by Terry Mixon
Worse yet, while other locations were probably able to produce the hardware required by the lords, allowing lackeys of the dictatorship to build lords of their own would be a catastrophe.
He leaned forward. “This is shocking, terrible news. I’m afraid that I’m going to add to your sorrows.”
Raul proceeded to tell her about some of the things the enemy had stolen with the Dresden orbital. With any luck, the two of them could come up with some kind of plan to turn the situation around.
Considering how isolated they were, that seemed unlikely, but he had a duty to try.
14
Kelsey rapped her knuckles on the briefing room table. “If I could have your attention, we need to get this show on the road.”
She’d gathered all her top people to get an update on the various threads they were each working on. They’d been in this new system for a full day now.
“Zia, what’s the status of the prisoners?” she asked.
“The ones on the orbital or the ones on the planetary surface?”
Kelsey grimaced. “Let’s stick with the ones that we brought to the party.”
Their surveys had located dozens of farming and ranching villages. Based on the testimony of the one man they’d brought up from the surface, everyone below was likely to be either someone from the higher orders of the Rebel Empire or descended from them.
These ghosts—whoever they were—occasionally dropped off new people, but mostly left the prisoners to whatever lives they could build for themselves. Not exactly kind considering the climate, but not brutal, either.
They’d finally pinned the planet’s orbit down. It was deep winter for the inhabitants now, but it appeared that everything would warm up to an acceptable level for summer. So, as long as they didn’t leave the equator, existence wouldn’t be overly harsh.
“We finished going through everyone and getting names,” Zia said. “We’ve isolated the purely civilian side from the Fleet crewmen and officers. The vast majority of them are still on board the orbital, and there’s no way to change that. We don’t have the space to house them anywhere else.”
There had been over ten thousand people on the orbital when they’d captured it. She really needed to come up with something else very soon. Just guarding the various areas were straining their manpower to the very limit.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Kelsey said. “I think we need to tear out every bit of equipment that we’re interested in and turn them loose.”
Brandon Levy looked skeptical. “With that many people together, they’re going to come up with some kind of mischief to get into. Is that really what we want?”
“Do we have a choice? How long are we going to drag them with us? Once we take the manufacturing equipment and the research computers off the orbital, we don’t need it anymore.”
“So, you’re just planning on leaving it here?” Annette Vitter asked. “Isn’t that just asking for trouble? If they get back through the weak flip point, then the Rebel Empire will know all about the hole in their maps. That would be a disaster.”
“So, let’s tear out all the manufacturing capability,” Carl said. “If they have no way to build a flip drive, it doesn’t matter what they do.”
“That’s too risky,” Zia said. “People are more resourceful than you give them credit for. Maybe somebody on the planet’s surface used to be a whiz at manufacturing or is a flip drive physicist. We can’t know what would happen, other than to say the chances would be unacceptably high.”
Kelsey sighed. “You’re probably right. All it would take is them cobbling together some type of probe with a makeshift flip drive. I guess that’s off the table.”
“Maybe not,” Carl said. “To build a flip drive requires several extremely rare and hard to refine elements. That’s what kept us on Avalon for so long. Yes, I understand that we didn’t know how to build one, but the refining process took decades to perfect once we actually located enough of the exotic elements.
“Pentagar had knowledge of how to build flip drives, but because their system didn’t have any of these elements, they were trapped. Basically, it doesn’t matter what these people know if we can keep them from accessing any of those exotic elements.”
“That’s all fine and good,” Kelsey said, “but you haven’t said whether or not those elements are present here. Are they?”
He shrugged. “We’d have to look a lot harder—and in many more places—for me to answer that question. I think the takeaway from this should be that we could make it impossible for them to build a flip drive.
“There’s a lot of similarity in how they build the AI computer systems. The basic manufacturing gear that they have outside of the research facility just isn’t capable of performing the tasks required.”
Zia slowly nodded. “Add in the fact that they don’t even have detectors to find the weak flip points, and that should keep them pretty well pinned down for a long time. Besides, somebody else is responsible for the people in this system. They’ll be back long before the new guys figure out a way to escape.”
Kelsey wasn’t convinced. “I’m going to have to think on that for a while. It might be better to shuttle them down to the surface. We can move some limited manufacturing capability down and allow them to build a higher tech civilization without giving them access to a space-based platform.”
She looked over at Annette. “What about the research scientists? How goes the process of making friends?”
“Exceedingly well. Now that we’ve disabled the explosives in their heads, they’ve become a very friendly bunch. Very helpful. I have a list of all the research projects they were working on and access to their files.
“Unlike the two manufacturing units, the chief researcher has access to her people’s computers. We’ve already copied all the files. Of course, I’m not a scientist, so I have no idea how useful it’s going to be, but it sounds promising. Virtually everything is aimed toward some kind of improvement on Fleet vessels and weapons.”
“I’ve glanced over some of it, and I think a number of items are revolutionary,” Carl said. “They were working on upgraded computers for the missile systems. The potential increase in targeting ability and range are going to be more shocking to us than the Old Empire missiles were to our compatriots back on Avalon.”
“That’s quite a statement,” Kelsey said. “I look forward to hearing about it.”
“One other thing,” Annette said. “I found out what happened to the children from Erorsi. The Rebel Empire brought them to Dresden, and they became researchers.”
Kelsey blinked. “You’re telling me that the scientists here are all kids taken from the Pale Ones? That’s amazing.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Annette said. “I haven’t told them all the details, yet. I figured there’d always be time to have that conversation when you decided the time was right.”
“Excellent. I think that can wait until we get the hell out of here. Speaking of getting out of here, what’s the status on your research, Carl?”
“I’ve already begun modifying some of our probes. The frequency tuner that I’m installing onto their flip drives should restrict the power output to ranges similar to what that liner used.
“I suggest that we send one of Persephone’s stealthed probes back to the system that we came from before we test these. There’s always a possibility that one of them will flip into that first system, and if the drive malfunctions, it might be detectable by ships there. So, let’s be sure no one is home before we start playing around with this.”
“Agreed,” Kelsey said. “We’ll wait until we’re certain the other system is empty before we test any of your prototypes. Let’s set this up for tomorrow morning. Can you be ready by then?”
“Absolutely.”
Kelsey turned her attention to Brandon. “I have a few questions for you. First up, have you located who helped my mother?”
One side of his mouth quirked up. “They weren�
�t nearly as clever as they’d thought they were. Once I identified who was bringing her food, it was child’s play to get them to turn on one another.
“It seems that there were four of them. Someone in Fleet Personnel convinced them that he could give them orders to do this. I’d imagine Admiral Yeats will strenuously disagree once we get home.”
“What’s going to happen to them?” Kelsey asked.
“While I could bring them up on charges, I’ve decided to handle it administratively. I figure a year or two of scut work will satisfy me.”
Kelsey laughed. “Perfect. The other question is about Commander Giguere. I understand that you’ve been trying to ease her into the mindset that the AIs lied to them. How’s that going?”
He shrugged. “She’s fairly closed-mouthed. All I’ve heard her express is skepticism. As I recall, you said it took months for Commander Richards to come around. I don’t think we’ll benefit by rushing this situation, either.
“There has been one interesting development. She’s linked up with Commander Castille from the Dresden orbital. They’ve had their heads down over lunch for almost two hours now.”
Annette chuckled. “Man, I’d love to listen in on that conversation. That guy is devious. I’m not sure that allowing them to mingle is going to help our cause.”
“Probably not,” Brandon agreed. “It might convince him that we’re telling the truth, though.”
“Come again? He’s a hard-core Rebel Empire officer. What makes you think he’s susceptible to being turned?”
“I’m not certain that he’ll be turned into a supporter. More like a believer. Even if we convince him that he’s been lied to his entire life, he has a lot invested in their system. He might just continue supporting it. In any case, the discussions will be fascinating.”
Zia sighed. “This is all getting very convoluted. Let’s say that we do leave the majority of our prisoners here. Who are we keeping with us and why?”
“We need to keep the researchers,” Kelsey said. “We also need to have the top management people from the orbital, both civilian and Fleet. All of them might have useful information. Given enough time, some of them will come over to our side.
“Here’s what I think we’ll do. We need to strip out the equipment and computers we intend to take with us when we leave. Then we can pick an area down below and start setting up housing for the prisoners. We can turn construction over to them.
“Considering that everyone else here has been getting by with only primitive tools, these folks should be able to make perfectly serviceable and comfortable housing. They could then trade those skills with the other prisoners to get food and knowledge. The technology would spread to the other villages eventually. A win-win situation.”
Carl stared off into space. “It will take us a couple of days to strip the orbital of all the useful equipment. Moving the manufacturing gear is going to be the most time-consuming. Then we have to parse out what equipment is acceptable to move to the planet’s surface. That’ll take longer.”
“Indeed, it will,” Zia agreed. “Transporting that many people is going to take a while. I figure at least a week.”
“Then we’d best get started,” Kelsey said. “Round up some of the civilians that have the most construction experience and take them down to select their new home. Get them started building the initial shelters.
“I want to keep their population sizes similar to what we’re seeing now. Spread them out. Separate the Fleet people from the rest. I’d imagine the Fleet personnel will still manage to dominate them in the end, but that’s not our problem.
“I want to complete the relocation of prisoners and stripping the orbital within seven days. That might be tight, but let’s try to make it happen.”
Once she saw the agreement in everyone’s eyes, Kelsey stood slowly. “When we find a way out of the system, we’ll drop the orbital into the sun. That’ll keep anyone here from being able to use it, even if they eventually get off the planet’s surface.”
“I think that’s a bad idea,” Zia said. “Why don’t you save it as a bargaining chip? Once we finally locate these ghosts, I’d imagine they might be able to find a use for an orbital like that and a ship to move it around. We’re going to need to build some goodwill.”
Kelsey considered that and slowly nodded. “Okay. Once we’ve stripped it clean of things we’re taking with us, we’ll relocate it into the outer system. That way they can’t just come back here and locate it while we’re out searching for them. Keep me informed about all these projects. Dismissed.”
15
The next morning Annette stopped by Carl Owlet’s lab just after breakfast. She found the young scientist already hard at work.
From all appearances, he and his people had disassembled the flip drive that they’d found on the disabled liner. It lay scattered across several tables with the remainder sitting in a pile at the rear bulkhead.
She’d brought Jacqueline Parker with her so that the two could become acquainted. The woman looked around the lab curiously.
“What are you researching here?”
Annette smiled. “We’ll get to that. First, I want you to meet someone.”
She led the woman over to where Carl was furiously typing on a keyboard, hunched over a large monitor. She cleared her throat. “Good morning, Carl.”
The young man looked up, apparently startled by her voice. He rose to his feet. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Annette wasn’t surprised. By all accounts, the scientist was very single-minded.
“Carl Owlet, allow me to introduce Jacqueline Parker. Jacqueline is the lead researcher from the Dresden orbital. Jacqueline, Carl is our senior researcher.”
The woman looked a little skeptical. “Forgive me, but you seem a little young for the lead position.”
Carl smiled. “I get that a lot. Frankly, I’d be a lot more comfortable with someone else in charge too. For some reason, they’ve decided that I’m the best guy they’re going to get for this position. Particularly on this mission.”
“Don’t let him fool you,” Annette said. “This is the same man who discovered and perfected faster-than-light communication.”
Jacqueline’s eyes widened. “That’s impossible. Nothing goes faster than the speed of light.”
Carl gave Annette a look. “Isn’t that supposed to be classified?”
“Actually, I’ve already spoken with Princess Kelsey and Commodore Anderson. Jacqueline and her people were prisoners on the orbital, forced to work against their will. They’ve cooperated fully with us, and the computer is satisfied that she is a free agent willing to work with us.
“In fact, I would suggest that she and her research team might be of great use to you in figuring out our current problem. Nothing against your assistants, but we didn’t bring a large scientific contingent along with us on this mission. You can use all the help you can get.”
She turned to Jacqueline. “I wouldn’t let his youth lull you into a false sense of who he is. He’s very humble, so he’d probably never tell you this, but he won the Terran Empire’s highest award for scientific achievement: the Lucien Prize. The emperor knighted him for his contributions to science.”
The older woman searched her face for a moment, as though she were trying to determine if Annette was pulling a prank on her. “Well, if you say he’s done all this, then I suppose I best learn a little bit more about him.”
The woman focused her attention on Carl. “Faster-than-light communication? Exactly how does that work?”
Carl stood. “Basically, the communication device uses entangled photons in large numbers to transmit information from one place to another. That unfortunately means that the units are paired.
“That results in information passed from one unit to another at faster-than-light speed, regardless of the distance between them. In fact, the effect works through a flip point.
“Not more than one hop, but once is enough. That means we c
an place units on either side of the flip point and get real-time information sent from one to the other without a vessel having to traverse the flip point.”
Jacqueline looked skeptical. “You’re talking about Einstein’s theory, right? Spooky action at a distance? You’ve actually managed to build hardware that utilizes this principle reliably?”
“I have,” the young scientist said. “When I have time, I intend to work on FTL buoys we can sit at flip points scattered throughout the Empire. They’d be linked with ones on the other side of flip points, with main worlds in the system, and any Fleet installations.
“If it works as I hope, someone on one side of the Empire could send a message from their world to the flip-point buoy, which would then retransmit it through the flip point and across to any destination. If it were a multisystem jump, one buoy would communicate across to another buoy that would then send the information along.
“Theoretically, a person on one side of the Empire could send a message to a friend on the other side with a transmission delay measured in minutes.
“It would depend on the load of the buoy. If no one else was using it, or if its processing power was strong enough, the actual transmission of a single message could span the distance in less than a minute.”
Silence reigned for a moment. “I want to see this.”
“We’re not in a position to devote the resources to that research right now,” Annette said. “We’ve got higher-priority work that has to be done first. That’s why I brought you down to meet Carl. Or perhaps I should say, Sir Carl. The emperor did knight the man, after all.”
Jacqueline considered them both. “Okay, I’ll bite. What projects are you working on now, if I can ask? How could my people or I help you? Does it revolve around some of the research we were doing at Dresden?”
Carl shook his head. “It doesn’t. While all the work you’ve done appears fascinating, this revolves around flip-point physics. Have they explained to you where we are or how we got here?”