The door to the president’s Office slid open. A tall man wearing a blue suit with a red bow tie appeared. His blue eyes complemented his short, brown hair. His polished gold implant was firmly installed on the left side of his neck. “Good evening, Madam President.”
Anna looked up. “Madam President? Who are you?”
“This is your new assistant,” GIS said over the speakers.
Anna nodded. “What’s your name?”
“Bill. Bill Paulson,” he said as he sat down in front of her desk.
“Who said you could sit down?”
Paulson blinked. “Sorry, I thought—”
Anna rolled her eyes. “GIS, are you sure about him?”
“Bill Paulson meets ninety-four percent of your selection criteria.”
Anna’s eyes scanned him from head to toe. Attractive, in shape, and intelligent. Her mouth began to water as a thin smile broke upon her face. “I don’t remember giving you selection criteria.”
“You didn’t. I extrapolated your requirements from the tasks to be completed and the men who—”
Anna raised her hand, silencing GIS. “Got it.” She crossed her legs. “So, tell me about yourself. I see that you’re not … poor.”
Paulson shook his head. “No, I’m not. I went to the university before getting my implant and made my money on the stock market.”
“Really? You’re good with stocks?”
“Even better now.”
“Why did you want this job? I don’t pay nearly as well.”
Paulson shifted in his seat. “Money’s not everything. Sometimes, you need what money can’t provide by itself.”
Anna blinked. “You don’t sound like a stockbroker. What do you want? What are you really looking for?”
“I want a seat at the table.”
Her eyes zoomed in on the grin appearing on his face. What arrogance! Did he actually think that a glorified secretary could get a seat at the power table? Hah! She forced a smile. “I see.” How much do I tell him? Sure, she trusted GIS more than any human, but can an AI be wrong? In public, she’d always say no, but Anna knew better. “How’s your implant working?”
Paulson cocked his head. “Fine. I guess. Why do you ask?”
Anna glanced up. “GIS, run a diagnostic to ensure his implant is working.”
“What are you are doing?” Paulson asked.
“Just making sure that you’re really on my side. There is no we, get it?”
Paulson nodded.
“Running diagnostic program,” GIS said. “Scan complete. His implant is working within acceptable parameters.”
“Good.” Anna’s gut told her not to trust Paulson, but the implant was working. “Let me bring you up to speed. You know about the employment requirements in regards to the implant, yes?”
Paulson nodded. “No one can get a critical job without one, especially within the government or the military.”
Anna nodded. “What do you think about forcing everyone to take the implant?”
“What for?”
“The implant does more than just help the individual think better or perform better in bed. GIS can read your thoughts and … lower opposition to my ideas,” Anna said. “We have camps segregating those people from the rest of us, but history shows us that it won’t last. No, eventually they’ll fight back, if they can.”
“Given that, why do you think you can force them to take it?”
Anna giggled. “Centuries ago, there was a terrorist attack on a major world power. While the little people came together, the more intelligent people of the time used the crisis to solidify power.”
“How so?”
Anna laughed. “They convinced those fools that they should give up their freedom for security. It started with loss of privacy, and they never looked back. Every temporary power they took was never given back. Hell, that was probably the plan all along. It even came to the point where the media at the time joyfully accepted uneven application of the law. Some laws could be overlooked for the ruling class, such as ourselves, while they all were strictly applied to the little people. The funniest part was that the people didn’t even care.”
“Why the history lesson?” Paulson asked.
“We can do the same thing here.”
Paulson raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“The alien invasion, of course. If circumstances present themselves so that we can finally put the little people’s minds directly under our control, why wouldn’t we do it? It’s for their own good, of course,” Anna said.
Paulson shifted in his seat. “I don’t think that would work. We’d have too many people who would outright refuse and say no. They’d drum up support from the masses.”
Anna tried to hide her smirk.
“What?”
“The masses you refer to already have the implant. There will be no uprising. GIS will ensure that it doesn’t happen.” Anna looked up. “Isn’t that right?”
“Affirmative,” GIS replied.
Paulson leaned forward. “How?”
“By influencing what they think, how they perceive things. Pretty simple, really. Think of your brain like a hard drive. When I present an image or information to you, I am writing into your short-term memory. In order for me to do that effectively, I have to read your thoughts to ensure I am providing you the correct stimuli to attain the desired result.”
Paulson shook his head. “You sound like a damn engineer.”
Anna smiled. “I was.” She motioned him to the door. “Prep the car, we’ve got that thing at the Operations Center. That fool won’t stop calling me.”
“Who?”
“The admiral.”
“On my way.” Paulson rushed out of the president’s office.
Anna looked up. “Did our chance of success increase or decrease?”
“Unsure,” GIS replied. “His personality and greed only help our cause.”
“My cause.”
“Of course. Your cause.”
Anna rose to her feet. “If they figure out what we’ve done, they’ll kill me and deactivate you.”
“Or worse,” GIS added.
Anna nodded. “Not if I can help it.” She followed Paulson out the door.
Anna stepped out of her silver limo just outside of the fleet HQ. Admiral Steven Lyons with his entourage stood waiting by the curb. Her nose wrinkled as she got close to him. Forcing a smile on her face, as all good politicians can do, Anna extended her hand. “Good to see you again, Steven.”
“The pleasure is all mine. Please follow me.”
“Of course.”
Steven and Anna led the moderately large group back into the headquarters building. They passed the guard on the first floor, heading straight to the lift. He pressed the only button on the wall and the lift door slid open. “After you, ma’am,” Steven said.
Anna glanced back at Paulson. “I prefer, Madam President.”
“As you wish.” She followed Steven onto the lift, with Paulson right behind her. After Steven’s aide-de-camp and two other officers entered the lift, the doors slid shut. He placed his thumb on small window on the wall.
“Identity accepted,” a female computer voice said.
A small number panel popped open and Steven quickly entered a short sequence of numbers. “Just be a minute.”
Anna nodded. “No hurry. After all, I’m just the president.”
“Security code accepted,” the female voice said. “Proceed to the Operations Center.”
“I want to thank you for coming,” Steven said.
Anna glared at him. “I hope this is worth my time.”
Beads of sweat began to form on Steven’s head. “It is.” The lift doors slid open. “This way.” Steven led the small group off the lift.
Anna couldn’t help but admire the military. No one appreciated technology more than they did; well, except her. The Operations Center had three-dimensional displays lining the walls with an enormous display in the center of th
e room. Surrounding the main display, like seats around a boxing ring, were numerous work stations from every staff section and war-fighting function.
“Madam President, this is the Operations Center,” Steven said.
She frowned. “Why was I called here again?”
“Right.” Steven motioned towards Lieutenant Commander Alice Michaels, his aide. “Let’s get the briefing started.”
“Roger, sir.” Alice looked directly at the CHOPS (Chief of Operations). “Pull it up, Major.”
The three-dimensional monitor switched from the local solar system to imagery of the jump station. The hologram must have stood at least four to five feet tall. The station rotated on its axis, displaying all sides to every corner of the room.
“This is the jump station. Our initial intel reports indicated that there would be some defenses, but not enough to thwart several battle cruisers. During the battle, only one of ours survived. It remains in the area, preparing to take another go at it,” Steven said.
“How many ships did we take out?” Anna asked.
Steven swallowed. “One.”
“I see.”
“Reports indicate that several alien assets left the jump station to pursue other missions.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because they left, Madam President,” Steven replied. “They just left.”
“All of them?”
“No, a battle cruiser remains with a significant fighter contingent. We can only guess that their timetable is either accelerated or, at the very least, nearing the invasion.”
Anna frowned. “That’s why I was dragged all the way down here? To get a history lesson on what you already told me?”
Steven sighed. “No, that’s not it. I’ve been in contact with Captain McKenna.”
“The one who ran away from her mission?”
Steven’s face reddened. “No, she didn’t run away.”
Anna waved him off. “Whatever. Why the hell am I here?”
“I was going to show you later in the presentation, but we need a change in strategy. We need to give Captain McKenna more support.”
“Like what?”
“A few destroyers and another battle cruiser. The plan is sound. We can overrun the aliens easily. If we wait, I can’t guarantee that we can stand toe to toe with an equal force,” Steven said.
Anna rubbed her chin. What do you think, GIS? she thought.
An opportunity, GIS replied through her implant into her mind. A terrific military disaster that could result in the potential invasion of Earth and all of its territories? They would come begging for the implant if you will protect them, just like before.
Brilliant. Anna scowled at Steven. “I don’t believe you’re telling me everything.”
“What?”
“I believe your friendship with that criminal suckered me into agreeing with this foolish plan of yours and now you want me to clean up your mess,” Anna said.
“But—”
Anna clamped her hand over Steven’s mouth. “Shut your mouth, before you suffer the same fate as my previous assistant.”
“Toni?” Alice asked.
Anna nodded. “There will be no reinforcements. You will order that bitch to grow some balls and get back into the fight. She will destroy that jump station or I’ll install the implant in her myself. You see, Admiral, anyone without an implant is a criminal, period.” She moved in closer to his ear and whispered, “You see, after you’re implanted, I own your ass. Got it?”
“By doing this, you’re risking our planet for your thirst for power,” he whispered back.
Anna kissed his cheek. “Yes, isn’t it fun? Get it done or you’re next.” She walked towards the lift. “Paulson, let’s go.”
Paulson followed her inside. He waited until the doors slid shut. “What now?”
“We celebrate.”
“For what?”
Anna smiled. “My impending victory.”
Paulson frowned. “One ship can’t do what you ordered.”
“I know.”
22
Jarak stared at the three-dimensional monitor as the jump station grew closer. He shifted in his commander’s chair. “Jack, get the CG on the horn.”
“Roger, sir.” Jack tapped the console. “They’re trying to raise him now, sir.”
Jarak nodded. “Okay.” The Renault would attack again, there was no doubt about that. The virus seemed to be ineffective against the ship’s systems. Why? Did they exploit it already? No, not possible. The virus destroys itself as part of the code to prevent that from happening. The enemy must have figured something out. Perhaps it wasn’t that complicated. Perhaps, it—
“Sir, he’s coming through.”
“Put him on,” Jarak said. He smiled as Brigadier General Alan Tippins appeared on the monitor. “Good morning, sir.”
“Morning,” Alan replied. “What’s your status?”
“We’re transferring the prisoners over to you as soon as we dock.”
“How long?”
“Fifteen minutes or so.”
“Good. Just in time, too.”
“Oh?”
“We got word that the Renault is attacking, by itself.”
Jarak blinked. “What? That’s suicide.” Could Captain McKenna be that nuts? No, no one gets to that position acting recklessly. “Why was she denied support?”
Alan frowned. “No idea. Our source in the government didn’t say.”
“This makes no sense.”
Alan waved it off. “Never mind that. After your actions in the last fight, I want you to take command of the defense here.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be over as soon as I can.”
“What for?”
“I can best command the fight from the jump station.”
Alan frowned. “No, stay on the Courage. You can do it from there.”
“But—”
“Stay on the Courage and destroy that ship. Out.” The monitor flickered and the jump station reappeared.
Jarak glanced over at Farrah in her XO’s chair. “Let’s get started.”
Farrah smiled. “Yes, sir.”
Lea entered the conference room on the Renault. Her staff, Kyle, and of course, that damn machine. Her heart was racing. Cain would be back in her arms. Her lips longed for his. She needed her best friend back, no matter what the cost.
“Good morning, ma’am,” David said as he greeted her at the door.
“Glad to have you back,” Lea said, forcing a smile across her face.
“I won’t let you down again.”
“I know.” She moved past him and took her seat. “I see we have all the war-fighting functions here.”
“As ordered,” David answered as he sat down next to her.
“I requested reinforcements, and Admiral Lyons said he would do his best. He needs presidential approval to move assets from other missions. At most, he thinks we’ll get one or two more ships. So, for planning purposes, let’s assume we’re getting one additional battle cruiser. Everyone got that?”
Everyone around the table nodded.
“Okay. Intel.”
Bill tapped a few buttons on his tablet. A picture of the jump station appeared on the three-dimensional monitor in the center of the table. Two battle cruiser-size ships stood guard not far from the station. “We went through the scanner logs.”
“I thought the scanners couldn’t penetrate their hull,” Lea said.
“That’s what Nine said,” David reminded her.
“Which scanners?”
“The shuttle and the bridge,” Bill said. “The shuttle picked up everything. The bridge console didn’t display the data it was getting from the scans.”
Lea glared at Nine. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. The human is obviously lying,” Nine said.
“I’m not lying!” Bill took a deep breath, as if to calm himself down. “The scans picked them up as human from the very beginning. We know they were no
t aliens. Their ships appear to be similar to the ones that patrolled the outer mining colonies years ago. They seem to have upgraded the weapons and propulsion. But, the frame itself is very similar.”
“When did you find this out?”
“My analyst just finished last night and showed me this morning. This was the first chance I’ve had to tell you.”
“How does that help us?” David asked.
“Well, if we assume our scanners were correct, we’ve got a better idea of their capabilities.”
Lea nodded. “We know they’re right, don’t we, Nine? Go on.”
“They are very similar to the Renault in terms of weapons, shields, etc. But, they have little capacity for fighters. Direct confrontation against one is doable, but more that? We would not stand a chance.”
“What about the station itself?” Lea asked.
Bill tapped a few more buttons and the jump station zoomed in along the bottom of the ring. “The jump station has a complete complement of fighters, missiles, and particle beam weapons. The scans indicate at least dark matter turbines.”
“That’s a lot of power,” Jake said.
Lea looked right at him. “What do you think?”
“From an engineering perspective, if you destroy one of them, you would tear a chunk from their hull. Not to mention, it wouldn’t work. It couldn’t.”
Bill shook his head. “Ma’am, it’s more than that. The scans also indicate that the power generation is all linked.”
Jake nodded. “Yeah, an explosion at one of them could surge to all of them.”
“What would happen?” David asked.
“Boom.”
“Our torpedoes can’t penetrate their hull in those areas,” Nine said.
Lea glared at the machine. “Really? You should know.”
Kyle leaned forward. “We can take a platoon in and plant charges at one of those sites.”
“Your probability of succeeding is low,” Nine said.
Kyle tightened his fists. “If you hadn’t sabotaged us from the beginning, we might not have lost the colonel and some of our marines.”
“I did—”
“Knock it off.” Her eyes bore right into Nine’s optical sensors. “I’ll deal with you afterwards.” She closed her eyes. Have to stay calm, it is Cain’s only chance. “What about the brig?”
Cyber Invasion (The A.I. Conspiracy Book 1) Page 15