Nanomachine War series Box Set

by Don Viecelli

  “Yes, Imperial Leader. You will soon have another race to rule,” Anahta said dutifully.

  “The humans are insignificant, High Commander. Too backward to be of any threat. It’s the Qumru starship I want. The Onutu mind transfer technology and body regeneration machines are the only things that matter. They will allow our race to live and rule forever!”

  “I still think we should have brought one or two of our warships with us, Imperial Leader. I am only concerned about your safety,” Anahta remarked.

  “I am not worried, Commander Anahta. The Qumru starship is not armed and these humans do not possess any weapons that can defeat our shields. Once I have the Onutu technology I seek, I will decide what to do about this backward race.”

  “What about the starship, Imperial Leader?”

  “I have not decided, High Commander. Perhaps some of the Qumru minds can be restored in their bodies and help us build more of these Onutu mind transfer machines. Then we can travel to their second home world. This should be a productive journey, do you not agree, Commander?”

  “Certainly, Imperial Leader. You will be well rewarded,” Anahta responded with a nod of his head.

  “It’s time to send another quantum message to First Leader Utor to prepare for my visit.”

  Rahta told Anahta what message to send. Then he left the bridge to rest. His body was aging and he thought how nice it would be to replace his body with a new one. He was only two hundred years old, but their medical science was not as advanced as the Qumru’s. Antiaging drugs could only do so much and space travel was hard on biological bodies. He would find this new Onutu technology and keep if for himself and his closet, most loyal subjects. A thousand year reign was no longer an impossible dream. His Empire could live for centuries with him at the helm. He will do anything to make it happen.

  Chapter 29

  Mars In Chaos

  Things on Mars were getting out of hand. Doug Martin spent the night with only a few hours of sleep at the MCDC with Janice. They met Doctor Mun in the morning in the research lab. He was pacing back and forth wringing his hands.

  “What’s wrong, Doctor Mun?” Janice asked.

  “I just received word the infection is spreading throughout the city!”

  “How could that happen?” Doug seemed surprised. “I thought it was contained.”

  “So did we, but one of the Peace Keepers that went with Haruto to the alien spaceship was not found in time. He passed the nanomachine infection to others. The incubation period before another person becomes contagious is now under two hours. It’s spreading out of control!” Doctor Mun wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

  “What can we do to help?” Janice understood the seriousness of this news.

  “I’ve put the city, transportation facilities and Spaceport on quarantine status. No one enters or leaves the city. I sent alerts out to all the other MCDC offices. So far, there are no indications the contagion has spread outside this area. However, there are miners and truckers who travel constantly between cities. I’m not confident we can stop the nanomachines from getting out. We need more help.”

  Doug thought for a second, realizing the ramifications of what was happening. “We better send a message to the UN and make sure no one goes to Earth.”

  “That’s another problem. Our communication links with Earth are jammed. No messages are possible.” Doctor Mun looked bewildered.

  “Utor! He must be responsible!” Doug said. “I need to get back on that ship.”

  “How would that even be possible?” Doctor Mun crossed his arms. “No shuttlecrafts can leave the planet.”

  “The Qumru android Di has a spacecraft. He could get us there. But I need to take this shot.” Doug held up one of the nano-agent injectors.

  “Let me check something first,” Janice said. She opened her comtablet and searched for a report. “I’m checking the DNA test results. According to the solution sample we tested on your DNA sample last night, the model predicts there will be no serious side effects other than some short term immune system reactions. You might get a low grade fever until your immune system adapts to the nano-agents.”

  Janice read more of the results and said, “It looks like this solution blocks the Yoyka nanomachines from multiplying inside the body and migrating to the brain. It does not destroy the nanomachines. It means once a person is infected, the solution does not reverse the damage or clear the nanomachines out of the body.” Janice looked at Doug and Doctor Mun with frustration on her face.

  Doug reached out and held her hand. “The android said it was not a cure, just a preventative. It will allow me to try and stop this thing. The answers are on that starship!”

  “All right Doug. I promised I would give you the shot myself if the test results were favorable. Let me have an injector.”

  Doug handed her the solution. She pressed the injector against the side of Doug’s neck and pushed the button on top. There was a hissing sound and it was done.

  Doug reached up and felt the spot where the injection was made through his skin. He felt a slight burning sensation and then nothing. He looked at Janice and Doctor Mun. “I only have nine injectors left. I’m giving you each one to use. Your work will be vital in stopping this contagion. I’m going to contact Captain Tills and some of my people to try and stop this. I don’t imagine we have much time?”

  Janice looked at some predictive models and said, “I don’t have enough data to say for certain how fast the nanomachines will spread, but if what Doctor Mun says is true, then...the whole city could be infected in a few days if not stopped.”

  *****

  Haffen City was in turmoil. The word was out from the MCDC about a contagious disease and everyone started to panic. They didn’t know what was causing the infection to spread, but they did try to follow the quarantine procedures. Life on Mars was difficult enough without the threat of a contagious disease spreading.

  Rumors started that the infection was caused by a new strain of Martian bacteria or virus that somehow infected humans. People started hoarding supplies and hiding in their homes. Schools closed and children disappeared from the playgrounds. People stopped going to work for fear of catching the disease. The media tried to keep everyone informed, but it only made people more afraid.

  Finally, the MCDC confirmed that the aliens were the reason why humans were getting sick. A few demonstrations were held outside the UN Building until they learned the UN Deputy Secretary had the disease. Now they became even more frightened. To make matters worse, some people in the crowd were already infected and easily passed the nanomachines on to others by contact.

  Within two days, Haffen City was completely shut down. The MCDC was overwhelmed and had to lock its doors against people trying to get in.

  Doctor Mun called Janice into his office. “I’m afraid we cannot stop this contagion. Have you found any solution yet?”

  Janice looked exhausted. She hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours. “Nothing I tried has any effect on the nanomachines. I don’t know what else to try.”

  “What about Doug. Has he contacted you?”

  “He says he is out of the city, but cannot say where in case anyone is listening. He asked me if I took the shot yet.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  Janice looked the doctor in the eye. “I said soon. I need to protect our baby, Doctor Mun.”

  The doctor smiled sadly. “I think you should take the shot now. You’re the best microbiologist we have in the lab, Janice. If anyone can find a solution, it’s you.”

  “Have you noticed anything strange about the people infected, Doctor?”

  “Not really. They all appear to be acting normal; except it’s like their waiting for something to happen. I can’t figure out what.”

  “I noticed that too. They appear perfectly capable of living normal lives, but they show little emotion or initiative. They’re acting like zombies, but they aren’t dead.”

  Doctor Mun thought
for a moment. “If I had to theorize, I would say they were waiting for some sort of signal.”

  “I think you’re right, Doctor Mun. That’s how the Yoyka control the Qumru. I don’t know what I can do to stop this.”

  “It’s time to take our shots, Doctor Martin. We are running out of time.”

  Janice pulled out her injector and Doctor Mun did the same. No one else knew about the shots; only that the MCDC was working hard to find a solution to prevent infection, but it could not be produced on Mars without the aid of quantum computers. Now even MCDC people were becoming infected.

  Janice placed the injector tip on her neck and pushed the button. The solution entered her bloodstream. Doctor Mun did the same. They waited to see if there were any side effects. Both felt okay after a few minutes passed.

  “How do you feel, Janice?”

  “I don’t feel any worse. I wonder if anyone will notice when we do not become infected.”

  The alarm system started to sound throughout the building. Containment was breached. The infection was now inside the building and people started to panic.

  Doctor Mun smiled in spite of the fear. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  Chapter 30

  Vice Leader Di

  Vice Leader Di had been monitoring the situation on Mars for the past two days. He knew what was happening. He hoped the human he released finds a way to duplicate the Qumru nanite preventative solution he gave him; or at least contains the outbreak of the Yoyka nanomachines before it spreads. Both hopes were unreasonable. The humans did not have the advanced quantum computers needed to make more of the nanite solution and his supply was limited. The only thing left to do was get back on board the starship Solruku and take control.

  It was time to speak to High Leader Altek using the quantum link. The Qumru had discovered quantum entanglement communications using tachyon particles centuries ago soon after they began spacefaring missions through hyperspace. It provided nearly instantaneous data, voice and video communications between quantum transponders even though it took many months of physical spaceship travel through hyperspace over the same distance.

  Di turned on the transponder and waited for the connection with High Leader Altek to set up. Within seconds, a familiar face appeared on the screen. “Greetings, High Leader.”

  High Leader Altek’s face was older looking than Di’s face. The Qumru did not believe in making all androids identical and allowed variations in physical characteristics in order to make the androids more acceptable to the Qumru population. The androids were completely sentient and had a consciousness all their own. Even then it was hard for many Qumru to allow the androids to live on Qum and they were eventually asked to move to a second home world far away from Qum called Holtu. That was where most of the android soldiers were when the Yoyka attacked Qum. The local population of Qumru who lived with the androids now numbered five billion. The android population was limited to ten million and five million androids were in the military.

  High Leader Altek acknowledged Di’s greeting. “What is your situation, Vice Leader Di?”

  Altek was the leader of the Holtu military. He had under his command five million soldiers fully armed and equipped with the latest weapons and space warships. Although the Holtu androids were heavily outnumbered by the Yoyka troops and spaceships, they did possess one advantage the Qumru people did not. They were invulnerable to the Yoyka nanomachines and could not become infected or contagious. This made them a target for annihilation by the Yoyka. There was one more advantage. The Yoyka did not know how many androids there were on Holtu or how dangerous.

  “I am still hiding on this human planet called Mars. I made contact with one of the humans called Douglas Martin. He has knowledge of the Yoyka. We plan to work together to defeat them.”

  “Have the humans been infected yet?”

  “Yes, High Leader. The Yoyka nanomachines have infected the local population. It is spreading fast and we cannot stop it here.”

  “What are your plans then, Vice Leader?” Altek already knew the answer.

  “I gave the last of my nanite injectors to this Douglas Martin human. He will find others to help me. We plan to re-board the Qumru starship and take back control.”

  Altek paused a moment. “If you fail, then that solar system will fall as did Qum. We cannot arrive in time to help you, Vice Leader. We are still twenty-six sims away.”

  “I will do my duty, High Leader. I will succeed or I will die.”

  “It is of the upmost importance you try to save the scientists on board the Solruku. They are the only Qumru with the knowledge to defeat the Yoyka. At the very least, try to find the information and send it to us before the starship and its passenger minds are destroyed.”

  “It is the main purpose of my mission, High Leader. I understand its importance.”

  “Keep me informed, Vice Leader Di. The people on Holtu are counting on us and I am counting on you.”

  The quantum link faded out. Di made preparations to power up his spacecraft to leave the lava tube cave. It was time to continue his mission.

  *****

  Doug Martin was in a land rover in Haffen City with Marine Captain Shirley Tills, Lieutenant Juan Sanchez, Corporal Alexa Dimitar and two other Marines. They were on their way to pick up Gwen Rollins and Chuck Williams at the UN Security office where they still worked.

  The situation on Mars was frightening and there was little anyone could do about it. The MCDC had lost control of the quarantine and containment of the nanomachine contagion was no longer possible. People were on their own and many were panicking. Some had left the city and went into hiding in the caves used by miners. That would only protect them until they ran out of food or supplies.

  The strange thing was the people who were infected were not frightened. They seemed docile and did not see the doom and gloom everyone else did. They went about their jobs as if nothing was out of the ordinary. This made Doug and the others in the land rover even more concerned. They seemed harmless now, but what happens when the Yoyka arrive or send some sort of control message? Doug knew this was how the Yoyka controlled their captive races. Somehow, the Yoyka nanomachines communicated through quantum tachyons and obeyed without hesitation.

  Doug was concerned about Jan. She decided to leave Haffen City with Doctor Mun and travel to the MCDC office in Mars City in the western region near Olympus Mons where there was more lab equipment. She wanted to study the Yoyka nanomachines further. She promised she would stay out of sight of infected people. Doug did not think anyone else knew she or Doctor Mun could not be infected by others with the Yoyka nanomachines. However, it was only a matter of time before everyone on Mars was infected and he knew it.

  Doug looked at Captain Tills. “How long before we get there?”

  “A few minutes, Director. Let them know we are coming?”

  Doug used his comphone to call Gwen Rollins. When she answered he said, “We’ll be there in a few minutes. Pack your things and tell Chuck to meet us at the train station.”

  “Will do, Director.”

  As soon as the call ended, Doug’s comphone buzzed. He looked at the name and paused. He was not expecting a call from Haruto. He pressed the speaker button. “Hello, this is Doug.”

  Haruto said calmly, “Hello, Doug. I would like to see you.”

  “You know I cannot do that, Mister Secretary.”

  Haruto continued, “I am with Colonel Jackson. He says you are with Captain Tills and some other Peace Keepers. If you do not turn yourself in, Colonel Jackson will send troops to find you. You seem to be on an unauthorized mission.”

  “Mister Secretary, you and Colonel Jackson are infected with Yoyka nanomachines and can pass your infection on to others. I am trying to stop this.”

  “You’re too late, Director Martin. You cannot stop this from happening. You must join us or you will not be of service to us.”

  Doug was flabbergasted. Not be of service? Obviously, Haruto was under
Yoyka control. The meaning was clear. They would kill him and any others who did not become infected. He took a stand. “I cannot obey this order, Mister Secretary. Tell Colonel Jackson to stay away from us for his own safety.”

  “I’m sorry to hear this, Director Martin.” Haruto ended the call abruptly.

  Doug shook his head sadly at Captain Tills. “Did you hear this?”

  Captain Tills nodded. “Yes, the colonel won’t wait. He’ll send troops to find us right away.”

  “I know. Make sure the vehicle locator signal is off. We need to get out of the city now.”

  The land rover stopped a few blocks away from Doug’s UN security office and picked up Gwen and Chuck. As soon as they where on board, Captain Tills gunned the engine and headed out of Haffen City. They had someone to meet in Valles Marineris canyon.

  Chapter 31

  New Mission

  Doug sat quietly in his seat in the land rover while Captain Tills drove out of Haffen City into the Valles Marineris canyon a few miles from the city. Everyone was silent thinking about all that occurred over the last few days. Most were thinking of family or friends left behind and what might happen to them if they failed in their mission to stop the spread of the nanomachines.

  The dust storm was still building in intensity and visibility was low. Captain Tills had to drive slowly using radar to navigate around any obstacles once they left the main road. Their destination was forty miles east of the city near the north wall of the canyon. Vice Leader Di had picked the location far enough away from his hiding place to pick them up in the spacecraft and take them back to his cave. The land rover would be left behind.

  “We’re almost at the pickup location,” Captain Tills said after riding for an hour.

  “Okay, I’ll send a message to Di.” Doug typed out a text message on his comtablet and sent it over an encrypted channel he and Di and agreed to use for communication purposes. Doug was confident no one on Mars would be able to decipher it.