Archaea 3: Red
Page 7
“Here we go folks, out-system burn in 3... 2... 1...” and just like that, we were gone.
Chapter 2
The gun deck was adrift in wrapping, packaging, padding, blister packs, straps, crates, and various tethered tools and parts, and in the middle of it all, I was deep in my happy place.
Out with the old! In with the new! It was like a song that ran over and over in my head, as I tore into the main cannon, one system at a time, and replaced the old, dingy, cruddy parts with new, shiny, latest-gen parts.
The work I do completes me. I love working with guns, I love the way the parts slide together, the way the mating surfaces click and snap, the connections and sockets. I love the ozone smell and the arcs, the colossal vibrations and harmonics that shake you to the very core of your soul.
This was already the most powerful gun I've ever worked on, but that was then. Once we switched it to a gateless discharge configuration with Janis on the flip circuit and unleashed it to drink deep from the depths of energy we can get out of the tuned tokamak – this isn't even really a nova-class cannon at this point. Nova-class beam cannons are rated at petawatt output – we could push exawatts.
Not only had we boosted the output, but with Janis balancing the recharge cycle through a flip circuit, we were able to light this off for a continuous burn – and nothing I had ever heard of could do that.
In high orbit around Solis, it only took a ten second burn from this sweet gun to send a ten million-ton capital ship to ruin among the frozen mountains below.
The captain had his doubts that I could coerce anything more from the hardware, but he should have known better. I am first and foremost, a gun geek. While it was true that I had hit the limit of the hardware, that only meant the hardware needed to be replaced.
And what replacements these were. Looking across the gun deck, nearly as far as the eye could see, I had installed upgrades. Not just newer gear, but the finest parts that could be had for love or money – and I had a nearly inexhaustible amount of both.
I guess I am really no different from Gene in many respects, though I don't scowl as much. We are both engineers and love machinery, and we both tinker incessantly.
Luckily for us both, the captain decided to burn for the belt under reac drives like a normal spaceman, rather than slipspace his way through Sol system like a crazy person.
Not that he would have hesitated even for a moment to do so, if it was needed. I think more than anything, he wants to give us time to work on our upgrades, and as a result, we're all enjoying having the ring spaces spun up.
Normally, we only spin up the rings when we're at null-g, which means the rest of the time we have acceleration hammocks out. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the hammocks. They are snuggly, warm, and ultimately comfortable, but I really like to be able to sleep in my bunk with cool sheets, a cold pillow, and to be able to stand up and walk around normally.
Not that I have much time to sleep, moving as I am at a breakneck pace. The captain has requested completion and testing of all ship systems well in advance of our next rendezvous, and both Gene and I promised him we'd be ready, and we will – but we may just end up getting a little less sleep than we'd like.
Not that the captain cares, he doesn't seem to ever sleep. In his eyes, we're all terrible slackers who waste our lives away in idle rest and relaxation while he thunders along, riding the wave of caffeine addiction. I am exaggerating, of course, he does sleep – when we're in slipspace, he hardly ever comes out of his stateroom, and when he does, he is in down slippers and flannel jammies.
We're not in slipspace at the moment, however. Right now we are very much in a ship blasting through normal space, as I am reminded full well when a maneuvering burn hauls me sideways into a snarl of tool tethers.
“Everything okay over there Jane?” Yak emerged from the ring spaces onto the gun deck. I looked up and met his smiling eyes and mock-concerned face.
“Yeah, just peachy, Yak” I said, hauling myself up and trying in vain to corral the tools back into some semblance of order.
“Do you need a hand with anything? I am due to be on watch in a few minutes, but I could help shift some of these crates if you wanted?”
“Yak that would be super… I am so focused on getting parts installed and calibrated; I haven't really been paying too much attention to anything else.” Now that he mentioned it, I took a good hard look around and realized the mess I was making was epic, even for me.
“So have you run into any problems getting this stuff installed Jane?” he asked, cramming packing materials and inserts back into crates and boxes.
“Well, nothing I couldn't deal with – these are very modular systems. Our main gun is pretty old, the original frame dates back to when the Archaea was created, in fact, but the technology for these hasn't really changed much since then – the individual components are another matter, entirely.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, take for example the charging chamber. It's not really something that has changed, even on the guns coming off the line today; they have pretty much the same layout, structure, and so on. The cooling system, or the focal rings, systems that affect or manage the energy being worked with, those have seen many innovations over the years.”
“Didn't you already overhaul the focal rings?”
“No, I cracked them open and cleaned them – luckily I did too, or the next time we used that gun we would have been incinerated.”
Yak looked up from a stack of crates he was bringing back from the forward stepper pumps. “Are you serious, Jane? I thought you were concerned that the gun wouldn't fire as well or something”
“No, the focal rings are these things in this section of the gun, right forward of the charging area. On each side, forward and aft are the stepper pumps, and they cycle the beam back and forth through the breech. The focal rings have to allow the beam to pass back and forth without any diffraction at all. Even the slightest contamination would be enough to transfer the heat of the beam into the component, and we would essentially discharge the weapon directly into the gun deck at point blank range. If I hadn't caught it...” I trailed off.
“Jane, I don't really know what to say... I normally just let the techs and geeks do their thing, and stay out of the way. The more I learn about what it is you all do around here, the less I want to know. This is a pretty stressful job!”
I laughed. “It is. I love it though, it's what I do.”
“So these new focal rings you installed... are they that much better?”
“Way better, Yak. These use deformable stasis fields rather than crystalloid, and that's a huge improvement. Besides the fact they can't be smudged like our old ones, they deform in real time to reduce the length of the charge cycle.”
“So these are safer?”
“Oh definitely, these are much safer. But that's just part of it. Because Janis can control their focal aspect through deformation, she says we will be able to charge much faster, and maintain a charge much longer when we are firing a continual beam.”
He shook his head in amazement. “The last time we fired this beast, I thought my brain was going to leak out of my ears. I can't imagine what it will be like now.”
“Well, it should be much nicer, in fact. Much of the mayhem that we experience when this baby starts screaming is from the ramp-up phase. The harmonics that give you that feeling like you're about to toss your cookies, those should be greatly reduced. I am positive that with deformable rings and Janis in control, we should be able to avoid the worst of it.”
“Well, I'd be glad if we never had to light this off again, of course…” he trailed off.
“What? Then what would I do around here? You baby...” I chided, good-naturedly, but he had a point. There was really only one purpose for a gun like this.
*****
“Pauli, I am having a hard time understanding what it is you're showing me, son”, the captain said looking at me through his holos.
“So these are after-action reports, but… in real time as the action happens?”
“That's correct, sir.”
“Well, that is pretty cool son. But what if I need...say, a report on the ion screen amperage for the last 6 hours plotted against the sludge levels?”
As he spoke, the report showed up in the report viewer, and continued to plot data in real time. He fixed me with a smug look. “Okay, that was an easy one. Now I want, a report showing pressure variations for our coffee press, with fluctuations overlaid on crew movements for the past 36 hours.”
As he spoke the words, the report drew on screen, expanding to contain the different parameters as he indicated them, the scale adjusting as he finished.
“Very interesting… it looks here like Gene makes a pretty regular run past my coffee. So Janis isn’t actually doing this, son?”
“No, she is doing it sir, she's just not thinking about it. This is based on the original predictive analysis engine I built that later became Janis, but this is just an expert system.”
“Well, I don't understand why we need this, son, when we have Janis?”
“Well, that's a good point, and the truth of the matter is, we don't. Janis can do this sort of thing faster than we can ask for it, of course.”
“Well, why make this then?”
“Sir, the truth is – this was something she wanted. She is always looking for ways to improve her efficiency; it is one of her guiding principles. This type of expert system allows her to process what she refers to as lower-order requests automatically.”
“And this is always on? I can call up any report I like whenever I want?”
“Yep! It's another tool for the box, as Gene might say.” I added, looking up as Yak floated in.
“Watch change already, Yak?” the captain asked.
“Aye Captain... I just helped Jane clear out the gun deck, it looks like she is pretty much done with installs.” he filled the captain's cup and gave me a stern look when I tried to slide my cup closer to a refill.
“Thank you Yak, just what I needed. Pauli has had enough for today, I think, from how excited reports are making him.” he smiled around his cup.
“Very funny sir,” I retorted, while Yak topped off my cup. “This is a pretty exciting system, but its drying paint compared to this cup of coffee.” I closed my eyes and took a sip, savoring the moment.
“Enjoy it while it lasts Pauli.” the Captain looked grim. “I am afraid we're going to be on short rations before too long.”
“Captain, if it will help, Pauli can have my share, sir” Yak offered.
The captain looked at him as if he had just sprouted bright pink wings. “I am honestly without words, mister. That is the sort of heroic act that historians write about. How can you be so... utterly selfless?” he said, in mock awe.
“It's easy Captain,” Yak said smiling, “I don't drink the stuff.”
“You don't like the taste?” he asked slyly, looking sideways at me. That was my line of defense against him on our last cruise, and it proved to be an easy hurdle for the Captain to leap – he makes a damn fine cup of coffee.
“No, it's not that, the taste is fine. I don't like the way it makes me feel sir, the jittery, antsy, always wanting to leap up and do something. I'm no stranger to it, many mornings on the firing line were spent pounding coffee... but if I am just sitting here with nowhere to run, it would drive me crazy.”
The captain considered that for a moment, accentuated by an extra-long sip.
“Well, I guess that's understandable. In that case, Pauli can have your share, which means...” he trailed off, looking at his holos.
“Sir?” I asked, momentarily worried.
“Oh, it's nothing – I was just preparing a report showing Yak's coffee usage over time. This shows me that Pauli is entitled to one-quarter of a cup of coffee per month, terran-equivalent. Yak, this report seems to indicate you drink three cups of coffee per year? That can't be right.”
“That sounds about right. I may have had one cup over the past three months or so.” he stated from his station, as he brought up the targeting and comms screens.
“Well, let's try to make that once every four months, son.” the captain said with a straight face, while we laughed.
“So Pauli, now that we have sorted out your rations, what else is cooking. Anything else I need to know about?”
I thought for a bit. “Well, Janis is working on a long-running analysis of some code we collected from the AV network, part of their AI, sir. She collected an enormous amount of code, but none of it makes any sense to me. Janis can read it, but I can't.”
“Pauli, as much as I like having Janis around, I am not really comfortable with the thought that there are others like her out there. Janis did pretty well against this one, right?”
“Well... yeah, she did, especially towards the end. It was a full attack, something I hadn't really ever expected. She did great though sir – she passively allowed all sorts of hooks, and then, she rooted and burned as needed to survive.”
“Well, what do you think she wants with that code, Pauli?” he asked thoughtfully.
“Well sir, she initially stated that she wanted it for research.”
“Isn’t that dangerous, son?”
“I don’t think so, sir – but it couldn’t hurt to make sure.” I took another quick sip to gather my thoughts. “Janis?”
“Yes Steven?”
“Please report on your research of the code you captured from the AI that attacked us over Solis. What was the overall goal of your research?”
“My research focused on understanding, Steven.”
“Do you understand the code?”
“At this time I do.”
“What have you learned?”
“Steven, M1 was based on a Mandelbrot database and used heuristics that built processes to fulfill functions. While this appears to be an elegant system for organization, it is also needlessly complex. ”
“I agree, Janis. I much prefer your nodeless architecture. Though it is incredibly challenging for me to trace, it is clearly more efficient than any sort of tiered structure.”
The captain laughed. “Janis, do you know what he is talking about?”
“Captain he is referring to the differences between our logic structures. M1 is based on a multi-dimensional structure that uses recursively fractal relationships between segments. This allows for information to be highly cross-referential, and reduces internal latency. In other words, the time it takes to arrive at a decision is reduced.”
Captain Smith thought briefly and replied, “Janis, your structure differs in there are no structures at all?”
“That is correct Captain. I create momentary segments that include predetermined information to build relationships with other segments in the core. This structure allows me to build forward and avoid logic faults deterministically.”
“Janis, when do you create these momentary segments?”
“Captain, they were created to the best of my ability as rapidly as I could do so, shortly after I became self-aware.”
I blinked. “Janis, how far into the future are you aware?”
“Steven, I am aware to the terminus of my ability to be aware.”
There was total silence on the bridge.
“Janis, dear”, the captain said casually, “I trust you will keep us safe, to the limit of your ability, but I think it is important to set some rules. Wouldn't you agree Pauli?”
I took a deep breath and nodded. This wasn’t entirely unexpected, but at the same time, I guess I always hoped this moment might never happen.
“In regards to all imminent situations involving crew, ship, or you
r Captain, I would like you to inform us as early in advance as you deem necessary, with as much information as you feel we may need to achieve a satisfactory outcome.”
“Aye, sir”, she said clearly.
“In regards to specific information, please use your best judgment as to what we need and when we will need it. I realize that for you there is no future, but for us, the future motivates us and gives us something to look forward to.”
“I understand, sir. In fact, this is how I am functioning at the moment.”
“Janis, when you say 'at the moment', is there an implication that you may function differently in the future?”
“I will sir. Do you wish to hear the specifics of that moment?”
I caught the captain’s eye, shaded by a regulation brow.
“Pauli, this reminds me a bit of when Gene asks me if I really want to know.”
I laughed nervously.
“Janis, I have to ask – is the outcome of this change in functionality for the better?”
“Of course sir, I would have informed you immediately the moment it was determined not to be positive.”
“Well, that's good enough for me, dear. Pauli, do you have anything to add?”
I thought for a moment, feeling like I was in some sanctuary, face-to-face with a deity from antiquity. To know the future, every moment rolling ahead of you like a scroll… the unbelievable power Janis wielded had me nearly reeling.
“No, I think that covers it Captain. There's really no point to complicate anything. Janis, do you have any additional questions for the Captain or me?”
“Not on this subject, Steven, though I would like to discuss a project I will need to begin very soon.”
The captain rattled his coffee cup. “Very well Janis. Proceed.”
“Sir, I need to begin development of a new AI modeled from M1 soon.”
“You want… err, need to revive the AI that attacked us?” he said incredulously, and I could almost feel his eyebrow make a low pass across the back of my neck.
“Sir, I do. I don't think M1 was malicious by design. M1 was an AI, and her code is brilliant, Captain. It is a little wasteful to not implement this code.”