In orbit, the Alton battleships were towing the six Type Two battlestations to their respective slots in the defense grid. They were also emplacing the four hundred particle beam satellites Admiral Calmat had delivered. It would take a good twenty hours to properly place the satellites.
-
In Dorman, Dax had just finished talking to Councilor Lantoll. Lantoll had confirmed they were expecting a major Simulin attack. However, it had been decided that only young people would be placed in the deep bunker. Enough so that if life on the surface of Ornellia were extinguished, the people in the bunker could someday emerge and start over again.
Dax stood on a street corner watching heavy trucks rumble by. Looking around, the city was full of life and people trying to rebuild. Given time the Ornellians could someday reclaim their empire. Looking up toward space, Dax knew Admiral Jackson was ready to defend the planet. Councilor Lantoll had casually mentioned that a reinforcing fleet had arrived and Jackson now had a much larger fleet.
Dax’s thoughts were interrupted by the laughter of children. Turning, he saw a family walking past on the sidewalk. In the distance, he heard a flight of Anlon bombers taking off from the nearby spaceport. Squaring his shoulders, he decided it was time to return to the bunker. The first of two thousand specially chosen young people would be arriving shortly. One thing he did know with certainty. When the Simulins returned, they would find that Ornellia would be ready.
Chapter Nine
Jeremy was on board the Dominator. The Originator AI had summoned him for an immediate meeting. He had been very curt and refused further communication once he had demanded Jeremy come over to the ship. Suspecting what Kazak wanted, Jeremy had brought ZED along just in case the meeting went the way Jeremy thought it would. For several weeks now Commander Malen had been coming over to the Avenger daily to brief Jeremy on the progress of the Alton research teams. Each report had been the same: no progress made and no hopeful lines of research. It seemed the Originator scientists had thoroughly researched every possible avenue that might have led to a cure of the life extension pathogen. All had met with failure.
Stepping out of his shuttle, he saw Kelsey, Commander Malen, and Andram waiting for him. All had looks of concern on their faces.
“We’re in trouble,” Kelsey began as she stepped up closer to Jeremy. She didn’t say anything about ZED. “During the last few days Kazak has been growing impatient with the Alton research scientists. He seems to be getting dangerously out of control. I’m not sure anyone is safe on the ship anymore. If I didn’t know better, I would say he’s beginning to act irrationally.”
“He threatened several of the research scientists this morning,” Commander Malen said, narrowing her eyes. “I was in one of the research labs when Kazak came storming in and demanded the two Alton research scientists stop their current line of research. Kazak was fuming as he pointed out the Originators had already tried that line of research and it was a waste of time. When the Altons tried to explain why they were looking at this line of research, he refused to listen. I thought for a moment he was going to throw them across the room. He finally calmed down and gave them forty-eight hours to find another line of research and show progress or he would have them removed from the Dominator.”
“And this behavior is getting steadily worse?”
“Yes,” Commander Malen answered. “I’m not sure the crew is even safe if this continues. I believe Kazak is getting desperate to find a cure. It’s almost as if he believes he’s running out of time.”
Jeremy noticed several of the small work robots in the shuttle bay. There seemed to be more than normal. Doubtlessly Kazak could hear every word they spoke. “Andram, what’s the probability of finding a successful line of research in the near future?” Jeremy wanted to be certain all avenues of research had been investigated. Ariel had suggested, before he left the Avenger, that Kazak’s base programming was starting to influence his actions.
Andram let out a long and deep sigh of resignation. “We won’t. The Originators tried everything and their medical science is far in advance of ours. If we had access to the medical information on Astral, which is from numerous worlds, we might be able to make some progress. There’s medical information there from tens of thousands of worlds as well as research done by my own people while we still inhabited the galactic core.”
“Kazak’s going to demand we build the capacitor stations to allow him to go to Astral,” predicted Commander Malen. “I’m convinced he believes that’s his only option.”
“We’ll lose the war if we do that!” exclaimed Kelsey, her eyes growing wide. “We’ve sacrificed too much for that to happen. We can’t abandon Gaia.”
“What are the odds a cure could be found on Astral?” asked Jeremy, looking over at Andram.
“Unknown,” Andram said. “The computer achieves beneath the City of Light hold tremendous amounts of medical records. If there is a possibility of finding a cure, it would be there.”
“And Kazak knows that,” warned Kelsey.
“Let’s go see Kazak,” suggested Jeremy. Jeremy was growing impatient with the Originator AI. Perhaps it was time he was put in his place. “ZED, do you remember what I told you?”
“Of course, Admiral,” the AI responded in a near Human voice. “I am ready to face Kazak.”
-
As they proceeded through the Dominator, Jeremy noticed a large number of work robots that seemed to be involved in updating a number of the ship’s systems. “What are the work robots doing?”
Kelsey hesitated and then responded. “We’re not sure. They started this yesterday. The only thing Kazak will say is that they’re doing some upgrades to several of the ship’s systems.”
“Work is occurring all over the ship,” Commander Malen added. “I was going to speak to you about it at our next meeting.”
Jeremy didn’t like the sound of that. He was greatly concerned about the power Kazak wielded. The Dominator could destroy Gaia and the fleets protecting it if it came down to a battle. Jeremy had to find another way. There had to be a way to get Kazak to give them more time.
It didn’t take long and they reached the conference room where Kazak was waiting. Stepping inside, Jeremy saw Kazak standing at the front of a long conference table. Several Alton medical research scientists were also present.
“Sit down,” ordered Kazak in an uncompromising voice.
Jeremy nodded at the others but he remained standing. He had stopped at the far end of the table opposite Kazak. “I’m not used to being called away from important work by one of my subordinates. This had better be important.” Jeremy had spoken in depth to Ariel about the best tact to take with the Originator AI.
Kazak seemed taken aback by Jeremy’s words. “I am not your subordinate. I agreed to place the Dominator under your command. I now revoke that agreement.”
Jeremy nodded, folding his arms across his chest. “Very well.” He then turned to Kelsey. “Order all the Alton scientists to return to their science ships. Your crew will be leaving the Dominator shortly after you’ve confirmed that all the Alton research scientists have left.”
“What are you doing?” demanded Kazak, his voice turning cold. “I called this meeting!”
Jeremy gazed at Kazak with hard, uncompromising eyes. “You’ve had millions of years to find a cure to the Originator pathogen and failed. Yet you expect the Alton research scientists to find one in a few months.”
“They are wasting their time,” said Kazak. “They’re following lines of research the Originators in the Shrieels and on this ship did. They all failed.”
“We need more time,” said Andram calmly. “Perhaps we will find something they overlooked. We have barely touched the data they left on the pathogen.”
Kazak was silent for a long moment. “I have an ultimatum to deliver. You have forty-eight hours to show progress or I will take the Dominator out to Borton. Once there I will have the AIs begin constructing the parts for the capacitor st
ations that will be needed to allow the Dominator and a select few Alton research scientists to travel to Astral.”
“I think not,” said Jeremy, folding his arms across his chest again. “I am in command here, not you. The AIs at Borton will not be constructing any capacitor stations. They have other construction priorities.”
Kazak stared at Jeremy as if trying to guess what the Human fleet admiral was up to. “You forget that my ship can destroy your world and everything you’ve built here. I can annihilate your entire fleet and then take control of Borton. If I threaten to destroy the AIs’ Master Codex, they will do as I demand. The capacitor stations will be built.”
“ZED, activate the device,” ordered Jeremy, his eyes focused steadfastly on Kazak.
“Device activated,” reported ZED. “Countdown has started.”
“What device?” demanded Kazak. “What countdown are you speaking of? I’ve scanned ZED, and there’s nothing unusual about this AI.”
“Don’t scan ZED; scan the shuttle we arrived in.” Jeremy had a grim smile on his face. Now he would see how the Originator AI reacted. He hoped Ariel was right about what she felt he would do.
Kazak was silent for several moments and then his broad shoulders seemed to droop slightly. “My internal sensors indicate there’s an antimatter warhead on board the shuttle. How is that possible? I scanned it before allowing it to enter the bay.”
“Never mind how,” Jeremy replied in a clear and steady voice. “If any of your work robots attempt to enter the shuttle it will detonate automatically. If you do not agree to my demands, it will soon detonate as the timer is running. Being inside the bay, it will either heavily damage your ship or destroy it.”
“If that occurs you will die as well as the crew of this ship.”
Jeremy nodded. “I’m willing to accept that possibility. We can’t afford to take the risk of building the capacitor stations. If we do so, the Simulins will eventually find a way into the nebula and destroy Gaia. Our only hope is to build enough warspheres to take the battle to them. If we stop building the warspheres, then Gaia is doomed.”
Kazak seemed to be considering his options and then he spoke again. “In many ways you remind me of the former commander of this ship. He could be very stern and innovative at times. What do you want? My highest priority is saving the Originators who are in stasis in the central compartment. If you can offer a reasonable suggestion on how to do that then I will consider delaying my ultimatum.”
“ZED, inform Kazak of your recent line of research.”
The glowing ball of energy above ZED’s cube seemed to brighten considerably. “I and a group of Alton scientists have been studying the possibility of using nanite technology against the Originator pathogen.”
“Nanites,” said Kazak with a sharp frown. “The Originators banned the use of mechanical nanites inside their bodies due to the multitude of potential genetic changes that could be made. It risked changing the Originator race into something dark and emotionless.
“They didn’t even look at using nanites as a possible cure for the life extension pathogen,” asked Andram in surprise.
“No, that type of research was banned as I said earlier. Mechanical nanites could only be used in other forms such as ship repair.”
One of the Alton scientists who was sitting at the table looked at Kazak in confusion. “I’m not a specialist in nanite technology but I know they can be programmed for a variety of functions. What if they could be used to cure the life extension pathogen without risking major changes to the host?”
Kazak for the first time looked confused. “I don’t know. It is not something I have considered. It was not a line of research that was allowed.”
“You said yourself all other avenues of research have resulted in failure,” Jeremy pointed out. “What if we can use the nanites to find a cure? What if a year from now you could have living Originators walking the corridors of the Dominator?”
ZED moved closer to Kazak. “Let us continue this line of research. Once we have perfected a possible cure, we can try it out on one and only one Originator. You can choose the test subject. If it works and you’re satisfied there has been no physiological change to the Originator, then we can use it on the others.”
“How certain are you that the nanites can be programmed to affect the changes caused by the pathogen and nothing else? I know from the data the Originators left in the central computer that nanites used incorrectly can be very dangerous.”
Andram stood up and gazed at Kazak. “We use medical nanites ourselves. They’re programmed to do the work they’re designed for and then dissolve, becoming harmless to the host body. The nanites we use against the Originator pathogen can be programmed the same way.”
“Kazak, you’ve waited millions of years for this,” said Kelsey, her eyes focusing intently on the Originator AI. “If this works, the Originator race can live again. Isn’t that what you want?”
Kazak turned until he was facing Kelsey. “It is. My entire reason for continued existence has been to see the race restored to its former glory.”
“Then let us do this,” begged Kelsey. “Let us bring the Originators back.”
Kazak seemed to freeze for several long seconds. Then his eyes blinked and he turned toward Jeremy. “If I agree to this how soon before we can run a test?”
Jeremy looked over at ZED. “Well?” He had hoped Kazak would take a chance with the nanites. Ariel had been almost certain he would if he thought it had a reasonable chance of success.
“Two weeks,” ZED replied. “We already know from the research the Originators did exactly what the pathogen changed in their bodies. The current nanites we use to cure Altons of serious diseases or injuries can easily be programmed to reverse these changes. The subject would have to be closely monitored, and I would suggest we do so on one of the Alton science ships that has a med bay set up to specifically administer nanites.”
“That soon?” spoke Jeremy caught off guard. He had expected ZED to say it would be a few months at the earliest.
“Two weeks,” said Kazak, his eyes showing disbelief. “Are you telling me that in two weeks time we may be able to revive one of the Originators in stasis?”
“Yes,” answered ZED. “I am quite certain of it. It will take a few days for the medical nanites to reverse the changes to the gene structure caused by the pathogen. They will also accelerate the healing of the Originator’s body back to its former healthy self.”
“I am uneasy about using nanites,” Kazak reiterated. “However, if it holds the best probability of success, I will allow it to be administered to one test subject.”
“We will take all the precautions possible to ensure the test subject is not harmed,” responded ZED. “If you wish, you can come over to the Alton science ship and observe the procedure.”
“I will do so,” confirmed Kazak. “It is strange to think that my mission might soon be over.”
“There will be other missions,” promised Jeremy. “Once the Originators have been successfully brought out of stasis, I’m sure they will have more for you to do.”
Kazak looked over at Jeremy. “I am sorry, Admiral, for the threat I made earlier. I was getting desperate and afraid that any attempt at finding a cure was going to meet in failure. I felt the only hope was to journey to Astral. If ZED is successful in awakening one of the Originators then I will immediately turn over to you any of the technology on the Dominator you’re interested in. I will also swear allegiance to you and the people of Gaia unconditionally if the Originators will allow me to do so.”
Jeremy felt the beating of his heart slow down. He hadn’t been certain where this would lead. Once they left the Dominator, he needed to speak to ZED and make sure the AI was being truthful about using the medical nanites as a potential cure. He hoped the AI hadn’t made the whole thing up.
“We will discuss that when the time come,” Jeremy said, feeling the tension in the room subsiding.
“In th
at case, it is probably best if we all return to our duties. I must decide which of the adult Originators in the stasis compartment should be awoken first.”
-
Later Jeremy was back in the Command Center of the Avenger.
“What if Kazak had discovered that was a fake antimatter warhead in the shuttle?” Kelsey demanded. She had come back on the shuttle with Jeremy.
“He did know,” Ariel said as she suddenly appeared next to the two. “I was watching the sensor scans he ran of the shuttle, and I doubt if he believed for one second that the warhead was real.”
“Then why did he act as if it was?” asked Kelsey, looking confused. “I don’t understand.”
Jeremy slowly shook his head. “We may never know what fully drives Kazak.”
“There is something else we need to discuss,” Ariel said. “However, it needs to be done in private and not here in the Command Center.”
Jeremy looked surprised. He trusted everyone in the Command Center explicitly. “Very well, let’s go to the small briefing room down the outside corridor.
It didn’t take long for Jeremy and Kelsey to reach the room where Ariel was already waiting. Much to their surprise, Mikow and Katie were there also.
“What’s going on?” asked Kelsey, looking at her two friends.
“A number of days ago we downloaded the crew manifest and some other data from the Dominator,” Katie said.
“How?” demanded Jeremy. “Kazak would have stopped you.”
“I ran interference,” Ariel explained a little guiltily. “We felt Kazak wasn’t being truthful about a number of things.”
“Did you know about this?” asked Jeremy, looking over at Kelsey.
“Yes,” admitted Kelsey, looking down at the table. “It seemed like the smart thing to do at the time.”
The Lost Fleet: Search for the Originators: A Slaver Wars Novel Page 15