“And yet they were used by the government...” the lawyer said looking at the admiral.
“That's a little different,” Irons said as the crowd turned its attention on him. “Those were for prisoners convicted of a crime who were a danger to themselves or others. Especially those who were incredibly dangerous.” He rarely ever dealt with prisoners of that nature. His policy was brutal and direct, if they presented a danger they were put down, hard and fast, with or without a trial.
“And yet they were still used,” the lawyer said.
The admiral scowled. “Because the prisoner didn't quite rate an execution. Or they were mentally disturbed. Or their death would turn them into a martyr for their cause. We're not all heartless.”
“The implants were voluntary admiral,” the doctor interjected before the argument got out of hand. “Purely good will.”
“Good will? Turning yourself into a meat robot?” Irons asked. Neural inhibitors and directors were damn scary. He had his own issues when one of the AI took control of his body, but he had a handle on it. But turning yourself into a robot that anyone could activate with the flick of a switch? That someone could sacrifice like a pawn in a game?
“So with the implants what went wrong? I'd think you could have just shut them down.”
“The adults yes. But their young...”
“Oh. No implants.” Iron grimaced in understanding. Yes, that explained it. It must have been some battle, throwing the organic robots parents against their young. Wow.
“No,” the doctor said sadly.
Irons winced. “I... see.”
“Yes it was bad.”
“I... can use my imagination. I'm betting they have some sort of bitterness there as well. A cultural meme. I suggest we make a note on that for anyone who picks up the pieces.”
“They should be aware of the possibility of bitterness. Yes,” The doctor responded with a sigh.
Howi grimaced at Shari as she silently waved to the robot in front of them. They were supposed to help weld a section of hull in the chamber. It turned out the chamber was a giant robotic welding and cutting room. That sort of rubbed the chimps the wrong way.
It was huge, over a thousand meters easy, and about two hundred meters wide. Both of the short ends had giant airlocks. It was all one long bay with machines and robots all over the place. The walls, ceiling and floor had all sorts of machines, some with rollers some with arms... it was a tangled mess. He ducked, brushing a giant chain aside. The ceiling was covered in track. Hoists dangled from chains all over the place. The lights were on but they were pretty dim.
This was just one room, a full assembly center. There were subassembly rooms connecting to each of the locks and to small doors along the long walls and even the ceiling and floor.
“Something the matter?” Joe the super on duty asked.
“Nah, just wondering when we'll be out of a job,” Howi said in disgust, looking at the robots. They were mostly arms but he wasn't fooled. They were idle now, but for how long? A lot of the welders were muttering about that. Some of the old hands weren't at all happy about the bots and were passing that on to the new generation.
Joe looked over his shoulder. He saw where the chimps were looking and snorted. “What them? They are for manufacturing. They also require someone to look over their work too. Come on, let's get this done,” he said, indicating the patch job. Someone had already tacked the piece back together but hadn't done a finished weld.
It was a support for a crane mounted into the wall. Something had torn it up at one point. There were several hydraulic lifts propping things up. From the look of things this crane system was the linchpin for the whole works. The metal was bare where someone else had cut it clean and tacked in a temporary patch. It sucked, whoever did the job needed to work on their welding.
Which it obviously needed. The support beam needed to be level and sturdy enough to handle the load of the crane bearing down on it. The crane had to move multi-ton pieces of metal across the room from job platform to platform.
“So what does all this do?” Shari asked.
“Builds shit. Over and over, whatever it's programmed to do,” Joe said as they used wire brushes to clean the metal.
Shari grunted. “Thought that's what a replicator's for?”
“Replicators are good for some shit but it's easier and cheaper to roll stuff off the smelters, run them through the mill and fold them then cut them up and weld the pieces together. You know basic metal stuff. Bulkheads, hull plate, stuff like that.”
She blinked. “Oh.”
Joe smiled. He was still in awe of this place despite being here over two months now. “There are different replicators. Electronics, general purpose... all sorts in this place. I'll show you one sometime if we've got time. You'll flip your lid.”
“Pass,” Howi said, putting his helmet on and turning the valve on his acetylene tank. “I heard they got them bugs in there.”
“Nanites. Robots.”
“So? Dem's for freaks and geeks. I'll stick to flame.” He held up his torch and nodded, dropping his helmet just as his flame ignited. “Flame on. Let's do this,” he growled turning to the joint.
Ezri danced, excited. She waved to Regina and Sparks. Sparks shook his head at the womenfolk’s excitement. Her husband slapped him on the chest. “We done here?” she asked.
Ezri was a little dynamo of energy, pixie hair covered in a white kerchief and wearing gray sweats. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows. she said she was ready to clean and move in. He was touched that they had waited until this moment, when he was finally fit and out of the hospital. Out of rehab. His hands were back to normal now. Of course it could be because they wanted him to do most of the grunt work. Typical.
“Looks like it,” he said. He held his temporary ID card up to the slot. “On three?” he asked turning to Freeze. A chimp couple nearby didn't wait, they just went in without a word. Freeze and Sparks ignored them.
“On three. One... two...”
“Three!” the girls squealed, dancing. The men smiled, the excitement was a little infectious. Besides, it was exciting, they just weren't into it like the girls were. They moved their cards downward in unison. There was a beep and then a click and a green light.
The doors clicked and then opened inward with a hush. Ezri brushed him aside as she dived in, looking around. She turned, fumbling for a light switch.
Roger came in, dropping the load of bags he had and then turned just as Ezri found a switch or panel or something. Suddenly he was blinded with light. He turned, blinking. What he saw amazed him.
Ezri was breathing in his arms suddenly. He stroked her as he looked. It was indeed breath taking. They had a beautiful split level apartment, more cubage then he'd ever seen any one person have other then on the view screen. “Wow,” he said, hand going out to grip the railing in front of them.
“Wow? That's all you've got to say? Wow? That's it?” Ezri demanded. Her grip loosened as she looked around. They were on a landing. Below them was an open concept floor, all airy and light. The three living zones were distinctively sectioned off by the furniture though, a couch, rug, and view screen for the living room area on the far right where the stairs ended, a large metal table and four chairs with a metal chandelier for the dining area, and a functional kitchen complete with an island.
To their immediate left was a balcony path to another set of French doors in the far left wall. It must have been all of three meters away!
To their right was a set of stairs down. The stairs like the railing were industrial, a set of metal pipes and cables. One of the cables was broken but it was still useable. He knew he could and would fix it later.
“Dude!” Sparks yelled loud enough for them to hear. Freeze smirked and then wolf whistled back. Ezri elbowed him.
“Stop making eyes at the apartment,” she growled. “You're only supposed to do that with me remember?”
“This is all ours? We don't have to share?�
� He was shocked, this was too much!
“All ours,” Ezri said with a grin. She led him by the hand down the stairs.
They were both amazed by the space. It was green, a nice green with flowers painted onto the walls. The ceiling was a vibrant blue. The floors were some form of plant matter, possibly bamboo. It was set in a diagonal pattern. Some of the lighting was florescent but some was soft accent leds. There was some dust and cobwebs here and there but it was still amazing.
He could deal with the mess. He had borrowed a cleaner bot, or was about to borrow. He smiled at the thought as he looked at the desiccated plants in the corners of the room. Joe said he'd run the cleaner through for an hour for each of them. The girl's didn't know that. Not that he didn't mind his gal getting a little mussed but if she didn't get all tired out maybe he'd get lucky later...
Ezri was flabbergasted by the kitchen, poking into the various cabinets. There was a food replicator and a beverage dispenser on the wall. A small walk in pantry complete with an even smaller wine cabinet! It was amazing! Her hand went over her mouth, tears shined in her eyes. This was too much. It was incredible and it was theirs. She knew better then to open the fridge though.
“This...” she turned, tucking herself into his arms as she broke down into tears. He wrapped his arms around her as she cried happy tears. “This is too much! Too much!” she said, hand over her mouth.
He chuckled softly, resting his head on her hair. “I think for you dear it's just right. And to think, we haven't even seen the rest of the place,” he murmured. She gave a watery chuckle at that dig.
She looked at the island as he rocked her in his arms. There was a cook top and a sink. “I don't even know how to cook!” she said with a wail. His chest rumbled in a chuckle when he heard that.
Discipline problems cropped up over time. Most of the problems were in between the tribes, old scores being settled or between the tribe members and the Kiev personnel. Some were verbal altercations; some quickly escalated to a physical confrontation. The tribal members fought dirty, fighting at the drop of a hat sometimes and going all out with teeth and claws or nails.
After one rather nasty confrontation sent three people to the medic’s, people petitioned the council and the admiral that something had to be done.
Savo pulled Irons aside just before the meeting to bend his ear on the subject. Irons nodded in agreement as the chimp laid out a case for a structured judicial system and punishment as both punishment and a deterrent. Unfortunately Savo was laying it out to the wrong person, Irons was fairly certain anything he suggested would be turned down flat.
The council is unhappy about the idea but finally agreed to set up a judicial system and jury system. The admiral's ready agreement was a surprise for some. During the same meeting they also set up a voting system. He had hoped they would have a referendum on the council but of course that had been too much to hope for. Instead votes were to be held on which sections of the station is more important to repair and therefore should get the majority of the resources. Irons clashed with this, he has his own take and priorities. Of course he's overruled and ignored.
Tugs and shuttles danced around the station every few hours now, clearing the surrounding space of debris, ice, and small asteroids. Everything is fed into the voracious appetite of the factory station.
On the way in with the derelict yacht the tug stumbled across a pair of derelict tugs but didn't report them until it sent it's log back when it neared the station. Sprite showed the admiral. He whistled in admiration when he saw the scans. They were huge, not quite the monsters the military used to use, but still impressive. easily thirty times larger than the little one hundred ton automated tug, and exponentially more powerful since a tug was mostly engines power plant and tractors. Irons passed the news on to the council. They were interested in salvaging the tugs but did not apologize for censuring Irons for his actions despite the good fortune.
Taylor Warner has some medical issues and had to be checked out by the medics. He knew what was coming and was anxious which didn't help his blood pressure or heart rate any. He's held overnight when his breathing became ragged. His wife didn't leave his side. She admonished him to pace himself better. He rubbed her hand and told her he was having a hard time, the excitement of it all was getting to him. She smiled tenderly down at him. “But I'll try,” he promised her.
She smiled again. “You'd better,” she growled.
Sprite was torn about the situation when she heard about it. She went to Irons with a proposal, that Warner senior be augmented and inserted into the station net as a cyber. The admiral wasn’t even sure it was possible and didn't want to make the suggestion unless it was.
Sprite contacted doctor Trask who was divided on the idea. She brought in a few of the other experts including doctor Kraft for a quick consult. Eventually word spread through the other cybers and AI. Some were not happy about the idea, others from the Kiev community were ecstatic about having someone else they trusted and respected on the council.
After some research Doctor Trask was certain it was possible given time. They layed out the entire plan, going over it several times and even running several simulations before they approached Warner.
He was intrigued by the idea. His wife is uncertain. He looked to her and asked her opinion. She agreed to it as long as they do the same to her. He's shocked and dismayed. “Whither thou go-est my love,” she murmured, leaning over to kiss his lips. His eyes misted as her fingers stroked his hand. Finally he nodded.
Doctor Trask and the other medics were taken aback by the idea. Doctor Kraft informed them it would take some time to refine the project. “Go ahead doc, I'm not going anywhere,” Warner said shrugging.
When they get sufficient fuel to keep the station running comfortably the admiral started working on his plan for the move. It took him a week to sort out the details and lay the additional groundwork required. Getting the shield nodes overhauled for defense had helped. He was unhappy about the insistence that it get done right away though, he would have really liked to of had more time on it. He would prefer to do a thorough structural integrity check of the station to make sure it could handle the load before proceeding.
Still he used the station's shields to move the station, surprising Fu and the others. He explained the shields could act as a wedge, moving it under a low acceleration a lot easier than using tugs. It would take months to move the ponderous station to its former location, but it would get done.
Nettled at being so easily outmaneuvered Fu retreated on the subject. The admiral was congratulated on his efforts though he was also reprimanded for not informing the council of his plan ahead of time. Irons tried to take it in stride, the good and the bad.
Kiev kept pace with the station, going ahead of it to keep an eye out for possible obstructions. They synch up the sensors to give them an in depth three dimensional image of the course. When they are certain the station is safe on the course Kiev resumes running people to and from the station.
In the inner system, they released additional repaired and rebuilt asteroid tugs to mine asteroids. Additional volunteers arrived from the planet, expanding the work force to over twenty thousand and ballooning the training classes. There are some complaints about class size so a few additional teachers are hired.
A month before the station arrived to the it's assigned Lagrange point the station is at a quarter of its planned capacity when another freighter entered the system from the Senka jump point.
Doctor Myers brought word of the arrival immediately, preening that the newly restored sensors had picked up the jump activity at the jump point. However his pride is soon replaced by concern from other quarters when they consider if the ship is friendly or not.
It took four days to get word to and from the unknown ship. Four tense days for everyone to reconsider the admiral's defensive plan. Irons kicked himself for not setting up a satellite near the jump point before hand.
When they finally recei
ved word they were pleased and relieved though. She is the Lieandra, a familiar ship that passed through the area on a circuit. Veraxin Captain Yen’ Kelly is in command. He was an old bug, but a familiar one to the people on the ground.
The Lieandra was shocked and excited by what was going on when they get word. They were surprised by the buzzing activity, and bartered for repairs for their ship as they transited across the system. Lieandra was a medium sized freighter, a Clydesdale class with a massive amount of passengers much like the Kiev had. The majority of her holds were now habitats, much like the Kiev had had.
Upon arrival over seventy five percent of the ship's passengers and crew decided to join the spacers on the station as well, freeing up the ship. Transporting people and goods to and from the station was of course a part of their contract.
The Kiev, in the form of Blur, agitated for its additional repairs after the Lieandra picked up its first load of parts for itself after its first run to the planet. Captain Chambers was a little annoyed, Captain Yen ‘Kelly had been smart, he'd gone to the planet first, unloaded his cargo, picked up a few hitch hikers and then headed to the station. By the time he'd arrived they had a couple of tons of generic parts he had requested on hand.
To mollify Captain Chambers and to keep with their deal Irons spun off a truss bot to build the dry dock. They were planning on rebuilding as many systems as possible and using the dock to repair and dial in their sensor network. He sold the idea to the station council by explaining that it is payment for services and Kiev will be a floating advertisement of their abilities and services in the future. Since they were over a figurative barrel and needed to remain on good terms with the Kiev in case of further need, they went along with his plan.
Ghost Station (The Wandering Engineer) Page 69