The Commander

by CJ Williams

  Carrie didn’t have an answer. “I thought so too. But the Soyujans were not violent.”

  “It’s a mystery, I guess.” Luke said. “This was a harsh world and yet Soyujans are not.”

  Carrie shrugged. “I’m a criminal justice major. Guess I’m inclined toward a violent philosophy. To me, it’s supposed to be that way.”

  George interrupted. “Commander, a message drone just arrived from Jigu with an urgent request from Ambassador Robertson.”

  “Show us, please, George.”

  The wall display lit up with a haggard-looking Tyler peering into the camera.

  “Luke, sorry to bother you,” Tyler started. “I know you must be hip deep in other problems but I got myself into a fix here. In a nutshell, I sent an expedition to a nearby star system. Probes showed it was inhabited by a Ming Dynasty type of culture. They received us, treated us great, and sent back a delegation with their top general. Now that he’s here, I’ve lost control. The problem is Toby, my AI, has switched sides; says I should be cooperating with General Hwangje, a Genghis Khan type. If you can break free, I’d appreciate it. I’m including details with this report.”

  Luke gave Carrie a look of surprise. “So much for nonviolence,” he said. “That’s unexpected. I thought Tyler could handle this kind of thing.”

  “So did I. But you complained about Toby too. If the ambassador’s AI turned on him, that could explain it.”

  “That’s true. George? I thought Toby was programmed to stay in line.”

  “He was, Commander. I consider this matter extremely serious. In creating a higher level AI, variables are included in the programming to keep the personality from being monotonous. My archives contain rare cases where this resulted in unfortunate situations. Although it is very unusual, it can be corrected easily by any AI with a higher level.”

  “So if we go back, you can fix him?” Luke asked.

  “Rather than repair, I would simply replace the AI with a new core personality module. The old personality would be preserved for study by Nobility engineers to determine the cause. Effectively it would cease to exist.”

  Luke nodded and turned to Carrie. “I guess we better head back and give Tyler a hand.”

  Carrie was alarmed. “What about K18, sir?” she asked. “It’s the next one past Payapa. Our analysts predict that system is a high-probability target for the Bakkui. We’re already pushing the projected D-day for them. If we return to Jigu first, that’s a thirty- to forty-day slip at best. Our population estimates for K18 are a couple of billion people.”

  Luke winced. “That’s right. That has to be our first priority.” Luke sat silently for several minutes considering the options. “Let’s do this,” he said. “You take Lulubelle on to K18. Give me a warship and I’ll go sort out Tyler and his problem child.”

  “Commander,” George spoke up. “I cannot allow you to venture off on your own; especially in a warship. I would be forced to activate your fail-safe.”

  Carrie’s face reflected surprise. “Failsafe? What’s that mean?”

  Luke sighed in frustration and gave Carrie and quick rundown on the explosive stuck in his brain. When he saw her face, he realized he’d made a mistake.

  Carrie was outraged at the concept. “Is that true, Commander? You really have a bomb in your head? That’s insane!” She gasped with sudden fear in her expression. “Do I have one too? Do all of us have that? How are we supposed to…”

  Luke leaned back and squeezed his eyes shut in exasperation. This was not what he needed; another hysterical female over the bomb-in-the-head thing. Losing Annie had just about killed him. He couldn’t afford for Carrie to go off the deep end right now.

  “Carrie!” he shouted. His sudden bark stopped her rant. “At ease. There aren’t any explosive devices in your body or anyone else’s. Understand?”

  “Are you sure…” she started, not quite willing to be placated.

  “Did you understand me, Captain?” Luke growled.

  That brought her up short. “Yes, Commander. Loud and clear. I apologize for my outburst.”

  “Confirm that for her George,” Luke ordered.

  “Captain Faulkner, the Commander is correct. There are no hidden devices, malevolent or otherwise, associated with any implants of Lulubelle’s crew.”

  “Then what about the Commander?” she persisted.

  “The Commander’s medical history is a private matter, Captain Faulkner.”

  “Let’s get back on track,” Luke said tiredly. “I can’t ignore Tyler, and we can’t wait on moving toward K18.”

  Carrie backed away from the sensitive topic. “What should we do?”

  Luke looked at the ceiling. “We made an exception before, didn’t we George?”

  “That is true, Commander. But we were also clear that it was a one-time occurrence.”

  “I understand. But that was to make a replica of your entire physical structure, an enormous undertaking as you pointed out at the time. A necessity considering Lulubelle’s size. Why can’t we make a smaller version? Just your core personality module, as you called it. Can’t you create a slimmed down version of your AI for a warship? We’ll use it just long enough to get to Jigu and come back. That would be in accordance with the long-term objectives of the Nobility.”

  “So you are saying that you would maintain constant contact with the mini-me.”

  Carrie burst out laughing but Luke glared at her and she quickly subsided. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “That was just funny when he said mini-me like—”

  “I saw the movie,” Luke said sardonically, cutting off her feeble excuse. “Try to control yourself, young lady.” He turned back to the ceiling. “Yes, George. You and I can stay together the entire time and you could take care of the idiot AI on Jigu. It’s better than losing a couple billion people that could otherwise be working toward the Nobility’s goals.”

  The silence in the planning room lengthened. Luke wondered what was going on in George’s electronic brain while he considered the ramifications. Finally, “That would be acceptable, Commander. I shall start production of the new warship immediately.”

  Luke thought it was a workable solution but he was a bit worried about Carrie. “I don’t like the idea of sending you off on your own on this one,” he said. “System K18 is a long way away.”

  “That part will be fine, Commander,” she replied confidently. “It’s not a bit different than Payapa; just a little further away.”

  Luke thought it was hugely different. He had seen such overconfidence in many young officers, sometimes with tragic results. He hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite her. Not that either of them had a choice. They had to keep pushing because the Bakkui were not waiting for anyone.

  “I’ll go down to the surface tomorrow and let Brad know what’s going on,” he said. “You get George’s new prototypes completed as soon as I’m gone and then head out toward K18. Send reports back every day, you got that?”

  “Yes sir. I promise.”

  “Send them to me and to Brad. And while I’m thinking of it, send them to Roth as well.”

  Carrie nodded innocently, promising she would comply. It was a little disconcerting. He wondered if she would be conscientious about it.

  “One more thing, you two,” he said, addressing Carrie and George and lowering his voice.

  “Go ahead, Commander,” George replied.

  “Don’t tell Sadie about this. Every time I go someplace without her she gets all bent out of shape and then I have to listen to her bitch about it for a week. Just keep this a secret until I’m gone.”

  “Of course, Commander,” George said.

  Carrie smiled and mimed drawing a zipper across her lips.

  Luke shook his head at the irony of trying to keep yet another female, albeit an electronic one, from complaining about the things he needed to do.

  Day 579—New Hope

  Annie shoved her way past the other diners and slammed her tray down across from Solomon
. “You have got to move the women’s showers,” she demanded angrily.

  Solomon stood up and tried to calm his outraged friend. “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “The same thing I told you last week and the week before that.”

  Solomon’s startled face melted into a grin. “Oh, that.”

  “Yes, that! Are you going to do something about it this time?”

  “Well, sure. As soon as I can get to it. You know…”

  “As soon as you can get to it? You don’t believe me?”

  “Well.” Solomon drawled, treading carefully. “Are you honestly sure about this?”

  Annie stamped her foot. Why is this so difficult? she wondered, forcing herself to calm down. She could see that he didn’t want to anger his wife’s maid of honor.

  “Yes, Captain. I’m quite sure. If you would take five minutes to go check, you will see that the women’s showers are at the base of the hill. Half way up there is an outcropping of rocks that all the teenage boys hide behind. They have a splendid view of everything. And I mean everything!”

  Solomon couldn’t contain his amusement. “Well, you know. Boys will be boys and all that. There’s no harm done. And it’s not like there’s much….”

  He bit off his words but Annie saw what he was thinking. “Not like there’s much to see?” Annie finished the sentence as he tried to backpedal. “You might just want to think about that. I’m not the only one showering over there. Camila and I see each other there several times a week.”

  Solomon’s eyes took a sudden interest.

  “In the shower,” she emphasized. “Naked.”

  She definitely had his attention.

  “We’re both on display for all the young men in the community. And let me tell you, as I’m sure you already know. There is nothing scrawny about Camila. She is a well-endowed young lady, if you know what I mean.”

  Solomon’s attitude completed its transformation. “Hold on!”

  Annie became nonchalant. She waved her hand in dismissal. “Never mind. I know you’re busy. We’ll just forget this conversation ever took place.”

  “We will not!” His face grew red and his voice lowered to a frightening whisper. “Those little bastards.”

  Camila walked up with her salad. “Hi, everyone. What’s new?”

  Solomon turned on her in an explosion of anger. “Why didn’t you tell me about this!” He turned on his heel and marched away, muttering about dismemberment.

  “What?” Camila was flummoxed. She looked at Annie. “What was that all about?”

  Annie watched the retreating figure with alarm. “Just kidding!” she called. He didn’t hear and vanished in the crowd at the far end of the plaza.

  “Kidding about what?” Camila said.

  Annie shook her head slowly and sat at the table. She patted the seat next to her in invitation for Camila to sit down. “I hope those kids aren’t up there at the shower right now.”

  Camila laughed. “Oh, no. You told him again, didn’t you?”

  “I told him you were with me.”

  “Well, I was.”

  “Yeah. He didn’t think that was funny.”

  “He can be a bit jealous, that’s true. It’s kind of cute.”

  “He didn’t look cute when he left just now. He looked scary.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Camila said, pouring some dressing onto her salad. “Those kids shouldn’t be doing that anyway.”

  # # #

  Annie looked down into the pit. It had to be a hundred feet deep.

  “What do you think?” Millie asked.

  “I don’t know,” Annie muttered. “Seems excessive.”

  “I kind of like it. He is going to be the brain for the whole planet.”

  “That’s true,” Annie acknowledged. “Better safe than sorry, I guess.”

  “Do you think she can really do it? Can Sadie bring back Marco Polo?”

  Annie stepped back from the railing and pulled Millie away too. “I’m the wrong person to ask. She thinks she can. I don’t know if I’d take that to the bank or not.” The girls headed to the plaza. They were meeting Solomon and Camila.

  “Be great if she did,” Millie said wistfully after loading up their trays. “It would seem like we were going to make it for sure.”

  “We’re not doing that bad, you know,” Annie protested. “Just look around.”

  Buildings were sprouting up everywhere. A residential neighborhood was under construction. The salvaged replicator had replicated itself several times. They were smaller versions but still large enough for almost any purpose the colony needed.

  Solomon and Camila were already seated.

  “I know,” Millie agreed. “We’re doing great, but frankly, that’s all you and Sadie. Don’t deny it.”

  Annie laughed at the comment. “I do deny it. All Sadie did was set up the engineering department. Josh and Lauren accomplished all this. And they did it according to Solomon’s plan. I’m feeling kind of worthless these days.”

  “Is that why you’re leaving?”

  “No. Not at all. You know that.”

  Solomon leaned on the table. “So why are you leaving?” he asked.

  Annie was silent for a moment to answer the question honestly. “Luke, of course. But it’s also this level-two-device question. The more I think about that the scarier it gets.”

  “What is that?” Camila asked. “I’ve heard you talk about but I’m not sure what you mean?”

  Annie related all that she had learned from George. It was important information that the people of New Hope needed to understand.

  Camila summed it up. “So because this Bakkui ship had a level-two AI it outranked Marco Polo?”

  “That’s how I understand it. He tried to explain it to me before we were hit, but there wasn’t enough time.”

  Millie chimed in to explain it to Camila. “She was talking to him and he was talking back. Did you know you could do that? He never talked to me?”

  Annie sighed heavily. “That’s a horrible failure in our training. On the moon, everyone talks to George. We just take it for granted.”

  Camila shrugged. “We talk to the AI on the bridge, of course. But I never thought about talking to him in my quarters. Too late now, I guess.”

  Millie shook her head. “Maybe not. Annie, how do you talk to Sadie when she’s not there? I’ve seen you do that.”

  “That’s another story. That’s my implant, the one with the bomb. Trust me, you don’t want that.”

  Camila shuddered. “This is all so amazing. A few months ago, I was trying to find an internship in Georgia. Now we’re building a new civilization on another planet and talking about AIs and brain implants. It’s scary and exciting all at the same time. I hope it goes well tomorrow too. It would be nice to talk to Marco again.”

  “Amen to that,” Solomon agreed.

  # # #

  Even though word had gone out to stay away, a crowd surrounded the giant pit. Early in the morning Solomon ordered the barriers pushed back to give Sadie and the mobile platform replicator plenty of space. The shuttle rested on the ground next to the elevated replicator housing.

  Power cables ran from the generator to the mobile platform and other cables from the platform to Sadie. Temporary plumbing brought in a supply of seawater in place of replicator sludge. Everything was in place.

  Solomon spoke to Sadie. “Commence replication.”

  “Command acknowledged,” she responded.

  The shimmer filled the air below the replicator platform and extended down into the pit. Everyone’s hearts thudded with anxiety. For two hours, a deep hum was the only sound. The shape of a modest building began to appear inside the shimmer, eliciting excited whispers. When completed, the structure would be the public access to the Marco Polo AI. Eventually, the same access would be available throughout New Hope at yet-to-be-installed data terminals. Those would come later. But until then the public would have voice access to the AI that was origi
nally intended to guide the new community.

  Without warning the hum died and the shimmer vanished. The hole was gone. A new brickwork plaza covered the area of the deep pit. The project had included filling the hole around the new AI with reinforced collapsed matter. Even a nuclear strike would not harm its bunkered location. In the center of a new plaza sat a columned structure. Everyone held their breath.

  “It’s good to be back,” Marco Polo announced. “Great job Captain Solomon.”

  The crowd burst into cheers and applause. The sheer exhilaration at having the community’s guiding intellect back was profound. Adulation went on and many of the crowd wiped away tears of joy. Spontaneous shouts of “Marco” erupted and were echoed with cries of “Polo.”

  “My good people,” Marco Polo started several times. The crowd hushed each other, wanting to hear their AI speak.

  “My good people,” he started again. “I am so proud of each and every one of you. I am aware of the circumstances that brought us to the brink of disaster and how all of you fought back so valiantly. I am doubly grateful to our good captain for his wisdom and leadership during this trying period. My biggest regret is that I was not here to officiate at his wedding. Congratulations to Captain and Mrs. Andrews!”

  The speech continued for an hour. It was a masterpiece of oratory. The people of New Hope had needed the infusion of hope for the future. They interrupted time and again with cheers and applause.

  In the shadow of the replicator platform, Annie stood next to Sadie in a reflective mood. “It’s time for us to leave now,” she said to her shuttle. “I’m so proud of what you’ve done.”

  “It means a lot to me for you to say that, Annie,” Sadie replied.

  It sounded just like the programmed response Annie expected. But then, that’s exactly what it was. The little shuttle was a collection of software modules that didn’t really have any sentient thought.

  # # #

  Annie sat in a rattan chair in Solomon’s new office and was amazed at how comfortable it was. The captain retrieved tall glasses of fruit juice from the replicator in the discreet kitchenette against the back wall. He set one on the mahogany coffee table in front of Annie and settled himself across from her in a similar chair.