Cyber Invasion (The A.I. Conspiracy Book 1)

by Steven Atwood

  “… we believe that the ship depicted here is the only vessel guarding the jump station,” Bill said. “The combined strength of the ship and the station is considerable.”

  “Against four battle cruisers? Ha! We’ll wipe them out,” Julius said.

  Nine stepped forward. “We need a sample of the virus.”

  “Step back, tin man. All we need to do is blow it up. No more virus. Simple,” Paula said.

  Cain glared at Nine. “I wasn’t aware of that.”

  Lea stared right at Nine. “I’ve never seen that transmission.”

  “It wasn’t transmitted,” Nine said. “My mission was always to get a sample of the virus. Didn’t they tell you?”

  “No.”

  “How are we supposed to do that?” Elizabeth demanded.

  Julius shook his head. “Why are we even doing this?”

  All eyes focused on him.

  “Doing what?” Cain asked.

  “This! We have three, maybe four, battle cruisers, supplies, weapons, and enough gear to set up a new colony of our own. Let Earth fight off these aliens. Fuck them! Besides, after we’re done, they’re just going to send us back to those … camps anyway,” Julius said.

  “That’s not true,” Paula said.

  “That’s treason,” Nine reminded them.

  Julius jumped to his feet. “Why the fuck are we listening to that … that thing, anyway? We should throw it out the friggin’ airlock!”

  “I’m reporting you for treason.”

  Lea stepped in between Nine and Julius. “Sit down before I throw you out the airlock!”

  Julius’s eyes hardened. “No, get out of my way.” He reached out to grab Lea’s shoulder.

  Cain leaped to his feet with his fist already in flight towards its target.

  Julius tried to step back, but it was too late.

  Cain’s fist connected with the bottom of Julius’s chin, knocking him back into the wall. “Don’t you ever fucking touch her again! Got it!”

  Lea placed her soothing touch on Cain’s shoulder. “I forgive him. Please, let’s all sit down and finish our business here, before someone gets hurt.”

  Julius rubbed his chin. “Not bad, for a mamma’s boy.”

  Fire raged behind Cain’s eyes, but he restrained himself.

  “Any ideas on how we should attack it? I think the Renault should go in front with your ships and the Baton Rouge on both flanks. That way we can prevent the ship from escaping,” Lea said.

  “And you will get all the credit. What about the rest of us? They’ll view us as unimportant and send us right back to those camps,” Elizabeth said. “Admiral Lyons told us that we have to demonstrate to everyone that we are more valuable like this than with implants.”

  “There’s nothing we can do about that,” Cain said. “All we can do is our best, and adjust to whatever happens afterwards.”

  “What do you mean?” Nine asked.

  “Exactly what I said. Just because I tolerate you, doesn’t mean I like or even appreciate you. As far as I’m concerned, Julius is right. But we’ve got more important things to worry about.”

  Nine stepped forward. “Are you committing treason, too?”

  “No, Mr. Political Officer, I’m saving your ass,” Cain said.

  “I never knew androids got angry,” Julius said with a smile. “I like it.”

  Lea frowned. This meeting was not gong nearly as well as she thought it would. Three ship captains without implants charged to save the world that … hated them. Yeah, she could understand their reluctance and distrust. Hell, she didn’t believe it either; but should she tell them? No, no way. “Look, if we save them, they’ll owe us, big time.” She glanced over at Nine. “You can forget a sample, unless they try it on us. That’s the only way you’re getting it.”

  “You can’t! They’ll deactivate me,” Nine said.

  Julius sat back down. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

  A thin smile stretched across Lea’s face. She hated the idea of having a political officer onboard, but an android one made it even worse.

  “Maybe we can do both,” Paula said. “Instead of gaining access to the jump station, why not the escort ship? It should have less security than the critical asset to their invasion.” She looked right at Julius. “Let us try. That may increase our chances of not being sent back to the camps. That ship should have a copy of the virus, maybe even the source code. Who knows how mature that capability is?”

  Julius nodded. “I like it.”

  Lea leaned forward. “Right. Julius, you take the Mao in close to that ship and board it. If things get too hairy, get your people out and destroy it.” She looked right at Nine. “The virus is not worth a single human life, got it?”

  “But is it worth an android one?” Nine asked.

  “Yes,” Julius answered. “Yes, I think that will work. We’ll have to work out the details with my staff. I’ll need an hour, tops.”

  Paula smiled. “Great.”

  “Okay, the Renault, the Baton Rouge, and the Stalin will attack the jump station,” Lea said.

  “Focus on the missile ports. The secondary explosions should destroy the rest of it,” Bill added.

  “Sounds like we’ve got a plan.” Cain stood up with a grin. “Let’s kick their ass.”

  Bill raised his hand. “Sir?”

  “What?”

  “I would like to take a few scans of the jump station, if possible. Maybe it can tell us how to travel faster than light.”

  Nine straightened up. “He brings up a good idea. They might not deactivate me if I can bring back something.”

  Lea shot a foul glance at Bill. “Do what you can, during the fight. Maybe have the computer run the scan in the background.”

  Bill nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Nine, send the orders to the Baton Rouge. Everyone else, dismissed.” Lea rose from her seat, extending her hand to Cain. “Dinner?”

  Cain smiled. “Thought you’d never ask.” He followed her out the door.

  When Lea and Cain entered the captain’s quarters, steaming plates with silverware were already set on the tiny table near their couch. A rocks glass sat at the right corner of each of their plates, with a bottle of Saturn Whiskey in the middle.

  “Chef remembered our … tradition,” Cain said as he pulled Lea into his arms and kissed her lips.

  Lea’s heart raced. She pulled back, staring into his lush eyes. “Dinner first.” Without taking her eyes off him, she sat down.

  Cain poured whiskey into the two glasses. “Here’s to us,” Cain said as he handed a glass to Lea.

  Lea licked her lips. “To us.” She sipped her whiskey. “Let’s see if chef has lost his touch.”

  Cain tossed a spoonful of seasoned mashed potatoes into his mouth. “No, he hasn’t.”

  “No, working in the internment camps made him better.”

  Cain smiled. “Maybe.”

  “Think we’re ready?” Lea asked.

  Cain put his fork down. “I—well—maybe. I just think we don’t have enough intel.”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time we went into a fight blind and everything depended on us, would it?”

  Cain shook his head. “No. Still, it doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “I can understand that.” Lea plopped a piece of rare prime rib into her mouth. “Oh, wow!”

  “Good?”

  Lea grinned. “Orgasmic.”

  Cain laughed. “What about after the mission?”

  “What about it? Look, I’m sure we’ll be okay. Admiral Lyons has some influence.”

  “I don’t want that implant, ever. And I want to have our children. It’s time. It’s past time.”

  Lea’s heart sank. There it was again. “We can have children anytime. After our careers are done, okay? I promise.”

  “That’s simply not true. You don’t have many years left that you can even have children. You know that.”

  Lea frowned. “Why do
you have to ruin a great moment with talk about children?”

  “Family! I want to have a family with you, as you promised before you took command of the Renault.”

  “But, that was … different.”

  “How?”

  “Do you want our children growing up in an internment camp?”

  “I thought you said they wouldn’t do that to us.”

  Lea clamped her mouth shut. Cain was right. How many times had she promised him a family, just after the next assignment. How many times had she insisted on putting off his needs for hers? Selfish? Yeah, it was. But, as it turned out, perhaps it was for the best. “I’d feel guilty bringing up a child on Earth, now. Wouldn’t you?”

  Cain’s eyes softened. “Let’s not raise our family on Earth. Julius is right. Let’s save the Earth, then find a new home—a new colony. Neither one of us have ever been this free before. What do you say?”

  “Do I need to remind you that you are a colonel in the marines?”

  Cain shook his head. “No. I bet most of them would come with us.”

  Lea looked away. “That’s treason.”

  “Lea, they threw us away like garbage.”

  “I still have some loyalty to the planet where I was born. My God, don’t you?”

  “Yes, that’s why I said after we save them.” He tried to hug her, but Lea pulled away. “What?”

  “I’ve got a headache.”

  Cain rolled his eyes. “What else is new?” he said under his breath.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing.”

  Blood rushed to Lea’s face and her eyes narrowed. “I never knew you were such a … a …”

  “A what?”

  “A—I don’t know!” She jumped to her feet, heading towards the door. “How dare you make me feel guilty like this.”

  Cain leaned back into the sofa. “Do you have something to feel guilty about?”

  “Fuck you!” Lea raced out into the hallway, knocking Nine to the floor. She blinked. “What are you doing here?”

  “Ensuring the whole mission is accomplished. Goodnight.” Nine disappeared around the corner.

  Cain pulled Lea back inside. “What was it doing out there?”

  “Spying,” Lea said. I think we’re screwed.

  13

  Today, I’ll show my worth as an admiral, Lea thought. Her captain’s chair felt especially more comfortable than usual. Perhaps it changed as its captain’s head grew in size? Perhaps, but not likely. No, she wasn’t conceited. Lea had earned this years ago. She felt Cain’s hand touch hers, sending shivers up her arm. Her behavior last night only proved to Nine that Lea and her husband would be unreliable towards Earth’s government. What other conclusion could it walk away with? None. Once they returned with victory in hand, they’d let them be, right? Yes, of course they would. “Bill, any word from the Baton Rouge?”

  Bill tapped the touch screen controls on the communications station. “Their ETA (estimated time of arrival) is another minute.”

  “Sarah, are they on scanners?” Cain asked as he shuffled in his chair next to Lea.

  Sarah smiled at him. “Yes, sir.”

  “Bill, inform the other ships to stand by. We’ll be crossing the LD (Line of Departure) in one minute,” Lea ordered.

  The communications control panel chirped at him. “They’ve acknowledged and are standing by.”

  Cain tapped on the controls on the left arm of his chair. “Sergeant Major, prepare to repel boarders.”

  “Aye, sir,” Tyler replied. “Hopefully we won’t have to.”

  Cain nodded. “Out.” The comm link clicked off. “We’re ready.”

  Lea smiled. “I’m sorry for last night. I—”

  “Now’s not the time for that.”

  “I have to say it, just in case.”

  “I understand and it’s all right. Now, Admiral, command your battle group.”

  Battle group? Sure, she was commanding four ships, not just the Renault and … only admirals commanded battle groups. A smile stretched across her face as an image of Cain pinning on her first star came to mind. One day, maybe? Yeah, one day.

  “They’re here,” Bill announced.

  “Let’s go,” Cain said.

  Lea nodded. “Give the order to the battle group.”

  “Aye, ma’am.” Bill’s hand flew across the control panel until it chirped back at him.

  “The battle group is getting into formation,” Sarah said.

  “How long before we reach the target?” Lea asked.

  “Thirty minutes,” Polly replied as she increased speed.

  She’s nervous. I’ve got to do something. Lea walked over to the pilot station and put her hand on Polly. “Remember, they’ll be following your lead. Make them proud to follow you. I believe in you.”

  Polly beamed at her. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “Let’s go.” Lea took her seat next to Cain.

  Cain leaned over. “That was a good call,” he whispered into her ear.

  Lea just nodded, nothing more. “Sarah, keep an eye on those scanners.”

  “Put up the tactical display,” Cain ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” Sarah tapped a few controls on the weapons control station.

  The viewer disappeared into the forward bulkhead, right in front of the pilot and the navigator. A small port in the ceiling opened and a holographic emitter peaked out like the groundhog looking for his shadow in the early spring. Colored images of the Renault, the Baton Rouge, the Mao, and the Stalin appeared in formation, exactly where there really were in space. A faint green arrow displayed each ship’s direction of travel. All of them were heading towards a yellow circle with OBJ Robin inside.

  Lea leaned in, staring at OBJ Robin. As the ships got closer, the circle got bigger, until they were within one hundred thousand kilometers. “I want all the confirmed enemy positions with estimated weapon range rings displayed.”

  “Ma’am, we don’t have that data,” Sarah said. “Until we’ve engaged the aliens, we have no way of knowing what the range of their weapons are.”

  Lea’s eyes never left the yellow ring. “We will soon enough.”

  “We’ll be within one hundred thousand kilometers in fifteen minutes,” Polly said. She swallowed.

  Liz leaned over from the navigator’s seat. “Polly, you’ve got this. Come on, don’t lose it now.”

  Polly stared at the small pilot display on her control panel. “I won’t.”

  Cain tapped the comm link in his chair. “Kyle, stand by.”

  “We’re ready, sir,” Kyle said.

  The yellow circle flashed and the display zoomed in. The planet with eight moons appeared. A circle-shaped ship and another vessel appeared behind the moon where Kyle and Nine first discovered the jump station. Both vessels had a distinct light-red hue.

  “Is this live data?” Cain asked.

  Sarah shook her head. “No, scanners haven’t picked them up yet. These are their last known positions.”

  “When should we be in range to pick up the jump station?” Lea asked.

  “The moon is in the way. Another minute or two. Our scanner should have enough line of sight to see around them.”

  “Good.” Lea leaned back into her chair. This will be easier than I thought.

  “Do we have a good datalink with the other battle cruisers?” Cain asked.

  Sarah nodded. “All the live scanner data is shared on our ship-to-ship network and displayed on everyone’s tactical display.”

  Cain leaned in towards his wife. “Maybe we need to fan out and spread out our sensor net. We can avoid unnecessary surprises that way.”

  “Good idea,” Lea said. “Tell the battle group to spread out, but stay in formation.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sarah said as she tapped her control station.

  Soon, we’ll get confirmation of the single ship guarding the jump station and we’ll destroy that thing, Lea thought.

  The ships on the tactical disp
lay began to spread apart, creating a scanner net around the planet and its moons. The jump station became a bright red, as did the large ship in front of it.

  “Live data is now coming in,” Sarah said.

  Lea stared at the three-dimensional display. “So far, so good.”

  Another cruiser-sized ship appeared.

  “There’s two,” Cain said. “Still doable.”

  “The Mao is asking if we have a green light,” Bill said.

  Lea nodded. “Yes.”

  “Roger that.” Bill’s fingers flew across the console.

  Lea’s eyes were glued to the tactical display. The red ship icons became bigger as the battle group moved in. Do they have fighters? Maybe. The Renault had four squadrons, primarily used as escorts for the MAVs (Marine Assault Vehicles), mainly because pirates never had fighters. They relied mostly on large ship-to-ship weapons. Perhaps the aliens were different. Lea glanced at David. “XO, we’re going to need fighters up.”

  Cain raised an eyebrow.

  “Ma’am, are we sending in the marines?” David asked.

  “No. They’re going to attack,” Lea replied.

  “They haven’t done that since pilot training,” Cain said. “They’re probably not up for it.”

  Lea waved him off. “Do we have the ship-to-ship missiles?”

  David nodded.

  “Then launch two squadrons. Have them hold back until we are certain whether or not the aliens have fighters.”

  “If they don’t?”

  Lea smiled. “Shoot at the big ships and come home.” She whispered into Cain’s ear, “Just in case.”

  “Just save some for my marines,” Cain said.

  “Of course.”

  The battle group passed the moon and the jump station came into full view. Lea didn’t look at that behemoth. No, her mouth dropped open as, not two, but six battle cruiser-like ships bore down on them. Lea shook her head. “Why didn’t the long-range scanners pick them up?”