by S. H. Jucha
Killian sent.
The bridge holo-vid was activated. A wireframe model of the Talus system populated it. Two dots lit up.
Trium sent, drawing a line from one dot high above the ecliptic, through a second dot nearer Talus and then to the star.
Killian reported.
Julien sent.
Killian sent.
The wireframe model of the system expanded until it filled the holo-vid. Then a plethora of colored dots appeared around the outer edge.
Genoa sent.
Bethley added.
Miranda asked.
Trium replied.
Killian continued,
Julien sent.
Beryl sent.
Linn sent.
Alex asked.
Killian sent.
The holo-vid view was replaced by one of the target planet. It was no longer a wireframe model but an image of the planet’s surface. The bridge audience waited. A vid began that stitched together static images of the planet on a cyclical basis. It eliminated the planet’s rotation.
More than sixty frames formed the vid. At first, there was little distinction between the images, but as the rotations passed, the stream of bots became pronounced. They formed a river headed toward the polar region.
Julien summarized.
Tatia sent. Her thought possessed a fiendish element.
Reiko asked.
Linn replied.
Trium interjected.
Alex offered.
Killian sent.
The holo-vid changed to a detail of one of the new arrays under construction.
Trium sent.
Alex requested.
Miriam sent,
Reiko asked, staring hard into the holo-vid image.
Miriam replied.
Julien sent.
Tatia ventured.
Alex asked.
The bridge watched the holo-vid replay the sequence of the bots streaming toward Artifice’s domain several times. Each time was faster and faster. Then the blurred imagery of the northern region appeared, and it was streamed too.
Miriam said.
Alex sent.
Killian replied.
-24-
Grand Commander
Alex sent,
Miriamal replied.
“The things you don’t know,” Alex muttered.
Alex heard a croak and glanced at Miranda. Miftra was cradled in the crook of the SADE’s arm. She was still ensconced in her Frederica avatar, and the Chistorlan was dwarfed in comparison.
Alex requested. He heard Chandra’s reply, but it was weak.
Genoa sent.
In the meantime, Alex and the SADEs examined the details of the scout ships’ telemetry of the Talus system. Of key interest to them were every means that Artifice possessed to send signals — its polar antennas, the comm platforms circling the planet, and the probes hiding in the outer belt. To protect the fleets, these network components had to be completely eliminated in as short a period of time as possible.
Tatia, Reiko, and Franz had other ideas. When Alex and the SADEs had a sufficient amount of time on the holo-vid, Tatia took control. The admirals examined each of the nine fleets, itemizing the count, relative sophistication, and armament ports.
“Nine fleets,” Tatia summarized, “but they fall into two categories. Six of these fleets appear to be superior, similar to the Toralian ships.”
The holo-vid view started with a Toralian ship. Then examples of five other fleet ships appeared. The hull designs varied, but it was clear that the ships were technologically advanced and possessed heavy armament. Each of the five fleets was a match for the number of Toralian battleships.
“On the other hand,” Tatia continued, “these three fleets are definitely less advanced. The ships are shorter, and their armament ports are less numerous and smaller.”
“Look at the positioning of all nine fleets,” Reiko said.
“Interesting,” Alex remarked, shifting to a wireframe view and rotating it to observe the fleets relative to Talus and Toral. He laughed, when he saw the tags Tatia had applied.
“What?” Franz asked, smiling at Alex’s laughter.
“Look at the positions of the six powerful fleets, as they’ve been identified,” Alex suggested, “and compare them to the three smaller fleets.”
“The six guard the approaches to the system
along the ecliptic,” Franz said, joining in the laughter. “Don’t you love it when an entity becomes dependable?”
“Careful, dear man,” Miranda admonished. “You like the fact that you can count on the SADEs in that same manner.”
“That’s true, Miranda,” Franz riposted. “And I like it even better when an entity, who is trying to destroy our worlds, possesses the same characteristic. The federacy fleets have demonstrated a preference for approaching a system along the ecliptic, which is why the heavier armament fleets are positioned there. The lesser fleets are positioned above and below the ecliptic to guard the approach to Toral, in the event of an intrusion by a minor force.”
Alex stared at the holo-vid. He was lost in thought. More than one individual sought access to the display, but they were locked out. After a while, Alex released the holo-vid and began pacing. Many of the bridge audience mentally cheered their leader’s action. Alex was deeply engaged in strategizing the final conflict.
Genoa sent.
Alex stopped pacing and linked to Cordelia, who added the senior staff.
Alex sent.
Chandra replied.
Alex requested.
Chandra replied.
There was a quiet round of cheering and congratulatory back-patting on the part of the bridge personnel.
Miranda asked. She had been the one to carry the aging Toralian through Sargut’s battleship to launch his shuttle before Artifice detected the vessel’s failure to promptly carry out its directive.
Chandra sent.
Chandra had shared some time with Suntred on the subject. Tranimus was bedridden, when he could no longer grip a bar to sleep. He was swaddled in soft material to reduce the pressure on his wings, but the discomfort couldn’t be eliminated entirely. As was the custom, sleeping meds were administered, which prevented the worst of the Change’s discomforts ailing the grand commander. The senior staff watched Tranimus’ ridges gray from the tips down to the skull connections. When that cycle completed, death followed swiftly.
Alex asked. He had a sinking feeling that his plans had just been torn asunder.
Chandra announced proudly.
Tatia asked.
Chandra replied.
Alex blew out a sigh of relief. His partial plan was still intact.
Alex asked.
Miriamelle sent.
Alex replied.
When Alex heard the bridge noise, he sent,
“Thank you, Alex, for your sympathies. It was his time for the Change,” Sargut replied.
Alex sent.
“Your arrival is opportune, Alex,” Sargut said. “A round of conversations has recently been completed. I think I’ve the workings of a rudimentary plan.”
Alex replied.
“Have you analyzed your data streams on the fleets surrounding this system?” Sargut asked.
Alex replied,
“As I thought you might have done,” Sargut said. “The fleets on the ecliptic are known to one or more of us. They’re older races, and some were known among us before Artifice ascended.”
Tatia asked. Her instincts were on alert at the thought of Artifice capturing their exchanges.
Sargut glanced toward Z, who identified the speaker.
“Admiral Tachenko, we’re an old race, as are the members of the other five fleets on the ecliptic,” Sargut replied. “We’ve been conversing in the open for generations. Our communications are about life on our colonies, the statuses of our ships, stories of our races, and much more. Many of these are just what they sound like, but we’ve built code into them. A message might be sent over several days by five or more different individuals. It takes time, but if Artifice had discovered our secret, it would have done something about it long ago.”
Alex smiled at the patience that the fleet commanders exhibited to build up codes over lifetimes, waiting for just such an opportunity as might have arrived.
Reiko asked. Like Tatia, she was worried about information being caught by the probes.
After Z identified the speaker, Sargut replied, “Admiral Shimada, your concerns are noted. You must give us credit for the means in which we deal with Artifice and this system. Have the elder races made mistakes? Have we tried to defeat Artifice in earlier times? The answer is yes to both of these questions. We’ve learned to communicate without saying things.”
Alex requested.
“We spoke about the grand commander’s death and the lifting of the burden from him at his passing,” Suntred said. “Burden is one of the many code words that we use for Artifice’s programs.”
Alex asked, recognizing the subtlety of their machinations. It was subterfuge taking place in the open.
The Freedom’s entire bridge heard the intake of whistles between sharp teeth and the laughter of Z, Luther, and Chandra.
Tatia sent privately to Alex.
“We speak in medical terms, when we wish to communicate something critical,” Suntred said. “Our apologies, Alex, but you’re referred to as a rash that has developed fleet wide.”
Alex’s booming laugh echoed around both bridges.
“Alex appreciates the comparison,” Z explained to the concerned faces of Sargut and Suntred.
Julien asked.
“Many generations ago, the grand commander and his senior staff were the first to speak to their opposites aboard other fleets,” Sargut explained. “We’ve been careful to limit the process to only the most senior staff. It was deemed foolish to involve lesser ranks, who might make mistakes. Within the fleet, it was easier and quicker for critical orders to be relayed to the commanders by the grand commander visiting each ship.”
Alex sent.
“Suffice it to say, Alex, that they’ll cooperate with whatever plan we create,” Sargut replied.
Tatia asked.
“I believe it depends on our plan,” Sargut replied. “If Artifice feels our attack will be blunted, it will send those fleets to
the colony systems to reduce the perceived renegades. If Artifice feels endangered, those ships will sacrifice themselves to protect it, as the fleet did at the Chistorlan system.”
A soft hmm issued from Alex, and he began pacing.
Julien sent a quick signal to Z, who indicated that Sargut and Suntred should be patient.
Alex loved the practice of the elder races to hide their renegade messages in their communications. Suddenly, the missing part of his plan clicked into place, and a wide grin broke across his face.
Tatia saw Alex’s reaction, and her feral smile expressed her pleasure.
Alex sent,
Z quickly explained the term decoy to the grand commander and liaison. To say that they appeared dubious was an understatement.
Alex explained.
“Agreed,” Sargut said.
Alex continued.
Reiko quickly interjected.
Alex kept the frown off his face and waited for the answer.
“That would be a highly undesirable course of action, Admiral,” Sargut said.
Luther sent.
Reiko ducked her head in apology.
Alex said.
“I would agree,” Sargut said.
Alex continued.
“Correct again, Alex.”