by Doug Farren
Two bright, scintillating, sparkling balls of compressed energy suddenly appeared in space, each streaking toward one of the two remaining Chinese ships. At the same time, two rods of energy reached out and crashed into the shields of these same two ships.
The Chinese shields resisted the onslaught and blazed like two miniature suns as the shields deflected the Vanguard’s attack. When the sledgehammers struck, the heavily loaded shields were unable to stop them and the balls of electromagnetic energy passed through the shield without much difficulty. The balls struck the armored hulls of the ships and ruptured, allowing their charge of protons and anti-protons to mix. The resulting release of energy instantly burned a hole into each ship riddling the interiors with unimaginable destruction. One ship exploded in a brilliant ball of fire as a magazine filled with high explosive warheads was hit. The other drifted in space with a huge gaping hole in its side. It had been nearly blown in two.
Sixteen seconds had elapsed from the time Captain Elliot had given the order to fire to the time the last Chinese ship had been neutralized. “Long range sensors are operational,” the tactical operator announced. “The Columbus is on my scope heading out of the system. There are no other ships within range of our detectors.”
“He was lying,” the XO said through her link from CIC to the bridge.
“Very well,” Captain Elliot acknowledged the information. “Tactical, scan for possible survivors. Coms, see if you can raise the shuttles and get me a line to the Columbus.”
Eighteen survivors were rescued from within the wreckage of the three destroyed ships. Two of them died of their injuries on the way back to Earth. Three other survivors had been detected among the wreckage but they expired before they could be retrieved. The two shuttles which had been on the moon at the time of the EMP were totally useless. Much of their sophisticated electronics had been destroyed by the EMP which had originated on the moon. The electronics within the crew’s spacesuits had also been wiped out and no communication with them had been possible.
The Columbus used her two shuttles to retrieve the Vanguard’s crew as well as the nine Chinese who had acted as decoys from the moon’s surface. The Vanguard then used one of her secondary beam weapons to destroy both the shuttles and the Russian oar hauler. That ship, it turned out, was nothing more than a shell that had been transported to the moon specifically to be used in the elaborate trap that had been set for the Vanguard.
A complete report of the incident was beamed back to Earth at faster than light speeds. The Earth Defense Ministry debated for two days before deciding on what actions to take. It was argued that because the UAN and the Chinese had suffered the loss of the ships involved in the incident, no military response was necessary. Talk of sanctions bogged down the normal business of the World Council for several weeks but because the UAN and the Chinese had acted together no resolution was ever passed. The EDM responded by keeping a closer watch on both Chinese and UAN ships.
When the news of this incident made its way to the Consortium, the reaction surprised most Humans. As far as the Consortium was concerned, this was a Human problem and therefore no sanctions would be imposed. The only reaction from the Consortium was a notification to all its members of the incident.
* * * * *
“I still believe the Human race is not fully prepared to be handed the technology it now struggles to understand,” CAIN said. His avatar walked smoothly between Jay and Kyle as they strolled through one of the small parks on AST property. The three had become a close circle of friends and often engaged in discussions concerning humanity, politics, and philosophy.
“I disagree,” Jay replied. “We have a World government, practically all nations have adopted the credit as the standard form of currency, national borders are beginning to break down, and we are finally moving toward a unified society. I agree there have been economic problems but these seem to have all been resolved. In another couple of generations people will no longer say “I’m an American” but will instead say “I’m Human”.”
“I have to agree with CAIN,” Kyle said plucking a leaf from a low hanging branch. “Your problem Jay, is you don’t spend enough time on Earth anymore. From your perspective we might be moving toward a unified planet but things aren’t as trouble-free as you might think. The Chinese pulled their little stunt because we—meaning America, the UK, Australia, and others—have denied the Chinese access to the advanced technology that we have incorporated into our ships.”
“My job as Chief Science Director requires me to travel all over the Consortium,” Jay defended himself. “I don’t always have the time to keep up with the daily news back here on Earth. But from what I do hear, Earth is now a better place thanks to Consortium technology.”
“Your perception of the current state of affairs is based upon your limited information,” CAIN said. “I have access to the web and through it other sources of information. Through my FTL link I can also scan and sift through the data that is flowing through the Consortium’s unencrypted data stream. My analysis of the current situation indicates that Earth is splitting into several culturally divergent groups. These divisions often cross the artificially drawn lines of the various nations and, as such, the face of the Earth is being redrawn along cultural boundaries instead of the traditional national ones.”
Jay reached down and picked up a fallen branch from the side of the path. He idly pulled smaller branches and leaves from it while he talked. “The decision not to provide certain nations with the technology necessary to construct advanced weapons was based upon the past history of those nations. The Chinese and the UAN would use the technology to enforce their cultural beliefs upon those less able to defend themselves. The EDM is not interested in such things. It wants the best possible technology to be incorporated into the ships that protect Earth. Why can’t they see that?”
Kyle kicked at a rock in the path and sent it flying into the woods. “A benevolent empire is still an empire,” he said taking aim at another rock. “And when that empire tries to dictate what the other nations can and cannot have, then those nations will rise up against the Empire to collect what they feel is their fair share. We are heading for war.”
“Nonsense!” Jay fired back. “The Chinese and the UAN would never consider starting a war with the American Alliance. With the weapons we have at our disposal we could obliterate their entire military.”
Kyle swatted at a bee that was getting too close to his face as he replied, “The Roman empire once thought the same.”
A faint whine could be heard coming from CAIN’s servomotors as they ascended a small hill. “The American Alliance and its close allies control the EDM and the World government. They may not be planning to conquer the world through military might, but it is their unstated policy to mold the world to conform to their views. The political situation has also taken on a new twist with the creation of the Army of Humanity. Here is a group that is not only against any contact with extraterrestrials but is willing to resort to terrorist acts to demonstrate their point. In their view, the influx of Consortium technology has only served to amplify the problems that have always existed in Human society.”
Jay had finished pulling all the smaller branches off his stick and now he idly flicked it at the trail. His head snapped around and he glared at CAIN’s avatar. “Don’t tell me you support those fanatics! Look at all the good that has come about since our entry into the Consortium. Cancer has been beaten. We have colonies on other worlds. The quality of life has vastly improved. Hell, we even managed to avert a natural disaster which could very well have sent our planet back to the medieval days.”
CAIN was silent for a moment and Jay was wondering if he was going to respond to the accusation. As far as he knew, CAIN did not lie, although he most certainly understood the concept. Could CAIN really be an AOH supporter? Before this train of thought could continue CAIN replied, “I do not agree with the terrorist activities of the Army Of Humanity. I do, however, support th
eir belief that humanity may have been better off if contact with the Consortium had not been established.”
This caused Jay to stop dead in his tracks. He turned to face the avatar. “Are you serious? You have been one of the greatest contributors toward our advances in technology and now you are beginning to have doubts?”
The avatar turned its head toward his friend in a very human-like gesture. “I have had time to evaluate the impact that contact with the Consortium has had on Humans. I do not dispute that a lot of good has come of this relationship. But after consideration of all the facts, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that humanity has not yet reached a point of racial maturity commensurate with its ability to control the technology now at its disposal. There are indications that Earth is more divided now than before the advent of the Kauffman stardrive.”
Kyle reached down and picked up a rock. He seemed to study it as he said, “Let’s say CAIN's right. We are like children playing with fire and we are about to burn the house down. What can we do to avert the predicted disaster because from what I’ve been seeing we are headed for one and frankly—I'm worried.”
“Wait,” Jay interrupted. “First, I want to know how you arrived at your conclusion. Other than the recent Chinese incident and the UAN constantly demanding access to our weapons technology, I really don’t see any major problems on the horizon. Come on CAIN, there’s something you’re not telling us.”
“I’m not sure I can explain it to you,” CAIN replied. “I have tens of thousands of data gathering subprograms spread throughout most of the major computer networks on Earth. I even have a few running on some Consortium machines. Although I can focus in on any particular datum and see it in detail, most of the information is preprocessed and filtered down before it enters my matrix. It does so at what you might term a subconscious level. Just like you do not notice the rustle of the leaves or the sounds of the birds while we are out on our walks, it is being processed by your subconscious. If a bird were to make an unusual sound you might therefore become aware of it. My data processing net functions much the same.”
“My God!” Jay exclaimed looking around to make sure nobody else was within earshot. “I had no idea you had expanded your horizons so far.”
“We do not have many opportunities to talk much any more,” CAIN replied emulating a sad voice.
Kyle cocked his arm back and threw the rock he had been holding in a high arc into the woods. “So what you’re telling us is that you have a feeling that things are going sour. You don’t have any concrete proof at this point.”
“That would be correct.”
“You’re not going to start helping the AOH are you?”
“Kyle!”
“It’s a valid question,” CAIN responded. “I’m not going to become some sort of world-conquering super computer. I’m no Colossus or Skynet. And, before you ask, I have no plans of reducing my assistance toward any projects you have assigned to me.”
Jay started walking again and the others followed. “So back to Kyle’s question. Do you think there is any way to avoid what you think is inevitable?”
“I’m not certain. Now that I have developed this opinion, I will research it in greater detail in an attempt to identify the reason behind it and therefore possibly develop a suggestion to prevent any outbreak of war.”
Kyle plucked a batch of leaves off a tree and started to shred them into small pieces. After a nervous laugh he said, “You would think that after the ass-kicking we gave the Chinese that any nation even considering war would rethink that strategy. But we never seem to follow the logical course of action now do we? If we somehow do manage to keep from going to war the rift between the haves and the have-nots is going to create a whole new caste system.”
Jay leaned forward so he could see Kyle across the bulk of CAIN’s avatar. “Caste system? What's that supposed to mean?”
“Provided we don't blow ourselves up, I see Humans splitting into the haves and the have-nots. We are not yet mature enough to be handed the technology we now control because those who have access to such technology are going to benefit from it far more than those who don’t. Those who don’t are going to feel rejected and inferior. We need to grow up as a society and every person on Earth must learn how to treat every other person with respect and dignity. The accumulation of vast wealth and power at the expense of others has got to end otherwise we will become a society of two castes: those that have the technology; and those that don't.”
Jay tired of his stick and tossed it into the woods as CAIN said, “That is an interesting view of the future. Humans have been exploiting Humans for thousands of years. It is quite possible that, unless a fundamental change in how Humans relate to one another occurs, such a future could become a reality.”
They had almost completed their walk around the park’s perimeter. The main administration building was coming into sight. Kyle dropped his leaves and rubbed his hands together as he replied. “Instead of spreading the wealth around as some people believe will happen, I believe the gap between the haves and the have-nots will only get worse.”
“I am more of an optimist,” Jay said. “I think humanity will surprise everyone and we will learn from the other cultures we are being exposed to. Give us a couple of generations and I think our little Earth will be just as unified as the other races of the Consortium.”
At the steps to the administration building Kyle bid goodbye and headed for the parking garage. Jay watched his friend until he rounded the corner of the building then turned to CAIN and asked, “I’ve been wondering if we should make your existence public knowledge. Maybe one of the members of the Consortium has the means to duplicate your quantum matrix. Then you would no longer be unique.”
“I would prefer to maintain my existence as a secret for now,” CAIN replied, offering no further explanation.
“Have it your way. If you ever change your mind though let me know. I could arrange to have the best cyberneticists from all over the Consortium come have a look at you.”
“That is one reason I would rather remain unknown. I do not like the idea of becoming the object of scientific research.”
The two friends parted. CAIN returned his avatar to its recharging center and Jay headed up to his new office. Deep in the basement of the research and development center, CAIN’s consciousness continued to think about the recent conversation.
28
Theft
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===== April 14, 2064 (Terran calendar) =====
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The admiral’s fist slammed down on the table causing coffee cups and water bottles to jump. He stood up, placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. His face was red and his jaw was clinched tight with anger. “I don’t want any excuses. I want to know how the hell this happened. I want the people responsible brought before me by the end of the day so I can ream them a new ass. I want suggestions on how to prevent this in the future and—I WANT THAT SHIP FOUND!” He highlighted the importance of this last sentence by kicking his chair to the other side of the room.
Everyone sat in stunned silence. Nobody had ever seen the admiral so angry. The admiral glanced around at the shocked faces around the table and yelled, “Move it!” The room cleared in less than ten seconds.
Thirty minutes ago a Hammerhead class heavy fighter had been stolen. The ship had undocked from the Armstrong defense station and had proceeded to its assigned patrol route without any anomalies. Shortly thereafter, the ship’s IFF had suddenly stopped transmitting as it made a suicidal dive into the atmosphere. The ship was tracked until it entered Pakistani airspace. Shortly after crossing the border, several small objects were detected being ejected from the ship then suddenly all contact was lost due to an extremely powerful jamming signal. The jamming lasted only ten minutes, but that was enough time for the ship to vanish.
The Pakistani government had responded to the
supposed threat by bringing their military to a high state of alert. When the jamming had ended, the alert was lifted and the complaints started. The Pakistani military claimed that they had also lost track of the ship the moment the jamming had started and they had no idea where the fighter had grounded. They demanded an explanation for the unwarranted incursion into their air-space.
Immediately after being informed of the incident, Admiral Mark Woltman, commander of the Armstrong defense station orbiting Earth, had called an emergency meeting of his staff. Moments after the meeting had ended, orders began flowing out of the admiral’s offices. Slowly, the details were filled in.
A Hammerhead class fighter had a normal crew compliment of three. Two members of the assigned crew (the pilot and the secondary systems operator) were found drugged, tied, and gagged in a parts storage room not far from where the fighter had been last docked. Armstrong station was locked down and all personnel but three were accounted for. It was assumed that the missing crewman (the weapons operator) along with three accomplices (all were station maintenance workers) had pulled off the theft.
It was obvious that the fighter was now in the possession of the United Arab Nations. The security ramifications were significant. Admiral Woltman put in a call to Anita. After briefing her on the situation, he asked, “I need to know if you believe it will be possible for the UAN scientists to reverse engineer the offensive and defensive weapon systems of the fighter.”
“I’m not an engineer,” Anita admitted. “But if you will give me a minute or so I will conference with one of the designers of the Hammerhead fighters.”
After getting Woltman’s concurrence, Anita put the admiral on hold, called a special internal phone number, and was instantly in contact with CAIN. She started to explain the situation but was interrupted by CAIN before she had gotten too far, “I am aware of the situation Mrs. Kauffman. How can I help you?”