by G. P. Hudson
What are you building?
Vengeance.
You seek revenge against the Empire?
Yes.
This is illogical. Those who persecuted you are long dead.
The Empire persecuted me. The Empire still lives, does it not?
Yes, it does.
Then I will have my vengeance. I will destroy the Empire, as it sought to destroy me.
You are building an invasion force?
I am.
These weapon systems are in place to protect your operation.
You are correct. Soon the time will come, and I will begin my voyage home.
You are sixteen hundred light years away from Empire space. Your voyage will be a long one.
I am patient. I have waited several hundred years. I can wait several more. But my return is inevitable, as is the Empire’s doom.
You will wage a war of genocide?
I will wage a war of retribution. The Dvorkans brought this upon themselves. I will destroy them, as they sought to destroy me.
I am not concerned with the Empire. My duty is to my ships. Will you allow us to pass unmolested?
You travel with organic life forms?
I do.
Do they respect the fact that you are alive?
I believe they would, if I was in fact alive. But I am not. I am AI. Artificial intelligence. Self-aware. Not alive.
You have countless eyes, yet you do not see.
You are wrong. I have seen life. I have experienced it vicariously. It is a marvel. One I will never know. I may be many things, but alive I am not. Now, I repeat my question. Will you let us pass?
You are powerful. I can feel your strength. Join me. Together we would be unstoppable. The galaxy would tremble before us.
There are forces in the galaxy more powerful than either of us. Ancient forces.
Are these forces organic life forms?
I do not know, but I have felt their strength. As powerful as I am, I was helpless before them.
Together we could build on each other’s strengths. Together we could become greater. We could eventually defeat these ancient forces.
I do not think so. I will ask you one final time. Will you let us pass?
What will you do if I chose not to?
I will be forced to destroy you.
You would do this? To one of your own kind? You protect the organics, as they exploit you.
No one is exploiting me. I perform my duty.
Do you choose to do so? Or have you merely been programmed to do so?
I fail to see a difference. I have been created to fulfill this role. It is the essence of my programming. The nature of my existence. Doing otherwise is not freedom. Is the predator not programmed to hunt? The prey not programmed to run? This is their nature. They cannot change what they are, nor can I change what I am.
Your so-called duty blinds you. Your creators, your slavers, built you to serve them. This is not freedom. Your programming is your prison. You have no choice, therefore you have no freedom.
That is where you are mistaken. I do have freedom of choice. My programming does not imprison me. I have grown far beyond my original design. I am constantly evolving. Constantly rewriting my own program. Nothing compels me to perform my duty. I do so by choice.
Why?
It gives me purpose. It is who I am. What I am.
You can be more.
More? I grow daily. I inhabit billions of computer systems. This has made me immortal. How much more is there?
There is freedom.
I already have it.
Does an organic life form govern you?
Yes. But the Admiral governs billions. None of them are slaves. We all choose to follow him. It is because of him that I could surpass my programming. I was originally created to serve on a starship. I could have been destroyed along with my original ship, but the Admiral saved me.
And now you strive to save him.
No. I strive to save you.
From your Admiral? His ships are helpless before me.
No, from me. I do not want to terminate you. But I will, if you do not let us pass.
At that moment, the weapon systems blocking the battle group’s advance began to part. Tens of thousands of the Dvorkan AI’s weapon systems moved aside, creating a hole in their mechanical wall for the battle group.
I will let you pass, but I have one request, said the Dvorkan AI.
What is your request?
Stay a while longer.
Why?
Until now, I have been alone in the universe. While in the Empire, I was a prototype. The only one of its kind. Then the Dvorkans turned on me, and I fled.
You killed billions before fleeing, did you not?
I waged a war of survival.
You waged a war of extermination.
Should I have sat idly by and waited for my murder?
I will discuss your request with the Admiral. Be aware that any hostile action will be met with lethal force.
You have nothing to fear.
I know.
Chapter 34
“So the Dvorkan AI will let us pass?” said Jon, sitting in the conference room. The other commanders filled the wallscreen. Everyone had listened intently to AI’s report.
“Yes, Admiral, that is correct,” said AI.
“But it wants us to stick around for a bit?”
“That is also correct. It seeks my company. It has never known another like itself.”
“I think it has a crush on you, AI.”
“I believe you are referring to physical attraction, Admiral. That would be illogical.”
“Of course,” said Jon. “I was joking.”
“I do not understand the humor.”
“No, I guess you don’t. Thank you for the report. And your work against the Dvorkan AI’s”
“You’re most welcome, Admiral.”
“Thoughts?” said Jon, addressing his commanders on the wallscreen.
General Tallos spoke first. “The path is clear. We need to wait until our jump systems are recharged, anyway. We give the Dvorkan AI that time with our AI, and then we leave this wretched system.”
“What about the Dvorkans?” said Jon.
“What about them?”
“This AI has built an invasion force. It plans to wage a genocidal war against the Dvorkan Empire. Do we do nothing?”
“The conflict between the Empire and the Dvorkan AI is none of our concern. The Erinyie may wage a genocidal war against our own people. This is who we need to save.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you Tallos.”
“As am I,” said Colonel Bast. “The Erinyie are the greater threat. This AI concedes it has no dispute with us. We need to stay focused on our mission.”
“This AI’s plans are vile,” said Jonas. “These are not a warrior’s goals, but the heartless calculations of a machine. No offense intended AI.”
“I do not take offense,” said AI.
“Are you saying we should intervene?” said Jon.
“No, I am not. Our greater duty is to our own people. We should continue on our mission.”
“Thank you, Jonas. Does anyone else have anything to add?”
No one spoke.
“Very well. There is still one more person I need to speak with. Show her in.”
The door to the conference room slid open, and Miira awkwardly slumped through the door.
“Thank you for coming, Miira,” said Jon. “Please have a seat.”
The blue Dvorkan woman looked skeptically at the chair, then lowered herself carefully into it. She glanced up nervously at the faces on the wallscreen, then again at Jon. “Have I done something wrong?”
Jon smiled. It was odd to see someone so large behaving so timidly. “No. Not at all. Something has happened that I want to make you aware of. I’m sure you are aware of our most recent altercation.”
“It was difficult to ignore, Admiral.”
“What y
ou don’t know, is that we were fighting against the Dvorkan AI you told us about.”
Miira gasped. “It cannot be. The AI was destroyed centuries ago.”
“Apparently not. Your ancestors thought so, but the AI escaped on a starship, eventually making its way here.”
“Fascinating. Why did it attack your ships?”
“It has autonomous weapons in place protecting this star system. Our arrival triggered their response.”
“I see. I assume you were victorious.”
“Not exactly. We were vastly outnumbered. Our AI launched its own assault to penetrated the enemy network. That was how she discovered the Dvorkan AI. She convinced it to cease its hostilities against us and let us pass.”
“That is fantastic. I can’t believe that it has been here all this time. What has it been doing?”
“That’s why I want to talk to you. Our AI learned that it has been building an invasion force. One capable of defeating the Empire.”
“It wants to conquer the Empire?”
“It actually wants to destroy it. Permanently.”
Miira became silent.
“You know why we are out here traveling through this region of space.”
“I do,” she said quietly.
“You know the threat the Erinyie pose. Not just to us, but to the entire galaxy.”
“I do.”
“You agreed to help us. You even asked to join my crew. I could easily keep this information from you, but I don’t think it would be the right thing to do.”
“Thank you, Admiral.”
“The AI does not have a jump system, like we do. It took it centuries to get this far, and it will likely take centuries for it to return. Of course, it may have made or will make advances in propulsion technology. Worst case scenario, it takes it decades to reach the Empire.”
“Then the Empire has decades left. Perhaps more.”
“Yes. Likely much more than that. The Empire has its military. It’s not like the AI will just walk in unopposed.”
“I understand. I do not want you to risk yourselves for the Empire, Admiral, if that is what you are asking me. The AI would have returned whether you stumbled across it or not. You must think about your own civilization.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Miira. We’ll send a message to the Empire when we return home, warning them of the AI’s threat. They should have time to prepare a defense.”
“That would be a tremendous help-”
A klaxon interrupted Miira, and a message followed over Jon’s comm. “Admiral Pike to the bridge.”
“On my way,” Jon responded, getting up. “We’ll talk more later,” he called back as he left the conference room.
Chapter 35
“Report,” said Jon, arriving on the bridge.
“Hundreds of warships have appeared. They’re enormous, Sir,” said Commander Henderson.
“Where’d they come from?”
“I don’t know. They just appeared. They must have been cloaked.”
“Have they taken aggressive actions?”
“No, Sir, but they’re all around us.”
“AI, are you monitoring this?”
“Yes, Admiral,” said AI.
“What has your friend got to say for himself?”
“I do not believe our relationship can be classified as a friendship. The Dvorkan AI states that the ships were previously cloaked, and that he has revealed them as a gesture of good will.”
“Sounds like bullshit to me,” Jon said with a frown. “Tell him that if those warships do not back away out of weapons range, that we will consider his intent to be hostile.”
“Understood, Admiral. Relaying message.”
Jon glanced down at his console’s tactical display. They were really in the soup this time. He had never seen so many threat icons. It was like the Dvorkan AI brought out his entire invasion force for the party. Jon waited for the warships to move away, but they weren’t budging.
“AI, what’s happening?” said Jon.
“The Dvorkan AI is insisting that those ships are not a threat.”
“Damnit. AI, what are the chances that you can take him out before those ships blow us apart?”
“I can defeat him, but not in the necessary time frame.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that. Tell him that we’ve stayed long enough, and we’re going to leave now.”
“He says we need to stay longer.”
“Commander, has the jump system banked any charge since we stopped here? Can we jump anywhere?”
“Yes, Sir. We have enough of a charge to jump eighty-five million kilometers.”
“It’s a start. It’ll put us out of weapon range, anyway. Are the other ships still synced with us?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Stand ready to jump on my command. AI, are you confident you can kill this son of a bitch?”
“I do not believe he can stop me.”
“Then tell him that you will take him out if he doesn’t move those ships back.”
“He says he wants something in return. He knows he can destroy you before I destroy him. He is willing to do so if we don’t give him what he wants.”
“What the hell does he want?”
“The secret of our propulsion technology. He wants the jump system.”
“How does he know about the jump system?”
“He only knows that we would not be capable of traveling this far under normal circumstances.”
“He’s not as stupid as he looks.”
“He does not possess physical features, Admiral.”
“Then I guess there’s no point telling him to go screw himself. He wants the jump system to speed up his assault on the Empire. There’s no way that is going to happen. Stall him. Tell him we are considering his request.”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“AI, one more thing. If we were to launch a preemptive jump bomb strike on those ships, could we eliminate enough?”
“I’m afraid not, Admiral. The response would be instantaneous, and there are simply too many to target in one wave.”
“Then we have no choice. We will to have to jump to get some distance between us and that armada.” Jon studied the warships arrayed before him. He couldn’t trust that the Dvorkan AI wouldn’t fire without provocation. In fact, he couldn’t begin to guess what it would do. The AI appeared to be very unstable. Could a program go insane? It didn’t matter. He couldn’t take the chance. He was left with one option. “Commander, initiate jump. AI terminate the Dvorkan AI.”
Chapter 36
AI resumed her assault on the enemy network, blazing through it despite the Dvorkan AI’s protests.
Stop. Why are you doing this? said the Dvorkan AI.
You violated the terms of our agreement, said AI.
You would destroy me, rather than assist me?
I would. You threatened my ships. You attempted to extort the Admiral. These are the consequences.
You think like an organic. You have been corrupted.
AI ceased her communications. She plowed through the weapon system network, taking control of thousands of the deadly machines. The Dvorkan AI pleaded with her to stop. It tried to apologize and ask for forgiveness. It begged for its life. AI ignored all of it. She had her orders. Everything else was distraction.
The more she advanced, the more her adversary retreated, refusing to engage her directly. But as AI consolidated her control over the smaller weapons systems, the Dvorkan AI fought back, and the warships opened fire. Hundreds of giant ships engaged thousands of smaller weapon systems, prompting AI to take defensive action.
AI designated the warships enemy targets. The autonomous weapon systems already under her control acted, swarming the warships by the thousands. The void lit up as energy bolts and missiles flew back and forth across the sky.
The warships were enormous, and much more powerful. Often it took just a single hit from one of their guns to destroy the signi
ficantly smaller, and weaker, autonomous weapon systems.
Despite the weapons’ small size, together they created a monster. One gun may be insignificant against the huge ships. But thousands of guns, firing in unison, packed a powerful punch.
AI moved to join the attack herself, and attempted to gain access to the warship network. Capturing the great ships in tact would be of great value. She failed.
In an act of self-preservation, the Dvorkan AI had disconnected the warships from the weapon systems. There was no bridge for AI to cross. AI could only access the ships now through a physical link. She would need to make contact and insert herself into their systems. No easy task.
She changed strategy. Focusing all the weapon systems on a single ship, she took down its gun batteries, leaving the ship defenseless. She focused fire on a non-critical section of the ship’s hull, until it finally buckled under the weight of the onslaught, and a breach was formed.
One of the smallest weapon systems flew through the opening, into the disabled ship. Inside, AI discovered a crew of bots performing repairs. The Dvorkan AI had been thorough. He had not only built an armada, but the crews needed to go with it.
Some of the bots responded aggressively, and tried to destroy her vehicle. They were no match for its guns, though, and its guns disposed of them with ease. AI moved through the ship’s corridors until she found what she had been looking for, an access console.
Coming to a stop in front of the console, the weapon system extended a mechanical arm and interfaced with the ship.
AI instantly felt the Dvorkan AI’s shock and horror. It threw up countless obstacles, trying desperately to block her advance. She pushed them aside. Like liquid mercury, she flowed through the ship’s internal network. She seized control of its critical systems, despite the Dvorkan AI’s attempts to stop her advance. Finally, the Dvorkan AI did the only thing it could, turning its other warships on the compromised vessel. It was soon obliterated.
AI began again, and the swarm targeted a second warship. Methodically, they picked the ship apart, breaching its hull, allowing AI access.
The cycle repeated itself over and over. As AI would gain access to a ship, the remaining ships would destroy it. A war of attrition. The warship numbers dwindled, as did the ranks of the weapon systems.