by Dietmar Wehr
“I’m shifting some fire away from weapons to try to knock out his power,” said Val Ky Ree.
The Bridge jerked for a fourth time, but this time the impact was noticeably less, and Ronson was able to hold on more easily. As he watched the display, he noticed the other ship start to roll so that its other side would come to bear. He heard someone groan, then realized that he was the one who had made that sound.
“I see it, Troy. This will be close.” Just as the other ship’s roll was bringing five undamaged weapon turrets into view, the lights dimmed again. By this time, the view from the drone appeared to be very close. Ronson watched in awe as the back third of the target ship separated from the front two thirds, and a shower of debris exploded in all directions. Both sections continued to roll, but the turrets were no longer moving. It quickly became obvious that the battle was over.
“God Almighty! How did you manage that?” asked Ronson.
“I had my four turrets fire simultaneously in such a way that the resulting beam was thick enough to cut through that ship when it presented the aspect with the minimum width. Solid matter will not stop or degrade a full power torsion beam. Once the beam hit the ship, it cut all the way through instantly. The power plants were in one section and the turrets were in the other. When the power section was cut loose, the weapons no longer had any power.”
“What will you do now?” asked Ronson as he released his grip on the railing.
“The rest of the ship has to be destroyed too. I think I can accomplish that before we get out of weapons range again. If not, then I’ll swing around and make another high-speed pass.”
“What about the other ships?”
“Unless they are so foolish as to fire on me, I will not attack them. Trying to salvage a derelict ship is not a hostile act. Humans would have tried to do the same thing if given a chance, correct, Troy?”
“Yes, I agree; we would have. Unless they fire on you, let them be. But I’m curious. Why didn’t the other ship’s torsion beams cut this ship in half?”
“The energy field I activated is what saved us. A torsion beam is a form of energy. Matter will not stop it. But just as matter will stop other matter when they collide, so too will one form of energy stop another form of energy. In this case, the energy field around this ship resisted the impact of their torsion beams, and the resulting reaction was the same as if that ship had fired a solid projectile that hit our hull. That’s what caused the ship to jerk backwards so suddenly. The individuals operating that ship made two mistakes, Troy. They didn’t wait long enough to charge their weapon turrets to full power, which is why our energy field was able to continue blocking 100% of their beams’ energy, and they either didn’t know about or were unable to activate their own energy field.”
Ronson digested that information for a bit before responding. “What would have happened if they had activated their defense shield and used their weapons at full power?”
“In that case, we would have been destroyed. Their turrets are larger than mine, and their torsion beams eventually would have overloaded my energy field and ripped the ship apart before my weapons could do the same to theirs.”
By this time, the two parts of the other ship were breaking up into smaller sections. The image switched over to a tactical representation of the situation, and Ronson saw that Val Ky Ree’s ship had just passed the derelict and was now pulling away in a gentle curve so that all of its four turrets had a clear line-of-sight to the target. The Compact ships were beginning to move away as well.
“Am I correct in thinking that it’s safe for me to take this spacesuit off, Val Ky Ree?”
“You are correct. When the target is completely destroyed, I think I should return to Vesta. Do you agree, Troy?”
Ronson grinned. “Absolutely! I’ve had enough excitement for a while. That was exhausting! I foresee a nap in my immediate future, which brings up a question I’ve never thought to ask you. Do you need sleep the way we do?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that question, Troy, since I don’t really know what happens to biological entities like humans when you sleep. What I can tell you is that my synthetic neurons have a high power mode and a low power mode. Most of the time I operate in the high power mode. Depending on what I’m doing and for how long I’m doing it, my neurons gradually become less efficient and my thinking slows down. When that happens, I switch to the low power mode for a while. During those periods I’m still conscious, but I shut down many of the data inputs I’m receiving. If I had to guess, I would say that the closest equivalent for a human would be to sit still with closed eyes, while still staying awake.”
“Fascinating. Okay, I’ll be heading for my quarters. Wake me when we get to Vesta, okay?”
“Have you forgotten that it will be several days before we get there, Troy?”
Ronson chuckled. “No, I haven’t forgotten. That was my pathetic attempt at a joke.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, Troy, it was indeed pathetic.”
Ronson had learned to recognize when her electronic voice was expressing a playful state of mind as it was now and nodded. “Yeah. I’ll try harder in the future,” he said as he left the Bridge.
Chapter Fifteen:
Ronson was relieved to learn that the other three ships sent back under auto-pilot had arrived. He sent a recorded message from Val Ky Ree in order not to panic the humans and settled into a gentle parking orbit around Vesta. When contact with the Emergency Committee had been established, Ronson was amused to see that Andreason seemed to be conflicted in his reaction to the arrival of those three ships. He clearly understood the potential they represented, and his excitement was quite evident, but he also was frustrated and angry at Val Ky Ree because she had programmed those ships to keep their exterior hatches closed and locked. She had discussed that with Troy on the way back. Before any attempt to convert those ships to operate with human crews was started, the question of who ‘owned’ those ships had to be addressed. Andreason clearly thought the answer to that question should be the human race. Ronson had confessed to Val Ky Ree that his initial assumption had been the same. When Andreason complained about the lack of access, she tried to explain her concerns.
“As things stand right now, those three ships are under my somewhat limited control. That means they are not able to be used to their full potential nor are they able to conduct independent missions. While I’m prepared to consider allowing them to be modified in order to be operated by human crews, I do have to keep in mind that there are limits to how much Aesir technology and capability humans should have in order to preserve your race’s spiritual potential for ascension. In terms of what you call ‘ownership’, can you not be satisfied with ownership of additional craft similar to Spearthrower? My ship carries six of them, and the other three ships have a total of eighteen such craft. I would be willing to give half of them to you humans. Why is it necessary for you to also have unlimited control of the larger ships, if my understanding of ownership is correct?” asked Val Ky Ree.
Andreason’s image on the display showed that he didn’t have a quick comeback for that question. “Well, ah, the Committee was given to understand that you would co-operate with us and help defend us. All we’re asking is that we have the means to defend ourselves. The gift of those smaller craft is appreciated, but if the Compact decides on military action against us, even a dozen small craft may not be enough.”
“If you believe that threat to be real, then the sooner we agree on who controls the salvaged ships and convert them for human crews, the sooner those ships could be available for Vesta’s defence. I suggest we set aside the question of ownership and discuss the question of control. If I agree to let those ships be modified for human control, the humans who operate them have to clearly understand and agree that if they have conflicting orders from me and from the Committee, they will follow my orders. If none of your people are capable of following that discipline, then tell me now, and I’ll attempt to find another solu
tion that is acceptable to both of us.”
Andreason responded immediately. “I’m sure that some of us would be willing to accept that condition in order to be able to operate those ships, Val Ky Ree.”
Val Ky Ree was about to respond when she saw that Ronson was shaking his head emphatically. “Why are you shaking your head, Troy?” she asked with the channel to Andreason muted.
“Andreason answered that question far too quickly. I wouldn’t be able to come up with an answer that fast, because if the circumstances were such that Vesta was in imminent danger and disobeying your orders was perceived as the only way to protect it, then I can’t see anyone risking the survival of our species in order to obey a pre-condition that you’ve set. I think he knows that too and doesn’t want to admit it.”
After a pause, Val Ky Ree asked. “If you found yourself in the situation you described, would you be able to follow my orders, Troy.”
Ronson sighed as he closed his eyes. When he spoke, his voice reflected his discomfort. “I don’t know. I’d like to think I would, but in all honesty, I can’t guarantee that I would in every possible scenario. I can foresee circumstances where I wouldn’t obey.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Troy. Loyalty to one’s own species is understandable and honorable. If your people’s existence wasn’t so tenuous, then perhaps some of you could be relied upon to obey a different calling, but I see now that it was foolish of me to expect any human to resist your natural impulses under the present circumstances. I do have an alternative that is frankly less attractive but seems to be more practical. Stand by, Troy. Andreason is wondering why I haven’t responded to him yet.
“I was not able to respond to you, Andreason, because I was having a private conversation with Troy Ronson. In light of your quick reply, I have decided to withdraw my offer of modifying those ships for human crews. Among the technical data I was able to download from Command Base was the information needed to construct a highly sophisticated computing device that will have a limited ability to evaluate a situation and determine the best course of action. It will be an artificial electronic construct that will take the place of the synthetic intelligence that would normally pilot those ships. It will not be sentient and will have to be carefully programmed, but it should be able to take the appropriate action in all but a few unlikely scenarios.”
Before she could go on, Andreason interrupted angrily. “NO! That is NOT acceptable!” Ronson was able to hear muffled voices in the background that suggested an attempt to get Andreason to calm down. “WHY THE HELL SHOULD I CALM DOWN, SAM? IT’S CLEAR TO ME THAT VAL KY REE DOESN’T REALLY WANT TO HELP US!” There was more background chatter. Ronson was shaking his head again. As long as that man was Chairman of the Emergency Committee, the human relationship with Val Ky Ree would be in jeopardy. He looked up at the video camera that was watching him and made a slashing motion across his throat.
“The channel to Vesta has been muted again, Troy. Is there something you wish to say to me?”
“Andreason’s fear is making him react badly and make poor decisions. As long as he’s head of the committee, the working relationship between us and you will never be secure. I have a plan to fix that. Here’s what I suggest you do…”
Half an hour later, Ronson stepped down from one of Val Ky Ree’s improved small craft onto the deck of the hangar bay inside the Vesta asteoid. As expected, Andreason and the rest of the committee was there waiting for him. Andreason’s expression looked as though he was going to burst a blood vessel in his forehead at any second.
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” he yelled. “She cuts off communications with no reason given, and you take your sweet time getting down here! What poison have you been filling her mind with?” By this time, Andreason had stepped forward until he was less than an arm’s length from Ronson.
Ronson reminded himself to stay calm. The plan depended on it. “Back off,” he said in a low voice. “I’ve spent the last half hour trying to convince Val Ky Ree NOT to write off the human race and look for a new race to partner with, along with her other three ships too I might add. You came THIS CLOSE—“ he held his thumb and index finger close together in front of Andreason’s face, “—to ruining out best chance of surviving as a race. She’s made a decision, and she’s sent me as her messenger because, quite frankly, she can’t stand to talk with you again.” He paused and was surprised when Andreason stayed quiet. “I’m to deliver an ultimatum. That’s how pissed off she is now. She will not continue to co-operate with us in any way unless—“ he pointed at Andreason, “—you resign from the Committee immediately and not just as the Chair but from the Committee entirely.”
He heard someone standing behind Andreason gasp. Andreason’s face drained of blood so fast that Ronson was surprised he didn’t faint. “WHAT? How dare she—“ He was cut off by one of the women on the Committee.
“Oh for Gods sakes, Frank, shut up! Val Ky Ree’s not the only one who’s sick and tired of your rants. Do I hear a motion to remove Frank Andreason from the position of Committee Chairman?” It was all over in a matter of seconds. Andreason’s expression was now one of barely controlled rage and apparently not just at Val Ky Ree. He quickly stepped over to the woman who led the mutiny.
“This is a phoney stunt, Mandy. I don’t believe for one second that Val Ky Ree came up with this ultimatum all by herself. I’ll bet anything you want that Ronson put her up to this! They’re bluffing! With me gone, the two of them will have the rest of the Committee jumping through their hoops before too long. You KNOW Ronson is behind this!”
“Maybe he is, Frank, but it doesn’t matter. If it’s a question of massaging your ego or keeping Val Ky Ree on our side, then guess what, Frank? That’s an easy decision to make. Oh, and by the way, that plush apartment you’ve been using? That’s reserved for the Committee Chair, so you’d better have your things moved out of there within twenty-four hours. I’ll have Admin find you a nice, cozy corner in a bare rock corridor somewhere because you’ll now be at the bottom of the re-habitation list. Good bye, Frank.” Turning to look at Ronson, she nodded and said, “Please tell Val Ky Ree that we’ve accepted her ultimatum, Mr. Ronson.”
Ronson struggled to keep his elation in check. Don’t blow it now, he thought. With a quick nod he turned and headed back into the craft, making sure the hatch closed behind him. Three minutes later, he came back out. There was no sign of Andreason. The Committee was still there, waiting patiently. Ronson walked up to them.
“I’ve explained to Val Ky Ree what happened, and she’s agreed to stay and help as much as possible. Five more craft like this one—“ he turned and pointed to the craft behind him, “—will be coming down shortly by remote control, and six more will be made available as soon as this hangar bay can find room for them. She’s also ready to download the manufacturing specs on the incubators, along with a list of over a thousand other items that can now be manufactured too. All you have to do is tell her which ones you want. She wants to be a good friend to us, and all she asks is that we be a good friend to her.”
The Committee collectively let out an audible sigh of relief. The woman who had led the mutiny, who Ronson later found out was the Deputy Chair, walked up with smile on her face and said, “You can tell her from me that we will be the best friends she every had!” and then surprised him with a big hug.
Chapter Sixteen:
The next six months went quickly. With the twelve craft donated by Val Ky Ree plus three Spearthrower-class craft that the colony built itself, there were now fifteen cargo carrying and armed craft plying back and forth between Vesta and various Compact stations. Every race in the Compact got a visit at least once, just to say hi and establish trade relations, including notice that the human station orbiting Earth was now open for trade. Word about previous encounters and the military capability of these craft had gotten around. Nobody tried anything hostile or underhanded. Most were delighted with the examples of Aesir technology that were traded. Ronson
had received the Committee’s approval to have every trade mission try to make discrete enquiries about who had engineered the asteroid strike on Earth and also to try to get station logs of visiting ships for the period before and after the strike. Half the races either didn’t know or wouldn’t say who had done it. The other half blamed each other. There were plenty of accusations but virtually no real proof. Many stations wouldn’t provide the station logs. Ronson kept hoping that with enough station log data, it might be possible to track every Compact ship during the time period. Ships that left a station before the strike and weren’t seen again until their arrival at another station after the strike would fit the theoretical profile of the ships that had engineered the strike. The movements of the three large Trior ships identified by the Koron Captain had been confirmed, but there was a problem with that data.