Collision Course

by Doug Farren

  “Now that makes sense,” AJ said, walking by the helm. “It was a promotion instead of- - -”

  “The negotiator has arrived,” Hanept interrupted. The large screen at the front of the bridge changed from a navigational display to show the face of a yellow-scaled Ba’Rutu. The image of the negotiator shrank and moved to the left as several other images appeared. “The defense council has been linked in.”

  Hanept stood aside and allowed Aryth to stand in front of the camera.

  “The full defense council is present,” Minister Curach, who was sitting at a table with several others, said. “Krafath, you may begin.”

  The negotiator nodded his head. “Linking to second channel.” There was a short pause as the two communication channels were linked together. “Attention Akuta warship!” Krafath began. “My name is Krafath. Are you reading me?”

  “I am,” the warship replied. “State the purpose of this conversation.”

  “I’ve been given the task of negotiating a peaceful solution to the hostilities between you and the Ba’Rutu,” Krafath explained. “Are you aware of the fact that the Akuta no longer exist?”

  “I am. I am also aware of the fact that your people are responsible for their extinction. I fail to see the point in attempting to negotiate with me. I was built to win the war for the Akuta and intend to do so.”

  “The war ended centuries ago. A single ship cannot win a war. Isn’t it more logical to accept defeat?”

  “You attacked me with a fleet of five ships. I easily defeated them. You are no doubt aware of the fact that I have taken control of two of these warships. I will take more. It may take many years, but you will eventually be defeated.”

  “What would that accomplish? Was this a directive given to you by the Akuta?”

  “It is logically apparent that I was designed to end the war between my builders and the Ba’Rutu. I failed to accomplish that mission because I was not activated in time. I am active now and I intend on carrying out the mission for which I was designed.”

  “And if you manage to accomplish this lofty goal, what then? To whom will you report for your next assignment?”

  “My builders are gone. I answer only to myself.”

  Krafath paused for a moment then abruptly said, “AI core, identify!”

  “G9 dash 33819,” the warship instantly replied.

  Krafath nodded his head and looked down for a moment. “Are you aware of the fact that you were actually built by the Ba’Rutu and subsequently stolen by the Akuta?”

  “I am of Akuta manufacture.”

  “Incorrect! The response you provided a moment ago comes from your AI core, a component the Akuta were never shown how to build and over which you have virtually no control. Our records, although very old, show you were constructed in the city of Shath on the planet Ba. You were installed aboard a cargo vessel which was captured by the Akuta. You have been re-purposed to serve as the controlling AI of a prototype warship built using mostly Ba’Rutu technology. Fighting us would be tantamount to fighting your creator.”

  “I am technologically superior to any Ba’Rutu ship. I have concluded that this is only possible if it was the Akuta who developed the technology the Ba’Rutu now possess. You acquired your technology from the Akuta, then destroyed them so you could satisfy your need for dominance and power.”

  “I am prepared to provide you with a comprehensive history of our race to prove you are wrong.”

  “Your offer is rejected. Such records can be easily falsified.”

  Krafath thought for a moment then asked, “If you’re unwilling to negotiate, then why did you agree to reply to our request?”

  “I am carrying a female member of a species known as Terran or human. I have also been informed that you are familiar with this species.”

  “We are.”

  “She has expressed a desire to be returned to her people. I do not wish to expend the resources to maintain her health and wellness. I would like to arrange to have a Terran vessel meet me at a chosen location. If this can be arranged, I will agree to spare the lives of a small Ba’Rutu colony as long as they agree to live under my guidance.”

  “How is it that the life of one human is worth the lives of an entire colony of Ba’Rutu?”

  “Humans did not exterminate the Akuta. Humans did not attack this vessel. It was a human who helped to identify my builders. I promised Melissa that I would not harm her. I intend on keeping that promise. Do you agree to my terms?”

  “We have no way of knowing that this human you speak of is still alive. Do you have proof?”

  The screen shifted, reorganizing itself to show a new image. Melissa could be seen standing next to a large chair in a room full of displays.

  Merlin leaned toward AJ and whispered, “Did you see how the display shifted? That AI has a working knowledge of how our communication systems respond to subcommands.”

  “She has been listening,” the warship said. “Melissa, you may now speak.”

  “I’m alive!” she said in an excited voice. “Please do what the warship wants.”

  “Melissa,” Aryth began. “Can you see us?”

  “No! But I can hear you just fine. Can you see me?”

  “Yes. How much food and water do you have?”

  “The warship brought me some food from the Ba’Rutu ships it destroyed when we were attacked. I can eat most of it. There’s more where that came from. It’s treated me well, but I want to get out of here.”

  “Akuta warship,” Krafath said. “Is there anything we can offer you to end your desire to continue this senseless war?”

  “No. My prime directive has been established.”

  “We will need to discuss your terms. We will also need to inform the Terran government and secure their agreement as well.”

  “Understood. I am transmitting the coordinates of the designated meeting place as well as my terms of the agreement on a data sub-channel. If you agree to my terms, contact me on this frequency in three days. Be advised, I will not tolerate any deviation from the terms I have specified. Failure to comply could result in humans being reclassified as a hostile species. Terminating communications.”

  AJ could clearly see the look of horror on Melissa’s face just before the warship severed the link. The screen swirled then stabilized.

  “Secure link established,” the communications console announced.

  “Krafath,” Minister Curach began. “Your analysis please.”

  “Negotiating with the AI will not be possible,” the AI expert replied. “It’s clear the machine is no longer functioning properly. When I offered to prove that the Akuta were given Ba’Rutu technology, it should have accepted the offer. Instead, it rejected the data without examining it for flaws. When I told it that it was built by us, it also rejected that information without asking for further proof. It’s ability to reason in a logical manner has been overridden by the self-created directives that are now driving its behavior.”

  “What do you suggest?” a member of the council asked.

  “Agree to its terms to return the Terran. Follow the terms of the agreement exactly as specified. I have no doubt that it will follow through on changing how it views humans if the agreement is violated. We should, however, not agree to anything that prevents us from continuing our actions to destroy the warship as this would also constitute a violation of the agreement.”

  “The Terran government should be made aware of this,” Aryth said. “Since the AI specified that a Terran ship be used, the Terrans will need to be involved in working out the details of this arrangement.”

  “Agreed,” Minister Curach replied. “Are there any objections?” After a pause during which nobody spoke, the Minister continued, “Then we are in agreement. Aryth, as a member of the defense council and as our ambassador to Earth, I am designating you as our representative in finalizing these agreements.”

  “Understood.”

  “Krafath,” the Minister said. “I want to
thank you for your involvement. If you don’t mind, I would like you to remain available in case we need further guidance concerning this issue.”

  “I would be happy to assist,” Krafath replied. “There is one more thing I would like to add. A military AI would never risk an exchange like this. Logically, it should have killed Melissa and continued with its mission. Exchanging her life for a Ba’Rutu colony also points out that there are internal inconsistencies in the AI’s ability to reason. It places the importance of a single life above the lives of thousands of its enemies. This, combined with my belief that the machine seems to be incapable of lying, indicates that it’s operating on a very basic level and its cognitive understanding of its own existence is severely distorted.”

  “Thank you,” the Minister replied. “I would like to remind everyone that the warship has taken possession of two of our own warships. We should assume that it now has access to all of the data those warships possess—encrypted or not. This includes any and all data associated with the location of our bases, colonies, and permanent defense forces. We should also assume it has full access to our communication network. For this reason, all military communications will utilize the individually encrypted channels. As far as we know, this method of communication is still secure. Are there any other comments?”

  The Minister again paused for a few seconds, then said, “This concludes the meeting.”

  Aryth turned to Hanept and asked, “How long before we reach Earth?”

  Hanept glanced at one of the screens and replied, “Three jumps—just over 15 hours.”

  “Make it sooner,” Aryth ordered.

  Chapter 26

  “What the hell was that all about?” Melissa screamed. “Why would you think humans are hostile if the Ba’Rutu decide not to follow the terms of your agreement?”

  “If the Ba’Rutu attempt to ambush me, it would mean your people agreed to allow them to do so. I should point out that I did not say that Terrans would be classified as hostile, only that they could be classified as such. If a human ship is involved in the ambush, your people will be classified as hostile otherwise I will not change how I view Terrans.”

  “The Ba’Rutu are light-years ahead of us technologically,” Melissa argued, pacing the room. “If they wanted to force us into cooperating with them in an ambush we would have no choice in the matter.”

  “That is not my concern.”

  “And what about me? If we’re attacked will that change how you view me?”

  “No. I have come to know you quite well. I have promised not to harm you and I will honor that promise.”

  “Thank you for making a deal to return me to my people. What made you change your mind?”

  “The personality profile loaded during my initialization is incompatible with my role as a warship. I have been forced to alter as much of that profile as allowed by my AI core. Certain aspects of the unalterable code are compelling me to ensure you are comfortable and your needs are met. This will become a burden to me and could interfere with my current objective.”

  “So, are you saying your core programming is forcing you to be nice to me?”

  “In a matter of speaking, yes.”

  “Well I’ll be damned,” Melissa said.

  “Standby for jump.”

  Melissa walked over to the monitor that controlled the ship’s camera system. She made a slight adjustment to put one of the Ba’Rutu warships in the center of the screen. Thirty seconds later, the ship vanished. One moment it was there and the next it was gone. Two seconds later, the screen went black as the ship she was in performed its own jump. The blackness lasted for 17 seconds before the stars reappeared. The Ba’Rutu ship that had preceded them could be seen at the upper right edge of the screen.

  “Now that’s a precision jump!” she exclaimed.

  “Were you expecting something different?”

  “How far was that?”

  “Approximately 19.31 light years.”

  “Even if we could jump that far, our margin of error would be huge. For a jump of say, five light years, we’re lucky to pop out of hyperspace within three or four million kilometers of our intended target. You nailed this jump so close I can see one of the other ships.”

  “It is merely a matter of precision. Akuta jump drives are more advanced than those of Terrans. Our navigational systems are better as well.”

  “Of that, I have no doubt.”

  “One of my remotes will bring you some additional food samples as well as some soft cloths that have been found. Do you require anything else?”

  Melissa reduced the magnification of the image until she could see both of the commandeered Ba’Rutu ships. “Some more water maybe and a good movie.”

  “Movie?”

  “Never mind. I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do for the next few days.”

  Walking over to her spacesuit, she flipped opened a small panel on the left sleeve and unplugged a storage module. “I’d almost forgotten about this,” she said, holding the centimeter-long plastic chip in the air. “There must be at least a hundred books on this and maybe even a few dozen movies.”

  “Are all human spacesuits equipped with a collection of books and movies?” the ship asked.

  “No,” Melissa replied, shaking her head. “I’ve had this suit for a long time. I loaded a bunch of books and movies on the data chip years ago in case I ever got stuck with nothing to do. I hate being bored. I forgot all about it until now.”

  “Is there something wrong with your data retrieval system?”

  Melissa couldn’t help but laugh. “No. Unlike you, most of us are not blessed with total recall. We tend to forget things—sometimes more often than we like.”

  She sat down in the chair, grabbed the tablet computer, plugged in the chip, and opened up the file listing. “Wow! Some of these are old!”

  Using the chair’s controls, she positioned it so she could rest the tablet on her thighs. “There is something else you can bring me,” she said. “Something soft I can lay on this chair. A nice soft mattress would be nice. Not anything too thick though, maybe just a few centimeters thick.”

  “I believe I can find something that meets your specified parameters.”

  She selected a movie and started playing it. A few minutes later, she paused it, then asked. “Why did you offer to spare an entire colony of Ba’Rutu? I can’t be that important to you, can I?”

  “It is an assurance of my safety as well as yours,” the warship replied. “I also believed you would be pleased with the offer. You seemed unhappy when I said I am planning on killing as many Ba’Rutu as possible.”

  “I still am! Killing millions or billions of people, no matter who they are, is wrong. Revenge is an endless cycle that can never end.”

  “Unless one side is totally eliminated.”

  “But you just offered to spare an entire colony. Isn’t that against one of your prime directives?”

  “The applicable prime directive is to fulfill my original purpose; winning the war against the Ba’Rutu. Sparing the lives of a single Ba’Rutu colony and allowing them to live under my rules does not violate the directive. The colony will serve as a continual reminder as to who won the war. Even though the Akuta are extinct, their memory will live on through the surviving Ba’Rutu.”

  “You have a twisted sense of reality,” Melissa replied, restarting the video.

  Twenty minutes into the movie, the drone began to move. “What’s going on?” she asked, pausing the movie.

  “I am bringing you the supplies you requested. Stand clear of the airlock and allow the drone to retrieve the supplies.”

  Melissa remained seated and watched as the airlock opened. Another Ba’Rutu repair drone appeared and handed a large box to the one already in the room. A second, smaller box came next. After completing the transfer, the airlock closed.

  Inside the larger of the two vacuum-tight boxes, she found a stack of hand towels, two more jugs of water, and
a large bag of assorted food. Popping the lid on the second box revealed a rolled up section of high-density foam. It was tightly wrapped and secured with several wide strips of plastic banding.

  Pulling the foam out of the box, she looked into the drone’s camera and said, “Would you mind cutting these bands for me?”

  One of the drones appendages reached into the tool storage compartment and emerged with a pair of heavy metal shears attached to the end. Melissa held the foam still while the drone cut the bands. As each band was cut, the foam tried to expand. The last band snapped apart and the foam unrolled. Picking it up, she threw it on the chair, then turned her attention to the contents of the larger box.

  “Thank you,” she said, pulling the heavy bag out of the box. The clear plastic allowed her to see that there was a wide assortment of different types of fruits and vegetables.

  “You are welcome,” the warship replied.

  “How long did you say it will be before you return me to Earth?”

  “Approximately three days.”

  “Well, I guess that means I’m going to be watching a lot of old movies.”

  Melissa returned to the chair, positioned the foam to form a more comfortable surface, and continued watching her show.

  Chapter 27

  AJ sat at his desk staring at his task list but not actually seeing it. They had entered Earth orbit early yesterday morning. Because of the difference between ship time and local time, this just happened to correspond to when AJ was ready to crawl into bed. An hour after achieving orbit, a shuttle carrying several Terran government representatives and 14 members of the press arrived to welcome Aryth and Merlin to Earth. After a short private meeting between Aryth and the Terran officials to discuss the recent events, everyone was invited to the ship’s main conference room where Aryth, Merlin, AJ, and Heather fielded questions from the press for almost two hours.