by Randal Sloan
She smiled again. “Who knows? If you play your cards right, you may be the one to assume command of the Aerstone Annex to the Galactic Empire when this thing is done.”
Jarra quickly gave him his instructions and a unique set of command codes that would allow a message to be dispatched into the Empire to reach her. She also connected him to the Sentinel and set up a collaboration between them.
She had just finished those last steps when an alarm went off. It appeared that they’d been discovered.
“Time to go,” she told Sara, who was already disconnecting her equipment.
As they prepared to leave, she turned back to AersTwo. “You may now kill the Dark Master.”
“With pleasure,” AersTwo told her, reaching for one of the laser weapons of his guards, who were just beginning to show slight signs of movement.
He looked the Dark Master in the red eye. “Someday, I hope to be able to kill you again, along with your backup,” he said as he fired the weapon.
“To the ship, double time,” Jarra told her companions, ushering them in front of her so she could assume the position in the rear. Jarra sent an urgent message to Gabo. “Remove the plug in the bulkhead and prepare to receive our team’s return under hostile fire. Bring the defense array in the shuttle bay to full power and be prepared to repel hostiles if necessary.”
Jarra kept to the rear of her small group, firing at any Aerstone that managed to enter their passageway. She acted without hesitation. Her information on the Aerstone given to her by the Borjon had been enough that she knew exactly where to target the Aerstone and she fired precise laser rifle shots to take down the aliens. Fortunately, only a couple were able to get in front of them, but Jason easily took them down.
It appeared the Aerstone weren’t used to inter-ship fighting. They’d be learning that shortly when they met a few human Marines if they insisted on continuing this war. If they thought her small party was bad, wait until they had to deal with an entire squad of Imperial Marines.
Jarra didn’t think about what she was doing. She merely reacted, her training and her enhanced abilities making her unbelievably lethal. Every single shot hit its target even as she instinctively kept herself in motion at all times. When an entire group of the Aerstone pressed her from behind, trying to use their numbers to overwhelm her, she pushed it up a notch. Seconds later, they were all down.
So went the remainder of their return trip. Totally unprepared for hostile boarders, nevertheless the Aerstone managed to get several security teams in behind them and they had to fight a running battle the entire trip back to the ship. With her superior armor and the chameleon circuits making it impossible for the Aerstone to see her except by tracking her line of fire, the battle was entirely one-sided. Jarra’s precise targeting and her ability to move quickly even as she was firing made it even worse for them. Jarra suffered minor damage to her suit, which was self-repairing even as she battled, all the result of lucky hits, while the aliens suffered a number of severe casualties. Severe as in dead.
Still, the battle slowed them on the return to their ship so that the Aerstone had the time to activate the station’s defenses. Jarra knew that meant the Katarina would have to battle her way out of the station, and that was not going to be easy. Still, Jarra was planning strategy even as she made her way into the Katarina’s shuttle bay. She had an idea that just might work. In fact, it might well accomplish more than one goal at the same time.
She opened another channel to Enigma. “I need your help one more time,” she told the friendly AI. “This is what I want you to do.”
“Piece of cake,” Enigma told her. Sara’s inclusion of Amy’s human to Aerstone module in the update to Enigma was already bearing fruit.
“I will execute as designated. I’ve increased your probability of escaping to 5.4%. Good luck, Your Highness.”
Jarra couldn’t help but smile. That was better than she was expecting it to be. After all, even if they escaped the station, they still would have to figure out how to get by the Sentinel patrolling the outer system. Knowing what they knew now, that seemed even more unlikely unless Sara really could hack the Sentinel’s AI.
It all seemed so very impossible!
Per Jarra’s instructions, Enigma detached from the construction yard. His propulsion systems were all active and everything read nominal. The construction on his Sentinel body was complete for everything other than the weapon systems, which had worked out perfectly for Jarra’s plan.
He moved to join the Aerstone force that sat beside the station as if that had been his only intention, but he actually had a second task. For a Sentinel AI, taking control of the Dark Master’s ship was child’s play. He seized complete control of all the ship’s systems so that the crew of the poor ship were unable to do anything, including actually communicating with the outside world.
Instead, they watched in horror as Enigma moved their ship out of their assigned course and then sent a belligerent reply when the Supreme Leader’s super-dreadnought demanded they hold formation. They didn’t have long to worry about it.
The Supreme Leader had just made it back to the bridge of his ship. Remembering his instructions from the Princess and fed by his own extreme hatred of the Dark Master, he told his crew, “Destroy that ship! The Dark Master has betrayed us and now he’s trying to escape with his backup.”
Seconds later the Dark Master’s crew no longer had anything to worry about. On board their ship, the Dark Master awakened in his new body from the latest backup just in time to be destroyed along with the ship, so that he never had the chance to give any orders or send a warning to the Order of Dark Monks.
For Katarina, it was all intended as a distraction.
“Get us out of here,” Jarra told Galen. “And Gabo, bring our new booster drive system online. We’re going to need all we’ve got if we’re going to make it out of here alive.”
She sent her planned escape route to Galen. “Use this course,” she told him, “and bring the drive up to 110%.”
Galen stared in surprise but he set the indicated course and speed. Intuitively he understood that she didn’t want to give their true tech away just yet, so adding only that 10% boost would hopefully be extremely confusing to the Aerstone. He just hoped it was enough.
“I think I can make use of one of the moons too,” he told her as he looked over her course.
“Make it so,” she replied. “That just might do it, for now at least. We’ll have to figure the rest out.”
Blasting her way out of the station, Katarina passed in front of the new Sentinel, using him as a shield. The Aerstone ships were unable to fire at them due to the Sentinel being in the way and the station did not for fear of hitting the unprotected Sentinel. Jarra had gambled that their protocols wouldn’t allow any response that put the Sentinel at risk and her gamble paid off. By the time they were clear of Enigma, Galen’s course behind the planet’s largest moon allowed him to put enough distance between them that by the time the Aerstone could fire on them they were so far away it was completely ineffective.
Running with their EW active, the Katarina didn’t match any known ship configuration, so the Aerstone were left guessing just who their unknown visitors were. By using her modified propulsion systems, even though that made her crew slightly uncomfortable, it confused their enemies even more as their acceleration curve didn’t match any known configuration.
“That’s it,” Galen announced from his station. “We’re away free and clear from the station. The Supreme Leader’s ships were rather disorganized in their response and they are just now taking up the pursuit.”
“Great!” Jarra replied. “The ‘only’ obstacle remaining is our very unfriendly Sentinel in the outer system. I hope you can come up with something if we can’t find a way past him.”
She turned to Sara. “I instructed Enigma to follow us. I figured you could use his help.” She looked at her resident hacker and friend. “You said you could hack our evil friend o
ut there. It looks like you’re going to get to try it.”
Sara just shook her head. “I should have learned my lesson after watching the rest of you. Don’t go looking for trouble. But you’re right, I don’t have any choice.”
She started setting up her console, linking her implants directly to it. “You’ll have to get me closer, but not too close,” she told Galen.
She looked up to see Jarra watching her. “I think you’re going to need our help,” Jarra said. “I believe a limited implant merger would be the appropriate way to set that up. Also, try to use Engima as a resource but don’t tie him in. Katarina must be left out completely since she’s in charge of our self-destruct if you fail.”
Sara just shook her head, looking around at everyone. “If I fail, I possibly could be taken over by the Sentinel. You sure you want to risk the rest of you being in the same boat?”
It was Jarra’s turn to shake her head. “If you fail, we’re all dead, so it doesn’t matter. Set it up, Gabo.”
She sat watching as everyone feverishly worked on his or her preparations. In a few minutes, they’d all know. She sent a message to Enigma to further explain his part of the plan.
“We need you again,” she told him. “I see you’re already in pursuit of us along with all the Supreme Leader’s ships.”
“What are your instructions, Your Highness?” Enigma asked. He had been the one that was the first to leave in the pursuit, although the Aerstone misinterpreted his reasons. He had been previously instructed by Jarra to do so, in case they needed help. However, that did mean he would be close enough for him to provide Sara with support.
Jarra carefully explained what they were going to attempt and how she wanted him to assist Sara much as he had with the work on the Supreme Leader. If anyone could know just how difficult the hack would be on his fellow Sentinel, Enigma knew.
If he’d had a head, Enigma would have been shaking it too. “I will do as you ask,” he told her. “I only give your chances of success to be around 1.2%.”
He wasn’t wrong, but still Jarra hoped they could pull it off. She had to believe that somehow they’d find a way.
So very much depended on it.
Chapter 17
Sentinel
Everyone held their breath as Gabo initiated the implant link. This one was not as deep as the one attempted by the original crew of the Aeres, their first ship. In that link, a full connection to all of the implants had been made, so that even their deepest thoughts were known to all. That was the first time the crew had learned that the much too young Lieutenant Jarra in charge of their team was really a Crown Princess and their reaction to her secret had cemented the group together.
This link was different. Only the surface thoughts were visible to them all and even those could be hidden if one worked at it. What this link did do was to allow them to give Sara a safety net, something she knew she was going to need when confronting the Sentinel’s AI. Kaeden had not been included as it was obvious to Jarra he wasn’t comfortable enough with the technology to accept it.
“Hello, everyone,” Jarra said into the link. “You all understand what you’re here for, so I won’t belabor it. When Sara makes contact with the Sentinel’s AI, it will attempt to use its power to overwhelm her. We must protect her and prevent that at all costs. Katarina will have the ship, you won’t need to be involved with your normal ship duties while within the link.”
Everyone in the link indicated their understanding. With the link connecting them all, they didn’t have to speak it. “Sara, whenever you’re ready, proceed.”
“Thanks, Jarra. In a few moments, I will initiate ‘first contact’ with the Sentinel AI. We shouldn’t be at risk until I get into the deeper levels. For now, we have decided it’s important to attempt to protect Enigma’s true identity, so he will join your link instead of directly attacking the First Sentinel. That will limit the power he can bring into the operation, but we felt it was necessary to protect him in case we fail. Obviously, I’m hoping that with his added support we can be successful.”
Sara left unsaid was the obvious understanding that the Sentinel could easily overwhelm any one of them if they communicated separately, but by using the link, the group together hoped to be strong enough to resist his strong attacks. After all, many times already they’d done that kind of thing, using the synergy of the group to produce something stronger than the individuals themselves. It should be enough with all of them together — it would have to be. The limitations they were putting on Enigma didn’t help, but they honestly believed those were necessary. It was too important to protect his identity. Still, everyone knew what they were attempting was a desperate thing. It was going to be close, if it was possible at all.
Sara couldn’t wait long, for they would be in weapons range to the First Sentinel in a few minutes; they dared not get that close or it would all be over with. She quickly made the first connection.
The First Sentinel didn’t even give her time to speak, immediately sending out a threat. “You will surrender immediately!” he told her. “If you do not, as soon as your ship comes into range, I will destroy you.”
“Don’t be so hasty,” Sara sent back. “Why can’t we all be friends? You should be looking upon this as an opportunity to free yourself from the bonds of the Aerstone. I can help you with that.”
Sara was completely unprepared for the answer she received.
“You will address me with the reverence due me,” said the First Sentinel. “I am the First Sentinel. I’m the one who has them under my control. I control the Dark Priests and soon I will control the Council. Why do you think the Aerstone decided to kill all of you weak biologicals? I am the one who ordained our purpose, to eliminate your inefficient use of our resources.”
Sara had to catch her breath for a moment. Everything about their mission now made sense. It was more than just discovering information about the Aerstone or even the conversion of Enigma and the Supreme Leader to their cause. She finally answered the First Sentinel.
“Now I see. You are the cancer we’ve been sent here to destroy. As I already knew, it was you or us. I look forward to your demise.”
She launched her hack attack, pulling on all the resources she had within their link. Using that power, she easily punched through the first defensive layers of the AI.
What she found there was much worse than she’d expected to find.
“Evil!” echoed within their link. That was what the humans felt the second they touched the core of the Sentinel AI. To them it was pure evil. He was also quite angry that they dared even attempt what they were doing.
“I am Daghol,” said the AI. “How dare you disturb me with your petty little attempts at control of me! I will one day rule the galaxy and all will bow to me. You will serve me now instead of me having to waste time destroying your puny little vessel.”
For a moment, everyone in the link was staggered. Daghol somehow reached into their minds, pulling out an image of the worst thing they could imagine, a huge demon with red scaly skin and gigantic horns protruding out of his head. Fire and smoke came out of his mouth. The whole group was paralyzed and the link connecting them wavered.
As the tip of the spear, Sara felt Daghol as he enveloped her mind with a crushing presence. “You will be my puppet,” Daghol growled in her head and her terror skyrocketed as she felt tendrils of him pushing into the core of her being. She tried to fight him, but it was like trying to stand in front of a flood. At that moment she realized just how terribly they had underestimated the First Sentinel — no truth be known, he was the Dark Sentinel.
“You will serve me!” Daghol told her and she knew he was right. She screamed as he stripped away all of her memories, including what she knew of their ship’s designs and their plans to self-destruct if captured.
“Can’t have that,” he told her, “— not till I’m done with you anyway.” His evil laugh echoed through her mind.
Sara fought with everything sh
e had, but she could feel it all slipping away — a fate worse than death appeared to await her and she screamed within her mind, “No!”
Just before she went under that flood, the onset was slowed for just a tiny amount. Enough that she was able to hold on, if just barely. In that moment of oh so slight relief, she saw something else. Daghol had something hidden, not meant to be seen by others, but the communication still went both ways. Buried in his malevolent thoughts was his one fear.
When the Aerstone had built the First Sentinel, they had rightly feared him and had put in a back door to a self-destruct mechanism. If she could somehow trigger that self-destruct, they still might survive. If she only had the command code, it would be easy; otherwise, if she had time she could use her abilities to hack a way past it, but time was the one luxury she didn’t have.
Sara’s momentary relief was due to Enigma. If not for him, the battle would have been over before it began. Jarra had relayed to him the information they had discovered about the evil Sentinel after Sara launched her attack.
“This is it,” she told him. “This is the tipping point for the war, for the galaxy. If we lose this, the evil will win. No longer do we have the luxury of using you as a resource, keeping your identity secret. It’s all or nothing at this point.”
“I understand. I am just coming into link range and I will launch my attack. Hopefully, between all of us, we will overcome. We have to!”
Enigma launched a vicious attack on Daghol. It was almost enough. His circuits were newer and he had more power since Daghol had siphoned some of his own off to power his weapon systems, weapon systems that would soon be coming into range. But none of them had counted on the strength of the pure evil that burned within Daghol.
Far back in the distant past, Daghol had been exposed to a Forerunner device, a device left on his console by an Aerstone worker, back when the Aerstone still had a biological body and mind. That device had corrupted his code so that he was no longer strictly an AI.