The Lost Fleet Box Set, page 128
part #1 of The Lost Fleet Series
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The AIs formed up around the stricken battlecruiser and the Alton battleship. All eight ships were firing every weapon they had at the encircling Simulins. However, the amount of firepower the Simulins had available was too much. Two AI warspheres met their end almost simultaneously as numerous Simulin energy beams and antimatter missiles penetrated their over stressed energy screens. Both exploded in fiery fireballs, sending debris careening through space. A nearby warsphere was damaged from a large chunk of debris, compromising its energy screen and allowing the Simulins to take advantage of its weakened state. Moments later, the warsphere died as eight antimatter missiles turned it into a miniature nova.
The Gaia class battlecruiser was the next to die. Even as its commander fought to save his ship Simulin energy beams wreaked havoc on its hull, ripping open compartments and blasting huge holes in the superstructure. Emergency klaxons blared loudly as damage control crews rushed to try to contain the damage. A number of the crew were sucked out into space as compartments they were in were opened up to space. Then a Simulin antimatter missile arrived and the Defiant ceased to be.
The three remaining AI warspheres formed up around the Alton battleship. They were trying to take enough pressure off the ship to allow the vessel to divert enough power to the hyperdrive to escape. The Simulins were intent on not allowing that to happen. Their battlecruisers and escort cruisers crept closer and the space around the four trapped vessels glowed like a mighty furnace on fire. Hundreds of Simulin antimatter missiles were detonating against the struggling energy shields of the four ships. White energy beams flashed out seeking points of weakness. Another AI warsphere blew apart as its shield was overloaded. A Simulin battlecruiser was blown in two as an AI antimatter missile penetrated its screen. Two escort cruisers were torn apart from particle beam fire from the Alton battleship. Then in three bright explosions, the two remaining warspheres and the Alton battleship met their ends as their struggling energy screens were finally overwhelmed.
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Aboard the Simulin flagship, the High Commander looked coldly at the tactical display. He had destroyed most of the enemy fleet. Only five ships had escaped. However, his own losses had been substantial. Eight battlecruisers and ten escort cruisers had been lost. The Fitula organics and their AIs had demonstrated once again just how dangerous they were. However, in this instance they had been defeated and forced to withdraw. The High Commander would send a report of the battle back to the Simulin Grand Council as well as a request for additional warships to replace those he had lost. It would also be necessary to take his fleet to a nearby base for repairs. Once that was complete, he would return to this sector and continue his search for other enemy fleets.
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Jeremy was inside the AI Command Station in orbit above Borton. The reason for his visit stood beside him. Kazak had requested to come out to the AIs’ center of operation to make a request. They were in a large conference room the Command AI maintained for his Human and Alton guests. There were appropriate food and beverages to partake of if anyone felt the need.
“I am impressed by what you have built here,” Kazak began. He did not sit down but remained standing.
Across from Kazak, the Command AI hovered on its anti-gravity repellers. The Command AI was easily six feet tall and had a cubical-shaped body with six flexible tentacles attached. The AI’s metal body floated about six inches above the deck, its head a glowing ball of pure energy the size of a basketball.
“Why have you come to Borton?” asked the Command AI, getting straight to the point.
“Your Master Codex contains the program to create more AIs,” said Kazak, his eyes focusing on the Command AI. “It also contains much information from worlds destroyed in the Milky Way Galaxy in your genocidal war against that galaxy’s organics.”
“Only a minuscule amount,” responded the Command AI, its head glowing brighter and seeming to expand slightly. “Most of the information is in the data banks on Astral, the home world of the Altons.”
“In the City of Light,” Andram informed Kazak. “The knowledge gathered from my own people as well as what the AIs took from their conquered worlds resides there. Even as we speak my people back home are sifting through the data seeking new technology and other advances.”
Kazak seemed to ponder what the Command AI and Andram had said. “How much medical knowledge is stored in these data banks on Astral?”
“Unknown,” replied Shilum. The Alton hyperspace specialist had asked to be included in the meeting. In addition, Kurene and Jeeneb, the two AI specialists, were also there.
Kazak turned slightly to face Andram. “If we had access to this data, what is the probability of being able to use that information to find a cure for the Originator pathogen? I am dissatisfied with the current progress of our research. I fear the database we are working with is too limited.”
Andram was surprised by the question and also concerned by Kazak’s reference to a lack of progress. “It would greatly increase. There are many great Alton scientists on Astral very well versed in longevity drugs and techniques. But what use is knowing the knowledge you seek may be there? With the destruction of the AI Central Nexus and the Hyper Translation Station around the Milky Way Galaxy’s central black hole, it’s no longer possible to establish an intergalactic vortex anywhere inside the galaxy.”
“You are correct,” Kazak said as his eyes narrowed. “However, I have calculated it would be possible to establish an intergalactic vortex just outside of your home galaxy at a range of 42,000 light years.”
Jeremy felt stunned by this revelation. Was it possible that Kazak knew of a way to open up such a vortex? “How would it even be possible to do what you suggest?”
The Command AI waved several of its tentacles. “It would require a tremendous amount of energy to create such a vortex.”
Kazak turned back toward Andram. “You once sent a message drone through a small intergalactic vortex back to your Federation.”
“Yes,” replied Andram, feeling mystified as to where Kazak was going with this line of questioning. “But the disturbance in intergalactic hyperspace created by the supernova at the heart of the dark matter nebula ensures that such a vortex cannot be used again.”
Kazak was silent for a period of time and then finally spoke again. “I would like to tour the facilities that are in orbit above Borton.”
“For what purpose?” asked Jeremy, feeling uneasy with Kazak’s request.
He still didn’t trust the Originator AI. He knew as long as the Altons and a few of the more knowledgeable Human specialists were working on a cure for the pathogen, Kazak had been easier to deal with. He had even agreed to turn over some of the simpler Originator technology he felt could be useful to the fleet. Several of the repair robots and even samples of the nanites on board the Dominator had been turned over to Federation scientists. Kazak had even hinted that if a cure were found he would be willing to turn over the schematics to several of the Dominator’s more powerful weapon systems.
“I would like to analyze the construction capability of the shipyards,” Kazak said. “I may be able to furnish Originator technology that will greatly enhance the shipyards’ construction rates.”
“The shipyards are already operating at maximum efficiency,” commented the Command AI. “However, if you have superior technology that can improve that efficiency, I am willing to listen.”
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Jeremy agreed to the tour but remained behind. The Command AI, Jeeneb, and several other AIs went with Kazak.
After they left Jeremy looked at the others still in the room. “What do you think he’s up to?” Jeremy strongly suspected the Originator AI had other reasons for coming to Borton.
“I fear he no longer believes we will find a cure,” Andram said, letting out a deep breath. He ran his left hand through his thick white hair. “He’s looking at other options.”
“He seeks to find a way to reach Astral,” spoke up ZED, who had remained quiet during the meeting. “I believe he is seeing what construction resources are available around Borton if he decides to build the equipment necessary to establish an intergalactic vortex. He may wish to use the AI facilities for his construction project.”
Jeremy frowned deeply. He didn’t like the sound of that. “Is it even possible to build what it would take to send a ship back home? Just considering what it took to send the Distant Horizon here, it would take us years and most of our resources to build enough capacitor stations and a vortex ring.”
“It would bring our war against the Simulins to a halt,” added Kurene.
Shilum was entering some numbers on the handheld computer tablet she always carried. “If my figures are correct, we would need ten capacitor stations and a vortex ring two kilometers across.”
“Where would we build such a thing?” asked Jeremy. He knew it couldn’t be inside the nebula.
Shilum let out a deep breath. “Outside the Triangulum Galaxy. It would need to be nearly sixty thousand light years out due to the black matter supernova.”
Jeremy’s eyes grew wide at the thought of what Kazak might soon be demanding. “We can’t agree to such a construction project. It would allow the Simulins to complete their assimilation of this galaxy. We would never be able to defeat them and someday they’re going to find a way through the protective interference of the nebula.” Jeremy was referring to the hyperspace interference buoys they had emplaced throughout the nebula to limit hyperspace travel except in carefully guarded tunnels leading in and out.
“How do we say no?” asked Andram with great concern in his voice. “The Dominator has the firepower to destroy our entire fleet as well as Gaia.”
“We have to make Kazak believe we’re making progress on a cure for the Originator pathogen.”
Andram stared hard and long at Jeremy. “How do we do that? Kazak watches all of our research on the Dominator. He would know if we were giving him incorrect data.”
“Not necessarily,” commented ZED. The energy ball above his cube grew brighter and small flashes of energy could be seen around it. “We can submit results that show we have learned of a possible method to destroy the pathogen.”
“What?” said Andram, looking startled. “There is no such possible method.”
“But there is,” ZED responded. “It’s been there all along.”
“I don’t understand,” said Andram, looking confused. “What have we overlooked?”
ZED floated over until the AI was hovering next to Andram.
“The repair nanites.”
Andram looked as if he had been slapped across the face. “We never considered using them,” he said in a stunned voice. “You’re suggesting we create a new line of nanites capable of being injected into a host body and programmed to seek out and destroy the Originator pathogen?”
“Precisely,” ZED replied.
“But wouldn’t the Originators have tried that?” asked Jeremy. He couldn’t imagine them overlooking using the nanites.
Andram looked thoughtful. “There’s no record of it in the medical files on the Dominator. It’s possible it was done somewhere on one of their Dyson Spheres and failed. My race has experimented with nanites in the past and has a decent amount of knowledge of what they’re capable of. They’re even used in some medical procedures.”
“It may buy us some time even if we can’t find a cure,” Jeremy said after a moment. “ZED, can you work with Andram on using these nanites against the pathogen?”
“Or course, Admiral,” ZED responded. “I can begin immediately.”
“It will take time,” Andram said. Nanite technology is highly complicated and the nanites we’re talking about creating will be the size of a microbe. Research such as this normally takes years of intensive work.”
Jeremy was about to ask Andram and ZED another question when his mini-comm interrupted him. “Go ahead,” he said, tapping the small instrument in his left ear.
“Admiral, the Star Defender has returned,” reported Lieutenant Preston. He was filling in for Commander Malen while she was over on the Dominator.
“So soon?” Jeremy said, growing worried. “What’s the condition of Admiral Sithe’s fleet?”
“That’s the problem,” Preston replied uneasily. “Only the Star Defender, one of the Alton battleships and three of the Gaia class battlecruisers returned. Admiral Sithe reports all other ships were lost in a battle with the Simulins.”
Jeremy’s face turned pale. He hadn’t expected such losses to any of his patrol fleets. It seemed to indicate the Simulins still had a major presence in the sector surrounding Gaia.
“Inform Admiral Sithe I will be returning to Gaia later this afternoon and will be expecting a full report from him on his engagement with the Simulins.”
“Yes, Admiral,” Preston replied.
Jeremy leaned back in his chair and let out a deep sigh. It was obvious the patrol strategy would have to be modified.
“Problems?” asked Andram, seeing the concerned look on Jeremy’s face.
“The Star Defender and her fleet have just returned. It seems they lost a lot of ships.”
“Then we’re returning to Gaia shortly?”
“Yes,” answered Jeremy. “I will inform Kazak his tour will have to be cut short. We can return later if need be. When we return, I want you and ZED to begin working on these nanites. Do it on one of the Alton science vessels, and for the time being we won’t inform Kazak of what we’re doing. If he tries to force the issue of a cure then we will reveal the possibility of using some type of medical nanites against the Originator pathogen.”
Jeremy wanted to talk to Admiral Sithe. While it was true the Simulins had suffered some significant losses, they still had a massive fleet. If they were attempting to move back into the sector around the nebula with major fleet units, then what did that mean for Admiral Jackson out at Ornellia? He just hoped the reinforcing fleet he had sent would be enough if the Simulins were once more on the move.
Chapter Eight
Reesa Jast was in her quarters on the Distant Horizon. She knew that shortly the exploration dreadnought would be dropping out of hyperspace in the Triangulum Galaxy. When this adventure had started, she had never dreamed she would end up so far from home. With a deep sigh, she turned off the computer on her workstation. She had been working hard trying to create a log of everything she had experienced and discovered about the Originators. If she ever made it back home, she had enough information to write dozens of papers and form the basis of countless lectures on the Originators and their culture.
Of even more interest had been the information Leeda had furnished on the Dominator and the Originators who had been a part of its crew. The Dominator was the largest and most powerful warship the Originators had ever built, even larger than the Distant Horizon. Its crew, including the scientists and their research assistants had numbered over six thousand. Of even greater interest was the fact the families of the crew were allowed to go on the ship. This seemed to indicate the Originators in the black matter Dyson Sphere did not expect the scientists on the ship to find a cure in time to save them.
She was also curious about some of the research that had been carried out on the ship. A major portion of it had nothing to do with the pathogen but instead had been weapons research. With their empire dying, why would the Originators want more powerful weapons? She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. Was it possible the Originator AIs wanted Kazak and the Dominator for another reason other than reviving the sleeping scientists and the children in the stasis chambers? She had a nagging feeling something wasn’t right.
“How is your research coming along?” a voice from behind her asked. Reesa knew without turning around that it was Clarissa. Since the Distant Horizon had entered the intergalactic vortex, she had become friends with the ship’s AI. She was surprised how Human Clarissa seemed to be.
“Slowly; the background information Leeda furnished me on the crew of the Dominator is breathtaking. They had scientists from other Dyson Spheres included on the mission. It was the greatest gathering of scientists in the history of the Originators. Not even in their war against the Anti-Life had there been such a gathering.”
Clarissa was silent and then spoke. “I spoke to Kazak about the Anti-Life. He said it was in the Originators’ distant past and the war had threatened our entire universe. He also mentioned that someday in the future the Anti-Life might return. When I asked for more details about the war and what had happened, he refused to furnish them. He said it was Originator history and I shouldn’t be concerned about it.”
Reesa nodded. “It’s strange Leeda included information about the war and the Anti-life. I wonder why she did that?”
“May I see the information?” asked Clarissa. “I don’t have access to the part of the ship’s computer the information is stored in.”
“Can you access my workstation?” asked Reesa. She trusted Clarissa. She had heard many stories about the fabulous AI who had existed since before the beginning of the current Human Federation of Worlds.
“Yes,” Clarissa answered as she closed her eyes and seemed to focus. After a moment she opened them and looked intently at Reesa. “Don’t mention to Leeda or any of the other Originator AIs that you allowed me to access this information. I need time to assimilate it and see how it applies to Kazak and the Dominator. Currently I estimate there is a 74 percent probability that the Originator AIs are more interested in Kazak and the Dominator than saving those who may be in stasis on board.”
Leesa felt bewildered at hearing this pronouncement. “I thought this entire mission was about saving those Originators so they can begin a new Originator race.”
Clarissa slowly shook her head. “No, after a quick review of the information Leeda gave you I’m convinced they’re more interested in recovering Kazak, the Dominator, and the military research that was conducted.”
