Vast Mantis

by Jim Henderson

  The crew left Irapce with some reluctance a couple days later, having enjoyed their visit almost too much. Shao, Silas, and Elsbeth had significant hangovers and Ximon had gotten a friendly complaint from a neighboring villa about ‘his people’ being naked on the beach. He thought that was almost certainly Elsbeth, but Shao and Silas were also possibilities. He and Raiza did sneak out late one night as well, but it was very dark, and they didn’t get naked until they were in the water.

  When they took off, Ximon sent a brief, friendly message to Captain Cochran. “Sir, we visited the Knemu Guard Base and taught a few lectures at the Academy. Those briefings are attached. Our POC was Major Kanebti. It was a good visit and we urged the value of a more permanent base, but there was little of substance discussed. We wish you luck in your ongoing discussions with Irapce. A more permanent base in system somewhere could be very useful and I can’t imagine too many Scouts minding being stationed near here. Good luck, sir. Mantis out.”

  Mantis then spent a couple of weeks getting to Zased. During that time Silas visited Ximon to compare notes on information relevant to the investigation. Thus far, neither had much new, so their plan of heading to the Orrarra Sector remained the same.

  Silas also reported that several of the crew had been attending his training sessions. Shao had honed her skills in unarmed combat and had improved her shooting. Elsbeth had improved her shooting and her responses in combat-like situations. Euclidia had just seemed to observe, ask questions, and take mental notes.

  Silas primarily noted working with Peter and Raiza. “Ximon, as you’re no doubt aware, neither of them will likely ever be very good at shooting at a moving target or in combat situations in general. Unlike security bots, their brains just aren’t designed to have the kind of predictive tracking that’s necessary. However, I worked with them on that a bit. They’re quite capable of making the necessary calculations if done consciously, but there’s a built-in hesitancy to shoot at people that causes a delay. Their internal prioritization also isn’t geared for combat. So, that calculation, whether conscious or unconscious is off, sometimes substantially. There’s probably no getting around that without changing them significantly. However, by working with them closely, and getting some observations from Euclidia, we were able to come up with techniques that somewhat compensate for these issues. In essence, it applies a multiplier to whatever that internal calculation comes up with. It seems to improve things a bit.”

  Ximon thought about that for a moment and considered the logic of it. “That’s intriguing. Anything that will improve that situation could be helpful. Thanks for thinking of that.”

  Silas gave a faint smile, nodded, and went on. “I also worked with them on shooting at a fixed point. As you know, they can do fairly well at that, though that internal hesitancy to attack people seems to ‘draw their aim off target’ a bit unless you’re issuing them strong, urgent orders. I gave them some tips that’ll improve their aim point in those situations, though the orders you give them is always going to be vital.

  “Finally, I worked with them a bit on unarmed combat. That same hesitancy shows up almost worse there. They’re almost hopeless at striking a person – the hesitancy makes it such that they’re unlikely to ever succeed unless the other person is bound or held. However, I was able to teach them a few moves that they can use to fairly effectively defend themselves against things like fist, club, or knife attacks. We also worked on some techniques they can use if they’re trying to defend a person against such attacks.”

  Ximon’s brow furrowed and his lips pursed as he paused to think about that one. “At least in the case of Raiza, I’d usually worry more about defending her.”

  Silas chuckled. “I thought you might say that. You can order her to run, hide, or defend herself instead, but there could be occasions in which you are incapacitated, and her help could be crucial.” He paused. “Plus, she may look like the prom queen, but she’s actually fairly robust. Unless someone hits her with a heavy club with great force, they’re not going to break her main struts, she’s not affected by pain or loss of blood like a person, and so forth. The greatest risk to her is if someone breaks a hydraulic line or somehow cracks her very tough skull. Finally, her beauty may deter or minimize the attacks from most men, so that’s a bit of armor in itself.

  “Peter is similar but even tougher, mainly due to more massive struts. His strength means that even his defensive moves might hurt someone. If you put him in some heavy armor, he could really be a tank.

  “Anyway, I did what I could with them and will keep working with them if they want. It was an interesting challenge.”

  Ximon shook his hand. “I really appreciate that. I don’t really intend for them to be combat bots, but we do get in the occasional scrape and I consider them as valuable as any other member of the crew.”

  Silas nodded with a knowing smile and walked off. “Let me know if you get any other scan info or what not.”

  Once in the Zased system, Ximon radioed Zased Station and set course for Zased-Trey. Their destination, Zased Station, rested on the pole of the planet’s moon.

  “Zased Station, this is Mantis. Do you copy?”

  One of the ASORs answered quickly. “Mantis. This is ASOR-L. We are pleased to hear you are in system. I sincerely hope you have been well since we parted. How can we be of assistance?”

  “ASOR, we have some supplies for you. Do you object to us docking?”

  “Certainly not, Captain. You are always welcome, and the supplies will certainly prove useful. Please provide an ETA and I will ensure that Alzroid is available when you arrive. Ze is currently out of radio contact.”

  “Excellent. ETA 7 hours. We’ll see you then.”

  Ximon told the crew they would be docking in seven hours and would spend 12 to 24 hours on Zased Station. He also informed them to be prepared to assist the station if necessary.

  Alzroid contacted Ximon a few hours later. “Captain, I was pleased to hear of your arrival. I hope you will be able to stay with us for a while. As has previously been the case, I have a few issues to discuss with you.”

  “Certainly. We plan to be there between 12 and 24 hours, depending on your status. I believe Raiza, and perhaps Mantis, have issues they’d appreciate your assistance with.”

  “I will assist, if at all possible. I’m afraid I must attend to a mining issue. I look forward to seeing you when you arrive.”

  “See you soon.”

  Ximon landed and docked Mantis with her cargo bay to the station’s cargo/loading bay and the station initiated a seal. The entire crew stood by to enter the station.

  As the doors opened, Alzroid and ASOR-L were there to greet them. Alzroid was a tall, thin, humanoid robot with a very human shape and movements. However, zis skin was a grayish white with the texture of unpolished ceramic and zis eyes were more like photoreceptors than human eyes. In previous encounters, Alzroid had informed Ximon that ze and zis were probably the most appropriate pronouns to apply to zis person.

  ASOR-L was a metal stick figure in the shape of a man, with no skin-like covering at all. It made no pretense at humanity whatsoever but moved smoothly toward them and greeted the crew with its long, spindly arms.

  Alzroid and ASOR-L greeted the crew politely and expressed pleasure at meeting Silas and Io.

  Ximon asked Alzroid, “How have you been?”

  “We continue to do well, and we’ve received some of the support we requested. The KSF brought us a 30-ton shuttle. It is fairly old and small, but it is sufficient for our needs. It also mounts a laser and a missile rack, so it gives us some capability of defending ourselves. It has proven very useful to us for transportation. We’ve been able to move ASORs around on Zased-Trey and have gone and done some scans of the atmosphere at Zased-6 and deployed some more sensors there. We’ve compiled a short study that I think you might find interesting. However, the shuttle has been down for five days now. We’ve worked to repair it but haven’t succeeded thus far. If p
ossible, I would like to request that Elsbeth and Peter examine it. They may find what we have missed.”

  “Certainly, we’re all prepared to assist if we can and, as I said, Raiza has something to ask of you, and Mantis might as well.”

  “I always enjoy conversing with them and will be very willing to help. I’ll ask Elsbeth when she’s available and will have one of the ASORs work with them, so we have that insight. I’ll also get with Raiza and see when she wants to look at her problem. Finally, ASOR-D will get with Peter to unload the cargo.”

  “Great. Go ahead and check on those things and then I’ll be interested in seeing that study you mentioned. In the meantime, could one of ASORs show us around?”

  “Of course. Forgive my inattention to hospitality. Again, I must attend to an equipment issue in our mining operation. ASOR-G will meet you shortly.”

  Alzroid then went off to find Elsbeth and Raiza. Ximon didn’t see Alzroid for several hours so he assumed that ze was occupied with one or the other.

  ASOR-G gave Ximon a tour, with Silas, Shao, and Euclidia accompanying. As usual, Ximon was impressed at what the bots had accomplished since he had last been there. They now had a substantial mining operation underway, gathering several key materials. They were also doing quite a bit of small manufacturing and 3D printing to produce a variety of parts for their own use and some potentially for visiting space craft. ASOR-G pointed out that they were making parts for robots like themselves and there appeared to be quite a few parts.

  At about that point in the tour, the robot Illef-7 joined them. When Ximon had first encountered Illef-7, he had been partially broken and sitting on the floor of an abandoned station in the Darcy System with robots, or portions thereof, scattered around, with tools lying about and some cables running between. Illef-7 had tried to save the other bots or, at least, ensure they didn’t ‘die’ alone. His efforts had prompted Ximon to try to save what they could. In the end, the crew had retrieved Illef-7, the head or computational core of Euclidia, a badly damaged childcare bot Ayah-RK, and part of a mining bot with strange claw-like arms. After some repairs, the crew had worked with TSR to place Ayah-RK in an orphanage and had turned the mining bot and Illef-7 over to Alzroid for useful work.

  “Captain, it is good to see you. I trust you and Mantis are well.”

  “Quite well, Illef. How have you been? Are you enjoying the work?”

  “I am quite well and am fully occupied in the work, mostly in working on robot parts.”

  “Do you all go through that many parts?”

  “Not at present, Captain, but we hope to soon be assembling more robots with a combination of locally-produced parts and just a few parts that we can’t yet make.”

  Ximon chuckled. “Interesting. So, you’re building your own army?”

  “We are, of course, not building an armed force, but if I take your meaning correctly, we are hoping to construct an expanded work force. Am I correct in understanding that you brought a shipment of supplies for us?

  “Yes, I think one of the ASORs will have it unloaded by now.”

  “Excellent. ASOR-G, if you’re done with the tour, I’ll take the Captain to show him our shipment and how it fits in.”

  ASOR-G stated matter-of-factly. “I have shown him the primary points of interest and feel your arrival provides a useful segue in conversation. Thank you for your kind attention, Captain.”

  Ximon shook ASOR’s hand. “Thank you, ASOR. I appreciate the insight.”

  Illef-7 led the group to a storage area near where they had docked and pointed out the supplies that were already uncrated and neatly stored. It looked to be mainly robots or robot parts.

  “Captain, as you see here, we’ve received one more complete ASOR unit, shipped in an inactive state. We will activate him in a few hours. Of more interest, we also received three ASOR brain/nerve units, four hydraulic systems, and four power cores. With these, plus the parts that ASOR-G just showed you, we intend to construct three more ASORs.”

  Illef pointed to four metal cubes a bit over a meter long and half a meter tall. He touched some buttons on the side and the cube unfolded into a crude, gangly robot. “We also got four of these basic worker models, which you might call ‘box bots.’ Between these and the ASORs, that will substantially increase our work force. We will increase production, increase explorations of Zased-Trey, and do more scans of the other planets. It is exciting work.”

  Silas asked, “So, how many of you will there be then?”

  Illef said, “If all goes as intended, there will be Alzroid, myself, eight ASORs, two mining bots, one manufacturing bot, and four box bots – seventeen in all, plus some smaller, specialized bots. I think you’ll find that all are productive and that the station produces more than it consumes.”

  Ximon nodded appreciatively. “Most impressive. You all are doing good work here and I’m glad to see that you’re deeply involved. We have Euclidia with us. You may wish to see him while we’re here.”

  “I will endeavor to do so. I will extend my regards to Raiza, Peter, Shao, and Mantis as well.”

  Ximon then checked in with Raiza. She was busy working with Alzroid on Euclidia but felt she would be done soon. They agreed to set up dinner in the cargo bay in a couple hours so they could all catch up.

  Raiza prepared a nice, but simple, dinner with some help from Euclidia who seemed to be enjoying having a body again after months without. The entire crew, Alzroid, and a couple of ASORs sat or stood about, humans eating, some robots imitating doing so, and some bots just standing.

  Between mouthfuls, Ximon thanked Raiza and Euclidia for the meal and Alzroid and the ASORs for the tour. Alzroid expressed zis appreciation for the supplies, for maintenance assistance from Elsbeth and Peter, and for Ximon’s past advocacy that had contributed to the station getting the supplies and ship they needed.

  Elsbeth reported on the shuttle. “So, we got with ASOR, uhh, Lima, right? We looked at that shuttle. The engine on that model is pretty good, but it can be a pesky bugger. It does some weird things with fuel flow such that some of the internal readings more or less lie to you. That’s why the problem was hard to find. We got that fixed – basically a couple of flow valves were tuned wrong but seemed fine. It should be good for you now and we’ve downloaded a 6-month snapshot of a discussion forum where people discuss that model of shuttle. If you have other problems that the manual doesn’t help with, you can usually find someone who’s fighting the same issue.”

  Shao chimed in. “I got up to speed on some additional new stuff Alzroid and his, er zis, folks have done with the sensors. I’m going to carefully test a few tweaks with Mantis. I looked at the shuttle’s sensors while Elsbeth and Peter were working on the engine, but they’d already modified them and the software in every way I could think of, or better.”

  Then Raiza reported. “As you know, Elsbeth and I had acquired parts and got Euclidia’s cranial unit attached to the body we acquired. However, the results were unsatisfactory as pernicious delays were causing degraded movements at times. Alzroid was able to find the root of the problem. Neither my training, nor our previous analysis, noted that there were some rare subordinate versions of the neural protocol in use. The nerve cluster I used employed one of these alternative versions, while the neural protocol converter used the standard version. This protocol mismatch caused issues with a small subset of neural signals that caused the degraded movements. Having found the issue, Alzroid was able to install some simple logic circuits that adjusted the offending signals. Ze then tuned Euclidia’s musculature response accordingly. Euclidia’s movements are now as graceful as his body allows.”

  With that she stood and made a flourish with her arms that would do a game show hostess proud and Euclidia did a short demonstration which included walking and a few short dance moves. Everyone found that quite humorous and telling.

  Euclidia took a bow. “I am most appreciative to Raiza, Elsbeth, and Peter for literally putting me back together and to Alzroi
d and zis team for their assistance in returning me to optimal operation.”

  Alzroid briefly lowered zis head in acknowledgement. “The crew of the Mantis is largely responsible for the existence, growth, and smooth operation of this station. I will happily give any small assistance I can in return and am glad to see a fellow robot operating more effectively.”

  The conversation evolved to chatting as the humans finished eating. Then Alzroid made an announcement. “Captain, if you do not object, I will now present the brief study of the creatures in the Zased-6 that I mentioned. It is approximately 11 minutes long.”

  Ximon nodded. “Please, it sounds intriguing.”

  Alzroid then briefly explained, “For those who were not present, when we first arrived in the Zased System, on Mantis, we refueled at and did scans of Zased-6. As we did so, we detected some large shapes within the atmosphere and, based on their movements, concluded that they were likely living creatures roughly the size of small whales. Since that time, we have deployed several sensors floating in the atmosphere and have monitored them and conducted long-range scans from here. We have also done two fly-by scanning passes with our shuttle and collected more data. This is what we’ve put together from that data and the information that Mantis originally gathered.”

  A video then started, projected on the wall. It showed some visual images as well as a variety of different scans that captured the movements of these creatures. It displayed detailed digital models of these creatures based on scans and images. These creatures were whale-like in appearance, but clearly had a low enough density that they could essentially float within the atmosphere of the gas giant. The models showed the creatures moving about and then broader images showed what appeared to be groups of them moving across sizable swathes of the planet. The video also showed planetary maps indicating the relatively narrow areas where these creatures had been observed. Toward the end it presented some educated conjectures on the creatures’ life cycle, movements, and intelligence. Finally, it concluded with recommendations for further study, including more sophisticated sensors, long-duration flights in the upper atmosphere, and the use of robotic probes designed to handle the extreme pressures at lower levels of the atmosphere. The video was informative and Ximon found it quite interesting, even though it was presented in a somewhat dry, scholarly way.