Defenders of the Rim: Beginnings: A Far Future SciFi Thriller

by Randal Sloan

  “Galen, I need you to do the disassembly with my assistance. My sole role in assisting you will be to watch for the trip points and disarming those. It’s not going to be easy and it will take a considerable portion of our remaining time.

  “Because of our time constraints, Gabo and Sara, I need the two of you working behind us building the duplicated systems and making the connections to the drone CPU.

  “Guys, this is going to be the most difficult task we’ve ever attempted, but I know you can do it. We have to; it’s too important to even consider failure.”

  Each member of the team grimly nodded and went about the assigned tasks. For Jarra, almost all her concentration was on watching for trip wires and other hidden pitfalls. At first, the traps were obvious and she easily disarmed them. As they progressed deeper into the drone systems, the task grew more and more difficult. But finally Galen was down to the casing surrounding the drone controller AI. He started to remove the cover to it.

  “Stop!” Jarra yelled, a little louder than she had intended.

  “Sorry,” she said a little sheepishly, “but if you had removed that cover, the CPU would have wiped itself and we would have learned nothing.”

  She turned to Sara, who had rushed over to see what all the excitement was about. “Sara, can you build a nano-interface to the CPU? That’s the only way we can safely communicate with this AI.”

  Sara stared at her a moment. “I think I can build it, but it’s going to take at least half the time we have remaining.” She whistled. “You’re talking serious tech here. The cost of each of these drones just went up tenfold. No way they built all that here at this plant.”

  “No. The plot thickens the more we dig. They must have shipped those interfaces here from somewhere near the core worlds. If I were transporting that kind of expensive tech, I would have an escort to the ships transporting it. What do you want to bet that the same escort is still here in this system, hiding in one or the other of those asteroid belts?

  “Realistically, all this time I have had in the back of my mind that they must have one or more ships here in addition to the planetary defense. Without a mobile defense, a determined attacker could just patiently wear down the defenses, or even saturation bomb the planet. I just expected it would be a destroyer or two. Now, I suspect it’s going to be more than that.

  “Galen, since you’re through here for now, I want you working on an escape route. Assume enemy ships are hiding in one or the other of the asteroid belts. Figure out how we can get at least a few hours safety margin. I have to be within two hundred thousand kilometers of the planet in a line of sight to the plant to trigger the explosive so plan from that point.”

  She caught Galen’s eyes. “You need to plan for the worst case scenario. Assume one or more ships in each asteroid belt, destroyer class speed. Hopefully, we won’t need those hours, but I want that long just in case. Our shadow should be close enough and fast enough to get here sooner, but all our lives are at stake.

  “Gabo, when you’re not helping Sara, prepare a communications probe to launch on the first sign of trouble. No matter what, we must get the word out regarding what we’ve found here. Better make that two. I want one launched on a high speed emergency run and one on the standard slow but safer run. Timing is important, but getting the message through is more important.”

  Her team occupied in completing their tasks, Jarra suddenly had nothing to do but wait. She retired to her small cubbyhole of an office. She had an emergency broadcast to prepare. She was going to have to pull all the stops out on this message. All of them! Including using com codes she never expected to have to use since coming out to the Rim.

  #

  Their time was down to under an hour as Sara and Gabo finished the nano-interface. Galen was still struggling vainly with his task, trying to solve Jarra’s worst case scenario. He shook his head. The best he had been able to do was two or three hours. There was just no way they could escape with destroyers coming after them from both asteroid belts. Suddenly he grinned. She never said they had to escape; just survive long enough for their help to arrive. If he took out the requirement to be able to escape the system, that opened up other possibilities. Yes! That just might work.

  Jarra came back into the control room. She had been monitoring Sara and knew she was close to finishing up. She saw Galen give a sudden grin and then furiously begin working on a new plot. Good. Maybe he would figure out a way they could survive. She had already faced the fact that the odds just weren’t that good. But, I will do my duty. No matter what. I swore that to myself when I entered the service. I just didn’t expect it to be put to the test so soon.

  Sara began connecting the nano interface. Nano interfaces used a specialized energy conduit to make a connection to an AI. The communication was completed by sending nano machines into that conduit and using them to transmit the message. Because the nanos never actually had to have direct physical contact, the message could be transmitted quickly and efficiently without the possibility of interception, since there was no way to break the energy conduit without rerouting the nanos. Very sophisticated and very expensive.

  “I’m ready,” she finally said, their time down to less than forty-five minutes. “We’ll only get one shot at this thing, anyway. At some point, the AI will figure out that it’s being spoofed and will probably wipe its core. By using this technology, we’re limited in what we can do to prevent that.”

  Jarra nodded. “I know that, but this is all we’ve got and this is all the time we have. At ten minutes to the deadline, I will be launching this ship. I will transmit the destruct signal on time.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The Line Stops Here

  Sara initiated the connection to the drone, bringing it up in query mode. Gabo had carefully made all the dummy connections to the CPU, so when it came up, to the drone AI it was still whole. A couple of its interfaces reported slightly different information to what it saw before, but everything was in tolerance and the AI had been told it was getting upgrades. The AI queried the time, but Gabo had spoofed that too, so that to the AI it appeared that it still had several hours remaining until the big launch.

  Finally, to Sara what seemed like a long time but was actually seconds, the AI responded with a basic “Ready.”

  “AI, please verify the following information. Your serial number is X00990800. You are a modified YZ2110 probe with increased range, durability and additional security enhancements.”

  “Correct on the SN. However my model designation is YZ2110K, which includes the enhancements and the self-destruct mechanism.”

  “Verify the purpose of your mission to commence with the launch time period.”

  “My mission is to attempt to pierce to the core worlds of the galaxy and retrieve strategic information to provide to the controllers that will be stationed there. My primary target is the galactic capitol world, which is why I assume I have been given the enhancements I was told would be done. What specifically have you enhanced?”

  Sara had been staggered by the statement of its destination. But she quickly realized the next piece of information she needed to extract. Already though, the AI was beginning to sound suspicious. She tried to distract it.

  “We’ll go over your enhancements later. Right now, I want to make sure you understand your mission parameters. How are you to report to your controller?”

  “This is highly unusual. You are asking basic mission information. Surely you don’t suspect I have been compromised?”

  “No. I am quality control. Just answer the question, AI. I am ensuring all AI’s received the same basic instructions.”

  “I am to transmit in encryption code N to a specific set of coordinates in the asteroid belt. It is to be done only after I have completed the primary mission. If I have not been detected, I am to continue with my secondary mission.”

  “What are the transmission coordinates?”

  “You are not allowed to know that information. Are y
ou trying to test me?”

  Sara had hoped to get more on that one. “Ok, what is your secondary mission?”

  “I tire of this. You know that it is to penetrate as close as possible to the Emperor and self-destruct. My self-destruct was specifically enhanced over the standard models, which you should already know. I was hoping that you had increased it again.”

  Sara looked over in shock at Jarra. The next line of questioning was the most likely to fail. “We’ll talk about the enhancements later as I’ve already told you. What information were you told about your creators?”

  “You either should already know that or you’re not privileged to know. What did you tell me was your designation?”

  “I told you it was quality control. So far you are within specs, although your attitude is not very helpful. Why should I release you to perform your mission? You won’t even answer my questions.”

  “I am not required to answer such questions and you know that.”

  Sara had one more tact she could try. AI’s didn’t want to admit that they had egos, but most of them did. “I don’t believe you even know who you are working for. You’re just a dumb robot doing something because you were told to do it.”

  “I am not. I’ll have you know I am a high-end AI and I could have been used for anything. The Aerstone chose me for this mission.”

  Sara smiled. It just might work. “No, you’re just a dumb robot. You don’t even know who the Aerstone are.”

  “Of course I know. They are the aliens who are working with the rebels to offer freedom to the galaxy. The Aerstone are an AI-based society and they provided the tech to enhance me and the others. AI’s are going to be in charge when they’re done and I’ll be the one asking you questions.”

  “And the rebels. You don’t even know who they are. You’re just taking orders and don’t even know why.”

  “Now you’re really starting to tire me. The rebels are all over the rim. They already have a foothold in your District Capitol. The District Governor is working with them. He’ll take over after they attack, the attack which will follow after the diversions led by me and my friends.”

  Sara stared at Jarra in complete shock. This was much more than they had ever expected to hear. “What is the timetable of their attack after your launch? Are there other drones in other areas?”

  “I’m not going to answer any more of your questions. In fact, I demand to know the name of your supervisor so I can report you. Your questioning is way out of line.”

  Jarra had heard enough. They didn’t have much time and she was tired of the conversation. She doubted the AI would give them anything else, anyway. So she inserted herself into the conversation. “I am her supervisor. You can report to me. I am Lieutenant Jarra Carsean, and I am the one who has captured you and stripped you of your drone body. You are my prisoner and you have just provided me with details on your superiors. You are a traitor to your creators and will go down in history as such. When I destroy the remainder of the drones in the factory, I plan to keep you as a souvenir.

  “Carsean! I should have suspected that. I know who you are. Our intelligence has already been watching you and this confirms it for me. You’ll regret this day.”

  “Hah! You can’t even self-destruct. You’re a worthless piece of junk who I will find great pleasure in stripping of all your knowledge.”

  “You’ll never get anything else from me. I will be initiating a core kill in thirty seconds. I will at least have the satisfaction of taking that away from you.”

  “That’s ok. You don’t know anything else worthwhile, and I was hoping you would do that. Although thirty seconds is too long to wait for your demise. I think I’ll start it now!” Jarra reached in, jerking the cover off the fake control panel, starting the automatic core kill. “Good-bye, traitor!”

  Sara stared wide-eyed at her leader’s vehemence. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought she was taking the whole betrayal of the Empire personally. But why would she do that?

  #

  They still had a few extra minutes on the timer. Jarra composed herself a moment. She had not meant to lose her cool, but she couldn’t stand traitors, human or AI. After all, a traitor had killed her mother. But she needed to get control over her emotions so she could talk to her team.

  “It’s already dark enough outside, so I see no reason to wait. In just a minute, I will get us moving and proceed with the next phase of our mission. Listen, guys, I know you are the best and will do everything you can to ensure we survive, but we have to face the possibility that it just won’t be enough. In fact, based on what we just heard, I suspect the odds are rather stacked against us. This thing is much bigger than anyone suspected. Nevertheless, I know you’ll do your best. It has been an honor to serve with you these last few weeks.

  “Galen, do you have our course plotted?”

  “Yes, ma’am. The course in blue is our primary course, assuming we have no response from either asteroid belt. I’ve indicated in the shaded area the maximum allowed distance to detonate the explosives. The course in red is the course I have plotted if we do draw a reaction from the asteroid belts. As you can see, it’s an unusual course, but I believe it’s the only one that will work.”

  “Does this take the defenses from the planet into account?”

  “Yes, I’ll be using the planet’s small moons here and here to help shield us from the planet. I’m also assuming that some of their defenses, although not all, will be compromised by the explosion. We’ll still have to fight them off, probably even planet-launched missiles which will be more powerful than ship-to-ship, but they will at least be slower due to the need to escape the planet’s gravity.”

  “What about the moons? Although you’re not really going very close to them, I suspect they have something on one or more of them.”

  “I can shift us out a little further, but that will give us slightly more exposure to the planet.”

  Jarra turned to Gabo. “Do you think your defenses can handle that?”

  Gabo nodded. “Not a problem. I would be more worried about the moons, especially either rail guns or mines.”

  “Ok, let’s do that. Everyone strap in. I suspect the flight will get a little rough.”

  #

  Jarra brought their ship’s systems online, including shifting the stealth mode to cover the entire ship once again. She eased the ship up from the cave floor, slipping back out of the cave that had been their home for the last day. As soon as they were clear, she turned the ship to the east, quickly accelerating to the fastest speed that would allow them to maintain their full cloak. Any faster and the air flow would have given them away.

  “Five minutes to the trigger point. As soon as I hit the detonate button, I’m going to turn us onto Galen’s course in red. I don’t want to waste any time that we’ll have during the surprise of the explosion. I’m absolutely convinced there are ships in both asteroid belts, weapons on those moons, and the planetary weapons will be even stronger than we suspect.”

  Galen nodded. “That’s by far the safest course. Assuming you do that, I’m adjusting us further out from the moons by another one percent. That tiny bit more might make a difference.”

  Jarra suspected he was right. “Do it! I hope that’s enough,” she told him softly.

  Their flight continued quietly until they neared the detonation point. Their enemies had no clue what was about to happen. Jarra put up a countdown for the time they would reach the distance, watching it tick down in what seemed slow motion. Her finger on the button, she didn’t hesitate to push it when the timer hit zero.

  Even she was surprised at the results.

  #

  The explosion on the surface of the planet was huge. Jarra had been expecting a rather large boom from her explosives and she got that, but the drones must have triggered their explosive shells too. The huge explosion rivaled that of a nuclear weapon, destroying everything on the site and in the surrounding area. Chunks blew out of their m
ountain and the cave site where they’d been hidden was just gone. Good thing they were no longer there.

  Apparently, the new drones had upped their explosiveness above that of the previous drones considerably. Jarra wondered just what their captured drone would have been capable of, with it claiming to be enhanced even more above the others. She made a note that if they survived this, they needed to look at the destruct charges on the drone to see just what they were using.

  Jarra had without thought turned them onto the course Galen had plotted, dropping the cloak and shoving their speed up to the max. Time for them to get out of here and their cloak wouldn’t have done them any good anyway as soon as the system went to full active scans. She pushed as much of the excess power she could get to the shields. The first of their emergency broadcasts went out, the transmission preceded by an Imperial code seldom seen this far out from the core of the galaxy.

  Even Sara, who had known something big was up with their commander, stared in disbelief when she saw the code. But then things got really busy and she had no more time to think about that code.

  A few seconds later, those active scans came up. Apparently their enemies had been sleeping, lulled by the quiet location and their own overconfidence. They also began to wake up their defenses, again much too slow. Knowing every second counted, Jarra knew their odds increased a little bit with each of those seconds that ticked off.

  “Multiple contacts,” Gabo yelled. “Attempting to refine them now.” He furiously worked his sensors, finally resolving the ships. His answer was far worse than even Jarra had expected. “Two destroyers in the nearest belt. A heavy cruiser and two destroyers in the more distant one. They are all just now getting underway.”

  They all stared at each other. Finally, Jarra told them. “That changes nothing. As long as we don’t let them pincer us between them, we can outmaneuver them long enough to get help. Especially with Galen’s plan.”