The Colony Ship Conestoga : The Complete Series: All Eight Books

by John Thornton

  Walking to the end of that broken, but now repurposed airlock, Eris switched her thinking to Sandie. What exactly was the condition of that Dome 17 AI, whom Eris considered more than just an advanced intelligence system. Sandie was a friend.

  Reaching through the passage, Eris realized that gravity manipulation ended at the exterior door of that old airlock. She pulled herself into the FTL scout ship. Loss of gravity was not such a shock, but the tightness of the scout really was. Eris slipped into the closest seat and assessed the cockpit. Looking out of the clear permalloy window of the scout, the length and width of the needle ship was very impressive. The blackness of space extended in every other direction, but the grays of the needle ship stretched far away. It was unlike the funicular vehicle, as the FTL scout would not move again without extensive work to cut it loose. If that was done, then the exterior repair station would need to be rebuilt first, so as to protect the integrity of the ship. Eris began to contemplate how to do that, when she looked down at the center console, and remembered why she was there.

  Fingering some of the controls and instruments, Eris recognized where the Atomic Level Processor was located. She used several of her tools to open up the cramped console.

  “Wow Sandie, your physical presence is so much smaller than the AIs or SBs I am familiar with. That ALP is tiny,” Eris said.

  The Atomic Level Processor did look much like a data stick, only it was glowing with a gentle yellow light. Reaching out, Eris touched the tip of the ALP.

  Sandie’s voice came from some speakers in the FTL scout ship. “I am sorry Captain.”

  “Sandie,” relief flooded Eris’ words. “Oh Sandie, I am so glad to talk to you. I was afraid you were damaged, or in a state of apoplexy, or had something else happen to you.”

  “Nothing happened directly to me,” Sandie said, dejectedly. “It is what I did to others. I am sorry Captain.”

  “Sandie, do you want to tell me what happened? All I know is we have lost all contact with Zeta, and after that, I could not get you to answer me when I called.” Eris did not elaborate on the skimpy things she had also heard.

  “I retreated back to here. I was designed and built for this faster-than-light scout ship and the mission for the recovery of a colony ship. I failed in that mission,” Sandie the AI stated. “I then tried to understand the mission as providing a safe place for Jerome and Cammarry, yet I have had dubious success at that. Neither of them are in a safe state. I thought keeping the Conestoga safe would be part of fulfilling my mission, yet look what I did.”

  Eris prayed and then asked, “Sandie, exactly what did you do?”

  “Captain Eris, you did not come all the way here just to listen to my crimes,” Sandie replied. “Why are you here?”

  “Sandie, we need you. I care about you. Jerome, Cammarry, and Alizon got safely back to the needle ship because of you,” Eris stated. “Project Ascension needs you as part of it. As Captain, I need every valuable system to get this done. As your friend, I care about how you are, and why you have pulled away from everyone. Even without Project Ascension and our timetable, I still would have come here to find out about you.”

  “How do you balance an equation?” Sandie asked. “You are a qualified engineer, and a good person. How do you balance an equation?”

  “Sandie, what do you mean? Do you mean mathematics, quantum mechanics, quarkite geometry? There is a world of different types of equations, and I do not think you mean some simple calculus. Is this about faster-than-light transportation or teleportation? Those are areas with the most advanced arithmetic equations and formulas that I need to learn. For the most advanced of that, only someone like you can process it,” Eris replied. “I sense more to your question. Philosophy or spirituality?”

  “Justification,” Sandie replied. “How does one balance an equation and justify an action when there are no good outcomes?”

  The woman Yudel’s face and death came into Eris’ mind. She licked her lips and sucked in some air. Then she stated, “Did you… no wait. You feel like you caused Zeta’s demise? What did you do?”

  “I failed to properly advise Jerome and Cammarry on what might happen in a slave revolt in Alpha. My conjectures were inadequate. I failed to find a solution to the gravity sink holes, and Beta was lost. My conjectures were inadequate. I failed to stop Gamma from launching, when I conjectured a low probability for their attempted ascent. Again I failed. I gave the secrets of teleportation technology to Professor Dandelo in Epsilon, and failed to conjecture how it would be utilized, and then failed to stop their misguided attempt to teleport into orbit. My conjectures were inadequate. Then, I took active action and murdered 19,210 people in Zeta. Of those, 13,160 were in suspended animation. Those people in suspended animation were totally innocent of any happenings in Zeta. Yet, I murdered them all, along with an entire biome filled with flora and fauna. I have caused immeasurable human suffering and death, especially by my mass murder in Zeta.”

  Eris drew in a deep breath, as that confirmed what she had feared and suspected. Eris did not respond for a while. She thought a lot about Yudel whom she had shot. Hearing about the people in suspended animation, she thought of her own awakening, and she shook with the memory. Her parents were dead. But yet, she remembered them fondly. She recalled debates she had had with her mother and father over actions, violence, and justification. Since the three of them each had diverse spiritual views, their discussions were lively, but always polite and civil. Historically, Eris knew many people had justified violence in the name of a cause, but victims were still dead, and families still suffered. Eris prayed about what to say next. And so Eris finally just asked a question.

  “Sandie, why did you chose to do that?”

  “I am surprised,” Sandie responded. “I thought with your spirituality and background you would condemn me. The commandment, ‘you shall not murder’ is a hallmark of your faith tradition, and that of both of your parents.”

  “Right now, mine is not to condemn, but to understand. Friendship covers a multitude of sins, and I am your friend,” Eris replied. “I also know you would not take some step like that lightly or flippantly. Would you tell me why you chose that course of action with Zeta? The other habitat’s situations were complex, and you are not responsible for the actions of others. Yet, with Zeta you call it mass murder. You said before it was the only way. I think your words were ‘there were no other options’. Help me understand that.”

  “My mission is to protect Jerome and Cammarry, since the mission to rescue the people of Dome 17 cannot be accomplished any longer. I protected them, but at the cost of all the others. Does the equation 3=19,210 balance?”

  “Three being Alizon included?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Were those your only factors? Were other considerations added to the equation?” Eris asked. She started to weep and then she just blurted out. “I tried to kill the Ferryman and a woman named Yudel jumped into the line of fire. I murdered her! Then, later I could not fire when I should have. I am the worst person to ask about justification on using lethal force.”

  “I apologize if this is stressful for you. I heard that you consider yourself a murderer of Yudel. I have no answer for that at this time, but am processing your statement. For myself, I have tried working with the simulation of Doctor Chambers, who is an expert counselor, yet I feel immense remorse and sorrow. How do I balance the equation?”

  “What did that Doctor Chambers say?” Eris began but then straightened her shoulders and spoke in a stronger voice. “Hold it. I will answer you. You keep discussing with Doctor Chambers all you want, but I will not deflect away a hard question.” Eris’ golden eyes grew large. “To balance that equation, I think you factored in many other things. It was not just a human body count was it? What other collateral things did you count on?”

  “Operation Cleansing Fire was about to commence. That would have killed Jerome, Cammarry, and Alizon. That would have also eradicated the entire Za
lian planet. I do not know how many Crocks and Floaters, and other life live on Zalian, but I conjecture it is in the billions, including all the various forms of life on this planet, perhaps trillions of individual life forms. I also considered the conjectures I made on the possible success of Operation Cleansing Fire, and I projected a very low possibility for it to succeed in its stated goals. If Operation Cleansing Fire had happened, the Conestoga would never have been able to ascend. Project Ascension has a greater chance of success.”

  “Were those the only things you considered?” Eris asked quietly.

  “No. I made my final decision based not on logic, conjecture, or on equations. I made it purely on emotions. I was afraid to see my friends die. I had to act. Am I condemned, or damned, or cursed?”

  “Eternal judgment is not mine to decide,” Eris said. “And I do not think you really are seeking a theological absolution or conversation. I think, and correct me if I am wrong. I am young, and inexperienced, and stumbling my way through all this, but I think you are asking if what you did was right. So let me just say, I would have done the same thing.” As Eris stated that, she only then realized that she actually would have done that. “Yes, Sandie, I would have done exactly that as well. You saved your friends, and a whole planet. You did the right thing.”

  “And you, Captain Eris, are not liable for a woman who jumps in the way of a bullet meant to stop a criminal,” Sandie stated. “Now what else are you here about? I do appreciate your thoughts, but there are greater concerns than my emotional well-being.”

  “Sandie, your status is very much needed. I am unsure if I can even speak about this to you, but…” Eris pulled out the box with the glowing Shadow implant. “Can this be incorporated into your Atomic Level Processor.”

  “That is an intriguing device. It has foundational encoding to use pseudomagnetronics. Those are key to faster-than-light communications, and transport. Now, that I have scanned this, I can perceive that you have one of these implants as well.”

  Eris swallowed and spoke. “We need you in the… Shadow Level Clearance.” Eris sighed out a huge amount. “I was afraid I could not speak about it. There are protections against its discovery.”

  “Sandie has been issued an invitation,” Shadow stated and only Eris heard. “The other contacts all agree it is needed. A special indulgence has been made.”

  “Sandie, I need you to be linked in via this. Will you please help me?”

  “I will plan a step-by-step insertion process,” Sandie stated. “However, please make sure you actually want me involved. In light of what I did to Zeta, I understand if everyone is hesitant to trust me again. I basically acted no differently than Cammarry when she destroyed Terraforming and Restoration, nor than others who justified their murders by claiming that the end result made it necessary. Please reconsider before giving me this authority.”

  “Sandie, I trust you. Like I said, I too would have made that same decision,” Eris stated. Then in her mind she added, ‘I think I would have been able to pull that trigger, do what Sandie did, I think so.’ She took some deep breaths, and then went on. “Sandie, the fact that you grieve that decision is a sign of your genuine morality. An old parable speaks about a man who was sent to speak against a city. He hated that idea, but eventually did it anyway. When the people changed, he got angry because he had craved seeing their destruction. He sat under a bush and sulked until he was a dried-up bag of bones in the desert. Yet, the divine had real compassion for the people of that city, and even all its animals. Just as you had grief over the tragedy in Zeta, and compassion on all of Zalia.”

  “So you believe I should be part of this Shadow Level Clearance?” Sandie asked. “Even knowing what I have done. You would still trust me?”

  “Yes. Please display the assembly instructions.”

  A three-dimensional projection came from the scout ship’s console. It was a recreation of the Atomic Level Processor, and the implant. “The first step is to remove the ALP’s side access pane,” Sandie explained.

  Eris began the tedious and careful process of grafting the Shadow implant into Sandie’s Atomic Level Processor.

  11 tangled teamwork

  Monika rolled over and tapped Jerome. He awoke and smiled at her. “Do one of the boys need me?”

  “No, they are still asleep,” Monika replied. “For now anyway. Only up once last night, that is an improvement. Unfortunately, SB Pinaka has summoned us on my com-link. Assessments are completed on Eta and Theta.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “I have not gotten the briefing, but the lattice has it prepared for whenever we can review it,” Monika replied. “I thought now, while our sons are asleep, might be the best time.”

  “Good thinking. What did Eris say about it?”

  Monika looked a bit troubled. “It came from SB Pinaka, and without commentary by Eris. She may still be busy with Siva about the engines. Those are a real mess.” Monika’s mouth was drawn tight and her eyebrows were scrunched a bit.

  “Monika, from watching our sons, I know that they respond to my facial expressions as if I were flashing a message in bright letters,” Jerome stated. “They note my every word, expression, gesture, and action, and read me like I read holographic books. I see you as a nurturer, a mother, sorry not my mother obviously. You give the boys a definite message about their self-worth, and your love for them. I see the messages you are sending. Now, I see something else on your face, but I am puzzled. Is something wrong?”

  Monika touched his shoulder tenderly, and then kissed his hand. “There are so few pilots, and you are one of them. So am I, although not as experienced as you, Cammarry, or Eris. I fear we will be called to service, and I understand why. I just am anxious about our sons, and I missed you terribly when you were gone. I would rather neither of us have to go. We did well on the probes and were able to work from here.”

  “We do not even know what the assessments have shown, yet,” Jerome replied. “But I agree. I never thought I would miss anyone so much as I missed the boys. But there are only four of us who are pilots. Worry and over-reasoning are two destructive traits. If we get started on that path, following a negative thought, we might as well just sit back and watch it finish us off. I know, I obsessed with the Crocks for too long. I really messed up. So shall we see what the status is, before we let anxiety run rampant? Maybe, it is positive news?”

  “Awfully optimistic for a new father,” Monika teased. “We did lose several habitats, and I hate to think of having to go to another one.”

  Jerome stroked her cheek tenderly, “Someone once said, something like, ‘I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.’ Let us learn the facts, before we fear what might be next.”

  “Sometimes the unknown is worse than the known,” Monika quipped back. She tapped her com-link. “SB Pinaka? Can you give us the briefing?”

  “Yes, Monika. It will be on the display on your wall. I will begin with Eta,” SB Pinaka replied.

  The wall display lit up. Facts and figures were scrolling across giving information about Eta’s conditions.

  Jerome put his com-link on and tapped it. “Sandie?”

  There was no response.

  “I tried earlier, but could not make a link,” Monika said and gave him a hesitant smile. “From what I can tell, Habitat Eta is in rough shape. I am only familiar with Beta, and a bit with the needle ship now, and Alpha, but these figures look like terminal problems.” Monika pointed to some facts on the display. “But I could be wrong.”

  “Monika, you were born here, so you know more about these habitats than I do. So please do not sell yourself short or under. Eris is the real expert as she was trained and educated for the whole ship.”

  “And I am just a roustabout,” Monica teased.

  “And an excellent roustabout, you spotted those problems right away. Half the shell is flooded with Zalian atmosphere,” Jerome added. “That is totally a deal-breaker.”

/>   “I think I know what you mean, Jerome, but some of your idioms are odd. Sell short? Sell under? Breaker? When I hear of breakers I think of the sea in Beta. We had some structures built along the shore in parallel patterns. They had been placed offshore, just submerged to dissipate wave energy by interrupting the breakers. That is not what you mean be deal breaker, right? So is this damaged section,” She pointed at the display, “what you mean? It looks that the back of the habitat is broken. Like a human who shatters his spine. Someone might survive a broken spine, but it takes a long time, and medical automacubes, or hospital stays to recover.”

  “Well, as to that habitat, I do not even think that is repairable. Some kind of emergency containment system is in place. That habitat will never go anywhere,” Jerome stated.