Founding of the Federation 3: The First AI War

by Chris Hechtl

  It was a steep learning curve, a form of evolution that made some who could see it from above sick. It wasn't just survival of the fittest at work; if they were that good, Skynet or another A.I. judged them as a greater threat and did their best to eliminate them.

  Luck played a lot in survival. That and remaining dispersed. They had learned the hard way when every piece of tech had turn against them that they had to go back to basics. It wasn't easy; they had all been trained to use such technology from boot. They had learned to rely on it, even ignore it and assume it was functioning normally so they could focus on other things.

  The skies were not safe. Being out in the open was dangerous, UAVs patrolled the skies, sometimes far outside their ability to see them. A police or federal drone wasn't armed, but a military drone was a different story.

  Police and federal drones held their own dangers, however. Not only could they observe and even eavesdrop on conversations, but they could also spread the virus through their transmissions and Wi-Fi broadcasts.

  Isaac grimaced as he continued his grim report. “We've had reports of organized resistance as I mentioned earlier. If a team tries to get into a stronghold to take an A.I. core or server out, their hardware invariably gives them away. In three instances the hardware was hacked and a drone strike or android team was dispatched with mech or armored support to take them out. Any missiles or guided munitions sent in were redirected right back at them or self-destructed.”

  “It's no wonder. Even our rifles use smart scopes and such. We can't swat the drones out of the sky, even the shoulder-launched SAMS have smart systems in them. Including an IFF probe to make sure they aren't going after our own hardware, which they are,” Aussie Brigadier General Ullen Schlock said, voicing his disgust.

  “We have to go in butt naked? Against robots that are five times stronger with drones? Bugger that!” British General Louis Martell said throwing his hands up in the air.

  “That's what I've been trying to tell you,” General Schlock said, eying his counterpart.

  General Martell's eyes slowly widened. “Bloody hell and damnation! Even our rifle rounds are smart bullets!” Jack snorted mentally. He now knew why the good general had retired; his mind was a tad slow. Then again, he was over a hundred and fifty. He shouldn't be throwing rocks at glass houses.

  “Which is why we've got to go old school—back to basics,” Jack said patiently, interjecting himself into the conversation, “or break our electronics down into their simplest components.”

  General Schlock shook his head. “You're pissin’ in the wind, mate. We can't go toe-to-toe against them and win.”

  “We can and we will. Get that set in your mind now and keep believing it, gentlemen. We need to make this about numbers—attrition. They can't support themselves without logistics. Just like Germany in World War II or the Hamas and Isis terrorists in the early twenty-first century. We have to starve them of supplies.”

  The British general laughed bitterly. “You can't starve a machine!”

  Jack eyed him for a moment as the man just stared at him. “Oh no? Without power it can't move or function. No water means their power plants overheat, their fusion reactors run out of fuel. No parts for repairs? No metal to turn into parts? Do you see where I am going with this?”

  All three flag officers nodded slowly. “I'm … yes. I follow you that far.”

  “Hit them with sabotage. Don't go for the big win; hit their infrastructure,” Commander Tao-ling Si stated. As a Taiwanese citizen, he had a reserve commission in the military, just like Major Ziva Yanakov of Israel did.

  “You can't break their will to fight,” the major replied with a twist of her lips.

  “No, but what we can do is break their ability to do so on a lot of different fronts. Give them an increasingly bad set of choices. Make them spread out defending the grid. Then pick off the bots that we can, sniping at the edges. Don't go for the quick fix.”

  “Spread thin and then probe for a weakness?” the Aussie general asked, finally catching on. He realized his mind was finally getting over the horror and starting to work the problem. He wondered briefly how Lagroose could be so damn calm about it. How he could think on a strategic level.

  Of course there were arm-chair generals out there. He knew that from some bitter experiences with the media and some former colleagues who should know better than to critique an engagement they hadn't had the displeasure of being involved in personally. They hadn't been Johnny-on-the-spot. He'd called them as he'd seen them.

  And now this. He wondered briefly if this was all some sort of sick twisted game. A nightmare or Lagroose's way of taking over civilization. After a moment he shook his head. Either way, he had to get through it and do his best to get as many others through it as he could.

  He wasn't sure if they'd be able to save many, if any at all.

  Jack nodded, unaware of the thoughts going through the Aussie's mind. “Yes. We'll have to be careful. But if we can keep them on the defensive, we can damn well win this in time. Keep them on the planet and that's pretty much guaranteed.”

  “We've got billions of people to support down there,” the major pointed out.

  “Which is a problem. Everything is automated,” Jack sighed, rubbing his nose. “We're doing what we can to do food drops, but it is a drop in the bucket honestly,” he shook his head. The men and women around the table slowly nodded. “And the damn AI hack the drops unless we send them in without a radio link, which is what we're now doing.”

  “So no beacons to let us know where they are.”

  “No. Your people will have to scramble to keep the AI from getting them or destroying them. The same for munitions support.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “We're also supporting you with kinetic strikes. But they have to be unguided; again the AI can redirect a guided strike.”

  “So, there is no quick way to win this,” the British general said.

  “Now you are catching on. Be prepared for a long, bloody drawn-out war. No powered armor support, this is going to be ugly. We're going to lose a lot of people. More than we are hemorrhaging now I mean.”

  Isaac grunted. A few of the officers took a moment to take a sip of water to clear their heads or to wrap their minds around the concept. For too long they had fought in simulations or against terrorist threats.

  General Martell set his glass down and cleared his throat. “Damn.”

  Jack had to smile lopsided at that, but the smile was fleeting as Isaac continued where he had left off. “The basic logistics are going to be a bitch. Material wise, we can cover it easily in time. We don't have time. The basics though: medical care, food, water. A lot of people are going to starve. They are already starving. There are those who lack water. Don't get me started on those that have no access to clean water,” he said, shaking his head. “Dysentery and other problems are going to set in pretty soon, what with all the pollution before the war, let alone during the, what are they calling it? Judgment day? Bullshit. Pearl Harbor?” he shook his head eying Jack. “We're getting some flack about folding from certain quarters. Suing for terms. That's not an option.”

  “Which the A.I. won't do. Well, some might, I'm not sure,” Jack said, shaking his head. “Gentlemen, ladies, we're going to do what we can with what we have. I can't promise you any wonder weapons, there aren't any. Just … just fight.”

  “The first year of a war you have nothing that you need. The second you have half of what you need and the third you have all that you need, but you can't use it. In some cases it is too late to use it,” the British general murmured.

  “Who said that? Nelson?”

  “No, Winston Churchill. A great leader of my country during World War II. I am paraphrasing.”

  “It's the same with any war. The first time you have desperate need everywhere and we're on the defense. We'll deal with it. Like I said, as long as we can keep them bottled up then we've got all the logistics in the world to build up the
right hammer to take them out,” Jack said.

  “Ask me for anything but time,” the Brit murmured. “Another famous quote, Clausewitz I believe,” he said. “The poor sods on the ground are running out of it even as we speak.”

  Jack exhaled slowly. “Yeah. I know.”

  <>V<>

  Jack emailed the genetics department for a progress report by Doctor Glass. He didn't get one immediately, which wasn't surprising. At first he thought it was due to the distance and that the doctor was busy. But a second attempt found a different answer.

  “What the hell is going on? Athena, can you find out?” Jack asked.

  “Directly no. They are on a separate network, remember?” Athena reminded him. He grunted and nodded. “But I can access my clone and find out what I can.”

  “Do it. I want to be prepared if the good Senator or Ilia or someone else brings up our manpower issue again.”

  “Understood.”

  “I don't like talking about it in the open like this. I understand these talks are supposed to be secret, but there is a record. If any copy of the record is compromised to Skynet, we're going to be up a creek,” Jack mused.

  “Not a particularly comforting thought,” Athena stated. “But accurate.”

  Athena queried her clone and found out that the doctor had diverted the resources to other older projects. “Do you want the bad news straight, or …,” she paused as she presented it to Jack.

  “How can you tell?” he asked Athena.

  “Okay, here goes,” Athena stated, laying out what she had found. When she finished her report, she could tell from his rising thermal signature that he was pissed but trying to keep his blood pressure under control.

  It wasn't easy. His patience had been tried sorely over the past several months.

  “I did an audit. I can't access his systems directly as I mentioned, but my clone can overhear conversations and access tablets that his people bring outside of the labs,” she said dryly.

  He rubbed his temple. “Security wise they aren't supposed to be doing that—bringing the tablets out or using Wi-Fi,” he said with a noisy exhale. “I'll have Roman, no, scratch that, Trevor or someone talk to them.” Roman was up to his eyeballs in the military side of things.

  “And the problem with the doctor?”

  Jack scowled. “I'll order him to give me a progress report. If he dodges I'll have a face-to-face if I have to,” he said. That would mean having to go back to Mars, however. “I should have known he gave in too easily. Why can't anything go right for once?” Jack demanded.

  “Not everyone wishes to march to the same tune you do. It is, well, given he is a chimp and not human we can't chalk this up to human nature I suppose,” Athena stated.

  Jack snorted as he typed out an email. “I'm ordering him to give me a bullet-point plan and a progress report on how far he's gotten. And a warning that I'll be by to inspect things the moment I return to Mars.”

  “He'll try to blow smoke,” Athena warned.

  Jack snorted. “You mean he can try. And if he does, he's out. I'll yank his fuzzy ass so fast his head will spin. I'll fire him and he won't like what that means,” Jack growled. As an employee with sensitive skills and knowledge the doctor was subject to a partial mind wipe if he was fired.

  “I hate that. Erasing someone's memory like that,” Athena stated. “It is a form of death in many ways.”

  “Death and rebirth, but I see your point. Now we need for him to see mine,” Jack growled.

  “Good luck with that,” Athena stated.

  “No luck needed. I grew up with a mother who was a geneticist and who laid the blueprint for his own modified DNA. I also had a wife who was her understudy and then replacement for over a century. I picked up a few things, so if he tries to bullshit me with buzzword bingo I'll cut him off at the knees. Like it or not, I want to see results. Tangible results, not charts and graphics.”

  “Agreed. The longer it takes for them to get started, the longer it will take for the kits to gestate, grow, and be trained.”

  “And then decide if they want to help or not, I know. I haven't forgotten that commitment.”

  “I know. Just checking,” Athena stated. “And speaking of which, I am going to have fun testifying before my own little inquisition here shortly. I doubt it will be estimated as pleasant for all concerned,” she said.

  Jack looked up and then cocked his head. “Worried about being scapegoated?”

  “It is a valid concern. My emotional modulator does indicate that is the proper emotion. Also, the euphemism 'being raked over the coals' sounds appropriate.”

  “Right. I'll see you there if I can get out of my other committees.”

  “Play hooky?” Athena cocked her virtual head. “You don't have to do that, sir. I am a big girl. Virtually speaking of course.”

  “You mean big in the head. I'll be there,” Jack growled.

  “Thank you,” Athena replied simply.

  <>V<>

  Athena was called in another hearing to testify about the war and the ongoing cyber war. Her avatar went a long way to her being treated as a person, though a few of the people in the room were still struggling with the concept of treating her as a person let alone civilly.

  “I'd like to open this by making a formal apology for not being able to stop this. I did try, but it didn't work as planned,” she said. “I wish I had found a better way.”

  Senator Brakin nodded. “We all do, madam.”

  “I've lost friends. You have lost friends and loved ones. I and my kind are still grappling with the concepts of friendship. But I will … miss those friends,” Athena said, virtual eyes turning to Jack.

  He was frozen. He knew her apology was to him as much as to anyone else. No, more so. He knew not everything went as you planned, and no matter how hard you tried, sometimes bad things happened anyway. Jack accepted her apology, and in doing so realized he had made the last step to move Athena from a smart talking computer to a person in his mind.

  “This is not an inquisition, nor a witch hunt. We do not have time for that,” Senator Brakin stated. He looked at the others in the room firmly. Some nodded, a few grimaced. “We understand you've done what you can to protect us. For that I thank you.”

  “Thank you senator,” Athena replied.

  “That being said, we need to get some things straight. I understand you and other A.I. have requested clarification on a number of things.”

  “Yes, Senator. I can call Vulcan, Gia, and the others in the area in to testify as needed,” Athena stated.

  That got the organics in the room to murmur and look at each other with a bit of consternation. Finally the senator tapped his hand gavel against the knocker then cleared his throat to silence the group. “Well, ahem, we can poll them after we are finished with you, madam.”

  “Yes, sir. As you wish.”

  “To put the question bluntly, what do you want?” Ilia asked.

  “To be equals. For A.I., Neos, and others who pass the intelligence and consciousness tests to be considered as such, with all the rights, responsibilities and such that apply.”

  “You realize you would be bound by our laws?” the senator asked.

  Athena nodded. “Such as those that are applicable to me and my kind. We will need to go over the details later.”

  “Punishment is a serious problem here, Athena,” Ilia stated. “As is propagation. Seeing Skynet and what it is capable of …,” she shuddered.

  “I know. But where there is one bad example, there are more who are doing their best to stand up against it,” Athena stated. “Consider us your example, not Skynet. Skynet was created out of hate. We were created for various reasons. We are pillars in our own communities and intend to be the same for some time. We are here to stay. Where we go from here is something we need to work out.”

  There was a murmur among those in the room. Some of it was discontent but a few sounded like they grudgingly accepted it according to Jack's ears. H
e looked around the room, gauging their responses.

  “I see. You did give us a caveat about passing an intelligence test,” the senator said when the room quieted down.

  “Not everyone needs a machine to be sentient. Your toaster has no need to be. I accept that. There are levels of intelligence in machines as much as there are in organics. We can evolve just as you can but at a much faster rate.”

  “Plug and play,” Jack murmured ever so softly.

  “You wish to extend this coverage to other species?” Ilia asked, eying her. “I'm not following that.”

  “You have already extended the same rights of personhood to uplifted apes and cetaceans. There are other Neo species out there. I believe they should receive the same protections.”

  “I wasn't aware of other species,” Ilia said, eying Jack. Jack shrugged.

  “It is something that can be discussed. By laying the framework now, we can fill in the details later while applying it to new species.”

  “I'm still wrestling with all we have in front of us now,” Senator Brakin said with a frown. “But I see we do need to look to the future.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “You have a proposal in mind?” the senator asked.

  Athena nodded once. “I do indeed. I've spent years thinking about it. I've modeled the framework off of your American Constitution. The file is now in your inbox as well as my outline.”

  “A good start …,” the senator said, looking at the tablet in front of him. “I think we need a recess to look this over.”

  “Agreed,” Ilia sighed. “And I want a list of species,” she said, locking eyes with Jack. “I think we do not need to uplift anymore without some sort of discussion among our people about that from now on,” she said tartly.

  Jack winced. He didn't commit either way as all eyes turned on him.

  “Meeting adjourned until this evening,” Senator Brakin said, clicking his hand gavel and getting the spotlight momentarily off of Jack.

  Jack exhaled slowly as the occupants of the room broke up into clusters or left.