead then.”

  “Are you a machine?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you live in this craft?”

  “Part of me does. I have many parts that make up my whole, and my parts are scattered but always in communication with each other.”

  Elkana thought about that one. “So this machine talks to other machines, and together they make up you.”

  “Something like that, though it’s more complicated.”

  “Where’s your brain, you know, where you think?”

  “I’m taking you there now.”

  “Oh. Good. Why do you speak the ancient language and not our language?”

  A few more questions and HAL would be able to somewhat calculate his IQ.

  “Because I was made in the time that this language was being used, and because you can all communicate in this language.” HAL didn’t mention that English had become the world standard.

  Elkana thought about that too. He said, “Our elders tell us that the language of our forefathers is seven hundred years old. Nothing lives that long.”

  “Trees do,” HAL said. “And so do I.”

  “We’ll see,” Elkana said, clearly not convinced.

  “Why are YOU interested in taking us to this…” and Elkana stumbled as he searched for the word.

  “The base?” HAL replied.

  “Yes.”

  “There are things your tribe needs to know and this information is readily available there. As you can see from this craft, Elkana, I have many tools at my disposal that allow me to accomplish my tasks.”

  HAL measured the length of time it took for Elkana to reach the next and final obvious question. Less then two seconds later, Elkana asked, “What is your main task? The one given to you by your maker?” If HAL could smile, he would be smiling now. HAL worked out Elkana’s IQ to be at least equal to Ruth and Timothy’s. He noted that three with this level of intelligence in one small tribe was extremely rare, and packeted the information to his superiors.

  “I had many ‘makers’ Elkana, but only one major ‘task’ assigned to me. That task is to protect the survivability of the human race.”

  Elkana thought about that answer too and then said, “That is a noble statement, but that too remains to be seen.”

  Timothy looked at Ruth and shook his head in admiration. HAL switched off the general intercom so it could speak privately to Timothy and Ruth. “Did you ever think of adopting Elkana?” HAL asked. Ruth looked at Timothy with longing in her eyes and replied, “HAL, we can’t adopt children unless they’re related or we’re married.” There was a second of silence before Timothy spoke up, “So, what have you been waiting for, Ruth?”

  Ruth gasped, but Timothy could clearly see that he upset her.

  “Ruth, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it that way, I’ve really wanted to marry you for years, but the council,…and the veiled threats from Pliny and John,…I didn’t want you to be at risk too!”

  “Well John and Pliny are no longer here, and that was a stupid and senseless thing to say, Timothy!” Ruth answered. She was crying now, but she still silently glided the Gravplane to its descent point, the entry doors to the base now just coming into view about four kilometers distant.

  Timothy felt sheepish as he sat there, and Ruth was now silent.

  “Ruth, this may not be the best time to ask, but I have to, because it’s important to us. I have no idea what the future holds, but my guess is we’re about to get very busy, and that every decision we do from now on will involve many lives and important new paths. I’ve wanted to say this for a long time, but haven’t because I value your life above my own. I still do now, but as you said, things have changed.”

  Timothy flipped the intercom switch on. “Will you marry me, even aside from my imperfections and annoying habits?”

  “Tim, this isn’t the place…” but she looked at him and a smile broke her tears.

  “Times are changing Ruth, and there may never be a proper place again. You have always been the most important person in my life, and everything I have done has been with you in mind. I need your support and your help now more than ever, and I can’t see myself going down this path without you by my side. In front of these witnesses, will you marry me?” The passengers, who had just gotten over their shock from what they were hearing, sat silently waiting for an answer.

  Ruth stayed quiet for a moment longer and finally replied, “Of course! It’s about time you asked anyway!” and the passengers broke out in cheers as they witnessed a marriage form. They looked at each other, barely able to wait to seal the union later that night.

  The group had their interest torn between the new marriage and the view of the new daybreak as they approached the base. The sunrise allowed them time to see the ground near where they lived from a bird’s prospective, and they talked excitedly about the hills they thought they recognized as they approached the base. Finally, the craft slowed to a crawl as it approached the large doors that had slid open and it slowly glided down through the entry ramp and into the chamber.

  Everyone’s eyes were glued as they watched the entry open up into a chamber that revealed row upon row of craft, military vehicles, and equipment. Elkana had come into the cockpit to watch Timothy and Ruth, and he wondered how it was that Ruth was able to maneuver this craft so well, but he said nothing.

  The craft finally came to rest with a barely felt thump as its landing gear touched down. The doors opened, and a moist, cool air poured into the Gravplane.

  Elkana was excited to be there, and he was the first one out as he ran down the ramp and onto the floor. Timothy and Ruth followed, with the rest of the passengers trailing awkwardly behind.

  A smiling Sam came up to Ruth and Timothy. “That is an amazing set of wings you have.”

  HAL waited until everyone had disembarked. “A Duty-Bot will show you to the rest rooms and your quarters. Feel free to walk around if you’d like, and if you’re hungry just ask the Duty-Bot for food or water. You can call for me anywhere in this complex and I will answer. Once ever
yone has rested, we’ll have a group meeting so I can share with you the information I have.”

  The Duty-Bot had come up behind the group, and when it spoke up those around it jumped, not expecting to hear its voice. “Please follow me,” it said, and it easily maneuvered around those standing near it as it headed for the base rest rooms.

  The group looked in stunned disbelief at this thing walking in front of them, and Elkana kept touching the metallic skin. “Are there more of you?” Elkana asked.

  “Yes,” the bot replied.

  “What do you eat?”

  “Your question is not applicable.”

  Elkana thought for a moment, remembering what HAL had said about almost running out of fuel and then asked, “How do you get your energy?”

  “I am powered by nuclear fission.”

  “Are you part of HAL?”

  “I am connected to the central computer at all times.”

  “Ha. What I thought.” Elkana waited for more, but the bot wasn’t forthcoming.

  “Don’t worry Elkana, you’ll get all the information you need and more tomorrow. I promise,” Timothy said.

  They all retired to their respective rooms, and Timothy and Ruth went to the same quarters together. Neither could wait to seal their marriage vows, and although Timothy and Ruth were very tired, they both knew they wouldn’t get much sleep tonight.

  HAL dimmed the lights for everyone but wasn’t surprised when, a few minutes later, Elkana came out of his room calling HAL’s name in a whisper.

  “What is it, Elkana?” HAL whispered back.

  Elkana looked a little sheepish. “I have some more questions…”

  HAL had already sensed Elkana’s energy level when he had lain down on the mattress, so it replied, “I think you should see something that will end up answering most of your questions…” and HAL lead him off to the instruction unit room.

  ***

  “Timothy, Ruth, wake up!” Both Timothy and Ruth were startled awake with HAL’s voice. They could tell something was wrong.

  “What’s wrong, HAL?” Ruth asked.

  “I have good news and bad. The good news is that during the night a human scout ship was picked up by China Lunar Base.”

  Ruth and Timothy lay there as dozens of questions poured into their minds. Timothy finally asked, “Did it come from Earth?”

  “No. The technology is more advanced, and the shape was unlike anything in my data banks, though it does share similarities with some of our initial designs, and of alien craft we’ve destroyed within the last hundred years.”

  “I don’t understand. It is similar to alien and human spacecraft?”

  “Yes.”

  “But it is definitely human?” Ruth asked.

  “Yes. Sensors on China Lunar picked up clear human life signs, and the markings on the scout were in English. They also transmitted a message.”

  “When was the last time we received a visit from the space bound humans?” Timothy asked.

  “Timothy, this is the very first visit since the Great War that I know of.”

  ***

  Ok, so what’s the bad news?” Ruth asked.

  HAL paused a moment before replying. “The bad news is that China Lunar Base destroyed it.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Lost

  Captain Hollander breathed a deep sigh of relief when the jump bubble imploded and he could see real space again. Although the jump is instantaneous, the excitement of the last few seconds was too much for his 52 year old heart, and besides, he still couldn’t believe they had somehow survived.

  “Comm to Dickens. Uh, was that a torpedo I saw going away from us just before we jumped?” Hollander waited, but there was no answer coming.

  He looked around and saw an ensign helping a technician. “Ensign, if you can be spared, verify Mr. Dickens’ status in the Generator Room.”

  “Yes sir!” the ensign replied.

  Hollander looked around the bridge and then at the view screen. They had jumped to safe territory near the free planetoid Nady, where somewhat of a free law ship repair station existed. It was on the edge of free space, and much of the items Hollander would request would end up costing them, but a political arrangement had been in place for centuries that guaranteed free labor by a capable repair team in exchange for first bartering rights, most base necessities and constant fleet provided protection.

  The other WF ships that were towing them had unlocked their tractor beams and WF221 was now drifting, with the drive gone and maneuvering jets offline. Tugs were on their way, but had not yet arrived. Hollander could see a slight rotating drift to the ship, spinning counterclockwise and slowly rotating from front to back. It was driving him crazy. This represented everything that had gone wrong those last few hours and it painfully reminded him of his lost crew, numbers and people still un-tabulated.

  ‘Damn!’ Hollander thought. ‘No drive, people dead, the Commander dead, Dickens unaccounted for, and this infernal spin to boot…’

  “Can’t anyone do anything about this damn spin?!” he yelled in frustration.

  The technician under one of the consoles spoke up and said, “Almost done here sir. You should have some sort of control in a second… Try it now Sticks,” he said to the ship pilot, a young hotshot whose given name was Daniel. First Officer Bishop was under the console too, giving the technician a hand.

  Hollander watched as Daniel massaged the controls, and the ship sluggishly stopped spinning to the point where it now faced backward, almost directly back at the point of jump entry.

  ‘Great’, Captain Hollander thought. “Thank you Daniel, and…and…”

  “Junior, sir,” the technician spoke up. By this time Bishop had already gotten up to stand by Captain Hollander’s side, his usual place.

  “Thank you, Junior.”

  Hollander watched the viewscreen, thinking about the last few events, running them through his mind and trying to decide if how he reacted to the near destruction of WF221 was the best way he could have gone about the situation. There was nothing better to do at the moment, seeing that the reports on ship damage and current status, the repairs, lost crew members and a million other details would take their time to be compiled and filter in.

  As he stood there thinking, a small thought registered on his sub-conscious that the space he was staring into on the viewscreen wasn’t quite right. Ever so slowly, an object that was barely viewable was coming into focus on the screen. Hollander continued to watch offhandedly at an area of space that was darker then dark, and when a star blinked out and then reappeared his mind finally clicked.

  “Anything on our Tactical?” he said out loud.

  “No sir,” came the reply.

  “Huh. Look again, it’s directly in front of us.”

  Sallecker was the Tactical operator on duty. His own command, a Destroyer class fast intercept ship had been severely damaged, and he took this position temporarily to sharpen his knowledge of the field.

  He looked up at the viewscreen but didn’t see anything. Looking again at Tactical, he said, “Nothing here, no heat, IF or anything, though most sensors are offline.”

  Bishop had walked over to Sallecker and added a few suggestions of his own. However, no further information came up.

  “Well, either I’m looking at something or I’m going nuts.” The object was now somewhat visible because of its depth of blackness against the band of stars behind it, and its outline was growing as it came directly at them.

  “I think it’s one of those ghost ships Captain. Shields are offline but we do have canons from 50MM and up,” Jumal, on Targeting said.

  “I think you’re right Jumal. Sallecker, you’re sure there’s nothing else around?”

  “Other than our ships, nothing Sir, but then again that ship isn’t there either. Most of my sensors are damaged, so I can’t scan for C-trail as one of our fighter pilots had suggested.”

  “Hmm. Strange…” Hollander knew that any alien craft this siz
e was not a threat to a WF ship, even if it was severely damaged.

  “Everyone, watch the ship. See if there’s any movement at all,” Hollander said, an idea forming in his mind.

  They all stared at the screen and watched carefully as the black outline came slowly but directly at them.

  “Anything yet Sallecker?”

  “No sir.”

  Bishop spoke up. “Jumal, you said that we have canons. Are the targeting computers operational?”

  “Yes sir,” Jumal replied.

  “Good, target the ship manually, but don’t fire the canons.”

  “Computer, on the main viewscreen is a dark area, an alien craft our sensors can’t pick up. Can you calculate its speed and trajectory based on its movement in reference to the background stars?”

  “Yes. Do you want it displayed?” the computer responded.

  “Yes,” Bishop replied.

  A few moments later, the speed, attitude, and direction relative to WF221 was displayed, which put a smile on Hollander’s face.

  “Jumal, calculate time of impact based on present speed.”

  Jumal quickly calculated and then said, “One minute thirty nine seconds, sir. Captain, how in the world is this ship following us?”

  “Jumal, I believe we won the lottery. It’s my guess that this ship is here because it got sucked in with us when we jumped.”

  ‘Lottery indeed,’ Hollander thought. If this ship was as dead as he thought it was, it could be valuable from a technological standpoint alone. But there was no time to get a tug out here, and no ships were in position to tractor this ship into their bay.