“It is amazing how much has changed just in the thirty-six years since your grandfather Donner brought your grandmother and me to Mars,” said Abel. “Though in talking to some of the old timers here before us, I think the real boost to development was when the Republic was declared. Everyone began pulling together, they didn't wait for directions from Earth. Although from what I hear Earth was just as messed up then as now, so not much direction was forthcoming. Anyway, now we make our own decisions.”
John listened intently, nodding his head.
“That brings me to a couple of things I want to discuss with you John,” said his father. “First, why do you think Rothmeyer was damaged beyond repair when we went relatively unscathed in the explosion? And where do you think we should get a replacement?”
“Well, for one thing I think that Rothmeyer was closer to the explosion's source than we were. Also we essentially went with the punch, so to speak, because we were lighter on our feet and somewhat protected by our suits. Rothmeyer being much heavier and lifting those heavy batteries was more anchored when the explosion occurred. From my inspection of the remains, I think the explosive force hit him and he was unable to give so he broke.”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” said Abel.
“As far as a replacement we could get another robot from Simmons, he probably has a refurbished model,” said John.
“That would probably be the quickest and cheapest way to go,” said his dad. “Getting a new Annie model from Earth would take at least six months on a freighter and cost twice as much.”
“If we got a new one from Earth,” said John. “I wouldn't get a Annie version dad, I would get one of the new Ems, the Emulated Brain version. You know, the new AIs that are patterned after a human brain? Unlike an Annie they can train themselves on incomplete and imperfect data sets. And they can adapt their programming to optimize their training, something no Annie can do. Basically you show them what you want them to do much as you would show a person. And they're not much more expensive than the Annie versions, most of the extra cost is in shipping.”
“Yes,” said Abel. “I've read some about these new Ems. But I don't think we should take the chance on something that new, not until they are well integrated into society on Earth would I be interested in them. I've read of some adaptation problems.”
“I've read the same things dad. But I think I could keep the Em going. It would certainly put us at the forefront of robotics here on Mars.”
“I know you could son, but you've got a lot to do as it is. I'm not sure we could spare you from your other duties. Perhaps we should stick to the Annie version this time, maybe next time we'll get an Em.”
“You're probably right dad. We've got a lot to do without adding another balky piece of robotics.”
“Good,” said Abel. “We agree.”
“Next,” he said. “Daniel has asked for help from Bradbury, he expects some of the men he served with in the militia to come and help with the investigation into the explosion. We know the power relays were tampered with. They were deliberately overloaded with enough current to fuse them shut. To do that, someone had to bypass the motor safety protocol. I think it had to be someone here in Candor. I want a list from you of all the people you know who could change such protocol and all the people who would have access to the systems on the EV to complete such modification, okay?”
“Okay, dad,” said John. “To think that someone we know would do such a thing is appalling.”
“Yes, it is son,” said Abel. “It's also worrisome that they might try to do something with more impact. And we don't know what or when.”
4
Evram had been a whiz kid in school. He could do anything he wanted with a piece of electronics or a computer. He hadn't needed to be taught, his teachers had lavished enough praise upon him that he came to expect it. But when he failed the psychology requirement in college something snapped. The Professor that failed him was found mindlessly talking to himself in his home. He was placed in a mental hospital. Evram had disappeared by that time.
Evram found living in Earth orbit, under a false name, to be an acceptable compromise to prison on Earth. He was pretty much able to continue his work with computers and finding customers was just as easy. Digital money supported his living arrangements and he didn't really care to be around people anyway.
His latest customer obviously had a lot of money. Every time Evram did another little computer job he charged more than before. The customer didn't complain. The next job should be even more lucrative than before and Evram would almost be ready to retire. He wasn't sure where he would retire, but it would be bigger than the little rental module he now occupied.
Evram was preparing to continue targeting the same Mars settlement as before. His benefactor, located somewhere on Earth, left it up to Evram to decide what the incidents would be. As long as it was dramatic and had the possibility of being deadly the customer was satisfied.
For this job Evram had contacted a sub-contractor knowledgeable in Mars settlements, particularly life support systems. The link was voice only and protected by Evram's own cryptographic algorithm, even so the voices were disguised.
“Yes,” said the sub-contractor. “It's the old, too much of a good thing. Too much oxygen can lead to nausea, confusion, unconsciousness and even death. That is why the most expensive and important system on a spacecraft or in a Mars settlement is the oxygen carbon-dioxide recycling unit.”
“But there must be alarms that guard system parameters?” asked Evram.
“Yes, certainly,” said the sub-contractor. “I will include the many system guards that might possibly be used. Of course, if you could tell me the system model number we could be more specific.”
“I'm afraid that information is not available at this point although it might be in the future,” said Evram.
“Okay, so I'll put something together that will give you the basic components that all these systems must have and then I'll list all the possible different enhancements you might run into, including system alarms.”
“Very good,” said Evram. “Send the package as soon as possible please.”
“Right,” said the sub. “Good doing business with you.”
Evram didn't believe he would need such a wealth of information but since his customer hadn't placed a limit on his 'expenses' he might as well get the complete package.
________
Evram may have been the first to use one of the new Em AIs to hack a system. But such was the largess of his customer that he could afford it. He had specially trained the Em so that it was capable of doing whatever Evram needed. In this case the Em would respond to any blocking from the compromised network and would cover all traces of Evram's exploits.
Evram had previously broken into the computer networks on Mars using a brute force method but the next incident would be initiated in a somewhat more elegant manner. His customer had agreed to have a relay station placed on the Martian moon Phobos. A tremendous expense but absolutely essential to getting the job done in secret.
Evram had programmed two digital avatars to represent himself and his Em and he would be uploading them to the relay station on Phobos. From there the time delay to Mars would be nothing compared to working with the average one-way twenty-four minute delay that Evram had to deal with during the first incident. With the avatars so close to the surface of Mars they would be able to deal with any surprises in real-time. To Evram's knowledge this would be the first time such a hack was tried but he had every confidence he could pull it off.
As Evram thought about that first incident he remembered how surprised he was that he had been able to use a Martian government office net but when he thought more about it, it seemed apropos. Government IT was the slackest in the solar system. From the government office Evram piggy-backed off the government net to find the private network his customer wanted targeted.
The private settlement's net proved to be a lot tougher to break. Evra
m was delighted. He thought it a fitting target for his skills. After days of trying he found his way in by spoofing a government emergency warning service. Evram thought that was funny, a system supposed to protect the colonists used to break into their network.
Evram had arranged the first incident as a test run. Now with the help of his avatars he would arrange another incident which would be more damaging and dangerous for the colonists.
________
The avatars had been uploaded and were poking around in the colonist's system until they found what they were looking for. The O2/CO2 exchange unit. With the model number relayed back to Evram he could use it and the information provided by the sub to plan the next incident.
Evram was happy, his avatars were working as expected. He cheerfully informed his customer that he would soon trigger another incident. He didn't think about the victims as people, just targets.
5
Abel was out of the hospital and back home. Home was a natural cave, the front of which was a common area for the settlement. It had been sealed off with a hard plastic material impregnated with water which stopped high energy particles but allowed a diffuse light to enter, especially at sunset. The high arch of the cave in the atrium gave a feeling of openness in contrast to the windowless rooms that were more common.
Several families occupied the cave with the Jackson family. It was not unusual on Mars for more than one family to share a homestead and work together to provide the food and materials to keep the settlement going. It was more like a neighborhood than a commune. Each family owned their own quarters and were paid for any work they did in the settlement. The settlement was run as a business, trading goods with other settlements. Individuals also traded their expertise with other individuals and settlements. Abel was at the head of the council that made up the limited government of the Candor settlement.
Abel sat in the fading light reading the two lists John had prepared for him. Those with the knowledge to modify the EV protocols and those with the opportunity to do so. Abel marked three names that were on both lists. Only one he did not know. The other two he could not believe would be the type to commit such a crime.
Marta, Abel’s wife, entered. She had been working in the greenhouse since the loss of Rothmeyer. Before his destruction the robot had been given a set list of duties including the greenhouse but families were allowed to reserve his 'spare' time for their own uses, just as Abel and John had done. The robot had essentially been a shared resource.
The greenhouse, another shared resource, was set in the side of the hill. This provided a large area for sunlight, which supplemented the artificial lighting, to enter through the same plastic material that was used in the atrium. Marta, and others, usually worked in the early morning, taking a midday break and then working again from afternoon until dusk to cultivate the plants and repair any of the automated equipment used to keep the greenhouse running. They worked as needed.
“Hi honey,” said Abel as she entered. “How was work?”
“Everything was fine sweetheart,” she said. “Some pruning, some re-potting and that was it. What are you reading there?”
“Oh this,” said Abel. “These are lists that John prepared, I believe I mentioned them?”
“Yes dear,” said Marta. “You did. So, anyone stand out?”
“A couple of people I wouldn't suspect,” said Abel. “And one person I don't know.”
“Their names?” asked Marta somewhat impatiently.
“Oh,” said Abel. “Albert Dixon, Joseph Johnstone, I know; and the one I don't know, Maxim Rodrigue.”
“I see what you mean,” said Marta. “We've known Al and Joe forever, I can't imagine they would do such a thing. They would never try to harm anyone intentionally. But I'm like you, I don't know the other person at all.”
“Well,” said Abel. “I'm going to turn these names over to Daniel when he gets here tomorrow and let him do the investigating, I'm not qualified.”
“You're also not healthy enough yet to go running around trying to piece together this puzzle,” said Marta.
She kissed him on the forehead. “You rest here dear I'm going to get dinner ready.”
Abel was left alone to watch the deepening of the sunset. Passing from Martian pink to a deep blue.
6
This was a strange mission thought Rex Stamford. First, he had been contacted surreptitiously through an acquaintance. Next, he was to take the 'bus' from Bradbury to Capri settlement, almost eight-hundred kilometers distant. There he was to meet a man, Mr. Roscians, unknown to Rex to discuss a job opportunity.
Rex boarded the bus at the Bradbury terminal. The bus was a large scale version of a Mars crawler that had room for up to fifty travelers. The seats were none to plush for what would amount to a forty-hour journey. The only 'luxuries' were an on-board toilet and a snack bar provided by the bus line's attendant.
Rex was seated next to a woman who was traveling to Capri settlement to see her son. Her son was a pilot for the mining company in Capri. He flew the miners up to the sulfate mines northeast of the settlement.
“Really,” said Rex. “I understand they are just getting the magnesium processing up and running. A lot of good uses for those sulfates.”
“Yes,” said the woman. “My son says they have the processor up and going, it shouldn't be long until they can start selling some refined products. Bath salts would be nice to have again.
“And you Mr. Stamford, do you have business in Capri?”
“I'm going to Capri for a job interview. I'm afraid I can't say much about it yet. I really don't know much about it. Like your son I'm a rocket jockey really, although I've worked many different jobs since I've been on Mars.”
“Haven't we all,” said the woman. “I've done everything from baby sitting to accounting. Accounting, that was my profession before I came to Mars.”
“I suppose on Mars a profession is just a suggestion as far as employment goes,” said Rex.
They both laughed. Eventually their banter died down and Rex found himself looking out the window.
The crawler was making its way along the side of the Valles Marineris canyon complex within a few hundred meters of the rim. Rex knew the builders tried to maintain as level a road as possible but eventually they would have to climb a little as they tunneled through the Ganges Chaos to reach the rim of the Capri Chasma and Capri. But the Ganges Chaos was still more than a day away.
________
By the time they emerged into the Capri Chasma area Rex and the woman had just about had all the traveling they could stand. Though the seats reclined somewhat they were uncomfortable as a bed even in the lighter gravity on Mars. They were both bleary-eyed and cranky.
“I don't think I want to ever make this trip again, not until they have the tube finished,” said Rex to no one particular.
The woman next to him said, “I don't blame you Mr. Stamford. I'm only staying with my son a month and I hope it's long enough for me to recover.”
“I know what you mean,” said Rex.
It was late afternoon when they arrived in Capri. Rex said goodbye to his seat mate and headed for his room at the Capri Interplanetary Hotel. It was a fancy sounding name for what would pass as a small motel on Earth. It was all underground but at least the room promised a hot shower.
It was the following day when Rex met with Mr. Roscians.
________
“Now as I understand it Mr. Stamford you are well qualified to fly a Mars style hopper rocket?”
“Yes, that's correct Mr. Roscians.”
“And you also have experience with orbital rendezvous?” asked Roscians.
Rex was puzzled, what rendezvous would be contemplated using a hopper? “Yes,” he said.
“And you even have EVA experience I believe,” said Roscians.
“Yes,” said Rex.
“Good, good,” said Roscians. “Now Mr. Stamford what my client needs you to do is to establish a communications relay sta
tion on Phobos.”
“With a hopper rocket!” exclaimed Rex.
“A modified hopper rocket,” said Roscians. “I assure you it has the capability to do the job otherwise we wouldn't be using it. The establishment of this station is crucial for my client's research.”
“Okay,” said Rex. “But I will have to review the modifications before I commit myself to such an endeavor.”
“Of course Mr. Stamford. Actually we were hoping you would supervise the modifications. You know better than anyone what is required for such an expedition. Just rest assured that whatever you need to complete the conversion will be made available to you. Also two years pay, as reckoned for a interplanetary pilot, will be transferred to your bank account immediately upon commencement of the mission. Until then all your expenses will be paid. But there is one thing Mr. Stamford, for you to collect your pay you must complete the mission within a Martian month, and my employer would like it be kept quiet if possible.”
From the Earth: A Future Chronology Anthology Page 13