“Isn’t that to be expected? The galaxy and the core are spinning as well.”
“Yes, but…am I reading this correctly, Valkyrie? My brain’s a little banged up from the collision.”
‘You are. The ring is spinning faster than the core, powered by Rasu engines placed every two hundred megameters along the structure.’
Caleb whistled. “That’s a lot of engines. A lot of thrust.”
Alex nodded. “It has to be, to move an object of such incredible mass faster than natural orbital forces allow for.”
“How much faster?”
‘Stars located equidistant from the core as the ring orbit at three hundred eighty kilometers per second. The ring is moving at 1.2 megameters per second.’
He frowned. “They’ve put a tremendous amount of time, effort and resources into this. Why?”
Several possibilities occurred to Alex at once; rather than try to sort them out, she opened her thoughts and let Valkyrie surf across them.
Yes.
To which question?
A moment.
The screens above the table vanished, to be replaced by two new ones. ‘The screen on the left shows the rotational data of NGC 55 here in Amaranthe. On the right is the same data for NGC 55 as it existed in Aurora prior to The Displacement.’
She nodded, for the screens were a few seconds behind her and Valkyrie’s internal analysis. “Amaranthe’s version of NGC 55 is rotating faster. That’s the purpose of the ring—to force the galaxy to rotate faster.”
Caleb didn’t look impressed. “Okay. What’s the purpose of forcing the galaxy to rotate faster?”
“I don’t feel qualified to speculate on the motives of the Rasu for anything they do. Now, why would I want to force a galaxy to rotate faster? Well, it results in greater gravitational attraction, both within the galaxy itself and to a lesser extent on surrounding galaxies. Over great distances the effect is small, but if there are similar rings operating in other galaxies, the cumulative effect would be to pull the cluster of galaxies closer together, or at least keep them from…” she shook her head roughly “…no, that’s ridiculous. No one could believe they were capable of pulling off something of such magnitude. Not even the Kats.”
“Don’t leave me hanging. Pulling off what?”
She let the screens waver above the data table while she took to wandering around the cabin. “Why would I want to force galaxies to rotate faster? To keep them from accelerating away from one another. To prevent the heat death of the universe.”
“Which actually means it gets too cold, right? Because the stars grow too distant from one another?”
“Yep. Scientists enjoy nothing more than confusing laypeople.”
“Got it. So are we thinking they’re genuinely trying to stop the universe from expanding?”
“No. I mean, perhaps if they’re completely delusional, but that amount of control isn’t required. The boundaries of the universe can keep expanding as much as they want. All you need to do to prevent heat death is keep the galaxies close enough to one another to maintain sufficient energy and interaction.”
He nodded in understanding. “But won’t such a fate, if it occurs, be so far in the future as to be unimaginable for us?”
“In around ten to the twenty-five-hundredth-power years, give or take, though the universe will stop supporting conventional life long before then—which is still an absurdly long time from now.
“But if the Rasu are thinking on a cosmological time scale? Let’s say that today, they’re operating one of these galactic rings in two-thirds of the galaxies in Laniakea. This accounts for only a tiny fraction of all the galaxies in the universe. Maybe not enough to tip the balance. But give them another million years of expansion, and they’ll start to make some real progress.
“It’s audacious as all hell—but it doesn’t really make sense. It’s what I’d do if given god-like power and infinite time and resources, but why would the Rasu bother? They annihilate life, not preserve it.”
‘You are correct in that they are a selfish species, not an altruistic one. But the answer to why they would choose to pursue such a goal remains the same: like all sentient life, they do not want to die.’
Alex scratched at her head, tangling her fingers in matted hair. The collision had been rough on her body in more ways than one. “So they’re trying to keep the universe functioning all for themselves? Now that, I almost believe. I want to admire their audacity, if nothing else, but…nope, can’t do it.”
“It’s a decent theory, though. How do we confirm it?”
She loved him extra-much when he was gamely embracing astrophysical mysteries. “First step: we need to see if they are in fact operating these rings in the surrounding galaxies. We can also compare those galaxies’ relative location and motion to our historical data from Aurora—”
An out-of-the-blue message from Mesme crashed into her train of thought.
It’s time.
73
* * *
RUDAN
Large Magellanic Cloud
Supreme Three maneuvered MobileUnit_268 among the lush foliage of its arboretum. The two dozen trees housed here were growing hardy and vibrant, their leaves colorful along the NUV spectrum and their trunks suitably broad. The groundcover stretching between the trunks was crowded with multi-pointed leaves and even the occasional delicate flower.
Beneath the groundcover, the soil had deepened to a rich, deep brown, full of proper nutrients necessary for flora to thrive. Deeper beneath the soil, a piping network funneled water that was generated from a passive condensation extraction system to the flora’s hungry roots.
The Ruda had learned much from their arrangement with the Concord organics and synthetics. Much about the life cycle and needs of organic life, and much about how to improve their own lives, such as how to use power more efficiently and how to store more data in the same amount of space.
The first set of the Ruda’s mobile units constructed for space travel now propelled themselves through the Rudan stellar system. Satellites now orbited their world, gathering knowledge of the cosmos and, crucially, energy from their star. Energy that was beamed wirelessly down to the power hubs of each Supreme; energy that enabled them to reach taller into the sky and deeper into the planet.
Thus had their knowledge expanded in turn.
Supreme Three’s visual sensors were drawn downward as a large coleoptera sporting a wide black carapace scuttled amidst the undergrowth. It was a base creature, barely thinking at all, but it contained neurons, synapses and axons, and it was the first fauna Supreme Three had succeeded in breeding. If further efforts continued along the current trajectory, the first of many.
Satisfied all systems were functioning to requirements, Supreme Three shifted its primary awareness to the sensors lining the exterior of Hub_8. Near the horizon, mobile units belonging to Supreme Two constructed a tall, wide spire at the boundary of their territories. To spy on Supreme Three? It considered inquiring, but Supreme Two would dissemble in response.
The flood of new knowledge and comprehension that accompanied regular contact with Concord was spurring a new spirit of competition among the twelve Supremes. They each raced to incorporate this knowledge and improve themselves to a greater extent than the others.
The rivalry was congenial on the surface, but Supreme Three acknowledged that if one of them began to significantly outpace the others, a return to the wars of old would not be far behind. They had formed their long détente of necessity, and when circumstances changed, so too would it. Already the Supremes maneuvered for prime positioning above the planet, and the orbital planes were growing thick with their satellites.
Supreme Three intended to be the one to emerge as the strongest, but it recognized how all eleven of its co-residents intended the same.
The Ruda never would have expanded beyond the boundaries of their planet and into the stars in so short a time without incorporating quantum computing into their
detached, space-rated units. Supreme Three thus far resisted adding such computations to its own core programming, however, and it believed the others refrained as well.
The concept of trusting one’s intelligence to a math that could not be quantified or observed was anathema to the Ruda. Still, the raw power of this method of computation could not logically be denied.
There was a deeper problem with quantum computing, however, and it was one Supreme Three ruminated on using more processes than the others, due to its personal involvement in the matter.
When the Alex and Caleb organics and their Supreme, Valkyrie, first visited Rudan, they engaged in a mutual information exchange. The data the visitors provided proved useful and productive. In fact, Supreme Three owed much of its arboretum’s improvements to said data.
But the visitors did not include any mention of quantum computing or physics or of superluminal propulsion in the data they provided. In retrospect, they must have known of such scientific concepts, else they never would have arrived at Rudan in the first place.
No, they had withheld it. Valkyrie, whom Supreme Three once considered a collegial contact, had withheld it.
The Ruda had acted in good faith in their portion of the information exchange, but the inescapable conclusion to draw was that Valkyrie and its organic sub-units had not.
Supreme Three spent many sub-cycles contemplating what this meant and how to react to it. For now, it continued to operate cooperatively with Concord, for the material benefits from doing so remained to the Ruda’s advantage. But when Valkyrie came visiting, as it did from time to time, there was much information Supreme Three now withheld. Those were, it seemed, the rules of the engagement.
An alert from one of the Ruda’s longest-range deep-space sensors transmitted to each of the Supremes simultaneously. Supreme Three reviewed the data in one threaded process as it communicated with its fellow Supremes in another.
The data indicated the following: multiple (precise number undetermined) foreign objects propelled themselves toward Rudan at artificial speeds. They did not broadcast the signals associated with Concord vessels; they did not broadcast any communication signals at all.
A thousand microseconds passed as Supreme Three awaited the first spectrum scans of the approaching vessels. When they arrived, it diverted 62% of its processing power to evaluating them.
A swath of metal ships stretched fifteen megameters wide and an unknown distance deep. Their hulls were molded into numerous shapes and sizes, but never rigid and ordered like Ruda constructs. They displayed no visible joints linking moving parts, yet move they did. No awkward antennae or appendages jutted out of their frames, yet they advanced with speed and precision.
Were these the shapeshifting metal enemies Valkyrie had spoken of recently? Enemies of Concord, the synthetic had asserted. Dangerous and powerful.
The notion of silicon life exuding danger and power stirred great interest in Supreme Three’s higher-order functions, though it had withheld this development from Valkyrie. Metal that had not merely transcended its structural home but had left it behind entirely to soar through the cosmos, gathering information and materials and evolving to be stronger as it did, must be powerful indeed.
Supreme Three had already decided it would cede its share of Rudan to its eleven brethren without hesitation if it could learn to wield such power among the stars.
As additional data arrived from the deep-space sensors and the vessels drew nearer to the planet, a consensus was reached among the Supremes: the intruders were 74.3% likely to be the ‘Rasu’ of which Valkyrie had informed them.
A signal of greeting was prepared.
74
* * *
CAF AURORA
Rudan Stellar System
Rasu were snacking on the planetary boundaries of Rudan like ants at a picnic spread by the time the Concord fleet arrived. Miriam took no comfort from the fact that this was not due to a sluggish response on their part, for their response time was improving by ten-to-fifteen percent with each attack.
No, the reason for their tardy arrival was the fact that the Ruda had not felt the need to inform Concord of the enemy’s incursion into Rudan space. Luckily, they’d placed two Concord-controlled passive sensor probes in the system when the Rasu started attacking throughout the Large Magellanic Cloud. The probes had transmitted an alert to Command when the Rasu neared the planet, else they’d still have no idea the enemy was here.
An emergency communication to the Supremes had resulted in only a most Ruda-like response: “Defense assistance is authorized. A Rift Bubble protective device is not authorized.”
She’d daresay these synthetic aliens were even less welcoming of their fleet than the Taiyoks had been. The Ruda’s reasons for refusing a Rift Bubble were technological rather than cultural, but the justification made no practical difference in how much harder her job became as a result.
Regardless of the Ruda’s intractability, reticence and several other unkind descriptives, however, the Concord Charter was clear: the Concord military would come to the aid of any Member or Allied species that was the victim of aggressive action by a hostile force. So here they were.
Commandant Solovy (CAF Aurora)(Rudan Command Channel): “The Ruda will not allow a Rift Bubble to be placed on the planetary surface, so we have our work cut out for us today. As most of Rudan’s satellite network has already been destroyed and there is no commercial traffic or orbital settlement near the planet, negative energy weapon use is approved outside of a two-megameter perimeter around the planet. Non-planetary vector use is approved against targets outside of a half-megameter perimeter.”
Most of the new, experimental weapons coming out of Special Projects were designed for ground use, and scans indicated the Rasu had not yet reached the surface. Ten percent of the fighting force here today, however, were fielding RNEWs. In controlled tests, the safety profile was acceptable, but the chaos of battle was another matter.
“Thomas, closely monitor the performance of the new weapons. If they start exploding and taking their host ships with them, I want to know.”
‘Yes, Commandant. I will relay any anomalies.’
Fleet Admiral Jenner (AFS Denali)(Rudan Mission Channel): “AEGIS Assault Divisions #1 and #3, form a defensive line along the northern hemisphere, sun-facing side. The Ruda can’t function without power, so let’s try to protect their solar panels for them.”
Navarchos Casmir (AMF Imperium Alpha)(Rudan Mission Channel): “Machim Regiments IB-D, mirror the AEGIS Assault Divisions along the southern hemisphere.”
It was a relief to learn Malcolm was present on the bridge of the Denali, Miriam mused a tad wryly. She hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to him about what Alex had said about his other assignment, though she certainly intended to do so. If he was going to insist on living only a single life, then he shouldn’t risk it on some misguided mission of honor.
Commander Palmer (ADV Dauntless)(Rudan Command Channel): “DAF Brigades Charlie and Delta, reporting for duty.”
And the good news kept on coming, though she’d seen too many battles to trust this state of affairs to continue for long.
Commandant Solovy (CAF Aurora)(Rudan Command Channel): “Welcome to the fight, Commander. I’m transmitting the engagement protocols to you now. Your ships are fast and agile, and I understand they come sporting a healthy complement of RNEWs, so I suggest you immerse yourselves in the Rasu’s rear lines and thin them out for us.”
Commandant Palmer (ADV Dauntless)(Rudan Command Channel): “Yes, ma’am.”
Initial assignments doled out, she paused to consider what was shaping up to be a thorny mess of a battlefield. The Parapet Gambit had worked well at Ireltse, and several thousand additional AEGIS vessels now had the technology for it installed. But Malcolm had just deployed most of his forces to protect the sun-facing side of the planet, rightly so.
In the absence of a Rift Bubble, she’d prefer to instead send the Novoloume fleet to handle that
duty, then direct the AEGIS fleet to form a shield of protection over the Supremes’ territory. But the hard truth was that the Novoloume fleet was not resilient enough to withstand a full-frontal assault by the Rasu on its own. Damn AEGIS for clinging jealously to adiamene like it was their childhood security blanket.
‘Commandant, a Rasu leviathan has arrived in Rudan space.’
She ignored the instinctive shudder rattling her bones. “With little in the way of planetary defenses in place, a leviathan can destroy much of the Ruda’s infrastructure from space in a matter of minutes. Move to intercept.”
Commandant Solovy (CAF Aurora)(Rudan Command Channel): “Pointe-Amiral Thisiame, I’m requesting five Novoloume cruisers to assist the Aurora in its attack on the leviathan. I’m assigning Sub-Mission Channel 5 to the engagement.”
Pointe-Amiral Thisiame (NF Eshtaina)(Rudan Command Channel): “Acknowledged. Vessels are moving into position.”
She also appropriated three AEGIS cruisers and two squadrons of Eidolons to accompany the Aurora into the fray.
As they swung around and adjusted their trajectory to intercept the leviathan long before it reached the planet, Miriam noted how the initial Rasu force present was larger by half than the one that had attacked Ireltse. The Rasu were upping their game, bringing more warships to bear on this fight after having conceded the last one. It was a harsh reminder that the Rasu had effectively unlimited vessels available, should they wish to use them.
David kept reminding her that since the disastrous first encounter with the Rasu at Namino, she’d won every battle she’d contested…yet she knew she was losing this war. The nagging voice in her head whispered how it was in fact unwinnable by any conventional means. The defensive game they were currently playing was short term at best and, if it continued to serve as their primary strategy, would lead to a slow, inexorable loss. Or possibly a rapid one.
All Our Tomorrows Page 40