The Lost Patrol

by Vaughn Heppner

  Maddox considered the Ludendorff situation in conjunction with the Shu situation.

  Professor Ludendorff had proven treacherous on more than one occasion. The Methuselah Man did what he wanted when he wanted.

  Last voyage, Maddox had learned some of the reasons for that. Ludendorff was beyond old, having lived for nine centuries already. The man had seen endless history. They must seem like children to him, brief candles in his immortal existence.

  Why had the Builder done that to Ludendorff and Strand? The Builder had modified others as well. Those two had simply been the most successful at staying alive. It was interesting. Strand and Ludendorff had been around since before the Space Age, that era beginning when humanity left the Solar System via Laumer Drive technology. The two had been alive before the first colonies appeared in the Solar System. Had the Builders’ interference helped humanity or harmed it in their quest for the stars?

  Maddox shook his head as he walked through the ship’s corridors. He would have to think about this in greater depth, but it would have to be done later.

  The captain expanded his chest. It was time to concentrate on the coming voyage and his crew. He would have preferred several weeks, at least, to shake down his new crew and get to know his people better.

  That was something his instructors in Patrol Training had hammered home. Out in the Beyond, a crew only had each other. They had to trust one another, believing in what they were doing. Otherwise, morale could sour, and that was worse than equipment failure out in the Beyond.

  The crew of Starship Victory had several strikes against it before they even left the Solar System. The majority of them had never worked together before. Perhaps as critical, they would have a diverse crew, always a weakness because the people would not automatically think alike.

  A Kai-Kaus chief technician by the name of Andros Crank had joined them, together with a Kai-Kaus technical trio with the unusual names of See, Lee and Cree. More Kai-Kaus had sought a berth on Victory, but these were the only ones High Command had allowed to leave with them.

  Maddox shook his head once more. He’d become a national hero to the Kai-Kaus, by saving them from the Builder Dyson sphere and their coming annihilation from the Swarm masses there. A chief technician had already given her life to save Maddox. He thought about that often, and still found the incident bewildering.

  As the captain headed for the bridge, he was surprised by all the people in the corridors. On every past voyage, the Adok starship had been next to empty. Now, it was hard to find a spot to himself. This was like the old-time submarines he’d read about.

  Maddox wondered if he would come to wish for the old ways before this was over.

  “Welcome aboard, Captain,” said Galyan.

  Maddox nodded to the Adok holoimage that had appeared and now moved beside him. “Is the Spacer in the restricted area as I ordered?”

  “Yes, sir,” Galyan said.

  “Has any unauthorized individual tried to enter the area?”

  “I do not know,” Galyan said. “Would you like me to replay the security tapes?”

  “I do,” Maddox said, “as soon as we’re finished here. First, I want you to send a message to Brigadier O’Hara.”

  The holoimage glanced at him more closely, no doubt wondering why he didn’t want to send the message through regular channels.

  “You’re going to use a time-delay,” Maddox continued

  “That is not the reason you are having me send it.”

  “Correct,” Maddox said a moment later.

  The holoimage waited as it floated beside the captain. “Are you going to tell me the reason?” Galyan finally asked.

  “No.”

  “Are you deliberately goading my curiosity circuits?”

  Maddox didn’t reply.

  “Sometimes, you are maddening without even trying, Captain. You seek to show me a cake but refuse to let me devour it.”

  Maddox’s head swayed back in surprise. “What was that?”

  “Oh no,” Galyan said. “Did I use the saying incorrectly?”

  Maddox smiled slightly to himself. “That’s not quite how it goes. It’s: ‘You want to have your cake and eat it too.’”

  Galyan blinked for a time. “Isn’t a cake edible?”

  “It is.”

  “Then…what good is a cake if you can’t eat it?”

  “That’s an excellent question. As I don’t know where the expression came from, I’m afraid I can’t help you with it.”

  “It is challenging using Earth colloquialisms,” Galyan said. “But I am determined to do so correctly, as I would like to integrate fully with my new family.”

  Maddox considered his island analogy regarding himself, and smiled softly. “I’d say you’re doing fine, Galyan.”

  “Thank you, Captain. Your continued acceptance is noted and appreciated.”

  “Hmmm, yes,” he said. “Now, regarding the message…” Maddox told Galyan what to tell the brigadier concerning the Parisian street-attack earlier and the android that had been behind it.

  “An android,” Galyan said. “It appears we’ve been having another rash of them. Why didn’t this one attempt to kill you when it had the opportunity?”

  “I’ve been wondering that myself,” Maddox said. “I’d say it indicates factions among the androids.”

  “That seems odd.”

  “You’re considering it from their assault last year,” Maddox said. “A guiding intelligence directed them then. That intelligence perished with the loss of the secret base.”

  “I am aware of that,” Galyan said.

  “Good,” Maddox said. “You know. The last android said something interesting. It told me it was real, alive, wanting to remain in existence. That desire might have caused a malfunction in its brain circuits.”

  “You are striking close to the house with me by saying that,” Galyan said.

  Maddox stopped walking. “What?”

  “Close to the house,” Galyan repeated. “On no, did I get that one wrong also?”

  “Oh!” Maddox said. “Do you mean that one hits close to home?”

  Galyan’s eyelids fluttered. “Thank you, Captain. I have noted the correction. Yes, the android’s dilemma hits close to home.”

  “Because you’re an artificial intelligence?” Maddox asked.

  “I find that I no longer like the term artificial. I am quite real, as real as you, sir.”

  “Of course,” Maddox said.

  “Do you disagree with that?”

  “By no means.”

  Galyan grew tense. “The android used the same term while speaking with you.”

  “He did indeed.”

  “Are you making light of me, sir?”

  Maddox shook his head. “You are unique, Galyan.”

  “I like to think so.”

  “But back to the androids…”

  “I am listening.”

  “Do you think the Builders are behind their latest actions?”

  Galyan’s holoimage cocked its head. “That is an imprecise question, sir. We know the singular Builder was behind them, as you say, when it constructed the underwater base thousands of years ago. I suppose you’re wondering if the dead Builder is still behind their present course of action.”

  Maddox waited.

  “No,” Galyan said after a moment’s computation, “I do not.”

  “Do you think Strand guides their present actions?”

  “Why do you suspect him?” Galyan asked.

  “The connection seems rational,” Maddox said. “Strand has access to Builder technology. If anyone could subvert the androids to his plans, I would expect Strand.”

  “Or Professor Ludendorff,” Galyan said.

  “True…”

  “It is also possible the androids have developed their own scheme.”

  “I could accept that if they were simply trying to stay alive,” Maddox said. “Instead, the one in Paris at least was trying to warn us away f
rom the Spacers. I can’t conceive of an explanation for that. The other androids tried to kill me, no doubt to stop me from taking an action they disapproved of. Their attempts didn’t help them survive. In fact, it destroyed them. That might imply the Stokes androids had been given greater motivation than the Paris android. But if that is true, who gave them that spurring motive? You don’t believe the dead Builder did—”

  “You are being strictly logical,” Galyan announced. “Yes. I concur with your analysis and I am likewise beginning to suspect Strand’s hand in these actions. Yet, why should Strand attempt to stop Shu from joining us?”

  “That is the critical question.”

  “Even more importantly,” Galyan added, “how would Strand have known about Shu joining Victory?”

  Maddox rubbed his forehead. Why hadn’t he already thought of that? He didn’t feel off. Did the reason have anything to do with his failure tonight to spot the Marine menace? Meta had noticed their strangeness and had to point it out to him.

  An unwelcome and unusual uneasiness stirred in Maddox. He was used to trusting himself fully. Was something wrong with him? Was his mental acuity less than normal? If so, why was that?

  “Is there a problem?” Galyan asked.

  “That’s what I’m trying to determine,” the captain murmured.

  Maddox thought back to his time aboard the Spacer airship. That seemed like the most logical place for someone to have tampered with him. Yet, how could they have done so?

  Could the Spacers have altered him through a mental process somehow?

  Maddox scowled. The idea someone could mentally shift his thoughts…

  The captain’s fingers curled into fists as he debated whether he should interview Shu this instant. What if the two mechanisms inside her allowed her to mentally invade another person’s thoughts? That seemed farfetched. Still, he would have to monitor himself more closely. Yet, if Shu or the Visionary had the ability to tamper with a person’s thoughts, wouldn’t they have a process to hide that from the selected victim?

  “Galyan,” Maddox said.

  “Yes, Captain?”

  Maddox hesitated. This was embarrassing. He wasn’t used to the emotion. He wondered if there was another way to double-check himself. If there was, he didn’t see it. He would need an outside observer.

  “Galyan,” he said slowly, “I want you to monitor me for a time.”

  The holoimage seemed to hesitate for just a fraction. “How long shall I do this?”

  “I haven’t determined that yet. Let’s start with a week. I want you to test me for any deviations from my norm.”

  Galyan floated back a few centimeters.

  Maddox noticed. The AI seemed surprised with the order. There was something odd about that.

  “You’d better explain what just happened,” Maddox said.

  The holoimage seemed crestfallen, and there was a plaintive note in his voice as he spoke: “I cannot understand how you knew I was recording each of you.”

  This was news. Maddox hadn’t known.

  “I thought I had done so…”

  “Secretly?” Maddox asked.

  “Yes, Captain,” Galyan said sheepishly.

  “It wasn’t a secret to me,” Maddox lied.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, sir, how did you know? I cannot fathom how I gave it away.”

  “How I know is unimportant. The critical thing is that I’m going to give you a chance to come clean.”

  “You mean to impart my reasoning for doing this?” Galyan asked.

  “Exactly.”

  The holoimage considered that and finally stood a little straighter.

  “Captain, I am the last Adok, a replica of my people. There is none like me in the universe. I am alone except for you and the others. I dearly appreciate my family but feel my difference too keenly. I want to learn how to conduct myself better among you. I thought that a thorough study of each of you would help me to integrate better. I know Valerie told me before that I mustn’t spy on any of you, but…I don’t want to make a mistake that makes any of you hate me. I hope you will forgive me, Captain.”

  “I appreciate your candor,” Maddox said. “You will stop this monitoring at once, though. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Except for me,” Maddox said.

  “Sir?”

  “You will continue to monitor me. If you find a high enough variation to my actions, I want you to tell me at once.”

  “Yes, Captain. Is there a reason for the order?”

  “There is.”

  “May I inquire as to the reason?”

  “You may,” Maddox said.

  The holoimage waited, finally saying, “I think I understand. I may ask you, but I shouldn’t expect an answer.”

  “Not yet,” Maddox said. “If you’ll excuse me…”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Maddox resumed walking as the holoimage disappeared. This lack of quick mental acuity was troubling. Would Galyan detect a difference in him? Could he just be burned-out from extended overwork? Maddox didn’t like the idea. He had to find the underlying cause to this lack of acuity fast. The success of the voyage might well depend on it.

  His Patrol Training had drummed home the importance of a sharp starship captain. A crew often took on the virtues and vices of its captain. If he were becoming dull-witted, that might affect the crew. He had a responsibility to them to be at his best.

  It was a novel thought for Maddox—this responsibility to others. He wasn’t sure he liked it. Still, the responsibility was there. Whatever else happened, he intended to bring his starship and crew home again.

  He also hoped Star Watch Intelligence could root out the last of the androids and discover who or what motivated them toward their present actions.

  -18-

  Lieutenant Valerie Noonan sat at her navigator’s location on the bridge. She looked around the large circular area with the commander’s chair, presently unoccupied, in the center of the chamber.

  Starship Victory continued to accelerate as it passed Mars orbit, heading for the distant gate near Pluto. They were on their way to the Xerxes System. The captain hadn’t told them more than that yet.

  Valerie could already guess what would happen there. It wasn’t hard. What was in the Xerxes System? A Nexus, of course, a Builder silver pyramid. Last voyage, they’d used a hyper-spatial tube to travel a thousand light-years like that. They’d landed in a Builder System with a vast Dyson sphere in lieu of any planets.

  She doubted they would go back to the same Builder System. They would use a hyper-spatial tube, though. The rational decision for Star Watch was simple. Find the Swarm Imperium as fast as possible. Find out how close it was to Human Space. This was the right starship for the job.

  Valerie presently plotted the course to the Xerxes System. It was too easy, though. It left her bored. She’d had an extended vacation, continuing her hand-to-hand combat training. She’d also gotten her uniforms tailored so they fit better.

  Valerie had long brunette hair and features most people considered beautiful. She also had a taut body, able now to contort into all kinds of combat positions. The captain wouldn’t be leaving her behind again as he’d done on the Dyson sphere. It still bothered her that Riker had gone with the captain in the landing party instead of her.

  The problem these days was her left shoulder. She’d dislocated it twice during the intense combat training. The shoulder was still weak. She babied it even though she knew careful weight training would help speed the recovery.

  Valerie shifted in her seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. Once she found it, she adjusted her panel, studying various star systems.

  If anyone knew Starship Victory up one side and down the other, she was the one. Just like last time, she’d been in command much of the time that the ship had been in Earth orbit.

  Valerie shifted on her seat again, frowning, suddenly remembering a decision she had made several weeks a
go.

  Valerie loved routine. She loved knowing where everything went and at what time something should happen. Yes, Captain Maddox had taught her the art of command-while-in-danger. She had watched him for several voyages now. A good starship captain could make snap decisions. She liked sticking to regulations no matter what, though. Maybe she didn’t have enough confidence in herself to make snap decisions the way Captain Maddox could.

  Valerie stared at her blank screen with her fingers resting on her board. Several weeks ago, the Lord High Admiral had visited her aboard Victory.

  She used to work for Cook. She liked the old man, felt comfortable around him and safe in his presence. It was like Detroit when her wheelchair-bound father had been sober.

  Valerie sighed. The crux of her unease was that the Lord High Admiral had finally offered her a command again. She would run a tiny escort ship this time. She remembered asking the admiral if she could think about it.

  He’d said yes, but she could see how her words had changed his demeanor. It had been a slight thing, but it had been there.

  She’d wanted an independent command for some time. She’d even agitated for one. But now that she had the offer…

  This was Starship Victory, the greatest vessel in Star Watch. She’d been instrumental in making history these past years. If she left Victory, she would gain her own command again. But was that better? Being number one in a tiny ship on a boring assignment or being part of the greatest starship in existence doing something critically important? What had her decision told the Lord High Admiral about her?

  Valerie shook her head the tiniest bit. She should have taken the independent command. Was she too frightened to run her own ship? Many years ago now, her ship had been the sole survivor in an encounter against the invading New Men. That had been a harrowing experience. Maybe the terror of that time had shaken her self-confidence. She hadn’t thought so before this. But how else could she explain her hesitation at taking another crack at a line command?

  The only thing comforting her was that she’d stuck with her family. Besides, Maddox needed her. He might never say that, but she believed it was true. He left most of the everyday chores of Victory to her. The captain needed a well-oiled ship. It was her task to see it was so.