by Marc Stevens
I vaguely remembered someone mentioning that to me, but it was a long time ago. I had erroneously filed that little morsel of information away in my discard bin. I gave Tria’s hand a tug getting us in motion once again. If the Chaalt military thought Kala Mor Dee finally perished, she would remain that way until Sael decides to let them know differently.
Justice gave us a homecoming alert. “Commander, we have arrived at the very edge of our home system. Alpha Base ETA is still more than nine hours. I recommend taking that time to continue your rehabilitation. Coonts and Klutch are in their cabins taking another sleep period. I suggest you take the time to do the same.”
Since my last sleep period didn’t have a lot of continuous sleeping, Tria and I went back to my cabin and dedicated our remaining hours to just that. I had a feeling our return to Alpha Base would not include much time for sleep.
Most of our homecomings were a joyous occasion, and all the members of my clan joined in the celebration. This time, however, we would be returning without Xul. The Grawl reaction to our loss would be a new and somber experience.
As we entered the tunnel to our base my mood took a downward spiral. Tria sensed the change and gripped my hand tighter. It would be heartbreaking to tell my clan we had suffered our first fatality. We had come home wounded, battered, and severely bruised, but always came back. My crew and I gathered at the boarding hatch. We looked at the security monitor that gave us the exterior video feed as Justice landed in the hangar bay. We could see everyone was waiting to greet us. Their faces were jubilant right up until they saw the Legacy. That abruptly changed to expressions of shock and dismay. Justice had informed me he had made some repairs and sealed some breaches, but he must have been understating the damage. I had yet to see what the exterior of the Legacy looked like. If the reaction registering on my clan’s faces was an indicator, it must be horrendous.
Justice lowered the boarding ramp and opened the hatch. The Troop Master led us out. The open-mouthed gapes the appearance of the Legacy elicited, quickly changed. A joyous roar and smiles of relief met us as we slowly made our way down the ramp. It was short-lived. A sudden quiet settled over the crowd, and looks of uncertainty replaced the smiles. I had a knot in my throat trying to put the proper words together.
Coonts reached up and patted me on the shoulder. He stepped out in front of us. He held up his hands and the whispers of speculation ceased.
“It is with great sadness, that I must report that our fellow clan member Xul, was killed in action. He valiantly stayed to our rear, drawing intense enemy fire onto his position so that we could advance into the ranks of our enemies. His selfless sacrifice is the reason we stand before you now. He is with our maker, and no longer endures the struggles of life.”
Coonts could not have said the words I was having difficulty finding, more perfectly. The gathered Grawl, one-by-one started sitting on the hangar deck. When all were seated, they bowed their heads and extended their arms upward. When the young Zaen, Felix saw this, he did the same. Coonts joined them, and they stayed in that position for more than two minutes before getting back to their feet.
Jaran and Graf separated from the crowd and approached us. “Commander Myers, has the same fate befallen the Principal Investigator?” Jaran asked.
“No, she was critically injured and is in the med bay. Justice is caring for her, and she is expected to recover.”
The Two Grawl looked at the Legacy and then back at us. “Your appearance suggests your survival was equally in question. Is there anything we might do to aid in your recuperation?”
That was the most polite way of saying you look like scat, I had ever heard. I smiled and put my hands on both their shoulders. “If something comes to mind, you will be the first to know.”
Before the words could leave my lips, an extruded arm extended from the Legacy’s boarding hatch. It was holding a data cube.
“I have some important data for you and the others to research. I am sure Justice included our battle suit video feeds. The information will have the details of our entire excursion.”
Tria took the data cube from Justice and handed it to Jaran. He held it in both hands as if it was fragile as glass. The two Grawl made hand contact with each of us and walked down the ramp to the waiting crowd. Jaran held the cube up and told the Grawl closest to him what he had. Whispers spread through the gathering like wildfire. When the hushed voices finally stopped, they turned to us and held up a single hand. This made the Troop Master, Tria, and I smile. We waded into the crowd touching everyone’s hands. When we were done, the entire assembly, with the exception of young Felix, followed Jaran to the lifts.
Felix stepped forward. “Commander, with your permission, I would like to start diverting Containium to the production of replacement hull plates for the Legacy.”
The Zaen’s request, made me turn around and survey the condition of the Legacy. It was easy to see why my clan was so shocked at what they saw. The Legacy was a blackened, spotted mess. I could not see any portion of the hull that was not covered in a weapon strike of some kind. Several were very large and Justice had huge globs of solidified nanite sealant covering them. Some must have been in places the AI deemed non-essential and were still holes melted through the hull plates. The damage indicated Justice repeatedly flew into hostile fire with no regard for the outcome. For the Legacy to take that many hits, the shields and cloaking systems had to be overwhelmed by incoming fire. When I got a chance, I would inquire about my observations.
My thoughts must have held Felix in limbo longer than I realized. “Commander, I can speak with you about the Legacy’s repairs when you have had more time to consider my request.”
Tria gave my arm a tug, shifting my mind out of park. “I’m sorry Felix, yes, please start on the hull plates as soon as possible. We will need replacement battle armor as well. I am sure Justice will have a detailed list sent to you shortly.”
The Zaen’s concerned expression faded. “I am also pleased to report that drone production is well ahead of schedule. We will soon surpass fifty percent of your requested target goal, and diverting resources for repairs should not adversely affect your original date of completion.”
My brain was still going over past events and I was having a hard time concentrating on the present. Klutch took this as his cue to be elsewhere. He waved to us and headed for the lifts.
Tria was not so distracted. “That is excellent news, Felix. We appreciate your hard work and dedication. When we are released from Justice’s care, we will be by to see your progress.”
The young Zaen looked at me once more, then turned to Tria and gave her a knowing nod, and excused himself.
When Felix was out of earshot, Tria turned to me and frowned. “Nathan, are you not well?
“I’m fine Tria, I was just thinking about what we went through and remembered Justice saying we had the means to investigate the gateways. I cannot figure out what means he was talking about. What I do know, is that we have to go back to find out. If we are wrong about the Prule not being able to control the gates, we could have serious problems fighting our way out of there again.”
Tria hooked her arm in mine and turned us around. “There is but one way to sort this out, let's have a discussion with Justice.”
I was planning on doing that later, but getting it done now, would declutter my mind of needless anxiety. If Justice said we have the means, then he already had a plan to make it happen. I had other questions for the AI as well.
When the hatch closed behind us I called Justice. “I know you are still going over our battlesuit data, but I would like to have a chat with you on what happened after we disappeared into the gateway.”
“Affirmative Commander, perhaps you and Tria should return to the galley for nourishment. Your previous attempts left your biological systems lacking the additional vitamins and supplements I added to your rations. The Troop Master has more than met his required intake. Coonts is in the base cafeteria ingesting hi
s prescribed portion while discussing your mission with the scientists. That only leaves Tria and yourself with abnormal nutrient levels.”
Tria and I looked at each other. We wanted to talk, and the AI wanted us to eat. I knew Justice was always watching out for us, but our health was no longer in doubt. We wondered what motive he had behind wanting us to eat, aside from possibly keeping our mouths full instead of asking questions. I was going to decline, but Tria took my hand and steered me to the lifts. When we got off on the galley deck I shook my head. We were going to talk and eat regardless of what I thought about it. When we got to the food processor counter, I was pleasantly surprised to find an old favorite of mine. Elk steak and potatoes. Even though it was simulated, and the base proteins came from Pungo, it was a fair representation. The way Tria smiled at me, insinuated she received a favorable selection as well.
A distant memory of a glamorized Hollywood movie fleetingly made a pass through my consciousness. It was the one where a death-row prisoner was getting his last meal before execution. Just like the condemned prisoner, I was going to receive my favorite selection. Before I left the counter, I noticed a small container containing a red paste. Justice was pulling out all the stops. He made me some imitation catsup. If the AI wanted me to keep my mouth shut, he had just hit on the best way to do it. We took our usual places at our favorite table.
Justice didn’t need any help getting our discussion rolling, he took the lead. “Commander, I understand you have questions pertaining to the condition of the Legacy.”
Since I was already chewing away on a sample of my meat substitute. Tria, who was eyeballing me as I generously slathered the red paste on my steak, answered for me.
“Yes Justice, the damage to the Legacy is quite extensive.”
“Tria, when my expendable munitions were depleted, my programming would default back to my primary functions, based on the belief my crew perished. The possibility of you surviving the anti-matter detonation and the planet’s ocean flooding the tunnel seconds later was less than one percent.”
Tria frowned at me and interrupted the report. “Justice, many Chaalt warships, if not all of them, are programmed with the same primary directives as the Legacy. My people have discovered the remains of Oolaran warships in the past. The AI’s were not recoverable, but the coded programming in many instances was. The directives were considered to be excellent and copied mostly as-is. A Chaalt AI lacking any crew for lawful commands, would have defended Chaalt forces until all weapons were expended, then returned to base to be rearmed. Any necessary repairs would have been made and a new crew assigned to the ship. Are your primary directives different?”
“No Tria, they are not. You have an accurate assessment of Oolaran primary programming. An unenlightened AI such as those on Chaalt ships would have followed the directives without deviation.”
I knew Tria understood, but I had to stop mid-chew and add my thoughts whether she needed any of my wisdom or not. “No Oolaran AI had ever come into contact with an Earthman before. When Justice was done analyzing me, he slipped a couple of cogs and wanted to be more like a human. Ain’t that right Justice?”
The lack of any response on the part of Justice, and the raised eyebrow from Tria, made me go back to eating my steak before it got any colder.
When it seemed to me like the silence was deafening, Justice continued. “Tria, I made the decision to deviate from my primary programming. My observations of the battlespace changed my mission goals to aiding friendly forces. Prule warships were breaking off from the formations attacking the planet’s defenses, and destroying any Chaalt ship that was disabled or going to the aid of others. Many were being evacuated under intense bombardment and unable to return fire. The Prule were also taking unarmed life capsules under fire. I felt it was my duty to try and stop the needless slaughter. Many of my primary directives that were inherited by your people, do include programming for self-preservation. If I would have adhered to them, and returned to Alpha Base, the additional loss of Chaalt lives would have been exorbitant. I found that outcome unacceptable. Previous damage to my shields and cloaking emitters made the Legacy a visible target to Prule sensors. A large number of Prule warships pursued the Legacy relentlessly. The one positive factor that came from my decision, was that the Prule forces no longer targeted disabled Chaalt ships. It was unfortunate the Legacy drew an inordinate amount of fire.”
That explained the condition of the Legacy and most of the events that took place when we were teleported out of the tunnel complex. I agreed with the AI’s decision and just needed an explanation of how we were going to investigate the gateways.
I put down my utensils and pushed my tray away. The subject of going back to the gateway hub put a dent in my appetite. “Justice, you stated we have the means to investigate the gateways. I would like you to brief us on just how we are going to do it. I don’t want it to include risking the Legacy.”
“Commander, The Overseer and I, have considered designing stealthy probes based on our defensive drone program. Several problems arise with taking that course of action and must be addressed. The defensive drones were not designed for the mission profiles I have established. They were designed to complement each other's weapon systems and coordinate with the Galactic Union drones that are already in place around your homeworld. The penetration of Prule installations will make the current configuration unsurvivable unless the negation and cloaking systems are more robust.”
I knew most of the details of our drone program and interrupted Justice. “I get that part and was thinking you were going to design a new probe. The current drones were designed to be launched from the Legacy’s torpedo tube. The size restrictions were the limiting factor for the drone’s power source capacity. The scientists have informed me the power supply directly correlates to the quality of the negation and cloaking capabilities.”
“That is correct Commander. The power source must power the weapons, shields, IST, and stealth systems, simultaneously with the propulsion and operating equipment. The capacity must be tripled in order to effectively survive in an incessantly hostile environment. The power demands will be considerable. The jump buoy you deployed to send your distress signal, had the Chaalt assault shuttle’s IST transmitter boost the power levels. If my subsystem had not instructed you to do so, the signal would not have reached our home galaxy with sufficient strength to contact me. If our probe finds its way to the Andromeda galaxy, the IST signal will never be strong enough to detect even if we remain at the gateway hub. That would make our reconnaissance of the gateways unachievable.”
Tria was carefully listening to our conversation and came to the same conclusion as I did. “It sounds to me like the drones are a no-go, and we will have to start with a completely new design.”
“Not necessarily Tria. There is another option that can take advantage of recent breakthroughs made by the Grawl on other Sentinal race technology available to us.”
At first, I was confused by Justice’s statement. Then it struck me that there are only a small collection of Sentinal race devices that we made use of. Only one came to mind that could possibly achieve our intended goals.
“The Daggers?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“I thought they were still being repaired after the beating they took at the Chaalt research facility?”
“During the repair process, it was decided to address several shortcomings in the design of the spacecraft. The race that originally designed them only had one intended purpose for them. The Grawl scientists and I knew that with the proper modifications, they could become formidable multi-role weapons platforms. Among the new mission profiles was reconnaissance. The project is still ongoing, but a concerted effort could conclude it within the week.”
I smiled and scratched my head. While the boss was away, the scientist would continuously play. The Grawl were never idle in their research and development. It's what they did. I should have known by now, it was the standard operatin
g procedure. The reported loss of Xul interrupted our usual data dump. At some point, Jaran or Graf would have briefed me on the current projects.
The more I thought about the implications of using the Daggers to investigate the gateways, the more I liked it. I still had a burning desire for revenge. We hurt the Prule, but it was just the tip of the sword I intended to bury in the heartless mechanical symbionts.
“Okay Justice, would you care to elaborate on your ideas?”
“Yes Commander, once the upgrades are complete and installed on the Daggers, I propose we go back to the gateway hub. When we reversed the gates, some of the accumulated wreckage and planetary debris moving away from the target area, naturally made its way into the gates. It will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”
“I am following you so far. You are insinuating the Daggers can exit the gates undetected because they will be mistaken for random wreckage?”
“Correct Commander. If we take that theory a step further, and carefully select wreckage that can effectively shield a Dagger from hostile scans, they may escape detection completely. If that scenario were to become a certainty, it will be possible to collect data on the Prule operations in and around the gateways unopposed.”
Tria was listening while she was eating. She slid her tray aside and gave me a quizzical look. “Justice, the original design of the Daggers did not include cloaking, negation, or shield systems. Are you telling us those obstacles have been overcome?”
“Affirmative Tria, the compact dimensions of a Dagger makes its detection envelope similar in many ways to the Legacy. As you are already aware, the Legacy can move with impunity in the most sophisticated scan environments, hostile or friendly.”
I pondered what Justice was implying. It sounded to me, that if we were careful, we could get in and take a good look around. It was the return trip that bothered me.
“Justice, we only have two Guardian Transponders. One would have to make the trip with us if we got into a jam and needed to evac the AO in a hurry. If for some reason we were incapacitated and it fell into enemy hands, we could be endangering our entire galaxy.”