Tyche's Ghosts

by Richard Parry

  Fergelic, Dominic Dominic was Emperor Prirene IV, and the last emperor before Nathan Chevell. He was assassinated Thursday, 9 November, 3122, during the brief war between his Old Empire’s forces and the Republic.

  Free Trader A starship that operates under legal Guild charter for commerce or transport.

  FTL see Faster than Light Travel.

  G Slang for gravity or gravities. A unit of measurement based on Earth’s 1 standard gravity.

  Grav see Artificial Gravity.

  Gravity Weapon Gravity weapons don’t exist, but the term is derived from a misunderstanding of how Endless field technology works. A suitably large positive energy field can be generated, acting as tether. These weapons can anchor objects along a vector, stunting maneuvering (and thus easing the complexity of targeting against agile enemies). If the object is small enough, or the Endless field and associated energy source is large enough, it is theoretically possible to manipulate the velocity and vector of targets, although the current math suggests this could require more energy than exists in the universe.

  Guild Bridge The Guild maintain a set of Einstein-Rosen bridges throughout human space. These allow instantaneous travel without violating the concept of space time, as they create wormholes through space. Einstein-Rosen Bridges require endpoints (the Guild Bridge) which are operated on a strict schedule between star systems. They are used for transferring everything from whole starships right down to small messenger probes.

  Guild The Guild is the dominant technology provider in the Empire. They have a rigid code of conduct that governs all members awarded and maintaining a Shingle. The primary source of Guild revenue is via the Bridges (see: Guild Bridge) they maintain for safe, instant FTL. Many merchant vessels prefer the use of Guild Bridges over the use of Endless Drives due to safety concerns. The Guild is best known for their Engineers who breathe life into starships, but they also provide Shingles for other practices such as medicine.

  Hard Black Slang for outer space, especially as it relates to the vast expanse of vacuum between solar systems.

  Heads Up Display Any display type that overlays instrumentation across a user’s field of view, removing the need to check auxiliary readouts. The most common types utilize augmented reality to highlight items of interest in the user’s field of view. Normally they are projected light onto visors within helmets or on starship windscreens, but holo designs are not uncommon.

  Heavy Lifter A freight starship capable of atmospheric drops. They derive their name from “lifting heavy” loads from crusts into orbit. They can be used to ferry items to orbiting craft such as freighters or destroyers that are not atmosphere-capable. They can also be used for direct runs to other systems, although their small cargo bay (as compared to freighters) makes them less efficient. Captains using them for this purpose would prefer the term, “boutique.”

  Holo Slang for items such as shows and movies displayed on holo stages.

  Holo Stage A 3D projection stage. These are common across the known universe as they provide a more natural method of content consumption than older 2D display styles. 2D displays are still prevalent especially in HUDs.

  HUD See Heads Up Display.

  Hypo Slang for a jet injector, a type of medical injecting syringe that uses high pressure instead of a hypodermic needle.

  Intelligencer An Old Empire secret service operative, capable of reading and manipulating thoughts (ref: esper).

  KG Kilogram.

  Kilo Abbreviation for kilogram.

  Kinetic A type of weapon that fires physical rounds. Many PDCs use kinetic rounds as opposed to lasers, masers, or particle beams, due to their efficacy against most types of object.

  Klick Slang for kilometer.

  Laser A type of directed energy weapon using coherent light. Ship-mounted lasers tend to be used for carving through ablative shielding or surgical strikes against critical systems. Hand-held laser weapons are designed to superheat the liquid inside humans into steam very quickly, causing an explosion of the remaining tissue.

  LIDAR Acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging. LIDAR uses coherent light to make digital 3D representations of objects.

  Maser A type of directed energy weapon using microwave radiation. Ship-mounted masers are most effective at disrupting enemy comm arrays and personnel in equal measure. They are out of favor as hand-held weapons due to a longer time to death as compared to blasters.

  Mercury Accords The Mercury Accords, or simply the Accords, are a set of agreements set out by the Guild relating to research, design, and implementation of AI. The short version is that the Accords prohibit the research, design, and implementation of AI in any form, due to AI’s potential to destroy human civilization. They were signed into effect in the 25th century on the site of the last war between humans and AI: the planet Mercury, in the Sol system. Mercury was where AI made their last stand.

  Navy A space fleet force. The Empire operates one, as did the Republic before it. The Navy patrol human space to protect against threats like pirates.

  Nuke A thermonuclear weapon of mass destruction. Very old but reliable technology, used in configurable payloads for ship-to-ship combat, city assaults, and the destruction of entire worlds (ref: crustbuster).

  Old Empire The fallen ruling dictatorship of the wider human civilization, prior to the Republic. The last ruler of the Old Empire was Dominic Fergelic, half-brother of Nathan Chevell. The Old Empire ceased to be shortly after Dominic’s assassination by the then newly-formed Republic forces.

  Organics Slang for organic life, but most typically referring to intelligent life. Humans are ‘organics.’

  Particle Beam A type of directed energy weapon that fires particles with minuscule mass.

  Plasma Cannon see Blaster.

  Point Defense Cannon (PDC) PDCs are installed on almost every starship to protect hulls from impacts from things like meteoroids. They are also useful defense against torpedoes, although generally ineffective against railguns due to the high velocity of railgun rounds. PDCs can be kinetic or directed energy weapons.

  Power Armor Armor that is motor-assisted, often used for deployments on high-G worlds. Configuration often includes vehicle weapon mounts, allowing a higher degree of flexibility for infantry deployment.

  Prirene Dynasty The Prirene Dynasty has stretched back over two hundred years. It was the last family to hold the ruling seat of the Old Empire, and one of its descendants rules the Empire today.

  RADAR Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. RADAR uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, and velocity of objects.

  Radiation Sickness A constant hazard of space. Many crews take daily medication to ward off radiation sickness. It’s as much a part of shipboard life as making sure your O2 is topped up. This means that a mild dose of radiation is unlikely to kill you if treated in time, but massive doses are still dangerous.

  Railgun A kinetic weapon that fires high velocity rounds by way of a pair of conductive rails. They are often mounted on larger ships and make a dramatic statement when fired against enemy vessels.

  Reactor Starships use fusion reactors. The most common design is the ICF (Internal Confinement Fusion) style of reactor. These have a variety of safety functions that make them suitable for spacefaring needs, including containment fields in case of malfunction. Larger starships can eject faulty reactors into the hard black.

  Rendering The process through which construct intelligences refine raw materials from the environment. Constructs favor metals for raw materials as it allows them to repair existing chassis and create new ones.

  Republic The previous ruling government of human civilization. The Republic was made up of a Senate, headquartered on Earth. Initially founded by dissenters against the Old Empire, it rose to be the driving force of human innovation, commerce, and expansion. The final fight between the Old Empire and the Republic was quick, due to the small number of ships deployed by the Old Empire (the Republic Navy had reliable intelligence that the Old Empire�
��s forces were much larger). Quick didn’t mean bloodless, although the Republic offered amnesty for any serving Old Empire crew who wished to take it. The Republic fell after the truth of the Senate being thralls of the Ezeroc was revealed.

  Rig Slang for maintenance equipment commonly worn by Guild Engineers about starships. These double as space suits for zero atmosphere maintenance on the exterior of a starship’s hull. The design incorporates a visor with configurable HUD for instrumentation and telemetry, and a set of programmable servitor arms for complex manipulation of equipment.

  Shingle A guild badge of practice, allowing the holder to a) claim they are Guild certified and b) ply their trade as a Guild craftsperson. They are notoriously hard to get, requiring years of study and excellence in your field.

  Ship Suit Slang for spacesuit. Generally denotes a space suit for a specific ship carrying crew logograms and/or color themes.

  Skyguard A complimentary service to the Empire’s Navy, providing light craft support both in space and on planets.

  Space Suit Clothing worn to keep humans alive in the hard black. They provide protection against vacuum, temperature extremes, and radiation. Military models are often fitted with armor to protect against blasters, lasers, masers, and kinetic rounds. They often provide additional protection against high-G maneuvers.

  Spacer Slang for those who crew on a starship, civilian or military.

  Tonne Metric ton, equivalent to 1,000 kilograms.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  IF YOU’RE READING this, take a bow. Stories need their readers. First and foremost, thanks to you for kicking ass.

  My covert artist Rebekah deserves a huge round of applause. Also, whiskey. She’s managed to create Grace and Nate better than my own mind-canvas could ever do. If you want to see more eye-popping art, visit her at www.vividcovers.com.

  Tiffany at www.eclipseediting.com made this finished work suck a lot less than the horrific draft did. Apparently she’s not yet an alcoholic, but I aim to fix that through many future editing cycles.

  Creating an entire AI civilization was hard. I’m indebted to the work of David Eagleman on human consciousness. If you want to have a pop-sci mind-blown experience, check out his TED Talk at https://youtu.be/4c1lqFXHvqI. You can also find him interviewed by Radio New Zealand (home town represent!) at http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018642592/david-eagleman-secrets-of-the-brain.

  Last, my Rae. You make living with a professional liar look easy. You pick the star, I’ll punch in the jump coordinates. Our journey, together, for always.

  — R. P.

  June 2018, Wellington

  EXCERPT: TYCHE'S ANGELS

  THE DEATH OF SAN FRANCISCO

  THE SKY WAS the color of burnt metal, dark enough in some places to be called black. The lightest area of the sky was above Port Stadium, fires still blazing where the machines had dropped ordnance over the refugee tents there. A bitter wind blew from the south, heavy with the scent of rot. Ash coated everything, a fine grey silt that might have been carpets, wood, or people.

  Noel huddled in the lee of a shattered window frame. The broken ceramicrete sill held back some of the wind, but not enough to be a real kindness. He’d scrounged a heavy coat from a person who didn’t need it anymore. It had been green, now a sooty black from constant exposure to the ash and acid rain squalls that blew across the city. At least it still keeps the water out.

  “Never thought I’d say it, but I miss the roaches.” Alanna huddled next to him, shoulder to shoulder, as if a little warmth might seep between them. “With them, there was a chance.” If Alanna had been standing, she’d have been taller than Noel’s one-eighty centimeters. Lean and hard, although that might have been as much a lack of food as anything natural about her physique. Might have been pretty, once. Might have smiled, too. Her Engineer’s rig covered most of her frame. It would keep her warmer than his scrounged jacket if she dared fire it up. It was powered down, on account of the ever vigilant enemy’s machine eyes looking for energy signatures. Even the normally illuminated name plate and badge were dark. When they’d first met, Noel had marveled, the glowing yellow GRANVILLE, A above ENGINEER FIRST CLASS on her breastplate.

  Noel had met Alanna a week back, both trying to stay hidden against the satellites that scoured Earth’s surface for any sign of humanity. He’d wondered what meeting an Engineer First Class would be like. Noel had never figured on finding out as the cradle of humanity smoldered out its last.

  “Don’t worry, there are still plenty of roaches,” said Noel. It was true. The Ezeroc hadn’t left. They scuttled where it was dark. Humans had tried to go underground when the machines blasted the surface. Down below, Ezeroc waited, ready to take in survivors. Harvesting them, using people’s bodies for fuel, or turning them into new Ezeroc warrior drones.

  “I’m never inviting you to family Christmas,” said Alanna. “You’re just the kind of person who’d say turkey was too dry.”

  “Turkey is kinda dry.” Noel rubbed his arms for warmth. The cloud cover had been here for weeks, cutting down Sol’s balmy touch, bringing an early winter to what should have been late summer. “You’ve got to smother it in cranberry.”

  “No. You’ve got it all wrong. Gravy first.” Alanna made a low growling sound. “Let’s not talk about food.”

  Noel sighed, reaching into his pack. He tossed her a food bar. They’d been lucky enough to hit the remains of a Marine armored convoy two days back, the vehicles shattered husks. Rations aplenty, weapons, and as many energy cells as they’d need.

  No bodies. The AI left no corpses behind, rendering humans down for base metals, or handing them to their Ezeroc allies. Noel had ignored the discarded plasma weapons, scavenging a small launcher, the kind designed to turn a room full of terrorists into slurry with a single round. He’d already tried blaster fire on the machines. The enemy AI used magnets to bend plasma away. That particular trick didn’t work so well on kinetic weapons. Shame the launcher’s ammo was so damn heavy.

  Alanna caught the food bar. “Tropical Zest? What the fuck kind of flavor is this? I mean, did they phone this one in?” She tore the seal anyway, taking a bite.

  “I don’t think you’re supposed to enjoy ‘em.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not.” A bleep from her personal console made them both jump. “We’ve got inbound.”

  “What kind of inbound?” Noel breathed into his cupped hands, warming them some. He needed his fingers limber for what was to come.

  “Nuts and bolts. Scrap metal and spare parts.”

  Perfect. They’d set up a trap for enemy machines here, the building they huddled in on the southwest corner of an intersection. The department store diagonally opposite was nothing but broken glass and ruined spars, but the northwest and southeast buildings still stood tall. The street below was ready, the ceramicrete surface pitted and broken from machines and humans rolling their convoys of destruction through. “Let’s see if your Shingle is worth a damn.”

  “Go fuck yourself,” she said, but her heart wasn’t in it. “Okay. We’ve got three humanoids at the front. Standard railgun load out.” Alanna had planted cams on all the buildings leading to the intersection, a low-energy localized comm net sharing information with her rig. “You sure your traps will work, Navy boy?”

  “No.”

  “What?”

  “Just kidding,” said Noel. “They’ll be fine.” Truth, the traps were a big gamble, but it wouldn’t do to let her know that. The Engineer had a lot on her mind, what with juggling power about the place. Too much, the machines would see and blow her cams or their hidden surprises to pieces. Too little, and nothing would work. So, Noel kept the terror he felt buttoned up inside.

  Besides, it was hard to know what the machines would notice. They could pick out the top of a man’s skull at over two klicks and pop your gourd with those fancy railguns. But they missed things, tiny details a person might see in an instant. Noel hoped the state of the street below f
ell into the ‘tiny detail’ category. Before getting a little shore leave on Earth, he’d been training for the Navy. Finished his basic training, spat out onto the crust for beers and pizza for a spell before embarking on whichever hull needed him the most. Alanna calling him a ‘Navy boy’ was a kindness, but at least he knew which end of a weapon to hold.

  Noel pulled his own console out of a pants pocket. The damn thing was chipped and scratched, but good Empire tech kept on working regardless. He powered it on, waiting for the boot sequence, drumming anxious fingers against the top.

  “Stop that,” said Alanna. “You’re ruining my calm.”

  “Glad you’ve still got some calm.” Noel breathed in and out, trying to get his pulse under control. This is it. We’ll hit these assholes where it hurts. Just two humans, Earth’s grandfathered legacy, up against their creations. How hard could it be? His console buzzed, connection with the comm net established. It showed Noel the incoming machines.

  Just as Alanna said, there were three humanoid machines marching in a line. Noel had heard the expression ‘head on a swivel’ but these machines really owned it. Their heads moved around, smooth, unconcerned, taking in all the sights. He peered closer. Yep. Damn things have all angles covered at once. Probably on their own comm net, sharing a feed with each other. None of the three looked at the same space, faces scanning in an irregular pattern, sure to notice if someone started a ruckus.

  They stepped with efficiency, moving over the uneven, cracked ceramicrete like it was smooth. No point in hoping they’d stumble. Besides, them stumbling wasn’t a part of the plan.

  Behind the humanoids, one of the massive war mechs crunched over the ground. This one had sensors studding the circumference of the disk-like head at its top. Missile pods lay cheek by jowl with particle cannons, the machine ready for anything humanity might care to throw its way. On its rear, above the four limbs that carried it over the ground, was a cage. The cage was empty.